Changing times/Changing Definitions

Sometimes talking about how people think leaves me with a headache. Trying to make the connection between how we think and the actions those thoughts energize can seem rather pointless. It is how it is, so why think about how it is?

Here is an article that seems to cut through a lot of trees in an attempt to see the forrest.

The article addresses post modernist thought and its affect on "tolerance".

Not Your Mother's Kind of Tolerance

By Jonathan Parnell | Aug 02, 2012 05:33 pm

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=94431c7fc1ffa54485d1c84fe&id=3ae5e3a1c8&e=075150a91a

I am just starting to wonder, "If I don't like postmodernist thought, do I like modernist thought? What came before modernism?"

Oh, dear! Here comes my headache again.

Thanks for pondering these things with me.

Life, Liberty and Happiness

We hold these truths to be self evident.......that all men are endowed by their creator with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (property)......

Do you get nervous when the personal means to life (health care choices) gets taken over by the govenment? Do you feel uneasy with the lose of liberty you experience when you are forced to buy insurance that pays for things that you think are immoral. Does the President scare you when he brags about taking over the property of the auto industry and wanting to do the same with everything else?

Here are some thoughts from a book you might like to ponder.

Communal Instincts

 "The Western World puts a far greater emphasis on freedom than the Eastern World. Our Western concept of liberty has its roots in two master ideas: one, the fact that man has a soul; and the other, that man has the right to own private property. Both these ideas are related one to the other. Man is free on the inside because he can call his soul his own; he is free on the outside because he can call property his own. Property is the economic guarantee of human freedom as the soul is its spiritual guarantee of liberty."
+Fulton J. Sheen, +JMJ+ -Daily Sheen-


World view matters!

Just some more thoughts for you.

Thanks

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The Bridge: thoughts on society's debates

Downtown Des Moines Iowa

The bridge was unique. The bridge was beautiful. Lots of bridges are. Engineers seem to have a silent competition for who can design the most unique and beautiful bridge. This one ranks quite high on my list.

 All bridges serve the same purpose. Bridges help you overcome an obstacle that is blocking your progress. Sometimes the obstacle is only slowing you down. Sometimes the obstacle has you completely stopped.

I am not an engineer. I have no training in the technical art of engineering a bridge. My observation is that bridges are always about balancing opposing forces. There is always an element of stress/pulling and an element of compaction/compression in a successful bridge. The beautiful bridges use a minimum of material in this balance.

This bridge has a deck that is pulling down on the steel cables. The cables are pulling down on the arch, compressing it. The arch is pressing down on the riverbanks with the full wieght of the bridge. In the mean time the bowed deck is trying to swing into a straight line under the arch but is stopped because the concrete deck cannot be compressed enough to make it fit. The whole thing becomes a beautiful bridge that has balanced opposing forces.

All of this seems to be a metaphor for our current society. There seem to be several opposing forces making themselves known. These forces are all asking, "How do we get over this obstacle that is before us?" Currently, the only available answer seems to be for one force to overcome the other. I wonder if we, as a society, might be better advised to see if we can find a way to use these opposing forces to build a bridge across our obstacle. A bridge that combines our abilities to pull with our abilities to resist, and in so doing make a way forward that has great strength and beauty. A bridge that can speed the passage of those who come to this obstacle in the future.

I don't have that design yet. Do you?



 

Teachable Moments

Yesterday, I spent some time with other bloggers just looking at and suggesting changes to our blogs. Not a "gotcha" kind of thing. More just people with a common interest sharing knowledge and ideas. What a pleasant way to spend a day.

It is nice to have the chance to be a friendly social person, just the way God made me. Being that in a room (instead of on-line) with like minded people is especially pleasant.

Can you spot the changes to the blog format? I hope they help.

Thanks for looking.

Fair Oaks, Pigs, and the Food connection

Why I support Fair Oaks Pig Adventure:

Part of the Fair Oaks Dairy Visitor Center (Pictured above)

Note: This blog attempts to represent some of my personal thoughts and motivations and should in no way be considered as a statement from Fair Oaks Pig Adventure, or any of its other supporters including Belstra Milling or the National Pork Board.

In a recent conversation Melanie Wilt, Wilt PR, , and creator of the ""Authentic Voices in Agriculture Training" asked "Why do you put yourself out there as an advocate for agriculture?"

My answer was, well, authentic, "I have always been concerned with sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ where ever I am. In thinking about how to do that in a meaningful way in my farming community I have come to recognize the central role that religious belief plays in those that farm. There is a fundamental religious perspective that forms in the mind of the person that is dependent on the whims of weather and animals for their existance. Life forces you to acknowledge and recognize that things are out of your control and must be entrusted to a creator. I see this as an opportunity to point out to people the Creator and strengthen their beliefs and help them understand why we do what we do. And why that is ethically fine."

 Consider the letter written to the Roman Christians in the first century, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) (click for an online bible)or the explanation presented in 1646 by the westminster confession chapter 1, paragraph 1, sentence 1. God's creation points man to God.

