14 Comments
User's avatar
Michael Kupperburg's avatar

It is curious to me that all the letters were between 1951 and 1971, did people give up hope after that?

nancy knox-bierman's avatar

I still have hope. It's crazy that we haven't moved forward. Our problems are the same.

Michael Kupperburg's avatar

People are the same. One can go back 5,000 years, and people were still acting and thinking the same.

Michael Kupperburg's avatar

One can only cry or laugh at it all, I prefer the later.

Pap Finch's avatar

Some good Vonnegut wisdom

Michael Kupperburg's avatar

A favorite of mine, but did not remember it from him,

Austin Myers's avatar

And history will always repeat itself. Mankind…

Neural Foundry's avatar

These letters hit different when you realize they're from like 70 years ago and we're still having the same debates. Du Bois's point about needing a 'change of heart' rather than more force is profound—especially that bit about respecting people regardless of their situation. I re-read some old letters from my grandfather last month and they had the same frusterated tone about world politics. Some cycles never realy break.

Colin & The Daily Spark's avatar

Thank you, Shaun, an excellent curation of letters here, and so apropos for our world and time as we speak. May it spur many to keener awareness, deeper thought, active voice and wise action ...

Cate Salenger's avatar

Timeless wisdom from great and conscious writers. Thanks. It’s good to be reminded that there have been times like these and so far we’ve survived but not without great cost.

Jeri Gale's avatar

I believe that the challenge has always been with us - to find a “comfortable unity”. We have another golden opportunity today.

Alison Miyake's avatar

Thank you for this. Today.