Josiah H. Brown

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.

Archive

Newer | Older

Thursday, November 26, 2020

"Turning 50--and Giving Thanks--in 2020"

An opinion piece that I wrote was published in Hearst Connecticut Media outlets was well as the Connecticut Mirror, Good Men Project, and Medium.

Ten years after reflecting at age 40, the new piece concludes with reference to a Walt Whitman poem--and encourages those of us who are able to consider sharing time or money with others.

With Giving Tuesday approaching, one cause worthy of consideration is CASA--for volunteering or donating.

12:26 pm est

Sunday, November 22, 2020

CASA Movement Endorsed by Nicholas Kristof in New York Times

We at CASA of Southern Connecticut were pleased recently when the proven CASA model was praised by Nicholas Kristof in a November 2020 New York Times column. He wrote: “CASA…Volunteers provide support and advocacy for children who sometimes have no one else to trust, while helping them navigate the bureaucracy.” (He has included the CASA model among those endorsed at KristofImpact.org.)

9:57 pm est

Saturday, November 14, 2020

President and Vice President-Elect

Last Saturday, after Pennsylvania was called for the Democratic ticket, our family gathered--first in a friend's backyard and then in our own--to mark the occasion. In this pandemic year of limited social interaction, there was a festive tone and sense of relief--even as the country's economic, political, and public health problems continue. Like Kamala Harris, my daughter is the daughter of an Indian woman (scientist) who immigrated to the U.S., so there is a level affinity beyond political leanings in the case of the vice president-elect. President-elect Biden's call for civility and unity, for patriotism over partisanship, is welcome.

2:21 pm est

Friday, November 6, 2020

Seventh Board Member Joins CASA of Southern Connecticut

As the New Haven Register reported, CASA of Southern Connecticut has a new board member: Ronald Perry, who works against human trafficking and happens to be a former New Haven "cop of the week."

A July 2020 post had included information about six other board members, also reported in the news.

8:01 am est

Archive

Newer | Older

info@josiahbrown.org