Here it is, the logo unveiling.
Let me know your thoughts.
Monday, November 30, 2009
4 Morals of Whoville
Like all good children's authors, Dr. Sues was able to spin a magical world where kids and adults could get lost in the fantasy, experience a sense of excitement and ultimately - learn a lesson. This commentary, whether real or imagined, is on the lessons that I have learned from the immortal Dr. Sues tale of Horton Hears a Who, and how they can help us get out of the hole that we are in as a nation. I'm not referring to the remake of the tale starring Jim Carrey and Steve Carell but the original cartoon made in 1970 which can be seen here.
I am sure most of you are familiar with the story of a civilization located on a tiny dust speck that happens to drift by an elephant taking a bath. Because of the elephant's large ears, he hears a tiny "help" coming from the dust speck as it continues by him. A friendship ensues between Horton (who is the only one that can hear the Whos) and Dr. Whovey (the only Who who believes that there is someone beyond his world with whom he can converse with). The story continues with the animals in Horton's world attacking him because they don't believe that the Whos exist and ultimately trying to boil the dust speck to prove their point.
On the surface, there are a few lessons or morals that are obviously made throughout the story highlighted by Horton repeating "A person is a person, no matter how small", and by the world being saved by little Jo Jo's yelp. While worth mentioning, these are not part of the 4 morals of Whoville that I want to touch on. For this commentary, it is important to note that I will be comparing the Whos in Whoville with the citizens of this great nation and the animals in Horton's world with the government.
Morals:
I am sure most of you are familiar with the story of a civilization located on a tiny dust speck that happens to drift by an elephant taking a bath. Because of the elephant's large ears, he hears a tiny "help" coming from the dust speck as it continues by him. A friendship ensues between Horton (who is the only one that can hear the Whos) and Dr. Whovey (the only Who who believes that there is someone beyond his world with whom he can converse with). The story continues with the animals in Horton's world attacking him because they don't believe that the Whos exist and ultimately trying to boil the dust speck to prove their point.
On the surface, there are a few lessons or morals that are obviously made throughout the story highlighted by Horton repeating "A person is a person, no matter how small", and by the world being saved by little Jo Jo's yelp. While worth mentioning, these are not part of the 4 morals of Whoville that I want to touch on. For this commentary, it is important to note that I will be comparing the Whos in Whoville with the citizens of this great nation and the animals in Horton's world with the government.
Morals:
1. Government is Not the Answer.
In the story, the Whos in Whoville are peaceful , content and oblivious to the world outside of their own. Their commerce and science are alive and well. Based on the grey hair on Dr. Whovey's head and in his mustache, it is safe to say that they have been that way for a very long time. It isn't until Horton interferes with their world that Whoville is placed in jeopardy. At first the Government grabs hold of the dust speck because it wants to help, but that quickly changes. In an instant there are several in Horton's world looking to destroy the dust speck.
In the begining there is only talk about Horton and his invisible dust speck. The rally cry is made to get everyone on board against Whoville. Once the word had been spread, a special interest group is brought in to deal with the problem. The wording used in this portion of the story is very interesting. Let's look at some of it.
Rot, Rot, Rot, Rot
It's a plot, plot, plot, plot
We're the Wickerson Brothers
We're on to your plot
Pretending you're talking to Whos
Who are not
It's a deep dark evil political plot
Pretending you're talking to Whos
Who are not
We're the Wickerson Brothers
We're vigilant spotters
Hot shot spotters of marauders and plotters
And we're going to save our sons and our daughters
From you
You're a dastardly, gastardly, snastardly Snook
Trying to brainwash our brains
With this gobbley gook
They start their negative rhetoric by turning everything on Horton claiming that he is the one that is lying and that the Wickerson Brothers are only interested in saving their children from the evil plot of Horton (who listens to the people).
They follow up their wrongful accusations by adding more to their lie.
