It is sunny and clear and cold outside - and I am inside writing. Today is a poetry and philosophy kind of day. A clear and sunny and crisp thought kind of day. A day for seeing far away. Thinking about the coming season of Lent in the Christian calendar. Lent is an extended time of refection, of thinking, of quiet. Like early spring, a time when a lot is happening, but underground where it can't be seen. Thinking about what is real and good and necessary. For a lovely discussion about the value of Reality check this interview on Bill Moyers Journal (a program I highly recommend - interesting guests - thoughtful and thought provoking discussions). Parker Palmer interview But then I began to ponder Parker Palmer's words about how his life work can never be done, that we are mortal. What is a life's work worth? Percy Shelly had a pretty stark thought about that in his poem, Ozymandias,
A thought that echoed the words of another poet thousands of years earlier whose wisdom became part of the collected religious teachings of Judaism and Christianity. All is vanity... Then I went back to Bill Moyers' guest, who said, "we need to live in the tragic gap between what we know to be true and what is possible." Turns out the London Underground voice is not just a safety message. It may also be a voice of wisdom, "mind the gap".
K
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Our tinted windows
A couple of weeks ago at a church meeting we discussed what our public response should be to Canadian involvement in the continuing war in Afghanistan. This is not an easy subject. It is especially difficult because we are far away and unable to get good information about the war. The conversation is also dependent on how the information about the war is given to us. This blog is meant to be my spin on media and messages and faith but today I want to empower each of you, my readers. As an exercise in awareness I encourage you to look at each of the resources below. As you read or watch each article keep the following key concepts of media literacy in mind. Fair warning, some of the clips contain poor language and violence. But then, "war is hell."
All media is constructed.
The media do not present simple reflections of external reality. Rather, they present carefully crafted constructions that reflect many decisions and result from many determining factors.
What is the image of reality that is constructed in each report?
What gets shown? What is not depicted?
Media contain ideological and value messages
All media products are advertising, in some sense, in that they proclaim values and ways of life..
What are the values that are held up as important or right in each one?
Audiences negotiate meaning in the media
Each of us will "negotiate" meaning according to individual factors: personal needs and anxieties, the pleasures or troubles of the day, racial and sexual attitudes, family and cultural background, and so forth.
What do you bring to the conversation? How do you feel about each report?
First a report from the CBC aired on the National Feb. 2. The video is long but the report is worth a look. View video here.
Below is a trailer for the movie that is discussed on the CBC. How is it similar or different from what you were expecting based on watching the CBC story?
At War Trailer
This next one is a non Western view of the war. Is there a difference in how the story is constructed? In the underlying world view? In how you respond?
Al Jazeera Interview
This is a fascinating look at the world view of the Taliban.
What assumptions are made about what the Taliban should know? What argument is the reporter trying to make?
Talking to the Taliban – Check out Part 5 View of the World
Last but not least a reminder that reality can change over time. The war in Afghanistan 1985.
What do you feel reading this article? How have the associations connected with the word "jihad" changed since this article was written? Why?
As people of faith, or people interested in faith, or people struggling with our faith, we also need to be people who think critically.
May you serve God with all you strength, all your heart, and all your mind.
Peace
K
All media is constructed.
The media do not present simple reflections of external reality. Rather, they present carefully crafted constructions that reflect many decisions and result from many determining factors.
What is the image of reality that is constructed in each report?
What gets shown? What is not depicted?
Media contain ideological and value messages
All media products are advertising, in some sense, in that they proclaim values and ways of life..
What are the values that are held up as important or right in each one?
Audiences negotiate meaning in the media
Each of us will "negotiate" meaning according to individual factors: personal needs and anxieties, the pleasures or troubles of the day, racial and sexual attitudes, family and cultural background, and so forth.
What do you bring to the conversation? How do you feel about each report?
First a report from the CBC aired on the National Feb. 2. The video is long but the report is worth a look. View video here.
