Comments on: Double exposure http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/ Guru = Pahlawan Tanpa Tanda Jasa Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:38:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Colin Campbell http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/#comment-263 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:03:11 +0000 http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/#comment-263 Having spent time living and working in the US, Singapore, The Philippines, Nepal and travelled and worked in many other countries and having grown up in Scotland and now living in very pleasant Adelaide, I have some perspective on this. Different countries with very different approaches to these kinds of issues. Australians are very like Americans in their tolerance of failure of infrastructure systems, very impatient and out for blood. On the other hand, people in the Philippines and Nepal are exactly the opposite. Oh good, the water is running, the power is on, I can buy petrol...... I happen to like a little disfunction in these kinds of areas, but maybe not as much as happens in many parts of the world. Having spent time living and working in the US, Singapore, The Philippines, Nepal and travelled and worked in many other countries and having grown up in Scotland and now living in very pleasant Adelaide, I have some perspective on this. Different countries with very different approaches to these kinds of issues. Australians are very like Americans in their tolerance of failure of infrastructure systems, very impatient and out for blood. On the other hand, people in the Philippines and Nepal are exactly the opposite. Oh good, the water is running, the power is on, I can buy petrol……

I happen to like a little disfunction in these kinds of areas, but maybe not as much as happens in many parts of the world.

]]> by: Administrator http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/#comment-247 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:37:49 +0000 http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/#comment-247 I just noticed this in a self-proclaimed 'right-wing' blog. The post was about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: '... because in politics you're supposed to appear compassionate and show how much you care about everybody'. I'm increasingly believing that some people are literally incapable of understanding that compassion for others is a genuine sentiment that comes naturally to lots of us ... for these miserable specimens, it's all just spin. BTW Damian I read your blog and your partner's with great interest ... you make me feel humble. I hope you both keep posting from Indo. I just noticed this in a self-proclaimed ‘right-wing’ blog. The post was about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:

‘… because in politics you’re supposed to appear compassionate and show how much you care about everybody’.

I’m increasingly believing that some people are literally incapable of understanding that compassion for others is a genuine sentiment that comes naturally to lots of us … for these miserable specimens, it’s all just spin.

BTW Damian I read your blog and your partner’s with great interest … you make me feel humble. I hope you both keep posting from Indo.

]]> by: Damian Doyle http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/#comment-246 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:24:57 +0000 http://kenalovell.com/blog/2007/01/24/double-exposure/#comment-246 These remarks have really hit a chord with me, Ken. I've been adjusting to life back in Australia after a couple of months in a remote part of Indonesia, a place I will soon return to indefinitely. My partner is an aid worker, and I hope to work in that sector soon, too. As such, I have had a lot of contact lately with people whose lives are very poor and painful in relation to Australia. Spending a month or two back in Sydney has been quite an experience. I have been shocked by not only the consumption impulses of wealthy Australians, but also by the way that things considered a luxury elsewhere are taken for granted. I am coming to believe that wealth creates greed, just as greed may create wealth. And then those with wealth come to believe that what they have is an entitlement - something to be expected and demanded - and they become fearful and resentful of others. Some choose to ignore reality. Some. Your thoughts about expectations are a part of all of this, too. I guess I see it all as some sort of psychological or social bubble in which citizens of rich countries live. The world is out there, but it's often distant and we can look away and ignore it if we so choose. These remarks have really hit a chord with me, Ken. I’ve been adjusting to life back in Australia after a couple of months in a remote part of Indonesia, a place I will soon return to indefinitely. My partner is an aid worker, and I hope to work in that sector soon, too. As such, I have had a lot of contact lately with people whose lives are very poor and painful in relation to Australia.

Spending a month or two back in Sydney has been quite an experience. I have been shocked by not only the consumption impulses of wealthy Australians, but also by the way that things considered a luxury elsewhere are taken for granted. I am coming to believe that wealth creates greed, just as greed may create wealth. And then those with wealth come to believe that what they have is an entitlement - something to be expected and demanded - and they become fearful and resentful of others. Some choose to ignore reality. Some.

Your thoughts about expectations are a part of all of this, too. I guess I see it all as some sort of psychological or social bubble in which citizens of rich countries live. The world is out there, but it’s often distant and we can look away and ignore it if we so choose.

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