KNOWLEDGE PICKER'S ARCHIVE: November 2015

Pick 71 - Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the foster child of the American Dream. I say this because most of the critical thinkers who came our way during the latter 20th Century were considered pariahs or mavericks. The establishment ridiculed Bill Gates when he started to envision a personal computer on everyone's desktop back in the early 80's.

I recall one CEO of a mainframe computer company laughing Gates out of his office when this idea was presented. The aspersion went something like this: "Who in the world would want to have a computer on his desk at home and what in the world would he do with it?' Gates was not the only Critical Thinker to be ridiculed this way.

By the late 70s, technology had evolved to the point that hobbyists and electronics buffs could purchase unassembled PCs or “microcomputers” and program them for fun. Still that CEO was correct. The early PCs may have clicked with hobbyists, but they served no useful purpose for the average American. They could do mathematical calculations and play simple games, but those tasks would not pay the rent nor could a talented programmer make enough money to purchase one.

If those early pioneers of the Personal Computer evolution had listened to the Business Establishment, Americans would likely be purchasing their personal computers, software, and useful applications from China or Japan. Thanks to the outside-the-box thinking of Gates, Jobs, and a host of game-ware developers, hundreds of American-spawned companies sell personal computers, accessories and sophisticated software and games. It is nearly impossible to imagine modern life without them. And that could have been said even before the Internet came along.

Nowadays however, we seem to have grown a new crop of stay-in-the-box thinkers. Not only is critical thinking being devalued. Most of our youthful thinkers seem content to outsource it. Ask a Millennial to provide answers to intriguing economic or social questions these days and the common response is to refer to Siri or manually text the question to Google. Whatever answer comes back is taken at face value without fact checking or respectfully disputing the answer. The very thought of marching to a different drummer is met with fear and consternation.

Apparently the value in critical thinking has become so hidden that, like the American Dream, it does not seem worth pursuing anymore.

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Pick 70 - Who Am I to Judge

Recently Pope Francis issued a statement that seemed on the surface to approve of homosexuality.
“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge.” However, any Christian who is familiar with the famous scene in John 8: 3–7 would understand exactly what Pope Francis was saying.
Jesus had returned to the temple area to resume teaching the people. The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman they claim was caught in adultery. Being in the court area, they told him that Mosaic Law commanded that the woman be stoned to death for her sins. Trying to catch Him up in His words, they asked Jesus what He thought should be done with her.

bibleodyssey.org

Jesus did not respond right away, but stooped down to begin writing in the dirt with His finger. After a moment, He straightened up and said: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” One by one they walked away until only Jesus was left with the woman. His message to the Pharisees was simple yet piercing. Only those who are faultless have the right to pass judgment upon others implying that no one is faultless; only God can judge a person.

But the story does not end there. Jesus was faultless and had every right and maybe an obligation to pass judgement on her. He reminds her that she is still a sinner and deserves the judgement prescribed by The Law but offers the mercy that comes with repentance and a desire to avoid sinning again.

Hidden within Pope Francis' use of the phrase "who am I to judge" is a valuable lesson. Both Catholics and even non-Christians revere Pope Francis as a Holy Man of great integrity. For him to say "who am I to judge?" is almost rhetorical. If anyone can pass judgement on homosexuals and other sinners, it would be him. Yet he does not claim that right. Could he have been thinking about
the message in Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not, that ye be not judged.²For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again?

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Pick 69 - The Wall

We have been hearing a lot lately about walls. Some walls are figurative like the great divide between Liberal and Conservative members of Congress. Each side of the Isle seems to have at least one issue that is so important to them that they have erected an imaginary wall around it. Compromise on that issue, they say, would betray their constituents. Likewise, the opposition would like nothing better than for the trumpets to sound and that wall to come tumbling down.

