We have discussed the importance of understanding a person’s own views and the reasons behind them; a large part of this involves questioning sources- both their credibility and the validity of their arguments- in determining how well informed they are about the topic of discussion. A person who stays up to date on current news surrounding an issue will be better informed than someone who gets their information via word of mouth; a person with a degree in a particular field of study is likely to have a more accurate perspective than someone who dabbles in it as a hobby, because they will have a better idea as to the smaller issues surrounding the topic.
One thing that is important to note, though, is that each and every individual has a bias which influences their opinions; individuals who have made for themselves an honest living and a place in society generally believe that everyone should be taxed the same so each one receives what they earn, while those who are less inclined to work or those who struggle under exceptionally hard circumstances usually favor a graded taxing system, where the more financially fortunate contribute more as a means of providing a slightly higher quality of life to the less privileged. There are pros and cons to each approach- either the gap between rich and poor will continue to expand, or some individuals will take advantage of the grace shown by the system and the wealthy will be seemingly punished for their success by having a larger portion required of them from the Government. In a perfect world where every individual had the same opportunities the graded tax would seem foolish, but the chips do not fall the same to every person; this is understood best by those individuals who work hard to make ends meet and can never seem to get a break. Is the flat or graded tax rate better? Depending on one’s financial situation either one will be correct, but neither one is absolutely wrong. Each perspective is based on an individual’s experiences and is accordingly subject to a person’s bias. Understanding why a person thinks the way they do enables one to use their ideas as a point of reference while acknowledging that there is no hard and fast rule and no two peoples’ experiences will be exactly the same.
This is one of several similar issues that people divide themselves over constantly and insult each other regarding, yet neither side is absolutely wrong so neither side is justified in their accusations or definitely comes out on top. Understanding why a person maintains the ideas they do gives one a better understanding of the world and the finer workings of it.
This same concept applies to politics, religion- virtually any ideology on which peoples’ opinions differ from one another. Much of the conflict that arises is instigated by institutions as a means of establishing loyalty amongst followers; if people are taught to hate and ridicule each other, they can not only project their numbers of future followers and plan their campaign strategies accordingly, but they can also count on their current members’ pressure on friends and family as a means of free and effective campaigning, as peer pressure is more effective than any commercial or any inspirational speech. Often times, in the midst of the madness, individuals fail to realize that each and every person has reasons for believing as they do, and will thus become defensive and consider the other a fool for shunning the argument without at least listening to the argument. Right or wrong, people believe that which makes the most sense to them, and personality and experiences dictate what is “right” to each individual. No two people are exactly the same, so no two independently thinking individuals will agree on every issue, and that is as it should be.
In addition to ideological circles, it is also useful to question the technical cause and effect processes in the world- scientific processes. The law of gravity explains an apple falling from a tree, but it also explains countless other phenomena- the ability of people and animals to walk along the ground and yet stay firmly planted, as well as the orbit of the earth and its relationship with all other gravitational bodies in the universe.
Challenging the way things work and the reasons people maintain the ideas they do give one a better idea as to the “rules” that govern our world and equip us to live and progress more efficiently in it. Knowledge is power, and it is also freedom. Awareness of the rules we live under results in an understanding of which rules are to be kept and which can be bent or broken. Asking why begets intelligence, and intelligence begets comprehension that gives individuals an advantage and the ability to succeed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
They Told Me So
One of my biggest pet peeves is holding a conversation with someone and asking them where they got their information or why they believe a certain thing only to hear them say, “So and so told me such and such a thing” or “That’s just how I was raised.” Those phrases make me cringe because they tell me that the person does not care enough about the issue or the idea to look at the facts and derive their own conclusions; they are satisfied letting other people do the thinking. This is dangerous for a number of reasons, but one in particular- what if they are wrong?
This question is a bit rhetorical, because there are many, many questions for which there is no right or wrong answer. Virtually any political debate consists of two or more positions, none of which is necessarily right or wrong. If one idea was blatantly right, our country would not be split on almost every major issue. Individuals decide for themselves the values of each issue based on experience, information, and their perception of all relevant contributing factors. The problem is two-fold: either an individual changes their opinion to whatever new major ideology comes along or they become very closed-minded for fear of encountering a conflicting idea and being forced to reconcile the two. Neither one of these scenarios is healthy for the individual or for the country at large; the danger is not in people believing the “wrong” thing, but in them forgetting how to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions from the facts before them. When people forget how to think for themselves, they can easily be programmed and taken advantage of just as a person who does not know how to read can be tricked into signing away their life’s savings.
Lest you think I am making these things up, I would like to direct your attention, once again, to our modern media, specifically regarding politics. There are numerous news channels on television at present- all competing for viewers and all with a political bent- Democrat or Republican. Every speech and every new issue that is expected to make waves is presented to the public alongside a commentary on what has happened and the implications of it. Civilians allow “better informed” individuals to speculate and interpret the data for them so they no longer have to bother with deriving an opinion on the matter. What people tend to forget is that the media makes its money my scandalizing its viewers and giving them the false idea that they need to keep watching. They do this through order of events, cliff hangers, and overanalyzing data to create suspense; entrusting someone with the task of interpreting current events and ideas when they have their own agenda and the intent of exploiting viewers for their own gain is a very bad idea.