Below is a trailer for the movie that is discussed on the CBC. How is it similar or different from what you were expecting based on watching the CBC story?
At War Trailer
This next one is a non Western view of the war. Is there a difference in how the story is constructed? In the underlying world view? In how you respond?
Al Jazeera Interview
This is a fascinating look at the world view of the Taliban.
What assumptions are made about what the Taliban should know? What argument is the reporter trying to make?
Talking to the Taliban – Check out Part 5 View of the World
Last but not least a reminder that reality can change over time. The war in Afghanistan 1985.
What do you feel reading this article? How have the associations connected with the word "jihad" changed since this article was written? Why?
As people of faith, or people interested in faith, or people struggling with our faith, we also need to be people who think critically.
May you serve God with all you strength, all your heart, and all your mind.
Peace
K
Monday, January 19, 2009
hope's not just for some
There is a new spirit of activism and hope in the youth of America. They have been inspired and engaged by President Elect Barack Obama. The whole world is listening and watching as he is installed as the next president of the USA. But, a movement needs a soundtrack. So Norman Lear commissioned the song below. I love the line, "the time has come to reaffirm that hope's not just for some."
The religious (Christian) themes in this are not just a little bit obvious. The title alone, Born Again American, recalls a religious conversion. For me, the most stunning lyric of this song is that line mentioned above, hope's not just for some. Right On! That is the heart of the Christian message.
Woodie Guthrie penned, This Land is Your Land, and people all over took it up and made it their own in their space. I remember singing a Canadian version in school. It was one of my favourites. On the Born Again American website ( http://www.bornagainamerican.org/ ) is the invitation to write your own lyrics. I wonder what the lyrics of Born Again Canadian would be? Where are our dark corners? Who needs hope in Canada?
Which brings me to the important difference of this moment versus others I have seen in recent years. People are taking back their lives and their ability to act. Obama's message has been, get involved personally, make a difference yourself, be a part of the project. America has inspired (positive) worldwide action before and (hopefully) we are in such a moment again.
But, I wonder where the church is (not just the UCC) on this. I have a feeling it is stuck in a committee meeting somewhere. We need to get out of our self pity party and be Born Again. We need to bring that key message, hope is for all, into the public square. We need to clean up our church buildings as examples of sustainable and accessible spaces so people can see it can be done. We need to be conduits of political change so that politicians feel encouraged and enabled to embrace agendas that are born again through the need to address poverty, education, health care, peace and equality. I wonder what the Born Again Church would look like? What are the lyrics for that song?
in hope
K
The religious (Christian) themes in this are not just a little bit obvious. The title alone, Born Again American, recalls a religious conversion. For me, the most stunning lyric of this song is that line mentioned above, hope's not just for some. Right On! That is the heart of the Christian message.
Woodie Guthrie penned, This Land is Your Land, and people all over took it up and made it their own in their space. I remember singing a Canadian version in school. It was one of my favourites. On the Born Again American website ( http://www.bornagainamerican.org/ ) is the invitation to write your own lyrics. I wonder what the lyrics of Born Again Canadian would be? Where are our dark corners? Who needs hope in Canada?
Which brings me to the important difference of this moment versus others I have seen in recent years. People are taking back their lives and their ability to act. Obama's message has been, get involved personally, make a difference yourself, be a part of the project. America has inspired (positive) worldwide action before and (hopefully) we are in such a moment again.
But, I wonder where the church is (not just the UCC) on this. I have a feeling it is stuck in a committee meeting somewhere. We need to get out of our self pity party and be Born Again. We need to bring that key message, hope is for all, into the public square. We need to clean up our church buildings as examples of sustainable and accessible spaces so people can see it can be done. We need to be conduits of political change so that politicians feel encouraged and enabled to embrace agendas that are born again through the need to address poverty, education, health care, peace and equality. I wonder what the Born Again Church would look like? What are the lyrics for that song?
in hope
K
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Today's musing is about obedience, context, compassion, and understanding.
