[FRIAM] the power of metaphor.

[Steve Smith]

Frank -
> I am anticipating how I would feel if I saw Trump when he is
> desperately afraid as he suffers during his final illness and cries
> that it is unfair that he has to die given how rich, talented ...
> whatever... he is.  Will I remember how much I detested him?  Or would
> I feel sad for him.  The latter involves what I mean by "empathy".

I don't have any problem allowing my imaginarium to include recognizing
the dark misery that Trump may experience down deep inside (if he ever
looks that direction), and from the general record of who he was as a
child into adulthood, I can see (some of) how he
wandered/retreated/charged down the path that lead him to where he is
today.   I doubt he will hang himself in the oval office (wouldn't that
be a sight?) like Epstein did (maybe) in his own cell.   I doubt anyone
in the administration has the physical/tactical/moral capability to pull
off staging such a thing (nod to the possibility that Epstein was
"helped").   That does not mean that I  "forgive" or in any way "bless"
any of his behaviour, possibly since he was about 8 years old, if
then.   Such an act (with or without "help") feels significantly more
likely than him resigning gracefully.

I am sympathetic with Marcus' (deliberate?) conflation between allowing
for deep, genuine empathy, and allowing the experience to lead me to
enable the worst behaviours of the subject of my empathy.   My empathy
for Trump is much less well informed (yes, Nick, I said "informed") than
my ire.  I may have "cut him some slack" (I think that is a bull/bronco
riding metaphoricaldomain) early on out of empathy under the guise of
expedience, but I think I'm well beyond that (some years now)?

>
> I say "would" rather that "will" because I doubt that I will be aware
> of his suffering.  After all, I am older than he is.  I am thinner
> however.

I've always thought Tennis was more "heart healthy"  than Golf as
"country-club" sports go...   but I think more (sleazy?) deals are made
on the golf course.  I think you made a better choice.    I hope that
you and Biden both outlive his first term, and get to live in the
"interesting times" implied for the 2024 cycle.

- Steve