This week I am in Washington, DC for the Joint Mathematics Meetings, after a 2 day drive from Oklahoma. I realized yesterday that the drive provided me with countless opportunities to put the Peacefull Mind into action. For instance, yesterday we stopped for gas in a small town in Virginia, which seemed very similar to the small towns in Oklahoma. Being that I am traveling with an Indian and a Chinese guy, I wondered how the locals would respond. I was especially nervous when we were approached by a man with Confederate flags on his shirt, leather jacket, and hat. I put on my biggest smile and said hello, and was rewarded by a very friendly discussion. This friendly discussion was extended to include my traveling companions when I went inside to get coffee. The whole experience really made my day, and it showed how relevant a person’s projected image is to their actual personality, and how relevant my perceptions are to the ensuing experience. I think that people are not innately good or evil, but that they typically return kindness with kindness and anger with anger. This observation is what I think that coexisting is all about.
Sean M. R. Crowell 