RE:think

My Take on Last Night's Sullivan County School Board Work Session

This post may come across as a “stream of conscious”. I apologize ahead of time… 

After witnessing Dr. Yennie’s recommendation and the many public comments at last night’s work session for the rezoning for Sullivan County Schools, I have a slightly different opinion about the entire issue. I still agree that some plan has to be put forward. Since the scenarios were put forth, I understood the scenario of combining middle school student in one current high school and high school students in the other. On some levels it makes sense. But now I know I just can’t support it. If it does indeed happen, and indications are it will for the 2014-015 school year, I will still do my best to make the transition as painless as I can for my own children. Why I changed my mind will hopefully make sense after you read my thoughts on last night. 

“You have awakened a sleeping giant.” Those were the words of a South Zone speaker last night. I mention it because I find it interesting that the North Zone has been under attack by annexation and school closings for decades while Colonial Heights and South Zone citizens sat idly by and never said a word. Now that they are in the crosshairs of the board, they finally wake up. I have no ill will towards these folks though. They are trying to protect their own. It is similar to the east side of the North ignoring what was going on in the west end. As long as their schools aren’t closing and their children aren’t being shuffled around then who cares about those “other people”. This attitude will make it extremely hard for our kids to coexist in the same school. The merger will will cause much stress and anxiety.

Since everything is now up for grabs though, it is time we all come together and work to figure this out. It will take all of us. Not just the board that has been elected. They work for us and our children. It’s time we start thinking about the whole as opposed our little corner and ONLY our own children. Of course we need to protect our own, but the best way to do that is with help and support from others protecting their own. If we want our children to be safe, happy, and receive a good education, we have to work together. That will mean making some sacrifices and compromising where appropriate. Pride will need to be swallowed. I know some of us have sacrificed much already, but the pride that has been hurt by those sacrifices needs to cease being a factor in our thinking.

In all the comments I heard last night, no one put forth any real alternative suggestions other than “do nothing”. We all know that doing nothing will not help the matter. I myself did not speak. I was ready to, but the format really does little for influencing the board in my opinion. Most, if not all, on the board were not taking notes. So all they will remember is the anger and emotion. In a couple of days those things will fade in their minds. I also chose not to speak because my opinions are not popular and I do not want what I think to cause my kids any trouble at school. I will instead be sending letters, emails, and making phone calls. I did want to be present to know what was going on and show support for my children’s schools.

So what do I want out of all of this? In a perfect world I want nothing to change in the North Zone or South Zone. Most of us are happy with our children’s schools and would love to have things remain the way they are. I want that more than anything. But since it is not a perfect world, I know that we need to be prepared to walk our children through this mess and help create the next best situation. I know the numbers. I know what schools are at capacity and which are not. I know the perceived traveling, sports, teacher cuts, and community hardships that the proposed merger would create. No matter what is done, there will be people who are not happy about it. So here is what I would propose were I in a position to do so.

I would gather as much community support as I could both in the county and the city for the all of these school systems to work together for the solution. Annexation is not going away. And since our state constitution allows the cities and counties to work together in the education of our children, this would be the best long term solution. If this means one school system for all, I am for it. I know this would be an ego hit to all of our elected officials and cooperation would be tough in the beginning. Everyone naturally wants to protect their own turf. But in the long run, our kids, grandkids and generations to come would be better off for it. The silly rivalries between adults in this matter cannot trump the well-being of the regions children. Let’s get this on the table at least. It’s high time.

A few more personal “take aways” from the meeting:

• The school board, minus a couple of members is very old. I have to wonder how they can really be in touch with today’s youth and what is going on in the schools.
• Dr. Yennie is in a tough spot. While he has appeared to say things at certain times to get people off his back, he was tasked to make recommendations. That is what he did. He’s the “bad guy” to many but ultimately, these problems began long before he got here. We the people need to own these problems.
• The “partnership” between North and South parents is shaky at best. Both groups are still out to protect their own. Get it together people. And those putting to much trust in the other side, watch your back.
• I was delighted to have my youngest son, my stepson, and my youngest daughter with me to see this process. And even more delighted that all the way down to my 9 year old, they found it interesting and learned more about how society works. We all talked about it all the way home.
• I was proud of my community and the way people handled themselves. This could have easily been ugly and it wasn’t. It was tense at times, and very pointed at others, but respect was given.
• I was proud of the many young people from various schools who took the podium to speak. We have some outstanding youth here in our area.

