My entire life which so far, consists of 19 year and about 4 months, I had never thought about being an animal. The thought just never occurred to me. I think like this because I like so many others live in a world where humans think they are the dominant species, 'we' think we rule over all other animals and that the universe was made only to give us a place to live and thrive. But now that I have had time to think about this theory or idea the more I see how stupid and self centered we humans have become. Humans are so caught up in living the "perfect" we have forgotten we too are animals.
Humans are animals but "true animals" don't live like humans have become accustomed to over these many centuries. True animals live in the wild or in a natural habitat, not some box they call "home." They are free, and care free, they do not worry about stupid and often useless activities and problems humans create. Everything about the way other animals live their lives is natural, birth, bowel movements, eating, sleeping, they do not worry about how they look in a mirror before they interact with other animals.
For as long as I can remember learning in school I have been taught that humans are the top of the food chain, humans are the best, the last in evolution, 'we' are the reason the universe exists and everything exists for us. Six reasons humans separate themselves from other animals: 1. Genisus 2. Scientific Classification 3. 95% of the time humans are with other humans 4. We emphasize non-human traits and tasks, like sitting patiently in a classroom 5. Evolution- education King of Creation, teliological idea 6. Mind vs Body-Descrates and Dualism (connects to the immortal soul-dualism-immortality)
1. Genisus
-the idea that God created animals, land, water, and vegetation for the humans
2. Scientific Classification (web)
Domain Eukaryote
Kingdom Animals
Phyllum Chordate
Class Mamila
Order Primate
Family Hominid
Genus Homo
Species Sayas species
-The Classification Scheme separates humans and chimps but we share about 97% of the same DNA
-The Tuskegee Experiment, "untermenchen" (sub-humans)
-Idea in our civilization, there are animals that are more important than others: ex. treating dogs fairly vs. treating dogs like humans, treating humans like slaves, treating humans like dogs (other animals), treating humans like humans
-There is a difference between treating your pet like you treat yourself and treating your pet like a doll, they are animals you should give them some if not all the freedom possible
I think people should have a good relationship with other animals and not treat them like "pets," pets sound like enslaved animals, still putting the image of a human above all other statuses of other animals. You should try to interpret the dog's feelings and emotions to the best of your ability.
-People "doll-up" their dogs (humanize) them, carry dogs like matching accessories -Gavin
-Yes, you can accept the dog as a member of the family but don't turn them into a four legged human, don't humanize the dog. -Marco
Ishmal- "The revolt hadn't been put down, it had just dwindled away into a fashion statement." p.5; "You're captives of a civilization-al system that more or less compels you to go on destroying the world in order to live." p.25.
-Is there a secret knowledge in the world? Someone who has an insight into the world? Epistomology- the theory of knowlege
3. 95% of our time is spent with other humans
-if you think about it, humans spend most of their time with other humans. When 'we' say we are going to hang out with friends with hang out with humans
-'we' only spend a minimal amount of time with other animals because humans find it difficult to relate to other animals, 'we' see ourselves as a very separate creation from other animals
4. We emphasize non-human tasks
-humans
5. Evolution-King of Creation
We 'humans' believe we are the end of evoultion and nothing evolves after us. But that sounds blantenly stupid when you put this theory into another perspective: the jellyfish story from Ishmal-
6. Soul-Dualism-Immortality
There are four main benefits of realizing you are an animal:
1. if your an animal you don't worry so much
2. they body matters
3. prioritize the physical (walk instead of sit)
4. knowing the proper role of thinking
5. a blind spot - one part of the visual field that you can't see
ex: you can't imagine feeling dead, we can't imagine ourselves unconscious, the conscience is the center of our universe
We believe there is such a thing as "special rescue," we like other animals can go extinct, if we realize we are animals too, there will be no special rescue.
I believe that understanding these four benefits of realizing we are animals is an eye opener. And truthfully, the truth kind of scares me. Lying to ourselves was an easy way to get around and live our lives as if nothing was going on, the lies were worn as a mask. This mask dimmed down and at times hid the truth, we were hiding from the truth, under all the makeup and new clothing. We are using material possessions to show how "non-animal" we are and to emphasize the human (we are different) in us. All along I knew the truth but my mask was not allowing the information to be processed in my mind, like it was going in one ear and out the other, I didn't really care about being an animal before we started this unit. Currently I feel more connected to other people and other animals, experiencing a few exercises in class made me feel happy and good about myself. I felt free and worry free. I felt like a kid again, more like an animal. I could have done these exercises on my own but the interaction with other animals made be feel like my life could be more meaningful. There was communication and physical contact. This interaction was not created because I had to but because I wanted to just for fun, no real pressure or purpose, like exercising in the gym to loose weight; we ran in the park to have fun.
