Who’s the Foe?

Loaded the groceries into the car in the parking lot. Large pickup truck in front of the car, revving his loud stoked engine, truck with huge oversize tires, a mudder, maybe. Driver was late teens or early 20’s, mouthing “…fucking old people…”  Evidently he wanted our car out of the way so he could more easily forward through our spot and exit the lot. His vehicle, after all, was a behemoth.

Foul mouthed and impatient. He treated the older person with disrespect. Who was the foe in this equation? The old person doing his thing steadily and purposefully, or the young guy who wanted the world to move out of his way?

And who should do what about that? Anything? Would it matter?

Ansel Adams made this statement:

“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”

Adams lived from 1902 to 1984 and was wildly popular because of his black and white landscape photography. His time preceded the huge gains made by America’s Environmental Protection Agency. So much has been done to protect and preserve the environment since his early days. Still, more needs to be done. Back then, however, he could not believe how stubborn government leaders were in protecting the environment. And of course still more needs to be done.

But in his day he realized our own government was the enemy of sorts.

Inside government circles there are others questioning friend and foe, the identify of…..  Take for example, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Senator (Democrat). She recently said:

“If Wall Street can borrow money at .075% interest…so can college students. We need to stop treating students as profit centers.”

Indeed! Student loans not only earn the stated interest paid by the student, but also the benefit to society they will later bring in enhanced family earnings, taxes, and healthy economic development. Society gains by several measures when as many students as possible seek self improvement through education.

The other aspect of Sen. Warren’s statement is this: interest rates are all over the board. Truth be told, trillions of dollars are unused and just sitting, That is the primary reason interest rates are so low. Yet auto loans still perk from 4% to 8%, and home mortgages also run mostly from 4.5% to 7.5%. Why? Many dollars are begging to be borrowed. Good and provident purposes of the loans will provide new housing, new cars, and all of the attendant financial benefits pertaining to both of these markets. Yet interest rates charged belie that market reality.

Another example of friend or foe:

“…Hiding your children from a crazed gunman in Newtown and getting shot while protecting them...You adore educators when they’re using their body to shield your kids from a falling wall in the middle of a tornado in Oklahoma.

But let that teacher have the nerve to ask for job security or reasonable pay or a manageable workload and all of a sudden we’re crazy union thugs.” ~Andy Dicker

A dedicated teacher.  A good teacher. A teacher who cares and follows through to help students see the world as fully as possible, as potentially fulfilling for the student’s life over the long haul. Teachers who study continually to be sure they are learning the latest in their field, and developing effective methods to teach students. Learning about negative learning environments so they can be overcome for the benefit of the kids.  These are how we want to feel about teachers overall and the teachers for the most part fulfill our expectation. Yet we often don’t want to pay the full freight for them.

My experience has been consistently good with teachers. Almost every one I've known or been associated with has been excellent and well worth their salary and benefits. Yet at budget time we short them reasonable compensation year after year.

Who is the foe in this relationship? Who is the friend? The public record would suggest the opposite of what we want to say is true.

I think it is easy to sweep problems under the rug. It is easy to ignore the rowdy, disrespectful youth, to turn away from teacher demands, to place unreasonable demands on our government representatives – both elected and professional – but we cannot do that forever. There comes a time we need to take notice of these issues and allow them to be solved. If we think we cannot afford some of these things, then reduce the budget elsewhere while the high priorities are attended to appropriately. Don’t fight reality.

The more we allow good things to go smothered with negative and complicated situations, the longer we allow those problems to fester and grow, the bigger they are the more difficult it is to solve them.

Let’s be realistic and learn who the true friends and foes are so we can get back to doing the things that matter for the good of us all.

March 6, 2014

I Dream…

I was at a meeting the other day. People were struggling to understand the complexities of economic development within our town. Professional consultants in the field led the workshop. Elected leaders of the town were the primary participants, but so too were the senior staff of the city. The latter are immersed in the day to day operations of the city and have career-long concerns about what is emerging on the horizon for their areas of expertise.

These people know how to run their departments with the current resources. They can well imagine times when those resources will be either absent or in short supply. Yet another scenario: resources will be plentiful to solve future problems because they have prepared for them, positioned the community to acquire the necessary resources and, quite importantly, planned in depth for alternative scenarios should things not work out as well as hoped.

I turned to a colleague who has academic credentials at college level. He thinks as deeply as I on matters of public concern. He wonders what impact current decisions will have on the community, and I wonder how we can make decisions that will improve and sustain the community and its dreams of the future.

He and I agreed that there exists a method of discussing highly interdependent topics that benefit from one another. The symposium panel is the magical tool.  Here’s how it works.

