Dear Teach: Hearts

Hi Boys and Girls.

I am reminded of a wonderful TED talk I recently viewed on YouTube, titled: Israel and Iran: A love story.

I have long come to believe you are our greatest assets. Why? Because your energy and excitement transcends most all things; your sense of humor and sense of acceptance goes undaunted for a long, long run; you so very quickly forgive and forget. These are but a few characteristics of children, until as we grow something happens to curtail them—could it be we become much more serious about life and all its issues, and soon forget that child is forever alive within us? Perhaps.

Having taught children for many years I can safely say they have been my greatest teachers.

Our humanity is a love story, as are all of you. It seems to me everyone does a lot of talking about many things, yet still, global problems persist and so do microscopic problems that grow until they too become global.

I wondered about a line written in one of my all time favorite children’s novels titled, Tuck Everlasting.  “The ownership of land is an odd thing when you come to think of it. How deep, after all can it go? If a person owns a piece of land, does he own it all the way down, in ever narrowing dimensions, till it meets all other pieces at the center of the earth? Or does ownership consist only of a thin crust under which the friendly worms have never heard of trespassing?”

As simple as this sentence may appear, I felt it to be profound because it can be applied to the issue of hate. How deep does hate go? Does it go to the center of the earth until it seeps into our very core, our very being? Until we no longer exist? 

Well, the sentence and its meaning is up to you to consider. But here’s a chance for you to make a small difference.  Watch the TED video I’ve linked above. Then, if you agree and are moved to do some small act to show love to all humanity, post your heart in a window where you live. Let’s see what happens.

Here’s a photo of a heart in one of the windows of my house.

And if by now you haven’t read Tuck Everlasting, I would strongly urge you to.  In fact, you should read Search for Delicious and Kneeknock Rise.

Both of these novels are also Babbitt's literary works, that eloquently tap issues of war begins over silly things, and it is OK to believe in whatever makes you happy!

Be Well.

The Teach

PS. If these two unlikely creatures can get along, then surely so can we!

                                                                                              Moli and Tiger-Lily