Failure

I intended to post reflections on a variety of topics throughout the last year. But I never made time to do it.

I like the idea, though, and will give it another try this year.

Last year I made a few, sketchy notes for the topics below, but I never developed the ideas. These topics overlap in places. If I had developed my thoughts, I would have combined some of the topics.

Yes, I am a liberal -- always have been, and proud of it.

For the most part, people who are ambitious for power are not good people or good leaders.

Ancient India counter-example including Ghandi's refusal of the political top position.

Populist movements are best.

(movements with no government support., no taxpayer support) -- could be developed as an explanation for why efforts to revitalize downtowns often fail. Top-down movements waste most of their money and effort on the top-heavy structure (meetings, studies, salaries, consultants).

Why not Belmont? and/or What is the essence of Belmont?

-small, family-owned businesses
-reasonably priced, good, old homes
-flowering trees and yards

Everyone should have a Website

Computers/software/Web

Art

Art as a way of life, an important part of a sane life (Eric Fromm). Art as an important part of the foundation of a good life. Expression provides meaning.

Small Business in Dayton: The phone call that changed my mind.

My brief consideration of starting a small business is quickly discarded.

Portland vs. Dayton

Since I have been to Portland so many times, I might be able to offer some insight into why Portland is such an attractive place and Dayton isn't.

The idea that men and women could be the same.

It was interesting to live through the era when we experimented with the idea that men and women could be the same.

The problem of supporting our troops.

-pacifism passes the test: what if everyone did it
-soldiering, on the other hand, is basically a necessary evil, not a goal
-soldiers are pawns in the games of...
-the psychology of comaraderie, shared stress, shared memories, etc.

Too bad we won WWII.

I hear people talk from the assumption that if we win (a war -- i.e. the war now) that we are right. Winning doesn't prove you are right (those who destroyed the World Trade Towers succeeded....)

Who will police the USA?

Who will keep us from running amuck? Surely you are not big-headed enough and narrow-minded enough to think the US cannot ever make mistakes. So, assuming we do make mistakes, we need outsiders who can police us. And we desparately need to learn how to LISTEN to others. And Who Will Police Us? point out US injustices, abuses (e.g. differing infant mortality rates). We definitely need someone to monitor us. (refer to Marcuse's One-Dimensional Society -- e.g. not enough diff. in
past presidential election Bush-Kerry). Segregated cities and segregated opportunities. Expose the myth of equality and discuss our caste system.

Herbert Marcuse's One-Dimensional Society

Marcuse's explanation of the need for opposition and the results of not having opposition is more and more timely.

A Mathematician's Apology by G. H. Hardy

The creative process of math/art/anything... Includes the idea that doers/creators are far superior to those who analyze, critique, evaluate. (Reminds me of "don't be a culture vulture")
In the same way, those who live are foremost while politicians and rule-makers are small minds.
(This also relates to the objectification of persons as practiced by serial killers, CEOs, surgeons.) In education, administrators who are not educators are like critics rather than artists -- they critique but cannot do. In fact, there are 3 levels: doers, teachers, administrators.

The effects on me of Marianist training

The effects on me of Marianist training are only becoming clear to me now (away from it for 35 years): operate from a spiritual (non-consumer) set of personal values. The idea of moving with everything in one steamer trunk had a profound effect on me, as did the idea of the tradition of moving without even that -- just the clothes on your back. The Hippie influence on me is harmonious with this and it is hard to separate the two influences -- both were communist in philosophy.

Teaching as a vocation, a calling.

Teaching -- when I was young and chose the profession, people would teach because it was a CALLING (fits with the idea of VOCATION -- see the point above this one). Teaching was also chosen because of the balance of work and time off (which translated to personal time, i.e. being a person is as important as making money -- don't sell your soul for the dollar).

Sinclair to Warren County

Where is the public debate?

"Don't trust anyone over 30."

"Don't trust anyone over 30" has turned out to be pretty accurate (synmbolically) -- CEOs, Politicians, College administrators....

When fundamentalists take over...

It is never good when religious fundamentalists take over and unabashedly try to impose their beliefs on everyone (Iran and USA under Bushies).

Why Bush is such an inept and destructive president.

Why (not how) Bush is such an inept/destructive president -- not just what he is doing wrong, but why. The psychology of Bush and his father and Saddam -- Saddam tried to kill Bush, Sr. so Jr. tried to kill Saddam. Also, the humiliation of Saddam outlasting Bush Sr. when the (hated by conservatives) Bill Clinton beat Bush Sr.

The next 9/11 -- we won't be shocked.

I remember how sincerely, genuinely shocked so many were after 9/11: Why do they hate us so much? I thought: you haven't traveled much (been exposed to the views of the US outside of our own, chauvinistic context), have you? The next time, no one will be surprised; after our war on terrorism, everyone knows why so many would hate us.

Macromedia's Authorware -- An Interesting piece of software.

Authorware is interesting in that it lets you create, keeping both design and content separate from the logic/flow. Authorware is old [pre object-oriented programming].