I will end with this. Change is inevitable in every facet of our lives. How we handle it and shape it will determine how we live with it. I love my children dearly. I want only the best for them. But I also care very much about my friends and their children. No matter what the future brings, I will continue to voice my concerns and be involved. If you have children in any of these schools I encourage you to do same, even if your ideas are different than mine. 

 

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A Few Thoughts on Sullivan County Rezoning...

Why Facebook is Bad for Conversations and Debates

I am about to write something that I am not sure I should post. I guess if you are reading this, then I got to the end and decided to. :)

I know this topic is overdone. It's been talked about and written about over and over. We all know that going online to debate and have conversations on things like politics, religion and other issues that carrry lots of emotion is usually a bad idea. These things are hard enought face to face. Take out tone and body language and they become almost impossible. Volumes have been written on the subject already. I do have something to add though.

I've been discussing things with people online now for nearly twenty years. It first started around 1994 and the Prodigy Online Bulletin Board system. It was a place to log on and discuss just about any topic you'd like. I was heavily involved there on many topics. As the World Wide Web came into it's own there were message boards in a myriad of places to do the same thing and I moved over to those. I finally got tired of it all because I wanted to write lenghty pieces and then have discussions. That's how I like to express myself and then learn from the discussion. To that end, I started blogging in the early 2000's.  It was great. I learned much about myself and even more from others. Then came Facebook.

Blogging was, and really still is, done by a very small group of people. Most bloggers had blogs on a particular topic and they knew a lot about that topic. In my case, I TRIED to know as much as possible about the things I was writing about. With a smaller pool of people and more time and effort going into what you said and how you reacted made for a decent, if not perfect place, to share ideas online. We may not have been experts, but we tried very hard to know what we were talking about and learn from one another.

Conversley, Facebook, is open to anyone. There are a billion people using it. Posting is very quick and easy. It is rapid fire and messy where blogging was slower paced and deliberate. But more than anything, it gives access to people who do not care to explore the subject they are posting about or are commenting on. It allows us to post quickly and while full of emotion. Most do not stop to think. Most are not looking to learn from others. They just want to shout you down or delete it all when they have lost the debate. Which leads me to the bit that I am afriad may get me in hot water...

Too many Facebook users are ill equipped to go online and engage in conversation. Let's just stare down that elephant in the room for a minute. Many of the people we know are not able to communicate well in person, so why do we expect that they will fair any better online? People speak without thinking. Now they can go online and type without thinking. But these days, depending on their privacy settings, they are saying in front of the entire world. At the very least they say it to hundreds of "friends".

It's too bad that Facebook can't have a waiting period before posting your status or a reply to a thread. I know that is not feasible and defeats the purpose of real time conversation, but there are people who could use that option. At the very least, if a person gets upset that a thread is not going their way, and that thread was started by someone else on their event page, their fan page, their wall or wherever, they'd have to have any deletions reviewed. Deleting bashing or personal comments is one thing. Deleting an entire discussion because it doesn't go the way you wanted is another entirely.

There is not an answer for this problem. I leave you with only with warnings and suggestions. Do not get your hopes up for a good debate. If one happens, great. But most times it will devolve into name calling and censorship via the delete option. If you really care about a subject, post about it on your own wall. That way you know the entire thread won't be blown up and deleted on a whim. Try not to delete any comments in a thread unless they are flat out name calling, bashing or harrasing. Let the debate go where it may, even if your point is picked apart and maybe, just maybe, you are shown to be lacking in your argument or just wrong. Most of all, post about what you really know and argue with conviction and respect. Maybe then you will end up with one of those rare Facebook gems where everyone takes something positive away.

If you got here via my Facebook link, come back to the status update and let me know your thoughts. ;-]

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A Few Thoughts on Sullivan County Rezoning...

I Hate My Blog

A Few Thoughts on Sullivan County Rezoning...

