tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26517691786528474022024-02-07T13:50:36.516-05:00Politcs and EducationThese are the observations of a retired teacher in the Bronx who views the world from the left. I will comment on what I observe and feel.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-87918693211232234262017-07-27T10:31:00.001-04:002017-07-29T16:02:54.434-04:00Why I have not yet seen Wonder Woman – It’s all about Gal Gadot<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8a/a8/88/8aa888b3220e72d4004d93a2715ed291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8a/a8/88/8aa888b3220e72d4004d93a2715ed291.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via www.hiarpin.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I am a fan of superhero movies and tv. I have watched just
about every movie and series, if not when first out, then on demand. But I have
not been able to force myself to go see Wonder Woman. And it is all because of
Gal Gadot.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I was looking forward to seeing Wonder Woman. She has always
been one of my favorite DC characters. Her history and evolution has been one
the most fascinating in the DC universe. I was all set to go see it the first
week it was out. But then I started to read about Gal Gadot, who plays Wonder
Woman. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For those who don’t know, Ms. Gadot is Israeli, and has
served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). That in and of itself might not have
stopped me from enjoying the film, I tend to do well at separating an artist
from their politics. It was her very public restatement of Israeli government
propaganda about Gaza that has put me off. In 2014 she<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/wonder-woman-gal-gadot-on-israel-gaza-israeli-actresss-pro-idf-stance-causes-controversy-9643412.html" target="_blank"> tweeted</a> a photo of
herself praying with her daughter along with the following message:</span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli
citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives
protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are
hiding like cowards being women and children.”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I am no supporter of Hamas, or any terrorist actions, but let
us be clear about what is happening in Gaza. This small strip of land (25 miles
x 5 miles) has been invaded 3 different times in the past 9 years. Thousands of
Palestinian civilians have been killed by the Israeli airstrikes and incursions
into Gaza. The infrastructure of Gaza has been effectively destroyed and the
Israeli blockade has prevented the importation of basic rebuilding supplies
like concrete and fuel. Electricity is available for between 2 and 4 hours a
day. The hospitals barely function, and many patients with serious issues have
been denied permits to transfer to hospitals outside of Gaza. This is the attempted
genocide of Palestinians in a collective punishment for the actions of Hamas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Palestinian issues in Israel go back to The Nakba,
Israel’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">original sin</i>. The Nakba was
the forced removal of Palestinians from their land when Israel was formed in
1948. Hundreds of Palestinian villages were destroyed and almost a million Palestinians
were became refugees in bordering countries. Ever since Arabs in Israel have
been second class citizens. Today, the expansion of settlements in the West
Bank has basically guaranteed that the idea of a “two state solution” will
never happen. In order to remain a “Jewish state,” Israel will continue to
solidify itself as an apartheid state. Its military will continue to brutalize
Palestinians. Its government will continue to incite Palestinians, looking for
a response that will, in my opinion, give them a “justification” to try and
remove Palestinians from all of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wonder Woman has always been a symbol of strength and
independence for women. From the start she has been THE superhero who rarely
kills, but uses her brain and her tools to capture the bad guys. She has fought
to protect women and children. Now she is tied to a woman who is strong and a
fighter and who celebrates the murder of women and children in Gaza.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So when Gal Gadot posts support of the IDF and its role in
occupying Gaza and the West Bank, I find it difficult to separate her from her
character. I cannot watch her without seeing the brutality inflicted on
Palestinians every day. So I have been unable to go see Wonder Woman, and I
will probably pass up Justice League also.</span></div>
Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-49884739635557357712017-01-22T04:30:00.000-05:002017-01-22T09:24:48.282-05:00Millions march against the rise of fascism in the United States<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__K3osf8S2as9u0Sxt-Pduitesee5I5431ehlcTZqKFuHGvy0IvYYjVlPWikTRicgUZ1P5kB0me9IyTH-eRis_iA3jR2kxTaIrxcKAX9BQa8jJcJQhZdsG_LdKZpWxo6YUDfovMZ16Qo/s1600/IMG_0050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__K3osf8S2as9u0Sxt-Pduitesee5I5431ehlcTZqKFuHGvy0IvYYjVlPWikTRicgUZ1P5kB0me9IyTH-eRis_iA3jR2kxTaIrxcKAX9BQa8jJcJQhZdsG_LdKZpWxo6YUDfovMZ16Qo/s400/IMG_0050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The numbers aren't in yet, but upwards of 2 million people march against the policies and espoused fascism of the newly elected president Donald Trump. While Trump spent his day attacking the media and complaining because his delusional view of the crowds at his inauguration were different than the truth that was reported, millions of people took to streets around the world.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DDvyKxvjhegXV4-3aKQmG6vMCZFCD4d8IQhzR3J6P-OZ_evnK6O568RNPS6vI7NDBpG-d9OAivDUoziObRSXx4TrxhxyAeup5tBjvLeAn60dwSRIjz6FTezdoxzMHOmA7euCs9V27-A/s1600/IMG_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DDvyKxvjhegXV4-3aKQmG6vMCZFCD4d8IQhzR3J6P-OZ_evnK6O568RNPS6vI7NDBpG-d9OAivDUoziObRSXx4TrxhxyAeup5tBjvLeAn60dwSRIjz6FTezdoxzMHOmA7euCs9V27-A/s400/IMG_0063.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the crowd on 5th Ave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqFjqV9SIA9Pw_QuVRfNV9W9HzLOozS4V3Um0Ipp3gL4mc-XnnoH0ziwbSA7Oh0SHM1znOvXlMaHelYO9yO_R08c6ktkTXChsvdO_tQm5bFxYtqfor3ExYJJMlxQvjZMPqAw1Nt5XcNk/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqFjqV9SIA9Pw_QuVRfNV9W9HzLOozS4V3Um0Ipp3gL4mc-XnnoH0ziwbSA7Oh0SHM1znOvXlMaHelYO9yO_R08c6ktkTXChsvdO_tQm5bFxYtqfor3ExYJJMlxQvjZMPqAw1Nt5XcNk/s400/IMG_0067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I participated in the New York City March, and it was impressive. I have attended marches for over 40 years, and this was the biggest one that I have ever seen. Reports say that there were 250,000 people. I don't know. What I know is that the street were filled with people. We were people of all ages, from 3 months to very old. While this was a "Women's March" it was a wonderful mix of women and men, from all races and economic backgrounds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUqKbOktlFOOc5U-_DFbwRN7jXRcFE3Z7x02pntxt7bwair5coLue1rbIiczQVqzPvwEFw2HU9zFeK04G7z91Nb_KY2SKB10qUhAg0CGwVRtpce93WJ2pLaEfH2NvxitDv9T2aX1HHk0/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUqKbOktlFOOc5U-_DFbwRN7jXRcFE3Z7x02pntxt7bwair5coLue1rbIiczQVqzPvwEFw2HU9zFeK04G7z91Nb_KY2SKB10qUhAg0CGwVRtpce93WJ2pLaEfH2NvxitDv9T2aX1HHk0/s400/IMG_0059.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here are some more of my favorite signs and pictures from today:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaMxRY4CpfOMBN0ttxXo815HJwG21y_Gtjzf-sMqpAQSoMEa6fZuOc-ySy5gaYqXs5IHcGdozn56b564f-2wZdg0dsxYFm-O7UjCwvwaoDwBuctxlyrzKjpQfT-SAou0Tpk_iv1LqYWc/s1600/IMG_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaMxRY4CpfOMBN0ttxXo815HJwG21y_Gtjzf-sMqpAQSoMEa6fZuOc-ySy5gaYqXs5IHcGdozn56b564f-2wZdg0dsxYFm-O7UjCwvwaoDwBuctxlyrzKjpQfT-SAou0Tpk_iv1LqYWc/s400/IMG_0039.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pussy hats in the subway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9oRp01ayHKnH7AAyvgAGLq33jgIAZisVWrDbQQ1TlAwNHMju3MbjLjg7XBk-EdXHnbddgsUo8hf27U4FHE8lwo4smQ8EAP3zdMymokmmwCtXnLlTWLIaICWl5fBzwldHBIUZgMcpX0g/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9oRp01ayHKnH7AAyvgAGLq33jgIAZisVWrDbQQ1TlAwNHMju3MbjLjg7XBk-EdXHnbddgsUo8hf27U4FHE8lwo4smQ8EAP3zdMymokmmwCtXnLlTWLIaICWl5fBzwldHBIUZgMcpX0g/s400/IMG_0041.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarmulke pussy hats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QV3ybDiKXYvOQXjY45dX3ZwXUoiCXzdPxehx5OS3lewUw67oPOZx8nsTgVYSZKDvAO4XBlAQ5eUjSfA-Rivk7hxDEqGZFGbYalJJ8UqybEYm8EdpF1guBhIIvoP0sWMY1qKGYJRP1FQ/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QV3ybDiKXYvOQXjY45dX3ZwXUoiCXzdPxehx5OS3lewUw67oPOZx8nsTgVYSZKDvAO4XBlAQ5eUjSfA-Rivk7hxDEqGZFGbYalJJ8UqybEYm8EdpF1guBhIIvoP0sWMY1qKGYJRP1FQ/s320/IMG_0042.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family of pussy hats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Without Borders, Without Flags, Solidarity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6P6MANOG3vR6xt3VlPZIQOZdtPEwAMdkztzbR_mvWijTfF2fFqw7ajEr_hiDUlZilQNZu8UJnzrBSZm898EKTtFdZyi__lLKvhyyNSfv4yObygQC3iVPV5wJYZJCaEHcmNFMvSCu0ss/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6P6MANOG3vR6xt3VlPZIQOZdtPEwAMdkztzbR_mvWijTfF2fFqw7ajEr_hiDUlZilQNZu8UJnzrBSZm898EKTtFdZyi__lLKvhyyNSfv4yObygQC3iVPV5wJYZJCaEHcmNFMvSCu0ss/s400/IMG_0062.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our small portion of the 250,000 people in NYC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The marches were great, empowering and re-energizing. However, it is what comes next that is really important. This must become a movement. Not one that just goes out and votes Democratic. It must become a movement that takes on the power structure and fights for the rights of working people. A movement that fight for immigrants, against racism, against xenophobia. A movement that fights to ruling class on all levels for a better life for all.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127837 -74.00594130000001839.942317700000004 -75.296834800000013 41.4832497 -72.715047800000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-91143865322453543902016-12-25T04:30:00.000-05:002016-12-25T04:30:16.727-05:00Inter-Imperialist Rivalry - The U.S. shift toward Russia and away from China<!--[if !mso]>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It feels like my articles have been bouncing around a bit,
but following what the PEOTUS is doing can give a person whiplash. That being
said, I believe that it’s time for some background that might help explain a
bit of what is going on between the U.S., Russia and China. The idea that we
need to look at is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inter-imperialist
Rivalry.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-d07aa584034bc2c729946d1de07c5ac5?convert_to_webp=true" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-d07aa584034bc2c729946d1de07c5ac5?convert_to_webp=true" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">https://www.quora.com/What-if-India-and-China-colonized-the-world-instead-of-Europe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The chart above shows the percent of world GDP held by
different parts of the world through the last 2000 years of history. It is
interesting to note that prior to colonization of Africa and the Americas by
Europe, and the enslavement of Africans, China and India were the world’s
leading manufacturing powers. But we can see that starting around 1600 AD
Europe begins to surpass Asia. Thus is due mostly to riches gathered from
colonies in Africa and the Americas and the use of slave labor to mine for gold
and grow crops. By the 1800’s the industrial revolution and the control of
Asian ports by European countries, had boosted Western Europe above Asia, with
the U.S. closing in. </div>
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</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The idea that we
need to look at is <i>Inter-imperialist
Rivalry.</i></span></span></h2>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
1800 – 1913 – Intra-European Rivalries</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the late 1800’s European countries had divided up the
world and fighting among themselves for control. The Napoleonic Wars, the
Crimean War and the Franco-Prussian Wars were the biggest of the dozens of
conflicts that took place within Europe between 1800 and 1900. At the same time
