Positive Force
Dr. Cornel West spoke on WDET this morning prior to his scheduled speech on the Wayne State University campus. Host Craig Fahle posed some fantastic questions to West and one of his responses struck me personally. I believe Fahle asked, “What can we do?” about race, class, poverty, and to bring back a progressive mindset to this country. In turn West commented about writing journals, essays, novels, etc.. He went on to warn that writers not be solely focused on criticizing alone but to write of the positive movements already in the works.
While reading DailyKos, Common Dreams, and listening to NPR everyday I must admit the balance of criticism against to Bush admin’ versus positive movements within the progressive community is obviously over weighed to the former.
A website I frequently visit ironically named TreeHugger.com has taken note of this disparity within the environmentalist community and in turn committed to writing a blog of only helpful new products/technologies. I personally feel a glimmer of hope hearing about bio-diesel conversions, and new wind turbines popping up along the roadside.
Here’s the challenge. Every active blogger on this site should attempt a truly positive post for every critical one. Because frankly I’m too damn depressed reading about how we’re all headed for the apocalypse!
I listened to the Craig Fahle interview and it was great. I agree with the positivity that is required to progress (mainly because I find it increasingly difficult to achieve, much less retain, any level of positivity). I think the take that Dr. West had was that, basically, it is completely possible to criticize AND be positive by offering change. Dr. West himself is fiercely critical of many facets of society and government, but offers possible answers and hope for change as opposed to just stewing on the negativity of the criticism itself. It is the easier route, simmering and bubbling, as opposed to the uphill track of putting transformation into motion that thwarts the promise of a better future.