I have a personal policy that I do not pass along emails that espouse certain political or social views even when they are from credible sources. Over the last few years I have joined the Save Darfur Coalition, ONE, and other groups with which I share a common belief and do what I can to assist them with their cause. As part of their campaigns they many times include a virile component asking their members to forward their email to friends so they may also join in the crusade to end the senseless violence and poverty throughout the world. Although I am fine receiving such emails I abide by my own personal policy and do not forward any of this information no matter how violently I agree with the message or cause.
I know in today's high-touch, connected world that this may make me appear as a Luddite, but I have always kept this promise to myself for one reason only. That reason is that I disagree with the approach that anyone would push their religion, culture, beliefs, or thoughts on another person without being initially engaged by that person.
So you may ask 'how can you write about your views on a blog?' My simple answer is that if anyone reads this I am assuming they have purposely sought out this information and if not can turn away at any time.
I use the same guidelines in personal conversation or email. If a person opens a topic or seems interested in learning more about me I am willing to share my views given that I do not expect to 'convert' anyone. I only hope to share a bit about me and my thoughts and in turn learn more about the people with whom I engage. Taking this approach I may cut myself off to touching someone who may not have sought me out, but I also remove the risk that I am imposing myself on another who may not share my views.
Although I will continue to remain subservient to my own relationship rules I know that many of the causes to which I prescribe need virile components to compete in our scattered informational world and hope they succeed. No matter what our own personal policies we all can recognize the tragedies like Darfur or the extreme poverty from which nearly one-sixth of our world's population suffer and the need for the human race to be more responsive to those in need.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Post Industrial Expectations
A conversation with a colleague today reinforced a viewpoint with which I myself am conflicted, but begs for patience and persistence. The issue being discussed was the tainting of milk in China. The tainting of the milk with melamine does not bring about the inharmonious thoughts as in no case can it be considered humane or ethical to introduce a harmful chemical to a consumable good. (Okay, that begs the question why we allow tobacco companies to peddle their wares or CAFOs to feed grain to cows until they are near death which humans then consume until they are near death. These are questions for another time.) The conflict arises when you see so many residents of developed countries shunning a nation that is struggling with their development as the developed country has in the past.
My colleague, who has adopted two wonderful children from China, stated that he feels like for most people he must educate them about this growing nation while not seeming like he is defending all their actions. He does this to not only educate others about something which they may have little knowledge, but also to preserve a cultural identity with which his children will be able to relate to one day. A long row to hoe no matter how you look at it, but with so many Americans suffering from ethnocentrism you can imagine the numerous, patient conversations he engages in.
The interesting fact that he noted during our discussion was that tainted milk was also a public issue in NYC in middle 19th century. And due to the lack of controls, limited technology, and less intensive media the impact was greater than it has been with the current case with an estimate 8,000 deaths per year. This is where the antagonistic musings begin.
The interesting fact that he noted during our discussion was that tainted milk was also a public issue in NYC in middle 19th century. And due to the lack of controls, limited technology, and less intensive media the impact was greater than it has been with the current case with an estimate 8,000 deaths per year. This is where the antagonistic musings begin.
How can a nation that has experienced these same growth issues condemn a country that has adopted many of the same capitalistic aspirations for their own people. The US entered our industrial period with a population of roughly 75 million, no 24 media sources, and a national economy for many of our goods. We then took the next 50 years to reach a 'post industrial' state where the majority of Americans felt some level of reassurance that we could police our own corporations the majority of the time. Of course this level of confidence has been tested many times (asbestos, lead paint, nuclear waste, junk bonds, Enron, etc.), but in most cases we have found approaches that keep the majority of our citizens safe from harm. China is attempting to navigate a similar path for their own people, but with a population of 1.2 billion, 24 hour news sources, and a global economy.
One can immediately point to the political differences between China and the US, but remember we granted women the right to vote 30 years into our industrialization and did not grant civil liberties to many men and women until we were in our post industrial state. I am not asking to condone the inhumane treatment of any of China's people, the unwillingness to compete fairly in the global economy, or the devastating impact of their growth on the climate. What I am asking is that we try to better understand what is occurring and how to best educate ourselves and our neighbors across the world so we all can benefit from the growth of our world economies while preserving our planet.
One can immediately point to the political differences between China and the US, but remember we granted women the right to vote 30 years into our industrialization and did not grant civil liberties to many men and women until we were in our post industrial state. I am not asking to condone the inhumane treatment of any of China's people, the unwillingness to compete fairly in the global economy, or the devastating impact of their growth on the climate. What I am asking is that we try to better understand what is occurring and how to best educate ourselves and our neighbors across the world so we all can benefit from the growth of our world economies while preserving our planet.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
10 Days
For the first time in my adult life I am marking the days until our presidential election. This anticipation is the direct result of having an opportunity to vote for a truly inspirational figure - Barack Obama. I can only imagine my parents, as young adults, having this same glimmer of what the world could be when voting for JFK. Although I think this time instead of generating a vision of furthering an already great nation, we need to restore our country and people.
We all know how insipient greed has lead to slowdown of our economy, but I am confident that it will be restored in due time. What I am looking forward to is repairing the integrity of our nation and as important eliminating the fision of our world's people. Obama may not be able to accomplish this in one term or even two, but I believe he is capable of establishing the path that will allow for this to occur. Of course there will be many challenges domestically (economy, energy, climate, social programs, healthcare, etc.) and with foreign policy (economy, two wars, politicaly instability, etc.) on which he will be tested and measured. My hope is that a quarter century from now we will be able to point to Nov 4, 2008 as the day that helped to change the direction of our global people and the planet we inhabit.
We all know how insipient greed has lead to slowdown of our economy, but I am confident that it will be restored in due time. What I am looking forward to is repairing the integrity of our nation and as important eliminating the fision of our world's people. Obama may not be able to accomplish this in one term or even two, but I believe he is capable of establishing the path that will allow for this to occur. Of course there will be many challenges domestically (economy, energy, climate, social programs, healthcare, etc.) and with foreign policy (economy, two wars, politicaly instability, etc.) on which he will be tested and measured. My hope is that a quarter century from now we will be able to point to Nov 4, 2008 as the day that helped to change the direction of our global people and the planet we inhabit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
