Feb 26 2011: Throughout 20th century discourse on belief took place in terms of the dichotomous world-view of theism versus atheism.
Pantheism, now pretty much ignored, has been widespread since prehistory. Romanticism are pantheistic.
Tielhard de Chardin and Julian Huxley (as I recall) engaged in an atheist meets the theist correspondence in which both complemented each other on not giving pantheism the time of day.
The denigration of pantheism by atheists and theists alike is commonplace because it suits them both.
You can read things like, ''Islam is fastest growing faith in Europe.'' It is not. It is fastest-growing organized religion. The fastest growing faith is a kind of vague pantheism found in greens, new age folk, pagans and a great mix of progressives who regard nature as having a sacred aspect - though defining that they would find difficult.
Rumi, the Persian poet whose books sell pretty fast, is a pantheist but very little is made of that.
Feb 26 2011: The only fundamental right is the right to develop, to change. From that we have derived the four basic rights of freedom of thought, speech, movement and association. You only need these rights if you want freedom to change. Moderns consider them fundamental because they see them in a static rather than a dynamic model. In the dynamic model, the only fundamental right is that to develop or change. From these four rights, we derive our civil and political rights. The internet will become a civil right.
Feb 26 2011: In recent days the number of idiots posting silly comments in the Huffington Post has been on the increase.
These people will probably destroy the Huffpost over next couple of years.
I do not know how you can create a democratic web-site that is not subject to the noise and interference from the mischievous, the ignorant and the idle. Democracy is very appealing when in the hands of late modern progressives reforming busily with programs devised by expert meritocrats and technocrats but it loses its shine when the leadership of the democratic state comprises premodern, traditionalist, anti-intellectuals who wish to introduce mad legislation.
Feb 26 2011: Create specialized magazine-discussion programs with phone-in follow ups. Link these in, by prior arrangement to curriculum (ie classes) of schools , colleges and professional development organizations.
Engagement in national discourse can be developed by pre-building targeted groups. Internet makes feasible what was until recently impossible.
Feb 26 2011: There was a Spartan arguing with an Athenian about the spread of democracy. Finally, the Spartan said, ''If you are so keen on democracy, start with your family.
This world of ours has a long way to go before we are rid of dictators.
Consider post-revolutionary social systems. Should revolutionary masses accept the high unemployment and poverty which accompanies capitalism? There may come a time, not too far down the road, when Western leaders are happy that the military has intervened and restored ''stability.''
Feb 26 2011: Contact tribal and leaders' council in Beida. Advise them to declare Qaddafi regime illegitimate and to form a provisional government with a council with thirty places but only elect fifteen, leaving fifteen empty for folk in Tripolitania under the yoke of the tyrant. Thus symbolizing the unity of the country.
Fill ships with basic foods and send to Tobruk, Derna, Benghazi, Marsa Brega and Misurata.
Feb 26 2011: Unemployment. Young people cannot marry. Cannot get housing. All life (including sexual) energies are repressed.
Social meanings are defined in terms of consumerism. The masses are excluded, feel resentment and revolt.
Consider above as simmering preconditions. Now add in growing realization (partly through new media) of just how greedy and corrupt the ruling class is and a steady, steep rise in price of food.
Feb 26 2011: How can free market capitalism create the jobs required in the contemporary Arab World?
It cannot. Finding an alternative to free market or state capitalism in next few years is greatest challenge.
Globalization: Challenging free trade is the most important thing to do. People need jobs - not cheap stuff.
Libya, very high unemployment amongst under 25's. So, why so many foreign workers doing all kinds of work? Free movement of labor is not good. There is neo-slavery everywhere generated by this ''free movement.''
When ''globalization'' means capitalism, there is going to be trouble. If post-revolution Arab countries embrace free market capitalism they will have further revolutions because the masses are not prepared to endure poverty and unemployment to satisfy a system which benefits the few.
Feb 26 2011: Over a period of time, transit form the failing, rule-based, compliance, feedback systems of late modernity to the consent-based, democratic, open systems of post-modernity.
