Aug 8, 2023·edited Aug 8, 2023Liked by Liza Donnelly
Well, that is new updated definition for me. New age? Thanks for the Indigo tip. My kinda music. Nothing like a morning run to start the day and clear the mind. Peace and hugs.
I am reading And There Was Light right now -- like you, so much I didn't know about Lincoln and love learning. Love this dovetail though!
About cringe, will have to rethink/refeel that word. "Cringe" to me has always been awkward, like things aren't coming together, quite. An embarrassment.
That's the context for its current use: It's embarrassing to care earnestly, because it betrays a naivety that we can make a better world when so many powerful forces are determined to destroy it.
I think I like cringe but I really need to consider my motivation and view of the world as we now see it or is I see it and is my sight altered by that view. Now that is a confusing sentence.
To me, cringe, especially as in cringe-worthy, is and always has been pejorative. I don’t know how you construe it into any other meaning. Definition: “have an inward feeling of acute embarrassment or awkwardness.”
Example: “I cringed at his stupidity"
Synonyms: Wince, squirm. I don’t remember the Indigo Girls but not their music. Guess I gotta read the NYT piece.
Meanwhile, I love “hopey-changey.” Through the Trump years (even now) and the Pandemic I was havin’ trouble holdin’ mine too!
Liza, your mention of Stevie triggered a memory of the only time I saw Stevie. I was in the third year of military school in MO. At the time I was a risings star there due to performance. It is a military thing. So, anyway I was tapped to oversee a dance school that was being offered to Cadets. At time the school wanted to produce gentlemen who might be valuable to society. This was in a different time where there was a high societal goal. Now long gone. Next installment to follow
Oh my goodness did I need to read this. Literally one second before I read it I hit "publish" on my Tuesday Substack, wondering (because I did not know the word "cringe") if it was maybe a touch too sappy (a word my mother used), and hoping that my comics kept it from going too far. But now -- you know what? I'm happy if it does. Cringe and Sappy -- sometimes that's me. THANKS! Your work fills me with delight.
My how the meaning of words evolve. I've clearly been behind the curve in regards to cringe, but if it can now also mean sincerity and wisdom and being open to the world and the possibility of a different future, I'm all in. And Stevie Wonder sure fits that bill. I look forward to seeing the cartoon version!
Awesome post. It's interesting to reflect on this latest iteration of using irony to get distance from a painful world. I'm reminded of D.H. Lawrence in Lady Chatterley's lover: "All the great words, it seemed to Connie were cancelled, for her generation: love, joy, happiness, home, mother, father, husband, all these great, dynamic words were half dead now and dying from day to day."
What WWI was to Lawrence's generation, I think climate change is for Gen Z. Earnestness has been canceled, because it hurts so much to see us willfully driving headlong off the cliff of environmental catastrophe.
Really good point, Jack. I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. I think the current generation is more willing to be hopeful and push for positivity, don't you? That's what I've read, anyway.
The truth about Mr. Lincoln is that he, personally, was a divisive, polarizing figure in the context of US politics, circa 1860. His election to the presidency was the proximate cause of succession and civil war. During his presidency, 600,000 Americans, Union and Confederate lost their lives.
Where slavery was concerned, Lincoln was too adroit a politician to make slavery the central issue during the succession crisis and the first year of war. He said that his policy was to save the Union, adding that he could do so by freeing all the slaves, he would do that, and if he could save the Union by leaving the slaves in bondage he would do that, and if he could save the Union by freeing some slaves and leaving some in bondage he would do that also.
Lincoln was the greatest president, indeed the greatest American, in our history, bar none. But I think we've lost sight of the fact that he was a canny country lawyer and a none-too-scrupulous politician who was prepared to bend the Constitution and the laws to do what needed to be done if the Union was to be saved.
Did you read Meecham's book? It is fascinating to hear how Lincoln adeptly navigated the slavery issue, as it was referred to at various points. It was a complicated time, for sure. And, LIncoln ended slavery, along with many, many other abolitionists. People died during the Civil war, of course, but think how many died under slavery leading up to that.
Well, I was certainly not criticizing Lincoln. I haven't read Meecham's book, but I have read Carl Sandburg's magisterial biography, Shelby Foote's history of the Civil War, and much else besides, including Lincoln's own writings and speeches, which the Library of America has published in an invaluable two-volume set. LoA has also published a four-volume set on the Civil War consisting entirely of contemporary documents: speeches, letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, military orders and reports, etc. Perusing them, I realized that one cannot understand the Civil War—really the key event in this nation's history—without hearing the testimony of the Americans who lived through it.
