Be kind.

by Jason Alley

Here we are in Wildwood, NJ. Our friends, Rachael, Brian, and their daughter Sophie, and me along with my beautiful wife and just as beautiful daughter Annabeth are here for an entire week Today the kids played in the surf and rode the waves on their boogie boards. They dug holes in the sand that resembled nothing other than the type of fun that can engage a five year old for more than five minutes. We retreated for a little lunch in our beach chairs where Rachael kept a lookout for sandwich-snatching seagulls while we all balanced eating our subs while holding onto the butcher paper in which they were wrapped. Then it rained.

manwithoutcountryHowever, before the rains came I was able to find some time to return to Kurt Vonnegut’s, A Man without a Country, a book Marybeth bought me four years ago. One I hadn’t read until now. No real plot. Just a series of memoirs from an old man who died nearly two years ago. Memoirs that tell me that in spite of the world going to shit at the hands of psychopaths, I must persevere to be honorable and educated and to embrace and consider my doubts. Decision making should evolve. Especially when you’re considering invading a country, but I digress, but heck, so did he.

Here are a few of my favorite snippets from Vonnegut’s little book:

A man named Joe wrote Vonnegut with this. “Please tell me it will be okay.” To which, Vonnegut responded:

“Welcome to Earth young man,” I said. “It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, Joe, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule I know of: Goddamn it, Joe, you’ve got to be kind!

This next one made me laugh out loud, so much in fact, that my wife looked up from her beach chair a few yards away. A man wrote Vonnegut with no return address:

If you knew that a man posed a danger to you—maybe he had a gun in his pocket, and you felt that he would not hesitate one moment to use it on you—what would you do? We know Iraq poses a threat to us, to the rest of the world. Why do we sit here and pretend we are not protected? That is exactly what happened with al-Qaeda and 9/11. With Iraq, though, the threat is on a much larger scale. Should we sit back, be little children that sit in fear and just wait?

And now, the punchline from Vonegut that caused my minor outburst:

Please, for the sake of us all, get a shotgun, preferably a 12-gauge double-barrel, and right there in your own neighborhood blow off the heads of people, cops excepted, who may be armed.

A Man without a Country takes just a few hours to read. You get to learn a little more about this author of Slaughterhouse-Five, of which I need to read. Vonnegut is funny, goofy at times, but is unapologetic as he paints a rather dark picture of the world in which he believes we’re destroying fully aware of our costly actions.

So to honor his death as the humanist he was I use his own words, “Kurt is up in heaven now.”

For all our sakes I hope so.

62 thoughts on “Be kind.”

  8. Winbuzz Online Book Cricket Exchange ID IPL 2024 is a one-of-a-kind platform for cricket enthusiasts to exchange books and share their passion for the sport.

    Reply

  9. Begin your secure cryptocurrency storage experience at Trezor. Discover reliable hardware wallets at trezor.io/start. Access setup guides, tutorials, and a supportive community to protect your digital wealth confidently. Take control of your crypto assets with Trezor’s user-friendly solutions.

    Reply

  24. Yalla Shhot
    يتميز بث يلا شوت بجودته العالية، حيث يتوفر بث HD و FHD لبعض المباريات. كما يوفر الموقع العديد من خيارات الجودة المختلفة لتناسب سرعة الإنترنت لديك.
    جدول المباريات
    يضم يلا شوت جدولا شاملا لجميع المباريات القادمة في جميع الرياضات. يمكنك تصفية الجدول حسب الرياضة والبطولة والدولة، أو البحث عن مباراة محددة باستخدام اسم الفريق أو اسم اللاعب.
    كما يتيح لك الموقع إضافة المباريات التي تهتم بها إلى قائمة المفضلة، لتلقي إشعارات قبل بدء المباراة.
    أخبار الرياضة
    يقدم يلا شوت قسما خاصا بأخبار الرياضة، حيث يمكنك متابعة آخر أخبار وأحداث الفرق واللاعبين المفضلين لديك.
    يتضمن القسم أخبارا من جميع أنحاء العالم، بالإضافة إلى تحليلات الخبراء وتوقعات المباريات.
    النتائج والقوائم
    يمكنك متابعة نتائج جميع المباريات في جميع الرياضات على يلا شوت.
    كما يتضمن الموقع قوائم ترتيب الفرق واللاعبين في مختلف الدوريات والبطولات.
    التواصل الاجتماعي
    يتفاعل يلا شوت مع جمهوره من خلال مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي.
    يمكنك متابعة الموقع على فيسبوك وتويتر وإنستغرام للحصول على آخر أخبار الرياضة، والمشاركة في المسابقات، والتفاعل مع عشاق الرياضة من جميع أنحاء العالم.

