Politics and CHANGE?

It is another election year, and another Democratic is vying for the coveted Presidential nomination. Funny how voters, especially young, eager, ideological voters, forget the history lessons of a former Clinton, and his wife, now a candidate, struggled through Whitewater real estate wrong doing allegations, with Bill Clinton committing perjury, adultery, and throwing the United States economy into recession. Hillary Clinton must answer now how anyone can trust her with the country’s well-being, when she could not detect a deceitful husband, did not take any direct action once that husband was found to be a liar, and his presidency almost impeached. Do we want one spouse replacing the other so now she can do what she wants because, “she can”? America does not need more dalliances detracting from the business of running the country.

As I watched the Clintons and the Gores celebrate on stage to the tune of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop”, “Thinking about tomorrow, Yesterday’s Gone, Yesterday’s Gone, it’ll soon be here”, in their victory dance, I wonder what exactly they were expecting to accomplish.

Their campaign promised change, from the Reagan-Bush twelve-year era, which boasted a booming economy, a low unemployment rate, inflation rate, and stable foreign relations. Well, the Clinton years did give us change. America experienced recession, disastrous foreign relations leading up to an uncontrollable and unstable military terrorism base. A strong America was left tattered, changed, in eight years.

Now, Obama and Clinton are promising change, and I believe they think they can change some things. However, what America wants, that neither can provide, is a step backward to safety and peace of mind America once had prior to September 11, 2001. Bringing troops back cannot take away that instilled fear brought about by that day, nor can it by making them stay. It cannot change the world’s eyes or diplomatic views of America’s vulnerability on both the military and the diplomatic fronts. An eighteen year-old voter, at twelve years old, does not remember the events of that day, nor the Reagan years of prosperity, or the repugnant Bill Clinton-Lewinsky affair and the national shame and degradation of the “moral authority” Hillary Clinton claims “America” has lost in the eyes of the world. That is hypocritical to say the least.

I urge all Americans to look towards the future. I also urge them to remember the past. The peace and innocence we once enjoyed seems to be gone, at least for now, and in its place a sort of chaotic restlessness. More change is not what we need. We do need to stay the course. In this new global atmosphere, where climate conditions, terrorism threats, oil reserves, technology advances, children’s education, health care, economy, and healthcare are all at risk, we cannot change everything at once. We are working, through the President and Congress, to address the major threats to our national well-being in an order of priority for the good of the whole. Let’s stay the course, as with a new President from at least the same party, can reflect the past president’s ideals and course of actions to some extent. Let’s not jump ship for deeper, more uncertain waters filled with rip tides and other changes.

You are a Vessel For Change

Have you ever viewed yourself as a vessel of change? In other words, do you wonder if God’s Will for putting you on this Earth may have been to inspire others, or to yourself make a heroic difference in this world. Alternatively, do you think others who challenge society’s beliefs, so individuals may spend ever more time in contemplation, resulting in stronger faith, commitment, or compelling them to execute great deeds?

You are a vessel of change in this world. Everything you do or say, you are affecting someone else’s world. You may not know why, but contact with this person was meant to be, and you do not know the outcome of that contact. It may come to nothing, or it may come to everything.

If the sole reason God created your person and your soul was simply to stop someone from crossing the street in front of a bus, in order that he or she live and thus give birth to a second generation who may create a cure for cancer, stop nuclear proliferation, or witness a miracle, you have fulfilled your purpose. The rest of your life is gravy, so to speak. Therefore, everything you do in every moment must be done carefully, and with love, the greatest gift of all, because you know not when that moment will arrive.

American Politics, Leaders, & Education

America needs a strong leader now more than ever. It is not up to the President to provide an “economic stimulus package’ to put more money in Americans’ wallets. As the world’s stock markets slide on news of our nation’s problems, it goes to show the global economic strength America has. Yet, these markets, under foreign leaders who resist American diplomacy, hide terrorists, and refuse to get their own nations in order, depend on America for their exports and their wealth. Americans have to be realistic. The good times cannot roll on forever. Market corrections will happen. That is when we must question ourselves, not our political leaders, on why we have not adequately educated American children to develop alternative fuel, vehicles, transportation systems, to be able to evolve technology to create new jobs, workplaces, and a more productive America, as they have historically done.

An American president cannot do anything alone. Congress, the public, and society as a whole must support their leaders. The leaders must be respected by other national leaders, or America’s safety is jeopardized. Who amongst the candidates, on either side, will be able to respectfully fill this role and set an example for our children? Who carries themselves with dignity, strength of character and purpose? Things will NOT change in Washington until we, as Americans, change our neighborhoods, our attitudes, and our children’s education. We must improve ourselves, and educate the next generation of Americans, from whom our leaders will

come.

Originally posted: http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/08/560676.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

Stand Up for America!

American society must acknowledge that maximizing children's educational potential is key to solving current and future global crises. Without brain-based educational techniques and increased government funding, we, as a society, will suffer the ill effects of lost opportunities to maintain and increase our culture's freedoms, democracy, and power.

