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On Bucking the Odds

A good friend of mine expressed this sentiment concerning the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court: "He'll get appointed no matter what Democrats do or the public does."  The same could be said about Donald Trump and Republican Senators and Representatives carrying out their agendas. 

That conclusion, while often true, reflects an attitude that disturbs me.  It's an attitude of resignation and defeat, where I would prefer an attitude of committing to the struggle despite the odds.  Now I agree that one should be as objective as possible, particularly in terms of strategizing in the face of overwhelming odds.  One's options can be extremely limited.  But if you quit the fight before it's over, you're just accepting victimization, which can quickly turn into seeking pity. 

I prefer losing in the ring to seeking pity for quitting the fight.  I believe even the person quoted above believes, or wants to believe, the same.  That person happens to be a big fan of the "Star Wars" films, a favorite scene being when Han Solo tells his android advisor, "Don't tell me the odds!",  when going into an almost hopeless battle.  Granted, in the movies the heroes always beat the odds, but the lesson for me is that people want to believe in fighting against great odds.

I recommend strongly considering continuing the fight.  Even if you lose, you are not a subject of pity if you have tried your best.  I have been criticized for tilting at windmills, but I prefer that to being criticized for surrendering too soon.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. "   - Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

- PeteBarkett.blogspot.com

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