Distributed Mind

Alright, I am like tripped out on lack of sleep so don't hate me too much when you read this...(like what kind of excuse is that, anyway?)

In politics all the players think everything is monochrome: Good, bad; you, us; right, wrong. Whatever. Give me numbers, ranges, tradeoffs, reasoned discussion. Can the posturing, name calling, and motive reading. It's the last one that has been ticking me off lately about the stuff coming out of the liberals and progressives - of which I consider myself to be. And I know I do it too, even if I would claim a certain co-blogger of mine might do it alot more.... :) As a good revolutionary I always had to do that, thouh I think I have always unconciously rebelled when others did it (good liberal hypocrite that I am - but then you can usually count on hypocrites to speak the truth; that's the irony of it). But maybe there is a better way.

I think all radical liberals have to struggle with the balance of indignation at injustice committed against individuals and the love you have to have for the first part to matter. I and many of my intellectual colleagues have maybe spent too long on the wrong side of that fine line. Too much hating going on. That was supposed to be the domain of system-loving conservatives (i.e. those who love status quo more than people). I think I am trying to get us to stop hating Bush & Co. so much and do something. And by do something I don't mean get a large group together and yell about how bad things are or how enlightened we are. We have to talk, but civilly, even with those who don't deserve it. And I know that's hard because I can't even talk civilly with those I agree with for the most part (hey, Justin). [Well, actually I belive I speak the harshest with people I trust precisely bevause I do trust them. So I guess if I seem to hate you that's a sign of acceptance... But anyway, a discussion for another time.] Let's get off of our self-righteous trip and really start practicing what we preach. Spread the love, man. Even to G. W. Bush. Mind-blowing I know. We need to remember all the trash we do, like supporting repression of workers, polluting, and hurting animals, and just generally being apathetic. (That is, sorry for the non-religious here, a very Christian point of view. But useful nonetheless, I would claim.)

(Man, makes me want to go work for an NGO over there... For a few years I have had this fantasy of doing something dangerous but good and pacifist, like work for some NGO in a war zone. Man, that would be hard, but I guess if you want to really show that you mean what you say, that is a great way to go. Not that we should be all about proving ourselves to everyone, but... Okay anyway now I am rambling.)

Man, what is the point of this vertiginous missive, other than don't write when exhausted (as it makes one both too honest and disorganized)? Well, first, let's all stop sounding like panicked jerks, and speak the truth in love. Don't let them get by with trash, but be careful not to be vitriolic or self-righteous. (On the other hand, don't get so fed up that you start defending them, like I have been doing lately, ugh.) Second, man, let's figure out a way to be really useful [seriously, I expect to see comments on this one - what can we do that will really help people].

And will people please regularly remind me I don't believe in politics!?