Remember, remember the fifth of November. The gunpowder treason and plot. I know of no reason the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.
Remember that you have the power to change the world, if only you fight for what you believe is good and right.
Ten years ago, I was fourteen and in the ninth grade in Tennessee. I was in the hallways walking from first period to second when I heard people talking about theTwinTowerscoming down. I heard a rumor about a boy – one I’d gone to elementary school with who had a knack for getting into trouble – walking around the halls pointing at random people saying, “You’re going to die, you’re going to die, you’re going to die. . . “ Even then it didn’t mean much to me; I thought it was just a rude and insensitive thing for him to say to kids who didn’t understand what was going on. I knew he was saying those things as a result of what had just happened, but I didn’t make the connection in my mind. I didn’t understand the significance of the attack, and what it could possibly mean for my family, my friends, or my town. I didn’t understand why he said any of us would die because of it.
To be completely honest, I’d never heard of theTwinTowers. The thing I remember more than anything is that school pictures were the next day, and I had an appointment to have my hair cut that afternoon. I know that’s selfish, but I was fourteen. Hardly anyone isn’t self-centered at that age. But when you’ve never lived through anything like that, and you’re not right there to see it happening in front of your eyes, it somehow doesn’t seem real. Things that happened on TV or the news didn’t happen to me, to the people I knew. They were far away, outside my bubble.
Everything just seemed like it was happening on an alternate plane. Like the world outside didn’t have anything to do with me.New YorkandWashingtonseemed so far away, so far removed from me. I was just in high school, young and naïve, and it didn’t mean anything significant to me. I only started to comprehend it when I got home and my mom was watching coverage on TV. She was furious that we’d spent our entire day at school watching the events unfold on the news. I think more than anything she had wanted to be the one to tell my and my brother what had happened. I don’t even know how James found out about it – he was only 11, and I highly doubt they watched anything about the attack at school. I don’t know that having her tell me about it would have made much of a difference in how I felt about it. I vaguely remember our teachers talking about it while we were watching the news, and I somewhat remember us talking about it as a family that night. I sensed that my parents were upset and worried about what had happened. They had lived through things like the Kennedy assassination andVietnam, so they had a better sense of disaster and tragedy.
Of course I was sorry to hear about all the innocent people that died that day – any decent human being would, except maybe that dumbass kid in the hallway. But my perception of it was that it was miles away, that I was safe, that it didn’t involve me. I’d never been toNew Yorkat that point, but I’d been toWashingtononly the year before with my mom and my brother. We saw the Pentagon every day on our train rides into the city. At that point, I didn’t have much sense about the world around me. My world consisted of what I knew at home – the life that I lived every day. Now that I live in DC, my feelings have changed somewhat. I can never relive that day – not that I’d want to. But I know now that it was bigger than myself, than the people around me. It meant more than I even knew. I had no reason for healing after September 11.
Others did, though. So many were – and still are – affected by what happened that day. There are thousands of people who aren’t with us anymore because of the terrible actions of a few. I lost nothing, but so many lost everything. Since then, I think we’ve lived in a world of fear. Fear that it will happen again, fear that we cannot control the world around us, fear that we cannot safely go anywhere. The thing that makes me the saddest, though, is the misplaced anger we as a country have put onto people who are different. We forget that it wasn’t a huge army of people that brought the towers down. It’s just like that saying how a few can ruin it for everyone. We built up prejudices and direct hatred toward people not very different from ourselves. We forget that everyone is just people.
Traveling in a post-9/11 world has probably affected me the most. Unprecedented security measures and rising costs have taken some of the enjoyment out of it. Sometimes I think we’re overreacting, but I know what can happen if we aren’t careful. It’s a delicate balance between being cautious and being fearful. There’s a quote that says: “Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.” Where is the line, the balance that makes us cautious and safe, but not too afraid to live? Although I have it easy compared to those specifically targeted at security checkpoints, I cannot help but think it is a huge inconvenience for everyone. The vast majority of us just want to get where we’re going without hassle. We do want to get there safely, though. I understand the cautiousness, though; no one wants to be blamed for being lax on the one person who managed to slip through the system and cause chaos.
So, ten years later, have things returned to normal? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think there will ever be a semblance of “normal” anymore. Everything changed in that one morning. Some things for the better, some things for worse. We will never know what the world would have been like without September 11. At the Arts on Foot event yesterday, I volunteered at an event sponsored by The 9/11 Arts Project. We made dream scrolls envisioning a future after 9/11. Our hopes for the world and what it could be like. Most of the drawings and messages had messages of happiness, of hope, of unity, of peace, and of love. Those are the things most people want, I think, no matter where you go in the world. We all just want to live our lives.
We all just want to be people.
