In a message dated 8/23/2000 12:42:36 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
asa@nada.kth.se writes:
>
> I think transhumanism can do a great deal of good by pointing at these
> interrelations, making people realise that they cannot have (say)
> advanced medicine without genetic engineering or a complex chemical
> infrastructure or their favorite foreign foods without a globalised
> market (or introduced species at home). This is the practical part,
> but we should not be afraid of dealing with the ethical/spiritual side
> too - we must be able to make a convincing argument for the ethics of
> our ideas. Let's remind people that we are not just children of
> Mother Earth but of Father Sun too - and in the long run we might want
> to visit him.
Ah ... finally, a productive thread! Thanks Corwyn, Anders.
While I would shy away from Corwyn's term "Fundamentalist Left (term is
baiting, reactionary) I have a real hard time with the schism in the common
green thinking:
I was having a discussion with a very talented and passionate artist about
genetic food. Worried about the non-reproductive seeds and the effect on
farmers in third world countries. The y don't like Monsanto, don't trust the
motive for making the non-reproductive corn. OK, I respect that. That's
against LIFE! Concern the non-reproductive seeds will make the farmers
dependent on the company. OK I respect that, check your research, etc.... But
then - she says: And, genetically engineered HUMANS ... that would be worse,
why in India, now that they can genetically engineer the SEX of the baby,
they're all gonna ask for BOYS. and begins a rant on sexism in the third
world, Afghanistan, etc., and how this will escalate it.
So I say the obvious to all of us here: Look! Engineers and technology are
not to blame for the horrible treatment of women -- in fact they are great
equalizers -- it is fundamental religion that is responsible for much of the
degradation and segregation (for example Afghanistan) - and the origin of all
this misogynistic attitude towards baby girls, isn't it?
Hey, I see protest for all sorts of technology and warfare, but when it comes
to protesting horribly oppressive religion, which is the cause of most of the
wars and torture, where are all you so called "caring" people? Why don't the
masses turn out to violently protest these outdated horrors - if you want to
talk about 'against LIFE!'
She admitted it, you are right Nadia, we do not criticize come one's
SPIRITUAL beliefs, that is taboo. Hmm...
I sort of don't think she's gonna act on it.
It's not that the left is religious, I don't see it that way. What we
culturally are, left, center, out to lunch and/or right, is scared and overly
polite regarding that taboo subject. The sacred cow. It's some kind of
freakish phenomenon built right into the religion meme.
It is part of the durability factor.
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