Consider this, as well: a person who desires to know the truth or who is confident in their own ideas will not become defensive and refuse to entertain alternate ideas. A person possessing the ability to reason will not feel threatened when other seemingly contrary opinions emerge. We learn to scorn opposing belief patterns because a news channel without a loyal following will cease to exist, so they speak out of spite and teach their loyal spectators to do the same. This trend of rigid, blind faith in the agendas of businessmen serves only to polarize parties and cause dissension among party members. The media will not admit that peoples’ end goals are generally the same- that each person’s desire the well-being of the country, but that their idea of “better” is contingent on experience and position. The disagreements are never against people, but against alternate ideas as to the best approach to a problem, and no two people are going to have the very same experiences.
For this reason, sharing ideas and considering alternate perspectives is invaluable in determining the most effective plan of action. If you have your own opinions and reasons for them, you have something to bring to the table when strategies are being developed for conquering problems. You also have a foundation on which to build and expand your understanding of the world, and if your companions are similarly open minded your ideas will be considered with equal weight, instead of pushed aside and ignored for being closed minded.
If you value your opinion, other people will, as well. If you are able to explain your positions, people will listen. And, if people start working together to find a satisfactory median- a most effective plan of action- if people start working with each other instead of against each other we will accomplish a lot more with a much more content majority.
This question is a bit rhetorical, because there are many, many questions for which there is no right or wrong answer. Virtually any political debate consists of two or more positions, none of which is necessarily right or wrong. If one idea was blatantly right, our country would not be split on almost every major issue. Individuals decide for themselves the values of each issue based on experience, information, and their perception of all relevant contributing factors. The problem is two-fold: either an individual changes their opinion to whatever new major ideology comes along or they become very closed-minded for fear of encountering a conflicting idea and being forced to reconcile the two. Neither one of these scenarios is healthy for the individual or for the country at large; the danger is not in people believing the “wrong” thing, but in them forgetting how to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions from the facts before them. When people forget how to think for themselves, they can easily be programmed and taken advantage of just as a person who does not know how to read can be tricked into signing away their life’s savings.
Lest you think I am making these things up, I would like to direct your attention, once again, to our modern media, specifically regarding politics. There are numerous news channels on television at present- all competing for viewers and all with a political bent- Democrat or Republican. Every speech and every new issue that is expected to make waves is presented to the public alongside a commentary on what has happened and the implications of it. Civilians allow “better informed” individuals to speculate and interpret the data for them so they no longer have to bother with deriving an opinion on the matter. What people tend to forget is that the media makes its money my scandalizing its viewers and giving them the false idea that they need to keep watching. They do this through order of events, cliff hangers, and overanalyzing data to create suspense; entrusting someone with the task of interpreting current events and ideas when they have their own agenda and the intent of exploiting viewers for their own gain is a very bad idea.
Consider this, as well: a person who desires to know the truth or who is confident in their own ideas will not become defensive and refuse to entertain alternate ideas. A person possessing the ability to reason will not feel threatened when other seemingly contrary opinions emerge. We learn to scorn opposing belief patterns because a news channel without a loyal following will cease to exist, so they speak out of spite and teach their loyal spectators to do the same. This trend of rigid, blind faith in the agendas of businessmen serves only to polarize parties and cause dissension among party members. The media will not admit that peoples’ end goals are generally the same- that each person’s desire the well-being of the country, but that their idea of “better” is contingent on experience and position. The disagreements are never against people, but against alternate ideas as to the best approach to a problem, and no two people are going to have the very same experiences.
For this reason, sharing ideas and considering alternate perspectives is invaluable in determining the most effective plan of action. If you have your own opinions and reasons for them, you have something to bring to the table when strategies are being developed for conquering problems. You also have a foundation on which to build and expand your understanding of the world, and if your companions are similarly open minded your ideas will be considered with equal weight, instead of pushed aside and ignored for being closed minded.
If you value your opinion, other people will, as well. If you are able to explain your positions, people will listen. And, if people start working together to find a satisfactory median- a most effective plan of action- if people start working with each other instead of against each other we will accomplish a lot more with a much more content majority.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Power of Fear
Throughout the course of America’s brief history there is one thing that has trademarked its existence- fear. Although the country was founded out of a desire for religious freedom, the ability to think and reason for oneself without fear of oppression from the authorities, once America achieved that goal, it succumbed itself to a far more dangerous master, Ignorance, and has allowed itself to be controlled by Ignorance’s most loyal and most relentless captain, Fear. America’s surrender to Fear was not an immediate one, or necessarily a conscious one. Just as a runner at the end of a marathon does not continue to run but prefers to walk or sit, so did America; once the country had successfully established itself, achieved its independence, and gone on to win itself the title of “world power,” it became engrossed, more and more, in immediate national issues and comfortable with the status quo, and in the process of “Americanizing” a nation of immigrants they shut out the knowledge that would enable people to understand the issues at hand and deal with them as necessary instead of reacting based on theories as to what the issues might be and the possible implications.