European countries were also fighting their colonies, with England, Spain and
France coming out as the big winners. The resources that these colonies
provided helped England and France develop their industrial prowess and helped
set up one side of WW I. Meanwhile the United States was taking control of
Central and South America and expanding its influence in Asia</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
1917-1939 – Europe Divides the Middle East</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After WW I the industrial powers of Europe needed a consistent
source petroleum for fuel and for raw materials. The Middle East, in particular
the Saudi Peninsula and Iran became this source. The Ottoman Empire had fought
with the Germans and were on the losing side of WWI. England and France
stepped in after the war taking direct control of some parts and fomenting
nationalist independence movements (Lawrence of Arabia anyone?) in others.
Throughout this era, the United States continued to strengthen its hold on
resources in Central and South America, while building military bases in Hawaii
and Manila to exert more power in Asia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Post WW 2 – 1945-1970</b></h3>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
United States was the only major industrial power to emerge from World War 2
with its factories unscathed</span></span></b></h2>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a key era in figuring out what is happening today. The
United States was the only major industrial power to emerge from World War 2
with its factories unscathed. Also, finding that the armies of their colonizers
had been greatly weakened by the war, European colonies in Africa and Asia
pushed for independence, depriving many European powers of the inexpensive
resources. This left the United States in a unique period. While there was a
military rivalry with the USSR, and proxy wars around the world, the U.S. was
really a uni-polar manufacturing power during this period. This allowed
companies in the U.S. to pay salaries that were very high compared to
historical amounts, while still maintaining large profits. The ruling class was
able to buy labor peace because they were not facing major competition from
foreign powers.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Today</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2 class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When both leaders talk about expanding their nuclear
arsenals ON THE SAME DAY, that is not a coincidence, it is a warning to China.</span></span> </b></h2>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today we live in a multi-polar world. The U.S., Europe,
China, India, Brazil are all major players looking to increase influence and
markets. Usually this is done with a veneer of civility, through trade
agreements. And the past eight years have shown that the United States has been
moving toward a greater tie to Asia and China. The Pacific Rim Partnership
meetings have been as important as the G-7 and G-20 meetings in Europe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But not all members of the ruling class are happy about this
development. There are people and companies that want the U.S. to be more
confrontational with China. Remember, they were left out when China made a deal
with France and Saddam Hussein to develop the Iraqi oil fields back in 2000.
According to <a href="http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2003/02/facts-on-who-benefits-from-keeping-saddam-hussein-in-power">a
paper published</a> by the right-wing Heritage Foundation in February of 2003,
France controlled 23% of Iraq oil exports, while the U.S. was barred from the
fields. Shortly after this, the U.S. invaded Iraq, removed Hussein from power,
and negated all contracts he had negotiated.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has become obvious that Trump is backed by the section of
the ruling class that wants closer ties to Russia and more confrontation with
China. We have all heard and read about Russia’s efforts is getting Trump
elected. His appointment of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State means that there
is no attempt to hide who is making the decisions in this outfit. The U.S.
government will be run openly by Exxon oil. The U.S. government will remove
sanctions on Russia that have prevented the finalization of $500BILLION deal to
develop Russian oil fields, a total about-face from the current U.S. policy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trump and Putin will also work together to try and slow or
stop China’s expansion. When both leaders talk about expanding their nuclear
arsenals ON THE SAME DAY, that is not a coincidence, it is a warning to China.
Why? Because China’s response to Trump talking with Taiwan’s leader was to have
multiple flights of its nuclear bomber over the South China Sea. China has also
been expanding its military bases in the South China Sea. This is a dangerous
game of superpower one-upmanship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what does this mean for us, the average people of the
world? Well, we will probably see more Russian conflict in Eastern Europe, more
conflicts with China and less stability in Latin America where China has been
expanding its influence. We will see more Russian and Irani influence in the
Middle East. This instability raises a greater chance of war. I also think that
more people will see through this growing fascism and the need to maintain
internal order in the U.S. will bring more and more repressive policies here. So
we, the workers here in the U.S. and around the world, need to organize and be
ready to fight against this growing tide of war and fascism. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<br />Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127837 -74.00594130000001839.942317700000004 -75.296834800000013 41.4832497 -72.715047800000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-3121126354674436742016-12-11T04:30:00.000-05:002016-12-11T18:08:05.718-05:00Trump's Cabinet - A Neo-Liberal Conservative's Wet Dream<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
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Last month many people, republicans, pundits, people on the
street, were criticizing those of us who were protesting against Trump. “He
hasn’t even been sworn in yet, wait and see what he does.” Well, he still
hasn’t been sworn in, but, looking at his cabinet choices and they give us a
pretty good idea of what he plans to do as President. And truthfully, those of
us to have been protesting were right. Trump’s administration is shaping up to
be an attack on healthcare, education and the environment like we have not seen
in the past 100 years. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuBJpDLa-al9NaYjaE-_P1Pb-xNphr1kYuuE7kuGXmKDBcsvdn4LItWbF4PWBh2431u4X3GC2ot_9aK3yp16fpJAVqLkq1siVmr0vkxAzUGr5c6ZKh8BiA8RR9GfVcz6JCAax9rWbTcg/s1600/FB_IMG_1481497551479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuBJpDLa-al9NaYjaE-_P1Pb-xNphr1kYuuE7kuGXmKDBcsvdn4LItWbF4PWBh2431u4X3GC2ot_9aK3yp16fpJAVqLkq1siVmr0vkxAzUGr5c6ZKh8BiA8RR9GfVcz6JCAax9rWbTcg/s320/FB_IMG_1481497551479.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Betsy DeVos –
Secretary of Education</b></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br /></div>
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According to Trump’s website, his plans for education
include:</div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Immediately add an additional federal investment of $20
billion towards school choice. This will be done by reprioritizing
existing federal dollars.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Give states the option to allow these funds to follow
the student to the public or private school they attend. Distribution of
this grant will favor states that have private school choice, magnet
schools and charter laws, encouraging them to participate.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And his choice for Secretary of Education has been a
proponent of these goals and more for many years. She is Chairman of the
American Federation for Children, and organization whose mission statement is:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
American Federation for Children is the leading national advocacy organization
promoting school choice, with a specific focus on advocating for school
vouchers, scholarship tax credit programs and Education Savings Accounts.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her view is that traditional public schools are unfixable,
and the students should be given vouchers to attend either charter schools or
private schools. She is also an evangelical Christian who has said that
education reform can advance “God’s Kingdom” saying “to confront the culture in
which we all live today in ways that will continue to help advance God’s
Kingdom, but not to stay in our own faith territory,” according to an article
on <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/betsy-devos-education-trump-religion-232150">Politco.com</a>.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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As a retired public school teacher I can attest to damage
done by charter schools and even by the whole small school “education reform”
movement. These “alternatives” have drained top students and money from
traditional neighborhood schools. The have cherry picked the highest achievers,
leaving those children who need the most help behind in schools that have fewer
resources then ever before. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.snopes.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/betsy-devos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.snopes.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/betsy-devos.jpg" height="400" width="327" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.snopes.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/betsy-devos.jpg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rep. Tom Price –
Secretary of Health and Human Services</b></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></h3>
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According to Trump’s website, his healthcare plans include
the following highlights:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Completely repeal Obamacare. Our elected
representatives must eliminate the individual mandate. No person should be
required to buy insurance unless he or she wants to.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts
(HSAs). Contributions into HSAs should be tax-free and should be allowed to
accumulate.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Block-grant Medicaid to the states.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Tom
Price Fits in with this view. The idea of tax credits and health saving
accounts are a benefit to the rich but of no real help to poor and working
class people who do not have the extra income to invest. He also is in favor of
limiting a company’s tax deduction for providing healthcare coverage to its
employees.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Finally
he is in favor of block-granting Medicaid and Medicare to states, and to cut
funding by close to $1 TRILLION over the next 10 years. According to the Center
on Budget Policy and Priorities, this could result in states dropping up to 20
million people from Medicaid over the next 10 years. You can read their article
<a href="http://www.cbpp.org/blog/proposed-medicaid-block-grant-would-add-millions-to-uninsured-and-underinsured">here</a>
for a very good analysis of this issue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scott Pruitt - Head of the Environmental
Protection Agency</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Pruitt
is a climate change denier. He has written as recently as May that science is
far from settled on climate change. More importantly, he is an advocate for
sharply cutting environmental regulations for industry and farming.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
“Scientists continue to disagree about the
degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of
mankind,” <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435470/climate-change-attorneys-general"><span style="color: blue;">he wrote in </span></a><a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435470/climate-change-attorneys-general"><span style="color: blue;">National Review</span></a> earlier this year. “That debate
should be encouraged — in classrooms, public forums, and the halls of Congress.
