Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Extra! Extra! Hear all about it...

What does the media mean to our society? Do we truly understand or appreciate all that is said? When the newspaper is sitting on the kitchen table, do we take the time to read it? News should be reported internationally, objectively, and be as unbiased as possible. Given the facts, shouldn’t we be able to make up our own minds? But there are other factors that belie raw news. Well known media is no longer comprised of private businesses that answer only to their own conscious, but is composed of a conglomerate of large corporations, all with their own interests… mainly profit. When a company was a government contract, they probably don’t want their newspaper taking a controversial stand on the current administration’s policies. Yet the average person trusts the media to accurately portray the news, and inform us on relevant events. “If it’s important, they’ll let us know…” i.e. if it’s in the owning corporation’s best interest… Yet the newspapers are making commentaries on Hillary Clinton’s laugh and some senator’s latest visit to the local elementary school. What about national policies and problems? After reading the news, do you feel informed?

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Stereotypes

Stereotypes are dangerous. Stereotypes have the power to start war and genocide. They linger for decades and centuries until the people have forgotten the meanings behind them, yet they still hold meaning and are used in the common vernacular. Our fear for those we do not understand is translated into hate. At work the other day, a coworker made such a comment when complaining about the price of the local laundry mat. “They’re such Jews.” Well, so am I, although not in the sense that he was using it. At the same time, this individual it unaware of my ethnic association, and likes me just fine. But if he was aware, what would his change? His opinion of “Jews” or of me? It was dumbfounding and frightening. Perhaps most individuals do not really mean anything by it, but the fact that such slang is still used, especially by those who have little or no idea of the relatively recent history behind it, shows the power of hate. Hate does not die, but like a disease is passed down generation to generation.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Can a Chicken Save Your Life?

The other day I happened to receive a flyer in the mail regarding a sustainable international aid organization, Heifers International. From what I understand, you have the option to purchase a gift of an animal such as sheep, goats, cows, chickens, etc., are given to individuals in need in various countries. For twenty dollars, you can gift a family with a flock of chickens, providing eggs, meat and fertilizer. Their responsibility is to pass the offspring of these animals to other people. It just struck me that in our society we have forgotten the meaning of sustainability. If the corporate farms suddenly stopped producing meat and vegetable products, our country would be faced with a crisis. Yet we have backed ourselves into this corner. Is our lifestyle ethical? I think that most folks today would have little or no idea how to begin caring for a flock of chickens, which are saving lives in impoverished nations. We take such things as eggs and meat for granted while they are a rarity to others. www.heifer.org

Monday, October 22, 2007

The Silo

Last Saturday was my first time up in the silo at my in-law’s dairy farm. The top layer had spoiled, so my father-in-law and I climbed up the ladder, pitchforks in hand to get rid of the spoilage. Fermented grass doesn’t smell all that wonderful, and the odor clings to your hair and clothing (I washed my hair three times that night and the smell still lingered). But the cows need to eat, so we did what we had to do. I’m not all that fond of heights, and after shoveling for over two hours, we had both slowed down so that the pitchforks were carrying less weight each time we threw the contents down the shaft. Stifled by the heat and steam erupting every time another forkful was lifted, even the air from the ladder shaft felt cool. I was petrified making my way down, pitchfork in hand – having to continually stop and lean back against the plastic casing because my legs were shaking so badly. Yet this was voluntary. We did what we had to do so the cows could eat this winter. And my father in law had to remain up there a good while longer adjusting the unloader. Yet, as we go though all the effort to care for these cows, at auction, we are lucky if they fetch $120. And that’s bought per pound. Justice is not for the farmer is seems. Hours of backbreaking labor, injury and risks; yet for working so hard, the price of milk keeps dropping. I suppose farming is a way of life as opposed to personal choice. So while this farmer (papa) gets two days off a month, and his wife needs to work full time to support the household, the corporations are making millions. While perhaps some would consider farm life harsh, do they consider what life is like for an animal used for corporate profit? Used for bodily products with little if any consideration to their health – bred without rest periods, milked to death, and finally ground up and fed to other cows (hoof and mouth disease). Unlike the small scale, where each cow receives individual attention, is looked over while being milked, having human contact, free grazing as long as possible and fed mostly products from the farm: hay and silage. And although the dogs enjoy herding the cows on occasion, the harshest treatment received by our hands is a sharp tap when they’re being stupid. So then why are the farmers being taxed off their land? We are only a decade at most away from that fate ourselves… How is that moral? Instead of grinding us down in the mud and manure, shouldn’t the state be helping us?

