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Posted April 19, 2008

it is hard to not feel small and insignificant in los angeles. flying into the city gives you a vast breathtaking view of the homes and workplaces of millions upon millions of people. it stretches on as far as you can see north and south along the coast.

driving on the highways further enhances this state of mind. so many people traveling in cars from one place to another. where is everyone going? the nature of living and working here does not create the traditional travel between home and work. its a giant flowing mass of people heading in every direction.

but

when i think of it in this way, the feeling of connectedness begins to flow over me, and i can’t help but be overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for matt in this time. listening to him tell story after story of stranger and friend alike who have brought him food, bought him gifts, given to his fund. it’s amazing. truly amazing. it makes you believe again in peace and hope and love. it makes you believe in other people, and in this little girl:

i wish it could always be like this. it shouldn’t have to come from loss. i wish that we could see ourselves connected to our friends and neighbors and strangers a bit more often.

community is such an important word.

a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

it’s one of the reasons that i really love my job. over and above the work that is technology, there is work in trying to teach students about community. we try to teach them to have a “deep sense of social responsibility” — that they are connected to one another in a community. that what they do affects their fellow human being, whether they know it or not. theirs is a generation of people that will be required to share common goals. if they do not, we will devolve further into the individual person. thinking about himself or herself. trying to get theirs. tossed to and fro in their cars. small and insignificant in the growing city.

but

if we come together, as a community, with common goals. i know we will find connectedness, peace, and love. i have seen it with my own eyes.

I thought about these two videos almost daily since i’ve seen them:

this video of Jill Bolte Taylor

and this presentation — new thinking on climate change

she believes in connectedness. he is optimistic that we will come together. i believe both of them.