irony, indeed

"In a country where there is no distinction of class, a child is not born to the station of its parents, but with an indefinite claim to all the prizes that can be won by thought and labor. It is in conformity with the theory of equality... to give as near as possible to every youth and equal state in life." -Lord Acton, 130 years ago, in his writings about America

i find this just as ironic as kozol does in his book _Savage Inequalities_, from which i borrowed the quotation. certainly, we are far, far away from this place that Acton wrote about. visit any public housing neighborhood, any "project," and talk to the people there. listen to their stories and tell me that America doesn't deny countless numbers of its youth a share of that "indefinite claim."

and yet, if you really spend some time getting to know those people you speak to in the "projects," you'll realize their great potential. you will note that they are smart, that they are compassionate, that they are creative and beautiful and kind. you will find that, if you give them the respect all people deserve, they will eventually return that respect. show them a person with genuine interest in them, and they will show you real people who unjustly receive less credit than you did when you were a child.

there is great potential in this country, just as there was when Lord Acton wrote. we've yet to chase it down, but it's there in front of us on the sideways line we call the horizon.

what am i doing?

better question: what should i be doing? organizing my thoughts about the spring break trip i just got back from, completing 5 discussion questions for readings on urban teaching that i've not yet read, compiling attendance figures for the past year's worth of maize rage meetings, contemplating what a three weeks in as many years spent in Chicago's Lathrop community means, writing letters to those who's birthday well-wishes and gifts i appreciated and to those whose efforts and actions during my week in Chicago need prosaic commendation....

instead, though, i'm testing out a blog that i don't need and taking pictures of the angell hall computer lab.

good.