Monthly Archives: April 2007

The full force of citizens

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Howard Zinn on activism to get out of Iraq:

We who protest the war are not politicians. We are citizens. Whatever politicians may do, let them first feel the full force of citizens who speak for what is right, not for what is winnable, in a shamefully timorous Congress.

Timetables for withdrawal are not only morally reprehensible in the case of a brutal occupation (would you give a thug who invaded your house, smashed everything in sight, and terrorized your children a timetable for withdrawal?) but logically nonsensical. If our troops are preventing civil war, helping people, controlling violence, then why withdraw at all? If they are in fact doing the opposite—provoking civil war, hurting people, perpetuating violence—they should withdraw as quickly as ships and planes can carry them home.

Of smarts and effort

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The type of praise you give children, it turns out, can be counter-productive.

Executive summary: Kids told they are “smart” rather than “putting forth a good effort” tend to be risk-averse, preferring to defend their smart status rather than work on new challenges. Scientist think its due to the feeling of control (versus innate ability) that the praise engenders. It’s related to the delayed gratification circuit in the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex of the brain, a circuit reinforced by intermittent gratification. The praise must be specific and meaningful, though: vacuous plaudits are suspect in children’s eyes past the age of seven.

(Thanks to All too aware)