Day 18- Philadelphia Perseverance

My three-hour drive from Philadelphia, PA to Washington, D.C. gave me ample time to appreciate several things about my fellowship. I crossed into two more states today (Delaware and Maryland) and one Federal district (The District of Columbia!). The east coast, from a Chicagoan’s point of view, is jam packed with different state. Each state has its own feel, its own geography, and it’s own pace. Granted, my fellowship involves getting quick glimpses of my destinations, but there’s much to be divined when you drive from place, to place, to place…

            I left Philadelphia thinking about the political struggles faced in that important city. I thought of the painstaking decision-making that taxed the minds of leaders and everyday people. In our instant gratification world, I wonder how we would have felt living life in a social slow motion…where some days the news is good (Independence declared!) and some days the news is bad (the early years of the American Revolution!). The founding fathers risked everything, their treasonous acts meant the price of failure would have been paid with their heads.

            Benjamin Franklin comes to mind as his contribution to the early American government represents an important aspect of perseverance. Upon the declaration of independence, Franklin was dispatched as a diplomat to France. While the leaders and citizens were back in the colonies trying to figure out the next move, Franklin was out pounding the pavement pitching a high-level sales pitch to woo France, and other countries, to lend their support to the independence movement. Perseverance…it must have taken an incredible amount of perseverance to see his job through. If Franklin failed, support from other countries would have waned, and the drive for Independence would have been a spectacular failure.

Had Benjamin Franklin failed, who would want to be the one to tell THAT part of the story to General George Washington? Washington, at one point, was encamped in the hills outside of Philadelphia at Valley Force for the long, soul-searching winter of 1777-1778. Again, perseverance plays a critical role in this part of the story. Washington was grooming his troops to be an effective fighting force against the British and he had to believe that his goals were obtainable. Washington’s goals relied on other founding fathers reaching their goals to shift the entire revolutionary machine into gear to achieve sustainable forward progress.Washington's perseverance paid off...

From the 2012 perspective, we know how the story ends…wave your flags, sing your songs, and love your 4^th of July celebrations. What thoughts were crossing the minds of Washington, Revere, Jefferson, and Franklin as they put their heads on a their pillows every night? Did they KNOW they were destined for greatness, did they HOPE they were destined for greatness, or did they each secretly fear failure (or accept failure?) thinking it would be better to try and fail rather than never have tried at all…

I admire these men for the courage they displayed in the uncertain times. Where did they get the fortitude necessary to wake up and move forward day after day? Does that spirit still exist today? How do we mine that spirit in ourselves? How do we cultivate that spirit in our students and our children?

I’d like to tell you about one more story of Philadelphia Perseverance. Aside from the history bonanza to be found in Philly, another important component of my stop in Philadelphia centered around the fact that my family and I would be staying with my Uncle Al. Chicago-Philadelphia, time and life don’t always allow individuals to have the day-to-day connections you’d like to have with your family members. However, Uncle Al and I have grown closer as the years have grown on us. Some of my earliest childhood memories have Uncle Al right in the middle of the fun. As I’ve grown, I’ve grown to realize that he’s always been a part of my life, and my own family’s life. He’s a wonderful uncle.

So why does Uncle Al fit into my reflection I’ve shared with you today? The answer is very simple…He’s persevered. Perseverance plays an important part in any era of human history on the sociological level…groups face challenges, groups fail or groups succeed, the stories are written, and they’re what teachers like me talk about in classrooms. What’s easy to overlook is what happens to individuals…

Uncle Al has had to do the unthinkable, he had to bury his son sixteen years ago and he had to bury his wife a year ago this September. Honestly, those events broke part of me and I’m just the cousin and the nephew. Al was the father and the husband and he faced one of most challenging aspects of the human condition: Death. He faced the death of people he loved the most and he did so with dignity, pride, and love, just like I’d imagine any of us would hope to do in such circumstances.

