TED Community » John Henry

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Vintage 19th century love tokens.
Ridding the caribbean of Lionfish.
St. John, USVI.

Talk to me about

Scuba diving.
Bennington pottery.
Making silver jewelry at home.

People don't know that I'm good at

Beekeeping.
Growing phalaenopsis orchids indoors under lights.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +25.00 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +2

  A comment on Talk: Jackson Katz: Violence against women—it's a men's issue

  Jun 5 2013: Current Events Update: Did anyone else watch the news coverage yesterday (6/4/13) of the hearing between the Joint Chiefs of Staff representing the US military, and several leading female US Senators, led by the magnificent Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)? The purpose was to discuss sexual assault in the military.
  
  Since the military has completely failed to fix the problem, Senator Gillibrand has proposed moving control of sexual assault cases outside the "chain of command." The military essentially said, "We don't like that idea." Yet there was a deafening silence about what, if anything, they were going to do differently to fix the problem.
  
  That hearing was a "poster child" for what Jackson Katz is saying. Each one of those men (and one very frightened looking female officer) sat there, all solemn and shiny in their uniforms, content with the personal satisfaction of perhaps never having assaulted a woman themselves (?), content with the status quo and their glorious career success. Not one of them was willing to risk "breaking ranks" to get personally involved, to feel the outrage or the helplessness of women who are sexually assaulted under their commands every day.
  
  If you want fresh, powerful footage of men in leadership positions, men who otherwise might have been considered well above average, collectively dodging responsibility, failing to understand sexual assault of women as a men's issue, you need go no further than the national embarrassment which was that hearing yesterday, on display for the world to see.
  
  In a remarkable moment of candor, it may have been the very pro-military, hawkish Senator John McCain (R-AZ) who made the most honest assessment when he said, "{Because of this issue] I would not recommend my daughter join the military."

• A comment on Talk: Alex Laskey: How behavioral science can lower your energy bill

  Jun 4 2013: I get a letter every like the one Alex shows at approximately 4:30 every six months from my electric supplier. Potomac Edison must be a client.
  
  It sounds silly, but it definitely adds motivation for me to save energy. For my wife, not so much!
• +6

  A comment on Talk: Andrew Solomon: Love, no matter what

  Jun 4 2013: It is a pleasure to listen to a man like this who is so remarkably self-aware - about everything! I would be all the better for a friendship with Andrew Solomon; for my own character, learning, and self-awareness.
  
  I began listening to Andrew's talk and I said to myself, "Here is a man who should be a parent. The world would be a better place for the child raised by this man." Then I read Andrew's bio and learned that he was in fact a parent. Then the talk continued into the segment about Andrew's experiences as a parent.
  
  His mother, to whom he refers a number of times, must have been a remarkable woman. Think about it, if all the children of the world right now, could be loved, nurtured, and supported like Andrew is describing, we might bring to an end virtually all of our social problems in just one generation.
  
  When in the future I feel any doubt about the TED community, I'll think about the standing ovation they gave Andrew at the end of this talk, and I'll feel much better.
• +2

  A comment on Talk: Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind

  Jun 4 2013: Lisa Bu had me at, "The bible is interesting, but strange."
  
  What a wonderful sense of humor she has! The great ones totally transcend culture. She would make a fabulous teacher.
• +1

  A reply on Talk: Jackson Katz: Violence against women—it's a men's issue

  Jun 4 2013: Perhaps you are a very empathetic person who already treats everyone, especially women, with integrity and understanding. Maybe these truths are so self-evident to you that they transcend mere responsibility. If so, you have my admiration.
  
  Yet you felt the need to tell me "I'm no more responsible than a non-violent woman..." for violence against women.
  
  This struck me as an odd thing to say. As a man, I must stand in line ahead of a "non-violent women," (frequently the victims of male violence, remember) in my level of responsibility. I share gender, physical strength, societal perpetuated preferences, and the comforts that come with being in the majority in situations of power, etc. with other men. Surely I must take even a little responsibility to be an agent for change, whether it be socially, financially, professionally, or personally (in my own circle of friends) to help eliminate violence (in all its forms) against women.
  
  In this way, I am convinced, I am a better man.

• A reply on Talk: Eve Ensler on security

  Jun 3 2013: OK, you asked for it, "Don't be such a dick, she just misread her script."
  
  By the way, what is "her lonesco..." to which you refer in your third line above? Apparently you were so anxious to be obnoxious that you overlooked your own mistake. Your fingers should move more slowly than your brain, not doubt a challenging standard.
  
  Perhaps being courageous enough to speak in front of thousands of people, knowing that her performance might impact thousands of women all across the planet (and giving up her personal security, which completely reinforced her point), might make anyone a little nervous.
• +5

  A comment on Talk: Jackson Katz: Violence against women—it's a men's issue

  Jun 3 2013: I am a married man in his early 50s with two daughters. I just don't get it.
  
  I don't get why most men are threatened by Jackson Katz. He is telling the simple, honest truth. I don't get why most men (see pages and pages below, and soon of course, above) desperately argue "this is everyone's issue," or women shouldn't dress a certain way, or women are violent too, or this is the same old thing, or feminism is wrong, or this is demeaning to men, or some men are nice, etc., etc., which is all so much worthless crap. And I don't get why most men just can't step up and take responsibility for themselves, and quit making embarrassing (to me, at least) excuses.
  
  I enjoy being a man, which to me means being the best, most successful, reliable, trusted and admired person I can be, every day, without using force or violence.
  
  Behave like a gentleman, in public and in private. We all know what that means, and its not that difficult even when times are tough or we're under stress. There is no good time to give up that responsibility.
  
  Tell me how a society treats those who cannot respond with brute strength, and I will tell you how civilized is that society.

• A comment on Talk: Ji-Hae Park: The violin, and my dark night of the soul

  May 28 2013: "The devil went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal. He was in a bind, 'cos he was way behind, and he was wllin' to make a deal." (The Charlie Daniels Band, 1979).
  
  We all know what "Johnny" did down in Georgia. For his sake, perhaps the Devil's next stop shouldn't be South Korea.
• +3

  A comment on Talk: Maria Bezaitis: The surprising need for strangeness

  May 16 2013: I think Maria Bezaitis is on to something very powerful here. But she significantly under sells that power with the thesis: "The important thing is how much strangeness we are getting."
  
  The important things are 1.) most human beings would rather cut off an arm than allow for the possibility of an alternative to their fundamental beliefs, and, 2.) as electronic communication continues to replace face to face communication, human beings are losing their ability and or willingness to understand and empathize with others.
  
  The very fact she is on stage at TED signals her willingness (excitement?) to experience new things and remain open to the opinions of other people. She embraces strangers and their strangeness. Bravo!
  
  But at the same time, there are tens of millions of Americans who, for example, fight against an increase in the minimum wage, same sex marriage, or the right to health care, because of their inability to empathize with other people or to allow for an alternative reality other than their own (all poor people are lazy, LGBT is not natural, and aren't emergency rooms open 24/7?, etc.)
  
  This topic has "future of our county" importance.

• A comment on Talk: Rose George: Let's talk crap. Seriously.

  May 6 2013: Unattractive subject perhaps, but beautifully articulated by Rose George. She is a gifted speaker.
  
  With this subject it would be easy to lose the audience in toilet humor innuendo. She goes there, but pulls it back, gets serious, and by the end of the talk she has clearly delivered a compelling message using her experience, strong graphics, a compelling argument, her humanity, and yes, humor.