Dear Teach: The Issue of Forgiveness

Hi Boys and Girls,

One of the oldest [more than 2,300 years] set of laws known as the Code of Hammurabi  is located on a large 2.3 m of diorite block.  This large structure discovered in Khūzestān, Iran [ancient city of Susa, Iran] in 1901 was authored by the sixth King of Babylon, Hammurabi. What made these laws somewhat unique [ and to over simplify this information] is the fact that Hammurabi's Code  of laws punished injury with injury.

Inscribed are 282 law codes,
Written in Cuneiform

Hence, the best known of these laws was the "eye for an eye" and "tooth for a tooth" edict written in 1772 BCE [Before the Common/Current/Christian Era]. However, more than half these laws were written for transactional or purposes of commerce, and to clearly delineate a woman's place in said society, along with many other codes that impacted one's everyday life. These were the laws that governed those who resided in the region of what today is known as modern day Iran, a partial site from where the Cradle of Civilization was located. 

In light of so many events that have taken place during the first 6 months of 2013, mankind continues to suffer in one way or another. Are we so different from the ancient Babylonians [a society that did indeed flourish] during Hammurabi's reign

Is there self inflicted suffering in our society today as there was in 1700 EBC, or is it different now? Why or why not?

Is there a need to end suffering? Why or why not?

What is meant by suffering?

Have you endured suffering in your life?

Think about the issues of your own personal sufferings.

Would you be happier if you could let it go?

What would it take for that to happen?

Do you think adults view the world from a different lens of suffering, vindication, and forgiveness than in the manner in which children view these issues? If so, how so?

Who do you think, adults or children are more likely to forgive? Why?

What does it mean to forgive or to be kind? 
Below is an excerpt of an upcoming documentary on the issue of kindness, called Good Virus narrated by Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay it Forward.

Is there even a need to forgive?

What could the benefits of forgiveness entail?

Are there individuals, groups, or entire regions of people who do not want to forgive? If so, why might that be the case?

Are there groups of people who need to be forgiven? Who? Why?

How does one forgive?

What physical changes occur when one forgives?

What psychological changes occur when one forgives?

How can you start a school campaign on the need for general and wide spread forgiveness?

How far does this issue go? From a slight levied against you, to a village's genocide in a remote part of the world, is there a need to forgive?

Is there a degree of "hurts" meaning some more severe than others, and thus certain "hurts" deserve more forgiveness than other types?

Why is it so difficult for people in general to forgive?

How long can a human "hate" or "seek revenge" for? A day? A decade? A century? A thousand years?

If someone or if groups of people get "revenge" first, and then forgive, is that authentic forgiveness? Why or why not?

Or is it necessary to punish, in order to ensure peace and the issue of forgiveness does not enter into this theatre of thought? What are your thoughts?

30 Quotes on Forgiveness

There are many, many people who have written about this issue, I have included only three:

Martin Luther King


Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a vital figure of the modern era and a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement. His lectures and dialogues stirred the concern and sparked the conscience of a generation. His charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, in this nation and around the world.

Following in the footsteps of his father, in February 1948, at the age of 19, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. entered the Christian ministry and was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In 1954, upon completion of graduate studies at Boston University, he accepted a call to serve at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. While there, he was an instrumental leader in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, made famous by the nonviolent resistance and arrest of Rosa Parks. He resigned this position in 1959 to move back to Atlanta to direct the activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From 1960 until his death in 1968, he also served as co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Dr. King was arrested 30 times for his participation in civil rights activities.

While Dr. King preached about justice, empowerment, love and peace, in the final months of his life, his attention was turned to fighting poverty. Sadly, more Americans live in poverty today than during Dr. King's lifetime. Forty-seven million Americans currently fall below the poverty line.

Dr. King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and died on April 4, 1968. He had gone to Memphis to help lead sanitation workers in a protest against low wages and intolerable working conditions.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
sits in a jail cell in the
Jefferson County Courthouse
in Birmingham, Ala.
on November 3, 1967.
(UPI/Corbis-Bettmann)

More on MLK

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela famously forgave his oppressors. After the end of apartheid, which had fostered racial separation and kept blacks impoverished, Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected President. Some in his political party clamored for revenge against members of the previous regime or perhaps even all privileged white people. Instead, to avoid violence, stabilize and unite the nation, and attract investment in the economy, Mandela appointed a racially integrated cabinet, visited the widow of one of the top apartheid leaders, and created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that would clear the air and permit moving forward.

Malala

But Ms. Yousafzai stressed in her speech that it was “not my day” but “the day of every woman, every boy and girl who have raised their voices for their rights.”

“Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured,” she said. “I am just one of them. So here I stand, one girl among many. I speak not for myself but for those without voice.”

