“If you collect 100 black ants and 100 fire ants and put them in a glass jar, nothing will happen. But if you take the jar, shake it violently and leave it on the table, the ants will start killing each other.
Red believes that black is the enemy, while black believes that red is the enemy when the real enemy is the person who shook the jar.
The same is true in society. Men vs Women. Black vs White. Faith vs Science. Young vs Old. Etc…
Before we fight each other, we must ask ourselves: Who shook the jar?”
Bill I liked this so much I was going to post it somewhere myself. As is my habit as an author I went to confirm the original attribution. In case you might be interested in what I found, not as correction, simply as information for you... this quote has been misattribued to Attenborough for years. It seems to have been based on an outtake from Kurt Vonnegut's novel, published in 1962, CAT'S CRADLE. That writing is: "I can't remember what all Frank had fighting in the jar that day, but I can remember other bug fights we staged later on: one stag beetle against a hundred red ants, one centipede against three spiders, red ants against black ants. They won't fight unless you keep shaking the jar. And that's what Frank was doing, shaking, shaking the jar."
Thank you for the clarification. In my defense, I was rather in a rush when I posted that and cited the first thing I saw on Google. Silly me… which reminds me of another ‘quote’… “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.” — Abraham Lincoln
First of all, you are the one who brought this up, but I'm tired of letting statements like this slide. Which president are you meaning? The one who goes to mass every week, and believes in trying to follow the teachings of Jesus, or the one who spends most Sundays on the golf course, calls it "Two Corinthians," disparages anyone who doesn't agree with him, and has lied so much that even the people who are paid to keep track of it have lost count. The one who could not recite The Lord's Prayer if his life depended on it? That one?
I think this is the same person who proudly had pictures taken of himself holding the hold scriptures: upside down. Or the President who had thousands of Bibles printed in China with his name debossed on the cover whilst campaigning against trade practices with China. Might that be the person being referenced? "Asking for a friend."
Thank you Ann!I wholeheartedly agree with you.I believe people have the right to their opinions/beliefs,but it would certainly be nice if kindness was shared instead,along with encouragement and humor.
I understand that we're all sick to death of fractious politics, but in these dangerous times, we simply cannot ignore what's going on and stick our heads in the sand. If one is to continue to do that, that one will certainly choke on the sand. Unfortunately, we Americans are under serious threat, and we have to be aware, every day. Maybe we don't need to post it everywhere, I get that, but we cannot ignore it. The sand will get you.
I used to say we live in the Matrix, life imitating art, but now it feels more like Carney World where you pass through a brightly lit, colorful temporary carnival, the carneys shouting out to come wih a teddy bear or try your hand at________(fill in the blank). Thing is, behind the scenes, on the other side of the glitz and attention getting razzle dazzle, it's just a rag tag, dull, sad bunch of gypsies with no other option but to eek out a living by pretending they are something they are not. Somehow they always have enough suckers to tap into to keep them going.
There was the war of words before the election, and tribulations aplenty since, but it’s time to take down the yard signs. Let there be more pre-emergent and plans for killing weeds and enjoy the first signs of Spring instead.
Love me some Canton. And Waleska. And Ballground. And that whole neck of the woods. Keep us posted on those daffodils. The pansies are still blooming down here in River City. Don't know how they survived the snow and freeze. God must like them.
Well, I usually, really enjoy scrolling through the comments, but NOT TODAY. Please, Sean fans, if you really like reading Sean's work, do so, but don't turn them into politics! If you want to talk politics, go somewhere else to a place where you can talk politics without making many of Sean's readers suffer heartburn. Choose those you agree with and go find another place to share your delusional stories. Please don't burden us with them. Even when I don't agree with an administration, I try to suffer through it quietly, hoping that the next one will be better. Maybe you should try that, too, if this one is burdening you. May God bring Peace on Earth among all of us.
And our stories are not delusional. If you don't want to be burdened by them, simply pass them by. Trying to "suffer through it quietly" will only get you more suffering.
Click bait, AI, obvious photoshop galore and fake accounts. Inflammatory stories, emphasis on stories. Tragedy with blame. Condemnation of opposing views. Is it any wonder so many are tuning out.
I’ve never been convinced to switch sides or join sides by ‘any’ media. I venture most can say the same.
Wake up. Start coffee maker. Turn on one of my many channels on Sirius XM Radio. The news channels are not part of this routine. Never. Delete those emails, Sean, and block the senders. But don't ever block me, OK? God shows up with me for coffee on my front porch. Come join us any time. He and I won't ever assault you with unwanted messages, Sean. We love you.
