Equality: what good is it? I intend to make a few of my forthcoming posts about equality. These posts will deal with cultural equality, social equality, and political equality, but mostly with economic equality. I'll deal mostly with economic equality because it seems to be an equality more easily seen than others.
I seem to be coming to see good in economic equality more clearly these days and I intend to make some effort to describe to you what it is that I am seeing.
I hope you will be kind enough to comment on the content of what I am saying. I hope also that you will forgive my spelling errors and my other many other errors as I try to put my thoughts down here.
In future posts my use of the term equality will most often refer most directly to economic equality.
Oh, by the way, I don't see equality as a reality, a goal, or a thing of any kind. I see it as a kind of arrow pointing a way. That is, I see equality as a direction.
Showing posts with label equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label equality. Show all posts
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Dialogue is Important
What are you willing to say about dialogue or about communication in general? Are you willing to suggest definitions for either? Below are thoughts which come to my mind as I consider dialogue today. Questions are thoughts too aren't they?
Shared meaning is the cement that holds society together. Consider meanings. What is the meaning of meaning? What is the meaning of society? What is the state of our mutual understanding of meaning?
Do we agree on what holds meaning for us? How do we share meaning? What are the better ways of sharing meaning? What is the nature of our society?
Have you ever seen members of a group become frustrated as they try to share meaning? Does sharing meaning frighten you? Are you afraid that your assumptions may be revealed and challenged? Others are. They seek a leader or a protector. They may just walk away.
What if a group is so democratic that it has no leader? If the group is very democratic there may be a great deal of equality felt among its members. I seem to be less fearful among those who respect me as an equal. What is the source of equality?
Talk, communication, dialogue seems a principle way of sharing meaning. Democracy seems to be a step toward open speech.
I think that the practice of dialogue skills can support democracy and the sharing of meaning. I believe that I am still willing to accept some frustration in my life in order to support the sharing of meaning through dialogue. There is a reason for dialogue. It is what helps us to to be an us. It is important.
We benefit by keeping in mind how important dialogue is. If we don't, we begin to think and say: What's the point? This is too much trouble, Let's give it up. It's not getting us anywhere.
Dialogue is as important as important as earning money. Without a healthy society money loses its value. Shared meaning holds society together. Dialogue is an effective way to share meaning.
Dialogue is important.
Shared meaning is the cement that holds society together. Consider meanings. What is the meaning of meaning? What is the meaning of society? What is the state of our mutual understanding of meaning?
Do we agree on what holds meaning for us? How do we share meaning? What are the better ways of sharing meaning? What is the nature of our society?
Have you ever seen members of a group become frustrated as they try to share meaning? Does sharing meaning frighten you? Are you afraid that your assumptions may be revealed and challenged? Others are. They seek a leader or a protector. They may just walk away.
What if a group is so democratic that it has no leader? If the group is very democratic there may be a great deal of equality felt among its members. I seem to be less fearful among those who respect me as an equal. What is the source of equality?
Talk, communication, dialogue seems a principle way of sharing meaning. Democracy seems to be a step toward open speech.
I think that the practice of dialogue skills can support democracy and the sharing of meaning. I believe that I am still willing to accept some frustration in my life in order to support the sharing of meaning through dialogue. There is a reason for dialogue. It is what helps us to to be an us. It is important.
We benefit by keeping in mind how important dialogue is. If we don't, we begin to think and say: What's the point? This is too much trouble, Let's give it up. It's not getting us anywhere.
Dialogue is as important as important as earning money. Without a healthy society money loses its value. Shared meaning holds society together. Dialogue is an effective way to share meaning.
Dialogue is important.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Islamic Ways
There is strength in our understanding of the past to help one from the present to a better future. There are Islamic men of the past pointing to an Islamic way to thrive in the present Islamic reality. There is Mohammed and the Qur'an. There is also much more.
Europeans stood on Islamic learning to get where they are. I have a Spanish friend who said that Europeans wouldn't have pants if it weren't for the Uma. The very word for word for pants may be of Islamic origin.
