There is nothing lazier and less helpful you can do to a cause than just cut them a blind check every month. But for some people, cutting that check isn't enough. They need to be told and reassured that they are doing the right thing. They need letters, pictures and grade reports for that extra sense of accomplishment.
If people thought about the additional cost required to compile and translate all of the information, they would realize their money could go much further.
If they actually targeted the true causes of poverty like war, disease, political problems, lack of access to education and the imbalanced trade rules they would actually accomplish something. But that would require them questioning their own position in the world.
Would the suburbanite really want to lose half their income (and half their lifestyle) so that another country manufacturing their goods could live above the poverty level? I doubt it, because people COULD give away half of their income and make a much more strategic attack on these issues.
But the truth is they don't really care, and that is what bothers me. If you don't care, don't pretend like you do, okay?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Left Hand of Darkness
It is an excellent exercise in open-mindedness to remove sexual preference as an issue we live with on a day to day basis. Ursula K. Le Guin accomplishes this in such a passive way, you come to accept the alien race as creatures not plagued by the same potential for sexual scrutiny without a second thought.
And with any good story, it should cause you to reflect on how that effects your own life. It would do a lot of close-minded people good to consider if just that one thing were different, how your entire perspective of the world would change.
And with any good story, it should cause you to reflect on how that effects your own life. It would do a lot of close-minded people good to consider if just that one thing were different, how your entire perspective of the world would change.
Late Night Ramblings
Whether you believe it or not, whether you are a patriot or not, whether you are loyal to some God, company, organization, family, science or belief. Whether you fear, hate, like or love other people on this planet. You are a small contributor to the continuation and evolution of the human species. I avoid the term "race" because of the complications and divisive effects of using it.
Sexual preference is irrelevant. Traditional procreation can only occur between a sperm and an egg. Sexual preference, whether by genetics or by choice doesn’t change that. A provider is simply the caretaker of the next generation. Most individual preferences are irrelevant when looking at the continuation of our society. As long as they enable the survival of the next generation, why does it matter what they “prefer”? Some people like reading, others like exercise. I would prefer an educated homosexual over a heterosexual TV addict raising the children of the next generation. Education is more valuable in an evolving society as it spurs innovation technologically and scientifically.
Gender roles are irrelevant as long as the tasks are completed. Does it matter if a man or a woman cooks the food for the children of the next generation? No. It matters that the food is cooked. Does it matter who provides the income for the food, shelter, etc to be purchased? No.
There are outliers and individuals that slow the process. Genocide and war seem like complete waste of potential life and creativity. But perhaps these spark different types of innovation? War has advanced technology more than anything throughout time. It has also advanced medical science.
But even if an individual or group of individuals think they are resisting the general forward movement they may still be contributing. If a group does not believe human’s have a priority on the planet and chose to stop procreating, they prevent their ideas from being spread except for by influence. If this is a genetic defect or if there is a genetic disposition, it will be weeded out over time as well.
The family unit and the small community unit are survival strategies designed to efficiently ensure the survival of the species. The small community is a unit of families and allows for support from one family to another. Each family is still responsible for its own unit, but it is not completely isolated.
Sexual preference is irrelevant. Traditional procreation can only occur between a sperm and an egg. Sexual preference, whether by genetics or by choice doesn’t change that. A provider is simply the caretaker of the next generation. Most individual preferences are irrelevant when looking at the continuation of our society. As long as they enable the survival of the next generation, why does it matter what they “prefer”? Some people like reading, others like exercise. I would prefer an educated homosexual over a heterosexual TV addict raising the children of the next generation. Education is more valuable in an evolving society as it spurs innovation technologically and scientifically.
Gender roles are irrelevant as long as the tasks are completed. Does it matter if a man or a woman cooks the food for the children of the next generation? No. It matters that the food is cooked. Does it matter who provides the income for the food, shelter, etc to be purchased? No.
There are outliers and individuals that slow the process. Genocide and war seem like complete waste of potential life and creativity. But perhaps these spark different types of innovation? War has advanced technology more than anything throughout time. It has also advanced medical science.
But even if an individual or group of individuals think they are resisting the general forward movement they may still be contributing. If a group does not believe human’s have a priority on the planet and chose to stop procreating, they prevent their ideas from being spread except for by influence. If this is a genetic defect or if there is a genetic disposition, it will be weeded out over time as well.
The family unit and the small community unit are survival strategies designed to efficiently ensure the survival of the species. The small community is a unit of families and allows for support from one family to another. Each family is still responsible for its own unit, but it is not completely isolated.
Purpose
I am not a scientist, I’m not a philosopher and I’m really not that great at putting words together. But these are the thoughts I have nonetheless. Maybe they will mean something in the grand scheme of things, but probably not.
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