Rousseau Practiced Serial Child Abandonment

Little known fact. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the French philosopher actually abandoned five children to Orphanages. Isn’t it ironic that the philosopher who wrote one of the more influential books on the nature of the child and education (Emile, or also the title, On Education), would abandon his children in this way. We often have these talks…

I Kissed A Canadian

“There is a story told of two monks in Japan, traveling together down a muddy Road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a Bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection. “Come on girl,” said Tanzan and at once. Lifting her in his arms,…

War…… Give Me More War!

I was supposed to inspect drip irrigated gardens today, but my jatigi is a politician. I don’t speak politician, so his words are often meaningless to me. He has political ears, so when I speak he just nods his head, out of habit, because nothing is really heard. I called this morning to see if…

Having Never Read A Book – Ever

A bit ironic that i should ‘read’ these ‘written’ ‘words’, in a ‘book’. “Yes, their days were all the same, with the seemingly endless hours between sunrise and dusk; and they had never read a book in their young lives, and didn’t understand when the boy told them about the sights of the cities. They…

Witnessing The Death Of A Piece Of Human History: The Day the Light Went Out For A People.

I will be able to say, “I was there!”, when it happened. I am witnessing something that gives me great sadness; a transition in the human history of a whole ethnic group of people. Is it even as tragic as we first think? Maybe it indicates a new beginning for this people? You tell me! What…

Little Philippe Coulibaly Has Sore Bleeding Feet

Philippe told him in Bambara that his feet hurt. You can see the bandages on the sides of his ankles and heels, on both feet, and blood through the bandages.