TOP TEN SUGGESTIONS TO BE ETHICAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Why should Buzzfeed and Huffpost have all the fun? It’s time for ethics to try out a Top Ten with GIFs, photos and all the trimmings. Here are Prindle’s Top Ten suggestions for staying ethical during this busy and consumer-driven holiday season:

10. Ethical Hedonism “treat yo self!”

According to Wikipedia, ethical hedonism is the thought that all people have the right to achieve the greatest amount of pleasure possible to them. We all love being happy, right? I think this philosophical school of thought could get out of hand if your happiness is at the expense of another’s. So this holiday season, “treat yo self” responsibly, and maybe share the love with others in the process.

9. Map out a decision you’d like to make and the consequences of each path

This is a meditative process meant for one to consider the rightness and wrongness of a set of actions. Normative ethics looks at how one ought to act and the questions that arise when deciding an action. When trying to make a tough decision, I think a lot of people become obsessive over one option or another, when there are always multiple options for assessment. Don’t be hesitant to map out all of your options, and think of the ethics in play in each one.

8. Celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela

…or anyone that has made a profound impact on your life. Reflecting on the values that you admire in your role model can be a good way to create meaningful resolutions this New Years.

7. Reflect on your moral compass this New Years

By my definition, one’s moral compass is the beliefs, morals, and values that determine how we act. What guides your moral compass? Courage, integrity, loyalty? And is there someone in your life who serves as a manifestation of your moral compass? Turns out there’s a moralcompass.org that has an interesting (if simplified) survey. Check it out!

6. Try out Naikan Meditation

I tried this meditation about a month ago and loved it. It’s a Japanese form of meditation meant for self-reflection. During my meditation, we were asked the following questions:

1. What have I received today?

2. What have I given today?

3. What troubles and difficulties have I caused today?

Any form of meditation, just taking time out of your normal day, can provide peace and health to the body and mind. Finding spiritual peace in any form is also a historical ethical theory called Stoicism

5. Declining Marginal Utility- do a little something for someone that makes a big difference

Ethics in economics?! It does exist! Think about this example: this holiday season, giving a homemade apple pie to someone struggling with food insecurity can make a dramatic impact on their happiness. Giving that same homemade apple pie to the equivalent of Dionysus is a kind gesture, but it affects his/her happiness less comparatively to the former person. My point being, do something small for someone where it will make a big difference. This might even be a kind word or a hand-written card.

4. Naughty or nice? 

Make a list of the top 5 morally just things you've done this year, and a list with the 5 things you’re not so proud of. This is another good exercise in self-reflection, and determining your New Year’s resolution.

3. Community service

Applied ethics. Think of where your services are needed. Maybe it’s serving food at a community shelter, volunteering with disaster relief, or volunteering time at a low-budget non-profit.

2. Reconnect with someone who has molded your moral beliefs

This can be a good way to reassess your moral compass, and remember the value of relationships.

1. What judgment of ourselves or others do you want to get rid of in 2014?

This is #1 on my list because making judgments is inevitable as human beings, but we do have the power to recognize the judgments we make, and change them in a positive way. Recognizing and changing one’s negative judgments can mean everything. It can mean a happier life for a kid or adult otherwise bullied. It can make a profound impact on worldwide human rights issues and help bridge racial and gender inequalities. I have faith that change at an individual level can spread and create global change.

The Value of Soul Food

Thanksgiving is, hands down, my favorite holiday. Although the holiday season can give way to my cynical
scrooge hidden personality who despises over consumption and scoffs at presents, Thanksgiving in my family is beautiful.

A couple of weeks ago, I started reading Michael Shut’s, Food & Faith: Justice, Joy, and Daily Bread in preparation for discussions on Prindle Reading Groups for next semester (yes, it was one of the books chosen). The compilation of essays by writers and philosophers like Wendell Berry and Elizabeth Johnson resonated with me in their poignant descriptions of food and spirituality, how eating good food somehow brings us closer to the earth or god. Religion aside, I believe in the soul power of good food.

Author Thomas Moore introduces his essay, The Poetics of Food with the sentence: “The soul is not a mechanical problem that needs to be solved; it’s a living being that has to be fed”. Moore continues his essay stating that food for the soul includes a family dinner, a long walk, or late-night conversation, those still points in the turning wheel where we find time for reflection or debate.

All of Moore’s “soul foods” share a degree of effort and simplicity, which seems uncommon in everyday life.

