Several times in recent weeks, I have seen people complain when alternate views on a topic are posted on someone's wall or discussion board. Once, I was even the person getting told that "If you don't agree with me, don't post on my wall." I understand that nobody wants their wall to become a flamewar in progress. I also understand that stating one's opinion is different than trying to start a war. The person who was upset with me claimed that somehow I was violating his 1st ammendment rights by disagreeing with him. The idea that "my rights end where yours begin" is a concept we seem to be losing in our current culture. It is both a question of respect, and a willingness to be open to change. (In the interest of full disclosure, I told the person that if he only wanted people who agreed with him to be his friends, I might not be a good choice - so, he "unfriended" me. A wise move on his part.)
When we listen to Eli Pariser on the TED video (linked in the blog title), discussing the concept of online filter bubbles, it seems to be referencing the same mentality. Our world is shrinking, but it isn't just that technology is making it possible for anyone to talk real-time to friends in China for free via Skype. It is also about the fact that many of us are painting ourselves into a corner.
We have so much information available to us, and I think we sit on the cusp of information overload for a large part of our lives. I try to be understanding of this. We each have an awful lot to process every day.
However, if I only read articles slanted to my existing point of view, if I only accept data that validates my opinion, if I only allow those who agree with me to post on my wall, I am limiting my opportunities for growth, change, and even my ability to impact those who disagree with me. By controlling the discussion, I am limiting the potential for conflict, and that may seem like a good thing. Very few people want to spend their "relaxation time" in heated discussions, defending opinons. Think about it, though. If your conversation is only with those that already agree with you, you could be led to a mistaken impression that your point of view is more popular or common than it is. You may be ignoring a ton of evidence that suggests you might want to modify that opinion. There are lots of ways a healthy debate can be a positive influence. Also, I truly believe that respect for differing opinions is a character trait that is essential for a healthy democracy. We can't lose the capacity for civil discussion on controversial issues. If we do, we're done!
When we share our ideas, we need to be respectful of the other person's right to their opinion. That doesn't mean we have to avoid expressing contrary thoughts, or sharing statistics and data to back up our opinion. The fine line is there between inciting an argument and sharing a contrary opinion, and it isn't always clear-cut.
I am asking you to consider how much you are limiting yourself when avoiding confrontation is the be-all, end-all of your life. It shrinks your world, and there is an amazing, huge, abundant universe out here. You don't want to miss any of it!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
International Food Day
Today is International Food Day, and the #BAD11 (Blogger Action Day 2011) has chosen this topic as the theme. I didn't actually sign up to participate, but I was always one of those strange students who enjoyed writing essays, so I figure, "Why not?" Maybe I can sign up after the fact?!
There are so many options that fall into my geekoliscious sensibilities, when it comes to food. I am a foodie, actually ... love exploring new restaurants, new tastes and new dishes. I was thinking I'd write on a favorite dish or restaurant, or maybe on the politics of food. That would tie in my political geekiness, too.
I don't know if you will call this political, but I decided to go with a something that hit me last night. I was watching TV with my sweetie and an ad came on for a program whose entire topic appears to be throwing pumpkins, smashing them, or watching them explode. Suddenly, it struck me how insane this was. We have so much food in this country that we not only throw a ton away, but we actively destroy food as entertainment.
This bothered me, though I recognize that this is hardly the only time I've seen food wasted on TV. I sat and thought about it, and I realize that whether it is on tv or not, pumpkin tossing is something that has become a popular pasttime in certain circles. Beyond that, we carve pumpkins all the time, not eating them (except for possibly the seeds). Pumpkins may have caught my attention, but I throw out bad food every time I clean the fridge. At other times, I go out to eat and don't bring home a "doggie bag." I am just as guilty as anyone.
So, it is one thing to make a list of ways food has been wasted, but it is much more productive to come up with ways to minimize that waste. The saying is that you have to be the change you want to see in the world. So, I went searching the interwebs, and here are some tips I found to get me thinking about food waste differently:
There are so many options that fall into my geekoliscious sensibilities, when it comes to food. I am a foodie, actually ... love exploring new restaurants, new tastes and new dishes. I was thinking I'd write on a favorite dish or restaurant, or maybe on the politics of food. That would tie in my political geekiness, too.
I don't know if you will call this political, but I decided to go with a something that hit me last night. I was watching TV with my sweetie and an ad came on for a program whose entire topic appears to be throwing pumpkins, smashing them, or watching them explode. Suddenly, it struck me how insane this was. We have so much food in this country that we not only throw a ton away, but we actively destroy food as entertainment.
