Gregg Easterbrook's article from The Atlantic offers a very reasonable response to the emotional appeal of the Gore's Inconvenient Truth. The United States is a country of innovators and problem solvers, and he presents evidence that American solutions to past enviornmental problems have resolved some pollution issues. It makes sense that scientists and engineers should continue this trend.
But in my unscientific opinion, in the long term, we can never really save our planet, ourselves, or any other species we might kill with our destructive behavior, until we control our own burgeoning population. It seems logical that as the number of humans on the planet multiplies, so will our demand for, use of, and waste from, the natural resources required to feed, clothe and transport us. No matter what other measures we take to reduce pollution and conserve natural resources, overpopulation of the earth will overwhelm those efforts.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Response to various essays on Race in America
First I would just like to say that R. Dyers essay The Matter of Whitness is a real thought provoker for me. Oh my gosh, I'm White! Dyer is 100% correct in his observation that White Americans type everyone by their race except themselves! Hmmmm. This whole discussion is correlating very well with my Psy120 course, MultiCultural Psychology.
Who could ever read Dr. King's famous speech without reacting emotionally to his stunning words. Thankfully, times have changed since he changed us. It was deeply satisfying to see President Obama stand at the same spot on the mall, the day before his inauguration, and speak to a more racially mature America.
Progress has righted some wrongs from the past.
But I know that I am sometimes uncomfortable with a person of or another race. How much is it really a discomfort with multiculturalism? Do I react to the color of a persons skin, or is it just the strangeness of their culture that causes feelings of dislike and/or fear? Maybe some of both. Can I have an open discussion with a person of the African American race about our differences?...probably not, I'd be too afraid to ask the hard questions... like, what is it like to be you? Do you prefer to be referred to as "African American" or "black"? Do you dislike me because I am white? What questions would you ask me?
Well that' what progress is about, I guess. Take the risks, ask the questions, try to understand....change.
Who could ever read Dr. King's famous speech without reacting emotionally to his stunning words. Thankfully, times have changed since he changed us. It was deeply satisfying to see President Obama stand at the same spot on the mall, the day before his inauguration, and speak to a more racially mature America.
Progress has righted some wrongs from the past.
But I know that I am sometimes uncomfortable with a person of or another race. How much is it really a discomfort with multiculturalism? Do I react to the color of a persons skin, or is it just the strangeness of their culture that causes feelings of dislike and/or fear? Maybe some of both. Can I have an open discussion with a person of the African American race about our differences?...probably not, I'd be too afraid to ask the hard questions... like, what is it like to be you? Do you prefer to be referred to as "African American" or "black"? Do you dislike me because I am white? What questions would you ask me?
Well that' what progress is about, I guess. Take the risks, ask the questions, try to understand....change.
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