What’s remarkable about Al’s story are the moments, days, weeks, months, and years after the loss. He’s had to carry on to live his life, simultaneously as the same man and as a changed man. In the passage of time, Al’s always persevered, loved and grown, woken up each day to face his new realities, and done so making the best of his situation. He’s done more than live, he’s persevered. He’s done this by not only honoring his past, but by also being very much alive in the present, and he casts an optimistic eye toward the future.

History is full of figures who are noteworthy for many reason. My fellowship focuses on some of the founding fathers of our country, and each man deserves the academic accolades that historians heap upon them since their days of glory. As I’ve discovered in my fellowship, the founding fathers’ didn’t have it easy and they had to persevere in dangerous times. However, I think it’s important to realize that the heroes of our own lives are the ones who persevere within the context of the joys and sorrows of everyday life.

To that end, perhaps the greatest people we’ll ever learn from are the ones we’ll never read about in some textbook. May the same be true for you as it has been for me.

Thanks for joining me today…~Mr. K.

Day 17- Touring Philadelphia, PA

Independence Hall, the epicenter of early American political science (Philadelphia, PA)

Day 17- Touring Philadelphia

            Philadelphia. Philadelphia is an easy American city to overlook…unless you know how to look at it in terms of our country’s history. In the colonial era, Philadelphia was THE hot spot for colonial politics as talk of separation and revolution gathered momentum. Today, I walked among the shadows of our nation’s founding fathers in the city where their political craftsmanship took a group of colonies, and later, a fledgling nation to the brink of disaster and, ultimately, one of the greatest political victories in human history.

            My first stop on today’s tour was to view the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell represents an unrivaled historic artifact as its presence during the dissention and revolution symbolizes a call-to-arms of sorts for the colonial quest for freedom. To stand within feet of this national treasure and contemplate the decisions, risks, and opportunities made in the name of achieving and preserving liberty is quite powerful. 

Does this face ring a bell? I know, my humor takes its toll on you...(Philadelphia, PA)

As I studied the bell, its power to call people is quite remarkable even though the bells itself was silenced in 1846. People from all over the country and all over the world stood in awe and looked at a bell. We gaze for many reasons: Awe, honor, respect, pride, hope, and thanks. In the fabled story of American history few items command such universal respect. The Liberty Bell’s importance as a significant artifact transcends the generations and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Independence Hall, just across from the Liberty Bell pavilion, stands as a proud reminder of the seemingly insurmountable tasks that were accomplished by colonial politicians. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United State were crafted by some of the sharpest political minds in government. The risky Declaration of Independence shows the resolve and fortitude colonial leadership while the United States Constitution established a blue print that outlined how a fair and democratic government should function. It is nothing short of amazing to think that ideas written and adopted over two hundred years ago guide one of the most powerful nations in the world today. It all happened in Independence Hall and it was a very special feeling to see where history changed our country from the very beginning.

Right inside that building a few political science miracles happened...(Philadelphia, PA)

I ended the day touring Valley Forge, the winter encampment home of the Continental Army, commanded by General George Washington. The Valley Forge National Historical Park is an expansive layout of hilly terrain that identifies the location of various elements’ encampment location. While touring the park my thoughts focused on the amazing risks colonial leaders and colonial citizens took to advance a cause so close to their heart. Individuals put up with uncertainly and hardships day in and day out to establish a new order of living within North America. My thoughts continued, in awe, because our lives today reflect the payout of our ancestors’ dedication to freedom. In essence, they paid a down payment on our happiness. Sadly, for some, there is no greater price to pay than to be willing to die for the cause you support as noted when I passed a Tomb of the Unknowns dedicated to the individuals who died during the encampment at Valley Forge. 

May our memories of these individuals be used to recognize the extreme sacrifices made in the name of freedom. Their efforts made today possible...

Do we ever really think about the effort and sacrifices made for our freedom?

Thanks for joining me today…~Mr. K.

