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[Jesus]
set out from there and went into the district of Judea and across the
Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him, and, as was his custom, he
again taught them.
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Based
on a true story, although liberties are taken in the movie, "The Great
Debaters" is the story of Melvin
Tolson who was the debate coach at Wiley College, a small black college
located in Marshall, Texas in the 1930's. He was also an
activist who
tried to keep his politics out of the classroom, but was not totally
successful at doing it. Dedicated to the statement he made
to his students: "I am here to help you to find, take back, and keep
your righteous mind," he set out to teach as best he could. Because of
his dedication and the skills of the
young people he chose, the team went on to numerous victories, even
taking the national championship over Harvard. The fundamental message
of the movie is contained in one of the
arguments of Tolson's student Samantha Booke: "Whites and coloreds must
share the same college campus, walk into the same classroom. This is
the day it should happen, the time for justice, the time for freedom,
and the time for equality." The overthrow of racism can only come about
by means of education. In fact, the only road to maturity is one
provided by a wholesome education.
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Jesus
Christ can be described in many ways, but one of the primary ways would
be that he was a teacher. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is portrayed as
teaching the Apostles and crowds. It was his "custom," that is,
the usual way of doing things. Jesus knew that the only way to get
across his message was to formally teach it. Education for Jesus became
no less than the means to bring about salvation for the world.
Though not with the same meaning, Melvin Tolson was all about salvation, salvation of the black community. Ostensibly, he managed a college debate team, but his message both to his students and through his students was that education is salvation. He knew, and his students also came to understand, that the only way to conquer the racism and prejudice of the South and anywhere else, was through a proper education, both of the black people themselves, and of the white people who were oppressing them. It is estimated in our day that four out of ten young people do not finish their high school education and it is a fact that many capable young people do not attempt a college education. Why this is so is debated in educational circles, but young people who fall in the category of teenagers and "20-somethings" must be well aware of the potential that they have and the possible good that they could do with more education. Our world outside and our own personal worlds can be so much better than they are. Everyone of us is responsible for bringing about such a better world. The more we know, the better we will be able to carry it out. |
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THOUGHT
Do you think that all
young people understand the true importance of education? Yes or no and
why?
PRAYER Good
and gracious
God, your Son taught us many things about life and in particular about
the way to you. Give us the grace to truly listen to what he
said, and help us learn more about what we can do to be
better than we are. Be with
us,
we pray.
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©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |