Shikamo!, 15 November 1996, 2

43
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 10:51:51 +0300 (GMT+0300)
From: John Hobgood
To: Dr. Ken Wilburn
Subject: Shikamo!

Hello there....not too much going on. I just received my journal from my dad. It's cool to look back at what was done that semester in [History] 3810. Classes are underway and I spent a few hours in the library doing some reading for classes. Today in Dr. Kimambo's class we have a seminar. It is pretty interesting how these seminars conduct themselves. Usually a student prepares to introduce a subject or answer a question. Then the other students are supposed to contribute anything they have found in their readings. What it usually turns into is students ripping their fellow students with such statements as: "What my colleague fails to show in his presentation" or more or less trying to make themselves appear 'better read' and researched than their counterparts. Interesting. Today's seminar is supposed to stem out of T.O. Ranger's (I believe) statement; "it was all senseless reaction" in respects to resistance in East Africa. I read a few things and hopefully it'll be a good class. Next week in South African History I have to talk about the statement:

"History has to be rewritten in every generation because although the past doesn't change, the present does. Each generation asks new questions of its past and finds new areas of empathy as it relives different aspects of the experiences of its predecessors." --Christopher Hill in The World Turned Upside Down. I assume that this is the quote, but can't find the book in the library to read around the question. Wish me luck.

Not too much else is happening. I am going home with my roommate Sunday for the day, so that ought be an experience. Hopefully I'll get a good homecooked meal! Well take it easy
Dr. Wilburn.....--John