The recent death and consequent memorials to Chuck Colson (click here for an example) have reinforced my belief that the Christian church (all denominations and associated factions) needs to be engaged in the world doing things for "Good". The church must be about showing that we understand the challenges and concerns faced by everyone, and offering an explanation and a way forward in facing those concerns. I believe this message is delivered by what we do and who we are more than by what we say. Our actions are our most "Authentic Voices".

I am coming to recognize the difference between "hard" assets and "soft" assets.

Our words, blogs, you tubes, advertising, and so on are all good and important but they are "soft" assets. At the end of the day there is nothing there but an idea remembered or forgotten. There is something to be said for "hard" assets. something you can touch, feel, see, lean on, go visit, and relate to that is unmatched by words.

 Think of the churches or any other big building in your town. Even if they are empty, they make a statement to the passerby about the people of the town. Someone took the time, expense, and effort to build it and maintain it. That building stands for something. It is a "hard" asset that communicates all day, every day, simply by being there. In this sense the earth (creation) is a "hard asset" from God's perspective. It speaks constantly of His glory and character.




When I look beyond my local community I am confronted with a world that is screaming out for something solid to believe in....to anchor its thinking to. To touch and feel and lean on. And know that it is real. Think of the consumer saying, "Just label this food. I just want to know what is in it!" or "How can I trust the research? It is all paid for by the promoter."

The New York Times recently sponsored an essay contest entitled: "Why eating meat is ethical".
I struggle with that title since ethics come from our world view and the contest never defined what worldview the judges would use.

How we answer fundamental questions like, "Where did man come from?" shapes our world view and therefore our ethics. If you think man is here as the result of the "Big Bang" and the workings of evolution then it would seem reasonable that you would conclude that man is not ethically superior to plants or animals. "A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy" (I will let you google it yourself since I can't pick a link that seems reasonable) is the famous animal rights quote that comes to mind.

If you think man is here because he was created in the image of God then it seems reasonable that you would conclude that people are unique and stand at the top of the ethical ladder. From that vantage point you would start to realise that you are a steward of the earth and all that is in it. You have enormous responsibilities.

So, how does all this translate into support for the Fair Oaks Pig Adventure ?

The public is 3 generations away from the farm. They are not exposed daily to the fundamental connection to the earth and the source of their existence that comes from seeing and depending on the miracle of life as expressed through animals and plants.


(These pictures are from a tour of my facility. The Fair Oaks Tour will not be "hands on" but "through a window" visual.)

I see Fair Oaks Pig Adventure as a "hard" asset that is inviting the public to come and experience in a small way the miracle of birth. See first hand the different nature of animals and their care givers, Learn how man can act with good stewardship toward animals, the environment, and people. In short, I want people to have a chance to come as close as possible to the miraculous way that their food is created and to begin to shape/reshape their worldview and thereby their ethics.

For me personally, the really cool part is all this will be communicated without a single piece of religious literature being distibuted. Without any oral preaching being done. It will all be communicated by people drawing near to the source of their life giving food and asking, "Where does food come from?"

For all these personal reasons and, many more business reasons, I think it is a great value to invest in the Fair Oaks Pig Adventure.

Food: Where rural and urban America meet

the morning view at my kitchen window

Introduction: The original intent of this blog post was to address some of the difficulty that I have as a rural person communicating well with the urban person. The statement in a Chicago food blog "Industrial agriculture feels misunderstood" got me started. Writing the piece has caused me to see that while everything in this blog is true there is another interpretation. As a member of a very small (1-2%) of the population that the other 98% depend on for food, I am in an elite group of people. I, personally,  identify most easily with those on the subway/train, my everyday life experience however puts me in a position more like those who meet in rooms looking down on the city. It is a strange realization I am trying to put into words. That will have to wait for a later post. The breakfast conversation mentioned (the event is described in more detail at "A foodie breakfast in Chicago") has several participants thinking in new ways. I am one of those.Thank you for your time and deference. I hope you enjoy this modest essay.

The transition from rural America to urban America comes at me in a rush. In the 45 minutes it takes to drive from my garage to the airport, my relationship with the culture around me shifts. When the truck door closes at short term parking I know I am not in my native environment anymore. The movement of people, traffic, money, and stuff has just accelerated and I am slightly uncomfortable. I lock my door and clutch my carry on.

When the plane lands, this week it was in O' Hare International in Chicago, I realise I am working to blend into the crowd, trying to act like I belong here so I won't be noticed and spotted as an easy target. Why do I think I will be a target? Target of what?

Finding the train station in the basement of the airport is accomplished easily enough, just read the signs. Sooo many signs. Did I miss read them? Am I in the right spot? Then it happens. There is a turn stile and I need a ticket to go on. Where am I going? Which station do I want? How will I know when I get there? I have never done this before so it is unfamiliar. I have to ask for help. I don't blend in anymore.

Well, that went well. The lady was very pleasant and helpful. I have heard many stories about how rude the commuting public can be, but that wasn't my experience. Leaving the subway downtown, I am forced to ask for help again. Where am I? Where is my destination? This time the nice person speaks only broken English, so out comes the GPS phone and after a few minutes study and walking one block the wrong way, I am on my way. I am kind of proud of myself for figuring it out on my own. Then there is the entrance to the building.



