Remember in my last post, when I said, "we may also be uncomfortable about what we find out, but that's a good thing."
Get ready for uncomfortable.
Dianna Brewer-Jackson is pushing forward with a planned meeting on racism in the Elmira School District. What's even better is that she now says, "I get tired of people saying I don't have proof," she told [the Star-Gazette] on Tuesday. "I choose not to provide proof. But for this meeting, I'm going to give what I have."
She is going forward despite those who are asking for a cooling off period. The Elmira school board will be undergoing diversity training later this year. What's impressive to me is that it sounds like the state is creating the diversity training program for Elmira, which could then be used at other districts.
The diversity training would deal with one of her concerns. But she doesn't want to wait to hold a public hearing, and that's fine with me. She wants to offer the public the proof that she has.
Good. We need to see it. We need to hear what others have to say about racism in Elmira.
Let's hope for a civilized meeting, at least. I find it a little ominous that there is a question about who will be in charge of the meeting. The board president wants to be in charge. And there may be a question that Brewer-Jackson wants to be in charge because she is the one who called for the meeting. A skilled politician would resolve the question with the board president ahead of time.
Let us also hope that she learns from the adage I posted yesterday: "If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Quote of the Day
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." Abraham Maslow, 1908-70, US psychologist.
Teachers demand apology from school board member over Holocaust claims
After reading this morning's story on Dianna Brewer-Jackson, I grew outraged.
"Dianna Brewer-Jackson does owe an apology -- to all of us," I wrote. "If, as an elected public official, she has evidence of racism and anti-Semitism within the Elmira School District, it is her responsibility to share that evidence, to demand an investigation and to bring it to light so that we can understand what happened, how it happened and why. If what she says is true and she does not pursue an investigation, then she guilty of protecting racists and anti-Semites. An accusation that there is a Holocaust denier teaching students in Elmira is a serious charge, and it cannot be ignored. Such hateful ideas must be opposed."
I still think this. But then, I read her letter, and I calmed down:
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20090922/VIEWPOINTS03/909220307/1121/Don+t+ignore+the+signs
Then I realized something. I think she is misguided, and she lacks the skills needed for public office. Her letter not only offers any specifics about where this happened or by who, but also no sense of when this happened. Was this recent, or was this months or years ago?
She throws memories around as facts and without realizing the responsibilities she carries as a public official. She could have said this as a private citizen and drawn no attention to herself.
But when she became elected, her words acquired more weight and as such she had a responsibility to not only speak, but also to act effectively. To not only listen and observe, but also take notes and follow up. To document what she claims.
But she has a responsibility to see the realities around her, to understand that she might have more allies than she realizes if she would only stop bashing those she serves with, calling them all racists. With such tactics, she does not serve anyone and she does not help anyone. These tactics do nothing to reduce the platform from which racism works.
She owes her constituents better.
However, despite her flawed approach, we should support diversity panels, community forums and an investigation into discrimination.
Charges of racism and anti-Semitism have been raised in the Elmira School District. They have been raised in a clumsy and awkward fashion by someone who does not know what she is doing, but she has raised an issue that must be explored.
So, why not bring in a group like the Anti-Defamation League or the NAACP to investigate, explore and establish where Elmira really stands on the issue of anti-Semitism and racism? Set up a committee, conduct hearings, ask questions, get the stories from the students, the parents the teachers. Draw conclusions about where we are. We may find that Dianna Brewer-Jackson's accusations may or may not be well-founded, but we may also find out something we didn't know.
And we may also be uncomfortable about what we find out, but that's a good thing.
"Dianna Brewer-Jackson does owe an apology -- to all of us," I wrote. "If, as an elected public official, she has evidence of racism and anti-Semitism within the Elmira School District, it is her responsibility to share that evidence, to demand an investigation and to bring it to light so that we can understand what happened, how it happened and why. If what she says is true and she does not pursue an investigation, then she guilty of protecting racists and anti-Semites. An accusation that there is a Holocaust denier teaching students in Elmira is a serious charge, and it cannot be ignored. Such hateful ideas must be opposed."
I still think this. But then, I read her letter, and I calmed down:
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20090922/VIEWPOINTS03/909220307/1121/Don+t+ignore+the+signs
Then I realized something. I think she is misguided, and she lacks the skills needed for public office. Her letter not only offers any specifics about where this happened or by who, but also no sense of when this happened. Was this recent, or was this months or years ago?
She throws memories around as facts and without realizing the responsibilities she carries as a public official. She could have said this as a private citizen and drawn no attention to herself.
