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Polly Walker Blakemore's avatar

Speak, write, read - it's about engagement, not enragement!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Nicely put! That could be a good title for an article!

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Polly Walker Blakemore's avatar

Re: Engagement vs. enragement

It’s about inspiring passion and action, not fury and futility.

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Polly Walker Blakemore's avatar

Do we want passion and action and hope or fury and futility and fear? The choice seems pretty clear.

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Bill Gerace's avatar

Great piece as always Walter. I agree there is too much anger and rage which has enough fuel coming from the carrot. There is not a day that I don't open my phone as I'm just getting ready for the day and write that his shrunken in evil rage orange face doesn't come up with something he is saying or doing. He already has set a bad example for America. I will give you a snippet of what I endured on a call. I work in Personal Loans for Discover and I love my job I am new to this Department but not new to Discover. I will be there for 3 years this summer. Anyhow a customer called in the other night to ask about their loan and I could tell by the tone in his voice he was going to be a pip. I have been taking calls for twenty years so I can tell I know that sounds weird but you can. At any rate, I had explained in a nice professional way that his app for a loan was declined. He wanted to know the reason I told him and these were the words he ended the call with I am going to put asterisks so I don't offend anyone but needless to say I was in tears and horrified for hours: "G*Y fag**t, Mfer" I think you can fill in the blanks. My mentor told me to take an extra break which I did. I was just thinking and another friend said the same thing that he probably is a carrot lover they are the only ones that would talk that way at least that is how I feel. He seems to bring the worst out in my opinion of course maybe I'm wrong but that's how I feel. Rewind to a few years back when his evil presence was sitting as president. I was taking calls at AARP then. I took a call from a gentleman who called me every homophobic awful word in the book. Again I was in tears for hours and again it was under his throne. Just saying that the rage and all is not needed we have enough with the carrot and his followers. Hope this post did not offend anyone. It was not my intention. When I think about this call I was trying to help the man but there is only so much we can tell them as we are not credit analysts you know. Thank God at Discover we have an amazing group of employees and the culture here is phenomenal they are inclusive and don't put down people based on race, sexual orientation, or anything else. I can't say that for other companies I worked at. My point is I treat customers with respect and dignity and sadly with the way things are it is not always reciprocated. Great post Walter hope you have a beautiful blessed day friend. Thank you for fighting the good fight man for everyone. :)

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thanks Bill! I don't think your comment is offensive at all. It's very powerful to hear how much pain these MAGA supporters deal out. Somebody should make them sit and listen to all the hate they spew. It's terrible. I think there are signs of a resistance, we'll get through this! WR

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Cyndy's avatar

Thanks!

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Greg Sanford's avatar

Writing IS action. The power of the written word plots history. I support it and I love to read

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Greg Sanford's avatar

I'll be marching 4/5, too

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Awesome! Take photos! Live stream if possible!

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Diane's avatar

If all you do is get angry, I agree, but anger is essential like the cockpit dashboard readings, and points in the direction of righteous action against the offending persons or events. Anger should lead to an appropriate reaction to fight effectively anger is not the end in itself, that's the distinction to be made. Reflect on your anger and say is this rational now how do I proceed to protect myself in this case all of us our country? How do we proceed the protest this Saturday is a righteous expression of anger and determination to fight the assault on our democracy on our rights on our laws on our way of life, righteous anger, good trouble

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Karen Sommer's avatar

Thanks for this great insight! Anger can be used as a weapon, but we mustn’t let it destroy us.

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Apr 2
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Walter Rhein's avatar

There are days when I'm quite afraid to hit publish. Those are the days I know I have to hit it twice!

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