Changing the Educational Paradigm

Here is the fascinating animated video of Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk on changing the educational paradigm:

The Two Faces of Sports

Jon Wiener featured a segment on a new documentary, "Not Just a Game," based on Dave Zirin's book, A People's History of Sports in the United States on his weekly radio show the 4 O'Clock Hour.  You can find the link to the show here.  In his book and film, Zirin highlights how sports have been shaped by the political context in which they take place.  Contrary to the myth of sports as apolitical "just a game", the documentary shows key moments where athletes took active roles in the movements for social change.

Here is a video segment that includes an interview with Dave Zirin as well as clips from his new film.

More GRITtv

Stand Up for Our Students!

Today, teachers, parents, students, administrators and community members across the state of California joined in a Day of Action, "Start the Day for Students." The Education Coalition organized this broad-based action to draw attention to the disparity between the devastating cuts to education in a period when California corporations continue to enjoy tax breaks.

The Education Coalition is calling upon all Californians to "speak out about the painful effects cuts are having on our students, schools and communities." The March 4th event is part of a larger effort:  "to fight for the for the resources our students deserve."  The Coalition is working to get a measure on the ballot "to  reform the state’s tax structure and repeal the tax breaks handed out to large corporations." Everyone needs to pay their fair share.  Our students cannot continue to be asked to shoulder the burden of an unfair tax system that favors corporate profits over their future. 

To make your voice heard on behalf of our students and our communities, everyone is urged to contact your state legislators and let them know these cuts are unacceptable. We need to stand together to create a better future for our children.

AIDS Lifecycle ...reflections on an experience of a lifetime.

Like others, the AIDS/HIV pandemic has hit close to home.  Over the years, I have had friends who were taken much too soon by the ravages of this dreaded disease.  I looked for a way to honor their memory and celebrate those who courageously struggle with this disease and embrace life each and every day.  I participated in the Lifecycle event for the first time in June of 2004. 

Below is an excerpt of a letter I wrote to those generous souls who sponsored me for my first time riding in the AIDS Lifecycle event.  It captures my impressions and reflections of this life-changing experience. 

Leading up to the big event, people kept telling me that it would be an experience of a lifetime.  Being a skeptical person, I thought that they were exaggerating.  I’m here to tell you, they were not.  The whole experience was awesome.

I’m not even sure where to begin.  From the opening ceremonies on Day 1, I found myself feeling overwhelmed by my own nervousness, wondering how I would hold up after seven full days of cycling.  The atmosphere of the opening ceremonies was an odd mixture solemnity and frivolity.  I must admit I was barely awake when we met at an outdoor stadium at the University of San Francisco at 5:30 am.  I was immediately struck by the sheer numbers of people, from the roadies to the cyclists.  One of the speakers told us that there were about 1270 cyclists and 480 roadies (from thirty nine states and six countries) who would be participating in the week long event.  We listened to speakers who had been touched by the disease and who had made promises to loved ones to continue to participate in the event until a cure was found.  Then we set out.  Nothing could have prepared me for the feeling of exhilaration as I rode out of the stadium.  People lined the street cheering us on as we departed.  I must admit I felt a bit teary.  I felt like I was part of something big and important. 

AIDS Lifecycle is part carnival, part drag show, part costume party on bicycle wheels.  In contrast to the life threatening disease that motivated us to participate, the event was one of the most life affirming endeavors I have ever been a part of.  I found true inspiration in those around me.  Watching one of my fellow cyclists, a double amputee who had no legs, pedal his bike using his hands and arms; the townspeople who came out to cheer us on and bring us water or goodies; Ginger Brewlay, a drag queen who dressed in fabulous outfits each day and handed out candy at the top of the steepest climbs – I came away with the clear sense that I was witnessing the best of humanity.   All of them have been touched by this disease, in some way or another -- either personally or through a loved one.  They surrounded me and supported me through the biggest physical challenge of my life.

