tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76336915224441962862024-03-13T14:51:39.849-05:00The Museum of Contemporary ThoughtsThank you for choosing to think today. Please, share your mind and our blog with others.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-32490052939017046542008-11-19T14:54:00.002-06:002008-11-19T15:08:24.676-06:00Question 21.1<a href="http://wzus.ask.com/r?t=a&d=us&s=a&c=p&ti=1&ai=30752&l=dir&o=0&sv=0a300522&ip=180ee3c6&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mamfa.com%2Fartworks%2Fcastaneda%2Fprocess_of_self_awareness.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 381px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://wzus.ask.com/r?t=a&d=us&s=a&c=p&ti=1&ai=30752&l=dir&o=0&sv=0a300522&ip=180ee3c6&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mamfa.com%2Fartworks%2Fcastaneda%2Fprocess_of_self_awareness.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>According to recent pediatric studies (whodunit escapes me), an infant, at 3 months of age, can look into a mirror, and recognize itself. The mirror needs to be close enough for baby to see, but the recognition is there. If a colored dot is placed someplace on they baby's face or on the mirror, a baby with self-esteem will laugh at the dot, and start learning how to reach for the object that is unexpected or doesn't belong to restore 'normal'. A baby with low self-esteem, looking at the dot, will look away, cry, or avoid the face in the mirror. Thsi baby has a sense or 'normal'. How did that happen?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Babies with self-esteem. You must have a sense of self, to have esteem. Is it this early? Certainly this develops through life, and becomes more complex. But the rudimentary biological foundation for self awareness in humans is likely present from birth. BIRTH. Wow. Mind Blowing, isn't it?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Are we self aware when we can see ourselves move, or when we can feel, and learn that we have control over our environment??? This question really begs for the definition of the term self-aware.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Arguably, some people are never self aware enough to be successful at life, or achieve happiness or healthy relationships, which indicates that this is also a learned behavior, which is both emotional, and social. We can be crippled in this regard due to mental illness, injury, defect, or emotional trauma. Effectively, retarded in our self-awareness growth curve.</div><div> </div><div>An interesting topic, better suited for discussion or debate than blind assertion, but there are my thoughts, and I hope you've enjoyed reading them.</div>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-25950375371990156152008-11-17T14:52:00.001-06:002008-11-17T14:53:26.365-06:00Question 21.0<div style="text-align: center;">Self Awareness. <br />What is it, when does it form, how does it change us? <br />Please ruminate and share your thoughts on this matter.<br /></div>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-46179722092972995282008-04-09T00:26:00.003-05:002008-04-09T00:36:56.159-05:00Question 20.4The thing about Free Will is that it's suppressed. Very few people take advantage of this power that resides in each and everyone of us. Instead we choose to "justify" our choices with excuses or influences as though we lack the ability to oppose them.<br /><br />I resign myself to the fact that there is a contingent of our society; nay our world; which are born mentally defected or deficient to have Free Will (but having working closely with those types of people in a multitude of ranges of severity, I offer this up only in fairness to debate and not necessarily of personal belief) and as thus you can argue they do not have it.<br /><br />But I speak of the majority and most of them are too lazy, or irresponsible to accept that they control their own choices or actions. The simple fact that there are outside choices and influences that are related to each and every choice or action we make is irrelevant. I am influenced each day to drink water by being thirsty, but I make the choice to drink it. I could easily decide not to do this and it would be my decision, and even then there may be mitigating factors that I have considered in my choice not to drink water, but again the choice was ultimately mine because I have the Free Will to make that choice.<br /><br />To believe that we no longer have this power is to fall into the category of the lazy, unproductive, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cancerous</span> part of society that is afraid of the shadows on the cave wall and do nothing of note.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-77925109654255375702008-03-27T23:24:00.005-05:002008-03-29T08:55:12.355-05:00Question 20.3There is someone I have been lucky enough to stumble into in my life. She is one of those people who makes you feel better about the world. She makes you feel important even on your worst day. She brings light to those around her. She has been like this as long as I have known her and she now faces my worst nightmare. She has Lou Gerhig's Disease. She is no longer able to bathe herself, walk, put in her contacts, or even brush a hair from her face, and it's only going to get worse. As slowly becomes completely paralyzed, unable to communicate with the world and make her needs known, she will still have her mind. She will still have choices. She gets to choose how she views the world.<br /><br />This week my someone I know called to say she was raped at the hand of her father when she was 4 years old, and this abuse continued again when he re-entered her life at 8 years old. She suspects her mother was aware that this had happened and was then given everything she ever wanted stemming from her mother's guilt, at great peril to those around her, which was actually equally paralyzing. This is a life shattering event. It shaped her view of her relationship to men in such a way that her step son now needs counseling. It shaped her world view in terms of adult responsibilities that she is once again staring homelessness in the face with kids in tow for the second time in the last 3 years. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of devastation those events have meant to her. Yet, she too still has choices.<br /><br />Yes, our lives are shaped and formed by those events around us but don't tell me free will doesn't exist. Without free will, what's the point? Without it we are reduced to a simple phenotype.