We know what you're up to pal
You're trying to shatter our moral
You're trying to stir up discontent
And seize the reins of government
Once in power, Government will do anything to keep it. Following their song, the special interest group (The Wickerson Brothers) captures the dust speck and gives it to a "Mighty and Strong" black bottomed eagle, who is asked to "Kindly dispose of this thing". The eagle then soars over a clover patch and lets the civilization plummet to the ground.
The moral here is civilization, when left alone, will prosper. When government gets involved, there will always be a power struggle where the people end up on the bottom.
In the begining there is only talk about Horton and his invisible dust speck. The rally cry is made to get everyone on board against Whoville. Once the word had been spread, a special interest group is brought in to deal with the problem. The wording used in this portion of the story is very interesting. Let's look at some of it.
Rot, Rot, Rot, Rot
It's a plot, plot, plot, plot
We're the Wickerson Brothers
We're on to your plot
Pretending you're talking to Whos
Who are not
It's a deep dark evil political plot
Pretending you're talking to Whos
Who are not
We're the Wickerson Brothers
We're vigilant spotters
Hot shot spotters of marauders and plotters
And we're going to save our sons and our daughters
From you
You're a dastardly, gastardly, snastardly Snook
Trying to brainwash our brains
With this gobbley gook
They start their negative rhetoric by turning everything on Horton claiming that he is the one that is lying and that the Wickerson Brothers are only interested in saving their children from the evil plot of Horton (who listens to the people).
They follow up their wrongful accusations by adding more to their lie.
We know what you're up to pal
You're trying to shatter our moral
You're trying to stir up discontent
And seize the reins of government
Once in power, Government will do anything to keep it. Following their song, the special interest group (The Wickerson Brothers) captures the dust speck and gives it to a "Mighty and Strong" black bottomed eagle, who is asked to "Kindly dispose of this thing". The eagle then soars over a clover patch and lets the civilization plummet to the ground.
The moral here is civilization, when left alone, will prosper. When government gets involved, there will always be a power struggle where the people end up on the bottom.
2. A Big Crash Leads to a Wake Up
In the story, no one believed Dr. Whovey when he said that there were unseen dangers around them. That unseen forces were gathering against them and wanted to do them harm. In the story, they are awakened to this reality as the black-bottomed eagle brought them to a great height then dropped them to their doom in a large patch of clovers. The following scene was of small Whos looking out windows and through rubble at a world in shambles.
"Dr. Whovey, Dr. Whovey, you were absolutely right", they said. "You warned us, and you warned us, but we didn't see the light. The things you told us all were true. If we only, only, only knew. Dr. Whovey, Dr. Whovey, from here on in, we believe in you".
Do you see the correlation here? Recently, the government took us on a ride. Because of laws allowing (more like encouraging) subprime loans, our economy was taken to great heights. And then, they let go. There was a crash unlike anything this generation has ever felt. Unemployment is somewhere between 10% and 20% depending on who you listen to. Entire states are on the verge of bankruptcy and our dollar is becoming more and more worthless. The funny thing is, there were several people that did warn us, and like Dr. Whovey, we didn't listen to them. In fact, many still don't listen to them. If this is not a big enough crash to wake us up, what will it take?
"Dr. Whovey, Dr. Whovey, you were absolutely right", they said. "You warned us, and you warned us, but we didn't see the light. The things you told us all were true. If we only, only, only knew. Dr. Whovey, Dr. Whovey, from here on in, we believe in you".
Do you see the correlation here? Recently, the government took us on a ride. Because of laws allowing (more like encouraging) subprime loans, our economy was taken to great heights. And then, they let go. There was a crash unlike anything this generation has ever felt. Unemployment is somewhere between 10% and 20% depending on who you listen to. Entire states are on the verge of bankruptcy and our dollar is becoming more and more worthless. The funny thing is, there were several people that did warn us, and like Dr. Whovey, we didn't listen to them. In fact, many still don't listen to them. If this is not a big enough crash to wake us up, what will it take?
