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- Mireille Chéry
- Montreal Quebec
- Canada
President & Founder, F.I.S.H. Corporation Foundation
This conversation is closed.
What IF planet earth was just : One color, one race, one nation, one religion, one language ?
Does all this diversity in races, colors, religions etc., bring human being to war, hatrated, anger, frustration etc. ? The differences that we all share on this beautiful planet, is it to our advantage ?
Would it not be easier and more pleasant to speak all, the same language, have the same culture, practice the same religion etc. ?
What is your take ? Would you rather live on A PLANET EARTH elsewhere, that it's all the same colors, same culture, same language, same religion etc...If not, why and what do you propose to make OUR planet earth, as much unified as possible within is differences?
May 31 2012: I think in time it will be inevitable. My genealogy is a mix of english, scottish portugese and german. The mother of my children is of irish and indigenous australian bloodlines. Every day i interact with people from japan and china and malaysia and india and sudan. In 100 years the concept of race will be very hard to define as the lines become very blurry. Imagine what the world will be like when hypersonic planes allow travel across an ocean in acouple of hours. Your race and your culture will be something you chose, not something you are labelled with.
To illustrate my point. I'm a highschool teacher, sometimes in my class I ask the kids to stand up in a line and I put them in order from palest complexion to darkest without telling the kids what I'm doing. Eventually they work it out. Then I ask them to pick the line between the "white kids" and the "black kids". There never is a line it's just shades of brown the whole way. No white no black just all shades of brown.
Jun 28 2012: You are a great teacher Peter, keep it up!! Did put a smile on my face...what you did to your students.
Jun 28 2012: The best part is when you have a kid who is in touch with his aboriginal heritage but not very dark. You end up with arguements "You must be black you're darker than me and I'm black". Eventually they realise that you can choose your cultural interests independantly of the colour of your skin. Can you imagine what some one would look like if they really were white? I also get them to put thier hands on a piece of paper to show that side of the pointless classification system that gets used too much.
Jun 28 2012: You certainly having a blast in your job and seem also that you loved what you do...Bravo again Peter!
Kids are the best...do you find, that you learn as much as you teach them ?Jun 1 2012: One color, one race, one nation, one religion, one language would reduce the collective amount the knowledge-base of humankind to 1/200th than what we have now. We are different so we learn from each other.
We are different so we are interesting to each other.
Zdenek Smith
May 31 2012: Some readers think that having only one culture (or no culture at all) means we don't have variety of opinions, approaches, views and variety in music, arts etc.
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I think without cutlures we will have more freedom and see more variety without any historic constraints. Without culture people will still find new trends, do things differently and think differently?May 30 2012: united colours of benetton wouldnt have a product (thats comming from an indiginous australian) :-)
Jun 28 2012: United colors all the way!! Thank you for your input DamianMay 30 2012: The world that you imagine is a utopian one. Everything in the world would be simple and easy, but it wouldn't be as divine and beautiful as now. What we need is to learn unity in diversity . With all these differences too we can live peacefully, the differences don't format the root problem here. It's our human ego and our attitude towards people, trying to shun them down when they're different from the crowd,this creates issues, not the differences. Differences are beautiful.May 30 2012: That kind of world would not be as beautiful as this one.
It is the diversity of world that furnishes opportunities for all those acts of respect,tolerance,courtesy and unselfishness by which love and goodwill are expressed. Unfortunately, this also leaves the way open to competition and hostility.
Freedom of choice implies the existence of things to choose between. And as long as humanity have freedom of choice and the possibilty of making the wrong choice, it would not matter whether we have the same of all the things you've listed.
Lejan .
Jun 30 2012: It is giving just the right flavour to this stew. Salt, pepper and maybe stock cube is to be negotiated globally yet added, stirred and additionally seasoned locally. And with just the right time of waiting, the overall temperature will become just right one day to enjoy it everywhere! Bon appetit! :o)
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Jun 30 2012: I'll take a big bowl of that Jean-Bernd, sound delicious!!
Ummm, c'est bon !
Lejan .
Jun 30 2012: Hey, let's get them all invited!
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If you will guard the soup, I get the 7 billion chairs ... ;o)
Jun 30 2012: Don't forget the Champagne! I'll keep it warm!!Jun 29 2012: Hi Mireille.
I find this subject very interesting. Actually, I was just thinking about this. I lived in a tourist island, where I can see people from all around the world just enjoying their vacation time, and it came to my attention the diversity of races that more often are seen forming a family, and this just brought me the question if one day in the future, we may create a new race just by combining all the existing now. If this happen, how the society will change?
But as your question, If I would like to live in a place where we are all the same, I honestly wouldn't like it. Why? because diversity is what makes the human kind what it is. If you think about it, even in a relationship, both of the persons involved, are quiet different, because they complement each other. We learned about others thoughts, behave, ideals, culture (this very important), etc.
It is true that this very same diversity have created a series of problems between nations, even between people from the same country, but I don't think that uniformity in the society will help much, because the very own nature of the human being. We need to learn from others, if not, growth will not be possible. Maybe, if we get to a point where people are somehow similar between each others, this wont last long, because there will always be someone that will not agree with the rest, and will created another tendency or way of thinking.
What may be the solution? Understand, really UNDERSTAND, that we are different from each other, and that, if I think or act different, it doesn't necessary means that is not correct. Because you don't understand another person it doesn't mean he is wrong. What we need to do is bring back all the values that society has been putting aside, and start being tolerant with others.
Everything starts at home, teach our children about tolerance, diversity and acceptance, and will be a greater society.
Jun 30 2012: @ Claudia : I appreciate reading your thoughts on the matter Claudia, really. Understanting, acceptance and respect of each other is the main keys and solutions.
Thank you kindly for your input and I hope your vision of this world will come about...it's a great one!
Lili Cheung
Jun 29 2012: I think differences between individuals is the motivation that people keep learning and growing. I do not believe that we would like to discover other things if people share the same language and culture. It will only lead us into a dull world if we have the same religion, culture,etc.
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War and hatred are not happend because of the difference between individuals, but it comes from our fear, ambition, envy and selfishness.
A pleasant conversation is created by understanding between each other.
Jun 30 2012: I like your thoughts on the matter Lili !! A creative conversation by understanding each other is a great approach, furthermore, one should also accept the difference of ideas and opinions of the other person, so that creativity on both parties can come alive and nourish, one, from the other!
Debra Smith
Jun 27 2012: We would all be bereft! My kids are so different and that is what makes us strong. The one who loves economics helps the one who is a diplomat and the one who works in parliament is able to advise us all. The other two may hold even more wisdom in a practical sense.
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Uniformity is not my dream and I delight to live in a multicultural, multilingual country too.
Barry Palmer
Jun 24 2012: I don't mean to speak for other people, but after reading this whole debate, I would like to give my impressions (if you think I have misstated somthing, please correct me):
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It seems that almost everyone agrees that a world with less diversity would be less beautiful and less pleasant, with the one possible exception that it might be more peaceful. I watched a talk recently in which the speaker described herself as having the color of chocolate. I just love that phrase. It would be such a pity to have world where noone had the color of chocolate.
I think that Mireille's point, that diversity dwells within us, is very insightful. A more peaceful world, with less outer diversity, may provide the freedom to allow our inner diversity to blossom abundantly. A single language might make the world less interesting, but it would certainly facilitate the fast exchange of ideas.
Unfortunately, I think that Peter Lindsay's point is the most applicable. Whether we like it or not, the world is fast becoming a monoculture. The worlds languages are disappearing at an amazing rate. I have studied only two languages other than English, but I learned that there are concepts that cannot be translated. This means that a vast amount of knowledge is being lost, likely forever. By letting these languages die, we could be setting back human progress by centuries.
Jun 24 2012: Really inspiring Barry, thank you ! Yes, indeed you are right in your analogy here!
I love my chocolate color, and furthermore, I certainly don't see it as a problem or negative as society (some people trying to stigmate it), so for me, it's not the outside colored or the outside world views that bother me, IS THE INSIDE WORLD of any human, the heart translate our views for the world outside to see, to like, dislike, love etc.,
If human can see this world with the eyes of their heart, mind you, they have to do the work from within (change their heart for the best that it can be), well, I believe deep down in my heart, that world that we are leaving now with all is beautiful diffences: language, religion, colour etc, would be monotone, without loosing is colors and differences, hence, no violence, wars etc...why, the heart don't have prejudice, we put it in, consciously or not!
Think about a child for a moment: they don't see colors, language etc., they just don't see it right, because they look at the world, with the eyes of their heart, and they embrace all this diversity. So i'm praying for all of us, to have the heart of the child that we use to have. This beautiful planet is a playground, we can only play,if we have a heart of a child....I love to play!
Thanking you for your response...it touch my heart!!
PeaceJun 24 2012: Mamihlapinatapai. This is one of my favourite words Barry and is a great example of a word that describes a situation we experience every day but English has no word for. As the world homogenises we need to make an effort not to lose bits. If you put four different berries into a blender you homogenise the mixture but keep the characteristics of each berry. We need to combine cultures rather than replace one with another.
Jun 25 2012: This word Peter is from where "Mamihlapinatapai.", in what language ?
Jun 25 2012: Mamihlapinatapai (sometimes spelled mamihlapinatapei) is a word from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as the "most succinct word", and is considered one of the hardest words to translate. It refers to "a look shared by two people, each wishing that the other will offer something that they both desire but are unwilling to suggest or offer themselves.
Ever been woken by a crying baby at 2am or had the phone ring in the middle of your favourite TV show?Jun 25 2012: Yes, quite a word indeed...Peter!
I understand the crying of a baby or TV show analogy...kind of : best of both world, or you can not cook a cake and eat it to..!
The corrolation of our differences is all people want this diversity in our world, and in the same time, nobody is doing nothing to put a stop to the indifferences that some manifest by war, hatrated, violence...because of our differences.
When will start to look with the eyes of your heart, only then, I deeply believe that will be able to even pronounce "Mamihlapinatapai or mamihlapinatapei".
Thanks for the word Peter!!
Brian Flick
Jun 25 2012: I think what Peter meant is,if you are watching a TV show, with someone, you would like to keep watching , so your eyes tell the person you'd like them to answer the phone instead of you, but their eyes tell you the same thing. Same with the crying baby there are 2 of you and no one really wants to get up and help the baby so each of your eyes has the look of "Mamihlapinatapai". (Maybe I did not understand the "can't have your cake and eat it too" reference).
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Your question makes me think of a book I read and really liked in elementary school. Its called "The Giver", and its about a world that is color-blind. There is one person called the Giver who has the knowledge of "colors" and he ends up mentoring this child who SPOILER ALERT...
gives the knowledge of color to the whole world.
The concept is similar because people who see everything rationally do not always get why things are so beautiful in the world.... you might need to read the book to understand what I'm getting at, but it has stuck with me for 10+ years.
Empathy is definitely lacking here on Earth but I would like to believe the situation is improving.
"Everybody believes in something and everybody, by virtue of the fact that they believe in something, uses that something to support their own existence."
-Frank ZappaJun 25 2012: @ Brian : I did understand what Peter wanted to say.
Improvement is need it and is being done...I hope to see a glimpse of it, in my life time.
PeaceJun 20 2012: Personally I love all the differences between us. I love the differences in body structure, colours, creeds, cultures. Languages, I love hearing different languages. Accents, especially, I must confess, give me a thrill. My hobby is to try to place a person to a country just by their accent when speaking English.
However, it does seem quite apparant that the ethnic differences are indeed the basis for most conflicts. When studying history, although you may come across the veneer of wars based on ideology and religion, scratch the surface barely and wars are almost always fought because of economic reasons, which are based on the judgement that one race or ethnic group has a more "valid" claim to those economic resources than another ethnic group.
Thus it is not our diversity, so much as our inability to be mature enough to realise that another ("them" as opposed to "us") have as much right to resources as we do ourselves. Were we to extoll the virtues of other ethnic groups as much as we do our own, we would begin to take to our hearts that true understanding would alleviate this inherent mistrust.
Once, I had a coworker who hated hearing people speaking Spanish in Wal-Mart. When pressed, it turned out it was because she couldn't understand what they were saying. It made her fearful. When I explained that what they were saying was usually the same thing she would say to a companion in Wal-Mart (do we need soap? What cereal would the kids like? etc), her apprehension lessened. It is mutual understanding that gets us past our fear.
I am a big proponent of mission trips and study abroad programs and think they should be requirements for graduating high school and college.
Because, to be perfectly honest, that Lithuanian pharmacist who gets me my prescription wouldn't be half as beautiful if her accent were as plain as my American Midwest accent!Jun 19 2012: That which is, cannot exist in the absence of that which is not !
anshul singh
Jun 19 2012: start morning we all wake up exactly the same by afternoon we would have created something to distinguish from the other then would play on that to make it my diffrentiator...by nightfall we would have pretty solid camps.Jun 18 2012: Oh, God, no. How horrible would that be! We're all beautiful as we are. Not always smart, but beautiful in out differences, especially when it comes to different cultures and languages.
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Jun 19 2012: Yes indeed Branislav..."all beautiful as we are". We as individual are unique and we should embrace ourselves to embrace the differences in others and respect it!
PS: Beautiful pics!
Jun 19 2012: Thank you, and right back at ya! :)
Just to add, I believe that everything bad happened/is happening in this world just because some people have a notion that their life is more important than the lives of other people. I was taught (thanks mom!) to believe that in this life, the only thing we actually 'have' is each other...
Jun 19 2012: Thanks!!
Cheers to your mom!!
Take great care!Jun 16 2012: "life is like a rainbow, we need both sun and th rain to make its colors appear". i think that quote may be meaning full here. it's the differences that makes life on this planet beautiful, as it is.
If it were all the same everywhere, then maybe it would've been easy .....but at the same time, boring and not beautiful.
Jun 18 2012: Thanks for your post Pranoy,
I certainly agree with all saying that it is way more beautiful with our differences...for me the differences are from within us, within each of us...that want to beleive that.
The color, religion, language would not matter really, because we could love, care, embrace everybody, every religion, every language...if inside of us we see all the beauty and the power that come with all that differences.
We have see people with the eyes of our heart, not our physical eyes...
Love the rainbow comparaison...indeed, it is quite beautiful!
teja nikhil
Jun 16 2012: if there are One color, one race, one nation, one religion, one language the earth would be in a peace state and no world wars and any kind of inventions god had created all the diffrence on earth because of to know wat the man is capable of in all the fields so man has discoverd a lot so if we all are one kind the man wolud have not know of war and he will not think of nucelar missile wch are hlpful all these days and his mind would not have been devloped
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Jun 20 2012: True Teja, GOD as created all the differences on earth, and it is quite beautiful and exquisite, I embrace it with a great deal of respect and knowledge.
Now, I will say again , the differences is not by our color, religion, language etc., that we can actually see, but rather, the difference of our heart...even if we are all the same culture, colour, etc...if we can still see as being different as a catalyst to war, anger, hate etc...it does not matter if we live on this planet as it is, or reivente a new one, suggested on this debate.
The differences in within us, in our heart...change your heart, and embrace and value our differences as powerful, and we all, so in need of it!!
Cheers,Jun 16 2012: Boring. Read Audious Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD. There would be no purpose for TED, schools, politics, religion, etc ... Diversity and change are key stone in the development of mankind. The need for travel would be eliminated. I would hate that world. We are not perfect, we hate, fight, we are emotional and territorial, and that is not always good but really not all bad either without them we would not have cultures.
No I am not infavor of this idea. We are not perfect. I do like or condone the hate. But all in all .... long live the difference.
All the best. Bob.Jun 15 2012: Hello again Dear Mireille:>)
If planet earth was just one color, one race, one nation, one religion, one language, I think/feel that it would not be as interesting. It is a choice in every moment for us to see the differences with hatred, anger, frustration...or.....as a gift.
In my perception, we are all more the same than different. We all share the same planet, breath the same air, drink the same water...we all share the same feelings...sadness, happiness, frustration, contentment, joy, humor, discontent, etc. In general, we all want to love and be loved. The differences are an advantage when/if we choose to see it in that light...it is a choice:>)
The differences are the gifts we give to each other. It is by connecting with people throughout our world that I have learned more about our world, other people, and myself. By exploring the differences with an open heart and mind, curiosity and unconditional love, I have discovered how much the same we actually are, and that, to me, is a gift:>)
Jun 15 2012: Hello Queen Colleen,
This is what I like about this debate, people actually see that differences, diversity is a strenght and is powerful...that we should embrace it, not condamn it and having a bunch of prejudice, because of some lack of some sort.
