A bigger village

The internet is reinventing the real world. Or rather the virtual world is replicating the real world, one step at a time. It took thousands of years to get to the point where we are today, of course, but think of all the real world things we've invented: fire, tools, wheels, farming, turbines, steam engines, electricity, cars, traffic lights, trains, airplanes, buildings, and on and on and on until the computer. When the computer was invented, we also started tinkering with the virtual world. In the virtual world, we're now seeing duplicates of what we experience in real life, and it all moves so much quicker because of its ability to make our connections faster. Those watching this trend can easily identify new business opportunities; we're simply trying to use the internet to create alternate realities of what we experience in real life (through games, AR, VR), or to use the internet to rethink something that's been invented already, most obviously through the sharing economy (think of Uber, Lyft, AirBnB, TaskRabbit and CARMAnation), but also most smart home items; we're trying to automate everything. On a small scale, this idea is fun. On a large scale, it's taking jobs away from people, all over the world. I saw a robot arm the other day that can cook full meals in the kitchen, as a sous-chef and another that can replace a pharmacy technician; not to mention the truckers who may someday get displaced due to automated trucks. 

While there are many benefits to having universal access to the internet, we are now inundated with information. It's hard to sort through it all. We have drifted into an era where facts are really difficult to identify for some people; I am sometimes confused with the confidence displayed by the people who have heard a different truth than I.

Consider though, we've always had fake news and village idiots (think of the enquirer and prophets standing on soapboxes in public squares and depictions of drunks wandering in and out of towns), but what makes it more detrimental is that we have not yet learned how to deal with the assault of information at this scale, or through this medium. We've got to figure out how to overcome this very vocal minority, but there's hope. We've done it before, peacefully and without tearing down our fellow citizens. In rare, but more frequent occasion, we have managed to include the conspiracy theorists, the doomsday preacher, and the naysayer in society with out exiling them (though we may roll our eyes or ridicule them). In the past, we've also succumbed to fear, and scapegoating. Not our best moments. Meanwhile, in general, we've managed to stay together, over time. The internet takes our small village and makes it global. 

In some ways, the "global village" is exactly what's on the horizon. Good people can find good people all over the world and will connect and unite. But, we're adjusting to whether or not we want to have a global identity. If so, bringing hundreds of peoples to a common understanding of acceptable practices, and peace is going to be very difficult. 

Couple that with the intense resource constraints on our planet, and the increased impacts of climate change, and you can see why it would be important to have diplomatic measures in place, and a general respect for the current world order. Granted, the current world order is set up for a very wealthy few to succeed, while the rest of us struggle, and in some cases truly suffer. It's not ideal, but it does allow for respectful conversation to take place and preserves more precious lives. Fortunately, many of the wealthy are very magnanimous and will be donating their wealth away, but this vocal minority - the voice of fear, hate and oppression - have managed to scare their way into power. They are afraid of the global village. 

I want to say we've figured out how to prevent this group from taking over, but we have not. A wave of populism is sweeping the world. Things are changing too fast for most people, thanks in part to technology, and scapegoating feels safer than the other options. The sad thing is, we really don't have time to go through the witch hunt phase that ultimately results in acceptance of others, and so I wonder if we can somehow fast track our way back. Let's invest in listening. Let's invest in finding those other kind souls out there that veer towards the goodness, and then let's band together, win some elections, and get ourselves back on track. But we have to remember, light cajoling, and genuine acceptance of our fellow citizens is the fastest way to achieving a more equal future.

Where's your moral compass

I got an idea the other day after reading another friend's Facebook post - that we should send 535 moral compasses to each member of Congress, telling them "we found that thing you're looking for... your moral compass" 

Frankly, Congress has not done enough to prevent the massive take over of a tyrant, who is turning out to be a puppet for some seriously deranged people (a la Steve Bannon and Steve Miller).