<br /><br />My friend is more than what her disease confines her to. My other friend is capable of rising above her circumstances. Free will is the beauty in horrible situations.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-2232558708429177792008-03-27T00:59:00.001-05:002008-03-27T01:13:24.687-05:00Question 20.2<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">Free will.....the idea that we can make a choice... seems false to me.</p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">The world is made up of so many contructs, contexts, and binary opposites... it seems we are all in a grid, and that each decision is not only a limitation of everything the world has to offer, but also a mere step into a new part of the grid. Like a gamepiece on a gameboard of the matrix of imaginary numbers... ah, finally the relevance of the graphs in math class....</p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">This grid is a matrix, made up of everything: culture, context, social determinism, evolution, ego, humanity, nature, and so much more. It's all laid out, like a chess board, or a choose your own adcenture. Each adventure may seem unique, but your options are laid out before you and limited by your life circumstances.</p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">It may seem that your choices are your own, but they are merely your scantron answer to the multiple choice question that the grid has laid out for you.</p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Of course, our will and our choices are separate matters entirely, and it also seems that our will is governed by the same laws of physics as our choice grid is. Each decision we make is a rejection of everything else, and another adhesion to the principles of choice. </p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">We choose from what we know, and what we know is governed by this grid or matrix, that is made up of culture, gender, family, learned behaviors, nature, etc...</p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">And so our will, it would seem, is an illusion of choice, as we cannot create something original, or free of context, and we do not live in a social vacuum, so this will never change.</p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> </div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">Free Will is a fallacy, I never win at chess, and I hate math.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">That is my answer.</span><br /></p>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-79313007909699225602008-02-14T09:13:00.002-06:002008-02-14T09:17:58.977-06:00Question 20.1<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="color:#660000;">The problem with "free will" is that it is not technically free.</span> </strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="color:#333300;">Decisions cannot be made that are free from the influences of God, our environment, or others.</span> </strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#330099;"><strong>There is no such thing as <em>free</em> <em>will</em>, only</strong> <strong><em>influenced</em> <em>will</em>.</strong></span></span></p>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-1105381571246926262008-02-14T02:39:00.002-06:002008-02-14T02:40:52.457-06:00Question 20.0<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">So... What's up with free will?</span><br /></div>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-4110264902375770782008-02-13T17:53:00.005-06:002008-02-14T02:48:03.933-06:00Some Items of Note....<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">I have posted the older PDF files, though the quality is sketchy at best-- I had to print and convert them all the jpegs. If you happen to have authored one of these posts and still have them in a format that is more blogger-friendly (jpeg, html, rich text format, MS Word, etc), please pass it along to me with the question number so I can post a higher quality piece.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">There also seem to be some entries missing... again, sorry... if you still have yours and find it missing, please pass it along. I'd be happy to post it where it belongs!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">And remember, you can always click on an image to view it in larger scale! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">New answers to old questions are always welcome, but they will be posted in between the current questions. Please email them to me when completed. Thanks.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Thank you for playing!!!</span></span></div>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-90857784031421651452008-01-12T14:59:00.000-06:002008-01-13T19:11:35.781-06:00Question 19.3Faith is a belief structure. Without faith, your world is shifting and unstable where you can no more trust what you see and hear than an out of control schizophenic. I do have faith in my alarm clock, in my husband, in that the sun will rise tomorrow. I have faith that the tested and retested laws of science are likely to remain the same tomorrow, but the possibility of things changing exists. These are things that my daily living experience shows me to be true.<br /><br />For many people their belief structure includes things beyond their daily living experience. Faith is an explanation for something that cannot be shown. Most typically this faith is what their parents taught them, and/or the majority of their surrounding community taught them. How do you know that Allah, God, Jesus, Zeus, or whomever exists? Because of Faith.<br /><br />I understand how people get to this place. I am frustrated when people accept whatever their belief structure is without sticking a probe in it all directions.<br />Without this probing, people accept dogma as their faith and I am baffled by what some people lay claim to due to as a result.<br /><br />Somehow faith can be twisted around to allow one us to lynch another, to crash a plane into the twin towers, to accept money from the destitute for a Christian roller coaster park and a lap of luxury, or to blow yourself up in a crowded shopping center. Of course these are extremist versions of faith in motion, but they are supported by hundreds of smaller faith based misguidance resulting from people not probing.<br /><br />I got an e-mail this week from my aunt who is a holy roller. