A few random thoughts! As always you make me think again.
“If life offers you anything better than justice, truth, wisdom, and courage—or in other words, better than the peace that comes from acting in accord with reason or in accord with destiny when events are outside your control—if, as I was saying, life offers you anything better than this, embrace it with your whole heart and enjoy it to the full.”
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations
“Well, the first days are the hardest days
Don't you worry anymore
'Cause when life looks like Easy Street
There is danger at your door
Think this through with me
Let me know your mind
Woah, oh, what I want to know
Is are you kind?”
Uncle John’s Band - The Grateful Dead
“In March, David Shor, head of data science at the Democratic polling firm, Blue Rose Research, told New York Times columnist Ezra Klein during a podcast interview that Gen Z might be one of the most conservative generations.
"This is the thing I am the most shocked by in the last four years — that young people have gone from being the most progressive generation since the Baby Boomers, and maybe even in some ways more so, to becoming potentially the most conservative generation that we’ve experienced maybe in 50 to 60 years," Shor said.”
David — what a combo: Marcus Aurelius, Uncle John’s Band, and Gen Z trends, all tied together!
The Aurelius quote captures the spirit of what I hoped to say — that living in alignment with truth and moral clarity is what brings peace, especially when the world feels upside down.
And that Gen Z data is intriguing. Do you think we’re seeing a real generational shift — or more of a recoil from ideological overreach?
Based on my son, who is a rising senior in college, he and his friends are repelled by ideas like males can compete in female sports, and the most important thing about you is the color of your skin, or some immutable characteristic. The pendulum has swung back for them....let's hope it does the same for younger women!
Beautifully, brilliantly and thoughtfully said, Melanie - as usual. I, as a devout Christian, could not agree more. Our country, and the Western World in general, desperately needs moral clarity and intellectual honesty. Both are grievously missing from our current discourse, which sadly so often happens in the soulless and unaccountable space of social media. Look up the disparaging - and what I would call racist - remarks a Houston "politician wanna be" by the name of Sade Perkins made about the Camp Mystic girls who perished in the flood on July 4th. I happen to know one of those precious little girls and am attending her funeral on Tuesday. What's going on is sick and we, as the (moral) Beacon on the Hill, can, and must, do much, much better. Thank you.
Tiffany — I’m just now seeing your comment. I published this post while flying, and I’m now writing from a boat in the Mediterranean! I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend’s daughter. I can only imagine how heartbreaking that funeral must have been. What you shared about the cruel remarks following the Mystic girls’ deaths is sickening — and sadly, it mirrors the moral inversion I wrote about in the essay.
You’re right: without moral clarity, even tragedy becomes a weapon. When any group is dehumanized — whether Jewish or Christian, Israeli or American — evil finds cover, and compassion disappears.
I tried to write this piece as a roadmap — to help people speak up with conviction and grace, to win over the persuadables, and power down the hostiles. I wonder if you’ve tried engaging others in this way?
Grateful for your kind words — and your readership!
I've very blessed to have friends and family who are moral, kind people. We may not agree on politics, but we check political talk at the door, so to speak. But when I do encounter unkind, disrespectful and/or incorrect comments, I do try to at least correct the misinformation, particularly the false historical stuff that's going around. Honestly, I've found that leading by example (listening and then following with the truth) - and ignoring the crazies who are just itching for a fight - works the best.
Unfortunately, too many simply don’t know right from wrong. They’re not taught. Hence, moral relativity and zero knowledge of truth. THE truth, not “their” truth.
You’re right: too many people today aren’t taught how to recognize truth, much less defend it. Without moral formation, we’re left with moral confusion — and that’s exactly what this post tries to address.
I wrote it as a kind of roadmap to help people speak up with clarity and conviction — and maybe even reach someone on the fence. I hope you found it useful. And if you’ve had any “war stories” of your own trying to engage others on these issues, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks, as always, Jeanne, for your readership and support!
Inciteful, well researched and well written as usual
A few random thoughts! As always you make me think again.
