Here’s a first post crafted in response to my recent call for new topics: “It would be fabulous to learn about what types of positive contributions all of us scene skeptics are currently participating in to actually improve our society,” writes Robyn Wexler, who goes on to describe her personal involvement in animal-rescue causes.
A great question that I hope will inspire some spirited discussion! To what political, social or spiritual causes have you invested yourself lately? And are they the same sort of causes you would have envisioned back when we were kids?
Bonus question: How politically or socially conscious were you back in the day? I pretty much assumed everyone was left of center (’cause that was how I was raised), and I was always game to participate in causes that crossed my path, whether playing a Jesse Jackson benefit at Pea Soup Andersen’s or a benefit for victims of Mexico City’s 1985 earthquake.
How much was motivated by a genuine desire to help and how much by fashion or a wish to impress? I honestly can’t tell. Anybody want to help me sort it out?
I have always been far to the right. I support the Catholic Church and the charities they are involved with. I don’t buy into the anti-right rhetoric, or fool myself into believing Utopian philosphies, I dream of a better world, yet I am not blinded by well wishing unaware liberal thinking. To change the world, you have to realize it takes more than wishful thinking and money.
Lou,
Very interesting. I have been considering going back to the Catholic Church as I was Christened and attended Catholic school in South Carolina (not exactly a Catholic hub).
Do you live in San Diego? If so, which Church do you attend?
I pick and choose politically.
I live in Boston, I go to different Churches, usually St. Agnes in Arlington or St. Mary’s in Melrose Ma. I look forward to Easter.
as a graduate student i did my internship at the queer resource center and did a project to bring portions of the AIDS quilt brought to the university for the week running up to World AIDS day. we had lectures, art classes come in and provide narratives, a local quilting club came and did a panel for the school where students were able to write on the panel if they so chose.
i did that in honor of my father who died of AIDS 14 years ago.
the QRC still hold that event every year and hopes to continue throughout the years.
and i worked with local kids who were facing coming out to their parents. i worked with their families, too. easing that process and helping to alleviate the fears and concerns though open discussion about the ways to proceed in life.
it felt right to do this, since my father and his friends were typically cast out of their families when they came out. and the worst part was, finding out that there are still “reprogramming” camps. it’s unspeakable to me that people would see being gay as something to be feared and punished. so i work to help anyone who feels afraid of coming out and make it easier for them by acting as support during the process.
other than that, i have been active in alternative mothering communities both here and online. it’s been rewarding to have formed bonds with women all over the world through our common experiences.
(that first sentence should have read… “to have portions of the AIDS quilt brought to…”
>>I dream of a better world, yet I am not blinded by well wishing unaware liberal thinking. To change the world, you have to realize it takes more than wishful thinking and money.
Lou: I agree with every word here, except I’d substitute the word “conservative”! 🙂
I’m not just being contrarian … I consider myself a pragmatic progressive, and I don’t see that position as Utopian at all. I think vigorous, democratically elected governments are an important way of ensuring social justice and caring for populations. Countries with less goverment tend to be less prosperous, the populations are less healthy and educated …. It all seems pretty practical to me, and I find small-government conservatives are the ones kidding themselves about the self-regulating power of unrestricted markets.
We could get onto social issues … I know we’d never reach consensus on abortion — I’ve said before I’m honestly not sure how consensus is possible here. There are a lot of points where I’m on the same page as the average libertarian, though.
I find I can always talk with anyone who’s genuinely interested in the common good.
BTW, I suck at giving time to charities. We give money, but I am not good at this, which I regret. It’s the best argument this agnostic could make for joining a congregation …
“I find I can always talk with anyone who’s genuinely interested in the common good”…..aw shit…I guess that cuts me out of your conversation right there 🙂
“Unaware Liberal thinking” has got to be the most delicious contradiction in terms I’ve heard in a while. I thought that the right wing has demonstrated a clear suspicion of all the Ivy League intellectuals, ( like editors of Harvard Law Review?), with their progressive, (read socialist), agendas…no??