Locally you can’t read the newspapers, watch the news, or peruse Facebook without hearing about the plans that Sullivan County Schools are mulling over for rezoning. There is obviously lots of emotion. Many facts are being parroted. And as can be expected, there is much denial, delusion and flat out lying going on. I’ve paid attention because I have a dog in this fight. Well, not a dog, but three children. One is a rising freshman at North High School, one a rising 6^th grader at North Middle School, and the other a rising 4^th grader at Ketron Elementary. 

A little personal history is in order to start. I grew up in and around the “North Zone”. We moved a lot, but spent most of the time in the Midfields/Lynn Garden area. I went to Gravely Elementary because that was where my Mom went and wanted us to go. I attended middle school at Lynn View and then later graduated high school from Sullivan North. I am one of those rare people who enjoyed school all the way through, from Kindergarten to graduation. It was a wonderful system growing up.

In 1999, I bought a house in Bloomingdale with my now ex-wife. Our kids went to Kingsley Elementary to start. My daughter went to Ketron Middle for 6^th grade. The boys then moved to Ketron elementary when Kingsley closed and my daughter moved on to Ketron Middle, now North Middle in the 7^th grade. Through all the changes, we were always blessed with great teachers and great principals. But there was also lots of change and the threat of change around every corner.

Now, you will notice a pattern above. Gravely, Lynn View, Kingsley, Ketron Middle School… All closed. Add to it the schools that my friends went to and friends of my children… West View, Lynn Garden, Bell Ridge, Cedar Grove… All closed or no longer part of the Sullivan County School System. It’s very sad. I used to visit my old schools to see former teachers. When the first round of closings came, I could no longer do that. Thankfully I connected with some on Facebook and have even had the privilege of lunch with a couple of them. Still, it’s hard seeing your old schools washed away.

As everyone knows, there is now a plan that would possibly do away with North as a high school, make it a middle school and combine the high school with South. Many people do not want to see this happen, and they have some good reasons. Others see it as a good thing. Some just see it as simply inevitable. More about that later…

I tell you all of this because there are a few pieces to this rezoning fight that really bother me. The things I am about to say may anger some people. They may feel like accusations. To a point they are. They do not apply to all involved in the fight, but I am seeing inconsistency and must comment. As a lifetime North Zone resident and with kids in these schools, I feel I have every right to voice my feelings and concerns, even if they are not popular. I ask that you read with an open mind and understand where I am coming from.

I see many comments from students and parents claiming “Raiders for life”. The sentiment is admirable, but I am not sure it is entirely true. They are really “Raiders for right now till I or my kids are no longer in the system.” This is my first problem. There is nothing wrong with having this attitude. You take care of your own. I just want to see people be honest and up front about it. Our lives are busy. After our kids are out of school we have other tasks to handle. Some will choose to continue to fight for their community schools, but most simply won’t have the time or energy for it.

The next issue I have with this fight is tied to the last. Bloomingdale, Arcadia, and Orebank are really about all that is left of the North Zone. I mentioned the areas that I grew up in and I have to ask: Where was Bloomingdale and the others when those communities were absorbed by the city and we were all sold a bill of goods? Most did not see it as their problem. Their schools were safe. Their kids did not have to make choices or changes. They had no ties to those schools. And now that it’s time to pay the piper, the remaining communities are ready to fight. They need not forget that those schools lost a decade or so ago are a huge reason they are in the fight now.

Lastly, I am appalled by the negative comments towards Colonial Heights and South. Why? I know many good, hardworking people who have or have had children in those schools. They don’t like this situation any more than we do in the North Zone. They too have been safe for a while but are starting to feel some of the pain the rest of us have with city annexations. And please, think ahead. If this does go down as many think it could, our children will be in school with those children. We will be involved with their parents. How much harder will we make things by being disparaging now?

I will leave you with a few of my own thoughts on the matter.

First, Sullivan County will make a decision on this. I will be surprised if it gets tabled and nothing is done. I also see it as a distinct possibility that the changes will occur in the North and South zones. There are too many dollars to be saved. So those who are fighting the good fight should not give up until the decision comes. But they also need to be preparing for this to happen. I know many are saying they will send their children elsewhere. That is emotion talking. If you send your kids to Central or wherever, they will still suffer from change. That change will create as much or more angst for them than if you just go with the flow. They will be separated from many of their friends because most will end up letting their children go to whatever high school or middle school they end up zoned for.