Even though this is a hilarious ad, and I’d almost be tempted to answer it, I’m so glad my roommates didn’t turn out to be even half this crazy. The writers named this well when they categorized it under “Absolutely Crazy Shit We Found on Craigslist.”
Well, friends, it’s happened. Someone has recreated Arrested Development in Legos, and it’s just as glorious as you’d expect. Why has it taken so long for this to happen? I have no idea, but I’m sure glad someone decided to take on this challenge. I never tire of seeing anything witty that’s related to this show. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out. Like the rest of the Internet, I’m waiting for confirmation that the movie is actually happening…
Because education shoudn’t just be found in a classroom. Eighteen ways to educate yourself every day. See the original post here.
“Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.” These are the kind of bright ideas that I would like to fill my head with.
They are quick, easy, informative, and give you a glimpse of a subject that you may decide to do more research on later!
A lovely reader recommended the podcasts “Stuff you should know” and “Stuff mom never told you” which can be found on the website.
This is such a monumental suggestion. The habit of reading for 30 minutes every day can really kick start your goal of “getting back into reading” and of course educating yourself as well. 30 minutes is not too hard to set aside at the end of the day. Just get yourself into bed 30 minutes earlier if you have to. If you read for 30 minutes every night you should be able to get through at least one book every two weeks. That’s 26 books a year (approximately). With this kind of reading rapport you are bound to make a sizable dent into your reading list.
Focus more at work. Take the time to really understand why you do the things you do at work, instead of simply going through the motions. Even if this is a job you have been at for years, there is more to discover. Do some research on the company you work for, where did they come from? And what do they really do? There are great opportunities for growth and learning even in our sometimes boring 9-5 desk jobs. Although it may seem that you are just on the other end of a desk, your clients see you as an expert in your field. So make sure you are one!
Well, it should already be fun that you are taking the time to invest in yourself and learning more about your world – but you know how you could make it more fun? By getting other people involved (yay for them 
). You could watch documentaries with your partner or work on puzzles with your children, play trivial pursuit with your family, or discuss new and fresh topics with your friends.
This could be jigsaw puzzles, riddles, math puzzles etc. Anything that requires you to practice your mental acrobatics. You can buy simple “Train your brain” books from your local bookstore, that have a puzzle a day to make things really easy for you!
Something I try to force myself to do is to read books that are actually a little bit challenging – for the purpose of not only being “well read” but also having an opportunity to expand my vocabulary. Classics epitomize english language at it’s finest. I’m not saying they are always a joy to read, but boy do I feel proud of myself when I finish one.
Work on your vocabulary whilst simultaneously feeding the hungry! You may pass GO. You may collect $200. The great thing about playing this every day is that they tend to repeat words, so you really start getting used to remembering new words that you were not initially used to.
Most of the online dictionaries have a “Word a day” feature that you can subscribe to by e-mail, or simply check online. Learn a new word every day, and make it your intention to use that word 3 times in your day.
Watching documentaries has never been easier! You can watch them on TV, and even on youtube. Sometimes I just type in a subject I am interested in and then “part 1″ and see what I can find. It’s also fun to watch documentaries on things you have no prior knowledge or real interest in.
One of my commenters has recommended BBC documentaries (I agree), in particular Planet Earth, and Wild China. National geographic has some pretty spectacular documentaries too.
I recommend Zeitgeist (you can also watch it on youtube). My boyfriend showed me this documentary and I seriously watched the whole thing with my eyes wide and my mouth open. It was truly life enhancing.
Find some bloggers that inspire you and fill your mind with bright ideas and thoughts, and follow them. Another option is to subscribe to a magazine that really fascinates you.
What better way to affirm to yourself that you are educating yourself – than to take an actual class? Find a topic that you wouldn’t mind learning more about, and register!
Are there any languages that you have been interested in learning? Well, why not start now! Take a class, get private lessons, watch videos online – whatever it is, find time in your life to immerse yourself in this new pursuit!
I think everybody should have a hobby. Something that you can really throw yourself into. That you do just for fun, that makes you happy, that improves some aspect of yourself, and something you can commit to. If you can’t think of one – create one. There are plenty of hobbies out there. Pick one. Picking them is easy. Staying committed is hard. And even though hobbies are “Fun”, a degree of commitment is required if you ever plan to see some kind of result. Create a schedule in your week to really commit to your new hobby – a certain number of times a week, a couple of hours a day – it really is up to you. Learn all about your new hobby, both the theory and the application.
You could buy a new cook book, subscribe to a cookery magazine, or even browse the miracle that is the internet. To make this fun, you could have themes and goals each week, like “eating healthy”, raw food, desserts, smoothies, appetizers, main courses, salads, fruits etc.
It’s one thing to stuff your head with all this information, its something completely different to access this information again when you really want it. No genius is considered a genius if he can’t remember what it is that he knows. By working with your memory, you can work on your ability to keep your new knowledge available for you to retrieve it.
