A woman, 27 years of age, died today after being hit by a truck running a red light. She is being heralded a hero, having pushed two young kids out of the truck’s path and sacrificing her life in the process. After being struck, her broken body lay dying on the street. Witnesses say that as soon as she began to recognize what had happened, her mind was entirely bent towards the children that she had just saved. Frantically, she looked all around her, though unable to move, and asked if they were alright.
The children were unharmed.
Police and an ambulance arrived shortly after, but nothing could be done. The woman died at the scene. After the paramedics had assessed her and reassured her that there were no other casualties, she was overcome with a sense of calm. Then, as she drew her final breaths, witnesses at the scene reported that she whispered “thank you.”
Witnesses say that the truck was going well over the speed limit, speeding up to make it through the light. If the driver had been more responsible, he would have had lots of time to stop. Charges are expected to be laid. The name of the victim has not yet been released.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
To Boldly Go
Six Degrees of Separation says that I know Sir Patrick Stewart.
Growing population counts on Earth may statistically suggest that it’s actually seven or nine degrees. The ongoing growth of social networking websites and tools may, in fact, reduce that number back down to six. No matter the exact number, someone you know, knows someone who knows someone who knows someone etc, etc, etc, who knows anyone. It’s an impressive theory, helping us to truly understand how connected we all are to one another, and how important our interactions are. But, what should really be emphasized and underlined about this theory is (as all wonderful things are) straightforward:
I fucking know Sir Patrick Stewart.
He’s my pal, (6 or 7 times removed). I happen to know the greatest Enterprise captain that ever lived (as well as a most fantastic Broadway actor). And once that really, really sinks in, everything else becomes a joy to delve into. How is it that I know this guy? What serendipity made this real? A friend of a friend. Or maybe my university acquaintance’s aunt’s friend’s kid’s friend’s dad knows him. Perhaps I’ll never understand just how we managed the feat of connectivity, or perhaps it’s quite easy – right in front of my face. Some important connections are like that.
Some are much more fun when they’re not.
My earliest thoughts of careers were filled with the idea of being a mail-man. I wanted to deliver the mail in a grey suit and in a white truck. That’s what the colours were of the little toy mail-man that I had. I loved that little white peg with a grey hat and a smiley face painted on it.
When I think to my first real conception of what “I wanted to do with my life,” if you will, I recall being in grade 11 and planning on being a chemistry and math teacher. As a result, I took a heavy course-load of biology, chemistry and math in my grade 12 year, forsaking courses such as law, psychology, and history.
As I finished High School, I then became disillusioned with the idea of pursuing a career in the sciences. It was an incredibly beautiful area of knowledge, but not one I felt passion for. Instead, I became preoccupied with business and the arts, though knowing nothing of them. Economics seems a reasonable path between the two. Through chance and a fancy course description, I happened to take a Philosophy course early in my university studies, and it captured my timid little heart like no other pursuit had (excepting the pursuit of women, of course).
Philosophy, teaching it and experiencing it alongside other passionate minds, was my life’s Sir Patrick Stewart. And with the same penchant that a white knight should have, it stood ever ready to protect me and guide me throughout the dark ages of career banditry and the unjust taxation of passion. Life has a lot of that. But, whenever at a loss for dreams, I could always imagine myself in the future as a philosophy professor or writing an essay about my philosophical perspective. (My friend and I decided over drinks I would one day be known for my “Websterian Ethics” – the contents of those ethics are still pending).
In September, I’m enrolled to attend business college. This is not philosophy. Indeed it’s nothing close to it, pragmatically speaking. And, as I come to this decision, my sister wonders something aloud to me during some one on one time: maybe I should just take further studies in philosophy instead. It is a poignant thought, and one that I have had absolutely countless times before. Why don’t I? Why am I doing this business thing instead?
I’ll be honest – with her, with you, and with myself: I don’t know. Perhaps partly because I’m scared. Perhaps partly because I don’t know how. But I think that, primarily, it’s because it just doesn’t feel right yet.
There are many degrees between me and the good Sir Patrick and there are many degrees between me and my career in philosophy. And I know that they’re all necessary. Without them, I simply won’t be connected with what I love. See, because they’re not really degrees of separation: they’re degrees of connection.
Aristotle is credited with the quote that “it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” This is my answer for my sister. For me to be connected to who I really am, I must entertain all of the thoughts along the way. Like I did with the interdisciplinary major instead of a philosophy major. Like I did when I wrote the LSAT (twice). Like I did with Subway and the time with my dad in Thailand. Really entertain them, in a way that gave them everything that I am. As Kant would say, as ends unto themselves, and not simply as means to other ends. Business school and business administration is one of those things that I simply have to entertain.
