This is one of the easiest ways to share your ideas on Politicolor. Every week we ask our contributors two questions and post their answers in an effort to help you find good ideas on the web. Because effective citizens are informed citizens engaged in sharing ideas…
What didn’t you know last week?
Gravity is an illusion. This story from the NY Times also suggests some of our best ideas come to us when we have to change our plans. (Stepwinder/Shellee)
Most of the crew has gone on vacation. Leave your responses in the comments below and help fill this space!
What are you reading?
American Dream is Elusive for New Generation. I certainly have my own story when it comes to coping with the current economy, but I’m concerned about how it changes our ideas of the American Dream and what is possible too. It’s easy to read stories like this with a “kids today!” filter. I’m working through this longer read, however, wondering what it reveals about who we are and who we might be as a society and the problems aren’t always a question for the younger generation! (Stepwinder/Shellee)
This string without attribution or much commentary comes from discussions at the National Academy in Los Angeles this week:
Mel walked us through constitutional interpretation using Bob Jones University v. United States (1983). This is the university’s current statement about race under a broader category of “Who We Are.” Sarah, a 2010 participant, pointed us to this statement in addition to Stanley Fish’s column asking “Is Religion Special?”
In our discussion of “user’s knowledge” vs. “maker’s knowledge,” our afternoon groups turned to considering the worlds built through a good book. Nicole, a 2010 participant, was a bit startled to find an author she knows was contemplating something similar on his blog. We’re going to repost his thoughts in their entirety but his latest post considers democracy, capitalism and choice.
And lastly, as our models of political order came into view these last two weeks, we had several discussions about the promise and perils of pursuing one transcendent truth. Another NYT Opinionator post,”Moral Camouflage or Moral Monkeys,” seems to be thinking along a parallel track.
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stepwinder