My parents read the headlines every day. My mom says that I shouldn’t leave the house without having some clue of what’s going on in the world. I haven’t really implemented this much in my life yet – sometimes I just feel like the news is just so overwhelming – I don’t even know where to start (Does anyone else feel like this?!). I guess that’s why she suggested to “READ THE HEADLINES”.
I don’t think there can be anything wrong with knowing a little bit about what’s going on in the world.
If you are ever stuck for new things to learn, this is a great way to give you some ideas. Use your life as an inspiration. If you are planning on going to a new city for the long weekend – learn about it. If you meet a new friend who is a wine merchant, learn all about being a wine merchant.
At first, I sometimes felt like I was stuck for new things to learn – which to me now feels totally ridiculous because is there really anything I couldn’t learn more about? But over time, after implementing many of these techniques, I find that my brain automatically gives me new topics to learn about. It is just INTERESTING!
And one day you are going to be able to talk about these things in discussions, and in your own mind you are going to be thinking “Wow.”
I remember a couple of years ago I had read a LOT of information about blue-whale attacks, their anatomy, their physiology, and how they ingest and digest their prey. A few months later, lo and behold – a girl in my class randomly said “Hmm I wonder what happens if you got eaten by a blue whale…”
Ah, yes. My time had come.
And for further education:
I don’t know how I could forget this little goldmine. I use it all the time and I love it!
You can browse random articles on wikipedia, or you could use it as a great starting point for your own private nerdy research in an area of your choice! Awesome.
I have not used this yet. It was a suggestion from a reader, but it looks fun!
Listen up, fellow former 90′s kids. The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. Well, sort of. Starting tonight at midnight, TEENick is airing some our favorite old-school Nickelodeon shows in a two-hour block. While it’s not as great as having our own channel of 90′s shows, or even an earlier time slot (we’re mostly all in the working world now, right?), this small comfort will hold me over until the day they bring back the greatest game show in the history of game shows, Legends of the Hidden Temple. Until then, enjoy this awesome preview:
I like reading Huffington Post because they often have interesting articles on everyday topics. I’m kicking off Harry Potter week today while, like most of the world, counting down to the finale. I’m going to try to attempt to put into words how I feel about the series. In the meantime, here’s a wonderful article on Harry Potter as it relates to Christian theology.
See the original post here.
In an attic apartment during my last year of graduate school at Yale, I ate pizza with two friends and crafted a syllabus for the Harry Potter and Christian Theology course. My plan: de-emphasize witchcraft — which previously dominated Christian perspectives on the series — and focus on a variety of other topics in theology, including forgiveness, salvation and grace. Reframing would allow for richer, deeper analysis, letting students visit not just one small country but the entire globe of theology so that they could decide for themselves whether the books supported a Christian worldview.
But the proposal initially met with skepticism. Popular culture isn’t often included in a liberal arts curriculum, nor is an introduction to theology typically taught alongside literature many perceive to be for children. In fact, one student who participated in the selection process said of my idea: “The committee had a good laugh over the Harry Potter proposal” because it was “not something you could talk about for 13 weeks.”
And yet, between 2,000 years of theologians with their fast-firing synapses, logical savvy and critically constructed thoughts, and seven volumes of J.K. Rowling’s nuanced prose, there is more than enough fodder for discussion. Consider, for instance, whether there’s a God-figure in the series. This is the first issue my students question and it becomes the fundamental one in the course. Classical theologians define God using three characteristics: omnipotence, omniscience and omnibenevolence (otherwise known as the Three Os). Yet it’s hard to think of a person within the series who possesses all three qualifications.
Every potential Christ-figure in the series falls short of at least one criterion. Harry, for instance, lacks full knowledge (omniscience) or he would have known the whereabouts of all the Horcruxes, while Dumbledore lacks omnipotence, or else he would have had the power to defeat the Death Eaters and their Dark Lord himself. Lily Potter’s death — while making her fully human — precludes her from being fully divine on the omnipotence count, and Severus Snape lacks not only in omniscience but also in omnibenevolence. Every character my students consider meets obstacles such as these.
Yet what if the search for a God-figure wasn’t limited to people? After all, God is ephemeral, transcendental, somehow beyond human. Looking for God beyond human form opens the possibility that something more abstract might fit the bill, something like love. Many of my students come to the conclusion that love is the closest approximation to God in Harry Potter, in part because God is defined as love in Christian tradition (1 John 4:16). Of course it goes without saying that love is all-good, but love also guides the operation and has the power to defeat Voldemort. Even in the first book, the reader sees evidence of love’s God-likeness when Dumbledore tells Harry:
Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no not a visible sign … to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good (SS, 299).