Photo by Isai Ramos on Unsplash

Other walls are quite literal. It is not unusual to build a wall for security purposes. Israel already has walls along the frontiers with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Most nations have walls to protect their borders:

The United States is building a wall to keep out illegal Mexican immigrants.

Spain built a wall, with European Union funding, to separate its enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla from Morocco to prevent poor people from sub-Saharan Africa from entering Europe.

India constructed a 460-mile wall in Kashmir to halt infiltrations supported by Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia built a 60-mile wall along an undefined border zone with Yemen to halt arms smuggling of weaponry and announced plans in 2006 to build a 500-mile wall along its border with Iraq.

Turkey built a wall in the southern province of Alexandretta, which was formerly in Syria and is an area that Syria claims as its own.

In Cyprus, the UN sponsored a security wall reinforcing the island’s de facto partition.

British-built barriers separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in Belfast

It does not matter whether the wall is built with bricks n' mortar or barbed wire n' chain link fence. It serves the same purpose; keep something in or keep something out. Only the builder's perspective determines the purpose.

November 9th, 2014 marked the silver anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Historians tell us that President Ronald Reagan challenged Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "Tear down this wall" during his June 1987 speech near the Wall. That afternoon, Reagan said,

We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

On Nov. 9, 1989, jubilant East and West Berliners began tearing down the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Iron Curtain for 28 years.

When President Clinton visited in 1994, he told the crowd of Berliners, "You have proven that no Wall can forever contain the mighty power of freedom."

The hidden value in walls is not that they keep people or ideas in or out. The hidden value lies in the hope that one day the wall will come tumbling down.

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Pick 68 - Side Effects

Possibly the most common side effects of any prescription drug are gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, constipation and diarrhea, because most drugs go through the digestive system to be absorbed. Other common aftereffects include drowsiness, pain and skin reactions.

Anyone who watches TV these days is well schooled on the side effects of the Ask your Doctor about... drugs. These infomercials begin with a pleasant scene featuring happy people. A new drug makes them happy. It cures or controls their medical problem.

Typical "Ask Your Doctor" TV Ad

Drug marketing is a big business, and companies are willing to spend a lot of money to offer you an easy solution to a health problem you may or may not have. From 2012 to 2015, yearly spending on prescription drug advertising in all media outlets (except digital) rose from $3.2 billion to $5.2 billion, and that figure is expected to only go up.
There are three parts to these infomercials. Regardless of the drug they hype, the message has these parts:

Good news for folks who suffer from [ ] there is a new drug that can fix it.

Ask your doctor if [ ] can fix your medical problem.

Do not take this drug if you are pregnant or allergic to any of its ingredients.

An authoritative voice delivers this news. The people in the pleasant scene remain happy. They distract you while the side effects for this drug are recited.

Check with your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects while taking [ ]

Bladder pain

bloody or cloudy urine

difficult, burning, or painful urination

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

frequent urge to urinate

lower back or side pain

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

chest pain or discomfort

confusion

convulsions

dark-colored urine

difficulty breathing

difficulty with speaking

difficulty with swallowing

double vision

inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles

inability to speak

joint or muscle pain

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

slow speech

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

sudden loss of consciousness

swelling of the feet or lower legs

uncontrolled repeated movements (tics)

uncontrolled vocal outbursts

unusual tiredness or weakness

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

swelling of the face

unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

painful or prolonged erection of the penis

sensation of spinning

painful, swollen joints

continuing failure in men to experience a sexual orgasm

lack of feeling or emotion

lack or loss of self-control

lack or loss of strength

longer or heavier menstrual periods

loss of balance

loss of interest or pleasure

memory problems

mood swings

Your health care professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects. Check with them if any of these side effects continue, or if you are concerned about them.

Nice way of saying that for every side effect, there is a drug to counteract it. You just need to ask your doctor. So, if you read this far, you are wondering where the Hidden Value lies in this composite of side effects and pleasantries.

