Oct 07 2008

Quote for Discussion: The Revolution is not about Revolting

Food isn’t about Nutrition

Clothes aren’t about Comfort

Bedrooms aren’t about Sleep

Marriage isn’t about Romance

Talk isn’t about Info

Laughter isn’t about Jokes

Charity isn’t about Helping

Church isn’t about God

Art isn’t about Insight

Medicine isn’t about Health

Consulting isn’t about Advice

School isn’t about Learning

Research isn’t about Progress

Politics isn’t about Policy

~Robin Hanson, Politics isn’t about Policy

A lot of the talk here lately about revolution has upset me a great deal.  I was all primed to write a rant about it.  But then I reflected for a moment.  Thinking differently is not about having different opinions about the same things.  It is about changing the process of how we think.

It isn’t enough for me to think there are different answers.  I have to change.  In Islam, the greater jihad is the war within.  What does victory within myself mean?  What sort of person am I, and what about myself am I trying to overthrow?

What is it all about, really?

8 comments

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  1. …the moment is soon approaching when Jews must ask for forgiveness from others before they can seek it from God.

    I do not seek God’s forgiveness or recognition.  But I am sorry, and I do hope y’all will forgive me.

    • Robyn on October 7, 2008 at 04:40
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    …on a smaller scale…or as large a scale as is necessary.

  3. … by Hanson.

    I think it’s true that very often what people say they are arguing about has a subtext that has very little to do with the stated topic.

    And I think all the talk of revolution has a very interesting subtext.

    I also agree with you that the most important revolution is within.

    May your name be written in the book of life for another year, Jay.  I still have a lot to learn from you and wish to annoy you further as well!  ðŸ˜‰

    • RiaD on October 7, 2008 at 05:36
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    this is beautiful

    Thinking differently is not about having different opinions about the same things.  It is about changing the process of how we think.

    it’s about turning the world upside down.

    its taking the same objects/facts….and building a different picture…a different world.

    for just yourself…or the entire planet

    how big can you think?

  5. this quote as well. And its very good to hear from you. I’ve been missing your voice in all this over the last few days.

    I especially thought of you when I read this quote, was powerfully moved by it, and wrote an essay on it.

    Men fear thought more than they fear anything else on earth — more than ruin, more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habits; thought is anarchic and lawless, indifferent to authority, careless of the well-tried wisdom of the ages … But if thought is to become the possession of many, not the privilege of the few, we must have done with fear. It is fear that holds men back — fear lest their cherished beliefs should prove delusions, fear lest the institutions by which they live should prove harmful, fear lest they themselves should prove less worthy of respect than they have supposed themselves to be.

    -Bertrand Russell

    • plf515 on October 8, 2008 at 02:56
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    in Scientific American…

    “It’s good to be open-minded.  But if you’re too open-minded, your brains fall out”

    🙂

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