How to Think (not what)

                           

“We Teach Them  How to Think: 

                     not What”

70 years ago, after Norman Rockwell

Prayers on the  front porch, I would  

now be walking  half a block to my 

father’s Presbyterian Church and  

flannel-board Vacation Bible School

–stories and hymns and art projects.

“Reverend,” they called him, Johnstown

wives of coal miners and steel workers---

families living in the projects, drunks and

homeless sheltered.

“Weak theologically and sentimental”— 

according to my Orthodox Presbyterian

FB friend. “Liberal. Progressive.”

Afterwards Junie Harbrant and me would 

harvest cigarette butts off the steps of the 

Catholic church—katy-corner from the 

Presbyterians and Holy Rollers & smokem 

in the empty lot behind the nunnery.

                               

“You’re generalizing, Sam”—my students

accuse me. “Reducing. Assuming. Presuming. 

Overstating. Understating.” My natural selection: 

I cherry-pick and rip-off from the whole what 

calls to me, suits my business and agenda—

walking thru a field or mall, reading a newspaper, 

scrolling  Face book --embarrassment of riches,

yes?

I take  what I  want and ignore the rest.

No wonder I feel guilt  all the days of my life. 

Makes good sense. Crime against the  whole: 

moving violations. Damaged and damaging. 

How could it be other wise? It’s the denial and 

cover-up that’s toxic.

Sociopathologic: I’m not the boss of myself. 

Mind-Set is: my bias/belief. prejudice/convictions

shape & jiggle-dance. Me—puppet knee jerk 

response ability  to this and that and whatever:

conservatives, orthodox and fundamental Christians, 

atheists, militant & mild, Justin Beiber, Wendy 

Williams, tattoos, body piercings and rap,  homo

phobes and  flamboyant gays,  liberals and 

libertarians, Lutherans and mid-westerners, 

home less and trailer trash, platitudes and

bromides on Face book…  I could go on.  I am legion: 

I contain multitudes, covered and concealed 

of course, makes good sense.  Be polite, political.

I’m a taker, not a giver. I don’t listen. Rain—yes.

I hear it. I take it for granted. I’m entitled.  

Privileged. It’s the denial and cover-up 

that raises my bozone layer.