Loosely Speaking

By Ciel - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Everything Else

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Civilization: We should try it!

Since humankind began building and living in cities, we have claimed as our own the term 'civilized.' It describes the next stage of humanity, following from 'savage' to 'barbaric' to 'civic.' It follows from 'family' to 'clan' to 'tribe' and implies something beyond the stacking of bricks, the building of close housing and monumental edifices to community uses. But all those earlier social stages of development were added to, not replaced by 'civilization.' Most of us, whether we live in cities... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 22, 2021

Refusing to consume

The only power we have as 'little people' and consumers, is to refuse to consume. There are several companies I refuse to support in any way, or as minimally as possible. Amazon is one of those I don't do without entirely, but I buy books and other things anywhere but there. I won't give any of my money to Disney, until I hear that their park employees are no longer having to live out of their cars. I never ever shop at Walmart: That family doesn't need my money, and many smaller families really... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Republicans are whining about 'socialism' again...

Everytime the Republicans accuse something of being 'socialist' they expose how ignorant and ridiculous they are, equating 'democratic socialism' which we have had protecting our population for over a century, with 'authoritarian socialism' which we ALL don't want--though maybe not for the same reasons. Right now, airing their Big Lie, they are promoting authoritarianism. They don't seem to like any kind of socialism. Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 4, 2021

Why it's time to stop using the word 'race' when we speak of other cultures

When people started talking about 'races' it was to strengthen the argument that some people were not quite as human as others. Believing this, it became less unthinkable to treat humans of different cultures as things, as nearer to the beasts than to Us Real Humans. And this was in a time when 'animals' were regarded by certain dominant cultures as mere meat machines, put on Earth for Us Real Humans to exploit without regard for their ability to suffer physially, mentally, and emotionally. Such... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, September 11, 2021

TEDx speakers

They come to stand on the big red dot in center stage, to tell about who they are and what they believe in, what they have learned. They speak of personal life experiences, of their particular point of view. They invite you to consider all those things, and to be responsive to it, out loud or even if only in your own thoughts. Yesterday at MSU--Metropolitan State University--in Denver, the speakers were all from the local community: a revelation and celebration of who we live among, of the... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Afghanistan: It's complicated.

Critics of every administration have always tended to grab onto pieces of any situation and frame them to make that administration look bad. It's politics, it's what politicians do. But this situation like most cannot be defined or described in a few words of clever snark. Those who go there only demonstrate how little they understand the big picture, and how manipulative they are willing to be despite reason or fairness. The first angle of attack from every side is assigning blame. The... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Clarification

Senator Manchin and many others seem to be equating and conflating the Taliban with Isis. This illustrates the problem of forming opinions with not-quite-full information, with basing opinions on emotional reactions which, while legitimate and sincere, are based on conjecture and speculation, not to mention, personal prejudices. This latest attack has been claimed by a particular branch of Isis that is hostile to the Taliban, and has a vested interest in creating more trouble between the US and... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 16, 2021

Afghanistan

My heart weeps for the women of Afghanistan. For the mothers, the daughters, the sisters: All who could not flee the oncoming wave of Taliban's twisted, religious self-righteousness. It will be bad for everyone, but especially for the women and girls. My heart aches for all the translators, guides, and mediators who aided the war against the Taliban, who, even if they could be pulled out themselves, have left behind families through whom they will be punished. For all the US servicemen and women... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Give the Earth a day off.

Running a/c, binging tv shows and movies, online surfing and searching, letting your vehicle idle... Many casual activities have unseen, unnoticed energy costs and make greater demands on the planet's resources than we realize. What if we all turned off all these things even one day a week, to see what kind of difference our casual and recreational activities make when amplified by millions? How about a Monday? Saturday? Sunday? Stay home, read an actual book, a real newspaper... Eat fresh food,... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, August 13, 2021

Changing the Narratives of Power

I recently watched a film that showed the bigotry and hostility in America towards Asians. Not just the historic stuff, but that it still is an active influence. For the first time, seeing that only some Americans promoted it, I became very much more aware of the way Euro-Americans have controlled the narrative that only they are legitimate Americans, that it is their 'right' to be in charge, to make all the rules, to define all the truths and beliefs of America. In fact, to define America. I... Sign in to see full entry.

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