Today in Review

Today was a pretty good day, despite being sick with what seems like a cold. For those who care, I am taking my vitamin C. Enough to pull a cold out of a horse!
But today my philosophy group presented in class. Our topic was cultural relativism. We essentially led the class in discussion of the topic, so it was less a presentation, than us taking over the class for the day. A lot of things came up: cultural difference, religion (particularly Christianity and Islam), immigration, and a host of other things.
The common thread to all of it was the frightening ignorance (and I don't mean that in a direct negative attack on people) that we as Americans display to the situations of others. Mind you, there are some brilliant analytical minds in the class who pick up on things, understand situations, and don't simply look at things in the black and white world that all too many of us live. Some speak only occasionally, but their wisdom supersedes their silence. One girl in particular, who we've never heard from so far, made some astute observations.
But a guy named Tim is who I am most impressed by. He even shined a light in my head the other day with a discussion about euthanasia. He always thinks out loud, and while he is not always correct, he demonstrates a clarity of thought, not seen in many our age.
Some of the most interesting thoughts came from people whose culture at least was not that of "mainstream" America, whatever that may mean anymore. The students from minority groups, particularly when weighing in on discussions about immigration. There were obvious tones, interestingly from men, who seemed ill at ease with the idea of unlimited immigration.
I ended up adding the last thought to the class by pulling from the book, Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures. So few Americans, myself included, really understand how our country's views and beliefs in how our economy, foreign policy, and everyday lives have such an impact on the rest of the world. So many either don't know or don't care that the clothing we wear, the tools we use, the cars we drive, or the jewelry we wear is taken, produced, assembled, or made by people whose lives are destroyed because of our demand for these products. Or destroyed because we want to put our hands in their world, but don't want any dirt or blood on our hands as a result. The reality almost always ends with more blood than can ever be washed away.