Article December 25, 1971 Issue

The Inclusive Guide

PETER ACKERMAN

As a young fellow, I owned a shiny metal tape measure. It was one of my most cherished possessions. If something aroused my curiosity, I would pull out the tape and measure the object until satisfied that all its dimensions were gauged with precision. Then I would push a button on the side of the casing and the tape would retract until it nestled securely in the palm of my hand, to be used again whenever needed.

This practice was very rewarding at the time. Measuring seemed to provide a means of achieving control. By comparing the relative sizes of various objects I thought I understood their potential. Not surprisingly, though, my interests soon outstripped the seventy-two-inch span of the tape. Yet the desire to maintain that sense of power which comes from making a correct assessment of one's full experience has never diminished.

Surely this goal is common to all men seeking harmony in their lives. And to reach it requires reliance on more than a physical apparatus. Our trust must be placed in something that offers unlimited promise, is universally applicable, is accessible to all, and can provide practical solutions.

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