“If life offers you anything better than justice, truth, wisdom, and courage—or in other words, better than the peace that comes from acting in accord with reason or in accord with destiny when events are outside your control—if, as I was saying, life offers you anything better than this, embrace it with your whole heart and enjoy it to the full.”
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations
“Well, the first days are the hardest days
Don't you worry anymore
'Cause when life looks like Easy Street
There is danger at your door
Think this through with me
Let me know your mind
Woah, oh, what I want to know
Is are you kind?”
Uncle John’s Band - The Grateful Dead
“In March, David Shor, head of data science at the Democratic polling firm, Blue Rose Research, told New York Times columnist Ezra Klein during a podcast interview that Gen Z might be one of the most conservative generations.
"This is the thing I am the most shocked by in the last four years — that young people have gone from being the most progressive generation since the Baby Boomers, and maybe even in some ways more so, to becoming potentially the most conservative generation that we’ve experienced maybe in 50 to 60 years," Shor said.”
https://www.foxnews.com/media/gen-zers-identifying-liberal-drops-12-points-since-2016-according-morning-consult-june-report.amp
David — what a combo: Marcus Aurelius, Uncle John’s Band, and Gen Z trends, all tied together!
The Aurelius quote captures the spirit of what I hoped to say — that living in alignment with truth and moral clarity is what brings peace, especially when the world feels upside down.
And that Gen Z data is intriguing. Do you think we’re seeing a real generational shift — or more of a recoil from ideological overreach?
I’d like to think Gen Z realizes how they were Hoodwinked by their educators. We shall see is the only answer I can conceive.
Based on my son, who is a rising senior in college, he and his friends are repelled by ideas like males can compete in female sports, and the most important thing about you is the color of your skin, or some immutable characteristic. The pendulum has swung back for them....let's hope it does the same for younger women!
Beautifully, brilliantly and thoughtfully said, Melanie - as usual. I, as a devout Christian, could not agree more. Our country, and the Western World in general, desperately needs moral clarity and intellectual honesty. Both are grievously missing from our current discourse, which sadly so often happens in the soulless and unaccountable space of social media. Look up the disparaging - and what I would call racist - remarks a Houston "politician wanna be" by the name of Sade Perkins made about the Camp Mystic girls who perished in the flood on July 4th. I happen to know one of those precious little girls and am attending her funeral on Tuesday. What's going on is sick and we, as the (moral) Beacon on the Hill, can, and must, do much, much better. Thank you.
Tiffany — I’m just now seeing your comment. I published this post while flying, and I’m now writing from a boat in the Mediterranean! I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend’s daughter. I can only imagine how heartbreaking that funeral must have been. What you shared about the cruel remarks following the Mystic girls’ deaths is sickening — and sadly, it mirrors the moral inversion I wrote about in the essay.
You’re right: without moral clarity, even tragedy becomes a weapon. When any group is dehumanized — whether Jewish or Christian, Israeli or American — evil finds cover, and compassion disappears.
I tried to write this piece as a roadmap — to help people speak up with conviction and grace, to win over the persuadables, and power down the hostiles. I wonder if you’ve tried engaging others in this way?
Grateful for your kind words — and your readership!
I've very blessed to have friends and family who are moral, kind people. We may not agree on politics, but we check political talk at the door, so to speak. But when I do encounter unkind, disrespectful and/or incorrect comments, I do try to at least correct the misinformation, particularly the false historical stuff that's going around. Honestly, I've found that leading by example (listening and then following with the truth) - and ignoring the crazies who are just itching for a fight - works the best.
Unfortunately, too many simply don’t know right from wrong. They’re not taught. Hence, moral relativity and zero knowledge of truth. THE truth, not “their” truth.
You’re right: too many people today aren’t taught how to recognize truth, much less defend it. Without moral formation, we’re left with moral confusion — and that’s exactly what this post tries to address.
I wrote it as a kind of roadmap to help people speak up with clarity and conviction — and maybe even reach someone on the fence. I hope you found it useful. And if you’ve had any “war stories” of your own trying to engage others on these issues, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks, as always, Jeanne, for your readership and support!
Love your writing Melanie!
Reclaim America.
As always, thoughtful, written with tremendous clarity, and written with complete accuracy