[ncte-middle] the lesson: no man is an island

[Bmaestra1@aol.com]

Perhaps this is not the forum for this discussion, but I teach because I
know the way to change the world is one child at a time (okay, 25 at a
time).  I look to you all to help me sort through this because you too
know the difficulty of explaining what you do not understand to children.

I have been overwhelmed by the questions of my students and my own
children.  My son just drew me a picture of a baby duck and a plane crash.  
No matter all the reading I've done this week, from CNN, about Islam,
middle eastern and world politics, I still have no answers.

And I still cannot muster anger in the name of God nor country.  I am
doing my best to become neither maudlin, dismissive, nor vengeful.  The
actions of our country in the last few days have reassured me that the
good in this world can survive the evil.  The scenes that bring tears to
my eyes are of those around the world, rallying to ease the pain.  I hope
that the in next few months we are able to maintain the moral precepts
that are found in our government and God everywhere, whatever name he may
be called.  Somewhere between eye for an eye and turn the other cheek lies
the confusion.

That said, I want pass along an article that illustrates those feelings of 
confusion.  First though, I am also including a poem that has comforted me in 
ways I cannot explain.

No man is an Iland, intire of it self; every man
is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a 
Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse,
as well as if Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor 
of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans
death diminishes me, because I am involved
in Mankinde; And therefore
never send to know for 
whom the bell tolls; It
tolls for thee.

-John Donne