3. Our Voices Will Save Us
Following the wake up call, the Whos continued their cry, "Just tell us what we have to do. Just lead us and we'll follow you. We'll save this town! We'll save this world!" Followed by Dr. Whovey's reply, "What to do, I wish I knew."
So what do we do? What can we do? The part of the story that is missing is where the Whos collected 5,000 names on a petition, gathered 3,000 strong in a protest march and got tens of thousands to come to a rally at the doorstep of Dr. Whovey's laboratory.
None of those were the answer. The answer, however, was given in a moment of desperation as the Government was about to burn the nation in hot oil. Horton announces to Dr. Whovey,"Keep courage now, never let it sink. Things are much getting much better; much better, I think." He followed, "You Whos, don't give up, I believe in you. A person's a person no matter how small and you very small persons will not have to die, if you make yourselves heard, come on now and try."
If you make yourselves heard. That was the answer for Whoville and that is the answer for America. What followed in the story was one of the greatest rally cries to save a dying nation ever made throughout the history of the world.
"Sound off, sound off its time to be heard
Your times running out it's your time to be heard
Give it a gargle a chirp like a bird
Or blunk on a blonka
Blunk on a blonka to make yourself heard
Blow on a bluza,
Anything goes
If you can't blow a bluza try blowing your nose
If you can't snap your fingers try snapping your toes
Anything, anything, anything, anything, anything, anything ,anything goes
Sound off; sound off come make yourself known
Play bat, bat, bat, on a dinosaur bone
Play anything neighbors
Just make yourself known
Play on a who, who karina
Play boppley bop on a copy machina
Play on a pizzit
Fizz on a fizzit
Do it on something whatever it is it
All noises are needed
Refined or absurd
Sound off neighbor and make yourself heard"
In a time of desperation, where we too are on the cusp of something awful, we must listen to the words of Horton, "you… will not have to die, if you make yourselves heard. Come on now and try."
America, we have fallen, we are down but not out. It is what we do in this time of crisis that will either save us or doom us to destruction. We can no longer let the government just do whatever they want to without hearing us and knowing that we exist. We need to be heard. Come on America, sound off, sound off, it's time to be heard. Your times running out, it's your time to be heard.
So what do we do? What can we do? The part of the story that is missing is where the Whos collected 5,000 names on a petition, gathered 3,000 strong in a protest march and got tens of thousands to come to a rally at the doorstep of Dr. Whovey's laboratory.
None of those were the answer. The answer, however, was given in a moment of desperation as the Government was about to burn the nation in hot oil. Horton announces to Dr. Whovey,"Keep courage now, never let it sink. Things are much getting much better; much better, I think." He followed, "You Whos, don't give up, I believe in you. A person's a person no matter how small and you very small persons will not have to die, if you make yourselves heard, come on now and try."
If you make yourselves heard. That was the answer for Whoville and that is the answer for America. What followed in the story was one of the greatest rally cries to save a dying nation ever made throughout the history of the world.
"Sound off, sound off its time to be heard
Your times running out it's your time to be heard
Give it a gargle a chirp like a bird
Or blunk on a blonka
Blunk on a blonka to make yourself heard
Blow on a bluza,
Anything goes
If you can't blow a bluza try blowing your nose
If you can't snap your fingers try snapping your toes
Anything, anything, anything, anything, anything, anything ,anything goes
Sound off; sound off come make yourself known
Play bat, bat, bat, on a dinosaur bone
Play anything neighbors
Just make yourself known
Play on a who, who karina
Play boppley bop on a copy machina
Play on a pizzit
Fizz on a fizzit
Do it on something whatever it is it
All noises are needed
Refined or absurd
Sound off neighbor and make yourself heard"
In a time of desperation, where we too are on the cusp of something awful, we must listen to the words of Horton, "you… will not have to die, if you make yourselves heard. Come on now and try."
