Civility, Respect & Opening Minds to Understand Other Points of View

by Gina Catanzarite, Director, Teen Writer!

Let freedom ring. . . and let civility and respect ring with it

The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

But after a presidential primary and election season that experts are still struggling to define, studies reveal the United States of America is suffering from extreme political polarization. 

Worse, a majority of respondents to a Pew Research Center survey said they feel fear, frustration and anger over the viewpoints of others — and that survey included people from both major U.S. political parties. (Click to see the survey here)

They feel fearful and yet. . . did they really make the effort to speak directly to the people who hold the opposing viewpoints over which they feel such heated emotion?  Or, did they form their biases based on what they saw in the media?

Much has been discussed recently about fake news in the media and it’s true that we do need to refine our media literacy skills – but we also need to examine our own media diets, i.e. the information we seek, click, “like,” and share on our own. 

Are you broadening your mind, seeking diverse opinions and new ideas. . . or, are you simply seeking out media that validates what you already feel and believe? 

It’s a growing problem and credible research shows how that kind of narrow media diet damages our world view and our relationships.

In the book Blur: How to Know What’s True in the Age of Information Overload, authors Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel addressed journalism of affirmation: A new political media that builds loyalty less on accuracy, completeness, or verification than on affirming the beliefs of its audiences, and so tends to cherry-pick information that serves that purpose.

And, in multiple studies, including this one and summarized here researchers found that social media contributes to narrow-mindedness because users tend to fill their social streams with information and opinions that feed only their narrow interests and beliefs, rather than seeking new ideas, interests, events, or diverse viewpoints.  

Authors of the study say this creates an “echo chamber,” which “comes at the expense of the quality of the information and leads to proliferation of biased narratives fomented by unsubstantiated rumors, mistrust, and paranoia.”

Journalism of affirmation. . . The social media “echo chamber” . . .

We live in the Information Age, with unfettered access to information, to others’ viewpoints, to new ideas, and to diverse opinions.  At what point did we stop broadening our minds and start digging in our heels, passionately indulging our own positions without making the effort to fact-check what we read or entertain the ideas of others?

When Luminari was founded more than eight years ago, we carefully crafted our mission statement to be clear that our goal was to foster activities that broaden minds. In this volatile political climate, broadening minds just may begin with broadening our media diets in order to avoid the “echo chamber” that hinders civil discourse, robust debate, and respect for all. 

- Gina

  

Read more about it:

Blur: How to Know What’s True in the Age of InformationOverload by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

A Matter of Trust

Ten Questions for Fake News Detection from The News Literacy Project

Fake or Real News: How to Self-Check the News and Get theFacts from NPR

Students Have ‘Dismaying’ Inability To Tell Fake News FromReal, Study Finds from NPR

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Gina Catanzarite is Owner of Arania Productions. She is the Co-Author of two non-fiction books and Teaches broadcast journalism at Point Park University. And is an Emmy award-winning television Producer, Writer, Family Advocate and Media Consultant.

From Feudies to Foodies

by Leslie Bonci, Director, Camp Delicious!

Although nutrition is a hot topic, it as an area fraught with confusion, crowding and confrontation. Food blaming, body shaming, and food phobia have created an environment of feud over food resulting in consumer distrust and mistrust.

As a registered dietitian, I spend a great deal of time translating nutrition recommendations and science into communicable, easily digestible bites. Credibility is key, but empathy, reality and practicality are all important as well.

What are some of the issues?

• There is too much easily accessible nutrition information available 24/7
• Just because we eat, it doesn’t mean that we are all experts in nutrition
• What is trendy in food is not always the most nutritious nor is it always necessary
• Good vs bad food mentality: Some people may have food allergies, intolerance and sensitivities so particular foods may not be good for them, but the only “bad” foods are foods that are spoiled
• Self diagnosed nutrition concerns without medical justification
• Too much emphasis placed on external look vs internal health
• Culinary incompetency: we like to watch cooking shows, but the skills involved making a shopping list, going to the supermarket, and preparing food is becoming a lost art. Knowing how to shop and cook are survival skills
• Sensationalism over science
• Highlighting individual micro, phyto or macro-nutrients rather than entire food emphasis
• Desire for immediate results with minimal effort
• Shift away from shopping and meal preparation in favor of dining out, prepared meals or ready to eat/heat
• Elimination without discrimination: there is NO need to cut foods out of your diet unless there is medical justification. Going dairy-free, gluten-free or fat-free may result in nutritional deficiencies over the long term
• Focus on what to take off the plate rather than what is on the plate
• Not thinking beyond the food to the eating environment and food habits

Let me offer some suggestions to create a better attitude about what we eat, and gratitude for our bodies:

• Foods that provide the good for you: palate, physical benefits
• Affordability and accessibility
• Minimize waste
• Get in the kitchen with food
• Focus on what your body allows you to do
• Don’t be a slave to the scale or a clothing size

Challenge yourself to be kind to your body, be mindful of what you choose to eat and find what gives you happiness, enjoyment and fun!

