1) On The Professor (Free Verse / Prose) Poem by Otradom Pelogo

Thus a public can only attain enlightenment slowly. Perhaps a revolution can overthrow autocratic despotism and profiteering or power-grabbing oppression, but it can never truly reform a manner of thinking; instead, new prejudices, just like the old ones they replace, will serve as a leash for the great unthinking mass.
For even among the entrenched guardians of the great masses a few will always think for themselves, a few who, after having themselves thrown off the yoke of immaturity, will spread the spirit of a rational appreciation for both their own worth and for each person's calling to think for himself…(Kant)

Professor - We live in an incredible world with many different beliefs. Most were given to us by the time we were five. From that point we began not only to question it, but also to fashion it, and at the same time to make it fit the way we speak, act and live, because, we are what you call unique. By the time we have gone through adolescence, most likely we will have decided to keep that belief system for the rest of our lives, maybe only making it more conservative as we become wiser. Yet each individual knows that the world is very complex, and we continue to grow and learn from year to year, as technology proves it. Therefore although with convictions, we know that there will be things that must be added to that belief system; amendments made to it, rather than challenged; perpetuating it instead of creating a new one every time an astounding piece of information comes about.
What's excepted in one part of the world, may be considered phenomenal on the other side of it; and because we live in America, a country that is both quite diverse in it's peoples and cultures, and also quite young; only five centuries old; quite young compared to most, thus, even in the future, since the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, we have and will continue to see a lot of changes.
A belief system as well as an economic, welfare, and social system, etc., of course along with many more aspects of this rather less complicated than complex, tableau of doctrines, created within a democracy that has been implemented as if it has been around for thousands of years, considering it one of the greatest in the world. But we have decided what the best choices to make were; we have made convictions, taken oaths and made promises to secure them. Yet many facets of that system can be found to have originated in many other parts of the world, because of our country's youth / age.
But because justice without perspective can easily be interpreted as insanity, therefore with long and prudent brooding, there are few compromises no matter where they originate from, and that perspective that allows us to acknowledge things, which we consider just or even unjust to us, but normal to others in different parts of the world, and with that same, or should I say, a different perspective, allowing us to say what we shall and shall not except. Yet there are some things shared by every person in our world; basic morals and respect, basic human rights and civil liberties; universal maxims that will be acknowledged just about every place that you would travel to, though being your first time there. But simultaneously, it's here also that we become unique; having made decisions on how we shall govern our lives, having it approved by the majority, and making it extremely difficult to change because it is so important, affecting the lives of millions directly, billions indirectly. And because of that perspective and the age of this nation, like others around the world, we can have a semi-permeable tolerance to different views because some things will be incorporated; others will simply be eliminated as we progress.
In a world this complex as well as old, it would be impossible to live without science and theology, philosophy and pragmatism, for all of the above work together and is demanded by our society; views that are neither anti social nor opposing, just different perspectives to explain the world that we live in, all being right and just. Usually we favor one or the other, yet having an open mind to all of the rest in case there is suddenly proof to explain the unexplainable without contradiction, but with amendments, new answers and more scholarship added to our vat of knowledge to make prudent adjustments in the phase of transition, as we continue to grow, and being able to interpret the law without any major dilemmas.
We can have respect for them all; because we can only devote so much time to either, therefore only being able to perfect one to implement it as part of a program that guides our lives. Although sound, each being applied to each situation, since there are many ways of looking at and explaining different circumstances; therefore we seldom face any dilemmas after having made a choice, because we know that although our convictions are beliefs, they are also quite complex.
Because we have the personal freedom to choose, and not let anyone know even if we desire not to choose, debates are rare, and demands as to why, how, and who are basically non-existent.