America, we have fallen, we are down but not out. It is what we do in this time of crisis that will either save us or doom us to destruction. We can no longer let the government just do whatever they want to without hearing us and knowing that we exist. We need to be heard. Come on America, sound off, sound off, it's time to be heard. Your times running out, it's your time to be heard.
4. WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE!
The last moral or lesson I gather from this story is what to say and how we should say it when we do finally speak up. How many things could the Whos yell in their desperate hour? "HELP", "Please don't kill us", "Stop". Any of these would be fitting considering the circumstances but that's not what they said. They did not make a victims cry. The Whos did not take a submissive or weak stance regardless of their predicament. They cried "We are here! We are here! We are here!" We are a force to be reckoned with. We will not go unnoticed or unheard. You must recognize that we are here and listen to our demands.
The second part of this moral is how they said it. It wasn't just Dr. Whovey yelling through his contraption. It wasn't only the liberals or just the conservatives. It was everyone. It wouldn't work otherwise. After their initial cry with 99.9% of their population Horton exclaimed "You should have heard that. Just as clear as a bell. Everything's going to be just perfectly swell. The leader of the government then said "Hmm, I heard nothing and you didn't either; and as for my prodigy, he didn't neither.
It wasn't enough. Everyone was playing their instruments, yelling, yelping and yapping but it didn't work. The next part of the story shows Horton starting to lose hope.
Dr. you have to make certain that everyone's working.
Look through your town, is there anyone shirking?
Was there anyone shirking?
Was every who working
Through the town raced doc Whovey
From east to the west
Everyone seemed to be doing his best
Everyone seemed to be yapping or yipping
Everyone seemed to be beeping or bipping
It wasn't enough, all this ruckus and roar
He had to find someone to help him make more.
He raced through each building, he searched floor by floor.
And just as he felt he was getting no where
And almost about to give up in despair
In the Fairfax apartments
Apartment 12J
Behind an umbrella stand
Hidden away
He discovered a very small shirker named Jo Jo
Standing, just standing and bouncing a Yo-Yo
Not making a sound
Not a yip, not a chirp
Come boy you're needed
He grabbed the young twerp
And he raced with the lad
Toward the Eifelberg tower
This is your town's darkest hour.
Thus he spoke as he climbed
Then he got to the top then the doctor said
Make a yip make a yop
Can't ya yip, can't ya yop
I just don't know sir, I never have tried
You better try soon or you're going to be fried
Well then, I think I'll try a yip
Actually sir, I think I'll try a yop
YOP
As if by magic, that yop traveled through the clouds and burst out of their little world, tearing a hole so that the rest of the people could be heard. Many would say that it was Jo Jo's yop that saved the day. It was his voice that pierced the veil to allow everyone else's voice to be heard. I say that that is not true. While his voice was important, it was no more important than every other beep, bip, yop or yip being exclaimed by the masses. It was a unified effort and it wasn't until everyone participated that the animals in Horton's world had to listen and could no longer ignore the Whos existence.
If you are reading this then I am sure you have asked yourself, "What can I do?" or, "How can I get involved?" I have also asked myself that a number of times. I have never seen traditional protests, rallies and petitions as being very effective for lasting change because of the numbers required in order for the participants to represent what the majority of us are feeling. So, I want to do something different, something new.
After much thought, I have boiled down my concerns with politics and the government to three simple points:
1. No one knows what the majority truly wants or needs. I have heard, time after time, people say "I think I know", but no one truly knows what the majority is thinking.
2. No one knows if elected officials are acting in the best interest of the majority in their districts or regions.
3. No one can hold elected officials accountable for their actions based on the previous two problems.
With the power of the internet and existing technologies, this shouldn't be the case. Soon it won't be the case. I'll tell you what I am doing, and then I will ask you what you are doing.
