Endangered: Critical Thinking

When President Bush makes this statement: "We are safer here because of the war in Iraq" and the American public does not ask the question that begs to be asked: "How?", has critical thinking disappeared?

Endangered is the type of questioning and thinking that saves a democracy from despots and the actions of despots.

Another example: I worked for two years in a middle school. I helped read and grade English papers for the Language Arts teachers. One particular student wrote that we revenged 9-11 by getting Saddam Hussein out of power and by winning in Iraq.

This is an example of how many Americans, including adults believe that Iraq had something to do with 9-11.

So embroiled were we in getting revenge for this tragic event that we allowed our leaders and ourselves to blend in our mind Iraq and 9-11. We needed a scapegoat - a bad guy. We are raised on movies where the good guy wins over the bad guy -- a movie mentality.

Let it be said: Iraq had nothing -- and I mean nothing when I say nothing - to do with Iraq.

Critical thinking is Missing in Action. Gone. We started this war on a falsehood and we continue with rationalizations of falsehood.

A democratic society must have critical thinking -- questioning of its actions so that our society will not take actions that are undemocratic -- both here and abroad. This oversight to the abuse of power begins with a population that questions, reviews and thinks in depth about its nations actions.

When senetors questioned Roberts about his stance on issues that he would one day be deciding on at the Supreme Court, people cried out: leave the poor man alone.

Heaven forbid the American people ask questions of a judge on court case decisions of a man who will be deciding such issues, which will directly affect Americans.

Asking critical questions is exactly what we should be doing of each and every potential supreme court judge, regardless of whether their politics are conservative or liberal.

Critical thinking is endangered in our society because we don't use it enough. We are an audience of consumers instead of a populace based on discussion and debate.

We need avenues to excercise this process: beginning in the public schools and continuing with more town meetings. Let's build meeting places that are made specifically for open debate - drop in centers where people gather and discuss the most pressing issues of the time - for people of all political spectrums so that we may learn from each other and not remain isolated from free conversation. Not shouting at each other on talk shows but rather respectful debate -- something we have little practice with.

I just think our country opens itself up to being ruled by those that will take away ours and other countries freedoms without fostering this type of discussion.

Fresh Air, Deer in the Backyard and Tides

There is so much fresh air here in Olympia – I am surrounded by trees that I keep smelling all the time. The bay smell of a low tide drifts up into my backyard. And the fragrant smell of flowers and bushes and trees also is present.

This morning, three deer walked through my backyard. A mother and two babies. The mother walked up the stone steps that opened up right below the kitchen window. She was followed by her babies that walked so close to me that I could see the patterns of their fur and where little tufts of fur stuck up out of the rest, like the hair of a child just woken up. Plus there were lighter patches of fur to their coat.

Living so close to the water, I see the tides come in and out and it reminds me of living according to the tides at Camp Gallagher. Every morning, we would look to see where the tides were and this would dictate whether we played on the low tide beach or whether it would be easy to walk the sailboats out because the tide was in. The tides would dictate where we would go on overnights and we would have to time our departure and arrival according to which way the tide was flowing.

It is a lesson in humbleness - to have a part of nature you cannot control and that you are dependent on.

So now, I can look out to see whether the tides are low or high and miss being at camp and taking off in sailboats or kayak or canoe and letting the swift tide carry you to your destination – or struggle with everything you have against the tide to your camping spot before you are carried away from it.

The Popping of Medrona Leaves

I crouched below a Madrona tree to try to find the source of a popping sound. I crunched the fallen leaves of the Madrona as I squatted. Sure enough, as I watched and listened it became apparent that the drying leaves of the Madrona, now receiving the sunlight’s heat, were popping as they dried.

It was one of those connections to nature moments when it’s just you and nature – and no one else to witness the beauty that you’re seeing or hearing or smelling.

I was in the middle of a blackberry picking adventure. My intent was to pick enough to make a pie with. I began along East Bay Drive, where there is a long stretch of blackberry bushes.

But, the pickings were scarce and so I entertained myself by crouching for several moments to listen to the popping of Madrona leaves, a moment in time that was somehow, in its simplicity, a joy to experience.

And, perhaps the uniqueness of it also added to the simple joy. It was like I was overhearing something that was mine alone to witness, as if no one else has heard the popping of Madrona leaves. It wasn’t cracking – but popping – as if there were tiny kernels of popcorn inside exploding.

At first, I wished there was someone with me to hear it too. But then, as I walked away, I decided it was a moment that maybe is one of those moments where you are glad to experience all to yourself– a private moment in time – you and nature -- that will be your secret to carry. Ever have one of those?

(Plus, I never told anyone that ate the pie later that I was too tempted by the bigger blackberries across the street – the ones that were on a few private properties, that I trespassed to pick them. The biggest berries came from this one apartment complex property – and perhaps that of a house ---Are blackberries that extend onto a public sidewalk okay to pick? Or, do they officially belong to the owner of the house? It’s like when your neighbor’s plum tree extends onto your property – aren’t the plums okay to pick for yourself? )

Encounter With the Olympia Bicycle Terrorist

As I was coming home from jogging down East Bay Drive, I was walking up the steep San Francisco Street. I was taking it in stride.