She also emphasized that she had no desire for revenge against the Taliban or any other terrorist group. She included the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and Mother Teresa as among the leaders who have inspired her.

She said she wanted education for every child, including the “sons and daughters of the Taliban” and terrorists.

“I do not even hate the Talib who shot me,” Ms. Yousafzai said. “Even if there was a gun in my hand and he was in front of me, I would not shoot him.”

She attributed her nonviolence philosophy and ability to forgive from lessons “learned from my father and my mother.”

Malala Yousafzai at the United Nations, where she presented a speech
 and urged world leaders to provide free education for all children
NYTimes Todd Heisler

Now consider, how would their situation have been different had they been living during the time of Hammurabi in ancient Babylon? What actions would their society have taken? Are there differences or not much has really changed? How would the world be today, if the issue of forgiveness were to have been fully embraced 2,500 years ago?

In today's world there are plenty of organizations that attempt to bring this issue to all of mankind, but here is one to think about, World Forgiveness Alliance/International Forgiveness Day

What can you do to bring peace to where you live? And though you may be only 11 or 12, these will be the issues you will inherit someday.

One small step, taken one time, by all of mankind, is a giant leap for our collected consciousness for the betterment of our lives on this pale blue dot we call home.

Be well kids!

The Teach

PS. Who would stand to benefit if you forgave? The answer is: YOU.

Dear Teach: Lines

Hi Boys and Girls,

Have you ever heard the expression, "Don't cross the line or that's way over the line?"

If so, what could it mean? Does it literally mean to 'not walk or move beyond a line,' as when perhaps you are playing a game? Or could it mean not to behave in an inappropriate manner when engaged in a conversation? Or not to follow the decorum expected within a school environment, or within the realm of our society? 

So, one could ask," Do humans cross that line?" Most definitely; at times for the good, at times for the bad!

The issue of lines is rather profound when you consider it.

First, consider the earth and every land mass on it.

Does it have naturally occurring lines to distinguish aspects of its land formations? No, not really, at least not in the way I am considering this question.

Man may place lines at select locations to delineate, let's say a country's boundary which is most typically found in political maps.

Authentic political world map, but beware,
lines keep shifting and changing! Oh MY!

A fictitious map from Lands Beyond,
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

What purpose do these lines serve? Keep people in or keep people out or do the lines indicate where one country's rules end and another country's begin, and so on.

So, let's imagine a world without lines. What would it be like to live in an open, free-moving globe where one can simply travel across these invisible lines? To travel anywhere within the globe without red tape, but instead possess an open passport, so to speak.

What are the benefits of such an open global society? Are there disadvantages? If so, what are they? What would it take to achieve such a life? What concessions would mankind have to make? Have we evolved as a species to embrace this open lifestyle? Why or why not?

Who would want to see this happen? Who would not? Why?

Next, let's take a look at our man-made neighborhood environments. You will find that lines abound, some naturally occurring, some not. Here are just a few images to think about:

"Rain Room" at the Museum of Modern Art, the destination for visitors who LINE Up for hours. 
Timothy Clark/Agence France-Presse--Getty Images NYT

What lines do you see in the Rain Room? What direction do they go in? Do you see them collect above the man's face? Or is it an illusion? See the lines within the grates? Note the direction they move in? Again, an illusion? Why? How? When? What purpose do they serve?

Note, straight lines are used to create a circle. What else can you see?
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

"Can you read between the lines?" Which means can you draw a conclusion regarding an issue without it being deliberately stated?

"Walk in a line" and so many more expressions exist with the word, "line." What are they? Where are they useful? When are they limiting?

Finally, let's look at lines in nature. Look closely at all forms of life and you will see nature at its finest:

The farmer cuts the wheat in straight lines

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

What lines do you see here?

Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly in grass, 

What line arrangement do you notice?

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Adjacent lines of corn and cut wheat
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Though different on top, and in lines, crops
live harmoniously sideby side, using the same
material to grow and express their true identity 

Clearer lines emerge
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Plants grow upwards, in linear fashion
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Note perfectly spaced tree-line, the line of Belgium
blocks set block by block, the slabs of concrete,
almost reminiscent of
The Happy Medium, from a Wrinkle in Time
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Then there are crooked lines as in the Col de Manse:

And curved lines naturally occurring in nature
and within man-made structures:

Double Rainbow 
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Water Arc
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW 

Terraced lines, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Lines in asphalt, both straight and crooked
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Note, the natural progression of nature to fill any
viable space in which it can flourish, including lines
©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

Clearly, some lines are pretty, some are not, some are man-made, some are naturally occurring.

So, if we took away lines, would it give order to a disorderly universe, or do the lines create disorder in an orderly universe? You decide. But whatever you do, remember, "Do not cross the line!"

Be well kids!