But when she became elected, her words acquired more weight and as such she had a responsibility to not only speak, but also to act effectively. To not only listen and observe, but also take notes and follow up. To document what she claims.
But she has a responsibility to see the realities around her, to understand that she might have more allies than she realizes if she would only stop bashing those she serves with, calling them all racists. With such tactics, she does not serve anyone and she does not help anyone. These tactics do nothing to reduce the platform from which racism works.
She owes her constituents better.
However, despite her flawed approach, we should support diversity panels, community forums and an investigation into discrimination.
Charges of racism and anti-Semitism have been raised in the Elmira School District. They have been raised in a clumsy and awkward fashion by someone who does not know what she is doing, but she has raised an issue that must be explored.
So, why not bring in a group like the Anti-Defamation League or the NAACP to investigate, explore and establish where Elmira really stands on the issue of anti-Semitism and racism? Set up a committee, conduct hearings, ask questions, get the stories from the students, the parents the teachers. Draw conclusions about where we are. We may find that Dianna Brewer-Jackson's accusations may or may not be well-founded, but we may also find out something we didn't know.
And we may also be uncomfortable about what we find out, but that's a good thing.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Shoe-Throwing Reporter Tells Tale Of Torture
From NPR:
"The journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush during the president's final visit to Iraq last December was released from prison Tuesday and says he was tortured by Iraqi officials during his incarceration. ... "
Now the guy lives in fear that the U.S. will hunt him down. The man has been through enough.
If I had the chance to meet him, I'd shake his hand and reassure him that all Americans are not like George W. Bush. I'd also apologize to him for what happened to his country and because Americans allowed W. so much power that the opposition could not stop him from invading and conquering Iraq.
I do not blame him for his outburst, and he did not deserve torture. The fact that he was tortured tells us that the Iraqi leadership learned the wrong lessons from us about democracy. We taught them it was OK to have a democracy and to torture.
He was rightfully angry and frustrated at what had become of his country, and he is looked upon as a hero across the Arab world because he did what many wish they could have done.
Until we understand that anger that we unleashed, there will be no peace in the Middle East.
Someone should invite this man to the U.S. for a speaking tour. We could learn much from him.
September 2018: To be clear, this post has to do with national sovereignty. Every nation has a right to sovereignty. To put it another way ... if Justin Trudeau ordered Canada to invade and conquer the U.S. and they successfully toppled Donald Trump as president, I would be just as outraged as that Iraqi journalist throwing his shoes.
For better or worse, it is up to the citizens and government of each country to solve their own problems and choose their own course.
"The journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush during the president's final visit to Iraq last December was released from prison Tuesday and says he was tortured by Iraqi officials during his incarceration. ... "
Now the guy lives in fear that the U.S. will hunt him down. The man has been through enough.
If I had the chance to meet him, I'd shake his hand and reassure him that all Americans are not like George W. Bush. I'd also apologize to him for what happened to his country and because Americans allowed W. so much power that the opposition could not stop him from invading and conquering Iraq.
I do not blame him for his outburst, and he did not deserve torture. The fact that he was tortured tells us that the Iraqi leadership learned the wrong lessons from us about democracy. We taught them it was OK to have a democracy and to torture.
He was rightfully angry and frustrated at what had become of his country, and he is looked upon as a hero across the Arab world because he did what many wish they could have done.
Until we understand that anger that we unleashed, there will be no peace in the Middle East.
Someone should invite this man to the U.S. for a speaking tour. We could learn much from him.
September 2018: To be clear, this post has to do with national sovereignty. Every nation has a right to sovereignty. To put it another way ... if Justin Trudeau ordered Canada to invade and conquer the U.S. and they successfully toppled Donald Trump as president, I would be just as outraged as that Iraqi journalist throwing his shoes.
For better or worse, it is up to the citizens and government of each country to solve their own problems and choose their own course.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Keeping it simple
I've been wanting to blog about health care for a long time, but the complexity of the issue has been daunting.
So much hangs in the balance. So many people could be helped by health care reform. But the opposition is turning it into a bitter political fight. They aren't seeing the big picture.
Finally, today on Facebook, someone posted this simple little status that boiled the issue down to the essentials:
"Let me put it this way: There are few things I feel this strongly about. No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day."
'Nuff said ... for now.
So much hangs in the balance. So many people could be helped by health care reform. But the opposition is turning it into a bitter political fight. They aren't seeing the big picture.
Finally, today on Facebook, someone posted this simple little status that boiled the issue down to the essentials:
"Let me put it this way: There are few things I feel this strongly about. No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day."
'Nuff said ... for now.
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