Yes, our different make our planet much more enjoyable, pleasant etc., so the ultimate choice we should make, should be going towards saving it, share it, and love it...We (human) should have a common goal, objective, all over the world, stick to it, and make it happen : Respect and protect our diffences...
PeaceJun 15 2012: Hi Mireille,
I too agree with Colleen, Coming from a land of so many cultures which honestly I am not so aware of . I might find it boring to interact on everyday basis with a person who follows the same culture as I do (maybe I would be excited seeing that person for the first time ).But personally , I have had so much fun interacting people from other religions (among my friends) .
Not to mention after giving my opinions on TED , the interesting opinions I have received from different people from different countries only justifies that there must be diversity in cultures.
Our focus must not be in having one religion ,one language, one nation etc but in trying to spread the vision of global peace , harmony , love , humor , discussions and that is what TED is all about
hope it helps .
Jun 16 2012: Hello Bharath,
Yes you are right, global peace, harmony, love, humor...this is the common goal for the planet to achieve..TED is doing a great job, for sure. I respect it so much...but each human being should do their parts and contribute to it...so it can become global.
Why our differences/culture put us in such a "family feud"...all this culture is great and I embrace it for sure and love it...but in the same time, people kill in the name of religion, colour, language...so if all the same, I'm wondering if it will not solve these major issues that our planet is going through right now...
I love my sushi, just love a shishkabab, smoke meat, dancing salsa, belly dancing....
Jun 16 2012: Hi Mireille ,
coming to your question "Why our differences/culture put us in such a "family feud? why people kill in the name of religion? ... it is just a myth, recently a terrorist was captured in India and he has made headlines through out our country and he confessed that he was very poor that he had to choose this path ... It is a very complicated network of criminal organizations to make them divert people or media to make the confess that criminals kill in the name of religion.
Usually poverty becomes a reason behind crimes.
So we can't come to conclusions the it is difference in culture causes difference in opinion, it is simply the need for discussion which people are not able to find time out of their busy schedule...
The only way to solve such problems is create awareness so much so that our vision of City 2.0 is very near to all cities in across the globe..
BharathJun 16 2012: Mireille and Bharath,
I agree of course, with global peace , harmony , love , humor. I also agree that discussions on TED are helping to facilitate those goals.
I believe the main reason for crime is lack of awareness. I totally agree with you Bharath, that we need to create awareness to achieve our goal to resolve some global issues. If people truly understood that we are more the same than different....if we all recognized our interconnectedness, we could not violate the rights of others, because we would be aware that we are also hurting ourselves.
If you eat too much sushi, shishkabab, and smoke meat, you won't be able to move enough to dance the salsa, or belly dance....
Jun 16 2012: Global education should be then our goal to achieve for humanity.
Funny lady you are dear Colleen...indeed balance is key, I believe I am doing so : eating lots, and dancing it away...
PeaceJun 16 2012: Yes, I believe education is part of the process, and to educate everyone in our world sounds like an overwhelming task! I believe each and every one of us have opportunities to connect with people all the time...like right here and now:>) "BE" what we want to "SEE" in our world. It can be as simple as opening our heart and mind to possibilities!
I've had wonderful connections with people throughout the world simply because I was open to it. A young women on the bank of the Nile in Egypt. We made eye contact a couple times, then smiled, she motioned for me to follow her and I did. She brought me to her home....a mud hut in a small village, where I met her parents, her brother and sister. They gave me tea, I sat by the fire in their home with them and we had a chat! They spoke Arabic, and I speak English, so I'm not really sure of how the conversation evolved, except communication is a large percent (65%?) body language. Communications of any kind are a large percent acceptance.
When we can accept others, it opens up a beautiful new world for us, and I would never deny myself that opportunity:>)
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes..."
(Marcel Proust)
Jun 16 2012: I could not agree more with you on this Colleen, as you rightly pointed out more than the language its the body language that matters so much in any communication. Only through such discussion can we bring about a change.
BharathJun 14 2012: All of humanity is a wave form... A writhing mass of sexual energy. Beige and secular is on the way up in a big way... Lots of people are learning English... But when most people are beige, secular, and english speaking, suddenly it will be sexy and exciting to be something different. There is no way to irradicate diversity, no matter how few languages, races, cultures, or religions exist. We are all beautiful and unique snowflakes.
Men and women are different enough to spend a lifetime eternal conflict anyway : p
Jun 15 2012: Let's go back in the time of teh Bible, The Babel Tower, everyone was speaking the same language, so even GOD saw a great oppotunity to create an uniform world...but humankind blew it...again !!
Diversity is within, actually all is within. If I want to be a 6 feet tall, blond, bomshell, well I don't have to physically be blond or 6 feet tall, but within I can be exactly that, by acting the part...whatever or whomever you want to be, is inside us...so colour, religion, language as we know it, as no purpose, it's irrelevant, hence the actual fact, even if we were all the same colour, religion etc., its only boring, because people decide to actually defined it, categorised it, deform it, when in fact, it doesn't even exist.
PeaceJun 12 2012: I think very few would prefer the boring mono-world, although most of us who have looked outside of their home country during the last 50 years would say we are not far from it.
In the spirit of a thought-experiment: I do not think "as unified as possible" is an option. The most powerful nations will always resist submission to international systems (e.g. undemocratic UN structures, the International court of justice unrecognized by USA and others, etc.) Therefore, perhaps decoupling, rather than unity, is a possible path. Unfortunately would be only possible through a drastic reduction of the world population (e.g. four generations of one child families, massive die-offs due to famine, disease, or environmental destruction etc.). A reduced world population coupled with decreased globalization and migration would not only decrease external exploitation (source of conflicts) but would also help increase local self-sufficiency, and strengthen local identity and culture.Jun 7 2012: I agree with the responses that a planet lacking in diversity of races, color, etc. would make for a somewhat bland culture and society. It could be argued that the term "culture" might not even exist on a planet where everyone is the same. I think of all the wonderful dances, foods, and traditions of differing cultures and could not imagine our world without them. So in response to your proposal, I think the result would be a bland existence and we would probably find other ways to define ourselves (or better yet, be defined by others), thus everything would eventually be as it is now.
As far as reducing or eliminating war, hatred, anger, frustrations, etc., these are matters of the heart that will manifest themselves whether we are a one world planet or not. It is the heart that envies, that hates, that desires war to gain power, resources, and control. The planet that can eliminate the evil desires of the human heart will be the planet that can remove the negative attributes we all seek to rid ourselves from. Christianity teaches that we are a fallen world, and I believe that we are, therefore it will take a conversion of our hearts, not our differing cultures, to tame the tide of war, hatred, anger, etc.
Rosa Park
Jun 4 2012: I believe that differences are what makes us creative. If everybody were the same, our community would not be able to advance as we are advancing today. Without creativity, nobody will be able to take initiatives in a new project. Without those ideas, humanity will not be able to develop and change over time.
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I would like to thank you for posting this excellent question!
Jun 4 2012: Thank you dear Rosa.
You are so right, creativity it's at the base of it all. Human are program to create. Our planet can not exist with out it, and because of the beauty of our differences, we can create indefinetly...this is where all the power reside, in the creativity of our differences OR in the differences of our creativity.
I really appreciate your input and the beauty of your heart...you are quite beautiful too. Thanks Rosa!Jun 3 2012: @ Andrew, Obey, Mohammad, RH, Zdenek, Varlan, Adam, Peter, Kris, Hilton, Damien, Rashna, Edward and Feyisayo, thanks to all for taking the time for your input, beliefs and sharing!
First, I would say, words like "disgusting" as no place on this topic, or TED platform. This is a debate, an open one, lets share and learn from each other in a civilized manner, please. Thank you.
Now, most of all the comments, I did agree with. Some because it open my mind to see something else and some, just because we are on the same level of thinking. As and Afro-Haitian woman, I often ask myself why do people categorized me in a "coloured" state of mind or view? Because, for me I don't see my "colour", meaning, when I'm walking outside going about my business, my eyes are looking outward, so I don't see myself. Even when I look in a mirror, I don't see myself as a "coloured" person, I see myself as me, a human being on this planet that have a purpose, choices to make, and change to become the best that I can be etc Even as a child, I did not comprehend why my supposely "colour" had a "negative" connotation to it...actually, even now...but that's another debate.
On the other hand, when I was in Haïti, I came to Canada at the age of 7, I can only see looking outward, just Haïtian people, my mind did not gravitate to think other cultures actually existed, so for me, their was no mention of "coloured" or listen to so many bad terms attached to any "coloured" or others cultures. It's only when I came to Canada and learn more about different cultures and see other nationalities, hence the "coloured" of the skin being pejorative. One would think in a "civilized" and "educated" nation, it will be more encline to acceptance of differences, on the contrary, these prejudices are stronger?
All the differences, should be a great opportunity for all of us, to embrace, learn, and share, I'm all for that.
I want to live on a planet where our differences make us all strong & unify.
Ryan Price
Jun 3 2012: Unfortunately, this is one of those cases in which you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Pragmatically speaking, this universal culture cannot exist; it is impossible to have the genial aspects of diversity without the adverse effects as well. The question now is, could we really continue to progress as you have described? We could never really know, but it is an interesting scenario to think about.
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My one question is, what does this culture look like to you?
May 31 2012: I have seen a number of discussions on TED about 'a unified moral code', 'a scientific method society', 'technological determinism', and now 'one culture'. Why do we struggle so with our differences? Was is it within us that seeks 'sameness'? Is it that we need people to be like us so we can believe in ourselves, or is it just that we value 'efficiency' in our systems so much that we'll sacrifice exposure to alternatives and the 'inefficiencies' of diversity? What good does someone have to offer if I already have it? Those who speak mulitple languages know that there are concepts untranslatable. Why would we want to eliminate this opportunity and vision? In my opinion, It is only our diversity that makes us truly great, able to survive what nature throws at us. For me, to limit the human experience is suicide. What do I propose for unity? Celebrate diversity. Hold different opinoins in the highest esteem. Incentivize individuality and individual expression. Have respect for one another and treat each other in the highest regard. Be humble enough to allow others to live, yet strong enough in character as persuasion to get things done. Thanks for asking my opinion.
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Zdenek Smith
Jun 1 2012: " It is only our diversity that makes us truly great, able to survive what nature throws at us"
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Yes I agree but why culture and language need to be unique as well? They seem to divide people than unite them throughout the history?
"Celebrate diversity."
Yes we can celebrate diversity and individuality and new trends and differences. Again I don't see why we need cultural constraints that we sometimes inherit?
Jun 2 2012: Thanks Zdenek for responding to my comment. I too have trouble with 'culture'. I don't think that I used the term - but no matter. Culture seems to be a method of assigning identity, and does seem to 'distinguish' us from others rather than to be a collective expression of experience. Language though, to me, seems much more fundamental in diverse thinking. I hang my hat on the fact of untranslatable concepts between languages. Rather than 'constrain' or limit us, language is the main 'conduit' of our varied concepts between us. To incentivize for one language would eliminate this diversity and subject us to 'groupthink'. I don't think it's the languages or the cultures which are responsible for our division. It is our utilization of these methods of communication, our emphasis on 'difference' rather than 'contribution' (and lack of patience), which leads to our animosities - in my opinion.
- +2
Adam Cross
May 31 2012: It would be just as bad and much more boring. Can you imagine a world with only one genre of music?!?! Disgusting!
- +1
If war were not profitable we would see endless peace.
May 31 2012: What about a world where there is so much fusion between genres that you can no longer clearly classify any one piece as a specific genre? That's where musicians live!
May 31 2012: but how can music exist without conflict? I love you thought but imagine a utopia, the music would reflect this therefore the songs which portray sadness or discontent would not exist. And the fusion would not exist because the diversity does not exist.
May 31 2012: The best music is about personal conflict and that will always happen. No matter how homogenous a society is from a racial point there is just as much difference in opinion, even identical twins have fights and they're identical. Really I see the end point as not that everyone is the same individually but that all populations are so racially diverse that they become indistinguishable. You dont lose parts of different cultures you combine them all into one big culture.May 31 2012: One vote for musical and artistic diversity
The same things make us all happy and sad.
Music is part of the happy side.
Jun 28 2012: Music is quite inspiring...although, pretty happy most of the time...but some musicians, singers, can bring tears to my eyes....you know, the "happy kind of sadness".
Kris Rosvold
May 30 2012: We would be bored out of our minds! The differences and different perspectives in the world help me to identify what I DO want, as well as what I do NOT want, thus allowing me to focus my attention on that which I wish to have more of in my life.
- +1
Zdenek Smith
May 31 2012: Lack of different cultures does not mean lack of different opinions?
- +1
May 31 2012: Zdenek, I don't know that it would mean a complete loss of differences, but with the loss of different cultures we would definitely lose some of the variances that make us each unique.... ie food, the variety of different cooking methods throughout the world. I LIKE and VALUE those differences!Jun 28 2012: This is definetly true Zdenek, actually, it because of the cultures that we can have an opinions! Tks for your input.May 30 2012: Dear Mireille...
That's a good discussion.
I think a world like this would be very boring...
This "uniform" world seems like an utopia and, in my view, we should not seek utopias but be pragmatic and deal with things like they really ARE, not like they SHOULD BE...
Jun 28 2012: Rational HiIton, but this is true also...It's like having faith....you don't see it, until you beleive it can come true!May 30 2012: Some of the things you mentioned are just expressions of our tribalism.
We are one species, but competitive and tribal.
Even if we all had the same language and skin colour we would find other ways to divide into tribes.
I enjoy the diversity and richness.
A more cooperative fairer world does not require us to be more similar except perhaps in our values and how we interact with each other.
Jun 28 2012: You are certainly right Obey...we don't have to be similar, but indeed in our values and how to react with each other, will definetly brake our barriers...its all in the mind.
edward long
May 30 2012: The specific cause of interpersonal conflicts would change but the amount of such conflicts would not go to zero. Natural man's heart is proud, arrogant, selfish, and greedy. Homogenizing everything would have no effect on disharmony among people.Jun 30 2012: CLOSING
- +1
@ : To all
Firstly, thank you to each of you for taking the time to put your opinions, suggestions, ideas, solution to this debates.
For the persons I did not reply, it's not that your points wasn't good, I did want to see how many real debaters will actually answered, and by not having me replying to all gave to this debate, close to 70 "real" person with new ideas, refreshing points of views for all to read. Thanks for your understanding.
We all agreed that the differences on our planet earth, have great importance in our lives, mind, spirit and heart...this is why this planet its so great : our differences make us grow, learn, teach, educate, understanding, curious etc., also, we do agree that at times, our differences, can bring the worst of humanity : wars, prejudice etc.
Furthermore, we all agree that part of the solutions is : education, acceptance, respect, understanding, love and embracing the differences of GOD offers us "for those whom believe in GOD!
Now, each country on this planet is in a way, the same : religion, race, language, colored etc., if we put it in the context of the debate, even, within ones country, there is war, violence etc, and they all are of the same nations, so why, there is so much prejudice and hate ? One can only imagine, IF planet earth was all of the same, it would be catastrophic.
Unless, WE as individual decide to do the change within ourselves to : accept, respect, embrace, understand the other cultures, views, opinions etc., even if you don't agreed with it, the importance is to give the liberty of expression, creativity, to take roots and live.
It doesn't matter if you are Jewish, Afro-American-African-Haitian, Asian, American...or any of the other, Nations, because : Courage, strenght, joy, peace, love, etc., these are universal language, that everyone communicate, without having to be of the same race, religion, color. Change is within us to do, to embrace each other differences.
Thanks to all.Jun 16 2012: Then we would be stuck and could never achieve individual fulfillment or cultural advancement or true unity.
There can be no unity , in the capital U sense of unity, without diversity.
we grow stagnant and complacent when we sit only at the camp fires of those who shre our values, our culture, our beliefs, our traditions. It's a kind of intellectual and cultural in breeding and will have the same end result as in breeding in nature.Jun 6 2012: Those are just categories to sort differences into 'us' and 'them.' If those categories were eliminated, there would just be a different categorical system.Jun 3 2012: We would be one very boring people.
Jun 3 2012: It would be great if we could keep the positive aspects of diversity and at least move towards agreeing on some shared human rights. Gender equality. Freedom of and from religion. Racial equality. Reduce discrimination based on sexuality etc. Separation of church and state. Stop genital mutilation of children for religious reasons etc.
There are plenty of ideas out there that enrich the human experience that cultures can borrow from one another.May 30 2012: That kind of world would not be as beautiful as this one.
It is the diversity of world that furnishes opportunities for all those acts of respect,tolerance,courtesy and unselfishness by which love and goodwill are expressed. Unfortunately, this also leaves the way open to competition and hostility.
Freedom of choice implies the existence of things to choose between. And as long as humanity have freedom of choice and the possibilty of making the wrong choice, it would not matter whether we have the same of all the things you've listed.


