Weak-Strong-Intelligent

Einstein was a man of many depths. We think of him as a physicist, astrophysicist and theoretical mathematician. He was, however, much more than those weighty disciplines.

I think he was a master of logic: clear, pure thought.

An example of his thinking:

            “Weak people revenge.

             Strong people forgive.

             Intelligent people ignore.”

                                    ~Albert Einstein

Let those words sink in. Do any observations spring to mind?

Years ago I worked for the University of Illinois at Chicago. At the time (1971 to 1987) the campus was working hard to transition from a two-year undergraduate campus (Navy Pier) to a full four-year degree granting university. It had several separate colleges and academic disciplines plus a graduate school granting masters and doctoral degrees.

Still a commuter campus (no on-campus living arrangements) the campus struggled to build a community identity among the students, faculty and staff. America’s template for universities was well established with dormitories, married student housing and a vibrant neighborhood community in which to meet, greet, eat and build lives structured around academic pursuits.

In that era the campus transitioned endlessly through development phases. My boss, Dean of Students, was a man of compassion and wisdom. He had survived World War II including an invasion and occupancy of Italy while the Germans were still present. His stories were captivating and made the war so personal, so real.

Oscar Miller was an honest and direct communicator. He had campus opinions based on policy needs. He also understood student yearnings for freedom and exploration of adulthood. Faculty was not enamored with student needs; their focus remained on research and academic disciplines. Administrators were concerned about campus identity, a peaceful harbor for learning and a budding sense of future for the campus.  This all during the tumultuous ‘70’s: the riotous debates and student unrest over the War in Viet Nam, Kent State student massacre, SDS and the Civil Rights Movement. Added to our plate at the time was the Latino movement toward their civil rights. Times were anything but calm!

Student protests were common in those days. A young 3-piece suited suburbanite train commuter from a far western suburb, I visited students in jail, followed protest mass arrests to jail to monitor their rights and conditions in custody. The days were long but very interesting. Challenging as well. This was not the model of life I had journeyed through. But it was the real world of the 1970’s.

Oscar’s forehead had a telltale triangle that would redden when we was angered, frustrated. It was a beacon that informed me that he was holding in red-hot anger but his demeanor was forthright, calm and logical. He managed student sit-ins, small-scale riots, and threats of same. Through it all he maintained his composure and was able to restore calm.

His way was of strength; he forgave bad behavior because he knew it was the result of a passion of belief. He did not seek revenge or imagine insults. He knew the environment of communications in those days was emotional, political, power-oriented and passion driven. He did not take it personally.

The maturity he demonstrated for my observation included the rare ability to ignore people and ideas that would unsettle the calm. He knew they were there; but they were not controlling or important to settling the public forum.

It took me years to learn those lessons. I was slow and stubborn along the way. I’m still not sure I have perfected it, in fact I know I haven’t. I do avoid revenge; I struggle to forgive; but I still have difficulty ignoring things I think do or should matter.

Oh well. Maturity comes with age or maybe not at all! Does trying count?

April 3, 2014