posted April 20, 2016 09:24 AM            

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Originally posted by Vajra:

I know what you mean about hope, but I kinda don't hope for things one way or the other if I'm completely honest. My path is a tad similar to what the ancient Stoics taught, and it means one doesn't wish, hope or fret for any external things. one just faces the things one cannot influence as they are in the here and now, sees them as a call for exercising one's best judgment, and then, does one's best with them, within one's personal realm of influence. Since nobody can in all fairness be asked to do more than one's best, that approach is quite psychologically liberating because it basically eradicates feelings of regret, guilt and worry if one practices it diligently. It really does.

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So simple and so true

posted April 22, 2016 10:32 PM            

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Originally posted by Vajra:
These primary school kids didn't see each other so much as "German" vs. "foreign." They liked to compare the food and customs in each other's families, teach each other words in their native languages and so on. But the school's teachers, who were very capable people that I have a lot of respect for, made it a point to a) insist that German was the only language spoken on the school's premises and b) there was a policy of zero tolerance against mobbing, insults and general bad behavior. Even the janitor would step in and scold pupils when he caught them misbehaving towards others as I once witnessed. Pupils who transgressed were made to apologize to the victim(s) in writing, had to make amends (e.g. by baking them a cake or giving another type of home-made present) and there was a weekly "class council" were the kids themselves discussed and sanctioned the misbehavior of their peers in case this was necessary, discussed whatever was going on in their social relations with each other, and raised awareness against e.g. cyber mobbing which was usually snuffed out quickly. They also had a ritual called the "warm shower". One child would be selected to receive it at a given time; everyone in class had to face that child one after the other and say something positive about them, something nice, even if they really didn't like the child they had to think of at least one positive aspect they could mention, even if only something very small. It was amazing what effect this 'warm shower' thing had on the kids, they really flourished, especially those who were always the 'misfits' in class visibly thrived after once receiving it. I really liked that concept of dealing with diversity and encouraging integration and empowering the children to take responsibility for their own affairs within the range of their possibilities, and as far as I can see by now, most pupils turned out quite alright. This school is a completely normal school btw, there are thousands like it around here.

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I liked reading this...

Here in the USA, the news loves to trumpet Trump, because love him or hate him, he draws in viewers, and that affects how much advertising space can be sold for. And it's getting people to say the same kinds of things.

This has been affecting the schools in that the grades and behavior of kids from immigrant (including legal) and Muslim families has been suffering. It's unclear how much of this is because they're picking up on the tensions at home, and how much because obnoxious and bullying behavior is becoming more common against them, at least in part because many kids who engage in it know their parents will wink at them for it. And in at least one high school some blatantly racist terms and such are being used, and they're using the rhetoric of Trump supporters of "telling it like it is" and such. Before Trump they would back off, but now it's not only more common, but kids are arguing teachers (and other kids and such) that call them out on it (and sometimes their parents support their kids obnoxious behavior), something that is rattling school teachers I know.

(On a side note, I'm recalling back when Bill Clinton said blow jobs don't count as sex, and kids in high school took up that mantra to argue health teachers and the like, and as it didn't count, neither were worries of STDs and things like that. Apparently, Trump's rhetoric, and the parents cheering it on, is now what's inspiring teens to openly defy teachers in a similar way today.)

Of course all that is a burden on those targeted, but I wonder how much the hostility itself can affect them even when it's not directly in their face. I recall reading of states that passed constitutional amendments to forbid gay marriage had a spike in suicides by those who were gay, which could be the entire pain of rejection playing a role, even when no one is actually in their face over it. And that pressure could also be affecting the kids of immigrants, Muslims, and the like (their grades seem to be generally affected negatively) even before they're targeted by racial slurs and even bullying.

posted July 22, 2016 05:41 PM            

Following this minute by minute

posted July 22, 2016 07:37 PM            

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Originally posted by Vajra:
So it's kinda strange that you'd be so much more distressed than either of them

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posted July 22, 2016 08:57 PM            

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Originally posted by Vajra:
It is. Save your strength, Faith, better not waste your psychic energy on things you cannot influence. Senseless violence is indeed very distressing no matter where it happens, but it's unfortunately happening all the time...almost everywhere on the planet... and what's worse, the world has always been like this.

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Honestly?