Wild Swans. By Jung Chang.
Biographies of three women (grandma, mom, and daughter) in 20th-century China.
Thoughts:
Foot-binding? Never realized how torturous and painful it would have been. I just thought it was about keeping women's feet "small" -- not deformed-small, as in smaller-than-a-1-yr-old's.
Communism wasn't the real problem. The big problem was Mao's hunger for power and his vengeful spirit.
Some people think anarchy is okay because it's a way to get rid of the entrenched power/authority that is being misused. But anarchy is destructive to a vast degree. Furthermore, powerseekers will fill the void. Reading this book showed me that even bad government is better than no government.
Introversion was a bad bad thing in China. If you wanted a little solitude, most people interpreted that as cutting yourself off from the masses and thinking you were better than others. It must be unbearable to know that your need for a little peace and quiet means people see you as arrogant and aloof.
I knew almost nothing about China or Chinese history. Until a few weeks ago, I'd never heard of the Cultural Revolution: wreck buildings, ruin libraries, overthrow religion, destroy stuff. And now, this week's news tells us of a similar destruction in Mosul.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
"Because You're Feeble"
I took something to work today, something that is a little heavy and a little clumsy-to-carry. One of my co-workers said, "Don't you carry that upstairs!" I asked why not. "Because you're ... well ... feeble." I laughed. I carried it upstairs. But the comment touched my heart.
I guess I put on a good front as far as healing. Friends see me go to church. They know I go to work. Apparently I look "good as new." But I'm not. I'm limited. I must rest. It's easy for me to overdo and then end up with repercussions. Sometimes I am frustrated by offers of "help" to accomplish something, when the Real Help would be a simple acceptance of my "No, I cannot do that." I have to beat myself up quite enough to say no to commitments (work or fun!); when people question my "no" it's so much harder to stick to my guns about what's necessary for my health.
So it's all warm-&-fuzzy when people at work make allowances, when they occasionally offer to let me do some sit-down work while they stand and wait on customers, when they try to intercept me before I do something that they think might be too much for me. Mushy though it be, these simple acts make my heart swell with joy and thankfulness!
I guess I put on a good front as far as healing. Friends see me go to church. They know I go to work. Apparently I look "good as new." But I'm not. I'm limited. I must rest. It's easy for me to overdo and then end up with repercussions. Sometimes I am frustrated by offers of "help" to accomplish something, when the Real Help would be a simple acceptance of my "No, I cannot do that." I have to beat myself up quite enough to say no to commitments (work or fun!); when people question my "no" it's so much harder to stick to my guns about what's necessary for my health.
So it's all warm-&-fuzzy when people at work make allowances, when they occasionally offer to let me do some sit-down work while they stand and wait on customers, when they try to intercept me before I do something that they think might be too much for me. Mushy though it be, these simple acts make my heart swell with joy and thankfulness!
Doctors and therapists said to give myself at
least a year before I could even begin to expect
be back-to-normal. And it hasn't been a year yet.
Besides, as I learned in September, it's important
to allow for "margin." If I hover Just This Side of
"too much," one mishap shoves me over the edge.
And that results in pain and illness that I really
don't want to deal with.
Reading Challenge 2015
How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher -- finished Jan 13
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young
Wild Swans, by Chang -- finished Feb 25
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde
Holy Housewifery -- finished Jan 17
Flatland
Pioneer Girl (biography of Laura)
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese
Re-reads:
Narnia
Harry Potter
Hammer of God
With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside -- finished Jan 16
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside
Penderwicks -- finished Feb 24
Carry On, Mr Bowditch
On to Oregon
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules Every Christian Ought to Break
Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher -- finished Jan 13
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young
Wild Swans, by Chang -- finished Feb 25
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde
Holy Housewifery -- finished Jan 17
Flatland
Pioneer Girl (biography of Laura)
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese
Re-reads:
Narnia
Harry Potter
Hammer of God
With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside -- finished Jan 16
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside
Penderwicks -- finished Feb 24
Carry On, Mr Bowditch
On to Oregon
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules Every Christian Ought to Break
Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Jesus' Works in Psalm 115
Those idols in Psalm 115? They have eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear, mouths that do not speak, noses that do not smell, hands that do not handle, and feet that do not walk. "Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them."
