To the Editor:
Re “What’s That You Find in the Boring Silence? It’s Your Attention,” by Chris Hayes (Opinion visitor essay, Jan. 5):
I like Mr. Hayes’s candor and insights as he struggles with makes an attempt at calming his thoughts.
His antidote for the distractions he experiences from the each day bombardment of digital stimuli, nonetheless, seems to be different types of distraction.
He daydreams, is misplaced in thought whereas on his each day stroll, finds mental initiatives to work on or permits his thoughts to wander whereas chopping wooden. These actions little doubt present him with pleasure and achievement. They rescue him from boredom and idle distraction, however do they really quiet the thoughts?
Though Mr. Hayes mentions prayer, meditation, and different non secular and psychological practices as interior disciplines to quiet distraction, he acknowledges that his thoughts is simply too stressed and unsettled to seek out these practices of assist.
However such non secular practices are simply what are wanted.
The problem is that such practices require an interior self-discipline, endurance and perseverance which are missing in our world of instantaneous gratification. They provide a path to step out of our tangled net of ideas and feelings and into an area of tranquillity and interior peace.
Paul Goldberg
Arlington, Mass.
To the Editor:
As an individual, mother or father and grandparent, I’ve all the time disallowed the phrase “boredom” — it’s a curse phrase. Youngsters feeling misplaced can draw, write, learn, take a look at, play one thing. Should you’re an grownup, daydream about one thing, assume one thing.
Entertain your self; get pleasure from your self with that magnificent organ you’ve got referred to as your mind.
Margot Head
Lew Seashore, N.Y.
To the Editor:
Chris Hayes’s essay struck a profound chord with me. I take an early-morning stroll daily, accompanied by our canine, The Scooter. At my spouse’s insistence, I carry my iPhone. I’m 80, and she or he worries about me. Whereas this “window to the world” is all the time in my pocket, I resist the urge to hearken to the information, podcasts or music. As a substitute, as Mr. Hayes suggests, I exploit these treasured 45 minutes to mirror and let my ideas wander.
For the reason that onset of Covid, I’ve dedicated to writing at the least one journal entry daily, with out fail. My walks persistently present a wealth of fabric, and after I return dwelling, I’m desirous to dive into my laptop computer.
Most individuals assume that these walks are primarily for The Scooter’s profit, however I’m satisfied that I acquire way more from them than he does. I’m fairly certain that he doesn’t thoughts.
Henry Von Kohorn
Princeton, N.J.
Evasive Solutions at Cupboard Hearings
To the Editor:
The interviews of Trump cupboard picks being carried out by the Senate are a disheartening farce. They persistently fail to reply easy questions, recite preprogrammed phrases, change the topic and say no matter they assume will advance their appointments.
However ultimately, none of it actually issues as a result of as soon as in workplace they, like current Supreme Courtroom nominees, are free to recant no matter they stated in these hearings and to behave in a opposite method. What a waste of time.
Lawrence Weisman
Westport, Conn.
To the Editor:
Re “Bondi Evades Questions, but Promises No Politics” (information article, Jan. 16):
What a disgrace that Pam Bondi, our probably subsequent legal professional basic, couldn’t utter the phrase “misplaced” when requested if Donald Trump misplaced the election to President Biden. The worry of Mr. Trump’s retribution looms massive over your complete Republican Get together.
How can the voters believe that these entrusted to be loyal to the Structure will uphold the rule of regulation? Time will inform.
Kenneth Olshansky
San Rafael, Calif.
Politicizing Help for Los Angeles
To the Editor:
Re “Gavin Newsom Criticizes Republicans for ‘Politicizing’ California Wildfires” (information article, nytimes.com, Jan. 15):
So Home Speaker Mike Johnson desires to position “situations” on California if it desires any emergency funds to take care of this human disaster. In fact, it’s doable that Democratic officers made errors, however the greatest error is one which each events are responsible of, and that’s failing to deal with local weather chaos because the worldwide catastrophe that it’s.
Scientists are telling us some ways to reduce the gasoline obtainable to wildfires, to create new land use insurance policies, to rebuild the place doable in new methods that can save lives. However I don’t hear Mr. Johnson calling for situations on cash for pink states the place these visionary proposals are being ignored.
He’s floating the idea of punishing all of the folks of Los Angeles as a result of a few of their elected leaders are Democrats. Is that this what we wish America to be? A spot the place victims of pure or unnatural disasters can get lifesaving assist provided that they voted a sure method?
Should you voted for Donald Trump, and also you need all Individuals to be helped when catastrophe strikes, please contact Mr. Johnson and inform him to “do unto others, as you’d have them do unto you.”
Phyllis Hasbrouck
Dunn, Wis.
Rebuilding to Cut back Fireplace Dangers
To the Editor:
Re “Wildfire Evacuees Scrambling to Find Shelter” (entrance web page, Jan. 15):
It’s time to assume forward. We are able to see {that a} hearth pushed by 100-mile-an-hour winds will destroy every thing in its path. The one method to cease this devastation from occurring once more is to remove the issues that burn. Low-vegetation landscaping and noncombustible housing are the answer.
You’ll be able to’t do that on a voluntary foundation; all homes and property within the space have to adjust to the laws. Now that every thing has burned, it’s the preferrred time to implement “no fires” areas. All homes have to be manufactured from noncombustible supplies and all landscapes should have minimal vegetation.
Owners will save with vastly decreased hearth insurance coverage prices and decrease water payments. Figuring out that your own home may by no means burn is an additional benefit.
Allen L. Wenger
Boise, Idaho
Ex-Presidents, Unite
To the Editor:
May now be the time for former President George W. Bush to rejoin the nationwide dialog? Is now the time for our former presidents to seek out widespread floor in service to our nation?
America’s democracy and discourse have basically modified since Invoice Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama served as president. We’ve misplaced former President Jimmy Carter and the ethical middle he occupied.
Couldn’t these nice leaders discover a method to work collectively and decide up that mantle? Maybe begin with a joint exhibit at their presidential libraries centered on an optimistic imaginative and prescient of our future. Maybe reap the benefits of the brand new methods the physique politic will get its data and debates our future.
I hope that the concord they confirmed us at Mr. Carter’s funeral was the beginning, not the tip, of their shared legacy within the service of the nice American experiment.
David M. Rodman
Acton, Mass.
