Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls...

Watching the events unfold in Wisconsin and Ohio, education professionals have to feel a little kinship with our brethren in these two states.  The Governors say this as about balancing their respective budgets, but I have my doubts.  If you read carefully, it becomes obvious that this talk is a smokescreen.  The real purpose of these laws is union busting, thus rendering political  opposition penniless and powerless.  Without unions, labor has no voice in affairs that directly affect them, and the current political leaders will still have their current financial and political support.  Just look at what they are doing now and imagine what they might do if unfettered with collective bargaining.  It is an assault on free speech and association that they are conducting.  If the First Amendment protects Westboro Baptist Church and their despicable speech and actions, surely it can do the same for public employees.  Listening to the rhetoric, you would think teachers and other public employee greed is to blame for their admittedly dire financial situations.

"What does this have to do with me?" you may say.  South Carolina is a not a collective bargaining state and that suits me fine.  Look, I know that reasonable people may disagree on collective bargaining for public employees.  But don't doubt for a second that success here will embolden Republicans all over the country to go after employee pensions, health insurance, and fair employment and dismissal in other states, especially in non-collective bargaining states like ours.  Here, as you know if you've paid attention at all, we are at the whim of the General Assembly, and that no member of an absolute majority ever has a bad idea.  My friends, we had better get ready to defend ourselves, because the assault is coming to your state in one form or another.  The bell tolls for thee.

Farther Along

Sitting up tonight, thanks to Predizone, reflecting on a tumultuous events abroad in recent times, it occurs to me that the Middle East, and with it, the world is going to Hell in a hand basket.  No one knows what the outcomes will be concerning the chaos in the Middle East.  One thing is for sure - it will not be pretty.  What's more, it will likely produce even more instability than ever before now.  We made a bargain with the devil and the despots have kept their end of the bargain - they have mostly checked Islamic extremists in their own countries.  In doing so, they oppressed their own people to the extent that average citizens have started this movement.  The gap between rich and poor is wider than in any region.  But be sure that Radical Islam will have its day.  If average citizens make sure that these new democracies are modern and secular, the George W. Bush's vision of a democratic Islamic world will have come true, sending him surging in presidential rankings.  If the extremists in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and even Iraq follow the surge of their fellow crazies in Lebanon and Gaza, then we will surely have a bigger mess than before.  Already, gas and oil prices have shot up, and they will skyrocket if this unrest continues.

While Western Democracies struggle to catch up with the curve,  more and more it looks like we won't, we will not influence the results of these people's uprisings.  Be sure that, once ignited, the desire for freedom is ultimately unstoppable, though it might be quelled in the long run.  We are for freedom and democracy, but recently, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other radical terrorist organizations have done well and/or won elections in Lebanon and Gaza.  In the meantime we look like we support the despots at the risk of alienating even the ordinary citizens of that region, yearning to be free of oppression and to have free and fair elections for a change.

Iran is a special problem for the West.  First, they are led by a madman, and governed by a council of religious fanatics.  Second, while violently putting down his own protesters, he criticizes Libya for doing the same.  Third, he is reckless, predicting the end of times by 2012, provoking Israel, and tweaking the collective nose of the western powers.  In other words, Iran is intent on capitalizing on these events to meet their vision for Islamic Republics all across the region, influenced of course, by Iran.  They seem intent on provoking a confrontation with the West.  If that happens, it will be Katy Bar the Door. 

My Bible tells me that these things will happen.  Despite all the doom and gloom, I still believe that things will work as they are supposed to to accomplish God's own purposes in his own time.  That said, I pray for wisdom and vision for world leaders, including our own.  None of this excuses any of us from doing all we can to make the world a place of peace and justice for all people.  I believe that the outcome is already decided, and that our understanding of it all will at another time.  In the words of an old and wonderful hymn, "Farther along, we'll know all about.  Farther along we'll understand why.  Cheer up, my brother, and live in the sunshine.  We'll understand it all bye and bye."

What is Happening in Egypt?

What is really happening in Egypt?  A flat out revolution.that's what.  For now, it doesn't appear to be Islamic in nature and origin, but that bears watching as events progress.  It does appear to be a popular uprising for freedom and democracy at this moment, but that could clearly change.  Mubarak has been in power for 30 years, thanks to hazy elections and fuzzy math in vote counting.  He normally wins with 90% of the vote, so I have to believe that those elections have been a sham.  Before him were the great Anwar Sadat and Gamel Nasser.  Egypt, under their leadership has been a force for peace and stability in the region for several years, but repressive and unaccountable to its own people.  Those chickens have come home to roost and Egypt stands at the abyss of chaos. 
There is no turning back.  Democracy and freedom will prevail.  The only question is how bad will it get before the changes needed are made.  Will the military side with Mubarak and prop up the status quo, or will it allow citizens to protest and stay on the sidelines?  Will it oppose or support the police in the crackdown that has begun, but will almost surely escalate?  Will the movement morph into an Islamic Revolution, or make Egypt as a secular democracy? 
No one can know for sure, but it seems clear to me that democracy may yield a government in Egypt far less interested in peace and stability in the region.  We can, and should, support the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people, but we may not like what comes out of that.  Look no further than the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, or Iraq and Afghanistan for that matter, to see some of what the results of our support for democratic reforms in the region might bring about.  Until then, I plan to pray for peace and justice, in Egypt and the rest of the world.

Staying Connected

My niece Kristin, wrote in a recent blog about making face to face reunions with Facebook friends.  You can read her blog at http://www.fairtimiddlinkcg. blogspot.com. The following is my comment to her blog. 