My wife is very good at thinking globally and acting locally….community food banks, blood drives, AIDS marches, breast cancer awareness, etc….
I don’t have any money so therefore do not give…I take care of little kids all day and always try to be as loving to them as possible…that’s all.
I wouldn’t give a nickel to the Catholic Church, unless you’re talking about the tens of thousands of victims of child abuse by priests.
(social justice and caring for populations)
What the heck is that? ^^^^^^^
At least once a month I work with a group of people from my church, including my daughter, to cook and deliver meals to about 125 homeless people.
My ideals are the same as they were 25 years ago. Like Matt, I used to assume that everyone around me had the same politics: smart, compassionate people would be liberal. Having worked on many projects with many people since, I stand corrected.
Also like you, Matt, I’m feel more connection with people who are using some different approaches to get to the same goal than to people who say we share ideas but aren’t doing anything about them.
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=897
Well said, Lou. I don’t think your point applies only to liberal or conservative thinking though. It’s as true like this:
>I dream of a better world, yet I am not blinded by well wishing unaware thinking. To change the world, you have to realize it takes more than wishful thinking and money.
The people actually doing more than wishful thinking and spending money make the best company.
The biggest Catholic Charity should be to remove all the child molesters and rapists from their leadership. I think there’s a bit of a problem there, eh???
They’ve also spent many, many, millions of “charity” dollars for legal defense of said “priests”.
>>What the heck is that?
Mark: You might be messin’ with me, or you might be serious … I got lazy and gabbled out some weasel words ’cause I was in a hurry. Mea culpa for the lame sentence! 🙂
Take 2: I assume that people of good conscience would optimally like to see everybody fed, clothed, educated and healthy … That life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are truly universal concepts, and we all honor those and want to see them enjoyed by as many people as possible.
In my world view, ensuring that goal in a big, complex country requires a significant amount of oversight by government. That approach leaves lots of room for waste and abuse, which means transparency and efficiency is important. But I haven’t seen another tactic even come close to reaching those goals. (Is there a small-government country where people have these needs covered? I can’t think of any, but I might have missed ’em.)
If I’m right that this is a goal whether you’re talking from the left or right, then we’re debating tactics — even if that debate is big, heated and complex.
Vatican City
Just want to make sure I’ve made very clear that I recognize big potential pitfalls in my approach to these problems: Government solutions can become inefficient and corrupt, and big governments have often abused personal liberties. These are real dangers.
Does anybody further right on the public-vs.-private discussion want to meet me at the DMZ? Do you see risks that come with a free-market, small-government approach to these issues, even if it’s the solution you support?
>>Vatican City
… Population 800, few of them raising families. 🙂
Not messin with ya.
I think our country has done pretty well with a smaller government approach in general. To me, the more it gets involved the more corrupt and wasteful it becomes. I would love for the programs and good intentions to work. The more FREE things that are promised the more people will sit around and wait for them. There is only so much free money to go around. Keep punishing those that work hard and rewarding those that don’t and we will be in even bigger trouble.
Yes I would like to see everyone eat well, sleep well, drink well, dress well, be highly educated. I certainly do not think it’s the government’s job to do it for them. Good policy’s need to be in place so everyone has the opportunity to achieve that if THEY decide to. If we keep giving things away and wasting with corruption we will all be looking to government for these things. I hope that’s not what people want. Is there a country that does this with small government? No. Good
Should we have safety nets with common sense attached. Certainly
Should there be charity and community help, heck ya but not forced.
In my travels and lifetime I certainly have seen hard work and common sense work wonders. When you apply the COMMON GOOD factor less than half want to contribute- all good if there is a money tree with no consequences.
By the way, before I’m called a racist, gay hating, child starving Jesus freak.
