Big Think

H Paul Lillebo commented on All the good ideas are already taken. on January 21, 2008, 3:30 AM

Yes, today's ideas are "merely variations, mutations..." of previous thought. But a chess set has only 32 old unchanging pieces, and yet they can be arranged into billions of positions, millions of which have never been seen. And our 100 billion brain cells can form thousands of trillions of different patterns of connections, yielding new thought out of old material.I agree with sentient that the key to our species' survival is to find, at long last, our proper accommodation to the Earth and all its life, including other humans.H Paul Lillebowww.blueridgejournal.com

H Paul Lillebo commented on Should we embrace or reject our differences? on January 21, 2008, 3:09 AM

The question, "Should we embrace or reject our differences?" is framed in the typical modern but shallow dichotomous style: "Are you for or against blah-blah?" The very question suggests division and extremism, as we see between our (US) two political parties. As Mr.Appiah suggests, the way to harmony in most situations is not found by embracing or rejecting, but by our very own mix of understanding, adapting, changing, growing, learning, accepting, appreciating, and just living.H Paul Lillebowww.blueridgejournal.com

H Paul Lillebo commented on Should we embrace or reject our differences? on January 20, 2008, 10:09 PM

The question, "Should we embrace or reject our differences?" is framed in the typical modern but shallow dichotomous style: "Are you for or against blah-blah?" The very question suggests division and extremism, as we see between our (US) two political parties. As Mr.Appiah suggests, the way to harmony in most situations is not found by embracing or rejecting, but by our very own mix of understanding, adapting, changing, growing, learning, accepting, appreciating, and just living. H Paul Lillebo www.blueridgejournal.com

H Paul Lillebo commented on What should be the big issues of the 2008 presidential election? on January 20, 2008, 9:43 AM

I agree with Trillin that the media have done a miserable job of informing the electorate, or questioning candidates, about the really meaningful issues. Part of the problem is the ongoing dumbing-down of the U.S., where the media play to their expectation of the public's interest. Visit this page on my website (Blue Ridge Journal) for more discussion: http://www.blueridgejournal.com/brj-realissues.htmH Paul LilleboAsheville, NC

H Paul Lillebo commented on What should be the big issues of the 2008 presidential election? on January 20, 2008, 4:43 AM

I agree with Trillin that the media have done a miserable job of informing the electorate, or questioning candidates, about the really meaningful issues. Part of the problem is the ongoing dumbing-down of the U.S., where the media play to their expectation of the public's interest. Visit this page on my website (Blue Ridge Journal) for more discussion: http://www.blueridgejournal.com/brj- realissues.htm H Paul Lillebo Asheville, NC