Josiah H. Brown
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Practically Idealistic blog
 
The title for this blog originated with use of the term “practical idealist” in this 1996 opinion piece, which asked: “To what kind of work should a practical idealist aspire?” A century and a half earlier, Emerson, in his 1841 essay Circles, wrote: “There are degrees in idealism.  We learn first to play with it academically. . . .  Then we see in the heyday of youth and poetry that it may be true, that it is true in gleams and fragments.  Then, its countenance waxes stern and grand, and we see that it must be true.  It now shows itself ethical and practical.”  John Dewey and Mahatma Gandhi embraced practical idealism in the 20th century, as did UN Secretary General U Thant.  Al Gore invoked it in a 1998 speech. In the context of this blog, the term is meant to convey idealism tempered but not overwhelmed by realism: a search for the ideal on a path guided by common sense.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

 Appreciating Volunteers
 
The Connecticut Mirror published an opinion piece I wrote: "Even at moment of social distancing, it's Volunteer Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month" in April.
6:43 pm edt 

Sunday, March 1, 2020

 Yale Basketball Drama, Senior Night

This was a big weekend for the Yale men's basketball team.  Friday night, after the Trinity Boys Choir sang the National Anthem, the Yale team defeated Penn in stunning fashion, going on a 13-0 run in the final two minutes, which included six steals by Yale.  Steals and dunks by Jordan Bruner and Jalen Gabbidon in the waning seconds completed the thrilling comeback, which my family and I cheered from the stands.

Last night, Yale concluded its home season with another dramatic win, this time over Princeton.  Before the game, seniors Jordan Bruner, Eric Monroe, and Austin Williams were honored.  (Their former classmate and teammate Miye Oni would have joined them, but he now plays professionally.)  At halftime, the youth team that James Forman Jr. and I coach, as volunteers, scrimmaged--giving the kids and us courtside seats from which to support the Yale team.
10:57 am est 
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