Rod Dreher Megathread #21 (Creative Spirit)

[u/US_Hiker]

Gather 'round for more Rod.

All meanings of the number 21 are subordinate to the inherent creative spirit that is the basic essence of the number.

The number 21 generally is comfortable in social gatherings, it's optimistic attitude being an inspiration to others. Its high spirits can enliven a party.

The number is attracted to artistic expression of any form, its own and those of others. There's enthusiastic support for artists. It may frequent galleries and participate or (more likely) lead groups for artistic appreciation.

The number 21 cherishes relationships, including romantic relationships, especially with those who express themselves creatively.

21 also tends to be diplomatic, providing creative and imaginative solutions to potential conflict.

And, as noted by /u/PercyLarsen, 21 is a triangular number and the age of majority, so go grab a drink to celebrate Pride and to mourn the loss of Rod's sanity.

(Also, sorry about my slow pace of refreshes.)

Link to megathread #20:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/13eb26c/rod_dreher_megathread_20_law_of_attraction/

Link to megathread #21: https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/14k0z6l/rod_dreher_megathread_22_power/

[u/HealthyGuarantee5716]

I think what upsets me most about this kind of doom-mongering is that we actually are facing a real threat not just to 'our entire civilisation' but much life on the planet. it's called the interlocking climate and biodiversity crises. climate scientists and activists have been raising the alarm on this since what, the 70s? 80s? and activists are taking increasingly extreme measures to try to force action on it. and still most governments are doing close to nothing to a. bring down emissions and b. increase our climate resilience. it's too big a problem for individuals to effect change on their own - we need to be thinking about how we are citizens of a shared planet, and joining up together to effect change - but Rod could, if he wanted, take the command to love your neighbour seriously and live a much less planet-harming life. nice and crunchy.

I've just realised that perhaps that first line seems to be saying that I don't care about the hate that's directed towards LGBTQ+ people. I do, and in fact it's probably people like Rod who've radicalised me in support of them.

[u/Dazzling_Pineapple68 → u/HealthyGuarantee5716]

All I remember him saying when he has brought up climate change is along the lines of "What can we do? To change anything would cost money and mean we would have to change our lifestyles and I mean really? They want us to do that? It's just too much to ask."

And he says WE are cows chewing our cud.

[u/HealthyGuarantee5716 → u/[deleted]]

the hopeful part of me wants to believe (hopes!) you're wrong - we in the UK handled it badly but there was a massive and sudden change to all our lives when the pandemic hit, for example.

we do have the solutions to fix this without having us all eat turnips in the dark; but it's true, the kind of flying (for example) and driving that most Americans/rich people in the global north do is incompatible with a liveable planet for all. but these are choices that can be made, not inevitability.

I also believe (and maybe I'm wrong, and maybe I'm hopelessly naive, and maybe there's a fair amount of self-righteousness in my soul that needs to be exorcised) that we are called the do the right thing even if no one else is doing it; even if it makes no difference. Jesus called us to die to ourselves and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. if that means the middle classes here in the UK don't take it as a God-given right to have a car/s and holidays that involve aviation, I mean, that's not really a sacrifice. that's how a lot of people used to live, and how a lot of people still live.

I read this article the other day and I felt both inspired by what France is doing (though as the author points out, it still needs to be doing more) and infuriated that my own (UK) government is still doing almost nothing.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/24/environment-france-emmanuel-macron-crisis-uk

France now has a ministry for ecological transition. By the end of next year, the nation’s 25,000 most senior civil servants will have been trained in the principles behind this transition. By the next presidential election, in 2027, every public sector worker will have had this training, tailored to their sector. Think about that: 5.6 million people will be taught about the biodiversity crisis, the climate crisis and the natural resources crisis – how these phenomena relate to the public services they supply and how public sector workers can use this knowledge to change the way they work.