Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Justice and Equality
Although we are a society that takes pride in the belief that “all men are created equal,” we also celebrate the individual, something you cannot do without first accepting that we are, in fact, unequal and have varying talents and characteristics. When we praise someone for his or her intelligence, athletic ability, or whatever, we are automatically acknowledging that there are people of less intelligence and fewer physical capabilities.
Not only do we understand that people are unequal but we routinely set standards and expectations based on these differences. We mainly see this division in sports and our education system where people are separated based on gender, age, and of course ability. The reason for this unequal treatment is obvious – it would be unjust (and unrealistic) to do otherwise.
I think this process lends itself to less obvious and more uncomfortable situations as well. Just as an NFL coach places only the best on the field each Sunday and cuts players who are too small or too slow from the team, we as a society should not be ashamed to do the same thing when it comes to areas of more social importance. Characteristics such as race, gender, and class background obviously do not determine whether or not someone is qualified to become a doctor, a general, or a judge, but certainly there are some traits that members of these professions should have. This not only benefits those who make the cut, but those who do not as well. Imagine a game where professional athletes lined up against an average American couch potato.
Though it sounds like discrimination, I think this realistic view is equality and justice at their bests. The terms equality and justice for most people boil down to one thing (at least in a social or moral context) – fair treatment. And you cannot achieve true fairness without taking in the whole picture.
Not only do we understand that people are unequal but we routinely set standards and expectations based on these differences. We mainly see this division in sports and our education system where people are separated based on gender, age, and of course ability. The reason for this unequal treatment is obvious – it would be unjust (and unrealistic) to do otherwise.
I think this process lends itself to less obvious and more uncomfortable situations as well. Just as an NFL coach places only the best on the field each Sunday and cuts players who are too small or too slow from the team, we as a society should not be ashamed to do the same thing when it comes to areas of more social importance. Characteristics such as race, gender, and class background obviously do not determine whether or not someone is qualified to become a doctor, a general, or a judge, but certainly there are some traits that members of these professions should have. This not only benefits those who make the cut, but those who do not as well. Imagine a game where professional athletes lined up against an average American couch potato.
Though it sounds like discrimination, I think this realistic view is equality and justice at their bests. The terms equality and justice for most people boil down to one thing (at least in a social or moral context) – fair treatment. And you cannot achieve true fairness without taking in the whole picture.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr. Mountaintop Speech
Here is a recording of Dr. King's last speech. He was killed 24 hours after he spoke these prophetic words.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hillary Clinton's Comment on MLK and LBJ...Racist?
From The Daily Show:
The comments from Senator Clinton have pushed race to the forefront of the election, an issue that (surprisingly) hasn't gotten that much attention until recently. Many have jumped at the chance to use her comments to brand the senator, who has spen much of her career closely aligned with the African American community a closet racist.
I'm Black and I don't find Clinton's remarks racist or offensive at all (unlike Biden's "Articulate and Clean" remark). I don't agree with her though. I've always thought that LBJ doesn't get nearly enough credit for his role in the Civil Rights Movement...he was far more pro-active than JFK. That said, it was King and the countless unnamed Blacks who brought about TRUE change. It was the sit-ins, the marches, the boycotts, the four little girls bombed while in church...it took their sacrifices to bring attention to what was going on, to make people care about what was going on. The government's laws paled in comparison to the unwritten Jim Crow laws that were enforced.
The comments from Senator Clinton have pushed race to the forefront of the election, an issue that (surprisingly) hasn't gotten that much attention until recently. Many have jumped at the chance to use her comments to brand the senator, who has spen much of her career closely aligned with the African American community a closet racist.
I'm Black and I don't find Clinton's remarks racist or offensive at all (unlike Biden's "Articulate and Clean" remark). I don't agree with her though. I've always thought that LBJ doesn't get nearly enough credit for his role in the Civil Rights Movement...he was far more pro-active than JFK. That said, it was King and the countless unnamed Blacks who brought about TRUE change. It was the sit-ins, the marches, the boycotts, the four little girls bombed while in church...it took their sacrifices to bring attention to what was going on, to make people care about what was going on. The government's laws paled in comparison to the unwritten Jim Crow laws that were enforced.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Political Compass Test
I literally StumbleUpon'd The Political Compass, a website that looks to go beyond the traditional left-right political division. They offer a test that breaks down where you stand and compares you to current and past world leaders. (My results are below)
"If we recognise that this is essentially an economic line it's fine, as far as it goes. We can show, for example, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot, with their commitment to a totally controlled economy, on the hard left. Socialists like Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Mugabe would occupy a less extreme leftist position. Margaret Thatcher would be well over to the right, but further right still would be someone like that ultimate free marketeer, General Pinochet.
