Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Dependent Clause
Dear blog readers,
I try very hard to use correct spelling. My apostrophes are usually in the right places. I try not to run on too many sentences, although it still happens sometimes.
But I use sentence fragments. A lot.
Please forgive me for my dependent clauses. One of my resolutions for the new year is to limit fragments to a maximum of one per article. Please cyber-smack me if I fail.
Sincerely,
Kate
I try very hard to use correct spelling. My apostrophes are usually in the right places. I try not to run on too many sentences, although it still happens sometimes.
But I use sentence fragments. A lot.
Please forgive me for my dependent clauses. One of my resolutions for the new year is to limit fragments to a maximum of one per article. Please cyber-smack me if I fail.
Sincerely,
Kate
Monday, December 19, 2011
A Friendly Debate
There are many recent political decisions, made on my behalf, that I am uncomfortable with. Those who made the decisions are not idiotic, nor evil, nor ignorant. They are human beings who have made their careers in politics and who live and breath policy everyday. I am entitled to disagree with the direction that they steer my community/province/country, but I have a responsibility to openly yet critically understand their reasoning before I form an opinion.
Last night, I had a very lively conversation with my brother-in-law about global politics, specifically climate change policy. His scholarly expertise is in business while mine is in natural science and mathematics. I presented what I felt to be right and he countered with what he felt to be true. Undeniably, both ethics and realism are essential for any worthwhile discussion. We argued passionately for a good half hour, then gave each other a warm hug and went about our evening. Later that night, when the heat had subsided, I thought critically about what he had hashed out. He had some excellent points.
No one knows everything, but we all know something. We do not need to completely agree with one another to work together. It is tempting to villainize those whose priorities are different from our own, but portraying the "other side" as evil, egotistical, selfish morons is rarely accurate and does not strengthen our argument. Respectful collaboration and good faith are necessary for progression. Very often we may disagree on specifics while holding general consensus. This is reality.
Thank goodness there is so much for me to learn and so many friends and family members to learn from. Otherwise, life would be rather dull.
Last night, I had a very lively conversation with my brother-in-law about global politics, specifically climate change policy. His scholarly expertise is in business while mine is in natural science and mathematics. I presented what I felt to be right and he countered with what he felt to be true. Undeniably, both ethics and realism are essential for any worthwhile discussion. We argued passionately for a good half hour, then gave each other a warm hug and went about our evening. Later that night, when the heat had subsided, I thought critically about what he had hashed out. He had some excellent points.
No one knows everything, but we all know something. We do not need to completely agree with one another to work together. It is tempting to villainize those whose priorities are different from our own, but portraying the "other side" as evil, egotistical, selfish morons is rarely accurate and does not strengthen our argument. Respectful collaboration and good faith are necessary for progression. Very often we may disagree on specifics while holding general consensus. This is reality.
Thank goodness there is so much for me to learn and so many friends and family members to learn from. Otherwise, life would be rather dull.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
In Today's News
Last week, my sister was asked about civic politics by a reporter on the street. She answered his question and went about her day. Two different news channels used the footage, and each used a small portion of her quote to support their assessment of the political events in Nanaimo. The strangest part of this story is that the two news stations held opposing editorial views. If you believed everything you watch on TV, you might come to the conclusion that my dear sister holds simultaneously opposite political opinions.
There is bias inherent in the media. So what do we, the audience, do? Do we shut our eyes and ears and ignore the events in the world? Perhaps, instead, we should play an active role in the way we learn from the news.
The news media has a responsibility to strive to provide objective reports of current events. In reality, this is a virtually impossible task. The very best in the field can come close to escaping bias, but it is always there. We, the audience, have a responsibility as well. We are charged with monitoring incoming information and asking ourselves, "What may have been omitted from this report?" We must begin to form our own opinions, instead of relying on editorials to tell us how we should feel. Our interpretations of events may change as more information becomes available. The credibility of a news organization must be assessed. When "facts" are presented, ask "How likely is it that these statements are correct?"
Both the news media and the audience have an obligation to live up to their respective responsibilities.
Be cautious of what you're told, because it may not be true. But don't stop listening because of the existence of lies.
There is bias inherent in the media. So what do we, the audience, do? Do we shut our eyes and ears and ignore the events in the world? Perhaps, instead, we should play an active role in the way we learn from the news.
The news media has a responsibility to strive to provide objective reports of current events. In reality, this is a virtually impossible task. The very best in the field can come close to escaping bias, but it is always there. We, the audience, have a responsibility as well. We are charged with monitoring incoming information and asking ourselves, "What may have been omitted from this report?" We must begin to form our own opinions, instead of relying on editorials to tell us how we should feel. Our interpretations of events may change as more information becomes available. The credibility of a news organization must be assessed. When "facts" are presented, ask "How likely is it that these statements are correct?"
Both the news media and the audience have an obligation to live up to their respective responsibilities.
Be cautious of what you're told, because it may not be true. But don't stop listening because of the existence of lies.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
A Lesson Learned
Fill in the blanks.