America has always been a brazen country, preferring to react on impulse instead of attempting to understand. In addition, and perhaps as a result, it is a very suspicious country- assuming the worst and acting accordingly- in a manner of paranoia. This has been a recurring pattern through the country’s brief history- from the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and 1693, where over 150 men and women were tried and numerous individuals were murdered after suspected involvement in witchcraft; to the Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, where the ghost dances performed in an attempt to bring the buffalo back to the plain and send the white men back where they came from was interpreted as an act of hostility and act of war; to the lynching of members of the emerging black middle class in the 1890s, when upper class, white Americans began to fear that the black community was taking away their power and murdered hundreds of innocent people as a form of protest and control through intimidation; the Red Scare, both in 1917 and 1940-1950 during periods of increased anti-communist sentiment in the United States and resulting in the blacklisting and imprisonment of many American citizens; the attack on Pearl Harbor by a few Japanese fighter pilots that resulted in thousands of American citizens of Japanese decent being sent to concentration camps in 1941; and, the most recent trends of fear-induced hostility towards individuals of middle eastern decent, particularly men, as well as “Hispanic” and “homosexual” people, since their presence in our communities is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Perhaps this felt necessity to dominate is not purely an act of fear; but, as Frederick Jackson Turner stated in this Frontier Thesis, published in 1893, Americans act in the way they do because the country was built on the mindset and challenge of having a frontier to conquer. In other words, when the Mayflower landed and the east was originally settled, there was always unexplored territory to tame. Americans were trained by their environment to live for a challenge, to take the untamable frontier and bend it to their will. Once the west coast was reached and the land between the oceans was divvied up amongst the populace, the thrill of domination still ran thick in their veins and drove them to find additional “frontiers” to conquer regardless of their nature or identity.
This seems to be a viable explanation for the discrimination that has been so closely tied to the thread of America’s history. The United States of America was established by white, European individuals so they have always had it engrained into them that they conquered and they created so they are superior, and it is out of their graciousness and generosity that other peoples from less fortunate countries are able to come and tarnish their hallowed soil.
Many people have argued that America’s new black president is living proof that racism is dead, but I would say the debates as to whether Obama was too black or not black enough and the claim that his middle name, a popular Muslim name, was evidence that he is a terrorist are evidence that racial discrimination is still alive and well. Even in 21st century America, racism continues to flourish. This is an unfortunate fact, because many of America’s great minds have been immigrants looking for an opportunity to utilize their abilities. A few such individuals include Andrew Carnegie, founder of U.S. Steel; Albert Einstein, the scientist; Leoh Ming Pei, the architect; Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state; and others. How many thousands of great minds have been passed over or pushed aside because they were predetermined to be inadequate? Would we have a cure for cancer? AIDS? What other unforeseen possibilities die before they are conceived as a result of such profiling?
Also, consider this: when half dozen Muslim pilots flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon the country went into shock labeled all Muslims as inhuman heartless, blood thirsty animals, and a war broke out. Because of a handful of radical Muslims, America decided that all Muslims are dangerous and “the enemy;” why then, when radical Christians began destroying abortion clinics and a white man attempted to bring a bomb to the Super Bowl, why were Christians not condemned and labeled inhumane? Why was there not more pressure to affiliate with another group, like Atheist or Agnostic? Is it because Christianity is so familiar to us that we know extreme radicalism of that nature to be the exception and not the rule? What if the same is true of Islam? Some may argue that destroying an abortion clinic and killing doctors who perform abortions is not the same thing, because the main objective of the people involved was to destroy property and make a statement, and not to take innocent lives. I do not claim to know what the motive of the 9-11 terrorists was, though Yasmina Khadra gives a good explanation in her book, Sirens of Baghdad; it may be as simple as wanting to intimidate the most powerful country in the world and win their place in heaven. If this is the case, then the fact that America now treats everyone who looks like they might be of Middle Eastern decent with hostility and apprehension shows just how well they did their job. And, until whites begin treating them like people, they can expect the radical Muslim faction to continue to treat them like the animals they portray themselves to be.
On a slightly less controversial note, it has always amazed me how widely accepted it is that the media does not give data to inform as much as it does to shock and to make a profit on viewership and yet how much individuals rely on the media for their information; not only do they get “facts” from the media, but they let the media interpret facts so they do not have to, and watch the channel that caters to their personal political preference. When the people we rely on for information are seeking to gain popularity by scandalizing and thereby entertaining their audience, and when decisions and opinions are made based on their skewed accounts of reality it is no surprise that the American populace lives in such a constant state of panic. The content provided by the media has become more like a series of short movies because they are designed to scandalize, and are more dangerous because there are elements of truth embedded in each story that leaves the media room.
Americans live to be scandalized. This point is made evident by the fact that virtually every action thriller released involves America being attacked by terrorists or experiencing some sort of natural disaster. Americans are constantly victimized but are never the culprit of any great crime unless it is an act of treason, in which case they are always tracked down and brought to justice. The media is a very powerful influence on American society, perhaps more so than most people realize, and it gives people permission and the resources to submit to Fear.