That deals with economics, but the social dimension is also important in politics. That's the one that the mere left-right scale doesn't adequately address. So we've added one, ranging in positions from extreme authoritarian to extreme libertarian.
Both an economic dimension and a social dimension are important factors for a proper political analysis. By adding the social dimension you can show that Stalin was an authoritarian leftist (ie the state is more important than the individual) and that Gandhi, believing in the supreme value of each individual, is a liberal leftist. While the former involves state-imposed arbitary collectivism in the extreme top left, on the extreme bottom left is voluntary collectivism at regional level, with no state involved. Hundreds of such anarchist communities exisited in Spain during the civil war period.
You can also put Pinochet, who was prepared to sanction mass killing for the sake of the free market, on the far right as well as in a hardcore authoritarian position. On the non-socialist side you can distinguish someone like Milton Friedman, who is anti-state for fiscal rather than social reasons, from Hitler, who wanted to make the state stronger, even if he wiped out half of humanity in the process.
The chart also makes clear that, despite popular perceptions, the opposite of fascism is not communism but anarchism (ie liberal socialism), and that the opposite of communism ( i.e. an entirely state-planned economy) is neo-liberalism (i.e. extreme deregulated economy)"
Here are my results:
Economic Left/Right: -5.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.33
Please check out the website and take the test yourself
"If we recognise that this is essentially an economic line it's fine, as far as it goes. We can show, for example, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot, with their commitment to a totally controlled economy, on the hard left. Socialists like Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Mugabe would occupy a less extreme leftist position. Margaret Thatcher would be well over to the right, but further right still would be someone like that ultimate free marketeer, General Pinochet.
That deals with economics, but the social dimension is also important in politics. That's the one that the mere left-right scale doesn't adequately address. So we've added one, ranging in positions from extreme authoritarian to extreme libertarian.
Both an economic dimension and a social dimension are important factors for a proper political analysis. By adding the social dimension you can show that Stalin was an authoritarian leftist (ie the state is more important than the individual) and that Gandhi, believing in the supreme value of each individual, is a liberal leftist. While the former involves state-imposed arbitary collectivism in the extreme top left, on the extreme bottom left is voluntary collectivism at regional level, with no state involved. Hundreds of such anarchist communities exisited in Spain during the civil war period.
You can also put Pinochet, who was prepared to sanction mass killing for the sake of the free market, on the far right as well as in a hardcore authoritarian position. On the non-socialist side you can distinguish someone like Milton Friedman, who is anti-state for fiscal rather than social reasons, from Hitler, who wanted to make the state stronger, even if he wiped out half of humanity in the process.
The chart also makes clear that, despite popular perceptions, the opposite of fascism is not communism but anarchism (ie liberal socialism), and that the opposite of communism ( i.e. an entirely state-planned economy) is neo-liberalism (i.e. extreme deregulated economy)"
Here are my results:
Economic Left/Right: -5.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.33
Please check out the website and take the test yourself
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Plea for Communication in Volatile Times
Record turnout in both Iowa and New Hampshire proves that the battle cry of the democratic candidates (and a few of the Republicans) is true – Americans want change. Regardless of age, political affiliation, their sex, race, their economic background we are all dissatisfied with the present and worried about our future.
This collective discontent can go one of two waves: Tear us apart and cripple (if not destroy) our country or it can unite and rejuvenate us.
The deciding factor of which path we take, I believe is communication. Open, honest, earnest communication – not with our friends, but with those outside of our comfort circles, people with views and ideas different than our own – is the only thing that will carry us out of the storm we are facing. Sure it’s nice and cathartic to vent with people you agree with, but nothing happens ‘til we share our thoughts and struggles with people who aren’t like us. I say, get out there and discuss, discuss, discuss.
Start a few friendly arguments; just remember to take in as much as you give out. Communication isn’t a one way process…listening and receiving are elemental parts of any successful dialogue. Then what? Learn, collaborate, and finally DO.
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Gandhi
This collective discontent can go one of two waves: Tear us apart and cripple (if not destroy) our country or it can unite and rejuvenate us.
The deciding factor of which path we take, I believe is communication. Open, honest, earnest communication – not with our friends, but with those outside of our comfort circles, people with views and ideas different than our own – is the only thing that will carry us out of the storm we are facing. Sure it’s nice and cathartic to vent with people you agree with, but nothing happens ‘til we share our thoughts and struggles with people who aren’t like us. I say, get out there and discuss, discuss, discuss.
Start a few friendly arguments; just remember to take in as much as you give out. Communication isn’t a one way process…listening and receiving are elemental parts of any successful dialogue. Then what? Learn, collaborate, and finally DO.
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Gandhi
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
New Hampshire Says Our Economy Sucks...
