Why We Do this

Monday, September 5, 2011
Why We Do This
Hello everyone, Below is a letter I just received from Chris Harmer, an American friend on his second tour in the Peace Corps after a 30+ years hiatus. He was in Thailand the first time and now is working on a hydraulic project in Mali. He is asking people to send a poem or short piece ofyour favorite prose for a friend of his who is studying English and likes to to memorize poetry. Chris explains all in his short letter below. I am sending this on to over 100 people on my mailing list (including teachers, doctors, vagabonds, lawyers, cops, soldiers, right wing, left wing, rich and poor) because I think the poem is a neat and inexpensive gift to give and it gives us all a few minutes to reflect on something besides the oil spill, the wars, the mortgage crisis etc. Instead it offers us a chance to reflect on the things that give us meaning and time to look at some good things in the life around us. If you wish, you can copy your poem to me, and maybe a brief comment. I'll compile the poems and comments and send the collection back to you. This is going out to Argentina, Canada, U.S., Rwanda, England, Germany, Australia, and many other places. Let's see what comes back. All the best to all of you. Hoping you have time to respond. Have fun. George Brose Send your thoughts to Chris Harmer at the address below and backto me.



Friends,

an odd but possibly enjoyable request from your friend in west africa....

I am tutoring a really nice guy who worked his way up to be a diesel mechanic, and then blew that off to come to the country and work as a primary school teacher. He is trying to improve his quite passable english so he can test well enough to prepare to teach english in middle school. He teaches French. English is his 5th language...

The Malian educational system has its roots in the French colonial system, which unfortunately relies much more on memorization, or "recitation" than ours does today. The good side of that is he enjoys memorizing prose and poetry that gives a sense of our dreams and aspirations, of how-- in our best moments--life can and should be lived. He has asked me to ask you (knowing so well I am an uncouth lout with but little regard for such things) to send your favorite, most meaingful poem or prose (I'll add song lyrics), or chunk thereof . I think something in the 20-50 lines would be right, and remember, he's been memorizing French poets, so this is not Doctor Seuss-level stuff (send that for me).

He tests in August. If you have something, please e-mail it before the 1st of July.

My next missive will come later in the summer, but all is busy, hard, and interesting and every day is a surprise.

Love

Chris

Thx