POLITICAL MOMENT

Two months ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor lit a match, starting a fire that has spread throughout the Arab world. Muhammad Bouazizi's self-immolation prompted anti-government protests that toppled the regime in Tunisia and then Egypt. The demonstrations have spread across a swath of the Middle East and North Africa. - CNN World.

Right now, so many people are fighting for their freedom, indeed for their basic humanity. Politicians and arm chair pundits around the world have weighed in on the whys and wherefores and whatnots; readily speculating and judging  from their relative safety and distance. In all this coverage they often overlook, downplay, and even deny the very heart of the protesters. 

These people are rightfully chafing against rulers that denied, humiliated, tortured, and suppressed them for generations.

I read the unfolding of these events with a mixture of joy, sadness, and trepidation. Joy at the opening of new possibilities, sadness at the loss of life and liberty during the protests, and trepidation at the thought of the struggles still to come. 

All these people deserve - at the very least - our prayers, our hopes, our positive thoughts.

OK. I'm off my soap box now. Thank you for your patience. 

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED:

Internet Resource Guide for the Middle East and North Africa.

Or this cool site, Human Rights Initiative of North Texas.

If You Tire Of The Heavy Seriousness Of American Politics,

why not have a gander at how our friends across the pond are doing it.

Wonderfully wry, and witty, author Judith O'Reilly makes politics a pleasure.

 

WIFE IN THE NORTH - presents her observations. Check her out.

Regardless of your political leanings, you won't regret it.

CONFIRMATION DISSONANCE

NOTE: While I was preparing this post, this article ran in the New York Times: Wikipedia to Limit Changes to Articles on People
(how timely)

I hear a lot of people quoting Wikipedia as a primary (and only) source these days. Now, I mean no ill will toward Wikipedia, but I distrust something that can be edited by any one, at any time, to say any thing. Remember some of the political shenanigans involving the site?

Does Wikipedia need to be fixed?,* The Clinton/Obama War: The Battle of Wikipedia,* Wikipedia Edits Cause Australian Political Scandal,* Global warming, political correctness, and wikipedia,* Fox News Caught Editing Wikipedia [Changes Included],* Can Wikipedia handle the truth?

I could go on, but I think you get my drift. Abuses come from all sides, including from within.

I think that here is where our critical thinking skills should kick in, but scientists tell us that we are more likely to find confirmation of that which we already believe than information to the contrary. They call this 'confirmation bias.'

Confirmation bias * Confirmation bias * Confirmation bias * Confirmation bias * Confirmation bias

That being said, often when looking for information on subjects not solidly in the public eye, it is often one of few sources, if not the only source. What's a girl (or boy) to do?

Teaching about Confirmation Bias

It might also help to understand why this is so; Cognitive Dissonance, "a psychological phenomenon which refers to the discomfort felt at a discrepancy between what you already know or believe, and new information or interpretation.'

Cognitive Dissonance (L. Festinger)
cognitive dissonance

or
The Monty Hall Problem (an interesting read)