What is truth?

One sentence – write down (or type) – something simple, honest, and “true”.

The Wayfarer by Stephen Crane�� � �The wayfarer,�Perceiving the pathway to truth,�Was struck with astonishment.�It was thickly grown with weeds.�“Ha,” he said,�“I see that no one has passed here�In a long time.”�Later he saw that each weed�Was a singular knife.�“Well,” he mumbled at last,�“Doubtless there are other roads.”�

The Wayfarer by Stephen Crane�� � �The wayfarer,�Perceiving the pathway to truth,�Was struck with astonishment.�

The Wayfarer by Stephen Crane�� � �The wayfarer,�Perceiving the pathway to truth,�Was struck with astonishment.�It was thickly grown with weeds.�

The Wayfarer by Stephen Crane�� � �The wayfarer,�Perceiving the pathway to truth,�Was struck with astonishment.�It was thickly grown with weeds.�“Ha,” he said,�“I see that no one has passed here�In a long time.”�

The Wayfarer by Stephen Crane�� � �The wayfarer,�Perceiving the pathway to truth,�Was struck with astonishment.�It was thickly grown with weeds.�“Ha,” he said,�“I see that no one has passed here�In a long time.”�Later he saw that each weed�Was a singular knife.�

The Wayfarer by Stephen Crane�� � �The wayfarer,�Perceiving the pathway to truth,�Was struck with astonishment.�It was thickly grown with weeds.�“Ha,” he said,�“I see that no one has passed here�In a long time.”�Later he saw that each weed�Was a singular knife.�“Well,” he mumbled at last,�“Doubtless there are other roads.”�

A Little Background on a speech by Chris Hedges (NY Times reporter)

• Commencement speech at his alma mater (Rockford College)
• 2003 – The United States had just entered and conquered Iraq – capturing Baghdad.
• Support for the war – at that time it seemed it would have little cost to our country approached 90%.
• Chris Hedges is a war reporter – and had seen war first hand – many times.

Let’s watch a video

Have any of you experienced this “rejection of the truth” in your own lives? (including ourselves doing the rejection)

Assignments

• Answer the question on our Google Classroom – Being the “Wayfarer” – I have put Chris Hedges’s speech on our website – if you’d like to read it in its entirety or use it in your answer.

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• Thursday (09/10) READ: Handout “The Night Face Up” by Julio Cortazar

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• Monday (09/14) READ: Handouts “Young Goodman Brown” AND “The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato (please feel free to print them out and write all over these)

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• Weds (9/16) READ: from “The Metamorphosis” Handout – This is not the entire “Metamorphosis” – just a small part of Franz Kafka’s novella.

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• The first book is The History of Love by Nicole Krauss – you need to have it in your possession by Friday, September 18th – order, buy it, or check it out from your local library now!

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• We will find a mechanism that works for QUIZZING all reading assignments – make sure you read and take notes if you can. Use the time given from class to answer any assigned Google Classroom questions – and/or do the reading. Use advisory time for that as well. Feel free to email me with any questions that you have.

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