Dec 09, 2007 - 04:04:36 CST
If you were expecting a column today about the latest twists and turns at Workforce Safety and Insurance, then you might be disappointed. Then again, you might be ecstatic that today's topic has nothing to do with the biggest news of last week; there will be no personal critique on the sour notes that continue to be sung in the state's ongoing soap opera.Well, upon midsentence thought and reflection, the words I'll be sharing might have a tangential connection to the WSI debacle.
The strand, however tenuous, is in the message of the importance of education and learning lessons from the past - or the consequences that can be devastating for stagnant thinking and inappropriate actions.
Those are interesting topics that have an unlimited range of case study reviews, including WSI - but I promise that will be my final acrimonious, or otherwise, mention today of that acronym.
I am a lifelong learner. Hopefully you are as well. The older I get, the more I want to learn, and there are such treasures to be found in the printed word. My knowledge was increased recently, and I even formulated some new opinions, by reading a short book. The title of the book and name of the author will, for now, remain unknown.
But I want to share some of what I learned, specifically those things that challenged my thought processes and previously formed opinions on several matters, by playing a game called "Who am I."
It's simple to play this game. I will share information, and you'll try to guess the famous figure-subject of the book. Then, at the end of the column, I'll reveal the figure, author and title of the book.
q q q
Who am I? I am a natural but reluctant leader. I am optimistic. I believe in respectful communication. I believe the public needs to be given a full accounting of the affairs of government, which can degenerate when the people are not allowed a strong voice.
It seems to me that mankind is a sort of a machine that can endure all sorts of difficulties. We need to find means within ourselves in all things and not lean on others. I do not want to attract attention to myself.
I believe in free trade with all nations, limited diplomacy and no political connection. We deserve a wise, frugal and minimal government. Education, for me, is a rich source of delight and is more valuable than anything else I have acquired in life. I am extremely fond of reading.
I prefer a modest residence with books, family, friends and simple food, than a position with great power. Wine, preferably cheap, I believe, is the only true antidote to the bane of whisky. Walking is the best exercise for me to maintain an active life.
I believe in the future, science and new developments (technology), not what others believe, that our past as devised by our forefathers was perfect. Our real wants and needs are few, individual happiness is cheap, and individual pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold. I approach the world with humility, curiosity and tolerance.
I am a horticulturist, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, inventor and the founder of a university. I have multiple interests and a spirit of inclusiveness. I am not a perfect man, and I've been called a racist and sexist, and accused of dastardly deeds and strange thoughts.
So who am I? I am Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States.
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The source of this column is Clay Jenkinson's book titled "Becoming Jefferson's People: Re-inventing the American Republic in the Twenty-first Century." Jenkinson is a humanities scholar at Dickinson State University, Bismarck resident and Tribune weekly columnist.
Jenkinson writes at the beginning of his work that his book was a project to encourage a national conversation about the future of America. Clearly, some of those talks have been held, but likely not enough, especially by the common man and woman.
Application of such national conversations is as relevant today as we prepare to elect our next president, making me think of the following questions?
What kind of president do we want? What can we learn from Jefferson, from the past, from other presidents? Do a candidate's overall strengths overcome the negatives she or he possess and hopefully can overcome? What values do the candidates profess - and which of those values do they model?
Most importantly, is there a consensus of what we - the people - want for America's future? And if so, who is best suited to develop that American dream?
The time has never been more important than now to be a part of the conversation that could lead to solutions to the problems we the people have allowed to fester because of individual disengagement.
(You can reach editor John Irby at 250-8266 or john.irby@bismarcktribune.com and go to http:/ /www.bismarcktribune.com/blog /?w=thepaper&e_id=2671/ to read his blog.)
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