I do not know why all my life, between two choices, I always go for the more difficult one! :/
Sounds like a good philosophy. Paul Graham says of start-up companies (paraphrasing): 'When choosing between a harder (but slightly better) and easier way of doing things, choose the harder. Knowing how to do this will put you a step ahead of the competition AND force them to eventually learn to do it your way aw well.
World Vision has done some things in the Philippines. They seemed pretty helpful with that, but their organization attracts some pretty weird characters. That is all I really know.
Keep developing that philosophy of yours. You have lived an interesting life lately - an interesting and dynamic philosophy seems almost a logical next step.
You always chosen the more difficult thing for a reason - often, the most difficult decisions are those which are the morally correct ones. You are bent on improving yourself, Nargess....and there is nothing wrong with that.
I believe that there are universal concepts of morality, but I think that they've often been subverted by the people who proclaim atrocities in the name of morality. People have created personal concepts of morality precisely because of those in power who have always created false concepts of morality.
"I guess this should be read by those iranians who are waiting for america to kick mullahs out for them."
If there are indeed such Iranians they are really dumb. Especially after watching what happened after America "kicked Saddam out for Iraqis". :)
On the question of morality, I disagree. If we are even to speak of the notion of Morality, it doesn't matter on which scale it is being applied, individual or the state-level. The fact that it is NOT being practiced by states does not in any way prove that "it is natural", or legitimate, or should be accepted at the state level, and should not - at the individual one. Millions and millions of individuals do not behave morally, and it is quite "natural" for them too, but so what?
The point is this: if one stakes the standards of morality (and they should be defined to begin with), both the states and the individuals should be judged by them, and nobody should be exempt.
1) Many iranians take impulsive decisions, so yeah they ARE pretty dumb. And their growing hate for mullahs doesn't seem to make them any wiser. Though, yeah, I admit that america's interference with iraq does look ugly even to the dumbest unti mullah iranians.
2) do you know of any government today who acts kindly toward another country just out of humanity and morality? I might be wrong, but from the limited information that I have, I really don't know such governments. I don't say this is a good thing or this is how it should be. I wish it was different. But that's how it is, has always been and will be. So let's at least be aware of this *fact*.
3) Completely irrelevant: Saturday is my friend't 30th birthday. She said I should only bring my smily fact to her party, but I don't want to go totally empty handed. I don't want to spend more than $10 either. What could be considered an acceptable, small but good gift? any ideas? (she is american)
3) Thanks for the ideas! I was so busy today that I couldn't buy anything, but hopefully I will get to do it tomorrow morning.
2) OK if I rule a country someday, I will try to make my country not steal other nations resources or control them. And if not, still if there's ever a choice between a moral and an immoral government, I will choose the moral one. Unfortunately I can't imagine any of them ever happening.
Is it cold enough for you now? Don't worry, it will probably be warm again soon. =) Get a flu shot if you can, the up and down climate here really beats you up.
I do not know why all my life, between two choices, I always go for the more difficult one! :/Your life is yours to live
( ... )
Also, this is a known fact that when you move beyond individual human beings, in the level of countries, right now, morality is just a veil to cover selfish actions. It doesn't really exist. All that will matter in that level is national benefits, and in most cases benefits of a particular party within a country.
On and on the Great River rolls, racing east. Of proud and gallant heroes its white-tops leave no trace. As right and wrong, pride and fall turn all at once unreal. Yet ever the green hills stay To blaze in the west-waning day. Fishers and woodmen comb the river isles. White-crowned, they’ve seen enough of spring autumn tide To make good company over the wine jar, Where many a famed event Provides their merriment.Thus has it ever been. Men are men and have been men since the first dawn they beheld. Structure brings opportunity for various forms of self-enrichment, opportunity breeds exploitation
( ... )
Comments 11
Sounds like a good philosophy. Paul Graham says of start-up companies (paraphrasing): 'When choosing between a harder (but slightly better) and easier way of doing things, choose the harder. Knowing how to do this will put you a step ahead of the competition AND force them to eventually learn to do it your way aw well.
World Vision has done some things in the Philippines. They seemed pretty helpful with that, but their organization attracts some pretty weird characters. That is all I really know.
Keep developing that philosophy of yours. You have lived an interesting life lately - an interesting and dynamic philosophy seems almost a logical next step.
Reply
Reply
I believe that there are universal concepts of morality, but I think that they've often been subverted by the people who proclaim atrocities in the name of morality. People have created personal concepts of morality precisely because of those in power who have always created false concepts of morality.
Reply
If there are indeed such Iranians they are really dumb. Especially after watching what happened after America "kicked Saddam out for Iraqis". :)
On the question of morality, I disagree. If we are even to speak of the notion of Morality, it doesn't matter on which scale it is being applied, individual or the state-level. The fact that it is NOT being practiced by states does not in any way prove that "it is natural", or legitimate, or should be accepted at the state level, and should not - at the individual one. Millions and millions of individuals do not behave morally, and it is quite "natural" for them too, but so what?
The point is this: if one stakes the standards of morality (and they should be defined to begin with), both the states and the individuals should be judged by them, and nobody should be exempt.
Reply
2) do you know of any government today who acts kindly toward another country just out of humanity and morality? I might be wrong, but from the limited information that I have, I really don't know such governments. I don't say this is a good thing or this is how it should be. I wish it was different. But that's how it is, has always been and will be. So let's at least be aware of this *fact*.
3) Completely irrelevant: Saturday is my friend't 30th birthday. She said I should only bring my smily fact to her party, but I don't want to go totally empty handed. I don't want to spend more than $10 either. What could be considered an acceptable, small but good gift? any ideas?
(she is american)
Reply
Reply
2) OK if I rule a country someday, I will try to make my country not steal other nations resources or control them. And if not, still if there's ever a choice between a moral and an immoral government, I will choose the moral one. Unfortunately I can't imagine any of them ever happening.
Reply
Is it cold enough for you now? Don't worry, it will probably be warm again soon. =) Get a flu shot if you can, the up and down climate here really beats you up.
I do not know why all my life, between two choices, I always go for the more difficult one! :/Your life is yours to live ( ... )
Reply
Also, this is a known fact that when you move beyond individual human beings, in the level of countries, right now, morality is just a veil to cover selfish actions. It doesn't really exist. All that will matter in that level is national benefits, and in most cases benefits of a particular party within a country.
On and on the Great River rolls, racing east.
Of proud and gallant heroes its white-tops leave no trace.
As right and wrong, pride and fall turn all at once unreal.
Yet ever the green hills stay
To blaze in the west-waning day.
Fishers and woodmen comb the river isles.
White-crowned, they’ve seen enough of spring autumn tide
To make good company over the wine jar,
Where many a famed event
Provides their merriment.Thus has it ever been. Men are men and have been men since the first dawn they beheld. Structure brings opportunity for various forms of self-enrichment, opportunity breeds exploitation ( ... )
Reply
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