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if she was friends with the people who were in the Jesus Camp movie. She forwarded me this e-mail...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Subject: </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Obama.... Life Story<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is very interesting, please take a few moments and read it.<br />Who is Barack Obama? Something that should be considered when you make your choice.<br />If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all your contacts... it is very scary to think of what could lie ahead for us here in our own United States... better heed this and pray about it and share it.<br /><br />We checked this out on 'snopes.com.' It is factual. Check for yourself.<br /><br />Who is Barack Obama?</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Probable U.S. presidental candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white Athiest from Wichita, Kansas.<br /><br />Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school.<br /><br />Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim, but he also attended Catholic school.'<br /><br />Obama's political handlers are attempted to make it appear that he is not a radical.<br /><br />Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.<br /><br />Lol Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta.<br /><br />Wahabism is the RADICAL ISLAMIC teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to down play his muslim backgorund. ALSO keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.<br /><br />Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches. Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy.<br /><br />The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!!!<br /><br />Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?... NOT ME!!!<br /></span></span><br />I had faith in who the audience was and what the nature of this e-mail was before I even read it. It fit in with my belief system due to my past experience. It also fit in with my belief system that of the slew of people that it was sent to, few would question it's authenticity, so I took it upon myself to set the record straight and called this propaganda for what it was. I heard back from one person who only said,<br /><br />"I really don't know WHO to believe... out of control."<br /><br />I have no understanding for belief systems that are not put under a microscope, for people who have faith in something because that is what their ancestral line brought them to. Faith without seeking is scary.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-91515710759748136222007-12-28T18:32:00.001-06:002007-12-28T19:03:16.092-06:00Question 19.2<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style="">FAITH is humanity, unencumbered.</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m0,0l0,21600,21600,21600,21600,0xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-200 0 -200 21600 21800 21600 21800 0 -200 0" stroked="f"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: -3; left: 0px; margin-left: 324px; margin-top: 42px; width: 127px; height: 139px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" bg="" align="left" height="139" valign="top" width="127"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: -2;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1026" style="padding: 3.6pt 7.2pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:79.5pt;" ole=""> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Collins/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.wmz" title=""> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Collins/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.gif" shapes="_x0000_i1025" height="127" width="106" /><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:oleobject type="Embed" progid="Word.Picture.8" shapeid="_x0000_i1025" drawaspect="Content" objectid="_1260373454"> </o:OLEObject> </xml><![endif]--></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="">It is existential theory, it is religion, and it is philosophy.</span></b><b><span style=""> </span></b><span style="font-size:18;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R3WblSwBsQI/AAAAAAAAADE/8wBob9HE808/s1600-h/ts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R3WblSwBsQI/AAAAAAAAADE/8wBob9HE808/s320/ts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149192813958770946" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">FAITH is a box of </span><b style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="">toothpicks</span></b><span style=""><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">,</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(128, 76, 25);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">and it is necessary.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-size:13;color:navy;" >We believe what we see, what can be proven, and what has been passed down.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-size:13;color:navy;" ><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style=";font-family:Sydnie;font-size:16;color:maroon;" >The rest of life, death, and the universe is understood through belief structures that</span></b><b><span style=";font-family:Sydnie;font-size:16;color:maroon;" > </span></b><span style="color:maroon;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style=";font-family:Sydnie;font-size:16;color:maroon;" >(1) are passed down (religion, superstition, covenants), </span></b><span style="color:maroon;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style=";font-family:Sydnie;font-size:16;color:maroon;" >(2) created en mass (cults, new age beliefs, politics), or </span></b><span style="color:maroon;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b><span style=";font-family:Sydnie;font-size:16;color:maroon;" >(3) via the individual (ideologies, choices, meditation).</span></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><br /><b><span style=";font-family:Sydnie;font-size:16;color:maroon;" > </span></b><span style="color:maroon;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; color: rgb(102, 51, 102);" align="center"><span style="">This is done to bring us comfort, and a sense of understanding of the 'unknown' factors that exist in our world. We are driven by both fear and tradition to FAITH, and in som</span><span style="">e cases these ideas are needs.