Comments for Memory Writers Network

Comment on Teaching Memoirs, Meeting Locals, Making Memories by Teaching Memoirs, Meeting Locals, Making Memories by Jerry Waxler « Philadelphia Stories Weblog

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:27:28 +0000

[...] March 10, 2010 Teaching Memoirs, Meeting Locals, Making Memories by Jerry Waxler Posted by philastories under Uncategorized Leave a Comment Cross posted at Memory Writers Network blog [...]

Comment on Teaching Memoirs, Meeting Locals, Making Memories by Teaching Memoirs, Meeting Locals, Making Memories by Jerry Waxler « Philadelphia Stories Weblog

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:27:28 +0000

[...] March 10, 2010 Teaching Memoirs, Meeting Locals, Making Memories by Jerry Waxler Posted by philastories under Uncategorized Leave a Comment Cross posted at Memory Writers Network blog [...]

Comment on 10 More Brief Book Reviews for Memoir Readers and Writers by jerrywaxler

jerrywaxler — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:38:03 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Beverly and good wishes on your writing. That’s a great topic. Another memoir writer passionately interested in climate and environment is Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, author of Sky Begins at my Feet – http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-spirituality-cancer/

Best wishes,
Jerry

Comment on 10 More Brief Book Reviews for Memoir Readers and Writers by Beverly Maisey

Beverly Maisey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:27:36 +0000

Thanks for this comprehensive and well organized list. I have never really been tremendously interested in memoir writing until recently when I realized I needed to write one myself about my life and climate change.

Comment on Memoir about Caregiving for Mother offers lessons for life by Marjorie Webb

Marjorie Webb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:49:06 +0000

Jerry: I am happy to find this information on the memoir, Mothering Mother, by Carol O’Dell; I certainly plan to read it. I, too, cared for my 80-year-old mother who was dying from lung cancer, and also had dementia. One day she did not even recognize me, her daughter! It was very painful to go through that life changing event watching her slip away, but I am so thankful that I made the decision and moved her into my home to care for her. I grew both spiritually and emotionally as well as learned from the experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I hope to share my story one day, but until then I am grateful to read of others’ experience when our roles are reversed to care for our parent.s

Comment on Lord of the Flies in Los Angeles: The terrible logic of uncivilized boys by jerrywaxler

jerrywaxler — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:09:11 +0000

Hi Kendra,

Thanks so much for your comment. I’m always pleased to meet another memoir lover. That’s a great point about the Irish. The sides had the same color skin and spoke the same language, and they still managed to harbor murderous hatred towards each other. They generated their animosity through stories, so it makes sense that learning new stories could defuse the tension. Your project to understand how enemies could become friends will make an important contribution.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Comment on Lord of the Flies in Los Angeles: The terrible logic of uncivilized boys by Kendra Bonnett

Kendra Bonnett — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:05:18 +0000

Thanks for this post, Jerry. I have a little trouble viewing murdering gang members with compassion and understanding, but I accept your points. It’s all worth greater thought. I know that one of the techniques used in Ireland to help stop the fighting was to get young people from opposite sides to get acquainted outside their urban battlefields. It was an effective program. I’m also interested in the power of memoir to bring some of this to light. It’s an amazing genre.

Comment on Lord of the Flies in Los Angeles: The terrible logic of uncivilized boys by jerrywaxler

jerrywaxler — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:33:42 +0000

Thanks so much for the comments Smita and Monty! I love how memoirs have given us a mirror to see ourselves and each other. We are all playing such important roles individually, and when we add up our stories, we do become civilization. We try to give back to the world the things we want the world to become. Jerry

Comment on Lord of the Flies in Los Angeles: The terrible logic of uncivilized boys by smita jagdale

smita jagdale — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:29:13 +0000

Hi Jerry! Your article brings back some memories in the past. I noticed my friends turned out like their parents and so did their children. I did not hate those friends, but when I got burnt, I started being distant from them. I realised they wanted me to be their friend because of my grades. They did not bother about poor people or so-called “untouchables.” A close friend of mine so-called “Brahmin” scolded me to cook with this so called “untouble.” And she would not accept the food. So ignorant, but that was the teaching she got from her folks, and that is the teaching she gave to her children. Society has to start from ground up, the school and the schoolteachers have to practice it ..at home and outside in society. Sometimes I feel it is a lost cause. smita

Comment on Lord of the Flies in Los Angeles: The terrible logic of uncivilized boys by Monty

Monty — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:42:51 +0000

A beautiful piece, Jerry. I’m drawn to insert an “a”, though, in the last line of paragraph 7 between “of” and “civilization,” because civilization is not something that exists independent of us. Civilization is something we create. It is a way of life that is subject to the influence of its human components. We should all acknowledge and accept responsibility for our individual roles in defining today’s version of civilization. We are it, even if that means merely becoming an informed voter and stepping into the voting booth, or changing the TV channel when a violent program comes on. Each of us is an involuntary role model, for every action we take is observed by others and becomes an excuse for them to repeat what they have seen us do. It adds up. We’re not the “ignorant masses” unless we choose to be, and we’re making those choices every moment of our lives.