I find it fascinating that the Gospels mention Jesus' healing-miracles for every single one of those body-parts.* He healed cripples and made them to walk. He gave hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind. He loosed tongues. He got into trouble with the Pharisees for fixing the fellow's withered hand that Sabbath day in the synagogue.
It's almost as if the Man of Faith, who never had an idol in all His life, can even undo the idolatry that is part of our sinful nature.
I find it fascinating that the Gospels mention Jesus' healing-miracles for every single one of those body-parts.* He healed cripples and made them to walk. He gave hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind. He loosed tongues. He got into trouble with the Pharisees for fixing the fellow's withered hand that Sabbath day in the synagogue.
It's almost as if the Man of Faith, who never had an idol in all His life, can even undo the idolatry that is part of our sinful nature.
* Footnote -- Except for noses. That's
not explicitly mentioned in the Gospels.
But Jesus did heal lepers, and it's likely
that such healing fixed rotted noses.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Avoiding the Caffeine and Sugar
Doctor told me that I could cut down on a repeat-infection by staying away from coffee, tea, and sugar. Boo. Hiss.
I know some of y'all like your coffee black, the way grown-ups drink it. But I sure do like mine with sugar. I'm wussy. Oh, and the tea: Mississippi sweet-tea is too much like Kool-aid for my tastes. But I sho'nuf do like me some sugar in my tea. BUT my mommy told me once-upon-a-time that three weeks straight with NO SUGAR in your coffee will teach you to like it black. She and Dad toughed it out. And they never wanted to go back to sweetened coffee. (Or so they said. Maybe they fibbed?)
Well, I made it for more than three weeks with no sweetener in my beverages. Not even stevia or honey. So I can do it. I don't want to do it. I want sugar. Still. Months later.
What I discovered, however, is that hot water works for me on par with unsweetened tea and coffee. Plus, if I want to ratchet-up the flavor of plain old hot water, a little lemon juice or cranberry juice or orange or lime is wunderbar. Better than unsweetened tea or coffee.
But
still not as good as tea and coffee with sugar.
I know some of y'all like your coffee black, the way grown-ups drink it. But I sure do like mine with sugar. I'm wussy. Oh, and the tea: Mississippi sweet-tea is too much like Kool-aid for my tastes. But I sho'nuf do like me some sugar in my tea. BUT my mommy told me once-upon-a-time that three weeks straight with NO SUGAR in your coffee will teach you to like it black. She and Dad toughed it out. And they never wanted to go back to sweetened coffee. (Or so they said. Maybe they fibbed?)
Well, I made it for more than three weeks with no sweetener in my beverages. Not even stevia or honey. So I can do it. I don't want to do it. I want sugar. Still. Months later.
What I discovered, however, is that hot water works for me on par with unsweetened tea and coffee. Plus, if I want to ratchet-up the flavor of plain old hot water, a little lemon juice or cranberry juice or orange or lime is wunderbar. Better than unsweetened tea or coffee.
But
still not as good as tea and coffee with sugar.
Where Was Jesus Baptized?
The Israelites entered the Promised Land when they crossed the Jordan River (Joshua 3). This is not only a historical, geographical fact, it's also a picture/foreshadowing of Christians crossing into heaven after a pilgrimage through the wilderness of life.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. I always thought that was because [duh] the Jordan River just happened to be the one that was available for John the Baptist. A simple fact of geography and nothing more.
But it IS more. We are joined to Him in His death and resurrection (Romans 6). In His baptism, He takes our sin upon Himself and gives us His righteousness. This is our entry into the promised land. Baptism is when the Father says also to us, "This one is My beloved son."
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.
A simple fact of geography.
And a big, sweet, beautiful theological truth
of what has been
and of what is yet to come.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. I always thought that was because [duh] the Jordan River just happened to be the one that was available for John the Baptist. A simple fact of geography and nothing more.
But it IS more. We are joined to Him in His death and resurrection (Romans 6). In His baptism, He takes our sin upon Himself and gives us His righteousness. This is our entry into the promised land. Baptism is when the Father says also to us, "This one is My beloved son."
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.
A simple fact of geography.
And a big, sweet, beautiful theological truth
of what has been
and of what is yet to come.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Hooray for Antibiotics!