First, the topic to be discussed is selected. Next, a list of specialists, maybe even experts, in a cross section of areas having impact on the selected topic, are gathered to discuss the topic. The actual discussion to follow will share knowledge of each area of expertise. Assumptions and conclusions that appear to be of central importance in understanding the topic, problem, and possible solutions, are aired. Those ideas which emerge as consensus are recorded. From this consensus comes the conscious formation of questions which the group feels must be researched and answered if meaningful progress on solving topical problems are to be found.

It is important to recognize that consensus is not 100% agreement but rather a general agreement on matters that can be used to further research and think out the areas of discussion. Also, pre-eminence of one field over another is strictly avoided; each area is allowed its own importance of value and function as it relates to solving the area under discussion.

A final item of importance is this: the group’s progress toward finding workable solutions to a problem is based on its ability to work together as harmonious as possible while colliding ideas eventually work towards conclusions that are sustainable for the long term.

It is this process of respect for ideas and logical thinking that leads to practical application of education, knowledge and expertise to solving problems worth solving for the common good.

Example: energy consumed by the globe is nearly entirely dependent on fossil fuels. Modern physics, on the other hand, are well aware of alternate energy sources having nothing to do with fossil fuels. Inasmuch as fossil fuels currently deplete the planet’s resources and place in peril the quality of our air, water and soil, doesn't it seem well worth our while to move determinedly toward the new energy sources?  Shouldn't we be researching these sources and determine if they can be safely used without producing major, offsetting side effects? Currently atomic energy produces atomic wastes which are deadly to human life. Are there means to eliminate the harmful attributes of the wastes or use them for alternate purposes while neutralizing their harmful effects?

The latter has been under study for decades. Progress has been made. Breakthroughs are tantalizingly near at times but funding for conclusive research remains elusive. When it is understood that such energy resources may very well cause electric, natural gas and automotive industries major dislocations and disinvestment, it is no wonder that politicians protect the old industries while hampering the research which may very well solve enormous problems for mankind.

I dream that this industrial protectionism disappears. If we Americans believe in free markets, then the market of free ideas should be allowed to take us to new heights. As gasoline, oil and other energy prices rise to reflect scarcity of supplies, then alternate energy is needed to maintain public safety and order. It is a function of government to do this. It is not a function of government to protect industries from changing costs associated with change.

I dream that the people’s work will be accomplished with open minds and safety ensured. This will require decision makers to be focused on long term results not short term benefits of key players.

Such is true in health, energy, education, defense and commerce. These are the basic endeavors to ensure quality life of our citizens. Why are finance, politics and ideology allowed to obstruct mankind’s progress?

Now that would make for an interesting symposium!

March 5, 2014

Knowing What’s What

George Washington was not a sleepy, stodgy old guy. No; he was involved, alert, incredibly aware and astute. Also wise. He made this statement:

            “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”

Simple statement. Loaded with meaning. Then and now. Timeless, really.

Education is not just facts, figures and dates. It is the whole package of reality as represented by data. Placing all of the data in logical relationships. Perspective, too. Taken together all of life’s facts and data are available to help us understand the world around us. Far too many don’t do this.

At time this body of information is unable to help a person express himself or herself. No, that’s where art enters the picture. Poetry, essays, novels, short stories. Blogs, too! And visual arts in oil, watercolor and other media, sculpture, ceramics, fabric and paper arts as well. The artist has something to say, too mean. Something to say or impart where language is simply not capable of providing nuance enough to impart the full conversation.

Education is not facts and figures, really. It is logic, self knowledge, understanding other people and how and why they live the way they do.

I was at a public meeting the other day in which public leaders were trying to determine how to help make economic development happen. As the participants were guided through a process, they were exposed to the many elements that embody economic development. A tool box of tactics, strategies, infrastructure, methods and environmental issues are employed. One doesn't just make economic development happen. It takes time and positioning of the community or area to support development. Even the types of development vary widely.

George Bernard Shaw cautioned us:

            “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

That’s because ignorance is the lack of specific knowledge while false knowledge easily misleads to false conclusions. Worse; it may lead us to action which is grossly inappropriate to the situation upon which we are hoping to have a positive effect.

Like having a nearly balanced budget, then lower revenues through tax cuts while raising expenses hoping reduced taxes will cause more economic activity and the needed revenues.  Didn't happen, did it in the follow up to 911, the Afghan War, the Iraq War, and many other heavy expense items? This isn't politics. It’s ideology gone amiss.

And another thing: war and military expenditures may stimulate the economics of specialized suppliers, but it removes resources from other arenas of the economy and alters supply costs dramatically. Balance. Balance is delicate. It needs to be worked on. Balanced budgets, balanced approaches to managing situations.

