Because I forgot about the blog last Friday, I figure I'll post early this week.
I have to say, I very much enjoyed the discussion with Cindy Gamrat. I think discussions with people who are unlikely allies is important. We tend to want to talk about important things with those people who will agree with us, but this fails to accomplish much, since you're preaching to the choir. Cindy provided a very interesting gun argument, which took up the majority of the discussion, I think, but I appreciated several of her points. I tend to stay quiet when guns enter the conversation because I simply don't know much about them. I believe that people should be allowed to own them, and I'm not sure what kind of regulations would be fair regulations. I might be more inclined to side with Cindy on this one, but only because I think we have the right to protect ourselves from our government. The only person I've talked much about guns with is my good friend (and very liberal) Tommy, who sides with conservatives on this issue for the same reason. We have the right to form a new government when our current one fails to protect our rights, so I guess because of the uncertainty around those pesky commas and because of my desire for revolutionary changes and governmental restructuring in this nation I am more inclined to side more with Cindy. The increase in shootings around the nation is horrific, but I'm fairly confident that none of those weapons were the kinds of weapons that proposed regulations are going to prevent people from owning. So, I don't know. I still have to think about this one.
She didn't talk much about her environmental beliefs, though it was obvious that she has a connection with nature. I did appreciate that she does not like companies like Monsanto, though I did not understand her stance on renewable energy. How does moving to renewable energy sources in developed/western nations cause more harm than good?
And as for the three chapters in The Post Carbon Reader, I thought they were excellent. I kept relating the first two chapters to Aristotelian Virtue Ethics. Aristotle believed that to achieve eudaimonia we must focus on arete. That is, to flourish as human beings, to live "the good life", we must be virtuous. We must have a great concern for what is right and make sure we do the right thing throughout our lives. I think western nations have lost sight of this. We're so obsessed with consumerism and convenience and self-interest that we've forgotten about virtue. We've lost our connection to the earth and to other living creatures.
And as for hope:
Eastern cultures give me hope. The spirit, sense of community, and openness of those who are not fortunate enough to be concerned about consuming more technology, more clothing, or more items they don't need.
The many wild tiger reserves with strict regulations for visitors (it's about the protection of tigers first, not money/tourism) and the general awareness of the problem throughout India gives me hope.
I have to say, I very much enjoyed the discussion with Cindy Gamrat. I think discussions with people who are unlikely allies is important. We tend to want to talk about important things with those people who will agree with us, but this fails to accomplish much, since you're preaching to the choir. Cindy provided a very interesting gun argument, which took up the majority of the discussion, I think, but I appreciated several of her points. I tend to stay quiet when guns enter the conversation because I simply don't know much about them. I believe that people should be allowed to own them, and I'm not sure what kind of regulations would be fair regulations. I might be more inclined to side with Cindy on this one, but only because I think we have the right to protect ourselves from our government. The only person I've talked much about guns with is my good friend (and very liberal) Tommy, who sides with conservatives on this issue for the same reason. We have the right to form a new government when our current one fails to protect our rights, so I guess because of the uncertainty around those pesky commas and because of my desire for revolutionary changes and governmental restructuring in this nation I am more inclined to side more with Cindy. The increase in shootings around the nation is horrific, but I'm fairly confident that none of those weapons were the kinds of weapons that proposed regulations are going to prevent people from owning. So, I don't know. I still have to think about this one.
She didn't talk much about her environmental beliefs, though it was obvious that she has a connection with nature. I did appreciate that she does not like companies like Monsanto, though I did not understand her stance on renewable energy. How does moving to renewable energy sources in developed/western nations cause more harm than good?
And as for the three chapters in The Post Carbon Reader, I thought they were excellent. I kept relating the first two chapters to Aristotelian Virtue Ethics. Aristotle believed that to achieve eudaimonia we must focus on arete. That is, to flourish as human beings, to live "the good life", we must be virtuous. We must have a great concern for what is right and make sure we do the right thing throughout our lives. I think western nations have lost sight of this. We're so obsessed with consumerism and convenience and self-interest that we've forgotten about virtue. We've lost our connection to the earth and to other living creatures.
And as for hope:
Eastern cultures give me hope. The spirit, sense of community, and openness of those who are not fortunate enough to be concerned about consuming more technology, more clothing, or more items they don't need.
These children I met in India give me hope. They will probably not survive to adulthood (they are from a very impoverished village where the majority of children die from waterborne diseases), yet you would never know from meeting them. These children are the reason I want to change the world. These children do not deserve to suffer the consequences of our consumer culture.
V J Jose, the man in red, gives me hope. His bracelet symbolizes his absolute pacifism. He gave up his job to dedicate all of his time to protecting the Peryiar River, one of the most polluted rivers in the world. He was stabbed by industrial polluters and did not fight back, but more importantly is still fighting for what he knows is right.
Visiting one of many Buddhist monasteries, the monks gave food to the hungry street dogs. The monk told us that it was his duty to give what he could to all help all living creatures. Even if it's just a few cookies.
This proud Kerala fisherman has a large audience cheering him on as he pulls in the Chinese fishing nets. People are waiting eagerly to purchase food right from the man who catches it.
The many wild tiger reserves with strict regulations for visitors (it's about the protection of tigers first, not money/tourism) and the general awareness of the problem throughout India gives me hope.
I know for sure Abbey - you will appreciate this!!
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Thanks so much for sharing the photos - I was one of those crazy kids who went to nature & travel slide shows with my dad!! Tells me more of who you are!