I’m married to a Hispanic, one of my best friends is gay, I have helped feed and cloth many poor children and I do not go to church.
Please use your head and the debate issues not your preconceptions.
Smile Matt
And, from our regularly scheduled programming: What are people doing? No apologia necessary.
>>Smile Matt
Mark: Who, me? I’m smiling — and it sounds you’ve got an entirely coherent view of how to get from here to there. Not mine, but that would be boring.
And I definitely don’t think any of it makes you a racist, homophobic bigot!
>>What are people doing? No apologia necessary.
Ha, Robin! Thanks for the reality check. 🙂
Matt, did you post this on Maundy Thursday on purpose?
I’m smiling too………….
I meant smile as we are and always will be friends. Even if I’m a racist, homophobic bigot…..
Ramblings are good
Wait a minute- did Lou just call Vatican City small government? You can’t even be a citizen without a specific governmental invitation. It’s arguably the most hierarchical and authoritarian government in existence. It’s small in terms of taking up only a little bit of space, but in terms of authority over personal life decisions… I’m not arguing one way or the other about how papal authority works. I’m just saying that’s not an example of a small government.
When I was a youngster in the punk Mod boom in san diego I tried to start this mini-political movement with Tami Martin called “The Veise Girls”…we passed out flyers at shows and tries to create momentum for shows with charity and “mindfulness” before that ewas a really trendy thing to do. I wrote a giant letter to Flipside Magazine-which was really more of a Vise’ Girls’ Mission statement-which was published right away-I thinkj it was 1982 or so . Tammy and I ended up with a number of pen pals from up and down the West Coast, and some bands that we were particularly tight with from Canada. We weren’t just talkers.. we also gave a lot of timer to UNICEF and other charities that were educating people about the injustices of war on the innocent and trying to raise money to educate and feeds the hungry in Africa-whuich of course, are ongoing problems. I was very idealistuic as a young punk..and became very demoralized when so few people wanted to join the Vise’ Girls’ Marches or contribute money to our fundraisers.
That is about when the scene became more about my perrsonal, creative experiience than a political itinerary.
I’ve tried to live my life as a kind giving person…and I certainly have my faulkts. But since my AVM and stroke five years ago (April 1st, 2005), it has been my personal goal to become strong enough and sucessful enough to contribute to Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund and to eventually travel and speak as a motivational Speaker for Youth At Risk (especially young women) and make a difference in our communities from the bottom up!
@ Mark….ramblings ARE good!! I agree with Robin on Vatican City being an extremely poor, and rather unique, example of small government…and Kristi…you are a great inspiration!!
Matt…Maunday Thursday?? Don’t think he has a grasp on the events of Holy Week???
Victimae Pascale Laudes……
>>Don’t think he has a grasp on the events of Holy Week???
Bruce: My lovely spouse was raised super-Catholic … Three aunts and three uncles joined the clergy … I’m pretty conversant (if not converted)!
Loping casually back on topic: My in-laws were paragons of charity, doing tons of good for their community via their parish. I don’t believe that any of Nancy’s siblings are deep into the Catholic Church, but many of them contribute their time to people who need it.
Ha ha….I love a quick response! You certainly are conversant.
I ignorantly lumped you in with my Jewish friends who know less of Maundy Thursday than I do about that thing where you cut pieces of hair off a child??
Is your lovely spouse still Super Catholic?? (We were raised Catholic and loped casually over to the slightly less crazy Episcopalians)
I both pray in and give from a closet and am agnostic at best. I am too much the observer to become the participant tho I do allow for involvement from time to time…
Bruce, I heard a new term recently: Whiskeypalians. You do the math.
Intelligent comment and great new term: I DID the math and this is so cool!! Thanks Dave!!!
>>Is your lovely spouse still Super Catholic??