Learning is needed. Learning that enhances deep understanding is needed. It is needed by and for all equally. Equality of personal value is an important and a very Islamic concept. Am I wrong?
I'm just 'this guy.' I'm not Islamic. I look to be a secular person; yet I can say that God is everything to me. God is greater.
People of much of the world learned the value of the understanding of history from people of Islam.
Europeans' knowledge of trade, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, philosophy, geography, seamanship, navigation, politics, law, banking, agronomy and more began with people of Islam.
It is not wrong to feel pride in Islamic learning of yesterday and today. We know, of course, that learning is much more than memory.
Europeans stood on Islamic learning to get where they are. I have a Spanish friend who said that Europeans wouldn't have pants if it weren't for the Uma. The very word for word for pants may be of Islamic origin.
Learning is needed. Learning that enhances deep understanding is needed. It is needed by and for all equally. Equality of personal value is an important and a very Islamic concept. Am I wrong?
I'm just 'this guy.' I'm not Islamic. I look to be a secular person; yet I can say that God is everything to me. God is greater.
People of much of the world learned the value of the understanding of history from people of Islam.
Europeans' knowledge of trade, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, philosophy, geography, seamanship, navigation, politics, law, banking, agronomy and more began with people of Islam.
It is not wrong to feel pride in Islamic learning of yesterday and today. We know, of course, that learning is much more than memory.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Abundant Life (IMHO of this day)
Ignorance is the way of want. Ignorance of the practice of equality, justice, respect, honor, and love pave a speedy road to want. Want is lack.
Ignorance is the way to degeneration and strife. What is a way to abundant life?
The understanding and and practice of love moves one to abundant life very well. Love is a good way. How is love understood? How is love practiced? It's a process. One could begin by getting clear about some meanings. Improve and extend your understanding of equality, justice, respect, and honor among men. Understanding the the interactions among the practice of law, justice, and equality as components of love helps. Knowing that love includes the best of respect and honor helps. Knowing that the heart of love is joyous nurturance is necessary. Learning that respectful, even reverent, nurturance makes love real, is vital.
A reader of the Bible may find help in getting on this road by noting that Jesus said that his purpose was to bring us abundant life. And then by going on to study the page or two of teachings after he says to love your God. There he points to the nature of love, He points to the knowledge and practice of love. He points to the process of learning to love. He tells the essentials and extent of doing it well. The readers must study, contemplate, and meditate well on his parables and examples. H makes it easy to begin.
Ignorance is the way to degeneration and strife. What is a way to abundant life?
The understanding and and practice of love moves one to abundant life very well. Love is a good way. How is love understood? How is love practiced? It's a process. One could begin by getting clear about some meanings. Improve and extend your understanding of equality, justice, respect, and honor among men. Understanding the the interactions among the practice of law, justice, and equality as components of love helps. Knowing that love includes the best of respect and honor helps. Knowing that the heart of love is joyous nurturance is necessary. Learning that respectful, even reverent, nurturance makes love real, is vital.
A reader of the Bible may find help in getting on this road by noting that Jesus said that his purpose was to bring us abundant life. And then by going on to study the page or two of teachings after he says to love your God. There he points to the nature of love, He points to the knowledge and practice of love. He points to the process of learning to love. He tells the essentials and extent of doing it well. The readers must study, contemplate, and meditate well on his parables and examples. H makes it easy to begin.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Southernmost Nordic Country
Denmark seems to have been named for the Dan. Who can tell us about them?
The Danes helped Russia and England get started. The were a important influence on the Prussians and the Irish. They traded with the Byzantines and tried to teach the Russians to do likewise.
Like all early histories, theirs is clouded in myth. Those clouds began to part about the time the Romans were losing their republic. The may have gotten a headline or two by kicking the butts of a Legion of Rome's first emperor.Speaking of Danes kicking butt, the Russians and the English were butts of that kicking. They chased some Irishmen around a bit and may have caught a couple of Irish women. They convinced the Prussians to do business.
