I will continue to apply critical thinking to the technologies that I'm learning. I am being careful not to blindly go where the masses, ease of use, and convenience may take me. For every new technology that I learn about, I must apply a rubric that enables me to analyze and determine for myself if this is a direction that I wish to pursue. And with that analysis comes the need to make sure that this course of action falls within my personal values.
It is not wise or prudent to do something simply because everyone else is doing it. This is not a case of safety being found in numbers. It is wrong to think that what is popular belief is right for everyone.
I will continue to ask questions of myself and my teachers and my peers whenever I'm blithely being told to do something. I will remind them that I believe it is my personal and ethical responsibility to question what is happening with all of my personal data that's being stored and monitored by Google. I am to consider what the differences are if any between Enron as the violating corporation and Google as the largest, wealthiest company. Just because Google uses colorful display with cartoon images does not mean they are friendly or harmless. But this is digressing into an article of a different subject and for another time...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Over Poplulation
So, as noted in a previous post, Over Population is I believe, the true issue of our time that is being highlighted by our awareness of dwindling resources. It's not that there are too many immigrants in the U.S. The problem is that there are too many people in the world! We are running out of healthy land for growing nourishing food, and the clean water that's needed to support them.
And yet we keep on making babies! Even when there are so many orphaned children who are in need of love, children dying from starvation and of AIDS, still, we keep introducing new people into this terribly over-burdened ecosystem.
The Catholic church certainly will not support the cry to stop birthing new babies. The Patriarchy will certainly not support the idea that women take control over their reproductive systems. Abortion rights being an issue that is currently under attack in our Supreme Court system. The Media is not supporting the idea to slow population growth as they currently broadcast the TV commercials that state with great gushing emotion, "...A baby changes everything." Thus encouraging the viewer to change his/her life by giving birth to a another.
Maybe Women will begin to consider the personal power that comes with taking control of our reproductive systems. Maybe we will come to understand the need for, the beauty of and the wonder that comes from loving a child that has been abandoned. Maybe we can hold our cards closer to our breast.
Birthing a child is but one of the wonders that we can achieve with our reproductive systems. We can birth lots of other things, too! Things like ideas, and dreams, creations and works of art, energy and love, character and wisdom. These things come from within us as well. Let's start to consider these as potential identifiers of who we are and what we are capable of. It doesn't always have to be a human being in the form of a child that gives us our identity and defines for us our greatness.
And yet we keep on making babies! Even when there are so many orphaned children who are in need of love, children dying from starvation and of AIDS, still, we keep introducing new people into this terribly over-burdened ecosystem.
The Catholic church certainly will not support the cry to stop birthing new babies. The Patriarchy will certainly not support the idea that women take control over their reproductive systems. Abortion rights being an issue that is currently under attack in our Supreme Court system. The Media is not supporting the idea to slow population growth as they currently broadcast the TV commercials that state with great gushing emotion, "...A baby changes everything." Thus encouraging the viewer to change his/her life by giving birth to a another.
Maybe Women will begin to consider the personal power that comes with taking control of our reproductive systems. Maybe we will come to understand the need for, the beauty of and the wonder that comes from loving a child that has been abandoned. Maybe we can hold our cards closer to our breast.
Birthing a child is but one of the wonders that we can achieve with our reproductive systems. We can birth lots of other things, too! Things like ideas, and dreams, creations and works of art, energy and love, character and wisdom. These things come from within us as well. Let's start to consider these as potential identifiers of who we are and what we are capable of. It doesn't always have to be a human being in the form of a child that gives us our identity and defines for us our greatness.
Immigration
Immigration has become this hugely hot topic. Farnkly, I think it's a terrible diversion to distract attention from inappropriate self-serving behaviors of our government that are even more unjust than the bigotry that's been generated with this topic. (Is it possible to be more unjust?!)
I don't believe that immigration is even the true issue or concern. Over population is the issue that's being exacerbated by the dwindling resources of oil and water. Oil and water- mix them and all you get is slime. And that's what we have in leadership position right now. A whole bunch of slime and scum who are working to stain the fabric of our diversity. How can they be so selfish?
I don't believe that immigration is even the true issue or concern. Over population is the issue that's being exacerbated by the dwindling resources of oil and water. Oil and water- mix them and all you get is slime. And that's what we have in leadership position right now. A whole bunch of slime and scum who are working to stain the fabric of our diversity. How can they be so selfish?
Specialists Unite
We all have our specialties... things that we know a whole lot about. Some of us are professors and scientists with brains that are absolutely overflowing with information about a specific area. To them and to myself I say, don't forget to learn about the things that are not your specialty. Take time to learn a little bit about someone else's specialty. Read their works on a different topic, listen to their songs of a different genre. Realize that it's lonely business outstanding in your field. Worse, consider that in not being aware of how you are connected to them, you may be hindering the consciousness of a subject that is connected to you!
For example, I was reading today the words of someone who is interested in Universal consciousness. And to symbolize their understanding of the relationship of micro to macro they used an analogy of a single bubble within a bubble bath. On the surface, this seems like an innocuous and appropriate analogy. Yet, for me, it was glaringly obvious that this fellow hasn't really given much thought to excessively soapy water at all, particularly in the context of environmental and sustainability concerns. If he had, he might have realized that imagining bubble baths is counterproductive to the goal of both topics.
Now, I don't believe he intended to show his lack of wholistic thinking. But I do believe that this is what has happened. He has spent so very much of his time immersed in his studies and has maybe not considered how his studies are connected to other areas.
