It is a joy to read someone whose intelligent analysis of the world is founded on optimism and faith in the human race. Thank you... and I love the accompanying photos of indigenous people. We are all "indigenous" somewhere. (And lucky you to have an excuse to travel to Samarkand!)
You framed the issues perfectly - one of the best overviews I’ve read and you’ve articulated exactly what has been said by outsiders - Americans believe they are free because we’ve been told we are, but we are not - as you point out we get shamed to pick a side or self-censor. We are at the mercy of corporate interests - we, the people, are last on the Hierarchy of needs.
Indeed Kristy - I first came to the US in 1987, straight from the Communist world. All the talk about the freest nation on earth, etc. sounded weird to me because we were much, much freer back home. Not because communism was good, but because the state apparatus was dilapidated and inert and not good at enforcing its own rules. The people got used to ignoring rules and laws that seemed idiotic and we navigated life as we saw fit. We really were much freer than we are now under "democracy and freedom."
Similarly I moved to Ireland 33 years ago, had a good professional career and I am now nearly done raising four boys. Being able to see my birth country from the outside is eye-opening and I would share with my US friends that I didn’t think Americans realise how hard things are over there - they have freedom - but what kind? I found my life here gave me freedom from worry - on things like healthcare (public and affordable private options) and education (college tuition is 3500 euro) - With these type of costs, I had the choice of whether I wanted to continue my career or focus on my kids (this possibility isn’t always true for everyone, but it was true for more than most). Holiday entitlements are more generous too. I bristle when US politicians and know-it-alls refer to ‘socialist Europe’. Europe is not socialist. I sometimes think the misappropriation is on purpose. There is a reason European countries rank highly on quality of life surveys. Sadly thanks to the all the ECB cheap money, the US proxy war and the blowing up of Nordstream these things are at risk now.
“The clever, capable chickens would be held up as examples for others and proof positive that with hard work [,an iron gullet,] and grit, any chicken could succeed.”
Could not resist adding to your excellent allegory.
another hopeful message. Thank you so much for this uplifting piece! I recently saw a documenatry about people on the (Kazakhstan) border. The reporter asked them if they did not miss certain modern things - I think it was internet, and the men responded : if we want it, we just write to Putin, he will fix it for us. This was not the first positive note. Other docs showed how the wages in Russia have risen to comfortable heighth, how the stores are well filled, and of course, when you see some of the beautiful countryside, there are certainly places I would not mind living! Unfortunately I do not speak the language, or I might be tempted LOL. the people seem to be very friendly and outgoing as well, and all reporters and tourists I have seen so far confirm my observation.
The last 20 years I look at what is happening in the US and have been confused nothing makes any sense we go from one crisis to another and ConInc and Liberal media keep pushing the divide with all the nonsense. Then in the last few years I discovered you, Matt Ehret and devoured his books and all the books he referenced, and my eyes are wide open now and can see through all the BS and understand from where it is coming from. I hope and pray the multiple bubbles burst soon and the west can get to the place God had intended for us with the rest of the world. Keep up the good work
Totally agree with you about getting out of the West. Yes, it has become like a lunatic asylum, I hadn't thought of it like that before but that's a good metaphor.
I've been out over two years and am now settled in Istanbul, where westerners are about but in much less numbers than Turks, Arabs, Russians and Iranians. Love it. I know some people have family and other commitments in the West but otherwise I'd say just leave.
Hello Alex, Very much appreciated your update. I was encouraged and uplifted. Thank you for posting the pictures. They speak for themselves. Your analysis hit the nail on the head ! If I were 50 years younger, my wife and I would have already moved there. I can ceretainly see the deterioration in the west over the last 30 years or so now, am just sorry I did not see it years ago and might have done something about it. Am still in touch with a couple of School friends in Austria and they feel as I do.
Thanks to my new favourite travelling journalist ❤️
I needed a bit of hopium this morning 😉
Here is some irony for you - my Grandmother and her brothers and parents escaped the psychopathic Bolsheviks over 100 years ago and came to Canada from Estonia. Today I am seriously considering escaping the same psychopaths in Canada and moving to Russia 😂
But this is my home and I wish to stay and fight as it feels God is winning slowly but surely 🙏❤️
In reply to your insightful and humorous comparison of us westerners to chickens, I’m reminded of that once popular American philosopher ‘Slip’ Mahoney who said – “ hey! I resemble that remark!”
What a beautiful essay, can't thank you enough Alex! As much as I love Tom L, your positive Yin is the perfect, opposite mindset to his Yang. I can't really countenance WWIII in any fashion, my mind just freezes up to STOP. All else is insignificant.
I swear I was thinking we hadn't heard from you in a while Alex; now we know why. Always appreciate your upbeat perspective. Thanks for providing a glimpse of what's possible on the other side of our 4th Turning!
Indeed I know how you feel about all that. Tom made a lengthy comment about the New Generation that doesn't necessarily give Israel the genocide Green Light. Not too many yrs ago I'd have been among the blind cheering Israel on. Now I only get disgusted or worse by the notion of marching the people of Gaza into Egypt...or the ocean. These are indeed Tough Times, find beauty & love where you may!
Thank you, Alex. This is beautiful.
Thank you Tessa Lena - coming from you, it's much appreciated!
It is a joy to read someone whose intelligent analysis of the world is founded on optimism and faith in the human race. Thank you... and I love the accompanying photos of indigenous people. We are all "indigenous" somewhere. (And lucky you to have an excuse to travel to Samarkand!)
Thank you Theresa, that's very kind ! 😊
You framed the issues perfectly - one of the best overviews I’ve read and you’ve articulated exactly what has been said by outsiders - Americans believe they are free because we’ve been told we are, but we are not - as you point out we get shamed to pick a side or self-censor. We are at the mercy of corporate interests - we, the people, are last on the Hierarchy of needs.
