I don't watch much television programming. I can't tell you who got voted off the island. I have no idea what the current popular sit-coms are. Years ago I read Gerald Mander's Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television and the follow-up In the Absence of the Sacred in rapid succession. Four Arguments changed my TV-watching habits almost instantly; Sacred changed quite a few other things soon thereafter.
Nowadays, I watch a few programs that I find very interesting and entertaining, along with some mindless comedies, such as Red Green, one of Glenda's favorites. I'll also watch a "learning" show if I happen to come across one by accident and the topic interests me in some way. However, it was the new episode of one of our regular programs that caught my attention last night.
The show is Numbers, which features a pair of brothers and their father. One brother is a senior FBI agent; the other is a super-genius mathematician who consults (along with his genius mathematician friends) to the FBI, using high order, exceedingly complex math to help them solve important cases.
Near the end of last night's episode, Charlie the young genius has a light bulb moment, in which he wonders how he can use his talents to reduce crime. He wants to treat the problem, not the negative result. The epilogue showed him at a blackboard filled with mystic (or at least mysterious) equations. His father enters and asks what he's doing, to which Charlie replies with his concept. He ends by saying, "I feel like I"m putting band aids on bullet holes. I want to stop the bullet."
For Charlie, this may mean using math to alter the environment (the shopping mall, parking garage, e.g.) to make it less opportunistic in a potential criminals eye. And, thinking back to the scene in which he mentions that very concept, I can see that there is merit in the idea. If we can make our streets safer by making them less attractive to would-be criminals, it certainly would enhance the quality of our lives. However, I'd like to offer another way to stop the bullet even earlier:
Create a just society based on the teachings we all receive.
Before leaving you to consider the thought, let me point out that I am not suggesting a society based on religion, much less a true theocracy. I am not advocating changing anyone's beliefs or religious dogma, not even atheists and agnostics. What I am advocating is that we each follow our own teachings to the best of our ability. I believe that, if we all do, our society will improve dramatically.
Let me ask you to consider this for a day or two, as I do the same. There's more I'd like to write, but today Glenda and I have a few last-minute errands in preparation for tomorrow's Foodstock Sunday Dinner. (Visit Danville Foodstock for further information.) So we're off to a few stores for supplies and such. As I go through my day, however, I'll be considering this, and almost certainly talking to Glenda about it as well. I'll continue in a few days.
Until then, please consider that building a society that is truly just for all, one that operates in concert with our deepest spirituality is an excellent way for our entire society to live a life with Spirit!
In peace,
Lane
Nowadays, I watch a few programs that I find very interesting and entertaining, along with some mindless comedies, such as Red Green, one of Glenda's favorites. I'll also watch a "learning" show if I happen to come across one by accident and the topic interests me in some way. However, it was the new episode of one of our regular programs that caught my attention last night.
The show is Numbers, which features a pair of brothers and their father. One brother is a senior FBI agent; the other is a super-genius mathematician who consults (along with his genius mathematician friends) to the FBI, using high order, exceedingly complex math to help them solve important cases.
Near the end of last night's episode, Charlie the young genius has a light bulb moment, in which he wonders how he can use his talents to reduce crime. He wants to treat the problem, not the negative result. The epilogue showed him at a blackboard filled with mystic (or at least mysterious) equations. His father enters and asks what he's doing, to which Charlie replies with his concept. He ends by saying, "I feel like I"m putting band aids on bullet holes. I want to stop the bullet."
For Charlie, this may mean using math to alter the environment (the shopping mall, parking garage, e.g.) to make it less opportunistic in a potential criminals eye. And, thinking back to the scene in which he mentions that very concept, I can see that there is merit in the idea. If we can make our streets safer by making them less attractive to would-be criminals, it certainly would enhance the quality of our lives. However, I'd like to offer another way to stop the bullet even earlier:
Create a just society based on the teachings we all receive.
Before leaving you to consider the thought, let me point out that I am not suggesting a society based on religion, much less a true theocracy. I am not advocating changing anyone's beliefs or religious dogma, not even atheists and agnostics. What I am advocating is that we each follow our own teachings to the best of our ability. I believe that, if we all do, our society will improve dramatically.
Let me ask you to consider this for a day or two, as I do the same. There's more I'd like to write, but today Glenda and I have a few last-minute errands in preparation for tomorrow's Foodstock Sunday Dinner. (Visit Danville Foodstock for further information.) So we're off to a few stores for supplies and such. As I go through my day, however, I'll be considering this, and almost certainly talking to Glenda about it as well. I'll continue in a few days.
Until then, please consider that building a society that is truly just for all, one that operates in concert with our deepest spirituality is an excellent way for our entire society to live a life with Spirit!
In peace,
Lane
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