So, it's not meant to be mean, just to make a point. We're counting on them. I hope they show up for work and do their job. Check it out at www.wheresyourmoralcompass.com

On Hypocrisy and Refugees

This is a rant about hypocrisy and refugees. And the fact that Trump cannot divide us if we refuse to let him.

Proceed if you want to. I wrote it for me.

To those who say liberals are hypocrites because we are defending Muslims and refugees, but we won't embrace Trump supporter perspectives, I can see your point.

If you've been told that all Muslims are dangerous terrorists, and while we are at it, that all immigrants from South of our Border are rapists and criminals then yes, I understand your outrage. How could we liberals be falling all over ourselves to help out these people? Can't we see we are being tricked? And if we are so committed to diversity, why won't we accept you too when you tell us the truth? Why are we so defensive? And in order to see the world this way you'd have to have blind faith that a religion, skin color, gender or a nation makes a person bad by default. Maybe you do. So why don't I?

Let's start with this: Isn't fear exhausting? Attempt for a moment now to consider that what you shared is an opinion not a truth. Perhaps you've met someone in your family, your race, your religion who are not nice or kind- or rather - who are evil, who are not like you, because you are good. Aren't we supposed to separate you from them? Do you want to forever be associated with the uni-bomber? Dylann Roof? Charles Manson? After all, you are a person with a head, and a heart and dreams with no ill will towards your fellow man. Imagine now that you are you, but now you're in one of these groups being attacked. You're doing a quantum leap. And the president has issued a decree declaring you the enemy because you were born into a religion or non-white skin color. Or you're a woman. Does the discrimination make sense? So when we defend our fellow citizens and refugees and immigrants, it's because we see them as humans with heads, and hearts and dreams and bravery for daring to move their families out of harm's way with no ill will towards our fellow men. We could be them. We would love it if you could just imagine a world where this is what we see. We aren't welcoming terrorists. We are helping our fellow humans. But you are equally right that we shouldn't throw you away either because you don't think as we do. For that we do need to do better. We are all from similar places, humble cities and towns. We share the same struggles. It came out the other day that only 8 men have most of the world's wealth. We are all poor or struggling to stay in the middle class. We are all Americans, or attempting to legally become Americans, all of us, equal, unique and committed to our dreams. My success will not stamp out your success. There's no way it could. We each play a role and the pie is big enough for everyone. It doesn't shrink with more voices. How can I be sure? I've read the texts and I've met many people from different backgrounds... Islam is a religion of love. Christianity is a religion of love. Judiasm is a religion of love. Buddhism is a religion of love. Zoroastrianism is a religion of love. Hinduism is a religion of love. Baha'i is a religion of love. Rohingas love. Tibetans love. Syrians love. Iraqis love. Iranians love. Somalians love. Ukrainians love. These people have been taught that Americans love and are kind. And we are...Except today one very orange insecure bully decided that we are not. He decided that we are selfish and hateful. That we sent millions to fight and die for a freedom that no longer exists. And our hearts and their hearts were broken. Did yours break too? Or did you cheer on the shatter?

Love leads to joy and is stronger than hate. I'm not naive. I know that people are capable of good and bad. Right now, I choose listening and I promise to work with you to understand your hopes and fears.

Will you work to understand mine? If so, we can start to have a real conversation about your pain and your struggles and workers rights and what we want our future to be... Do we want to have a leisure class? Do we want artificial intelligence to replace our jobs? Are any jobs irreplaceable? Should they be? How will we build a sustainable future together? How can we improve quality of life without trampling on each other? And on and on...As you can see we have real questions to answer. I hope we can plan for it together.

The Next Steps

How can we heal the country? We obviously are in a lot of pain and fear on all sides. It would appear that we at least have that in common. How do we rebuild trust in an era when trust is built on shaky ground lacking fact and contempt of experience, ethics and good judgement? 

How will we dig deep to find the empathy required to love our fellow Americans? Research has shown that high performing teams result from the creation of safe psychological spaces, something that Trump has currently robbed of the American people. We need to find our way back, and we will emerge stronger and fiercer than ever before.