Well said Joel. Though I may have disagreements with George Franz and Karl North, we are fundamentally in agreement with the challenges we face. In fact, I see it as a great wrestling session of our minds. Tag team then even switching teams, knowing we all have a role to play. It's becomes a matter of priorities, opportunities, and some degree of assessing "what can we do/accomplish at this moment." Katie and others have added wise words to the discussion. I respect George & Karl tremendously and appreciate the depth of their knowledge and thinking about issues that some of us are just beginning to come to terms with. Strategies & tactics may differ. I fear that as we take our resistance to fracking to the general public, bringing up the idea of "powering down" too earnestly will alienate many and see us as "going back to the caves." As if that might not be an option some day for whoever has access to them. Vigorous discussion and good information will help us all make better political choices. Tony Del Plato
On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM, Joel and Sarah Gagnon < [email protected]> wrote: > Hey Ara -- > > We're all friends here. While we may see the world in slightly different > ways, they are variations within a broad theme. The vigorous debate may > obscure the substantial agreement. I think you may also find that many of > the frequent contributors to the discussion are anything but affluent. > White, middle-aged, and educated, (the lack of diversity is itself a > concern), but certainly not affluent. It is difficult to attain affluence > and "power down" at the same time. > > Speaking for myself, I very much value the critical thinking that is > evident in the back and forth on this listserve. That is hard to find in any > environment, including academic ones. It is hard to overestimate its value > as we grope for effective strategies and actions to address the fundamental > challenges to how our world is organized and functions. We all recognize the > unsustainability of it all, and we are all doing something about it. I think > it is fair to say that we are also acutely aware of our inadequacies, and > the associated frustration probably shows once in a while. > > Thanks for your example. We need a lot more like you. > > Joel > > > At 01:24 PM 12/16/09 +0000, you wrote: > >> As an earnest skulker and learner of this newsgroup, I must say, I'm >> really too through with the in fighting. As much as I have enjoyed the past >> couple of years, I'm close to unsubscribing. This hurts too much. I do what >> can. Gave up my car entirely, moved back into the city. I do all of my >> errands on foot. My apt. is much smaller, energy efficient and I now spend >> paying for all just slightly more than I paid for just electricity. I take >> out one little grocery bag a week of garbage. I'm conscious! If this were >> multiplied by millions, the effect would be corporate. My job in this life >> is to do what I'm aware of at the time, protest for and against what I >> believe in (we should certainly reinstate the draft, for instance). >> But as I sit here consciously making choices, a Cornell grad, like many of >> you, I view some of this through different lenses. I was a Social Worker >> before I became disabled w/ a chronic pain condition. Spent my life working >> with those in need. I live well below the poverty level. I do fine. But my >> priorities are probably quite different materially than the average poor >> person culturally. But this high toned affluent, white tower talk, going on >> and on for weeks is really enough. It's the height of arrogance. Can we >> please find something to agree on or argue via private email. Way too much >> drama for this simple steward. >> With the best intentions, >> Ara >> >> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry >> _______________________________________________ >> For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >> please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ >> >> RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >> [email protected] >> http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >> Questions about the list? ask >> [email protected] >> free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org >> > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, > please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > [email protected] > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > Questions about the list? ask > [email protected] > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > -- The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage they did not know they had. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