           

Day 16- New York, NY to Philadelphia, PA

            It’s transition day for the fellowship and it’s been an adventurous, if not harrowing drive, as I direct my attention to the “big cities” portion of my studies. Only days ago I was driving along the bucolic highways of Maine. Yesterday I was careening along with multitudes of other drivers as I made my way literally across New York City, complete with full-blown construction zones to make things more interesting. I’ve lived in the Chicago area all my life and I don’t mind driving in the downtown zoo in Chicago. However, Chicago’s “crazy” driving is likely just another day of New York’s driving. Driving, like most things in New York, happens in a much grander scale.

            Leaving the New York City area is a process. You have to drive for a very long to time to even begin to think you’ve even left the area. Shipping, shopping, seaports, and speeders are the sure signs that you’re trying your best to “get out of Dodge.” After I left my hotel this morning and was a full hour into my drive, I still felt connected to the urban grind I had left fifty miles back. You simply can’t leave New York. New York does not let you go, you have to be dismissed. I arrived in Philadelphia nine hours ago and only now do I feel like I’m mentally away from the city that is the epitome of all things American.

            During my twenty-four hour stopover, I came up with a short list of things I’d like to do in New York next time I’m in town. These items are: 9/11 Memorial, Intrepid Museum (see the Space Shuttle on display!), MOMA, dinner in Little Italy, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. There are other things, too, but this is the short list.

            Besides the challenging driving, the obstacle I had to face on my trip to New York was my feelings about the New York City in the post 9/11 era. 9/11 shook my family to its core as my wife frequently worked in the World Trade Centers until Monday, September 10, 2001. Fears and insecurities that I felt back in 2001 as we watched and waited for another attack came back like a recurring nightmare that hits you in a vulnerable part of your psyche. 9/11 changed everything in our country and as a teacher I believe that the importance of knowing about 9/11 focuses on the years prior to the attack and the American response that followed. My short visit to New York City gave me a glimpse at how New Yorkers might have felt and responded to the terrorist attacks.

            When America absorbed the depth, breadth, and meaning of the attacks, it had to pull itself back up by its bootstraps. For better or for worse, our country demonstrates time and time again that resilience and tenacity are the guiding spirits of who we are within the American identity.

Hmmm, do you think that the Founding Fathers felt the same way about their country when they faced external threats?

Thanks for joining me today…~ Mr. K.  

Day 15- Cape Cod, MA - Jersey City, NJ

            From the quiet scenery of Cap Cod National Seashore to the noisy streets of  New York City, NY today’s travels highlight the extremes of American spaces. The first two weeks of my fellowship covered the quiet corners of our country’s New England spaces. Today brings that peace and quiet to an abrupt end as I slogged from the edge of Massachusetts to the heart of the Big Apple. The contrasts of American communities couldn’t be more pronounced.

            As I approached New York City I marvel at the congestion that greeted me almost sixty miles from city center. You just don’t “show up” to New York, you’re welcomed in stages that test your sanity. First you’re hit with construction…All the construction I’ve missed for the last 3,000 miles waited to get me today…As the construction issues begin to rise, so does the traffic volume. The last two hours to city center had me in bumper-to-bumper traffic almost to my final destination. The sheer volume of cars and people lays itself out on a scale unrivaled by any other American city. Lastly, lane changes and exit ramps have little rhyme or reason. If M.C. Escher designed cities, he would love how New York can be impossible at times to navigate. 

My final twenty minutes had me driving right next to the Hudson River, past the Intrepid museum, and within close proximity to Ground Zero and the under construction Freedom Tower. For me the ghosts of the 9/11 still linger just under the surface. While it’s been ten year since the 9/11 attacks, the wound and insult seem very fresh in the mind of a guy who was half a country away on that fateful day. The city is recovering, but I would bet anyone who was here ten years ago could tell me their fateful account of that infamous day. People are moving on with their lives, but just exactly how well can  you move on from a day that changed the very core of a city and a country? My answer: You move on, but you move on as a different person…

I wonder how the founding fathers would view the growth of New York and other eastern seaboard cities? Would they marvel the accomplishments of modern urban planning and its ability to serve the needs of millions of people at once? Or would they think that the cities disconnect form the reasons early colonists sought a new life in the new world?

