tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post6590409989362395502..comments2024-03-16T06:23:29.917-07:00Comments on The Reverberate Hills; or The Apotheosis of the Narwhal: Earth Day IroniesPatrick J. Vazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-19648073306679857992008-04-27T14:11:00.000-07:002008-04-27T14:11:00.000-07:00V, It's exactly because Mother's Day is a bullshit...V, It's exactly because Mother's Day is a bullshit guilt-trip that it appeals to some women, not to name any names, of course ;-)Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-11332960173422642692008-04-27T10:44:00.000-07:002008-04-27T10:44:00.000-07:00I just reread what I wrote and realize I had not b...I just reread what I wrote and realize I had not been as clear as I intended. Far from dropping hints, I was actually thinking of my mother's feelings about Mother's Day and not my own. My children know that they are not expected to do anything for me, but that might not be true for other mothers in their lives. I really do believe that if you aren't doing enough for your mother during the rest of the year, what's the point? And if you are doing enough, what's the point? She gets her birthday and Christmas. But I will not go as far as you in declaring it a bullshit guilt-trip because it really does mean something to some women. <BR/>Earth Day seems too little too late? I've never expected people to last the 4.5 billion years left until the sun goes out, but I'm not quite ready to declare it all over.vicmarcamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13193094111343990233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-90772754200771921702008-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:002008-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:00V, I'm sorry, you make so many good points, but al...V, I'm sorry, you make so many good points, but all I take away is the Mother's Day stuff -- you dropping hints for anyone? Any two, I should say? I'm going to disagree on Mother's Day, which is the ultimate Hallmark made-up bullshit guilt-trip (showing a little 70s there) holiday. It is not only not wrong, but oh so right, to ignore Mother's Day, and sensible women like my own mother agree. Every day is a day for treating your parents and others with appreciation and courtesy!<BR/>As for Earth Day, it just seems too little too late, and the massive changes needed will soon be forced on us by circumstances.Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-54401160670793628572008-04-26T07:27:00.000-07:002008-04-26T07:27:00.000-07:00About DARE...there is evidence that it did no good...About DARE...there is evidence that it did no good, and part of the problem is what Marin points out...that we adults are always hopelessly out of date with the new drug coming down the street, and kids, being unable to make obvious connections from one drug to another will say to themselves, "Okay, I'll stay away from crack, but meth must be okay." At the same time, the research into its non-effect was probably way too simple, not accounting for some of the other effects that DARE may have had. For example, there may be long-term good done by kids seeing police officers as human beings who would like to help them and their community.<BR/><BR/>Earth Day reminds me so much of my favorite minefield holiday, Mother's Day. On the one hand, it doesn't hurt us to make a point about things we can do to make small differences. On the other hand, it becomes more clear every day that every day needs to be a special day for our loved ones and for the Earth. If you make a big deal just on that one day, it is pointless and useless. If you do nothing, it is wrong, too.<BR/><BR/>My students seem to like Earth Day, especially this year. They listened with more interest than usual when I did my mini-lecture on what they should and shouldn't put in the recycling bin in the classroom. They listen to my lectures about packaging and buying local food. They even ask questions. More than half are Asian, so they are especially interested in the worldwide rice shortage. My sixth graders surprised me when they actually understood my rant about how our inability to conserve gas and oil has led to our using land that would be used for growing food and instead is used for growing "biomass" for fuel, which means less land for food. So, recently, I've been able to knock the rock concert Earth Day from the 1970s out of my head and replace it with this feeling that the next generation may be building habits that could sustain us. I even have some evidence. One hundred fifty kids pass through my room every day, and it has been several months since my small office sized garbage can has needed to be emptied more often than every three days.vicmarcamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13193094111343990233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-73746934469930857972008-04-23T14:17:00.000-07:002008-04-23T14:17:00.000-07:00I've seen that picture many times before, but -- i...I've seen that picture many times before, but -- it's such a cute picture of you! If only it included shoes, which I know you've chosen with care . . . it would be perfect!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the acronym info. It's hard to say what effect these drug abuse education programs really have. I don't know if I ever told you about the lectures I had to hear in grammar school -- well, I never actually heard the end of any of them. And I have basically avoided drugs my whole life, but for reasons that don't have much to do with those lectures. They just make kind of funny stories. I did give an oral book report to my 8th grade class on Thomas DeQuincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater, which actually was just what I was reading at the time. I suspect there would be repercussions of some sort in the unlikely event that anyone tried that today. I'm not sure that's a good thing -- a lot of the appeal of drugs is the aura of rebellious glamor, which is only heightened by a lot of the anti-drug talk. I've always thought drugs should be legal and strictly regulated by the government -- when getting your hit is the equivalent of visiting the DMV, it just seems a lot less appealing.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I finally had a glass of absinthe! I may write about it here, so I won't go into details now. But I don't think I'll be ruining myself with multiple visits to the Green Fairy.Patrick J. Vazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09279528648512493917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22361479.post-77320417179079727472008-04-23T02:34:00.000-07:002008-04-23T02:34:00.000-07:00I have nothing to add, except that DARE stands for...I have nothing to add, except that DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. The program is almost as old as me and makes up a large part of what I remember from school. They did tell us not to smoke several times, but there was more focus on illegal drugs, mostly marijuana (gateway drug) and crack cocaine (in the news a lot when the curriculum was written). <BR/><BR/>I don't know if it worked (works?) or not. It might have worked, but badly, as it seems like the drugs that are in the news now are ones that weren't covered in the program.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13929614151322415697noreply@blogger.com