We found out today that our 13 year old daughter won second place nationally for 8th graders in Kids' Philosophy Slam. The question answered by all entrants was: Which is more important, truth or beauty? Her essay is so first-rate, that I'm publishing it here....
A World Without Truth: Total and Complete Chaos by Andrea White
"Only morality in our actions can bring beauty and dignity to life: -Albert Einstein
Our world would be in a state of unbelievable disarray without truth. This cannot be said for beauty, though. Thus, in my opinion, truth is more important than beauty. Without honesty, no one would be able to tell what is real and what is not. Some may say that this is already happening, but that just makes the importance of truth rise to a greater level. Truth is not merely the absence of falseness or lies, though; it embodies different elements of a myriad of things such as trustworthiness, pure accuracy, and morality.
The principal reason for truth being of value and meaning more than beauty is that we, as human beings simply could not function without its presence, whereas with beauty, we can. Apart from total truth, there is no way to determine if something, or someone, can be trusted. If there were no honesty or authenticity that comes from truth, lives could be in danger, and in fact already are and have been in the past. If beauty was nonexistent, our world would be a bit more dull, but even then it wouldn't be complete and total utter chaos. Truth is quintessential to survive, and it is therefore incredibly more important.
Truth implies certain meanings, many of which frequently become hackneyed and monotonous. But truth is a standard, a level at which to thrive for; the paragon of rightfulness, it is a measurable way to determine things. Beyond a statistic, though, lies the utter essence of morality; to tell the truth is the "right thing to do," and it is a symbol of one's own character. Lastly, truth is deep; it is at the center of our innermost being, hence the term, "your true self." If you are true, there is no wrong; everything is out in the open and vulnerable. Apart from the ability to be in that specific state of openness, no one could find out who someone else, such as a close friend, genuinely is on the inside.
Truth is a standard, a symbol, and a state of being, and it is vital to the human race altogether. It creates something near an ideal of perfection, and can portray a person without any barriers. Truth is the essence of morality, and without morality, as Albert Einstein stated, there can be no beauty. A decently "ugly" world, that of one without beauty, is much more preferable than a false and utterly chaotic world, that of one without truth, and therefore, truth has more meaning and more importance than beauty.
Kids Philosophy Slam Home Page
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
On Being Grandparents....
We were at the hospital when she was born just after midnight on May 28. We held her when she was minutes old.
We returned that night to the hospital, and admired her for two hours.
Her parents brought her home yesterday. They called just to tell us they were home....that she was home. They called us three hours later to ask if it was OK that she had hiccups. They called a third time to ask if I could please go with my son to take her to the hospital for a routine blood test. His wife is too sore to descend stairs.
We picked my son and his new daughter up today at their apartment for her first official outing into the world. She was dressed to the nines, and covered with two blankets on this warm day. I sat in the backseat and played with her.
After an hour wrangling with insurance forms and papers, the three of us walked a labrynth of hospital halls to the lab. She protested the blood samples with a healthy, delicate cry. I changed her diaper under the nervous eye of my son.
He carefully laid her in her car set, adjusted her sweet bonnet and matching booties, dutifully covered her with the sherbet-hued crocheted blankets, and we left.
On the way back to the apartment, we heard about their lack of sleep, their piled-up dirty laundry, their empty refrigerator, the in-laws who hang around too long. He refused my offer of help, except for my trademark casseroles. He loves my cooking; his wife is just learning.
We dropped them off with a kiss and hug, and a new super-sized package of disposable diapers.
We drove off in silence. Blessed, organized silence. To our home where the laundry is done, the refrig is full and everyone sleeps through the night.
We looked at each other.....Isn't it great to drive away?
We returned that night to the hospital, and admired her for two hours.
Her parents brought her home yesterday. They called just to tell us they were home....that she was home. They called us three hours later to ask if it was OK that she had hiccups. They called a third time to ask if I could please go with my son to take her to the hospital for a routine blood test. His wife is too sore to descend stairs.
We picked my son and his new daughter up today at their apartment for her first official outing into the world. She was dressed to the nines, and covered with two blankets on this warm day. I sat in the backseat and played with her.
After an hour wrangling with insurance forms and papers, the three of us walked a labrynth of hospital halls to the lab. She protested the blood samples with a healthy, delicate cry. I changed her diaper under the nervous eye of my son.
He carefully laid her in her car set, adjusted her sweet bonnet and matching booties, dutifully covered her with the sherbet-hued crocheted blankets, and we left.