Next, this problem has decades of roots. We all dropped the ball along the way. Once the decision comes, and should it not be in favor of the North and South zones, the next push should be to pressure Sullivan County and Kingsport City to truly partner in the education of our children. There are provisions out there for that to happen. In the end, it could be the best long term solution to this ongoing issue. I know pride has been hurt. We do not want to see these changes to our communities. But remember, many people in the western portion of the North Zone have already suffered. If you win this fight there will be another down the road. Let’s work for a long term solution.

Finally, I will comment about my own children so you will know where my head is on the matter. My children, as you already know, are in these schools. I no longer live in Bloomingdale but their Mother does. In a few months I will most likely be moving to Colonial Heights. So the combining of these schools would actually help solve a couple of problems for our family. I do realize it could hurt, especially my daughter, in the area of sports. She is slated to be a varsity basketball player as a freshman at North. She played the last month of this season with the JV and Varsity at North High as an 8^th grader! She has a good rapport with the coaching staff and tons of opportunity. Now she may be hindered by sports politics. But I tell her: You are good enough to play anywhere. You continue to work hard and those things will take care of themselves. But deep down I know it could still be a problem. So I do not say any of this lightly. She is looking forward to being a Golden Raider and set goals, like 1000 points at North. I hate that it could be taken away. I really do…

But at some point everyone is going to have to stand up, together, and suffer for the future. The North Zone to this point has never fully stood together in the last 30 years and done that for the future of the communities. That is why we are in this mess. That is why we have a grand opportunity to do what others could not or would not do. The best to you all and here is hoping we work together to find a proper solution. After all, this is about the education of our children. Pride has no place in that discussion.

Representative Walter B. Jones Leads G.O.P. Effort to Withdraw Forces From Afghanistan - NYTimes.com

I could not agree more with Rep. Jones when he says:

“When you talk about war, political parties don’t matter,”

This war needs to end. We need to get the out of there. I applaud a conservative for taking this stand and for reminding everyone that we jsut can't police the world anymore. Our economy has been chaotic for years now and all the while we are pumping more money into wars that can't actually be won and that are needlessly getting our young men and women killed or scarred for life.

Conservatives and war supporters, I urge you to think on this and speak out. Put away the country songs that pull at your heart strings and make you want to kick someone's ass. We've fought the good fight against terror here at home and have been winning for 10 years now. We have no need to be in foreign countries shedding blood. This isn't a freedom issue, so drop that too. Just think long and hard, weight all the negatives, and see if you come to same conclusion on this.  

If you do come to the conclusion that we need to be there, then please tell someone in decision making capacities what the endgame there needs to be. Because right now, I haven't heard one from the those who support this useless war.

via www.nytimes.com

Is There an Elephant in the Room?

First and foremost this post will not be about either man running for president. Nor will it be about their running mates. It also will not be about policy or who I think should win.

This election is one of the most interesting and history making ever. We have one major party with a mixed race candidate that most identify as black. The other party has a woman running in the number two spot. No matter who wins, history will be made. On the issues side, the economy is hurting and gas prices are through the roof. We are at war and still are in the cross hairs of terrorists around the world. Both candidates have fairly distinct approaches to these issues and are supported well by their bases.  We've seen the polls fluctuate the past couple of months with both men in the lead at one time or another but neither really get too far past the margin of error. And this leads me to that elephant:

Barack Obama and his racial heritage.

Now, I am not saying that people are ignoring the history that was made with his nomination. And surely those of us who long for racial reconciliation here in the US are not missing the huge step we would take if he was our first black president. I think these things have been out in front from the beginning. The positives have been more than accentuated. What I am saying is the following.

No one wants to look at these "polls" and admit that one of the ways they may be horribly skewed is by what many call the Bradley, or Wilder Effect. From Wikipedia:

The term Bradley effect, less commonly called^[1] the Wilder effect, refers to a frequently observed discrepancy between voter opinion polls and election outcomes in American political campaigns when a white candidate and a non-white candidate run against each other.^[2][3][4] Named for Tom Bradley, an African-American who lost the 1982 California governor's race despite being ahead in voter polls, the Bradley effect refers to a tendency on the part of white voters to tell pollsters that they are undecided or likely to vote for a Black candidate, when, on election day, they vote for his/her white opponent.^[5]

Now, I am not saying that this is happening or even that the "effect' is real. (let's please not debate "the effect")  But I am willing to admit it is a possibility and I am greatly saddened by it. I disagree with many of Obama's stances on the issues, but for him to lose the election because people are still so prejudiced is disgusting to me.