Knowing that everyone in my class felt similar about having this experience and realizing we are animals made me feel less scared. Knowing the rest of the world is like this too was also reassuring.
Able to see and grasp real things, not like an economy, which is just an idea.
Mar 28, 2009
Feb 10, 2009
2/10/09 Interview with Mom: Her Thoughts on Old People
Name: Kimberley Ann Omae
Age: 52 (53 in 2009)
Currently: working as a Director of Design
Mom: I was on the train today, coming home, and a girl was about to sit down. I looked tired and when she saw me she said, 'Oh no you can sit, I'm young, I can stand.' I said to myself, Am I really that old?
Reiko: Are you uncomfortable being called old?
Mom: Yes, I didn't feel too happy about it.
Reiko: Do you consider yourself old?
Mom: No, I don't.
Here she seemed to be getting a bit angry. Is it because we give old people a stereotype as being people who can't do anything, they are worthless, they cannot contribute to the community, etc. I don't think she wants to feel useless or unwanted.
Reiko: What age do you consider to be old?
Mom: 70.
Reiko: What do you think of nursing homes?
Mom: Nursing homes seem convenient but it wouldn't be my first choice.
Reiko: In your opinion, what % of old people live with their family? Live in a nursing home? Live on their own?
Mom: 60% with family, 20% in homes, and 20% on their own.
I looked these numbers up at http://missourifamilies.org/quick/agingqa/agingqa7.htm and found, according to the "U.S. Bureau of Census slightly over 5 percent of the 65+ population occupy nursing homes...and about 4.2 percent are in nursing homes at any given time." According to the AARP website: Nursing Homes, in the "1997 National Nursing Home Survey, there were 1,465,000 residents age 65 and older in nursing homes."
Reiko: What did you think about putting your parents in a nursing home?
Mom: Well, first of all I did not choose to put them in a home. My mother and father went in themselves because they thought it would be convenient. But I think they went in too early. My other siblings, your aunts and uncle helped make the decision for them, I think they pushed them into making the decision to live in a nursing home.
(Follow-up question: Why do you think your siblings wanted to put your parents in a nursing home? What does this say about the way U.S. citizens treat/think of they're elders? i.e. your siblings)
Reiko: You said 70 is considered to be old, What % of old people are still working at 70? Retired? Living in poverty?
Mom: 20% working, a balance are retired, 10% poverty.
(Follow-up question: What do you mean by a balance? Do you have a specific # in mind?)
Age: 52 (53 in 2009)
Currently: working as a Director of Design
Mom: I was on the train today, coming home, and a girl was about to sit down. I looked tired and when she saw me she said, 'Oh no you can sit, I'm young, I can stand.' I said to myself, Am I really that old?
Reiko: Are you uncomfortable being called old?
Mom: Yes, I didn't feel too happy about it.
Reiko: Do you consider yourself old?
Mom: No, I don't.
Here she seemed to be getting a bit angry. Is it because we give old people a stereotype as being people who can't do anything, they are worthless, they cannot contribute to the community, etc. I don't think she wants to feel useless or unwanted.
Reiko: What age do you consider to be old?
Mom: 70.
Reiko: What do you think of nursing homes?
Mom: Nursing homes seem convenient but it wouldn't be my first choice.
Reiko: In your opinion, what % of old people live with their family? Live in a nursing home? Live on their own?
Mom: 60% with family, 20% in homes, and 20% on their own.
I looked these numbers up at http://missourifamilies.org/quick/agingqa/agingqa7.htm and found, according to the "U.S. Bureau of Census slightly over 5 percent of the 65+ population occupy nursing homes...and about 4.2 percent are in nursing homes at any given time." According to the AARP website: Nursing Homes, in the "1997 National Nursing Home Survey, there were 1,465,000 residents age 65 and older in nursing homes."
Reiko: What did you think about putting your parents in a nursing home?
