The Same Kind of Different
Equal - Define It34 total reviews
Comment from Gaye Hemsley
Hi Ann I think you have done an excellent writing job with this subject. You have stated what you believe in a clear and readable fashion. I like the way you bought your childhood experiences into the writing. Good luck with the contest Cheers Gaye
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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Hi Ann I think you have done an excellent writing job with this subject. You have stated what you believe in a clear and readable fashion. I like the way you bought your childhood experiences into the writing. Good luck with the contest Cheers Gaye
Comment Written 04-May-2009
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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Thanks so much. I appreciate your reading and commenting. ann
Comment from hvysmker
It wasn't an abstract truth or something someone told me. It was a part of my knowing.
*** To my thinking, the problem with equality between peoples and individuals IS an abstract. There are thousands of variables. It's not like in true or false. There is no good and no evil, but many stages in-between. Even those stages are arguable. Is it evil to kill a person? Yes or no?
That last question can't be answered in such polarity as "Yes" or "No." Break it down some, like in: "Is it evil to kill someone who is threatening your child with a gun?
There are many kinds of guns, such as squirtguns. The word "threaten" has multiple meanings from "life threatening" to "threatening to squirt him."
Some questions about equality have even more variables, and those interpreted by people in different ways. And what I've been saying is only the question between good and evil. Absolute equality is much more complex.
Among the pitfalls is religion, all religions. Too many of us are willing to let someone else do the research, interpret the findings and tell us what God wants us to know. It's easier in the short run, but faith, knowledge and the peace that passes understanding are worth the price paid in self-study.
*** Ah! Self-study. How many of us have the time? We work, both at home and on the job. When we get home, we're tired, yet still have chores to do. When we finally have time to relax, we get a telephone call that gets us going again.
The little time we have to relax, we crave entertainment, not study. Yes! It's much easier to nod off in church, where a preacher endlessly reiterates his philosophy, it creeping into our minds, reinserting and reinforcing itself in our psych.
The same goes for news. We pay attention to local news, probably a holdover from caveman days, when such knowledge might make a difference between life and death. The farther away, the less attention unless it's also entertaining. "Man bites dog" is more interesting than what's going on in Somalia. In that manner, the news media forms our opinions through inattention or interest.
There are women willing to march in demand of equal pay for equal jobs. Others stand and fight for the right to stand and fight. Some cringe when the door is opened for them, while a similar number expect special consideration simply because their bodies house the womb. Weak men fear powerful women as a challenge to their masculinity.
*** A key point, Ann. People are interested in things that concern them, personally. As a man, I'm not particularly concerned with women's rights. However, if I were jumped over for promotion because the boss wanted a female figurehead, I would be concerned. It would be an important issue from that point on. So, I can see why some women consider it important.
We have many reasons to consider some issues important. What comes to my mind is the issue of privacy. When you and I were young, we went through through times when it was considered important.
These days, with instant communication and computer databases, when parents can not only contact their children instantly vie cellphone, but use the phone's GPS system to locate them at any time, privacy isn't seen as all that important.
Are men and women created equally?
*** Disparity? I'd have to say that in the big picture, men and women, despite racial and environmental aspects, are equal. However, in individuals, we're all unequal, no large groupings the same. Some are born with different levels of intelligence and other attributes. Talents are also widely variable, some more or less valuable in different eras or environments.
How many budding computer experts languish on small farms with little schooling, having to work twenty-hours a day? How about that expert shot in New York City that has never held a gun in her life? Or the potentially great mathematician who has too little self-confidence to assert himself, working in his father's garage instead?
Who was it that said something like, "Life is like a poker game. You're dealt a specific hand. How you play it is up to you."
I tend to ramble, Ann. You make a lot of good points and I saw no errors. It made me think which, I think, is what it was supposed to do. Worth a "six" to me.
Charlie
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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It wasn't an abstract truth or something someone told me. It was a part of my knowing.
*** To my thinking, the problem with equality between peoples and individuals IS an abstract. There are thousands of variables. It's not like in true or false. There is no good and no evil, but many stages in-between. Even those stages are arguable. Is it evil to kill a person? Yes or no?
