Journal 141 – Honesty as value in my life

Topic: Imagine you found a wallet full of money (approximately $ 1,000) on the street. The wallet also contains the owner’s identification address and phone number. Would you return the money? Why or why not?

If I found a wallet full of money on the street, I would return it to the owner because I am honest. Honesty was important value in my family home, I am sensitive, and I am a teacher.
Honesty was one of the most important values in my family home. My parents weren’t well educated people. But, they always repeated me that a man should be honest. They used that rule at their own life. I had the happy childhood. My family lived at the small village, which was surrounded by the forests. There, all inhabitants knew and liked each other. These natural environment and social community formed my personality.
I am sensitive person. I love people, and I try to help them. I am sad if somebody suffers from my reason. My mother was a very nice and even an oversensitive person. She was extremely hearty lady. My inborn sensibility was increased by her great personality and the natural social environment surrounded me, especially at may early childhood.
I was and remained a teacher. I dreamed to become a teacher in my early childhood. These dreams came true. I graduated from the Pedagogical Lyceum. It wasn’t the ordinary high school. There, our professors very intensively formed student’s personalities. They permanently repeated that a teacher should be honest. They put into practice this idea; we saw it at every turn.
These three factors: great family, sensitivity as a specific trait of my personality, and the tutorial education, formed me as an honest person. I willingly help other people, if I only can do it. It isn’t important, if a person who lost money was a rich or poor. Honesty is for me the constant value.

Journal 140 - Nothing twice

Dear Christina,

It’s my last journal. A journal is a great idea. I love journals. I know that my journals weren’t typical, but they were a very good exercises for me. I regret that our class is over. I say you Good Bye. Unfortunately, each course is given only once.
Thank you very much for everything. You are a great teacher. I will remember you as one of the best teachers in my life. I wish you the smart students.
I am convinced that more will say you Szymborski’s poem NOTHING TWICE.

Best regards,
Stefan

NOTHING TWICE

Wislawa Symborska, the Polish poet, the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996
Translation: Stanislaw Baranczak

Nothing can ever happen twice.
In consequence, the sorry fact is
that we arrive here improvised
and leave without the chance to practice.

Even if there is no one dumber,
If you’re the planet’s biggest dunce,
You can’t repeat the class in summer:
this course is only offered once.

No day copies yesterday,
No two nights will teach what bliss is
in precisely the same way,
with exactly the same kisses.

One day, perhaps, some idle tongue
mentions your name by accident:
I feel as if a rose were flung
into the room, all hue and scent.

The next day, though you’re here with me,
I can’t help looking at the clock:
A rose? A rose? What could that be?
Is it a flower or a rock?

Why do we treat the fleeting day
with so much needless fear and sorrow?
It’s in its nature not to stay:
Today is always gone tomorrow.

With smiles and kisses, we prefer
to seek accord beneath our star,
although we’re different (we concur)
just as two drops of water are.

Journal 139 – Regarding to the journal 103

In your comment to my journal, you have written that you are confused because of the word "disinterest". I located that word in the title, already. I think that “disinterest” means that you do not care. When something is treated with disinterest, it means that you are not interested in it or do not take it seriously. You would never treat something important with disinterest. You can treat with disinterest something, what is trivial to you. I used that word becasue I couldn't find more proper in this situation. Right now, I understood that it was mistake.
I think that will be correct, if I replace the world “disinterest” by the word “disinterestedness”. In this case, the title my journal 103 will be read “Disinterestedness and religiousness”. It was a semantic explanation.
In my journal 103, I wanted to say that doesn’t exist positive correlation between…just “disinterestedness” and “religiousness”. I will try to explain it, just right now. Some religious people don’t sometimes act disinterestedly. On the other hand, many irreligious people act just disinterestedly.
I am not sure, if I clearly explained it what I wanted to say you. Did you ask me about of the sources; I used many of them. I prefer articles in the Polish language. In the USA, this problem has searched by Laura Koening from University of Minnesota.

138 - Teller and Oppenheimer devoted their lives to America

When I was a little boy, I read a story about Oppenheimer. The author wrote, “Oppenheimer is an encyclopedist of our times”. The author this story stated in those days, Oppenheimer was well known physicist, and he had very widely knowledge of humanities. He knew Latin and Greek languages; he learned Italian during a few weeks, because he wanted to read Italian poets in original.
I’m glad that I have an opportunity to deepen my knowledge about these two scientists, exactly in the USA, their fatherland.
Teller and Oppenheimer’s ways to America were different. E. Teller left Europe at the age of 27 for political reasons. J. Oppenheimer was born in the USA. His parents came to the USA from Europe.
In fact, America was Teller and Oppenheimer’s a truthful homeland. Teller rejected by Europe, just in the USA found proper circumstances for his academic career.
Both scientists devoted to America their whole life and genius; therefore, the progressive world cannot forget about their contributions for the mankind. Americans should be proud of them. I am convinced that such is the reality.

Journal 137 – Pope stresses opposition to abortion

Today is May 10, 2007. Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI began his visit in Brazil. It’s his first papal trip to Latin America. The pope during his trip will inaugurate and important regional bishop’s conference.
On Wednesday, the pope was met at Sao Paulo airport by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. They spoke in Portuguese. Benedict XVI said is certain that the bishops will reinforce, “the promotion of respect for life from the moment of conception until natural death as a integral requirement of human nature”. President Silva, like most Brazilians, is opposed to abortion. President Silva has an audience with the pope today, but they will not talk about abortion. Pope Benedict XVI is expected to address other challenges to Roman Catholicism during his trip: church’s declining influence in Brazil and a deep divide between rich a poor. The present pope, visited Brazil as then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 1990.

Journal 136 – Russians making Victory Day

Today is May 9,2007. Russia celebrated 62 anniversaries the World War II victory over the Nazis Germany. Victory Day is one of the most important holidays on Russia’s calendar. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation’s troubled past. During World War II, which the Russian people called the Great Patriotic War, estimated 27 million dead. President V. Putin also honored Western allies’ contribution to the World War II victory.
The Red Square parade, involving several thousand troops dressed in parade uniforms. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who was speaking from a podium in front of Lenin’s Mausoleum, hailed Victory Day as “the holiday of huge moral importance and unifying power”.
Parades and festivals were held in other Russian cities. Many other ex-Soviet nations also celebrated it.

Journal 135 – Julius Robert Oppenheimer – the father of atomic bomb

Julius Robert Oppenheimer, 1904-1967, was a next well known American physicist with Jewish roots. Robert’s father, Julius, emigrated from Germany when he was at the age 17. J.R. Oppenheimer was only 4 years older than E. Teller. Oppenheimer died at the age 63.
Oppenheimer is known as the father of the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer was chosen to head the team of physicists working on the project, and he played a key role in solving theoretical problems of the bomb. From 1942 to 1945, he directed the Manhattan Project, the United States government’s program to build the first atomic bomb. From 1947 to 1952, Oppenheimer headed the advisory of the newly formed United States Atomic Energy Commission. In 1953, Oppenheimer’s loyalty to the United States was questioned. It led to an investigation by an AEC security panel. It is true, that Oppenheimer initiated opposition to the development of the hydrogen bomb. Unfortunately, he did it with his past associations with Communists.
Finally, the panel cleared Oppenheimer of all charges of disloyalty. However, he was destitute access to secret information. In 1963, Oppenheimer received the highest honor, the Enrico Fermi Award for his contributions to theoretical physics. Many people considered this as an effort by the government to correct a tragic mistake.
Oppenheimer was a talented man. He graduated from Harvard University in 1925, after three years of study. In 1927, Oppenheimer received his Ph.D. from the University of Gottingen in Germany. E. Teller had received his Ph.D. Oppenheimer was on the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley from 1929 to 147. There, he established a leading center for research in theoretical physics. He also taught at the California Institute of Technology; he served as director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, from1947 to 1966. Julius R. Oppenheimer died on February 18, 1967.

Journal 134 - Human life - predestination or possibility of choice?

