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Comment on Jean-Jacques Rousseau by http://tinyurl.com/rugzdexer35156

http://tinyurl.com/rugzdexer35156 — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 01:29:36 +0000

“Jean-Jacques Rousseau” ended up being a excellent blog post.
In case it had much more photos it would likely be possibly even much better.

All the best -Collette

Comment on One Nation Under Ignorance by Thomas Steele-Maley

Thomas Steele-Maley — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:06:56 +0000

Jake a good post! My apologies for the delay in response. This is clear writing on moral issues of our times. I would be interested in knowing what you might lean on for hope in the writings of Rousseau or Arendt You ask “Can we want to repair our world”….what does this take? Can we do it without the politics that are “creeping into our lives” as you mention….or are you i favor of action toward politics? Why are we fighting and what is ideology? Look forward to your thoughts here.

Comment on One Nation Under Ignorance by Shoshana

Shoshana — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:57:13 +0000

Jake, I love the spirit of your latest post. If we can wake more people up to the fact that: we are being manipulated and distracted by stuff that doesn’t matter so that we don’t dwell on the stuff that really DOES matter—well then these manipulators will loose their audience. You are on to the sly art of political manipulation now fueled by billionaires and their PACS. Still, it takes each individual to see through the smog to the facts of the case. With voices like yours reaching out to ignite other voices and more awareness, I still put my bet on the power of the people to defeat manipulation…eventually.

Comment on What is going on with the state of North Carolina? by Jake

Jake — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:25:49 +0000

In reply to Josh Hodgdon. @Josh Thank you so much! Im so glad to have other students commenting and agreeing with my work. I truly feel we can make a difference by spreading our work and staying active. That line resonates with me too, when we don't allow citizens simple rights we are truly degrading them.

Comment on What is going on with the state of North Carolina? by Josh Hodgdon

Josh Hodgdon — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:21:14 +0000

This post was absolutely excellent. What really caught my attention was this line, “How can we be proud of ourselves as a society when we cannot accept others, but instead have to make them second class citizens?” I am a student and I see this as a statement that needs to be shared more vastly across the world. It’s statements like this that can remove of all ridicule and hate in the world. Very great post!!!

Comment on What is going on with the state of North Carolina? by Jake

Jake — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:40:25 +0000

In reply to Shoshana. @Shoshana Thank you so much! I will definitely enjoy doing this every week.

Comment on What is going on with the state of North Carolina? by Jake

Jake — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:40:01 +0000

In reply to Thomas Steele-Maley. @Thomas Thank you! And yes, I feel the same way and see the same relation to Arendt.

Comment on What is going on with the state of North Carolina? by Thomas Steele-Maley

Thomas Steele-Maley — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:37:30 +0000

Excellent insight here. Especially rich around the point “Don’t we know something is wrong when the satellite rap stations speak more truth then our own state governments?” This reminds me of Arendt (ed. Kohn, 2005) speaking of Socrates and statesman, “If we wanted to define, traditionally the one outstanding virtue of a statesman, we could say it consists in understanding the greatest possible number and variety of realities…. in being able to communicate between the citizens and their opinions so that commonness of this world becomes apparent” (p.18)

Thank you for this post.

Comment on What is going on with the state of North Carolina? by Shoshana

Shoshana — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:33:55 +0000

Jake,
I love your post. I honor your values, and I loved the way you wove together so many perspectives and levels of analysis. You are a a born columnist! Bravo!

Comment on Week of the 6th Summary by Shoshana

Shoshana — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:09:07 +0000

Hi again…I really enjoyed your video… I am intrigued with the question of applicability. If Arendt is describing essential features of “the political” then her analysis should apply, despite the lapse of time and technological change. Perhaps that is a test of how deep and essential her analysis is. That’s why it might be worth doing what you suggested, trying to really get into her point of view to see if the fundamental analysis remains relevant. I’ll be interested to see how your thoughts develop.

I am also intrigued by what you say about the common good. I think perhaps politics does serve the common good, despite it’s wackiness or some bad bad policies, in the following way: If we didn’t have a legitimate political process that we all abide by, we would have to be armed and ring our homes with razor wire. We would have to make our own law and order–be vigilantes–in order to have some kind of protection and stability. Sometimes we don’t like the particular policies that our politics brings forth. But as long as the system abides by the fundamental rules of the Constitution and Bill of Rights–the foundations of political authority–then it acts in our common interests by simply enduring so that we can continue to fight for the values and leaders we think represent the best course of action for our society. We win some. We loose some. But the fact that the system remains in place no matter what–that’s what guarantees our freedom. What do you think?