Here's another saying for your Montessori list, Mona.  I forget the source, but it
goes like this. . . . . . The possible we will do today.  The impossible will take
a little longer.

Mona wrote:

> Dan wrote:
>
> <<<Martin, your numerous contributions leave me the impression of a principled
> and well intentioned person who wants the right thing to happen. However,
> I think that you give up too easily on pacifism. Think of the progress
> that resulted from Ghandi, Mandela, and masses of people involved in
> anti-slavery movements, labour movements, women's movements, environmental
> movements, peace movements, and so many more. There will not be a utopia
> in this plane of existence, but change and improvements do occur, often
> quite improbably so. History, including current history, is full of
> examples of this. It may seem improbable, but then again people of our
> generation also didn't believe that the Iron Curtain would be voluntarily
> removed, did they? Maybe we limit ourselves too much by imagining that
> something can't be done instead of committing ourselves to making it
> happen.>>>
>
> I sent this to my Montessori discussion list this morning:
>
> Of the four mailing lists I'm a part of, on three of them there is great
> discussion of the crisis in Kosovo.  The Everyman list (Jackson Browne
> folks) are debating the meaning of war.  The Humans (Bruce Cockburn) are
> talking about the rights of other countries to intervene in the actions of
> other countries.  The Noam Chomsky list is abuzzz with linguists and I
> can't quite figure out exactly where they are coming from but it's
> meaningful and useful discourse.
>
> Here, on the Montessori list......we are doing what MARIA MONTESSORI
> admonished us to do.  We are setting about the task of nurturing the spirit
> of the child in such a way so that they can go out into the world and
> create peace.  We have to remember that much of the Montessori philosophy
> was in REACTION to the hardening of children that was happening at the time
> in reaction to war and poverty and ignorance.  She had wonderful hopes that
> if all children were treated in this mindful and wonderful manner that the
> world would slowly shift from a confrontational to a cooperative venture.
> It hasn't happened, but we are charged with the responsibility of
> continuing her work, of not giving up and saying that Montessori is just a
> good way to TEACH kids.  Montessori is so much more than that.  Please do
> not forget the REASON for it.  So much more all encompassing, such an
> awesome thing to be involved in.....
>
> Peace.  Mona