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There are a lot of holiday concerts this month, all designed to celebrate and promote the joy of the season, but Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra's message of fellowship, community and good music extends throughout the calendar year.
The group's message is two-fold: making free classical music performances available for diverse audiences while providing a community for its all-volunteer musicians.
This month, the 70-piece orchestra presents "Holiday Cheer" Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Iglesia Hispana de Nashville and Dec. 16 at First Apostolic Church. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
The program is a mix of pieces from the classical repertoire, including the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah" and music from holiday movies set at the holidays, namely Alan Silvestri's beautiful theme from "Polar Express" (listen for percussion mimicking the sounds of a train moving along the tracks) and songs from John Williams' "Home Alone" soundtrack.
A 40-voice choir — also all-volunteer and organized by McLauren Foster, pastor of worship and arts at Belmont Church — will accompany the orchestra on the Williams and Handel pieces for about 40 minutes of the 90-minute performance.
Violinist Jessica Blackwell performs spirited solos on Saint-Saens' "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso." Blackwell is sharing concert master duties with Rebecca Wylie this season. Both women are also violinists with the Nashville Symphony.
Musical backgrounds
Many of Nashville Philharmonic's members are professional musicians — some with the symphony, others as session musicians or members of country bands — and others are music educators. Still others have music in their backgrounds, but have non-musical occupations.
For example, the first oboe is a pharmacist and the bassoonist is a dentist, said flautist Tibby Christenberry of the players who sit near her in the orchestra. Christenberry has been a member of Nashville Philharmonic for each of its 10 seasons. She's also a part-time woodwinds instructor at Belmont Academy, a precollege music school. Nashville Philharmonic is her main performance outlet.
Nashville Philharmonic was founded by Kelly Corcoran (now the Nashville Symphony's associate conductor) partly for that reason, providing opportunities for musicians to perform. It's also something current music director Chris Norton keeps in mind when determining the orchestra's programs: He must consider varying skill levels of the philharmonic members, as well as what they enjoy playing and what they will find challenging.
"Holiday Cheer" is a more pops-oriented program than others in the philharmonic's season. Since taking over as music director Norton, who is director of percussion studies and a music professor at Belmont University, has focused on developing a "classical, standard repertoire" for the orchestra.
And of course he aims to entertain audiences.
"I hope that what we program is very enjoyable, whether that is something profound or just something pleasurable for the listener. I want people in the audience to love having been there, that they want to return and that they're impacted by the music," Norton said.
"Certainly we want to provide opportunities for people to hear free orchestral music who could go to the Nashville Symphony and would want to, but we also try really hard to seek out audiences where people have maybe never heard the Nashville Symphony, maybe never heard an orchestra before," Christenberry said.
Reaching out
One way of accomplishing that is to perform in nontraditional venues and to perform all over the city. Christenberry has served as Nashville Philharmonic's venue director since 2009. Her goal, she said, is to cover a large map of Nashville with push pins representing everywhere the orchestra has performed.
To accomplish that, she'll continue to scout out public parks, libraries and religious institutions(the latter tend to have the space and setup required to accommodate audience and orchestra), so she seeks out those representing different faiths. Christenberry said some organizations have told her just being asked to host the orchestra validates their existence as part of the Nashville community.
Meanwhile, loyal Nashville Philharmonic fans follow the orchestra around the city, discovering new areas and new places in the process, Christenberry said. The group performs pairs of concerts throughout its season, splitting each pair between two venues.
Audience members come dressed up or dressed down while the musicians perform in all black. Norton tells audiences a little about each piece, and sometimes addresses the audiences telling a little about each piece of music and, depending on the setting, a translator offers commentary for non-English speakers. All ages are welcome — Christenberry says the quick-moving programs are particularly well-suited for children.
— MiChelle Jones, for The Tennessean
If You Go
What: Nashville Philharmonic's
"Holiday Cheer"
Where: Iglesia Hispana de Nashville, 1079 East Trinity Lane
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11
Admission: free
Contact: 615-243-8272 or http://nashvillephilharmonic.org
Where: First Apostolic Church, 265 Broadmoor Dr.
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16
Admission: free