Most of the ills these drugs are supposed to fix seem benign compared to their side effects. The human digestive system does a lot more for us than digest our food and sustain our life. It also alerts us when dangerous substances have been introduced into our food chain. When you experience a serious side effect, it may be an alert from your body. That alert is the hidden value. Silence that alert at your own peril. Your own digestive system knows more about you than your doctor. Besides, if your doctor has nothing better to do than answer questions about drugs that may or may not treat a health issue that you may or may not have, then you might do better talking to a Pharmacist. They are the experts when it comes to drugs and their side-effects.

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Pick 67 - Prayer

I began this search for the hidden value of prayer by perusing the viewpoints presented by Atheists. After all, if an avowed Atheist can see some value in prayer, then the practice must have hidden value that has endured intelligent scrutiny over the ages. Here is an example:

The combination of feeling as if you have the ultimate listener’s undivided and nonjudgmental attention with complete self-honesty mixed with emotional release can all work together to make the act of praying both comforting and regenerating.

When members of a 12-Step Recovery group begin their journey up the steps to recovery, they must first admit to themselves that, as a result of addiction, their lives have become unmanageable. If they can take this first step with conviction, then the second step follows naturally. If one is incapable of managing one's own life, then who or what can restore them to sanity. This thought opens the door to the concept of a Higher Power--someone or something beyond ones self that can bring an addicted person back to sanity and give them serenity. For some, this person or spirit may be a serene, nonjudgmental person or the God of their childhood. For others, the Power Greater than themselves may be the God of their understanding derived from deep religious conviction. Here are a few examples from the perspective of major religions:

MUSLIM Prayer, by its very nature, is a form of request or entreaty, and thus requires the full conscious participation of the one praying, with will, intellect, body and soul. The one engaged in prayer is in direct connection with the Creator Who hears everything the supplicant says and responds – though not necessarily in the affirmative – to each request.

CHRISTIAN Quite simply, for followers of Jesus Christ prayer is the best way to communicate with God. Prayer is the vehicle for daily dialog with the One who created us. The importance of daily communication through prayer cannot be overestimated. It is so important that it is mentioned over 250 times in Scripture. So why is daily prayer so important? First, daily prayer gives us an opportunity to share all aspects of our lives with God. Second, daily prayer gives us the chance to express our gratitude for the things He provides. Third, daily prayer provides the platform for confessing our sin and asking for help in overcoming that sin. Fourth, daily prayer is an act of worship and obedience. And finally, daily prayer is a way to acknowledge who is really in control of our lives.

JUDAISM One purpose of prayer is to increase your awareness of G-d in your life and the role that G-d plays in your life. In addition, if you want to do something well, you have to practice it continually, even when you don't feel like doing it. This is as true of prayer as it is of playing a sport, playing a musical instrument, or writing. The sense of humility and awe of G-d that is essential to proper prayer does not come easily to modern man, and will not simply come to you when you feel the need to pray. If you wait until inspiration strikes, you will not have the skills you need to pray effectively.

BUDDHIST The purpose of Buddhist prayer is to awaken our inherent inner capacities of strength, compassion and wisdom rather than to petition external forces based on fear, idolizing, and worldly and/or heavenly gain. Buddhist prayer is a form of meditation; it is a practice of inner reconditioning. Buddhist prayer replaces the negative with the virtuous and points us to the blessings of Life.

HINDUISM In this life we are faced with various kinds of difficulties, afflictions and sorrows. We go to a doctor to get relief for our bodily ailments. We approach numerous authorities for obtaining solution for our worldly problems. We also pray to God. Our great men have given guidance as to how to pray and what to pray for. There is one school of thought which says that we should pray to God only for our spiritual salvation. But there are others who think that we owe a duty to the members of the family, and, in the discharge of that duty, we have perforce to invoke the blessings of God by prayer. This is a proper approach and, therefore, even when we have to go to human agencies to get relief, we should first submit our difficulties and troubles to God.

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