That said, doctors and modern medicine can do aMAZing things!! If it weren't for her surgeons, Maggie wouldn't be alive. If it weren't for my surgeons last spring, I wouldn't be walking, talking, driving, and going to work any more. And just this past week, a granddaughter ended up in the hospital. From a splinter. A lousy little splinter that appeared to been removed easily and cleaned up just fine at the time. A century ago, kiddo may have died from that splinter and ensuing infection and how it was trying to spread. But in 2015, it's [cough] "no big deal." A bit o' minor surgery to clean the wound. Antibiotics pumped straight into her blood. Just one night as an in-patient. And thus Jesus cures her!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Ash Wednesday
This morning after chapel, last year's palms (from Palm Sunday) were burned to ashes (for the imposition of ashes later today). There is a rite that goes with this; it's not in the hymnal so I can't find the exact words. But there's something in there about how ashes show the frailty of our bodies. "All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness like the flowers of the field. The grass withers; the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. The people are grass. The grass withers...." (Isaiah 40)
Boy, that hits you different after you spent last Eastertide in ICU. Frail bodies, indeed!
Boy, that hits you different after you spent last Eastertide in ICU. Frail bodies, indeed!
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Talking Math
I recently bumped into the oh-so-cool blog "Talking Math with Your Children."
~ Fun stories that let you watch children learn when you don't have little ones to provide such amusement in your own home.
~ Ideas to encourage math-thinking in kids.
~ The importance of using numbers casually in everyday conversation, and how this habit will affect children's math-thinking.
I could waste a lot of time perusing this blog just for funsies!
For now, two quick comments:
First, the author put together an awesome book of shapes where you're supposed to figure out how "one of these things is not like the others; one of these things is not quite the same." It will work for 3-yr-olds or 50-yr-olds.
Second, a quote from the blogger:
Now, go play some math!
~ Fun stories that let you watch children learn when you don't have little ones to provide such amusement in your own home.
~ Ideas to encourage math-thinking in kids.
~ The importance of using numbers casually in everyday conversation, and how this habit will affect children's math-thinking.
I could waste a lot of time perusing this blog just for funsies!
For now, two quick comments:
First, the author put together an awesome book of shapes where you're supposed to figure out how "one of these things is not like the others; one of these things is not quite the same." It will work for 3-yr-olds or 50-yr-olds.
Second, a quote from the blogger:
Many things that you hope to remember, you can remember by encountering them frequently. Tabitha has never sat down with flash cards to memorize her single-digit addition facts. Yet she is in second grade and is starting to feel confident with them.This is where I get skittish about "classical ed" for math [accepted by some as "Just memorize the factoids already and don't expect the kids to understand what's going on]. Granted, I realize that some kids do fine with "just memorize it and practice enough that you can rattle off the drill, and then later you'll learn to understand." But some kids don't handle that well! How this Tabitha learned is the same way most of my children learned their math facts: if you figure it out repeatedly, soon you've accomplished two things. One: you've learned it, that is, memorized it. Two: you understand the concept already ... even to the point that, if you should "forget it" some day, you'll easily be able to figure it out quickly.
Now, go play some math!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Can't Stay Clean
Maggie mopped the kitchen floor while I was gone yesterday.
I came home. Kitty jumped into my lap. I [shhh! shhhh!] requested someone to sneak a pair of scissors over to me. I trimmed knots and lumps out of kitty's fur. I was careful with gathering the clumps, but still ... it's a hair-trim. Little bits of fur scattered and drifted.
We don't have toddlers living here. This must be our version of the rule that milk MUST be spilled on a freshly mopped floor within 17 minutes of the mop drying.
I came home. Kitty jumped into my lap. I [shhh! shhhh!] requested someone to sneak a pair of scissors over to me. I trimmed knots and lumps out of kitty's fur. I was careful with gathering the clumps, but still ... it's a hair-trim. Little bits of fur scattered and drifted.
We don't have toddlers living here. This must be our version of the rule that milk MUST be spilled on a freshly mopped floor within 17 minutes of the mop drying.
Monday, February 09, 2015
Twelve Minutes
Grandkids were dropped off here on Monday morning. Katie told me what she'd brought for food and gave me a list of phone numbers.