It should not be silenced with threats of prosecution. Dissent is not a crime.”</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Pruitt
has coordinated multi-state law suits against both federal health care and
environmental regulations. According to reports in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-trump.html?_r=0">NY
Times</a>, many of these suits were backed and even written by energy and
health companies affected by the regulations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What can we do?</b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
The
time to sit on the sidelines is over. It is vital that we do all that we can to
fight against the attacks that are coming from the Trump government. We must be
involved in movements both close to home and nationally. Find those groups that
doing things. Organize! Fightback! </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0Washington, DC, USA38.9071923 -77.03687070000000938.7094553 -77.3595942 39.104929299999995 -76.714147200000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-56512820502862293142016-12-04T04:30:00.000-05:002016-12-04T04:30:01.434-05:00What happened to the miners? Why understanding class is important<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<a href="http://okc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/00262550-042343_catl_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://okc.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/00262550-042343_catl_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I recently watched <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harlan County U.S.A.</i> for the umpteenth
time. For those who don’t know it, this documentary is centered around a coal
miner’s strike in Harlon County Kentucky in 1974. This film is a time capsule
showing how hard these workers fought for their rights. But in watching it
again I was struck by just how much their political views have changed in the
last 40 years.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6PfaE4R4eA4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6PfaE4R4eA4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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I am old enough to remember this
strike, which was important for several reasons. 1974 was a turning point in
the labor movement in the United States, and Harlan County seemed to be at the
center of it. There had been a major attempt by the United Mine Workers of
America (UMWA) to organize mines and the workers at the Brookside Pit had voted
to join the UMWA. The owners, Eastover Coal Company, a subsidiary of Duke
Power, were determined not to accept the union contract because they were
worried about future negotiations with their miners in North and South
Carolina.</div>
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This struggle in Harlan County was
taking place against the backdrop of an internal fight over the leadership of
the UMWA. Tony Boyle had been president of union, but was viewed a corrupt and
in the pockets of the mine owners. He was facing an election against Joseph Yablonski,
a former mine worker who was the favorite of many of the rank and file members.
</div>
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Finally, Harlon County has a
history of violent mine strikes. In 1931 5800 miners went on strike when the
owners cut wages by 10%. The owners used the full power of the government to
attack the workers and break the strike. They hired “private security” to
protect the scabs, and then the sheriff deputized them, giving them the ability
to literally arrest, brutalize and even shoot at strikers. When strikers fought
back, the governor brought in the National Guard, who then attacked the
strikers. The strike was broken, and the workers were forced back winning no
concessions.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/Harlan_county_war.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/Harlan_county_war.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayonets keep pickets at bay in bloody Harlan County's little coal war - Life Magazine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In 1974 the miners in this film had
a really sharp analysis of how the system worked. They understood that the courts,
sheriff, gun thugs and politicians were all controlled by the mining companies.
They discussed the need to stand together and organize. They took on the scabs
and gun thugs, bringing their own members and arming themselves for protection
against enormous forces.</div>
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As I watched <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harlan County </i>this time I was really amazed at the job that the
right wing has done on these workers during the past 40 years. Over half of the
mining jobs in Kentucky disappeared between 1980 and 2000. Jobs were then
stable until 2013, when the number of jobs in eastern Kentucky began dropping
again. The Republicans have said that this was because of regulations, and
environmental regulations have played a role. But, as an article on the <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article57684253.html">Kentucky.com</a>
website notes, there are other contributing factors, such as the low price of
natural gas. </div>
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Another factor affecting these
workers was one that no one is talking about, but that got a very brief mention
in the movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harlan County U.S.A. </i>For
decades the state of Kentucky discouraged and/or prevented other industries
from moving in to coal mining areas. They did this at the behest of the coal
companies so that there wouldn’t be competition for workers that would force
wages up. So the coal industry and the state worked together to make sure that
for most workers in eastern Kentucky, the only choice was to go down the mine.</div>
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My point in all of this is not to
argue Democrat vs Republican. More so it is to point out that in 40 years the
miners of eastern Kentucky have gone from using the words “boss” and
“businessman” as a curse to helping elect a billionaire. Why has there been
such a change?</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is easy to blame racism and
xenophobia. And there is certainly a case to be made for the fear of change
that has been whipped up by one of the parties. But I feel that there is more
at the heart of this. Over the past 40 years both parties have pushed political
discussion away from talking about class. No longer do we study the issues of
this country by looking at the rich/ruling class and the poor/working class. By
removing the idea that society is divided into classes from the national
dialogue, the ruling class has been able to convince workers that that rich are
just like them and will do what is best for them.</div>
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The ruling class has done this in
many ways. They have used <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">identity politics</i></a> to emphasize differences between workers, and
similarities between workers and bosses, to get people to support different
wings of those who control the country. Identity politics came as a reaction to
racism and sexism. It came about because many People of Color and women felt
that they were being left behind by the growth of union jobs and educational
opportunities during the 1950’s and 1960’s. It came about because of legitimate
concerns and grievances. And the ruling class was able to use these concerns to
divide workers. They did this in New York by having Albert Shanker take
teachers out on a racist strike in 1968 instead of working with Black and
Latino parents to figure out how to integrate school staffs. They did it by
pitting Native born workers against immigrant workers around the country. And
they did it by convincing white workers that they have more in common with
billionaires that with Black and Latino workers. </div>
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<br /></div>
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In my opinion we have to bring
class identity back into the everyday lives of workers. Until all workers
realize that our bosses are not on our side, and that coal miners have more in
common with nurses and teachers and fast food workers then they do with their
bosses, we will have a country that lets the very rich stay rich and keep their
foot on the throat of the workers. </div>
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Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0Harlan County, KY, USA36.8890304 -83.207764536.482394400000004 -83.8532115 37.2956664 -82.562317499999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-65858902790587600972016-11-20T04:30:00.000-05:002016-11-20T04:30:28.821-05:00Two movies for our times - Loving and Denial<!--[if !mso]>
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Entering into the age of Trump, it is interesting to note
that there are several movies that I believe are must see films. One of them is
the wonderful movie <a href="http://www.travelsinthe2ndhalf.com/2016/11/loving-movie-beautiful-portrayal-of.html"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Loving</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>which tells the story of Mildred and Richard Loving. Their
marriage and Supreme Court case brought an end to the anti-miscegenation laws
in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Denial,</i> a movie based on a court case in
England that put an end to ability of holocaust deniers to sue for libel.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Loving, </i>written
and directed by Jeff Nichols, is a powerful and moving film. Mildred Jeter and
Richard Loving grew up in the rural unincorporated town of Central Point,
Virginia. They met in high school, spent time together, and eventually, when
Mildred became pregnant, decided to marry. But this was the 1950’s and Mildred
was African American and Richard was white. Virginia had anti-miscegenation
laws which made their marriage illegal. How did these two young people get
beyond Jim Crow and fall in love? Well that had a lot to with Central Point VA.
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<br /></div>
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Today many people say they “don’t see color,” but I have
always felt that is a cop out that allows people to hide their racism. Richard
and Mildred saw <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beyond color</i>. They
understood the reality of the world of segregation that they lived in, but they
saw beyond those laws. By growing up in an integrated community they were able to
see beyond the social construct of race to reality of their love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial_(2016_film)"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Denial</i></a> tells the story of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Lipstadt">Deborah E. Lipstadt</a>,
a professor of Jewish history and Holocaust Studies at Emory University in
Atlanta. In 1996 Ms. Lipstadt, along with Penguin Books, was sued for libel in
England by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Irving">David Irving</a>,
an anti-Semite and holocaust denier whom she wrote about in a book. Irving lost
the libel suit because Lipstadt’s and Penguin’s lawyer proved that Irving
really was a racist and anti-Semite. Irving went on to be banned by countries
around the world for promoting Nazism and racism. During the past 2 years we
have seen the rise of the “big lie” in campaign for president. We have also
witnessed a change in this country. One that is trying to normalize racism, anti-Semitism,
anti-Islamism and xenophobia. We have seen a return to openness of groups like
the KKK and Neo-Nazi’s around the country. We need to stand up and actively
fight against this racism. We need to look for the “big lie” and take it on.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hYcx43AmAyY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hYcx43AmAyY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Denial</i> is an
important movie because its central argument revolves around the idea of the “b<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ig lie.” </i>The libel laws in England
require that a writer prove that their claims are true, rather than having the
subject prove that they are false, as the law in the United States is written.
