Pomfret and the ISIS attacks in Paris

[Toby Condliffe]

To my classmates,

It's funny how the mind works.  We've had many horrific events in recent years, from Columbine to Newtown and more.  Madrid.  Others....

And just a few days ago Paris.  For some reason, it made me think of Pomfret.  We were innocent and safe but Pomfret opened the world to us through the International Affairs Seminar which David Twitchell launched in our junior year.  Mr. Twitchell was a visionary.  

I went to Yale after Pomfret.  Yale's recent president, Rick Levin, started to refocus Yale as an international university.  He said for Yale's first hundred years, it served Connecticut.  For its second century, it broadened to serve New England and the northeast generally.  For its third century, Yale became a national university.  And now in its fourth century, Yale would focus on admitting and training students from all over the world.

Twitchell and Pomfret were forty years ahead of Levin and Yale.  We were fortunate to have been Pomfret students, especially during the time of Twi's leadership.

I'm not particularly religious but I developed a love for the contemplative atmosphere of Pomfret's chapel.  I like a good sermon.  I enjoy organ music, and have sung in choirs, another Pomfret habit engendered by singing with Warren Geissinger in the glee club.  I will go to church this morning, thinking of the people of Paris, and of Pomfret.

Over fifty years separate Pomfret from what happened last week but, as I said, it's funny how the mind works.

Just a random thought for today...

Toby

--

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Toby Condliffe

416-931-5000   -   mobile

416-486-6222   -   home

508-338-4607   -   U.S. mobile

508-693-1412   -   Vineyard

to...@condliffe.net

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[John R Bockstoce]

Well said, Toby.  All the best, John

---

From: pomf...@googlegroups.com <pomf...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Toby Condliffe <To...@Condliffe.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 10:53 AM
To: pomf...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [pomfret62] Pomfret and the ISIS attacks in Paris

 

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[David Storrs]

Agreed, and all for the better.

[Wally Buschmann]

Well put. 

 

From: pomf...@googlegroups.com [mailto:pomf...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Toby Condliffe
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 10:53 AM
To: pomf...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [pomfret62] Pomfret and the ISIS attacks in Paris

 

To my classmates,

--

[William Boehme]

Wonder how close the event was to some current students?
William Boehme

----- Original Message -----
From: Toby Condliffe <To...@Condliffe.net>
To: pomf...@googlegroups.com <Pomf...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sun, 15 Nov 2015 10:53:21 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [pomfret62] Pomfret and the ISIS attacks in Paris

To my classmates,

It's funny how the mind works.  We've had many horrific events in recent years, from Columbine to Newtown and more.  Madrid.  Others....

And just a few days ago Paris.  For some reason, it made me think of Pomfret.  We were innocent and safe but Pomfret opened the world to us through the International Affairs Seminar which David Twitchell launched in our junior year.  Mr. Twitchell was a visionary.  

I went to Yale after Pomfret.  Yale's recent president, Rick Levin, started to refocus Yale as an international university.  He said for Yale's first hundred years, it served Connecticut.  For its second century, it broadened to serve New England and the northeast generally.  For its third century, Yale became a national university.  And now in its fourth century, Yale would focus on admitting and training students from all over the world.

Twitchell and Pomfret were forty years ahead of Levin and Yale.  We were fortunate to have been Pomfret students, especially during the time of Twi's leadership.

I'm not particularly religious but I developed a love for the contemplative atmosphere of Pomfret's chapel.  I like a good sermon.  I enjoy organ music, and have sung in choirs, another Pomfret habit engendered by singing with Warren Geissinger in the glee club.  I will go to church this morning, thinking of the people of Paris, and of Pomfret.

Over fifty years separate Pomfret from what happened last week but, as I said, it's funny how the mind works.

Just a random thought for today...

Toby

--

----------------------------------------------Toby Condliffe

416-931-5000   -   mobile

416-486-6222   -   home

508-338-4607   -   U.S. mobile

508-693-1412   -   Vineyard

to...@condliffe.net

----------------------------------------------