Intro to the blog
So, you might ask, how DOES the glacier grind? Slowly...very, very slowly. However, as slowly as it may grind, it still moves...relentlessly. Thus moves the state of everyday affairs in this country and along with it, the changing face of who we are "becoming" as a people and culture. On this site I intend to regularly pose several questions and comments regarding some of these subtle, if not imperceptible, changes to the subtext of our society. I invite you to respond specifically to the issues posted with some of your own thoughts on these subjects.

Riding the Fence
1) Is the concept of "equality" becoming seriously outdated and/or flawed in our society?
We profess to believe in equal treatment under the law, but is that just lip service to what we've been taught in school? Is our professed belief in equality linked to some specific issue in question? Are we becoming subscribers to a hierarchy of equality? In other words, have we come to believe that some are "more equal" than others? Generally speaking, I find people today so focused on themselves and their own wants/needs, that they appear to have lost the ability to recognize and respond to the needs of others around them. Notice I said "generally speaking!" Materialism and hedonism seem to be the accepted order of the day. I refer to it as a "userism" mentality. Is our ability to genuinely empathize with those around us in serious jeopardy? What might that mean for this country on down the road?

2) Why is it becoming essential for daily activities to be "fun?"
While working with young, prospective teachers the issue of how to make learning "fun" was shown to be of primary importance to them. Agreed, learning doesn't have to be, nor should it be, painful or unpleasant! However, striving to make learning fun for all students 100% of the time is a questionable goal in itself, not to mention highly improbable in practice. The desire to be externally entertained at all times also appears to be growing in popular culture. The ability to derive pleasure and satisfaction from internal motivations and pursuits appears to be drastically shrinking by contrast. What's the price tag for this trend?

3) Are people losing touch with themselves in their drive to maintain constant contact with the outside world?
With the rampant advent of the cell phone, being alone with one's own thoughts and feelings is rapidly becoming a highly undesirable state. What's at stake here? The development of interpersonal skills might possibly be enhanced by such activities, but is it coming at a huge cost to one's development of INTRApersonal knowledge, understanding and skills? How important is it to truly know oneself in today's culture? What does the current trend toward increased levels of interpersonal activities and decreased development of intrapersonal knowledge, understanding, and skills bode for the future of our culture?