A group of inferior people is never better than any one of them; it is just as inferior as they, and a State composed of nothing but sheep is never anything else but a herd of sheep, even though it is led by a shepherd with a vicious dog. Admittedly there has been scientific and … Continue reading The Fallacy of Consensus
Lux et Veritas
I apologize in advance—this is a long one! For some time, I have entertained the notion of writing an introduction to my ideas on the higher mysteries of life. I say "my" ideas, but really, they are an amalgamation and continuation of wisdom that has come before me. I am simply passing on the little … Continue reading Lux et Veritas
Ex Nihilo
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will … Continue reading Ex Nihilo
The Disconnection Contagion
Be curious, not judgmental.Walt Whitman Well, I’ve had a few days to myself in complete solitude. Aside from the company of my two lovable pets, of course. This has given me some time to consider my relationship with socialization in general, and some of the unconscious fears or desires I may have tied up in … Continue reading The Disconnection Contagion
A New Attempt
I thought I had given up on journaling after an absence of over one month. But today I was compelled to recommit myself. Partially, I was inspired by a very good friend who recently made a comeback in her ambitions. But I was also motivated by my own failings. The possibility of alchemizing my pain … Continue reading A New Attempt
Productive Disagreements
I recently had the pleasure of viewing a presentation (which I've shared below) called "Productive Disagreements: How to Have Civil Conversations,” lead by Dr. Terri Easley-Giraldo. Hosted by Janette Jasperson of the International Education Office at JCCC, this event provides a relevant discourse on the current polarized nature of our society, and discusses a way … Continue reading Productive Disagreements
Social Media and Religious Syncretism
In the article “What Effect Has the Internet Had on Religion?,” published in The Guardian, author Aleks Krotoski claims that the importance of the internet in everyday life has become a destabilizing force on traditional religion. In order to stay relevant, it’s argued, religious organizations have moved their services online in order to reach wider … Continue reading Social Media and Religious Syncretism
Monocultural Hybridization
In the article “Can Monoculture Survive the Algorithm?,” published in Vox, author Kyle Chayka outlines two opposing concerns in the mass culture of entertainment. On one hand, digital streaming has resulted in a reduction of society’s ability to connect and relate through entertainment. The author states “The fear is that we exist in a fragmented … Continue reading Monocultural Hybridization
The Ineffectiveness of Online Advocacy
In the article “The Problem With Social-Media Protests,” published in The Atlantic, author Antonia Malchick argues that online social movements are likely to experience faster burnout and result in less actual policy change than in-person activism. Before the internet increased the speed at which information travels, it’s claimed, advocacy in general was slower growing, but … Continue reading The Ineffectiveness of Online Advocacy
2020
The title of this post. Enough said. In actuality, there are not enough words in all the tongues of the ages to describe the complexity of our collective experience this past year. We've witnessed a pandemic of globally disruptive proportions, political polarization, a hastening of economic stratification, and an overall fragmentation of social cohesion. The … Continue reading 2020