I know the Captain, and I will have a career in Philosophy. That’s not being given up by going to business college any more than it was being given up when I considered a career in Law, or when I spent 2 years with Disney. Philosophy, and my final incredible dreams, were not being abandoned in those times. They were on their way to being realized.
And this September, in Okanagan College’s BBA program, that journey continues.
Make it so,
- Z
Growing population counts on Earth may statistically suggest that it’s actually seven or nine degrees. The ongoing growth of social networking websites and tools may, in fact, reduce that number back down to six. No matter the exact number, someone you know, knows someone who knows someone who knows someone etc, etc, etc, who knows anyone. It’s an impressive theory, helping us to truly understand how connected we all are to one another, and how important our interactions are. But, what should really be emphasized and underlined about this theory is (as all wonderful things are) straightforward:
I fucking know Sir Patrick Stewart.
He’s my pal, (6 or 7 times removed). I happen to know the greatest Enterprise captain that ever lived (as well as a most fantastic Broadway actor). And once that really, really sinks in, everything else becomes a joy to delve into. How is it that I know this guy? What serendipity made this real? A friend of a friend. Or maybe my university acquaintance’s aunt’s friend’s kid’s friend’s dad knows him. Perhaps I’ll never understand just how we managed the feat of connectivity, or perhaps it’s quite easy – right in front of my face. Some important connections are like that.
Some are much more fun when they’re not.
My earliest thoughts of careers were filled with the idea of being a mail-man. I wanted to deliver the mail in a grey suit and in a white truck. That’s what the colours were of the little toy mail-man that I had. I loved that little white peg with a grey hat and a smiley face painted on it.
When I think to my first real conception of what “I wanted to do with my life,” if you will, I recall being in grade 11 and planning on being a chemistry and math teacher. As a result, I took a heavy course-load of biology, chemistry and math in my grade 12 year, forsaking courses such as law, psychology, and history.
As I finished High School, I then became disillusioned with the idea of pursuing a career in the sciences. It was an incredibly beautiful area of knowledge, but not one I felt passion for. Instead, I became preoccupied with business and the arts, though knowing nothing of them. Economics seems a reasonable path between the two. Through chance and a fancy course description, I happened to take a Philosophy course early in my university studies, and it captured my timid little heart like no other pursuit had (excepting the pursuit of women, of course).
Philosophy, teaching it and experiencing it alongside other passionate minds, was my life’s Sir Patrick Stewart. And with the same penchant that a white knight should have, it stood ever ready to protect me and guide me throughout the dark ages of career banditry and the unjust taxation of passion. Life has a lot of that. But, whenever at a loss for dreams, I could always imagine myself in the future as a philosophy professor or writing an essay about my philosophical perspective. (My friend and I decided over drinks I would one day be known for my “Websterian Ethics” – the contents of those ethics are still pending).
In September, I’m enrolled to attend business college. This is not philosophy. Indeed it’s nothing close to it, pragmatically speaking. And, as I come to this decision, my sister wonders something aloud to me during some one on one time: maybe I should just take further studies in philosophy instead. It is a poignant thought, and one that I have had absolutely countless times before. Why don’t I? Why am I doing this business thing instead?
I’ll be honest – with her, with you, and with myself: I don’t know. Perhaps partly because I’m scared. Perhaps partly because I don’t know how. But I think that, primarily, it’s because it just doesn’t feel right yet.
There are many degrees between me and the good Sir Patrick and there are many degrees between me and my career in philosophy. And I know that they’re all necessary. Without them, I simply won’t be connected with what I love. See, because they’re not really degrees of separation: they’re degrees of connection.
Aristotle is credited with the quote that “it is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” This is my answer for my sister. For me to be connected to who I really am, I must entertain all of the thoughts along the way. Like I did with the interdisciplinary major instead of a philosophy major. Like I did when I wrote the LSAT (twice). Like I did with Subway and the time with my dad in Thailand. Really entertain them, in a way that gave them everything that I am. As Kant would say, as ends unto themselves, and not simply as means to other ends. Business school and business administration is one of those things that I simply have to entertain.
I know the Captain, and I will have a career in Philosophy. That’s not being given up by going to business college any more than it was being given up when I considered a career in Law, or when I spent 2 years with Disney. Philosophy, and my final incredible dreams, were not being abandoned in those times. They were on their way to being realized.
And this September, in Okanagan College’s BBA program, that journey continues.
Make it so,
- Z
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)