In this blog I have added ten photos of people that we have met in our travels. Just for fun test yourself to get in touch with your first impressions as you see each picture, (then check at the bottom of the blog to learn more about these 10 individuals or groups). Are you drawn to some?, do you fear some? Why? What assumptions would you make about each person if you met them on the street- How would it affect how you approached them? The photos do not relate to the message of this blog...if they overlap its only by accident.
People photo #2
I hate it when someone, without knowing me, puts me in a pigeon hole and treats me as if they have already decided about me. They may decide that they like me or don't like me, that I am their kind of person or not... That I have the "right" social beliefs or not) , they may speak up to me, down to me, condescendingly to me. That makes me outraged!
When I first started working in the inner city schools of Oakland I encountered students whose appearance made me think that they might be potentially dangerous gang members. But as I got to know these kids as individuals I found them eager to learn biology so that they could continue their education. I saw kids that looked like rough street kids performing well in academic classes - They were using biological vocabulary and asking intelligent questions. Perhaps they dressed this way to not stand out in their community. My first impressions were not correct.
People photo #6
Sometimes when I walk the dogs I meet a man who had a stroke… he walks with a severe limp, his speech is difficult to understand, and his face is not quite straight. I think a lot of us treat people with handicaps like they are not like the rest of us. Imagine my surprise when I learned that he and his wife had been noted singers and had published a number of CDs of their music, he had also been a championship runner when he was younger. When I patiently listened to what he had to say I found a sensitive intelligent person with a longing for real human contact.
People photo #7
Sometimes I walk the dogs through a park where a number of homeless men gather in the morning to eat breakfast together at a picnic table. On occasion I have stopped to chat with them. They had funny stories to tell and we laughed together – They were not down on drugs or drunk… they had just lost their jobs and lost their homes and were wondering how to get their lives back on track. My wariness of homeless people is not always right.
I admit it - My guard goes up when I discover someone is politically conservative. I expect them to attack my beliefs so I prepare myself for their anticipated onslaught. I dredge up all my expectations for what I assume will be their political beliefs and of course then it becomes difficult to have a relaxed open discussion. What a shame – I am probably shutting out good people. I have a sneaking suspision that I may have much in common with some of these folks if only we could talk beyond our differences. We have a humanity beyond our different beliefs.
That's News to Me
When something happens in the world how do we find out about it? How do we decide how we think about the event?
The Cairo phenomenon has brought this home to me- If I checked five different news sources during last week, I would find five different interpretations of the reality that was happening in Egypt
But the news industry is what turns “reality events” into our attitudes and beliefs. They make choices about which facts are published and which are held back. TV stations and newspapers are in the business of making profits. Profits are based on pleasing adversisers and attracting a large number of viewers/readers. Some news sources are strongly connected with special interest groups and political parties anxious to advance their agenda. Seems like most news sources have an ax to grind.
A serious journalist is akin to a detective – it takes hard work to develop an accurate story, – The journalist must check sources – go into dangerous situations, take risks for his or her career … When journalism is done right it helps the people - the nation - to sort out truth from fiction. Sadly year by year less journalism is done this way... Now its ...check the wire service and write the story... More and more news sources simply borrow an article from another news service.
Is the news we choose to watch dominated by fact or by opinion? Opinion pieces can influence entire nations of people. Any propogandist knows this – If you want to alter public opinion it isn’t about fact - its about planting seeds of fear and doubt that matter. It is a healthy habit to ask “ What is actual evidence for saying this”? Wild ideas produce crazy actions and wild results. Think of the source that told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and mobile chemical labs. This last week it came out that that man, now living in Germany, told the press that he only said these things because he didnt like Saddam Hussain...he had no evidence...
Photos are evidence – we trust what we see… but different news sources can put a different spin on the same photos – One person’s freedom fighters are another persons dangerous radicals. One persons rightous defense of the constitution may be interpreted as a danger to human freedom by others.
Contrary to popular opinion reporters do not have a special connection with “truth”. All they have to work with is the information that comes over the wire services or what they can observe and confirm first hand. Being in the midst of a confusing situation does not give automatic insight into the situation - Truth is hard to tease out...
Lesson 1: Check your sources, Lesson 2: Is the evidence sound? Lesson 3: Don't get trapped by your political preconceptions.
People photos
1. Czech students on a summer camping holiday ( waiting for a train)
2. Community Organizer - Havana, Cuba
3. Russian living in Kyrgystan with his bird hunting rifle
4. Greek village couple
5. Uzbec man who drove us in his car - buying gasoline
6. Care giver - Tanzanian orphanage
7. Tour organizer - Arusha, Tanzania
8. Collective farm workers - Cuba
9. Driver and Guide: South Africa
10. Homeless man sleeping on the street in San Francisco
