Political Thought Process

This is a tale that has unfolded over 30-plus years. For me, personally. Some of this information may seem familiar. I have written about it before. But it does have relevance today.

I was an avid, hard working Republican for the first 30 years of my life. After that I began to notice a shift in my thinking. And it didn’t square with the party. That’s not always easy to notice when you have focused on a lot of party details and tasks, and also worked through the DNA of political thought espoused by the party. I know I was submerged in the data and perspective is difficult to maintain under those circumstances.

Still, the disconnects emerged, first slowly, then as an avalanche!

Republicans clearly showed their conservative credentials, or at least attempted to establish them; for all to see; to become their signature feature! I was not a conservative at the time. I had been there already and had become unhappy with most of the conservative themes. Simply put: they were not realistic positions for a political party to take, and many points of reference did not add up. During campaigns such mismatched thoughts would surely create havoc.

At the time I advised against taking a conservative bent. My position was to pursue a middle of the road posture and get busy crafting clear definitions of problems coupled with sound options for solving those problems.

My ideas were met with derision. Eventually I dropped my party affiliation. Intellectually, Republicans were simply not well-equipped. Since then my conclusion has been more than adequately proven!

Republicans at one time were thought to be the party of big ideas, well educated thinking, and erudite written positions. Then, white papers were the stuff of keen political thought and support of same.

Then it stopped being so. In the 2012 presidential elections political campaign rhetoric clearly derailed in the republican switch yard. The party has not issued white papers or policy positions; nor has it proposed big ideas to manage problems that are well documented: affordable healthcare delivery, national debt, international relations, slipping educational standards from elementary through high school grades.

The largest issue in my mind? America’s global competitiveness is slipping and our nation is not searching very hard for solutions. The republicans are mute. The democrats are articulate on these matters. Republicans evidently are letting the creative challenge go unanswered. Yet they are blocking forward movement on any of these issues in Congress. So the fight goes on and the American public continues to live in frustration while the The Big Stymie continues.

Universities should not be silent on this. Economists should not be silent. Nor the media. This is too big to let be, don’t you think? Shouldn’t we be discussing the big ideas of the day and getting comfortable with the options we could employ to address those issues? Am I being too idealistic about this?

During this presidential campaign the President runs on his record. There are facts that substantiate every statement. Fact checkers scour the news and speeches as well to check on his claims. But the Republicans? They just deny the facts are true.

The trouble for them are fact checkers are looking at Romney and Ryan claims and find them lacking. The checkers are also looking at Romney and Ryan’s denial of Obama’s claims. The checkers are finding Obama correct in nearly every instance while Romney and Ryan are batting a very low record of correct answers!  Yet they continue doing this even after reports are broadcast far and wide. Why?

Because the voters who support them give them cover. And the voters who don’t care, let them get away with it. It’s easy to just toss out statements without regard to truth, to keep the air waves filled with baloney. It’s easy because it doesn’t take work to do what the Republicans are doing. It doesn’t take original thinking or problem solving.

One day political statements and factual statements will be the same because instant fact checking will be available on screen. Or maybe they should just jump to the lie detector equipment? That would save a lot of people a lot of time; and false noise.

Meanwhile we can help the process by insisting on the truth from both sides of the discussion. It is important we understand each other so our future can move ahead with certainty and honesty. Used to be the Republicans, the party of Lincoln, believed this too.

September 29, 2012

Dr. Seuss...

Lessons we have learned are everywhere in our lives. Many we remember clearly; others we may have changed our lives forever but we do not remember them at all. They have become part of us. And we have become. Each of us. Unto our own being.

Dr. Seuss had five lessons to impart. They were designed for the individual, not the group.  Here they are:

            “Five Lessons in Life from Dr. Seuss

1.      Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

2.      Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

3.      You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

4.      Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

5.      Today I shall behave as if this is the day I will be remembered.”

Good lessons all. To be yourself and have the courage to stand out in all of your uniqueness. I know my parents worked hard to make me belong, to be polite, to respect others. I know they honed my corners and harsh edges so I pleased others rather than upset them. But I learned decades later that being polite was like giving in to some ill-defined standard of conformity. I eventually rejected that standard; not the politeness, you understand, but the standard.

Many people are afraid to speak up unless in anger. Others write little for fear their thoughts might be remembered and criticized. So many of us fear judgment yet we judge others freely. Perhaps that is the cause of our fear? We know we do it so others must?

I’ll have to work on that more. Others will, too! Or else we are not free to be who we really are.

I may not be correct in my thoughts and beliefs, but at least they are mine to work with and explore and to grow. Building larger ideas comes bit by bit; conclusions need to be honestly arrived at or they will not be understood. By me!

Martin Luther King, Jr. said this:

            “Darkness cannot drive out darkness;

            Only light can do that.

            Hate cannot drive out hate;

            Only love can do that.”

If I am honest with myself I will make use of Dr. King’s statement. I will search for light and shine it on darkness to learn more, not wallow blind and achieve nothing. I will need to have courage to do this; and courage as well to stand alone while exploring the unknown. Drs. Seuss and King meet!

A final thought that started me on this process today:

            “There are two gifts we should give our children;

            One is roots, and the other wings.”

                                                            ~ Anonymous

Both gifts are hard to impart on our kids. Roots of course speak to the identity of who we are, who I am, who you are. Roots tells us we are not alone and that we are in part a culmination of generations of ‘input’. And we trust the kids get the message and trust it.

