Judy's Homegrown Blog

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 30, 2011

…Should we in the West try to return to a more virtue-based morality?

I believe that we have indeed lost something important—a richly textured common ethos with widely shared virtues and values. Just watch movies from the 1930s and 1940s and  you’ll see people moving around in a dense web of moral fibers: Characters concerned about their honor, their reputation, and the appearance of propriety. Children are frequently disciplined by adults other than their parents. The good guys always win, and crime never pays. It may sound stuffy and constraining to us now, but that’s the point: Some constraints is good for us; absolute freedom is not. Durkheim, the sociologist who found that freedom from social ties is correlated with suicide also gave us the word “anomie” (normlessness). Anomie is the condition of a society in which there are no clear rules, norms, or standards of value. In an anomic society, people do as they please; but without any clear standards or respected social institutions to enforce those standards, it is harder for people to find things they want to do. Anomie breeds feelings of rootlessness and anxiety and leads to an increase in amoral and antisocial behavior. …One of the best predictors of the health of an American neighborhood is the degree to which adults respond to the misdeeds of other people’s children. When community standards are enforce, there is constraint and cooperation. When everyone minds his own business and looks the other way, there is… anomie.

"Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Haidt. Reprinted by permission of Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group."

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 29, 2011

This is proof that the Republican field is so weak, that they have to bring in the high jinx to get any attention for their Republican debates! Donald Trump, real estate tycoon, master debt raiser and negotiator, the person who “coined” the phrase “You’re FIRED!” is our next Brit Hume?

Maybe the Neilson ratings were so low at the last fourteen (fifteen?) debates, that they had to bring in someone with a little “TVQ”. And the best they could come up with was Trump. How do these things happen?

One thing sums up what Donald Trump is all about: his legacy. He wants to put the biggest stamp on the world that he can before he dies so nobody (use the NY or NJ accent here) “fuh – gets about him”.

In an interview with Matt Lauer, Trump states: “But the fact is that if the wrong candidate is nominated to run, if I think it’s a candidate that’s not going to win and not very good and that could happen, I guess, I mean, I’m seeing some very good people and some very talented people and if the economy continues to be bad and I think it will because I think we have incompetent leadership, I would certainly think about running as a independent, yes.”

What eloquence! What vision! What ego!!!

If Donald has his way and actually moderates the next debate, perhaps it will be his chance to tell each candidate, one at a time “You’re FIRED!” until there’s no one left standing. When Trump is boss, guess with whom we are left? You guessed it: The Donald!

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 28, 2011

As we age, we should be better at learning what makes us happy. If this isn’t happening, then here is today’s lesson from Jonathan Haidt’s excellent book, The Happiness Hypothesis:

“…Most of the life goals that people pursue…can be sorted…into four categories: work and achievement, relationships and intimacy, religion and spirituality, and generativity (leaving a legacy and contributing something to society). Although it is generally good for you to pursue goals, not all goals are equal. People who strive primarily for achievement and wealth are… less happy, on average, than those whose strivings focus on the other three categories. The reason takes us back to happiness traps and conspicuous consumption (see chapter 5): Because human beings were shaped by evolutionary processes to pursue success, not happiness, people enthusiastically pursue goals that will help them win prestige in zero-sum competitions. Success in these competitions feels good but gives no lasting pleasure, and raises the bar for future success.

“When tragedy strikes, however, it knocks you off the treadmill and forces a decision: Hop back on and return to business as usual, or try something else? There is a window of time—just a few weeks or months after the tragedy—during which you are open to something else. During this time, achievement goals often lose their allure, sometimes coming to seem pointless. If you shift toward other goals—family, religion, or helping others—you shift to inconspicuous consumption, and the pleasures derived along the way are not fully subject to adaptation … effects. The pursuit of these goals therefore leads to more happiness but less wealth (on average).”

"Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Haidt. Reprinted by permission of Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group."

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 27, 2011

Mihály Csíkszentmihályi first defined “flow” as a state of complete immersion in a task, where a feeling of joy envelops the person involved. When experiencing flow, time ceases to exist, the activity seems effortless, the self or ego slips away, and everything feels right with the world. Many of us witness this during sporting events or musical concerts, or a play or dance performance. The vicarious thrill in watching someone during flow may be one (sometimes unrecognized) reason why we want to be audience members.