            American cities are certainly world-class cities, but do they reflect a healthy growth for America the country? Crumbling infrastructures, vast ranges of wealth for individuals, and the fact that natural beauty is often an afterthought in our concrete jungles.

Cities are a big draw, but when they draw you in perhaps you should ask yourself if you like where you are headed…

Thanks for joining me today…~Mr. K.

Day 14- Touring Cape Cod, MA

I ran out of road!

            The Cape Cod, MA area is very special to me for several reasons. First of all, it is a popular destination for national and international travels and its “out there” location only adds to the mystique. I enjoy being places that are difficult to get to, my favorites to date: Blancaneau Lodge in Belize, Orkney Islands, Point Barrow, Alaska, and Manatoulin Island. So, after today, I can add Provincetown, MA and the Cape Cod National Seashore to the list. Race Point Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore facilities, lies at the end of Cape Cod, outside of Provincetown, literally, at the end of the road as the sign and picture below suggest. My day began at Race Point Beach and that’s where today’s reflection begins.

Visiting the far corners of the country...first Acadia National Park, now Cape Cod, MA!

            I love the beach, I love the water rushing around my feet, I love the simplicity of connecting with nature. I feel at peace when I’m at the beach. One goal of this fellowship journey is to serve as a trailblazer for others. I hope to encourage all of you to create journies that impact your lives. Sometimes, the journeys can be very, very small, other times  you might be able to pull off a trip of a lifetime. Regardless of the path you choose for yourself, I want to encourage you to find your path and set your goals. In some ways, our dreams can become the foundation of our realities. I would like to offer this fellowship as an example of a dream becoming a reality. On the beach today I met a family who represent an important element of the American dream realized. Their story fits into the story of this fellowship and I’d like to share some insights about our conversation. 

A great feeling...my journey to the end of the road, Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA

The view of the Atlantic Ocean from Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA

The view along the shore of Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA

The view looking along the shore of Race Point Beach, Provincetown, MA

Recently, I wrote of risk taking in the historical context as it applied colonial leadership during the American Revolution. However, I interpret my role as a social studies teacher is to help shift one’s focus back and forth from the past to the present and to the future. Thus, we’re able to observe human activity along the continuum of time and make some interesting conclusions.

Karen and Nicole run a family business and their story represents an important component of the entrepreneurial spirit that plays a part of defining American character. They certainly are risk-takers as they are committed creating and running a family business that is now in its fourth generation…if the business wins, they win, if the business loses, they lose. Most people view work as something you need to do for someone else. In Karen and Nicole’s case, they work for themselves and continue to run the business on their terms. They are the Generals designing and economic offense and an economic defense to run the business. Kudos to them for keeping the business afloat in these challenging economic times.

Pursuing the American Dream relies on entrepreneurial ability and I believe it is important to keep this risky, but rewarding career path in mind as we visualize our own personal economic future.  Most people I know get up and go to work for other people. What are the risks and the benefits of trying to get your own company off the ground? I’m sure that pitfalls abound, but if you never try, you’ll never know…The picture below is of a local gift store (NOT Karen and Nicole's type of work, BTW) and should motivate you to think that your own ideas can get off the ground…

Something there for everyone...let's shop on the roof!

As I close this evening’s post, I’d like to revisit the importance of connecting with nature. Author/lyricist Neil Peart wrote in a song called Dreamline a chorus that bears mentioning here:

When we are young
wandering the face of the earth
wondering what our dreams might be worth
learning that we're only immortal -
for a limited time

Eventually, time runs out for all of us. Try and make the most of your opportunities to make connections with nature. Tonight I spent over an hour standing on the shore of Cape Cod watching the sun set and the stars emerge. It was serene. I’m glad I had the chance to connect with nature again tonight, and it won’t be another year before I visit the water again…What are your plans?

 Thanks for joining me…~Mr. K.

