Response to Thomas Merton’s Letter

I have just read Thomas Merton’s letter to a young activist. Though I am far from a young activist, I found it interesting and have some responses to it. There us some good counsel here. There are however a few things that I would like to elaborate on.

The Plastification of the World, or Why this Bottled Water Craze?

Do you know that globally, for every minute one million plastic water bottles are sold?

Do you know that most of these bottles are not recycled, but instead end up in the environment?

Do you know that vast ocean islands of plastic waste are accumulating in the oceans?

The largest is estimated to be 1.6 million km² in size. At present rates, by 2050, there will be more plastics (by weight) in the ocean than fish.

Why is all this happening? 

Self-interest run amok

Ok, let me start with a confession. I am an elderly white male – full of white privilege and very fortunate. I know a bit about self interest. I have it, big time, even when I am not conscious of it.

This self interest, i.e. this primordial concern for one’s own survival, seems to be built into every living species on the planet. If we did not have self interest, we surely would not have survived in a brutally competitive world where others are also motivated by their own self interest.

However, it seems like the self-interest gene has leapt out of control. We in the western world now exalt in our “freedom”! We are distinct, we are different, and we are not afraid to flaunt it – in our clothes, our tattoos, our piercings, our hairdos, in all of our material accoutrements, cars, homes, etc.

Why I bike

I now bike almost everywhere in Ottawa all-year round. Ottawa is becoming a leading biking city, with bike paths and bikeable bridges popping up everywhere. 

I bike because:

-       - I get my daily exercise just going from point A to B

-      -  I create no air pollution while biking

-      -  I have no parking problems when I get to where I am going

-      -  Every person on a bike is one less car on the road (this may be the strongest argument for biking as it gives drivers a reason to be enthusiastic about biking)

Also, (and this may surprise you), I do NOT wear a helmet. To see why, go to www.cyclehelmets.org.

Why I now travel less

I am retired. One would assume that this would be the time to travel and see the world. However, for several reasons, I am now travelling much less than I did before. 

(1) One reason is environmental. George Monbiot spent most of his life analyzing the forthcoming environmental crisis. He then sought to find practical ways to cope with it. For example, when he approached aviation, apart from using more electronic means of communication (phone, Skype, internet) he could see no workable alternative to air travel. To quote him,

When I come to examine aviation, I discover there are simply no effective technological solutions… I am forced to conclude that the only possible answer is a massive reduction in flights (emphasis mine, from “Heat” by George Monbiot, 2006).

To Believe in God

“There is no God” says Stephen Hawking in his latest book. Compare this with the paragraph with which he concludes his most famous book, “ A Brief History of Time”:

“ However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason -- for then we would know the mind of God.” (emphasis mine).

I think the problem here is the definition of what we mean when we say the word “God”. If we limit our definition to the mythological concepts developed by the various religions, we can understand why Hawking made the first statement above. However, if we come at this in a different way, we may see why Hawking is talking about the “knowing the mind of God”.

A final word on Jordan B. Peterson's 12 Rules

One of the fascinating (and maddening) things about Jordan B. Peterson’s book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, is the way that he  presents each “Rule”.

He usually starts each rule by giving practical examples from this life to show why this rule is important. Then he proceeds to wander over hill and dale with illustrations and reflections that seem to have little or no relation to the supposed rule. 

All very interesting, but what happened to the “rule”?

Jordan Peterson on language, discipline and parenting

By now, most of you have heard of Jordan Peterson. He grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario, became a professor in sociology and psychiatry and now has become a world-renowned superstar because of his sometimes controversial views.

This all began when Jordan Peterson opposed the government of Ontario’s Bill C-16 which proposed to tell us how we should address LGBTQ people. He struck a nerve with this position. If speech is not vicious, hateful or disrespectful, the government has no business in telling people how they should talk. It is the widespread use of language by the users of that language that create language. 

Mother Earth – Protecting her

Gaia is the creative and protective goddess of mother earth. Worship of her is relatively simple – protect mother earth and keep her safe, because she is the only home that you have.

If we go back into pre-history, we find that the very earliest faiths that mankind had were nature based. We see evidence of this in the surviving beliefs of our native peoples. They regularly speak peacefully and quietly of their reverence for mother nature.

Adriana Grande

Before the resent massacre at Manchester, I had not even heard of Adriana Grande. So I googled and looked up some of her songs on YouTube video. (i.e. Dangerous woman, Bang bang, Breakfree etc.).

Accessibility for Seniors and the Disabled

As I am getting older, there are lots of things that I can no longer do – that includes running with my replaced knee, downhill skiing, portaging my canoe. In a sense I am slowly becoming disabled. For others this happens suddenly in an accident. Others are born with disabilities.

Using the Bible for Political Gain

Recently Jeff Sessions, the US Attorney General, quoted the Bible to defend the US Administration on the family separation issue on the southern US border. Specifically, the Bible passage he referred is the following:

“Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. Whosoever resists the power, resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves condemnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Should you not then be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same.” (Rom.12:1-3)