primalmommy on fri 16 apr 04
Lee compares the single mindedness of the glaze-cautionists (how's that
for a word?) to religious fundamentalism, an exclusive club of the
"anointed".
I see it as the opposite. How popular was Galileo when he told the
church maybe the universe didin't run the way "tradition"/the Bible
said? the powers that be had a lot invested in the status quo and really
wanted him to shut up lest people catch on.
How popular was the first farm worker who said, "I think the stuff we
spray on the crops is causing these tumors"?
Or the folks who made the link between silicon implants and illness? DDT
and eco-disaster?
Environmentalists, social activists, political dissenters and protestors
have in common that they are a thorn in the side of the status quo, and
the status quo does not take well to having its foundations questioned.
When research said "this product/practice appears to be dangerous", how
many corporations or institutions instantly made a change to make it
safer... and how many went "Phillip Morris", lawyered up and mounted a
PR campaign to keep the truth buried?
Folks knew what was killing Lake Erie long before it was declared dead;
try getting corporations to admit wrongdoing and change their tactics --
too expensive, too much relearning/retooling. It was easier for them to
hire PR people to discredit the whistleblowers, or point at others doing
the same or worse to deflect blame/attention.
That is maybe the only good thing about a litigious society. I can't
imagine any other way that the auto industry would come up with safety
glass or seatbelts/air bags (and yes, I know some people still consider
those an infringement on their rights.. ) My airplane is less likely to
be held together with duct tape, my bus driver less likely to be
tripping on acid, because killing people or making them sick now has a
high dollar sign for corporations.
But knee jerk reactions by the established majority toward threatening
new ideas are nothing new. I can disagree with my government -- it
doesn't make me a communist. I can study and embrace world religions -
it doesn't make me a "heathen". And because I have a brain in my head
and can tell chemistry/research from hype and emotional hyperbole, I can
decide to focus on safe and stable glazes without belonging to some
alarmist cult.
You roll your eyes (which, granted, is not easy to do in print) about
culturally illiterate, ethnocentric Americans (talk about your broad
brush, sweeping generalization!) who have only a limited
understanding/use of pottery. Is it possible that you have very little
knowledge of what goes on today in the world of ^6 oxidation glazing? Is
it possible that the cry of "educate the people about pottery" should
include you?
Really, Lee, I have always enjoyed your posts, but lately I'm weary of
being talked down to. Maybe you need to spend some time back in the US.
Rub elbows with brilliant potters at NCECA, hit a few texas sushi bars,
lose a little of that expatriate superiority complex that can so tempt
us when we live overseas. (bt,dt)
American tourists are not the most shining or accurate depiction, after
all... and certainly neither is TV/media..
Yours,
Kelly in Toledo, Ohio, a region ripe for narrow cultural stereotype..
never mind the world class museum, university, opera, ballet, ethnic
dining, theater... we're midwestern americans, a bunch of uncultured,
ethnocentric bumpkins who don't know oribe from tupperware, voltaire
from volkswagen, japan from jersey.. gotta go, a tornado just sucked the
cows outta my barn..
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k. sam miller on sat 17 apr 04
>>Clennell writes...
>> You guys that get religion scare me.
>
>Then Lee chimes in...
>Fundamentalism, "one true way", of any kind hinders learning. If you
>read Bob B's defense of a narrow perspective, you see the language of
>religion and an argument to only accepting the knowledge of the
>anointed. Scary. ;-)
>
Lee/Tony,
You guys have proceeded to propagate & contribute to a view of "religion"
that does a disservice (in my opinion) to many folks who live by their
faith. I am a Christian, and I have a set of beliefs that define my
world-view. My life is lived by these beliefs.
Do I believe that my way is the right way? Of course - otherwise I
wouldn't have invested myself in this faith. Does this make me
scary??!! Only if you are scared of someone who believes that they have a
PERSONAL connection to their God.
I rejoice in the beauty of nature (i.e. creation). I rejoice in the beauty
of art (produced BY creations who have been blessed with abilities that are
but a shadow of their Maker's). I am a life-long student. My faith does
not hinder my learning (it merely gives me guidelines within which to base
my learning).
My faith teaches me to love everyone (God, self, wife, neighbor, enemy). I
don't JUDGE anyone - that is the role of my Creator (though I do often feel
that I am judged solely by my beliefs - see the above comments!). I WILL
talk to you about my experience, if you like. But, I don't try to
strong-arm people to believe my way (that role is God's - he will draw you
to Him). I believe that this is what the Creator desires.
I am sorry if you all have had bad experiences with folks who profess to be
"religious" - just remember that they have faults (sins) like anyone
else. NO ONE on this earth NOW is perfect. Please do not judge me
(period) and please DO take the time to get to know me. I believe that
opening up & getting to know each other is what life is all about (witness
all the wonderful experiences at NCECA).
Please write me off-list if any of you would like to discuss further. I
couldn't stay silent about the direction these comments were taking.
God Bless!
Sam
Sam Miller
"Texas Dabbler"
"The sleeping dog sighs,
Rabbits run fast in her dreams,
Poor, slow bag of clay."
Lee Love on sat 17 apr 04
clennell wrote:
You guys that get religion scare me.
Tony, you hit the problem on the nose from my perspective.
Fundamentalism, "one true way", of any kind hinders learning. If you
read Bob B's defense of a narrow perspective, you see the language of
religion and an argument to only accepting the knowledge of the
anointed. Scary. ;-)
Lee In Mashiko
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