“We cannot defeat gloom by spreading gloomy pictures. We conquer darkness by striking one match and lighting one candle at a time. And we stop despair by shining light on heroes instead of on detractors. The works of heroes are beacons for us. By following, we stoke their candles into bonfires.” This is from my Afterword for Bentari.
Now I shine light on the words and wisdom of recently deceased Professor Ladis “Kris” Kristof, who inspired many and in more than one way showed them how to climb, to learn and to promote peace. (In his eighties, Kristof climbed the highest fir tree on his farm so he could snap a photo.)
I did not study under Professor Kristof during my years at Portland State. I wish I had. Yet many of my instructors at P.S.U. and throughout my public education in Portland did most definitely help me to form a philosophy of life that promotes peace, liberty and justice for all.
Here, I’ve posted some excerpts from Richard Read’s column that memorializes Professor Kristof’s life. The professor’s words certainly spark my interest. Let us all continue to climb and to learn by his example.
These are excerpts from The Oregonian, Metro section, June 18, 2010.
Ladis Kristof, concentration camp survivor and longtime PSU professor, dies at 91 Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 7:42 PM—by Richard Read, the Oregonian
Portland State University professor emeritus Ladis "Kris" Donabed Kristof, who swam the Danube River in 1948 to escape his native Romania, died at 91 Tuesday on his Yamhill farm.
Kristof, father of New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, began life as an aristocrat's son, lost everything, reached the United States to work in an Oregon logging camp, then built a career as a prominent academic. He spoke eight languages, learning English last.
"War, want and concentration camps, exile from home and homeland, these have made me hate strife among men, but they have not made me lose faith in the future of mankind," Kristof wrote in his Who's Who listing.
"Personal experience... has taught me to beware of man's capacity for plain stupid, irrational, as well as consciously evil behavior, but it also has taught me that man has an even greater capacity for recovery from lapses."
In his Who's Who entry, Kristof wrote: "I remain a rationalist and an optimist... If man has been able to create the arts, the sciences and the material civilization we know in America, why should he be judged powerless to create justice, fraternity and peace?"
-- By Richard Read
To view Mr. Read’s entire column, please see: http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/06/kris_kristof_concentration_cam.html
Thanks, Richard Read, for your fine story about the professor. Condolences and best wishes to the Kristof family. And for students and children of all ages—get climbing!
Please send feedback about this blog entry to Tim@Bentari.com. Thank you.