March 6, 2009 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

Lest you think that it was reality TV which introduced the concept of voting people out or off, I’m here to let you know that is not the case.

In Ancient Athens the citizens would have an annual vote to determine whether or not to hold an ostracism. If the majority was in favour, each member of the Assembly would write on an ostrakon (potsherd) the name of a person he thought the city could do without, thereby eliminating a nuisance from the area. The person whose name appeared on the most ostraka would then be banished for 10 years, after which time he could return to find his property all intact.*

Now before you start gleefully imagining whom you would vote to be banished for 10 years (rest assured, I too have one or two on my list), let’s look at this from the other side. What if you were the one they voted to get rid of? How would that make you feel? Not quite so much fun to imagine the outcome is it?

More importantly though, what would you do with those 10 years away from your daily grind? Would you plot and scheme how you’d get even with the jerks who banished you? Or, would you use the time away to broaden your horizons, learn new things, take part in experiences and adventures you never would have had opportunity to before?

You don’t need to be ostracized to find the time to experience something new.

* “Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: why the Greeks matter” by Thomas Cahill

Beth

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