Nourishing thoughts

What are the major problems facing the world?

A question, which was asked in my critical thinking class the other day. It is a good question, which will ensue an immeasurable amount of brain cracks.

The first major problem we need to fix is the way we treat one another. We need to respect each other’s ideals and culture. The only way to improve our living is if we stop fighting each other. We have got to remember we are only ordinary men. George W Bush and Daniel Marquez are not too different. The only difference is he has more money and power and I am just a humble college student who thinks critically. One may ask how we will begin to treat one another humanely? We should all be taught to be respectful to one another. If this country decides to teach our children about all the catastrophic mistakes we have done, then we will be able to recognize the damage we have caused to humanity and the people of different ethnic backgrounds. We need to do what the Germans did after WWII, which was to systematically teach the German youth about the dark side of German history not just their accomplishments. Examples such as the terrorist genocide carried out against Native Americans. The extremely oppressed enslavement of the peoples of Africa. The internal slave trade that developed within the United States in the early eighteenth century and brutally tore families apart at the auction block. The imperialistic and unjust ceasing of Mexican land after provoking an illegitimate war. All this needs to be exposed. Once this is taught, a sense of humility instead of blind patriotism will be instilled in our youth.

Nuclear proliferation is also a major problem. If you take a historical perspective of human civilization, you will begin to realize that the same themes repeat throughout history. One such theme is man’s inhumanity to man. One way this theme is carried out is through the eventual downfall of any ruling class that has ever existed. This downfall often occurs in a very violent manner. The French revolution, the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, Bolshevik revolution, the fall of the Roman Empire. So I ask, what will happen when eventually a ruling class which has nuclear weapons is threatened with destruction. How many times can a peaceful change of ruling class occur. With the proliferation of nuclear weapons, one would think that eventually a ruling class would use them without discrimination. To solve this problem we will have to rid ourselves of this nuclear stupidity all together. In order for this to happen we need to become a global community that trusts and respects each other instead of exploiting and being intolerant towards each other.

The battle between love and hate is ultimately what it’s all about. What’s on the side of love? Peace, free will, balance, true democracy harmony with nature, empathy, respect, communication, equality, harmony with people of different cultures/ethnicities, open mindedness, humility, generosity, compassion. What’s on the side of hate: War, fascism, greed, bigotry, repression, oppression, racial discrimination, ego-centrism, the destruction of the environment, control. We must focus on learning to trust each other. In order to reach Balance we need to get rid of ego and become critical thinkers that seek truth through understanding. We must learn how to love, and forget how to hate.

Portrait illustration maker

My Cyber Twin!

Just like me...

Beck's gets dizzed

During the last few weeks, many jokes have been cracked at Mr. Beckham. The early exit of England and dismal performance of David Beckham prompted wisecracks. A 10 million-euro bid for the ball was made on EBAY for the ball that David Beckham blasted into the stands during England's Euro 2004 shootout defeat against Portugal.

Heres one prank;

Beckham consoles Daruis Vassell whilst John Terry looks to see if Becks' effort has landed yet.

Cultural Tyranny Pt 2.

Chicana and Latina feminists have struggled to articulate Chicana Feminism, which acknowledges both the similarities and differences with other critical structures of social inequality including issues of race, gender, class, and sexuality. Those that have influenced the formation of Chicano Culture include the Mexican, the American, and the Indigenous cultures.

One must keep in mind that most Chicano men talk about maintaining “La Familia” and the 'cultural heritage' of La Raza, when technically speaking, they are in fact talking about maintaining the age-old concept of keeping the woman barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. On the basis of the subordination of women, there can be no real unity. The only real unity between men and women is the unity forged in the course of struggle against their oppression. It is by supporting, rather than opposing, the struggles of women that Chicanos and Chicanas can unite.

Gloria Anzaldua, a chicana feminist who recently passed away. Brings up the notion of “Cultural Tyranny” in her book Borderlands, applying it to the Chicana experience, and probably to the experience of any woman that has come in contact with any of the afore mentioned cultures. This notion of “Cultural Tyranny” refers to the way women have been mistreated and restricted by the dominant culture. Those ideas of the dominant culture are being formed by a patriarchal male dominated ideology and discourse. “The symbolic sacrifice of the serpent to the “higher” masculine powers indicates that the patriarchal order had already vanquished the feminine and matriarchal order in pre-Colombian America”. Here Anzaldua explains the symbolism and representation of the Mexican flag. This just comes to show that the Mexican flag represents a patriarchal institution and it shows when you see the typical attitude of a middle class Mexican man. This patriarchal ideology has been one that has refused to accept the individuality of women. Males as a result have learned to control and restrict the actions of women. Through “Cultural Tyranny” the patriarchal institutions and ideologies affecting Chicana women have maintained control of Chicana women’s individuality, sexuality, and freedom of expression, and have kept them in traditional gender roles. The author's intensely personal style broke the conventions of scholarly writing and kept her outside the mainstream of academia, a position that Anzaldua, who published widely in alternative journals, did not seem to regret. Anzaludua lays it all down for us by pointing out in her writing that, “Culture forms our beliefs”.

