I found this interesting bit of wisdom to share. It could be usefully applied to many conversations and interactions on OlyBlog. Here's the transcription:

Rules For the Control of The Tongue

(Every religion, system of philosophy or code of ethics includes advice on curbing the rash activities of the tongue–which is referred to in the Christian Bible as "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." Here are some of the rules which the Jain Shastras give for guidance in governing this obstreperous trouble-maker.)

1. Avoid lying; speak only words which are truthful and sincere.

2. Avoid exaggeration; speak in simplicity and truth.

3. Avoid deception; do not deceive either by work, look, or gesture.

4. Avoid evil-speaking; practice good will.

I saw this great quote from Patrick Sullivan's, Every Bit is Fiction, yesterday, and I want to share it with you:

“Thoroughgoing ignorance about the ways of others is largely a privilege of the powerful.”

– From Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers, by Kwame Anthony Appiah

via email forwarded from local ai coordinator:

From: Juan Melendez

Subject: Please let ai members know that I will be sharing my story of
supreme injustice as innocent man who spent nearly 18 years on
Florida's death row in Seattle/Tacoma and Lacey, October 1-3:

Dear Amnesty International Coordinator:

Can you please help publicize the following events. I've included
below a little bit about my story and some testimonials to give folks
a sense of the powerfulness of my talk. I am also available to speak
at a middle or high-school in Seattle on Wednesday, October 1, so if
you know of any teachers or student ai groups which might be
interested in bringing me to speak at their school, please let them
know that I am available. A new book has just been published
containing my story as well as the stories of 4 other death row
exonerees. See Execution's Doorstep.

October 3: Talk at St. Martin's University, Lacey, Wa. at 4:00
p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
location update: It seems that Juan Melendez will be at the Worthington Center.

My name is Juan Roberto Melendez. I spent seventeen years, eight
months and one day on Florida's death row for a crime I did not
commit. (Voices United for Justice)

I just posted a new blog entry at my blog, In the Course of Events, about the ethics of corporate power re: social and environmental degradation. It needs some work, in terms of defining exactly what I mean when I use the terms of social and environmental degradation, and otherwise. But here's a link anyway, just in case you're interested: corporate power ethics social environmental degradation

bert

The second portion of the show was with Ralph Nader. Ralph Nader is so awesome. He was really instrumental in kindling my political awareness. I saw him in Minneapolis, MN at the "Target Center." I haven't been the same since. I suppose you could consider it an awakening. I was working, at the time, on a Voter Registration Drive for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). I registered a lot of people in traditionally economically depressed and low voter-turn-out areas, can't remember exactly how many, but it was right around 2,500 if I remember right.

Voter registration drives are great. It's good to inspire political awareness.

Anyway, it was a good program. Thanks to Kim and all the good folks at KAOS.

And I hope that I can find a mp3 from the show so that I can plug you in to the discussions. - bert