Ten-Foot Snowflakes

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah takes care to push through the natural inclination to simply, well, ...

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On today’s Ruminant, Jonah takes care to push through the natural inclination to simply, well, be appalled at this past Wednesday’s “events” on Capitol Hill, and manages to talk about both the lead-up to them and their ramifications. He talks about how the rioters display all of the soul-sickness that conservatives normally only talk about in regard to far-left activists, and that while conservatives are quick to point out the failures to establish genuine communities with positive outcomes in peoples’ lives within progressive politics, “we very rarely say that these are problems for conservatives too.” This week, Jonah also closes with a personal rumination on the most important little platoon of all: the family.

Show Notes:

–This week’s G-File

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  1. Lora Bentley

    I'm a new Dispatch member, and I got here from the latest G File. Thank you for sharing. I have missed community more than almost anything for the last two years. Hearing your thoughts at the end of this podcast has prompted me to be more intentional about creating my own community since my family is all spread out geographically. Best regards.

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  2. DanP

    I'm pretty sure I have listened to every podcast Jonah has done, and probably read darn near everything he has written for more than 20 years. And I think I can say with confidence that while the whole podcast was an A+, Jonah's insight the meaning and importance of family when discussing his late sister-in-law is the best thing he has ever done. I was moved to tears, and have found myself coming back again and again to ponder on the wisdom and insight Jonah had to offer. Thank you for sharing for this, Jonah. As you can now see, it has had a real impact on a lot of people.

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    Clayton

    Jonah:

    Thanks so much for your insight at the end of the podcast. My family has been extremely divided over the last four years because of politics. Honestly, my brothers and dad probably don't think much of you because of their devotion to the president.

    I sent them all a link to your podcast, and told them to listen to the last eight minutes. My Trumpiest brother responded glowingly - acknowledging the importance of our family and what it has meant to him over the years.

    Your words slapped me across the face for a different reason. As a Christian, I'm on guard against idols in my life that I worship in place of Jesus. Politics has become an idol for me. I worship it. For the reasons you expressed, politics are not what matters in this life. Jesus and family will always be there for me.

    Thank you for that reminder (even if it was perhaps not what you precisely intended).

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    Dave IL

    What a poignant illustration of why we need the word "unique". It was slightly confusing that you described efforts to maintain the word's meaning as "pedantic" and then proceeded to show that any one family member embodies a one-of-a-kind collection of memories. In any event, I wish I had known your brother and his wife.

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    Michael Berkowitz

    I'm sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. "May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."

    Regarding the Jewish custom of funeral-minimalism, we learned it the hard way. Here's the talmud from Tractate Ketubot:

    "What is the connection between Rabban Gamliel and a house of mourning? It is as it is taught in a baraita: Initially, the funeral expenditures for the deceased were more taxing for his relatives than his death, as the burials were opulent, until it reached a point where people would abandon the deceased and flee. This continued until Rabbi Gamliel came and conducted himself in a self-deprecatory manner, instructing the people that they were to take him for burial in plain linen garments. And all the people conducted themselves following his example, and instructed their families to take them for burial in plain linen garments. Rav Pappa said: And today, everyone is accustomed to bury the dead in plain garments, even in rough cloth [tzerada] worth one zuz."

    Fact is, even pine boxes are in deference to US health codes, from what I'm told. In Israel people are buried wrapped in a sheet.

    The other impressive thing is the Burial Societies, which are generally manned by volunteers. We say that a favor done for the deceased is a "true" favor, because there's no chance of him returning it.

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    Will

    I just got around to finishing this podcast. The ending was very moving. Thank you, Jonah.
    Production note ... the last few minutes are cut off on this website's version of the episode.
    Take care.

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    Mike Bennett

    I really enjoyed this Ruminant and appreciate you being so open about family and what it means to you. Real truths. Made me reflect on valuing time with family more. Very sorry for your loss.

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  8. sane_AZ

    I finally listened to this one last night in the garage as I was repairing my wife's office chair. I was thinking about the family stories that we tell each other a week or so ago. My grandfather looms omnipresent in my family's lore, he was a larger than life small-town cigar smoking dentist. The kind of "character" you don't run across much anymore. The stories about him are shrinking as we lose his children (only my aunt is left) and the family is split by....of all the dumb things....politics. Thanks Jonah.

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    Amanda

    I was so caught up in Jonah's story of family life that it didn't occur to me to ask at the time what he was doing taking a long-haul flight in the midst of a roaring pandemic. A journey -- *any* journey, but especially one where you have multiple interactions with strangers in enclosed spaces -- presents an unacceptably high level of potential exposure: that's why we're in this sodding mess. As for prior Covid testing, I believe it's a 72-hour window, and needless to say, infections can and do occur within that window. I don't wish to be a scold but honestly, I haven't had any vacation this year, nor have I visited my usual haunts, because there's just too much at stake. If more people had treated this virus with anything like the seriousness it deserves, this could have been long ago contained and all of our lives would now be much more normal (I shake my head in regret and sorrow).

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      Amanda

      To clarify: I meant that I didn't have any vacation nor did I travel anywhere in 2020, never mind this year, in which my usual plans have been cancelled, also.

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    Kris LeBoutillier

    Hi Jonah. Just listened. First, you have never been more correct in your statements about last Wednesday. How so many got star struck by a cult of personality. And also, sorry to listen to the news about your family. Your thoughts on 'family' are something that needs to be taken to heart and have never been more important to us all.

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