On the way back to the apartment, we heard about their lack of sleep, their piled-up dirty laundry, their empty refrigerator, the in-laws who hang around too long. He refused my offer of help, except for my trademark casseroles. He loves my cooking; his wife is just learning.
We dropped them off with a kiss and hug, and a new super-sized package of disposable diapers.
We drove off in silence. Blessed, organized silence. To our home where the laundry is done, the refrig is full and everyone sleeps through the night.
We looked at each other.....Isn't it great to drive away?
Saturday, May 28, 2005
The Holy Blessing of New Life
There's no high like the natural high of childbirth.
There's simply no joy like the glorious joy on the faces of new parents.
There's no awe like the deep awe of a new mother, lovingly admiring the tiny fingers and toes of her newborn child.
There's no blessing that compares to the holy blessing of new life.
-------------------------
Yes, we became grandparents at 10 seconds past midnight this morning.
Gabriella Rosemina Clark weighed 7 lbs, 8 ozs, and has big, gorgeous brown eyes. Gabriella and her exhausted parents are all healthy and "over the moon" with joy.
We had returned to the hospital for one last sojourn. Ron, Andrea and I were fortunate to be able to hold Gabriella when she was just 20 minutes old.
There are no words to describe our family's incomparable joy, except to proclaim again the obvious.....God is good and we are grateful to Him.
There's simply no joy like the glorious joy on the faces of new parents.
There's no awe like the deep awe of a new mother, lovingly admiring the tiny fingers and toes of her newborn child.
There's no blessing that compares to the holy blessing of new life.
-------------------------
Yes, we became grandparents at 10 seconds past midnight this morning.
Gabriella Rosemina Clark weighed 7 lbs, 8 ozs, and has big, gorgeous brown eyes. Gabriella and her exhausted parents are all healthy and "over the moon" with joy.
We had returned to the hospital for one last sojourn. Ron, Andrea and I were fortunate to be able to hold Gabriella when she was just 20 minutes old.
There are no words to describe our family's incomparable joy, except to proclaim again the obvious.....God is good and we are grateful to Him.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Looking at a Lamp
For people in our early 50s, we've experienced little loss of family.
Our grandparents have all passed away, of course, but we still have our four parents. Mine have been married for 56 years, and Ron's for 53 years. Happily, best-friend married. It's so good, its almost 1950s goofy.
Tonight, though, Ron's 76 year old mother lies in intensive care, kept in a coma while attached to a respirator, most of her body numbed from a continuous epidural. The surgeon removed part of her infected lung today.
She'd been frail for months....in truth, for several years. She survived the surgery, but recovery will be slow and long. And hard. She'll probably need an oxygen tank. No one has said this out loud, but I wonder if she'll need a wheelchair.
Ron's father isn't sure he's capable of taking care of her. His uncommunicative dad now calls every night, and talks to Ron for an hour, maybe more. He's scared.
I told Ron maybe we should fly up there over the long July 4th weekend. He said it was too early...she needs to rest and gain strength. We'll go later.
Honey, I softly said. Maybe we should go sooner.
He looked in my eyes, then turned away and looked at a lamp.
Oh, yeah.
Maybe.
Our grandparents have all passed away, of course, but we still have our four parents. Mine have been married for 56 years, and Ron's for 53 years. Happily, best-friend married. It's so good, its almost 1950s goofy.
Tonight, though, Ron's 76 year old mother lies in intensive care, kept in a coma while attached to a respirator, most of her body numbed from a continuous epidural. The surgeon removed part of her infected lung today.
She'd been frail for months....in truth, for several years. She survived the surgery, but recovery will be slow and long. And hard. She'll probably need an oxygen tank. No one has said this out loud, but I wonder if she'll need a wheelchair.
Ron's father isn't sure he's capable of taking care of her. His uncommunicative dad now calls every night, and talks to Ron for an hour, maybe more. He's scared.
I told Ron maybe we should fly up there over the long July 4th weekend. He said it was too early...she needs to rest and gain strength. We'll go later.
Honey, I softly said. Maybe we should go sooner.
He looked in my eyes, then turned away and looked at a lamp.
Oh, yeah.
Maybe.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Los Angeles Pledges $1.8 Billion for Downtown Renovation
This sounds like great fun to visit. I've always enjoyed downtown Los Angeles, and don't spend enough time there. Actually, no one does....
From Associated Press....L.A. Dedicates $1.8B to Downtown Boost
The city and county have approved a plan that would alter the downtown skyline by creating a dense urban center of high-rises, shopping centers and parkland around the Disney Concert Hall.
Authorities hope the privately funded, $1.8 billion project approved Monday will provide a nucleus for the kind of core that Los Angeles has lacked — a place where people both work and live.