"Seeing FB friends in person is a great idea, and you have been hard at it. Each story is unique and personal.
I love the June Ellenburg reunions. It is normally the only time that my parents, aunts and uncles that are left, nieces and nephews + their children, siblings, children and grandchildren get together. The fact the we had family from Pineola, Charlotte, Easley, Seneca, Nashville, Murfeesboro, Conway, Myrtle Beach speaks to the pull of the event. I especially like how you and the young people often get together that night for more time with each other. One other remarkable thing about is that, if all the regulars come, there will be around 20 children there, pointing to the fact that we are positive, hopeful, and forward-looking family. So niece, I am with you on that point."

I like Facebook because I can re-connect with people I've known over the years through it.  High school and college friends, former students and colleagues, parents of students with whom I've worked, family and friends all comprise my friend list.  I can and have; discussed a book with Jake James, a former student and Lee, my nephew; politics with Kristen; enjoyed the beautiful pictures my sister-in-law Jane takes or the pictures of my grand nieces and nephews in Florida; and read blogs by former students like Kim Kunz Princess of Sarcasm or Scott Sanders The 41 year Old Curmudgeon.  One of the big issues in retirement is connectivity.  All these opportunities remind me that my life has been rich and it still is.  Thanks, Kristin, for reminding me of that.

The Ellenburg special reunions are always the first Saturday in June at Oconee County State Park.  Most of the time, three of my dad's sisters attend, along with some of my cousins.  I love seeing Dale and Randall and Lane with their families.  Growing up we were together often and my memories of time spent with them are fond.  As Kristin noted, we recently added Fred and Ellie to the roster.  We share an ancestor and have loved getting to know them.  Since connecting, we have collaborated on research together with Dad and my brother Tom into family history.  With all my Ellenburg nieces and nephews and their kids, it makes for a right lively gathering.  As I have said on many occasions, there is usually no shortage of opinions expressed.  Can't wait till the next time.  The cast members will come and go, but the play will go on.  One thing I have learned is that Ellenburgs are smart and resilient, and not afraid to work.   Along with these traits, we are loving and loyal to a fault.  It's the mill hill in us - take one, take on all.  Although I still miss my friends at work, staying connected has not proven to be the issue I thought it would be.  If it had, I might be blogging all the time, instead of just when I feel like it.

Behind the Times

I admit that I am a relic of a bygone era.  Although  I invested 34 years of my adult life in education, I always said that BubbaSpeaks would not be an educational blog.  Despite using it for a book study while at JN Kellett, I remain persuaded that resisting comment on educational matters is good for me.  Occasionally the call is just too strong, and resisting the urge to comment is futile and frustrating.  According to my granddaughter in first grade we have begun to test all first graders using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) in the very near future.  There is talk about testing kindergartners as well.

While MAP provides good information to teachers about individual students, unlike statewide tests, I can't help but wonder what we hope to gain.  Sure, we can teach them to produce better test results, but can we teach them to be better people?  It has long been my belief that children need better childhoods more than they need better test scores.  I realize the the State Accountability Act and NCLB indicate that the state and federal governments feel differently.  I question the wisdom of involving five and six year olds in such high stakes testing.  Test scores will rise, but children will suffer from more pressure, less time outdoors, and learning at that tender age that they don't meet our expectations.  Children at that age should believe to the core of their being that they can do ANYTHING.  To involve them in this grownup game of Gotcha is not appropriate.  What's next?  How about a test for newborns so we can really get a jump on all this testing?  We could even just e-mail their parents at birth to advise them that many will not meet our testing targets, thereby relegating them to second class citizenship.   Oh, and b the way, good luck and welcome to the world.  All this testing has already gone too far and should reduced or eliminated altogether.  It does no long term good and may very well do long term harm to children.  Just my humble opinion.

Movie Review - How Do You Know

I had high hopes for HDYK.  After all, its cast included Jack Nicholson, Reece Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and others.  Nicholson is a genius and Reece Witherspoon is both talented and beautiful.  So how in the world did they come out with this mediocre movie that is shallower than your backyard creek.  The writing was awful, and the boom mike was visible sporadically throughout the movie.  It looked like the amateur hour for film school.  Don't misunderstand, Witherspoon is still gorgeous and Jack is still Jack, but the concept had so much potential that the average execution in making the movie seemed to produce a below average movie.  For what it's worth, save your $7.50 or see something else.  For us, the Tourist might be next.  After all, Johnny Depp is a genius and Angelina is beautiful and talented.  Hey!  Wait a minute.

A Tragic Story

A friend of mine, Richard, unexpectedly lost his wife, Elaine, three weeks ago. She hurt her back picking up a box, then developed complications that eventually killed her.  Imagine losing your spouse under similar circumstances.  She got treatment for a common injury; seemed to make progress; and suddenly was gone. 

Now imagine that three weeks later your only child dies, too.  That is exactly what happened to Richard this week.  His son, Seth, had been in the military and was deployed in combat three time to Iraq and Afghanistan.  Since he came home to try and reintegrate himself in into life here in the United States, it has been a struggle for him.  To make matters worse, the Veteran's Administration has not been helpful at all until very recently.  Apparently this is happening all over the country to returning soldiers and their families. 

The very idea that we can send young men and women off to war to kill and be killed, and then have no support for them when they come home is anathema to me.  We owe these returning soldiers and their families a debt of gratitude that includes meeting their every need as they try to transition from combat to home life.  If we can't do that much for those who defend our very liberties, than perhaps we shouldn't be sending them at all.

Pray for Richard, and others in similar circumstances, in the days and weeks ahead, as he deals with the multiple tragedies of the deaths of his family members.