I began to hear this swearing – “Fu@! the locals!” “Fu*! the Iraq War!” “Fu%@ the police!”

‘What the heck?” I thought to myself. I looked back and a man with a bicycle strapped to his back was walking through someone’s yard onto San Fran Street.

He kept saying Fu&! with various things after each Fu$!”

I began to walk a lot faster.

Later when I was telling one of my roommates about this strange encounter, he informed me I had seen Olympia’s Bicycle Terrorist.

The bicycle terrorist is known for harassing locals by riding very quickly toward them and swerving out of the way at the last minute. He also will ride straight out in front of cars and make them slam on their brakes.

He will swear at people while riding along.

So, this man who carries his bike on his back, lives in my neighborhood with his mother, apparently.

I will try not to run into him again--- or rather, try not to

Roommates and Politics

I have gotten in more political discussions in the first week at my new house than I probably have in a whole year.

It is exciting. We’ve discussed the Iraq War, Bush, Venezuela and Pat Robinson, and more.

Let me give a quick profile of each of my roommates:

1. Tyson – in his second year in the Masters in Teaching program, he has just begun student teaching; he has already raised the eyebrow of his mentor teacher in Tacoma where he teaches (near Fort Lewis) by telling his students he will tell them how they can get off the militaries’ recruit list.

He makes sushi for his lunches, swears a lot, loves movies like me, and is a very friendly and great person. You always know he is home by either hearing him or his stereo in the basement, where he resides.

2. Jessica --- This quiet yet kind soul works as a tobacco prevention advocate, grows herbs and makes lotions from them, loves to spend her evenings in the garden, has various fruits on trays and in sacks in the freezer, and likes to sew.

3. John --- this is Jessica’s partner and owner of the house. He also likes to garden, likes organic foods like the rest of my roommates, is on the board at the co-op and is sensitive to smells. He has already confiscated a bar of soap I put in the kitchen. I say this with humor of course because I really wasn't offended. He is a former yoga instructor and loves pizza. He is very nice as well.

So this is a quick profile of each of my roommates. They are all fun and I think it will work out living here.

San Francisco Street Bakery and I

I have already made two trips to the bakery up the street: a quaint earthy bakery in the middle of a residential area.

The first time I had their walnut sticky buns and coffee.

The second time, acting on the tip of my roommate Tyson, I went there after 6 p.m. and bought two loafs of bread for the price of one.

One loaf was olive bread and the other sour dough. The olive bread tasted great with some eggplant dip that I had made.

I will eat their berry bear claws. I will eat their chocolate pecan cookies. I will eat their bread. I will eat their danishes.

So, I love the bakery and the bakery will love me, as I become one of their regulars. I will give them some great business and they will give me a little taste of heaven, just up the street.

Popcorn at the Olympia Film Society

I have died and gone to heaven. Olympia has a great film society that plays foreign films, short films and other non-box office films.

I’ve already gone to one of their films, “The Edukators,” at which I was introduced to their unique way of eating popcorn.

I asked for a large popcorn and the woman behind the counter filled the bag halfway, then asked me if I wanted it halfway so that I could put spices on it.

I had a totally blank look on my face. She patiently explained, as she put out a tray of various bottles, that they did not have butter. I thought to myself, ‘oh, great, what have I gotten myself into with no butter.’

She explained that in one bottle was tamari, and that there was garlic salt and various other spices in the other bottles.

I reluctantly sprayed tamari (a non-wheat version of soy sauce) and sprinkled some garlic on. She then filled my bag to the top with more popcorn and I repeated the process.

I thought to myself ‘well, at least I have soda so that I can wash it down if it tastes terrible. Man, no butter.”

But, as I sat down to watch “The Edukators,” a German movie in which these radical early 20s men break into rich peoples’ houses and rearrange the furniture, then leave a not saying ‘you have too much money’, I began to eat my popcorn and was pleasantly surprised. It tasted great!

Now, I am going to put soy sauce in a spray bottle for the popcorn I air pop a

Olympia by Bicycle

After unpacking and doing some co-op shopping for organic popcorn, I set out on my bicycle Saturday morning to find out how long it would take me to bicycle to campus.

I had no idea how many miles it would be.

To my surprise my bike worked; all I had to do was inflate the tires. I set out in my colorful bicycle jersey. I went down San Francisco Street and through town, up the West side hill and all the way to campus. It was quite the ride --- and it took me 45 minutes to get to campus.

So, I probably won’t bike too much to campus but maybe once a week, weather permitting.

On my way back I stopped by the Asian Deli and got some tofu and vegetables for a pretty good price.

The view of Mt. Rainier was incredible riding down the West side hill into downtown. The mountain is bigger here – or rather, we are closer to it.

I also stopped by Olympia’s farmers market. The waterfront was crowded with art booths, as it was Harbor Days. The large Lady Washington was moored at a dock.

I bought some apples and a cookie and headed home.

I was reminded of when I was an undergraduate and my bicycle was the only form of transportation I owned.

I will try to ride more and save on gas.

The Olympia Film Society: less than 2 miles
The San Francisco Street Bakery: four blocks away
The Downtown: approximately one mile away
My friend’s Sue and Tim: about one mile away