It's that time again. I have survived six weeks of philosophy and government classes, turned-in and received my first wave of assignments, and now I am left in my bedroom correcting them. Though the grades were exciting, somehow this doesn't feel like the life I sign-up for.
My Ethics professor is one of a kind, and I don't mean a corny poker-line, he is one of a kind. I have never seen a person continually go out of his way to embarrass a student and protract the tenant til the end of class. I am not saying the student was innocent, but such dedication must be duly noted. I remember him speaking on a principle of Aristotle and a student began to talk. After respectfully hearing him through, the professor asked, "I am sorry, but what did that have to do with what I'm saying?" the student replied, "nothing." There is hope for the community college, at least the student understood the sporadicity of his comment. But as time continues I have been given opportunities I would not have had. On several occasions I was the only one, or one of only a few, that stood against popular opinion; Arguing in defense that Sex Requires Commitment, that Morality requires Religion, and that Social Moral Relativity is untenable. In a way, I have seen how it often takes one voice to say, "no," for a whole society to say, "what?" and then give their full attention.
My Introduction to Philosophy Professor gives Philosophy it's mystique. If a fifty year old man can walk into class with pink jeans, equally pink shirt, gray hair that billows about his shoulders with every step and nod, and has reverted to pegging his students with candy for every question ask, one could only question his sanity. Has decades of teaching community college cracked his mind? As I often wonder at this, he flippantly throws practical remarks that only confuses and cracks the minds of his students. Though he is a philosopher of the people showing disgust concerning modern socio-trends, it's entertaining to see how every philosophical concept can be reduced to either sex, drugs, or alcohol - I guess it reflects the common currency of modern society.
Then there is my Introduction to American Government Professor, and she is no exception. I believe it is worth attending her class just to see what she will wear. Today her wardrobe featured high-heeled, open toe boots, blue jeans, a red and white square-print shirt (or skirt. It's one of those "too short to be a skirt and too long to be a shirt"), a black over sweatshirt, and, to top off the menagerie, a brown broad-brimmed hat that featured a feather from one side - and yes she wore it inside class. But somehow when she teaches it's enjoyable. Maybe it's the way she talks, like old friends sitting for a conversation. She enjoys every bit of it as a pass-time and often forgets that there are students listening.
Now the sun is setting and I am still at my computer correcting. Through the blinds I see the last rays of sunshine and see that rain is on its way. Life is exciting and wonderful and unpredictable, it isn't the life I signed up for - But for that I am thankful.