- Leslie

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Leslie is the Owner of Active Eating Advice: be fit, fed and fearless. She works with individual clients, Carnegie Mellon University athletics, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She strives to help her clients, viewers and readers cultivate a love for food, appreciate what fueling well does for the body, and communicate the message of being a foodie instead of a feudie.

It Begins with a Spark

by Don Laird, MS, NCC, LPC

My advice? As therapist, I give little. But as a humble steward of the planet? Here it is: Action, not words. Professionally, I am asked many things, some are heartbreaking, some are deep and provocative, while others are light and humorous. However, two questions that I hear quite often have little to do with psychology or counseling. How does one respond to someone who asks, “What is happiness?” or “What is the meaning of life?” Though well versed through personal experience, I am hardly a pundit on such matters. Yet, I remain “tragically” optimistic that we can still resolve to acknowledge and respect each other, not just as beings made unique by our differences, but as fellow travelers to the grave. Our journeys begin and end in a brilliant spark, and to know death is to know life and vice versa.

So if the answer to what we want in our lives is more happiness and meaning, then what are the obstacles? And are these obstacles self-imposed? Be honest. Moreover, if we know the answers then maybe we are not asking the right questions. Do we fear death? Do we fear life? If so, how do these fears influence our ability to be “happy” and to live the life we want or think we want? 

Weltanschauung is a fun German word meaning ideology, political doctrine, dogma or articles of faith. Yet, with all its trappings, weltanschauung shouldn’t solely define our purpose as a species. For one thing, it may provide a brief respite, some peace of mind, but it certainly does not foster happiness. And for the record, suspicion, ignorance and prejudice kill. Abhorrence of others and fear of the unknown sabotage the very happiness we profess to want in both our personal and collective experiences? My point is that happiness is fleeting. Its time with us is brief as it is birthed in thought, sustained in action and nurtured in experience. The flesh eventually fails, our efforts in life do not. They ripple. In short, the answer to finding happiness (if there is one at all) lies somewhere between I should do, and I will do. There is a time for prayer, meditation, positive thoughts, and reflection, but these alone will do little to make or sustain change. Action, Not Words. If the January 21 global protests say anything, it is that words plant hope, but action bears the fruit.

Oh, and as for the meaning of life? Go. Make. Something…

Peace, love, and better days to you and yours in 2017.

- Don

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Don Laird is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Nationally Certified Counselor with more than 14 years experience helping adults, teens, and couples who are struggling with a wide range of issues including but not limited to anger, anxiety, depression, divorce, grief and loss and trauma. As well as providing psychotherapy and couples counseling services, Don is a published author who teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in professional counseling and psychology at Carlow University, and hosts a podcast on the subject of psychology.

What's That Sound? The Didgeridoo

by Beth Dolinar, Luminari Coordinator

In each issue of LUMOS!, we offer a regular series about the unique and unusual (and sometimes downright strange) instruments we’ve never heard. And since we can’t really understand an instrument until we’ve heard it being played, we’ll offer links to sites where you can hear and see a performance.

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And so we offer our seventh in a series of unusual instruments: DIDGERIDOO

Here’s an instrument that owes its existence to pesky insects.

Like kangaroos and that beautiful Sydney opera house, the didgeridoo is among the best-known images of Australia. And that long, strange horn has been part of Australia culture for more than a thousand years.

   

Aboriginals, the indigenous people of Australia, created the first didgeridoos from eucalyptus trees that were hollowed out by termites. Most are between 3 ft and 10 feet in length.

   

Musicologists classify the instrument as a brass aerophone. It is played by blowing air into the wood with a buzzing motion, much like how a trumpet is played. The sounds are produced by circular breathing, a tricky maneuver that requires the player to inhale and exhale almost simultaneously.

   

In Aboriginal culture, men alone play the didgeridoo. For centuries, women were prohibited from even looking at the horn for fear of disturbing the “spirits” and inviting earthquakes or other national disasters.

  

In recent years, the didgeridoo has gained popularity around the globe, both for the unusual but beautiful sound it produces but also for health benefits. A study in a British medical journal found that playing the didgeridoo may prevent snoring and asthma. Seems that circular breathing strengthens the airways. 

      

Who said termites are good for nothing?

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Luminari Coordinator, Beth Dolinar brings her talents and experience as a writer, Emmy-award producer, public speaker and deadline driven multi-tasker to our team. She writes a popular column for the Washington "Observer-Reporter." She is a contributing producer of documentary length programming for WQED-TV on a wide range of topics and currently teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Robert Morris University. Beth has a son and a daughter. She is an avid yoga devotee, cyclist and reader. Beth says she types like lightning but reads slowly -- because she likes a really good sentence.