Along the route, especially during the tough parts – the steep climbs – there were people who encouraged us to push beyond our limits.   Other riders would stop on the side of the road and clap or yell, “You’re almost there!” or “You made it”!  One group of women had a megaphone connected to an iPod.  They would pull over and play the theme from “Rocky” or dance tunes that gave everyone a much needed boost.  “Mom and Dad”, a couple from Ventura whose son was riding in the event, parked their car on the side of the road and banged on a drum and clapped and cheered for riders as they passe.

On the third day, we climbed one of the more brutal hills known as “The Quadbuster”.  It is a relatively short, but steep climb; you ascend about 1200+ feet over the course of one mile.  As riders made their way to the top, some stopped to catch their breath, while others pushed on, slogging their way up.  Still others walked their bikes up to the summit.  Stronger riders climbed easily, but rather than simply riding on, they rode back down to the bottom of the hill and literally would help push other struggling riders up to the top by grabbing the back of the bicycle seats (or their backs) and riding along side them.  When we reached the top, we were greeted by Ginger, dressed in a black evening gown and heels.  She handed out candy and said, “Good job, sweetie!”  All of these cheerleaders definitely gave me inspiration to get through the most grueling parts of the ride. 

Sometimes inspiration came in the form of unlikely people like “The Chicken Lady.”  Now, during opening ceremonies, a group of cyclists walked the bike that the Chicken Lady retired at the end of last year’s ride.  They resembled pallbearers carrying a casket.  On Day One, I didn’t know who the Chicken Lady was.  Tears came to my eyes as I imagined her to be an older woman, one of the cyclist who perhaps died over the course of the last year or whose failing health prevented her from participating this year. 

It wasn’t until Day 2 that I found out the real story.  Apparently, the Chicken Lady is a fifty something year old man who works as a flight attendant for United Airlines.  He has ridden on the AIDS ride in its various incarnations for many years.  He can easily be picked out of the crowd – he rides in a multi-colored skirt, bright pink wind breaker, silvery leg warmers, a helmet with a little plastic chicken glued to the top and stunning disco ball earring that dangle from his ears.  At the end of last year’s ride, the cyclists all chipped in donations to get the lady a new bike.  They raised $2,700.  With their money in hand, a group approached the Trek Bike Company technicians (who work as technical support for the ride) to get a new bike.  The Trek folks insisted on doing one better.  They offered to make a custom bike and give it to the Chicken Lady free of charge.  Along the top tube of her bike, they painted a little personalized inscription that reads simply, “The Chicken Lady – Poultry in Motion.”  She got a new bike and took the money that was raised and donated to the AIDS Lifecycle 3.

On the last morning, as riders went out to their bikes, they found a small plastic egg on their seats.  Inside the egg was a short poem written by the Chicken Lady encouraging them to come back next year.  You can imagine how long it took to fill about 1270 eggs.  Apparently, the Chicken Lady with the help of his fellow flight attendants filled each of the eggs during those long flights to Costa Rica.  Along the route, his positive attitude and love of life spurred his fellow riders on.  I am truly glad that I had the chance to spend some time with the Chicken Lady. 

The roadies really are the backbone of this event.  Throughout the event, the roadies nourished our bodies and our spirits.  They do everything from moving gear to making food to handing out lunches and snacks at the rest stops to riding endless miles up and down the route ensuring the safety of the riders.  This whole support system is orchestrated by super heroes on the logistics crew who, literally and figuratively, kept the wheels in motion by coordinating every aspect of providing housing, food, and medical care for over 1600 people in a seemingly effortless way. 

The rest stop volunteers doled out scrumptious snacks and water and provided lots of encouragement and entertainment that kept the riders going.  Each day along the route, there were four different rest stops.  At each stop, the volunteers dressed in costumes and decorated the tables and port-o-potties according to a particular theme.  We romped with the Brady Bunch; played games with 80’s video game characters (yes, Mario and the crew made an appearance); boarded The Love Boat; were chased by Pirates; and walked the Hollywood Red Carpet.