Wings on the other hand gives them the power to fly to new portals of understanding. We need to trust them to use this gift well without damaging themselves. And of course they need to trust that this gift will work for them.

Gifts and trust go hand in hand, don’t they? What we intend by them may not be viewed in the same manner. Only trust allows the transfer of the gift so the recipient can use it, and we can know that we have done our best.

However good that is. However well it will be in the lives of others.

September 28, 2012

Staying Positive

Negative events beget more negative events. This is the happenstance of riots. Disgruntled mob feeds on shared frustrations which turn to anger and group acting out. A chant arises from the mob. A banner or placard is raised and shaken in outrage. A window is broken; soon more are smashed. Looting may begin. Soon trash baskets on the street are set afire or tossed into windshields. Cars may soon be overturned and set ablaze.

Some riots are planned of course. Many are not. They are just momentary protests which erupt to something far worse. They take on a life of their own.

The opposite of this is:

            “Beautiful things happen in your life when you distance

            Yourself from all the negative things.”

                                                                        ~ Anonymous

Pull away from the negative. Seek the calm of the ‘middle’ and then move on to find the positive. The lack of negative helps me find the positive, even at dark moments.

Another tactic may be just as simple: build rather than destroy. If what you encounter has already been built and doesn’t work, ignore it and find something to nurture or build from scratch that will work.

There are those who will belittle your labor. They think you are wrong and will obstruct you. Take heart! Your freedom is there to explore and discover. Perhaps this statement will help you on your quest:

            “Freedom is the right to be wrong,

            Not the right to do wrong.”

                                                            ~www.facebook.com/ithinktwice

Let the others learn that lesson on their own! Meanwhile tend to your own tasks.

Along the way you will find many opportunities to mend a wrong, fix a problem, or simply lend a hand for a moment’s assistance. Not only will you feel good about the experience, but you will see yourself in a different light. And observers? They will know the right you are doing. They will see the difference you are making.

Here’s another anonymous gem from the internet:

            “Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.”

It matters much what each of us does. To seek wisdom, to explore doubt, to grow ideas and to build understanding among others. These are the actions that build better futures for all of us – together. Not a contest to acquire wealth or power, just the satisfaction that life has meaning and our own life is a deep part of it all.

Character…freedom…compassion…positive. These are the things that guide us to a future of opportunity and happiness.

And we have the inner strength to use these attributes. Do not be afraid to use them.  Remember what Desmond Tutu has said:

            “If you are neutral in situations of injustice,

            You have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

Powerful words. And so very true. May they comfort and motivate us.

Another deep thinker, Albert Einstein said:

            “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of

            Thinking we used when we created them.”

We must try new ways of doing things, new ideas, new combinations of old ideas, etc. We must also find people to work with in these endeavors. A life partner or spouse is irreplaceable. Lovequotespics.tumblr.com gives us this thought:

            “Find a partner who encourages you to grow,

            Who won’t cling to you,

            Who will let you go out into the world,

            And trust that you will come back.”

No one said we had to do this work alone. Thank God for that!

September 27, 2012

Helping

Think about people at risk. Although these days these folks can be of any age, I’m thinking of young people and really at odds with the world around them. Young like 14 to 19; and 20 to 28, too. Those two groups ~ the teens and twenties ~ have life-work to do. Personal identity becomes defined, or not. Life purpose emerges from their interests and passions. Building a future they envision and want – that is the heavy work they have to accomplish.

If they don’t get it done in the teens and twenties, their lives will wobble on year after year with a fuzzy sense of self and a malaise of purpose.

How boring and frustrating that must be. Remember when you were those ages and shared unknown futures with your friends, and together you discussed what you really wanted to do but weren’t sure how to do it? Can you remember the hollow catch in your chest as you wondered if you would ever feel fulfilled?

Some families lead their kids to specific goals. Trouble is, the kids may not agree with those goals. Some families control the outcomes and their children seem happy, seem successful but yearn for something more in life that they can’t put their finger on.

Still other families don’t lead their kids; they are left up to their own wiles to figure it out. In most cases this works. Passions are sorted out and interests take substantive form. Dreams are built and pathways to fulfill them are put into action.

Yet there are many youth who end up at loose ends. For years. And years.

I found this anonymous statement on the Internet the other day:

“People don’t always need advice. Sometimes all they really need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand them.”

My life partner Rocky had many years working part time as a floor guard at a roller skating rink. Over the years many of the kids shared their troubles with Rocky. Many times he knew more about the kids’ lives than their parents. And that’s OK as long as the straight scoop is being discussed. Often parents approached Rocky and asked why their kids talked with him and not them? Rocky’s reply was pretty simple: ‘I listen to them and make myself available to them; do you?’

With busy lives paying mortgages, commuting, building successful careers and taking on all the other cares of the world while building a family, parents have a difficult time finding the time, patience and ‘wisdom’ to listen and nurture their kids. It is not easy and it is fraught with misunderstandings, emotions and conflict. It’s the hormones raging, don’t you know? It wasn’t supposed to be easy. It wasn’t for you, it isn’t for your kid, either.

I find myself just wishing I could connect with a kid at risk and make a difference. I’m not sure I would know how, but I sure would like to try. They need this attention and support. I think we all can make an enormous difference if we tried. Maybe if we do it early enough gangs would be less likely to form, drive-by shootings may disappear and along with that a world of grief. Just ebbing away. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Katherine Patterson shared this thought with us:

Peace is not won by those who fiercely guard their differences, but by those who with open minds and hearts seek out connections.”

