A very thoughtful piece. I think we have all been a Hollom and doubted ourselves, just as we have been crew members unfairly talking down the contributions of others. We are all sinners really.
Self-doubt is crippling and can take considerable work to overcome. I have always had affinity with the Holloms myself.
Not to absolve ourselves of the wrong, but perhaps there were some challenges our evolutionary ancestors faced that scapegoating was adapted to solve; or maybe it’s just useful for eliminating competition in the social hierarchy. Either way, the heart aches for the Holloms of the world. Would that we could learn to not pick up that first stone.
Sadly, it seems to just be something that will always be in us. Trying to notice it and restrain ourselves when it’s happening is probably the best we can do.
This piece was wonderfully thoughtful and well written. I love the emphasis on the tragedy and the humanity of the people you spoke of. Thank you, this was an excellent read.
Grief and anger make fools of us all, turning us into Paul Ehrlich's proverbial children with machine guns. It's a pathway to doing things others would consider... unnatural.
Again: Great storytelling! These are truly tragic events, where people inflicted needless harm on others. There is a strong urge to know the culprit of a crime in us all. It's our collective responsibility to withhold judgement for as long as possible. That's hard and takes a lot of self-control and restraint - and so we often succumb to not doing it.
As for the story of Jonah: If you haven't read it: The sermon about the story of Jonah in Moby Dick is a truly riveting piece of writing.
A very thoughtful piece. I think we have all been a Hollom and doubted ourselves, just as we have been crew members unfairly talking down the contributions of others. We are all sinners really.
Self-doubt is crippling and can take considerable work to overcome. I have always had affinity with the Holloms myself.
Not to absolve ourselves of the wrong, but perhaps there were some challenges our evolutionary ancestors faced that scapegoating was adapted to solve; or maybe it’s just useful for eliminating competition in the social hierarchy. Either way, the heart aches for the Holloms of the world. Would that we could learn to not pick up that first stone.
Sadly, it seems to just be something that will always be in us. Trying to notice it and restrain ourselves when it’s happening is probably the best we can do.
Most folks go through life without ever being jeered at by a bloodthirsty mob. They don't know how it feels.
It ain't fun.
POWERFUL! With both a great reminder and caution.
King David chose to be judged by God rather falling into the hands of the people for judgment.
Excellent points. Thanks for this article.
This piece was wonderfully thoughtful and well written. I love the emphasis on the tragedy and the humanity of the people you spoke of. Thank you, this was an excellent read.
Grief and anger make fools of us all, turning us into Paul Ehrlich's proverbial children with machine guns. It's a pathway to doing things others would consider... unnatural.
https://argomend.substack.com/p/necorpolis-funeral-homes-inc
Powerful. ❤️💯❤️
Again: Great storytelling! These are truly tragic events, where people inflicted needless harm on others. There is a strong urge to know the culprit of a crime in us all. It's our collective responsibility to withhold judgement for as long as possible. That's hard and takes a lot of self-control and restraint - and so we often succumb to not doing it.
As for the story of Jonah: If you haven't read it: The sermon about the story of Jonah in Moby Dick is a truly riveting piece of writing.