Welcome back to Lucid! This Friday is Christmas Eve and there will be no live Q&A. We'll be back together on Dec. 31, 1-2pmET. Mark your calendars for an end-of-year discussion. I canceled my winter travel plans because of the latest Covid-19 surge. I imagine that some of you did, too. Mine included visiting my father, who is in his 90s. He lives abroad and I haven't seen him for several years.
Thank you for generously sharing your story, Ruth. I'm sorry you weren't able to visit your father over the holidays, or your far-distant relatives. I enjoyed the story of your grandfather and the differences in the cultures. It's very difficult how this pandemic has separated families. My husband and I returned from Germany after nearly three months there in the beginning of December. We had not seen our daughter in nearly two years, when her little one was only 6 weeks and is now 2+. And the little 3 year-old toddler we last saw is now an energetic 5 1/2 year old little boy. Our middle daughter lived in Israel for 6 years, went on an internship and decided to study for a master's in counterterrorism at the IDC in Herzliya. (She did a 180 turn and will have her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy in a few months.). Having daughters in two countries was very difficult, and the youngest is in Denver, so we are used to using our vacation time to see our daughters. We have family in two parts of Italy (all my grandparents were born there) but we haven't been able to travel there yet. I hope you will be able to see your father before too long. Wishing you all the best in the New Year, as I wish everyone here. I'm so moved by this wonderful community you have created and I send a heartfelt thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal history with the Lucid-ones. Living when and where he did, just imagine the stories your paternal grandfather could tell! If your cancelled travel plans leave you with some extra time, you might enjoy watching the Netflix series "The Club". Produced in Turkey and directed by Zeynep Günay Tan, the series is set in 1950's Instabul and revolves around the travails of the survivors of a prosperous Sephardic family destroyed by Turkey's 1940's Wealth Tax. Having the great good fortune of visiting Ankara and Istanbul in 2011 during the Taksim Square Riots, I am a sucker for any location/costume production that features Istiklal Avenue. But the series tells it's story with quite a bit of Ladino dialogue and song and has a sense (like the French production "A French Village") of Turks getting honest about an unfortunate part of their history. Also, reviews on the interwebs say that the series very popular in Israel.
Fascinating glimpse into your origin story, Ruth. Got me reflecting on those superficial differences, like, whether we can ask for seconds at the family meals, or how hard we hug … differences (metaphorically speaking) that frequently metastasize (what kind of headgear is “right” e.g.) into formation of tribal identities that lock us into considering only violent resolution of that divide … forgetting that more fundamentally, we are united in a primal, basic need (certainly revealed during these past 2 pandemic years) to come together at that one dinner table, to nourish each other, ever hopeful that however we hug, our hearts can, possibly, connect. Gary K’s reminder of the Stephen Stills lyric, got me listening to the CSN&Y discography throughout the day … feeling once again the hope, and challenge, of Joni Mitchell’s artistic telling of Our collective origin story … “”we are stardust… billion year old carbon … we are golden …caught in the devil’s bargain … and we got to get ourselves back to the garden””
Here’s hoping whomever you gather with this season, you may enjoy those 2nd helpings that come without added calories … or have weather that allows a leisurely walk around the neighborhood together after the meal!!
Lovely essay. All my immigrant relatives are long gone. My last paternal aunt came after WW II from Villejuif, Paris. She past away last year at 98. She came of age during NAZI occupation. The others came before WW I or between the WWs from Italy, Germany, Russia Switzerland and Ireland. Older cousins here and abroad are passing now. My older friends in Italy are passing too. My connection to Europe is fading. I feel "orphaned" in some ways. Stranded in a strange culture--the one in which I was born and raised. It feels artificial to me these days. Because of COVID, this will be the second Christmas I don't get to spend with my younger Italian immigrant friends--my circle of friends--the family we make. In a strange way, I now have a better idea of how my European immigrant ancestors must have felt homesick. Padron me for sounding maudlin. Have a peaceful holiday. Thank you for all the hard work your scholarship has done to enlighten the American Public. Looking forward to rejoining the folks on LUCID in the coming year. (I've been under going medical test which that coincidentally have been conflicting with the last few meetings). Happy ( and a better) New Year to All.
Such an interesting childhood and I love the photo of your grandfather. Thank you for sharing and, while I’m at it, for the priceless info you’ve given us in Lucid and tweets to understand the signs of this time in the US, what to expect, how to respond, and the importance of self care. Wishing you a lovely holiday.
Thanks Ruth, same here, all travels cancelled and again wont be able to see my two grand daughters who i have not seen for 2 years now..........Have a great holiday............Take Care.......
