Government shouldn't be in the business of charity *at all*. That said, charity isn't a bad thing in and of itself. I just happen to believe it ought to be voluntarily executed between private (i.e. non-government) parties.
I feel shame for my country, and her people - both the shameless and those who are too timid, too fearful to speak up against it. The former are a small but noisy coalition. If the majority refused to tolerate them and their shameless behavior, we would have a lot less of it.
You’ve unpacked a lot here John. Important to know that shame and guilt are different emotions; shame is indeed about “I am bad” whereas guilt is about “I did bad.”
Also, just because someone acts shamelessly (twerking and jerking off on zoom calls) doesn’t mean they’re not deeply shameful. Shamelessness (the Showtime series represented it humorously) involves a lot of deep-rooted shame.
Aug 21, 2023·edited Aug 21, 2023Liked by John Hawkins
Donald Trump didn't start this, but he brought it to politics and mainstreamed it. His super power is that he's a sociopath who's completely incapable of feeling shame. The reason why every politician who's tried to emulate him fails is because this is rare. DeSantis tries it, but DeSantis is ultimately a human being who feels empathy and shame, which are both weaknesses in post-Trump politics.
What this article misses is that shame is a two-way street. It doesn't just involve the people who refuse to feel shame, it also involves an enforced system of social morality. In Trump's case, the GOP no longer is enforcing this morality. They' let political tribalism and resentments corrupt them to the point that they are now calling bad "good," and good "bad." Under Trump, all that matters is winning and making liberals made, and most GOP voters will sell their souls to satan to do so.
So, should a man/men feel shame over being shirtless? Nakedness or public exposure of particular body parts is not inherently harmful or shame-worthy. Incessant efforts to sexualize and shame the female bosom (the only mammalian breasts which become and remain engorged for life regardless of impregnation) is done so by those who wish to monetize them. Normalizing such utilitarian body parts indeed removes their aura of mystique and majesty thereby rendering them useless as a commodity.
Government shouldn't be in the business of charity *at all*. That said, charity isn't a bad thing in and of itself. I just happen to believe it ought to be voluntarily executed between private (i.e. non-government) parties.
I feel shame for my country, and her people - both the shameless and those who are too timid, too fearful to speak up against it. The former are a small but noisy coalition. If the majority refused to tolerate them and their shameless behavior, we would have a lot less of it.
You’ve unpacked a lot here John. Important to know that shame and guilt are different emotions; shame is indeed about “I am bad” whereas guilt is about “I did bad.”
Also, just because someone acts shamelessly (twerking and jerking off on zoom calls) doesn’t mean they’re not deeply shameful. Shamelessness (the Showtime series represented it humorously) involves a lot of deep-rooted shame.
Great essay on some tough stuff 💪🏻
Donald Trump didn't start this, but he brought it to politics and mainstreamed it. His super power is that he's a sociopath who's completely incapable of feeling shame. The reason why every politician who's tried to emulate him fails is because this is rare. DeSantis tries it, but DeSantis is ultimately a human being who feels empathy and shame, which are both weaknesses in post-Trump politics.
What this article misses is that shame is a two-way street. It doesn't just involve the people who refuse to feel shame, it also involves an enforced system of social morality. In Trump's case, the GOP no longer is enforcing this morality. They' let political tribalism and resentments corrupt them to the point that they are now calling bad "good," and good "bad." Under Trump, all that matters is winning and making liberals made, and most GOP voters will sell their souls to satan to do so.
Well presented, sir. In that same vein I read this today that you might appreciate: https://open.substack.com/pub/seandietrich/p/america?r=5ru2&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
So, should a man/men feel shame over being shirtless? Nakedness or public exposure of particular body parts is not inherently harmful or shame-worthy. Incessant efforts to sexualize and shame the female bosom (the only mammalian breasts which become and remain engorged for life regardless of impregnation) is done so by those who wish to monetize them. Normalizing such utilitarian body parts indeed removes their aura of mystique and majesty thereby rendering them useless as a commodity.