Enlightening tales at a barbecue

Recuperating from our recent Burning Man trek, we joined a lawn party last Sunday where we met at least two very interesting men. One was a World War II and Korean War veteran; the other a veteran of the Carson City school wars. Both had fascinating stories to tell.

The veteran

The war veteran (who does not wish to be named) flew B-24s and F-51s and had some harrowing stories to tell. Not that he tells them very often; he shared them with us because of our shared background in Korea and Europe. Most of his stories had to do with the heroism of others - that "greatest generation" - and the funny things that happened to him.

He's a very modest man, didn't even tell us about the time he was shot down in Europe. But he shed a lot of light on our last truly "good" war, if there is such a thing. He tied much of what he said to the comrades he flew and fought with. It's an old story - you fight for your buddies more than for some abstract moral reasons.

We suggested to him that he should record some of his experiences for his children and grandchildren. "No, they're not interested," he said.

What a sad thing it would be if his experiences were to die with him. Hope he reads this and reconsiders.

School work

Then there was this other fellow. He's currently employed by our school system, but he also volunteers his time to help struggling students. He's worked with one youth for 10 years, and he's not sure that he's been able to accomplish what he wanted to, but he's still trying.

His comments about No Child Left Behind were blunt. He mentioned one school where Hispanic students make up 85 percent of the school body. And 83 percent are on the free lunch program. Under the law, this is a failing school. But how can it be otherwise?

"The teachers are tremendous; they work a lot more than the 180 days they are paid for. But they battle home life that confuses the student, they battle the problem of English as a second language. How can that school meet the No-Child standards which envisions students all as round pegs for round holes?"

As a failing school, students can transfer to other more successful schools, thus making this school fail even more.

He said, "Nobody can quarrel with the No Child Left Behind idea. But it's that old cliché, the devil's in the details."

Perhaps not the most entertaining weekend, but certainly one of the most enlightening.

ANYONE FOR CAMELS?

It all started out as a hoax, but somehow the Virginia City camel races survived and are now a major attraction for the post-Labor Day weekend. Movie director John Huston charged to victory in that first race on a camel borrowed from the San Francisco Zoo.

Since then, ostriches have been added to the event and it is twin citied with a town in Australia making the races international. Check the "If you go" at left for times and all, but this is an affair to remember.

FROM THE VAULTS

Japan's Keji Mizoguchi "Ugetsu" is a study about fantasy and reality, leaving viewers uncertain about which is which. It's a fine study in Japanese uncertainty, just like the language itself.

A potter and a farmer both have visions, one of money, the other of being a samurai. They both achieve their dreams, but at a cost. The 1953 film is as modern today as it was back then. No rating, 97 minutes.