Thursday, January 31, 2008

Issues???

Politics in this country seems more about personalities than issues at the moment. In addition, you have the tendancy for the government to defend and the DA to attack. U.S. Politics seems to be at the stage where they at least have a list of issues which they debate when it comes to election time.

Anyway, maybe a list of issues worth blogging/reading/debating about is worth coming up with… I guess things I am interested in and would like to know more about/form opinions on. Also things I am not interested in but probably should know more about anyway.

Here is a stab

1) Vegetarianism – I just don’t get it
2) Religion – Its uses, Its value, Its dangers
3) Politics – SA’s future
4) Feminism
5) Racism – Can it be beaten, or is it here to stay
6) How to solve the Crime Problem?
7) Ideas/Motivation things that put a spring in my step
8) Art – what’s good, what’s not, why?
9) Books/Music – stuff worth reading/listening to
10) Sport
11) Business
12) People - Past Greats/Current People who influence and why
13) What is greatness? - Art/People/Achievements

5 comments:

mutt said...

I've actually been surprised by how many people have argued that hilary's gender and Barack's race are good reasons to vote for them. But I do agree though...

I just don't get your issue with vegetarianism (distinct form having an issue with Will type evangelists).

why no patriotism? how bout tribal in group out group dynamic relating to racism??

Swart Donkey said...

The issue with vegetarianism isn't so much of it being a problem, although it does make socialising difficult on occasion (having to prepare special meals).

Like you say I dislike `vegetarian evangelists'...

My point is rather, I don't understand why YOU for example are a vegetarian. I have not been convinced.

The other suggestions are definitely worth adding to the list.

mutt said...

it is strange, the lack of understanding about the vegetarianism, because to me it is the simplest thing in the world and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to try explain.

It sucks that animals suffer. Being a vegetarian is simply one way of responding to this...

I'm thinking of other stuff...

Swart Donkey said...

Give me a book/the book that convinced you?

Is dying bad?

If a happy cow lives a happy life then gets slaughtered, is that bad?

I buy the bad treatment thing, but animals eating animals is very natural and people do it far more humanely (not all the time) than running up to a cow and ripping its throat out with your teeth.

Stuart said...

I'm a transhumanist, of course I think dying is bad.

The happiness is good. the slaughter is bad. on balance it might be worth it.

I don't take the vegetarianism itself all that seriously and I think some meat eating lifestyles are better ethically than some veggie lifestyles.

Having said all this, in the world we live in, I think being a vegetarian is probably the simplest, most efficient way of reducing animal suffering.

I don't believe what is natural is a good guide to what is moral.