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Hello Teachers/Friends,
I happened to read the following paragraph in Living Buddhist Masters (by Jack Kornfield):
"It's difficult for a person who is well developed in samatha to advance in vipassana. The only way to help such a person is to teach him to lean on his leg of mindfulness as well." -- comment made by one of the chief teaching disciples of Sunlun Sayadaw [but I don't believe this is Sunlun Sayadaw's opinion since he practiced samadhi earnestly to my understanding of his biography].
In addition, Adjahn Naeb commented that it's wrong practice to develop samadhi instead of insight; Buddhadasa Bikkhu also mentioned it's not necessary to gain samadhi for vipassana -- the normal concentration is sufficient (as I understood from this book).
It seems to me that quite some vipassana masters are kind of against samatha practice, which is different from the Buddha's teaching in general. I wonder if what they stated above is true or not.
Metta to all,


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A highlight of the Couple and Family Therapy program is the elective sex therapy specialty track. Through this specialized track students will learn and practice the various therapeutic skills necessary for the field of sex therapy. Students who choose this track will participate in:
1) Three didactic and experiential courses in Sex Therapy training-
Introduction to Sex Therapy: Concepts in Human Sexuality
This course will explore essential concepts of sexuality by examining the basic theory, principles, research and practice regarding sexual issues for which clients seek understanding and treatment. Topics include the history of sexology, sexual and reproductive anatomy and physiology, sexually transmitted infections and safer sex practices, sexual trauma, sexual compulsive behaviors, sexual orientation, atypical sexual behaviors, gender, religion, chronic illness, social-cultural issues and sexual feelings in clinical practice. Students will explore personal attitudes, values and emotions as they relate to course material. This course will also include a mandatory one day Sexual Attitude/Values training experience.
Advanced Sex Therapy Training I
This course builds on the introductory course and offers advanced understanding of assessment, diagnosis and treatment models for sex therapy practitioners. Students will learn and engage in the practice of these therapeutic modalities throughout the course. Specific attention will be paid to learning the techniques of sex-related assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the psychosexual disorders as described in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Theory and methods of both psychological and medical interventions will be explored. This course will include a mandatory one day Advanced Sexual Attitude/Values training experience.
Advanced Sex Therapy Training II (prerequisite ASTT I)
This course is an extension of ASTT-I for the purpose of gaining greater insight into the field of sex therapy as well as practice the skills learned in the previous courses. Students will develop skills through 1) Current Issues: students will be required to react in writing to articles surrounding current issues in human sexuality and come to class prepared to engage in group process and discussion of treatment considerations; 2) Case presentation: Students will be expected to present a one hour videotaped sex therapy case presentation that includes a comprehensive examination of the assessment, diagnostic and treatment modalities utilized; and 3) Peer group supervision: throughout the course, students will have an opportunity to present and discuss challenging cases from their caseload.
2) Practicum Experience
Of the 500 clinical hours required for graduation, a minimum of 250 hours of supervised clinical practice will be done specifically in sex therapy. During this year long practicum students will be expected to utilize their knowledge and skills to work with clients on most aspects of sexuality and sexual dysfunction. Practicum placement may be in the Institute for Sex Therapy or other locations as available.
3) Supervision
A minimum of 50 hours of sex therapy supervision (a minimum of 25 hours will be individual supervision) will be provided for each student.
As part of the first two courses, students will engage in an eight hour beginner SAR and an eight hour advanced SAR experience. The SAR is a process-oriented, structured group experience to promote participants' awareness of their attitudes and values related to sexuality. The SAR includes lecture, explicit media, experiential activities and small group discussions. The primary objective of the SAR is to give participants the opportunity to explore their attitudes, feelings and beliefs about sexuality and how this influences them professionally and personally. The sessions are not intended as a traditional academic experience to disseminate cognitive information, nor as psychotherapy directed toward the resolution of personal problems. The workshop presents a highly personal, internal exploration, different for each participant.