Mom: Well, first of all I did not choose to put them in a home. My mother and father went in themselves because they thought it would be convenient. But I think they went in too early. My other siblings, your aunts and uncle helped make the decision for them, I think they pushed them into making the decision to live in a nursing home.
(Follow-up question: Why do you think your siblings wanted to put your parents in a nursing home? What does this say about the way U.S. citizens treat/think of they're elders? i.e. your siblings)
Reiko: You said 70 is considered to be old, What % of old people are still working at 70? Retired? Living in poverty?
Mom: 20% working, a balance are retired, 10% poverty.
(Follow-up question: What do you mean by a balance? Do you have a specific # in mind?)
Feb 9, 2009
2/9/09 10-30 Questions
1) What is the most interesting thing you've done lately?
2) How bad is it to live in a nursing home?
3) What is it like to live in a nursing home?
4) How often does your family visit?
5) What do you do now that you didn't do in your youth? Vise versa?
6) Is this how you saw yourself when you were younger?
7) What % of old people live with their families?
8) What % of old people live in a nursing home?
9) What % of old people live on their own?
10) What % of old people volunteer?
11) What % of old people work for money?
12) What % of old people live in poverty?
13) Do you enjoy your life now?
14) What do you wish you could do?
15) What % of old people are in good shape?
16) What % of old people are obese?
17) What % of old people are depressed?
18) What % of old people happy?
19) What % of old people content?
20) What % of old people can't walk?
21) Who are some role models for old people? Who do they look up to?
22) What is an average day like for someone who can't walk?
23) What % of old people considers them to be "young?"
24) How often do you think about your health?
25) How often do you think about death or dying?
26) What is it like to not be able to do things on your own?
27) Do you like having assistance to complete everyday activities?
28) What % of old people have control over their bodies? What % of old people do not?
2) How bad is it to live in a nursing home?
3) What is it like to live in a nursing home?
4) How often does your family visit?
5) What do you do now that you didn't do in your youth? Vise versa?
6) Is this how you saw yourself when you were younger?
7) What % of old people live with their families?
8) What % of old people live in a nursing home?
9) What % of old people live on their own?
10) What % of old people volunteer?
11) What % of old people work for money?
12) What % of old people live in poverty?
13) Do you enjoy your life now?
14) What do you wish you could do?
15) What % of old people are in good shape?
16) What % of old people are obese?
17) What % of old people are depressed?
18) What % of old people happy?
19) What % of old people content?
20) What % of old people can't walk?
21) Who are some role models for old people? Who do they look up to?
22) What is an average day like for someone who can't walk?
23) What % of old people considers them to be "young?"
24) How often do you think about your health?
25) How often do you think about death or dying?
26) What is it like to not be able to do things on your own?
27) Do you like having assistance to complete everyday activities?
28) What % of old people have control over their bodies? What % of old people do not?
Feb 3, 2009
5 Questions 2/3/09
1) How have you been? What do you like to do during most of your days? Do you find it difficult to complete daily activities because you are of an older age?
2) As you get older do you feel like you are running out of time to fulfill your life dreams? or You'll be missing out on an important part of your life if you don't do something soon?
3) Do you think you have had a good and meaningful life so far? What is something positive you would tell a teenager or someone at least 35 years younger than you? from your life experiences.
4) If you feel that your life has been a huge waste of a human life, what is keeping you from dying or killing yourself?
5) If you had 1 minute right before you die to give someone close to you an important message that could change their life, what would it be? why?
If the for some reason you were able to leave your body like a spirt and saw the reaction to the person you had just given the message to, wear instead of really appreciating your message they completely ignored the message, how would you feel? Would you feel like your whole life was a "waste of time" and meaningless? or would that one moment just make you feel bad but you still feel that you lived a good and meaningful life?
2) As you get older do you feel like you are running out of time to fulfill your life dreams? or You'll be missing out on an important part of your life if you don't do something soon?
3) Do you think you have had a good and meaningful life so far? What is something positive you would tell a teenager or someone at least 35 years younger than you? from your life experiences.
4) If you feel that your life has been a huge waste of a human life, what is keeping you from dying or killing yourself?
5) If you had 1 minute right before you die to give someone close to you an important message that could change their life, what would it be? why?
If the for some reason you were able to leave your body like a spirt and saw the reaction to the person you had just given the message to, wear instead of really appreciating your message they completely ignored the message, how would you feel? Would you feel like your whole life was a "waste of time" and meaningless? or would that one moment just make you feel bad but you still feel that you lived a good and meaningful life?
