My last post touched on a little of the history of racial divisions within the United States. But I ran across a documentary recently that pointed out another important factor in our seeming inability to find the unity dreamed of so many years ago. I speak of the economic divide. You see it in the gentrification of neighborhoods occurring in so many cities across the country. On the surface one would think redevelopment a good thing, but in so many cases it results in the displacement of long term residents who simply cannot afford the rising cost of housing.
What happens when you have an area with higher end homes, or schools, across from public housing units? How does this affect the people who live and work in the area? This documentary was told through the eyes of the children and young people who are experiencing just that. Some of their views may surprise, or not, but they are thoughtful and intelligently expressed by some rather insightful young people (especially Rosa). :)
While America has never really achieved a truly classless society, we have in the past at least made an attempt to lift as many people as possible into a middle class existence. But what seems to be occurring now is an ever widening gap between the wealthier segment of the population and those on the lower rungs. A state of affairs that isn't sustainable.
Lee suggested that I do a post about the civil rights movement in the United States, given the recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, and our discussion about them in the comments section. I pointed out that I did not know enough of what transpired during the 1960's to give a good account. So on his recommendation I went searching for a PBS documentary which described the actions of a group of activists called the Freedom Riders. What they did was challenge the idea, and practice, of segregation in the Deep South. In doing so they also stood up for one of the basic tenets of the United States Constitution, that all men are created equal. I, of course, believe that there should be a mention of women in that line, but that is a post for another day.
What the documentary shows is not just the courage of the Freedom Riders, but the importance of the involvement of the government, on both a national and a local level, in acting as a stabilizing factor. If there is no moral leadership there can be no tamping down of bigotry or racial division within our country.
This documentary is quite long, containing film from actual events and interviews with people who were there. But it is very good.
The term “global warming” is a
little deceiving. It implies that the problems we may face in the
future are solely going to revolve around higher temperatures. But
what we may be dealing with is something far more complex. Rising
temperatures are really a catalyst for a changing climate. While we
have enjoyed a moderate climate in the past, that does not mean we
will continue to see this kind of environment in the future.
I have talked about the effects of
rising temperatures melting ice, which will cause sea levels to rise,
leading to flooding of coastal areas. But there is also the problem
of all of that fresh water diluting the salinity of the oceans,
causing the Thermohaline Circulation to stop. Maybe you remember
that movie, “The Day After Tomorrow”? It's premise was based on
this effect.
This documentary was first aired back
around 2003. It gives a nice explanation of the Thermohaline
Circulation and its effect on climate, especially Europe's.
There is mention of a study initiated
by the George W. Bush administration, basically “war gaming” a
scenario of what would happen if this occurred in 2010. I found this
rather interesting given that the current occupant of the White House
is seemingly pursuing a policy that refuses to even consider the
possibility of climate change and its dangers. Not to mention
actively undermining any real scientific activity that might be of
benefit to the people of America or the world.
While the movie was a little extreme,
after all it is Hollywood, there is real danger in an abrupt change
in climate. I fear it would make it harder for the occupants of this planet
to adapt.