My family spends our Thanksgiving holiday at our farm just outside of Campbellsville, KY on a bend of the Green River. It is a celebration of family and food that I experience at no other time of the year. The majority of my relatives are avid hunters and fishermen/women, outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists, or environmentalists, so when we all get together for a week, we cook for hours the food we hunted earlier on the farm, we gather elbow to elbow around a table to eat, and we stay up late sharing stories and playing endless games of Euchre.

These annual rituals, care and attention to food gives the holiday an unintended spiritual component. The soul food that fills us up is a welcome reprieve from long work days. I know Thanksgiving has disgusting numbers in terms of turkeys slaughtered, grease fires, and waste, but I like to think that many families are returning to the basics and enjoying an unprocessed holiday that refreshes and strengthens the body and soul instead of weighing it down.

I think a huge change will come in the food movement when people stop being so concerned about the numeric caloric value of food and focus more on this idea of a soulful caloric value. Calories stop being a concern for weight loss, when the food you eat is simple, wholesome, and energizing for the body and mind. I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, but an abundance of “soul food” will always be at the top of my list.

Monon Bell Edition: Sportsmanship

In spirit of the Monon Bell football game tomorrow, I thought I would comment about one of my favorite topics/hobbies/loves: sports. I have played sports since I can remember. My parents joke that my first word was “ball” and I wore a baseball cap for years until I realized I liked the idea of looking “cute”.

 Like most athletes (or former athlete, I’m not sure which category I fall under) if asked, I tell people that athletics molded who I am today from my physical appearance and interests to my moral character. I had phenomenal female role models in sports throughout my career who taught me the power of discipline, leading with compassion, and hard work. These mentors allowed me to be successful on and off the court. Unfortunately, there is a huge handful of athletes and fans that seem to have a confused moral compass when it comes to sports.

The Monon Bell game can definitely be a haven for lost sportsmanship; I’m thinking mostly about the fans here. For those readers who don’t know, the Monon Bell game is sometimes touted as the “Best College football rivalry”…ever? Not sure how that title came about, but it began in 1890 between DePauw University, and our enemies to the north, Wabash College, and Wabash leads the all-time series, 57-53-9.

In such a long-standing rivalry, fans on both sides have had less than glamorous moments of lackluster sportsmanship. For instance, my senior year at DePauw while walking through the main campus, I watched, mouth agape, as DePauw fraternity boys on one side of Hanna Street shouted boos and obscenities to kids on the other side of the street wearing Wabash sweatshirts. By kids I mean elementary or middle school age. But age doesn't seem to matter at Monon because my Junior year at Wabash, I witnessed similar aged boys with Wabash gear throwing walnuts at elderly DePauw fans until onlookers caught their tomfoolery.

There has to be accountability with moments like these in such an intense rivalry. Although I appreciate tasteful bantering and the occasional practical jokes, sports should not be an outlet for people to lose their character. Unleash that anger in social media if you absolutely have to. But like the athletes participating in the game, I encourage fans to act with a humane level of respect for the other team, no matter how difficult it seems. Find the moral high ground, hold yourself to a higher standard and represent your team the way you would like your team to represent you. 

Nori Kamal al-Maliki’s Request to America: A Human Rights’ Decision for Obama

Nori al-Maliki (left) & President Obama (right), AP Photo

Yesterday, October 30^th, Iraqi Prime Minister Nori al-Maliki wrote an Op-ed piece in the New York Times asking for military support from the U.S. to combat terrorism within Iraq and provide better border security, especially where Iraq borders Syria. But al-Maliki isn’t asking for troops, he wants advanced weaponry.

This “Plea to Americans” comes just two days before al-Maliki is to meet with Obama on issues of international security.

President Obama and his advisers have stated in the past that well-armed allies are the next best thing to “boots on the ground” when it comes to advancing America’s global security interests. With this being said, I believe that if Nori al-Maliki is to convince the White House to supply him with arms and air force, he must use the argument that it is in the best interest of U.S. security.

I don’t want to discuss what is in it for America, I want to discuss the decision the President needs to make in the best interest of Iraqi civilians and U.S. citizens. To me providing fire power would be an economically favorable move to make for the U.S., but the President cannot forget al-Maliki’s history and current network of supporters.

From other news articles, few Iraqis trust that he has the power to keep them safe from rebel terrorists, and there is unease due to his Shi’ite dominant political party. Iraq is a historically combative country between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam, and currently the country is seeing increasing unrest, similar to their bloody civil war of 2006-07. The Sunni insurgency is disrupting the government and Shiite militias are said to have the support of al-Maliki’s government, including government badges and weaponry.

