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Reflections on my Baha'i Fast - Day 2

A good way to start the day (at 5am).

During today's fasting, I've been thinking a lot about ignorance - both the ignorance of others as well as my own. As an educator, I work to combat ignorance by giving my students access to information and, more importantly, by trying to teach them to think critically and independently, to question and to always seek the truth for themselves. I frequently quote Public Enemy to them saying, "Don't Believe the Hype."

So, when I am faced with the overwhelming ignorance left to be conquered in the world, like this article about a Park Slope neighborhood's attempt to ban rap at a local establishment, or the comments in this article about the death of young Bostonian, I am tempted to try and intervene by educating. I'm working on understanding that I cannot and should not try to teach everyone. Rather than trying to address every instance of ignorance I come across (and wear myself out in the process by fighting many small battles), I need to focus my energies on battling the big boss, addressing ignorance where I can be most effective: on my students and most significantly on myself.

March 2011
Boston, Massachusetts

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
		1 Sunrise: 6:21am Sunset: 5:32pm	2 Sunrise: 6:19am Sunset: 5:34pm	3 Sunrise: 6:17am Sunset: 5:35pm	4 Sunrise: 6:16am Sunset: 5:36pm New Moon: 3:47pm	5 Sunrise: 6:14am Sunset: 5:37pm
6 Sunrise: 6:13am Sunset: 5:39pm	7 Sunrise: 6:11am Sunset: 5:40pm	8 Sunrise: 6:09am Sunset: 5:41pm	9 Sunrise: 6:08am Sunset: 5:42pm	10 Sunrise: 6:06am Sunset: 5:43pm	11 Sunrise: 6:04am Sunset: 5:44pm	12 Sunrise: 6:02am Sunset: 5:46pm First Qtr: 6:46pm
13 DST Begins Sunrise: 7:01am Sunset: 6:47pm	14 Sunrise: 6:59am Sunset: 6:48pm	15 Sunrise: 6:57am Sunset: 6:49pm	16 Sunrise: 6:56am Sunset: 6:50pm	17 Sunrise: 6:54am Sunset: 6:51pm	18 Sunrise: 6:52am Sunset: 6:53pm	19 Sunrise: 6:50am Sunset: 6:54pm Full Moon: 1:11pm
20 Sunrise: 6:49am Sunset: 6:55pm	21 Sunrise: 6:47am Sunset: 6:56pm	22 Sunrise: 6:45am Sunset: 6:57pm	23 Sunrise: 6:43am Sunset: 6:58pm	24 Sunrise: 6:42am Sunset: 6:59pm	25 Sunrise: 6:40am Sunset: 7:01pm	26 Sunrise: 6:38am Sunset: 7:02pm Last Qtr: 7:08am
27 Sunrise: 6:37am Sunset: 7:03pm	28 Sunrise: 6:35am Sunset: 7:04pm	29 Sunrise: 6:33am Sunset: 7:05pm	30 Sunrise: 6:31am Sunset: 7:06pm	31 Sunrise: 6:30am Sunset: 7:07pm

What is this all about you ask? Well, this is that time of the year when Baha'is all around the world fast from sunrise to sunset for 19 days. So, I thought I'd throw up the sunrise-sunset times for the month for all my Boston Baha'is and for anyone in the area who wants to join in the spiritual rejuvenation through physical sacrifice. You can also get a calendar with the times for your city here. I'm going to TRY to do a blog a day for each of the 19 days of the fast. Please feel free to share your fasting experiences (from any faith), to offer spiritual motivation and to not talk about food in the middle of the day! You can also ask any questions. Check out some more detailed information about the Baha'i Fast.

TODAY IN BLACK HISTORY - February 28

On February 28, 1984 Michael Jackson won an incredible 8 Grammy awards. That is a feat in and of itself, but check out this video above with the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Performance (Male). These are some of the illest songs of all time! The competition was fierce in this category. It's too bad that music has largely taken a turn for the worse. This year's nominees paled in comparison to those from 1984 (yeah, I see you Bieberheads. Your boy is no MJ). I miss Michael Jackson, but am still inspired by his talents and accomplishments.

So that concludes the Today in Black History posts (for this year anyway). Some went up late (like today), but I got them up and I've learned a lot. I hope someone else has too. I'm about to start a new series of posts on March 2nd though, so stay tuned...