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It was a rather average day in late autumn when I found myself once again seated in a navy schoolroom chair of dubious constructional quality, mourning the passage of yet another summer and praying that the subsequent months would seem equally as transient. I struggled to maintain consciousness as faces new and old took their seats around me.
It wasn’t long before the room began to quiet – we students quietly awaiting the opening speech from our new American history teacher.
I must admit that I hadn’t expected the class to be anything special, and I certainly hadn’t expected to enjoy it. Yet not even 10 minutes into our first class period of the academic year, this man had uttered six ordinary words, which, in combination, have the ability to summarize the entire span of human existence, from prehistory to the present: “Perception is more important than reality.”
No matter how much “progress” has been made for society as a whole, the perception of one group will be the primary dictator of its motives, regardless of the perception of the other group.
Such are the conditions in which we find ourselves today, as the Scranton Diocese is permeated by the strife between Bishop Joseph Martino and the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT).
Do not let ignorance and apathy reign during this crucial period for our beloved teachers. Become informed, and let your voices be heard.
I encourage you all – even those of you not affiliated with the Catholic community – to stand up and speak out against ignorance. I encourage you to become active participants in this battle, for idle hands shall do nothing for our cause – a cause which concerns not only the Catholic teachers of the Scranton Diocese but also all those who believe in the American dream of equality and justice for all.
I am reminded of that rather average autumn day four years ago, when the utterance of those words and those that followed throughout my enrollment transformed the way in which I viewed the history of our world and, more importantly, the way in which I viewed my relationship to that history.
Through the years that man had encouraged me to think beyond the mere facts and figures of history and to consider the human element responsible for that history – a lesson more valuable than one in any textbook .
Without his guidance and uncommon insight into the workings of humanity, I would have remained blind to the importance of issues such as this.
I would like to close with sincere thanks to this man to whom I can never truly express enough gratitude, Mr. Michael Milz, president of SDACT.