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GEMS Nurse PractitionerSusan Storck, APRN GEMS Nurse PractitionerWendy Grey, APRN
All Emergency Departments are not the same, which is especially important if you or a loved one is age 65 or older. When deciding where to seek emergency care, remember: Only Bridgeport Hospital offers GEMS—our Geriatric Emergency Medical Service.
A dedicated GEMS nurse practitioner oversees the Emergency Department care for you or your loved one by:
For more information about the Geriatric EmergencyMedical Service at Bridgeport Hospital, please call us toll free, 24 / 7, at 1-800-794-5013.
GEMS is available seven days a week, 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.


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Augustana Student Association
The Augustana Student Association (ASA) is the voice of the student body. ASA membership includes all full-and part-time students at the College. ASA works in cooperation with the College's Board of Trustees, administration, faculty and staff to tackle tough issues from academic accreditation, policy developments to buildings and grounds issues. ASA manages a substantial annual budget while also overseeing major on-campus programming organizations involving concerts, lectures, entertainment, and homecoming.
ASA is organized into two branches, an executive branch and a legislative branch. The executive branch includes three elected officers (president, vice-president and treasurer), an appointed secretary, and a cabinet of student leaders elected by student organizations they represent.
The legistlative branch, better known as the ASA Student Senate, is made up of elected senators who represent the student body's diverse constituencies; academic classifications (freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors), college-owned housing (residence halls, houses, apartments), commuters, and adult learners.
The ASA Senate is divided into four standing committees; Administration and Planning Committee, Personnel and Development Committee, Curriculum Committee, and Co-curriculum Committee. Each committe has a membership roster that includes elected senators and appointed students who serve as at-large members.


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Hang tight!
Recipe by Campbell's Kitchen
"Since this chili slowly simmers all day long, the flavors blend together to make each bite satisfying and delicious."
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1 1/2 pounds
ground beef
1 large
onion, chopped
2 cloves
garlic, minced
1 (10.75 ounce) can
Campbell's® Condensed Tomato Soup (Regular or 25% Less Sodium)
1 (14.5 ounce) can
diced tomatoes
1/2 cup
2 (15 ounce) cans
kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup
chili powder
2 teaspoons
ground cumin
I made this chili for the first time and it was great, very filling. I made one change to the recipe though, I used a can of Hunt's fire roasted diced tomatoes and the flavor really came through. I will make this again.
I generally LIKE my chili a bit on the mild side, but this recipe was a bit too bland, even for me. It was edible, but it definitely needed crackers, fritos, cheese... something to give it a boost of flavor. And the flavor of cumin was so strong, even mixed in with all the other ingredients. I'm generally not a huge fan of that spice, so next time I make chili I'll cut the cumin in half or omit altogether. In order to "save" the rest of the batch, I added a small can of tomato sauce, a red pepper, some more garlic, and a little basil. That seemed to give it a kick. Now I'll more than likely eat the rest of it. Whereas before, I most likely would've thrown it out or let it go bad. I give it 3 stars because like I said, it was edible. I could've eaten it even without any crackers, but boy it would've been bland. And by the way - you're better off just using plain old tomato sauce, through and through. It's more flavorful than the soup. Campbell's just wants to put their name behind a chili recipe to get people to buy their soup, that's all. (haha)
103 Ratings
I made this recipe without making any changes to it. It was so quick and easy to throw together, that I had it in my slow cooker in no time at all. After simmering for 8 hours, the end result was a thick and hearty chili that completely satisfied my appetite. The only flaw I found was that the chili turned out to be a bit on the bland side. The generous amount of chili powder certainly puts some zing into this dish, but, that alone, isn't enough to label this chili as "flavorful". All in all, this recipe is worth making again. Next time, however, I'll cut back a bit on the chili powder and just add some sweet peppers to flavor things up a tad.
My husband luvs my neighbors chili. I have tried so many chili recipes without success. I FOUND IT FINALLY. This recipe is very basic, easy but great tasting.
My wife aren't a big fan of kidney beans due to how mushy they become when cooked. But this reciepe was fantastic and the beans had a nice soild texture to them. We have many ideas for us to try with this recipe. HMMMMMMMM Good
OMG... Best chili I have EVER eaten! My fiance LOVED it! He would have perferred me to double the meat, since he is a Meat man! But Perfect! I just made us some last night, and now Im making some for my parents! LOVE IT!
My husband and I loved this recipe. I did modify it by replacing one of the cans of kidney beans with black beans. We just like black beans better. I did also throw a little salsa in the crock pot as well. This is a keeper!
Definitely needed more flavour. The heat was there, and you can't go wrong with the base ingredients, but when the pot was opened, it was all fire and no flavour.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Campbell's(R) Slow Cooker Hearty Beef and Bean Chili
Serving Size: 1/6 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 399
Calories from Fat: 135
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This one-pot Mexican classic is easy and packed with flavor.
Burgers never need to be basic again! Try this great recipe with dipping sauce.


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Opinion: Obama Gets Another Big Win From The Supreme Court
President Obama won big this week with the Supreme Court decisions on Obamacare and immigration. While Mitt Romney and the Tea Party couldn't have had a worse week.
Opinion: Obama Has Last Word With The Supreme Court On Immigration
After the Supreme Court decision on the Arizona immigration law, SB 1070, the Obama administration announced that it is revoking agreements with Arizona police over the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Opinion: Supreme Court Deals Blow To Obama On Arizona Immigration Law
While neither side has totally won, the high court's decision on Arizona's controversial immigration law, SB 1070, is definitely a blow to President Barack Obama.
Opinion: Overwhelming Victory For Obama And Holder In Arizona Immigration Decision
President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder won an overwhelming victory as the Supreme Court struck down 3 of 4 provisions of the controversial Arizona immigration law, SB 1070.


