Here Now Beyond

During the past few weeks, I’ve been resisting the urge to upgrade to a better camera and a better laptop. It’s part of my attempt to reject the idea that I necessarily need to buy things to be more effectively involved in the community.

Perhaps I’m an old guy looking down on a younger generation of folk seeking social change, but most of the self-described anarchists I’ve engaged with are–in my humble opinion–actually something else. ‘Nihilism’ might be closer to the truth than ‘anarchism’ when it comes to their worldviews, though still not quite on the mark.

Let’s look for systemic solutions, not see individuals or humans in general as the problem. Some critics of the ecology movement, which includes animal rights, view it as anti-human. Positions of some activists, whether intentional or not, have fed into that. The world can do without a green version of the concept of original sin or any other philosophy based on the idea people are inherently bad.

This is not about demonizing high-powered CEO’s or, as conservative commentators say, “hating success.” It’s about putting things into balance.

People with different degrees of ability—not to mention luck(good parents, good schools, good genes, and so on)—might end up, within a meritocracy, with rewards and privileges others don’t have. Some of that is unavoidable, if not desirable.

But the question is this. How far do we allow that to go before it’s a drag on our national interest and the effective functioning of our political and economic systems?

Repeatedly pedaled past protesters as a voluntary beast of burden last week at the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Wondering now about doing demos in support of Cirque du Soleil June 9 and 10 at the Schott.

Might involve the same folk protesting last week, only this time holding signs like: “this circus promotes kindness to animals” and giving commendation lit.

Eric Boardman came to Columbus from Mansfield on April 18 to call for better fracking regulations. Acknowledging our country’s need for energy, he said he is not necessarily against fracking. But he said the public can’t make an informed decision about the safety of fracking because of the industry’s lack of disclosure. He supports the idea of using non-toxic tracer dyes to track chemicals gas companies might be putting into the water.

Vegans and others concerned about animal exploitation might want to make an assessment of how well we are actually helping with the problem, by way of our choice of tactics.

Disclaimer : I don’t speak for RSR or other vegans.

Here’s a guess about my own behavior. I’m too concerned about what others think and do to the degree I’m neglecting to follow my own conscience.