Monday, February 27, 2006
Latest Column
I have been trying to figure out how best to spend the time I invest in Green Party activities. One thing that made this blog especially worthwhile is that it had some readership amongst folks who actively were engaged in Green Party activities. Readers and commentators included some of the most involved Greens.
By the same token, when I have a piece published in YC magazine, it's read by better than a thousand local citizens. That's likely a low estimate, but most importantly to me, those are local readers, and not necessarily much aware of the Green Party or Green Values.
I have also found that articles I publish via American chronicle get hundreds of readers. Again I assume that many of these readers are less aware of the Green Party than most of the visitors to this blog.
I believe firmly that the Green Party community needs a place to go to get information about Green Party activities. I am trying to figure out how to do that and have as great an impact as possible. Over the next few weeks I will try to come up with a plan that works well.
For now, here is the latest installment of the York County (SC) Greens column in YC Magazine. Not one of my best columns. Just click on the "Read more!" link to get the full article.
R E S P E C T -find out what it means to Greens.
Most folks get involved with the Greens because they have lost all faith in mainstream political parties. One reason we have lost faith in politic-as-usual is that those in power seem to have no respect for average folk’s opinions and ideas. “We know what’s best, so let us run the show.” President Bush disrespects the Constitution by conducting illegal domestic spying. The Fort Mill Town Council disrespects it’s citizens by regulating the height of fences in the town limits. From top to bottom, Democrats and Republicans have shown that they don’t trust us to make our own decisions.
Greens believe in respect. We can make decisions about how we live and what we do without Big Brother, or Little Brother, looking over our shoulders. We believe that everyone has a right to decide their own future. We believe that everyone’s opinion should count, not just the rich and powerful.
We also believe in the value of diversity. From being open to other ethnic and racial groups to being open to new ideas, the Green Party places a lot of emphasis on diversity. In fact, one of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party is “Respect for Diversity”. We believe that everyone is better off if we respect each other.
Respect for diversity doesn’t stop at respect for people and their rights. We also believe that a diverse economy is good for people. Towns that depend entirely on one employer or industry are often the weakest communities. The risk of that one big employer shutting down is always there. Usually these huge employers have way too much control over local government. From Fort Lawn South Carolina to Flint Michigan, communities have learned that corporate cash flows to the highest profits, regardless of the damage done to a community by the company’s decisions. A community that has a diverse economic base is not at the mercy of one big employer, and the rest of the business community also benefits.
York County is a very diverse community. We are fortunate in that regard. Bahá'ís, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Wiccans and the non-religious are all here. Under our system, every faith is accepted as equal in the eyes of the law. Why then would our elected officials say a public prayer to one deity and not the others? In a word, disrespect.
Greens also respect sexual diversity. Sex is a very complicated issue. Greens believe the last thing the government needs to do is try to regulate the behavior of consenting adults. Any adult who wants to be married should be free to do so without government interference. How you have sex, and with whom, is none of the government’s business.
Greens also respect ecological diversity. We do understand that saving an endangered species may anger some folks who wanted to turn a profit on land they own. In the end Greens understand that extinction is forever. Offering the diversity of animal life a place to survive, in and amongst humans, reflects this respect for diversity. We all benefit from the variety of life on Earth, and should do what we can to protect that life.
In general Democrats and Republicans are more interested in control, and Greens more interested in individual and community empowerment. Does the government respect your thinking ability? Does it respect your rights? Does it respect your faith, ethnicity, or race? Greens expect this of ourselves and our governments. Shouldn’t you expect the same?
By the same token, when I have a piece published in YC magazine, it's read by better than a thousand local citizens. That's likely a low estimate, but most importantly to me, those are local readers, and not necessarily much aware of the Green Party or Green Values.
I have also found that articles I publish via American chronicle get hundreds of readers. Again I assume that many of these readers are less aware of the Green Party than most of the visitors to this blog.
I believe firmly that the Green Party community needs a place to go to get information about Green Party activities. I am trying to figure out how to do that and have as great an impact as possible. Over the next few weeks I will try to come up with a plan that works well.
For now, here is the latest installment of the York County (SC) Greens column in YC Magazine. Not one of my best columns. Just click on the "Read more!" link to get the full article.
R E S P E C T -find out what it means to Greens.
Most folks get involved with the Greens because they have lost all faith in mainstream political parties. One reason we have lost faith in politic-as-usual is that those in power seem to have no respect for average folk’s opinions and ideas. “We know what’s best, so let us run the show.” President Bush disrespects the Constitution by conducting illegal domestic spying. The Fort Mill Town Council disrespects it’s citizens by regulating the height of fences in the town limits. From top to bottom, Democrats and Republicans have shown that they don’t trust us to make our own decisions.
Greens believe in respect. We can make decisions about how we live and what we do without Big Brother, or Little Brother, looking over our shoulders. We believe that everyone has a right to decide their own future. We believe that everyone’s opinion should count, not just the rich and powerful.
We also believe in the value of diversity. From being open to other ethnic and racial groups to being open to new ideas, the Green Party places a lot of emphasis on diversity. In fact, one of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party is “Respect for Diversity”. We believe that everyone is better off if we respect each other.