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;left:0;" wrapcoords="-112 0 -112 21457 21600 21457 21600 0 -112 0" stroked="f"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: -2; left: 0px; margin-left: 264px; margin-top: 143px; width: 194px; height: 153px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" bg="" align="left" height="153" valign="top" width="194"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: -1;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1027" style="padding: 3.6pt 7.2pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:129pt;height:105.75pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Collins/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image003.png" title=""> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Collins/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1026" height="141" width="172" /><!--[endif]--></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">These wants, urges, and needs become the beliefs that hold up our inner worlds.</span><span style=""> <b><span style="color:olive;">Toothpicks. </span><br /></b><span style="color:green;">They are the stilts upon which we build our homes, with our foundations and our families firmly settled upon them, where we expect them to remain strong, and unwavering.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R3WbliwBsRI/AAAAAAAAADM/c9A5EyLjJvY/s1600-h/ts2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R3WbliwBsRI/AAAAAAAAADM/c9A5EyLjJvY/s320/ts2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149192818253738258" border="0" /></a> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="">Toothpicks.</span></b><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">Both as frail and as strong as they are necessary, and universal.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-size:78%;"> <o:p></o:p></span><!--[endif]--></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="">And with the Gods of others, many will pick their teeth.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-44678404976742859162007-12-21T14:26:00.000-06:002007-12-21T14:41:19.575-06:00Question 19.1<span style="font-family:arial;">The culmination of all the definitions for "faith" I could find = “<strong><span style="color:#003300;">to trust or believe without reason</span></strong>”.<br /><br />I have a tough time separating faith from reason. I have faith in reason. I also have reason in faith. I have reason to have faith. Remove reason from faith and you have an ignorant child, remove faith from reason and you have an ignorant adult.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>I believe that “faith” and “reason” are different, yet interlocking, parallel and equivalent ways of knowing.</strong></span><br /><br />Everybody has faith in one form or another and to differing degrees - whether they admit it or not <span style="color:#330099;">[faith in their spouse, their drugs, their alarm clock, their deity, their insurance, themselves, etc.].</span> This gives evidence that we are not hard-wired to have tunnel vision to make decisions simply based on tangibles and reason alone. We use faith to trust, to a degree, those things which are out of our immediate control. Faith is part of the checks and balances of one’s internal government. Reason is that faculty of mind that is able to judge things whether they be true or not. You cannot reason with an unreasonable person and it is unfair to have a war of wits with an unarmed person. Reason has become a prejudice for the ignorant, the worst form of prejudice because reason is the only instrument for liberation from prejudice. To believe that we are to have faith and not reason is to have a theology of ignorance. <strong>The fact is that reason and faith validate each other.<br /></strong><br />Most associate faith with spiritual or religious beliefs that extend beyond this life and world.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" -- Hebrews 11:1</strong></span><br /><br />Faith in an unseen noun or verb can be construed as a comfort and a gift – or dismissed as a placebo meant to lend a false sense of well-being or illogical consolation. Either way, faith exists for the benefit of the faithful, just as a judgment occurs for the benefit of the judged.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>“We look not at things seen, but things unseen; for things seen are temporary, but things unseen are eternal.” -- 2 Corinthians 4:18</strong></span><br /><br />Regarding faith as it relates to belief in God, some have it, some don’t. I possess it. I have faith in many things, but the biggest avenue of faith that I have is in the love of God and the Truth of the eventual universal salvation of all.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>"The Father has given ALL things into the Son's hands" (John 3:35) and so "ALL flesh shall see the salvation of God" -- Luke 3:6</strong></span><br /><br />Faith is one of the many internal compasses that help steer people’s decisions and disposition in life. The power and size of the compass depends on the individual and their thoughts and experiences as is the state of faith being gained, maintained, or lost.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">I have many reasons for why I have my faith and how my faith has evolved.</span></strong><br /><br />I think a role of faith should be to use reason to ask more questions in order to enhance both our reason and our faith, to seek inner chambers within ourselves that are in need of occupancy and to attempt to make a greater connection to that which is known but unseen.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>"In the end there are three things that will last: faith, hope, and love…and the greatest of these is love." --1 Corinthians 13:13</strong></span><br /><br />My Faith Sherpa is on my right, my Reason Sherpa is on my left. One without the other is a tough climb.</span><br /></span>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-2653348722750174582007-12-18T13:19:00.000-06:002007-12-18T13:20:25.092-06:00Question 19What is the role of faith?Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-28630095524225670492007-12-12T21:09:00.000-06:002007-12-28T18:21:37.868-06:00Question 18.5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2Ck-rVcYAI/AAAAAAAAACE/0LVKW-n1zvk/s1600-h/coffee+mug+II.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143292171148615682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2Ck-rVcYAI/AAAAAAAAACE/0LVKW-n1zvk/s200/coffee+mug+II.