Philosopher Alan Watts once wrote, "the friendly enemy (is) the necessary adversary who is part of life" (Watts, A., 1966). Watts advised that a smart ruler would choose their enemies wisely. Because of the necessity of an adversary, what is optimal is a weak, stable, long-term enemy. We depend on enemies and outsiders to define ourselves and unite our community.
Because humans have evolved in the context of their social groups, humans may have inherited an "Us vs. Them" mentality that is locked in the structure of our brains. My theory is that over the course of human evolution, there was a survival advantage for those who were vigilant warriors; venturing out to find and vanquish hiding invaders, coordinating the strongest for raids, and trying to return victorious. For thousands of years these in-group/out-group violent social patterns were likely to grant a survival advantage over more laid-back early humans.
The "good-us/evil-them" mentality was etched into our brain structure and is still determining our thinking patterns today. Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam (2007) found that the greater the diversity in a community, the less trust they feel towards their neighbors. We are left with the legacy of the paradigm for hatred towards outsiders.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Funny Fabric!
Funny Fabric! All Matter Is Part of the Fabric of Space-Time
I think a lot of our lack of understanding of the universe comes from our brains having a hard time with the fact that all of everything, all matter both quantum and macro, are part of the fabric of space-time. Here's one example: Anytime you walk across the room, you are actually changing the fabric of space-time itself.
See, it’s hard to grasp, isn't it? The fact that we instinctively think we are separate is why we still can't get our minds around how traveling at close to the speed of light would make us almost infinitely massive and draw time to a stop.
If we really could see ourselves as OF the fabric of space-time, we would see that going so fast would do funny things to the fabric. (Good thing the space-time fabric doesn't rip as easily as my sewing fabric.) So everything that's moving, from the smallest electron to the largest star is pulling the fabric around, as it IS the fabric. These fabric tugs are maybe why matter is so interconnected.
So you are not traveling through space in your rocket. There is no such thing as traveling Through space. You are one with the space-time fabic and the fabric is letting you fall into a little groove b/c your rocket has that much energy to make one (a groove in the fabric).
Cheers!
I think a lot of our lack of understanding of the universe comes from our brains having a hard time with the fact that all of everything, all matter both quantum and macro, are part of the fabric of space-time. Here's one example: Anytime you walk across the room, you are actually changing the fabric of space-time itself.
See, it’s hard to grasp, isn't it? The fact that we instinctively think we are separate is why we still can't get our minds around how traveling at close to the speed of light would make us almost infinitely massive and draw time to a stop.
If we really could see ourselves as OF the fabric of space-time, we would see that going so fast would do funny things to the fabric. (Good thing the space-time fabric doesn't rip as easily as my sewing fabric.) So everything that's moving, from the smallest electron to the largest star is pulling the fabric around, as it IS the fabric. These fabric tugs are maybe why matter is so interconnected.
So you are not traveling through space in your rocket. There is no such thing as traveling Through space. You are one with the space-time fabic and the fabric is letting you fall into a little groove b/c your rocket has that much energy to make one (a groove in the fabric).
Cheers!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Carpe Diem
I was showed this to me today and we thought it was pretty good. It's too bad we are not conscious of this point more often...especially in America it seems. The voice-over is Alan Watts and the production/animation is by Trey and Matt of South Park fame.
Carpe Diem
-Harry
Music and Life - Alan Watts
Another good one: Prickles & Goo
Carpe Diem
-Harry
Music and Life - Alan Watts
Another good one: Prickles & Goo
Lofty ideas: stats on kids
Some thoughts…
4 out of 10 babies are born to unwed mothers. 20% of American children live in poverty.
Our children sure are lucky!
We need to plan on ways to neutralize the effects of these grim stats. Also, we need to change our society so these stats go down drastically. Women need to draw a line in the sand and say, “We’re not gonna take it anymore.” If it weren’t for women, nobody would be born. We have the power to make these changes.
Love,
A.
4 out of 10 babies are born to unwed mothers. 20% of American children live in poverty.
Our children sure are lucky!
We need to plan on ways to neutralize the effects of these grim stats. Also, we need to change our society so these stats go down drastically. Women need to draw a line in the sand and say, “We’re not gonna take it anymore.” If it weren’t for women, nobody would be born. We have the power to make these changes.
Love,
A.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Immigration Solution
Snooping for illegals, building fences, and turning immigrants over to immigration officials after they are found out in an emergency room is like inviting your friends to Disney World but then taking them to jail. We need to take responsibility for the fact that we ask these people to come here.
If Americans do not want illegal immigrants here, Americans must stop hiring illegals. Instead of going after poverty-stricken Latinos with their families torn apart living in daily fear and squalor so they can do jobs citizens don't want, why not have enforcement resources go towards stopping the hiring of illegal immigrants in the first place? If you do not hire them, they will not come.
If Americans do not want illegal immigrants here, Americans must stop hiring illegals. Instead of going after poverty-stricken Latinos with their families torn apart living in daily fear and squalor so they can do jobs citizens don't want, why not have enforcement resources go towards stopping the hiring of illegal immigrants in the first place? If you do not hire them, they will not come.
Spineless Congress
The problems with no-bid contracts and lobbyists are very much related to a larger pattern of overly influential corporate power in our government. It is the job of the congress to apply the check on this corruption; however, congress would rather take the corporate money than uphold the constitution. The reason for the extremely low approval rating for the congress now has everything to do with the spinelessness of the congress to not stand up to power plays and represent the best interests of the people.
The founding fathers were counting on the congress to be true conduits for the people and check unwieldy power. Our first government was so decentralized in its power and so diffused out towards the populace that it crumbled.
Not only do the congressmen not read the whole bill they are voting on, but they also do not understand the basic tenets of the constitution. This pervasive and stifling ignorance has a few notable exceptions, with Barack Obama being one of them. Because Obama had to teach Constitutional Law, he seems to fully appreciate the sacredness of the constitution and the founding fathers' intent on checks to power. Obama has literally put his money where is mouth is and is our greatest hope on reclaiming some of our own government.
The founding fathers were counting on the congress to be true conduits for the people and check unwieldy power. Our first government was so decentralized in its power and so diffused out towards the populace that it crumbled.
Not only do the congressmen not read the whole bill they are voting on, but they also do not understand the basic tenets of the constitution. This pervasive and stifling ignorance has a few notable exceptions, with Barack Obama being one of them. Because Obama had to teach Constitutional Law, he seems to fully appreciate the sacredness of the constitution and the founding fathers' intent on checks to power. Obama has literally put his money where is mouth is and is our greatest hope on reclaiming some of our own government.
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