That last question can't be answered in such polarity as "Yes" or "No." Break it down some, like in: "Is it evil to kill someone who is threatening your child with a gun?
There are many kinds of guns, such as squirtguns. The word "threaten" has multiple meanings from "life threatening" to "threatening to squirt him."
Some questions about equality have even more variables, and those interpreted by people in different ways. And what I've been saying is only the question between good and evil. Absolute equality is much more complex.
Among the pitfalls is religion, all religions. Too many of us are willing to let someone else do the research, interpret the findings and tell us what God wants us to know. It's easier in the short run, but faith, knowledge and the peace that passes understanding are worth the price paid in self-study.
*** Ah! Self-study. How many of us have the time? We work, both at home and on the job. When we get home, we're tired, yet still have chores to do. When we finally have time to relax, we get a telephone call that gets us going again.
The little time we have to relax, we crave entertainment, not study. Yes! It's much easier to nod off in church, where a preacher endlessly reiterates his philosophy, it creeping into our minds, reinserting and reinforcing itself in our psych.
The same goes for news. We pay attention to local news, probably a holdover from caveman days, when such knowledge might make a difference between life and death. The farther away, the less attention unless it's also entertaining. "Man bites dog" is more interesting than what's going on in Somalia. In that manner, the news media forms our opinions through inattention or interest.
There are women willing to march in demand of equal pay for equal jobs. Others stand and fight for the right to stand and fight. Some cringe when the door is opened for them, while a similar number expect special consideration simply because their bodies house the womb. Weak men fear powerful women as a challenge to their masculinity.
*** A key point, Ann. People are interested in things that concern them, personally. As a man, I'm not particularly concerned with women's rights. However, if I were jumped over for promotion because the boss wanted a female figurehead, I would be concerned. It would be an important issue from that point on. So, I can see why some women consider it important.
We have many reasons to consider some issues important. What comes to my mind is the issue of privacy. When you and I were young, we went through through times when it was considered important.
These days, with instant communication and computer databases, when parents can not only contact their children instantly vie cellphone, but use the phone's GPS system to locate them at any time, privacy isn't seen as all that important.
Are men and women created equally?
*** Disparity? I'd have to say that in the big picture, men and women, despite racial and environmental aspects, are equal. However, in individuals, we're all unequal, no large groupings the same. Some are born with different levels of intelligence and other attributes. Talents are also widely variable, some more or less valuable in different eras or environments.
How many budding computer experts languish on small farms with little schooling, having to work twenty-hours a day? How about that expert shot in New York City that has never held a gun in her life? Or the potentially great mathematician who has too little self-confidence to assert himself, working in his father's garage instead?
Who was it that said something like, "Life is like a poker game. You're dealt a specific hand. How you play it is up to you."
I tend to ramble, Ann. You make a lot of good points and I saw no errors. It made me think which, I think, is what it was supposed to do. Worth a "six" to me.
Charlie
Comment Written 04-May-2009
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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I have printed your review so I can read at my leisure and understand what you are saying. I don't want to miss one point made and I have a feeling I'll be replying in a PM. I'm so pleased the piece was good enough to cause you to think and to comment. As I've said before, any six from someone whose talent I admire means more than I can express. Thanks so much, Charlie. ann
Comment from joan marie
Excellent writing. At my stepfather's funeral the preacher said the only thing gone was his earth suit. Thought it sounded funny at the time, but after reading this what difference does it make if your suit is black, yellow, red or white. joan marie
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reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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Excellent writing. At my stepfather's funeral the preacher said the only thing gone was his earth suit. Thought it sounded funny at the time, but after reading this what difference does it make if your suit is black, yellow, red or white. joan marie
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 04-May-2009
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate your thoughts. ann
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Your welcome, jm
Comment from Judian James
Bravo!! What a smart piece of prose this is my good friend!
"The best of us are reaching toward the place where we know the person is not the container, but rather the soul and the mind temporarily housed there" excellent, right up to the final line!!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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Bravo!! What a smart piece of prose this is my good friend!
"The best of us are reaching toward the place where we know the person is not the container, but rather the soul and the mind temporarily housed there" excellent, right up to the final line!!
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 04-May-2009
reply by the author on 04-May-2009
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Thanks so much. I appreciate your support and comments. ann