In late modernity, enablement comprises prerequisites of empowerment. This reflects top-down reformist technocratic/meritocratic expert-based elitist systems in which reality both scientific and social is understood in terms of rules. And more rules. Do as we say (comply) for ten or fifteen years and we might let you have a life. Modernity is not democratic - it is legalistic.
Place empowerment before enablement so that processes of enablement are shaped by the empowered.
Democratize schools. Completely.
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A comment on Conversation: Is there wisdom/knowledge that is suppressed to the detriment of society - known as the "Tomato Effect"?
Pantheism, now pretty much ignored, has been widespread since prehistory. Romanticism are pantheistic.
Tielhard de Chardin and Julian Huxley (as I recall) engaged in an atheist meets the theist correspondence in which both complemented each other on not giving pantheism the time of day.
The denigration of pantheism by atheists and theists alike is commonplace because it suits them both.
You can read things like, ''Islam is fastest growing faith in Europe.'' It is not. It is fastest-growing organized religion. The fastest growing faith is a kind of vague pantheism found in greens, new age folk, pagans and a great mix of progressives who regard nature as having a sacred aspect - though defining that they would find difficult.
Rumi, the Persian poet whose books sell pretty fast, is a pantheist but very little is made of that.
A comment on Conversation: Should the internet be a fundamental right?
A comment on Conversation: How do YOU keep form getting frustrated and stay positive and active while keeping your eye's open to the problems and hurt in the world?
A comment on Conversation: How do I begin to develop a TED-style direct-democracy electoral web-site? How do we?
These people will probably destroy the Huffpost over next couple of years.
I do not know how you can create a democratic web-site that is not subject to the noise and interference from the mischievous, the ignorant and the idle. Democracy is very appealing when in the hands of late modern progressives reforming busily with programs devised by expert meritocrats and technocrats but it loses its shine when the leadership of the democratic state comprises premodern, traditionalist, anti-intellectuals who wish to introduce mad legislation.
Being democratic is not enough.
A comment on Conversation: How do you think public radio could more fully embrace the digital realm? Specifics are better than sweeping statements...
Engagement in national discourse can be developed by pre-building targeted groups. Internet makes feasible what was until recently impossible.
A comment on Conversation: Could "dictator" be abolished from the global lexicon by 2012?
This world of ours has a long way to go before we are rid of dictators.
Consider post-revolutionary social systems. Should revolutionary masses accept the high unemployment and poverty which accompanies capitalism? There may come a time, not too far down the road, when Western leaders are happy that the military has intervened and restored ''stability.''
A comment on Conversation: Do you think the United States should help with the situation in Libya? If so, how can we help?
Fill ships with basic foods and send to Tobruk, Derna, Benghazi, Marsa Brega and Misurata.
Then act in concert with U.N.
A comment on Conversation: Is somebody or something fomenting all the turmoil in the Middle East?
Social meanings are defined in terms of consumerism. The masses are excluded, feel resentment and revolt.
Consider above as simmering preconditions. Now add in growing realization (partly through new media) of just how greedy and corrupt the ruling class is and a steady, steep rise in price of food.
A comment on Conversation: Is globalization the biggest danger to third world cultures and their heritage or is that just an overstatement ?
It cannot. Finding an alternative to free market or state capitalism in next few years is greatest challenge.
Globalization: Challenging free trade is the most important thing to do. People need jobs - not cheap stuff.
Libya, very high unemployment amongst under 25's. So, why so many foreign workers doing all kinds of work? Free movement of labor is not good. There is neo-slavery everywhere generated by this ''free movement.''
When ''globalization'' means capitalism, there is going to be trouble. If post-revolution Arab countries embrace free market capitalism they will have further revolutions because the masses are not prepared to endure poverty and unemployment to satisfy a system which benefits the few.
A comment on Conversation: How can we teach young people the mindset and skills to be effective social innovators, and therefore, change schools for the good?
In late modernity, enablement comprises prerequisites of empowerment. This reflects top-down reformist technocratic/meritocratic expert-based elitist systems in which reality both scientific and social is understood in terms of rules. And more rules. Do as we say (comply) for ten or fifteen years and we might let you have a life. Modernity is not democratic - it is legalistic.
Place empowerment before enablement so that processes of enablement are shaped by the empowered.
Democratize schools. Completely.