No sooner had Mommy and Daddy left than Alia (6 yrs old) tells me that she NeeEEEeeeds a peanut-butter-&-Nutella sandwich. "It's been TWELVE minutes since I ate breakfast, Nanna. I am SOooooo hungry!"
"Twelve minutes?! Oh my. Really?!"
"Yes, Nanna. Twellllve minutes. I neeeEEEeeed a sandwich!!" This is, of course, accompanied by elaborate gestures and vocalizations of one nigh onto dying of starvation.
After a bit of this [ahem] bantering, I leave for a minute or so to help Zoe with something. I come back to the kitchen, and Alia dives in again. "It's been TWELVE minutes since I ate. I neeEEEeeed food, Nanna! I neeEEEEeeed a Nutella sandwich!"
Please understand that it takes about 7 minutes to drive from their home to ours. They'd been here for a few minutes already. Doing a fairly good job of hiding my desire to laugh, I told Alia, "You know, sweetie, twelve minutes ago, I think your parents were already locking the door of your apartment and you were headed down the stairs and out to the car. I'm not so sure of your timetable on all this."
A moment of regrouping.
"Nanna, it's been THIRrrrrTEEeeN minutes since I ate. I'm starving!! I neeEEEeeed a peanut-butter-&-Nutella sandwich."
No sooner had Mommy and Daddy left than Alia (6 yrs old) tells me that she NeeEEEeeeds a peanut-butter-&-Nutella sandwich. "It's been TWELVE minutes since I ate breakfast, Nanna. I am SOooooo hungry!"
"Twelve minutes?! Oh my. Really?!"
"Yes, Nanna. Twellllve minutes. I neeeEEEeeed a sandwich!!" This is, of course, accompanied by elaborate gestures and vocalizations of one nigh onto dying of starvation.
After a bit of this [ahem] bantering, I leave for a minute or so to help Zoe with something. I come back to the kitchen, and Alia dives in again. "It's been TWELVE minutes since I ate. I neeEEEeeed food, Nanna! I neeEEEEeeed a Nutella sandwich!"
Please understand that it takes about 7 minutes to drive from their home to ours. They'd been here for a few minutes already. Doing a fairly good job of hiding my desire to laugh, I told Alia, "You know, sweetie, twelve minutes ago, I think your parents were already locking the door of your apartment and you were headed down the stairs and out to the car. I'm not so sure of your timetable on all this."
A moment of regrouping.
"Nanna, it's been THIRrrrrTEEeeN minutes since I ate. I'm starving!! I neeEEEeeed a peanut-butter-&-Nutella sandwich."
Update
Not blogging. Missing it.
A couple of big snows. I think we finally (!) have all the snow removed.
Taxes finished. Woo hoo!
Maggie's pneumonia is gone. Colds and general illness in the house aren't plaguing us at the moment.
Babysitting kids more than normal.
Trying to catch up on schoolwork that was neglected during Dec/Jan illnesses.
Big news: another grandchild on the way. Yee haw!
New glasses weren't adjusted right and my eyes were all googly-weird until I drove back to the optometrist (wearing the old glasses) a few days later. Nice to be able to see again.
Book I'm reading is harder than anything I've read since pre-stroke. But I'm enjoying it. Biographies of Chinese women in the 1900s.
Starting this week, my work schedule is increasing two hours a week. May not sound like much to you, but it seems like a humongous step to me. Also, I have a follow-up with the neurologist soon.
Looked at a house in town this past weekend, thinking a move would give Maggie access to places (church, library, grocery store, pharmacy, doctor, gym, park, possible jobs, etc) without being chauffeured. Some extra freedom for her. But the house, a duplex, wasn't okay. And we have some serious reserves about moving into the village anyway. At least, the condition of the house made for a no-brainer decision!
A couple of big snows. I think we finally (!) have all the snow removed.
Taxes finished. Woo hoo!
Maggie's pneumonia is gone. Colds and general illness in the house aren't plaguing us at the moment.
Babysitting kids more than normal.
Trying to catch up on schoolwork that was neglected during Dec/Jan illnesses.
Big news: another grandchild on the way. Yee haw!
New glasses weren't adjusted right and my eyes were all googly-weird until I drove back to the optometrist (wearing the old glasses) a few days later. Nice to be able to see again.
