Be Careful of What You Say

Be Careful of What You Say

I am currently working on Chapter 2 of my Peace Corps experience and dealing with a number of issues in my life.  Recently, some comments made over a span of a few years have propelled me down a path of thoughts I have been avoiding.  This blog is a summary of both the comments and the path of reason... for those who might be interested.  I will take this blog off my site when I finish Chapter 2.

Introduction

To understand the significance on my life of the events described later, you need to know something of my past.  Please do not consider my synopsis as being complete, nor are they “bragging” or “tooting my own horn”.  It is an incomplete overview of over sixty years of living and is only to shed light on why and how the events affected me.  Throughout this blog, I will avoid names of people, places or groups.

Background

I grew up in a family that prized knowledge and taught me the joy of its pursuit.  Seeking better and deeper understanding is a noble and rewarding life’s activity.  I also accepted Christ as my Savior and learned strong Christian values and the importance of service to others.  My family enjoyed reading and often discussed detained medical (My father and brother were/are MD’s), historical, philosophical and theological issues around the dinner table.

Unfortunately, I had difficulty fitting in.  I was near the bottom of my High School Graduating Class (my twin brother was first in the class).  My acceptance at a small, private college was conditional and I was often on probation.  Because of my poor academic record, getting accepted into graduate school was difficult and provisional.

In spite of my struggles and difficulties learning, I eventually earned 60+ credit hours beyond my MA, a certificate in Electronics (50+ classes) and a number of classes in the “School of Christian Studies” through the West Virginia Baptist Association.  My Christian studies included Homiletics, Pastoral Care, Evangelism, Old Testament and New Testament classes.  At one point, I assumed most of the pastoral responsibilities of a small church and during my 41 years in education I taught in Nepal (science and math in their language), West Virginia and Virginia.

My work history includes being a Bus Boy at a Howard Johnson’s Restaurant outside of Atlanta Georgia, an assistant to a surveyor and as an Oceanographer for the United States Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit (no longer in existence).  As part of my teaching experience, I have done research at Oak Ridge National Lab and at Greenbank Radio Observatory.

I have also taught classes for Alderson Broaddus University, Fairmont State University, South Side Community College, Central Virginia Community College, West Virginia Governor’s Academy (13 years) and a year at the West Virginia Governor’s School for Science and Math.  In addition to teaching Physics at both High School and College level, I taught High School Geology, Oceanography, math, Astronomy, General Science, Physical Science and Biology.  At the college level, I taught Teaching Methodology, Inquiry Teaching, Physics, Organic Chemistry, Astronomy Introduction to Engineering, Industrial Electronics and Meteorology.

Because teaching, although rewarding in other areas, does not pay well (For most of my career in West Virginia we were the 48^th State in pay), and I have three children, I needed to supplement our income including being an Adjunct Professor and as a photographer taking School, Portrait, Wedding and Prom pictures.  For a brief time, I wore many hats: Town Councilman (during the “flood of the century”), Faculty Senate President, Science Department Chairman, Barbour County Education Credit Union President and Chairman of my church’s Deacon Board.  All this while still teaching at the High school, teaching night classes and attending both morning services at my church, Sunday Evening Service and the church’s “Wednesday Night Connection.”

The Critical Events

If you actually read all that stuff I put in about my background, you will know what impact the following events had at the very heart of my being:

1. I was Chairman of a board associated with a group I will describe as “service oriented” (there is much more to this group than service, but I am avoiding things that could identify it).  Every meeting, I provided a list of potential opportunities for the men and encouraged them to be more active and serve as examples for the rest of the group.  At one such meeting, a man who was often absent suddenly burst into an angry rage and, inches from my face screamed, “you don’t know what it’s like to have to work for a living!”  He then grabbed his papers and stomped out.  Do not know what it is like to have to work for a living?
2. He returned for the next meeting and, being sure to turn his back to me, told the rest of the men that he was not sorry for what he had said but only how he had said it.  The others quickly offered assurance that it was all right and that they understood.  Later, one of the men told me, “he’s been that way all his life,” as if it were an excuse.  (that would mean that I should condone a thief or a liar because “he’s been that way all his life”) - - - shouldn't true friends and Christians be concerned with helping someone with a problem instead of just accepting it as part of their character?
3. A man in another “study group” within the larger group has taken every opportunity to belittle and even denigrate others who have higher education degrees.  
4. On numerous occasions, another man, when speaking to the group, has started his oration with, “I never went past High School, but…”  It is as if to say going past High School would somehow have lessened his accomplishments, or that only in the absence of an education could someone be as successful.  Perhaps what he means is that a higher education degree is of little or no value?
5. Most recently, a guest speaker made derogatory remarks about West Virginia (not getting the response he expected, he then added a disclaimer that he was only kidding).  He continued and, telling us he had many degrees, gave assurance that someone did not need any education to… (omitted for anonymity) .  At this, a man in the back of the room yelled out, “Amen Brother” followed by a number of others chiming in “Amen”!

Concluding Thoughts

What does all this mean?   I hope the reader realizes how harmful and hurting the shared statements and events have been.  One of the treasured cornerstones of my life is, to many in this group, of no value and not worthy of being called true "work".  My experiences, knowledge and understanding are not wanted.

I will continue being a member of this group.  For now, I have given up on any hope of pursuing deeper understanding and knowledge with them, or to share my discoveries with anyone.  I will continue my own studies and perhaps seek out a group of people who want to grow in their own knowledge and understanding, too.

 I have many thoughts and concerns that have sprung out of this observation, but for now, I will keep them to myself.