Isn’t life incredible. So many twists and turns. We all play a role in this wonderful merry go round. I feel your story, as well as my own. The greatest gift we can give is; I love you. During this holiday time of great turmoil and uncertainty, may you and yours be loved and safe. 💕💕
You’ve reminded me, Art, of a favorite lyric from Israel Kamakawieo’ole’s lovely medley, Somewhere over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World …. I see friends shaking hands, asking how are you, they’re really saying … I .. I love you
Thank you for sharing your personal story. It is fascinating, especially when compared to my own childhood. (I envy yours! In a good way.)
I’m sorry you cannot visit with your father and other relatives right now. It is wrong that the pandemic was used politically and that division has ended up extending it to an unknown date.
I wish you, yours and everyone here happy holidays, as best as can be had in our current situations.
Awe..Ruth, big hug to you and love and gratitude for all you bring to our Lucid community. I for one feel grateful for your teachings and writings on authoritarianism and propaganda.
This is a fraught moment in our country's history as its democracy sits on a knifes edge of falling over into autocracy. Your special expertise and insights fit the authoritarian moment we're in hand in glove. It deepens our understanding of what's really happening and what we might expect all through the lens of history. Particularly, in your book "Strongmen" the authoritarian playbook with its five tools of rule I find to be a unique contribution.
Thank you for all you do Ruth and for sharing your story and family background with us. Have a great holiday season!
P.S.
Since we all can't be where we want this holiday season, I am reminded of a song by Stephen Stills. Its called "Love the One Your With". I'm going to slightly alter the lyrics a bit but in a way that doesn't change the underlying sentiment of the song to 'if you can't be with the ones you love then love the ones you're with'.
Enjoyed this a lot, thank you, Ruth. What a wonderful mix of cultures you grew up with. I too dragged stuffed animals through that tile hallway at LAX as a child on trips. Thanks for all that you do and wishing you and your family a restful holiday week.
Best wishes to you Ruth, for the holidays, loved that photo of your grandfather! Would that we could all be so at home in many cultures. Somehow uplifting to see in these days.
Loved this, and loved the story of your early travels and the big contrasts between the various families you'd visit around the world. One grandpop was an OB/GYN and the other a Pan Am pilot - both more global than I've been able to be thus far, but if the pandemic and staying in 5 rooms with my 10 year old for 18 months did anything, it renewed my desire to go so many more places than I've been.
Ruth- Sharing a sliver of your life's journey and the trajectory of what inspired your career was really moving. I had tears for you and so many who once again, will not be able to see your loved ones. Be safe everyone and take a break this season. There's so much work ahead!
Thank you for generously sharing your story, Ruth. I'm sorry you weren't able to visit your father over the holidays, or your far-distant relatives. I enjoyed the story of your grandfather and the differences in the cultures. It's very difficult how this pandemic has separated families. My husband and I returned from Germany after nearly three months there in the beginning of December. We had not seen our daughter in nearly two years, when her little one was only 6 weeks and is now 2+. And the little 3 year-old toddler we last saw is now an energetic 5 1/2 year old little boy. Our middle daughter lived in Israel for 6 years, went on an internship and decided to study for a master's in counterterrorism at the IDC in Herzliya. (She did a 180 turn and will have her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy in a few months.). Having daughters in two countries was very difficult, and the youngest is in Denver, so we are used to using our vacation time to see our daughters. We have family in two parts of Italy (all my grandparents were born there) but we haven't been able to travel there yet. I hope you will be able to see your father before too long. Wishing you all the best in the New Year, as I wish everyone here. I'm so moved by this wonderful community you have created and I send a heartfelt thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal history with the Lucid-ones. Living when and where he did, just imagine the stories your paternal grandfather could tell! If your cancelled travel plans leave you with some extra time, you might enjoy watching the Netflix series "The Club". Produced in Turkey and directed by Zeynep Günay Tan, the series is set in 1950's Instabul and revolves around the travails of the survivors of a prosperous Sephardic family destroyed by Turkey's 1940's Wealth Tax. Having the great good fortune of visiting Ankara and Istanbul in 2011 during the Taksim Square Riots, I am a sucker for any location/costume production that features Istiklal Avenue. But the series tells it's story with quite a bit of Ladino dialogue and song and has a sense (like the French production "A French Village") of Turks getting honest about an unfortunate part of their history. Also, reviews on the interwebs say that the series very popular in Israel.