Book I'm reading is harder than anything I've read since pre-stroke. But I'm enjoying it. Biographies of Chinese women in the 1900s.
Starting this week, my work schedule is increasing two hours a week. May not sound like much to you, but it seems like a humongous step to me. Also, I have a follow-up with the neurologist soon.
Looked at a house in town this past weekend, thinking a move would give Maggie access to places (church, library, grocery store, pharmacy, doctor, gym, park, possible jobs, etc) without being chauffeured. Some extra freedom for her. But the house, a duplex, wasn't okay. And we have some serious reserves about moving into the village anyway. At least, the condition of the house made for a no-brainer decision!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Holy Housewifery
It's not.
The book is a delightful combination.
If you can look past the occasional references to praying to the saints, you find humor and pretty decent theology.
Imagine a combination of Martin Luther, Matt Harrison, John Kleinig, and Peter Bender -- on topics of vocation and joy and marriage and contentment and suffering and serving-the-neighbor (albeit a bit short on the Gospel). Stir in a hefty amount of humor similar to Erma Bombeck's (yes!!). Sprinkle lightly with some Roman Catholic perspective.
It's a very quick read.
By Ethel Marbach.
Published in 1964.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Reading Challenge 2015
Challenge is probably too strong a word. Maybe "plans." Or "tentative plans." Or wish list.
How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young
Wild Swans, by Chang
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde
Holy Housewifery (because somebody mentioned it jokingly on Jenny's FB page and I happen to have a copy)
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese
Re-reads:
Narnia
Harry Potter
Hammer of God
With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside
Penderwicks
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules Every Christian Ought to Break
Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers
How to Respond to Eastern Religions -- finished Jan 7
Crunchy Cons, by Dreher
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Aron
Let's Roll, by Beamer
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
Light in the Dark Belt: The Story of Rosa Young
Wild Swans, by Chang
On Being a Theologian of the Cross, by Forde
Holy Housewifery (because somebody mentioned it jokingly on Jenny's FB page and I happen to have a copy)
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good, by Karon
Beyond the Mists, by Benchley
Cutting for Stone, by Verghese
Re-reads:
Narnia
Harry Potter
Hammer of God
With Maggie:
Anne of Ingleside
Rainbow Valley
Rilla of Ingleside
Penderwicks
Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules Every Christian Ought to Break
Swallows and Amazon series
or Little House series (again)
or Little Britches series
or Five Little Peppers
Friday, January 09, 2015
Kid's Choice: Mom-at-Home or Mom-at-Work
The story comes from many different families. Kid says, "Mommy, don't go to work today. Stay home with me." Mommy says, "Well, I could quit my job and stay home with you. But if I do, then we don't have money to buy the things you like. Don't you like going to the go-kart track? Don't you like going out for pizza? Don't you like the toys we buy and the Buzz Lightyear sweatshirt you chose last week? If I didn't have a job, I wouldn't have money to buy those things." Kid thinks a bit. Kid says, "Go to work, Mommy."
People laugh.
People think it's so cute.
I would be embarrassed to announce proudly that my kid would prefer material stuff from me than my company. (That is, assuming that Mom's income is not buying necessities such as rent, groceries, and medicine.)
My question: WHY does a kid answer, "Go to work, Mommy"? Because the child is accustomed to day-care, does he see only the loss of stuff and not the gain of his parents' attention? Is it that the child naturally prefers indulgences to being with parents? (I suspect not but may be wrong.) Has the child learned that the parents think the toys and outings are a higher priority than copious time together as a family?
People laugh.
People think it's so cute.
I would be embarrassed to announce proudly that my kid would prefer material stuff from me than my company. (That is, assuming that Mom's income is not buying necessities such as rent, groceries, and medicine.)
My question: WHY does a kid answer, "Go to work, Mommy"? Because the child is accustomed to day-care, does he see only the loss of stuff and not the gain of his parents' attention? Is it that the child naturally prefers indulgences to being with parents? (I suspect not but may be wrong.) Has the child learned that the parents think the toys and outings are a higher priority than copious time together as a family?
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Community -- Consumerism
Consumerists
find and express their personal identity through the consumption of products. Its ultimate goal is the spread of happiness and well-being through the improvement of material conditions, and the creation of general increase of wealth.