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Earlier this year, the ASPCA assisted in a three-state dog fighting bust alongside the FBI, Missouri Highway Patrol and several other agencies.
When we found these dogs, many were doomed to live their whole lives tethered by heavy chains—and on the day of the raid, many were left outside to suffer through a blizzard.
Today, after months under the care of our behaviorists, veterinarians and tireless responders, dogs rescued from this raid are thriving. In fact, some have already headed to rescue for adoption! Still others remain in our care.
We wanted to show you some of these dogs' happy faces and thank you for helping us make their rescue possible. We couldn't have taken on this massive operation without your help!
Slideshow: Amazing Transformation of Dog Fighting Victims


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Following on from the success of its award winning stand alone flagship in London, Bremont will be launching its first boutique overseas in Hong Kong. Located on Lyndhurst Terrace in Central Hong Kong, the boutique will be over 2000 sqft and will be a showcase for the company in Asia, to compliment the brands growth in the region.
Please read the Press Release for more information.
To view our photo album from the launch party, please click here


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Cold Steel Master Hunter Fixed Blade Hunting Knife
Built to be the best hunting knife you can obtain at any price, the Master Hunter® Fixed Blade Hunting Knife from Cold Steel handles all the demands of hunting and field dressing the biggest game animals. The Master Hunter is built around its broad 4-1/2'' VG-1 San Mai III® 3 layer, laminated steel blade that's been flat ground to achieve the ideal blade cross-section and edge geometry. Carefully honed to razor sharpness, its edge cuts effortlessly while its dropped point simplifies the chore of field dressing and skinning. With a 3/16'' spine and high carbon VG-1 stainless steel layer sandwiched between 2 super tough lower carbon steels, this blade delivers the necessary strength and stiffness to field dress and skin the biggest animals like elk, moose, brown bear, and the African Dangerous Seven. The Master Hunter's shock-absorbent, deeply checkered Kraton® grip is specially designed to promote long use without fatigue, even when your hands get wet or bloody. The thick, heavy ConcealEx™ sheath that comes with the Master Hunter Plus accommodates just about any size belt. Overall length: 9-1/4''. Weight: 6.4 oz. Imported.
Manufacturer model #:36JSK.
- Built to handle the demands of big game hunting
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- Deeply checkered Kraton grip provides good handle even when wet or bloody
- ConcealEx sheath included
Need Help? 7 days a week: 7am to 10pm CT or call 1.800.227.7776 anytime


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This conversation is closed.
Who invented Marriage? As a society, do we know that Marriage is the right way to proceed?
An Alternative Mythology
"Peace on earth, revolution, and the end of the world as we know it."
Who invented marriage? As a society, do we know that Marriage is the right way to proceed? In order to create Peace on earth, we need a different mythology.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge", Albert Einstein.
Who invented Marriage? Marriage is the central element of society. The two parent (one man,one woman) patriarchal nuclear family system, is common throughout the world. In most Marriages, a man and a women, enter into a Marriage contract. Who invented Marriage? Was it God who invented Marriage,or was it Mankind? Whose idea was it? What circumstances necessitated the creation of Marriage? What system was in place before the advent of Marriage? What language did they use to make clear the conditions of the Marriage contract? Is the patriarchal nuclear family system, with Marriage as it's central element, the best we can do for our children? Is the patriarchal nuclear family system still relevant today?
Is Marriage still relevant? Some of the worst crimes in our society (spousal rape, incest, child neglect) happen, with the greatest frequency, in the isolation of the patriarchal nuclear family system. The fears and prejudices of the Father are readily passed on to the Sons, in the isolation of the patriarchal nuclear family system. The scourge of our society is "family secrets".
Wikipedia defines "paradigm paralysis" as, the inability or refusal to see beyond the current model of thinking. It says in the Bible, for all things a season. Is the season of marriage coming to an end? Is it time to rethink the system? Who invented Marriage?
Jan 21 2013: You can check the book , "Origin of Family , Private Property and State" by Frederick Engels
Jan 24 2013: Seconded!Jan 22 2013: Marriage is God's idea; the right environment for a child to grow and be nurtured in love.
For the first two: the man and the woman; marriage is a relationship based on trust and commitment. It is only those who have been faithful in a little that are given much more.
For the child, he or she would learn mutual respect, forgiveness, love, selfless service and acceptance and other good things from a man and a woman; so that when he or she would relate with the world later, it would be easy to love, learn, live and forgive.
This is the God idea; but sometimes marriages do not live up to its glory because of disobedience and ignorance.
Disobedience is knowing the right way and ignoring it; Ignorance is trying to make a car to fly.Jan 19 2013: I think marriage, or at least a permanent relationship with one person, probably has shown over time to prolong life, effectively propagate the species, and create a feeling of inner peace in both parties. Chances are, you will be sick or incapacitated at some point in your life, so those with a partner that cares enough to take care of you keeps you from falling victim to stronger people or nature. Children are dependent on their mother for nourishment initially, which in turn makes her dependent on someone else to provide for food and protection. After you have shared time together, you have created a bond of co-dependency that offers a measure of security and inner peace.
All the other external influences, like nature, society, temptations, etc. have existing since man started to become a social animal. Rings, certificates, ceremonies, etc. are just societies way of formalizing an interpersonal decision. Being mature enough to understand the commitment to each other is the real age marriage should take place. You need to understand what is required to take care of yourself, realize what is required to take care of another person, and be willing to accept the responsibility of the commitment. After that decision has been made, you should grow together through life.
Has this become a dated notion? No, I think it is still the best chance for survival, although some of the temptations are more well advertised. Selfish decisions about pursuit of lifestyle or a 'better deal' to do less work with more luxury are at the root of many problems. Child rearing needs to be the top priority of both parents.
Crimes are determined by society, nature lets the strong make the decisions. There are natural effects of each of the crimes you mention that would reduce the perpetrator's chances for continuing the bloodline, the effects are just slow.
Nature, not religion, should be the benchmark for is required for survival.
We risk survival as we move away from nature.
edward long
Jan 19 2013: Pragmatically speaking, looking at human history are there any examples of a society where reproducing males and females were not pair-bonded in a socially recognized agreement of belonging exclusively to one another? My guess is not one single example. Shouldn't that be sufficient basis for being cautious about joining with the nay-sayers who advocate for the casting-off the institution of marriage? Also, when we consider the overall social effects of free-love (or whatever non-marriage is called) I'm guessing we see more strife and conflict than in the pair-bonding paradigm. I say marriage promotes peace, which may be part of the reason our Creator instituted it [Genesis 2:24].
- +1
Jan 20 2013: Hi Edward, I agree and disagree. You have made a good case for pair-bonding, and I agree with that. I do not agree that the only alternatives to modern marriage are casting it off altogether, or free-love. Marriage law is so complicated today that almost no one entering marriage knows what they are really doing. If people understood marriage law and understood the many things that can lead to divorce, everyone with any sense would set up a prenuptial contract. Ask any divorce lawyer.
Jan 20 2013: Well Barry the OP seems to present either marriage or the discontinuation of marriage. You have introduced a third option. I am woefully ignorant of pre-nuptial agreements so I will keep silent about that and continue to argue for the blessed happiness that comes with a lifetime of fidelity between a man and a woman. Thank you!Feb 16 2013: If you guys can find him, let me know. I have some scores to settle with him.Feb 16 2013: I would like to think marriage is all that I have read in this conversation. History seems not so kind. As the legend goes, when we were in caves, there were the alpha males that sort of kept up the progeny of the clan. Other males may have gotten involved, but no definitive information on that. Once we got down to farming, things changed. A young man cleared some land and found hired help too expensive. So, he took a couple sheep down to the next farm and traded for an extra daughter. The children became cheap labor. During the Roman times, young and upcoming senators found a wealthy widow to help finance his political career. They called all their family and friends to a big orgy and announced their union.
During the middle ages, there were kingdoms all over Europe warring with each other. The Church saw this as bad behavior and it cut into Sunday collections. So they elevated marriage to one of the highest sacred services and had this kingdom's princess married to that kingdom's prince. Europe became more peaceful and collections went up.
Commoners thought it was cool, so they took up the practice of church weddings. Which brings us to the modern day.
To be perfectly honest, there had been spousal contracts recognized by governing authorities all through history.
So, why are we analyzing this joyful union between people, one of the closest relationships that can be entered into,
to this degree? Isn't there is something about looking a gifted horse in the mouth? Will marriage suffer from paradigm paralysis? Will any of these discussions make marriage better? If these questions make your marriage better, good for you. If not, join a cloistered monastery.Jan 28 2013: Oh, and I just found this article that's ridiculously biased, but very funny. And has a good point. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/26/man-top-5-reasons-to-grow-up-and-get-married/Jan 25 2013: There have been a lot of studies done about the benefits to children of being raised in a nuclear family. There was a recent TED talk posted about the four metaphorical asteroids poised to hit society within 50 years. One of them was the dissolution of marriage. Most people who don't agree with marriage seem to be thinking about the couple and the messiness of divorce. I won't deny that divorce is horrible. People shouldn't get married if they don't know how to commit, love, and sacrifice. What they don't think about is raising the kids. How many single moms are raising children without their fathers? No one can deny that it's harder to raise children by yourself. I'm not saying that the legal act of marriage would fix this. The emotional act of marriage would. The emotional act is where you vow to your spouse that you will stick by them and love them no matter what happens. When they do the same, that's marriage. Without that emotional commitment, the marriage is pointless in my book.Jan 20 2013: ..
Genesis 2:23-24 (KJV)
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. [24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Seems like it was there from the start.
:-)Jan 20 2013: As I understand it, marriage was a way to verify that a male's progeny was his own. This was important in property inheritance - something that came about at the same time that nomads developed into settled agricultural people. I also believe the concept of virginity was vital for the marriage model to achieve these ends.
These institutions came about after the hypothesized pre-historic transition in human sexual dimorphism to favor male primates; it's believed that our relative female primates were actually larger and more mobile than the male, forcing males to literally cling to the backs of females to ensure that no other male copulated with his lady after he had. It still remains to be seen if this flip is a causation or a correlation.
My sources? 'You Will Die: The Burden of Modern Taboos' by Robert Arthur and Julian Jaynes' 'The Origin of Consciousness in the Break Down of the Bicameral Mind.'Jan 20 2013: I believe "marriage" is a relatively new concept, we've always had multiples partners for most of our existence on Earth.
And we didn't go extinct, so I guess it was not a bad model, isn't?. But that doesn't mean that marriage is not a good or even better one.Jan 19 2013: .
Our ancestors invented the "marriage" in the bio-evolution.
Today, we instinctively know it is the right way to proceed.
Jan 20 2013: Wrong. Definitely wrong. Marriage was invented when "society" was a tribe. Our marriage laws are still based on tribal values and tribal thinking. To say that they are out of date is like comparing a stone ax to a modern computer. Couples pairing up is instinctive, and so is parental love for children. Marriage traditions and marriage laws are just outdated claptrap.
Jan 23 2013: Thanks!
Where were the "tribal values and tribal thinking" come from?
Jan 23 2013: What is wrong is that "we instinctively know it is the right way to proceed."
There is nothing instinctive about our modern marriage laws (in the USA).Jan 24 2013: Thanks!
Is law based on the symbiotic rules of our ancestors' saved in our DNA (instincts) plus today's new data?
Barry Palmer
Jan 24 2013: Using that kind of reasoning, we could also say that our laws are based on the nuances of the big bang. Such statements may be true in some sense, but such statements are also useless.
- +1
Your original claim,
"Today, we instinctively know it is the right way to proceed."
In my opinion, this is dead wrong. I could make the claim that today, we are instinctively proceeding in exactly the wrong way. Neither of these claims can be determined to be true scientifically. You have your opinion and I have my opinion.Jan 24 2013: .
Thank you very much!
Good luck!Jan 18 2013: I could probably write a book about the myth of marriage in the 21st century.
Marriage was invented before the roots of history, so we can only speculate about its actual invention.
The more pertinent question is, "do we know that Marriage is the right way to proceed?"
That depends. It depends on how we define "we", "know" and "right".
IMO, marriage, as currently defined in the law of the USA, is no longer good for society. It is clear that people like to pair up, and will continue to do so. Whether these relationships should be bound by laws is the key question. I think it would be much better to get rid of the laws and have each couple write up their own personal contract. Before the contract is enforceable each party must demonstrate that they have complete knowledge of the contract and its consequences. The one area of marriage law that is necessary is the part that protects children.
It is good to see people questioning marriage. My opinions are largely based on divorce. I have not been divorced myself, but have witnessed a number of divorces, and they are very ugly indeed. Breaking up is never easy, but it is a profound injustice when the law makes the process exponentially worse.Jan 18 2013: Not 100% sure that where there is a nuclear family there is strong isolation. Even when you grow up in a nuclear family, you are exposed to a million different people. Even in an African village, where I guess there are many nuclear families, they say it takes a village to raise a child, meaning that a child is exposed to all kinds of people who affect the child, whether the child likes it or not. I'm thinking that under raising children outside the nuclear family, you will still see some large crimes.Jan 18 2013: Richard, I am not by any means a scholar or historian but have read up to reply to your question. The actual word marriage does not show up until mid CE. However the anciet greeks, hebrews and many in the BCE used terms like took a wife (or husband) or were companions. The term companion was common biblical term for wife or husband but is not accepted when used as Jesus and Mary were companions. Interesting.
When taken as a ife, she must be faithful and perform certain duties as a "wife". However these were limits only for the wife as the husband was not required to be faithful.
I found what I think is the reasoning behind taking a wife ( or husband ). It was required for a man to take his brothers wife as his own when he died. The woman had few right and owning property was not one of them. So being a wife gave her equal right to property. Often the man would give the wife a tent of her own or if rich a section of the house as her own to be in private from the husband.
The "marriage" as described in the bible and in other religions was to be between a man and a woman. We have determined that it is now acceptable to have a civil union between the same sex. So in that vein yes you are correct that "marrage" is being relaced by civil union.
The example of the father used above is also being challenged by females having sex with minors ... almost everyday a teacher is jailed for having sex with a student .... mothers and wives doing the same ... the shame is no longer isolated to males.
It does not take a great mind to follow where our culture is evolving to. I am old and do not understand the need for these changes nor do many in my generation ... but then I missed out on the sexual revalution of the 60's also. Rats.
I wish you well. Bob.