So Lipstadt’s lawyers had to prove that Irving manipulated the facts of
history, omitting some events and lying about others to support his view of
history. At the end of the film there is a scene where Lipstadt is talking to
students and basically says that it is important for everyone to pay attention
to what people say and to stand up to the lies that are put out to justify
political stands and campaigns.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Ms. Lipstadt is consistent in her view of the Holocaust. She
has criticized those who use the Holocaust to justify Israel’s position in
relation to Palestine saying:</div>
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“…the 'hysteria' and 'neuroses' of
many Jews and Israelis who compare the current situation in Europe and in the
Middle East to the Holocaust era. 'People go nuts here, they go nuts. There's
no nuance, there’s no middle ground, it’s taking any shade of grey and stomping
on it. There are no voices of calm, there are no voices of reason, not in this
country, not in Israel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Chemi Shalev, <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/top-holocaust-scholar-blasts-holocaust-abuse-by-u-s-israeli-politicians-1.401821"><span style="color: blue;">'Top Holocaust scholar blasts 'Holocaust-abuse' by U.S.,
Israeli politicians.'</span></a> at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haaretz" title="Haaretz"><span style="color: blue;">Haaretz</span></a>, 16 December 2011.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, in the United States, we have entered to era of the
big lie, the little lie, lie about the lie. Politicians of both parties will
say and do whatever they feel will get them into power. Yes, some sides will
lie more than others, and our President Elect lied more than any politician in
recent history. In attempting to “normalize” Trump, we now have major news
organizations accepting the lies and racism put out by him and his advisors. We
must always be ready to find the truth. We cannot just wait and see what Trump
does out of “respect for the office.” History has shown us that workers must
take on racism and fascism. We cannot sit back and wait. We have seen Trump’s
politics. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also must hold the media to account. We cannot allow them
to normalize the racism and fascism that is bubbling up. We cannot accept Steve
Bannon in to White House. We cannot accept racists like Jeff Sessions or Rudy
Giuliani. We cannot accept the registration of Muslims, and certainly not the
use of Japanese internment camps from World War II to justify it. We cannot
accept the attack on undocumented workers. We must be active in the fightback
against the growing tide of lies and fascism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-84353254896378882332016-11-13T16:54:00.000-05:002016-11-13T16:55:00.666-05:00Don't Mourn the Election - Organize for the Future<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t posted here in quite a while, but events of the
past week have renewed my desire to speak out and restart the forum. I am still
processing what the next 4 year will be like, and how best to take on the power
structure of this country, both Republican and Democrat. The biggest lift I
have had this week was taking part in the Anti-Trump rally in NYC on Saturday
Nov. 12, 2016.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xFU4frSHwhlRH9sg6xRlrmXkMq966bHb-2aNirJNeacK_glGTM7LyU26uvoQ9WGDKKhcg7v522Gx1R-i7tLDIFnMhk4EXiSwuSThMmdb6doQZrq-sOKKLus30QwWg0tq0k26WBwu7Qo/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xFU4frSHwhlRH9sg6xRlrmXkMq966bHb-2aNirJNeacK_glGTM7LyU26uvoQ9WGDKKhcg7v522Gx1R-i7tLDIFnMhk4EXiSwuSThMmdb6doQZrq-sOKKLus30QwWg0tq0k26WBwu7Qo/s400/IMG_0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mourned the election results on Wednesday morning, but by
midday my attitude had changed from being upset about what happened to figuring
out what comes next. Where do we go from here? How do we fight to protect the
rights and that have been won, and move forward to a society that provides for
the needs of all the people that live here. I found hope in the protests that
sprang up immediately after election. Thousands of people across the country
have taken to the streets. I have been angered by the more than 200 reported
acts of open racism and anti-immigrant intimidation that have taken place in
the 4 days since Trump was elected. I have been heartened by the expressions of
support that been posted across the internet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sitting home is not an answer. At home we get buried in the
broadcast news and lose touch with each other. So yesterday I went out to join
with other New Yorkers to take a stand against the racism, sexism, homophobia
and xenophobia that has been unleashed. I have been to many protests over the
years. Sometimes they feel like just a large group made up of the members of
many smaller groups. I have been in marches where almost all of the signs are
what I call “.org” sign. Pre-printed with a group’s website on the bottom. That
was not what happened yesterday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
News report put the crowd in NYC at 20,000-25,000 people. To
me that means it was probably closer to 50,000. Fifth Avenue was filled from
sidewalk to sidewalk for ten blocks. It was huge. And almost all of the signs I
saw were homemade. The crowd was diverse and dedicated. It was really
inspiring. Here are some of the things that I saw.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKce476E_ek-e9xGVmmAuC1O04HYeVqjj6Iu8Q9BRDWHPiN2F69hbMsUwc7JlbrKsFZmXufrqssPk0TCE4rhw4eagVTdpJs1GnWAHPsRJjLnVB05HzqzuuYej-lUJrP-9qo6OQ6llhKIA/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKce476E_ek-e9xGVmmAuC1O04HYeVqjj6Iu8Q9BRDWHPiN2F69hbMsUwc7JlbrKsFZmXufrqssPk0TCE4rhw4eagVTdpJs1GnWAHPsRJjLnVB05HzqzuuYej-lUJrP-9qo6OQ6llhKIA/s400/IMG_0327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JikVN7fg2suhWSP7FM69STAGu3qxXSNoRmuhrn7jBH9QYzkctEYbwaa8X9qlHJkbefs01zvn9Ya2S0tS9K5U_Ga42ApM_a1Ody2K0k6PhATYv8bJ5YtTv8zC95n1yCA_THsYHLL1H_w/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JikVN7fg2suhWSP7FM69STAGu3qxXSNoRmuhrn7jBH9QYzkctEYbwaa8X9qlHJkbefs01zvn9Ya2S0tS9K5U_Ga42ApM_a1Ody2K0k6PhATYv8bJ5YtTv8zC95n1yCA_THsYHLL1H_w/s400/IMG_0329.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr8YvLdrM-v3vthSn4zJi-UMOl1ay5cNzD7JzDw_oZdAIVipf7Lhn1jHGy9-A19LLgxXjnJQTOxZCTOT_j_KuFYPyjSd95VbvLKXCfo7GN5Ez2woFmwVtKN13TlRJT9cx1Sc7d_Pdo84/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr8YvLdrM-v3vthSn4zJi-UMOl1ay5cNzD7JzDw_oZdAIVipf7Lhn1jHGy9-A19LLgxXjnJQTOxZCTOT_j_KuFYPyjSd95VbvLKXCfo7GN5Ez2woFmwVtKN13TlRJT9cx1Sc7d_Pdo84/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So what comes next? I have no illusions about the next 4
years. The Electoral College will choose Trump, to think not is a pipe dream.
He will be inaugurated. I also have no illusions as to what the world would
have been like if Clinton had been elected. We live in a system that puts
profit above people. We must take on that system. That being said, Trump is a
qualitative move towards a more openly fascist America. This is a time where we
must join together and fight for the issues that are most important to us. To
fight racism. To fight the demonization of the other. To realize that no worker
is illegal. To fight for healthcare for all. To fight for good public education
and housing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To fight to bring about a
system that meets the needs of all of its members, not just the rich, not the
corporations. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t have the answers yet. I know that I saw some very
inspiring things on Saturday. I will continue to be involved in groups that I
think can make a difference and be involved in movements that I think speak to
the issues that I think are important. I am presenting these groups because I
am a member of each and I think they are important:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://morecaucusnyc.org/">MORE Caucus in the UFT</a>
– Part of a growing number of social justice caucuses in teacher’s union around
the country. MORE takes on both the day to day conditions of teachers in the
union and the effects of living in a racist society that puts the corporate
“education deform” movement ahead of the real needs of our students.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/">Jewish Voices for
Peace</a> – because the anti-Muslim forces in this country are deeply tied to
the apartheid government in Israel/Palestine.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://bronxclimatejusticenorth.wordpress.com/">Bronx
Climate Justice North</a> – because the fight over the environment and
environmental racism is the one of the main battles we face.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are not the only organizations out there. There are
many, both local and national. I urge everyone who has been upset and depressed
since Election Day to get out and find a group to support, not just
financially, but in person. Find the people in your community who are taking on
power and figure out ways to be involved and do it better.</div>
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Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127837 -74.00594130000001840.3275957 -74.651388300000022 41.0979717 -73.360494300000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-11410782464458874462014-12-09T21:49:00.000-05:002014-12-09T21:49:15.912-05:00Neil Degrasee Tyson and the petty racism faced by our studentsBelow is an excerpt from Neil Degrasse Tyson's memoir. He does a great job explaining the kind of passive racism that Black and Latino students face every day. The excerpt comes from the Moyers and Company <a href="http://billmoyers.com/2014/01/10/book-excerpt-the-sky-is-not-the-limit/">blog</a>.<br />
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<section id="primary"><div id="content" role="main">
<div class="touch-inset" id="singlepost">
<article class="single-article cf"> <header class="entry-header"><h1 class="post-title">
Book Excerpt: The Sky is Not the Limit</h1>
<div class="entry-meta">
<div class="post-date">
January 10, 2014</div>
<div class="post-author">
by Neil deGrasse Tyson</div>
</div>
</header><div class="toolbox no-mobile cf">
<br /></div>
<div class="entry-content cf">
<em>The following is an excerpt from</em> <a href="http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1743&zenid=01piflk4hvms1sk68doicb7ol2" target="_blank">The Sky is Not the Limit</a>, <em>Neil deGrasse Tyson’s memoir. </em> <a href="http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-neil-degrasse-tyson-on-the-new-%E2%80%98cosmos%E2%80%99/" target="_blank"><em>In a recent interview, deGrasse Tyson spoke with Bill Moyers</em></a> about the importance of science education and the television series he’s hosting called <a href="http://billmoyers.com/2014/01/10/the-new-cosmos-a-spacetime-odyssey/" target="_blank">Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey</a>, <em>a revival of the original PBS series</em> Cosmos, <em>with Carl Sagan.</em><br />
<a href="http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1743&zenid=01piflk4hvms1sk68doicb7ol2" target="_blank"><img alt="Book cover, the sky is not the limit, neil degrasse tyson" class="alignright" src="http://cdn.billmoyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/skyisnotthelimit-198x300.jpg" title="skyisnotthelimit" width="127" /></a>When
I was in elementary school in the public schools of New York City, I
distinctly remember that it was important for me to be athletic — in
particular, to be able to run fast. I was encouraged by all around me.
