Sarcar's Blog

I haven't had much drive to post anything on my blog in quite some time. It's not that I don't have anything to say or comment on, it's more that I don't care to make time to post new insights into life and literature. But Sree's blog blew me away and all I did was click "sarcy" and all the students I knew were posting brilliant and interesting comments on Anton Chekhov's short story "The Bet." The Modern World Literature students I currently teach just read that story also! An opportunity to bridge India and America might develop...

This week is Diversity Awareness Week at Greenwich High. I decided to do five speaking presentations this week about my experience in India. The slide show begins with a picture of Radha, Revant and me at Radha's birthday party this past fall. Revant summoned us to pose with attitude and Radha is the only one who looks like she didn't care to humor Revant's request.
Attitude. Most of my life circles around my attitude towards things. I tend to be 90% optimistic and upbeat. Open-mindedness also envelops my disposition. Those two traits alone enable me to accept difference and see more similarities in the human condition.

Today in class block 6 discussed their reactions to this theatrical presentation they attended. The conclusive comment that came out of the discussion was that you are not alone. The ache that one person may be feeling shouldn't go unnoticed. GHS, with the 2,800+ students there everyday, can be a lonely place and finding a niche, a person, a group of people makes the place much more bearable when one is experiencing emotional pain.

Reading the blogs of my former students sparked an interest in blogging again. Let me see if I can keep that alive.

Music: "In the Lord's Arms" Ben Harper- Burn to Shine

Addendum to last entry

"I read your blog and I can't help but get defensive. I think proximity is in an issue in matters relating to intercontinental travel or even transcontinental relationships, but 45 minutes to an hours travel time should not matter nearly as much. I think the former vice president said it best, “We have everything we need..., with the possible exception of the will to act.”

What you need to add to your definition of a true friend is the will to act accordingly.

You and I are not so unalike in our unashamed openness; it's a significant risk. For two sensitive people it makes no sense whatsoever actually. Without it however, I fear I just would not be the same so I plod on being myself and hoping that those that I love will always love me back. The messages we send to try and convey that love are often jumbled and incoherent, or muted by quirks in either our ability to articulate or the receiver’s ability to, well, receive. The goal, the task we are saddled with, is to never stop trying to get the message through. Therein lies the will to act again."

A dear friend of mine, Louis, wrote the following response to my past blog entry. After thinking about it and feeling the impact of what he said, I recognize that the ability to act is missing in my defintion of friendship.

I am capable of making plans and scheduling time to be with people. The actions required for maintaining close relationships include: calling friends, setting up common times to meet, booking plane tickets, driving, and sending cards, gifts, and emails. Do I have the energy for that? Do I make time to keep my friendships alive? That’s more of the question I have to ask myself.

Music: “No Time This Time” The Police- Regatta De Blanc