Don't Go After Your Eyes And Your Heart

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Published: August 10, 2008

Visitor Comments: 16

(16) Anonymous, November 30, 2008 10:35 AM

Lori Live

This is an important message that more and more people seem to ignore. Is there any chance that you will show up in the SF Bay Area in the next few years?

(15) linda llewellyn, August 16, 2008 6:19 AM

Feelings

Brilliant, just what I needed to hear right now. Many thanks

(14) Flo, August 14, 2008 8:04 PM

Such good advise as always

I am applying your advice to my continuing search for a mate. You have re-enforced the plan I have been following. I have a mental list of what my future man should be like, but sometimes I am tempted to lower my standards because I like the person, although I have resisted the temptation so far. But it has been 8 years and I am still waiting amd I will wait until this right man comes and not let emotions sway me to even date a man who doesn't meet fit the bill. Thanks, Lori.

(13) Joanne S, August 13, 2008 9:37 PM

Short, Sweet and to the Point

Very well said, Lori. Some people's responses here don't show thought, but prejudice - pre-judgement, and seem to be based on hearsay and emotion. People believe that which supports what they already believe. Personally, I am hoping for change. A thoughtful, intelligent person who is open to rethinking his position, rather than digging in his heels, would be great for this country. Which, I suppose, is the point.

(12) Yaacov, August 13, 2008 7:08 PM

A brief comment

Even though I'm not american, I agree Obama is charismatic, and maybe people will vote for him basing their thoughts on their feelings. But also, do not judge a book by it's cover. Look at the "Bush Era" and tell me, what have George W. Bush done to promote peace for Israel and Arabs? And what have Bill Clinton done? Again, don't think because of Obama's heritage or his more-pacifist approach he will be a terrible president. Bush has done a lot of "things" yet nothing to truly protect Israel, not to mention McCain admittedly will continue Bush's legacy, if we may call it that way. Think about it.

(11) Yisroel, August 12, 2008 8:43 PM

Image

Rav Pam, ZT"L, said that America is all about "image," what looks and sounds good. How true! Obama is the choice of the mass media because he is "made for television." When he went to the Mid-East the Press went with him, but when McCain went only a mention of the trip was made on the nightly news programs. I hope America wakes up before it is too late!!

(10) ruth housman, August 12, 2008 1:52 PM

"Minding" the ship of state

I totally agree that decisions about something this important, that affects us all, deeply, require mind and sometimes, mind over "matter" because what matters is THAT important and sometimes we do get carried away by the eloquence of empty rhetoric. It's very crucial to exercise our privilege of voting with our eyes fully opened by reading, by discussing issues, by deciding what's important to us, by looking at the record of the candidates and also of course, hearing what they have to say. Using our GRAY matter is where it's at.

(9) Anonymous, August 12, 2008 10:34 AM

Yes, I agree.....

I agree that everyone must look at the facts and not how the political candidates look. Yes, I agree that it is incredible(ad nauseum) as to how many people are willing to vote based on how Barak Hussein Obama sounds rather than to take a look at the fact that he has not passed enough tests or legislation to make him be an effective president. Scary thought that he is so popular. Scary as for what this says about so much of America. Iran wants to blow us off of the face of the earth and he wants to "talk." Wonnnnnnderful. "Oy!"

(8) alibrazil, August 12, 2008 9:59 AM

bravo! bravo!

to comment #4... your words are exactly my thoughts! i've heard/seen bits and pieces of comments such as yours but never all in one place and so well said. i believe the country is mesmerized by yet another rock star but rock stars can only perform for the public, not govern this country. how sad and scary...

(7) Anonymous, August 12, 2008 7:31 AM

Intuition comes before Reason

Somebody there has read Blink ? Feelings sometimes tell us to go one way, we still do not know why, and listening to them is of primary importance.

(6) Barb, August 12, 2008 7:24 AM

What does G-d say?

I would make my judgment on the Word of G-d and the candidate's experience in the political arena.Does the candidate line up morally and ethically with G-d's teachings. (If he has had family issues I would question his ability to handle government issues)This would bother me.Which issues are important to him would be a consideration for me but his character would be first in my decision.I know it would be difficult but I would want to know as much truth as possible about him.