America has always been a brazen country, preferring to react on impulse instead of attempting to understand. In addition, and perhaps as a result, it is a very suspicious country- assuming the worst and acting accordingly- in a manner of paranoia. This has been a recurring pattern through the country’s brief history- from the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 and 1693, where over 150 men and women were tried and numerous individuals were murdered after suspected involvement in witchcraft; to the Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, where the ghost dances performed in an attempt to bring the buffalo back to the plain and send the white men back where they came from was interpreted as an act of hostility and act of war; to the lynching of members of the emerging black middle class in the 1890s, when upper class, white Americans began to fear that the black community was taking away their power and murdered hundreds of innocent people as a form of protest and control through intimidation; the Red Scare, both in 1917 and 1940-1950 during periods of increased anti-communist sentiment in the United States and resulting in the blacklisting and imprisonment of many American citizens; the attack on Pearl Harbor by a few Japanese fighter pilots that resulted in thousands of American citizens of Japanese decent being sent to concentration camps in 1941; and, the most recent trends of fear-induced hostility towards individuals of middle eastern decent, particularly men, as well as “Hispanic” and “homosexual” people, since their presence in our communities is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Perhaps this felt necessity to dominate is not purely an act of fear; but, as Frederick Jackson Turner stated in this Frontier Thesis, published in 1893, Americans act in the way they do because the country was built on the mindset and challenge of having a frontier to conquer. In other words, when the Mayflower landed and the east was originally settled, there was always unexplored territory to tame. Americans were trained by their environment to live for a challenge, to take the untamable frontier and bend it to their will. Once the west coast was reached and the land between the oceans was divvied up amongst the populace, the thrill of domination still ran thick in their veins and drove them to find additional “frontiers” to conquer regardless of their nature or identity.
This seems to be a viable explanation for the discrimination that has been so closely tied to the thread of America’s history. The United States of America was established by white, European individuals so they have always had it engrained into them that they conquered and they created so they are superior, and it is out of their graciousness and generosity that other peoples from less fortunate countries are able to come and tarnish their hallowed soil.
Many people have argued that America’s new black president is living proof that racism is dead, but I would say the debates as to whether Obama was too black or not black enough and the claim that his middle name, a popular Muslim name, was evidence that he is a terrorist are evidence that racial discrimination is still alive and well. Even in 21st century America, racism continues to flourish. This is an unfortunate fact, because many of America’s great minds have been immigrants looking for an opportunity to utilize their abilities. A few such individuals include Andrew Carnegie, founder of U.S. Steel; Albert Einstein, the scientist; Leoh Ming Pei, the architect; Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state; and others. How many thousands of great minds have been passed over or pushed aside because they were predetermined to be inadequate? Would we have a cure for cancer? AIDS? What other unforeseen possibilities die before they are conceived as a result of such profiling?
Also, consider this: when half dozen Muslim pilots flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon the country went into shock labeled all Muslims as inhuman heartless, blood thirsty animals, and a war broke out. Because of a handful of radical Muslims, America decided that all Muslims are dangerous and “the enemy;” why then, when radical Christians began destroying abortion clinics and a white man attempted to bring a bomb to the Super Bowl, why were Christians not condemned and labeled inhumane? Why was there not more pressure to affiliate with another group, like Atheist or Agnostic? Is it because Christianity is so familiar to us that we know extreme radicalism of that nature to be the exception and not the rule? What if the same is true of Islam? Some may argue that destroying an abortion clinic and killing doctors who perform abortions is not the same thing, because the main objective of the people involved was to destroy property and make a statement, and not to take innocent lives. I do not claim to know what the motive of the 9-11 terrorists was, though Yasmina Khadra gives a good explanation in her book, Sirens of Baghdad; it may be as simple as wanting to intimidate the most powerful country in the world and win their place in heaven. If this is the case, then the fact that America now treats everyone who looks like they might be of Middle Eastern decent with hostility and apprehension shows just how well they did their job. And, until whites begin treating them like people, they can expect the radical Muslim faction to continue to treat them like the animals they portray themselves to be.
On a slightly less controversial note, it has always amazed me how widely accepted it is that the media does not give data to inform as much as it does to shock and to make a profit on viewership and yet how much individuals rely on the media for their information; not only do they get “facts” from the media, but they let the media interpret facts so they do not have to, and watch the channel that caters to their personal political preference. When the people we rely on for information are seeking to gain popularity by scandalizing and thereby entertaining their audience, and when decisions and opinions are made based on their skewed accounts of reality it is no surprise that the American populace lives in such a constant state of panic. The content provided by the media has become more like a series of short movies because they are designed to scandalize, and are more dangerous because there are elements of truth embedded in each story that leaves the media room.
Americans live to be scandalized. This point is made evident by the fact that virtually every action thriller released involves America being attacked by terrorists or experiencing some sort of natural disaster. Americans are constantly victimized but are never the culprit of any great crime unless it is an act of treason, in which case they are always tracked down and brought to justice. The media is a very powerful influence on American society, perhaps more so than most people realize, and it gives people permission and the resources to submit to Fear.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Limitations of Ignorance
In 1724 the Chinese government instigated a closed door policy which remained in effect until the mid 19th century. This closed door policy put significant limitations on the Chinese people and prevented western thoughts and technologies from infiltrating their world. When the door finally came down in 1861, a thirty year “self-strengthening” program was put into effect into effect so the country would eventually be able to compete in the global market. Such drastic measures were necessary, as even the most educated citizens were unable to keep up with the progress in the west over the previous hundred years (Government Information Office).
Ignorance, a lack of knowledge or understanding of the world one lives in, in part or in whole, allows for a person to be easily taken advantage of and minimizes their potential for success. A person with an inability to read can unknowingly sign their savings away to a dishonest investor; a person who does not understand basic arithmetic may end up paying too much at the supermarket. These are two basic examples that illustrate a more complex and universal truth- ignorance is crippling to an individual and prevents them from meeting their full potential in competing with the rest of society.
