So here it is around 5 AM and I accidently woke up around 3:30 fearful I might miss getting out a text at 6:20 or so to a guy going to a stamping operation to get me some different colors for siding and roofing costs. Then my mind quickly shifts to questions for a doc I see for potential cancer treatment (early stages of prostrate with no typical symptoms) this Friday and how it compares to HIFU and CYRO treatment discussed with another doc on June 14...once I learn what "type" of cancer is determined for a better understanding of which direction to go. Lastly, I have some Purdue friends asking if I'm going to be able to make it out for the Sept 21 game in Oregon that need a decision soon...and all treatments need completed before I go to Italy later this year and I'm unsure what approach I will take, but already scheduled for a July 16 test to determine if HIFU (just approved in 23 in teh USA) or Cyro (burning or freezing the cancer). I'm hopeful that if I go that route I can get in on the August 16 date since the doc only has the equipment for one day a month
I used to work out problems at Purdue in my light sleep and didn't realize the effects until the pounding of basketball on my knees started getting sore since I couldn't get into REM sleep and have taken some medicine the last 4 decades to help me stay asleep (as can be seen...sometimes it doesn't work).
I try to temper wrongs years ago, by trying to be in the culture, customs and understandings of the time. None of that changes wrongs, but does give in my opinion a better perspective. Slavery is and was wrong, and a blight on humanity. It is but one example of the evil mankind has done and can do in the future. In a sense, slavery whether cruel or not so cruel is a restriction on freedom and restrictions on freedom is cruel by itself. We should know that in the USA despite the continuous attempts to reduce freedom.
Since the beginning of time, "man" has shown over and over justification for evil. This has not been confined to any continent or timeline, but has endured forever in various forms. Where I struggle is being sure that I would be the exception rather than many that live in the times and lie inside the masses in judging the past. With 20th century eyes it is easy to believe I wouldn't follow the masses, but what if I lived inside the time...inside the particular demographic in question...what would I do? We know the south particularly during Antebellum was backward. Thomas Sowell writes about this in
Black Rednecks and White Liberals. Excerpt below in the book gives a bit of the insight...
Would I have chosen Barabbas? My six year old granddaughter read a youthful version of Anne Frank and wants to go to Dachua in a couple of weeks when her parents go (will be the second concentration camp for my daughter). Her father is German and embarrassed in what Germany did and question if it might be a bit too strong for her. The Holocaust has to rank up there as one of the most evil things man has done in the history of man and yet I don't blame Germany on the whole. Some no doubt can be pointed to, but many like slave holders in this country saw the Jews...the blacks as inferiors and thereby justified in their mind mistreatment and in some cases horrific mistreatment. Today we have China killing prisoners to sell their organs as well as practicing slavery. People many times as @SIBoiler2 pointed out are like sheep. Would those today that advocate abortion as justification for the inconvenience by ripping apart a baby or letting it die on the table be potential candidates for slave holders years ago? Man can be quite inventive in justifying harm to others for the benefit of him or her self. I could go on an on, but already had my second cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich and think I've written enough.