(5) Anonymous, August 11, 2008 10:37 PM

thanks

for thoughts and ideas i'll use far beyond November.

(4) Anonymous, August 11, 2008 1:59 PM

Following your mind

I think we can all agree with Ms. Palatnik's message to make important well-reasoned decisions based on collected facts and not emotions. I don’t believe following either candidates campaign themes or advertisement messages constitutes enough fact-finding to come to a conclusion. In particular, Barrack Obama’s theme of “change” and “common sense” is not enough for us to decide if we want his recipe of change or that he can effectively execute any form of change. I am at a loss to explain how anybody with no experience in politics or any history whatsoever can make it so far for the most important career in the world. He is very articulate, charismatic, and photogenic and has very beautiful goals that nobody doesn’t share but lacks any concrete plans on how to advance his objectives. He flip-flops as a matter of political expediency and the few times he does explain anything his plans don’t add up as in the case of the costs of energy independence and nationalized healthcare considering the mismanagement of nationalized programs in the U.S. and the failure of nationalized medicine abroad e.g. England, Canada, Europe. His claim that he is for “change” while McCain is more of the “same” is unfounded when you consider how many bipartisan bills Sen. McCain has passed and how many times he has stood up to his own party. Sen. Obama’s plan to negotiate with insane despots is ridiculous as Neville Chamberlain’s attempts to negotiate with Hitler. His flip-flopping, double-talk on Israel’s security is especially scary considering that his foreign policy advisors are the worst Israel haters ever. He does have a history with a racist church and groundlessly uses the race card on his opponents. Granted the GOP is not popular on the international stage but ultimately the next U.S. President needs to be the best choice for Americans. The methods needed to root out evil and defend our freedom and security are not pleasant yet essential whether the world likes it or not. Denying the success of the troop surge and pushing for an unneeded surge in Afghanistan only demonstrates his arrogance and unwillingness to bring our country’s parties together. Jimmy Carter demonstrated for us the long-lasting detrimental effects a non-experienced President can inflict on the world with his mismanagement on Middle Eastern policy that led to the rise of Islamic Republic of Iran. While I don’t think Obama is the next Hitler, I do think it is shocking that an incredible nation, as our own, can be allured by an empty candidate’s glamour and charisma.

(3) Yisroel Pollack, August 11, 2008 12:22 PM

Mind AND Heart

Thank you for that, Mrs Palatnik, it was very interesting. And your point was well taken. But at the same time, we shouldn't get TOO carried away by our ratiocination (thinking). If we do, we're liable to get ensnared by its devious ways. It can lead to philosophical booby-traps and expose us to unanticipated explosive mines. Yes, we want to follow our reason, but we also want to pay attention to what lies deep in our intuitive hearts. Silly desires don't reside deeply in our hearts, they hover near the surface. What run deep are our Jewish identities, if we pay attention, we always find them goading us in the right direction.

(2) Dvirah, August 11, 2008 10:30 AM

Feeling and Thinking in Harmony

My analogy is that of the driver and the GPS. Our feelings are our GPS - it tells us in what direction to go. But the driver (our minds or reason) is the one who is actually driving the car.

(1) Rosen, August 11, 2008 5:27 AM

emotion vs. reason

There is definitely a difference between following your heart and doing the right thing with the collected facts and information to make a well-reasoned decision. It is tempting to act upon emotions and impulses, but common sense should be thought through thoroughly. As I learned in a social statistics class in college, "emotion is the enemy of reason." As for Obama, he did say that his policies are not only about change, but common sense. The incumbant GOP seems to be too much in lock-step with 8 years of disastrous policies because of the president. It's shocking and sad that some people equate Obama to Hitler when it comes to bringing upon change. It is already speculated that the current president's grandfather helped finance the Nazi regime. The point is, America needs to restore its reputation with better policies, where Obama will bring change for the better as best he can, and McCain will just continue the same or similar policies as the current administration.

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

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Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

Follow Lori on Twitter, @LoriAlmostLive

Don't Go After Your Eyes And Your Heart