Last week I heard two things that made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I wanted to laugh because I thought they were both jokes and then I wanted to cry because neither of them were. In fact, to say I wanted to cry might be an understatement. More like... My soul felt like it was pierced with the knife of ignorance.
The first experience that hurt my soul happened during my critical thinking class (which is a little ironic now that I think about it). After discussing the poem, "Oh Captain, My Captain" the professor asked the class what we thought the metaphor poem was about. One brilliant kid in the back raised his hand and said, "Well um, I think, but I'm not really sure, but like I'm pretty sure it's about President Lincoln, because um its like talking about him and his struggles with the war that he was president during but um.... wait, which war was it?" Aaannndd this where I laughed out loud because I literally thought he was making a joke... because what kind of American doesn't know the answer to that question? I would hope that someone who doesn't know the answer to that question would have a good excuse like being in a coma or something. But sadly this poor guy just kept digging his hole.... "It wasn't world war 2 was it? no...I'm not sure which war it was... but I DO know the poem is about Lincoln and that war he fought." Aaannnddd this is where my soul was pierced with the knife of ignorance. Much to my dismay, he wasn't joking. He really didn't know.
All humorous exaggerations aside this statement really did cut me to the core. So many good things about our country to day are the way they are because of Lincoln's courageous acts during his presidency. But unfortunately our country has been struggling for a while and it just continues to get worse. Government is getting bigger and more controlling while the individual is getting smaller and weaker. How can we, as individuals, expect to help our country and recover from stressful times if individuals don't even know basic, but significant, elements of our own history. What's that old saying? ..."if we don't study history then we're doomed to repeat it." Please people, keep yourselves aware. I'm not saying it is necessary to read every history book out there and soak it all in, I certainly couldn't do that... but at the very least, pay attention in your history classes and pray that those who don't won't destroy our country!!
Experience number two. Brace yourselves for this one. No seriously, if you're not sitting I suggest you find a chair now. And just as an extra precaution I would put on any armor that you might have just laying around to protect yourself from the piercing knife that's headed straight for your heart.
Last week in my natural disasters class we were engrossed in fascinating discussion about earthquakes and volcanoes. I've got to say, I've always been fascinated by mother earth but my goodness, learning about some of the details of these disasters is just absolutely mind-boggling. It really strengthens my testimony of divine power and I just love learning about it. But halfway through our great discussion, the part of my soul that loves to learn was severely wounded. A kid in the middle of the classroom raised his hand to which the professor excitedly responded, "Yes, you! What's your question? Oohhh I love questions!" The pearly white, and slightly creepy, ear-to-ear smile on the professor's face faded rapidly as the student proceeded with his question. Here is a sentence that will make you question humans' ability to think, and I quote, "I was just wondering... do you think the 9-11 attacks could be considered a natural disaster? Like, which category does that fit into?"
*insert long, dramatic groan here*
Yes, he said it. No, he wasn't kidding. I don't remember my exact initial reaction because I'm almost positive I went into shock for a moment or two. But I do have a slight memory of my jaw hitting the floor just after the pen I'd been taking notes with because I'd suddenly lost all strength. When I was finally able to pick my pen and jaw up off of the floor, there was a feeling of discomfort and embarrassment permeating the entire room. Everyone was turning to look at others with wide eyes hoping that someone would tell them that they didn't actually hear what they thought they heard. Sorry class... we heard it! And I know that everyone in the room that day, and everyone reading this is thinking, "how in THE WORLD did that kid get into college?!?!?!?!" For anyone who may have just lost a significant amount of faith in humanity, or at least our public school system, hopefully the professor's response will help to restore that. It helped me... a little ;) His previously huge grin had been replaced with a look of utter terror. But he stood up tall, forced a weak smile and asked the kid, "I don't know, is there anything NATURAL about a religious, radical human being CHOOSING to fly a plane into a building, killing tons of people?!?!?!?!? Yeah, NO! I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that that would fit into the TERROR ATTACK category, but right now we're talking about earthquakes!"
