Customer Pamela was just in the store and purchased some greeting cards. We remarked about greeting cards compared to E-mail and how many individuals enjoy receiving a real card in the mail.
Pamela remarked that she has a young relative to whom she sends cards. She has now has adapted to his habits. After she mails a card to him she sends him an E-mail telling him to check his mail box. He says that otherwise he does not check anymore on his own because he does not receive any mail of consequence.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Libertarianism
A short article in Christian Century spurred my thinking about libertarianism. Here is my thought about it today.
Americans favorably view the idea of libertarianism. We like the idea that we can rely on ourselves, do it ourselves, take on the battles of life on our own and win or lose by our own skills. It is part of what helped create this country and this culture.
I think that libertarianism works especially well when the population is small and the land and natural resources are large. The freedom to choose for ourselves which part of our environment we will use to improve our life is appealing. Neighbors may be nearby but they are not intruding on our space. Discarding of our wastes does not affect them.
Our population has grown. We are much more crowded on this little planet than we have been. The population has doubled more than once in just my lifetime. As the population density increases our natural resources shrink, our waste products increase, and our neighbors’ actions affect what we can do for ourselves.
It seems to me that in today’s world we can not afford the luxury of libertarianism, as much as we love the concept of it. My freedom to do as I want to do impinges on the lives of too many others. Because of our population increases and dwindling natural resources we are losing the capacity of the natural world to absorb our own desires to “do it my way.” Increasingly we need to take into consideration the needs of others.
Libertarianism is a great concept. It works in smaller populations with abundant natural resources. We have passed the point where we can afford the luxury of libertarianism. We need to think about and care for our neighbors’ needs at least as much as we care for our own needs. Interacting in caring ways in community is more important now than ever.
Americans favorably view the idea of libertarianism. We like the idea that we can rely on ourselves, do it ourselves, take on the battles of life on our own and win or lose by our own skills. It is part of what helped create this country and this culture.
I think that libertarianism works especially well when the population is small and the land and natural resources are large. The freedom to choose for ourselves which part of our environment we will use to improve our life is appealing. Neighbors may be nearby but they are not intruding on our space. Discarding of our wastes does not affect them.
Our population has grown. We are much more crowded on this little planet than we have been. The population has doubled more than once in just my lifetime. As the population density increases our natural resources shrink, our waste products increase, and our neighbors’ actions affect what we can do for ourselves.
It seems to me that in today’s world we can not afford the luxury of libertarianism, as much as we love the concept of it. My freedom to do as I want to do impinges on the lives of too many others. Because of our population increases and dwindling natural resources we are losing the capacity of the natural world to absorb our own desires to “do it my way.” Increasingly we need to take into consideration the needs of others.
Libertarianism is a great concept. It works in smaller populations with abundant natural resources. We have passed the point where we can afford the luxury of libertarianism. We need to think about and care for our neighbors’ needs at least as much as we care for our own needs. Interacting in caring ways in community is more important now than ever.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
A pregnant scene
Thelma visited the store yesterday. Among other catching-up conversation she shared this story.
Thelma’s daughter, in her 20s, is an actress. Presently she is in Los Angeles trying out for many acting jobs.
Thelma received an E-mail from her daughter with the subject line stating “I’m pregnant.” Of course that caught Thelma’s attention!
In the body of the message her daughter described that she landed a part in an episode of a TV series where she plays a pregnant woman.
Thelma’s next response as a mother, after recovering from the initial reaction to the pregnancy statement was with fright, “Do you get killed in that episode?” A mother does not want to experience her daughter being killed, whether in real life or as an actress. Her daughter replied saying, no, she was not killed and actually the good guys save her.
There is drama and even trauma waiting for us around every corner in life, or so it seems some days. Some are real and others are perceived to be real.
Thelma’s daughter, in her 20s, is an actress. Presently she is in Los Angeles trying out for many acting jobs.
Thelma received an E-mail from her daughter with the subject line stating “I’m pregnant.” Of course that caught Thelma’s attention!
In the body of the message her daughter described that she landed a part in an episode of a TV series where she plays a pregnant woman.
Thelma’s next response as a mother, after recovering from the initial reaction to the pregnancy statement was with fright, “Do you get killed in that episode?” A mother does not want to experience her daughter being killed, whether in real life or as an actress. Her daughter replied saying, no, she was not killed and actually the good guys save her.
There is drama and even trauma waiting for us around every corner in life, or so it seems some days. Some are real and others are perceived to be real.
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