Sunset at Ellis Landing overlooking Cape Cap, Brewster, MA

Day 13- Boston, MA - Brewster, MA (Cape Cod)

  

Would you sail this across the ocean and start a new life in a new world? On THIS?

            What are you willing to risk? History is full of risk-taking stories and my Finding the Founding Fathers fellowship focuses on moments in colonial history where individuals took great risks to move their lives forward.

In Boston I examined the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre site, the Old South Meeting House where colonists engaged in heated discussions about plans for protests. In Lexington and Concord minutemen engaged British regulars in the first skirmishes of the American Revolution…Basically farmers with guns going up against well-trained professional army regulars. In Saratoga Springs, the patriots risked setting up a fortified line squaring off against the British Army, then delivering a sound defeat. Risk is part of the human process, and risk played a major role in brining European colonists to North American shores.

The highlight of my day today centered on my visit to Plymouth, MA to see Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. As you approach the harbor for the ship and the state part that hosts the rock, you are reminded that you are stepping into history. In this area, the Pilgrims put in anchor and made their way to shore to establish a settlement. Pilgrims risked everything to find a new home where they could worship in peace and carry on with their lives according to their traditions.

Speaking of Pilgrims...I ran into a few on the Mayflower II

To find their new home the Pilgrims embarked on a transoceanic journey in a ship that I can hardly see being fit to sail up and down the U.S. coast, let alone cross the ocean. As I toured the Mayflower II, which is close approximation to the original Mayflower, I could only imagine the daunting daily grind of life for the relocating passengers. Battling ocean swells, storms, seasickness, sickness, cramped quarters, fear of the unknown, or a loss of faith as you questioned your own journey from the Old World to the New World. The Pilgrims risked everything, and their risks paid off, at least for the rest of us, because here we are…

Completing my journey to Plymouth...Almost 400 years later!

Fast forward to our modern times. Are we over confident in the lives we lead and the choices we make? Are we taking enough risks?  Are our risks healthy risks? What risks are we supporting or encouraging our children to make, and are those risks beneficial or are they doing more harm than good? Are we risking too much so they can be “the best” instead of just being satisfied with our “being”? Would we be willing to risk everything and start over a new life, in a new place, to satisfy a yearning that drives us from the center of our soul?

Perhaps the biggest risk we face is not taking full advantage of the life we’re given to live. Sometimes we’re happy with the status quo instead of stretching and growing to reach for new heights. My fellowship was born out of my desire to shake things up and find new ways to connect with my curriculum and make an impact for my students. It’s a huge risk to undertake the fellowship journey…the miles driven, risk of breakdown, long days, burn-out, self-doubt. However, I’m driven by the reward that comes from life-enriching opportunities that a fellowship experience like this journey can only provide. 

I had to risk walking around below deck...I'm 6'6", the Pilgrims were not...

After just crossing the halfway point of this fellowship I am well-aware of the beneficial impact this study experience will have for me and my students. As such, I am more than willing to accept the risks to reap the rewards. If we’re not willing to bring risks to our lives are we really living? The Pilgrims embraced change, worked together, and started life anew.

Are we ready to look for similar opportunities in our own lives in either large-scale or small-scale issues? Would we get on the boat like the Pilgrims or simply accept our fate being controlled by the status quo?

We know the Pilgrims’ answer…what’s yours?

Thanks for joining me today…~Mr. K.

Like the Pilgrims, I had a nice reward at the end of the journey to Cape Cod...Dinner at a local Cape Cod fish place...I had the $8.00 fish and shrimp platter...Fresh, Cheap, GREAT! (Ignore the Lobster Dinner sign, they're everywhere!)

 

Week 2 Reflection

Our sacred space...(Acadia National Park, Maine)

           How do you sum up the grandeur of the American landscape in a few paragraphs? How do you begin to explain the scale of the beauty, the ruggedness of the land, and the fact that this corner of quiet America is worth every effort to visit? There are times where words are so limiting when compared to the task. However, to simply gloss over the experience would not do justice to the place and to not attempt to discuss this with you would be a crime.