Personally the open minds and hearts become self-evident and those who need our attention know that truth. They will respond. They will engage. And futures will change.

For them and us this will come together finally. It will show its fruit.

From the internet:

“Someday everything will all make perfect sense. So for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason.”

                                                                        ~Anonymous

Meanwhile we should hone our listening skills. Smile more to be outwardly more accessible to others. The kid waiting at the bus stop just may ask you a question or allow you to ask him/her one. It’s a start. An important one.

Meanwhile…

           

“Don’t feel bad when people misjudge you. As long as you don’t lose sight of who you are, you’ll be fine.”

                                                            ~www.themarcygran.com

Reach out and touch someone. Dare to connect. Help change lives.

September 26, 2012

Drugs...and Death

Injury. Chaos. Maiming. Permanent disability. Death.

These are often the inevitable rewards of illicit drugs. May not seem so at the time; the escape, reverie, rush and blush of senses burgeoning to the top of a deep, deep sea. The gathering of friends to share the moment. Tickle of fear because it is forbidden the thing they we are about to do, to share. The culture of feeling, of fear, of drugs…of whatever sought but grasped so tenuously if at all.

Those of us not involved in this chemical journey are treated to news stories of aftermaths ~ home destroyed by fire, explosions as meth lab ignites;  young man searching for future felled by bad heroin load;  teen girl and promising athlete dead from accidental drug overdose; illness spreads among high school students – cocaine use suspected.  These stories continue in an endless litany of failed attempts to find nirvana. Tales of youth seeking release from that which plagues them. Their futures cut short by the very journey gone awry they embarked upon so lightly months or years before.

And parents wonder and weep. Friends of the dead sob their sorrows. News clippings of their death tread nicely around the cause of death and trumpet instead the high minded search for truth and happiness the young labored at. But no more. They died during their search, doing their trek. They were misguided. That’s why it is a tragedy.

A thought amid this misery:

            “Beautiful things happen in your life

            When you distance yourself from all

            The negative things.”

                                                ~Anonymous from Internet

Once I asked my college aged kids if drugs were available at their high school. They affirmed yes! They knew who to go to and where and when to buy the stuff. On high school property and off. It was in the culture you know. In one of the richest counties in America. Not a drug use of poverty but of wealth and privilege. A culture of use. A culture of abuse. A culture of failed journey. Survival will teach lessons not anticipated. We can only hope the lessons will lead to wholeness. Their wholeness of spirit and body and future.

It may be that is what they were searching for anyway. But how many failures delivered death and sorrow? The lesson was far more accessible without the risk of so much loss. The negative takes its toll; the positive builds rewards. It is the distance between the two – the stretch of neurological sinew – that informs best anyway.

I don’t want to think of the negative but it is there hitting us between the eyes on a daily basis. When I was in alcohol rehab I met many drug addicts. I hadn’t bargained for that but there it was. And although the patients were of diverse ages, the older adults (50’s and 60’s) were long gone from the drug scene; their struggle now was with booze. No; it was the young that shocked me. Fifteen and sixteen years old; pregnant, addicted to drugs and alcohol. So breezy of personality and accepting the status quo of the drugged culture. So blasé.

It stunned me. And yet they were learning first hand the negative offset by the promise of the positive. Would they learn that lesson? Would they turn their behavior to the better route? Only time will tell. This was nearly 7 years ago so one can only hope that they are on a better path to happiness and health.

But the struggle for society continues. The drug culture is everywhere. It knows no boundaries that excludes their entry. No age limits, either.

Imprisoning the miscreants, the users has done little good. The trade goes on. The damage mounts. Police and emergency responders do their best to stem the tide but…heads are scratched as the young continue to march to early death.

The why remains the mystery to me. I was never tempted, only alcohol but that still a drug. I have explored the why for my drinking and have arrived at a better place. For drugs, however, the gestation time is shorter and more deadly. How will we learn why the use is so enthusiastically engaged? If we knew that would it make any difference?

I’m not sure. Doing nothing, however, accomplishes little. Jailing people does not deter apparently. No; something else needs doing. Might it be listening?

Might listening help us understand what is going on well enough to stem the toll of death and ruined lives? Or is this something they must endure to garner the lessons we hope for them.

Friends. Relatives. Loved ones. Listen carefully. Slowly engage talk; no lessons. No moralizations. Just listen and understand and love. Love. Care. Let them know that. Maybe they will come to you before the next dose.

Maybe?

I leave you with this thought, another anonymous:

            “Compasssion. Learn it, teach it, share it.”

I add: Live it.

September 25, 2012

Patriotism

Growing up we defined patriotism as an inner feeling of pride for our nation. We were glad to live in America. We believed that our country was good, cared about its people and lived responsibly with other nations around the globe. Of course at that time we had just exited World War II. Peace time was everywhere around us. We were rebuilding Europe from the ravages of a long war. Japan’s future was slowly returning to a peaceful model. We were helping them rebuild too.

At home our attention was focused on building homes, expanding industry and helping GIs get an education that would help our industries compete globally. America’s sense of itself was big. It was solid. We were the good guys and we didn’t belittle other nations.

Our immigration gates were wide open and welcoming. We included everyone, or so it seemed. Optimism ruled. There wasn’t anything we couldn’t do. All was possible.

