It’s also been called The Great Debate and The Great Discussion.What is it?
In their book “Leadership Education:The Phases of Learning,” Oliver and Rachel DeMille describe it as, “…the discussion leaders of the world at any point in history are having about what we all want as human beings and how we should get what we want.”They also credit Mortimer Adler, compiler of The Great Books series, as saying, “It is the current state of a debate that has been going on for as long as we have written records.”
Perhaps you’re following the debate by watching the evening news, reading the newspaper, blogs, listening to Talk Radio or flipping through Newsweek.You may have formed strong opinions about issues affecting our country and the world today, consider yourself well informed and are not afraid to blab your truth to the world via Twitter, Facebook or your own blog.The truth is, you are in no position to influence what happens, nor do you understand, really, how it all fits together. I'm just sayin'....
On the other hand, you might be of the minority group that has studied the great writers and thinkers, past and present, and have a clear view of human nature, political, social and ecological cycles.You may follow the news with a grain of salt, but in addition to and with deliberation you pore over scientific and other scholarly journals, as well as study the Great Books; the classics which are pertinent today as the day they were penned.You’re logical and can identify the fallacies permeating the media.You are thoughtful, articulate, passionate and maybe, just maybe, if not already then you are on your way to becoming a person of influence.
So, how does one get in on this conversation?How do we follow the debate?For the majority of us who are not yet poised to influence the course of the world, the answer is -Study.Study hard and study well.
It’s never too late to join the debate.
For more information on “A Thomas Jefferson Education:Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century,” by Oliver Van DeMille, visit:http://www.tjed.org
On April 15 people will gather on the steps of Capitol buildings across the nation for Tax Day Tea Parties, organized in protest of bail-out bills and government overspending. You can visit the Tax Day Tea Party website for more information on this grassroots movement, its origins, purpose, and where to find a Tea Party in your area.
This is not a partisan movement. Both the Republicans and the Democrats have proven they can outspend even the drunkest of sailors.
We were going to attend the one in Austin, TX, but have decided to drive to The Alamo! I'm looking forward to the adventure and trying to think up a clever poster.
I've heard the media is not planning to cover these protests, even though the projected number of attendees is in the many thousands. We'll see, eh?
So, what's your take on bailing out banks and corporations? Are you pleased with the way government has been managing your tax dollars? If not, what are you going to do about it?
You can picture it, right?The teen angst, haughty eyed disregard for authority.
Whatever.
It’s what I think – sometimes even speak – when, for me, this conversation is over.
Whatever.
There’s a lot of message packed into that one word
response:“I’m not listening to you,” “Your
opinion means nothing to me,” “You’re not worth my time.”
Whatever.
A home schooling mom of ‘tweens and teens once told me how,
in her house, they had turned the “whatever” response into a cue to shift their
focus from the negative to something positive by memorizing Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, fix your
mind on these things.
It's amazing how much stronger, wiser and more peaceful you become by simply shifting your thinking.
Try it! The next time the world has you down or you’re irritable,
angry; just feeling disagreeable, think.
You can picture it, right?The teen angst, haughty eyed disregard for authority.
Whatever.
It’s what I think – sometimes even speak – when, for me, this conversation is over.
Whatever.
There’s a lot of message packed into that one word
response:“I’m not listening to you,” “Your
opinion means nothing to me,” “You’re not worth my time.”
Whatever.
A home schooling mom of ‘tweens and teens once told me how,
in her house, they had turned the “whatever” response into a cue to shift their
focus from the negative to something positive by memorizing Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, fix your
mind on these things.
It's amazing how much stronger, wiser and more peaceful you become by simply shifting your thinking.
Try it! The next time the world has you down or you’re irritable,
angry; just feeling disagreeable, think.
You can picture it, right?The teen angst, haughty eyed disregard for authority.
Whatever.
It’s what I think – sometimes even speak – when, for me, this conversation is over.
Whatever.
There’s a lot of message packed into that one word
response:“I’m not listening to you,” “Your
opinion means nothing to me,” “You’re not worth my time.”
Whatever.
A home schooling mom of ‘tweens and teens once told me how,
in her house, they had turned the “whatever” response into a cue to shift their
focus from the negative to something positive by memorizing Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, fix your
mind on these things.
It's amazing how much stronger, wiser and more peaceful you become by simply shifting your thinking.
Try it! The next time the world has you down or you’re irritable,
angry; just feeling disagreeable, think.
Whatever!
Copyright 2005, 2006 Cynthia T. Adams and Gooblink.com