            Acadia National Park is a standout feature of New England and getting there is half the fun. Maine is an out-of-the-way treasure for our country and I strongly encourage you to make a visit to that great state a bucket-list item. While the American west has its great expanses, and its own stunning scenery, Maine has its joie de vivre that is unique to that state. Going to Maine is like wearing your favorite pair of jeans on a day where you look and feel good. Maine makes you feel like you’re home even though you’re 1,250 miles from home. Visiting Maine will help you understand why the East Coast is so special to so many people. Being there brings out an internal satisfaction that I’ve rarely felt from the other forty-five states I’ve visited. Maine has its own pulse…go take it some time.

            The problem with a visit to Maine, if I can even bring myself to disparage its name, is the fact that unless you live there, you can’t stay there. As I designed this fellowship experiences, I traded depth for breadth, meaning I would visit many, MANY places, but I would be unable to stay in any one location for an extended period of time. So, my visit to Acadia National Park hurt me as much as it fulfilled my soul. It was a necessary trade off and for this fellowship and I would make the same decision again. However, a place like Acadia, or any other National Park, deserves your time.

            There’s a joy I feel when I am in National Park properties as the park boundaries represent a sacred space that I highly respect. I like being outside, I like being with nature, I like the feel of the trail under my feel, I like the smell of the forest, I like the churning of the waters. It’s a rare day that I get to spend time in a National Park, so when I get to one, I’m already sad for the day of departure. As I often quote Shakespeare, “Parting is such sweet sorrow…” I’m happy for the visit, but I’m sad that I can’t stay there for a longer period of time. I suppose as I analyze my life I would think about why more time of my life wasn’t spent living near or working in a National Park. I sense those places will become destinations in the future. However, I must also admit I am very, very fortunate to have seen some of the great places our country has to offer its citizens.

            The geography of America meant a great deal to the founding fathers. The draw of this country via the colonial grapevine must have been legendary. The wide open land, the plentiful natural resources, the varied geography, the adventure, and the absence of development surly enticed the well-to-do and the common folk to come over and stake their claim. To visit an unspoiled place like Acadia National Park establishes two important perspectives:  1) We, as citizens should visit and appreciate areas of our country to further our knowledge of our country’s beautiful geography. 2) Modern development, while convenient and a part of our life, threatens the natural beauty in an irreversible manner. As citizens, we must carefully choose our path of development. I feel sorry for the citizens of Cape Cod as there’s a powerful movement afoot to put 150 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. There are pros and cons for such a project.

            I often wonder how the Founding Fathers would view what we’ve done to the United States. Washington and Jefferson both had a high degree of respect for the land. While Washington was a General and the first U.S. President, he was in his heart a farmer. Jefferson had his plantation and spent considerable time and energy taking care of his estate. If Washington and Jefferson sat in the third row of my car for the last two weeks, would they love the drive? I’m sure they would love a great deal about what I’ve seen on the road, but I would wonder if they would chide us for having the same city problems that they faced in their day…Then again, they’d probably wonder why two of the most important U.S. Presidents were relegated to the third row seats…Sorry, guys!

            After two weeks of fellowship study, I am even more impressed with the findings of my fellowship. On one hand, my growth and appreciation for our country continues its meteorite rise. On the other hand, my growth and appreciation for the PEOPLE of this country is incredible. Each day I have had the luck of meeting the most interesting and wonderful people from all walks of life. I am thankful for the ability to strike up conversations with strangers and I am grateful for their willingness to contribute to my research. In some cases they contributed as I observed their behaviors from across the room, other times they contributed when they offered suggestions for quiet local hot spots where the food and the frenzy represent local gems for food and fun.

            I love my work and I believe I am accomplishing far more than I ever believed possible when I crafted this fellowship experience. Again, it is exhausting work, but that is the price you pay when you maximize your opportunities. I’m pushing the envelope pretty hard, but I know that I’ll blink and this special time will draw to a close.

            I believe it’s always good to make the most out of what you have…

            Thanks for joining me…~Mr. K.