I was over at the Reconciliation Blog and Edward Gilbreath points to this article. Here is how it starts:

Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles.

The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about two and one-half percentage points.

Certainly, Republican John McCain has his own obstacles: He's an ally of an unpopular president and would be the nation's oldest first-term president. But Obama faces this: 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, and that includes many Democrats and independents.

We all know that polls are not always the best scientific measure, but 40%? I shouldn't be shocked by that number but I am. It's disgusting. And if we assume that some people didn't want to be honest on this one could it be higher?

What I don't understand is why no one is REALLY talking about this. Even many of those who support Obama aren't mentioning it. It truly is the elephant in the room it seems. It is a very real possibility that Obama could lose the election because of his racial heritage. Again, I disagree with him on many many issues, but my own kids share his biracial heritage. If he loses, I want to see him lose on policy, not skin color.

I think this is worth exposing. For a black man in America to come so far only to be shot down yet again by bigots and racists is disheartening.

I also think it is worth having the discussion about this now. Because if Obama loses, we will definitely be having it later. Of course, if we talk about it now, Obama would be more likely to lose. At the least, he wouldn't find any help to his campaign from the discussion. That's why that elephant will continue to be ignored I think.

Technorati Tags: Election 2008,Barack Obama,Racial Reconciliation

What Do WE Have to Give?

In this political season, we are promised many things by all the candidates. They all have something to give us. Some may even make good on the promises. But it is this is also the season I see just how "needy" so many of us are even though we have so much we could give.

Most arguments over politics boil down to one side feeling they won't get everything they feel they have coming to them. Some have plenty already so instead, they fight for those they feel are in need the most so they can get something out of these politicians. This is admirable, but just once I would like to see others drop their own needs, agendas, and opinions and look outside themselves before acting or speaking. If they did, they'd ask:

What do WE have to give? What has been given to us that we can give away? Instead of waiting on our mostly inept government, what can we do in our own lives for our own neighbors to make things better?   And if they answered these questions and acted upon them, we could tell our politicians to jump in a lake. We wouldn't have as much need for them. 

I've told you before that my wife is one of the most giving people I know. It's because of her I have learned to give away what I have been given. And when I do it begrudgingly, she whips me into shape. If you don't have anyone to model a giving spirit for you, find someone! It will make a difference whether you are ok with it already, or instinctively "tight" like me.

And as always, it's not about money or things. There are so many other things we can give our neighbors that don't involve "stuff". Time and attention can go a very long way. 

So stay with your politicians. Do what you can to sway them. Vote. Debate. But figure what you and me, and those you know can do to make things better. To those already doing it, I salute you. To those who don't, it's never too late.

A Bag of Pennies

I walked into the gas station/convenience store that is about half a mile from our house. I stop there often on the way home from work. I was going up to pay for what I was picking up when I saw a lady there with a bag of pennies counting them out to the clerk. She has a baby on her hip and a toddler by her side. She was up to about $2.00 and the pennies were nearly gone.

I asked her what she was paying for. She told me she was almost out of gas and thought the little bit she could buy with these pennies would make sure she got home with the babies. I gave the clerk a 20 and told her to go ahead and pump it. (Don't pat me on the back, it was what I was SUPPOSE to do). She said thanks, squeezed my arm, teared up, and made me tear up behind my sunglasses.

It made me so sad, and very angry. I thought of our next President, Barack Obama, and how he and many in congress love these high gas prices. He just wished they'd gone up a little slower. Don't let them fool you. They are not phased by this. If they were, they'd have done something years ago. Obama doesn't live in the real world. He DOES have an elitist mind set. I am convinced.

It's time that we, as voters, demand that they go beyond the answer "we need alternatives". That is true. We do need alternatives. But those alternatives are doing nothing for that single mom. We need to do everything right now. It's kitchen sink time.