What issue loomed in the minds of New Hampshire voters as they crammed into polling stations to leacve their influential mark on the presidential elections? Immigrations? The war in Iraq? Global warming? Homeland Security? Nope, all of these headline grabbing topics took a backseat to the very unsexy subject of our struggling economy.
(http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5439356.html, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321191,00.html)
Republicans, Democrats, Independants...all cited worry of the nation's economic (and their own financial) future as the driving force behind their choice for president. The issues I listed earlier, the ones that seem to get the most attention, are without a doubt serious, but it is hard to worry about them when you are struggling to pay your bills or feed your children.
(http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5439356.html, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321191,00.html)
Republicans, Democrats, Independants...all cited worry of the nation's economic (and their own financial) future as the driving force behind their choice for president. The issues I listed earlier, the ones that seem to get the most attention, are without a doubt serious, but it is hard to worry about them when you are struggling to pay your bills or feed your children.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
I'm still undecided. Definitely Democrat, but I'm torn between the top three frontrunners. I think I'm more closely aligned with Edwards, who seems more populist than the other two. At the same time, as a black woman, both Hillary and Barack are so different than the status quo, so identifiable (the fact that I naturally refer to them by their first names, while using the former senator's last is evidence of this) that I am able to make excuses for some of their more moderate views. Is that a bad thing? I don't know. I can honestly say that I would be proud to call either of the Big 3 my president, which I don't think the Republicans can say.
P.S. I'm working on my Hillary design...
P.S. I'm working on my Hillary design...
Voting and YOU PSA
From www.declareyourself.com. A fifties style PSA annoucement featuring Super Bad's Mclovin (Chris Mintz-Plasse), the Daily Show's Ed Helms, and the always funny Rachael Harris.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Iowa Caucus
Hey Iowans...
Elections officially begin tomorrow in Iowa...Liberal, Conservative. Democrat, Republican. Just Vote! The stakes are certainly high enough. What good is a democracy if people don't use the power they are given? We see what is going on in Kenya, Pakistan, hell we can bring things closer to home with the debacle in Florida to see the value of one's vote. Angry at our struggling economy? Saddened by the deaths of U.S. soldiers and innocent civilians in Iraq? Scared a crazy liberal will take over the country? Whatever your position, please take a stand. Voting is the simplest form of activism.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year
Wow. 2008. I've never been into New Year's Resolutions, sitting down and writing out the things you're unhappy about with the solemn pledge of this time next year all vices, shortcomings, hardships, etc will be properly rectified. Don't get me wrong...I (somewhat skeptically) admire people who begin January 1 determined to be new and improved. It's just not me.
I certainly make plans, but I am more concerned with today than I am of tomorrow. My pre- and post-brain surgery life has forced me to see things differently. Now more than ever I understand that today is not promised. I don't have time to sit down and write lists. I wake up in the morning concerned with what kind of person I am and what kind of person I want to be at this moment. How's my life, my health, my family? What's going on in my city, my country, the world at large? And what, now that I've been given another chance, am I doing about it, what can I do about...Right now.
Which brings me to why I started this blog. The cathartic properties of blogs alone are reason to create one, but given my limited current (hopefully temporary situation) this blog is one way I can DO something.
I am a 21 year old African American woman. In terms of current events and issues, my voice isn’t just silenced it often feels as though it is nonexistent. Apathy and ignorance is common among my peers (be they young, Black, female or all three), but it’s hard to care about the world at large when the information fed to you is created and directed towards people so fundamentally different. I plan on using this blog (along with my other site Ananse Designs) to write about how things like politics, economics, and various cultural movements affect me and give my thoughts on them. No, it won't change the world overnight, but it is a bit of noise.
I certainly make plans, but I am more concerned with today than I am of tomorrow. My pre- and post-brain surgery life has forced me to see things differently. Now more than ever I understand that today is not promised. I don't have time to sit down and write lists. I wake up in the morning concerned with what kind of person I am and what kind of person I want to be at this moment. How's my life, my health, my family? What's going on in my city, my country, the world at large? And what, now that I've been given another chance, am I doing about it, what can I do about...Right now.
Which brings me to why I started this blog. The cathartic properties of blogs alone are reason to create one, but given my limited current (hopefully temporary situation) this blog is one way I can DO something.
I am a 21 year old African American woman. In terms of current events and issues, my voice isn’t just silenced it often feels as though it is nonexistent. Apathy and ignorance is common among my peers (be they young, Black, female or all three), but it’s hard to care about the world at large when the information fed to you is created and directed towards people so fundamentally different. I plan on using this blog (along with my other site Ananse Designs) to write about how things like politics, economics, and various cultural movements affect me and give my thoughts on them. No, it won't change the world overnight, but it is a bit of noise.
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