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Gallery: Artist Kris Verdonck's Enclosed Bio-Dome Is Full of Belgium's ...
Verdonck's EXOTE transformed stark, white gallery into an enclosed bio-dome featuring a lush, but poisoned ecosystem that speaks of man's increasing interference in nature and its consequential havoc on their lives. The exhibit is stunning and spectacular, overgrown with non-native species — but the reality is that the exhibit is channeling the canned result of manmade biological imbalance. Essentially, by Verdock's interpretation, the Apocalypse has already taken place and humanity is coping in confusion.
Visitors were welcome to explore the bio-dome, but are required to suit up from head to toe. Animals on display range in everything, from fish to snakes to birds. The beautiful plants and flowers on show would never lead one to believe they could be the eventual demise of the local ecology, but the underlying message is clear. A stunning, well-executed display, Verdonk's exhibit bring all the right questions to the forefront and forces its visitors to reflect on how their lifestyles, needs, desires and environmental disruptions have penned a bleak future.
The work of Kris Verdonck is settled between visual arts and theatre, between installation and performance, and between dance and architecture. His work focuses on the confusion of man in an estranged world due to technological development. The 'current state of the world' – with its environmental problems, ecological disasters and wars – is the central theme to his works.
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When I see a work of art, something happens in my heart!
As a little girl tours and twirls through the halls of the art museum, she finds herself on an exciting adventure. Each piece of art evokes something new inside of her: silliness, curiosity, joy, and ultimately inspiration. When confronted with an empty white canvas, she is energized to create and express herself—which is the greatest feeling of all.
With exuberant illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds, The Museum playfully captures the many emotions experienced through the power of art, and each child's unique creative process.
Author: Susan Verde
32pp., 9.5x9.5 hardcover with jacket
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Blur are an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure (1991) incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing. Following a stylistic changeâ[][]influenced by English guitar pop groups such as The Kinks, The Beatles and XTCâ[][]Blur released Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995). As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a famous chart battle with rival band Oasis dubbed "The Battle of Britpop". In recording their follow-up, Blur (1997), the band underwent another reinvention, showing influence from the lo-fi style of American indie rock groups. "Song 2", one of the album's singles, brought Blur mainstream success in the US. Their next album, 13 (1999) saw the band members experimenting with electronic music and gospel music, as Albarn wrote more personal lyrics. In May 2002, Coxon left Blur during the recording of their seventh album Think Tank (2003). Containing electronic sounds and more minimal guitar work, the album was marked by Albarn's growing interest in hip hop and African music. After a 2003 tour without Coxon, Blur did no studio work or touring as a band, as members engaged in other projects. In 2009 Blur reunited, with Coxon back in the fold, for a series of successful reunion concerts.
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Britney Spears on April 14, 18, and 19 (INFDaily/Splash News)
Britney Spears is a woman who knows what she likes and commits to it, at least when it comes to fashion.
In a span of six days, the 31-year-old pop star wore three variations of the same outfit while out and about in Los Angeles.
(Everett Collection)
[Related: Celebrity Prom Photos]
We'll also point out that in at least two of the photos, she's also wearing her least favorite article of clothing: socks. In an interview with Lucky last fall -- the one that caused the retouching controversy -- Spears said she wasn't a fan of the footwear, noting, "I never wear socks. I hate socks."
Well, we're glad to see her coming around to them -- and they are pretty much a necessity with those sneakers, which are all the rage right now.
Socks or no socks, comfort seems to be what Spears is trying to achieve with her new favorite outfit, which is truly a unique mix of boho chic and street style. For a busy mom who needs to run after her two sons -- or run away from paparazzi -- at any moment, it's a practical choice, as eclectic as it may be.
[Related: Britney Spears and Other Stars Having Fun With Their Kids]
And it sure beats the heck out of those gray sweatpants!
More Celebrity Features on Yahoo!:
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- Lady Gaga Named Godmother of Elton John's New Son Elijah
- Melissa Gilbert Wears a Red Dress to Marry Timothy Busfield
- Arts & Entertainment
- Celebrities
- Britney Spears


