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Practically Idealistic blog
 
The title for this blog originated with use of the term “practical idealist” in this 1996 opinion piece, which asked: “To what kind of work should a practical idealist aspire?” A century and a half earlier, Emerson, in his 1841 essay Circles, wrote: “There are degrees in idealism.  We learn first to play with it academically. . . .  Then we see in the heyday of youth and poetry that it may be true, that it is true in gleams and fragments.  Then, its countenance waxes stern and grand, and we see that it must be true.  It now shows itself ethical and practical.”  John Dewey and Mahatma Gandhi embraced practical idealism in the 20th century, as did UN Secretary General U Thant.  Al Gore invoked it in a 1998 speech. In the context of this blog, the term is meant to convey idealism tempered but not overwhelmed by realism: a search for the ideal on a path guided by common sense.
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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Eating Less Meat, for the Environment

NPR reported this week on the environmental implications of meat consumption, information that can inspire us all to limit our intake given the cost in resources including grain, water, land, and energy – not to mention health considerations and how animals are treated.

9:47 am edt 

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Chris Alexander, New Haven Reads

It has been a year since Chris Alexander died, the last Sunday of June 2011.  In her memory, today I’ll be wearing a New Haven Reads t-shirt.

7:39 am edt 

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Giving Blood, Year-Round

Earlier posts, e.g.  in February 2012, have encouraged readers to give blood.  One may do so every eight weeks, and the summer – with school blood drives scarce and many people away on vacation – is a time when the supply of blood barely meets the demand.  I donated blood yesterday and continue to encourage neighbors to do so.

2:33 pm edt 

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Eva Loew, in Memoriam

The Hartford Courant’s “Extraordinary Life” obituary series this week profiled Eva Loew, who died last month at age 90.  She was a nurse, a public servant, and the matriarch of a farm family.  One of her six children, Karen, was my fifth-grade teacher.  Eva was a wonderful neighbor and citizen.  Condolences to her family…

10:28 pm edt 


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