Currently, the area empties at night as workers return to the suburbs.
The project calls for five high-rises — four 30-story condominium buildings and a 40- to 50-story hotel and condominium complex. There would be a 16-acre park linking Bunker Hill and the Civic Center, a supermarket and 400,000 square feet of retail space that would include a bookstore and movie theater.
The area already features such city landmarks as the concert hall, the Music Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Much of the new construction would be on vacant areas or parking lots.
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. estimated that the project would create 5,000 full-time jobs and generate approximately $565 million in annual business revenue to the city and the county.
"In some ways, Los Angeles has always been a divided city, a divided county," said Eli Broad, co-chairman of the Grand Avenue Committee, which has been shepherding the project. "That will all change with the creation of a vibrant city center where people can work, live and play."
The plan was approved following more than a year of planning and public hearings. An environmental impact review is expected to be completed by year's end, with the first phase of construction beginning as early as December 2006.
From Associated Press....L.A. Dedicates $1.8B to Downtown Boost
The city and county have approved a plan that would alter the downtown skyline by creating a dense urban center of high-rises, shopping centers and parkland around the Disney Concert Hall.
Authorities hope the privately funded, $1.8 billion project approved Monday will provide a nucleus for the kind of core that Los Angeles has lacked — a place where people both work and live.
Currently, the area empties at night as workers return to the suburbs.
The project calls for five high-rises — four 30-story condominium buildings and a 40- to 50-story hotel and condominium complex. There would be a 16-acre park linking Bunker Hill and the Civic Center, a supermarket and 400,000 square feet of retail space that would include a bookstore and movie theater.
The area already features such city landmarks as the concert hall, the Music Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Much of the new construction would be on vacant areas or parking lots.
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. estimated that the project would create 5,000 full-time jobs and generate approximately $565 million in annual business revenue to the city and the county.
"In some ways, Los Angeles has always been a divided city, a divided county," said Eli Broad, co-chairman of the Grand Avenue Committee, which has been shepherding the project. "That will all change with the creation of a vibrant city center where people can work, live and play."
The plan was approved following more than a year of planning and public hearings. An environmental impact review is expected to be completed by year's end, with the first phase of construction beginning as early as December 2006.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
One Woman's Balancing Act
Life is a balancing act. My life is, anyway.
Balancing between personal and professional, needs and wants. Between immediate family and extended family, birth family and in-laws. Between Ron-and-me and our children.
Getting through just one day is a balancing act. I have an article to write, yet laundry is piled up and the refrigerator is almost empty. Our 9-month pregnant daughter-in-law is feeling miserable, and Ron's mother is hospitalized in Reno with a serious lung infection. I want to help and comfort them. Here on my desk are notices for 3 must-attend 8th grade activities, all happening in the next 5 days, and the 8th grade grad party committee is asking me for help.
And yet I'm dashing off to Seattle for a weekend business meeting in 2 weeks. I thought working at home would preclude boring yada-yada meetings, but technology and the times have cured that. Yesterday, I had 2 hour-long phone conferences.
But....I don't have an ending to this. It's just a "but." But how should I balance it all? How can I get it all done? How can I keep my writing focus when there's so much to do?
I'm the glue that holds it together in our home and family.
This bottle of Elmer's is tired today.
Balancing between personal and professional, needs and wants. Between immediate family and extended family, birth family and in-laws. Between Ron-and-me and our children.
Getting through just one day is a balancing act. I have an article to write, yet laundry is piled up and the refrigerator is almost empty. Our 9-month pregnant daughter-in-law is feeling miserable, and Ron's mother is hospitalized in Reno with a serious lung infection. I want to help and comfort them. Here on my desk are notices for 3 must-attend 8th grade activities, all happening in the next 5 days, and the 8th grade grad party committee is asking me for help.
And yet I'm dashing off to Seattle for a weekend business meeting in 2 weeks. I thought working at home would preclude boring yada-yada meetings, but technology and the times have cured that. Yesterday, I had 2 hour-long phone conferences.
Ron told me that I wished him Happy Birthday in the middle of last night. His birthday is in August.
It's a blessing to be needed and loved, and a privilege to help our family. And I'm profoundly grateful for the opportunities that God has heaped on me.But....I don't have an ending to this. It's just a "but." But how should I balance it all? How can I get it all done? How can I keep my writing focus when there's so much to do?
I'm the glue that holds it together in our home and family.
This bottle of Elmer's is tired today.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Faith Is....
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
more Famous Quotes
Martin Luther King, Jr.
more Famous Quotes
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