The American Dream- any individual, regardless of class or race, can leave their mark and die rich in America. While it is true that America’s social structure does not consist of the same constraints of many other nations, there is a factor that is often overlooked in this quest for greatness; in a capitalist society such as America, when a person becomes successful and begins accumulating money the total amount of money available in the country does not change. This means that while one individual is getting richer another individual is getting poorer. This further means that individuals are in constant competition with each other, and that while “luck” may play a part in it and some people have more connections than others, the most successful individual will be the one who is the least ignorant- the one who knows the most about a particular line of work and how to utilize their resources in order to maximize their gross output.
Anyone can achieve the American Dream, but not many will; because, as a few great minds gain a more substantial monetary advantage over the general populace, there are individuals at the other end of the spectrum who are losing more and more money and struggling accordingly to get by. Most of these people are those who are unable to read, write, or speak well enough to compete in the national market- people who are immigrants to this country or who have dropped out of school at an early age. Currently in America there is concern over the decreasing number of jobs and the increasing numbers of unemployed workers. However, the issue is not that there are no jobs available, Boeing (Wilkinson)* and Microsoft (Romano)* have both expressed concern over the depleted pool of engineers from which they are able to draw new employees, which forces them to hire international help in order to meet demand. This not only sends significant amounts of American money out of the country, but it also limits the pool of engineers available to employers, reducing competition and thereby reducing quality. Ignorance in America is resulting in many high salary jobs being sent overseas, and the money along with them.
China is one of several countries that have enforced a closed-door policy in the past, and every one of them has suffered as a result. The government closed the door for their people; Complacency is closing the door for America, because we have gotten used to a certain standard of living and certain “rights” being provided to us. Those rights are often taken for granted and people forget the sixteen hour days of backbreaking work that originally served as a foundation on which our rights were established.
Every individual is born with ignorance. Throughout the course of life, circumstances and personal drive dictate how much of that ignorance is diminished. When a country feels safe they tend to relax and absorb things such as education as a right, instead of the abolishment of ignorance as a privilege. More importantly, as Ignorance is given permission to stay, it ushers in a far more deadly accomplice- Fear.
* Sources available upon request
Ignorance, a lack of knowledge or understanding of the world one lives in, in part or in whole, allows for a person to be easily taken advantage of and minimizes their potential for success. A person with an inability to read can unknowingly sign their savings away to a dishonest investor; a person who does not understand basic arithmetic may end up paying too much at the supermarket. These are two basic examples that illustrate a more complex and universal truth- ignorance is crippling to an individual and prevents them from meeting their full potential in competing with the rest of society.
The American Dream- any individual, regardless of class or race, can leave their mark and die rich in America. While it is true that America’s social structure does not consist of the same constraints of many other nations, there is a factor that is often overlooked in this quest for greatness; in a capitalist society such as America, when a person becomes successful and begins accumulating money the total amount of money available in the country does not change. This means that while one individual is getting richer another individual is getting poorer. This further means that individuals are in constant competition with each other, and that while “luck” may play a part in it and some people have more connections than others, the most successful individual will be the one who is the least ignorant- the one who knows the most about a particular line of work and how to utilize their resources in order to maximize their gross output.
Anyone can achieve the American Dream, but not many will; because, as a few great minds gain a more substantial monetary advantage over the general populace, there are individuals at the other end of the spectrum who are losing more and more money and struggling accordingly to get by. Most of these people are those who are unable to read, write, or speak well enough to compete in the national market- people who are immigrants to this country or who have dropped out of school at an early age. Currently in America there is concern over the decreasing number of jobs and the increasing numbers of unemployed workers. However, the issue is not that there are no jobs available, Boeing (Wilkinson)* and Microsoft (Romano)* have both expressed concern over the depleted pool of engineers from which they are able to draw new employees, which forces them to hire international help in order to meet demand. This not only sends significant amounts of American money out of the country, but it also limits the pool of engineers available to employers, reducing competition and thereby reducing quality. Ignorance in America is resulting in many high salary jobs being sent overseas, and the money along with them.
China is one of several countries that have enforced a closed-door policy in the past, and every one of them has suffered as a result. The government closed the door for their people; Complacency is closing the door for America, because we have gotten used to a certain standard of living and certain “rights” being provided to us. Those rights are often taken for granted and people forget the sixteen hour days of backbreaking work that originally served as a foundation on which our rights were established.
Every individual is born with ignorance. Throughout the course of life, circumstances and personal drive dictate how much of that ignorance is diminished. When a country feels safe they tend to relax and absorb things such as education as a right, instead of the abolishment of ignorance as a privilege. More importantly, as Ignorance is given permission to stay, it ushers in a far more deadly accomplice- Fear.
* Sources available upon request
Friday, July 10, 2009
What's in a Leader?
People, in general, can be identified as fitting into one of three broad categories- leader, follower, or floater; these categories present a sort of natural hierarchical breakdown of society which has continued to cycle throughout the ages - countries are liberated or created, people are freed from the oppression of a tyrannical government, and once the overbearing authorities are out of the way another is established to mend a broken country; which, in turn, eventually grows into its own political monster with new problems for the populace to tolerate or fix. More common, and less dramatic, are the riots, protests, and skirmishes that occur- sometimes violent, sometimes hardly perceptible; however, these smaller demonstrations often build into larger, more dangerous ones until the seeds of malcontent blossom into revolutions or full-scale wars. Such is the nature of the creature we call “social order.” Such is the nature of a world where self preservation and advancement are a person’s primary concerns, and the idea of a government that protects and cares for its people carries the unspoken, more potent understanding to each individual that, “the government’s first priority should be to take care of me and look out for my interests!” And, when the interests of individuals oppose each other, battle lines are drawn and people will take sides based on the ideas they deem to be most important, and most advantageous to them at the moment. As ideologies form, morph into each other, and collide, leaders search for a force to back them, followers search for a dependable leader, and floaters search for the moment’s safest banner and stand on the outskirts of the following so as to escape to the next safest one as it emerges from the fog of battle- seeking self preservation without taking time to consider what their own opinions might be, and without ever developing an idea as to what true living is.