    Reply

  28. Solitaire, often known as ‘Patience’ in some parts of the world, is a card game that can be played by a single individual. Known for its simple set of rules and engaging nature, it’s a popular pastime that has stood the test of time, offering not just fun but also some intriguing cognitive benefits.

    Reply

  30. Official Website of Kissasian , Asian Drama Lover, Watch drama asian Online for free releases in Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines and Chinese with English subtitles. Kissasian

    Reply

  31. Get D247 id . D247 Login for betting on D247 com. D247 App/Apk Download, Experience seamless access – D247 Admin Login now

    Reply

  32. betbhai9 com login, betbhai9, betbhai9 id, betbhai9 admin, betbhai9 live Login, betbhai9 app download, betbhai9 hack apk, betbhai9.com whatsapp number, betbhai9 new id, betbhai9 tricks

    Reply

  36. 11xplay.com is India’s first and most trusted betting exchange that offers the likes of sports book and live casino and live Indian card games. Unlike most

    Reply

  39. Phantom Extension offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the navigation process for both seasoned traders and newcomers alike. Easily access your wallet, view transaction history, and manage multiple currencies within one convenient platform.

    Reply

  41. Unlock the power of decentralized finance with MetaMask Extension – your gateway to a world of endless possibilities in the blockchain universe. Trust in our secure and user-friendly platform to seamlessly manage your digital assets and interact with dApps like never before. Join the revolution today! MetaMask Extension

    Reply

  42. Wordle Nyt, the addictive word-guessing game that has taken social media by storm, was created by engineer Josh Wardle. Originally developed for personal use and shared with friends, Wordle quickly gained popularity due to its simple yet captivating gameplay. With a minimalist design and a focus on logic rather than luck, Wardle’s creation has captured the attention of word enthusiasts worldwide.

    Wordle NYT

    Reply

  43. Secure your digital assets with MetaMask Extension – the ultimate wallet extension for managing and storing your crypto on any device. Get the most out of your investments with MetaMask Wallet Extension.

    Reply

  44. MetaMask acts as a bridge to the decentralized web, enabling users to access a wide range of dApps directly from their browser. This feature is crucial for interacting with DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and more.

    Reply

  47. Secure your crypto transactions with ease using the powerful MetaMask Wallet Extension. Take control of your digital assets and experience seamless browsing while keeping your funds safe and accessible at all times. Trust in MetaMask for a secure and convenient way to manage your Ethereum-based tokens.

    Reply

  48. Unlock the power of decentralized finance with MetaMask Wallet Extension. Seamlessly manage your digital assets and interact with blockchain applications like never before. Take control of your financial future with confidence, security, and convenience.

    Reply

  54. Trang chủ hello88là địa điểm uy tín hàng đầu trong lĩnh vực cá cược online. Địa điểm cá cược uy tín được nhiều người ưa thích để cá cược.
    WEBSITE: https://hello88.wtf/
    Address: 25 Nguyễn Văn Lượng, Phường 6, Gò Vấp
    #hello88

    Reply

  55. To play NYT Connections, start by gathering a group of players. Each player takes turns drawing two cards with random words or phrases on them. The goal is to find a connection between the two seemingly unrelated items. Players then have a set amount of time to come up with creative and unique ways in which the two cards can be connected. This encourages critical thinking, creativity, and quick decision-making skills.

    NYT Connections

    Reply

  56. To play the Connections Nyt game, start by gathering a group of players. Each player takes turns drawing two cards with random words or phrases on them. The goal is to find a connection between the two seemingly unrelated items. Players then have a set amount of time to come up with creative and unique ways in which the two cards can be connected. This encourages critical thinking, creativity, and quick decision-making skills.

    Connections NYT

    Reply

  58. Cricketbet9 India’s No.1 sports ID provider since 2010. Cricketbet9 Mahadev Book Login id & Password for sign up Cricketbet9.com , We promise excellence and excellence is exactly what you will be served, you can start depositing and withdrawing the money as soon as your id is created, so that you can start earning from skills.

    Reply

  60. When it comes to making a statement through fashion, nothing speaks louder than a hoodie. And if you’re looking for a brand that combines quality, comfort, and cutting-edge style, look no further than Corteiz. A rising star in the fashion world, Corteiz Hoodies are quickly becoming a staple in wardrobes across the United States. Let’s dive deep into what makes Corteiz Hoodies stand out and why they should be your next fashion investment.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *