From: Matt the Enraged Endorphin (mpkundert@students.wisc.edu)
Date: Sat Dec 28 2002 - 22:40:34 GMT
DMB, Steve,
DMB said:
Here Steve is essentially putting the idea
that "man does not live by bread alone" into his own words. Matt, apparently
speaking as Satan's attorney, makes the opposite case. ;-)
Matt:
Rather then quote much of my last few posts, I'll simply suggest you read
them again, keeping in mind that I've never denied that "man does not live
by bread alone." As I see it, the two sides drawn aren't arguing about
whether there is or isn't a "spiritual crisis" or whether, pace Steve,
there is or isn't poverty and cruelty. We are arguing about what the best
way to alleviate poverty and cruelty is. I'm suggesting that until people
have enough of the material necessities of life, they won't have the time
to seek "justice and compassion." Kids in the ghettos don't have time to
be compassionate about other people and go to school and behave because
violence is everywhere around them. It is largely a jungle in the ghettos
and these kids join gangs and participate in gang violence to survive.
Telling them to simply make "Quality decisions," to just "rise above" the
cycle of violence is not going to help. We've been telling them that for
years. Do people break free of the poverty cycle? Certainly, but I don't
think the best way to help more people, to increase the numbers of people
breaking free, is to raise the volume of our voices when we say, "Seek
justice. Make Quality decisions. Lead a good life. etc."
I agree that Pirsig says liberal ideologies are more moral then others. I
agree with that, too. But how do we raise people out of ignorance? I
would suggest education. People in the ghettos aren't the only people
receiving poor educations. If we want to increase the education of our
society, the way to do it is to put more MONEY into education. If
educators were paid more, it would attract better teachers and it would
alleviate some of the worries and bitterness of the current teachers. They
would feel appreciated. I agree that the voters of America need to wake up
and take stock of the direction of this country. But I follow Rorty in
thinking that the way this is going to be accomplished is by top-down
initiatives because those at the top are the ones with the time and energy.
I think if we take care of some of our economic ills, we can then begin to
take care of some of our spiritual ones.
Matt
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