"I would never ever ever, not for all of the ____________ in the world, [do] _____________. Never."
What did you put in the blanks? Was it something really disgusting? Embarrassing? Demeaning?
I have filled in those blanks a thousand times. There are some things (that I won't write here, just in case you are eating) that I thought I wouldn't do for all of the money, vacations, and guitars in the world.
And yet I do them now - for free. They are jobs that I didn't think were going to be part of adulthood, and yet here they are. I do them because no matter how disgusting, embarrassing, or demeaning they are, someone needs to do them. And I do them with a smile because they make somebody else comfortable and content. It's worth it.
[I'm not talking about anything illegal. Jeez Louise! Get your head out of the gutter.]
I'm talking about taking care of someone. Parents can attest to this: when you take care of someone, you often get more than you bargained for.
For example, I've learned to have a strong stomach. I've learned to listen even while I'm sleeping. I've learned that it's not all about me. I've learned to go with the flow and to find happiness in microseconds and micro expressions. I've learned that I'm stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. I've learned that I have a lot of growing up to do, but that I'm capable of growing up.
I've learned all of this by doing things that "I would never do for all of the money in the world." Sometimes, we must put ourselves in an uncomfortable position, and - if we are lucky - we will learn some of life's most precious lessons.
When you give your heart, it may be broken. When you give your time, it may be wasted. When you give your ideas, they may be ignored. These are the risks we must take in order to grow.
"I would never ever ever, not for all of the ____________ in the world, [do] _____________. Never."
What did you put in the blanks? Was it something really disgusting? Embarrassing? Demeaning?
I have filled in those blanks a thousand times. There are some things (that I won't write here, just in case you are eating) that I thought I wouldn't do for all of the money, vacations, and guitars in the world.
And yet I do them now - for free. They are jobs that I didn't think were going to be part of adulthood, and yet here they are. I do them because no matter how disgusting, embarrassing, or demeaning they are, someone needs to do them. And I do them with a smile because they make somebody else comfortable and content. It's worth it.
[I'm not talking about anything illegal. Jeez Louise! Get your head out of the gutter.]
I'm talking about taking care of someone. Parents can attest to this: when you take care of someone, you often get more than you bargained for.
For example, I've learned to have a strong stomach. I've learned to listen even while I'm sleeping. I've learned that it's not all about me. I've learned to go with the flow and to find happiness in microseconds and micro expressions. I've learned that I'm stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. I've learned that I have a lot of growing up to do, but that I'm capable of growing up.
I've learned all of this by doing things that "I would never do for all of the money in the world." Sometimes, we must put ourselves in an uncomfortable position, and - if we are lucky - we will learn some of life's most precious lessons.
When you give your heart, it may be broken. When you give your time, it may be wasted. When you give your ideas, they may be ignored. These are the risks we must take in order to grow.
Monday, December 5, 2011
My Christmas Wish List
Someone asked me what I want for Christmas. I sat around, humming and hawing, saying idiotic things like, "Duuurrrrrrrr, weeeellllllll, ummmmmmmmmmm. I - uh - don't really need anything."
Here's the thing - I don't really need anything. I thought very hard about what I might like. Someone was offering to give me whatever my little heart desired (for free!), and my heart desired no material thing.
I think I might have grown up this year.
If there is some relative or friend who is generous enough to actually desire to give me a gift this Christmas (Thank you!), let me make it very easy for you. Instead of taking the time to think about what I might like, then driving to the mall, then spending four hours looking for parking, then fighting with eight old ladies who also want the very last item of the thing-a-ma-junk you are buying, then driving across town to try to find the thing-a-ma-junk at another store (because the old lady with the sideburns beat you out; what a scrapper), then wrapping it in pretty paper and a big bow, please just use that time to come over for coffee and spend some time with me. It's what I really want.
If this notion of spending-time-not-money makes you uncomfortable and you really really really really need to buy something to feel like you've done your job, I respect that. I recommend donating to a charity, such as this one.
But honestly, I would rather just have a coffee with you.
Happy Holidays
Here's the thing - I don't really need anything. I thought very hard about what I might like. Someone was offering to give me whatever my little heart desired (for free!), and my heart desired no material thing.
I think I might have grown up this year.
If there is some relative or friend who is generous enough to actually desire to give me a gift this Christmas (Thank you!), let me make it very easy for you. Instead of taking the time to think about what I might like, then driving to the mall, then spending four hours looking for parking, then fighting with eight old ladies who also want the very last item of the thing-a-ma-junk you are buying, then driving across town to try to find the thing-a-ma-junk at another store (because the old lady with the sideburns beat you out; what a scrapper), then wrapping it in pretty paper and a big bow, please just use that time to come over for coffee and spend some time with me. It's what I really want.
If this notion of spending-time-not-money makes you uncomfortable and you really really really really need to buy something to feel like you've done your job, I respect that. I recommend donating to a charity, such as this one.
But honestly, I would rather just have a coffee with you.
Happy Holidays
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