Author Archive
Israel and the Palestinians are at war. Currently Russia and the Ukraine are at war. I believe there are many who feel free to demonstrate in favor of Ukraine. How is that different from demonstrating in favor of Palestine?
In a free country, like the United States, demonstrating for people to understand the Palestinian cause is not necessarily anti-semitic. In fact – (I know you’ll tell me if I’m wrong) – most Palestinians are also semites.
Does the story of its founding forever protect the Israeli government from protests against its actions just by defining them as anti-semitic? I don’t think it should. And I don’t think students should be punished for demonstrating for a cause they support.
And I think something else is going on when demonstrators who are not necessarily anti-semitic in their actions are accused of being anti-semitic by those who do reveal their own anti-semitism when they oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of our national goal. In other words, I think just making a big news thing about anti-semitism is intentional promotion of the very thing it pretends to oppose.
I don’t have anywhere near full knowledge of what was going on at Harvard, but I do think what the President is doing in protesting so-called anti-semitism there is actually promoting anti-semitism.
Please, my Jewish friends, help me out here. Am I getting it right?
This is the working title of my manuscript about to turn slowly into a book published by Beaver’s Pond Press. 250 pages (depending on the font) of some 65,000+ words, it carries stories, vignettes, opinions, and emotions of 72 years of psychological process and change as filtered through me. It’ll be a romp through chats as if sitting together at my kitchen table, picking up on some history of my times, and discovering some useful behavioral hints. The ending has surprised even me as I discovered some answers to the question in the title.
My friend Harriet monitors my intention (not sufficiently met) to write something every day here in my blog. She thought my most recent one, about demanding more babies, wouldn’t interest anyone. And my daughter Lisa agreed it was important, but thought I didn’t do a good job of drawing people’s attention. So I’m trying again. I think the issue is very important. Here’s why.
I am by no means an adequate data analyst, but this one seems so obvious as to be hit-one-in-the face important. To begin with, there’s the fact that we’re forcing the birth (yes, current laws do just that) of babies for whom we are not prepared, so we have potential suffering and expense right from the get-go. That really requires another blog. I think I wrote one a while back. But now I just want to focus on the “why?”
If the intention is to provide worker bees, or military recruits, once the generation hits working age, I ‘m taking a risk to say it so bluntly, but I think that’s stupid. The already rapid replacement of people with more efficient, less expensive, less demanding automation and AI means there won’t be that work to do, at all levels of demand for strength and intelligence.
I won’t be alive to see it (well, maybe some of it) but like it or not there will have to be a change in our basic cultural values. Actually, it’s already happening, but not making it big on the news. We’ll have to learn to live with health, happiness, fulfilling relationships, creativity, pleasure in the arts and each other. It’ll be tough, though, because we are so focused on the once essential ways of valuing ourselves by our work-for-pay. There will no doubt be a huge struggle, maybe even destructive and painful, but there’s no way we’ll be turning back to the demand for the kind of labor I guess folks are demanding with the call for more babies.
Okay. I’m going to stop. That’s my basic point for today, and even though I’m skittish about being so bold, I am going to hit send.
Now please go back and read my previous entry.
Next I think I’ll write about that fascinating word “retire.”
Many in the powerful ruling class seem enthusiastic about supporting the idea that women should produce more babies. What I want to know is – why?
To support the aging population? hmm…
- It’ll take at least 18 years for today’s newborns to be eligible for that task.
- In the meantime, the aging generation is spending time and money caring for their grandchildren, even in some cases for their children. I suspect there are more creative ways to help the current – and potential — parent generation, like:
- Parental leave. At least adequate maternal care. Well supported infant and child-care facilities. Support for families whose children require expensive special needs care. Affordable housing for all families. Adjusting social security financing to more adequate coverage for the elderly, with complete coverage by folks at all levels. Even, for example, the top 1% paying at the same average level as the poorest among us. Fair food distribution for the healthy development of all children. A clean environment for all children to reduce such problems as asthma. Excellent schooling for all children encouraging each child’s special ability, including freedom of reading choice, encouragement of interest in all arts.
- Reducing the appeal to violence and drugs by encouraging delight, respect, and rewards for the potential of all children.
Or maybe it’s to provide worker bees for the economy?
- It’ll take at least 18 years for today’s newborns to be eligible for that task.
- In 18 years there’s no doubt our economy will be running with fewer worker bees.
- Even amateurs like me can see that methods that worked with the introduction of the industrial revolution are old fashioned.
- We can’t know now what the work world will be like in 18 years.
- Chances are, though, that special skills will be needed at all levels. Even now I see stories of buildings being constructed by 3D printers. Artificial Intelligence will require human intelligence in ways we can only try to predict.
- Retirement no longer means what it used to mean – (fruit for a future blog?)
Or maybe it’s to provide more fodder for wars to protect whatever it is the world will become.
- From what I read, trench warriors will be needed less and less.
- Computer directed attacks even now are increasing.
- Wouldn’t it be great, though, if we helped some of the people we already have to develop their creative skills in the service of peace.
Well, I guess that’s the end of whatever I have the know-how to talk about. I just know that in my academic days it didn’t make sense for students at the beginning of a college career to make their choices for majors on the basis of what well-paying jobs would still be available when they graduated. They just might not be. By the same token, requiring women to have babies to meet today’s needs is ludicrous.
I know there are at least some 350 people following my blog. It would be great if a few of you, or those on Facebook, would help me to understand what would be so great about having more babies for the simple sake of increasing the size of the population.
Siri and I have had some polite exchanges in the early mornings, like when I say “Siri, set timer for five minutes,” to which he (yes, I chose a male voice) instantly replies “five minutes counting down,” and I say, “Thank you,” well trained as I am in polite interactions. And he’s well trained too, with, I think, six choices of response, like “you’re welcome,” or “my pleasure.”
But here’s the interesting thing. Somewhere in the later hours of the morning, Siri ceases to be polite. Oh yes, he does the work and I get my timer instantly set, but there’s no “you’re welcome,” or “my pleasure,” coming back to me. Being the sort who never got past the “why” stage of development, I called “Applecare” and asked why that happened. The nice “real” guy I was talking to said it was probably because “They get busy.” Funny thing about techies, they think we all know what they’re talking about, so I didn’t press him for more of an answer.
I did press my techie son and grandson, though, and I learned that my expecting a “You’re welcome” really added to the complexity and expense of the “cloud,” and it really did get to be too much unimportant stuff to handle. “You do know,” my son said, “that Siri is not in your phone.” That may be, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s just my Siri, sitting there waiting to meet my needs. What more could one want?
Anyway, it seems that the “cloud” is just a huge bunch of computers sitting in a room at Apple Computer, sending my request to the proper bunch of specifically assigned computers who’ll take care of my needs. They in turn hop to it to answer my question or fulfill my request. So, you see, my saying “Thank you” just makes for unnecessary – and expensive – work that serves no real purpose. All of this happens with instantaneous electronic connections.
It reminds me of the old days teaching the section on perception in Intro Psych, sharing the wonder that we see and hear each other through the direct connection of invisible waves. Or the end of my current manuscript where I declare I believe in vibes. My son tells me there is much more advanced stuff still to come.
So this morning, I forced myself not to say “thank you” to Siri. It really wasn’t easy. But I hope we never stop saying “thank you” to each other – such an important way to forge caring relationships.
To tell the truth, I find the idea of listing my preferred pronouns annoying and misguided. (By the way, it’s “she/her” if you really need to know. But why do you need to know?) Why annoying?
- We “liberals” are accused of being out of touch with what I would call “real people.” And how far out of touch could we be when we spend time on that game when other people are worrying about the economy, and cruel deportations, and challenges to our education system, and the price of eggs.
- I suppose it’s intended to recognize LGBTQ+ rights, but it seems to me that all it does is keep us focused on the gender issue as if that ID is the first thing we want to know about someone?