Then the Korean War emerged and we were sure we could prevail if we put our mind to it. After all, we took on Germany and won; so too Japan! This was a cinch.

Boy, were we wrong! And with it a new model of international skirmishes emerged. After Korean hostilities were quieted, Viet Nam soon followed; diplomatic struggles paved the way to that unwinnable war. And the Cold War marched on for decades after. Armaments were a major focus and entire industries were born on the need for new technology. The war machines were in deep preparation until they became unaffordable and destroyed regimes who tried to keep up.

Patriotism moved to ideology; perhaps it never was far removed from that front, but rhetoric and literature took on nuanced messages which soon grew to argument and uncivil discourse. Today, patriotism is defined by special interest groups which give not an inch to logic or historical fact. Muddled is the term; so too I think our national identity.

After all, we face many problems of incalculable size. We act defeated. We seem to pick sides based on slippery concepts. Discussions become emotional and divisive. In fact we block solutions to national problems based on ideology and who has the political power. From magnanimous victors in World War II we have fallen to this ignominious position. What a fall!

What to do about it? It’s simple really.

Refocus our attention on the problems and challenge the American People to take them on.  Here they are:

1.      Improve public education outcomes and cost effectiveness

2.      Expand research and development to support science and technology in the fields of energy, space, and environment

3.      Simplify government models to achieve desired outcomes chosen by an educated democracy and operated cost effectively

4.      Reduce the national debt to a sustainable percentage of annual GDP

5.      Attain the goal of energy independence by 2020

Setting stretch goals for worthwhile outcomes is the first step in responding to our challenges. If other problems should be considered before the five above, then let public discussion lead to the necessary consensus for ordering the priorities.

But commit to action to meet the stated challenges. This is not about ideology. It is about our national identity and heritage.

Who among us will not answer the call of our nation?

September 24, 2012

  

Journeyman's Poem

There are days of peace and days of rage

There are weeks of work and years of building

There are months of joy and decades of appreciation

            But there is always wonder.

You will make your home

You will create your family

You will develop relationships

            But you will always wonder.

I make my career

I end my career

I build new careers

            But I will always wonder.

We are together

We work together

We engender neighborhood

            But we will always wonder.

They will seek agreement

They will demand agreement

They will define disagreement

            But they will always wonder.

Meaning is sought by me

Meaning is a goal for us

Meaning is a journey for them

            But wonder will remain always.

Why is that?

Why can’t it be stated clearly?

How are we to cope?

            But we do.

We do because of hope

I do because of faith

They do because they must

            Because the journey requires us to.

September 22, 201 

Something Good

Serious problems make us think most things are heavy and down casting. Not true! We laugh at many curious factoids. We chuckle over irony. Satire stirs deeper humor. In short there is much to find funny and enjoyable in life.

Here’s a piece found on the Ethernet the other day:

“There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.”

Good advice in this item. Reminders to stand up straight and accept the good in life are often timely. Well to take it to heart. Many good people, friends and family, readily partner with your inner spirit and good intentions. They know you and trust you. They will make you laugh. Those who are good to you deserve your love and trust, too. There are many people who simply don’t fit this mold; praying for them, wishing them well in their journey does good for you. We can choose many things in life; one is to be happy; another is to be angry or blue. Choose the brighter one. It will color your life with possibilities.

The last sentence of the quote is probably the most important. We learn from our mistakes. We should always seek the lessons of each mistake; that characteristic helps us get back in the running and find the successes in life.

Books have been written on this topic. But each of us writes our own pages, moment to moment, day by day, everyday for a lifetime. It’s your journey. Own it.

Another Internet find that caught my attention:

            “1. Free your heart from hatred.

              2. Free your mind from worries.

                          3. Live simply.

              4. Give more.

              5. Expect less.”

Zowie! Simply stated but right on the mark.

Hatred builds resentments which then control your life. They must be resisted at all costs. Not to do this makes you the tool of someone else’s thinking.

Worrying to a small degree may help you take preventive action. But worrying endlessly saps your strength. It keeps us from creatively dealing with the problems. They can be managed. They need not consume us. Move on from the things that worry you. There is much more to life to experience and value.

Living simply is another way of saying that we don’t own things; they own us. We house them, protect them, clean them, repair them…so much attention is spent on them. Nice to have, right? But think of the weight they make us carry. And the toll that has on our spirit.

Give of yourself more. It takes you out of yourself. And it helps you see how others live life. Their plights inform us of how much better our life is. Their riches of spirit inform us of what is truly of value. Either way we learn what is important.

Expecting less means you will most always be delighted with the results or happenings of life. And that is a source of joy.

This day is for living. Enjoy it. Learn from it. Allow it to enrich you in ways you cannot buy.

September 21, 2012

Miscellany (but important)

Most of you will find it no surprise to learn that I love Abraham Lincoln. Always have from little boyhood times to today.

Here’s a quote from him that demonstrates why:

            “Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is

            Only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if

            Labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital,

            And deserves much the higher consideration.”

                                                            ~Abraham Lincoln, December 3, 1861

How man people would have put the order in reverse? It takes capital to produce job and task; labor works the job and earns income to replace the capital. Many people I know would make this common error of logic.

Rather, we sweat to create a field; mow the weeks; cut the timber; till the soil and remove the stones and rock. Then we work for others and earn the money to buy the seed; then we toil again to plant the seed; later we cultivate and weed so the crop may stand tall. Then we harvest it and sell it and earn net income.