In a sense, Abraham Lincoln summarized all of that. Though he's remembered, not wrongly, as a kind and gentle man, he was commander-in-chief during the bloodiest war in American history. He signed orders that sent tens and hundreds of thousands of men to their deaths. As I mentioned, he violated the law and the Constitution in the name of the law and the Constitution. These he believed to be necessary evils, for Lincoln realized from the start what many others could not admit: that slavery was the cause of disunion and war, and that true victory depended on the abolition of slavery. In short, he was a great man because he understood much, and had the courage to act on that understanding.
Well, language is as language does and there isn’t an end to words that have been the victim of carjackings. The written and spoken forms differ vastly, anyway. I blame this usage of cringe on leakage from the academic project to deconstruct ideas into privileges and the ironic stance ready to pounce on any statement that may implicitly assume a value system.
Lincoln didn’t live in that world. Aside from Melville and Clemens (and maybe Dickinson and Poe) irony was difficult to detect. Few attempted the ironic stance in literature, and in the day’s live entertainment (two and three hour sermons and speeches no one would have taken Wes Anderson as a model.
Not sure I understand, but I didn't mean Lincoln "lived" in our world, just that he was a idealist person and hopeful man (despite bouts of depression) that made change. I was simply making a humorous comment on how if he was in our world now, he might be considered "cringe." It's all simply my brain making connections and exploring ideas.
I look forward to the drawing; I like it when words evolve and someone with your skill gives them a physical shape, structure and dimension.
In relation to this: "I wondered how is it that someone can do that, from the heart, in such a way as others will listen?" I feel obliged to point out that you do it in many of your drawings and musings. So, maybe wonder no more 😉
Well, that is new updated definition for me. New age? Thanks for the Indigo tip. My kinda music. Nothing like a morning run to start the day and clear the mind. Peace and hugs.
I’m cringe and I’m proud.
Me, too!
I like cringe
I am reading And There Was Light right now -- like you, so much I didn't know about Lincoln and love learning. Love this dovetail though!
About cringe, will have to rethink/refeel that word. "Cringe" to me has always been awkward, like things aren't coming together, quite. An embarrassment.
That's the context for its current use: It's embarrassing to care earnestly, because it betrays a naivety that we can make a better world when so many powerful forces are determined to destroy it.
So our options are to not care earnestly, because that is embarrassing, and destruction is inevitable? This makes my brain hurt.
Yeah, exactly.
Yes. We need more people to be cringe.
Exactly.
Isn't it great to learn about Lincoln and the time period!
Fascinating and engaging!
I think I like cringe but I really need to consider my motivation and view of the world as we now see it or is I see it and is my sight altered by that view. Now that is a confusing sentence.
To me, cringe, especially as in cringe-worthy, is and always has been pejorative. I don’t know how you construe it into any other meaning. Definition: “have an inward feeling of acute embarrassment or awkwardness.”
Example: “I cringed at his stupidity"
Synonyms: Wince, squirm. I don’t remember the Indigo Girls but not their music. Guess I gotta read the NYT piece.
Meanwhile, I love “hopey-changey.” Through the Trump years (even now) and the Pandemic I was havin’ trouble holdin’ mine too!
Yes, the pejorative lingers alright.
Yes, but I think it now has an additional, less pejorative meaning.
Liza, your mention of Stevie triggered a memory of the only time I saw Stevie. I was in the third year of military school in MO. At the time I was a risings star there due to performance. It is a military thing. So, anyway I was tapped to oversee a dance school that was being offered to Cadets. At time the school wanted to produce gentlemen who might be valuable to society. This was in a different time where there was a high societal goal. Now long gone. Next installment to follow
That's really interesting and a bit sad. My father went to a military academy in Maryland....
Must have been 1968 in Booneville, MO. He was 18 and could play nine instruments then.
Oh my goodness did I need to read this. Literally one second before I read it I hit "publish" on my Tuesday Substack, wondering (because I did not know the word "cringe") if it was maybe a touch too sappy (a word my mother used), and hoping that my comics kept it from going too far. But now -- you know what? I'm happy if it does. Cringe and Sappy -- sometimes that's me. THANKS! Your work fills me with delight.
That's a great story! Glad to encourage. Another funny coincidence in the day! Yes, more cringe!
My how the meaning of words evolve. I've clearly been behind the curve in regards to cringe, but if it can now also mean sincerity and wisdom and being open to the world and the possibility of a different future, I'm all in. And Stevie Wonder sure fits that bill. I look forward to seeing the cartoon version!
