On the first page of this powerful and packed chapter, DL claims that, “the complex problems we face in the world…almost always indicate a failure of moral ethics and inner values. At every level we see a lack of self-discipline….Our shared problems do not fall from the sky, nor are they created by some higher force. For the most part they are products of human action and human error.” Do you agree? Why/why not? Why is this even important?
DL also claims that, “In this age of globalization, the time has come for us to acknowledge that our lives are deeply interconnected and to recognize that our behavior has a global dimension.”Respond.
In his section on the “Futility of War,” DL says that, “in this contemporary, deeply interdependent world, war is outdated and illogical. Before you agree or disagree, put this claim in the context of Iran’s current development of nuclear weaponry. How should we and our governments respond?
In his section on the Environment, DL calls us to “face the reality that our excessively materialistic lifestyles are wasteful and come at a considerable environmental cost.” This is not a popular, crowd-pleasing message in the U.S. How do we go about combating such rampant and culturally endorsed materialism?
Speaking of messages that won’t do well in the U.S., DL directly indicts capitalism as “only motivated by profit, without any ethical principle guiding it,” and leading to “terrible exploitation of the weak.” Your thoughts? How should we respond?
Oh my, I agree with all of what he says but the big question is how do we fix any of it? I do think we can trace all of our "problems" back to human error and actions. I believe a majority of these stem from selfishness- not putting the other person on at least the same level as yourself. If we truly felt that all human beings were just as important as we are a lot of our problems would be fixed. Imagine if we took as good of care of the world as most of us take of our own children. Because capitalism is based on money not on what is good for the people it does contain some major flaws. I really do not know where to start to fix the systems. I feel it can work on individuals dealing with other individuals but on a global scale it is overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThat was Nancy R
DeleteHi Book group - it's Toby. I'm here! Write your name as a comment if you are and then we'll know who is here and get started in a few. Toby
ReplyDeleteOops! And don't forget to keep hitting your reload or refresh key!
ReplyDeleteAnd now for our opening thread...Do you believe there is a general willingness in society to own up to our own individual and corporate responsibility for the world's problems or are we still convinced that it is all someone else's fault? Weigh in on that and then follow up by addressing Nancy's notion that the answer lies in truly valuing everyone's worth as equal to our own children's...
ReplyDeleteHi Toby and others Julie H.
DeleteJulie - I was just about to sign off. It appeared I was the only one here. But now it's two of us again...I think. Pick up on the opening thread and let's go for it...if you care to
ReplyDeleteToby, I agree that it would be a wonderful thought if we treated others like we do our children..HOWEVER..I have seen some pretty mistreated children in my 30 years of teaching so I believe that is to simple of an answer
ReplyDeleteJust paying attention to the Republican presidential race and the political talking heads, I don't feel very confident that people in general are getting better at accepting their/our mutual responsibility for where things are in the world. We always seem to be blaming someone else as the villain - Iran, Iraq, Osama, Obama, the banks, etc. Even with the banking crisis...why hasn't anyone said, "I contributed to that by borrowing and spending far more than I should have." That's just one example
ReplyDeleteHi nancy here-just got home from work
ReplyDeletebut despite the possible over simplification of thinking of/treating others as we would our own children, what DO we do and teach to get people back to a place of owning our responsibility for how things are? How DO we take better care of the earth, etc. TOGETHER?
ReplyDeleteHi, Nance! Jump in. Just getting started but need to move things along....
ReplyDeleteOwnership would go a long way in turning things around or at least laying the ground work for more compassion..it comes back to those words "I'm sorry" and really meaning it
ReplyDeletesomehow people have to realize it is really in their own best interest to do this but short term it does not always appear that way
ReplyDeleteLet's jump over to the next entry for Ch. 8 and I'll tie it to Ch 7 with a thread....see you there momentarily
ReplyDelete