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Mark Hughes's avatar

Well said Andrew! I choose to live my life based upon the integrity of doing the right things at the right time so that if I ever look back I can say that I would do the same thing again with the same information I had at the time. Right now there is a flurry of bro culture going on when I don’t think men are being particularly thoughtful or generous. I personally feel alienated from it, so when I hear a thoughtful man say kind forward looking statements, much like you have done, I say “hear hear!” Thank you for being you

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Andrew Knapp's avatar

Thanks Mark, so happy to have met you!

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Carlos A Iglesias's avatar

First things First: Boo and Yaya palate cleansers FTW!!

"But here’s what I know: no matter who you’ve been, you can always decide who you become. Ignorance isn’t always a choice, but remaining ignorant is. And a soft voice doesn’t mean a weak one. A soft voice is often the most courageous. Silence is sometimes the only truth worth expressing."

Marcus Aurelius salutes you!

I've earned being one of the most successful people I know... if FAR from the wealthiest. My bottom line is that that you're ON THE MONEY. Keep on growing, contributing, and loving. It's payoff for you, the pups, and all of us in your chorus. Sing it loud!

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BorderCollieMomSandyY's avatar

Carlos, I go back and look at Andrew’s posts all the time but I’m just seeing your post. What on point precise remarks !

Thanks for your writing ✍️

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Daniel Martin Eckhart's avatar

A good read, thanks for sharing your thoughts and I'm sorry you had to endure a backlash for something so level-headed that it shouldn't even require saying. Social media has long gone from boon to bane and for me final straw was the Musk takeover of Twitter. Since then I really only pay attention to LinkedIn which remains, for me, still a place where it is about insight and engagement on a professional and yes, decent, level. I like strong opinions and good arguments, but on so many sites so much has been taken over, infiltrated and downright poisoned by viciousness. In today's word - dependency of social media sites has exploded to extremely unhealthy levels. If I could have a wish on that topic, I'd love for a) socmed to have algorithms trained on decency instead of engagement. That would shift a great deal very quickly. Oh, another wish? Just turn off all social media every weekend ...

... much as we have the power of choice as individuals, this power is removed when you think of humanity as a mass. This mass will always go with comfort and convenience, gullible, easily led down any path. You and I may make the good, strong, decent choices - but the mass needs help. Unfortunately, and hope of helping the human mass with regulation is now further than ever from happening.

Anyway - best we can do is being there, being decent, being kind, to ourselves and those around you. You're doing that, thank you. Oh, sidenote - who knew - our dog's called Momo.

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Lisa Hauck-Loy's avatar

You are one of the good ones. Thanks for putting it out there in spite of the haters.

Wish I could take a walk in the forest with you and the boys!

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Andrew Knapp's avatar

If you're by any chance in Vancouver you can join us Saturday morning for a walk :)

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Ann Armstrong's avatar

Thank you Andrew. It is all about choices. What we fill our minds with, how we show up in the world for others, how we can be of service to those around us.

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Nancy Frakes's avatar

Thank you for writing this, Andrew! It is never wrong to do the right thing! And people like you, writing articles like this, can encourage the many small, soft voices to become heard over the cacophony of the bullies with microphones.

I love your calling to people to do more introspection. I find it hard to believe that the people who are intent on stirring up hatred and discontent ever look inside themselves to analyze the effect of their actions.

I have shared this with several friends and hope others will do the same.

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Richard's avatar

Very well said Andrew!!

If only we could be more like a dog -- Grateful for walks and food and a comfy place to rest. Dreaming of more food and chasing and swimming and petting and maybe giving a wet lick

I will continue to dream and be grateful and do my best to help those around me

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Judy's avatar

Well written and said as you can feel your passion in the words. I hope they ripple worldwide as imagine how much better it would be!

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Judy's avatar

Thank-you as you would know, these comments mean so much!

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Sara D Willis's avatar

Thank you for being, perpetually if perhaps not always perfectly, what is needed in our wounded world. ~ Vince's momma...

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Andrew Knapp's avatar

Sara if I ever need a ghost writer I'll ask you first

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Sara D Willis's avatar

Your words remind me of Rumi's - Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vow a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come.

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BorderCollieMomSandyY's avatar

You’re right about Andrew and all things pups -Vince’s Mom -cute name for a dog

I

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BorderCollieMomSandyY's avatar

Like my third time to read this . Thank you for your words. I’m sending to my neice who has two small boys . Maybe you could write a book or blog for pre teen boys . Always happy to read your thoughts. Still stumbling around here ( partly getting over surgery- for me - but in the USA period- ack- WHAT THE BLANK JUAT HAPPENED !?! Dammit )

And .., really ? Your kind words got negative comments ? Geeze ! The world now … Omg! We talk of moving to Canada now instead of northern coastal US . I don’t know what will happen, but would love to meet you one day . Until then, Blue hides and peeks out from behind things like Momo. ❤️

Best wishes

Sandy & Frank

Blue

Bonnie

Muffy

Prince

Border collie family

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Andrew Knapp's avatar

Yep! Even got some very angry emails in response to this post. I believe it is high-conflict people who are missing the bigger picture. It makes me sad, but comments like yours more than balance it out, so thank you ❤️

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BorderCollieMomSandyY's avatar

I appreciate you

I appreciate your gentle kind words

I appreciate your all things dog love

I don’t know what the hell is going to happen here

It’s a scary friggin position to be in

I’ll just stay here and take care of my little life of family and Doggos in tuxedos ❤️

For now

God bless you and yours

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BorderCollieMomSandyY's avatar

Have you looked into Momo, or Yaya and Boo greeting cards? Note cards, maybe blank inside. I purchased one with a dog who looked just like Momo and it was a birthday card of him holding a stick ( for a gift) that says “ I hope you don’t have one.” I bought all of those . I’m always looking for cards with doggos but can’t always find border Collies.

When my email is working again I need Momo calendars for Christmas gifts . Best wishes

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Pauline Witzke's avatar

Andrew, thanks for you message, it couldn't have come at a better time. I helped organize a curling tour for Senior Women from across the US to play across Ontario and Quebec for a couple of weeks in early November. The day after the election, the club they were playing played both National Anthems. When the U.S. anthem came on, all of the American women cried. Most of the Canadians cried along with them.

Greetings to YaYa and Boo from George, my golden retriever. Momo has a special place in my heart forever.

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Jeanie Confer's avatar

Bravo! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am not much of a writer so I appreciate someone who can articulate things I am thinking and feeling. I am sick of wealthy people, mostly men running the show. As a woman, I no longer feel heard. Keep on doing what you do and a scritch behind the ears for the pups.

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Mary's avatar

Thank you for saying the emperor has no clothes on in such a powerful way.

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Sally Sapienza's avatar

You speak with great courage, from a good heart, a clear mind, and a gentle spirit. Thank you for speaking up and speaking out. Your questions are spot on. Bravo.

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postiecat's avatar

I didn't see your previous post the day after the election. All I can say if people were offended by it, you don't need those people in your life. We all have a choice to make. If your choice is to surround yourself with bullies, so be it. But I won't have anything to do with you. Yes, we do need good men. Good women also. It's going to be a difficult 4 years but we will make it through. Thank you for your words of wisdom. Hopefully it will get through to some of these people who think by being mean is the way to get ahead.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

I am sorry to hear you experienced hate after speaking out. But it just shows that your words and courage is needed more than ever. Thank you so much!

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