Find Something Beautiful Today

 

[The Metropolitan Museum of Art at Unsplash]

Serious Warnings

 

First Paragraph

 

Snow falling upon water makes a sound so close to silence that no heart exists it cannot calm. It fell across the Chesapeake and in the harbors and inlets and far out to sea, surrendering to the waters with the slightest exhalation and a muffled hiss. Though few are there to see it, in winter this happens often.

- From The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story by Mark Helprin

Teaching Students to Debate

 I plan on writing about this on Substack but for now will note that in recent years students have appeared to be more apt to level accusations than to argue for a particular side.

The idea that accusation is sufficient is very dangerous. The ability to convince instead of simple intimidation requires the ability to research and reason.

Absent those positive skills, we're at the mercy of smash and grab artists.

Just as a mother and a father are key members of a family, so too is reason a key part of education.

Unfortunately, a great deal of modern education has focused on accusation more than serious analysis. 

[Let's call Rudyard Kipling a racist and dismiss anything he ever wrote.]

Healthy debates would be an important way to foster crucial skills.

And here is the simple question that should be frequently asked: 

What are the best arguments for the opposing side?

We May Be Seeing Far More of These Outrages

 Former Member of Parliament Ann Widdecombe was murdered.

An arrest has been made.

Grab These!

 Nicholas Bate is offering a bargain on several of his books.

He's also working on another novel which I eagerly await.

Films About Totalitarianism: A Series

 

Many of Us Achieve by Omission

 

What we choose not to do may - I suspect will - turn out to play a far more powerful role in our success than what we choose to do.

Along with your To Do List, consider your Avoid List.

Hmm

 

The Intangibles Can Be Powerful