Fascinating glimpse into your origin story, Ruth. Got me reflecting on those superficial differences, like, whether we can ask for seconds at the family meals, or how hard we hug … differences (metaphorically speaking) that frequently metastasize (what kind of headgear is “right” e.g.) into formation of tribal identities that lock us into considering only violent resolution of that divide … forgetting that more fundamentally, we are united in a primal, basic need (certainly revealed during these past 2 pandemic years) to come together at that one dinner table, to nourish each other, ever hopeful that however we hug, our hearts can, possibly, connect. Gary K’s reminder of the Stephen Stills lyric, got me listening to the CSN&Y discography throughout the day … feeling once again the hope, and challenge, of Joni Mitchell’s artistic telling of Our collective origin story … “”we are stardust… billion year old carbon … we are golden …caught in the devil’s bargain … and we got to get ourselves back to the garden””
Here’s hoping whomever you gather with this season, you may enjoy those 2nd helpings that come without added calories … or have weather that allows a leisurely walk around the neighborhood together after the meal!!
P.S. You have your grandfather's eyes.
My thoughts as well
Lovely essay. All my immigrant relatives are long gone. My last paternal aunt came after WW II from Villejuif, Paris. She past away last year at 98. She came of age during NAZI occupation. The others came before WW I or between the WWs from Italy, Germany, Russia Switzerland and Ireland. Older cousins here and abroad are passing now. My older friends in Italy are passing too. My connection to Europe is fading. I feel "orphaned" in some ways. Stranded in a strange culture--the one in which I was born and raised. It feels artificial to me these days. Because of COVID, this will be the second Christmas I don't get to spend with my younger Italian immigrant friends--my circle of friends--the family we make. In a strange way, I now have a better idea of how my European immigrant ancestors must have felt homesick. Padron me for sounding maudlin. Have a peaceful holiday. Thank you for all the hard work your scholarship has done to enlighten the American Public. Looking forward to rejoining the folks on LUCID in the coming year. (I've been under going medical test which that coincidentally have been conflicting with the last few meetings). Happy ( and a better) New Year to All.
Such an interesting childhood and I love the photo of your grandfather. Thank you for sharing and, while I’m at it, for the priceless info you’ve given us in Lucid and tweets to understand the signs of this time in the US, what to expect, how to respond, and the importance of self care. Wishing you a lovely holiday.
Ruth, thank you for sharing this story. I hope you have a peaceful and joyful holiday. I look forward to resuming our Lucid sessions.
Thanks Ruth, same here, all travels cancelled and again wont be able to see my two grand daughters who i have not seen for 2 years now..........Have a great holiday............Take Care.......
Isn’t life incredible. So many twists and turns. We all play a role in this wonderful merry go round. I feel your story, as well as my own. The greatest gift we can give is; I love you. During this holiday time of great turmoil and uncertainty, may you and yours be loved and safe. 💕💕
You’ve reminded me, Art, of a favorite lyric from Israel Kamakawieo’ole’s lovely medley, Somewhere over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World …. I see friends shaking hands, asking how are you, they’re really saying … I .. I love you
Thank you for sharing your personal story. It is fascinating, especially when compared to my own childhood. (I envy yours! In a good way.)
I’m sorry you cannot visit with your father and other relatives right now. It is wrong that the pandemic was used politically and that division has ended up extending it to an unknown date.
I wish you, yours and everyone here happy holidays, as best as can be had in our current situations.
Awe..Ruth, big hug to you and love and gratitude for all you bring to our Lucid community. I for one feel grateful for your teachings and writings on authoritarianism and propaganda.
This is a fraught moment in our country's history as its democracy sits on a knifes edge of falling over into autocracy. Your special expertise and insights fit the authoritarian moment we're in hand in glove. It deepens our understanding of what's really happening and what we might expect all through the lens of history. Particularly, in your book "Strongmen" the authoritarian playbook with its five tools of rule I find to be a unique contribution.
Thank you for all you do Ruth and for sharing your story and family background with us. Have a great holiday season!
P.S.
Since we all can't be where we want this holiday season, I am reminded of a song by Stephen Stills. Its called "Love the One Your With". I'm going to slightly alter the lyrics a bit but in a way that doesn't change the underlying sentiment of the song to 'if you can't be with the ones you love then love the ones you're with'.
Enjoyed this a lot, thank you, Ruth. What a wonderful mix of cultures you grew up with. I too dragged stuffed animals through that tile hallway at LAX as a child on trips. Thanks for all that you do and wishing you and your family a restful holiday week.
Best wishes to you Ruth, for the holidays, loved that photo of your grandfather! Would that we could all be so at home in many cultures. Somehow uplifting to see in these days.
Loved this, and loved the story of your early travels and the big contrasts between the various families you'd visit around the world. One grandpop was an OB/GYN and the other a Pan Am pilot - both more global than I've been able to be thus far, but if the pandemic and staying in 5 rooms with my 10 year old for 18 months did anything, it renewed my desire to go so many more places than I've been.
Ruth- Sharing a sliver of your life's journey and the trajectory of what inspired your career was really moving. I had tears for you and so many who once again, will not be able to see your loved ones. Be safe everyone and take a break this season. There's so much work ahead!