27 Comments
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Judith Weston's avatar

I only just found you this morning. Thank you. It is only by coming to my own understanding of the evils of the notion of ownership of children by parents that I have found any relief from my personal suffering. I’ve been trying to write about it but you put it so much more beautifully. Parables and curses! Yes! 🙏🏼

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...........'s avatar

Bloody brilliant 👏

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Becky Terrell's avatar

I love getting lost in your essays. From point A to B to C. At the end you sit back stunned and think well, of course. Highlight of my week!

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LoneLizardT's avatar

This explains so much about why about the appeal of eugenics to facists. The dark spiral you describe can only end, should it not be stopped, in culling children "before" they "become unknown".

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Mike's avatar

OUTSTANDING! I hope the people who really need to read this will but will settle for the people who are on this path will read it and be encouraged to continue. Thanks.

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Mark Graham's avatar

As a dharma student, I’m always curious and delighted when powerful ideas related to the dharma like self (or not self) come up and see their relevance in the present moment especially in fresh, insightful and entertaining ways. Also makes me wonder about the author and how these insights also exist elsewhere (or we might share some perspectives) or are obvious once pointed out especially if done well and this makes me happy. Thank you

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Thom's avatar

Absolutely spot on. Thank you. (Also just adding that the last few free posts have been so excellent that I'm subscribing!)

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Kimberly Wombles's avatar

This was powerful. Thank you.

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Ro's avatar

This is so great...I have used so many of these ideas ON my kids. We talk about sharing the world v. thinking you own the world...and just basically focus on awareness of the reality and equality of other people as the challenge and joy of life. The real curse is being alone, if you are so self centered and so immune to others as independent real beings like yourself it's a pretty solipsistic existence. I think this is partly a cause of erratic behavior we witness.

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Shawna Gamache's avatar

Just when I thought I couldn’t love this piece any more, the closing curse really took my breath away. Thank you for this!!

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Bob Torzynski's avatar

And when they tell you the want to "own" the libs they reveal their true slaveholding masturbation fantasies.

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Natalia Lincoln's avatar

This is one of the best, most resonant characterisations of this present age I’ve read. So many different facets of the Zeitgeist in perfect synthesis. I‘ll be thinking about it for years.

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J Heather Elliott's avatar

So good

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loganbacon's avatar

Fantastic piece. Brought a lot of feels to the forefront.

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Charlie Whiskey's avatar

I've been reflecting on this concept, although not strictly referring it as "ownership" when I do. Of course now I will not be able to view it another way, because of how well (re)framed the concept has been made for me (thank you Andrew). It certainly helped me understand that the responsibility to send good people out into the world is my job, my best job.

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Carrie Nash's avatar

I consider this one of the best essays I have ever read. Ever. Thank you for framing it all so well and for including a curse at the end.

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