Even the gods age. We see here Phobos and Deimos are ready to retire. Human beings have taken their job and are actually a lot better at it. But if humans destroy themselves, who will worship them? Would they disappear into oblivion? These are the Twilight Years of the Gods.
Idealism (and snarkiness) says, Both are wrong. Realism says, Both are right, which is even more difficult to deal with. We must learn from the past, both positive and negative; yet we must also break with the past, to get past the negative and go beyond the positive.
The two sayings are not opposites, they complement each other. Forgive and forget refers to the feelings and emotions behind an incident, not the fact that it happened. There are those who can forgive horrid acts against them. It does not mean they forget the act happened. It means it has become part of the fabric of their lives though they forgive the person/people/group/organization that caused the action. The memory of the event itself is what can prevent it from happening again.
I love this strip, though this was poorly executed
I agree: the problem is not the forgiving, but in the forgetting. To forgive is not to say that what you did was acceptable, but that I will not let your actions define me or force me to be someone I don’t like. I will not carry your malice or sin. I will let it go, and move on with life.
I agree these are not exactly opposites, and I may be missing Wiley’s point here, but this brings to mind the beauty of a good paradox and what, I think, Fitzgerald once said, and I paraphrase, “The mark of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind and still function.”A seemingly elusive skill these days.
It’s called “satire,” people. Comedy? Gag? Joke? You know, something that’s supposed to make you LAUGH? Try and think about it. Or not think about it so much for some of you.
Perhaps I’m alone here, but I found this strip heartening. I mean, how many times has Wiley done a strip showing two opposing sign-bearers just in the moment before they meet? I’ve always assumed we were seeing the prologue to a fight. Not so here.
Among other things, “Whatever” can mean “I may never agree, but I’m unwilling to start a fight over the issue.” That neither of these sages chose to end the encounter by knocking the other on the head with his sign is, to me, a welcome result.
Nelson Mandela came out of prison after 32 years, and refused to hate the people who locked him up and killed his friends…He said their hatred had taken much of his life away. He didn’t want his hatred to waste his remaining years. Mr. you’re a better man than I
Linguist almost 12 years ago
My sentiments, exactly !
seyleigh almost 12 years ago
But we can’t change the past, we can only change the future.
pcolli almost 12 years ago
“Whatever” is usually used to make the other person think you don’t care when quite often you do.
Hugh B. Hayve almost 12 years ago
There are only two days on which nothing can be accomplished, tomorrow and yesterday.
flyertom almost 12 years ago
“Whatever”. My wife’s favorite argument-ender.
The#1BoiseStateFan almost 12 years ago
When 2 priests quit their job, they be sign men.
apolloz666 almost 12 years ago
history is writen by the victors
emptc12 almost 12 years ago
Even the gods age. We see here Phobos and Deimos are ready to retire. Human beings have taken their job and are actually a lot better at it. But if humans destroy themselves, who will worship them? Would they disappear into oblivion? These are the Twilight Years of the Gods.
zoidknight almost 12 years ago
Have you seen what we have in the White House and the Senate?
CasualObserver almost 12 years ago
The reason we repeat history is because we’re human and not particularly very bright – and we repeat it regardless of how much we study it.
JudyAz almost 12 years ago
Those who fail to learn from history… are doomed to take it again next semester
thirdguy almost 12 years ago
Nicely put.
DutchUncle almost 12 years ago
Idealism (and snarkiness) says, Both are wrong. Realism says, Both are right, which is even more difficult to deal with. We must learn from the past, both positive and negative; yet we must also break with the past, to get past the negative and go beyond the positive.
dabugger almost 12 years ago
congressional deadlock…..
nanitavelez almost 12 years ago
This is best that my class of hermeneutics in Gadamer!
Deborah N Lurie almost 12 years ago
The two sayings are not opposites, they complement each other. Forgive and forget refers to the feelings and emotions behind an incident, not the fact that it happened. There are those who can forgive horrid acts against them. It does not mean they forget the act happened. It means it has become part of the fabric of their lives though they forgive the person/people/group/organization that caused the action. The memory of the event itself is what can prevent it from happening again.
I love this strip, though this was poorly executed
bmonk almost 12 years ago
I agree: the problem is not the forgiving, but in the forgetting. To forgive is not to say that what you did was acceptable, but that I will not let your actions define me or force me to be someone I don’t like. I will not carry your malice or sin. I will let it go, and move on with life.
Rickapolis almost 12 years ago
Forgive. Forget. Kick ass when necessary.
water_moon almost 12 years ago
“Everybody told me to foget it, the grudge was destroying me, so I did. "
And that’s where it goes wrong. So many forget what happened, and fail to forgive, they carry a grude but they don’t remember what for.
6turtle9 almost 12 years ago
I agree these are not exactly opposites, and I may be missing Wiley’s point here, but this brings to mind the beauty of a good paradox and what, I think, Fitzgerald once said, and I paraphrase, “The mark of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the mind and still function.”A seemingly elusive skill these days.
Ernest Lemmingway almost 12 years ago
It’s called “satire,” people. Comedy? Gag? Joke? You know, something that’s supposed to make you LAUGH? Try and think about it. Or not think about it so much for some of you.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 12 years ago
Perhaps I’m alone here, but I found this strip heartening. I mean, how many times has Wiley done a strip showing two opposing sign-bearers just in the moment before they meet? I’ve always assumed we were seeing the prologue to a fight. Not so here.
Among other things, “Whatever” can mean “I may never agree, but I’m unwilling to start a fight over the issue.” That neither of these sages chose to end the encounter by knocking the other on the head with his sign is, to me, a welcome result.
If you disagree, well, whatever.
Caddy57 almost 12 years ago
Neither one said anything….could it be…after all this time…..a meeting of the mimes?
Varnes almost 12 years ago
Nelson Mandela came out of prison after 32 years, and refused to hate the people who locked him up and killed his friends…He said their hatred had taken much of his life away. He didn’t want his hatred to waste his remaining years. Mr. you’re a better man than I
Varnes almost 12 years ago
Another expression I hate is: “It’s all good…” Dylan and Hunter wrote a song about it…
Gokie5 almost 12 years ago
Alexander Pope said, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”From Latin errāre hūmānum est.Wikipedia
Linguist almost 12 years ago
I know I should not feed the troll, but…>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Muchas gracias !
Linguist almost 12 years ago
Instead of saying_whatever_ I prefer nollo contendere !
CKO86 over 11 years ago
“Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it”….but the problem with some people is that they remember the past all too well.