I remember my mother saying that Hell does indeed exist, but it's not the otherworldly Hell that is so gleefully talked about by some (as the destination for others), it's the soul-crushing hell that so many have lived with throughout human evolution. It's usually inhabited by women, and of course, the poor, the marginalized, and the outsider, but it's everywhere. Anyone unfortunate enough to suffer from mental illness spends time there, as do their loved ones. Certainly, Rush Limbaugh would deserve to reside for some period in the biblical hell. I think of how successfully he exploited our divisions, how he played on our fears, and amplified the outrage of his audience. What a sickening human being! Today my students and I are spending some time watching and discussing the Mars rover, Perseverance, as it prepares to touch down. I can't help but think that the world is plagued by an unfathomably enormous case of attention-deficit-disorder. We could be celebrating one of humanity's greatest technological feats, and revel in the collaborative efforts of so many nations, but instead we are more likely turn our eyes and ears to divisive garbage. It's like there is a tractor beam sucking us into to the most life-destroying behaviors, and we wouldn't have it any other way because the pull of hatred exceeds that of kindness, wisdom and yes, love. Peter T.
Hell On Earth
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I remember my mother saying that Hell does indeed exist, but it's not the otherworldly Hell that is so gleefully talked about by some (as the destination for others), it's the soul-crushing hell that so many have lived with throughout human evolution. It's usually inhabited by women, and of course, the poor, the marginalized, and the outsider, but it's everywhere. Anyone unfortunate enough to suffer from mental illness spends time there, as do their loved ones. Certainly, Rush Limbaugh would deserve to reside for some period in the biblical hell. I think of how successfully he exploited our divisions, how he played on our fears, and amplified the outrage of his audience. What a sickening human being! Today my students and I are spending some time watching and discussing the Mars rover, Perseverance, as it prepares to touch down. I can't help but think that the world is plagued by an unfathomably enormous case of attention-deficit-disorder. We could be celebrating one of humanity's greatest technological feats, and revel in the collaborative efforts of so many nations, but instead we are more likely turn our eyes and ears to divisive garbage. It's like there is a tractor beam sucking us into to the most life-destroying behaviors, and we wouldn't have it any other way because the pull of hatred exceeds that of kindness, wisdom and yes, love. Peter T.
