Indoctrination Successes and Failures

... I am afraid that education is conceived more in terms of indoctrination by most school officials than in terms of enlightenment. My own belief is that education must be subversive if it is to be meaningful. By this I mean that it must challenge all the things we take for granted, examine all accepted assumptions, tamper with every sacred cow, and instill a desire to question and doubt. Without this the mere instruction to memorise data is empty. The attempt to enforce conventional mediocrity on the young is criminal.

Your lips, my lips, Apocalypse

Life is for the living.Death is for the dead.Let life be like music.And death a note unsaid.-Langston Hughes Cigarettes After Sex is a pretty cool name for a band. I was blissfully unaware of their existence just over a year ago until I stumbled upon Falling in Love from their second album, Cry. I'll admit, … Continue reading Your lips, my lips, Apocalypse

The democratic dream: you have to be asleep to believe it

Daily writing promptDo you vote in political elections?View all responses There was a time when I truly believed that voting was a right, a privilege, and a civic duty. I used to think that voting made a difference and led to change for the better. It took three decades of bitter disappointment to disabuse me … Continue reading The democratic dream: you have to be asleep to believe it

Holiday all day, every day

Daily writing promptWhat is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?View all responses Not sentimental or religious, I wasn't particularly drawn to any holiday, public or otherwise. My favourite holiday was any day I didn't have to be at work. What's not to like about that? Since retiring, I've lost track of holidays and … Continue reading Holiday all day, every day