@frank Absolutely agree. I've seen some postings in the past that made me a little uncomfortable, although I never attributed bad motives to anyone. I think our thoughts, beliefs, and speech are constantly evolving and sometimes things that might have been acceptable to say even just a few years ago become unacceptable. We are all from different regions in the country and the world, and different generations, and changes in acceptable language don't always permeate our little corner's of the world at the same time. So thanks for making a good point.
In terms of having compassions for Lindsey Graham, what caught my attentions about the escort story, IF it's true, is the sadness surrounding needing so many escorts. Lots of of people are still closeted, yet manage to have relationships. He seems not to have any. That is sad. It doesn't excuse his appalling behavior but it explains so much about why he subjugates himself to domineering personalities, and how those personalities (looking at you, trump!) maybe also be blackmailing him.
Life is hard enough. Living it without love is awful, and I think it's made him the person he is today. Still, he's got free will and should knock it off.
Funny you brought up Sympathy for the Devil. It is one of my favorite Stones’ tunes. About a year ago I posted the following about that song and why I love it so much:
To me, that song speaks to our duality, e.g. "Just as every cop is a criminal; And all the sinners saints"... Keith Richards once commented on the lyrics, saying "It's just a matter of looking the Devil in the face. He's there all the time. Evil - people tend to bury it and hope it sorts itself out and doesn't rear its ugly head. When that song was written, it was a time of turmoil. It was the first sort of international chaos since World War II. And confusion is not the ally of peace and love. You want to think the world is perfect. Everybody gets sucked into that. And as America has found out to its dismay, you can't hide. You might as well accept the fact that evil is there and deal with it any way you can. Sympathy for the Devil is a song that says, Don't forget him. If you confront him, then he's out of a job."
It's time for all of us to confront that darkness -- not just externally, but internally. I believe that true compassion comes, both to ourselves and others, when we confront the duality of our natures, both individually and collectively. In my view, the darkness is the separation that Coyote so beautifully addressed. Until I began to confront and accept that darkness and separation within myself, I was living an inauthentic life – projecting an image that I wanted the world to see. I’m still working on it and have a long way to go.
In the wise words of @coyote:
This sort of compassion can only proceed if we show unconditional love to ourselves. When you recognize that you have suffered under the grips of wetiko and separation from community, you can begin to see that everyone is hurt and suffering on the soul level, from the underpaid wage worker or refugee to the cop or Fortune 500 CEO.
@dhyanaji I wasn't referring to anything you have said. Months ago, before a thread was even started about LG, there were some words used to describe him that made me a little uncomfortable. That is what I was referring to.
If you are an LGBT person who spends his/her/their lives making miserable the lives of others, then I do believe your personal life is fair game, because it makes you a holier-than-thou hypocrite. We can do that and be respectful at the same time, which I believe you have been. That was all I meant.
Thank you for bringing on Keith Richards' uptake on 'Sympathy...'
I had to smile at : "Don't forget him. If you confront him, then he's out of a job." (Pure Keith and his unique discernment.) How can we forget?
Speaking of Lindsey Graham again, and probably for me the last time as the subject is getting a little tiresome, I do understand his appeal over some of the other Senators.
His transgressions are so prominent, and yet his Cancerian persona as the 'wounded child' comes through so strongly, with that cuddly 'Truman Capote-esque' fragility that people find so charismatic, and yet so treacherous. He aspires to be the "Southern gentleman in the Senate" with the traditional rages of passionate loyalty to ...?? His peace may find him before his toxicity inundates him thoroughly.
Yes, he does deserve some sympathy.
BTW deetoo, can you post a pic of the Dalai Lama with your excellent technique here? There is one of him holding his cat that is really sweet ... easily found on Google images. As you know, I can't seem to do this from my phone, and he (ironically another Moon Child) is so much cuter than Lindsey.. ?
I haven't caught up with all the posts in this thread yet, but for me, I don't care that he's gay, if he is. I do care that he is a liar and a traitor and a hypocrite.
How dare he try to instigate investigations into members of the Obama administration when he is guilty of all those things. And try to pull a 2016 on Biden now with phony Ukraine bs.
You reap what you sow. I can't muster any sympathy for anyone who betrays their country.
@stargazer, I agree with your perceptions of LG. Re the pic of the Dalai Lama: I'm not sure what you mean by my "excellent technique" since I'm actually a bit technologically challenged (translation: lazy), but I appreciate the vote of confidence. LOL! I did find one good picture of the DL with his cat, but I was unsure whether I could use that one because of copyright infringement. (I know that sounds a bit anal, but it comes from years working in a legal environment.)
I didn't know that Lindsey and the Dalai Lama are Moon children. So am I.
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@deetooI didn't know that Lindsey and the Dalai Lama are Moon children. So am I.
I should have known that you are a Moon child, Deetoo- All the cool kids are doing that this incarnation!
But as far as Lindsey goes, i will have to see some proof before i can believe that he is in the Cancerian Club- he might be jiving about that too.
Thank you for the big smile I am wearing ...
You did it! But where's that kitty cat? (So psychedelic too, man!)
You have my eternal admiration ... you a Moon Child too?
?? ???????
@stargazer loved the pic with his kitten, but it was too large to post. I don't know how to resize an image. Deetoo was concerned about copyright infringement, but i thought that would only apply to things like printing the image on t-shirts or knickknacks, and then selling them. So no "Hello Dalai" doilies! but i could be wrong. peace&love
oh, and yes i am a moon kid
unk-p,
I believe copyright infringement can apply to using other's photographs, but I don't know how that works. I was just being overly-cautious. Perhaps one of our resident attorneys could advise us. ?
unk-p, I'm not surprised you're a moon kid. When is your b-day?