Welcome to Friday,
Let’s get right to the links, shall we?
Here is the best from around the Internet:
Frederick Douglass’ remarks on the freedom of speech, which are doubly impressive considering he made this speech after a mob prevented the abolitionist from speaking at the originally scheduled gathering. Douglass’ actions embody an important truth; one not only has the right to hear, but this right bestows a responsibility to then act upon what one hears.
“Surprising detail is a near universal property of getting up close and personal with reality.”
Even something which appears relatively simple is composed of several, component tasks all brought together to work as a whole. Taking a walk involves putting on shoes, grabbing your housekeys, locking the door, choosing a direction, navigating traffic, winding your way towards your destination, remaining on the sidewalk, maintaining the correct direction, then doing the same on the return trip. That’s just for taking a simple walk by yourself! Building and creating new projects are exponentially more complex.
A gathering of the most memorable sign-offs committed to paper. Some are gracious, others hilarious; still others I’m left pondering the mind which conceived them. All stand to be admired.
What is the role of fear in public health? Too often, fear of the public’s response outweighs the fear of danger posed to the public. When leaders fear the people fearing more than they fear the dangers people face, lives are lost. Time and again, public officials suppress and delay the publication of vital information, reasoning they don’t want to cause a public panic. The problem is, panic never arrives, but the health crisis does.
I make a point of choosing pieces outside current headlines; while this piece opens with a mention of the on-going pandemic, it actually explores the psychology of crowds and societal messaging – two key factors influencing the spread of ideas, and pivotal to what we discuss here. I’m sure you’ll find the piece insightful, as I did.
It’s a common plight for creators to get stuck in the trap of trying to be totally original. Of course, nothing is ever entirely original. As David Perell argues, the solution is to first imitate the work of creators you admire, then, in imitating, your own voice will shine through to create something new. Ironically, by trying to mimic the masters, you will organically pave your own path of originality.
Currently reading: On Photography by Susan Sontag
Image: “Italian Landscape with Umbrella Pines,” Hendrik Voogd, 1807.