Perhaps, the most memorable was Rest Stop #4.  After a long day of riding, fatigue begins to set in.  In my humble opinion, these folks provided the most fun and entertainment at a critical point of each day.  I found that every day I looked forward to seeing what they would do next.   Approaching Rest Stop #4, a series of four signs they would offer clues about what riders could expect.  On the first day, they dressed as the Solid Gold Dancers (complete with gold lame dresses and blaring disco music); another day each of them dressed up as Richard Simmons (think: afro wigs, colorful tank tops and striped shorts).  The Richards jumped and squealed and said things like, “You are perfect – just the way you are!!”  At the rest stop that day they led riders through a series of exercises Simmons style (lots of bouncing and clapping).  As riders approached the rest stop on that particular day, the Dalmatians hid in bushes until we got right up on the rest stop, then they would run up to our bikes, yapping at our heels.  (I must admit I was taken by surprise and narrowly avoided a minor collision….all in good fun, I suppose).

The Sweep Team deserves kudos for their hard work that got us from point A to point B safely.  They rode up and down the route all day long making sure every rider made it to camp at the end of each day in one piece.   Although this was a fun-filled event, cycling does bring its share of dangers.  We had several incidents of riders who were hit by vehicles or fell off their bikes on particularly harrowing stretches of the route.  The “Sweeps” had a huge responsibility in responding to these situations and making sure that riders were taken care of.   On the last day of the ride, a woman hit a bump and was knocked off her bike along Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu -- parked cars lined the street on her right and cars zoomed by on her left.  As I rode upon the scene, I saw Vanessa down on the ground next to the woman mobilizing her arm and trying to comfort her until paramedics arrived.  Her Sweep partner, Neil, directed cyclists to slow down and keep moving to avoid a traffic bottleneck.  Their ability to respond to these dangerous situations was truly remarkable.  Incidents like these demonstrate the tough job these folks had throughout the ride.

When they weren’t responding to the dangers of the road, the Sweeps gave everyone a morale boost with their cheering.  Each of the vehicles was decorated.  The most outlandish was “Team Mary” – a blue mini-SUV with six pink flamingoes on top (I am not kidding)…the thumping of the techno beat blaring from their stereo could be heard from miles away.  On the vehicle windows, the Sweep team members wrote inspirational messages that ranged from the supportive, “Go Riders!”  to the very practical reminders to stay hydrated,  “Drink H₂O+Pee = No I.V.”.  All along the route, they cheered with pom poms.  My heart always soared whenever I caught a glimpse of Sweep Team #3, Vanessa and her buddy Neil riding by in her white truck, cheering me on.   It really gave me the feeling that I wasn’t alone in this endeavor.  Although I never had to be “swept” to the next stop, their presence was very comforting to me.  Because Vanessa worked on this team, I got a chance to get to know the Sweep crew better than if I had just been one of the other riders.  Together, they were an incredibly fun and committed group of people.  I am glad that I had the opportunity to get to know them...

A video segment that captures the incredible spirit of the event in ways my words do not begin to do justice. 




If you or someone you know is interested in riding or volunteering on the AIDS Lifecycle event, you can find more information on the organization's website: http://www.aidslifecycle.org/

"Capitalism: A Love Story" by Michael Moore

Twenty years ago I saw Michael Moore's first film, Roger and Me. That film told the story of the devastation of Flint, Michigan in the face of deindustrialization and the filmmaker's efforts to meet with the then, C.E.O. Roger Smith.

His current film, Capitalism: A Love Story tells the story of Flint, writ large. It's twenty years later. The disaster is no longer contained within the Rust Belt of the Northeast. It has spread to the South and the West and beyond. As in Roger and Me, Moore is at his best when he shows the impact of the destructive force of corporate capitalism on the lives of ordinary Americans -- taking the viewer inside the homes of those facing foreclosure and the workplaces of those displaced by corporate giants who feed at the public trough while leaving in their wake a trail of stagnant wages as well as declines in standards of living, health, education, etc.

Beyond these economic costs, Moore also shows how greed has taken a toll on our democracy. As large behemoths become "too large to fail", they destroy the very fabric of communities and the health of our democracy.

Moore also points in the direction of an alternative future that might have been. Articulated by FDR in 1937, the "Economic Bill of Rights" extended political rights to include a vision of justice for all Americans:

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.
Among these are:

• The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
• The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
• The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
• The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
• The right of every family to a decent home;
• The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
• The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
• The right to a good education.