Below is a video someone has posted showing a famous psychological experiment designed to see how people would react when asked to perform tasks by an authority figure. They were conducted by Stanley Milgrim. If you haven't seen or heard these videos (even if you have heard or read about the experiment) they are interesting but very difficult to watch. The volunteers are clearly very disturbed by what they are being asked to do and yet the vast majority of them continue to follow instructions. Keep in mind that these were not bad people. They were (like most of us) ordinary, obedient people who felt very bad about what they were asked to do. Recently, this experiment was repeated, with a couple of modifications, but very similar results. Last Friday, during the second section of The Current, on CBC radio had a very good discussion about both of these experiments and what they can teach us. (continued below)
The main conclusion of both of these studies, according to Jerry Burger (the author of the repeat experiment), "The real lesson is that the behaviour is not a function so much of the kind of person you are as the kind of situation you are in. I think we often fall into this trap of thinking well these must be bad people who do these things."
As a parent, I can't help but think of discussions we have with our kids about peer pressure. Peer pressure is not just about stealing cars, or smoking in the boys room (cuz it's cool). It is also (or mostly) about the little decisions, and having an independent mind. Do you play a game that you aren't entirely comfortable with? What do you do when one of your friends gets mad at another one?
At the end of the day, thinking about how our behaviour is affected by our situation, and recognizing that other people also have their behaviour affected by their situation, beyond their individual predilections, might be an important part of how we try to understand and have compassion for ourselves and others.
The most important part of this study is the reflection on the findings afterwards. What can we learn? Constant reflection and contemplation about our own experience is also the most important part of being honest and growing in our own lives. It is especially important when growing in our spiritual lives.
An end of day review can be very helpful for this. Before you slip into dreamland ask these three questions,
WHERE DID I SEE GOD TODAY?
WHERE DID I MISS GOD TODAY?
WHERE DO I WANT TO SEE GOD TOMORROW?
Peace
K
Below is a video someone has posted showing a famous psychological experiment designed to see how people would react when asked to perform tasks by an authority figure. They were conducted by Stanley Milgrim. If you haven't seen or heard these videos (even if you have heard or read about the experiment) they are interesting but very difficult to watch. The volunteers are clearly very disturbed by what they are being asked to do and yet the vast majority of them continue to follow instructions. Keep in mind that these were not bad people. They were (like most of us) ordinary, obedient people who felt very bad about what they were asked to do. Recently, this experiment was repeated, with a couple of modifications, but very similar results. Last Friday, during the second section of The Current, on CBC radio had a very good discussion about both of these experiments and what they can teach us. (continued below)
The main conclusion of both of these studies, according to Jerry Burger (the author of the repeat experiment), "The real lesson is that the behaviour is not a function so much of the kind of person you are as the kind of situation you are in. I think we often fall into this trap of thinking well these must be bad people who do these things."
As a parent, I can't help but think of discussions we have with our kids about peer pressure. Peer pressure is not just about stealing cars, or smoking in the boys room (cuz it's cool). It is also (or mostly) about the little decisions, and having an independent mind. Do you play a game that you aren't entirely comfortable with? What do you do when one of your friends gets mad at another one?
At the end of the day, thinking about how our behaviour is affected by our situation, and recognizing that other people also have their behaviour affected by their situation, beyond their individual predilections, might be an important part of how we try to understand and have compassion for ourselves and others.
The most important part of this study is the reflection on the findings afterwards. What can we learn? Constant reflection and contemplation about our own experience is also the most important part of being honest and growing in our own lives. It is especially important when growing in our spiritual lives.
An end of day review can be very helpful for this. Before you slip into dreamland ask these three questions,
WHERE DID I SEE GOD TODAY?
WHERE DID I MISS GOD TODAY?
WHERE DO I WANT TO SEE GOD TOMORROW?
Peace
K
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