Delayed by rain, a morning run brought me to the Downtown Marina, the big old Queen brooding just across the bay, a perky princess next door busy readying herself for another raucous weekend, oblivious to the matriarch she will leave in her wake.
Behind me the remnants of what had been a most impressive sunrise, ahead a rainbow in the sky, double at the bottom, looking like an ethereal inland bridge from the harbor, and I thought, "It's OK. It's going to be OK."
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Plate Tectonics?
I don't know about you, but the last time I looked at a map, Rome and Salt Lake were on opposite sides of the globe. Yet these days, at least here in California, these two meccas have collided on common ground.
How is it that these two competing hierarchies and their minions have arrived at consensus? What looming threat could have the power to create such queer bedfellows?
The pro-Proposition 8 anti-marriage campaign is a colossal waste of resources, rooted in fear. If these two bodies of the so-called "faithful" really cared about the will of their God, they might check to see what that God has said about fairness, love, justice, and stewardship--that is, the good and proper use of resources.
How is it that these two competing hierarchies and their minions have arrived at consensus? What looming threat could have the power to create such queer bedfellows?
The pro-Proposition 8 anti-marriage campaign is a colossal waste of resources, rooted in fear. If these two bodies of the so-called "faithful" really cared about the will of their God, they might check to see what that God has said about fairness, love, justice, and stewardship--that is, the good and proper use of resources.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Problem with Adam
We've all heard the theory before: laissez-faire government allows the "invisible hand" of capitalism to create wealth. The economic "pie" gets bigger and, in theory, everyone is better off.
It's touted as realistic, because it makes use of an observable human characteristic: self-interest. In effect, laissez-faire capitalism says "this is the way people are, we may as well take advantage of it."
Besides the obvious ethical flaw in accepting what is commonly thought of in negative terms (greed), in some cases calling it "good," this theory is problemmatic in terms of simple logic: how can we expect something "good" to come of bad intent? It's like making an omelete from rotten eggs: it may look good, but it stinks...and it's inedible.
Oh, to be sure, it works for some...generally those who already have. But there are even more who suffer from such illogic. In the globalized economy there are fewer places to hide. The injustices can no longer be swept under the economic rug.
It all reminds me of those summer afternoons at the lake. Someone had built a raft and tied it way out in the deep water. Kids would swim out, use it for a diving platform or to enjoy the sun. When you got there, there was a feeling of self-accomplishment. Those already on the raft hadn't done much of anything to help those who followed (except maybe cheer them on...or sometimes jeer!), but in the end they shared a sense of triumph. It was anyone's game. All were welcome to swim out, hoist themselves up, and share in the revelry.
Unfortunately, there were many who would never make it out to that raft. Maybe they couldn't swim--they hadn't benefited from expensive swimming lessons at the club or weren't self-taught in the backyard swimming pool. Maybe they just didn't like to swim, or weren't built for that kind of haul. Maybe they had spent their spare time working to help support the family, or had simply been told that swimming wasn't important. These were the ones who stayed on the shore, or nearly drowned in their attempts to reach the raft while laughing "peers" looked on.
IF the playing field were truly equal, one might make a logical case for Smith's "invisible hand." Unfortunately, an honest appraisal of the world reveals something far from that level field. Instead we discover a lot of people continue to be left behind while elitists buzz that old saw that it's all about opportunity, hard work, and perseverence. If you fail, it's your own fault.
The saw buzzes at great peril to the future of humanity, relegating some to the category of "burden on society" and completely missing the assets of their humanity which call for a wider definition of success, a more generous spirit, a true equality.
It's touted as realistic, because it makes use of an observable human characteristic: self-interest. In effect, laissez-faire capitalism says "this is the way people are, we may as well take advantage of it."
Besides the obvious ethical flaw in accepting what is commonly thought of in negative terms (greed), in some cases calling it "good," this theory is problemmatic in terms of simple logic: how can we expect something "good" to come of bad intent? It's like making an omelete from rotten eggs: it may look good, but it stinks...and it's inedible.
Oh, to be sure, it works for some...generally those who already have. But there are even more who suffer from such illogic. In the globalized economy there are fewer places to hide. The injustices can no longer be swept under the economic rug.
It all reminds me of those summer afternoons at the lake. Someone had built a raft and tied it way out in the deep water. Kids would swim out, use it for a diving platform or to enjoy the sun. When you got there, there was a feeling of self-accomplishment. Those already on the raft hadn't done much of anything to help those who followed (except maybe cheer them on...or sometimes jeer!), but in the end they shared a sense of triumph. It was anyone's game. All were welcome to swim out, hoist themselves up, and share in the revelry.
Unfortunately, there were many who would never make it out to that raft. Maybe they couldn't swim--they hadn't benefited from expensive swimming lessons at the club or weren't self-taught in the backyard swimming pool. Maybe they just didn't like to swim, or weren't built for that kind of haul. Maybe they had spent their spare time working to help support the family, or had simply been told that swimming wasn't important. These were the ones who stayed on the shore, or nearly drowned in their attempts to reach the raft while laughing "peers" looked on.