This bothered me, though I recognize that this is hardly the only time I've seen food wasted on TV. I sat and thought about it, and I realize that whether it is on tv or not, pumpkin tossing is something that has become a popular pasttime in certain circles. Beyond that, we carve pumpkins all the time, not eating them (except for possibly the seeds). Pumpkins may have caught my attention, but I throw out bad food every time I clean the fridge. At other times, I go out to eat and don't bring home a "doggie bag." I am just as guilty as anyone.
So, it is one thing to make a list of ways food has been wasted, but it is much more productive to come up with ways to minimize that waste. The saying is that you have to be the change you want to see in the world. So, I went searching the interwebs, and here are some tips I found to get me thinking about food waste differently:
* Planet Green had some ideas to get me started: 5 Ways to Cut back on Food WasteSo, I now have plenty of ideas to get me started. An added benefit to this is that, if I am successful, I should have more change in my pocket, too. Maybe, I can save enough for that MacBook Air that keeps calling my name ...
* OrganizeIT is a UK site and their starter list is definitely doable, in my opinion.
* NPR has tips from an Anthropologist who says that Americans waste almost *half* the food we grow!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Why I Support the 99%
The 99% movement started with mostly young people, and contrary to what you hear on right wing radio and TV, this is not just about personal debt and job situations of a disenfranchised youth, though that plays a role. These pundits know it is about much more, but they want to denigrate the youth who put fire to these issues. If they can convince the general public this is about a bunch of kids “whining,” they will defuse the situation and avert the change they do not want. (Sound familiar to any of you who were adults in the 60’s?)
This is very much about change, and it is not just kids out there:
It is about taking the private money out of politics so that fat cats and corporations will no longer be able to buy politicians. It is about reducing the corporate tax loopholes because it feels wrong when a company gets a record-breaking multiple billions in profits, and somehow manages to avoid paying a penny in taxes - or even more offensive! - when they get a tax refund on top of their profits. It is about changing the tax code, so that a secretary doesn't pay a larger portion of his or her income in taxes than the CEO. It is a recognition that current tax rates for millionaires is at a 40 year low, and the politicians are still wanting to cut essential services to fund more tax breaks for the rich. It is acknowledging the sad truth that the income gap between the 1% at the top and the rest of us is widest it has been since the Great Depression, and every tax cut to millionaires adds to it, shifting even more of that wealth up to the top income bracket. It is about trying to find a way to hold some of these CEO’s and fund managers responsible for the crash that they caused with their greed and that the government permitted with its lack of regulation. It is about recognizing that we ARE our brother's keeper, in terms of the poor, the infirm, and the elderly. It is about recognizing that how we treat the 'least of these' defines who we are as a nation.
This movement is a multi-headed hydra and hard to attack because there is no single mouthpiece speaking for the whole. As one analyst pointed out, this is the first large-scale protest of the Internet age, and no one knows the “rules of engagement.” It may have started in NYC, but it has spread, and continues to spread, because the entire world is angry at the inequities in their own countries, how the rich just keep getting richer and the rest of us find stagnating wages when we are lucky enough to have work.
There isn’t a quick fix to this. The protest isn’t saying, “do this one thing.” It is saying, “fix the system!”
This is very much about change, and it is not just kids out there:
It is about taking the private money out of politics so that fat cats and corporations will no longer be able to buy politicians. It is about reducing the corporate tax loopholes because it feels wrong when a company gets a record-breaking multiple billions in profits, and somehow manages to avoid paying a penny in taxes - or even more offensive! - when they get a tax refund on top of their profits. It is about changing the tax code, so that a secretary doesn't pay a larger portion of his or her income in taxes than the CEO. It is a recognition that current tax rates for millionaires is at a 40 year low, and the politicians are still wanting to cut essential services to fund more tax breaks for the rich. It is acknowledging the sad truth that the income gap between the 1% at the top and the rest of us is widest it has been since the Great Depression, and every tax cut to millionaires adds to it, shifting even more of that wealth up to the top income bracket. It is about trying to find a way to hold some of these CEO’s and fund managers responsible for the crash that they caused with their greed and that the government permitted with its lack of regulation. It is about recognizing that we ARE our brother's keeper, in terms of the poor, the infirm, and the elderly. It is about recognizing that how we treat the 'least of these' defines who we are as a nation.
This movement is a multi-headed hydra and hard to attack because there is no single mouthpiece speaking for the whole. As one analyst pointed out, this is the first large-scale protest of the Internet age, and no one knows the “rules of engagement.” It may have started in NYC, but it has spread, and continues to spread, because the entire world is angry at the inequities in their own countries, how the rich just keep getting richer and the rest of us find stagnating wages when we are lucky enough to have work.
There isn’t a quick fix to this. The protest isn’t saying, “do this one thing.” It is saying, “fix the system!”
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