The Heart of the Matter
Posted June 26, 2013.
Could we, in 2013, articulate the deep philosophical notions embedded in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights? Would it be possible for a national leader to step forward in a time of great grief and tragedy and craft the mournful and yet healing words for the Gettysburg Address? Would there be sufficient depth of understanding about literature, history and culture for an activist to expand our vision of the future through an “I Have a Dream” speech?
Keeping Them Out of the Ditch
Posted May 21, 2013.
I typically say something encouraging as they approach me to help them focus on the task at hand. For some this is important advice as I often see wide eyes watering and feel a sweaty palm grasping for mine. Others relish the moment in the spotlight so much that they nearly forget to receive the diploma.
The Time Given To Us
Posted April 15, 2013.
We carry the burden of the times we live in and the circumstances set before us. We can only succeed with the help and support of our companions on the journey.
Are We An Honest People?
Posted March 26, 2013.
The mystery surrounded a missing book. The book was not to be removed from the library at any time. This was not the first time he had given this assignment for this particular course, but it was the first time the rare book had simply disappeared.
Defining the Other: The Basis for Bias
Posted February 25, 2013.
People order the world in different ways. We are shaped by the experiences we have amassed in the settings that have defined our personal and group identity. It’s not so much a matter of what we value. Often we value many of the same things.
Chutes and Ladders
Posted February 4, 2013.
As I listened she expressed a bit of concern about the two questions her daughter is constantly asked, “What are you going to major in?” followed by “What career are you going to pursue?” My reply to her comment took her by surprise. I said, “Don’t worry about these answers now. High school students almost always get them wrong.”
The Echoes of Downton Abbey
Posted January 14, 2013.
Societal change is difficult to describe, much less interpret accurately.
Changing Christmas Wishes
Posted December 17, 2012.
The Christmas season began for me each year when the Sears catalog arrived. It had a curious title, “The Wish Book.” First published in 1933, the Wish Book was the source document for many childhood Christmas lists.
A Walk Around the World
Posted December 13, 2012.
Paul Salopek is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow, who has spent much of his career exploring the world and writing stories about the human experience. In 2013 he will begin a significant journey. Carrying only a backpack, with no entourage to support him, he will literally walk around the world. The trip […]
Living at the Edge of Risk
Posted December 3, 2012.
More than 80 years since the early days of the Dust Bowl, we face similar questions about the trade-offs between immediate economic interests and prolonged environmental impact.