What determines a good leader? Most people have some sort of idea in their mind as to the characteristics they think a “good leader” should have, and many peoples’ ideas are very much the same. This is, in part, because of the relatively standard personality who saves the day in all of our favorite movies and novels. “Leader” has, in many respects, become synonymous with “hero,” and “hero” is generally the unusual honest, intelligent, compassionate individual who seeks to preserve beauty with no thought of the cost to their own well being. In short, “good leader” has become equivalent to “moral leader;” and, a leader is considered “good” as long as their personal success brings success to the masses, as well. As soon as a leader’s interests begin to conflict with those of the mob, the individual is deemed corrupt and it is only a matter of time before a new “good leader” attempts to replace him.
People generally tend label “good leaders” on the basis of moral values, and not necessarily on their ability to lead. For instance, one of the greatest leaders of all time was Adolf Hitler, a man with such passion and conviction, and such an amazing mind and sense of national pride that he led an entire country into frenzy, resulting in the murders of millions of Jews. Right or wrong, he was a person people rallied around, a person who gave his countrymen something to believe in- gave them back their national pride after they had endured so much shame during and after WWI.
There are a great many people in the world who are skeptical as to how an entire country could be so blind and so willing to follow that they would knowingly support the torture and murder of millions of men, women, and children; I asked myself the same question for a long time. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that their actions made perfect sense; and, for those who claim the Holocaust never happened I would agree as much as to say that it was not an isolated event in history and it is still occurring today. I will explain.
Regardless of an individual’s ideas as to the origins of the world, the vast majority will agree that humanity is unique in that it is the only creature on the face of the earth with the capacity to think independently. The ability to think affords individuals the inimitable ability to experience passion. For better or for worse, the human race is blessed with the capacity to love, hate, hope, and interact with a level of intimacy unmatched by any other creature and cursed by the consequential need for love, value, and purpose. There is a hunger for greatness, an unquenchable desire to become a person who stands out amongst their peers, even if it is to a single individual. A person without a purpose withers away and dies mentally, emotionally, and physically, because they have no more desire to live; one who feels a sense of personal worth and purpose becomes invigorated, and receives a sort of high from knowing that they have the ability to achieve greatness- that they have the potential to leave a small legacy behind them and contribute something to the benefit of mankind. It is this desire for worth and distinction that has driven people to innovate new mechanisms and ideas for centuries, and it is that same basic yearning, after watching their country divided and destroyed, their loved ones killed, and their morality and national pride ground into the crimson soil, that caused the German people to follow their new leader so wholeheartedly. Hitler picked up the pieces of their broken spirits and gave them a sense of worth and a mission to achieve. The quest for value and distinction has been a fundamental reason for racism worldwide for ages; it plays a role in tribal conflicts, such as those in Chad, Cambodia, Sudan, and other African countries; in religious conflicts as in Saudi Arabia and historically in Spain; and, in culture conflicts as in Europe, China, and in the United States. Regardless of the situation, people have always felt the need to be their own masters and prove themselves to be of greater worth than their peers.
Nearly any individual is, or is capable of being passionate about something. Most people can become incredibly passionate at times, but what they lack is vision. Leaders are the ones who possess both passion and vision for how to accomplish the desired end; followers become the brute force behind them. Both leaders and followers are important to the cycle of the social order.
Any person of passion can be a leader. The thing that sets leaders apart from followers is their vision for how to accomplish the desired means, and confidence that their strategy for bringing about change is a viable option. Some peoples’ personalities give them a naturally confident disposition, but even the most reserved individual can become infuriated- can experience the passion necessary to lead. However, a person can earn the necessary confidence through making themselves informed on the issue at hand. It is easier to confront and defeat an opponent if you know what you are up against so you can prepare yourself. This is true in war, in the court room, and in committee meetings or casual dinner conversations. A leader is informed as to the terrain he and his company are about to cross and is able to find the safest route, and give his companions confidence, as well- both in him and in themselves.
What determines a good leader? Most people have some sort of idea in their mind as to the characteristics they think a “good leader” should have, and many peoples’ ideas are very much the same. This is, in part, because of the relatively standard personality who saves the day in all of our favorite movies and novels. “Leader” has, in many respects, become synonymous with “hero,” and “hero” is generally the unusual honest, intelligent, compassionate individual who seeks to preserve beauty with no thought of the cost to their own well being. In short, “good leader” has become equivalent to “moral leader;” and, a leader is considered “good” as long as their personal success brings success to the masses, as well. As soon as a leader’s interests begin to conflict with those of the mob, the individual is deemed corrupt and it is only a matter of time before a new “good leader” attempts to replace him.
