Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
"A permanent and universal human characteristic"
I agree, because all this shows is that every behavior characteristic is capable of being utilized. It just depends on what values we choose to nurture. It shows that indeed a better world is possible. However, I cant stand those who argue this point from the apologetic perspective that we should be submissive, supportive or apathetic because it is “permanent and universal.”
Posted by truth_addict on from arlington, tx 08/16 at 08:07 AMHawk sez: “I would suggest that kindness be considered as a permanent and universal human characteristic which becomes more or less pronounced according to the play of circumstances.”
My theory is that the difference between barbarism and kindness is one of conditioning, through circumstances that include family, relgion, culture, nationality and immediate surroundings.
Like truth_addict, I think it’s a matter of which trait gets the most emphasis in our lives. We can go down the path of hatred and violence, or we can see ourselves as inseparable from our fellow humans and act accordingly.
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 08/16 at 09:57 AMI do not know a whole lot about Simone but it seems to me that she achieved a higher level of empathy than most of the rest of us. When we all can feel the pain of others, then things will change. If the death of an Iraqi child was as painful as the death of a USA child, we would not bomb them.
truth_addict...I agree with your last sentence. To give in to the idea of predeterminism accomplishes nothing.
BTW...Saturday is “National Let’s Apologize to Iran Day”....well, that’s how I think of it (maybe I am alone in this). It is the anniversary of Operation Ajax. It is important to spread the word as far an wide as possible in an effort to cut down on some of the hate talk that is going around. The administration is raising the hate level in preparation for the next war, maybe?
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 09:58 AMHi Hawk...we were symultyping. I agree with you. Culture plays a VERY important part. Unfortunately, our culture is so toxic that, in my view, one of the most important duties for a parent in the usa now is to shield their young from cultural influences. It is an important task that is ever present in my family. I have a 2 year old grandson and a new one due any day. My daughter and son-in-law are constantly vigilant, won’t even allow the young one to see toy soldiers. Even my tiny, pink, plastic water pistol has to be put out of sight when they visit........A good measure of our culture is evident in a walk through of any toy store.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 10:08 AMExcellent comments from everyone this morning.
Kindness, Hawk, seems to be in short supply in today’s violent world. As RMJ says, our culture is toxic and I agree with her that it is up to the parents to provide their children with the proper guidance. Unfortunately, a good number of parents are sadly failing in their job.
Depressing as all this is, we do have pockets of peace-loving souls who provide an antidote to the evil being perpetrated in the guise of national interests. We should be optimistic, I suppose, and hope that goodness & kindness will win in the end.
Posted by Canadian Observer on from 08/16 at 10:43 AMHi everyone. Good morning! Love the comments. You all read my mind. Btw, I’ve been a long time visitor to the site, but now I’m barely posting comments. I’ve been coming to this site since I was a Junior in High School and just graduated a couple of months ago. You guys (and girls) are all great.
Posted by Kirbie on from NewMexico 08/16 at 11:00 AMThat’s awesome, Kirbie. Welcome to the world of the Expendable.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 08/16 at 11:18 AMThanks, JOS. Happy to be a part of it.
Posted by Kirbie on from NewMexico 08/16 at 11:23 AMKirbie from New Mexico—welcome! It’s heartening when someone who’s just graduated from high school can find their way here to Mickey’s site. It shows that, despite formal education’s attempt to turn you into a cog in the machine, you’ve made it through with an ability to think independently as well as critically.
My father (Hawk Sr.) just retired to Las Cruces. I live in Colorado and have always loved my trips south. I have my eye on Taos and a few other north New Mexico towns as a possible relocation destination.
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 08/16 at 11:31 AMHello Expendables and welcome the newest member of the gang, Kirbie. Love the comments as I too found Weil’s quote to be loaded with many possible interpretations.
Happy (early) “National Let’s Apologize to Iran Day,” RMJ.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Dubya Land 08/16 at 11:34 AMRMJ and Canadian Observer—yes, great comments this morning. I know nothing about Simone Weil, so can’t comment on the context of her quote. I do agree that our culture is toxic (and quite possibly terminal), and this realization always depresses me. I end up, however, asserting that it’s up to “us” to live according to a less-toxic principle that counterbalances the effects of violence and barbarism on our cultural expression—at least on an individual level. Ripples moving outward, so to speak. Thinking in these terms, we’re able to focus locally as much as globally, such that the rewards we get locally offer a satisfying antidote to all the toxicity “out there.”
It’s a better way of “being.” (Captcha comes through again!)
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 08/16 at 11:37 AMMickey—have you found any decent vegan Mexican food down there?
Or is that an oxymoron?
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 08/16 at 11:39 AMHawk, my mom is an amazing vegan cook...so all the bases are covered down in that area. Great to have you around so often again.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Dubya Land 08/16 at 01:44 PMI´d go with truth_ad on that one too. I´m rereading Kurt Vonnegut´s Hocus Pocus at moment and while I find some of his mordant standup shtick endearing, the constant complaining gets wearing after a while, as if humans were hardwired to act manaically. I don´t think he can tell the difference between a habit and a law.
Posted by owen on from valencia of fish odour 08/16 at 02:22 PMI quite agree with Simone Weil - and with you, Mickey! You have the best quotes (and the best graphics) of any blogspot, to say nothing about your articles.
Still a bit ‘under the wind’ but getting better.
A warm ‘hello’ to truth_addict, Hawk, Rosemarie, Canadian Observer, Kirbie, JOS and Owen (love the Valencia of fish odour) from a Daylesford which is slowly warming up: spring will be on us in 14 days.Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 08/16 at 02:38 PMAnd a welcome to the world of expendables from me as well, Kirbie! Like you, I visit almost every day except when I am away from the computer for some reason or other but don’t really comment much. Never mind - the other expendables are sooo brilliant ...