As for Obama, he'll never understand being a single mom with two kids, an empty tank, and a bag of pennies.

I Had to Laugh, and Then Just Nod My Head

Things White People Like:

Comparing People to Hitler

It’s also critical that you avoid the fatal mistake of getting creative and comparing people you don’t like to other evil dictators, such as Joseph Stalin or Fidel Castro. With few exceptions, white people are actually fond of almost any dictator not named Hitler, and your remark that “this is just like something Mao Zedong would do” will be met with blank stares and possible social alienation. This is because, with the exception of Hitler, oppressive dictators share a passion for many of the things white people love- such as universal health care, conspiracy theories, caring about poor people while being filthy rich, and cool hats. Stick to the script and compare things you don’t like to Hitler, and Hitler alone.

Link: Winner #4

Race TRUMP Card

This political season has stirred up so much stuff that I am beginning to think maybe there is no hope for racial reconciliation on a large scale. Between Bill Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro, Jeremiah Wright and now Father Phelger, it's gotten pretty ugly. The media has helped fan the flames, and the candidates themselves have not handled things as quickly and as well as they could have.

The thing that has me most down is that as a white male, I can't speak about race or try to be a part of the solution without being trumped by something or someone from the other side. If I have a thought or opinion it is almost automatically shot down because as a white man I am discounting something I don't understand. It's been happening to me on blog after blog I visit. I see people talking about an open and honest discourse, then join in and find out it's actually a lecture. Discourse, ha!

Case in point: Wright and Phleger (speaking of discourse, do we really think these guys want a discourse?). I think many of the things they say are true. Some are not. White privilege is a huge problem. I have no qualms with that issue being called out. However, I do not like their tone and find it very harmful. So when I voice that, I am told I am wrong to think that way because it discounts the prophetic nature of the black church. I do not understand how words that are obviously said in a way meant to hurt and mock are prophetic. Righteous anger is one thing. Mockery and hate are something else altogether. I don't know how those types of utterances can be compared to Jesus chastising the religious types of his day. But alas, that is how I am trumped. Cause I am white. Even worse, I am a white male.

A true discourse happens when we move beyond rhetoric, lectures, hateful words, and denial. That requires much from all of us. Some of us (whites) more than others. But it does require ALL of us to come to the table ready to discuss and understand and stop using our trump cards to silence others. Reconciliation can never happen if only one side gets to own it.

Anyway, all of this has me really down now. I worry about my kids growing up and dealing with the real problem of being black in a very white world. They will be hurt by white privilege and discriminated against because of their race.  Almost as much, I fear for them growing up in a world where none of us can talk to each other in a way that gets to solutions because we have a trump card up our sleeves for every statement the other person makes.

It's very sad and very depressing...

Slavery alive and well in U.S.?

I love it when someone makes sense. Throw out all the talk about amnesty, border fences, and pathways to citizenship. This is about exploitation.

You can also throw out the line that "there are some jobs Americans just dont want to do." I actually used to use that one as a defense for illegal undocumented workers. We are doing these folks a disservice by the defending them with thinking. It's not about the jobs. See Beck's words below to see what it is really about and why it is very close to modern day slavery.

I know this will come as a huge shock to those who only like to hurl insults, but I think we should be issuing more work visas, more student visas, and more green cards. And I think we should cut the red tape and bureaucracy that's constantly blocking the front door.

But until that happens people are left looking for loopholes and excuses, and "jobs Americans won't do" is the gold standard.

The Journal article offered an example of a couple that sells food at fairs around California each summer. They say that because of the H-2B visa shortage most of their seasonal employees aren't able to enter the country.

So why don't they just hire Americans instead? Good question. Her answer? "This is a hard job."

I find it pretty hard to believe that there aren't a few college students who wouldn't want to drive around California and work outdoors all summer, but let's assume that's true. Let's even assume that none of the other 1.1 million Californians who were unemployed as of April are interested in the job either. Isn't anyone wondering why?

Well I'm not a labor consultant, but I am a thinker. Maybe the problem isn't that the job they're offering is "too hard," maybe it's that the wages they're offering are "too low."

Link: Commentary: Slavery alive and well in U.S. - CNN.com.