Indeed Kristy - I first came to the US in 1987, straight from the Communist world. All the talk about the freest nation on earth, etc. sounded weird to me because we were much, much freer back home. Not because communism was good, but because the state apparatus was dilapidated and inert and not good at enforcing its own rules. The people got used to ignoring rules and laws that seemed idiotic and we navigated life as we saw fit. We really were much freer than we are now under "democracy and freedom."
Similarly I moved to Ireland 33 years ago, had a good professional career and I am now nearly done raising four boys. Being able to see my birth country from the outside is eye-opening and I would share with my US friends that I didn’t think Americans realise how hard things are over there - they have freedom - but what kind? I found my life here gave me freedom from worry - on things like healthcare (public and affordable private options) and education (college tuition is 3500 euro) - With these type of costs, I had the choice of whether I wanted to continue my career or focus on my kids (this possibility isn’t always true for everyone, but it was true for more than most). Holiday entitlements are more generous too. I bristle when US politicians and know-it-alls refer to ‘socialist Europe’. Europe is not socialist. I sometimes think the misappropriation is on purpose. There is a reason European countries rank highly on quality of life surveys. Sadly thanks to the all the ECB cheap money, the US proxy war and the blowing up of Nordstream these things are at risk now.
"We are part of the natural world which is God’s divine creation."
Nicely done Alex. God bless you and yours.
Thank you Steve, same to you!
“The clever, capable chickens would be held up as examples for others and proof positive that with hard work [,an iron gullet,] and grit, any chicken could succeed.”
Could not resist adding to your excellent allegory.
👏😉
another hopeful message. Thank you so much for this uplifting piece! I recently saw a documenatry about people on the (Kazakhstan) border. The reporter asked them if they did not miss certain modern things - I think it was internet, and the men responded : if we want it, we just write to Putin, he will fix it for us. This was not the first positive note. Other docs showed how the wages in Russia have risen to comfortable heighth, how the stores are well filled, and of course, when you see some of the beautiful countryside, there are certainly places I would not mind living! Unfortunately I do not speak the language, or I might be tempted LOL. the people seem to be very friendly and outgoing as well, and all reporters and tourists I have seen so far confirm my observation.
Yes, the people are very friendly amd welcoming.
So welcome to hear from outside the chickenkind matrix!
About life itself is rarely heard and only outside the cackling coming from the coop.
Chickenkind is an good analogy perhaps describing the possible dark side of evolution to regress by its deafness to the divine.
After all a view of the cosmos doesn’t exist in the coop.
Cooped up feelings abound!
Well thought out!
Thank you Alex
The last 20 years I look at what is happening in the US and have been confused nothing makes any sense we go from one crisis to another and ConInc and Liberal media keep pushing the divide with all the nonsense. Then in the last few years I discovered you, Matt Ehret and devoured his books and all the books he referenced, and my eyes are wide open now and can see through all the BS and understand from where it is coming from. I hope and pray the multiple bubbles burst soon and the west can get to the place God had intended for us with the rest of the world. Keep up the good work
Thank you!
❤️🙏
Totally agree with you about getting out of the West. Yes, it has become like a lunatic asylum, I hadn't thought of it like that before but that's a good metaphor.
I've been out over two years and am now settled in Istanbul, where westerners are about but in much less numbers than Turks, Arabs, Russians and Iranians. Love it. I know some people have family and other commitments in the West but otherwise I'd say just leave.
Hello Alex, Very much appreciated your update. I was encouraged and uplifted. Thank you for posting the pictures. They speak for themselves. Your analysis hit the nail on the head ! If I were 50 years younger, my wife and I would have already moved there. I can ceretainly see the deterioration in the west over the last 30 years or so now, am just sorry I did not see it years ago and might have done something about it. Am still in touch with a couple of School friends in Austria and they feel as I do.
Regards
Peter
Thank you Peter! 😊
Thanks to my new favourite travelling journalist ❤️
I needed a bit of hopium this morning 😉
Here is some irony for you - my Grandmother and her brothers and parents escaped the psychopathic Bolsheviks over 100 years ago and came to Canada from Estonia. Today I am seriously considering escaping the same psychopaths in Canada and moving to Russia 😂
But this is my home and I wish to stay and fight as it feels God is winning slowly but surely 🙏❤️
God bless you!
Thank you, Steve! 🙂
In reply to your insightful and humorous comparison of us westerners to chickens, I’m reminded of that once popular American philosopher ‘Slip’ Mahoney who said – “ hey! I resemble that remark!”
😊🙏
Thank you for the reminder of fresh air and water outside the coop!
great as always! It can be so difficult to be positive with all of the negativity that bombards us every day...
Thank you!
What a beautiful essay, can't thank you enough Alex! As much as I love Tom L, your positive Yin is the perfect, opposite mindset to his Yang. I can't really countenance WWIII in any fashion, my mind just freezes up to STOP. All else is insignificant.
I swear I was thinking we hadn't heard from you in a while Alex; now we know why. Always appreciate your upbeat perspective. Thanks for providing a glimpse of what's possible on the other side of our 4th Turning!
Thank you Anthony. Another reasin I havrn't posted more lately is the stuff going down in Israel. It's made it hard to write... 😔
Indeed I know how you feel about all that. Tom made a lengthy comment about the New Generation that doesn't necessarily give Israel the genocide Green Light. Not too many yrs ago I'd have been among the blind cheering Israel on. Now I only get disgusted or worse by the notion of marching the people of Gaza into Egypt...or the ocean. These are indeed Tough Times, find beauty & love where you may!
So true, excellent thoughts.
Thank you!