Good to hear. I think it's important to honestly consider how we process our environment as well as the outside forces influencing us.
One thing I decided to do based on your advice is to make a concise understandable problem statement about the current problem in Clark Park. I've been trying to protect Clark park, (as a public park and protect the constitutional rights of the public to use it), for about 10 years. I know some of the threats so well that I sometimes forget how little is understood in the neighborhood about the hidden processes and agendas. People didn't understand the threats to privatizing jails until the judges were busted selling kids in northeastern PA. They didn't see that "no child left behind" was always intended to prove that public education should be privatized and that poor and lower middle class communities should get a "third world" funded school system, profitable to a few. As you brought up in a post, those who speak out at unpopular times, even if they are widely thought of as "loudmouths," serve an important role to the democratic hope, as they take on the concentrated power. Of course, we, loudmouths, need to periodically check our "filters" like everyone. By the way, at the Nation web site Naomi Klein interviews Michael Moore. I can't wait to see the new movie! Glenn -----Original Message----- >From: Richard Moreau <[email protected]> >Sent: Sep 25, 2009 8:57 AM >To: Glenn moyer <[email protected]> >Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [UC] Michael Moore interview > >I agree with you on the optimism inspired by Michael Moore's films and >the difference between naive optimism and optimism based on informed >awareness. I think the difference can sometimes be due to one's own >mental filters (rose colored glasses vs clear glasses for example) and >not always only the external circumstances. It's important to examine >our own filters / glasses as part of this process. > >I also agree with you about the insidious nature that persuasion of >all sorts can take, and, yes, I sometimes see my susceptibility to >this - one reason I try to be careful to examine my own filters / >glasses. > >I just felt a need to point out my agreement with you on these points >after having written at length about my concerns with your filters / >glasses recently. > >- Ricky > >On Sep 24, 2009, at 4:21 PM, Glenn moyer <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hey everyone, >> >> I wanted to give you all a heads up. The great film maker, Michael >> Moore, has a great interview today on Democracynow.org. It's also >> on a couple channels like 35 and Drexel TV this evening. >> >> >> Ricky raised the issue of "optimism" in his criticism of my recent >> satirical portrayal of FOCP leaders and their research. (haven't >> had a chance to respond) This great interview comes at a good time >> for our discussion of optimism. >> >> First, I am so glad to see someone like Moore courageous enough to >> speak truth to power. I found myself in almost complete agreement >> with his insights and applaud his courage to speak the unpopular >> truth. >> >> I also find his comedy very inspirational and it elicits true >> optimism. Moore, the film maker, reminds activists and middle class >> observers that fighting for the underdogs is not depressing. I >> would submit, that whatever trials and tribulations activists >> experience at the hands of an oppressive system and its believers; >> they can always find strong satisfaction from their courage to stand >> up to the dark force and the military empire. >> >> I think too many people have believed the corporate anti-democracy >> spin. I saw that in Ricky's beliefs about my personality >> characteristics. It's hard to be called lots of names, etc. But >> doing what you know is right, even if you need to speak truth to >> power; is not something that only depressed lonely crazies do. (To >> me, the corporate anti-democratic message plays on people the same >> way as the need to stay "in style" to be happy. It's a big lie.) >> >> That's the message the corporations force down our throats as they >> infantilize us and turn us into addicted consumers. In my response >> that I started to Ricky, I want to draw out the difference between >> true optimism which comes from a deep space inside, and forced >> optimism, sometimes called "wishul thinking," which is dangerous to >> the individual and creates a sense of learned helplessness in a >> consumer society. (I like social workers and this is an important >> topic that Ricky raised.) >> >> Check out the interview-Moore is very inspiring. >> >> Glenn >> ---- >> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