Jan 23, 2009
1/23/09 Major Focuses of Folk Wisdom:
Struggle- if you focus on the positive you won't see the negative, work through it and in the end it will pay off. my mom is always telling me I will face many struggles/challenges through my life and I will have to tough it out and fight through it myself. although I may have some help to solve my problems. People all around the world are dealing with struggle, from war to economic differences. People tend to bury their struggles, trying to focus on the positive and hide the negative, but that sometimes makes the situation worse. Struggles are hard to deal with.
Family- it is important to love your family, if you ever need help your family will be there, they will support you. I have been taught that my family is a huge part of my life, even when you "hate" your family there is still some sort of unconditional love lingering. Even if I say I "hate" my family, I still end up talking to them five minutes later. I forgive them or my anger wears off.
Art- be creative, different, unique. when you make something that is art, art is what you make it, define it for yourself. I am told everyday to do what I want to do, think outside the box, be creative. But I find it more difficult to express myself through my art when people tell me how to do it. If whatever I see or am creating it should be unique and very "me." My art teacher is constantly telling me "Don't show them you are good, show them you are amazing." -ms. kaye
Balance- mom says be happy, do what you want to do in life (art, travel, etc.) but try to do well in school, pass classes so you can have fun, have balance in life. Balance is something parents say to their kids, what I feel is a "peace-treaty," ex: you can play soccer but I want to make sure you are doing well in school, in order to continue to play. Or in my case, art is one of my main focuses but my mom also pushes me to do well in school so that I am able to continue to study art in college.
Ethics- Do ethics help or keep you from having everything? Be "true," honest, to have good karma. Sometimes if you have ethics you miss out on a chance to break a rule, to do something very mischievous.
Death- peaceful, it comes in time, everyone dies, sad but not sad forever, a part of life, you will be gone one day too, who will remember you?
Love- painful, amazing, hopefully something you will experience in your life time, there is a difference between loving your mother/family, and loving another person, "significant person." Love is not forever, sometimes it wears off and sometimes it grows.
Friendship- difficult, you can have really strong & good friends (best friends/acquaintances) you make friends, lose friend. I feel I have learned more about friendship from folk culture than any other major focus of folk wisdom. People tend to talk/give advices about friendship, their books & online sites give/offer information telling us how friendship is a part of having a good and meaningful life.
Entertainment- t.v., ballets, plays, street performers, etc. Entertainment is fun, occupying, and engaging. ex: the "Simon Says" game (with the light pattern) a simple invention but entertaining, keeps people occupied for hours at a time (video games) sometimes it seems people use video games as an escape into their fantasies, their dreams as war heros, stunt men, etc. Like in movies, I would know I do it too, when I see a great film I sometimes wish I could live the way they do. (Slumdog Millionaire, for example, carefree, living in a beautiful city, amazing culture, so much to experience, adventure & danger, finding their destiny, true love, etc.) I think about that a lot. I wish my life was better, more meaningful, the day I stop wishing my life was like those in the movies, is the day I understand my life, it will be a good and meaningful life. Music is another form of entertainment.
Work- boring, try your best to find a job that you like, otherwise you may feel miserable.
Family- it is important to love your family, if you ever need help your family will be there, they will support you. I have been taught that my family is a huge part of my life, even when you "hate" your family there is still some sort of unconditional love lingering. Even if I say I "hate" my family, I still end up talking to them five minutes later. I forgive them or my anger wears off.
Art- be creative, different, unique. when you make something that is art, art is what you make it, define it for yourself. I am told everyday to do what I want to do, think outside the box, be creative. But I find it more difficult to express myself through my art when people tell me how to do it. If whatever I see or am creating it should be unique and very "me." My art teacher is constantly telling me "Don't show them you are good, show them you are amazing." -ms. kaye
Balance- mom says be happy, do what you want to do in life (art, travel, etc.) but try to do well in school, pass classes so you can have fun, have balance in life. Balance is something parents say to their kids, what I feel is a "peace-treaty," ex: you can play soccer but I want to make sure you are doing well in school, in order to continue to play. Or in my case, art is one of my main focuses but my mom also pushes me to do well in school so that I am able to continue to study art in college.
