Principles of Principals

10/13/2020 UPDATE The Great Barrington Declaration . You probably haven't seen it since Google and Reddit shadow banned/censored and salted it with climate denial subterfuge. Bing for the win, since they played it straight. This science driven, thoughtful petition - initiated by highly recognized Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford epidemiologists - signed by 7,000 medical scientists and 15,000 medical practitioners.  Science is real, remember? Here's a key part:  " Current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health. The results (to name a few) include lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health – leading to greater excess mortality in years to come, with the working class and younger members of society carrying the heaviest burden. Keeping students out of school is a grave injustice. Keeping these measures in place until a vaccine is availab...

I hear a consistent demand for empathy and caring.  "Whatever men expect they soon come to think they have a right to: the sense of disappointment can, with very little skill on our part, be turned into a sense of injury." - C.S. Lewis My Drill Sergeant was screaming in my ear, "When I say get down, you get down! You don't pass go! You do not collect $200! You grab your ass and you get down and stay down until I call all clear! Nod that giant cranium of yours so that I am sure you hear me!" Nodding as I stood there, his breath hot in my ear, round brown tapping my temples and my heart pounding , I had a deep sense of regret and responsibility wash over me.  That particular day, hot and humid like all the others, soldiers were receiving training on the hand grenade range. The safety briefing was understandably intense, instructions concise, clear. My instructors rapid fired scenarios at us to test our reaction times. They left out empathy. No sympathy. Nothing bu...

  Another post about wrestling? Sheesh! Yes. Dear readers, though you be few, indulge me if you will. I've written about how wrestling teaches equity through diversity . What about good conduct and character? Well, imagine you've done all you can to prepare for your competition. On match day, you are sitting in the weigh in queue, pondering the sacrifices - skipped meals, extra hours of fitness, tutoring sessions, just one more switch or take-down drill...and it hits you that you've done all you can.  Your coach comes over and let's you know what your bracket seed number is, and as you look down at your name on the pig-tail bracketing, you see the word BYE. Your heart sinks. All of that preparation, and all you get to do is shoulder your singlet, walk out, and let the referee raise your hand. Empty victory. Wrestlers know that their opponents have gone through the same preparation, sacrifice, sweat, blood and tears. They know. Wrestlers want their opponents to make weig...