Thursday, October 18, 2007

On Torture

In theory, torture is never the answer. But in reality? I honestly do not feel that I know enough on the subject to answer that question. My first inclination is to suggest that torture is never justified. While a compelling argument is made in the case of the “ticking bomb” scenario, people lie especially when they know all they need to do is hold on until the time runs out. However, in the case of the car thief in the assigned article, I know that if it was my child on the line, I would not hesitate to use torture if the perpetrator refused to disclose the child’s whereabouts. Perspective and self justification can become dangerous when one does not compare them to the bigger picture. Hitler felt perfectly justified in initiating the Holocaust. Every one attempts to justify their action, even when their conscious is wreaking havoc. People are proud, and no one wishes to admit their errors. To intentionally inflict pain on another being is a heinous thought.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

99 Red Balloons

War. Just the word is frightening and ominous. No one has ever gotten involved in a war and has said “We are not justified” while ready to die for a cause. However, governments have gone to the extreme in funding weapon research while medical institutions and cures suffer. War is such a terrible thing, and yet it is promoted sociality, from video games to romanticized novels. Religions evolve around it. Why does war hold such fascination for those who have been fortunate enough not to experience it? However, we have our own hidden war. The Iraqi occupation, while not formally a war, has been shifted from the public attention, just as our conflict in Afghanistan. What is the real purpose? Control of oil? Considering that we have little or no governmental interest in Burma or Darfur, it is clear that our government cares little for foreign humanitarian needs, must less our own, bearing in mind the attention given to the victims of hurricane Katrina. Money. Is that all that wars really boil down to? Someone is always making a profit, whether it is the funeral homes, weapons companies or government officials. Why? Can we ever really answer why? We study history to learn from past mistakes, but somehow they keep getting repeated.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Stem Cell Research

The other day when I went to my doctor's appointment, I noticed in the office pamphlets promoting the creation of cord blood stem cell banks. As in animal experimentation, we are being lazy regarding the materials used. Given the amount of births a day in the United States alone, how many of those parents actually create a cord blood bank? And out of those that do not, what happens to the tissues? Disposed as bio hazardous waste? One must question why society is even arguing about the source of stem cells from embryos, when the research matter is available via natural processes that take place every day.
I feel that this subject of embryonic stem cell research coincides closely with one's view on abortion. When does life truely start? The moment of fertilization? The thrid trimester? neurulization? Although I do not know, I strongly feel that when methods other than creating and destroying a life are availible, they should be utilized. Although the unknown is often misunderstood and misinterpreted, the physical control with a lack of ethical control is a frightening thing. The same prinicple underlies the reason that there are still two cultures of smallpox existing as potential biochemical weapons. Lack of control. Why do we still hold on to our capacity to destroy when we have so much potential to create?

Monday, October 8, 2007

Bambi Tastes Good

I believe in hunting for need, not primarily for sport. In other words, even if you are going after a trophy worthy buck, the animal should not be wasted. While some individuals consider hunting cruel and bloodthirsty, it is necessary to the population health and control of wild species, especially as our species has taken over much of the former habitats. As a result, if the population is not controlled, the entire ecosystem suffers for lack of food and space. Mankind is also part of the food chain, although we have rather haughtily placed ourselves at the top, and have subsequently destroyed or dramatically reduced species threats. In any case, hunting wild animals is a much lesser evil than specifically breeding and raising animals for slaughter and consumption. Although “Bambi” tastes good, especially in a pot roast, “Bambi” gets to run uninhibited and enjoy being an animal in a natural environment, whereas “Babe” the pig is kept in a confined space most of his life so he gains as much weight as possible, and is slaughtered long before coming near to fulfilling his natural lifespan. While these creatures do not know the difference, with altering their state of being, we are given a greater degree of responsibility. And sadly, responsibility given does not always mean responsibility taken.