socialism and autism

so i watched the motorcycle diaries the other night, and was hooked. i think everyone dreams of a great road trip adventure. all the while i'm thinking, i don't know anything about che guevara, and i want to know more. for him to be such an icon to so many rock stars and other liberal bohemian types, there must be some sort of string attached, there has to be some controversy. the movie retraces his steps (well, motorcycle ride until it broke down for good) across south america. the pivotal part of the film, and the one that struck a chord with this special ed freak was when he visited a leper colony. he broke the rules and engaged with the patients like no one ever had, sans gloves. like patch adams wiping drool from the mouth of an embarrassed girl, he got down on their level and didn't consider himself any better than them.

guevara was a socialist. let's ignore all of the negative connotations that go along with that word and get to the root of it. Christianity itself began with communal living. people gave of themselves to help the others around them. socialism, on paper at least, doesn't seem like such a bad idea to me. wouldn't it be nice to see it actually work instead of end up in dictatorship? i work with a lot of kids who make me think, if only someone could give them the money they need to meet their needs... if only they had better healthcare... if only...

i wouldn't ever make it in politics because i'm an advocate for people, all people, period. i want to see everyone succeed. sounds like a democrat, right? well there's that whole pro-life thing. and letting illegal immigrants work? why not, that way they'll pay taxes and they're doing the jobs anyway. it'd just cost us more to try to keep them all out. gay marriage? isn't that a contradiction in itself? i support higher taxes and increased social programs because the kids need it. it's not their fault their parents are idiots or in unfortunate circumstances or whatever.

i'm so ridiculously independent it frustrates me. are there are no clear answers?

i'm just rambling without much cohesion. go and rent riding giants. it'll blow your mind.

oh, dr. jackson said she wants to place me with a 5th grade autism teacher in baldwin county next year for my student teaching and such. that's great, if i want to work at my mom's school which serves the autistic kids in athens. but then there's that whole want-to-do-it-on-my-own complex i've got going right now. and i really have a passion for emotional and behavioral disorder kids. (worked with one a little today when his teacher got frustrated at him.) i guess i've got a year to figure it out.