**For anyone who may not have known the answer to the question in the first experience... it was the CIVIL WAR! And just for some personal edification, here is the poem... it really is a good one. :)
The first experience that hurt my soul happened during my critical thinking class (which is a little ironic now that I think about it). After discussing the poem, "Oh Captain, My Captain" the professor asked the class what we thought the metaphor poem was about. One brilliant kid in the back raised his hand and said, "Well um, I think, but I'm not really sure, but like I'm pretty sure it's about President Lincoln, because um its like talking about him and his struggles with the war that he was president during but um.... wait, which war was it?" Aaannndd this where I laughed out loud because I literally thought he was making a joke... because what kind of American doesn't know the answer to that question? I would hope that someone who doesn't know the answer to that question would have a good excuse like being in a coma or something. But sadly this poor guy just kept digging his hole.... "It wasn't world war 2 was it? no...I'm not sure which war it was... but I DO know the poem is about Lincoln and that war he fought." Aaannnddd this is where my soul was pierced with the knife of ignorance. Much to my dismay, he wasn't joking. He really didn't know.
All humorous exaggerations aside this statement really did cut me to the core. So many good things about our country to day are the way they are because of Lincoln's courageous acts during his presidency. But unfortunately our country has been struggling for a while and it just continues to get worse. Government is getting bigger and more controlling while the individual is getting smaller and weaker. How can we, as individuals, expect to help our country and recover from stressful times if individuals don't even know basic, but significant, elements of our own history. What's that old saying? ..."if we don't study history then we're doomed to repeat it." Please people, keep yourselves aware. I'm not saying it is necessary to read every history book out there and soak it all in, I certainly couldn't do that... but at the very least, pay attention in your history classes and pray that those who don't won't destroy our country!!
Experience number two. Brace yourselves for this one. No seriously, if you're not sitting I suggest you find a chair now. And just as an extra precaution I would put on any armor that you might have just laying around to protect yourself from the piercing knife that's headed straight for your heart.
Last week in my natural disasters class we were engrossed in fascinating discussion about earthquakes and volcanoes. I've got to say, I've always been fascinated by mother earth but my goodness, learning about some of the details of these disasters is just absolutely mind-boggling. It really strengthens my testimony of divine power and I just love learning about it. But halfway through our great discussion, the part of my soul that loves to learn was severely wounded. A kid in the middle of the classroom raised his hand to which the professor excitedly responded, "Yes, you! What's your question? Oohhh I love questions!" The pearly white, and slightly creepy, ear-to-ear smile on the professor's face faded rapidly as the student proceeded with his question. Here is a sentence that will make you question humans' ability to think, and I quote, "I was just wondering... do you think the 9-11 attacks could be considered a natural disaster? Like, which category does that fit into?"
*insert long, dramatic groan here*
Yes, he said it. No, he wasn't kidding. I don't remember my exact initial reaction because I'm almost positive I went into shock for a moment or two. But I do have a slight memory of my jaw hitting the floor just after the pen I'd been taking notes with because I'd suddenly lost all strength. When I was finally able to pick my pen and jaw up off of the floor, there was a feeling of discomfort and embarrassment permeating the entire room. Everyone was turning to look at others with wide eyes hoping that someone would tell them that they didn't actually hear what they thought they heard. Sorry class... we heard it! And I know that everyone in the room that day, and everyone reading this is thinking, "how in THE WORLD did that kid get into college?!?!?!?!" For anyone who may have just lost a significant amount of faith in humanity, or at least our public school system, hopefully the professor's response will help to restore that. It helped me... a little ;) His previously huge grin had been replaced with a look of utter terror. But he stood up tall, forced a weak smile and asked the kid, "I don't know, is there anything NATURAL about a religious, radical human being CHOOSING to fly a plane into a building, killing tons of people?!?!?!?!? Yeah, NO! I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that that would fit into the TERROR ATTACK category, but right now we're talking about earthquakes!"
**For anyone who may not have known the answer to the question in the first experience... it was the CIVIL WAR! And just for some personal edification, here is the poem... it really is a good one. :)
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
- But O heart! heart! heart!
- O the bleeding drops of red,
- Where on the deck my Captain lies,
- Fallen cold and dead.
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills; For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
- Here Captain! dear father!
- This arm beneath your head;
- It is some dream that on the deck,
- You've fallen cold and dead.
- Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
- But I, with mournful tread,
- Walk the deck my Captain lies,
- Fallen cold and dead.