Sean, one of my favorite memes features a pasted photo of comedian Will Ferrell standing in front of a blaze so large, the top of it isn't visible. His hands are cupped to his mouth and the word bubble, in ALL CAPS, reads, "Do you guys need me to throw you a poem?" It makes me laugh. Every single time. And it makes me think. What is it that I am throwing on a fire. Sometimes, in a crisis, a poem can be a comfort. However, in front of a giant conflagration, a call to the fire department would be more helpful. It's a confusing time for anyone of any political ilk. Regardless of the nature of anyone's yard sign, it is an exceptionally divisive time. I am also drinking my coffee. And reading your column, not the latest shouting match, em, um, I mean, news. I do know a few questions that help me determine many of my actions, "Is this kind?" "Does this align with my core values?" and "Will this further my objectives and dreams for this project/action/Country?" In the moment, as I am writing this, the answer is yes to those questions. So, thank you for today's amusing point of perspective. And I'm going to go get a second cup of coffee now.
Thank you, Mr. D. I am not a cat fan, but I love kittens doing kitten things. It's totally mindless and I need that from time to time. And a sign in my yard that makes no sense.
“If you collect 100 black ants and 100 fire ants and put them in a glass jar, nothing will happen. But if you take the jar, shake it violently and leave it on the table, the ants will start killing each other.
Red believes that black is the enemy, while black believes that red is the enemy when the real enemy is the person who shook the jar.
The same is true in society. Men vs Women. Black vs White. Faith vs Science. Young vs Old. Etc…
Before we fight each other, we must ask ourselves: Who shook the jar?”
~ David Attenborough ~
Bill I liked this so much I was going to post it somewhere myself. As is my habit as an author I went to confirm the original attribution. In case you might be interested in what I found, not as correction, simply as information for you... this quote has been misattribued to Attenborough for years. It seems to have been based on an outtake from Kurt Vonnegut's novel, published in 1962, CAT'S CRADLE. That writing is: "I can't remember what all Frank had fighting in the jar that day, but I can remember other bug fights we staged later on: one stag beetle against a hundred red ants, one centipede against three spiders, red ants against black ants. They won't fight unless you keep shaking the jar. And that's what Frank was doing, shaking, shaking the jar."
Thank you for the clarification. In my defense, I was rather in a rush when I posted that and cited the first thing I saw on Google. Silly me… which reminds me of another ‘quote’… “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.” — Abraham Lincoln
😂 good one, Bill!!
Interesting
Yikes. I think someone is shaking our jar.
Ya THINK?!?!
We all know who's shaking the jar.....
Amen!
My dog smarter than yours, they pee on command! Praise God we have a president who actually believes in God!🙌🏻✝️🙏🏻🇺🇸
First of all, you are the one who brought this up, but I'm tired of letting statements like this slide. Which president are you meaning? The one who goes to mass every week, and believes in trying to follow the teachings of Jesus, or the one who spends most Sundays on the golf course, calls it "Two Corinthians," disparages anyone who doesn't agree with him, and has lied so much that even the people who are paid to keep track of it have lost count. The one who could not recite The Lord's Prayer if his life depended on it? That one?
I think this is the same person who proudly had pictures taken of himself holding the hold scriptures: upside down. Or the President who had thousands of Bibles printed in China with his name debossed on the cover whilst campaigning against trade practices with China. Might that be the person being referenced? "Asking for a friend."
As I've said once before, this is not the place for politics!!!!
I’m with you, Ann. Apparently, someone shook their jar. Choosing to ignore them since none of them listen to reason.
Thank you Ann!I wholeheartedly agree with you.I believe people have the right to their opinions/beliefs,but it would certainly be nice if kindness was shared instead,along with encouragement and humor.
Thank you!
Amen !!!!!
I understand that we're all sick to death of fractious politics, but in these dangerous times, we simply cannot ignore what's going on and stick our heads in the sand. If one is to continue to do that, that one will certainly choke on the sand. Unfortunately, we Americans are under serious threat, and we have to be aware, every day. Maybe we don't need to post it everywhere, I get that, but we cannot ignore it. The sand will get you.
Mary Anne, LOVE the"asking for a friend". Ha. Ya, it the one and the same "person".
Thank you.
Ya, I'm afraid he means the last one. Sad, huh. 😔
That would be hilarious, if it weren't so sad. You're one of his MARKS.
This made me chuckle with delight.
I do believe we're all overly saturated indeed. Going to look for some funny animal videos.