That’s when we have created the capital! The net income. And we use it to create more jobs, more crops, more net income, more wealth.

That is the proper order of things. Lincoln had it right.

Multiply these efforts a million fold, or 100 million fold. You get the idea. Labor creates wealth that others use to create yet more wealth. From these joint efforts come rising household incomes and higher standards of living. Disrupt this order the opposite is true.

Labor is not better than capital; nor is capital better than labor. They are equal but have different uses. Investment houses, brokers and investment banks who get this wrong, disrupt more than a simple balance. They risk destruction of the very system they say they hold dear.

Politicians who get this wrong also risk disruption and destruction of more than they know.

Seems to me we all need to hit the books, know what we are talking about, and help others to not only understand, but join the team working toward common goals.

This is also justice. Fairness. Respect. These fine elements along with labor and capital produce America. Long may she stand!

I close with this thought from www.luvreels.com:

            “Definition of stupid:

                        Knowing the truth,

                        Seeing the truth,

                        But still believing the lies.”

We can do better than this campaign season suggests. Know the truth and live by it.

September 20, 2012

Opposites

Yin and yang. In and out. Up and down. Evil and good. Opposites.

We deal with them every day, every year for a life time. It is part of our journey. We struggle and survive; we toil and win; we suffer and lose; we love and we cry. Sometimes in pain and sometimes in joy. But we move along the daily spectrum to play out what will be.

Although we generally do well with this routine we certainly experience good times as well as lesser ones. Hopefully there are more successes than losses, and usually there are. Life is often good, maybe too good?

Questioning this pulse rate of our times expands our awareness of what is happening, what has happened. We are not the first people or generation to think upon these matters. Others did so long before us. Just knowing that is comforting.

Here’s an item spotted on the Internet recently:

            “A Battle of Two Wolves Inside Us All:

One is evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, lies, inferiority and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.

           

The wolf that wins? The one you feed.”

                                                            ~Cherokee Proverb

Opposites. The struggle is not with them. Rather it is which one will we feed? That is a choice we make. Often the choice is not informed; we choose badly because we have not understood clearly enough what is involved.

This is a valuable life lesson. It lies at the root of many of our human problems. Awareness and discipline are the tools that will help each of us make the right choices. May you have that awareness building in you now.  May you curry that awareness with discipline so it is ready to serve you when needed.

With that as prologue I have faith you will know which wolf to feed. Your life depends on it!

September 19, 2012

Teacher Values

By the time I post this blog the Chicago teachers’ strike may be settled. However, this upset to the scene in Chicago’s schools raises some questions.

For over 40 years the Chicago Public School system was under its own taxing district, board of education and administration. When the system ran into financial difficulties, then Mayor Richard J. Daley would jump into the fray and magically find the dollars to make the ills go away, or he would talk privately with the principle players and problems were settled. The public rarely knew what was said or what elements were agreed to for peace to reign. But the Mayor was not in control directly of the schools so that they remained out of the political manipulations other public arenas were subjected to.

Along comes Mayor Richie Daley (the son of Richard J.) and the problems of the CPS have grown so large that he, the Mayor, agreed to take the schools under the large umbrella of the City of Chicago’s government.  For several years education reform was attempted and progress was noted. The teachers’ union was not always pleased with the results but they went along to help be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

Still years later, the problems remain obvious: too costly a salary load for the budget, very little improvement in productivity of the system, still too many teachers who perform below par, and innovation grudgingly gained by sheer strength of personality (some teachers, some principals, and the mayor). Still, the big productivity and innovation gains were realized by charter schools and the entry of private corporations into the educational mix.

Snail’s pace improvement costs a lot: to the public, to the kids, to the competitive stance of the city and its employers, to the city’s sense of self and pride.

Now comes Rahm Emanuel as the new non-Daley mayor. He is fired up for reform: new forms of education to meet the challenges of a diverse student population; innovative teaching methods that fire up the teachers themselves and their sense of professionalism; removal of underperforming teaching staff from the classroom where they endanger healthy preparation of students for a new millennium. Emanuel also seeks strong budget controls so the future price of public education is affordable and effective.

Standing in the way of all of this, however, is the Chicago Teachers’ Union. Built on political format of olden times, the CTU is remarkably out of step with the modern labor movement. It is also counter to what the students need. And it is severely out of focus with what the public can afford.

The CTU has been repeatedly invited to the table in the past to create a new partnership with the city and the school administration. The partnership was hoped to be innovative and experimental while delivering the best education custom-made to the individual needs of the diverse student body, at least as much as possible. But no. This golden opportunity is spurned for: benefits, salaries and tenure standards. These are the old sticking points. Why? Because they add up to unaffordable obstructions to budget reality.

The schools must evolve to a new format if they are to successfully prepare the next generation of students for a productive and meaningful life. And then subsequent generations as well. The old ways will not work any longer.

Educator Taylor Mali shared this thought over the Internet the other day:

            “What teachers make//You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them write, write, write. And then I make them read. I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again. I make them show all their work in math, and hide it on their final drafts in English. I make them understand that if you got this (brains) then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this (the finger).”

Now that’s what I mean by education. That professionalism of purpose and spirit. I wonder all the time if the union in Chicago allows or encourages such professional growth and success. The public thinks not. The CTU needs to prove to the public that this is what they stand for and are working towards. Until they do they will not have earned the public’s support and loyalty for future teacher contracts.

