tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3441908040982501903.post6521814177227751523..comments2023-12-18T19:38:22.023-08:00Comments on The Good Portion: You Want Us to Be Like North Korea?Laurie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15840896949617719814noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3441908040982501903.post-16975337830548406302011-12-08T02:09:41.378-08:002011-12-08T02:09:41.378-08:00Hi Laurie,
Well said!
Unfortunately this seems ...Hi Laurie,<br />Well said! <br /><br />Unfortunately this seems to be the nature of popular political debate.<br /><br />I liked the way you took this sound bite apart & analysed it, its implications, and how it comports with both American democratic values & Christian ethics. <br /><br />In marking assignments I often come up against shoddy logic & poor argumentation. This looks like a good example for students to discuss in buzz groups or write a short analysis of. At our College we're trying to teaching our students to think, to reason, to argue; rote learning or repeating one's lecturer's opinions is a problem in Africa. <br /><br />And in line with your next post we are not immune to similar responses to illegal immigration. 2-3m Zimbabwians fled to South Africa. Though not protected by our labour laws many, despite huge unemployment, nevertheless found low paid jobs, often below minimum wages. They (& other African refugees) were better educated than South African Africans & had a far stronger work ethic. The response? Not memes but xenophobia! Violence, killings, lootings, driving out. A blot on our nation a few years ago. But also tremendous practical support of the immigrants & a national outcry against the way they were treated.John Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115879045701395533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3441908040982501903.post-75056960893049137712011-10-05T07:21:29.881-07:002011-10-05T07:21:29.881-07:00Oh, amen amen amen! I try to steer clear of talkin...Oh, amen amen amen! I try to steer clear of talking politics (mostly to hide my ignorance, but also b/c people tend to be the least grace-full when talking politics), but I have a hard time keeping quiet with immigration gripes like this.<br /><br />Yes, there is a problem. But there should be a distinct difference in the way that Christians approach these immigrants - perhaps if Christians were giving more grace to them, the government wouldn't have to. If anything, we should applaud the U.S.'s success in this human rights issue - treating even illegal immigrants like humans - even if it is to our economic detriment (but let's be serious - how many of us are going without food or clean water or basic health care because of the economy? We're doing STELLAR compared to the rest of the world - this coming from a family of four on one income that is struggling to pay the bills each month). <br /><br />Great post! Very thought-provoking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3441908040982501903.post-72216721482087264882011-09-01T22:45:48.275-07:002011-09-01T22:45:48.275-07:00Jenny,
I couldn't agree more. I think it'...Jenny, <br />I couldn't agree more. I think it's next to impossible to change the mind of someone set in their ideas with these little memes. To really bring change in a fundamental ideology of another an underlying sense of trust or respect needs to be in place and built upon with careful reasoning and understanding. I'm concerned that we are losing these fundamental qualities necessary to maintaining a civil society.<br /><br />I think what these memes succeed in, when they succeed, is "preaching to the choir", you know, in the "Can I get an amen?" sense. They rally the emotions of like-minded individuals, but little else.Laurie M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15840896949617719814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3441908040982501903.post-12702648469255097692011-09-01T20:37:12.226-07:002011-09-01T20:37:12.226-07:00I think the big problem might be that many Faceboo...I think the big problem might be that many Facebook users genuinely believe that they'll impress the opposition with short quips. The internet gives its users a false sense of their level of influence on the rest of the world.<br /><br />BTW, I love your little quip: "Facebook is just another medium for human hearts." But I'll refrain from reposting it on Facebook. ;)Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11046641822669890457noreply@blogger.com