Albert Einstein was a genius. Just a fact, not up for debate. But I'm going to argue with him a bit today (admittedly, far easier to do considering he's been dead for well over 60 years). And no, theoretical physics is not an arena in which I could take him on.
The truth about geniuses is that they are often proven to be best when they stay in their lane. Not all of them are "street smart," understanding of some of the less left-brained, more everyday aspects of life. Not so with Einstein. He actually understood so much more than the analytical.
One fairly well-known quote that caught my attention: "Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear, and greed."
There was a time I might have argued this one, but not now. Pessimistic? Yes. But coming to clear fruition in the realm of politics in this country? Hell, yes.
But it's a quote acknowledging, even putting higher value in, the right side of his brain that makes me think the same thing I've been thinking about our forefathers: insightful, incredibly insightful, but oh, you never saw this current republican party coming.
Einstein said: "I am enough of the artist to draw freely on my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
Imagination may encircle the world, but in his own words, Einstein admits that stupidity, fear, and greed rule it.
So . . . Enter Ron DeSantis, followed by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and the Tennessee legislature . . . the death knell of knowledge.
Yeah, I'm up on my soap box again.
I fully agree that imagination is integral to most every stride forward we make. But where I take exception is here: if we limit knowledge, we diminish the scope with which the imagination has to work.
Neither knowledge nor imagination is more important than the other. It is, it needs to be, a symbiotic relationship. They nourish each other.
It is not the ingredients OR the process that is the recipe for success, dear Einstein, it's the mixture: the ingredients AND the process.
Ginger Snap Sweet Potato Cake
Book banning limits knowledge. It is the beginning of the choking off of imagination, the limitation of nutrients. Imagination can survive, but cannot thrive.
Taking that limitation a terrifying step forward though, is not just the denial of facts, but the literal whitewashing of history. The bastardization of school curriculum from the largest scope of truth we can impart to one man's skewed personal views. The manipulation of knowledge by stupidity, fear, and greed.
I look at my generation with shame. We have not made the world a better place for the next generation. I have, however, seen so much hope in this next generation, a moral compass and a vision for this country and the world despite (or because of) the erosion of right, disregard of truth, bigotry, and the mass shooting traumatization endemic of the years in which they will come of age.
Now, I'm not so sure. The assault on education is the limitation of knowledge and its effect on imagination changes everything.
Computer scientists were right, the quality of the output is determined by the quality of the input.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Ginger Snap Sweet Potato Cake
©www.BakingInATornado.com
1/4 cup crushed ginger snaps
1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potatoes, cooled
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1 can (16 oz) cream cheese frosting
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 TBSP brown sugar
5 TBSP crushed ginger snaps, divided
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.
*Beat cake mix, 1/4 cup of the ginger snaps, mashed sweet potatoes, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, orange juice, oil, and eggs for 2 minutes. Spread evenly into the prepared pans.
*Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the center of the top springs back to the touch. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pans, and cool completely. Trim the tops of the cake layers so they are flat. Place the bottom layer onto your serving plate.
*Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the center of the top springs back to the touch. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pans, and cool completely. Trim the tops of the cake layers so they are flat. Place the bottom layer onto your serving plate.
*Beat together the cream cheese frosting, cream cheese, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Remove 1/3 cup of the frosting to a piping bag for decoration.
*Divide the remaining frosting in half. To one half, mix in 3 TBSP of the remaining cookie crumbs. Use half of this frosting to frost the top of the bottom cake layer. Add the middle cake layer and use the rest of this frosting on the middle cake layer. Add the top cake layer.
*Using the half of the frosting without the cookie crumbs, frost the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with the reserved frosting and the remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate if not serving immediately.
*Cover and refrigerate leftovers, then bring to room temperature to serve.
We are on the same page. And the same soapbox.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it, wish more people were.
DeleteCommon sense is lacking in politics. I think Ron might have been a decent candidate, if he had not shot himself in the foot with all this nonsense. Whoever was advising him, was his worst enemy. If he came up with it all on his own, well I’m glad it was before he could hurt much more than Florida. Well maybe. Donna
ReplyDeleteI totally think this is his own evil agenda, and I know he's not done screwing with Florida.
DeleteThere are days when I feel we're circling the drain. When Husby and I took a tour of one of the Roman Aqueduct sites, the guide told us that it wasn't but a short time after the defeat and withdrawal of the Roman armies that people were hauling water by hand again. They had no idea what the aqueducts were for or how to use them. If knowledge isn't passed on, it's lost!
ReplyDeleteA historical example we need to learn a lesson from.
DeleteBanning books gets in my craw, as does restricting access to learning. One of my favorite history books to teach my own kids out of (and the homeschool co-op kids) was Not So! Popular Myths About America from Columbus to Clinton. I had one student, after our discussions of Columbus, come to the conclusion he may have been a "great" man as far as history was concerned but that did not necessarily make him a "good" man.
ReplyDeleteA great example of allowing kids to know the truth and draw their own conclusions.
DeleteThose who ban books piss me off, just because you're offended doesn't mean everyone will be get over it, just saying
ReplyDeleteI feel so many of the so called great men in history may have been right assholes to know.
I know that many of the current politicians in this country aren't people I'd want to know.
DeleteSadly, my state (Missouri) is moving up the ladder in the ludicrous politics category.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand that cake looks like a winner!
The state I live in (but don't claim as mine), as well. It's appalling. And yes, this cake is definitely a winner.
DeleteThat there are actually people who rabidly support banning books, but not assault rifles is appalling. That my daughter has less rights than I did at her age is outrageous. I too feel like my generation (I'm a boomer) failed in making this world better, safer, kinder for those after us. Why in 2023 has the Equal Rights Amendment STILL NOT passed? It's all very frustrating and sad.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it's frustrating and sad, but has also gotten to the point of being terrifying.
DeleteEinstein was right. Stupidity, fear, and greed, but the greatest (as in most dangerous) of these is fear. Right now, I fear millions of us have lost their way. The man they feel won the 2020 election now publically threatens the lives of his opponents and no one even blinks. They've been made so afraid they see this man as their path to safety. It's just the opposite. Einstein came to this country in 1933. He saw the Nazis come to power. He spoke from experience.
ReplyDeleteI hate when people throw around the Nazi comparisson to pretty much anything, I think it dimimnishes the level of depravity they embodied. But I do think that this time in our history really is comparable to what happened as Hitler began to gain power, unleash evil, and enable hatred and inhumanity to take hold.
Delete