Ethics- Do ethics help or keep you from having everything? Be "true," honest, to have good karma. Sometimes if you have ethics you miss out on a chance to break a rule, to do something very mischievous.
Death- peaceful, it comes in time, everyone dies, sad but not sad forever, a part of life, you will be gone one day too, who will remember you?
Love- painful, amazing, hopefully something you will experience in your life time, there is a difference between loving your mother/family, and loving another person, "significant person." Love is not forever, sometimes it wears off and sometimes it grows.
Friendship- difficult, you can have really strong & good friends (best friends/acquaintances) you make friends, lose friend. I feel I have learned more about friendship from folk culture than any other major focus of folk wisdom. People tend to talk/give advices about friendship, their books & online sites give/offer information telling us how friendship is a part of having a good and meaningful life.
Entertainment- t.v., ballets, plays, street performers, etc. Entertainment is fun, occupying, and engaging. ex: the "Simon Says" game (with the light pattern) a simple invention but entertaining, keeps people occupied for hours at a time (video games) sometimes it seems people use video games as an escape into their fantasies, their dreams as war heros, stunt men, etc. Like in movies, I would know I do it too, when I see a great film I sometimes wish I could live the way they do. (Slumdog Millionaire, for example, carefree, living in a beautiful city, amazing culture, so much to experience, adventure & danger, finding their destiny, true love, etc.) I think about that a lot. I wish my life was better, more meaningful, the day I stop wishing my life was like those in the movies, is the day I understand my life, it will be a good and meaningful life. Music is another form of entertainment.
Work- boring, try your best to find a job that you like, otherwise you may feel miserable.
Jan 21, 2009
1/21/09 Folk Culture's Messages on the Good and Meaningful Life - Online advice from regular folks
While online, you can easily view advertisments that people have posted for other websites, mostly online sources where regular people give advise on "life" finding the best "beauty secrets," "relationship advice," etc. Online people can post just about anything they like, whether it is wrong or right, its just their personal opinion.
On wikiHow you can read about questions people have put out on the internet in hopes that other "regular people" will respond with some usable advice. For example "How to Think of Conversations to Talk about with your Boyfriend?" was a question asked. When people join the site they can add/edit answers and give their personal advice to help answer the questions. When regular people pass on their own knowledge to others that is passing on their folk culture, what they have learned from experience and from people before them. Most advice given is from personal experience, the person giving the advice have most likely been in the same situation and are now helping others by passing along their knowledge.
On wikiHow you can read about questions people have put out on the internet in hopes that other "regular people" will respond with some usable advice. For example "How to Think of Conversations to Talk about with your Boyfriend?" was a question asked. When people join the site they can add/edit answers and give their personal advice to help answer the questions. When regular people pass on their own knowledge to others that is passing on their folk culture, what they have learned from experience and from people before them. Most advice given is from personal experience, the person giving the advice have most likely been in the same situation and are now helping others by passing along their knowledge.
Jan 20, 2009
1/20/09
Barack Obama is officially the President of the United States of America. During his Inaugural address I was listening for a few things and it was interesting what I heard him say, we predicted he would in class. Currently we have been talking about Obama and what he has promised this country, CHANGE, but will this change happen? Will things get worse before they get better? How and when will this change happen? What do the people need to do in order to help? (What will he mention in his address to the public?)
SACRIFICE
A web article from Yahoo News is titled, Barack Obama's Inaugural Address: Humility, Gratitude, Sacrifice. After listening to his speech again I was waiting to hear some sort of message that he could be giving the people. "We have chosen hope over fear, Unity of purpose over conflict and discord. We come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas that for far too long have restrained our politics. We remain a young nation..." [His message] "...but the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit, to choose our better history, to carry forward the gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation, a God given promise that all are equal, that all are free, and all deserve that chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." Once we end our childish ways of living we are able to make a change in the world.
SACRIFICE
A web article from Yahoo News is titled, Barack Obama's Inaugural Address: Humility, Gratitude, Sacrifice. After listening to his speech again I was waiting to hear some sort of message that he could be giving the people. "We have chosen hope over fear, Unity of purpose over conflict and discord. We come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas that for far too long have restrained our politics. We remain a young nation..." [His message] "...but the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit, to choose our better history, to carry forward the gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation, a God given promise that all are equal, that all are free, and all deserve that chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." Once we end our childish ways of living we are able to make a change in the world.
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