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Paul Schatzkin's avatar

Hi John, nice to hear from you and thanks for chiming in. And, yeah, optimism... it's a hard hill to climb these days. I read your blog about REO... nice recollections.

Neural Foundry's avatar

The connection between childhood "duck and cover" drills and todays collective anxiety is something I've thought about before but never articulated this clearly. That subliminal dread probably never fully leaves people who grew up with it. What stands out is how symbolic gestures like daffodils can feel both necessary and insufficent at the same time when the underlying anxieties are existential. I've noticed myself toggleing between trying to stay informed and needing to just step away entirely.

Paul Schatzkin's avatar

Thanks for the comment, and for picking out the “duck and cover” part. I don’t write a whole lot on Substack but I think that was the idea that got me going on this one, so I appreciate somebody picking up on it.

John Lomax III's avatar

I{'m not as optimistic as you, Paul and was working on my blog to remind people of the words to this 53 year-old song and the unsung greatness of Garth Richrath. So, for a few minutes I don't have to think about a world gone dogass crazy

John Lomax III's avatar

Gary RichrTH OF REO SPEEDWAGON WROTE THIS IN 1972

"Golden country your face is so red

With all of your money your poor can be fed

You strut around and you flirt with disaster

Never really carin′ just what comes after

Well, your blacks are dyin' but your back is still turned

And your freaks are cryin′ but your back is still turned

You better stop your hidin' or your country will burn"