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Earlier this summer, my ten-year old called the White House to ask President Obama to "please support fair farm rules for family farmers and ranchers." It was a mouthful, but he added "I'm talking about GIPSA" – to be sure there would be no mistake.
Today we are at another crucial moment in this campaign to protect American farmers from the worst sort of corporate abuses that go on every day in this country. And we need your help.
Senators are debating the Agricultural Appropriations bill right now and could vote on it as soon as Thursday.
Organic farmers Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin have made a life-long commitment to sustainability and social justice. And as reported in PAN's spring newsletter, they recently won confirmation of their right to farm free of pesticides in a $1 million court case.
Larry and Sandra started farming in San Mateo County, California, in 1980, producing fresh organic culinary herbs. Then in 1985 they began working with the Del Cabo community in Baja California, Mexico, to develop a source of organic fruit and vegetables during the off-season. Today, Del Cabo Cooperative is a thriving community of 400 farmers that sells organic produce across the U.S.
Tomorrow morning, as you pour milk into your kids' cereal bowls or buy a latte to get you going, take a moment to think about the dairy and other family farmers who will be braving gusty winds off Lake Michigan to converge on the steps of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. These farmers are demanding an end to the price fixing and speculation by traders that has bankrupted thousands of family farmers across the U.S., while spurring food crises worldwide.
Pesticide Action Network North America
Main Office: 1611 Telegraph Ave, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94612
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With over 6 million break-ins across the nation a year, Here's a cheap quick and easy way to hide your smaller more valuable goodies!
*DISCLAIMER* This method is just a type of security through obscurity, If found there is NOTHING preventing access. Remember people can't steal what they can't find, something like this would best be suited behind a dresser or other furniture.
Below you will find a list of tools and supplies that you will need to do this.
1 - Single Gang Duplex Wall Plate - $0.18
1 - 15 Amp, 120 Volt Residential Grade Duplex Receptacle - $0.37
1 - Single Gang Cut-in box - $1.19
Roofing Nails/ Washers (if you don't have them already they will only be a few pennies)
These can all be purchased at your local hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, Valu)
Recommended Tools:
1.) Pliers
2.) Screwdriver
3.) Pencil
4.) Drywall Saw
5.) Small screwdriver (optional)
Step 1: Widen the hole
Hey, but no hard feelings right? We will still have a few Boy Scouts with pea shooters to keep you on your side. ;P LOL
Silly Canadians.
Don't you know yer history, eh?
All countries are awesome if they provide and take care of their own. Everyone should worry more about the people around you and your fellow countrymen(neihbors far and wide). The strength of a country is shown by the strength of its people and how they stick together, never by the strength of it's military.


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La Newborn® 14" Anatomically Correct Girl Doll
JC Toys Designed by Berenguer • In Stock • 141416
2 years & up. This 14" anatomically correct girl La Newborn® baby is ready for naptime anytime. This lovely lady is dressed in a pink and white polka dot romper with matching, hat, shoes, and blanket. Encourages dramatic play.
- Includes movable arms, legs, head, hospital bracelet and birth certificate
- Made of vinyl
- Expressions and/or outfits may vary
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The Ridgway Area School District held a special board meeting Monday night to adopt the 2011-2012 General Fund Budget with total revenues and expenditures of $12,023,105 as presented at the May board meeting.
The budget was not approved at the regular school board meeting held June 14 when board members Lucy Bobby, Kathy Lampman and president Eugene Pierce voted in favor of the general fund budget and board member Bill Seely voted against it.
On Monday night, the motion was carried to adopt the budget on a 5-1 vote.
Pick up a copy of the Tuesday, June 28, 2011 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.
Next meeting
Ridgway Area School Board
Tuesday, August 9
6:30 p.m.
Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School Library
[1] http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/sites/default/files/School board COLOR.jpg


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There's a spring in your step and a little extra oomph to your outfit. We know what that means: you're having a good shoe day. Put your best foot forward everyday with the Halston by MTNG. Featuring lace-up and sweater detailing, this tall boot is perfect for strutting your stuff day and night.
Shaft: 15". Heel height: 4" with a .75" platform. Shoes run small. Order one size up. For example, if you wear an 8, order a 9.
MTNG USA is a subsidiary of the Alicante, Spain-based MTNG Experience (Mustang), a family-run operation with a global presence that was launched in 1967. MTNG USA is comprised of three categories, MTNG Originals, leather footwear that's made in Spain, MTNG, which features both leathers and synthetics, and the Spain-manufactured premier line Sixty Seven.
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Environmentally aware brand Way Basics provides simple, practical solutions for everyday organization. This three-tier Madison Bookcase, which can also be used as a room divider, has an asymmetrical, geometric profile marked by its square cutouts. Made of the company's patented zBoard, an ingenious particleboard alternative made of recycled paper, the lightweight, durable accent assembles quickly without the use of tools. Simply peel off the backing of the super strong adhesive tape on the edges of each slab, and fit them together using the provided pins.
Interior dimensions (small sections): H 13.8" W 11.2" D 10.4". Interior dimensions (large sections): H 13.8" W 19.3" D 11.3". Maximum weight per shelf: 20 lbs. Assembly required; materials included. Water-resistant; formaldehyde and VOC-free.-resistant.
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Books and Friends Poster
Skippyjon Jones introduces readers to his new friend, Dewey Bob Crocket, star character of author/illustrator Judy Schachner's latest book, Dewey Bob. Together on this poster, Dewey Bob and Skippyjon Jones illustrate that "with books and friends the fun never ends."
The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-by-Shelf Guide
Vnuk takes the guesswork out of the delicate but necessary process of weeding, giving public and school library staff the knowledge and confidence to effectively weed any collection.
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The Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) is a multi-disciplinary area-studies centre with a strong orientation towards the social sciences and history. It is a constituent department of the School of Government and Society within the College of Social Science.
What type of degree are you interested in?
Undergraduate degrees (BA / BSc)
There are a wide range of ways to study Russian at Birmingham University. Our aim is to provide an excellent knowledge of up-to-date spoken and written Russian, together with a thorough education in Russian history, culture, literature, economics, society and politics, from the nineteenth century to the present day.
Masters degrees (MSc / MA)
We offers unparalleled opportunities for postgraduate studies, enabling students to acquire specialist expertise in Russia, East-Central and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Doctoral research degrees (PhD / MPhil)
CREES is a research orientated multi-disciplinary centre with wide-ranging expertise and long standing excellence in researching Russia and Eastern Europe. With its International profile and links, the Centre provides a rich, immersing and inspiring environment for research students.
The European Resource Centre (which includes the Baykov Library) houses one of the most important Western research collections in Russian and East European Studies, and CREES also has its own Information Service for reference materials.
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From the outside, Steere House looks normal enough. The spacious three-story facility houses a nursing home and rehabilitation center in downtown Providence, R.I., right off Interstate 95. On the third floor, the Safe Haven Advanced Care unit has 41 rooms reserved for patients who have dementia. Nothing appears odd about the wing, until you get to know one of the house pets: a sweet-faced gray and white tabby named Oscar.
Oscar was adopted by the nursing home when he was a kitten and passed his first year rather uneventfully, playing with fellow feline adoptee, Maya, or entertaining himself out of the public eye. But shortly before his first birthday, he began visiting patients during their final hours. He'd take up a vigil on the beds, waiting quietly until the patient had passed away.
The nursing home employees soon began to realize he was the first "staffer" to know a patient was about to die. They took Oscar's visits as a cue to notify the family and make final preparations. David Dosa, M.D., a Steere House geriatrician who treats the dementia patients and researches the illness at Brown University, wrote an essay about Oscar for the New England Journal of Medicine. The piece made international headlines—and propelled Oscar into unusual stardom.
Dosa then launched his own personal investigation to learn about the effect Oscar had on the people around him—namely the patient's families. He relays what he found out in his new book, Making Rounds With Oscar. He spoke with the AARP Bulletin about it.
(Read an excerpt from Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat)
Q. Before you met Oscar, were you a cat person?
A. Absolutely not. I had had some bad experiences with cats growing up and that colored my perception of them and their importance.
Q. So what motivated you to investigate the Oscar effect?
A. I wanted to get a sense of what the families thought about having this cat sit at the bedside while their loved ones passed on. When I wrote the essay on Oscar, there was a fair amount of publicity. It was geared toward "if Oscar's on your bed, you're dead." He was depicted as the grim reaper of cats.
Q. But you saw Oscar's services in a different light?
A. We were seeing a cat that was providing families with a great deal of distraction—and comfort.
Q. In his five years living at Steere House, has he missed a death?
A. He's been right most of the time. We've estimated that it's over 60 at this point.
Q. You're a scientist. Have you heard of a satisfactory explanation why Oscar does this?
A. What makes the most sense to me is he's perceiving a smell or a pheromone. We know that when cells are in starvation states or in their final stages, they release ketones, which are sweet-smelling chemicals. Doctors are actually taught to smell them on the breaths of diabetics to determine if their sugars are really high. We also know ketones are released during hunger strikes or when people are at the end of one.
Q. But even if he does tune in to a smell, and "knows" when death is near, what makes him stay by the patient's side?
A. I've interviewed a lot of people for this book, but Oscar wasn't talking, so ultimately your guess is as good as mine.
Q. But what's your guess?
A. I do think animals have an empathic relationship with people and Oscar is the resident pet for 41 patients on this unit. He seems to know when he's needed. If he's responding to a smell, that might be, but there's something more to it because he doesn't leave until the undertakers come.


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Take a step back in time, to the glorious Patrick Roy era, and celebrate the career of a goaltending legend! This breathtaking print, from Photo File's exclusive "Portrait Plus" collection, takes you through the legendary 1985-2003 NHL career of the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche superstar, set in a brilliant graphic design that looks GREAT on the wall. With no less than seven incredible photographs from his career, you won't believe the memories this item will evoke with every glance! Printed on professional-grade photographic stock in vivid color, this amazing piece is worthy of a nice frame and a prominent place on the wall of home, office, locker room or gym. Complete with serialized holographic label for licensing authenticity, this is both a beauty for your wall, and a valuable collector's item for years to come. A SportsPosterWarehouse.com exclusive!
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