[lit-ideas] Re: Social Darwinism or Darwinian Socialism? (answers)
- From: Eternitytime1@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 02:29:48 EST
HI,
I'll try to answer a bit...
May have to come back to this later--it's getting late for me, though!
In a message dated 12/30/2005 12:23:16 A.M. Central Standard Time,
What do you think of the fact (not my opinion, a fact) that the rainforests
will be wiped off the face of the earth in 40 years,
I think of the people who are doing what they can to raise awareness.
Who do you think has focused on this--why, people who are not watching
television or hiding in their safe little home--but people who are researching
and
studying and calling *CALLING* attention to it. the ones who are DOING
SOMETHING about it.
THEY are the reason I do not think that they will be wiped off the face of
the earth.
Yes, follow the 80/20 rule here-but the story is not done yet--the last
chapter and all that.
I put my heart and mind and energy SIDE BY SIDE with those who will call
attention and then DO SOMETHING about making things change in our society, our
companies, public policy, etc.
Why--you could go back to school, get a master's degree in public
administration and begin to work on legislation with and for some of the
organizations
working on this issue!!
GET BUSY! DO SOMETHING! Join in with those who WILL make the changes
necessary to stop the disappearance!
(hey--even my son wants to buy land so that the deer who are over-running
the roads and wrecking cars, etc. can have a place to be ...<g> There are
LOTS
of these boys and girls coming up in this GEN Y group that you seem to think
are all messed up...and they are practical [like Gen X] and great managers
[like the older boomers and WWII generation] and can fuse their idealism [like
the boomers] with those other qualities--and they WILL save the rainforest.
If you really are not going to help the rest of us, then at least do what
Mikey said--go to sleep and wait for his wake-up call. Just stop the whining
and complaining--it creates darkness.
that mankind with its big brain is exterminating 50,000 species a year, and
so on and so on?
Again--yes. It IS a problem. People are trying to help, but are often
clueless in how and what they are doing. The League of Women Voters (another
group
you could very easily be involved with--and you wouldn't even have to hang
out with kids <g> who you claim to care about but want nothing to do
with...still find that a bit odd, but okay...) here once sponsored a very
interesting
discussion with some of the people who are involved in things like genetic
engineered food as well as work overseas and some of the people/organizations
who were upset with them. It was very clear that the people who work for the
corps who are involved even inadvertently with the destruction of things like
the pure forms of plants (they have a specific name which is escaping me--)
were doing so in a rather clueless but well-meaning manner. If that is
so--and I do believe that while the TipTop people may know exactly what they
are
doing and the 'whys' are not benign--the majority of the rank and file in the
companies are not 'big picture' people and once they understand the bit
picture (and are assured that they do not have to lose their jobs if things
change
<g>--you, of all of us, should understand the need for security since you
have high need to be safe and hidden in your cute almost mc-mansion of a home--
So--yes. It's sad that it has take so long for that sort of awareness to
begin to develop--but it has. BUT, I do think that there are so many focused
on that now--and even in the little ways here (what IS the name of the types
of plants that are the original? It's going to be bothering me all night
long!), you could DO SOMETHING about the situation by purchasing those types
of
seeds and GIVING THEM TO PEOPLE AS A DONATION!!!
Put your money where your complaining mouth is--buy some of those and plant
them and harvest the seeds and then give them to OTHERS.
I guarantee you that you will be part of the solution, then.
But--complaining without action creates DARKNESS. Gloom. Despair. THAT is
what you are
creating when you don't help the rest of us...
Why do you think Israel is necessary?
Oh, Irene. Why is any nation necessary? (oops sorry everyone. Did I really
want to ask her that? <G>) Forget that--some of it comes (I think) from the
concepts developed during the French Revolution and nationalistic
concepts...but that is not really the reason, in my brain anyway!
Here's a thought--and, sure--maybe a different place might have been better.
Maybe Germany should have been cleared out and Israel have been created on
top of Germany. Maybe that would have been more fitting of the concept of 'let
the punishment fit the crime' or some such thing.
But--for various reasons, Palestine was chosen. Sure, I might have done it
differently. (Probably would have <g>)
And, I do NOT think that the Wall that is there is doing what it was
conjectured to do (ie keep terrorists out) mostly because the peaceful
let-us-just-raise-our-family types are placed in situations which I would not
like to be
in [as a regular let-me-just-raise-my-family type] I thin of that when I have
to hit a detour on the road and end up miles out of the way--which has been
one of outcomes of that wall. (based on what I have heard from some who have
'been there' and traveled through and around it...)
BUT--here is why I do think that "Israel" needs to exist. There IS prejudice
and that prejudice, for various reasons I suppose, has often taken a
horribly violent manner...not just the sneers that your gas station guy was
given to
doing towards Russians.
"Jews were 10 per cent of the population of the Roman Empire. If today they
were the same proportion of the world's population that they were then, they
would number 200 million. They number 13 million." That was stated during a
discussion in the Washington Post (I think--would have to double-check the
exact reference) during Israel's 50 year anniversary of its existence.
Go ahead and argue that maybe it should have been in Germany (punishment
fitting the crime--maybe should have moved all the Germans to Palestine then ?
<g> There's a story to imagine!)
BUT--to me, there is a definite need and reason for the existence of Israel.
I think it has 'validated' the concept of being "Jewish" as a national
identity and that may be more of the French Revolution thing, but it still has
had
the result that Jews are still a People. (Kind of like how even though
reservations for the Native Americans here in the USA are not what they should
have been created to be and do--but it is true that without them, they would
not
have, still, their tribal heritage and the sense that they are A People...and
while one can discuss [as we have] the merits of learning about various
cultures--and I do think it is healthy even if you are a potpourri of races
<g>--I do think that knowing and having 'roots' and a 'place' is important and
healthy and Constructive.