The Teach.

Dear Teach: Your Own Personal Robot

Hi Boys and Girls,

If there was a chance you could have a robot, what would you use it for? Would you have do your homework? Clean your room? Do all your chores? Play basketball with you or program it so it can help you win every chess game you engage in?

Well, as science fictiony as it may sound, it may be a real possibility within your young life to actually have a personalized robot, and maybe to purchase one via a mail order. Can you imagine? A mail order robot!

Well, today it was announced that a Pentagon-funded humanoid named Atlas has made its first public appearance. It is a hydraulic powered machine equipped with laser and stereo vision systems. The hope is that someday, not  too far in the distant future, robots such as this one will help humans in natural and man-made disasters. The primary function of this robot is to someday perform rescue missions that may be too dangerous for humans.

Clearly, we as a homo sapiens are on the cusp of The Robo-Sapien Age, a brave new world has emerged.

If you were to design a robot, what would it look like? Would it resemble a human being, or have three arms and one eye? Would it be a close relative of man or would you build a robot of a completely different species?

In today's New York Times, Friday, July 12, 2013

Robot in action

Another Perspective on Robots by Rodney Brooks

Design a robot of your own and its wardrobe.

Will it wear designer clothes or perhaps its own brand-Robot line you created?

Be well kids,

The Teach

Dear Teach: Challenges Through the Eyes of Children

Hi Boys and Girls,

You know, most of us would surely agree that life is challenging in many familiar ways. Some challenges kids face are school related, or deal with family, or friends, or maybe center around health issues, but fortunately, most of us have probably not dealt with challenges of such a serious magnitude [and yes, of course there is always the exception].

In three different accounts I share, consider:  a character in a book whose life is loosely based on a real place with real struggles, another is based on a real life person who became a spokesman/child for enslaved children, and last, an everyday 21st century child who wanted to make a difference.

First, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt is a  story that takes place both on the island of Magala, off the coast of Maine and in a small nearby town where all the shutters are painted green. The year is 1912, and Turner Buckminister has moved to the town of Phippsburg with his family, and his minister father to discover the town isn't your everyday community, but one in which "people point and laugh at one another, where Turner's mistakes are known to the whole town, where you are told what it thinks and what it wants you to think."

Turner has a tough time fitting in until he meets Lizzie, a smart lively girl who lives in a settlement established by former slaves on Magala Island. The story deals with racial issues that tug at the human spirit.

If you want to laugh, to think deeply, and have a good cry then this book is for you.

Karen Cushman, author of The Midwife's Apprentice, wrote an eloquent afterword for this book, and one thing is certain, Gary Schmidt truly deserved the Newbery Honor Award for his book.

And though the characters' names are fictitious,  the story is based on fact, truthful and shameful facts of the destruction of a settlement where African Americans once lived. Today, a stigma still exists surrounding the history and events that occurred on Magala Island.

Needless to say, the story will provide you with many things to think about. There is a reoccurring universal theme here, one that seems to plague humanity-the inability to LOVE and to forgive.

Second, is the story based on the life of a boy, Iqbal Masih, born in Pakistan in 1983, who became enslaved as a four year old in order to pay off a family debt, "In 1986, Iqbal's older brother was to be married and the family needed money to pay for a celebration. For a very poor family in Pakistan, the only way to borrow money is to ask a local employer. These employers specialize in this kind of barter, where the employer loans a family money in exchange for the bonded labor of a small child."

His story is a difficult one, yet not so new. Under harsh conditions, Iqbal spent 6 years of his life working for a carpet maker in Pakistan toiling 6 days a week, 14 hours a day along with many other young children. At the age of ten he was finally freed and fought against bonded child labor.

Note the Kite, a symbol 

Story based on Iqbal Masih by
Francesco D'Adamo 

Iqbal Masih, age 12 [1983-1995]

The ending to both these stories is both heart wrenching and poignant, mostly because they are either true as in Iqbal's plight which ends in his death, and that of Lizzie's. Though she may have been a fictitious character, the story still capitalizes on the issues of bias crimes of hate.

So, what can you do?

Well, if after reading this material you are driven to continue your own research, then do so. Find out all you can about the places, the people, the causes, the circumstances, the end result, and then know, there really is only one thing left to do, and that is to be grateful for all the good you do have.

To understand that suffering is brought on by people and that it can also end by people.

Hate begets hate MLK; and the only way to remove it is to love, yes, as much of a cliche that it is, it is still the only hope humanity has: forgive, and forgive with all your might.

Further, it is never fair to say,"Well this group suffered more, than let's say, that group," because whether it involves one person who is bullied, or a group of people who are discriminated against, there is still suffering.

Suffering is suffering.

