Alan is Learning

Nothing is more gratifying for a teacher like myself than those rare and epic breakthroughs, when seemingly impregnable barriers to cognitive development finally crumble, slowly at first, and then collapsing against a bursting stream of knowledge, a fresh current that has been unlocked from the depths.  Last week proved to be my latest rewarding moment, when news of the Obion, TN fire crew watching a resident's house burn to the ground because he didn't pay a $75 fee triggered an epiphany for Alan.  He now realizes that America's biggest problem is that the majority of Americans are hate-mongering assholes, not that are simply just "stupid."  Firemen know how to put out fires.  They didn't put this guy's fire out because the are hate-mongering pricks.  They were punishing the ill-fated home owner because he didn't pay his fee rather than put the fire out and deal with the issue (if at all) afterward.  A clear example of how America's raging hate has blinded it to being able to put first things first.  Put it on the guy's tab for Christ's sake.  There were pets in there.  These devil worshipers should convicted for animal cruelty and certainly never be entrusted with putting out fires again.  This is the firefighter version of American health care, where just sitting there and watching people not get the help they need in the name of money is apparently the measure of success.  In coming weeks I look forward to Alan affirming his breakthrough.  As much as he pays attention to what is going on, it won't be hard for him to do that.  Let's give my MOpod colleague a round of applause.