Mayor Emanuel is right. School reform is needed. Not for budget purposes, although that will likely be a result. No; reform is needed so the kids have the best teachers and education possible. That way they have a good chance to have a good life. And America has the opportunity to build future years of innovation and exciting lives.

Hopefully this will be the result of the most recent strike.

September 

Marriage Equality?

This quote comes from the Internet but I’ve read similar ideas expressed in many books on the American Indian:

“Christian leaders stand on our soil and claim: ‘gay marriage’ has never occurred here. Over 130 tribes in every region of North America performed millions of same-sex marriages for hundreds of years. Their statements are both hateful and ignorant. Your ‘homosexual’ was our ‘Two Spirit’ people…and we considered them sacred.”

In fact serious readers will learn that ‘two spirit’ people were common in tribes all over the globe. They were included in tribal life and custom usually as shamans or medicine men. They were both men and women. They wore clothing that often was unisex. And this occurred hundreds of years ago on different continents ~ Asia, Africa and North America.

Inclusion. Normalcy. Do not waste human life. Do not cheapen talents, arts and skills that are already rare. Tribes knew what was right and wrong. The culture was small and transparent. Each person had a role to play for the common good of the tribe. Two spirit people. Yin and Yang.

Is this the argument in support of marriage equality, gay marriage, or…?

If it is it is as old as the hills themselves. Not modern rhetoric. Not experimental sociology or anthropology. It is age old. Maybe 13,000 years old; right here on our own continent.

This reminds me. America is not solely Western European. White man did not discover America. It was settled and acculturated thousands of years before Columbus arrived on our shores, or Leif Erricson, for that matter. Who’s the immigrant now, legal or illegal?

Native Americans were here first. They got a lot of things right: environmentalism, simplicity of life styles, peace with Mother Nature, and reliance on each other in the community. These things we still need. Towns and villages that pay attention to these things are better places in which to live. They also experience fewer major problems.

It’s sort of like the old saying:

            “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do!”

I know there is a growing awareness today of equality. For those of us who fought in the Civil Rights arena in the 50’s and 60’s, and then the Equal Rights for Women in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Gay Rights is just another maturing of the American culture. It’s called inclusivity. We are all important and valuable to the nation and all of its neighborhoods.

I think Michelle Obama got it right when she spoke these words at the 2012 Democratic National Convention:

“If proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love…then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.”

If this doesn’t set well with your religious beliefs, or your neighbor’s, I understand your discomfort. But this is America. We all get a chance to believe what we will. My marriage does not rely on your marriage. Or my religion rely on yours. You marry who you want. Let me do the same. Let my religious convictions dictate my life styles; I’ll let yours do the same for your life styles. Fair deal?

I doubt you will desire to marry the person I choose. I haven’t chosen your mate for mine! So how can my marriage damage yours? Or yours mine?

See how simple that is.

The churches can do what they want among their followers and families. Just keep your hands off my fellow believers and families. Freedom of Religion. It’s guaranteed in our Constitution. It doesn’t say you get to do what you want but I can’t. And it doesn’t say I can do what I want but you can’t.

We all can. The religious rite belongs to the church. The marriage license is issued by government authority. I can live with the latter. You still get both. One day I’ll have both. Evidently not today. I’ll settle for the license, though.

Meanwhile just know ~ equal rights are not special rights.

September 17, 2012

Will or Won't Do?

“The package you take with you gets home sooner.” That quotation is from my memory and may be off a bit; I recall it was a line form Marshall Field’s department store in Chicago. They provided free delivery of your purchases so you could buy more and not be overburdened walking back to your car, or riding the bus or “L” back home. The service proved to be a costly burden which only added to their competitive woes. Today they are no longer in business.

The thought is a good one, however; the package you take home with you gets their soonest. And the lawn mown by you gets done sooner and less costly and the way you want it, too. The home repair you do is done sooner than by a repairman you have to schedule and wait for. You want something done right, and soonest? Do it yourself.

The do-it-yourself American once was a fad. We prided our nation as a can-do culture. Then when standards of living soared and household incomes were boosted by two or more incomes, “Let George do it” became a mantra. Then landscaping crews were common in our neighborhoods as they primped and trimmed our yards for a monthly fee. Repair services abounded. Their trucks were everywhere on our streets. Until the recession of all recessions hit.

Gone now are many home cleaning crews. Plumbers are called for the most serious problems, the ones we can’t ignore for long. Painters ply their trade in our homes less frequently. Draperies begin to sag and fade; seams are allowed to deteriorate. Carpet stains last longer before the carpet cleaner is called. Repairs begin to pile up. Can-do slips to “I don’t know how to do that”.

We spend our money and time differently. We ignore some expenses for as long as we can, then we call someone. We shop for the lowest costs, the least work to be done. In this way we push some rehab work to many years from now unless a massive break down occurs. And that is what we are diddling with: major plumbing failures, same also with heating and air conditioning problems that need early detection and rehabilitation. And roof work, electrical system short comings. The list goes on and one.

It almost makes me yearn for a rental!

Can-do, or can’t do? Or won’t do? Not my job! Some of us Americans may need to rethink what we are about and how we are living.

Perhaps it’s time we ask ourselves those questions and seriously seek some answers. Maybe some changes are ahead. Maybe those changes are past due?

We shall see.

