Walking all together

Apéndice - Diez años después: Ante el nuevo milenio.

I agree with Savater when he says that there are different appreciations and values among humans but there should not be any indifference because the other's humanity compromises mine...
I think that, although we may be different from others, I mean to have, among others, cultural, social, religious, linguistic differences, we are all brothers in that we are all humans on the same planet and under the same sky.
Nowadays, for example, globalisation is said to be the new millenium's success, useful for humanity. But I think it can't be so when it just benefits only a few, the rich who become more powerful and thus take advantage over the poor. To me, globalisation should be understood from the point of view that we are all humans as well as brothers of the same Father: God, who wants us to love each other, to humanize each other.

"Alguien necesita de ti"

"En la calle vi a una niñita temblando de frío con un vestido ligero, con poca esperanza de encontrar comida caliente.
Me enojé y le dije a Dios:
-Por qué permites esto? ¿Por qué no haces algo para remediar esto?
Dios me miró a los ojos y no dijo nada, luego respondió:
-Ya hice algo para remediarlo... Te hice a ti".

Autor Anónimo

We should all be concerned about others and give them a hand whenever they need it.
We, as teachers-to-be, should take into account that all our students must enjoy the same opportunities as others in life and should make efforts to provide them without mattering about their human condition.

Just have faith

Cap 9 Elecciones Generales

Savater says that Ethics does not wait for Politics. That human societies have always been full of flaws, abuses, crimes, but in all times there have been people able to live well or at least trying to do it by collaborating, whenever possible to improve society; if not, at least they have not made it worse.
I think that, although in this society it seems that everything is a caos, we can always do something to solve it. I also believe that, although our work in the role we have to play may seem like trying to mop up the oceans of the world with a box of Kleenex, it would help to build a better society, that is, it would help more than if we did not do anything at all. Like Mother Teresa have said: "Todo lo que hacemos es una gota en el océano, pero si no lo hiciéramos, el océano tendría una gota menos" Wise words!
Summing up, we have to go ahead working, always working.
UTOPÍA

Ella está en el horizonte.
Me acerco dos pasos,
Ella se aleja dos pasos.

Camino diez pasos
y el horizonte se corre
diez pasos más allá.

Por mucho que yo camine
nunca la alcanzaré.

Y entonces...
¿para qué sirve la utopía?

Para eso sirve:
para caminar.

E. Galeano

Chicken out is forbidden!

Cap 8 - Tanto gusto

Savater says that life's pains are worth living since through them we can reach life's pleasures.
I think that it is true. It is hard to work the earth, sowing the seeds and taking care of them, but then it is great to harvest; it is hard to spend a lot of hours studying every day, but it is great when we receive a degree; it is painful to give birth, but then it is wonderful to have a baby. So, it is hard to make any effort, but then it is a pleasure to enjoy results.
We should not be disappointed by the efforts we have to make in life but be encouraged by the happiness from such efforts.
Savater also says: "Happiness is the best reward we can have in life." Well said!

All for one and one for all

Cap 7 Ponte en su lugar

I agree with Savater when he says that when you put into people's shoes, not only do you have to consider their reasons, but also you should take part in their passions and feelings, in their pains, wishes and joys.
I think that we, as teachers-to-be, should never forget sympathizing with each one of our students. Each student is different from the rest and consequently, has his or her own reasons, feelings, conflicts, abilities, etc., that is to say, his or her own world. So we should make our students feel that they can rely on us to help them whenever there is a problem. They´ll feel better and we´ll, without doubt, achieve better results in their learning.

...."No pudo decir nada más. Estalló bruscamente en sollozos. La noche había caído. Yo había dejado mis herramientas. No me importaban ni el martillo, ni el bulón, ni la sed, ni la muerte. En una estrella, en un planeta, el mío, la Tierra, había un principito que necesitaba consuelo. Lo tomé en mis brazos. Lo acuné. Le dije: "La flor que amas no corre peligro...Dibujaré un bozal para tu cordero. Dibujaré una armadura para tu flor...Di..." No sabía bien qué decir. Me sentía muy torpe. No sabía cómo llegar a él, dónde encontrarlo...¡Es tan misterioso el país de las lágrimas...!
"El Principito" - Saint-Exupéry

We as teachers-to-be will have to be able to comprehend and help our students. It's no easy, I'm afraid but it's worth trying.

Somebody needs you

Cap 6 - Aparece Pepito Grillo

I agree with Savater when he says that "an egoist" is the person who trully knows what is convenient for him to live a good life and makes efforts to achieve it.
I think that we live a good life when we make an effort to live with a clear conscience, out of remorse from having done wrong, that is by doing good and giving the best we have inside. As humans beings, we need each other and we are gifted with many things to share with others. We can't live a good life unless we give ourselves to others.

Dar

¿Olvidaste el reír? ¿Aprendiste a llorar?
Será que no conoces la alegría de dar...
Podemos con tan poco disipar el sufrir,
y empezar nuevamente a aprender a reír...

¡Ah, si tú conocieras la alegría de dar!
Mira, es la forma más hermosa de amar
que reciben los otros.
Ser la fuente generosa para que todos puedan beber:
reconocerse agua y darse sin pensar,
pues las almas son como plantas
a las que hay que regar.
Benditos y felices los que logran decir:
"Hoy me he dado"

...Merecen la dicha de vivir.

¿Tanto se puede dar, tanto se puede hacer?
A ese niño que pasa, tú lo puedes querer,
a la mujer que sufre la alienta tu reír,
al hombre que trabaja lo anima tu cantar.
Y tú puedes cantar y reír y querer.
¿Ves qué fácil tarea?... Sí, la puedes hacer...
Olvida tu sufrir y olvida tu llorar:

¡Regálate a ti mismo la alegría de dar!

Isabel Reyes - Perú

"As you sow, you shall reap"

Cap. 4 Date la buena vida

In my opinion, Savater is right when he thinks that his son should use his freedom to live a good life which is indeed to have a good human life, that is to say, a life among human beings in a process of reciprocity with each other.
I think that we live a good life when we do the right thing to others because in that way we feel good. Nor should we forget that "As you sow, you shall reap".
So I would like to mention the prayer of Saint Francis Assisi who gave up his wealthy life to live a good one and whose words are so moving that I appreciate them most. They are an example of how we should live:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where, there is hatred, let me sow love;
where, there is injury, pardon;
where, there is doubt, faith;
where, there is despair, hope:
where, there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

With regard to the last sentence, I think that it sums up what is to humanize because it is in dying to our mistreatments (egoisms, hate, incomprehensions, lack of love, etc) that we have our reward even on the earth.

On your own

Cap. 3 Haz lo que quieras

It is true that when we are young our life is, in a way, controlled by our parents. But we should not expect them to rule our life for ever because whether we like it or not, we grow old and we must learn about making our own decisions.
Although what our parents have taught us will sometimes be useful, some other times it will not. It is our life so our decisions will depend on our history, experience, likes, personality, wishes and the circumstances we are going through. When adults, youngsters will have freedom to choose what is convenient or not for them according to that.
By the way, I associate that freedom with responsibility because they will no longer depend on their parents and as a consequence they'll be responsible for their decisions. That is why they should think carefully before making them, thinking twice and even more in some cases like Savater recommends.
I think that using their intelligence and reasoning so as not to be influenced by others, listening to their heart and having a clear conscience will help them to be as right as possible in their decisions.