I relate this story second hand. It came to me from a colleague who was teaching a course in film and media. After viewing a number of episodes of the original 1960s TV hit "Star Trek," a student asked the following question:
"Star Trek contains a broad cross-section of galactic life -- humans include whites, blacks, asians, hindus, and others. In fact, there are even beings from other planets; But,… there are no muslims! Why is that?"
I'm told that the teacher responded matter-of-factly that the answer could be found within the context of Star Trek itself. The show, he explained, was set in the FUTURE!
The implication of this answer can be appreciated if we look closely at the manner in which virtually everything outside the muslim world is viewed as an assault on their belief system. In a society where camels are treated far better than women, and every perceived offense is cause for a jihad of some sort, is it possible that such a society will not eventually and ultimately blow itself apart?
A couple of years ago, just after we entered Iraq, I was (like many) horribly conflicted about our presence there. And, I also had a young Iranian lady in one of my classes. After about two months of class I asked her privately one afternoon if she would share with me her own feelings about our invasion of Iraq. I was completely stunned at her answer when she, in a quiet voice, looking downward, said that she was very much of the belief that the U.S. had invaded the wrong country! Later, while having a cup of coffee in the cafeteria, she told me how much worse her people were treated in Iran.
She went on to explain that the underlying problem with "westernization" of arab societies is that the mullahs realize that if and when these countries join the "modern" world they will be obligated to modify the atrocious manner in which they treat women and children! And, this fact is abhorrent to them!
One final point regarding societies is that it pays to simply watch which way people are moving. It should be clear to any thinking human that people move away from pain; and this is the clearest example of the failures of muslim extremism in the middle east. Europe and America are becoming flooded with people seeking to escape places where women are treated so inhumanely.
Even an amoeba will move away from pain!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Donke-Phants
When I was just a kid, but old enough to be curious about politics and government, I asked my dad (a pretty bright guy) about the differences between democrats and republicans. And I remember very clearly that he looked at me intently for a few seconds, probably trying to decide what to say, how to say it, and whether or not I was old enough to grasp his opinion. Anyway,… after a short pause he asked if I "really wanted to know what he thought." (I had already learned from previous experiences that if I answered affirmatively, this meant that I was going to get a true opinion; and one that I might not like.) Of course, I responded that I did.
"Basically, when republicans are in power, rich people get richer more quickly; and when democrats are in power, poor people get poorer more slowly."
When I responded that there didn't seem to be much difference between the two; and asked further which group we were in, he said "we're democrats!" He also added that what mattered most for me, as far as he was concerned, was that the more education I got, the "better off" I'd eventually be.
Well, I'm in my mid-sixties now, have spent most of my life in education as a teacher; and can say with some certainty that my dad was absolutely right! Furthermore, I have further concluded that the main reason most people aren't better off financially is that most people are still unwilling to do what it takes to get a better education, -- in other words, most people are basically lazy, which of course, keeps them uneducated and guarantees that they remain poor.
In a sense, this too is an example of the law of the jungle, or "survival of the fittest!" Will things ever change? Probably not! And, what is most upsetting to me as an educator, all anyone needs to do to see the overwhelming ignorance in our society is look at what our citizens do with their leisure time -- largely hedonistic and voyeuristic endeavors like eating, sex, computer gaming, TV, videos, movies, and recreational drugs including tobacco and alcohol as well as pharmaceuticals.
What percentage of the population goes to school via the web, or by evening or weekend courses? Nowhere near as many as those that watch professional wrestling on TV, or party hardy on friday nights!
"Basically, when republicans are in power, rich people get richer more quickly; and when democrats are in power, poor people get poorer more slowly."
When I responded that there didn't seem to be much difference between the two; and asked further which group we were in, he said "we're democrats!" He also added that what mattered most for me, as far as he was concerned, was that the more education I got, the "better off" I'd eventually be.
Well, I'm in my mid-sixties now, have spent most of my life in education as a teacher; and can say with some certainty that my dad was absolutely right! Furthermore, I have further concluded that the main reason most people aren't better off financially is that most people are still unwilling to do what it takes to get a better education, -- in other words, most people are basically lazy, which of course, keeps them uneducated and guarantees that they remain poor.
In a sense, this too is an example of the law of the jungle, or "survival of the fittest!" Will things ever change? Probably not! And, what is most upsetting to me as an educator, all anyone needs to do to see the overwhelming ignorance in our society is look at what our citizens do with their leisure time -- largely hedonistic and voyeuristic endeavors like eating, sex, computer gaming, TV, videos, movies, and recreational drugs including tobacco and alcohol as well as pharmaceuticals.
What percentage of the population goes to school via the web, or by evening or weekend courses? Nowhere near as many as those that watch professional wrestling on TV, or party hardy on friday nights!
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