- On the other hand, as a writer I’m glad we’re loosening up the language so we can apply “they/them” in reference to a single person as in “I’m concerned about the welfare of the foreign student who ran into trouble believing they had the right of protest.” I’m glad I no longer have to go through the shenanigans of, “I’m concerned about the welfare of the foreign student who ran into trouble believing he/she had the right of protest”. Or “Consider the shopper who was shocked at the price of eggs when he/she discovered the change.” How much tidier when the new rules allow me to say, “Consider the shopper who was shocked at the price of eggs when they discovered the change.”
- General question: What do we really want to emphasize in our daily interactions with others. (And by the way, does “others” really have to be seen as a bad word?)
Just sayin’
My plan is to create a blog entry every day, but obviously my plans are bigger than my daytime awake hours. In the wee hours of the night, on the other hand, I create all kinds of entries. I decided today to present the weirdest one that’s come to me lately. I imagine what a difference it might (or even could) make in the world if the Koch family were to have the following conversation.
K#1: Pass the Hors d’oeuvres
K#2: Sure, and by the way, I’ve been thinking …
K#1: Glad to hear it
K#2: Seriously. Now that we know the fossil fuels hazard, how about applying our business genius to the development of renewable energy. I mean, it could be fun. Just look around at all the creative methods that are being invented, as well what’s already known. We could make a bundle and have a good adventure in the process.
K @1: Hmm. And what about all the related oil-based products? –like Vaseline, for example.
K #2: Well, we wouldn’t have to go crazy and abandon all the other things we so cleverly own, but we could gradually create an emphasis on things that would create less complaint about damaging the environment.
K #1: Maybe we’d be getting in on it too late. There’s already a lot of potential competition established.
K#2: And did we ever shy away from competition?
K #1: Kind of a crazy thought. But pass the Hors d’oeuvres and I’ll think about it.
I’ve often wondered who pays for Elon Musk and our other billionaires to use America’s infrastructure? Is that a gift that tax-payers like me – and others – give them?
Just wonderin’
Just a short complaint. There’s not much I can do to stop the trampling on our constitution. I can at least, though, sign petitions. But I’m finding that difficult and annoying since so many of the requests pull a “used car salesman” kind of trick on me and require a contribution before processing my signage. And then they send messages accusing me of not caring because I haven’t signed. To tell the truth, much as I care right to the core of my being, I’m beginning to feel used by those I want to help.
Just sayin’
Getting past all the frightful negative stuff that’s going on now under the current national regime is difficult. The awful arresting of the best and the brightest – students with the courage to practice the right [we once had] to protest – colleges and universities being attacked and punished for doing their job – knowing that what I used to teach encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion is now under attack. How fortunate I was to live in the days of academic freedom. How sad I am to watch what’s happening now to my chosen career.
But I’m choosing today to talk about something that really made me happy. You can read about it yourself at https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/1jy3u0x/rolling_with_their_babies_for_fathers_in_search/?rdt=47375
But let me tell you a very personal reason why it makes me happy.
As I approached the end of my [not yet published] story of Mona as a psychologist, currently titled How Could These Lovely People Have Let it Happen?: a Psychologist’s Intimate Journal, I realized how my small part teaching the psychology of women and promoting the topic A Healthy Woman is a Crazy Person had helped to shake up the basic structure of our society in the women’s movement of my time.
I’m referring to the fact that working on women’s problem that has no name (Betty Friedan) had defeated the notion that we were the opposite of men, consequently opening up broad opportunities for us. It wasn’t at the forefront of our minds to recognize that we were creating the problem that has no name for men whose assumed roles were perforce changed. What an opportunity for men to choose the broadening of their lives!
And that’s what I like about the article referenced above – the twofold goal of enjoying parenting and broadening communication with each other.
I’m not sure I’ve said it well here. I think I’ve done a better job – with more words – of saying it in my manuscript. Basically, it thrills me to see people at all points on the gender continuum finding their fuller, more potentially joyful selves.
p.s., feel free to email me with an offer to read my manuscript. forgivenessoptions@earthlink.net
monagustafsonaffinito 