What are you doing when you feel “flow”?

Usually people feel flow when they are doing the thing that matches their skills and abilities.

It was, perhaps, the activity or interest that most jazzed you when you were a child. For me, it was always writing and visiting stationery stores. I was a weird kid.

I mention flow because as Americans, we need to feel a sense of empowerment in our own lives before we can be grounded enough to think our vote matters. A person with low self-esteem, who is depressed, feeling ennui, won’t vote. Find your passion, get into your groove and the rest of your world falls into place.

For inspiration, here is one example of flow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEEfDdJyxPY

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 25, 2011

The most popular movement in our country is this basic sentiment: “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this any more.”

Where did that sentiment come from? It comes from a movie written by Paddy Chayefsky, the famous playwright who penned “Network.” The movie was written before 1976, decrying television as a medium which Chayefsky noted was “an indestructible and terrifying giant that is stronger than the government.”

The sentiments of his character Howard Beale, acted brilliantly by Peter Finch, are the ravings of an insane news anchorman who “lost it” on national television, and unwittingly brought in high ratings which pushed the industry into a “mad as hell” for ratings pandering machine.

What Paddy was against was people watching TV just to fuel or express their anger and frustration. It is a carnival show, and now the show is us, mad as hell on Wall Street, making the institutions we most rail against the very ones that produce our “show” and make money off of us.

I hope you realize by now that my writing isn’t to create an incendiary situation, or to change anyone’s mind about politics, or to topple the wealthy and give to the poor disenfranchised citizens of this country some semblance of respect. My purpose is to say to you: each and every one of you has internal power, your own sense of your self as important in this world. The best you can do is to have meaningful relationships with a few people around you, and be the full expression of your God given talents and abilities within the context of your humanity, never forgetting that your very life comes from this earth and its gifts. If you don’t believe in God, then whatever created you from the ether: claim this mortality as a specific point in time, with your own fingerprints, and develop your own character, man!

Watch this excerpt, if you’ve never seen the movie or you just want to see this impassioned speech again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dib2-HBsF08

This is not my favorite excerpt from the film, however. If you keep coming back, I will show it to you.

Today’s harvest

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 23, 2011

Why do I choose the most difficult thing to do?

I could have looked for a job in industries where I had experience: medical office management, sales, design, or gardening. I could have spent my savings to go back to school and learn a new career. Or maybe I could have started a small business editing video for my friends, putting together scrapbooks, or started a cooking school.

Instead, I decided I wanted to change Washington. Why did I have to pick the most difficult thing?

To change Washington, will require getting the attention of over a hundred million American voters, and then convincing them that it is in their best interest to elect people who have not been bought by special interests. When the media pushes the people who are already in conflict-of-interest situations, when all those advertising dollars promote more-of-the-same politics, when all the cards are stacked against this grand experiment working, why would I ever choose to do this, of all things?

I believe in the spunk of optimism, of fantastic turns of fate, and of the power of the underdog. I believe that the American spirit is about fighting for what is right, against all odds! Plus, I only have only one life to live, and my motto is: when given the choice, I will do what I feel is the right thing, let my conscience be my guide.

Above your health, value your good conscience. It is what you take with you beyond the grave.

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on November 20, 2011

It is an exciting day for us here at Writeindependent.org! We want to read what you’re thinking, and see what’s going on around the country that is NOT being reported by the media. We want to know what is happening “on the ground” and in your communities, because many bureaucrats in Washington are out of touch with their constituents. Do you feel like they don’t even care about us? Let them know by writing down your thoughts.

If you have an idea that has not been outlined in legislation before Congress, here’s your chance to offer your solution. If you know a new technology that is not being utilized to its fullest, we want to hear from you! Maybe your community has been putting systems in place that can be duplicated to great effect all over the country.

Of the many ways to get involved, consider joining your voices and signing on as an Entity User. For example, your university’s department has produced ground-breaking research from which we could all benefit. Or a fifth grade teacher with an imaginative 5th grade class gives her students a project to come up with the best way to solve the immigration issue! We have great, intelligent kids who can become part of the process of getting the country back on its feet, one child at a time.

This is your website, America! Use this tool to our advantage and create a better future for everyone!