The Story of Stuff Discussion: Part 6 & 7

April 16, 2008 - 9:29am

Okay everyone, it's time to wrap up our Story of Stuff discussion with the final two chapters. I've personally enjoyed reading your comments so far, and I appreciate how you've played along with me while I've tried to stir the pot a little.

In this installment I'm going to ask a few deeper questions, so please take the time time to pitch in your thoughts. Each of us has something valuable to contribute. Watch both final chapters before commenting. I've embedded them below:

Here's Part 6:


And here's part 7:


I am so bummed about the juice packs. Seriously. They seem so...innocent.

Okay, let's wrap up this very diverse and interesting discussion with a few final questions. You can answer one or all of them, depending on how much you want to think, write, or rant. It's up to you, but be courteous and respectful - especially since we're including politics and religion this time around.

  • Having watched the entire series, where are you most inspired, challenged, and skeptical?
  • Okay, time to talk politics: Do you think the problems Annie addresses are tied to a particular political ideology, and if so, which one(s)? How does this impact the search for solutions?
  • Time to talk religion: do you think the problems Annie addresses are tied to any particular religious worldview, and if so, which one(s)? How does this impact the search for solutions?
  • At what point in this system are you most likely to contribute to solutions, and why?

My favorite quote from these episodes:

"Some say it's unrealistic - idealistic, that it can't happen - but I say the one's who are unrealistic are those that want to continue with the old path."

I say, nobody ever accomplished anything great by thinking realistically.

Regards,
Jason Coker

Julie w
says...

"I am so bummed about the

"I am so bummed about the juice packs. Seriously. They seem so...innocent."

Awww....don't be bummed. Cheer up. Here, have a juice pack. Bwahhahaha.....

"I say, nobody ever accomplished anything great by thinking realistically."

True. But reality never hurt anyone. As long as it doesn't keep one from thinking outside the box. But I do get your point.

I'll answer on the other stuff later. Thought I had more time....

Julie

Tom A
says...

Enough of stuff

One thing I have noticed is that I have gotten hung up on the extreme way she makes her point so I want to disagree with her just because. This time I had to go look up dioxins. She didn't tell us that the levels of dioxins that are produced have been reduced 80-90% in the last 20 years. Then I realized that it is people like her that have probably had a lot to do with driving the need for those changes. By the way about 93% of your dioxin exposure come from the meat and dairy foods you eat. As a vegetarian I feel better already. I hope I take from this a greater awareness of my actions and what effect they have on the environment. The political process no matter which view is in control never seems to lend itself to extreme change. Environmental issues don't seem to take center stage over the economy, war, education, ect. I think maybe the lack of Christian perspective in this country has led to the increase in consumerism. With many Christians falling into the trap because we give our tithe so what we do with the rest doesn't really matter. Jason, thanks for doing this.

Jason Coker
says...

I didn't know you were

I didn't know you were a vegetarian!

You bring up some great points Tom. First, this is definitely a piece of propaganda complete with generalized facts, jabs at certain political figures, and an obvious bias towards government oversight. We should always pay close attention to the inherent bias' of things like this.

Still, in my old age I've learned that there's always something to learn from others. There are some extremely important perspectives in this film that we shouldn't dismiss just because we might disagree with her politics (that is, if we do).

I think Christians have lost perspective because - whether your a right or left Christian - certain political groups have sought to co-opt our attention. At least, that's part of the reason. We've come to the place where we think being a Christian means we have to be a Democrat or a Republican (depending on what kind of Christian you happen to be!). I think it's time to rise above that.

Thanks for your insightful comments!

Regards,
Jason Coker
Twoshirts.org Team

Tom A
says...

rise above

I looked up the voting record of the current US senators, 85% of the time they vote along party lines. Depending which party has the solutions to the issues that are most important to you should pick that party's candidate, because almost all the time they will vote with that party. The system seems to force you into making a choice. Not sure how to rise above it except not to have the limit of your involvement with the issues that are important to you being your vote.