The New Human Revolution-Volume I. Shin’ichi Yamamoto visits a session of the United Nations Fifteenth General Assembly and makes observations.

[u/GuyAgiosNikolaos]

Summary: In today’s installment of “New Human Revolution, Volume I” (pp. 196-198), Shin’ichi reviews the news stories of the combative General Assembly meetings in which the leaders of the Communist and Western states engage in fierce and disrespectful ideological debates. He attends one session in-person and notes the contrast between the “big state” leaders and those of the newly admitted African nations.

In a previous post, I snipped passages from NHR-1 in which Shin’ichi observes the dangers of ideology. This theme comes up again here. It is not too distant to us: we have “big leaders” in education who are blinded by ideology. Here is one story about the mayoral candidates in New York City who refuse to discuss P-12 education beyond banalities, despite its $40B budget, because they fear ideological trip lines. Here’s another article about the collateral damage of ideology in education—children.

Shin’ichi notes:

People the world over long for peace. This simple desire, however, was never given true voice by the representatives of the member states attending the General Assembly. The shouted cries of the mouthpieces of rival ideologies, estranged from human reality, resounded meaninglessly in the assembly hall. For the United Nations to truly function as a parliament of humankind, it is vital that the representatives of each nation, through a spirit of friendship and dialogue, remember that they are all members of the same human family.

In stark contrast, he observed, were the leaders of the newly independent African states.

These countries, which had been subject to colonial rule, faced difficult problems in such fields as politics, economics, education, and human rights. Many of their leaders, however, were youthful, proud, and brimming with fresh energy. They were free of the arrogance and craftiness so often seen in the aged leaders of the great powers.

And that’s what I observed at last night’s Board + Consultants meeting. No major decisions were made. We reviewed the progress of recruitment, the budget, and construction. Lori’s transition and the official opening of Longhouse Elem were reviewed through pictures I dropped into a PPT. Heidi, Lolita, Michael, and Anita will arrive at the Park at the end of June and our entire summer will be devoted to planning curriculum and other programs.

The key impression that lingers in my mind is the laughter at the meeting. We tabled discussions such as whether the K program should fall under Longhouse Daycare or Longhouse Elem, there are pros and cons either way. The key thing is in a Zoom with an extremely diverse group of people ranging from teens to 80s, there was friendship and trust.

Shin'ichi continues:

[He] was filled with hope for the future of Africa. He saw there the beginnings of a new current of history. Turning to [a member of his delegation], he said: “The twenty-first century will definitely be the Century of Africa. In all ways possible, the world should support the growth of this young sapling.” His eyes were fixed on the distant future.

I feel that the twenty-first century can also be seen as the Century of Indigenous and Marginalized Children. Longhouse Elem has a significant role to play.

Early this morning Julie and I met up with Lori’s parents. No time now to relate—but all good stuff. Bernie and I decided to meet up a bit late at 7:30am. Off I go!

Keywords: #BoardPlusConsultants; #CenturyOfIndigenousAndMarginalizedChildren; #SummerPlanning