Jonathan O'Neill > Status Update

This is truly horrifying, Jonathan. People have been brainwashed. Not surprising though, given what shite passes for mainstream entertainment these days, not to mention the fear-mongering media feeding us our daily tablespoons of doom and gloom. Makes our responsibility as parents and role models even greater. There's a lot of work to do.

It’s all got crazy and ugly, Jonathan. Keep the music stuff as your fallback. I’ve felt overwhelmed by it all too, but had the chance to play some chamber music this morning. Just sayin‘.
CB

Ulysse wrote: "This is truly horrifying, Jonathan. People have been brainwashed. Not surprising though, given what shite passes for mainstream entertainment these days, not to mention the fear-mongering media fee..."

Ulysse, I got home from work today and just before I went inside I was watching a video of Charlie Kirk's 3-yr-old running up to him joyfully during an interview yelling "Daddy!" and crashing into his arms! I wept. He's just a little younger than myself and has 2 children roughly the same age as my own and I couldn't bare to think of the pain that they must now endure. I went inside and my own 3-yr-old ran up to me in the same manner and it was pretty tough to hold it together.
I disagreed with many of the things that he believed but that's neither here nor there. He championed honest, respectful dialogue and debate as a way to prevent violence and was gunned down because his words offended somebody. His views, presumedly, didn't align with his murderer's. What's most sickening is the huge number of people laughing and celebrating this online! What sickness has worked its way into the collective minds of such a large collection of people that they look on with glee as a young father and husband is assassinated, it's something beyond my comprehension.
I think you're absolutely right. Politically motivated media has dangerously radicalised a segment of the political landscape, and in particular the youth. I worry for what the future holds and for what a Sisyphean task it will be to keep my own children from being affected!

Colin wrote: "It’s all got crazy and ugly, Jonathan. Keep the music stuff as your fallback. I’ve felt overwhelmed by it all too, but had the chance to play some chamber music this morning. Just sayin‘.
CB"

Thanks, Col! I had the same thought myself actually, earlier today. I'm not really sure why but I haven't been able to stop thinking about all three of these events and how much things, people and their values, feel like they have changed since my youth. Anyway, I thought "Stop working yourself up, go home and spend time with the kids and just immerse yourself in something completely trivial but all-consuming", like how to correctly play that mordent in a Baroque piece I'm learning. Thanks for the wisdom, my friend, I value it. And the chamber music sounds wonderful! :)

It's all so upsetting, Jonathan. I fear a civil war in the US. Would a virtual hug help? Sending, just in case...