These days the practice less viking and more democracy. Is there such a thing a a people's kingdom?
Someone associated with the UN is ranking countries on a corruption scale. Recently three countries tied as the least corrupt in the world: New Zealand, Singapore, and Denmark. Of course the US made the list.
The Danes host half a dozen UN organizations and I have heard that one can reach the offices of each of those organizations comfortably by bus or by bike.
The Danes are probably also the greatest economic democracy in the world. It has the highest level of income equality in the world along with high levels of health welfare and education. Great Danes!
The Danes helped Russia and England get started. The were a important influence on the Prussians and the Irish. They traded with the Byzantines and tried to teach the Russians to do likewise.
Like all early histories, theirs is clouded in myth. Those clouds began to part about the time the Romans were losing their republic. The may have gotten a headline or two by kicking the butts of a Legion of Rome's first emperor.Speaking of Danes kicking butt, the Russians and the English were butts of that kicking. They chased some Irishmen around a bit and may have caught a couple of Irish women. They convinced the Prussians to do business.
These days the practice less viking and more democracy. Is there such a thing a a people's kingdom?
Someone associated with the UN is ranking countries on a corruption scale. Recently three countries tied as the least corrupt in the world: New Zealand, Singapore, and Denmark. Of course the US made the list.
The Danes host half a dozen UN organizations and I have heard that one can reach the offices of each of those organizations comfortably by bus or by bike.
The Danes are probably also the greatest economic democracy in the world. It has the highest level of income equality in the world along with high levels of health welfare and education. Great Danes!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Defining "Politics"
It seems that in the 7th century BC Zaleucus, writer of the Locrian Code, thought that the purpose of politics was to reconcile societal fractions and to uphold equality before the law Sounds like good politics to me today
Men, know to us, have been defining 'politics' for about 5000 years. It seems that for most of that time it has been about citizens. Politics, these days in a republic, is that which citizens do as citizens. Its how people make collective decisions. It is a learned art and skill. We taught our children a bit about it at home and in their civics classes at school. In a republic politics are the affairs of citizens.
To be a citizen one need be the citizen of something. These days the thing (or process) is often called the state.
Politics may be called the art of civil administration. It is the way we do governance. That is, politics is the act of people practicing governance. It is the duty and honor of American citizens to understand and participate in the governance of Country, State, County, City, etc. Its the way we decide who gets the gold and who goes to jail.
Other political duties of citizens of the republic are to oppose corruption, and to support equality before the law, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. It used to be important to be civil too.
The skills and art of politics may be practiced where-ever resources are used or cooperation is desired: church and corporation are institutions that come to mind.: school, sports, and marriage are others.
A principle constituent of the art of politics are the skills of that purposeful, cooperative talk often called dialogue.
Some young neighbors of mine call it a fair-fighting way of getting what you want.
Men, know to us, have been defining 'politics' for about 5000 years. It seems that for most of that time it has been about citizens. Politics, these days in a republic, is that which citizens do as citizens. Its how people make collective decisions. It is a learned art and skill. We taught our children a bit about it at home and in their civics classes at school. In a republic politics are the affairs of citizens.
To be a citizen one need be the citizen of something. These days the thing (or process) is often called the state.
Politics may be called the art of civil administration. It is the way we do governance. That is, politics is the act of people practicing governance. It is the duty and honor of American citizens to understand and participate in the governance of Country, State, County, City, etc. Its the way we decide who gets the gold and who goes to jail.
Other political duties of citizens of the republic are to oppose corruption, and to support equality before the law, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. It used to be important to be civil too.
The skills and art of politics may be practiced where-ever resources are used or cooperation is desired: church and corporation are institutions that come to mind.: school, sports, and marriage are others.
A principle constituent of the art of politics are the skills of that purposeful, cooperative talk often called dialogue.
Some young neighbors of mine call it a fair-fighting way of getting what you want.
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