Dear Emily, your father is an absolute national treasure. I wish I could have witnessed your tribute. Not only has he mastered the deep lessons and truths of Russian literature and history, but he thoroughly understands human nature and the kinds of discourse and social habits necessary for a good society. He's a wonderful exemplar of the old virtues of gentlemen and scholar.
This is my dad's approach as well. If you can't make an argument from the side you disagree with, then you don't fully understand the issue. Having that mentality is a great way to really listen and understand—rarely are people 100% wrong, but rarely are we 100% right, either, and by truly listening, we can learn things we didn't know we needed to learn.
Emily, I am very glad you shared your talk here so I could reflect on everything you had to say. Friday night I was impressed by your energy, poise, humor, and the way you blended concepts from your dad's writing with personal reminiscences from your childhood. What you had to say moved everyone in the room, fostering a deeper understanding of Saul's intellect and motivations. Most importantly, your words meant the world to your father.
What a gorgeous reflection on your father's past and present work. We desperately need to create more safe spaces for our diverse perspectives in our educational and professional environments; he sounds like an absolutely fascinating person with an empathetic intellect and respect for individuality.
Dear Emily, your father is an absolute national treasure. I wish I could have witnessed your tribute. Not only has he mastered the deep lessons and truths of Russian literature and history, but he thoroughly understands human nature and the kinds of discourse and social habits necessary for a good society. He's a wonderful exemplar of the old virtues of gentlemen and scholar.
This is my dad's approach as well. If you can't make an argument from the side you disagree with, then you don't fully understand the issue. Having that mentality is a great way to really listen and understand—rarely are people 100% wrong, but rarely are we 100% right, either, and by truly listening, we can learn things we didn't know we needed to learn.
Emily, I am very glad you shared your talk here so I could reflect on everything you had to say. Friday night I was impressed by your energy, poise, humor, and the way you blended concepts from your dad's writing with personal reminiscences from your childhood. What you had to say moved everyone in the room, fostering a deeper understanding of Saul's intellect and motivations. Most importantly, your words meant the world to your father.
What a gorgeous reflection on your father's past and present work. We desperately need to create more safe spaces for our diverse perspectives in our educational and professional environments; he sounds like an absolutely fascinating person with an empathetic intellect and respect for individuality.
Thanks, Pauline! Couldn't agree more, and you just beautifully expressed why I'm so proud of him.
I hope you get the chance to meet him at some point, or at least, have more such people in your life.