Losing sight of our only renewable resource, our children, their values, morales, and faith in American ideals, will only cost us in the long run. Look at how we are raising them. In daycare centers, in front of televisions, computers, and without respect for authority. We tolerate what is offered on television for children to watch; disrespectful, satirical shows where children talk back to adults and get laughs, and children wonder why that is not accepted when they talk that way in society.

The Writer's Guild strike should probably go on. The written material they produce is harming our society and its perceptions of right and wrong. Human life is not viewed as sacred anymore. Drug dealing is viewed as a career. There is no respect for obtaining an education. The value of an education is lost on children who expect to reach for the golden ring and get it every time. Every child expects that he or she is the next American Idol, reality contestant, or football star.

The work ethic is put aside in favor of easy money, fame or fortune. The value, morality, and effort of obtaining a great education through hard work and effort needs to be highly valued and recognized.

Bullying, Discrimination, and Misunderstandings

I posted the response to the following post I found on BLOGGER:
http://www.therant.us/staff/nsalvato/our_legal_system_hides_from_bullies.htm Our Legal System Hides From Bullies by Nancy Salvato January 14, 2004
The judicial branch of the government stepped in to rule that all students are afforded first amendment rights as long as they don't materially and substantially disrupt classes or other school activities. The legislative branch of the government was also willing to step into the school's domain when they were compelled to enact PL-94-142 which means "special needs" students are entitled to a free appropriate program implemented in the least restrictive environment. The removal of a pupil with an educational disability from the pupil's regular class occurs only when the nature or severity of the educational disability is such that education in the pupil's regular class with the use of appropriate supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 guarantees that people with disabilities cannot be excluded from any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Though the mainstreamed student's primary placement is in a self-contained class for students with disabilities, they are taken out of this for specific portions of the school day and placed in classrooms with their non-disabled peers, often with no supports or accommodations, and with performance expectations similar to those of the typical students. Mainstreaming is offered primarily to students with mild disabilities, and often involves only non-academic subjects, such as gym, art, music and lunch. I am noticing that the above rulings and legislation assuring our "special education" students their educational rights has had an unfortunate bi-product. Although it is not supposed to occur, general education teachers often do not have the support they need to teach children with disabilities and be able to teach all children effectively. The education of the general education children gets sacrificed so that children with disabilities can be included. Classrooms are less manageable for the teachers and the hallways and other non teaching areas are less safe for students. Autistic children can swear and take swings at other children. Bullying has become a major issue in our schools. I wondered if there was any Illinois law that would hold a school accountable for bullying that takes place on its premises. It seems that our state government draws the line when it comes to passing legislation designed to hold the schools responsible for maintaining an atmosphere safe from bullying. As Gary Avery, J.D. from the National Trainers for Law Advisory Group explained, It is not a statute, per se. It is possible in both the state and federal courts of Illinois to state a claim if the school does not meet well-defined standards set up in a line of U.S. Supreme Court cases beginning with Meritor Savings Bank (Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 1986, 106 S Ct 2399) and continuing through to more recent cases including ones called Lago Vista (Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 1998, 524 US 274) and Davis v. Monroe, 1999, 526 US 629. Liability results when the school does not have a policy against harassment (bullying is a form of harassment) which is reasonable and in which both the faculty and the student body are trained. The ability to report harassment in a simple fashion without automatically becoming known to other students, particularly not to the aggressor, is another important element. And, finally, the school must be able to show that it actually follows up on complaints in a reasonable way. This would explain the proliferation of anti bullying programs that surface in school districts when harassment gets "pronounced". I wondered about the likelihood of winning a lawsuit against a school district for negligence regarding bullying. Mr. Avery said that school officials are allowed to use their discretion in deciding what, if any, punishment is proper in keeping with a U.S. Supreme Court case of long ago out of Illinois, DeShaney v. Winnebago County Social Services, 1989, 109 S Ct 998. So long as they are not so grossly stupid as to cause a reasonable person to term the behavior arbitrary or capricious, school officials' judgment will not lose just because there might have been a better way. In addition to the above, in my research I read that a school doesn't hold any "special status" with regards to the students that enter its doors. Schools are not guardians, therefore cannot be held responsible for the actions, of students' in their domain. While I understand the reasoning behind the legislation that guarantees "special needs" students an equal opportunity education, there is much difficulty in monitoring the actions of all students at all times. There should be more money available to hire and pay for hall monitors and additional playground supervisors whose sole job is to maintain the safety of the schools. I'm of the opinion that since there has been legislative action to protect the rights of "special needs" students, there must be some legislative action that can be taken to guarantee that the schools assure an atmosphere conducive to learning for "all students". Civil suits between families do not address the school's responsibility for this inaction. Certainly students being bullied are not getting "equal access to education". They are attending school in an atmosphere of fear. Some are the beneficiaries of physical and emotional scars that will last a lifetime. The irony is that some of the students who are assured "equal access to an education" are the ones contributing to the atmosphere that makes the act of going to school a pretty scary venture for others. Give fair and equal treatment to all groups if one group is to receive it. Students not classified as "special needs" have not been given equal voice. Our students who perform well remind me of those applicants who are more qualified but don't get the job because of "affirmative action". Enough, already! The playing field will never be able to make up for the home advantage. Our home teams don't have to play with a "handicap". Why must the average student?
-- Atheism teaches that there is no God, hence no God-given rights. That ideology coupled with a system that believed in the superiority of the state at the expense of the individual was murderously synergistic.