The problem of predestination and free will, or possibility of choice, has a philosophical character. Different philosophical trends give different answers for this rather difficult question. This problem is often considered by ordinary people, also.
E. Teller’s life can be a good example which illustrates this problem. Based on Teller’s biography, I will try to express my point of view in this matter.
Edward Teller left Europe at the age of 27. E. Teller, rejected by Europe, found proper circumstances for his academic career in the USA. America became his true homeland. At these times in Europe, Teller would be persecuted and sentenced to death, as were all Jews.
I think that providence was entwined in Teller’s long and interesting life, as well as his own activity. He was lucky, because he met many world famous physicists during his life and had a chance to cooperate with them.
Teller succeeded, because he governed his life in a proper way. He didn’t wait for something indefinite; he was very active and mobile. He kept his life in his own hands. I am full of respect for this kind of attitude.
I don’t believe in predestination, I believe in providence that governs the world, and gives us free will. We should use it properly.
For many people, predestination and providence have the same meaning; not for me. Maybe semantically yes, but I feel that these two words have a different meaning. I don’t know, if I am right or not. But, it can be a topic for separate consideration.
For many years, E. Teller cooperated with J.R. Oppenheimer. About this famous scientist I will write in my next journal.

Journal 133 – Edward Teller’s life and achievements in the USA

In 1935,Teller and his wife emmigrated to the United States. E. Teller held a professorship at George Washington University. The Tellers became U.S. citizens in 1941.
In this same year, together with elite American physicists, R. Teller became a member of team which was realizing very secretly the Manhattan Project (1942-1945). A team goal was to construct an atomic bomb. Robert Teller played a key role, when the atomic bomb was only in the planning stage. He provoked his calculations, that the explosion will not provoke a never ending chain of reactions breaking atoms. IAt this time, it was very important. Many physicists were afraid that this kind of explosion would expand on the all earthly material.
A good time came for Teller in 1949. The Americans disclosed a Soviet atomic explosion. The American president, Harry Truman, gave a direction to build three thermonuclear weapons. Teller’s early considerations and calculations made it possible. The teams worked very fast and in 1952 the work was finished. E. Teller very carefully looked after a seismograph arrow at his underground laboratory in California. He first learned that his efforts succeeded.
From 1975 until his death, E. Teller occupied and an advisory position at The Institute Studies about War, Revolution and Peace at University of Stanford in California.
Edward Teller to the end of his day’s performed public service. He popularized his ideas in books, lectures and interviews. When I was studying Teller’s biography, I was thinking about Teller’s uncommon life. I will try expressing my considerations regarding this problem in the next journal.

Journal 132 – Edward Teller – a father of a hydrogen bomb

Edward Teller was a famous American scientist. He passed away on September 9, 2003, at his house at campus University of Stanford in California. He was 95. E. Teller is known as the father of the hydrogen bomb in the USA.

It’s impossible to describe briefly Teller’s academic career and achievements. I will remind only more interesting events from his long and full of adventures life. I will try to select these, which have a political aspect.

E. Teller was born into a Jewish family on January 15, 1908, in Budapest. His family was wealthy and high educated. He grew up during a particularly turbulent time in Hungarian history. It was 20th years of XX century. Nicholas Horthy, anti-Semitic fascist dictator, ruled Hungary in those times.

In 1926 E. Teller left his homeland and moved to Germany. He wanted to study a chemical engineering. Soon, he lost his interest to this subject and studied physics in Munich. In 1930, he got his Ph.D. from the University of Leipzig. E. Teller lost in Germany his sole at the streetcar accident.

Teller’s promising academic career broke Hitlerism upheaval. In 1933, A. Hitler took power in Germany. He was cruel and anti-Semitic dictator. Teller had to leave Germany, otherwise he would be persecuted and sentence to death, as all Jewish in this country (Holocaust). E. Teller moved to Denmark. There he had happiness to meet N. Bohr and to work under his leadership. Henrik David Bohr, 1885-1962, was at that time a famous physicist in the world. He won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1922. E. Teller stayed in this Scandinavian country only one year. The USA was the next episode in Teller’s interesting life. I will tell you about it in the next journal.

