Group Presentations: Micro and Macro

On the world stage -- climate talks in Paris are now in session. The economic future of the world, the evolutionary future of biodiversity, the political future of ... civilization: are all in doubt,  as we haggle over "fossil fuels," pollution, carbon exchanges, and life itself.

On a much smaller level my students are beginning their final "group presentations" today.  The same doubts, on a microcosmic scale, exist for them.  Will their work this term bear fruit? Will they cooperate with each other and still do their best individually -- enough to not only survive, but conquer. Will they ensure their own future(s) by realizing that speech is required -- speech is essential -- for their continued growth as thinkers, doers, survivors, winners?

Whom Do We Thank?

Do we thank our neighbors? Our friends? Our enemies? Our co-workers? Our family? Our lover(s)? Our children? Our acquaintances? Whom do we thank?

If we believe in God -- we thank Him (Her, Whomever). If we believe in life -- we thank our parents and siblings. If we believe in happiness -- we thank ourselves: for sticking with it, for staying the course, for continuing on as before.

I would just life to thank someone; my visionary communicants, my students, my colleagues, my unwitting foils, my awkward meetings, my triumphs.

Last Day

Today is technically my last day of classes for this semester. The two remaining classes in each course during the week after Thanksgiving will host final "group presentations" and make-up speeches from those lazier students.

It is always an interesting time: getting grades together, writing SLOGS, doing letters of reference for scholarships (3-5 so far). I need the "free time" to also catch up with about a million household and yard chores. Hopefully it won't be too cold for the latter.

Lots of turmoil in the news today: Russia and Turkey both in an "emergency meeting" at the UN over the war plane being shot down; Trump bellowing mightily about torture (waterboarding) and Black Lives Matter (terrorist group -- now, thanks to Trump, under attack around the nation by white supremacist racist groups); Obama not quite being strong enough to command the public eye, and Congress in absolute chaos over its simple "business." Welcome to America!

Young Beauty -- a Photograph of Life Itself

Sometimes just seeing a "younger" (like someone in their 30's) person sitting and doing what they do can be an "enriching" experience.  I have a lot of "younger" students -- still with lots of effusive energy, high hopes, and an impenetrable sense of "hope."  Most of them work hard for the grades they get; most have high ideals and a strong sense of personal integrity.

And that youth, in many ways, is absolutely beautiful. It is the essence of "life" on earth. It is a soft and driving force of life, permeating and enriching everyone who is close to it. It is not a "sexy" beautiful -- but rather a reverential kind of beautiful. It is the "Shinto" sense of life that makes just being worthwhile.

I am looking out at my 8:00 AM class now -- working out the problems of their "group presentations" and being beautiful just by working at their assignment. It brings a "kind of peace" to my soul to understand and accept that such beauty actually...exists.  Thanks to God, or god, or fate, or time -- thanks for this life!

Student Cancelled

Just had another cancellation for a "special meeting" to catch up one of my students on all she's missed -- so she can pass my course.  Why is it that the students today are so needy -- and yet so flippant about what they put others through to help them do their basic work.

It is the callow selfishness of youth, of course. Unfortunately I have 50 year old students who have it
still.

"Now is the Winter of our Discontent..."

The quote from Shakespeare's history cycle (name that play!) always reminds me that I am entering the "time of horrible remembrance." It is the agonizing recollection of the final weeks and days of my wife's death -- She's death -- in Hospice Savannah. This year marks the ninth anniversary of that time  -- and will, once again, plunge me into remembrance and self-doubt.

It was "not fair" that she died so young, and so horribly. It should have been me. It was "not right" that her life and the memory of her kindness and goodness should fade; she was "the best" among us.
It is not normal that time should thunder on, and cycle forward, without her gentle heart moving forward as well. I don't know if I believe in any kind of afterlife --- for myself --- but I certainly do hope and pray for one for She.

I cannot believe in a life-cycle that is so cold as to admit her death, without reasoning out the circumstances and history that caused it. She's Mom lost a daughter (and now she is gone as well); and I lost my life, my meaning, my hope for happiness. I realize that I am biding time here -- and giving myself purpose so that I have some; but I am not sure it is for any good reason.

Maintaining a Cool Head

The world does seem to be going crazy -- even normal reactions sound strained and hollow as people give their opinions on Islam, Daesh, the Paris attacks, the upcoming attacks on America (sometime, someday too soon), women in politics, women in Islam, refugees, the end of the world, the "terrorists coming to kill us all" disguised as starving women and children, etc. etc. etc.

Read all the articles out there --- but keep a cool and intelligent perspective. Maintain your values. Strengthen you core beliefs by just plain understanding them better. Be yourself. Be true to yourself. and don't ever ever let fear and stupidity overtake you.