My reward was the respect and admiration of classmates and especially my
streetmates.<br />
In junior high school it was important for me, now
that I was certified the “fastest on the block,” to slam-dunk a
basketball. To do this you have to jump high <em>and </em>palm the
basketball. On April 17, 1973, I was the first in my grade to slam-dunk a
basketball. I then asked myself, “Is this all there is to it?” The
answer is basically yes, yet one can imagine creative variations such as
a 360-degree pirouette in midair preceding the dunk, but you still
score only two points.<br />
About the same time, I learned that light,
traveling at 186,282 miles per second, moves too slowly to escape from
the event horizon of a black hole. This was more astonishing to me than a
360-degree slam-dunk. I soon became scientifically curious and read
everything I could find about the universe. I began to see myself as a
future scientist — in particular, an astrophysicist. It became a deeply
seated dream.<br />
I shortly came to the shattering awareness that few
parts of society were prepared to accept my dreams. I wanted to do with
my life what people of my skin color were not supposed to do. As an
athlete, I did not violate society’s expectations since there was
adequate precedent for dark-skinned competitors in the Olympics and in
professional sports. To be an astrophysicist, however, became a “path of
most resistance.” I began to wonder whether I originally wanted to be
an athlete more from society’s interest rather than my own. My brother,
Stephen, today a professional artist, could run faster and jump higher
than I could. He, too, felt these forces of society.<br />
In high
school, nobody probed further about how I became captain of the
wrestling team. But when I became editor-in-chief of my school’s annual <em>Physical Science Journal</em>,
my qualifications were constantly queried. And when I was accepted to
the college of my choice, I was continually asked for my SAT scores and
grade point average. Indeed, one fellow student, who worked in the office
of the guidance counselor, threatened to find the file in the school
records to read my scores himself, if I didn’t tell.<br />
<a href="http://cdn.billmoyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/TYSONHIGHSCHOOL.jpg"><img alt="Neil deGrasse Tyson, high school student" class="alignright size-full wp-image-56239" height="268" src="http://cdn.billmoyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/TYSONHIGHSCHOOL.jpg" title="TYSONHIGHSCHOOL" width="150" /></a>
When I first entered graduate school, before transferring to Columbia, I
was eager to pursue my dreams of research astrophysics. But the first
comment directed to me in the first minute of the first day, by a faculty
member whom I had just met was, “You must join our department basketball
team.” As the months and years passed, faculty and fellow students,
thinking that they were doing me a favor, would suggest alternative
careers for me. <span id="more-56160"></span><br />
“Why don’t you become a computer salesman?”<br />
“Why don’t you teach at a community college?”<br />
“Why don’t you leave astrophysics and academia? You can make much money in industry.”<br />
At no time was I perceived as a future colleague, although this privilege was enjoyed by others in graduate school.<br />
When
combined with the dozens of times I have been stopped and questioned by
the police for going to and from my office after hours, and the hundreds
of times I am followed by security guards in department stores, and the
countless times people cross the street upon seeing me approach them on
the sidewalk, I can summarize my life’s path by noting the following:
in the perception of society, my athletic talents are genetic; I am a
likely mugger-rapist; my academic failures are expected; and my academic
successes are attributed to others.<br />
To spend most of my life
fighting these attitudes levies an emotional tax that constitutes a form
of intellectual emasculation. My Columbia PhD, conferred in 1991,
brought the national total of black astrophysicists from six to seven,
out of four thousand nationwide. Given what I experienced, I am
surprised that many survived.<br />
<div class="pullquote alignleft">
My
Columbia PhD, conferred in 1991, brought the national total of black
astrophysicists from six to seven, out of four thousand nationwide.
Given what I experienced, I am surprised that many survived.</div>
I
eventually learned that you can be ridden only if your back is bent.
And, of course, that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. When I
had finally transferred my graduate program to Columbia University, where
I was welcomed by the Department of Astronomy, I received a
twice-renewed NASA research fellowship, published four research papers,
attended four international conferences, had two popular-level books
published, was quoted three times in <em>The New York Times</em>,
appeared twice on network television and was appointed to a
well-respected postdoctoral research position at Princeton University’s
Department of Astrophysical Sciences.There are no limits when
you are surrounded by people who believe in you, or by people whose
expectations are not set by the short-sighted attitudes of society, or
by people who help to open doors of opportunity, not close them.<br />
On
my college application a questions asks, “What are your goals?” My
response was simply, “A PhD in astrophysics,” a goal that had been
planted within me from when I was nine years old. With the conferral of
my Columbia PhD, I had lived and fulfilled my dream, yet I knew my life
had just begun and that my struggle would continue.<br />
<hr />
Excerpted from Neil deGrasse Tyson, <em><a href="http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1743&zenid=01piflk4hvms1sk68doicb7ol2" target="_blank">The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist</a></em>
(Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 2004). Copyright © 2004 by Neil
deGrasse Tyson. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the
publisher; <a href="http://www.prometheusbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1743&zenid=01piflk4hvms1sk68doicb7ol2" target="_blank">www.prometheusbooks.com</a></div>
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</aside>Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-63132114897038331792014-11-26T07:47:00.002-05:002014-11-26T07:48:28.258-05:00From BAT - The Death of Michael Brown, Teachers, and Racism: 10 Things Every Badass Teacher Needs To UnderstandHere is a article posted by the Badass Teachers Association:<br />
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The Death of Michael Brown, Teachers, and Racism: 10 Things Every Badass Teacher Needs To Understand</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDgTGKB3Y67WdyCLuqFbzCEs_bgTXtAm6Lv4Y8o6tbekV7AMl-fFOPPTRVMj_H8HxyWQDYh8pJGfqIV6PcAd8JN7wNeJ4fE0gBeyShSheunnFErHj3sDhEiRRG8EW-LKzeZSgfdo15PI/s1600/Denisha-Jones-2014.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #7d181e; cursor: pointer; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDgTGKB3Y67WdyCLuqFbzCEs_bgTXtAm6Lv4Y8o6tbekV7AMl-fFOPPTRVMj_H8HxyWQDYh8pJGfqIV6PcAd8JN7wNeJ4fE0gBeyShSheunnFErHj3sDhEiRRG8EW-LKzeZSgfdo15PI/s1600/Denisha-Jones-2014.jpg" height="240" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a>Hello my fellow badass teachers. My name is Denisha Jones and I have been a member and admin for badass teachers since the first week BATs was created. I am also a teacher educator at Howard University. My background is in early childhood education, diversity, curriculum teacher professional development, curriculum, and instruction. In addition to working for BATs, I am an admin for United Opt Out and I have worked with Save Our Schools since their march in 2011. And also, I am a black female. I tell you things so you know a little bit about me and my background before you judge what I am about to tell you.</div>
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In the wake of the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old black male who was killed by a police officer, America has once again been forced to deal with its troubled history of race. Residents of Ferguson MO, where Michael Brown lived, and activists from all over the country have taken to the streets to protest this senseless and tragic death. The media has continued to report this story making it hard for many people to ignore what is happening in America today. And many BATs have felt the need to address this issue in the main group. This has caused numerous posts filled with support, questions, ignorance, and disgust. </div>
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When BATs began to grow, the founders, admins, and moderators, decided to delete conversations that were divisive. These included posts that talked about the pledge of allegiance, sex education, changing the name, racism, and discrimination. We felt that for BATs to grow strong we needed to focus on our mission. Over time we realized that by silencing some of these conversations we did not own up to our mission. See BATs was created to give voice to every teacher who has been blamed for the failures of education. Our goals were to fight against the Common Core State Standards, high stakes standardized testing, Teach for America, for profit charter schools, and value added measures. What we came to realize over the past year, is that although these issues are very important to many teachers there are other aspects of education that are just as, if not more important, to other teachers. These include poverty, racism, and discrimination. Many of our teachers felt that these issues are central to their voice and their fight. And our attempts to silence these conversations silenced their voices. We have since apologized for our actions although it was never our intention to silence the voices of teachers. And we, the founders, admins, and moderators, have been working diligently to allow these conversations to happen in our main group. That leads us to where we are today.</div>
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In the past few days we have had conversations about these issues that have over 1,000 comments. We know that these issues are tough for many and uncomfortable for most of us to have. But we are committed to having these conversations and being an organization that embraces social justice and multicultural education as the core of who we are and what we do. Now you might not agree with our decision to expand our mission and that is OK. Many of our members do not agree with all of our decisions. Some love CCSS, some are TFA, and some work in charter schools. Those who stay understand our position on these issues and what conversations we will or will not allow in our group. And some leave because they do not want to be affiliated with us. We understand that BATs is not for everyone. But what you need to understand is that we are not going to change course to make some of our members happy. You are free to decide if you want to be in BATs.</div>
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So now that we got some of the background stuff out of the way, there are a few other things you need to know regarding the death of Michael Brown, teachers, and racism. After participating in some of the conversations we had in the past few days I have created this list of 10 things we need you to understand. This is my list, and although the founders, admins, and moderators may agree with some or all of these things, they trust me to have this conversation. They know that based on my experiences as a black woman and as a teacher educator who has taught diversity for many years I am qualified to speak on this subject. And they are willing to learn from me what they do not know. I hope those of you reading this (lengthy) article, are also willing to learn from me. If you are new to understanding the world of racism and privilege then I ask that you approach this discussion like you are a student. When you teach your students about a difficult topic that they know little about you hope that they keep an open mind and trust you to help them make sense of the new material. Well imagine I am your teacher and trust me to teach you about something that I know a lot about. As you are just one teacher of many who knows things, I am only one person who is attempting to teach you about what I know. There are many others whom you can learn from so if you decide to embark on this learning process please do not let me be your only teacher. Begin with me but please allow others who have knowledge in this area to also teach you. So let’s begin with a few things I need you to understand.</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">When unarmed youth of color are killed by police it is an educational issue.</span></li>