IF the playing field were truly equal, one might make a logical case for Smith's "invisible hand." Unfortunately, an honest appraisal of the world reveals something far from that level field. Instead we discover a lot of people continue to be left behind while elitists buzz that old saw that it's all about opportunity, hard work, and perseverence. If you fail, it's your own fault.
The saw buzzes at great peril to the future of humanity, relegating some to the category of "burden on society" and completely missing the assets of their humanity which call for a wider definition of success, a more generous spirit, a true equality.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Don't Vote for Hate: Vote NO on 8
The bottom line? A vote for Proposition 8 means you want to take away the rights of millions (!) of Californians and add discrimination to the State Constitution. No matter how you couch the argument, offering a right to some and not to all is discriminatory.
And while we're at it, it's NOT OK that some religions believe and preach that entire segments of the population, by virtue of who they ARE, are somehow immoral, sinful or evil. It is NOT OK that religions preach "love" while promoting discrimination. It's hypocritical. These people should be nervous, because the ethics of fairness are catching on to their little game--to control human behavior for the continuation of oppression.
And while we're at it, it's NOT OK that some religions believe and preach that entire segments of the population, by virtue of who they ARE, are somehow immoral, sinful or evil. It is NOT OK that religions preach "love" while promoting discrimination. It's hypocritical. These people should be nervous, because the ethics of fairness are catching on to their little game--to control human behavior for the continuation of oppression.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Screamin'
The current campaign seems to be proving the old adage, that if you say something loud enough and repeat it often enough, no matter how bald-faced a lie it is, some people are bound to believe it. Up is down and down is up and suddenly the Republicans are the great champions of the working Josephine-six-packs of the world. Pah-leeze. In one sentence Obama is supposedly cavorting with terrorists, in the next it's his "Wall Street pals." Hmmmm....come to think of it....those two may just be the same. Only problem is, it's not Obama who's been hanging around them.
Once again the right is wrong and the left is....RIGHT!
Once again the right is wrong and the left is....RIGHT!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
It's not the same
Separate but equal is not equal...it's separate. No matter what issue we're talking about, when it comes right down to it we need to treat everyone the same under the law. There CAN be no legally sanctioning of class based on perceptions of race, color, gender, orientation...or CREED.
What the proponents of Prop. 8 have failed to grasp is that, in effect, they are asking the citizens of California to create a separate class for heterosexuals, one in which they are entitled not only to rights and privileges guaranteed under the law, but also to the exclusive use of a word that carries with it its own particular cache. Their argument is often religion-based, and claims that "religious rights" are being trampled.
In what way? Even if Prop. 8 passes it doesn't change anyone's right to believe whatever she wants to believe. And freedom of religion does not imply that any particular religion has the right to force its views on others, in effect creating inequalities under the law.
What it all boils down to is an attempt by some to limit the freedoms of others based on a particular religious perspective. And we all know where that can lead.
Vote NO on Prop. 8
What the proponents of Prop. 8 have failed to grasp is that, in effect, they are asking the citizens of California to create a separate class for heterosexuals, one in which they are entitled not only to rights and privileges guaranteed under the law, but also to the exclusive use of a word that carries with it its own particular cache. Their argument is often religion-based, and claims that "religious rights" are being trampled.
In what way? Even if Prop. 8 passes it doesn't change anyone's right to believe whatever she wants to believe. And freedom of religion does not imply that any particular religion has the right to force its views on others, in effect creating inequalities under the law.
What it all boils down to is an attempt by some to limit the freedoms of others based on a particular religious perspective. And we all know where that can lead.
Vote NO on Prop. 8
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Collective U.S.
"We the people..."
Or so it goes. In these tumultuous times we will, as a collective, be challenged to think and rethink who we are and what we are all about. With all the talk about "us" and "them," the challenges of the days, weeks, months, even years ahead will certainly include figuring out who we want to be, and HOW we want to be.
Do we want to be known as people who are all about self-interest? Do we want to be remembered for our tenacity, even loyalty, to an economic system that has self-interest at its core? Will we open our eyes to see see that we really cannot be, at the same time, personally selfish and collectively generous?
These are important times, rife with opportunity for the evolution of thought and action. Now is the time for us to see that there really is a "more perfect" way.
Or so it goes. In these tumultuous times we will, as a collective, be challenged to think and rethink who we are and what we are all about. With all the talk about "us" and "them," the challenges of the days, weeks, months, even years ahead will certainly include figuring out who we want to be, and HOW we want to be.
Do we want to be known as people who are all about self-interest? Do we want to be remembered for our tenacity, even loyalty, to an economic system that has self-interest at its core? Will we open our eyes to see see that we really cannot be, at the same time, personally selfish and collectively generous?
These are important times, rife with opportunity for the evolution of thought and action. Now is the time for us to see that there really is a "more perfect" way.
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