Other than being a big-time basketball player "before my time", I knew nothing about Russell when I saw him speak around 1980 when I was in college. I wasn't expecting a jock would teach me a life changing worldview that night.
He basically gave a talk about the difference between people acting in their immediate self interest versus acting on their long-term "enlighten self interest". Only by acting with enlighten self interest can we ourselves be "free". By tolerating injustice of others--acting out of short-term self-interest--we will never be free ourselves. His example was of course centered around racism and why it was in the enlighten self-interest of the predominately white middle-class audience he was speaking to, to support the civil rights movement.
I'd like to connect that lesson I learned from Russell to (some of ) your writings and especially the GREAT podcast "two wolves" you and Sarah had on Friday. It is in our short term interest to treat the wolf as an enemy that we should fear (and the wolf will act accordingly). But it is in our enlighten self interest to feed the wolf and give it respect.
In terms of your writing, you preach to "love" others, ie Cletus the Trumper. While I have little sympathy for Trumpers--and I've tried--I recognize you are correct (and I give you a pass on your occasional mocking of Cletus) that we need to understand what makes Cletus tick. It is in my enlightened self-interest to try and understand Cletus.
Finally, the best Bill Russell story is why he often refused to sign autographs, as he'd rather shake your hand and have a short conversation.
Bill Russell wrote an autobiography, and for decades wrote a column, not a sports column but whatever he was interested in. I think you would like him.
Maybe? I don’t know enough about him. But Mary and Kareem are writers and I love that.
Other than being a big-time basketball player "before my time", I knew nothing about Russell when I saw him speak around 1980 when I was in college. I wasn't expecting a jock would teach me a life changing worldview that night.
He basically gave a talk about the difference between people acting in their immediate self interest versus acting on their long-term "enlighten self interest". Only by acting with enlighten self interest can we ourselves be "free". By tolerating injustice of others--acting out of short-term self-interest--we will never be free ourselves. His example was of course centered around racism and why it was in the enlighten self-interest of the predominately white middle-class audience he was speaking to, to support the civil rights movement.
I'd like to connect that lesson I learned from Russell to (some of ) your writings and especially the GREAT podcast "two wolves" you and Sarah had on Friday. It is in our short term interest to treat the wolf as an enemy that we should fear (and the wolf will act accordingly). But it is in our enlighten self interest to feed the wolf and give it respect.
In terms of your writing, you preach to "love" others, ie Cletus the Trumper. While I have little sympathy for Trumpers--and I've tried--I recognize you are correct (and I give you a pass on your occasional mocking of Cletus) that we need to understand what makes Cletus tick. It is in my enlightened self-interest to try and understand Cletus.
Finally, the best Bill Russell story is why he often refused to sign autographs, as he'd rather shake your hand and have a short conversation.
Bill Russell wrote an autobiography, and for decades wrote a column, not a sports column but whatever he was interested in. I think you would like him.