friday

The Olathe Community Orchestra plays its next concert on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3:00 at the Olathe Performing Arts Center. Admission is free, and the program includes Bizet, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Schubert.

opportunity

My college is still looking for an evening Social Studies/Language Arts instructor. For more information, go to the link for KCK Community College.

the ebony clock chimed midnight

We studied Edgar Allan Poe in class yesterday. Scary man, scary life, scary writing. He does an amazing job of delving into the deepest, darkest places of the human psyche and playing on our greatest fears. I read “The Masque of the Red Death” to the class, and some were actually caught up in the story. Without my prompting, even, they started talking about the various symbols, mood, and theme. They identified the literary allusions and even drew parallels to contemporary society. The best part was when, after class, one woman said, “this isn’t something I ever would have read on my own, but I really enjoyed it. When are we going to read some more?”

Ah, I’m developing some great plans for these students.

what did wednesday ever do to you?

I’m questioning the wisdom of teaching grammar on Mondays. Really, there are few subjects in language arts duller than grammar (my apologies to Lynn Truss), and Mondays are already dreary enough by their very nature, so why would I compound the problem?

I can’t teach it on Thursdays, though, because no one wants to end the week with grammar, and Tuesdays are only marginally better than Mondays. But the grammar must be taught, so that leaves Wednesdays. I am so very sorry to do that to you, Wednesday, but you were in such a vulnerable position.

Monday, from now on, shall be something more fun. I’m thinking creative writing, or maybe drama or poetry? Mondays deserve that. Oh, and a big mug of coffee. Mondays definitely deserve that.

the fourth veil

This is part four of a seven part series. Read parts one, two, and three first.

Robbins lets loose on organized religion in the fourth section of the book. He says that when the fourth veil is removed we will see that, “organized religion [is] a major obstacle to peace and understanding…religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”

To those who would point to the comfort that religion brings millions, he responds that, “the Deity does not dawdle in the comfort zone! If one yearns to see the face of the divine, one must break out of the aquarium, escape the fish farm, to go swim up wild cataracts, dive in deep fjords.”

He is right. Religion has been used as a weapon of much evil and violence. I believe, however, that religion is merely the weapon used and not the source of the evil. It seems that as a human race we are bent on discord over peace, anger over compassion, and self-preservation over justice. If it is not religion, then it is some other weapon wielded. Faith can also be the source of great good and courageous efforts of humanity. But then, even those without faith have been known to be great humanitarians.

When religion becomes a comfort zone, when it encourages people to be satisfied with the status quo, then it truly is an opium. Exceptional religious leaders have instigated great unrest and change, fighting social evils and bringing justice to millions. They are too often the exception, though.

Some within the church complain that faith has become too individualistic, more about “what’s in it for me” rather than community. This is true. On the other hand, it is often not individualized enough, more about believing what I’ve been told because I’m a member of this, that, or the other, rather than listening to one’s own voice and discovering for one’s self what is most reasonable and most life-giving.

Maybe once the fourth veil is removed we will all be surprised.

almost speechless

Think the women’s rights battle is over? Not even close. In case you haven’t heard, a recent bill was introduced in the Senate prohibiting the Department of Defense from working with contractors “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.” This bill was introduced in response to an incident where a woman who worked for Halliburton/KBR was gang raped and tortured, but can not sue the company because of a clause in her employment contract. I’m sure when she signed the contract she had no idea that she would be the victim of such atrocious violence, especially at the hands of those within her company.

The bill passed, but sadly, 30 senators actually voted against it. An outraged public has nicknamed them “Republicans for Rape.” Yes, there are always at least two sides to every story, and they have their reasons for voting against the bill. None of those reasons is adequate, though. Oh, and guess what? Not only are all 30 who voted against the bill Republican (though not all Republicans voted against the bill), but also they are all men.

It is time for an end to the good ol’ boys club. If you agree, go to this website for a list of the senators who voted against the bill. If one of them represents you, write him a letter. Otherwise, write to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

all I want is all you want

My new good friend and colleague Kai Michelle McCoy is a little bummed that I haven’t talked about her in my blog yet so, Michelle, oh beautiful, vivacious, funny, thoughtful, warm-hearted Michelle, this blog’s for you.

Yesterday, driving back to school in her car, she played me one of her favorite Joni Mitchell tunes, “All I Want.” Wonderful song, Michelle, thanks. I greatly appreciate new friends who introduce me to new music.

We have reached the middle of this semester. It’s been exciting to watch the progress of my students so far this fall, and I have great hope for the next quarter. As I watch them move forward, it is always in the back of my mind that they will all move on soon. I get to witness and participate in only a small fraction of their lives’ journeys. I know what they have shared with me of their pasts, but I will probably not know their futures. Will she succeed in nursing school as she has dreamed of her whole life? Will he own his own business someday? Will he be a great writer?

Will they all really and truly believe in themselves for the rest of their lives?