Yet, we are here! Even though our purpose is somewhat cloudy, we belong here! The anonymous poem Desiderata found in 1692, Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore beckons us to:
Desiderata
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Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
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and remember what peace there may be in silence.
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As far as possible without surrender
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be on good terms with all persons.
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Speak your truth quietly and clearly,
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and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
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they too have their story.
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Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
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they are vexation to the spirit.
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If you compare yourself with others,
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you may become vain and bitter, for always
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there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
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Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
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Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
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it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
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Exercise caution in your business affairs,
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for the world is full of trickery.
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But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
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many persons strive for high ideals,
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and everywhere life is full of heroism.
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Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
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Neither be cynical about love;
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for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
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it is perennial as the grass.
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Take kindly the counsel of the years,
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gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
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Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
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but do not distress yourself with imaginings;
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many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
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Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
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You are a child of the universe,
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no less than the trees and the stars;
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you have a right to be here.
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And whether or not it is clear to you,
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no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
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Therefore be at peace with God,
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whatever you conceive Him to be,
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and whatever your labors and aspirations
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in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
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With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
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it is still a beautiful world.
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Be careful. Strive to be happy.
One of my purposes in taking on this project is to tell students not to believe in the lie! The lie that only students in certain socio-economic conditions can understand and enjoy science. In fact if students learn nothing else, let them know science is not the complicated monster it is made out to be. It is the simple pursuit of knowledge by asking simple questions and proving them (where possible) with experiments.
In all the getting, get understanding! We shall begin with an inquiring mind and a willingness to work and our goal is to end up with knowledge. The more you know and understand your position, the more comfortable you will feel and the better you will be able to cope.
Let's review the scale of sizes and distance within our solar system, galaxy and the universe as a whole. We will accomplish this by completing the following activities taken from "Teaching With Space In-service" after reviewing the following facts.