A pain-in-the-*&% that I am when it comes to being focused only on course-related matters, there are a few occasions when I take up class time for something other than the course topics themselves. In the fall term, there are two such events: Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving. In the past, I have not engaged my online students on such non-course events, but why not start now, eh!
11/11--November 11th--was the day that the First World War came to an end after inflicting the kind of casualties listed in the following table
It was a cruel irony that this "Great War" was the war to end all wars, and promote peace ....
While it might not seem to be a peaceful world now, we certainly do live during the most peaceful moments of human history. We have a long way to go regarding world peace, and beauty pageant contestants are certainly doing their part by wishing for it, but let us not forget that what we have now in most of the world is an amazing level of peace that people in the past literally died for ....
In the process of keeping peace, we are also incredibly lucky that many soldiers are still around, and on November 11th we honor American veterans of all wars. (It was in 1954 that through a Congressional/Presidential act Armistice Day became Veterans Day here in the US. )
So, it will be awesome if you took a moment to thank the veterans you know--a simple phone call, an email, .... Or, if you have a few minutes, enjoy a dinner or cappuccino with them. Which is why I am discussing this with you on 11/9, two days prior to 11/11 itself.
If there is any veteran in this class, our thanks to you.
Finally, if the embedded video does not come across, then head to the posting on Veterans Day at the notes page to watch this one-minute video of a soldier coming home surprising his daughter at her class.
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