[Edu-sig] The passion of EDU-SIG

[Arthur Siegel]

Inspired by some recent posts, I have gone back over some of the EDU-SIG
archives, particularly the archives from before my involvement.

I was struck my the degree of passion of a good deal of the discussion.
Since I have been truly surprised
at the degree to which discussions on this list have stirred my own
passions, it helped give me
some perspective.

Early on in the list Guido had posted up a letter of resignation to the list
from Terry Gabriel which said,
among other things:

"I think Python is what is going to be instrumental in saving democracy."

I probably couldn't be further from Mr. Gabriel's general political bent. He
talks of fighting  "the corporate interests who want to dumb the society
down". I consider the $1,200 piece of unfathomable genius and energy from
which I write
(a Gateway, as it happens)  - as proof that the demonization of "corporate
interests" are not on target. But I am
in agreement with his general point of what's at stake here. His point was -
a lot. And it is about demystification,
and putting people in a position to be at home in the world, the real world,
circa 2000.

I also relate to to Stephen Figgins analogy to wilderness tracking.  When I
explain to friends - and my wife -
the passion I developed for learning programming, I always use the term
'orienteering'. It seems to be coming from
a deep place - a survival instinct. Circa 2000 I need to understand the
algorithm to help me understand where I am, in effect.

We recognize what's at stake, and have different ideas.

I would hope we can let the passions stir here, rather than feel embarrassed
by them.