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This has typically been the first issue raised in the conversations about the death of Michael Brown in the BATs group. Many of our members do not see what this tragic death has to do with education. I guess depending on where you live and where you teach, you might not have to deal with the increasing number of unarmed black youth who are killed by police, neighborhood watch, and anyone who has a gun and feels they have a right to kill someone else. But for many teachers this is something they do have to deal with. They have to discuss this with their students because they can be the next Michael Brown. They can be the next Trayvon Martin. They can be the next Jordan Davis. Their students live in fear that one day they will die at the hands of another human being simply because their skin makes others suspicious of them. These teachers have to work with parents who worry that when they send their son out to the store he will come back in a body bag. And some of these teachers have children of their own that they also fear will be killed because someone decided to be their judge, jury, and executioner. And finally there are those teachers who, although they do no fear this happening to their own child, or their students, are nonetheless angry and fearful about the way black and brown youth are routinely treated in this country. So if your first thought is, this conversation does not belong here, please think again. BATs welcome these conversations because we know that they are important to many of our members.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 2. </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Teachers are essential in the fight against racism.</span></div>
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When it comes to the responsibilities teachers have for fighting racism I think teachers fall into three categories: 1) they accept the responsibility; 2) they are unsure if this is their responsibility and 3) they refuse to accept that this is their responsibility. When we decided to be teachers I doubt many of us thought we would become activists for racial equality. I sure didn’t and I’m black! In fact when I decided to become a teacher I was probably just like some of you. See I used to believe in a colorblind approach for dealing with racism (more on this later). I thought that if I ignored the fact that I am black others would also ignore it. But I what I learned growing up in White America is that no one can ignore the fact that I am black. And I don’t want them to. But it took me a long time to get to where I am today. So I understand why you might not see this daunting responsibility as yours but it truly is.</div>
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You see nearly every child in America will have a teacher. Children go through school for 17-18 years and teachers are a major part of that schooling experience. Although you may only have that student for one year, that year is a long time and can have a major impact on the life of your student. We all remember one teacher who made an impact on our lives in one single year, so the importance of teachers cannot be understated. And since teachers are central to the lives of many children, they are in a unique position to help children make sense of the world we live in. That includes the history of racism in our society. Now you might think that this is the parents’ responsibility, but we cannot control what parents do or don’t teach their children. We hope that they teach their children about many of these tough issues but we cannot be sure that they will, so we have a responsibility to also teach these issues.</div>
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History has shown us that teachers can have a profound impact on a student’s ability to learn about and understand racism in America. It was a teacher who told Malcolm X that he would not become a lawyer because he was a n*****. And it was teachers who inspired many successful people to become who they are today. My point is that teachers matter. And when it comes to young people learning and understanding America’s history with race, we need teachers to help them through this. So please know that you as a teacher are essential in this fight against racism. I cannot force you to take on this responsibility but I hope for the sake of all of your students that you do (especially if they are all white).</div>
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3. There is a difference between racism and prejudice that you need to understand.</div>
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Now this is going to be hard for many of you to accept but there is a fundamental difference between racism and prejudice. Many of the conversations happening in the main group are facing challenges because not everyone shares the same definition of racism and prejudice so people do not understand each other. In order for us to move forward we need to clear up these differences. In relation to racism, prejudice can be defined as the individual acts of meanness based on race. Using derogatory terms about a person’s race, attributing negative behaviors to a person because of their race, and treating someone poorly because of their race, are all examples of prejudice. Anyone can be prejudiced towards another person based on race. Black people can harbor racial prejudice towards white people. Latino people can harbor racial prejudice towards Black people. White people can exhibit racial prejudice toward people of color. </div>
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Now racism is more than just racial prejudice. To understand the difference you can define racism as prejudice + power. See racism is a system that confers advantages on one group while systematically disadvantaging another group (for every advantage there is disadvantage). In America, racism is a system of white supremacy that advantages white people over people of color. Since the founding of America, racism has been used to advantage white people over people of color. Beginning with slavery, through Jim Crow, and even in the age of the first black president, America has a structured and institutional system that advantages white people over people of color (if you are having a hard time accepting this look up redlining and Sundown towns and read The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness).</div>
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The reason why this is important will be discussed more thoroughly later but for now this is the difference between racism and prejudice that you need to understand.</div>
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4. <span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Colorblind is not the solution to dealing with racism. It’s the new problem.</div>
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I am not sure when it began but at some point in our history colorblindness was created as the solution for dealing with racism. Some have believed that the best way to deal with racism was to be colorblind. If we were blind to race then we would not judge people based on the color of their skin. If we were blind to race then racism would not exist. As I mentioned before I used to subscribe to this belief and remember I am black (very black). I grew up in predominantly white communities and I thought the best way to fit in was to ignore the fact that I was black. But what I learned is that being black is not something I can ignore, it’s not something others can ignore, and it’s not something we should try to ignore.</div>
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Being born or raised in America means that we are acculturated to be aware of race. Young children notice racial differences and make assumptions based on those observations. They are aware that their community might not include any people of color. They are aware that only people who look like them attend their school. They are not colorblind. And neither are most adults in society. We notice the color of someone’s skin the same way we notice their gender. And noticing color, just like noticing gender is not a bad thing. Making judgments (prejudice) about someone based on their skin color is a bad thing but simply being aware that I am black is not something we should be blind to. Because it means something to be black in America. It means that I am a member of a group that has historically been disadvantaged simply because I am black. It means that I inherit a legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and civil rights simply because I am black. So to be colorblind to my blackness is not the solution, it is the problem.</div>
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Could you imagine being gender blind? Women have also been historically and systematically been discriminated against in this country through the system of patriarchy that advantages men over women. But rarely do I ever hear anyone say I am “genderblind” as a way of dealing with sexism. So why should we accept being colorblind to deal with racism? The answer is we should not. Instead we should be color aware and appreciative of the rich diversity we all share, including people of color.</div>
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5. <span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>People of color know more about race and racism than white people. Allow them to teach you what they know.</div>
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One of the many criticisms I hear from people when we are discussing racism is why should they accept my definition of racism and prejudice. I mean we all grew up in America and we think we know something about racism so what makes my knowledge any better than theirs. Well to answer that critique I often ask if you are a Christian would you allow a Muslim to teach you about Christianity? Or if you are a man would you allow a woman to teach you about masculinity? My point is that we often do not let outsiders teach us about things we know about because we belong to that group. Well if that’s the case then I as a black person, know more about racism than you because I have experienced it in ways that you cannot and will not ever experience it. Does this mean that all black people are experts on racism? No it does not. Many black people experience racism but are unable to define it the way I have or even make sense of it. But remember I am not just a black person I am an educator. And I have studied and taught about diversity which includes racism for many years. I have read countless books, watched countless documentaries, and listened to many experts over the years that have even more knowledge then I and this coupled with my unique experience as a black person means that I know something about this topic and can teach you something. But even if I was not a diversity educator, as a black person my experiences with racism will be different than white people. That experience should matter when talking about these issues. If you are white than you need to acknowledge that people of color know more about racism than you do. And they can teach you what they have learned from their experiences if you let them.</div>
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6. The goal of social justice and multicultural education is not to make white people feel guilty.</div>
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What I have learned in my studies of diversity education is that discussing racism, discrimination and white privilege often makes white people feel guilty. I get it. Through no fault of your own you were born in to a system where you have historically been advantaged because of the color of your skin. You did not ask for these advantages and some of you probably don’t feel advantaged (more on this later) but yet as a white person you inherit the legacy of white supremacy and white privilege. When I taught my kindergarten class about slavery (yes it was black history month so it was allowed) I worried about the two white boys in my class. After our discussion I heard them saying “I owned slaves back then.” I was quick to remind them that they did not own a slave back in the day. Many white people owned slaves during that time period but it was a long time ago and today no one owns slaves (I spared them a discussion on the current human trafficking crisis). And that is what I tell to all white people who tell me that they don’t want to feel guilty for being white. I am not asking you to feel guilty.</div>
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Unless you owned a slave you have nothing to feel guilty about. Just like I was born into our racist society and inherited all of the many aspects of being black in America, you too were born into this society and inherited all of the many aspects of being white. Guilt is not useful and it is not the goal of social justice and multicultural education. Responsibility is the ultimate goal of diversity education. Each of us has a responsibility to dismantle racism. Now I believe, as do some others, that ultimately this responsibility rests in the hands of white people. You see there is only so much people of color can do to about racism. The same way that only men can end rape, only white people can end racism. So instead of feeling guilty about racism, be willing to take responsibility in our collective fight to end racism.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 7.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you feel the urge to get defensive when people are talking about racism, white supremacy, white privilege, and discrimination, try being silent instead.</span></div>