As we move with increasing momentum toward enlightenment, we are further challenged and with greater urgency to see how we are connected to one another, how our special interests relate to her interests and how I can increase my understanding of my own specialty by learning about an others.
For example, I was reading today the words of someone who is interested in Universal consciousness. And to symbolize their understanding of the relationship of micro to macro they used an analogy of a single bubble within a bubble bath. On the surface, this seems like an innocuous and appropriate analogy. Yet, for me, it was glaringly obvious that this fellow hasn't really given much thought to excessively soapy water at all, particularly in the context of environmental and sustainability concerns. If he had, he might have realized that imagining bubble baths is counterproductive to the goal of both topics.
Now, I don't believe he intended to show his lack of wholistic thinking. But I do believe that this is what has happened. He has spent so very much of his time immersed in his studies and has maybe not considered how his studies are connected to other areas.
As we move with increasing momentum toward enlightenment, we are further challenged and with greater urgency to see how we are connected to one another, how our special interests relate to her interests and how I can increase my understanding of my own specialty by learning about an others.
Writer's Block
It's making me insane. My mind is continually churning out comments and dialogue regarding so many topics that concern me at this time of my life. I've made multiple efforts to allow for the expression of these thoughts, not the least of which is this blog, and yet, it never fails that I sit down to write or type and my mind is a complete blank!
I've taken to carrying a digital voice recorder and speaking my thoughts into it. But it's like talking on the phone while driving and can be quite a bit of distraction. I also don't make the time to get the files downloaded and encoded as wmv files to listen and editing is even farther out there on the task list.
I suppose that another view of this issue would be to rise above in order to grasp a bigger picture... to spend time considering why I'm wrestling with so many frustrations rather than simply developing a meditative practice to quiet the mind and those many thoughts. Were I to follow that path, I'd probably find a side effect of easing the writer's block in addition to the newly found peace of mind.
I've taken to carrying a digital voice recorder and speaking my thoughts into it. But it's like talking on the phone while driving and can be quite a bit of distraction. I also don't make the time to get the files downloaded and encoded as wmv files to listen and editing is even farther out there on the task list.
I suppose that another view of this issue would be to rise above in order to grasp a bigger picture... to spend time considering why I'm wrestling with so many frustrations rather than simply developing a meditative practice to quiet the mind and those many thoughts. Were I to follow that path, I'd probably find a side effect of easing the writer's block in addition to the newly found peace of mind.
Online Networking
I believe there are some serious issues to consider before throwing myself headlong into all the different networking opportunities available to date. i.e. myspace, facebook, podcasts, blogs, etc.
Privacy is probably the most immanent concern and the inherent danger of making personal information public. New tools used for networking online (e.g. Facebook) can make personal information public. And it can happen with and without my control when I use online networking tools.
Addiction is another concern. Many people that I've come into contact have actually said they are "addicted" and can't wait to receive their new podcast downloads. Likewise, with the Blogs service that sends me emails to tell me when I receive a post and Facebooks that send messages to a cell phone creating an anticipation that has been expressed as addiction! They are teasers prompting me to stop what I'm doing and "connect" to their service while also connecting me to my personal contact.
I have worked diligently in my lifetime to overcome my addictions. I'm not looking to cultivate any new ones!
Quality of Time is another significant issue for me. While connecting to others is of great importance, and while email has certainly helped me to accomplish that goal, ties to my computer and the internet have also hindered my socialization.
More than seeking connection to family and friends I am seeking time spent with an inner connection to my Spirit.
It's wonderful that we are looking and listening to young people who teach about these many tools of e-communication. It is important to remember that teaching and learning is a dynamic exchange. It's best when we are able to likewise, teach young people how to respect our current and future selves by maintaining our privacy, our dignity and our safety.
Letting go of addictions has taught me to cultivate moderation and balance in my life. I can help young people learn by setting limits and boundaries to online and e-communication while working to maintain a healthy dose of physical socialization and development of effective interpersonal skills.
In conclusion, I believe that too much of any one thing (old or new) may not be good. Caution and balance need to be cultivated.
Privacy is probably the most immanent concern and the inherent danger of making personal information public. New tools used for networking online (e.g. Facebook) can make personal information public. And it can happen with and without my control when I use online networking tools.
Addiction is another concern. Many people that I've come into contact have actually said they are "addicted" and can't wait to receive their new podcast downloads. Likewise, with the Blogs service that sends me emails to tell me when I receive a post and Facebooks that send messages to a cell phone creating an anticipation that has been expressed as addiction! They are teasers prompting me to stop what I'm doing and "connect" to their service while also connecting me to my personal contact.
I have worked diligently in my lifetime to overcome my addictions. I'm not looking to cultivate any new ones!
Quality of Time is another significant issue for me. While connecting to others is of great importance, and while email has certainly helped me to accomplish that goal, ties to my computer and the internet have also hindered my socialization.
More than seeking connection to family and friends I am seeking time spent with an inner connection to my Spirit.
It's wonderful that we are looking and listening to young people who teach about these many tools of e-communication. It is important to remember that teaching and learning is a dynamic exchange. It's best when we are able to likewise, teach young people how to respect our current and future selves by maintaining our privacy, our dignity and our safety.
Letting go of addictions has taught me to cultivate moderation and balance in my life. I can help young people learn by setting limits and boundaries to online and e-communication while working to maintain a healthy dose of physical socialization and development of effective interpersonal skills.
In conclusion, I believe that too much of any one thing (old or new) may not be good. Caution and balance need to be cultivated.
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