I was listening to a podcast today. A comment made in it was quite interesting...and from my perspective needed further investigation...and thought...
The speaker noted that 96% of the people in the U.S.A. believe in God or in the existence of God. That is an interesting statistic...given the fact that we censor the discussions of God under the excuse of political correctness and relegate the discussions to Sunday mornings and a small group of trusted friends.
I am finding that the true 21st century philosopher can not be restricted by political correctness...
Political Correctness (PC) dulls the edge that the 21st century philosophy needs. Under the guise of hurting people's feelings or insulting them...we hush the critical elements required to face the truth...
That does not mean that the 21st century philosopher has the license to promote prejudice or racism or use it as a tool to put people down.
When I think through PC...it is an attack on our constitutional right to free speech...and we have fallen for it and hush each other when someone talks about political affiliation...or religious beliefs...
Our founding fathers were anything but politically correct...
They faced the facts...it was a time that honor and truth was held in the highest regard! Swearing on the Bible in a court of law meant something...it was their truth...the whole truth and nothing but the truth...It was not up to the courts to decide whether that truth was a fact...but the perception of the majority...the majority guided truth and not some special interest group that was afraid to have its feelings hurt...
How things have changed...
Now a person can sit on a witness stand and lie...and not even face charges for perjury! I believe that anyone lying on a witness stand, should not only be convicted of the crime that they are guilty of...but face a stricter penalty for lying! Consider what that would mean...You are found guilty of murder in the first degree...as a result you face 25 years in a state penitentary...for lying on the stand...you are sentenced to life...with no chance of parole...and I have removed all opportunities for appeal...
Now that puts the value of honesty in a new perspective...
BUT...BUT...what if I hurt someone's feelings? Isn't that a good reason for lying?
There is no excuse for lying...especially Political Correctness...
PC has done as much harm to this society as "Stranger Danger" has done to our children...
"Stranger Danger?"
A nation-wide effort to protect our children from "strangers" who kidnap and rape our youth...the fact of the matter is that strangers are involved in less than 1% of the cases of injury and molestation!
Stranger Danger has provided a cover for acquaintences and family members to operate...that cover is sick and does not give them license...only protective cover...for their demented ways!
Political Correctness is another cover in which truth and growth is being supressed...and just as harmful to our society...perhaps more so...
I must admit that I allowed myself to be "gagged" by political correctness. I took it to an extreme... I was hushed far too often by the fears of retribution...and the chance that I would hurt someone's feelings...or offend them...or even worse...open their eyes to the truth...having them realize the stupidity of their position...
I believe in God! I believe that the Biblical principals are firm and solid...
I have many times veered my discussions away from the talk of God and Jesus because I was afraid of offending someone...
I may offend my Moslem friends who recognize Jesus as an earlier prophet...or my Jewish friends who rejected him...or my athesist friends who sit in a minority...
96% of the USA believes in God in one form or another...let us talk about what He looks like. I bet that we would be quite amazed that He has the same address...in every religion...what a great place to start!
Remember that the things that we have most in common are the differences between us! PC recognizes those differences and treats them as such...
Talk about a segregation effort...
Talk about aparthied...
The people who promote PC are the same who are afraid to face facts in a competitive arena...
It will be those discussions about Him that will clarify and drive to the truth...but they must be out in the open without fear that we are breaking some stupid convention called PC...how foolish!
I have yet to see someone "fined," "taxed," or "improsoned" for being politically incorrect...
Avoiding those fierce conversations, under the guise of PC is wrong...and will accomplish nothing...in fact it makes the chasm between all of us wider...yelling into that canyon will not produce echoes...only whispers from the fearful and intellectually weak. It is the whimps who afraid to face the truth of who they are...and stand with pride, who press for political correctness.
The 21st century philosopher can not be afraid to yell across the chasm...there are others on the opposite side waiting to hear! AND the echos will become music!
Where is he or she?
The world is waiting!
Addressing Relevant Issues and the Foundational Needs of this Society and the World...in Hope of Leaving it better for our having been here...
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
A Person of Compromise?
As I reflect...
I can not recall anyone who is recorded in the annals of history and is known for compromise.
The 21st century philosopher too, must possess a consistent integrity that does not allow for compromise. Compromise is lays a foundation upon which only losers can reside!
