Learning from Bob Novak's cancer
Saturday September 6, 2008
Categories: Politics (general)
After events of this week, and given what we all face in the weeks ahead as the campaign rolls out, we could probably all stand to step away from our political arguments and read Bob Novak's column about what he...
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About Crunchy Con
Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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Of course this is what life is like, or what it should be like. And I wish
Bob Novak and his family well, in the ordeal ahead of them.
Having said that, I gotta say, you are giving me whip-lash. It's back and forth from attack-dog posts - Breeders Are Bad People !! - Culture War Over Palin? Lock and Load !!! - to this post, and other reflective posts like Politics These Days, and after reading the latter two, I will succumb to temptation and say "Physician, Heal Thyself".
This is what life is all about. Not our shouting at each other on blogs and in comboxes. It's good to be reminded of that.
It is best to be reminded of it if it promotes kindness, generosity, and respect to everyone, not just those who are in dire circumstances. You never make a mistake by assuming the best of intentions from those with whom you disagree.
This IS what life is all about.
Moses brought back 10 commandments. Jesus preached two. Politicians and activists have given us tens of thousands of laws.
We get to pick the one we choose to emulate. Bob finds himself, after all is said and done, being comforted by people whom he used to vituperatively dismiss out-of-hand. That speaks volumes.
You never make a mistake by assuming the best of intentions from those with whom you disagree.
Posted by: DC | September 6, 2008 11:43 AM
That's nice guidance promoting decency.
I think we do get too caught up in politics as a society. A lot is at stake. But not nearly as much the talking heads would have you believe. What matters most is probably (hopefully) sitting right next to you: your family, your loved ones, and your good friends. The chance to wake up each day in comfort, the chance to order your life as you see fit, and to relax as you deem it best.
Be kind to people
because you never know what they're going through.
That works for me.
Thanks, Rod, for sharing this!
Peace,
Duh-sciple
I don't know. Beneath Bob Novak's thoughtful rumination, I still see pugnacious Bob Novak. Which is a good thing. Because being a good person is not correlated with being a good politician or a competent policy maker.
So I hope Novak continues his "cruel but fair assessments" for as God allows him. A spade is a spade and a dope is a dope, even if the dope happens to be a compassionate president of The United States.
BTW, I read that Novak's family held a reception the day Bob was received into the Catholic Church. Supposedly, Daniel Moynihan was in attendance and is said to have remarked. "Now that Bob has become a Catholic, we have work on him becoming a Christian!"
That quote is too accurate do be anything but true!
SteveM
P.S. God Bless Bob Novak (and Moynihan too)
Meh. When you get brain cancer, everybody will be nice to you--for five minutes. Then they'll move on to trampling the next victim. I guess my question is, why must one get brain cancer to be treated like a human being? Me, I'm a big fan of trying to slip people some loving before they're on their deathbed.
That's right, sigalaris. We should not have to wait for a crisis to recognize the essential humanity and profound connection we all share. Everyone deserves our respect and compassion 100% of the time. And the best part is, giving it to them enlarges and heals our own spirits. In blessing, we are most blessed.
"That's right, sigalaris. We should not have to wait for a crisis to recognize the essential humanity and profound connection we all share. Everyone deserves our respect and compassion 100% of the time. And the best part is, giving it to them enlarges and heals our own spirits. In blessing, we are most blessed."
If only the Left would bless the Right and the Right would bless the Left. I can hear the snickers already, but wouldn't it a wonderful thing if the bloggers and commenters all got into a blessing contest? Wouldn't it?
Yes.
Novack will be judged by someone else, it's not my job.
I feel NOTHING
Yes, it would be a great thing, Rob. Thanks for reminding me of that. I'll persevere in praying for Rod and all here. Though my prayers are quite unorthodox, so I can only imagine the scandal and horror that would ensue if they knew . . . . "Sig is praying for me again! Heeeelp!" Blessings to you, too, DC. And BlairBurton, Chris, Duh-sciple, AnotherBeliever, Mark, Julana, SteveM . . . grace and peace to you, and may you live this day in what Dante called "the love that moves the sun and the other stars." Or for those who aren't mystically inclined, may you live this day in happiness and harmony with the life that goes on within you and without you.
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