We've been home over a week, and other than a post recapping our trip, I've had nothing. While excuses still seem like elbows, I have one. I acquired a bad cold and have spent more time sleeping than thinking. That, along with Marrianna's wonderful home-made chicken soup, have returned me to semi-normal state, though there are those who would say semi-normal is my norm.
I have managed to drag myself to the study and read both books and blogs. While the books I've read are entirely useless in terms of requiring thought, I did read a recent blog that has me thinking. I've enlisted Marrianna to read it to provide a sociologist's perspective and clarify my thoughts on the subject, but she hasn't yet responded. So this will introduce the blogger and the blog post(s) that started my thought process.
This blogger, Ta-Nehesi Coates, has in my opinion consistently well written and thought out posts over an impressive range of subjects. He is on my Bookmarks Toolbar, and I read him almost every day. His post that I've been thinking about since yesterday when he posted it is "A Culture of Poverty." There's a follow-up post today, "Violence, Culture, and Gender".
As I say, I've asked Marrianna to read this, and that she also read the comments. TNC has a set of readers and commenters that carry on a, for the most part and with some exceptions, well educated, intelligent conversation. Of course - well maybe of course is inappropriate - that would be expected with readers of "The Atlantic." I urge you to read the first post and comments at least, and hopefully the second also. When I get Marrianna's thoughts I intend to write about this again.
Another article I read that has me thinking is in Time's online magazine, and probably the printed version as well. It's by Fareed Zakaria, and titled "How To Restore The American Dream. This is long, but about a very important subject, and Zakaria has stirred thoughts I've had muddling around since this "Recession" began. I don't have time to explore them this evening, but I believe Zakaria has some good ideas. I think his premise of restoring the American Dream is too narrow. I don't partricularly want to restore the American Dream, because I think the American Dream was too USA-centered and based on erroneous assumptions, but he does have some good points. I urge you to read his article, and I will be returning to this too in various ways.
All three links interesting and thought provoking, Jim – and especially the second. I'll look forward to your further thoughts on them in the light of Marrianna's responses.
In the meantime: sorry you've been unwell, but pleased that you are sufficiently recovered to write again! :-)
Posted by: Felix | October 24, 2010 at 05:27 PM