Many an epic military leader, or a religious leader or a political leader have "fallen on their sword" rather than compromise what they stood for! If they must lay down...it must be in death! That is the passion for "their cause" by which they live...
I have not seen a great person with the title of "consultant" either!
A great leader (the philosopher) was engaged and involved. They did not simply whisper advice from a safe and secure position...they lived in its midst! They openly advocated their position and lived it!
The 21st century philosopher needs to be making that kind of impact on this global society.
They must address the challenges (enemies) of our very survival and stand against that foe...whether it be on environmental issues, or global unity or economic equity...or whatever!
The world is complex...that goes without saying...perhaps the 21st century is not a single individual but a group of experts that unite and maintain an absolute integrity across all of the issues...ensuring the survival of humanity!
Perhaps the 21st century philosopher is a system (a digital philosophy) that can not be compromised. In the past...a person's word was sacred...individuals could take an oath on a witness stand and their words were accepted as truth...
Words have become hollow. Witness' integrity are challenged constantly in the courts. Why because their words mean absolutely nothing!
The 21st century philosopher must be more than words...(these are no longer of value)...this individual must be a person of action...the results of those actions may or may not make a difference...because that aspect is a responsibility of the global audience! They have to try and die trying!
The sad part of philosophy is that it is always "one or two generations behind the times!" Most philosophers are not recognized until long after the impact that they could have had is past!
The 21st century philosopher must stand strong...they must stand for what they believe...
It is more than words and insight...it is more than an "I told you so" prophecy...
It is action!
I can not recall anyone who is recorded in the annals of history and is known for compromise.
The 21st century philosopher too, must possess a consistent integrity that does not allow for compromise. Compromise is lays a foundation upon which only losers can reside!
Many an epic military leader, or a religious leader or a political leader have "fallen on their sword" rather than compromise what they stood for! If they must lay down...it must be in death! That is the passion for "their cause" by which they live...
I have not seen a great person with the title of "consultant" either!
A great leader (the philosopher) was engaged and involved. They did not simply whisper advice from a safe and secure position...they lived in its midst! They openly advocated their position and lived it!
The 21st century philosopher needs to be making that kind of impact on this global society.
They must address the challenges (enemies) of our very survival and stand against that foe...whether it be on environmental issues, or global unity or economic equity...or whatever!
The world is complex...that goes without saying...perhaps the 21st century is not a single individual but a group of experts that unite and maintain an absolute integrity across all of the issues...ensuring the survival of humanity!
Perhaps the 21st century philosopher is a system (a digital philosophy) that can not be compromised. In the past...a person's word was sacred...individuals could take an oath on a witness stand and their words were accepted as truth...
Words have become hollow. Witness' integrity are challenged constantly in the courts. Why because their words mean absolutely nothing!
The 21st century philosopher must be more than words...(these are no longer of value)...this individual must be a person of action...the results of those actions may or may not make a difference...because that aspect is a responsibility of the global audience! They have to try and die trying!
The sad part of philosophy is that it is always "one or two generations behind the times!" Most philosophers are not recognized until long after the impact that they could have had is past!
The 21st century philosopher must stand strong...they must stand for what they believe...
It is more than words and insight...it is more than an "I told you so" prophecy...
It is action!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Universal Recognition Required? (Rand and Lee)
A very good friend and fellow "searcher" suggested Ayn Rand and Bruce Lee as possible candidates! These are interesting candidates!
Philosophers must be simultaneously relevant and prophetic! Ayn and Bruce definitely were that!
Ayn is credited with the development of the philosophical system called "Objectivism." Individualism and Capitalism were emphasized as necessary to by promoted as long as they were held in check by a constitutional government. She was against statism and any form of collectivism...having been deeply ingrained within a collective society...I believe that she earned the right to stand against it! I believe that she was definitely on track as she considered the acquisition of knowledge was only through reason!
Bruce was a cultural icon! Again, he is recognized as a philosopher...as a practitioner of Wing Chung and the founder of Jeet Kune Do concept he focused on practicality and efficiency of movement! He combined deflection and counter-attack into the same movement! BRILLIANT! As the founder of the Jeet Kune Do concept, Bruce believed in distilling his art to its basic elements and not "piling" others upon the truth! He refined his martial arts over time believing that true martial arts were a process of defense and not a methodological "system of steps." He grasped the reality of the art in that he found that rejecting a technique because it was not accepted by others as part of the system was a mistake! Another brilliant position required by the 21st century philosopher!