Nope, we’re a hotbed of secular humanism in our household. She did say the other day that she’s “culturally Catholic,” which I think is right. She’d noted that one of our doctors had come from that upbringing and — while he’s from New Jersey — he’s got a quality that reminds both of us of her family in Michigan. (That’s a compliment, btw!) 🙂
Aaaaahhh….secular humanists…the best.
Is there a “culture of Catholic” though??? Kind of widely disseminated, no??
I’m terrible at managing my time for everyday things, much less for good causes. But for awhile when I wasn’t working, I worked with a group that seeks to strengthen the integrity and transparency of the voting process in this country, with an eye on computer voting in particular. You’d think with all the problems of money corrupting our elections you wouldn’t have to worry about the nuts and bolts of voting, but not so.
I’m a little rusty on facts and figures now, but the basic gist of the problem is that there’s no good way to be sure the vote was counted accurately by a computer when there is no paper ballot to refer in a recount. The recent Senate race in Minnesota is a good example of paper ballots being recounted down to the last one and a razor thin discrepancy reversing the computer-counted result.
A computer program can have a tiny bit of code, that’s very hard to find, change the results of an election, and even rewrite itself after the change. Add to this the fact that all the programs in use were written by private companies who call their code a trade secret and preclude the public from reviewing it. Add again, the fact that the companies who make the voting machines and software employ less security protocols than video games.
Cool post Paul…glad someone cares about the integrity of the process. Of course…if it doesn’t go our way a little fudging would be ok with me..lol.
I concur with Bruce and to add a very enlightening post as well Paul. I have doubted the ‘compuvote’ from early on after some of the tech sites (ArsTechnia et al) made mention of the faults from the programming and security side.
Tangent! I was just out buying Easter supplies … Is it within the realm of acceptable discourse to point out that many African-Americans really know how to dress well for Easter and that I wish I looked, like, one-third as good for any event I was excited about? There are some really handsome ensembles out there today.
unacceptable. Some of my best friends dress well.
I always shared the pain of the Palestinians, unfairly erased from history people that they are. I used to help organize Palestine Day on campus when I was a student at UC Davis. I always had a lot of sympathy for marginalized people. Later I spent a lot of time in the Gaza amd the Palestinian camps in Lebanon when I was doing my MA research in Lebanon. Even ended up on the receiving end of
Israelis missles wnen they were being fired indiscriminantly into civillian populations during the so-called “grapes of wrath” attacks in 1994. So isreal’s “liberal” prime minister Yitzak Rabin the only world leader that ever personally tried to kill me hahaha. Needless to say, I was less than impressed.
Now I’m in Haiti trying to clean up after the earthquake there and trying to rebuild markets, so I guess you could say I’m kinda sympathetic to poor people, but it’s not really a “cause”, it’s more like just a job.
[take care of little kids all day and always try to be as loving to them as possible…that’s all.]
Raising children to feel loved and valued is perhaps the greatest thing we can do for the world.
David you are too humble…helping the poor is the greatest thing one can do….oh, that, and loving kids!! xo Megan
The Palestinians have been getting screwed for a long time
I lived in Dublin and have spent a load of time in Ireland, including a fair amount of time in Belfast, where I walked the ghettos of both sides.
The Palestinian/Isreal situation is extremely similar to the N.Ireland deal.
George Mitchell and Bill Clinton made HUGE progress in NI, including
inacting a peace accord which was history making. Maybe these two should team up again and head over to the Middle East!
Agree with Lou and Robin…many of our friends are Israeli…yet, there seems to be little concern, (from them), for the plight of the Palestinians???
It’s all Matt’s fault
>>It’s all Matt’s fault
Hey, I was having a bad week!
Enough excuses, Matthew- we’re still waiting for you to apologize for the wars you’ve caused…
trivia
is my cause
Oh, wait! Is my cause reuniting middle-aged rockers?? Holy meta-tangent, Batman!!
Whoa.
Hey, look at your hands.
Hands are so…amazing.
Does Baskin-Robbins deliver?
They really should.