Chapter IX: "Elecciones Generales"

In this chapter Savater talks about plenty of ideas and conflics between Ethics, Politics, politicians... but I would like to concentrate in some few ideas that I find really interesting... There is one thing that he says that for is crucial: Ethics cannot wait Politics. We have to know that we can not wait until politics solve all our problems in order to start solving our own ones... It's the other way about: since Politics has to do with the harmonious coexistence of all the human beings, we cannot expect Politics to function perfectly if every single individual within the society do not care about living their lives ethically... We have to start the change from the most simple thing and not the other way about... We know that our every day situation, especially in Argentina, is not the most desirable or the best one, but we have to be aware of the fact that we still can do something to improve our lives and our society... the fact is that sometimes many people tend to say that as our country's situation is not good, how can they possibly be good if within a society so unfair and violent? Well that's exactly where the answer is: the only way in which out country can start becoming a better place to live in is by giving our best as indiviuals who at the same time form part of something else (the society) and try to keep on believing in our own capacity of choosing, deciding, sharing, helping, guiding and living our lives in the best we can: living a Human Life (with all the ideas we have been discussing so far while reading this beatiful book)... We, as teachers or teachers to be, have to be aware of the fact that we can be one of those who have that incredible and challenging mission of showing others that the change (in our country, society, school, and so on) is something that will only we achieved if we first start the change from our own every day lives... Ww don't have to forget that it won't be something easy to do, at all... but we are the ones that can show our students that the best way of living your life "humanly" is by means of assistance... i.e. being willing and ready to help, guide and accompany others when they need it... Help, guide, accompany... doesn't it sound familiar to you? Yes, we know them... these three words are the most important roles of the teacher... So, don't you think that being an English teacher, or a teacher of any subject, is more than that? Well, I do... We are more than teachers... we are Educators, Guiders, Helpers... So when someone come and ask you "What is your profession?" or "what do you do?" just answer "I am a Teacher"... and be sure that that is something you'll be always proud of...