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Aug 28Liked by Stephen Semler

The bipartisan war party was on full display at the DNC convention. I think Jungian psychoanalyst Hollis helped me see us a little better. He said our default settings are fear and lethargy.

It explains why the military lobby is so damned effective getting a $1 trillion a year+ for perpetual war. Our dear friend fear gets played out in Congress by regular human beings unwilling to look less tough than other paid off Congressmen.

And the lethargy makes sense when you see a poll that says mo st Americans want an arms embargo on Israel but...

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I thought this artwork captured what I see better than anything. If you could make the trauma roots for Palestinians and Israelis weave together, one would begin to get an appreciation for the trauma drama undergirding perpetual war. Peace is difficult work. It requires more skillfulness than I am capable of if someone kills my family But art might help us see the world a little more clearly. Mind you I am a fan of Pema Chodron, who taught me to sit with what's shitty. https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/08/23/ari-richter-auschwitz-memoir-review/

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