Who’s to say that these weapons requested by al-Maliki won’t be used to fight the Sunni insurgency instead of al-Qaeda forces and border security along Syria? Is that a human rights’ risk Obama is willing to take? Students are taught at a young age that history repeats itself, and almost every time an economically superior country/empire has given weapons to smaller countries to fight common foes, those weapons have returned against them.

President Obama has a very difficult decision to make. Does he trust al-Maliki and supply him with advanced weaponry to fight terrorism? Does he supply small arms? He could say no altogether, or he could come up with an alternative plan to calm violence in Iraq. I think he also must decide if Iraq’s military problems come from rising al-Qaeda forces, or Sunni insurgencies attempting to overthrow an increasingly partisan prime minister.

Old Wisdom and the Value of Acceptance

I am a big fan of storytelling. As I do almost every morning, earlier today I listened to NPR’s Morning Edition, and a story about cross-generational friendship and acceptance caught my attention over my ritual morning to-do’s. Barbara Handelsman (80, when the story was recorded) and her grandson Aaron, 20, spoke to StoryCorps about their relationship and the value of acceptance.

Barbara revealed to her grandson that he has been the one person in her life that let her feel “perfectly free to be me”, and ended the interview with sage advice: be yourself.

This value of “being you” and allowing others to do the same is something I've always struggled with. When someone tells you to just be yourself, what does that mean? And how do you know when you’re being yourself?

In trying to fulfill this advice, I believe finding comfort and listening to gut feelings are the best ways to go. In my opinion, these feelings derive themselves from a lifetime (short or long) of experiences. Whether it’s listening to your parents or friends, or acting a certain way and observing the consequences, or even using biological instincts, simply tuning in to this “feeling” helps me find comfort in who I am.

In accepting others, it is only those closest to me that I find myself being most critical. I work to keep in balance accepting and loving their personalities, with wanting to help, give advice, and take care of them in ways that I believe are best. It is horrible to feel that someone wants to fix you, and that is not what I ever want to do.

When does helping turn to fixing? How do we accept others quirks and values while still staying true to our own? And how does it feel to love unconditionally and feel the same in return? I hope this is the first in a series of posts exploring values, and finding stories about those values like Barbara and Aaron's that inspire critical thinking and possibly, discovery.  

Find their story here. 

Government Leadership and Responsibility: Failing us during the Shutdown

I’m not a fan of politics, but I am intrigued by leadership values within our political system. I believe our leadership is failing us. By us, I am referring to United States citizens who are directly affected by the Federal Government’s decision to shut down.

When I cast my vote for State Representatives, I am doing so in the hopes that they will represent my ideals, my best interests. How is shutting down the government good for anyone? According to a Washington Post article, over 800,000 workers were furloughed on Tuesday. If you try to access government websites like the State Department, Peace Corps, or the USDA, information is unavailable.

Representatives on both sides seem to be bickering like children. Where is the compromise? Instead of working through disagreements over the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the House has decided to put thousands out of work, and close down National Parks during my favorite time of year? I’m glad I wasn't planning a trip to Yellowstone.

This reminds me of the debt ceiling crisis in the summer of 2011, where again the US government was faced with possibly defaulting on loans. Instead of making a difficult decision as a strong leader, executive and legislative branches decided to borrow more money from the Fed to “hold us off” for a few more years. We need leaders in our government who are willing to make the tough decisions for their constituents and not decisions that support their reelection.

It seems absurd to threaten, and then actually shut down the government because you don’t agree with a single issue such as The Affordable Care Act. Again, where is the benefit to the citizens whom these politicians represent?

Despite all my criticisms of government leadership, I know there are those in politics who are genuinely great people and whose leadership is embedded in personal morals to serve and represent their citizens. I have known many of these people personally. I just wish there were more of those voices.

As citizens, we also have a responsibility to stay informed and voice our opinions on topics that matter to us. This citizen knowledge of Obamacare has been under scrutiny especially in the past week with the popularity of Jimmy Kimmel’s video and the government shutdown. To borrow the time-honored Gandhi adage, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. If we want to have strong ethical leadership in government, we must also represent that standard.

Too hard to live up to? Encourage this conversation with friends, or send me an email at prindlefellow@gmail.com. 