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mere Existence<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2ClRbVcYCI/AAAAAAAAACU/2l8nQ6m3c1o/s1600-h/ocean+II.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143292493271162914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2ClRbVcYCI/AAAAAAAAACU/2l8nQ6m3c1o/s200/ocean+II.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Obliges Us<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2CldrVcYDI/AAAAAAAAACc/zUECCD6QqT8/s1600-h/fern+II.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143292703724560434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2CldrVcYDI/AAAAAAAAACc/zUECCD6QqT8/s200/fern+II.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />To Nothing<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2Cln7VcYEI/AAAAAAAAACk/cc1CP_TYHS8/s1600-h/dogII.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143292879818219586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2Cln7VcYEI/AAAAAAAAACk/cc1CP_TYHS8/s200/dogII.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Except Maybe<br />To Attempt to Survive<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2Clv7VcYFI/AAAAAAAAACs/oHJH8lhSuHY/s1600-h/donald+trumpII.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143293017257173074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/R2Clv7VcYFI/AAAAAAAAACs/oHJH8lhSuHY/s200/donald+trumpII.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Obligation comes not from existence<br />But a sense of self and who you are.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I feel obliged to have some self respect then follow the golden rule...in that order, otherwise you'd hate for me to do unto you if I think shit of myself.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-26182440435675443502007-12-12T20:54:00.000-06:002007-12-28T18:21:53.086-06:00Question 18.4Given that I am, I am obligated to preform two simple duties:<br /><br /><ol><li>Recognizing my own mortality I find it my responsibility to procreate and keep my line within this existence.</li><li>I must strive to leave to world in better condition than I have found it. I need to pass this along to those I bring forth (from my loins as it is) and instill in them the skills and talents to continue my program and mission.</li></ol><br />Although my obligations, as they appear above, seem simple on the surface, their execution requires a complex set of actions, thoughts, and connections.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-9801513224082727322007-12-01T11:20:00.001-06:002007-12-01T11:45:22.273-06:00Question 18.3<div style="text-align: justify;">To be or not.... well, I am. To not, though, is part of being. Death is a natural part of life. In this way, our finite venture here has created a sense of urgency about our being. We only have so much time... what shall we do with it? For most, this time is spent selfishly, and this is not always a negative thing. It is your time to do with what you choose.<br /><br />However, all those people doing what they choose require a code of ethics to govern behavior, so that one person's bliss does not create another's hell. In a loose sense, laws try to do this, but I think this question begs a deeper meaning, and while I cannot speak for others, I will do what I can to explain what that responsibility is and how it works in regard to our existence.<br /><br />1. The golden rule is always a good one. But beyond kindness and respect, there should also be a withholding of judgement, and a deeper sense of empathy. Yes, that person can be a bully, but why do they behave that way? What is it inside of them that is hurt or broken that requires them to lash out in such a way? <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">We are nothing so much as we are severely human.</span> And we should consider, when acting with others, that pain is at the root of almost all negative behavior, and I believe we should all try to be more sympathetic to one another for that reason. We all have pain, and we are all capable of forgiveness. This simple concept could change the world.<br /><br />Kindness, after all, is being nice to someone who doesn't deserve it. That moment of respect may be the thing to change the course of their day, or even their life. Our responsibility as humans is to be kind, respectful, honest, and fair, whenever possible.<br /><br />2. I try to help whenever I can. I wish I did more, but my selfishness is great, and our culture makes it difficult to do more than work, sleep and consume. It really takes a concentrated effort to do your part to improve the world, and I truly respect those who do. Volunteering, protesting, recycling, using enviro friendly cleaners, whatever you can do, must be done.<br /><br />3. We should take care of one another, and the planet. We spend so much time in social gridlock that we forget to take time to really connect to one another, and without that strength of connection, the relationship suffers. All relationships contain love, but many could be much deeper, fulfilling, forgiving, and powerful. One such powerful relationship can change your life and you should spend your time seeking these masterpieces of human interaction.<br /><br />4. I believe we should Choose. Live with purpose. Do not waste the choices and opportunities given to you, but spend your time accumulating experiences, exploring who you are, seeking to understand the motivations and behaviors of others, and moving through life with our eyes up, on the prize, and not down, at our map. <br /><br />5. Live forward. The past may have built us, and it may hurt, but learning to forgive yourself and others can be the most powerful thing we can learn. So get on it, and get help if you need it, but life should be experienced as unencumbered as possible. Live forward.<br /><br />6. Support human rights. Abuse of power is rampant, and should be punishable by Guantanamo standards--especially when it comes to politics and foreign policy. Use your politics to make the world a better place. It isn't a perfect system, but it is all we have, an your voice should be heard-- unless you are a fundy or a republican. Then you don't count on the grounds that your IQ is lower than a carrot. These carrots can be executed in Texas. Case in point.<br /></div>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-11412506587014255832007-11-30T18:39:00.001-06:002007-12-28T18:22:08.312-06:00Question 18.2<p class="MsoNormal">I took a shit today in the cleanest, safest drinking water that man has ever known.