Dogs don't watch the news, peruse the paper, absorb social media, or read obnoxious yard signs. They just pee on them. Dogs are smart.
Most of the signs deserve to be peed on!
Our morning routines are very similar, Sean. After waking up, coffee is top priority. Then turn on TV, and then turn off TV. Done.
A silly song comes to mind, as I get ready for the rest of my day - 🎶 “ You've got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-i-nate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mr. In-Between”🎵 (Bing Crosby, the Andrew Sisters 1937)
Find the Joy if you can🤗
Find the joy! Yepper!
I think I was about 10 yrs. old the last time I heard that wonderful song, Julie. Thanks for remnding me!!!!!!
Funny, I think alot of us are bent on eliminating the negative.
Very very well said! We are all very tired...
I used to say we live in the Matrix, life imitating art, but now it feels more like Carney World where you pass through a brightly lit, colorful temporary carnival, the carneys shouting out to come wih a teddy bear or try your hand at________(fill in the blank). Thing is, behind the scenes, on the other side of the glitz and attention getting razzle dazzle, it's just a rag tag, dull, sad bunch of gypsies with no other option but to eek out a living by pretending they are something they are not. Somehow they always have enough suckers to tap into to keep them going.
It describes congress, exactly. Spineless sycophants. So OBVIOUSLY. NOT working for the people.
Sounds like most of Congress!
And the world of business.
There was the war of words before the election, and tribulations aplenty since, but it’s time to take down the yard signs. Let there be more pre-emergent and plans for killing weeds and enjoy the first signs of Spring instead.
Love me some Canton. And Waleska. And Ballground. And that whole neck of the woods. Keep us posted on those daffodils. The pansies are still blooming down here in River City. Don't know how they survived the snow and freeze. God must like them.
Well, I usually, really enjoy scrolling through the comments, but NOT TODAY. Please, Sean fans, if you really like reading Sean's work, do so, but don't turn them into politics! If you want to talk politics, go somewhere else to a place where you can talk politics without making many of Sean's readers suffer heartburn. Choose those you agree with and go find another place to share your delusional stories. Please don't burden us with them. Even when I don't agree with an administration, I try to suffer through it quietly, hoping that the next one will be better. Maybe you should try that, too, if this one is burdening you. May God bring Peace on Earth among all of us.
Thank you MAM! I couldn't agree with you more!
And our stories are not delusional. If you don't want to be burdened by them, simply pass them by. Trying to "suffer through it quietly" will only get you more suffering.
🎶Soft kitty, warm kitty
Little ball of fur
Happy kitty, sleepy kitty
Purr, purr purr🎶
Sean, you’re welcome😽💓😻
Click bait, AI, obvious photoshop galore and fake accounts. Inflammatory stories, emphasis on stories. Tragedy with blame. Condemnation of opposing views. Is it any wonder so many are tuning out.
I’ve never been convinced to switch sides or join sides by ‘any’ media. I venture most can say the same.
I have had dogs who pee on command. My boy dog, Pepper will but, not my Emmylou. She is just two and we are working on it.
Wake up. Start coffee maker. Turn on one of my many channels on Sirius XM Radio. The news channels are not part of this routine. Never. Delete those emails, Sean, and block the senders. But don't ever block me, OK? God shows up with me for coffee on my front porch. Come join us any time. He and I won't ever assault you with unwanted messages, Sean. We love you.
Awwwwwww……how very inviting! Like it!
Sean, one of my favorite memes features a pasted photo of comedian Will Ferrell standing in front of a blaze so large, the top of it isn't visible. His hands are cupped to his mouth and the word bubble, in ALL CAPS, reads, "Do you guys need me to throw you a poem?" It makes me laugh. Every single time. And it makes me think. What is it that I am throwing on a fire. Sometimes, in a crisis, a poem can be a comfort. However, in front of a giant conflagration, a call to the fire department would be more helpful. It's a confusing time for anyone of any political ilk. Regardless of the nature of anyone's yard sign, it is an exceptionally divisive time. I am also drinking my coffee. And reading your column, not the latest shouting match, em, um, I mean, news. I do know a few questions that help me determine many of my actions, "Is this kind?" "Does this align with my core values?" and "Will this further my objectives and dreams for this project/action/Country?" In the moment, as I am writing this, the answer is yes to those questions. So, thank you for today's amusing point of perspective. And I'm going to go get a second cup of coffee now.
Thank you, Mr. D. I am not a cat fan, but I love kittens doing kitten things. It's totally mindless and I need that from time to time. And a sign in my yard that makes no sense.
The word needs more cat videos!