Why do you think Napoleon is synonymous with victory instead of murder?
Hm Is he? I am not sure that *for everyone* that this is true. Most
people that I know of when asked (as in the game where you hear a term and
then
name the first thing that comes to mind) about Napoleon will think of his
dying
alone on an island--bereft of friends and family. Lonely and Alone--those
are the terms that are synonymous in my world with Napoleon. Neither
'victory' nor 'murder'.
Interesting, no? Remember--you don't hang out with People much <g> so maybe
on television he is synonymous with victory and that bothers you... but
perhaps if you actually talked to PEOPLE instead of imagining what they are
thinking, you'd have some very interesting discussions.
(Still think you need to attend a Unitarian Church...full of discussion
there and though most are doers--they are definitely thinkers, too!)
What do you think of my analogy that if a dog had as much food as would fit
into a McMansion and still needed to take other dogs' daily rations, we'd
think he was sick, but when people do it, we bow down to greatness.
Hey--YOU are the one in (to use your term) an 'almost McMansion, not me!
But--I DO know some people who are in homes that are close to McMansions
(probably in homes like yours, maybe?) <g> as well, I know some extremely
wealthy people (just found out about one set of those the other day--would
NEVER
have guessed...though it explains their incredible generousity...)
Most of the people that *I* know who are in awesome homes are also very
giving and caring people.
Now--granted, you don't much like people or kids--and you don't like to get
out much, so you don't really have any way of knowing what LOTS of people are
like who have lots of money.
It's all relative, isn't it? I mean--there you are with a nice home and
yet, when I suggested that you use some of that room to help some others who
would be ever so grateful for that assistance--you backed away pretty fast.
So, what do I think? I think that you think you are a nice person simply
because you are not taking more than what you already have... (well, but we
really don't know, do we? After all...didn't know your name, either! <wry
look>)
BUT--you certainly could have purchased a smaller home so you wouldn't be
using up so much land, right? (I only say that since you are the one
screaming
about the environment...)
You could have bought a lot and then built a teeny tiny house just big
enough for you and your husband to stay in and then set aside the rest of the
lot
for wildlife and such. [does not sound like you have too many houseguests
so one bedroom should be plenty--maybe a teeeny tiny den...just big enough for
a computer since you say you need one...though a laptop should be
sufficient, no?)
BUT--that is just to say that you do seem to be describing yourself!
I am not sure, if you were/are a giving sort, that living in a home that is
teeny tiny is necessarily what is best.
One of the most breath-taking homes I have ever been in is "North of the
River" in my area--and each floor (there are, I think, four) is about 10,000 sq
ft. It was built by one of the wealthiest and giving families in our area.
It was built that way because, when it was built, there was NO PLACE in that
part of the Northland (which has two counties) for a large gathering of
people for any charitable organization to come together. There is now--a very
nice community college and some other spots--but for years upon years, they
would open their home (except for a few rooms) and organizations could use
their
home for events.
In addition, sometimes it is exactly what is needed for people who are
walking up a Path to see what is possible. Or, as one of my friends said--he
didn't mind working hard to help someone else succeed as long as he got a part
of
it so that he could take care of his family.
I had that discussion with my two acquaintances today -- the single moms --
who are going through rough times right now. They were trying to figure out
how the new year could get better--saw no hope. So, I gave them some--and
shared a couple of things that I have happening which may create some
good...and, as they know, I'll share...and they are on my share/care list...
My siblings, a couple have a lot of money, are extremely generous.
Extremely. (kind of hard for one of the spouses, but hey--personal growth
means
learning to trust, too...) Love going to their homes--beautiful. One is like
walking into a museum...but it is SO great to be in a home like that--and that
family shares.
Why not want ALL of us, every single person, to live in a charming home?
It's one reason Habitat for Humanity is so important with what they do. And, I
sure wish you'd help them out!
I think I know lots of different sorts of people than you do...but since you
don't get out much in your world, I would suspect that you have no idea who
in your area and are living in the McMansions are the sharing/caring/DOING
sorts... For all you know, they are the ones funding the local Habitat for
Humanity in your area...
I grant you, though--the ones who do not DO and who see the need--well, I
don't call them great. I don't even call them 'sick'. If I were into
judging,
I suppose I'd use Selfish. Mean. But I'd prefer to just hope that they are
in a mode whereby they will awaken and begin DOING and SHARING--and simply
need to know that it is 'okay' to do so!
Like you, in a way...hmmm? <g>
Essentially, Marlena, humans pat themselves on the back for being
barbarians and priding themselves on acting like dogs.
If all people were like my Sparky, they would be DOING <g> (for sure!) and
FRIENDLY and LOVING and CARING (and not really empathetic, but definitely
sympathetic in a DOING say--he ALWAYS is there to comfort if any are upset!)
Humans are so proud to be a species that lights an occasional candle in the
darkness, and it never occurs to them that maybe if they'd stop creating the
darkness they could have a lot more light.
Or, maybe...if the humans who whine about the darkness would join in the
rest of us, the darkness WOULD disappear--for *I* am (hopefully) not creating
darkness--and I know that if you lit a candle that your corner of the world
would be much brighter.
If you would transmute your energy for complaining into action to DO
something about it! Wow!
I'm telling you, Irene, your energy is strong stuff. Your candle would not
be little. It would be BRIGHT.
LIGHT IT!!
hoping to hear about those seeds Irene will be giving away...(what IS their
name...?)
Best,
Marlena in Missouri
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