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>While two thirds of the world lives on less than a dollar a day, I spent 1.97 on a casual cup of thin black coffee and let it get cold.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I look at my carbon footprint, crushing the earth under the tonnage of my commute, of my casual vices, and I believe, for a moment in bigfoot.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The wild parts of my country have been roped off as eco amusement parks, and I have the good fortune to enjoy them on a lark instead of having to attempt to eek out a strained and exhausted living toiling in the soil until my stooped and weathered back breaks under the weight of too many years, and I lay dying face down in the dry, eroded gray dirt of subsistence farming.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Instead I may decide today to cook with fresh fruits and vegetables from a dozen different nations, each picked and shipped hundreds or maybe even thousands of miles to me.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I may cook them, or simply let them spoil in the crisper drawer of my refrigerator because I decide to go out instead.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Out, to a restaurant where undocumented workers will avoid my eyes as they scurry about, sweating in the kitchen, sweating as they bus tables and wash dishes, wondering if they will have enough time to get to their second job tonight, wondering if the boss will try to stiff them again, and desperate to scrounge enough money together to feed their wives, their children, their mothers.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the absence of these pressures, I am allowed a life of near perfect historical luxury.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I have abundant heating and cooling that I control on a whim, personal property, protected, safe, and private.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I have, for the sheer hell of it, animals that eat and drink better than most people on the planet, and I keep them as pets for no other reason than I enjoy their company.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I am opulent, and this is the first and most fundamental fact of my existence.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I was born into a level of comfort and wealth that most of the world will never know, and to this I owe a tremendous debt.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>What terrible hubris it would be to accept the gifts of my fortune and to not make every effort to use these advantages to transform myself.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I have an obligation to kindness, since I have no excuse to be cruel.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I have an obligation to generosity and charity.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I owe a debt of patience, of humility.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I owe it to myself to grow intellectually.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I owe to my friends and family and neighbors the sweat of my brow at their request.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I am obligated to honesty, to work, to a striving effort in all the things I do.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>I am obligated by the fact of my existence to attempt in that life to live a life of exemplary character and uncommon strength, since in this life I have no excuse otherwise.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>As I lay down every night on the soft pillow of benevolent comfort, I know that I am obligated, to assist where and when I can, to inspire, to lead, and to teach, so that the good fortune of my chance existence is never wasted. </p>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-50236104987521465442007-11-19T13:38:00.001-06:002008-02-28T12:53:49.977-06:00Question 18.1<p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Obligation as a sense of duty, relates only to the social realm in my personal view, as it is not a necessity. Necessity relates only to the physical needs of existence (involuntary breathing, eating, drinking, expelling waste, sleeping). A person’s sense of duty is only as strong and as detailed as their social awareness and willingness to serve themselves, others, their world. As a person who exists, I can only speak for my own obligations, as the spectrum of obligations range from person to person and their shades of gray vary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>I feel obligated…<br /></strong><br />To speak my mind.<br />To actively pursue God.<br />To actively love those who love me.<br />To try and answer questions like this.<br />To passively love those who dislike me.<br />To help those who cannot help themselves.<br />To explore as much of this world as possible.<br />To work honestly and diligently for the betterment of my microcosm.<br />To use my creative gifts to produce as much meaningful art as possible.<br />To contribute to the direction of my country’s government by casting my vote.<br />To exercise and eat right to keep my body as healthy, strong and attractive as I can.<br />To contribute to my local, state and national economy by purchasing goods and services.</span> </p>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-69932944685160185542007-11-06T22:19:00.000-06:002007-11-06T22:26:40.811-06:00Question 18.0To be or not to be, that was and, for many always will be, the question. One of the most basic metaphysical presuppositions is that we are, that we exist. Given then, this assumption that we are, what obligation(s) if any does the act of existence create?Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-75203852120249383122007-11-06T22:16:00.000-06:002007-11-06T22:18:44.263-06:00Question 17.7<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Power by its nature must include two components. First, there must be a person or body which acts. Second, there must be the subordinate party which is acted upon. Power implies action, be it through physical, economic, political, emotional or other means. Power then exists as a function of its own exercise. That is to say, there can be no power which does not act, and so, in turn, there must be a subordinate body which is acted upon. It is the presence of this subordinate body that, by virtue of its existence, creates an obligation for the powerful. In social situations, that responsibility is easily understood as part of a larger social contract. In order for people to function together in a cohesive society, the greater abilities and possible privileges of the powerful must be tempered by a responsibility for the care taking of the subordinate body upon which it exerts its force. Power without temperance is tyranny and injustice, which in addition to being morally objectionable, are historically untenable and, in relative terms, short-lived. All societies inherently recognize this, and establish systems of law and order to codify and restrict the use of power by the powerful. In consideration, nearly every act of violence, aggression, and illegality are the results of unrestrained power, power acting without the reasonable restrictions of responsibility. While there is often a disconnect between those who have power and the incumbent responsibilities that power engenders, there is nonetheless a responsibility, social in the larger sense, and moral in the individual. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">In fact, in order for one party to be responsible for and have a responsibility to another, there must exist a power dynamic which favors that party who is to shoulder the responsibility. One cannot be responsible if one lacks power. Children, who have very little real or acknowledged power are not generally held responsible for their actions until such time as they are able to gain a sufficient mastery of their environment and sentient self control, that they can be deemed to make conscious and active choices over their environment. Responsibility exists because one party has first the ability to affect the world, and second because he or she has the obligation to do so. Therefore, the root and cause of responsibility presupposes power, and the two are inextricably linked.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Questions then, of the dynamic between power and responsibility are questions of degree. If we accept that power exists because of its ability to affect subordinate parties, that responsibility is derived from positions of power, and that a key component of both power and responsibility is the obligation owed by the powerful to the subordinate, then it must be clear that as the relative distance between the powerful and the subordinate increases, so too does the level of moral and social obligation out of which responsibility is created. Those with the greatest power to affect the lives of the lesser have an obligation to that power. Those who choose to shirk this responsibility are doomed to vilification by an unforgiving and watchful populace. </p>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-52962577088279138152007-11-06T08:01:00.000-06:002007-12-28T18:22:23.645-06:00Question 17.6<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/RzB6pL0wYpI/AAAAAAAAAB8/WUwHIE4PHhE/s1600-h/Workhorse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129734823542284946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/RzB6pL0wYpI/AAAAAAAAAB8/WUwHIE4PHhE/s400/Workhorse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There are a few basic laws that govern life as we know it. One such scientific law states<br /><br /><br />Power = work / time.<br /><br /><br />The relationship between work and responsibility directly involves work. If you don't put in the work, you don't get power.<br /><br /><br />Take for example the nationalistic flavor that was pervasive in the U.S. a few years ago. There was a plastic American flag stuck in every chemically treated lawn and a sense that people were trigger happy to nuke those responsible for 911. It was just the climate the administration needed to convince the world to take on a nation that had nothing to do with 911 and paint anyone who thought otherwise as a traitor. So we hit them with the "shock and awe" campaign and the grand finale of firebombs made short work of taking down an internationally disliked dictator. What followed was neither shocking nor awe inspiring. There was little put into the grand plan beyond nuke 'em and take 'em down. Now we are left in a bumbled mess all because no one put in the work needed to equal that level of power.<br /><br />This little essay follows that rule. What I had imagined was more powerful than what is appearing on the page. I did not put in the work necessary for it to be well thought out and cohesive, thus it does not convey the power that I had imagined initially. The relationship between power and work is inescapable, whether it be a little essay or national policy. It is our responsibility having had the birthright of this wonderful and powerful nation to put in more work for our birthright than Paris Hilton has done with hers.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-6975724913943835312007-11-05T22:28:00.000-06:002007-12-28T18:22:38.583-06:00Question 17.5<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italicfont-size:180%;" >"With Power Comes Great Responsibility"</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/Ry_t270wYkI/AAAAAAAAABQ/1F6v4cM5IJE/s1600-h/peter.parker.uncle.ben.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129580028625969730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 143px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/Ry_t270wYkI/AAAAAAAAABQ/1F6v4cM5IJE/s200/peter.parker.uncle.ben.jpg" border="0" /></a>The phrase has changed throughout time, but with each of its incarnations it shares the commonality of being a tool. Although we’ve become most familiar with the Stan Lee version, more important and famous figures have also uttered this phrase such as Churchill, Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy. If I were less lazy, I could pull out the quote from the book of Luke in the Bible.<br /><br />What I believe to be the superficial heart of this quote, regardless of its form, is that you (being either a single person or a “body” of people such as a group, organization, or nation) have a responsibility to your fellow man to act in the best interests of humans as a whole. In other words, your abilities, wealth, resources, or power must be used to serve the ideals and needs of a society.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://stuorgs.uidaho.edu/~flame/images/rubens_rape.