September 15, 2012

Deja Vu

You know the feeling that you've been here before? This spot, right now, this instant? Like you are reliving something you already know well? Weird and discomforting; also intriguing.

Déjà vu is more common than we think. You’ve encountered it many times no doubt. For me opening the Internet the other day this quote by President Eisenhower from 1954 really struck a familiar chord!

“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and far programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things…Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

Need I remind folks that Ike was a well heeled Republican? A commonsense leader who focused on doable goals and far reaching objectives for the good of the American people? That’s the Republican Party I remember. Not the one now churning the countryside for votes in a never-ending march to the past.

Eisenhower had the stupid part down right. The negligible number part, however, he got wrong. That number is now roughly 38% of the adult population of the USA; a higher number when actual voters are analyzed in any particular election.

That underscores why it is so important to vote. The minority often has more power when they are able to push their voters into action. So the rest of us need to be sure to register to vote and actually vote.

Basic programs that have safeguarded our quality of life and culture need continuing support to be left undamaged. We should not take these things for granted.

Sounding very much like Eisenhower, Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont, gave us this quote dated from November, 2011:

“This country does in fact have a serious deficit problem. But the reality is that the deficit was caused by two wars – unpaid for. It was caused by huge tax breaks for the wealthiest people in this country. It was caused by a recession as a result of the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior on Wall Street. And if those are the causes of the deficit, I will be damned if we’re going to balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, the sick, the children, and the poor. That’s wrong.”

I know some of you will say I’ve beat this drum before. I have. Admittedly. But the argument needs restating when the airwaves are filled with the opposite message constantly. When will the majority stand and make it clear they will not allow political games to be played with their future? The déjà vu message here is just this: I’ve been aware and active since I was a young teenager on these very same issue. I thought by now, 50 years later, these arguments wouldn’t have to be argued and re-argued incessantly just to maintain the status quo. But no! This nonsensical debate continues ad nausea.

If there are 100 million more adults out there who believe as I do, then shut me up and get your friends and family to stand up to be counted on these issues. Please! I can’t do this forever, nor do you want me to!

Apropos of this, Bernie Sanders told Bill Moyers during a TV interview:

“Well, the immediate political solution is a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United [the Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to be treated as citizens]. The longer-term solution is people all over this country saying, ‘We’re not going to give up the democracy that has made this country great, so that a handful of billionaires can control the political process. We ain’t going to allow that to happen.’ We need public funding of elections, which I think is probably the most important thing we can do politically. Billionaires cannot and should not be allowed to buy elections.”

I know you will recall hearing those words before. Right here in this blog. One thing you cannot accuse me of is inconsistency!

Bernie Sanders seems to have his head screwed on right. The important issues are really few and very basic. If we keep our eyes and minds focused on them we will do alright. However, if we allow ourselves to be distracted by nonsense thrown up as smoke screen, we will surely lose sight of the basics.

Election day approaches. Be very certain you know what positions you will support on that fateful day!  Please.

September 14, 2012

Expressions

Just finished watching a tape of Tuesday night’s (9/11/12) finale of So You Think You Can Dance?  They are down to the final four contestants, two women and two men. All are fabulous dancers and performers. So what could I possibly say?

Several things actually. For starters one of the women is classically trained and superb in several highly different and taxing dance genres, She is so good in every presentation it is hard to believe she is not already a professional dancer; and: personable, approachable, on stage and on TV; good conversationalist, reacts well to unrehearsed situations.

The main thing is her ability to express emotion, personality and concept through body movement and accompanying music. Lighting, too, I guess. But the overall package is pure poetry in motion. It states clearly what the dancer wants to say, what the choreographer creates and what the music communicates.

Her name is Eliana. One of the finalists of the 2012 season’s SYTYCD program.

The other woman contestant is Tiffany. She is a smaller package, very athletic and reminiscent of gymnastic wizardry. She is personable. She has impeccable technique and controlled movement. She synchronizes to the music and to partner and to choreographer direction. She is superb in ways Eliana isn’t, yet doesn’t quite measure up to Eliana. Still, Tiffany expresses emotion and storyline eloquently.

Eliana will likely be named the champion female dancer of the competition during next Tuesday’s show (Fox TV, 9/18/12). Luminosity of expression will be the strength that wins her the title.

As to the male dancers, we have Cheon and Cyrus. Both are so different. Which will win the crown is very much in the air. Here’s why.

Cheon is a classically trained ballet performer. He started while very young, before 6 years of age as I recall. He has worked hard all these years and has a body honed to the art. His dance skills are perfection. His lines are fluid and matched to the music in ways not thought possible. He performs flawlessly. He projects feeling and emotion in ways that transport the audience to unheard of destinations. He is magic. His ability to switch between and among dance and music genres is stunning. He entertains, yes; but he changes your perspective with abandon because he can through his art. Wow!

Cyrus is a self taught street dancer of hip hop style and robotic movement. And I mean robotic – the mimicry of body movements performed by machines complete with the sound effects. The result is mesmerizing. He is a complete performer in this genre. Masterful.

But wait. He is also a quick study for every dance genre he was asked to perform throughout the 17 weeks of the program. Every genre. And almost perfectly. And when not perfect, Cyrus extended his personality and emotion to the audience regardless. He danced with partners and ensembles. He danced with women and with men. He flawlessly adapted to every situation. He is magical.

Because he is self taught and not a student for 12 or more long years of tutelage, I think he will come in second. Yes. I think Cheon will win the top spot for male dancer this year.