Journal 131 – Fathers atomic and hydrogen bombs

All people know what are hydrogen and atomic bombs. But, I don’t know how many people know who fathers of hydrogen and atomic bombs are.
I would like to tell you about these inventors. Both were Americans, and both had Jewish roots. Who were they? Are you curious? Be patient, please. I will tell you about them in the next a few journals.

Journal 130 – Pope Benedict XVI changed teaching on limbo

Pope Benedict XVI overturned a teaching on limbo that has existedt in the Roman Catholic Church for hundreds of years. Catholics have long believed that children who die without being baptized are with original sin and they are excluded from heaven.
Regarding Roman Catholic theology, limbo is a region for souls of people who died unbaptized but do not deserve the punishment of of sinners (hell). The pope approved the findings of the International Theological Commission, which said it was reassessing traditional teachings on limbo in light of pressing pastoral needs. Nowadays, there are a growing number of abortions and infants born to nonbelievers who die without being baptized.
In this situation, the pope’s document is very important for the temporary world. The International Theological Commission, that advises the pope and the Vatican’s Congregation of the Faith, was working many years on this document.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was headed by the present pope for two decades before he become pope in 2005.
This above mentioned report, which was approved by the Vatican, was released on April 20,2007.

Journal 129 – A brain runs along hurdles


The lasted research showed that physical exercises not only harden muscles and prevent of heart diseases but also improve our intellectual abilities. Prof. Charles Hilmann, from Illinois University, performed research on 259 children eight and ten years old. They made slopes, runs, pumps and crouches. Next, Hilmann compared a collegiate physical proficiency with their scores at arithmetic and reading. The most proficient students achieved the highest results in the tests. Also, Hillman took into account some differences between students, such as their family and economic situations.
In March 2007, the crucial article was published in “Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences”. The scientists described how they induced a human brain to produce the new nerve cells; they used 3-months oxidizing exercises.
Other researchers proved that intensive activity helps the nerve cells to create a new dense network of nerve connections. In this situation, a brain works faster and more efficiently. Scientists have proof that physical activity can force back the development of Alzheimer disease, psychomotor over excitability and disorders of many intellectual abilities. It shows, that independently of age, a strong and active body is a key to a strong and active mind.
I derived the above news from the article “Brain runs along hurdles”, which was published in a Polish edition “Newsweek” (April 15, 2007, number 15/2007).

Journal 128 – Will Fidel Castro come back, soon?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro’s friend and political allay, said on last Sunday that Fidel is “in charge”. Since July 31, Fidel Castro has not been seen. He ceded power to his younger brother Raul.
Chavez stated that he has received a “philosophical letter” from Castro a few days ago. Evo Morales, the Bolivian president, said than Castro will come out on May 1, but we convinced that he will not.
Castro’s condition and exact ailment remain state secret; probably Castro suffers from diverticular disease. At the meeting, Chavez held Castro’s letter for the television cameras. Chavez showing a firm Castro’s signature, which could have been the sign of the Castro’s improving health.

Journal 127 – Americans: ah, to be a priest!

Regarding research that was performed by the Department of Social Science of the University of Chicago, from 1972 to 2006 among 50,000 laic and ecclesiastic Americans, the priest and pastor professions give people the most happiness.
The results of this research was a big surprise for sociologists. They were convinced that people who have a big salary and a prestigious job. are happier.The priests and pastors are happier from their jobs; however, their incomes are treated depreciatingly by society.
The scientists came to conclusion that, the people who devote themselves to other people are happier and in that activity they find sense of life.
I think that we can generalize that conclusion. It probably extends to many different professions such as a doctor, a teacher etc. It can explain the activity of hundreds of thousands of volunteers who devote their time to other people, too.
My conclusion is: Only serving other people can bring you happiness.
I am not sure, if this kind of research was not done before.
That journal has just been written based on the Internet article published today in the Polish language. The title of this journal was translated to the letter from the Polish article.