Cosby Part 2

I don't think Cosby is encouraging young African-Americans, but sounds more like he’s demoralizing them. He does not quite understand the sociological aspects that keep the African-American community from coming up.

It's easy for someone that is catered to by the system to conform to it and not be critical. Of course there are minorities that are successful and things have improved for minorities over the last forty years in this country. Having said that, however, we must understand that things are still not close to being fair for all Americans. Successful minorities should be praised for excelling in a system that does no cater to them but they shouldn't be used as examples that the system does work and is fair. Things are getting better but that doesn't mean that the system is just in the way it is set up, which means it needs to continue improving. I also want to mention that the system is not just unfair to African-American's but also to other minorities, poor whites, gays, etc. Just because a group of people have had their civil rights legally recognized and protected that doesn't mean that the system they live in is fair to them.

Bill Cosby

Here are a few excerpts that have enraged people of the African-American community and myself.

Bill Cosby (news) went off on another tirade against the black community Thursday, telling a room full of activists that black children are running around not knowing how to read or write and "going nowhere."

He also had harsh words for struggling black men, telling them: "Stop beating up your women because you can't find a job."

Cosby made headlines in May when he upbraided some poor blacks for their grammar and accused them of squandering opportunities the civil rights movement gave them. He shot back Thursday, saying his detractors were trying in vain to hide the black community's "dirty laundry."

"They think they're hip," the entertainer said. "They can't read; they can't write. They're laughing and giggling, and they're going nowhere."

Those were interesting remarks by Bill Cosby. It seems to me like he's trying to make the point that there are problems in the underprivileged segment of the African-American population that must be addressed.

It is commendable that Mr. Cosby is taking a stance against illiteracy and poverty, and that he is trying to convey the message that African-American men should take responsibility for their actions, since most people, including African-American men, would agree that this is the correct way to approach life.

I am, however, extremely bothered by the very judgmental overtones of Mr. Cosby's remarks. While blaming everything on the "White Man" obviously solves nothing I believe it would be very ignorant for people not to understand that the underprivileged segment of the African-American population still faces many obstacles that people from middle or upper class neighborhoods don't have to face.

It would also be very ignorant for people to comment on the present day situation of underprivileged African-Americans without understanding the long History of struggle and misery that African-Americans have gone through and are still going through. A situation that the "White Man" created, exploited, and took advantage of for a long time.

Does the media carry any siginificant influence?

I must admit that teachers in academics easily incline me, mind you. However, I wouldn’t want anyone to think that any professor can absorb me into his or her way of thinking and control the way I think, no. Indeed, a professor has the potential to re-direct a student into what is supposed to be the “right” direction with his knowledge and understanding. Every time I step into the first class meeting, I pay much heed to whether the professor is a nit-picker and emits a positive vibe around class. Note that I am not a judgmental person, but I am a bit careful about the persuasiveness some professors discharge to students. In my eyes, a professor must be meticulous and teach critically.

I am glad and happy to find that professors and not the media have a heavier influence on me. Yes, I say heavier because I of course used to consider the information the media gave was the only legitimate source I can grasp. Nevertheless, those days are long over. Undeniably, I was as ignorant as a white supremacist.

I do not think that the media has a direct influence on me anymore. I do not watch any of the local channels and I could careless about what the local news has to say. I wonder if everyone is aware that corporations own most of the networks on television, therefore presenting a biased outlook on things. The only time you’ll see me sit in front of the tube is if there is a sporting event being broadcast. On a side note, I will come clean and confess that I used to watch these dating programs quite frequently. Programs such as, “Blind Date” represent an ill-mannered masculine culture in America which intrigues me and leaves me feeling a bit bemused. That show tells me what a suitable date is supposed to be like. Do I follow? Ha, I don’t think so! At least not know after studying the women’s revolution and realizing how we men are at fault for obtaining women’s trust.

Anyway, I see that most people here are, still to this day are heavily influenced by the media. It saddens me to hear that these biased networks can have an impact on people’s minds. I would think though, that if someone engages in classes like this (Scientific Method as Critical thinking) particular one. One would become more critical of the system and society as a whole.