To start with, how is it that America can have 90 million people frequently logging into their Facebook accounts to see what Bobby is doing or what music Jane is listening to, but we cannot get 90 million Americans to voice their opinions on key issues such as health care reform, the war in Iraq, the border and other issues. Why is it we can't get 90 million Americans to vote on the recently passed health care reform package before it comes up for vote in Congress so that our representatives know how they should vote?
To alleviate these issues and to start "blowing on a bluza" I am creating an online social networking site, similar to that of Facebook and other popular sites focused on politics, opinions, current legislation and the voting history of our elected officials, called Voycit.com. Members of Voycit.com can voice their opinions on all of the hot issues we are currently facing. Members can also vote on bills that are up for discussion in Congress. All opinions, votes and demographics will be sent off to our elected officials twice monthly. Members will then be able to see easy-to-read dashboards showing how they compare with the majority and how their representatives voted compared to theirs. Before each election, members will receive a special report showing how the majority in their area feels about certain topics and how the candidates have voted in the past.
If we can get enough people, we can have a much better idea of what the majority wants and if our government is acting in our best interest. You will never hear me tell you to vote this way or that or try to persuade you to my views. You will only hear the resounding cry of Sound off, Sound off, it's time to be heard. Your time's running out, it's your time to be heard.
Now I will ask you what you are doing? I would ask, if nothing else, that you make yourselves heard. Start by forwarding this message on to your friends and family. How many chain letters or junk emails are sent on when they have nothing of value to offer the recipients? Please forward this on. Then follow my blog which is chronicling the creation of Voycit.com, comment on articles, participate in polls and let me know you are out there. Finally, register for Voycit.com when it launches early next year. Spend only a few minutes every month to let others know how you feel and hold your elected officials accountable for their actions. Our time's running out. It's our time to be heard!!
The second part of this moral is how they said it. It wasn't just Dr. Whovey yelling through his contraption. It wasn't only the liberals or just the conservatives. It was everyone. It wouldn't work otherwise. After their initial cry with 99.9% of their population Horton exclaimed "You should have heard that. Just as clear as a bell. Everything's going to be just perfectly swell. The leader of the government then said "Hmm, I heard nothing and you didn't either; and as for my prodigy, he didn't neither.
It wasn't enough. Everyone was playing their instruments, yelling, yelping and yapping but it didn't work. The next part of the story shows Horton starting to lose hope.
Dr. you have to make certain that everyone's working.
Look through your town, is there anyone shirking?
Was there anyone shirking?
Was every who working
Through the town raced doc Whovey
From east to the west
Everyone seemed to be doing his best
Everyone seemed to be yapping or yipping
Everyone seemed to be beeping or bipping
It wasn't enough, all this ruckus and roar
He had to find someone to help him make more.
He raced through each building, he searched floor by floor.
And just as he felt he was getting no where
And almost about to give up in despair
In the Fairfax apartments
Apartment 12J
Behind an umbrella stand
Hidden away
He discovered a very small shirker named Jo Jo
Standing, just standing and bouncing a Yo-Yo
Not making a sound
Not a yip, not a chirp
Come boy you're needed
He grabbed the young twerp
And he raced with the lad
Toward the Eifelberg tower
This is your town's darkest hour.
Thus he spoke as he climbed
Then he got to the top then the doctor said
Make a yip make a yop
Can't ya yip, can't ya yop
I just don't know sir, I never have tried
You better try soon or you're going to be fried
Well then, I think I'll try a yip
Actually sir, I think I'll try a yop
YOP
As if by magic, that yop traveled through the clouds and burst out of their little world, tearing a hole so that the rest of the people could be heard. Many would say that it was Jo Jo's yop that saved the day. It was his voice that pierced the veil to allow everyone else's voice to be heard. I say that that is not true. While his voice was important, it was no more important than every other beep, bip, yop or yip being exclaimed by the masses. It was a unified effort and it wasn't until everyone participated that the animals in Horton's world had to listen and could no longer ignore the Whos existence.
