Author: Rick Bellingham
Power and Persuasion
In this post, I’m going to address the question of how to persuade someone with power to make a sacrifice for the common good. It seems to me that this is one of the most intractable problems in history. For thousands of years, people with power have been more likely to impose their will on others than to shift positions through persuasion. Let’s start with some provocative voices on power and persuasion. “When the whole Read More
Running for Cover
I know about running for cover. When I heard bullets whistling over my head on guard duty in Vietnam, my instincts kicked in. I ducked down into my sandbag bunker for safety and protection. To be clear, I was defending an apartment building with high walls in Saigon – not hacking through the dense jungle exposed to sniper attacks, venomous snakes and nasty traps. Still, I experienced the natural instinct to shrink down and protect Read More
Our Existential Moments
“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.” Simone de Beauvoir “Convictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies.” Nietzsche “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.” Sartre I recently listened to one of the best speeches I have ever heard, by Bryan Stevenson, a MacArthur genius fellow and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. He opened his speech by sharing his experience as a nine Read More
Reeling, Kneeling, and Healing
I’m reeling from violence I’m kneeling in silence I’m healing my damaged soul I’ve been reeling from a sense of loss I’ve seen kneeling for the Southern cross So many are healing from a toxic boss I’ve been thrown off balance from low blows I’ve seen submission before turned up noses We all need healing from hate and hoses I’ve staggered badly from drunken days I’ve seen kneeling to maleficent ways I’ve known healing from Read More
The Asian Issue
In 1984, my wife, my first daughter, and I drove to JFK Airport to pick up our second daughter – Jang Hee JInn – fresh off a flight from Seoul Korea. She was a 3 month old bundle of wonder. I dropped the camera in my eagerness to welcome this new child from the Korean caretaker who had nurtured her lovingly for the long flight. We named her Emily Jane. I’m writing this post to Read More
13 Interdependent Possibilities for Community Development
Our little, rural town of Elk Rapids, Michigan is embarking on a big, bold journey of transformation. Challenged by an ageing population, a declining school enrollment, and a seasonal economy, a small Coalition of the Possible (Yes, you heard that right – more later) considered seeking an outside consultant to speak to us about ways rural communities can overcome their sometimes self-defeating ways to build a healthy community where people love to live. This notion Read More
Letter to my Grandchildren
Dear Annie and Ezra, I would like to share some thoughts and feelings with you that have helped me on my journey. You will have to find your own path, but these insights may help you find your way. In some ways it is a primer on how to build a soul. You probably won’t read much about that possibility in your educational pursuits. As you go through life, you are going to encounter many Read More
Pretending
Our dog, Henri, is a big, brown Labradoodle with a loud, deep, fear-inducing bark that would give anyone pause to intrude uninvited. When we take him on a walk he prances loud and proud pretending he is the master of the universe. The truth is that he is a compliant wimp who wouldn’t hurt a flea.
Hubris and Hyperbole
“Hyperbole is not easily dealt with. Usually, it collapses under its own weight.” —Gwen Ifill “Hubris is one of the great renewable resources.” —P.J. O’Rourke “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities” —Voltaire My little town in Northern Michigan is conducting a capital campaign to raise 5 million dollars for a library expansion. The current library is situated on a beautiful island in a pristine community on lovely Lake Michigan. Read More
Organizational Sepsis
My granddaughter, Annie, was born at 26 weeks, weighed one and a half pounds, and had sepsis. The best Doctors in the world took a wild (but educated) guess on a broad spectrum antibiotic that might cure the infections, the best nurses in the world gave her 24/7 loving care to keep alive any speck of life they could find, and her family held her in their hearts constantly. Annie fought for her life and Read More
Righteous and Wrong
One of my grandson’s favorite expressions when he gets angry is, “What The!” At nine years old, he probably knows how to complete the exclamation, but he’s not crass enough or bold enough to do it. So let me do it for him. WHAT THE FUCK!!! Last week, I wrote about how Dumbledore’s Army, led by Harry Potter, fought Voldemort’s forces of evil. (https://rickbellingham.com/2021/01/05/harry-potter-the-enneagram-and-2020/). Yesterday, the world witnessed Trump’s Army assaulting the Capitol in an Read More
Harry Potter, the Enneagram, and 2020
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?” Mark 8:36 One of the highlights of 2020 for me was reading all of the Harry Potter books to my twin grandkids. The seven books contain a total of 198 chapters, over 6,000 pages and over 1 million words. Essentially, I read four chapters a week for the entire year. I am proud to say that Annie Read More