Presenting these four young people in today’s blog is not an exercise in selecting winners or second place contestants. No. Rather I wanted to report to you two primary facts.

First, all of the finalists of this year’s So You Think You Can Dance? are miraculously gifted dancers. Each one of them is. Plus each demonstrates strengths that blow their fellow dancers away without diminishing anyone at the same time.

Second, dance is not about athletic ability, nor is it about mathematical precision of learned dance steps, choreography or keeping time with music. Of course it is all of that. But no, dance is about expressing emotion.

Anger, love, hate, wistfulness, nervousness, fear – whatever. Greed, envy, loss. You name it; it can be expressed in art. That’s an obvious statement, I know; but please, take the time to know it is expressible in dance, music, song, painting, drawing, sculpture, jewelry, ceramic and glass arts. And in dozens of other mediums, too ~ fashion, fabric, paper, construction arts, etc. The list is endless. But the need to feel emotions is primal. They are there in our lives. They need to be experienced, seen, felt and performed.

This is art. It is all around us. Often we don’t allow ourselves to be aware of it. Don’t let that happen to you.

Be enriched.

September 13, 2012

Common Adages: True?

Most of us grew up accepting these statements as true:

1.      Never spend money you don’t have

2.      Jesus Loves Me This I Know

3.      God created the world in 6 days

4.      Family is all you’ll ever need

5.      It’s always darkest before the dawn

6.      On a clear day you can see forever

7.      An apple a day keeps the doctor away

8.      A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

9.      Always hold hands when crossing a street

10.  Look both ways before crossing a street

11.  Stop. Look. Listen.

12.  Reading, writing, arithmetic – the basis of all education

13.  A chain is as strong as its weakest link

14.  A friend in need is a friend in deed

15.  A stitch in time saves nine

16.  Sticks and stone will break my bones but names will never hurt me

17.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

18.  Birds of a feather flock together

19.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

20.  Do as I say not as I do

OK, there are many more. Once I researched ‘adages’ I hooked into a list of 600 of them instantly! So I will shorten the list for now. I’ll look for the most iconic sayings and see if we still believe them.

Let’s start with these:

1.   Never spend money you don’t have

2.      It’s always darkest before the dawn

3.      An apple a day keeps the doctor away

4.      A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

5.      A chain is as strong as its weakest link

6.      Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

7.      Sticks and stone will break my bones but names will never hurt me

8.      Family is all you’ll ever need

9.      Always hold hands when crossing a street

10.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

11.  Reading, writing, arithmetic – the basis of all education

Still a too-long list, but it is a starting point.

1.      Never spend money you don’t have; I don’t believe this, else we would not have debt instruments and the commercial system would grind to a halt. Mortgages are useful. So are car loans. Even credit cards are good for us provided we use them wisely. Same with all forms of credit. Used with good sense and balanced with income, credit will allow each of us to build a quality standard of living that is both secure and healthy.

2.      It’s always darkest before the dawn; yes I suppose that is true from a practical point of view, but really, have you been out in the country on a clear night and been dazzled by natural star light? Away from light pollution of huge cities, star power is amazing. So near you swear you can touch them! So bright you don’t need a flashlight to find your way.

3.      The Apple does avoid many doctor visits. It keeps nutrition at good levels and maintains healthy bowels. Apples supply juicy moisture that satisfies thirst better than a cola. And natural sugars to boot.

4.      The bird in the hand bit. Yes better to value what you have than yearning for what is near but often unattainable and not worth the cost of pursuit. Yet, the yearning is important for fueling hopes and dreams. Without that we may be stuck in the present as all else moves forward. So, something to say about both sides of this argument.

5.      Teams rely on chain theory. Strong links are needed to be sure; the talent and staying power they provide are required. But truly the weakest link causes the most damage as the team stumbles out of control until fresh equilibrium fills the void. Volunteers form chains. Work teams form chains. It is best to care and nurture each link to maintain team performance. By sharing our strengths with others the weakest member grows strong too!

6.      Do unto others….is such a rich truth. If we all lived by this one guiding principle, so many ills would disappear in a snap. We would waste less energy, goods and resources on problems created by those who selfishly ignore the needs of others. So much to gain by doing the right thing. So much.

7.      Sticks and stone? Yes they will break bones. And so will words. Else why bullying? Why the suicides among young bullied school mates? Words do hurt. What we say has consequences ~ intended or not. Best we choose words wisely and ‘do unto others as we would have them do unto us’.

8.      Family is all you will ever need. No I think not. We need each other, all of us others! Family forms a critical core group but if you really observe the families around you, discoveries abound of dysfunction and hurt. Healthy families are becoming rare. It takes a village becomes a more workable mantra for community and individual health. Perhaps we need to mend our families sooner rather than later?

9.      Always hold hands when crossing the street. Still holds true! Besides you make new friends and strengthen family ties. What bounty!

10.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Better to take preventive steps before a problem gets out of hand. Still true today as it was in days of yore.

11.  Reading, writing and arithmetic are still the basics of all education. Logic. Formation of ideas. Expression of ideas. Each is a primary building block of education. Taken together they form the synergy of most scholarship. Ignore these basics and spend a lifetime repairing misunderstanding and poor human development. Costly results considering the simplicity of the original inputs!

The conclusion of this brief exercise: pay attention to the simple truths we were raised with. They lend us much help in living adult lives of unending benefits.

September 12, 2012