Sometimes we meet people with incredible insight and don't realize until much later.
For me, one of those times was my Junior High home room teacher. I can't even remember her name, sadly. But she was one of the most intelligent instructors I ever had. In some ways, I think she was smarter than my engineering professors in college. 🤔
If I remember correctly, she taught us English, government, and History.
One day, near the beginning of the school year... a new kid showed up in our class. Our teacher tried talking to him, but he didn't understand. One kid got the idea that maybe the new kid was supposed to be in Special Ed class. That of course got a few to laugh. How cruel and ignorant kids can be, right? The New Kid looked half confused and half scared.
Spoiler Alert
The irony is by year's end the new kid was speaking English...get this...as his THIRD language!
The Conundrum
So this kid was dropped in our teacher's class without warning, no translator, no help at all. Normal practice back then. The Administrators of Education in their infinite 'wisdom' called it Immersion. Also known as "sink or swim."
So what did our teacher do?
After realizing he didn't understand a word of English, she got out a map for him to tell us where he was from. After much confusion and pointing, eventually the kid got the idea and indicated he was from a country we call Cambodia.
My curiosity was piqued. I knew nothing about his country at the time. Absolutely nothing. I do now. There's lots of history with that country, which has a lot to do with why he was here instead of there. Communism wasn't what it was cracked up to be...is the quick version of that history. But that's also a serious understatement. Ever heard of the Khmer Rouge and the Killing Fields?
Anyway, CAMBODIA. That's where New Kid was from. Our teacher hesitated for a moment and then gave the entire class a gift in real-time, especially for the new kid. A real, relevant, and inspiring history lesson. She headed for the door while telling us that in Cambodia a lot of people learned French as a second language. Due to colonialism or something...
She walked out and left the door open. Across the way, directly ahead from our class, was the French teacher. I knew this because that was one of my electives that year. The classroom was right there. I watched her go in and then almost immediately back out she came with the French teacher.
Both women bursted into our classroom and the French teacher started speaking French to the new kid. His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree! It was one of the most amazing things I ever saw. The kid started speaking tons of French. You could see the relief set in, all over him, from his face on down. His body language. Everything. Finally, he understood and was being understood.
It was amazing, beyond words. I got a real education that day, which is rare at school! 😉 I hope that kid is doing well still today.
Another time, our teacher was doing a lesson on Civil Rights in America. After going over the history, she told us that in the Future the Pendulum would swing back.
She said 'white' Americans are going to be judged eventually, if not outright condemned for what happened in the past. Even ones who had nothing to do with it because they weren't alive yet.
She warned us and tried to prepare us for the coming backlash, whether it would be us doing it to others or it being done to us.
She warned us and basically said it's inevitable. This was over 30 years before it really got started came into Full Force. Before it became mainstream. I didn't understand how right she would be. It's still happening in many ways. She predicted it and it actually happened!
Today, we've seen that even a 'white' guy can be President of the United States and yet still be indicted for something and be convicted without there actually being a crime committed.
Misdemeanors can magically turn into felonies, so 'whites' aren't untouchable anymore. They can be railroaded as much as any 'black' guy used to be all the time in this country. And not just in the political world.
Even with movies, TV shows and schools. Being 'white' can actually prevent you from getting a job. No other reason than the color of a person's skin being too light. The pendulum really did swing like my teacher said it would!
The fact she shared that prediction and it came true is profound. I appreciate her tremendously. Because for some reason, I paid attention and took notice. I didn't necessarily believe our teacher, but the evidence since has stacked up to the point where it can't be denied. She effectively prepared us for the real world and for the future.
Other people have done that for me as well.
Almost none of what is happening in the world today is a surprise because of people like her. Know the history of the Bolsheviks that led to the Soviet Union? Or the history of the Weimar Republic and what it led to in Germany? If yes, then a whole lot of this crazy world today makes sense. History might not repeat itself exactly. But it definitely rhymes with today.
Insightful teachers and an abundance of curiosity caused me to read more, so I could learn about the weird world we inhabit. It's like being armed, rather than empty handed. But it took me awhile. I didn't read much at first. I've read hundreds more books after school than I ever did in school. LOL
A lot is happening in the world today and will keep happening. Especially here, since it's an election year. I'm thankful that I don't have to play catch up. Thanks to very smart people I was lucky enough to know. God bless that wonderful 7th grade teacher and the many others I've learned from, wherever they are now!
Not everyone wants to be prepared or schooled on such things. But I have infinite appreciation for the wisdom I got to witness and learn from, starting so very long ago.
A lot can be learned and known, even before it happens. My 7th grade teacher is proof. COVID was also another perfect example of that. The future isn't completely hidden to those who listen to wisdom, rather than false narratives by those in charge. God gives clues and grants discernment. But not everyone is looking for it or will accept that gift.
Oh I've heard the arguments for not wanting to know. Calvinism, or ignorance is bliss and all that. Well, to each their own...
Regardless, may Peace be within you!
"A society grows great
When old men plant trees
In whose shade
They shall never sit."
P.S. To anyone who wants to know more about what's happened and what is happening, 🙏 for true discernment.
James 1
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Pray for the wisdom to parse out deception from both humans and A.I. because the bad side of AI is gonna get crazy. Actually it already has! I bet you've already seen comments and articles online you thought were written by humans, but totally weren't. They were actually AI programs.
Why? Marketing, spying, advertisements, and fake comments to influence people's opinions and interests.
For anyone who is ever curious, look up:
Dead Internet Theories.
But not using Google or Duckduckgo!! They filter out truthful info. There's more than one theory. Some are silly, while others are accurate and very telling. Essentially, it's within the realm of possibilities that already at least half of all internet traffic is A.I. now.
Some of what is lost online is being disappeared on purpose.