Food Ethics and the Power of the Consumer

I met with Lori Pace, Bon Apetit's Catering Manager, this morning to discuss food for upcoming Prindle events, and I was blown away by the effort of DePauw's Food Services to "go green". In the past, Sodexo's efforts were sincere and kind-hearted, but it took a lot of effort from students, faculty and staff to create sustainable food practices within their infrastructure. 

I have heard complaints from students about the long lines at the hub at lunch every day, but that's a problem with the physical building itself, not food services. Behind the scenes, chefs and staff are cutting fresh veggies and meat for every single meal. It is my impression that nothing comes processed from a bag. Even better, most of these foods are coming from Indiana and Putnam County in particular. 

The DePauw Campus Farm, which opened last spring, brings in loads of kale, beats, squash, spinach and other seasonal produce to DePauw Food Services daily. Their farm practices are not only organic, but educational. It is a model for other universities. At one-acre in size, it's a huge undertaking for a small university. Students and members of the community are encouraged to volunteer, and in the process learn about farming business and organic processes.                                                              

 I believe Bon Apetit's mission for healthy foods and local, sustainable practices is in response to consumer demand. The local food movement has become trendy, and if large food providers want to keep up with their consumer's interests, they need to follow through with these practices. Although it was disappointing to see familiar faces leave when DePauw switched to Bon Apetit, I'm glad that DePauw listened to the interests of faculty, staff, and students. 

Where can they go from here? How about a greenhouse for the campus farm, or making a pledge towards zero-waste? If a car company like Subaru can do it, I think DePauw Dining can too. 

Internet Ethics

I was scrolling through the Markkula Center for AppliedEthics’ (Santa Clara, CA) website early this afternoon, and I stumbled upon an intriguing video by Reputation.com co-founder Owen Tripp titled, “The Right to be Forgotten”. This is a topic I think about every day, but I never thought of as an ethical issue. My generation has grown up in the age of social media, where documenting anything out of the ordinary is worth posting on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Almost everything we do is being memorialized. For those trying to enter the workforce, this usually isn’t a good thing.

I think of college students today putting up photos from weekends of partying with that look in their eye that says, “I hope my eyes are open right now” and I wonder if that should haunt them 10+ years from now. Or the University of Iowa girl who attempted to storm the field of the Iowa-Northern Illinois football game, and blew a .341 BAC and then tweeted #yolo…will that always be considered when she’s applying for jobs? And should it matter?

My opinion: if you put it on the web, expect repercussions, good or bad. But as Owen Tripp asks, do we need an advanced system of regulation to determine what history can be revealed and what cannot? What would that even look like? If it’s a civil liberty for Americans to permanently delete past documentation as he says, does that go against the brilliance of the internet as a seemingly infinite database?

What do you think?

Introduction

The beginning of the year is off to a successful start. School has only been in session a week and a half, but it seems like months with all that we've accomplished. The interns have already organized two events for September (incredible!) and I believe that speaks to the work ethic and enthusiasm of our students. On September 15^th, senior Suzanne Spencer has organized an event on journalism in the face of tragedy. The guest speaker for the event is Suzanne McCarroll, a seasoned reporter at CBS-4 Denver, who has thoughtfully covered Columbine and the Aurora Theater massacres.

One of our lead interns, Camille Veri, has also spearheaded a project for a Prindle Film Series, with the first film Dirty Wars screening September 17^th. We’re all hoping for clear skies and warm weather, because we will be showing this film outside on a big screen in the Prindle courtyard.

So yes, like any school at the beginning of the semester, we are busy. But after four weeks of working at Prindle, I don’t think I could ask for a better job right now. As a DePauw graduate, I am biased, but this position has given me the chance to interact (or “rub shoulders” as Dr. Steele would say) with passionate members of the university and Greencastle community. I discussed this briefly in my bio for the website, but Prindle is a fantastic opportunity for me to work in a service oriented job with topics I love.

I met with Beth Benedix today (Professor in the Religious Studies Dept, and Director of The Castle Arts), and we are hoping to collaborate on several projects in the spring with Greencastle Middle School, and combining the school’s curriculum with the Prindle’s mission statement. Nothing like this existed when I was a student intern here, and it amazes me how quickly Prindle has been able to play an important role in the community landscape.

My hope for this blog is that it turns into a melting pot of my view of Prindle events as the Graduate Fellow, ethics in current events, and the ethical life inquiries of a recent graduate. I also hope that my enthusiasm for these topics shows through in my writing, and I welcome questions and comments from readers. Maybe there will be some ideas for future insightful Prindle events!