My response:


Are you a student of Atheism, or just a bully? Apparently you believe that the "superiority" of students who "do well" and have no 'handicaps", other than the prejudice revealed in your article, are the ones suffering from the misconceived so-called "entitlements" that special needs students are receiving. What I wouldn't pay, reverse, advocate, give my life for, to otherwise reverse my son's disabilities so that he could join your elitist "typical" children's team. In other words, the ones that bully HIM. He may look completely normal, however, his life-threatening condition and brain abnormalities make him the only one worldwide with these two disorders. The chance of this occurring? One in ten to twenty million. Yes, if I was ANY OTHER PARENT, perhaps I could have the luxury of being judgmental and complaining about all that space we need to afford the developmental preschoolers, about the cost of defending due process cases for school districts violating the rights outlined in IDEA, 504, FERPA, and the Civil Rights laws.
I pray that you may never have to understand my side of the playing field. I pray you never have to comprehend what touches my life, what the end results will be when my child turns 22 and ages out of the school's grasp, and is left to his own devices. The school refuses to give him services now, when his brain is plastitic. Think of all those children being born today, exposed to chemical toxins, pollutants, and global warming, that will need special education services in the future. Does the picture change for you a bit?

All school children have rights. Within these rights lie 504 rights, and within those rights, lie IDEA rights. It is not a matter of "special needs", it is a matter of what amount of rights are applicable to the child.

The signing of the Constitution (painting hung at the Capitol building), Washington, D.C.

Painting at the
Capitol Building
Washington, D.C.

Age, Wisdom, and Fifth Graders on the Preamble of the Constitution

As I was helping my fifth grade daughter memorize the Constitution's Preamble, I could only remember the days of "Schoolhouse Rock', and how I learned the Preamble by singing it, which I again did for her to help her memorize it, I also recalled having to stand and say it for my own eighth grade teacher (yes, eighth grade teacher (my dear Mrs. Kounoui), and who, in front of, I tried my best NOT to sing it (which my daughter wailed, "MOOOOMMMMM, I caaaannnnnn'tttt, siiinnnng it!" Actually, it was more of a whine.

So, I sat down with her, and analyzed exactly what the forefathers were saying, and my eyes were opened. I do not think I have ever really been so excited and enthusiastic about what the Preamble was saying, and I tried to pass it on to my daughter. I think she thought I had lost my mind. However, in this day and age, we seldom realize the importance of what was written down so thoughtfully and skillfully by our forefathers and the spirit of service and sacrifice the Preamble represents.

We, the People of the United States (sitting in this room under very strange, never before encountered circumstances, risking our lives, liberty, property, and status)

In order to form a more perfect Union (indicating their true intent to establish a union from one which was fraught with war, pull unconnected communities together, establish stable state lines, give states equitable representation and build an independent United States)

Establish Justice, insure tranquility (set up laws to live peacefully among all the people that came here looking for a better life, not under sovereign rule),

Provide for a common defense (establish a national army to protect the land of liberty they are establishing, to remain in peace)

Promote the general welfare (of all, under the context of this document, so that all may be cared for and protect)

and, secure the blessings of liberty, for ourselves and our posterity (for us, signing this document and for not only our own, but all generations to come, to be a free society),

Do ordain (to order or establish formally, especially by law or by some other authority – Encarta Dictionary),

And establish this Constitution, of the United States of America.

Ponder this for a moment. Can you think of another country that comes close to having these intentions spelled out in a "preamble", a statement that comes before the stated law of the land? Never having looked at it as an adult, I felt a bit like Robin Williams in the movie, "Opus" (I think that is what it was called), that was so excited about sharing his knowledge and love of his subject. Other countries, for whatever reason (I heard young Russians say they hate America because we are the most powerful nation, the logic of this rationale is beyond my comprehension, we worked at it, despite a Civil War, as well as many other wars), others because we have freedom of religion (our forefathers and government felt this was important), and our government is still in existence today. I suppose if you learn about America's history, study the American Constitution, you may come to believe that America is truly a great place to be, and not a place to terrorize and hate.

Education, again, is America's answer to its critics. Learning about other religions, cultures, institutions, and countries, gaining trade skills or even elementary skills would give the children of the world, even Iraq's, Iran's, and the so-called "Axis of Evil's children the weapons they need to resist serving a terrorist or dictator. To those in America who are close-minded, judgmental, or undereducated, think about these things. Politicians, news reporters, and writers, think about these things as well. All classes of people should know that education could solve many, many societal problems. To those in politics that say, "E. Pluribus Unum", I am only one of many, it only takes each one of us to change a community of many. Starting with the children, the one becomes the many, and the many become the country.