Respect for diversity doesn’t stop at respect for people and their rights. We also believe that a diverse economy is good for people. Towns that depend entirely on one employer or industry are often the weakest communities. The risk of that one big employer shutting down is always there. Usually these huge employers have way too much control over local government. From Fort Lawn South Carolina to Flint Michigan, communities have learned that corporate cash flows to the highest profits, regardless of the damage done to a community by the company’s decisions. A community that has a diverse economic base is not at the mercy of one big employer, and the rest of the business community also benefits.
York County is a very diverse community. We are fortunate in that regard. Bahá'ís, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Wiccans and the non-religious are all here. Under our system, every faith is accepted as equal in the eyes of the law. Why then would our elected officials say a public prayer to one deity and not the others? In a word, disrespect.
Greens also respect sexual diversity. Sex is a very complicated issue. Greens believe the last thing the government needs to do is try to regulate the behavior of consenting adults. Any adult who wants to be married should be free to do so without government interference. How you have sex, and with whom, is none of the government’s business.
Greens also respect ecological diversity. We do understand that saving an endangered species may anger some folks who wanted to turn a profit on land they own. In the end Greens understand that extinction is forever. Offering the diversity of animal life a place to survive, in and amongst humans, reflects this respect for diversity. We all benefit from the variety of life on Earth, and should do what we can to protect that life.
In general Democrats and Republicans are more interested in control, and Greens more interested in individual and community empowerment. Does the government respect your thinking ability? Does it respect your rights? Does it respect your faith, ethnicity, or race? Greens expect this of ourselves and our governments. Shouldn’t you expect the same?
// posted by Gregg Jocoy @ 9:34 PM 
Comments:
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I am looking at the GP. However, I cannot agree with the legitimization of homosexuality. Isn't saying "Any adult who wants to be married should be free to do so without government interference" opposite of nature?
Is it more important to the party for men to marry men or to save the environment for our children?
Is it more important to the party for men to marry men or to save the environment for our children?
# posted by 
: 7:17 PM
: 7:17 PM
Hey jsykes. Glad to have you here.
I personally find the way you worded your question to be interesting. Here where I live, in South Carolkina, gay marriage is never denegrated by calling it "opposite of nature" (unnatural), but by calling it "opposite of God's plan" (immoral).
The morality question, to me, is one we may never "solve" because we have so many and divergent views of what is and what is not immoral or moral.
The question of what is "natural" however, is one we Greens can relate to. We do point out that living in harmony with nature is a must if we hope to sustain human life as well as non-human life.
That said, I don't know which natural tendency to follow. Most of nature seems, to my uneducated eye, very much sexually liberated if you will. Long term mating is not the "normal" way of things for many animals, and gay sex is pretty clearly at least a part of "normal" sexual expression in several non-human species.
In truth, the most uncommon set-up seems to be the one most desired by humans. A single life-long sexual partner, other than oneself of course, reflects an ideal for many, but the reality is pretty divorced from that ideal.
I think that, for me and for most Greens, the questions become not so much questions of what is moral or natural, but what is fair and what works. In the long term, and remember that Greens think long-term, allowing people who want to marry the benefits of civil marriage can only benefit everyone. Forcing loving partners to live as though they were "just friends" is both unsustainable and cruel.
Again, I am not attacking you jsykes, but trying to explain to someone who is looking at the GP. I believe we need help from as many places as we can get it, but it should be from folks who agree with the Green Values in the broad sense, not just the "traditional" Green Values like ecological concern.
It's not that we are concerned that men marry men but that everyone be treated equally, and well. Leaving a safe, sane and clean society for our children is a vision Greens of every stripe agree on. And a sane society is one which cherishes it's diversity.
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I personally find the way you worded your question to be interesting. Here where I live, in South Carolkina, gay marriage is never denegrated by calling it "opposite of nature" (unnatural), but by calling it "opposite of God's plan" (immoral).
The morality question, to me, is one we may never "solve" because we have so many and divergent views of what is and what is not immoral or moral.
The question of what is "natural" however, is one we Greens can relate to. We do point out that living in harmony with nature is a must if we hope to sustain human life as well as non-human life.
That said, I don't know which natural tendency to follow. Most of nature seems, to my uneducated eye, very much sexually liberated if you will. Long term mating is not the "normal" way of things for many animals, and gay sex is pretty clearly at least a part of "normal" sexual expression in several non-human species.
In truth, the most uncommon set-up seems to be the one most desired by humans. A single life-long sexual partner, other than oneself of course, reflects an ideal for many, but the reality is pretty divorced from that ideal.
I think that, for me and for most Greens, the questions become not so much questions of what is moral or natural, but what is fair and what works. In the long term, and remember that Greens think long-term, allowing people who want to marry the benefits of civil marriage can only benefit everyone. Forcing loving partners to live as though they were "just friends" is both unsustainable and cruel.
Again, I am not attacking you jsykes, but trying to explain to someone who is looking at the GP. I believe we need help from as many places as we can get it, but it should be from folks who agree with the Green Values in the broad sense, not just the "traditional" Green Values like ecological concern.
It's not that we are concerned that men marry men but that everyone be treated equally, and well. Leaving a safe, sane and clean society for our children is a vision Greens of every stripe agree on. And a sane society is one which cherishes it's diversity.
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