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Published On: Apr 12, 2006 03:30 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Apr 12, 2006 03:30 PM
The Big Tent
or, How a Confluence of Events has made me sad yet
again
Let's get to the confluence right
first.
• As the folks at OddsAreOne and Daily Kos have noted, there are a whole lot of
people marching in the streets over the suddenly important issue of immigration.
I say suddenly important, because who was even thinking of this in March? No
one. I love media.
• I am covering a class tomorrow for my
friend Rebecca (how come there are so many smart and great Rebeccas in the
world? I've never not liked a Rebecca. Now, don't get me started on Tylers).
It's her CIE class and they are doing an excerpt by Audre
Lorde (you know, "Master's Tools" and that good stuff) and the
great Peggy McIntosh essay on unpacking your privilege
knapsack.
• Oprah is on a tear this week, helped by Bill and Melin,
talking about the crisis in our schools and how it's not just about your kids
and how they may actually go to a good school, but how our educational system is
in crisis and that affects all of us.
So, what do these things all have in common? Well, it's just sad how this country is so divided. However, it also seems like people have had enough with being angry at o/Others. You see efforts in this government at vilifying and even criminalizing those who don't fit, with immigration being the latest attempt at doing so. There is though a pushback it seems from the American public, most of whom don't like these efforts at making illegals felons and other options.
I refer to Lorde here because she (and indeed McIntosh) talks about the need to recognize difference but also the need to find common cause within that difference. There is room for all under her big tent--room for everyone, in her case, who seek to improve the status of women (all women). Likewise, Oprah is saying, listen bitches, this isn't just about the inner-city schools (she had a story about a largely white rural Indiana high school where a third of incoming students drop out), and even if it were, it would still affect you because we as a nation are not going to be able to compete. Christ, we're behind Poland in math tests.
I don't know if it was Katrina, or if it is just how far this administration has been willing to flaunt the law and cravenly seek advantage over others, but I think a change is a-coming. People want America--all of America--to be better...to be more like America. Right now it makes me sad how far off the mark we are, but perhaps there is room to hope.
So, what do these things all have in common? Well, it's just sad how this country is so divided. However, it also seems like people have had enough with being angry at o/Others. You see efforts in this government at vilifying and even criminalizing those who don't fit, with immigration being the latest attempt at doing so. There is though a pushback it seems from the American public, most of whom don't like these efforts at making illegals felons and other options.
I refer to Lorde here because she (and indeed McIntosh) talks about the need to recognize difference but also the need to find common cause within that difference. There is room for all under her big tent--room for everyone, in her case, who seek to improve the status of women (all women). Likewise, Oprah is saying, listen bitches, this isn't just about the inner-city schools (she had a story about a largely white rural Indiana high school where a third of incoming students drop out), and even if it were, it would still affect you because we as a nation are not going to be able to compete. Christ, we're behind Poland in math tests.
I don't know if it was Katrina, or if it is just how far this administration has been willing to flaunt the law and cravenly seek advantage over others, but I think a change is a-coming. People want America--all of America--to be better...to be more like America. Right now it makes me sad how far off the mark we are, but perhaps there is room to hope.
Posted: Wed - April 12, 2006 at 02:54 PM |