by Marty Coleman | Feb 20, 2013 | Idealism - 2013, John Galsworthy |
Ideally this would be day 3 of The Ideal Series, and thus it is.
The Ideal Meteor
You know what would be ideal? If a really large meteor, the largest in 100 years, screamed through the atmosphere and blew up and we could see it all happen! Yes it would be…from a distance. It would not be ideal if it hit your town, blew out your office glass and cut you up really bad. It all depends on how close you are, doesn’t it.
The Myopic Ideal
If you live in Oklahoma then chances are you might think your ideal world includes no need for gun regulation beyond maybe some safety classes. Perhaps everyone having a gun is your ideal. But would you feel the same way if you lived in that violence ridden inner city? I bet the solution would be harder than just simplistically saying let everyone have a gun and all will be well.
But what if you live in a bad area of Chicago or LA or some other city with a very high rate of gun violence? You are far, far away from rural Oklahoma with it’s uncrowded rural life. Your ideal is different. Perhaps your ideal is no one having guns. But would you feel the same way if you lived in that quiet rural world? I bet the solution would be harder than just simplistically saying take away all the guns and all will be well.
The 20/20 Ideal
What do you do if you want to find solutions and maintain your idealism at the same time? Well, we know you can’t find a solution without understanding the other side, since even if you do pass a law, it will come back to bite you if it doesn’t take into account as many people as possible. So, we have to compromise.
But what about the idealism, isn’t that dead if you have to compromise? No, it is not. Idealism is not about reaching something (see yesterday’s drawing) it’s about being guided by something. Your idealistic guiding principles can include finding solutions that help everyone, not just you and your tribe. But to do that you have to be willing to get inside that other world, if not in person, at least via reading and understanding, with an open heart and a belief in the good faith of the other side.
You know what that would be? It would be ideal.
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Drawing by Marty Coleman, who thinks it would be ideal if some well connected friend of mine contacted a marketing department in a paper company that makes napkins or an art company that makes markers and told them it would be ideal for them to sponsor me.
Quote by John Galsworthy, 1867-1933, British writer. Nobel Prize winner, Literature – 1932
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Trivia Question of the Day
How did the dandelion get it’s name?
Come back tomorrow for the answer
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 19, 2013 | Art, Idealism - 2013, W. C. Gannett |
Do you realize that today is day 2 of The Ideal Series?
The Creative Real
I believe art is at its best when it refines and distills something real. But what is real to an artist? Is it beauty? Form? Color? Humanity? Nature? Or something else entirely?
The Creative Ideal
I believe art is at its best when it refines and distills something ideal. But what is ideal to any artist? Is it beauty? Form? Color? Humanity? Nature? Or something else entirely?
The Ideal Real
I love art because it’s up to me to define both my ideal and my real. They are symbiotic, living with each other as lovers. They love and fight and make up again and again and again.
Who is your ideal and your real? Are they lovers or fighters or both?
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who ideally would have a real house at an ideal beach with his real wife.
Quote by W. C. Gannett, 1840-1923, Unitarian Pastor and leader, along with his wife Mary Louis Gannett, of the Women’s Suffrage movement
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Trivia question from yesterday answered:
Question: Who opened the first kindergarten in the US?
Answer: Margarethe Meyer-Schurz, wife of yesterday’s quote author
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 18, 2013 | Carl Schurz, Idealism - 2013 |
What an ideal day to start ‘The Ideal Series’ here at the NDD.
Do you have an ideal? Do you try to reach it or do you try to be guided by it to a life well lived? Tell us your ideal.
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Drawing and questions by Marty Coleman, who is learning to sail his ship.
Quote by Carl Schurz, 1829-1906, First German-born American elected to the US Senate, 1869
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Trivia question of the day
Who opened the first kindergarten in the US?
Answer in the comments below or if you don’t know, come back tomorrow for the answer.
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 15, 2013 | Antonio Porchia, Judgment - 2013 |
Eyes Down Illusion
If you are always looking down the illusion becomes reality, that everyone else is below you. They become inferior and needy. They are a burden to you. They aren’t worthy of respect or true care and attention like you are. They are less than you and you are on top. You are not only at the highest point, you ARE the highest point.
Eyes Up Illusion
If you are always looking up the illusion becomes reality, that everyone else is above you. You become inferior and needy. You are a burden to them. You aren’t worthy of respect and care and attention. You are less than them and you are on the bottom. You are not only at the lowest point, you ARE the lowest point.
Eyes Up and Down Reality
If you are looking up and down there is no illusion, there is only reality; some above, some below, some equal. You are not inferior or superior. You are not a burden nor are they. All are worthy of respect and care and attention, no matter where they are. You are not less and you are not more, you are not on the bottom nor the top. You are simply among friends.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman
Quote by Antonio Porchia, 1886-1968, Argentinian poet
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 14, 2013 | Alphonse Karr, Valentine's Day |
To my Napkin Kin,
I love drawing for you. I dream of good and wonderful things happening for you. I love you and thank you.
If you wish someone to be happy, if that is what you hope to have happen, then you can call it whatever you want, but I call it love.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who is a lover, not a fighter.
Quote by Alphonse Karr, 1808- 1890, French journalist, editor of Le Figaro
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