Shaw was correct. Ignorance is dangerous. But false knowledge causes a great deal of damage, some irreparable. The Crusades have been irreparable. A schism of eternal proportions continue to separate Muslim and Jews and Christians. Even to the point of violence is this schism poised. For many generations, hundreds of years. And the Christian leaders made it happen. How utterly horrid. Based on false knowledge? Will anyone ever say that about the era?

Education is supposed to help us understand our world. James Baldwin said this powerful statement:

            “White people are trapped in a history they don’t understand.”

So simple and yet so true. Of course the history is white so black history, or Hispanic history or any other culturally based history will mislead the white population into false conclusions unless they are very, very careful. How many centuries has it taken to understand this? And yet educators taught young people all throughout the eras.

Education can be done wrong. Education can make mistakes. And many people rely on it to be the opposite!

Growingbolder.com provided this quote:

“A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how blessed you are for what you have.”

A good life also requires having a good understanding of yourself and the world around you. Education and self discovery is needed for that.

I’m just saying…

March 4, 2014

Bits and Pieces

We are a busy people – Americans (we know our culture!), Europeans, South Americans, Africans, Canadians – the entire global community. We are living lives filled with details and happenings. We are all making history one way or another.

Russia may – or may not – be in the process of invading a neighboring country, one which had been a former Soviet Bloc partner. The Olympics are over but the excitement remains – shadowed by Putin’s political manipulations in Sochi. Summer Olympic games are due in 2016 in Rio di Janeiro and they may not be ready in time. The Oscars were announced last night and for a few moments that seems the most important thing in the world (not!).

And then there are personal happenings that take our center stage. For one, we finally found a new home!  It is an apartment close to where we currently reside. This home is a 4-storey modern apartment building made of concrete and brick. The apartment has two bedrooms and two full baths. It has an in-unit laundry, huge skylight in the kitchen, has ample living room and dining room. The building is served by a spacious elevator and we all park in assigned spaces in the heated garage on the ground floor. We are very excited.

Excited because our saga has been in play now for several years as the house went through foreclosure, we went through bankruptcy – reluctantly and for technical reasons – and with the resultant bad credit we had a terrible time finding someone willing to give us a chance and offer a lease.  We managed to find someone willing to sign a 3-year lease so we have stability going forward. 

We are greatly relieved. We have been able to sleep soundly for the first time in two years or so.

Grandson Jax is growing quickly. More than a pound of new weight in the first two weeks; two full inches of length in two weeks as well. His 4-week photos make him look ready to sit up and take classes, but then that’s a proud grandpa speaking!  He’s a looker and his progress will be fun to watch over the years.

Winter is abating, then furiously storming anew. Winter of 2013/14 will be long remembered as a challenge. For older folks, however, it is quite reminiscent of past winters that had a norm of ferocity, snow pack, high winds and low wind chills. Truthfully the past 20 years or more have been abnormally mild. It was appreciated and welcomed, but younger people came to see the weather pattern as the new normal. No; the true normal is much nastier, they just aren't experienced with it!

As we prepare for the move we will be tossing out more things we no longer need or don’t have space for! The simplification of our lives is welcome. Too much stuff weighs heavy on the human spirit. We know that first hand. You do too if you let yourself think on it.

With a move to a new residence, neighborhood, community, old alliances inevitably enter a stage of refocus. Some will not make the cut. Others will remain with more certainty and purpose. Church will remain solidly in our lives. AA will as well. So too the newspaper and community interests. Out of district with the new address I’ll have to resign from the Park Board of Commissioners. That will be a sad duty.

New home, new focus, simplification. We will fill our time with new writing, new reading, new friends and neighbors. But much remains the same. Nearby communities, family and friends.

So we are good for now. More on our journey as we handle the many phases of relocation. The process helps build perspective of life and the world. Putin. Karzai. The Dalai Lama! Our own President and congress (ugh!).

Yes. Life goes on. New life. New people. New places. Old and new juxtaposed constantly until we don’t know which is which. But good. All good. And we are at peace for a time.

March 3, 2014

Thought for the Day

There are variations on the theme but mostly they remain true to the core of this statement found on the internet the other day:

“People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used.”  ~Anonymous

I won’t belabor the statement. It means what it means plain and simple. What do we do about this? How can we change back from chaos?

March 1, 2014

Basics

What really matters? To you? To me? If we had to live without something, what would we choose to dump rather than something else? What made us choose that item as opposed to another?

Hopefully we won’t have to make those choices, ever.

I was at a public awards dinner the other night and the strangers at the table asked each other what about their hobbies. I asked what kind of reading do you like?

Everyone seemed to have a hobby and willing to talk about such interests. But several point blank told me they did not have the time to read. So they don’t. Period. I asked if this included news reports, and they answered yes. They get news from radio and TV.