While Moore overreaches when he presents FDR's death as the sole reason for the demise of this second Bill of Rights, it still has left us with a legacy of what we could become. We have been struggling with competing definitions of the rights of citizenship -- protection of the wealth and power of the few while narrowing the scope of rights for everyone else to include "the right to fail" or the foundation of universal human rights to economic security, health, education, etc. -- ever since.

Looking back over the last twenty years, it is easy to see which side of the divide has won. However, if we go back even further to those who crafted the democratic institutions we hold dear, in search of clues, we can see a strong belief in the "public good." Our founding fathers (Jefferson, Adams, Franklin) warned of the dangers of inequities of wealth and power on a healthy democracy. They endorsed a notion that we, as citizens, are responsible for putting our individual desires aside to work toward the good of all.

John Winthrop's "City on the Hill," the grossly misused metaphor twisted by Reagan and others to endorse rampant greed and international domination, contained within it a moral clarion call to tend to the needs and the suffering of others. Even Adam Smith, the exhalted original disciple of the free market, spoke of the need for reigning in personal gain to pursue a larger moral purpose.

Somewhere along the line, we lost sight of these truly democratic values. The long nightmare that Moore has documented so well in his films serves as an important reminder not only of how greed runs amok and threatens the very well-being of our community, but also how we can reclaim our democracy "of, for and by the people."

As illustrated in the film, the defenders of real freedom -- the Sit-down Strikers in Flint in the 1930s and the UE workers who staged a sit-down at Chicago's Republic Windows and Doors plant -- have shown a way to get on a track toward a more just and humane future. Now it is up to us...

For a sneak preview, check out the trailer:

Voices of Clarity in the Health Care Debate

Just when I thought we were doomed to lose of sight of genuine health care reform in the midst of the craziness dispensed by the birthers, deathers, and weak-spined Democratics, two voices cut through the fog and for a moment, there was a clearing.

First, I watched as Anthony Weiner, Representative from New York, went toe-to-toe with Joe Scarborough on the "Morning Joe" show on MSNBC. For once in this sordid affair, someone raised a pointed question based in reality. A simple question, really, but one that cast a beam of light bright enough to expose the real fallacies floating out there about what health care reform is and isn't. Weiner asked:

What is an insurance company? They don't do a single check-up. They don't do a single exam, they don't perform an operation. Medicare has a 4 percent overhead rate. The real question is why do we have a private plan?

As simple as the question was, it took the host off guard. After stumbling and stammering, Joe sat speechless, unable to offer a response. These video segments are a bit long (about nine minutes each), but I think they show what has been missing from the so-called debate -- a clear articulation of why we need reform and why we need the government involved. I encourage you to watch. It is a rare and truly illuminating exchange.



And the discussion continued...



Then, on his PBS program "The Journal", Bill Moyer featured a documentary based on Maggie Mahar's book, Money-Driven Medicine. Again, in simple language, in a straight forward style, the real hoax of the private health system was exposed. Without hyberbole or name-calling or scare tactics, the documentary shows real doctors and patients explaining how our current profit-driven health care system jacks up costs and lowers the quality of patient care. This is a must-see for those seeking to gain a clearer understanding at what's at stake in the current debate.

If we are to move forward toward a more humane future where every American can be assured quality care, I would suggest we need more advocates like Anthony Weiner and Bill Moyers who can engage in thoughtful dialogue and present a cogent and compelling case for a public health care system.

In America, is Crazy "a Preexisting Condition?"

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Right Wing furor over the health care debate. In that post, I tried to place the hysteria into a historical context. See "When the Going Gets Tough...".

For a more detailed and eloquent analysis of this same phenomenon, please read Rick Perlstein's Washington Post editorial "In America, Crazy Is a Preexisting Condition: Birthers, Town Hall Hecklers and the Return of Right-Wing Rage" that appeared on August 16, 2009. In his piece, he points out that commentators tend to view the so-called "Astroturf protests" as either "genuine grass roots" activism or an evil conspiracy "staged for You Tube." In fact, Perlstein argues they are both:

If you don't understand that any moment of genuine political change always produces both, you can't understand America, where the crazy tree blooms in every moment of liberal ascendancy, and where elites exploit the crazy for their own narrow interests.