Intriguingly, love’s identity as something God-like within the series is a departure from other 20th-century fantasy books with theological overtones, most notably “The Chronicles of Narnia,” which depict God as a being (i.e. Aslan). This fact is not lost on my students. Why is that significant? My sense is that presenting God as an abstract concept resonates for many non-Christians who live in an era of skepticism. In other words, to describe God like this tracks for contemporary seekers in our scientific age who shy away from personifications of God because they feel too unrealistic.
Interestingly, if God is imaged as a force, the devil is not. In our section on Eucharistic theology, the moment when Voldemort regains his body with Wormtail’s invocation grabs my students’ attention:
Flesh — of the servant — w-willingly given — you will — revive your master … B-blood of the enemy … forcibly taken … you will … resurrect your foe (GOF, 641-2).
Few miss the connection when they then read Jesus’ lines at the Last Supper: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” and “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant of my blood” (NRSV, Lk. 22:19-20). It seems as if Voldemort’s words are quite literally the opposite of Jesus’: Whereas Jesus gives his body and blood for the eternal life of many, Voldemort demands the bodily sacrifices of many for his own revival. In this way, he is quite literally the opposite of Jesus.
Intriguingly, in the last moments of Voldemort’s life, Harry gives his anti-Christ enemy a last chance at redemption: “I’d advise you to think about what you’ve done,” Harry says. “Think, and try for some remorse” (DH, 741). So it would seem that when it comes to forgiveness, even the most damaged creatures in the wizarding world are given the possibility of wholeness if they repent. Restoration, then, is not for a chosen elect but for those who take the opportunity to choose.
If salvation is offered to all in the Harry Potter series, there is still the matter of figuring out who does the saving in the Harry Potter series. In Christian theology, it is Jesus who saves through his work on the cross and resurrection. Most Christians define Christ as being fully God and fully human, largely thanks to the medieval reflections of Anselm of Canterbury. For Christ to be fully human means that Jesus cognitively developed over time just like any child maturing to adulthood does, and it also means that he was made of flesh as vulnerable as ours. For Jesus to be fully God means he possesses the same Three O characteristics mentioned above.
So, is there anyone in the series that meets these criteria? The short answer is: No, there is not, for the same reasons that there was no person who functioned as a God-figure in the series. No one is quite godly enough.
Yet in order to discern a Christ-figure, it’s necessary to evaluate not only who Jesus is but also the work that he does. For some, salvation is accomplished in Jesus’ defeat of evil, which is done during a cosmic battle in Hell between his death and resurrection. That defeat meant that evil, no matter how powerful, could no longer trump God’s loving power. A different perspective — and probably the most commonly held one — states that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was an act of supreme obedience offered in order to free humans from the power of sin. (Some Christians would understand just one of the previous theologies to define salvation, whereas others would resonate with a variety.)
While these are two of several major theologies of salvation, the reader can see that these ideas are certainly present in the Harry Potter series. Dumbledore, while neither omnipotent nor — due to his younger years — omnibenevolent, teaches Harry about the power of love and, in that way, procures salvation for the wizarding world. Similarly, Neville, Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Ginny, Luna and a host of others work together to defeat evil in the final battle at Hogwarts. Likewise, Harry, in his walk through the Forbidden Forest, subscribes to the radical obedience to death typified in Anselm’s theory.
Curiously, what the Harry Potter books do is to accomplish the work of Christ utilizing a whole community instead of a single person, which explains why no individual character closely resembles Jesus. This means that salvation is accomplished not by one person but by many people working together, with love (aka God) for a guide. Ethically, a theology like this has important implications because it empowers people — both in Harry’s world and our own — to live the life compassion for which Jesus lived and died.
What do students think of ideas like this? Over the years I’ve offered the Christian Theology and Harry Potter class, students consistently rank it a favorite, regardless of their faith tradition. This may be because my students treasure any excuse to re-read their favorite saga, but my sense is that the real reason for the course’s success runs deeper than that: The subjects theology tackles — what the purpose of evil is, whether we can maintain relationships beyond the grave, what forgiveness looks like — are the ones that keep our minds racing at 2 a.m., when we’re wrapped in warm blankets and sipping hot milk for comfort. Yet without a vocabulary — Christian or otherwise — to express those questions, it’s hard to find lasting resolution or peace. That’s why I tell my students that I know Harry Potter brought them to the class, but I hope that theology keeps them there, because questions about how much we love our neighbor or how much we embrace diversity are worth some curiosity, whether one is planning to become an elementary school teacher or a cardiologist. In other words, while I don’t expect or encourage my students to embrace the Christian faith, I do ask them to consider the kinds of questions that faith demands.
At the end of the first year that I taught the Christian theology and Harry Potter course, one of my sophomores asked if she could speak with me. She came from a secular background, a home in which religion was a banned topic. “Your class gave me a way to talk about questions of ultimate meaning,” she said. “I never had that before.”
I left smiling that day. It was the highest compliment she could have offered.
