What a gentle and lovely call for remembering what's important in this time of political division. And, what a great remembrance of the enchanting story from Bret Harte and connection to country-western artist Garth Brooks. Everything relates to everything and we're all in this together.
In spite of an intense loathing of his music that began with my adolescence (and which I never quite outgrew), I have become something of an admirer of Brooks's character.
Thank you, Andrew. I have some music and artists I have trouble hearing, too. Although my younger self categorically did not like country music, at one point, it seemed a better idea to at least find some artists I could appreciate, based on where I lived. I do admire that Brooks uses his influence to try to challenge prejudices. :-)
Tara, my own personal concession to country music (same issue as a kid!) is that I've fallen in love with older country music, decidedly pre-80s and mostly pre-70s. Those tunes are just SO good!
"... certain stimuli could vaporize the divisions of ideology and prejudice. At least for the duration of a song, a concert, or a child’s needy infancy, people of strong opinion might voluntarily submit to a high feeling transporting them to their better selves.
If this is possible, could we make more of it?"
Yes, yes, yes! Such a great observation - how can we harness these moments for more enduring unity?
In short (which I'm almost always incapable of achieving), YES!!!
Tiny addendum: Unum from the Pluribus is, I think, always full incubated and ready to hatch. It just needs the right conditions, one of which is more people - like you! - who are willing to make a stand for it. Thank you.
Thank you, Elizabeth. It’s powerful to think of unum as incubated and ready to hatch, right here all the time. So, heat lamps and hens, people! How hard can this be? 🐣😊💡
Your line, “at least for the duration of a song, a concert, or a child’s needy infancy, people of strong opinion might voluntarily submit to a high feeling transporting them to their better selves,” made me think of our nation’s founding.
An assemblage of people (well…white males) with passionately disparate opinions about how a national government ought to be constructed, and how much power it ought to be given, managed to overcome those divisions in service to a higher good. While some of that motivation was certainly born of fear, fear of what might happen if they did not create a stronger national government, I’d like to think that at least some of the motivation, at least for some of the participants, was aspirational—what great thing might we become if only we can exercise a little compromise? How might we advance the common good by finding common ground?
While my take on the American experience—beginning (perhaps) in 1493, to the present—is far more critical today than this statement might indicate, hopefully you get the point. As Wendell Berry writes: “it is apparently the nature of division sooner or later to destroy what is divided; the principle of durability is unity.” Unfortunately for the Republic, division sells.
Blame is all on my roots, but I’d like to suggest that in our quest for unity, we pursue an active unity that recognizes and embraces our intimate and inseparable commonality with all non-human nature. I believe there is plenty of room for enchantment in this pursuit. Perhaps that is where it begins. And let’s hope it lasts for longer than the duration of a Garth Brooks song.
Yes, yes! You are right to bring Wendell Berry into this, and the founders, and non-human nature. This reminds me of what architect Julie Gabrielli is writing over at the Substack called Building Hope. You might like Julie's new series on Thoreau. Last week she sent us all outdoors to sit with something. I am truant and still have that enchanting homework to do! :-) Nice to see you here on this wonderful platform for writers.
What a gentle and lovely call for remembering what's important in this time of political division. And, what a great remembrance of the enchanting story from Bret Harte and connection to country-western artist Garth Brooks. Everything relates to everything and we're all in this together.
Thank you, Joyce. :-)
In spite of an intense loathing of his music that began with my adolescence (and which I never quite outgrew), I have become something of an admirer of Brooks's character.
Thank you, Andrew. I have some music and artists I have trouble hearing, too. Although my younger self categorically did not like country music, at one point, it seemed a better idea to at least find some artists I could appreciate, based on where I lived. I do admire that Brooks uses his influence to try to challenge prejudices. :-)
Tara, my own personal concession to country music (same issue as a kid!) is that I've fallen in love with older country music, decidedly pre-80s and mostly pre-70s. Those tunes are just SO good!
Brooks just seems like a good human.
"... certain stimuli could vaporize the divisions of ideology and prejudice. At least for the duration of a song, a concert, or a child’s needy infancy, people of strong opinion might voluntarily submit to a high feeling transporting them to their better selves.
If this is possible, could we make more of it?"
Yes, yes, yes! Such a great observation - how can we harness these moments for more enduring unity?
Thank you, Safar. You found your way right to a key motivation of the Enchanted project. Keen eye there! 😊
In short (which I'm almost always incapable of achieving), YES!!!
Tiny addendum: Unum from the Pluribus is, I think, always full incubated and ready to hatch. It just needs the right conditions, one of which is more people - like you! - who are willing to make a stand for it. Thank you.
Thank you, Elizabeth. It’s powerful to think of unum as incubated and ready to hatch, right here all the time. So, heat lamps and hens, people! How hard can this be? 🐣😊💡
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Your line, “at least for the duration of a song, a concert, or a child’s needy infancy, people of strong opinion might voluntarily submit to a high feeling transporting them to their better selves,” made me think of our nation’s founding.
An assemblage of people (well…white males) with passionately disparate opinions about how a national government ought to be constructed, and how much power it ought to be given, managed to overcome those divisions in service to a higher good. While some of that motivation was certainly born of fear, fear of what might happen if they did not create a stronger national government, I’d like to think that at least some of the motivation, at least for some of the participants, was aspirational—what great thing might we become if only we can exercise a little compromise? How might we advance the common good by finding common ground?
While my take on the American experience—beginning (perhaps) in 1493, to the present—is far more critical today than this statement might indicate, hopefully you get the point. As Wendell Berry writes: “it is apparently the nature of division sooner or later to destroy what is divided; the principle of durability is unity.” Unfortunately for the Republic, division sells.
Blame is all on my roots, but I’d like to suggest that in our quest for unity, we pursue an active unity that recognizes and embraces our intimate and inseparable commonality with all non-human nature. I believe there is plenty of room for enchantment in this pursuit. Perhaps that is where it begins. And let’s hope it lasts for longer than the duration of a Garth Brooks song.
Yes, yes! You are right to bring Wendell Berry into this, and the founders, and non-human nature. This reminds me of what architect Julie Gabrielli is writing over at the Substack called Building Hope. You might like Julie's new series on Thoreau. Last week she sent us all outdoors to sit with something. I am truant and still have that enchanting homework to do! :-) Nice to see you here on this wonderful platform for writers.