So thoughtful, thought-provoking and beautifully written Hannah. Thank you for your letter.
Also with ref to time marching on, I realised recently that when I was born the end of the second world was only 32 years before. It seemed such a distant thing when I was young, but now I understand it wasn’t (isn’t?) at all. And I understand why it was so defining for all the grownups in my life back then.
That's a good example! My mum retired from social work earlier this year and she said when she begun (around the early 80s I think), many of her clients were World War One veterans, then World War Two veterans, and then eventually those were mostly gone too. A strange thought!
Thanks so much for reading and for your wonderful letters too. All best to you and Rusty
“I was in London last weekend meeting my brand-new niece, a little ball of squishy delight!”
That child doesn’t realize her good fortune to have a wonderful, talented Aunt with her all the way…Oh the places you two will go!!
“‘Did we have the internet when we were alive?’, she might wonder.”
There you go! What’s good for the goose….
“Sketches at Waterloo Station” Wonderful sketches…reminded me of the movie, “Waterloo Bridge,” from 1931…simply wonderful and heartbreaking…everyone should check it out…from James Whale
“…the Israeli-Arab conflict, is essentially a conflict between two victims. Two victims of the same oppressor. Europe…”
The “Deceit in the Desert,” AKA the Sykes–Picot Agreement, among the Allies in WWI set the table for every issue that ever reared it’s ugly, violent, racist head in the Middle East; there is much blame to go around, although in this instance not much blame on the U.S. There is no solution. Now, or even in the distant future. Innocents will suffer and die, just like innocents do since the beginning in every nation on this Earth. We, who author and read this newsletter each week, are the fortunate ones and yet we rarely pay homage to our good fortune. If there is justice in the Universe, the suffering innocents will be first and we who are oblivious to our own good fortune, will be last. All we can do is: https://youtu.be/KAu1T6syiD4?si=oO4Hz95qo0pL-KWy
A very thoughtful read, Hannah, especially on everything happening with Israel and Gaza. I have tried to distance myself from the news a bit this last week, simply because it feels so hopeless and sad. I know that's not the right thing to do, but it's what I felt I had to do.
"The nature of platforms like Twitter (now Elon Musk’s X) and Instagram is commercial and extractive, which I think necessarily warps the ensuing communications; the medium we’re using/consuming is closer to a pinball machine than a blank piece of paper." -- spot on. Well said.
So thoughtful, thought-provoking and beautifully written Hannah. Thank you for your letter.
Also with ref to time marching on, I realised recently that when I was born the end of the second world was only 32 years before. It seemed such a distant thing when I was young, but now I understand it wasn’t (isn’t?) at all. And I understand why it was so defining for all the grownups in my life back then.
Thank you very much for your kind words.
That's a good example! My mum retired from social work earlier this year and she said when she begun (around the early 80s I think), many of her clients were World War One veterans, then World War Two veterans, and then eventually those were mostly gone too. A strange thought!
Thanks so much for reading and for your wonderful letters too. All best to you and Rusty
“I was in London last weekend meeting my brand-new niece, a little ball of squishy delight!”
That child doesn’t realize her good fortune to have a wonderful, talented Aunt with her all the way…Oh the places you two will go!!
“‘Did we have the internet when we were alive?’, she might wonder.”
There you go! What’s good for the goose….
“Sketches at Waterloo Station” Wonderful sketches…reminded me of the movie, “Waterloo Bridge,” from 1931…simply wonderful and heartbreaking…everyone should check it out…from James Whale
https://youtu.be/k84eVgKw5h8?si=3invvuZ1CAzUviCz
“…the Israeli-Arab conflict, is essentially a conflict between two victims. Two victims of the same oppressor. Europe…”
The “Deceit in the Desert,” AKA the Sykes–Picot Agreement, among the Allies in WWI set the table for every issue that ever reared it’s ugly, violent, racist head in the Middle East; there is much blame to go around, although in this instance not much blame on the U.S. There is no solution. Now, or even in the distant future. Innocents will suffer and die, just like innocents do since the beginning in every nation on this Earth. We, who author and read this newsletter each week, are the fortunate ones and yet we rarely pay homage to our good fortune. If there is justice in the Universe, the suffering innocents will be first and we who are oblivious to our own good fortune, will be last. All we can do is: https://youtu.be/KAu1T6syiD4?si=oO4Hz95qo0pL-KWy
Thank you Judge for reading and your kind support! I always enjoy the movie links you send. All very best to you
A very thoughtful read, Hannah, especially on everything happening with Israel and Gaza. I have tried to distance myself from the news a bit this last week, simply because it feels so hopeless and sad. I know that's not the right thing to do, but it's what I felt I had to do.
"The nature of platforms like Twitter (now Elon Musk’s X) and Instagram is commercial and extractive, which I think necessarily warps the ensuing communications; the medium we’re using/consuming is closer to a pinball machine than a blank piece of paper." -- spot on. Well said.