what is completely fascinating to me is just how much a product of our environment most of us are.
opportunities available, chances given, school, family, wealth, geographic location, the list could go on and on....but there comes a point I think when we become aware of this, become cognizant of the broader scope of the world, in a place where sociological imagination and self awareness meet, where we have a choice.
we must choose to go back to our old way of thinking, or embrace all that we do not know or even understand. Movies have been made beautifully illustrating this point if one is to look at the underlying meaning. The Matrix comes to mind for me... before he even knows what he is looking for, Neo knows he is searching for something.
Then when he finds the Matrix, he must decide to take the blue pill and go back to his mundane existence, or the red one and experience all the world truly has to offer. Though in real life the choice must be much easier for unlike the movie once you learn of the existence of that other "reality" how can you truly turn away from it. I am no where near the completion of my journey and evolution into... who I do not know, but I can draw upon my own experience to make clear this point. 5 years ago I was enlightened to this "other" world, which has had many names throughout the years, alcoholics refer to this as the 4th dimension in which they allegorize "being rocketed into the fourth dimension" through a series of eye opening events they refer to as spiritual experiences. I cannot accurately describe in words what it was like to have this fog lifted from my vision, and to start to view and interpret the world as it actually is, not the constructed view i held for so long in my own mind. I am blessed to have the opportunity to attend school and continue this revealing of all that is "made up" and constructed by forces around me, for I wish to one day be able to view the world as it truly is, not through a series of lens or filters....
Please Watch these two clips and let me know what thoughts come up for you
The Matrix clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRNMZEDOBrM&feature=related
Plato's Allegory of the Cave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
thoughts for this morning
sitting here
staring blankly out the window
rainy seattle streets below
construction cranes dominate the sky
cars passing
people hurriedly moving from point A to B
Do they speak as they pass by?
No
Most have their thumbs fixed to keyboards
twitter, facebook, IM, some on myspace,
completely oblivious to the world around
Have you seen Wall-E?
Is the story of a society,
much like ours,
could be ours
years from now
this movie shows people completely plugged in
almost like the Matrix
plugged into a reality that resembles our own
but lacks, so much we would miss if it were taken away
smells, tastes, the feeling of warmth on your face
the cool rush of water across your lips
online we can be whoever we want
and explore people from across the globe
but at what price
do we still interact with those right in front of our face...
can we find balance between that world and our own
i can, and will
i will not sacrifice anymore moments which can never be relived
blessed to share those moments,
and thoughts,
confused feelings
trying to figure it all out
sharing those with him
my true love
KZN
staring blankly out the window
rainy seattle streets below
construction cranes dominate the sky
cars passing
people hurriedly moving from point A to B
Do they speak as they pass by?
No
Most have their thumbs fixed to keyboards
twitter, facebook, IM, some on myspace,
completely oblivious to the world around
Have you seen Wall-E?
Is the story of a society,
much like ours,
could be ours
years from now
this movie shows people completely plugged in
almost like the Matrix
plugged into a reality that resembles our own
but lacks, so much we would miss if it were taken away
smells, tastes, the feeling of warmth on your face
the cool rush of water across your lips
online we can be whoever we want
and explore people from across the globe
but at what price
do we still interact with those right in front of our face...
can we find balance between that world and our own
i can, and will
i will not sacrifice anymore moments which can never be relived
blessed to share those moments,
and thoughts,
confused feelings
trying to figure it all out
sharing those with him
my true love
KZN
Monday, May 11, 2009
gender norms
This week my partner is out of town so I visited his mother, aunt and
niece for mothers day dinner. It is a rare occurrence when I visit them
and do not help in some way around the house. Tonight was no
exception. I assembled a trampoline and fixed some recurring problems
on a cellphone and the home computer. As I was in the back office I
overheard a comment between the adults about "we can't fix that stuff
because we are women." i think i yelled a comment from the back room
and said something to the effect of "it has nothing to do with you
being a woman" And told them this is exactly what I have been learning
about in class. I immediately started a conversation with them in
regards to this thought process and tried to share with them what I
have learned in sociology this quarter. I tried to convey that it
isn't the fact that they are women, that it isn't their gender at all
but merely the social constructs and norms they were brought up with
and carry with them. I challenged them to look at these beliefs as
limiting to their lives, and hope they do not teach these to my young
niece who is now just 9 years old. My hope is that we can all spread
some of what we learn in class this year and open someones eyes
to possibilities...
niece for mothers day dinner. It is a rare occurrence when I visit them
and do not help in some way around the house. Tonight was no
exception. I assembled a trampoline and fixed some recurring problems
on a cellphone and the home computer. As I was in the back office I
overheard a comment between the adults about "we can't fix that stuff
because we are women." i think i yelled a comment from the back room
and said something to the effect of "it has nothing to do with you
being a woman" And told them this is exactly what I have been learning
about in class. I immediately started a conversation with them in
regards to this thought process and tried to share with them what I
have learned in sociology this quarter. I tried to convey that it
isn't the fact that they are women, that it isn't their gender at all
but merely the social constructs and norms they were brought up with
and carry with them. I challenged them to look at these beliefs as
limiting to their lives, and hope they do not teach these to my young
niece who is now just 9 years old. My hope is that we can all spread
some of what we learn in class this year and open someones eyes
to possibilities...
first blog
just a quick test... on these pages i will hopefully find time to document this inexorable journey i am on... every day new thoughts, viewpoints, challenging questions and conversation. Will you be a part of this chapter of my life? Will i look back on our interchanges of ideas and feel forever changed?
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