Here we are Philippe.

Was Magister a guru for you?

Yes he was and he enriched my life greatly. I understand that there may be drawbacks in any form of ‘myth’, ‘worship’, dependency of some sort, but in this I am sorry I do not agree with excellent Krishnamurti.

I think that 1) pedagogy is an important element in the relationship between humans (everybody teaches and is taught back: old & young, friends & friends, parents & children, gender & gender etc.) but also, as you seem to suggest, that 2) everybody that actually enlightens others is often seen to possess like a charm or ‘aura’ not very far from what is ‘mythical’, religious & similar. We though sometimes have pathological cases of ‘Masters’ that take advantage of weak personalities etc., but that is not the point here.

Magister had this ‘charm’, but it worked for me, and I don’t see what’s wrong with it [*here* I better explain this to a Tuscan woman, though in Italian]

So I agree with you: the rational, cognitive, secular mind should include in its conceptions the religious sphere as well – for many reasons, last but not least for the fact that the world of humans (history included) cannot be understood if we ban “the religious instinct [probably] ingrained in the human psyche” (your idea, which I personally consider true).

Take the the ancient Greco-Romans, the ancient British: how can we hope understand them if we don’t try to grasp bits of their religious experience?

Which sort of contradicts what I wrote in my very first post in sept 2007, ie that he who is writing and the religious sphere have absolutely no contact. They have, although I don’t know what it is

Socialism as a state backed ideology has been destructive, corrupt and murderous. And it’s worse than anything capitalism has done because it claims to do so in the name of good.

We HAVE lost our sense of individualism and sense of community. We have passed that responsibility off to the state.

We’ll keep trying. Have to go pick up my mother’s lasagne she made for my daycare. Yup, my kids get home made food.

My, you New World people and your acronyms, u drive us crazy!

Individual freedom with a humorous twist … can’t figure out how people freely choose to live vicariously through the state. Seems a very good theme, only, I’m wondering if you were right to choose Quebec instead of the US ah ah ah.

I missed the appointment! Man, I really desire to speak to you. We just had a brief conversation on Skype and your voice and its timbre are printed in my auditive memory.

The only way to solve your absolute unavailability I guess are emails with clear appointments.

I’ll try to see to that man. Ciao

Anyway, I just figured out that script writing is something I like best.

Yes, we WILL meet. I know it’s hard to reach me these days – I’m at my daycare seven days a week plus I’ve been doing massive yard work at home. I have a nice tan and ripped muscles to show for it. Next year, we tackle the exterior of the house.

Chiami fro poco, va bene?

I think men need fathers in the broad sense (and women mothers possibly). When your father(s) are not up to the task – Magister said – one has to look elsewhere, also to foreigners, to books, classics etc. You, Canadian, have chosen Americans as your ‘fathers’ since you possibly found in them what was lacking in the milieu around you, I got no idea I’m just guessing.

You are extremely intelligent, Alex. And you write in a terrific way. I really mean that, and I always told you this since years.

All you need – imho, since a teacher is a humble not-much-valued-socially figure here – is to focus on some research on any theme that passionates you. America? Ok, but you have to choose some aspects of it. You write on too many topics. Choose what you really like – one, two or three things that are related – , and you might gradually become an expert on such stuff you like so much. But you have to study hard. Read all the good books about those themes, chase the darn experts wherever they darn are.

Both your writing and mind will greatly profit from solid-research blogging, I am sure of that. Magister only showed me a path I had to walk myself. He was old, but inspiring. But also good books are inspiring. The Italians of the Renaissance had no mentor neither: they turned to the Latin classics, and created a ‘new learning’ open to the future.

PS
Hope we meet in Canada in coming July. We should be there from the 12th of July (Toronto) and then reach Montreal by car on the 16th or 17th. Ciao!