Thanks, Jonathan, I know you are a cringey person! Earlham produces a lot of such folks....
The new Earlham promotional message: We're beyond hopey-changey; we're cringe-worthy!
hahahaha!!! Let's write the new president.
... and send our letter along with your forthcoming cartoon!
Awesome post. It's interesting to reflect on this latest iteration of using irony to get distance from a painful world. I'm reminded of D.H. Lawrence in Lady Chatterley's lover: "All the great words, it seemed to Connie were cancelled, for her generation: love, joy, happiness, home, mother, father, husband, all these great, dynamic words were half dead now and dying from day to day."
What WWI was to Lawrence's generation, I think climate change is for Gen Z. Earnestness has been canceled, because it hurts so much to see us willfully driving headlong off the cliff of environmental catastrophe.
I think you're right. Love that DHL quote!
Really good point, Jack. I hadn't thought of that, but you're right. I think the current generation is more willing to be hopeful and push for positivity, don't you? That's what I've read, anyway.
And thank you, Jack!
The truth about Mr. Lincoln is that he, personally, was a divisive, polarizing figure in the context of US politics, circa 1860. His election to the presidency was the proximate cause of succession and civil war. During his presidency, 600,000 Americans, Union and Confederate lost their lives.
Where slavery was concerned, Lincoln was too adroit a politician to make slavery the central issue during the succession crisis and the first year of war. He said that his policy was to save the Union, adding that he could do so by freeing all the slaves, he would do that, and if he could save the Union by leaving the slaves in bondage he would do that, and if he could save the Union by freeing some slaves and leaving some in bondage he would do that also.
Lincoln was the greatest president, indeed the greatest American, in our history, bar none. But I think we've lost sight of the fact that he was a canny country lawyer and a none-too-scrupulous politician who was prepared to bend the Constitution and the laws to do what needed to be done if the Union was to be saved.
Did you read Meecham's book? It is fascinating to hear how Lincoln adeptly navigated the slavery issue, as it was referred to at various points. It was a complicated time, for sure. And, LIncoln ended slavery, along with many, many other abolitionists. People died during the Civil war, of course, but think how many died under slavery leading up to that.
Well, I was certainly not criticizing Lincoln. I haven't read Meecham's book, but I have read Carl Sandburg's magisterial biography, Shelby Foote's history of the Civil War, and much else besides, including Lincoln's own writings and speeches, which the Library of America has published in an invaluable two-volume set. LoA has also published a four-volume set on the Civil War consisting entirely of contemporary documents: speeches, letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, military orders and reports, etc. Perusing them, I realized that one cannot understand the Civil War—really the key event in this nation's history—without hearing the testimony of the Americans who lived through it.
In a sense, Abraham Lincoln summarized all of that. Though he's remembered, not wrongly, as a kind and gentle man, he was commander-in-chief during the bloodiest war in American history. He signed orders that sent tens and hundreds of thousands of men to their deaths. As I mentioned, he violated the law and the Constitution in the name of the law and the Constitution. These he believed to be necessary evils, for Lincoln realized from the start what many others could not admit: that slavery was the cause of disunion and war, and that true victory depended on the abolition of slavery. In short, he was a great man because he understood much, and had the courage to act on that understanding.
I really relate to getting that “hopey changey thing” back.
Well, language is as language does and there isn’t an end to words that have been the victim of carjackings. The written and spoken forms differ vastly, anyway. I blame this usage of cringe on leakage from the academic project to deconstruct ideas into privileges and the ironic stance ready to pounce on any statement that may implicitly assume a value system.
Lincoln didn’t live in that world. Aside from Melville and Clemens (and maybe Dickinson and Poe) irony was difficult to detect. Few attempted the ironic stance in literature, and in the day’s live entertainment (two and three hour sermons and speeches no one would have taken Wes Anderson as a model.
Not sure I understand, but I didn't mean Lincoln "lived" in our world, just that he was a idealist person and hopeful man (despite bouts of depression) that made change. I was simply making a humorous comment on how if he was in our world now, he might be considered "cringe." It's all simply my brain making connections and exploring ideas.
I look forward to the drawing; I like it when words evolve and someone with your skill gives them a physical shape, structure and dimension.
In relation to this: "I wondered how is it that someone can do that, from the heart, in such a way as others will listen?" I feel obliged to point out that you do it in many of your drawings and musings. So, maybe wonder no more 😉
Thank you, D.L. I often question myself and hold back, but as I get older, I am do so less and less.
One of the many wonderful freedoms offered to maturity!