[Osx-nutters] *Big* government

[Stefano Mori]

On 2007-Aug-30, at 01:03, mmalc crawford wrote:

>> Someone mentioned that we cannot stop the above because it is our
>> "culture", but is it not this culture that leads to the US having
>> the most obese people?

> No.  As a general rule, it's people's own actions (or typically
> inaction) that leads them to being obese.


Culture is very much an influence, but what makes us individuals is  
in some essence our capacity for choice.
Even some spiritual teachers emphasise this as the very thing that is  
closer to the core of our being than mere personality. [1]
To simply be at the effect of culture without choice is to become  
like the Borg, it seems.
And by making choices, we as individuals co-create culture; we become  
good examples.
Some of our cultural conditioning is stuff we may not be aware of,  
but diet for one is a common subject that people talk about in the  
media, so we have lots of choices.

Stefano


[1]
Smith: Why, Mr. Anderson, why? Why, why do you do it? Why, why get  
up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something,  
for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is, do you even  
know? Is it freedom or truth, perhaps peace - could it be for love?  
Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception. Temporary constructs  
of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an  
existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them as  
artificial as the Matrix itself. Although, only a human mind could  
invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr.  
Anderson, you must know it by now! You can't win, it's pointless to  
keep fighting! Why, Mr. Anderson, why, why do you persist?

Neo: Because I choose to.