People generally tend label “good leaders” on the basis of moral values, and not necessarily on their ability to lead. For instance, one of the greatest leaders of all time was Adolf Hitler, a man with such passion and conviction, and such an amazing mind and sense of national pride that he led an entire country into frenzy, resulting in the murders of millions of Jews. Right or wrong, he was a person people rallied around, a person who gave his countrymen something to believe in- gave them back their national pride after they had endured so much shame during and after WWI.
There are a great many people in the world who are skeptical as to how an entire country could be so blind and so willing to follow that they would knowingly support the torture and murder of millions of men, women, and children; I asked myself the same question for a long time. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that their actions made perfect sense; and, for those who claim the Holocaust never happened I would agree as much as to say that it was not an isolated event in history and it is still occurring today. I will explain.
Regardless of an individual’s ideas as to the origins of the world, the vast majority will agree that humanity is unique in that it is the only creature on the face of the earth with the capacity to think independently. The ability to think affords individuals the inimitable ability to experience passion. For better or for worse, the human race is blessed with the capacity to love, hate, hope, and interact with a level of intimacy unmatched by any other creature and cursed by the consequential need for love, value, and purpose. There is a hunger for greatness, an unquenchable desire to become a person who stands out amongst their peers, even if it is to a single individual. A person without a purpose withers away and dies mentally, emotionally, and physically, because they have no more desire to live; one who feels a sense of personal worth and purpose becomes invigorated, and receives a sort of high from knowing that they have the ability to achieve greatness- that they have the potential to leave a small legacy behind them and contribute something to the benefit of mankind. It is this desire for worth and distinction that has driven people to innovate new mechanisms and ideas for centuries, and it is that same basic yearning, after watching their country divided and destroyed, their loved ones killed, and their morality and national pride ground into the crimson soil, that caused the German people to follow their new leader so wholeheartedly. Hitler picked up the pieces of their broken spirits and gave them a sense of worth and a mission to achieve. The quest for value and distinction has been a fundamental reason for racism worldwide for ages; it plays a role in tribal conflicts, such as those in Chad, Cambodia, Sudan, and other African countries; in religious conflicts as in Saudi Arabia and historically in Spain; and, in culture conflicts as in Europe, China, and in the United States. Regardless of the situation, people have always felt the need to be their own masters and prove themselves to be of greater worth than their peers.
Nearly any individual is, or is capable of being passionate about something. Most people can become incredibly passionate at times, but what they lack is vision. Leaders are the ones who possess both passion and vision for how to accomplish the desired end; followers become the brute force behind them. Both leaders and followers are important to the cycle of the social order.
Any person of passion can be a leader. The thing that sets leaders apart from followers is their vision for how to accomplish the desired means, and confidence that their strategy for bringing about change is a viable option. Some peoples’ personalities give them a naturally confident disposition, but even the most reserved individual can become infuriated- can experience the passion necessary to lead. However, a person can earn the necessary confidence through making themselves informed on the issue at hand. It is easier to confront and defeat an opponent if you know what you are up against so you can prepare yourself. This is true in war, in the court room, and in committee meetings or casual dinner conversations. A leader is informed as to the terrain he and his company are about to cross and is able to find the safest route, and give his companions confidence, as well- both in him and in themselves.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Demanding a Change
Well, it's a good thing I didn't make blogging my new year's resolution, because I seem to have lost interest in it. No, I haven't really lost interest, it's more that I just don't really have much to say. I have been at this school for a full semester now so I am pretty well settled, and one of the terrible things about college is its security and predictability; so, it almost seems like anything I wrote would disappoint, because I don't have anything very new and exciting to tell. I figured it was about time I wrote something, though, so here's the boring stuff.
This semester I'm taking World Lit, American History, Spanish 2020, Macroeconomics, Managerial Accounting, and Cross Cultural Communication. My professors this semester are wonderful, and I've found myself marveling at the fact that I stumbled across such an exceptional school, and at the fact that I tried so hard to find an alternative during the college selection process! The town is small, but the drive from here is gorgeous and I'm kind of in the middle of everything so I can drive just about anywhere for a weekend! My biggest frustrations is simply that there aren't more job opportunities around here, but I have some friends who may be able to help. And, I will be claiming myself as an independent on my Fafsa for the first time ever, so that is exciting, both because I will be more likely to get assistance and because I get to "make myself" from here, and I can't wait to do just that!