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 186px" alt="" src="http://stuorgs.uidaho.edu/~flame/images/rubens_rape.jpg" border="0" /></a>It’s a beautiful sentiment, but at the same time it is also propaganda, sour grapes, and an excuse. The true intent of uttering this phrase belies an action that has taken place, or is about to take and its purpose is to placate the masses. Churchill warned us after Great Britain became a second class power in WWII that we would now be responsible to the world with our great power, but you can argue that England’s plundering of the riches of developing nations had ended, and seeing that the US would be stepping into their former role, he spoke from the position of a bully that had finally found someone he couldn’t beat.<br /><br />Whether it was Lincoln justifying the new bloody new style of warfare the North was utilizing during our Civil War or Kennedy acting humble on the eve of taking the reins of the world’s most powerful nation (and potentially inspiring Stan Lee’s writing in Spiderman) I would argue that this phrase marks the exact opposite of <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.healthbolt.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/propaganda_quiet.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 248px" alt="" src="http://www.healthbolt.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/propaganda_quiet.jpg" border="0" /></a>the message it stirs within the masses; that liberties, lives, fortunes, and wealth are about to be taken and consolidated into the hands of the few.<br /><br />In an age in which we can no longer handle the speed in which our technology advances and we slowly lose our freedoms to paranoia, guilt, and misplaced acts of patriotism I hope that I do not hear this spoken by someone with power.Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-69870001331428268972007-11-02T12:44:00.000-05:002007-11-02T12:46:17.885-05:00Question 17.4<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/RytiF03SwlI/AAAAAAAAABI/JlW9FdHhrXw/s1600-h/GB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t96_nuYRrLM/RytiF03SwlI/AAAAAAAAABI/JlW9FdHhrXw/s400/GB.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128300452920869458" /></a>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-5837819195621309602007-10-31T15:43:00.000-05:002007-11-01T00:48:52.581-05:00Question 17.3<div style="text-align: center;">POWER rules life.<br />Hunters search out the meek, and powerless for food.<br />The animals on the top of the food chain are often the best fed.<br />Power commands order, rule, and discipline within animal tribes, and in social contexts.<br /><br />Power, it seems, rules all. And by it’s nature, is good, and necessary for the propagation of species, ideas, and social norms.<br /><br />But Power can also create inequity, injustice, and a stripping of individual rights. The Patriot Act, for example, as well as the entirety of the Republican Party and their proposed legislation.<br /><br />Allow me to defer to the earlier question on social responsibility (Question 14.0)…this is not an easily understood concept.<br /><br />Clearly, responsibility is subjective. In the first days of holding my newborn son to my breast, I felt the weight of the responsibilty of raising him ‘right’—another subjective term. I can only do the best given my means, beliefs, intelligence, and opinions to do right by him, and all of those things might be exactly wrong for his own human needs. But since I am in power over him, he will get what I am doling out whether he likes it or not, because it is all I have to give, and I am in a position of power over him.<br /><br />Fundamentalist nutters will create more nutters, and many are happy to be given what is regurgitated to them from their parents, but many are not. Does responsibility extend to exposing your children to more than what you know, or believe in? Or is it irresponsible to not show your child the path you believe to be correct, righteous, and prosperous in life? Hmmm… not so easy.<br /><br />The male lion is powerful, mighty. He protects his turf, and his harem from predators with his size, and his dominance ensures the survival and abundance of the family. His responsibility is to his family, and he makes sure they are safe. But he is lazy, and often fat. HE can nap up to eleven hours of the day, and make the female lions raise the pups, and hunt for the family. IF he were human, those ladies would not have that.<br /><br />Once again, the relationship between these two ideas shifts…<br /><br />I think Power is important, and responsibility is slippery. But you shall never separate the two.<br /></div>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-44881153631620136292007-10-31T15:03:00.000-05:002007-11-01T00:49:05.066-05:00Question 17.2"With power comes great responsibility" is horseshit. We can hope all we want that those in power will act responsibly, but it will never happen. Responsibility is remembering to pick up your kid after school. Power is being able to send your maid to do it for you.<br /><br />I dislike cops, not because of some anti-authoritarian motives, but because I distrust them. I don't really believe that many cops become cops for the "greater good," or that those who do maintain that mindset for very long. At base we are all just people, people who want to live the way we want to live. A cop becomes a cop in much the same way that a plumber becomes a plumber, or a writer a writer. They choose to be. This choice (in present-day society) hands over the moral high ground to the cop in the hopes that everyone else will live a happier, safer life for it. And (sometimes) we do. <br /><br />Part of me wonders if the price of this transfer of power is that occasionally some dude gets hit with a tazer at a political rally, or worse, someone gets beaten up or gunned down for a reason that in no way fits with the punishment...<br /><br />Should we accept this? Should we demand more from our authorities? Or should we banish them altogether?Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633691522444196286.post-66245107625408244732007-10-31T14:54:00.002-05:002008-02-29T12:03:44.233-06:00Question 17.1<object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jPRIH1jC2-g"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jPRIH1jC2-g" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></embed> </object>Museum of Contemporary Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07735234094035391115noreply@blogger.com