We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Once you get past his bit about his (14-minute) anger with the Linfield College administration's dismal treatment of him, he delivers a stimulating sermon on life, including topics of the "impartial brutality of reality"; the need to make life more difficult; the necessity of hitting walls in order to grow; that the meaning of life is in reducing suffering; the necessity of self-doubt and humility for spiritual, emotional, and intellectual growth; the dangers of isolation/insulation; the idea that to learn and develop, an old part of you has to die; and "black truths." And more.
It's a sermon with too many themes, but is there anything "controversial" enough to be banned here? "How do you radically justify your miserable existence? Start with yourself."
Uh, no. According to many many of the wise, learned, and even prophets (Dare I include God? Yes, I think I do.), the point of life is improvement, to become fully our best selves. Along the way if we can relieve suffering that is a good thing, and contributes to our becoming better people. But ease as the point of life? I don't buy it.
What does easier mean? I go to the gym every day to make my life harder. I go to church to make life harder. I had kids to make life harder and richer.
I love listening to Jordan Peterson, and when I saw his tour was going to be at my son's town I thought it would be great to send my son a ticket. The ticket to Jordan Petson's talk was $55.00 and the handling fee was another $12. So it would be almost $70 for me to send my son the ticket. I do think Jordan Peterson is worth that absolutely, but I also think that my son is on track and doing well, so it's not a necessity right now for me to send him a $70 ticket, that's a lot of money. Thank goodness Jordan Peterson is available for the rest of us to listen to on these tapes.