A DELECTABLE DISCUSSION OF IDEAS

MARCH 4, 2025 – I understand that earlier this evening Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in 60 years. Many of us chose not to tune in, and I can say with robust confidence that our decision was the right one.

In the bubble I shared with four others over a delightful dinner, scrumptious dessert, and prize-winning gourmet chocolate of the finest quality on the broadest possible international scale, we discussed in great depth the current state of affairs created impulsively by the Musk-Trump Diarchy. I extracted from the conversation far more than I contributed to it. Subjects included the future of AI, the moral soul of human creativity, the mechanics of 3-D printing, how the appeal of irrationalism might be countered, the failure of the Democratic coalition, catastrophic environmental disasters, the merits of mediation, and the negative elements and effects of corporatism. It was a stimulating discussion and gave me lots to ponder—and books and articles to add to my reading list.

This experience was far more beneficial than tuning in to Trump’s usual front-end loader bucketful of hyperbole and falsehoods. We know that our country is far down a wild river through uncharted territory. Just as we adjusted to life after Pearl Harbor and in a post-9/11 world, so will we Americans adapt to our surroundings in what is sure to be a dark jungle of unintended if not unforeseeable consequences. As I told the younger contributors to our pre-dinner, dinner, and post-dinner conversation, they give me a large measure of hope. They are not giving up on the country or the future, and therefore, neither should we of an older generation. With ample smarts, superb educations, insatiable curiosity, and above all, a desire to engage with the world and understand it, this young couple with so much vitality are the bedrock of their generation. As they pull on their oars, I feel assured about our country’s prospects.

They are not the only ones rowing the lifeboat. I know this, because I know other people their age, who are also as dedicated to making the world a better place as they are possessed of the capacity to do so. While older Democrats wring their hands over whatever Trump said this evening, I will henceforth embrace my host brother-in-law’s gospel of cheerfulness and my sister’s embrace of the common good. I will pin my hopes on the young leaders at this evening’s table.

And lest my readers arrive at mistaken judgments, no one at the table consumed a single drop of wine with our delectable baked salmon dinner.

Perhaps on the morrow I’ll read about “the Speech” but most likely not. In any event, I know I won’t read or listen to it. No, I’m better served by savoring the hope and edification I derived from a delectable discussion of ideas.

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© 2025 by Eric Nilsson