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Scent of Light Episode
by Ken Norton
Mentoring
Broadcast June 24, 2018
Mp3 Player
The audio file above is the spoken word recording
without background music provided to Radio KOWS 92.5 FM broadcast of the
Scent of Light episode for insert into the Radio Spotlight Magazine
with host Andre' Marc.
Transcript
This is Ken Norton. On this 5-minute segment of
Discernment I will share my thoughts on how mentoring was valuable in my
life. My mentor William Hermanns, who was born in Koblenz, Germany in 1895
and died in San Jose, California in 1990 with me at his side, lamented the
early loss of the guidance of his father Michael Hermanns when he was only
10 years old and felt that he sought to replace this fatherly guidance
through the Kaiser's German State and its army that would order him as a
volunteer to Verdun to witness the slaughter there in 1916. Along the way he
discovered his conscience, the true guidance which that of his father could
only faintly approach, but which he discovered within while enduring the
hell of war. This poem is his translation of his German poem Vater that he
wrote at the grave of his father in Koblenz in my presence in August 1976.
Over 50 years my elder and German cultured not American, yet I am sure the
poem's lessons can be recognized by those today who have similarly sought
this guidance out.
Father
by William Hermanns
(1895-1990)
You are no more: My life fills emptiness.
The nation comes and speaks: "My faithful son,
don't mourn, I'll glorify you, take up arms.
My General is your father from now on.
I learned to hate, to hate my unknown brother.
Were we not both born in a mother's womb
of love and labor? But my sword changed values.
At Verdun a million found their tomb.
Woe, who like me stands at a father's grave,
dust steals his watchful eye, his helpful hand.
Woe, whose young ears like mine are then exposed
to malehood trumpets of the marching band!
Is there still innocence, the State will rape it.
Woe, who like me, believing undefiled,
is listening to the Siren call of glory!
Is there no Angel to protect the child?
----
I was born and raised in Los Angeles County. My Dad
Donald Norton was born in Los Angeles in 1924 and died one of its suburbs in
2016 with my Mom at his side in the house in which I with my seven younger
siblings was raised. I am grateful that he lived so long for me to work out
our differences, not to the point of conversion but acceptance that we had
other perspectives and desires.
My mentor came into my life, as I, a 22 year-old student at San Jose State,
sought guidance during the Vietnam War, a guidance that countered that of my
Dad, still believing in the Law and Order promised after the USA was
victorious in WWII and embodied in Richard Nixon as President. This old
patriotic belief prevented my Dad from knowing those realms of conscience
questioning patriotism, at least he never expressed doubt about it to me. I
am glad that mentoring is an opportunity for people like me to expand their
consciousness from the limitations and stereotyping that come with family
upbringing.
My mentor Dr. William Hermanns, a retired professor,
was that angel that helped protect that soul child that was me seeking the
way. From my childhood I was encouraged to believe in a Jesus who said "Ask
and you shall receive; seek and you shall find." I honor my Dad for
encouraging me to search, even though what I found was difficult for him to
understand. And I honor my Mentor for expanding this search and application
in my life. I was even given the opportunity to assist him for some years in
publishing his book Einstein and the Poet - In Search of the Cosmic Man,
which is available to purchase on the website that I put up in his honor at
www.williamhermanns.com, where also this poem Father and more of his poetry
and essays are archived, and through which you can contact me. This is Ken
Norton with 5-minutes of Discernment. Thanks for listening.
About the Author and Producer
Ken Norton earned his master's degree in Materials Science from Stanford
University as the Vietnam War was ending. During that time Ken served as the
personal assistant to a poet/sociologist Dr. William Hermanns as he prepared
his writings for publication, exposing Ken to not only the sciences but also
the humanities and comparative religion for making conscious and
conscionable choices.
Ken is a regular contributor to Radio Spotlight Magazine with his episodes
on the Scent of Light. Ken lives in Santa Rosa with his life partner Elaine
and their little dog Rosey.