Perlstein provides ample evidence for the presence of reaction and counter-reaction in periods of reform in the United States. Everything, from FDR and Truman's social safety net of the New Deal, to Kennedy's efforts to limit nuclear proliferation, to the Civil Rights movement and the legislative correctives that came about as a result, has been linked to Soviet style takeovers and the creeping spector of Communism.

It also bears mentioning here that Reagan's infamous 1961 recording warning about socializing medicine was directed at the legislative moves toward Medicare, a now hugely popular program, even among critics of health care reform (the "Keep government out of my Medicare" crowd).

Those interested in the emergence of the Right in the aftermath of the 1960's are encouraged to check out -- Rick Perlstein's book, Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of an American Consensus (2001) and Lisa McGirr's Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New Right (2002). These authors distinguish the old Right, primarily concerned with economic and market-based interests with the New Right, a broad-based constituency that melded the economic interests of business with social issues such as abortion, women's rights, etc. Both analyze how through grassroots efforts, conservatives built a movement that captured the imagination of the predominantly white, suburban middle class in the wake of Goldwater's resounding defeat in 1964. Progressives and liberals alike would do well to take these historical lessons into account.

Yes, these are truly strange times in which we live. As we have seen in recent weeks, there is no shortage of fear-mongering. However, as Perlstein and McGirr point out, it is not advisable to underestimate the power of irrational, scare tactics to win the hearts and minds of the American populace. If health care reform is to become a reality, we need not sit idly by and wait for the Right to implode under the weight of its own illogic. If we are serious about creating change that we can all believe in, we need to make our voices heard.

More Right Wing Flip Flops?

Is it just me or have there been a lot of Right Wing flip flops lately? First there was Bill Kristol's declaration that the government could run a "first class health care system". Then, Lou Dobbs offered up his international comparative expose highlighting the wonders of the Danish system. And, now Glenn Beck whose vehement defense of the the U.S. system as "the best in the world" stands in stark contrast to his own report just eighteen months ago. At that time, Beck underwent surgery, an experience that left him critical of the ways insurance companies "push patients out the door." Can you say flippidity floppity?

On the Daily Show, Jon Stewart captures the hypocrisy in all its glory. Check it out:

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News Flash...European Health Care Systems Work!

Just ask Lou Dobbs. Yes, the Lou Dobbs of CNN infamy who helped to inflame the birther and death panel conspiracies. Apparently, he is taking a step back and providing a comparative look at different health care systems around the world (could it be?). Last night the month long series began with coverage on the Danish system. To his amazement, Dobbs noted that the Danes seem to be onto something. Take a look:



In this period of scare tactics and (un)civil discourse, this seems like a positive step. Watching this segment, I found myself actually agreeing with Dobbs's contention that we need to engage in public discussion of the options out there. (It should be noted that he makes this argument without a hint of irony or self-reflection about his role in derailing such a public and factual conversation.). Clearly, other industrialized countries have been doing a better job of providing health care for their citizens at lower costs. Perhaps, the U.S. could learn a thing or two. Stay tuned...

And the Weird become the armed and dangerous...

Today President Obama held a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. One attendee brought a gun. Can we really be surprised given the hyberbolic references to "death panels" and euthanasia?

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Talking Points Memo had this to say:

Armed and Dangerous?
08.11.09 -- 11:40AM
By David Kurtz

MSNBC just aired footage of the crowd gathering at the Obama town hall meeting on health care that's supposed to start later today in New Hampshire and pointed out one man in a group holding protest signs with a gun in a holster on his hip. Apparently not a law officer, but a civilian.

Whatever the concealed carry laws in New Hampshire, you have to figure guns not allowed at a presidential event. Right?

Late Update: Also important to note, the gun-toting protester was holding a sign referencing the Jefferson quote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants." It's a well known quote from one of the archetypal founding fathers. And in itself it's part of the American heritage, something that echoes with Jefferson's always ambivalent and frequently dilettantish attitude toward political violence. But in the context of these town hall excesses and while carrying a firearm at a presidential event, it's quite a menacing statement, in as much as it is about the need to kill tyrants.