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This has been of the most contentious issues for me to deal with in the conversations we have had about the death of Michael Brown and racism. Without fail, one person, followed by others, will become defensive and feel as though they are personally being attacked in the conversation. Someone will say something that begins with white people…and in a matter of moments someone will comment that they are white and they take offense to being referred to in that way (more on generalizations later). When this happens it is the equivalent of throwing a grenade into the conversation. Now you are you are on the defensive and the rest of us cannot have this conversation because we have to deal with your anger. When this happens I am quick to inform the other person that they are hijacking this conversation. I also remind them that NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT YOU. I purposefully put this in all capital letters, not because I am screaming, but because it is super important that you recognize that not everything is about you. Talking about racism is difficult and uncomfortable.</div>
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The nature of racism means people of color have been disadvantaged and discriminated and this means there will be feelings of anger, fear, and hurt. But the one thing that is sure to make it worse, is when a white person enters the conversation and is defensive. Imagine you are having a conversation with fellow teachers about how CCSS and HST are making it difficult to do your job. You are sharing your experiences about how these new reforms are hurting your ability to teach your students. You also discuss how the actions of your administrator are not helping. Now imagine an administrator joins your conversation, not your administrator, and the first thing they do is get defensive and accuse you of attacking all administrators. How would you respond? Would you feel safe continuing the conversation? Would you be angry that they thought everything you said was about them? Would you be hurt that they hijacked your conversation and made it all about them? This is what happens when white people enter into a conversation about race and racism and are immediately defensive. The conversation becomes silenced or hijacked as people are forced to deal with your issue instead of theirs.</div>
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This is one of the main reasons why we as a society cannot have honest conversations about race and racism. Because white people are often offended by these conversations and they are quick to change the conversation from something that offends them to something that is all about them. When you feel the urge to do this please don’t. Stop and think about your anger and where it comes from. And then think about how you would feel if you were having a conversation that was important to you and someone else entered the conversation to inform you that they were offended when in reality you were not talking about them specifically. And then stay silent. Silence can be your friend when learning about racism. Silence affords you the opportunity to listen while others discuss the topic at hand. Silence keeps you from hijacking the conversation and silencing the voices of others. Silence can be golden, so if you are angry and defensive please try and be silent while you deal with that anger. And if you cannot be silent, then please stay out of the conversation. The BATs founders, admins, and moderators will not allow anyone to hijack a conversation because they are offended. If the moderators have decided to allow the conversation to happen then your anger is not relevant. And remember that entering in to a conversation is a choice you make. No once forces you to comment. If you do not like the topic then you should move on to another one that suits you. But if you try and derail the conversation, you will be asked to leave and possibly be removed if you continue to engage in this type of behavior after repeated warnings.</div>
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8. <span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>White generalizations are no different than other generalizations that we all make.</div>
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In Chapter 6 of <i>Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Dangers to America’s Public Schools</i>, Diane Ravitch says,</div>
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“Despite significant progress in expanding educational access, educational attainment, and economic opportunities for black citizens in the past half century, blacks continue to be disproportionately poor, to attend racially segregated schools, to experience high rates of incarceration and to live in racially isolated communities where children are likely to be exposed to violence gangs and drug use.”</div>
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Now compare that statement to this one.</div>
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When confronted with the realities of racism white people tend to get offended.</div>
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Now if you are a white person, were you offended that Diane Ravitch did not say <b><u>some</u></b> blacks continue to be disproportionately poor, I mean seriously all black people are not poor. How dare she lump us all into the same category! If not did you feel that way when I said white people tend to get offended? Was your first reaction to tell me that is not a fair statement because it lumps all white people together? I have had this same conversation with many members in one of the posts about the death of Michael Brown. Someone will say something in general about white people and without a doubt some white person will take offense to the generalization.</div>
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I am not saying generalizations are a good thing but the fact is that we make them all day every day. We speak about black people, poor people, teenagers, and special needs children in general terms. Depending on what we say, most people understand that although we are referring to an entire group, some is implied in those generalizations statements. We know that each special needs child is different so whatever we say about them will not apply to all but to most. And sometimes we qualify those statements with words like some, or many, or most, and other times we do not. And the reason we do not have to quantify those statements is because as long as we do not say all black people, or all white people, or all poor people or every teenager then we are not directing our statement to everyone in the group. We can make a generalization that infers many or most people share the characteristic we are discussing but understand that very rarely do we mean all or every. This is the same logic you should apply when you hear white people…and you immediately get offended. Unless the person says all white people or every white person then they do not mean each and every white person. They mean some, so if whatever they are saying does not apply to you as a white person then know that you are not the “some” they mean. But other white people are so even though it does not apply to you it applies to others like you.</div>
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9.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Reverse racism doesn’t exist.</div>
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Now this is something many white people refuse to accept. I have often wondered why white people need to believe in reverse racism or need black people to be racists. I wonder if believing in the myth of reverse racism somehow absolves white people from the responsibility to fight racism. I do not know why white people need to believe this, but I have learned that they do. Well if you remember what I said about racism being a system that advantages white people over people of color, then by default there is no such thing as reverse racism and people of color cannot be racists. Remember racism = prejudice + power. In a system of racism the institutions and the people who control them, have the power to deny people of color life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People of color have been historically and currently denied the right to housing, health care, education, and basic right to be free of suspicion. Until people of color can do the same to white people, reverse racism does not exist.</div>
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Now remember what I said about racial prejudice, anyone can exhibit racial prejudice. Often when white people tell me that they are the victim of racism they describe an experience when they were the target of racial prejudice by a person of color. This is not racism. Although in that experience you were hurt and angered you were not the victim of racism. That one experience did not put you at a systematic and structural disadvantage. I am not trying to downplay your experience because it was wrong and no one should be the victim of racial prejudice. But I need you to know the difference between racism and prejudice so you can understand what we mean when we say people of color cannot be racist. I know this is difficult for people to accept. And all black people do not necessarily agree, but anti-racists and diversity educators have come to accept this truth. </div>
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This does not mean that white people cannot be the victims of racial prejudice. I have a white male friend who was the victim of a hate crime. He was on the subway and the last thing he heard before he was hit in the head was “get the white guy”. The next thing he knew he was being beat up by several black men. Thankfully he survived this horrible experience and he is definitely the victim of a hate crime, because anyone can be the victim of a hate crime. But had the police refused to file a report on his attack, and if the hospital refused to treat his injuries or sent him to a white hospital to be treated, then he would have experienced a form of racism. Racism is greater than that one horrible experience. It is a system that advantages one group over another. It is the combination of racial prejudice and the power to systematically disadvantage people of color.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">10. </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">White privilege does not mean that you have not worked hard in life or that you have never suffered. Each of us has some type of privilege.</span></div>
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This is something I try and make clear to every white person when discussing white privilege. White privilege means that because you were born white you receive the advantages of being white in America. Your white skin is a privilege because we live in a society where racism advantages you over people of color. This concept is essential to seeing how racism works. You do not have to do anything to receive the benefits and you do not even have to recognize these benefits for them to exist. Racism is like water to a fish. It is everywhere and often invisible to the people who benefit from it. Just like the fish can’t see the water, white people do not always see how they benefit from racism. The point in defining white privilege is to help people see how racism operates as a system of advantage.</div>
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We typically see racism as the individual acts of meanness done to people of color but rarely do we see the advantages that racism confers onto white people. For every disadvantage there is an advantage. If black people are kept from living in a certain neighborhood then white people are allowed to live there. If white veterans are given access to the GI bill to obtain a home and an education then they are advantaged while black veterans who are denied access to the GI bill are disadvantaged. To truly understand how the system works you need to see it from both ends. If we only focus on the ways people of color are disadvantaged then we cannot see how racism is a system of both advantages and disadvantages. Now if you are still troubled by the idea of white privilege because you don’t feel privileged please know we all have privileges. Black people have privileges. Not the privilege of being black, but a black man still has male privilege.</div>
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I as a heterosexual, English speaking, highly educated, cis-gendered, American have many privileges. I have the privilege of being attracted to the opposite sex and being able to freely marry them and engage in public displays of affection with them without the fear that we will be scorned or attacked. I have the privilege of being educated and receiving the advantages that come from informing people I have a doctorate degree. I have the privilege of being an American citizen and treated as one wherever I go in the world. I have the privilege of being able bodied and not having to rely on others to make sure I have access to their space. We all have privileges. Does having American privilege mean I didn’t work hard for my doctorate degree? Does accepting my heterosexual privilege mean that I have not been the victim of sexual assault? No it does not. Having privilege does not mean you did not work hard to get where you are at today. Being privileged does not mean that you have not suffered in your life. It means that in some ways you have received privileges based on some things that are out of your control (race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation). That is all it means. But it is important to understand because systems of oppression operate by giving privileges to some while denying others those same privileges.</div>