And if there is a purpose for it, then it surely must be to bring one to a higher realization that life is indeed good and one must strive to embrace all that is good: AT ALL COSTS.

So, instead choose to be kind toward everyone who is within your sphere. In turn, each of those people will be kind to people in their sphere, and soon believe it or not, we will have what I like to call, "a global halo effect."

Imagine what that would look like...can you imagine it even for a few seconds?

It is possible.

Now, take a look at the third account and how this child managed to turn his own personal family struggle into a positive spin.

Akash Viswanath Mehts, age 10 writes an article for Stone Soup, July 2009, "Love--A Cursed Blessing."

He states, " 'First of all, you must know that my story is not unique. It's merely the same tale as millions, maybe even billions of human beings; a few thousand hearts broken every day the same way as my life was shattered. Shattered but able to be put back together, piece by piece... But I take it the other way. I say the opposite; for every bad thing a good thing appears.' "

Akash recounts in six chapters when he was 6 years old the story of his parent's divorce, the personal struggle, and the new found joys of embracing a different life.

" ' I realized it was my mother's home and not my father's. At first I thought it was a joke. Then I wept, and then we all slept in the same bed, crying throughout the night.' "

July 2009, Stone Soup

Author, Akash Viswanath Mehta, age 10

After reading his story, I was curious to find the title of the book he mentioned his father had finally published. Though I was unable to locate it, instead I found the following clip where Akash is seen participating in a controversial situation involving Dow Chemical.

Here's the clip:

What are your thoughts on this?

And though, I have shared some sobering accounts, one ideal is certain, and it is in Einstein's response to a question once posed: Is the universe a friendly one?

To which he replied, "Yes, it is a very friendly Universe."

Therefore, above all else kids, keep that ideal in mind.

Happy reading and thinking kids.

The Teach

PS. Dear Einstein, Do scientists pray?

Dear Teach:The Calm Before the Storm

Hi Boys and Girls,

Have you ever heard the expression the calm before the storm? Well, wiktionary defines it as "A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm." 

And, evidently the expression has also been used in a song by rock band, Fall Out Boys "...Calm before the storm set it off, and the sun burnt out tonight..."

But according to the Discovery Channel this old sailor's adage used for generations is explained by: ...people believe that the worst storms are immediately preceded [ come before] by a period of calm, smooth weather. The reason for these periods of calm is simple; storms are caused by an updraft of moisture and heat coalescing [ come together as one] in one area. As storm clouds form, some of the moisture-saturated [filled with] air is pushed out of the tops of the highest clouds in the storm system. As this air descends back down, it begins to compress, becoming drier and warmer. Warm, dry air is more stable than cool, wet air; as a result, the air that initially formed the storm also acts as a temporary shield, preventing more air from entering the storm cloud formation and producing the "calm" before the storm...

And so it was that not too long ago I noticed not only a calm, but the sky ablaze in a magnificent red. The entire sky was lit in red orange hues. Immediately I thought, " Oh, the calm before the storm, soon we'll have a rainstorm." I remained outside and began to take photos of the sky. And much to my amazement the sky filled with cloud formations and collections of color arrangements I had never before seen, at least not in my own backyard.

The following day, I viewed a TED talk titled Camille Seaman: Photos from a storm chaser. And it was after I viewed this presentation that I realized the greater meaning of what I had seen on the night of the calm before the storm. Camille Seaman asserts:

" ' Everything is interconnected. As a Shinnecock Indian, I was raised to know this. We are a small fishing tribe situated on the southeastern tip of Long Island near the town of Southampton in New York. When I was a little girl, my grandfather took me to sit outside in the sun on a hot summer day. There were no clouds in the sky. And after a while I began to perspire. And he pointed up to the sky, and he said, "Look, do you see that? That's part of you up there. That's your water that helps to make the cloud that becomes the rain that feeds the plants that feeds the animals...' "

" '...What really excites me about these storms is their movement, the way they swirl and spin and undulate, with their lava lamp-like mammatus clouds. They become lovely monsters.
When I'm photographing them, I cannot help but remember my grandfather's lesson. As I stand under them, I see not just a cloud, but understand that what I have the privilege to witness is the same forces, the same process in a small-scale version that helped to create our galaxy, our solar system, our sun and even this very planet.' "

Here's her Ted Talk:




Here are a few of the images taken on the night of the calm before the storm:

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW

©2013Belle Mead, NJ JMW [notice the tree line in the lower far lefthand corner]

Beyond the collection of hues and the profound understanding that all life is interconnected, one revelation remained, I waited and waited, but no storm [a few raindrops, but never a storm], instead a display of awe, one of nature's artistic magnificence for all to see.

Be well kids.

The Teach

PS. Anyone of these images could be the backdrop for a story, a setting, a painting, someone's adventure. Maybe even yours!