One year ago on Round and Square (15 December 2011)—Fieldnotes From History: Rain
Click here to read the introduction to the Round and Square series "Displays of Authenticity"
Some things are just beyond belief. By definition, our reactions are "authentic." How could they be otherwise when we are in uncharted territory? I have no intention of analyzing—overthinking—these matters today. That is reserved on these pages for more ordinary matters, not this. Everything is just too raw.
I do urge all of us to do some thinking, though. Above all, we should consider how we process these experiences. That's authenticity, not overthinking. I agree with the president's remarks today; we have seen too much of this...and...we have never quite seen anything like it.
My greatest fear is that we'll get on with life just a little too quickly.
Again.
I hope not. I hope that we can spend more time than usual thinking about the victims, reflecting on who we are as a nation, and getting serious about what is wrong.
Because something is most definitely wrong.
In early Chinese thought, heaven was considered "round" and earth "square." Westerners from St. Anselm to Kant taught that round and square are opposites. I will explore the connections between east and west (round and square) in a blog that takes seriously the little details of our lives. Round and square; east and west—never the twain shall meet (it has been said). Except when they do, and that is the whole point of this blog.
From Round to Square (and back)
For The Emperor's Teacher, scroll down (↓) to "Topics." It's the management book that will rock the world (and break the vase, as you will see). Click or paste the following link for a recent profile of the project: http://magazine.beloit.edu/?story_id=240813&issue_id=240610
A new post appears every day at 12:05* (CDT). There's more, though. Take a look at the right-hand side of the page for over four years of material (2,000 posts and growing) from Seinfeld and country music to every single day of the Chinese lunar calendar...translated. Look here ↓ and explore a little. It will take you all the way down the page...from round to square (and back again).
*Occasionally I will leave a long post up for thirty-six hours, and post a shorter entry at noon the next day.
A new post appears every day at 12:05* (CDT). There's more, though. Take a look at the right-hand side of the page for over four years of material (2,000 posts and growing) from Seinfeld and country music to every single day of the Chinese lunar calendar...translated. Look here ↓ and explore a little. It will take you all the way down the page...from round to square (and back again).
*Occasionally I will leave a long post up for thirty-six hours, and post a shorter entry at noon the next day.
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