"Even the poorest people can have wonderful relationships without transactional gift-giving.
Go do something wonderful for someone you have, or would like to have, in your life."
~ David Satterlee
Showing posts with label strangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strangers. Show all posts
Monday, February 17, 2014
The Key to Relationships
"Even the poorest people can have wonderful relationships without transactional gift-giving.
Go do something wonderful for someone you have, or would like to have, in your life."
~ David Satterlee
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Answer to Our Problems
"Yes Virginia, the answer to so many of our problems is extending love ever-further - from self to family to neighbors to unknown strangers to feared enemies."
~ David Satterlee
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Essay: Political orientation and the good will of strangers
Information and comments on the essay:
Political orientation and the good will of strangers
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
Find out more, including where to buy books and ebooks
Read or download this essay as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKdXhLMkd4XzNFTE0/edit?usp=sharing |
| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
Political orientation and the good will of strangers – A personal story
I got a lot of interesting reactions today, sitting with a
“Christie Vilsack for Congress” sign while about ten thousand bicycle-across-Iowa
folks peddled past my front yard in a small, rural town.
The term “RAGBRAI” stands for “[Des Moines] Register’s Great
Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.” This is not a competition. It’s just thousands of
people out for up to seven days in our insane summer heat, enjoying the
camaraderie of “the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the
world.” Christie Vilsack is Iowa’s former First Lady and a Democrat running for
the U.S. Congress in Iowa’s 4th district. She is opposing Republican
incumbent Steve King, an “outspoken conservative who is a nationwide favorite
of tea party activists.” My little town of Dayton, Iowa (population 837) is
half-way through today’s 84-mile segment.
Today was a microcosm of the liberal ideals of community,
fellowship, and social involvement. My 1880’s “workman’s Victorian” house was
right on the route, just after the downtown events that included food
concessions, a live band, and a dunking tank. As the bicyclists accelerated
down a 1-block incline and past me, in my wheelchair by the curb with a
political sign, I still had plenty of interactions.
Also, because my house fronts Main Street with a
shade-tree-packed double lot, dozens of riders at a time stopped to
Essay: About “Chum for Thought”
Information and comments on the essay:
About “Chum for Thought”
From the book: Chum for Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters by David Satterlee
Find out more, including where to buy books and ebooks
Read or download this essay as a PDF file at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4eNv8KtePyKWm9kX09sOEYxeEU/edit?usp=sharingWhy we need to talk, think, work, together to understand others, get along.
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| Chum For Thought: Throwing Ideas into Dangerous Waters |
About “Chum for Thought”
This essay was the first
installment of my newspaper column “@ChumForThought,” published in the Dayton
Review. The series was intended for my neighbors in a small, rural, Iowa
town. I hoped to encourage conservatives to think about their ideas and
liberals to come out of the closet.
“Chum” is the word for chopped fish waste that is thrown
overboard to attract other fish – especially sharks.
I believe that comparing ideas can be a force for good that
attracts us to each other. Strangers often become friends as they talk and work
together, uniting to solve mutual problems.
Many people like to avoid controversy like they would avoid
swimming with sharks. You hear friends say “let’s talk about anything but
politics and religion.” That’s completely understandable. And, if a friend
tells me that, I’ll be the first one to back off and respect his or her need
for comfort without confrontation or fear.
However, as Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so
one man sharpens another.” I think it is good to compare notes and discuss
ideas. We make both ourselves and our companion better for the time we spend
trying to understand each other.
We become enemies if we withdraw and refuse to talk,
empathize, think, or compromise. People who can’t talk together become
suspicious and divided. They become fearful and hateful. They often resort to
combat to resolve their differences. Unthinking alienation is not the path to
peace, security, and brotherhood.
The ability to communicate about issues, including our
values, is what draws us together as friends, families, and communities. When
we can communicate, we can work together to solve problems. We can unite for
common goals and for our common good.
I believe that we become better people when we choose to
compare and discuss ideas. It can useful to know what is going on and
discuss events. But, it is often pointed out that gossip, by only
discussing people, can be damaging. Coming together about ideas is best.
This column will focus on the practical side of practicing
“peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” I hope that you will find it to be
encouraging and thought provoking… chum for thought.
Story: Tribal Family Values
Information and comments on the story:
Tribal Family Values
from the book: Life Will Get You in the End:
Short stories by David Satterlee
Find out more, including where to buy books and ebooks
 |
| Life Will Get You in the End: Short Stories by David Satterlee |
Tribal Family Values
Captain Chan Huy Gan stood before his assembled crew and
spoke to them with conviction and urgency:
“It has been a full season since our sea-barge and its
company of four hundred ran aground on this shore. There is no doubt that we
shall not see our former homes and families again without being discovered by
another expedition, and we know that no other such expedition was planned to
explore these unknown far reaches. Therefore, our ship’s governing council,
with the consensus agreement of our accompanying Scholars, has determined that
we must put all consideration of return behind us. We must commit ourselves to
permanent residence in this place. Further, we must commit, not only to our
continuing security, but to extending our prosperity and our progeny for all
time henceforth in this land.
“We have met with hostility from the native peoples. But our
fortifications hold strong and they will be further strengthened and expanded.
You have submitted well in transforming from a ship’s crew to a community of
farmers, herdsmen, craftsmen, and guardians. Many of you have been humbled to
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