Back to Truth...

My lone post on this "third version" from a couple months ago really left me thinking, and actually I have to thank you guys for responding because there were a lot of great things said in the comments section. That, coupled with this past term on my way to a BA (Hopefully by the Fall of '10?), is what has kept me from posting and also responding. But with some new perspective I'm going to give my response.

I had said that "we all have our own truth", and unfortunately the rest of that post didn't delve deeply enough into that statement and it made me seem too passive. I stressed a link between pride and truth, and although there are ties, that isn't the place I wish to have gone. But, I do stand by that statement.

Truth is based on perspective which is based on morality which comes from either religious, scientific or a mixture of the two belief systems which are rooted in what a set of people have decided are conditions that some or all humans or other animals should be able to live by. And yes this is a cycle, morals influence religion or science also, but still the basis of all truth is our moral foundation. Not a single decision made, in the end, really matter unless you have a certain set of moral codes or beliefs.

This is where I was going, and it's important to say that I have my own moral beliefs that cause me to believe that probably most of what the "Bushwack" guy thinks and does are wrong. It wouldn't be worth living a conscious existence without a set of principles and standards or truths. But nature has no truth, nature has no set of religious or scientific principles, and to find truth is to separate ourselves from nature.

Now obviously, you may find fault in my assessment, after all my hypothesis isn't any good at all without someone telling me I am wrong. But let me finish with one last thought: isn't truth and morality just a means to no end, a way for us to continue our species in a manner that certain individuals or collectives or people have determined is best. I think that social injustices are horrible detriments to our human race, and I believe that preserving the environment is necessary to continue human existence on the planet. I believe these things like you do because of a certain quality of life that I wish to maintain. But to the earth do these things really matter? To the universe? I don't know, everything will still go round, moon around the earth, the earth around the sun, the solar system through the galaxy and so on...

Update: I quickly wanted to tie this conversation up with my reasoning behind the importance of realizing, at least for myself, that truth is human based.

Truth can lead to very disastrous consequences, Nazi Germany, global warming, you name it and personal or collective truth is probably a direct cause. But if we don't recognize that no one person's truth is above anyone else's there is no way to to fix these perceived problems. We need a collective voice full of everyone's truths to advance and improve quality of life.

It's important to recognize that you are not completely right most of the time. Jim, Todd, Tim, Beth, Bushwack, Dez, dad, self, etc... Self-righteousnos does not not solve anything, and personal arrogance is more often destructive than not regardless of the best intentions. We all have the best intentions.

I am a vegetarian

Well, that statement isn't entirely true. Actually I am a pesco-vegetarian, one who eats fish but no land mammals, and I have been for over half of a year now. Hmmmm, that's not entirely true either, I've had exactly one bite of poultry or some other land mammal maybe 5-6 times in the past 6 months, and I had a meatball at my grandmother's when I was home on vacation. And I have eaten a handful of marshmallows in the past few months. So I guess you can call me a pesco-pollo-meatball-marshmallow-itarian. This labeling system can get a little crazy. I feel like a vegetarian, and I have a diet almost completely consisting of vegetables, legumes, fruits, some seafood, and some dairy that is all grown and produced locally or at lest regionally. Also these products are purchased either at farmers markets or the local co-op. But in many circles, I still might not be considered a vegetarian, and sometimes this bothers me. Sometimes I don't feel like part of the club.

This labeling system based on diet is one of many that we give ourselves so that social groups can accept us. Let's see... what am I?

I am a:
White-Male-Straight-Italian-American-Secular-Liberal-Democrat-Cyclist-Accountant-Vegetarian

And look how proud my people are.

Where does this sense of pride come from? Really, if we think about it, it's a feeling of privilege, of feeling that we are better than those who don't meet the same classifications. Why is that ok?

Now, don't get me wrong, it's helpful for my relatives to hear that I am a vegetarian, because then they know that I am not going to eat their baked chicken. And yes for identification purposes I am a white male. But why do we take these general descriptions of ourselves so seriously? How many social problems are caused by doing this?

Before you come at me with an argument for why you are proud to belong to one of these groups, understand that I too get excited because I know the benefits to myself and the earth of being a vegetarian, I know why I am a liberal, and I know that living the cyclists life has many, many advantages. But the thing is that every meat eating, conservative, SUV driving person does as well, and they have their own reasons for thinking that I am wrong. And no matter how foolish I believe those reasons are, they are very personal reasons and who am I to judge them and tell them I am right... everyone has their own truth.

All I'm getting at is that maybe we should stop putting so much weight into these labels and start realizing that we are who we are. I'm not vegetarian, I'm not a pesco-vegetarian, and I'm not a pesco-pollo-meatball-marshmallow-itarian. I'm Sal, and I'm very happy to be me.

Welcome to Version 3

Hey all,
After over 1 year, I'm back and ready to get rolling. My format has changed a bit, you'll notice the new look. Also, I won't be writing much about my own personal life, or anything regarding my favorite sports teams. No, I'm sticking strictly to social commentary, and I'm hoping to really get some conversations started on here so please leave your thoughts in the comment section, I'd love to read and respond to them.

Also, I'll be setting up an e-mail address for any suggestions or questions that readers would rather not ask in the comments section.

I'll be back either later tonight or tomorrow morning with my first post.

-Sal

Edit: Also, there might still be changes going on to the site as I get going, I'm still tweaking things but I'm ready to start writing. -Sal

Edit 2: I chose to delete all of my previous posts except for 3. I just couldn't stand to get rid of those three posts, so if you have the time and would like to go ahead and read them, or re-read them. They aren't going anywhere. -Sal