There's nothing objectively wrong with material progress, and a great deal right with it.
The problem is the way we relate to our materials gains.
Crunchy Cons, page 29
A society built on consumerism must break down eventually for the same reason socialism did: because even though it is infinitely better than socialism at meeting our physical needs and gratifying our physical desires, consumerism also treats human beings as merely materialists, as ciphers on a spreadsheet. It cannot, over time, serve the deepest needs of the human person for stability, spirituality, and authentic community.
Crunchy Cons, page 49
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
Community -- Technology
Americans naively accept new technologies, thinking only of what these technologies can do, but never what they can undo.
Crunchy Cons, page 33,
referring to Neil
Postman's Technopoly
Yes.
TV. Facebook. Smart-phones. Email lists.
But they're here.
No undoing it.
How do we respond,
using the technology wisely,
and yet preserving what that technology will undo?
Monday, January 05, 2015
Community -- Individualism
Free-market, technology-driven capitalism, for all its benefits, tends to pull families and communities apart by empowering individuals and encouraging --even mandating-- individualism. Most Americans would say, "Hey, what's wrong with individualism?" not thinking about the social costs of strained and even broken familial and communal bonds.
Crunchy Cons, page 41
Christmas Pictures: Time for Games
 |
| Big girls played "Ticket to Ride." |
 |
| Younger set tried their hand at Battleship. |
 |
| The fellas pulled out their Magic Cards. |
Sunday, January 04, 2015
Community -- A Book
Eight years ago, a bunch of my friends started a book-discussion group. I wanted to join. But I was still homeschooling three kids. Somebody's artery was beginning to fail and surgery was being planned. It was the wrong time for me to be reading for myself.
So now I'm ready.
Already.
The book was published in 2006. Rod Dreher wrote Crunchy Cons.
I think now is a much better time for me to be reading this book. I've been struggling with questions that I didn't have eight years ago. Moving to suburbia and starting a job-for-wages has brought with it an unsettledness. An unsettledness which I haven't been able to make sense of. And this book is helping.
The book is about how certain traditionalists can't stand the liberals because so much of what they're about is fulfilling their lusts, unrestrained. And yet, these same traditionalists can't stand the conservatives because so much of what they're about is fulfilling their greed, unrestrained. The book is about how this basic premise coincides with a plethora of topics: obesity, immigration policy, how everyone bemoans that we don't know our neighbors, the fussing betwixt our township and the nearby village, organic veggies and food co-ops, a new Meijer's or a new YMCA, the tremendous importance of stay-at-home moms, and so much more.
What I'm pondering most is the thesis that many who consider themselves conservatives, aren't. They may be in the "conservative" political party. They may be in favor of the free market. But if they're still driven by the consumerism that dominates this culture, they're fooling themselves. Getting more stuff and "growing the economy" isn't conservative. Spending time with family, appreciating beauty, serving the neighbor, working hard, being in touch with the natural world -- that's what being conservative is really about.
So now I'm ready.
Already.
The book was published in 2006. Rod Dreher wrote Crunchy Cons.
I think now is a much better time for me to be reading this book. I've been struggling with questions that I didn't have eight years ago. Moving to suburbia and starting a job-for-wages has brought with it an unsettledness. An unsettledness which I haven't been able to make sense of. And this book is helping.
The book is about how certain traditionalists can't stand the liberals because so much of what they're about is fulfilling their lusts, unrestrained. And yet, these same traditionalists can't stand the conservatives because so much of what they're about is fulfilling their greed, unrestrained. The book is about how this basic premise coincides with a plethora of topics: obesity, immigration policy, how everyone bemoans that we don't know our neighbors, the fussing betwixt our township and the nearby village, organic veggies and food co-ops, a new Meijer's or a new YMCA, the tremendous importance of stay-at-home moms, and so much more.
What I'm pondering most is the thesis that many who consider themselves conservatives, aren't. They may be in the "conservative" political party. They may be in favor of the free market. But if they're still driven by the consumerism that dominates this culture, they're fooling themselves. Getting more stuff and "growing the economy" isn't conservative. Spending time with family, appreciating beauty, serving the neighbor, working hard, being in touch with the natural world -- that's what being conservative is really about.
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