I have been really enjoying the comments and reactions to Majora Carter's TED Talk and the post on Social Responsibility. I wished more of you responded to my previous post about whether "individual" or "fear" are social constructs. I am very interested in leading you all to consider that if most ideas we live by are socially constructed, like myths we live by, and all human cultures have their own way of thinking, believing, behaving and feeling about this common humanity we share, why is it so difficult to change something we made up? How do we get stuck with these things? It has implications for economics, for how we talk about our times. "We are in a financial crisis" gives a particular point of view of life when we might have had the same amount of money or even more during the Clinton administration boom and been worse off. Why?
Daniela was responding to the TED talk about the South Bronx with Majora Carter who is an excellent and passionate non-profit leader for greening the ghetto. Daniela as well as Edwin made some AWESOME comments--go back and read them. But often we can talk about change and what's missing but because we live in the US more often than not we have the luxury of talking but not necessarily acting.
We have so many luxuries here in the U.S. The luxury of a democracy, of money, of our position in the world, of choice, of free speech. They are awesome and wouldn't trade em for the world.
“Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind”What do you think would have Thoreau say this and what about what you learned this semester from doing/reading/participating-observing/writing about anthropology, what aspects of what you have learned would you use as evidence for your answer?
Henry David Thoreau (American Essayist, Poet and Philosopher, 1817-1862)
AFTERTHOGHT: Hey what if "luxury" is something you can simply create (words create worlds)? What would you create in your speaking and how? Maybe it begins with simple pleasures.
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2 comments:
I really like the idea of "simply pleasures" that Prof. Gaunt have being suggesting for awhile. We do live in a very luxurious country, the majority of us can buy things from supermarkets, shop for clothing, play in a park, speak about our opinions... and everything day there are new things of new technology coming out flashing on advertisements. New drugs, plasma tv, new video games, new cosmetics, new food processor, new microwave food... it get's a little crazy sometimes because as human beings we can sincerely ask ourselves, "Do I NEED all of this?" Most of the time, living in this country, we won't die if we don't get any of those things on advertisement. "Simple pleasure" is connected with the idea that don't let other people dictate what you want and need. We all know that our desires can reach up to infinity, but should we let material desires be that way? Perhaps if we focus one day on simple pleasures, we can begin to see ourselves differently, discover some potentials, and expand our perceptions of things. For me, I wouldn't say it's easy, but I like the idea very much, and I would like to take it up as a challenge. I know it for a good cause.
- Jouman
Hey this is a topic i have always thought of. The world has changed dramatically, and the rhythm with which it develops also increases as time goes by, and it seems to be impossible to avoid it. The rule is that what is considered a luxury today will most probably become a necessity in the near future. For example when T. Edison first invented electricity, people used to perfectly manage living with candles,and those who were using electricity were rich and lucky to be so. Whereas, now it obviously is a major living element.
If people were not ambitious to explore new ideas, new places, new adventures, then maybe we would still be in the early stages of development. The United States is known for having people eager to succeed and this is what makes it a great country. Having what currently is a luxury, will make one stronger and happier, and then work harder for another step forward.
As a result, to my opinion, leading by example is the secret to make others succeed in their dreams as well, to make them get to the "luxurious living".
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