I guess I never realized how calculating “sophisticated” people can be. Or that anyone regarded Forrest Gump as a derogatory portrayal. Silly me. I’m grateful that teaching children has been my favorite of all of my life’s endeavors. It’s been a formative gift in creating my perspective and approach in the world.
Thank you Mike. Wonderful essay. I have been thinking about intellectualism and sophistication in relation to our present situation for a while. This essay deeply resonates with me. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Looking forward to reading great content from you in 2026.
Thanks for the shoutout, Mike, but I’m just Captain Obvious, driving around in the Readily Apparent Mobile with my sidekick Blatant Boy, dispensing advice to the eternally clueless. (I think that’s from Tom Tomorrow, but can’t be sure.)
Mike, you are an amazing clear voice in the wilderness! It is always immensely uplifting to read your beautifully expressed words that affirm my own deeply rooted beliefs, often not understood. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Forrest is exactly the right embodiment of what we need in this moment. Have a Merry Christmas Mike. That music was the poetry of my time. Be well, my friend.
At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.
-TS Eliot, Burnt Norton, Four Quartets
I think the dance is love. And innocence is love.
Merry Christmas
Thank you for you wonderful Christmas Essay. Truly the best gift I will get! Merry Christmas🥰
From the bottom of my heart, thank you
I love that you unabashedly talk about love carrying us through. And you do it repeatedly.
Your writing has been a special gift this year. Thank you.
Love > Hate. Always. Unconditionally.
I guess I never realized how calculating “sophisticated” people can be. Or that anyone regarded Forrest Gump as a derogatory portrayal. Silly me. I’m grateful that teaching children has been my favorite of all of my life’s endeavors. It’s been a formative gift in creating my perspective and approach in the world.
Thank you Mike. Wonderful essay. I have been thinking about intellectualism and sophistication in relation to our present situation for a while. This essay deeply resonates with me. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Looking forward to reading great content from you in 2026.
Great essay as expected. What is the best book to understand David Hume’s philosophy and politics?
Thanks for the shoutout, Mike, but I’m just Captain Obvious, driving around in the Readily Apparent Mobile with my sidekick Blatant Boy, dispensing advice to the eternally clueless. (I think that’s from Tom Tomorrow, but can’t be sure.)
Your writing is like a gift; thank you for sharing. Happy holidays!
What first popped into my mind was Dostoevsky's, The Idiot
“Being There” popped into my head. Truly masterful, insightful satire.
Sorry I can’t like this more than once.
I really needed this. Was this thinking/analysis completely original a derivative of something else that inspired you?
It just emerged from my thoughts!
Merry Christmas, Mike. Thank you for this wonderful meditation and all of your thoughtful writing throughout 2025.
Mike, you are an amazing clear voice in the wilderness! It is always immensely uplifting to read your beautifully expressed words that affirm my own deeply rooted beliefs, often not understood. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Merry Christmas!
Nadine Long
Minnesota Northwoods 🌲
Yay Northwoods Minnesota from down here in Nebraska.
Forrest is exactly the right embodiment of what we need in this moment. Have a Merry Christmas Mike. That music was the poetry of my time. Be well, my friend.