Dear George,
I'm so torn!! Part of me knows that part of what you say is absolutely correct, and yet it seems to dismiss so much. Maybe both our realities exist (as I believe they always have). I won't hesitate to admit that I tend to see things from a "happy" point of view, in tiny details and small goodnesses. I seldom think in terms of saving the world, but feel very strongly about saving one child, or one day, or one moment. My rose colored glasses aren't a choice, they're a strange genetic gift that divorce and miscarriages, dying parents, financial setbacks or disappointments, encounters with lies and cruelty, and years in social services haven't been able to destroy. And much of my hope comes from my children and their generation.
There is no way to feel discouraged when I observe 500 young people offering resolutions to better the world, representing different countries, voting and arguing and hugging at the annual Model United Nations. CW is the Sec. Gen. and Ammo is now a Chair of one of the committees and they believe in what they're doing. An adult might listen to these resolutions and laugh-as I did when one little boy said the UN should MAKE IBM give computers to everyone in the third world countries with free internet access and training. Someone asked him how you could MAKE them, and he said, well you tell them how important it is! Well, of COURSE!!! Why would they NOT do it then! Sometimes the speeches are so idealistic and unreal you cringe, but what hope they have! When we went to the football game a few weeks ago, and the band dedicated their performance to one of their members who had died in a car accident the week before, and they played with tears running down their cheeks, how could you not respond? Here's a silly thing. I was in New York City last year and needed to use a payphone--along with a LOT of people. As one came free, I stepped toward it at the same time as a young man with dread locks, chains, earrings, nosering, and a scary t-shirt. I stopped immediately, thinking, no way was I going to argue with him about who was first. And he turned to me, smiled, and said, "You go first."
These are not generalizations; these are my facts. As real as your uglier ones--so no one could win this discussion. It's just the way we are, how we see things.
Both Dan and I also attended colleges where there were Honor Codes. They still have them. CW's applied to both of those schools, so soon maybe I can find out if they still work.
Music--At the moment, several teenagers are gathering in our living room tuning up for a jam session--it won't be the Beatles, or Baez! It won't even be music to me, but it sure will to them. One man's Bach is another man's Bartok. Just because they make me smile and burst with joy doesn't mean I can sit and listen to them for hours. I think I'll go to Sam's.
Fondly, and hoping you'll forgive my smarminess,
penni |
