When There is No Magic
October 29, 2010 by 17 Comments
It’s not lost on me that my liberal family loves Halloween. The holiday of witches and wizards, magic, zombies, and demons. Of dress-up and candy and general fun and mischief.
Of course we find this all to be very harmless, while others do not. Some schools have a ‘Harvest celebration’ while others just ignore the American tradition entirely.
I’m very big on teaching lessons around here, so parents standing by their beliefs is well-respected by me and my husband. However I am baffled as to the harm in playing pretend and getting candy- even if you take away any ‘dark’ elements of the holiday.
So while my witch and wizard enter their world of make-believe, I’d love to hear what your family does, and why when it comes to the evil Satan holiday that is Halloween.
Regardless of what your family celebrates, I do hope it includes some wonder and magic for your children…after all they are only children for a short while, and the world of reality and responsibility will smack them soon enough.
Tiny Liberal Women Pledge Allegiance Too
October 23, 2010 by 8 Comments
Considering the hilarious flack the League of Women Voters is taking over actually wanting to follow agreed upon debate procedure, I thought I would clear my family’s name in all this:
There. That should put to rest the idea that we liberal women are the downfall of all good patriots everywhere. Or something.
And by the way, the League of Women Voters = patriots. I think their track record speaks for itself.
I’m Still Inspired By Anita Hill
October 21, 2010 by 11 Comments
…because I would have told Ginny Thomas to #SUCKIT.
This was the inscription on Anita Hill’s Speaking Truth to Power, given to me by my parents in 1997.
I wish more has changed in the many years that have passed. But it seems the privileged continue to feel they are owed.
The good news is we WILL stay strong and beautiful inside and out, and the next time I bust out this book…it better be because Justice Thomas and his wife have issued THEIR apology to Ms. Hill and her parents, which she asks for in the conclusion of Speaking Truth to Power–
…I would like to remind you that none of you have apologized to my parents. At the time of hearing they were nearly eighty years old. They have worked hard all their lives and attempted to raise their children to fear God, seek the truth, and to respect the authority of the government…Your malicious indictment of me was an indictment of them and all that they have taught me. At a time in their lives when they should be enjoying carefree days of leisure activities, they still fear for my safety and well-being. At the very least they deserve a public apology from each of you.
How We Roll
October 20, 2010 by 9 Comments
We all have our own quirks. Some houses tell jokes. Others have game night, movie night, what have you.
Mine fake meditates in silly hats and then we all pretend to break dance with pants on our heads in our kitchen.
Totally normal, right?
It’s A Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s a… Charter?
October 19, 2010 by 14 Comments
I left afraid the next adult my children will encounter won’t want to teach them. Won’t care if they learn. Won’t mind if they are unsuccessful, unable to read, unable to write, unable to make change.
I left crying.
I left angry.
I recently sat down with the principal, the founder, and the executive director of education of my children’s charter school and screened Waiting for Superman.
The film takes you through the failings of our pubic education system, demonizes the teacher’s unions, and rips your heart out of your chest as you ache for the millions of children left behind, falling through the cracks, and horribly wronged by the system.
It also lifts up the charter school idea. And while I don’t feel qualified to talk about public education as a whole, I do feel like I can talk about what works for us.
Our school is different.
And I think the difference is essential for the educational survival of so many kids, not just mine. Overlooking what I thought were unfair pot shots at teachers in the film, the overriding message hit home- the system is broken.
And what is saving kids as we haphazardly attempt to fix the broken system? The Charter. And only one-in-five of those are successful. My kids are in a charter. My kids GOT IN by the same luck and crossed fingers others experience. But what of all the millions of kids who don’t?
I feel guilty my children get a chance at an alternative education, and they don’t. It gnaws at me. As I think it should gnaw at ALL of us. And did we abandon those in a traditional public school (I’m in a PUBLIC charter) for the greener grass on the other side… leaving them to rot?
We did what we had to for our kids. And yes, the results are still out. But I can tell you this…it feels better. The stress level in our home. The lack of tears at homework time. The smiles in the morning at school time and tales of yoga in class, and leadership projects, and becoming tiny global citizens. The social, emotional, and academic needs of my kids are being addressed…they are not slaves to worksheets and filing in bubbles. They are allowed to dream, to create, to innovate, and to explore.
Which is the opportunity every child should be afforded, not just mine. Yet here we are. A documentary – a Hollywood production- is what gets us talking about education. THAT in and of itself is a sad commentary on the state of public education in America. We need a film to get us to think, or to act.
I don’t pretend to have any answers other than what I felt I had to do for my children. And that is not an answer, that’s a reaction. And all over the US parents and caregivers are reacting, some luckier than others in their solutions.
While a real, permanent, solid, solution I fear is decades away.
Smarts
October 13, 2010 by 15 Comments
There a lot of talk lately about female political candidates. Women in office. Women thinking of running for office.
Occasionally we hear their stance on the issues, but usually all we hear is noise. As of late it’s been about their Facebook escapades, the names they have been called, or their college religious preferences.
And now we have women on the left arguing with women on the right over who’s doing a better job standing up for females in the political arena.
Essentially, we’re having a nice, male-style, pissing match.
I have a better idea.
Let’s work together.
Clearly none of us get along. Clearly we couldn’t be further apart on policy, preferences and patience. But we do agree that the treatment of women in the media and by campaigns as we head into November could use some help.
On this we agree.
Let’s use it.
You don’t have to abort a fetus and I don’t have to let my neighbor’s house burn down. You don’t have to give away your money to the poor and I don’t have to suck up to big corporations.
We just have to continue to call out the sexism we see as we do our thing.
And keep everyone focused on the issues.
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