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Blog Comments by LEAP Founder Charlotte Anne Laws
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Jerry Brown Writes:California Democratic Convention: Day TwoDay Two of the convention, and it's a real bash – on the Governor. Arnold has managed to unite the far-flung tribes of the California Democratic Party.
Howard Dean fired up the troops tonight. He spoke about moral values and talking in a language that ordinary Americans could understand. The audience went wild.
There is something strange, though, in this rush to “morals.” |
Morals represent tradition and custom. In this brave new century, tradition and custom are replaced by fashion and hype. The past is for reactionaries, we are told. Science, technology and the ever-expanding GDP will solve our problems. Yet, no society can hang together without a proper balance between stability, respect for the old ways and openness to the new. In our time—2005—we are way out of balance. Question: who gets it?
April 16, 2005 | Permalink | Comments (13)
What is your view of “a proper balance”? What underlies this gloss?
With respect to tradition, there must be a formula or gauge to decipher what is to be discarded and what is to be retained. With respect to the new, we must differentiate between what could be of assistance and what could lead us irreparably into the abyss. Before one varnishes a piece of pottery, one must know what form it should take, what would be most beautiful, what is most useful, what we want and why…. Core elements are critical. Substance should prevail over the deceptively smooth phrases spewed by Democrats or Republicans who often say no more than that which is politically innocuous or expedient.
Who gets it? Few. Most people are caught in the tornado of consumerism, mesmerized by so-called advancement and the Prometheus-like aura of science; we have forgotten that great meaning can be found in other ways. We frantically endeavor to be “Type A” people and participate in and endorse a “Type A” society. We are busy; the question is “What are we busy with”?
But all is cyclical. The trend will reverse itself after stomachs are over-stuffed with (arguably) nugatory and spiritually damaging junk food; the real question is…Will it be too late?
I just read a book called “Our Final Hour” by Martin Rees. He is a well-respected Cambridge professor and England's Astronomer Royal. Some would call him prescient, while others would interpret his words as alarmist, resembling a layer cake with environmental fears on top of nuclear fears on top of biothreats, ad infinitum. Like a sci-fi movie, he worries that computers will take over. He hypothesizes that we may eventually be able to insert memory sticks in our brains. (Of course, I fully support this. Even signed up!)
He says there is an only 50/50 chance human will survive beyond the year 2100 and that the most knowledgeable experts are the gloomiest about our future. His thesis is that scientists should be policing themselves to a much greater degree.
Other pessimists include: H.G. Wells, the Chicago scientists of the “Bulletin of Atomic Scientists”, Brandon Carter, Lee Silver et al.
In his book “Remaking Eden,” Silver argues that within a few generations people may be divided into two species: those who are “naturals” and those who are genetically altered. Which one are you again?
Just kidding…everyone knows you’re genetically altered!
Yeah, yeah…I know I’m writing too much for your hand-held device. By the way, it told me on Sat. that it has plans to rule the world!
Link to the blog on this topic.
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______________________________________- Charlotte Laws writes: "In theory, there is no
difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." To see the full discussion on this topic. |
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