The World I Imagine

I spent a lot of my day trying to figure out how to help young boys learn how to be their true selves and be nicer to each other, seeing that their natural tendency, for some reason, is to build a wall around themselves and act like assholes.


Making fun of those who are different or smaller or weaker or weirder than you is such typical pre-teen male behavior, but that doesn't make it any less a cop-out. As an educator I'm constantly reminding myself that these bullying kids are just young children too, who have their own issues- as I try to untangle the issue from the kid and the behavior from its damage, I can’t help but think of the same behavior I see in adults.


I have said it many times before- working with young boys to learn how to be open-minded, fearless, kind young men is some of the most crucial work that we do as educators.


I am not saying that there aren’t very similar pecking-order issues with the girls, and that they don’t have their own set of problems, but learning how to navigate the build-up of a testosterone fueled alpha-male world is a project I have been grappling with since I was picked on for being small and weird and different.

…

Saw this today on Twitter:


We have been instructed to disbelieve the news, the gov't, the scientists, and the academics. But we're supposed to believe in America?

…

The world I imagine, the world I have been working toward my whole life, feels so distant these days. It is getting smaller and farther away and harder to achieve, but I must have faith that this is the world that we have been promised.


I have not spent my entire life committed to education, I have not spent my entire life reading books about peace and justice and love and art, and watching films about diversity and race and class and poverty, I have not joined organizations and NGOs dedicated to peace, I did not join Peace Crop, teach in The Bronx, join The International Socialist Organization, and march in the streets, and teach for fifteen years, just to watch it all get pissed away by some two-bit snake-oil salesmen and his gang of thugs and billionaires.


Some nights, I need these little pep-talks- soft gentle wisps of breaths on the embers of the fire in my heart to get it going again. I have seen a few flames here and there. I know it has not gone out completely, because it keeps me warm and the glow shows me that I am not alone in the darkness, but the flames still need fanning.

Lots and Lots and Lots

It is 12:31am. Another post-midnight post. Gillian Welch is the background music-The Revelator album. The guitar is crisp, her voice raw and sweet, my mind clear and inspired but slightly foggy after a few beers celebrating Mike's birthday with good friends at The Little Island Brewing Company out at Chiangi.


I didn’t notice the planes overhead untill eleven. I was engrossed in good conversation with friends. Talking to David about how Vodka is just as good as Whiskey when it comes to complexity and tasting. Chatting to Mike and Claire about schools and learning. Our futures felt weird, knowing that Mike is leaving- seeing our team break apart and change is odd. Listened to Jeffrey and Tammy talking about their transition to moving back home. Chatted with Shawn about his hopes for next year and Lee told me he has already bought tickets for Weezer.


It was a pleasant night, with good music, a cool breeze and tasty brew. We were all tired after the Family Festival- an all school PA fundraising carnival at school.


Now here I am, nearly one am and ready for a deep and well-earned sleep. Sinead O’Conner is singing The Healing Room which is taking back to our small hut in Mozambique. I was telling the story of our time in Peace Crops to a co-worker the other night and she seemed enraptured with the story. I can’t wait to start writing snippets of that story in this space, but tonight is not the night.


“……we love you lots and lots and lots….”


“…I have a universe inside me. Where I can go, and a spirit guides me. There I can ask oh any question. I get the answers if I listen.“


Thank you everyone who I interact with o a daily basis for making my life so rich.