A family member used to say things like, “If he’s not guilty, why did they arrest him?” or “He’s guilty. What do they mean, ‘alleged’?” When I mentioned that the prosecution must provide evidence to prove the charges in court, their answer was, “Why bother? Everybody knows he did it.” Yet, accusations are not enough. … Continue reading Of Colleges and Kings
Tag: politics
Justice
Fear has value. The fight or flight reflex has helped our species survive for millennia. In ancient times, we needed to know what to fear – packs of wolves, lions, tigers, bears – and take up weapons or run away. It’s also to our advantage to know friend from foe, to stop “them” from conquering … Continue reading Justice
Profit
We have been the parents of two Great Pyrenees dogs. Both were wonderful companions and although they sometimes intimidated people, they were friendly, especially to children. The Great Pyrenees is an offshoot of the Tibetan Mastiff line, traditionally a guardian of livestock and palaces, such as Versailles. They were also employed by the French Resistance … Continue reading Profit
Efficiency 2.0
Efficiency as an area of expertise did not exist until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The quest for greater efficiency is therefore a product of the industrial revolution. I’m not convinced the concept even applies to anything beyond assembly lines, shipping, and certain types of office work. In my last post, I questioned … Continue reading Efficiency 2.0
An Opus
I’ve always been troubled by the ending of the film, Mr. Holland’s Opus. (Warning: Spoilers ahead.) The story is about a would-be composer who became a high school band director. Mr. Holland’s time and energy were so consumed by his calling as a teacher that he put his dreams on hold. Early on, his school … Continue reading An Opus
Opportunities
For two years (Fall 1975 through Spring 1977), I had the privilege of being a student of Jerry Coker at Duke University. He began his professional career as a saxophonist with the Woody Herman band in the mid-1950s. While he was a doctoral student at Indiana University he led the Indiana University Jazz Ensemble on … Continue reading Opportunities
First Things First
In 1944, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello performed one of the best comedy dialogs of all time. If you’ve never heard it, you should check it out. It starts like this: Abbott: Well, Costello, I'm going to New York with you. You know Bucky Harris, the Yankee's manager, gave me a job as coach for … Continue reading First Things First
Musings on Pogo
“We have met the enemy, and he is us.” This line, from the comic strip, Pogo, by Walt Kelly, signaled the stark realization that we are responsible for the condition of the Earth. While it may be tempting to blame multinational corporations or "big government" for any damage, we accept it as the price we … Continue reading Musings on Pogo
Letter to Senators
I sent this letter to my Senator yesterday. It is really an open letter to all Senators. I moved to Indiana in 1980 and have been registered as a Republican for 51 years. My parents were life-long Republicans. I was born in the Eisenhower era and learned to respect and admire many of what I … Continue reading Letter to Senators
Tests
“Will this be on the test?” As you might imagine, in four decades of teaching I heard this question numerous times. Of course, I tested students and provided little quizzes to help prepare them for tests. In my recording techniques class, I administered one-on-one tests, so my students could show me they knew their way … Continue reading Tests
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