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 08/16 at 02:45 PMHi all...today I received an e-mail from someone who happened to see an old article of mine. He is or was employed in a call center raising funds for the Democratic Party. He is starting to have some pangs of conscience and is awakening from the propagandizing of the culture. He asked for advice. This is a topic around here at Mickey’s all the time. Below is my reply to him.
“Dear XXXX…
Thank you for the kind words in your thoughtful letter. You refer to an old article of mine, “New Rules for Liberals”, written over a year ago. I just looked it up and reread it. I am happy to say that I still agree with it.
You ask the most important question of all...how to bring about change. That is a question that so many of us wrestle with every day. I am without hope and coming to the conclusion that it is too late. Any actions that could have brought change should have been done many years ago. I hope that I am wrong. In the meantime, I still do what I do, NOT because I think that my actions will change the course of events but this is the way I choose to live my life...with honor and dignity and in a constant state of resistance to the oppressors. Once you come to the “place” that I am, the world seems a little different. It is much like being mugged by a gang of thieves, but at least I am now among those who realize that they are thieves, as opposed to so many who are still in the cult of the Democratic and Republican political parties.
I congratulate you and wish you well in your “climb up the mountain”. You have joined the awakened. I suggest that you visit the Mickey Z blog site. It is a place where you will find others so that you will not feel alone. There are others who share in your “exile”.
rosemarie”Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 02:52 PMWow, Rosemarie—do you have a link to the article discussed here?
In the meantime, I still do what I do, NOT because I think that my actions will change the course of events but this is the way I choose to live my life...with honor and dignity and in a constant state of resistance to the oppressors.
Just perfect....
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 08/16 at 02:59 PMI also just received a notice that Camp Democracy will be set up in September in Washington. This is Camp Casey, the Cindy Sheehan group. I generally support all that they do but one of the sponsoring organizations is, according to the notice, “Bake Sales for Body Armour”. Any Expendables have an opinion on this? My question is, who gets the body armour, the Iraqis or the Occupiers. My guess is the Occupiers. It seems to me that every time that a “Peace” group does anything that supports the war machine, it is just like shooting yourself in the foot.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 03:06 PMThanks, Hawk.
http://tinyurl.com/ekfukPosted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 03:10 PMYeah, RMJ, I think we should have one for Iraqi children:
http://wdthu.blogspot.com/2006/08/average-of-110-human-beings-died-per.html
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 08/16 at 03:12 PMJOS...what a link! It is photos like that that inspire me with resistance deep in my soul. So many “peace” groups, veterans groups, and even Cher (of Sonny and Cher) have taken up the cause for protective armour for the “troops”. NO ONE ever thinks about the slaughtered Iraqis...except a few of us at places like this.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 03:19 PMThanks for the links, Rosemarie and JOS....
Posted by Hawk on from Boulder, CO, USA 08/16 at 03:24 PMNo problem, Hawk. The pictures should be mandatory viewing for all citizens of the US.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 08/16 at 03:28 PMThe following quote is from one of the hosts of Blogs for Bush and is just a small example of the arrogrance supporters of a fabricated & false war are capabable of:
Small casualties, in historical terms - but still rather tough to bear; an American soldier is intrinsically much more valuable than his enemy; whomever that turns out to be - and not just in an existential, “I’m and American and thus I care” sense; a US soldier is the moral acme of the United States - in microcosm, each one of them is the United States personified. An enemy soldier is just a bit of foolish cannon-fodder launched against his betters by very unthinking and cruel men. One of ours lost is like 1,000 of theirs lost.
-Mark Noonan, April 7, 2004What can you say to someone who belives this to be the truth?
Posted by Canadian Observer on from 08/16 at 03:55 PMMark Noonan is one disgusting human being, C.O.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 08/16 at 04:00 PMHello again, everyone. So much to digest...but that last Noonan quote stands out. It’s not surprising yet still feels like a kick to the nuts. There will be billions cheering when the American Empire crumbles.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Dubya Land 08/16 at 04:11 PMThe military vs. the environment:
http://tinyurl.com/q4vu8Posted by Mickey Z. on from Dubya Land 08/16 at 05:12 PMHere is something to sooth the kick that you just got, Mickey. I just received an e-mail from Mike Ferner. He is a former Navy medic.
Now he is a freelance writer and member of VFP. He was not in attendance at the VFP annual convention in Seattle because he is currently serving two months house arrest for spraypainting “Troops Out Now!” on a highway overpass in Toledo, Ohio. BTW, he has written some interesting articles.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 08/16 at 05:39 PMFirst time I read that Noonan quote I thought it said “A US soldier is the moral acne of the United States...”
That’d be something.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague (Jackowski election hdqts) 08/17 at 02:34 AMThursday am ‘Hello’ to all the Expendables, (old and new), and good wishes to your Mom, Mickey.
I can’t possibly catch up on all I’ve missed for the last couple of days, but I agree with everyone that Simone leaves room for many interpretations of that quotation.
Rosemarie, I heartily agree with you, and specifically the portion that Hawk quotes in #18.
Right on. I hope that the author of the letter you received will find it beneficial to keep digging...it can be disheartening to make such a revelation, or to have such an awakening, only to find that you’ve just scratched the tip of the iceberg. We must persevere, it “makes” all the difference in keeping the scales from tipping entirely.
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canadia 08/17 at 07:47 AM
Next entry: Killing dark babies as a good career move
Previous entry: Both revolutionary and poetic powers
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