I also stumbled upon an idea that I think is just brilliant and had to wonder why I didn't think of it sooner! By now, many of you have probably heard my rant about education and our flawed system. I know Peter heard part of it at the New Years party and then asked if I had considered pursuing a job in legislature, and I said that I had and would as soon as I had the credentials. But, one of my flaws is that I get very impatient. If there's something I want to accomplish, I have a really hard time sitting on my hands and waiting for the "opportune moment." I'm more likely to manipulate the current moment to make it more opportune to allow me to work. The other day I was thinking about it, and realized that there is no reason I can't start doing research and then compile my findings into a book. Even if it doesn't end up on the best seller list, it will give me something I can claim as my own work and possibly open some doors for me later on. And, it will give me something to do in my free time. I decided I wanted to do this a few days ago- yesterday, I went to my history class and during the last twenty minutes of class my history prof gave an inspirational speech about education and how important it is for us to get involved (the tuition was just removed in the state of TN), and that if we won't care no one else will. She also briefly outlined the way the schools and boards and all that work up to the state level and went on a brief rant about the inadequacies of the people making decisions for schools, so I emailed her afterwards thanking her, telling her what I am working towards, and asking her to keep me in mind as she comes across additional information. I also sent her the paper I wrote for my economics class last year which discusses the primary reasons students drop out of high school and how it affects their lives, their communities and the nation. She said she'd read it some time in the next few days when she finds time and thanked me for emailing her. I'm really excited about this new endeavor, though it will probably take me several years to complete. The last couple days I have been having a hard time focusing on my homework (which hasn't been a big deal because I stay at least a few days ahead at all times), and I know it's because I have been sorting through possibilities and trying to nail down and purpose for my book and a basic outline or "feel" that I want the book to have. There are several options. I know that I want to discuss the current education system and the problems with it, as well as how it is affecting our nation (basically, I want to incorporate the paper I already wrote), but I also want to stress the importance of knowledge and having an intelligent society, using quotes from the Controller in "Brave New World" and from the book "Atlas Shrugged." I have also determined that I could write it purely as an opinion piece or like an academic journal of some kind using purely facts. I have decided I want to create a hybrid of the two- facts to give my opinions weight, opinion to help people connect dots they may not otherwise, since critical thinking isn't generally taught in high school (which infuriates me). It made me laugh, because I was telling one of my friends about it, and he has already told me that he thinks I'm going to be one of those people who changes the course of history (to which I said that I am going to try), and when he heard about this he exclaimed, "You're just too amazing!" Which made me laugh. I just know what I want and know what I have to do to get there...
So, this is the newest project I have undertaken. Hopefully in a couple years I will have something worth something to somebody that will encourage people to start demanding change. As one of my friends said, "They chose the wrong generation to try to screw over!"
This semester I'm taking World Lit, American History, Spanish 2020, Macroeconomics, Managerial Accounting, and Cross Cultural Communication. My professors this semester are wonderful, and I've found myself marveling at the fact that I stumbled across such an exceptional school, and at the fact that I tried so hard to find an alternative during the college selection process! The town is small, but the drive from here is gorgeous and I'm kind of in the middle of everything so I can drive just about anywhere for a weekend! My biggest frustrations is simply that there aren't more job opportunities around here, but I have some friends who may be able to help. And, I will be claiming myself as an independent on my Fafsa for the first time ever, so that is exciting, both because I will be more likely to get assistance and because I get to "make myself" from here, and I can't wait to do just that!
I also stumbled upon an idea that I think is just brilliant and had to wonder why I didn't think of it sooner! By now, many of you have probably heard my rant about education and our flawed system. I know Peter heard part of it at the New Years party and then asked if I had considered pursuing a job in legislature, and I said that I had and would as soon as I had the credentials. But, one of my flaws is that I get very impatient. If there's something I want to accomplish, I have a really hard time sitting on my hands and waiting for the "opportune moment." I'm more likely to manipulate the current moment to make it more opportune to allow me to work. The other day I was thinking about it, and realized that there is no reason I can't start doing research and then compile my findings into a book. Even if it doesn't end up on the best seller list, it will give me something I can claim as my own work and possibly open some doors for me later on. And, it will give me something to do in my free time. I decided I wanted to do this a few days ago- yesterday, I went to my history class and during the last twenty minutes of class my history prof gave an inspirational speech about education and how important it is for us to get involved (the tuition was just removed in the state of TN), and that if we won't care no one else will. She also briefly outlined the way the schools and boards and all that work up to the state level and went on a brief rant about the inadequacies of the people making decisions for schools, so I emailed her afterwards thanking her, telling her what I am working towards, and asking her to keep me in mind as she comes across additional information. I also sent her the paper I wrote for my economics class last year which discusses the primary reasons students drop out of high school and how it affects their lives, their communities and the nation. She said she'd read it some time in the next few days when she finds time and thanked me for emailing her. I'm really excited about this new endeavor, though it will probably take me several years to complete. The last couple days I have been having a hard time focusing on my homework (which hasn't been a big deal because I stay at least a few days ahead at all times), and I know it's because I have been sorting through possibilities and trying to nail down and purpose for my book and a basic outline or "feel" that I want the book to have. There are several options. I know that I want to discuss the current education system and the problems with it, as well as how it is affecting our nation (basically, I want to incorporate the paper I already wrote), but I also want to stress the importance of knowledge and having an intelligent society, using quotes from the Controller in "Brave New World" and from the book "Atlas Shrugged." I have also determined that I could write it purely as an opinion piece or like an academic journal of some kind using purely facts. I have decided I want to create a hybrid of the two- facts to give my opinions weight, opinion to help people connect dots they may not otherwise, since critical thinking isn't generally taught in high school (which infuriates me). It made me laugh, because I was telling one of my friends about it, and he has already told me that he thinks I'm going to be one of those people who changes the course of history (to which I said that I am going to try), and when he heard about this he exclaimed, "You're just too amazing!" Which made me laugh. I just know what I want and know what I have to do to get there...
So, this is the newest project I have undertaken. Hopefully in a couple years I will have something worth something to somebody that will encourage people to start demanding change. As one of my friends said, "They chose the wrong generation to try to screw over!"
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A Right to Offend
One of my excuses for not writing much is that I write in multiple places, and many times I have time for one or the other, but rarely for both. However, I decided that, since it is all my original work and every blog or article I write reflects my own ideas, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't "double dip," and allow my readers to read from multiple sources, and thereby get a better idea as to the kinds of things I'm involved in. But, enough said. Here's a link to one of my more recent articles...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)