A Progressive's View of Violence

The past few months have been wonderful because I love my job, I am overjoyed with my daughter's happiness in school and of course delighted by the results of the presidential election. The past few months have also been very difficult due to family matters related to a remodel gone sour, my father's health and financial situation and now the death of my step-sister's son. My blessings and challenges have prompted me to re-read a favorite book by Ira Sandperl, A Little Kinder. It is no longer in print but it should be.

Here is a quote which is inspires my work with children and families.

We get what we do; not what we intend, dream or desire. We simply get what we do. Recognizing this and applying it would, in a generation, bring about the transformation that alone can put an end to the fear, suspicion, and misery which at present holds such terrible sway over all our lives.

I don't think we can expect politicians and governments to substantially change long standing conflicts. We can expect them to rise above torture and to act thoughtfully but in the end politics will never end war and bombs will never bring peace.

The only way to change the world is to change the way that people think about and treat one another. A school community is an opportunity to teach and practice fairness, self-reflection, compassion and non-violence. We need more schools who are authentically dedicated to transformation of civilization. I am lucky to be affiliated with such a school.

Ira's statement is a simple spiritual truth.

You can read more about Ira here.

लव लॉस life

My family has just experienced a devastating loss of a loved one. The loss was sudden and senseless. I don't think one can ever come to terms with a death like Adam's. I can only accept that it is incomprehensible and unfair. I know that this is the way of life sometimes.

I am reminded of Robert Kennedy's variation of the verse from Aeschylus's Agamemnon. Kennedy misquoted or intentionally tweaked the verse when he announced the death of Martin Luther King to a crowd of supporters in an Indianapolis African American neighborhood. It is also the epitatph on Kennedy's grave marker.

In our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart
until, in our own despair, against our will,
comes wisdom through the awful grace of God

Obama and the CIA

Spies and covert operations do not strike me as progressive subjects but after a long break from blogging my thoughts about the election I am ready to write and post again. Doing so might be a life preserver for my sanity which is seriously in danger since I became the legal, financial and health guardian for my dad, who is now living in my home. More on that later.

Like everyone else I arched an eyebrow when President Elect Obama announced his selection of Leon Panetta to head the CIA. I agreed with DiFi who is not crazy about the choice. The LA Times quotes her as saying,

"I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA director," Feinstein said. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."

But then I read my favorite blog, Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish. The Dish is a great resource, doing what the best blogs do, surveying the web for news, commentary and humor, and dishing it up in well written, concise posts that keep me coming back for more several times each day. Today in this post Sullivan reports that the Panetta appointment has the support of neo-cons, Richard Perle, Chariman of President Bush's Defense Policy Board, and of Douglas Feith, who was Undersecretary of Defense for Policy under GW. Sullivan links to Ben Smith's post in POLITICO and to Michael Ledeen's opinion in NRO.

The take away quotes:
from Ledeen:

I always liked Panetta. He served in the Army and is openly proud of it. He seems to be a good lawyer (oxymoronic though it may seem). He's a good manager. And he's going to watch Obama's back at a place that's full of stilettos and a track record for attempted presidential assassination second to none.........I think it is a smart move.

from Perle:

Panetta is'a very smart, very capable guy with a lot of experience - I think he's the right sort of person to take a shot at improving the place.

Perle is a big critic of the CIA also said,

It's going to take somebody from outside to right that ship, if it can be done.

from Feith,

possible implication of appointing somebody from the outside is that the president recognizes that there are serious problems at the CIA and he wants somebody who is not a part of those problems,

Once again our President-Elect is demonstrating intelligence, political courage and skill in consensus building. Fingers crossed that water-boarding and illegal renditions are over. Then we can, once again, be authentically proud of the American tradition of dedication to human rights. Cool.

The Shame of November 4

A bit lost in the joy of the Obama election is the serious injustice of the passage of Prop. 8. I have many gay and lesbian friends and I have been struck by their equanimity if the face of their loss of rights. One friend said, "I am not going to let in ruin my day or my life. It is just not time yet. We have more work to do. I am only sad for the children who are hurt by the attitude that says their families are not worthy."

This is a wonderful video by Lawrence Lessig, the Stanford law professor and expert on electronic freedom, Creative Commons and software freedom. I wish his words of reason had been widely distributed to thinking, caring people. Would it have made a difference or do the bigots inside many, but not all, churches, have more power with the majority of the electorate?

Click To Play

Dancing In The Streets

There were so many wonderful things about the past week it is impossible to name just one astounding moment. As I was toasting the election with friends I received text messages from friends in DC, NYC and Berkeley. They were celebrating in the streets. During our drive home Claire and I encountered crowds in several neighborhoods. I was stunned to hear God Bless American and to see waving flags. The video is a collection of homemade videos from around the country. My favorite part is the picture of the woman ripping off her anti-Bush sticker and replacing it with a flag.

Yesterday one of my colleagues said, "I have never had a flag but today I feel like going out to buy one." Another teacher said, "It is a wonderful day to be an American- at last."

We took the flag back from the "Christianists".

Why Did You Vote Today?

Here is a great blog post from TPM. It is really worth your time.

It starts out:

I have a confession to make.

I did not vote for Barack Obama today.

I've openly supported Obama since March. But I didn't vote for him today.....

Please follow the link to TPM

#30 Becasue It Is Time

Hell- it is way past time........

Yesterday I was calling Florida voters for the Obama campaign. I reached an elderly woman in Florida and when I asked her if she was planning to vote and if she needed a ride to the polls she said,

"Honey, I made my doctor let me come home from the hospital so I can vote. I waited my whole life to see this. I would crawl if I had to because I am voting for my grandbabies. I am taking them with me too and they will know for sure, for the first time, that they can do great things in this country. I sure am gonna vote honey cuz I really do love this country. And you must too so thank you for calling but I gotta get back to my show"

Please vote.