If you are reading this then I am sure you have asked yourself, "What can I do?" or, "How can I get involved?" I have also asked myself that a number of times. I have never seen traditional protests, rallies and petitions as being very effective for lasting change because of the numbers required in order for the participants to represent what the majority of us are feeling. So, I want to do something different, something new.
After much thought, I have boiled down my concerns with politics and the government to three simple points:
1. No one knows what the majority truly wants or needs. I have heard, time after time, people say "I think I know", but no one truly knows what the majority is thinking.
2. No one knows if elected officials are acting in the best interest of the majority in their districts or regions.
3. No one can hold elected officials accountable for their actions based on the previous two problems.
With the power of the internet and existing technologies, this shouldn't be the case. Soon it won't be the case. I'll tell you what I am doing, and then I will ask you what you are doing.
To start with, how is it that America can have 90 million people frequently logging into their Facebook accounts to see what Bobby is doing or what music Jane is listening to, but we cannot get 90 million Americans to voice their opinions on key issues such as health care reform, the war in Iraq, the border and other issues. Why is it we can't get 90 million Americans to vote on the recently passed health care reform package before it comes up for vote in Congress so that our representatives know how they should vote?
To alleviate these issues and to start "blowing on a bluza" I am creating an online social networking site, similar to that of Facebook and other popular sites focused on politics, opinions, current legislation and the voting history of our elected officials, called Voycit.com. Members of Voycit.com can voice their opinions on all of the hot issues we are currently facing. Members can also vote on bills that are up for discussion in Congress. All opinions, votes and demographics will be sent off to our elected officials twice monthly. Members will then be able to see easy-to-read dashboards showing how they compare with the majority and how their representatives voted compared to theirs. Before each election, members will receive a special report showing how the majority in their area feels about certain topics and how the candidates have voted in the past.
If we can get enough people, we can have a much better idea of what the majority wants and if our government is acting in our best interest. You will never hear me tell you to vote this way or that or try to persuade you to my views. You will only hear the resounding cry of Sound off, Sound off, it's time to be heard. Your time's running out, it's your time to be heard.
Now I will ask you what you are doing? I would ask, if nothing else, that you make yourselves heard. Start by forwarding this message on to your friends and family. How many chain letters or junk emails are sent on when they have nothing of value to offer the recipients? Please forward this on. Then follow my blog which is chronicling the creation of Voycit.com, comment on articles, participate in polls and let me know you are out there. Finally, register for Voycit.com when it launches early next year. Spend only a few minutes every month to let others know how you feel and hold your elected officials accountable for their actions. Our time's running out. It's our time to be heard!!
Introduction
The purpose of this blog is to chronicle the events surrounding the creation of Voycit.com. What is Voycit.com? It is, or will be, a social networking site built around politics but with some unique services provided to its members.
1. Members will be able to voice their opinions on important topics, such as abortion, gay marriage, the wars, the economy, immigration, the border, the environment and much more. They can make these opinions public or private (where they will only show up in aggregate reports).
2. Members can research current legislation and vote on it.
3. Members' opinions and votes will be sent directly to their Representatives and Senators.
4. Reports will show how members' Representatives and Senators voted compared to their own votes, the party's votes and the majority in their district and the nation.
These full circle services (plus much, much more) will provide a way for the everyday citizen of this great nation to get involved. Please comment as much as possible during this process and get involved early.
1. Members will be able to voice their opinions on important topics, such as abortion, gay marriage, the wars, the economy, immigration, the border, the environment and much more. They can make these opinions public or private (where they will only show up in aggregate reports).
2. Members can research current legislation and vote on it.
3. Members' opinions and votes will be sent directly to their Representatives and Senators.
4. Reports will show how members' Representatives and Senators voted compared to their own votes, the party's votes and the majority in their district and the nation.
These full circle services (plus much, much more) will provide a way for the everyday citizen of this great nation to get involved. Please comment as much as possible during this process and get involved early.
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