Thinking vs. FEELING

Compassion is deemed to be, by moderns, the most important quality in a 'good' human being. They talk of how proper Christians must 'show compassion' for the less-fortunate (those that have a troubled life, no matter how they got there - parental neglect, if a child, or conscious choice, if an adult).
These moderns demand a PUBLIC expression of that compassion - quiet charity is NOT sufficient. The compassionate must put their charity on display, for all to comment on, critique, and, ultimately, judge. Sound like any group that Jesus Christ roundly condemned? (Cough, Pharisees).
Those who go along with the bullying are praised - as long as they are properly grateful to the scolds forcing them to go along. Think of the major pressure in most companies to have ONE HUNDRED PERCENT participation in United Way - executives and administrators will make multiple visits to employees to hector, cajole, and intimidate them into giving at least a minimal amount.
Then, the employee is congratulated - for giving into pressure and intimidation - by being called generous and giving.
They were not - merely concerned about retaliation from bosses.
One of the best things about retirement will be the end of those yearly extortion attempts.
Here is a link to a site where people talk about the forced 'contributions'.

Meryl Streep

Say what you will about her, she certainly has acquired a large body of work - AND a lot of award nominations - 19 - and 3 wins. It can safely be said she is highly respected by her peers.
Does that translate into being knowledgeable and informed about politics?
No.
Many people are highly successful in one field, and a total failure at another:

• Michael Jordan - great at basketball, lousy at baseball
• FDR - great at politics, terrible at running Warm Springs resort - lost a lot of money
• The Woz - amazing at computers, lost tons of money in many other pursuits, and is pretty universally used as the bad example at dancing
• Ross Perot - probably one of the best salesmen ever at IBM, failed to win the presidency
• Ashley Judd - a success as an actress, a failure at politics

There are others, but that gives you the idea.

Look at her face in the picture above. VERY, VERY self-satisfied - you might say, smug. She is in her comfort zone - surrounded with those who hold her in high regard. People surround her, eager to hear each pearl of wisdom she deigns to let fall from her tightly pursed lips.

And, yet, is she, in fact, the essence of empathy for the average person?

No. She despises those regular people. She thinks them boors, cretins, and incipient Storm Troopers.

Is it any wonder that she seldom makes a picture that those people are lining up to see? Her films may win awards, but they generally don't make a lot of money. Some of them fail, miserably. See the number, here - no information on the ROI (Return on Investment), but she is returning - at most - about 5 to 1 of the investment. Often less, 2 to 1. In Hollywood terms, that's a HUGE failure. Her higher grossing films often have other stars in them that - arguably - provide the bulk of the audience.
The outrageous success of Mamma Mia! has kept her from being seen as a fading star.

Parenthetical comment - I have absolutely NO idea why Mamma Mia! was such a success. Meryl's performance was mannered, stiff, and predictable. Her singing was atrocious - the only thing worse was Pierce Brosnan's off-key, limited vocals. It was a HORRIBLE film.

But, is she brave to call out Trump and his supporters?

Please.

She is surrounded with those who would cut off an arm before critiquing her, who hold the same political beliefs as she does, who have been known to make dissenters into outcasts. That doesn't call for bravery.

OPPOSING the conventional wisdom does. That's what a brave few have done - Stephen Baldwin, James Woods, Adam Sandler, Vince Vaughn, Patricia Heaton.

But, such people have FEELING!
So what?
What is important in public affairs is not how you FEEL, but what you THINK.

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