I love it when I come across exquisite pieces like this. Thank you for writing it. It's heartbreaking that Hugo put so much of his own blood into writing Les Miserables, hoping it would be a window into that misery and it would make a difference.
He did make a difference to the people who were victims, judging by the numbers who attended his funeral, but did he change anything, really? Did the government change? Did the church change? Did the elite change? Did the suffering end?
Did his heart crack as he wrote it? Surely. But did it break completely when he thought nothing he wrote made a difference? I guess I'm feeling this so acutely because I'm watching real-time writers trying to make a difference today without much luck. It's a thankless task most of the time.
Oh, Ramona, you talk like the sister I wished for. You're so right. He touched so many people in that he made them feel seen, and that's not nothing. But you're right -- the government didn't change, the church didn't change, the elite only got worse and the suffering never ended. And I am one of those writers trying to make a difference and struggling every step of the way. Thank you for this - and the pledge. Your words in the pledge form made my day. ❤️
I had so many things to do today. "important things." But they all seem petty now. On Nextdoor, a person is complaining about homeless people, another, that people are sleeping in cars in an area designated against overnight parking. I wish there were a way to forced them to read this article but I fear it wouldn't do any good. Empathy is a scarce commodity these days and compassion short lived in a predatory society. I soothe my heart by behaving like the child in the Starfish story (worth Googling), but truly it'd be great to see a million people storming the beach.
I know the starfish story well, Jeff, it's one of my favorites. I'd love to see a million people storming the beach. I'll be there right out front. Here's the thing. I don't think it's lack of empathy. I really don't.
Those people complaining about the homeless? They'd be the first one to stop to help a person whose care broke down at the side of the road. They'd be the people jumping into the lake if a kid is screaming help. The same people who help an old lady with her groceries.
The real problem is they think the homeless somehow "deserve" what happened. They write them off as addicts or losers who somehow screwed up so badly that they are to blame for having no place to call home. It's lack of education, not lack of empathy.
I cried through the movie - and through reading this article
What a lovely soul Victor Hugo was!
Oh God, Jen, I cried through the movie, too.
I haven't read the book, or seen the movie. It was a bit of a struggle to get through this with dry eyes. Well done!
The book is a real slog so I haven't read it, but watched the movie. God, I cried the whole way through.
I love it when I come across exquisite pieces like this. Thank you for writing it. It's heartbreaking that Hugo put so much of his own blood into writing Les Miserables, hoping it would be a window into that misery and it would make a difference.
He did make a difference to the people who were victims, judging by the numbers who attended his funeral, but did he change anything, really? Did the government change? Did the church change? Did the elite change? Did the suffering end?
Did his heart crack as he wrote it? Surely. But did it break completely when he thought nothing he wrote made a difference? I guess I'm feeling this so acutely because I'm watching real-time writers trying to make a difference today without much luck. It's a thankless task most of the time.
Oh, Ramona, you talk like the sister I wished for. You're so right. He touched so many people in that he made them feel seen, and that's not nothing. But you're right -- the government didn't change, the church didn't change, the elite only got worse and the suffering never ended. And I am one of those writers trying to make a difference and struggling every step of the way. Thank you for this - and the pledge. Your words in the pledge form made my day. ❤️
Sisters! I like that. We do seem to be on the same wavelength often!
And I'm happy to make the pledge. ❤️️
I had so many things to do today. "important things." But they all seem petty now. On Nextdoor, a person is complaining about homeless people, another, that people are sleeping in cars in an area designated against overnight parking. I wish there were a way to forced them to read this article but I fear it wouldn't do any good. Empathy is a scarce commodity these days and compassion short lived in a predatory society. I soothe my heart by behaving like the child in the Starfish story (worth Googling), but truly it'd be great to see a million people storming the beach.
I know the starfish story well, Jeff, it's one of my favorites. I'd love to see a million people storming the beach. I'll be there right out front. Here's the thing. I don't think it's lack of empathy. I really don't.
Those people complaining about the homeless? They'd be the first one to stop to help a person whose care broke down at the side of the road. They'd be the people jumping into the lake if a kid is screaming help. The same people who help an old lady with her groceries.
The real problem is they think the homeless somehow "deserve" what happened. They write them off as addicts or losers who somehow screwed up so badly that they are to blame for having no place to call home. It's lack of education, not lack of empathy.