Something's Missing Here....Ethics?

Well, back to something more mainstream than Pie. I just reviewed a news post from the Christian Science Monitor about why support for the war has fallen so fast when compared with Korea and Vietnam. Weakening resolve related to mounting casualties was the predominant source of this shift.

However, I would argue that media presence and availability of rapid-fire outlets (Internet especially) contributes more to this overall shift. We now have ways to move stories faster than ever, and we also have the ability to broadcast our views to the world via the Internet, or by starting our own TV or radio station. The fact that speed of available information alone was not accounted for causes me further concern about what else may have impacted the responses for the survey used. It also highlights the need for something everyone needs to be reminded of: the need for ethics among all of us.

Why ethics? Ethics courses are generally given to folks in school that are being trained in areas of life, where the public will have to place more than an average amount of trust in them for making key decisions. I am familiar with it in the area of mental health, but medicine and business are also high on the list. Heck, there are courses for ethics in just about every area of professional life. I include on this list Communication Ethics. Where TV and newspaper personnel would be prime candidates, I believe this should be something pushed in high schools.

Some of you are saying, you've lost it Professor. But have I? If you take into account how many computers exist for posting material, it is much more than your average class of media hounds (According to the Blog Herald, the number as of July 2005 is over 70 million!) The number of folks in the U.S. is estimated to be as much as thirty million! And how many of those blog sites have multiple authors, like this one. We only have a few, but there are those with significantly more (IMAO has seven, Common Sense and Wonder has five, at least for the ones I like to read). And again, this is only for blogs. This doesn't include underground radio and TV stations.

The ability to disseminate information that can be reviewed by a significant percentage of people should require ethical considerations because of the amount of power it allows one to wield. Bloggers, in general, are good about policing the ranks and holding each other accountable. But the ability to make a key impact about a hot topic is fraught with responsibility and pitfalls. Look at the initial stories we get about the possible geeking of al-Zarqawi in Iraq. I am becoming more jaded, but I have to admit some small semblance of hope when I see the headline.

That little tweak can be larger, and can cause ripple effects. I really think this ability should be put on an ethics course for all. More arguments can be made about further boring people and trying to fit these things in to an already crowded curriculum in our schools. But my experience suggests that most would be willing and eager to debate an discuss the issues at hand. In part, that is what ethics should cause us to do. But we have to open up the dialogue soon, before we get something causing a major panic amongst our populace.

Multiple Pie Moments....

I had another great pie day today! It first started with another trip to Erie County Farms, where the 99 cent sale continued. I just missed getting the elusive Coconut Cream Pie, but pumpkin is now covered for Thanksgiving. This was especially appreciated by the heir to the throne, as he really likes pumpkin.

Then, the joy continued at my speech class. Tonight my students presented demonstration speeches, otherwise known as 'Great Recipe Night' because most present how to cook items. Of course, they bring samples for further evidence of their prowess. Class was not as well attend as it should have been, but several cheesecakes were in the mix. They were all pie-plate contained, and very delicious.

Life is truly good when based on the little things. Little things like pie....Maybe sometime soon I can blog about more 'important' matters, but right now Pie is a higher priority.

A Moment for Pie...

Where we live, there is a place called Erie County Farms. They do a thriving business in meats, cheeses, and various other produce. Yesterday, I braved potential swarms of folks to get our lunchmeats, cheeses, and some vegetables. While doing so, I found a stack of freshly shipped pies, from Chocolate Silk, to Lemon Merangue, to Cherry, to Apple Lace. And each pie was only 99 cents! I jumped on the last apple to be found and brought it home.

I would have to say it is quite good, with a generous dallop of whipped cream for fun. And all for 99 cents! Now if only I could find a good Coconut Cream Pie....

Too bad everything else in life isn't this easy.

Job Hopes Continued....

It has been a week since the interview. I feel pretty good right now. I have, for the time being, a sense of hope that has been absent from my brain. More tests and opportunities are beginning to unfold, with no promises, but it gives me something to aim for. And again, I am staying away from the news as much as I can.

How does this connect with my job concerns? Let me tell you....

I found a site dealing with Agathism, which describes my world perspective. An Agathist trends toward a greater good, without being blind to the crap that exists in the world. The author of the site, Brian Jones, notes something I generally believe. "If you read and watch the news too much, you might come to the conclusion that the world is in a terrible state....Not true, in my view....There are more people working on solutions than you might think."

This means, to me anyway, that news doesn't focus enough on the positive. And for me to be more satisfied, I need positive things. I have always believed we are molded by our environmental aspects, regardless of how 'strong' we think we are. And newscasts are part of that environment. I get enough to know what people may be talking about, but I am back to doing some things that make me happy.

This list includes, but is not limited to:

* Talking more with the Mrs., and watching less TV
* Asking more questions of my children's interests
* Getting together on a weekly game night with friends
* Not working 15+ hours a day, six days a week
* Being less serious about getting 'every little thing done' when it is not pressing
* Taking time to praise the progress of others, no matter how minor

Note that I am aware of the bad things that happen. But I finally connected another part of my brain to this overall concept. I can't stand these outlandish dramas like Nip/Tuck that add more strange and painful drama to my psyche. Life is dramatic enough. I actually watched the new Batjack release of McClintock recently, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Why? Because it has some moments of tension, but people try to have a good time in spite of it. Even when the 4th of July picnic / rodeo is interrupted by an Indian raid, one of the characters says "Are we gonna let a little old Indian raid spoil our rodeo?"

This is the type of atmosphere that would help all of us lighten up. Maybe we could accomplish more for everyone's greater good if we would focus on what will make the future better, instead of who is to blame for failure....Again, focus on the negative things in life is certainly keeping our country from being the fun, prosperous place that it used to be.

And if I am going to be prosperous, I need to enjoy the now more than an occasional quick hug or rare time to sit for a home-cooked meal. And if I want my family to support me in my quest, I can't be a bastard about it, or they will only be glad to see me gone. That stinks, especially since my goal is to be home with them more.

So I challenge you to consider what is going on around you. Are you consumed with the negativity of what is being broadcast? Are you happy, yet blind to what is going on? Or do you acknowledge the bad in the world, but believe things will get better because you can offer something that will help? I know where I am, and I don't plan on changing any time soon....