Ayn died in 1982 and Bruce died in 1973...well before they could lay claim to the title of 21st century philosopher...but they definitely have components of the philosophy needed for the this millennium!
They were absolutely prophetic...and these concepts are necessary elements of who we are looking for!
What do you think?
Philosophers must be simultaneously relevant and prophetic! Ayn and Bruce definitely were that!
Ayn is credited with the development of the philosophical system called "Objectivism." Individualism and Capitalism were emphasized as necessary to by promoted as long as they were held in check by a constitutional government. She was against statism and any form of collectivism...having been deeply ingrained within a collective society...I believe that she earned the right to stand against it! I believe that she was definitely on track as she considered the acquisition of knowledge was only through reason!
Bruce was a cultural icon! Again, he is recognized as a philosopher...as a practitioner of Wing Chung and the founder of Jeet Kune Do concept he focused on practicality and efficiency of movement! He combined deflection and counter-attack into the same movement! BRILLIANT! As the founder of the Jeet Kune Do concept, Bruce believed in distilling his art to its basic elements and not "piling" others upon the truth! He refined his martial arts over time believing that true martial arts were a process of defense and not a methodological "system of steps." He grasped the reality of the art in that he found that rejecting a technique because it was not accepted by others as part of the system was a mistake! Another brilliant position required by the 21st century philosopher!
Ayn died in 1982 and Bruce died in 1973...well before they could lay claim to the title of 21st century philosopher...but they definitely have components of the philosophy needed for the this millennium!
They were absolutely prophetic...and these concepts are necessary elements of who we are looking for!
What do you think?
Saturday, August 1, 2009
21st Century Global Perspective
The 21st century requires a philosophy of global perspective.
The seeds of this perspective were planted in the 1960s. There was an child-like epiphany of the "hippies" and especially the "flower children" to "make love...not war!" It was fledgling that shot up quickly...but never really achieved everything that it could have as an adult thought! This perspective is not dead...or even endangered...just not cultivated enough to be commonplace! We need to walk the forests of concepts and rediscover the medicinal plants of global perspective!
OK...enough prose!
The global perspective needs to focus on the unity of mankind and not on its differences!
The "weed seeds" of predjudice' lie dormant' in the "Embrace Diversity" movements that have just recently become passe (and none too soon!). When I ponder this situation, the simple recognition of differences in people precludes a value judgement! It the end...that value will become negative.
The attitude that I think that we should be looking for can be summed up in this simple observation given to me by a 5 year-old girl...
"If you're telling me that we should start breaking down these barriers with what we have most in common..."
"...Then..."
"The things that we have most in common are the differences that are between us..."
"The things which are different between you and I is exactly the same as the the differences between me and you..."
Out of the mouths of babes! Perhaps if I wait for a while...she'll step up as the 21st Century Philosopher!
I would contend...that it is simplier than that! Differences don't matter!
It is misdirected basic human need to classify things...we are now beyond that!
What matters is what you bring to the table and what you do with it!
The seeds of this perspective were planted in the 1960s. There was an child-like epiphany of the "hippies" and especially the "flower children" to "make love...not war!" It was fledgling that shot up quickly...but never really achieved everything that it could have as an adult thought! This perspective is not dead...or even endangered...just not cultivated enough to be commonplace! We need to walk the forests of concepts and rediscover the medicinal plants of global perspective!
OK...enough prose!
The global perspective needs to focus on the unity of mankind and not on its differences!
The "weed seeds" of predjudice' lie dormant' in the "Embrace Diversity" movements that have just recently become passe (and none too soon!). When I ponder this situation, the simple recognition of differences in people precludes a value judgement! It the end...that value will become negative.
The attitude that I think that we should be looking for can be summed up in this simple observation given to me by a 5 year-old girl...
"If you're telling me that we should start breaking down these barriers with what we have most in common..."
"...Then..."
"The things that we have most in common are the differences that are between us..."
"The things which are different between you and I is exactly the same as the the differences between me and you..."
Out of the mouths of babes! Perhaps if I wait for a while...she'll step up as the 21st Century Philosopher!
I would contend...that it is simplier than that! Differences don't matter!
It is misdirected basic human need to classify things...we are now beyond that!
What matters is what you bring to the table and what you do with it!
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