Dear 2026 and 2028,
I’m looking for the “no trauma” candidates. Can you supply winners?

A fear of losing dominance will drive wild and wily behaviors to keep it. Confrontation unleashes that fear in those who value dominance above all else. We must be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove to quell such threat responses. Populists & demagogues quake from the fear within.

I sometimes wonder if something of a frenzy for respect drove the divisions and fear we see. As a child I learned how quickly reactionary violence could be triggered. Contemporary out-groups who used to be otherwise privileged, wanting change now are finding out about the ugly underbelly of fear.

Took in my morning dose of news—the NYT and my local public radio station. Stopped when sadness crept in. I wake each morning thankful for this life. That quickly turns to questions to the Source of All Being about protecting my children, grandchildren, and generations to come. Still discerning.

…could be tough to discourse on this topic in 300 characters. I’d love to host a virtual salon. Any takers?

I’m reading (again) Zarefsky’s Argumentation. Let’s take care to own our terms and coin language as effectively as those who are corrupting key social concepts with oversimplified, distorted redefinitions.