Some younger folks reported they rarely read a newspaper, choosing instead to garner their news from scanning the internet.

Well, I was surprised even though I rarely read newspapers because they are costly, irregular in delivery, and more and more biased. I prefer to scan the internet for news, then pursue leads to more detailed sources and study them in order to understand the issues more completely.

Novels and non-fiction books I read copiously. My table mates did not. Some didn't read any books at all. That made me very uncomfortable. I wondered about their inner-mind chatter or dialogue they have within themselves. What are they learning, what do they do with those ideas and facts, and what are they thinking?

The internet offered this anonymous statement the other day and it sparked my attention:

            “A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.”

My thought exactly!  But what if the child doesn't read? Does that mean an adult will be shaped who doesn't think? How can that be? Of course the adult will think. It is unclear, however, how well the adult thinks if it doesn't have fresh information and logic to challenge idea formation and conclusions. What are the raw resources that adult will use to process their thinking? What discipline will they exert in this process?

In fact this whole scenario scares the hell out of me! If we think we have an educational dilemma regarding children, what must we call the ‘problem’ with adults? Education is for all of us throughout our lives. It doesn't stop with graduation. Graduation is the beginning of using our education and expanding it. That’s why it is called ‘commencement’, the beginning of a new phase of life.

A fresh beginning. New moments of life viewed with open eyes and a background of information to be expanded upon with fresh moments of experience. Reminds me of Dr. Seuss who said:

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

It is the memory that adds up to more memory and life experience. We build our identity from these moments. We construct our person-hood and educational fabric accordingly.

Colliding with life’s realities teaches us. Stark images form. Meaning takes shape.  Nuance of precise meaning forms, too. Think of Chris Rock’s comedic line:

“Don’t be black in Florida. Don’t be a woman in Texas. Don’t be poor in America.”

Funny things to say. Jarring reality as well. Hilarious truth in a special way. But not totally true, either. In that tiny space of logic lies the humor. Serious thought, however, uncovers just how true these statements are. They are in fact a juxtaposition of our American values. These are perversions of our values. That is partly why they are funny. But the reality is sad as well.

How did we get here? How can a state like Arizona legislate laws that creates discrimination against gay people? How can Arizona get religious freedom so wrong? The same for Kansas who tried to enact similar legislation but was saved from some embarrassment by their state senate who refused to pass on the bill.

Little dislocations of logic create these disconnects. We allow distractions to bend our thinking, our perceptions. A little while later we wind up with conclusions that simply are foreign to our basic beliefs.

Does this start with reading or not reading? Does our educational process keep logic central to critical thinking? How do we gather fresh information and then process it? What are the governors in the mind that guide us along these paths?

What are the basics we get right most of the time? How does the process allow so much to go wrong at times?

The basics matter. It matters more what we do with them. And how.

February 28, 2014

Some Theology

I consider myself a spiritual person. I have more than dallied with religion over the decades. It has been a very serious area of my intellectual life at various times. I still am not rid of the chance dalliance in theological thinking! It is a part of me. Full faith in all things religious, however, has seemingly always been absent in my life.  Belief in God has rarely been a problem for me, however. I think I have a good and healthy relationship with God.

Now, all the other stuff related to religion I have trouble with. Divinity of this person and that one, well, I do have qualms about accepting that as specific truth. Education analogies I find useful but I don’t accept them as pure articles of faith. Words of wisdom are like that. They carry their own weight. Their own value. Their own truth.

At times we find faults within those truths, however. They do not always ring true. There are exceptions.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian. Actually, Bonhoeffer was one of the towering theological intellects of his time during Nazi Germany. He believed his faith so unfailingly that he remained in Nazi prison and suffered death at the hands of his tormentors.  Oh, they offered him a way out, a way to be handed over to western European powers, but he preferred to live out his life in his homeland even though it meant certain death. He lived his beliefs to the very end. He is a hero, a martyr to his theology.

He is one of my heroes. For that reason I pass this quote of his on for your consideration:

            “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless.

             Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

I have included words like these before in this blog. They echo the theme that if we know something is bad and we do not speak up or take appropriate action, then we are as guilty as those we condemn.  This was the argument during the times of abolitionist outrage over slavery. It is also the argument against Nazi Germany in their days. It is also the argument against discrimination against gay people everywhere – Russia, Africa, Middle East, America.

Religion, freedom, pursuit of happiness, inalienable rights…all these things are basic conditions of human life. They know no state or national boundary. Only neighborhoods of evil in one’s own mind or the minds of others. Such evil ought not have protection of government. World rights have no boundary.

In this sense we are our brother’s keeper. But do we accept the role?

February 27, 2014