I am easily lost in this world



Only a few people meet in rooms with this view

 Did you know you don't just walk into a building in the city and go to your meeting? There is security, turn stiles, passes, and guards. Not to mention elevators that go to even numbered floors and odd numbered flooors. Like a pro I get through these challenges trying to act intelligent as I switch elevators from the odd to the even floors. I am sooo not on the farm any more.

I pass the afternoon in meetings. That is a familiar situation for me. My butt has sat in a lot of meetings and I know this environement and am comfortable in it. This week's version is hosted by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). USFRA is trying to train farmers, like myself, how to better communicate with consumers by first listening to what their concerns are before attempting to form an answer. The event of the trip is to be breakfast with Chicago food editors and bloggers the next day.

This is alot different than my view at breakfast

After a very fine evening meal at Harry Carry's, that I can afford on vacation or as a guest, and a good rest in a lovely Hotel 71 corner room with a view, I venture off to breakfast. I am again trying to act like I am comfortable here. Niether of these places would be within my budget experience and are outside my comfort zone. They are povided to me as a thank you for my time and effort on behalf of various organizations.
Breakfast is again way above my normal experience of a bowl of cereal and milk while checking all the stuff that happened on my Droid during the night. (Markets, weather, analysis, emails, voicemails, and the news.) Table clothes and omeletts just don't happen much at home on the farm. I wonder how many in the city live this way regularly? I am thinking not many. The thought makes me uncomfortable in a guilty kind of way.

The breakfast conversation covers many topics, as a conversation should, from family, to home, to occupation, and obviously food. Many questions are asked. "Where" and "why" dominate the sentence structures. I realise that I am much more comfortable with the "Why" questions than the "Where" questions. Many of the "Where" questions already seem to have answers that I am supposed to agree with.
The answers to the "why" questions seem to be less predetermined and therefore become less contentious. I find myself wanting to talk about "Why" in response to every "Where" question. That doesn"t seem to work well for obvious reasons.



a building I am comfortable in

 With the meeting over, I have four hours to spare before my flight. I head to the airport, again trying to blend in. I catch some lunch at what looks like a local "hole in the wall" sandwich shop. It is filled with the locals (construction workers, police, secretaries, students, shoppers, etc.). My kind of place. I fit in. At least mentally. And of course the food is good and less expensive. By now even the train seems less chanllenging. I swipe my prepaid ticket and stand on the landing with confidence. I look forward to landing at Columbus and shutting the door of my pickup behind me. My culture will shift back to normal with the slam of that familiar door.

Travel is a great way to open your eyes and expand your ideas of the world.

Thanks for your thoughts.

A Foodie Breakfast in Chicago

I and 12 other farmers had breakfast in Chicago this week with 6 food writers, editors, and bloggers. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) sponsored the event so that farmers might learn to listen to what consumers are saying about food. Here are some of the things I took away from the meeting and subsequent blogs and online discussions.

Consumers care about "where" their food comes from. They appreciate that it goes through many steps to reach their plate and are concerned about what happens to the quality of the food along the way. Ultimately, the link to health or ill health is the motivator of these concerns.

"Labeling" seems like an obvious answer to these concerns for the consumer. "Why can't you label where stuff comes from so I can choose?" might be a question that is asked. In the absence of a "label" that is credible in their eyes they turn to various alternative in an attempt to accomplish the same thing. Perhaps they can "buy local" where they meet the individual that supposedly raised their food. The "CSA" concept is another attractive way to understand the source of their food. The "certified" programs are another method that the consumer uses to overcome the lack of "labeling". The vegetarian and vegan movements represent yet another attempt at controling percieved risk in the absence of a "label".

Another observation is that when I am asked "Where does food come from?" I tend to answer with "Why it comes from there." There is an obvious disconnect that the consumer hears and becomes suspicious. The consumer's next question is, "Why didn't you answer the question?". A question that in some minds has already been answered, "Because your big ag bosses don't want us to know" or "Because if we knew we would be appauled" or "Because it is only about the greed and the money".

Those consumers that are willing to listen to the "why" answer begin to shift their thinking and open up to the possibility that there are reasonable answers to the "where" questions. This is the power of a two way conversation. Listen and be listened to. When only one side is listening, either the farmer or the consumer, conversation is not happening and the exchange is futile. I observed both listening and not listening from all parties during breakfast.

Consumers have given little thought to the time required for the food system to change. They are accustomed to fast change. The latest and greatest is just around the corner. The thought that it took a generation for the food supply to adjust to the demand for "lean" has never occurred to them. The idea that the current generation of farmers was raised on and has perfected the concept of "effiency is the answer to everything" and will take a generation to change just is not acceptable. Today's consumer will be dead by then.

And then lastly, was the blog post after the breakfast that said something to the affect, "...the spin is true...". If the admitted "truth" is labeled as "spin" by the listening consumer then how can communication possibly happen? Do I come up with a "lie" that sounds "true" so it won't be dismissed as "spin"?

These are some of the big picture things I heard being said as I listened. I will be interested in the comments to see if I heard correctly.

Thanks for your thoughts.