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It also does not mean that you cannot be privileged in one area and disadvantaged in others. You can be a rich white male but also be gay. You can be a black woman but also come from a wealthy family. And you can be a poor white person and still experience white privilege. So when someone tells you to “check your privilege” what they are saying is to see how your privilege might blind you to the realities of others. I can be told to check my American privilege when I assume that the American point of view is the one only correct point of view. Or I can be told to check my education privilege when I assume that others who do not think like me or not as smart as I am. And when a white person is told to check their privilege they are being asked to remember that their reality is not the reality shared by many people of color.</div>
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If you have made it this far then I want to say thank you. If this is the first time you have heard anything I have said I know it is not easy to accept it. I know because the first time I heard I did not accept it. But over time I continued to learn and I realized that what I thought I knew was not close to the truth. And I allowed others to teach me along the way. And I continue to try and learn more and more every day because I do not know everything on this topic or any topic (not even on my dissertation topic). What I do know is that for many people racism is not something they can hide from or ignore or be blind to. And for those who have the luxury to hide, ignore, or be blind to racism I ask that you reconsider those options. Especially if you are a teacher and in particular, if you are a badass teacher.</div>
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To me, being a badass teacher means although you might have the luxury to pretend to be colorblind you have chosen not to. You have chosen to embrace your responsibility to help your students understand and fight racism. You have decided to be an ally to people of color and use your white privilege to dismantle racism. Not everyone will agree that this is what it means to be badass. And you can be in BATs and not believe anything I said and not believe that you have a responsibility to deal with any of it. But BATs is taking on that responsibility with or without you. We hope you choose to join us because with the support of over 51,000 members we can take on this challenge and do whatever it takes to make sure that none of our students and children becomes the next Michael Brown.</div>
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<br />Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-32201601603677962822014-11-25T14:59:00.000-05:002014-11-25T19:46:29.626-05:00Ferguson, Social Justice Unionism and the Fight Agianst RacismThe Grand Jury in St. Louis county has handed down its decision. To no real surprise, they have refused to indict Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. This is another in the long line of police officers who have been exonerated for killing Black and Hispanic youth in this country. It is a travesty. Yet, many teachers see no, or just tangential connection to the lives of their students.<br />
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As a member of <a href="http://morecaucusnyc.org/">MORE</a>, the social justice caucus in the UFT , I have watched the issue of what should the role of a teacher's union be in society cause immense strains. The discussions have centered around whether or not instances like Ferguson, or the murder of Eric Garner on Staten Island should be officially addressed by a union. To me, the view that they should not creates a false separation between "school" and "the outside world." <br />
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When I started teaching (in 1984) I remember many teachers who said things like "I can only control what happens in my classroom, so that is what I am going to worry about." But all teachers know that some of the biggest impacts on what happens in our classroom are the things that happen outside of it. Some of these may be "small" issues. Jane had an argument with her teacher the period before my class, so she has "attitude" in mine. Tom was hassled by an AP in the hallways because he wasn't moving fast enough between periods, so he is angry when he gets to my door. Some of these may be "larger" issues. Nancy lives in a homeless shelter and doesn't sleep well at night. Timothy's family's food stamps have run out on the 25th of the month and he doesn't have a decent meal between school lunches. <br />
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Over the past 30 years I have watched schools in this country become more and more controlled by the police. Today, in my school building, students must pass through a scanner to enter. Now this is not the case in all schools. Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, Beacon, NYC Lab School are all examples of schools where students are free to enter without having to prove that they are not a danger to others. This is happening around the country, see this <a href="http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/educationunderarrest_fullreport.pdf">report</a> from the Justice Policy Institute. Meanwhile, actions that used to result in parents being called in to schools or a suspension are now considered crimes, with even elementary age students being arrested.<br />
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Outside of school, New York is still a city where the official policy is to stop and search young men in neighborhoods that are primarily Black and Latino. These "stop and frisks" result in a disproportionate number of arrests for small amounts of marijuana in those communities.<br />
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All of this is to say that ALL of these factors come into our classes. If teachers have the feeling that students are angrier, and less respectful, it is because they are angrier, and they are treated less respectfully outside of school. This fact is not out of our control. We must see that the racism that our students face every day has a detrimental effect on our ability to educate our students. The petty attacks by police, the effect of racist economic policies all take away from our students' ability to perform in schools.<br />
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If we are serious about improving the lives of our students we MUST take on these issues. There is no separation between in our classes and outside our classes. We must use all of the tools that we have available, including the one organization that brings teachers together and gives us a voice- our union. If we do not fight to improve all aspects of our students' lives then we have truly let them down.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-75449138856215928022010-07-11T19:07:00.005-04:002010-07-11T19:14:35.313-04:00AFT works with Gates to destroy union<span style="font-weight:bold;">Weingarten & Gates - Class Collaboration</span><br /> <br />The speech by Bill Gates at the general session of the AFT convention on Saturday July 10 was an insult to teachers who work hard every day in the face growing attacks by the ruling class. The invitation by Randi Weingarten was nothing less than the act of A CLASS TRAITOR! Bill Gates makes his billions of dollars by exploiting the workers of Microsoft (a non-union employer). He has led the attack on public education, spending millions of dollars on programs that attack our union, work to privatize schools, and prepare working class youth for a future of war and fascism. Our union should not be working with our bosses to destroy our students.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">We are workers--our needs are different than those of the bosses.<br /></span><br />The U.S ruling class is currently fighting 2 wars to protect its interests in the oil and mineral resources in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also preparing for its next war, in Iran or Korea or South America. The bosses are facing a strengthening competition from Europe, Russia and a growing China. At some point soon the U.S. is going to have to take on these other capitalists. If not the bosses will lose their standing as a world power. In order to do this they must commit resources to the war machinery rather education (or healthcare or other services for workers). We, as workers, gain nothing from these wars, except to see other workers like us maimed or dead. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Why does this matter to us? <br /></span><br />At the same time they must train the next generation of workers for their future. Workers must be won to working for lower wages, working more hours and joining the military in much larger numbers. To do this the bosses use the education system that they have bought and paid for. The ruling class needs teachers who have bought into their system, so they are strengthening their political indoctrination. At the same time they are working to convince teachers that there is no difference between us and our bosses. Having teachers evaluate each other, rule on hiring and firing, and doing away with the due process protection of tenure are all steps to blur the line between worker and boss. <br /><br />Look at the main motion pushed by the AFT leadership and at Bill Gates’ speech. They both talked about class collaboration—teachers being evaluated by other teachers, and teachers working with administrators to develop plans to evaluate teachers in order to destroy tenure and bust the unions. <br /><br />We have been lied to by the liberals, Weingarten, Obama, Duncan and Gates. Under the guise of anti-racism and the fight for better schools for all, we are being convinced that our job is to help them build this fascist system of evaluation and school closings and mass firings. These liberals are using fascist and racist teacher-bashing to force us to work harder and longer for less money, in competition with each other, and with other schools and other states. We need to organize as class without the illusion that these bosses are our friends.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-2776061101478995172010-06-08T21:38:00.001-04:002010-06-08T21:42:49.942-04:00Irony is alive and well at BP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA_T3-8dwc7w3_6FFe2rxJURbg4GUfytGdOY9BgzhNEJ6qOGl1KaFAhnlVHDeyXl_zbXA_MnV-GI-fGcVlkiZGojAIm0-doF87eVPon5LKTuWoNlzXukgULayyy-WQpmFJZw45HetUiM/s1600/bp+spill.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA_T3-8dwc7w3_6FFe2rxJURbg4GUfytGdOY9BgzhNEJ6qOGl1KaFAhnlVHDeyXl_zbXA_MnV-GI-fGcVlkiZGojAIm0-doF87eVPon5LKTuWoNlzXukgULayyy-WQpmFJZw45HetUiM/s320/bp+spill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480582940947270146" /></a><br /><br /><br />'nuff said.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-38874460607745644142010-06-02T20:12:00.003-04:002010-06-02T20:16:23.293-04:00Workers get Lay-offs and Pay Freezes, Banks make Billions<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today the NYC DOE and the UFT (our sellout union) announced a two year wage freeze for all teachers. This could really be almost 3 years since our contract expired 7 months ago. This agreement will stop any lay-offs of teachers and guidance counselors. This does not mean schools are unaffected as aides and other DC37 workers have already lost 500 positions earlier this year, and there are more to come. Other city workers are facing lay-offs of thousands of positions, especially as the courts have ruled that the city cannot back out of contractual obligations that were negotiated.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So the UFT was given the choice of lay-offs or a salary freeze. These are the choices as long as we let the ruling class pose the question. But let’s take a step back for a minute. What industry is at the heart of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>? What industry depends on the services of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state> to continue to provide safety for its workers; healthcare for its workers; education for the children of its workers? Well we know the answer to this – Big Banks! That’s right the same people that caused this financial crisis. The same ones that have received hundreds of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">BILLIONS</b> of dollars in bailouts. The same ones that are once again turning record profits of tens of billions of dollars each quarter! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How are these things connected? Well, here’s a couple of interesting facts: NYC has debt in the form of bonds. These bonds are bought mostly by big finance<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">. Paying this debt will cost NYC $2.469 billion in financial year 2011. (</b><a href="http://council.nyc.gov/html/budget/PDFs/2011/pbr_omb_2011.pdf">http://council.nyc.gov/html/budget/PDFs/2011/pbr_omb_2011.pdf</a>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">NYC also has a projected deficit for financial year 2011. That deficit was projected to $1.191 billion dollars.</b> (<a href="http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/bud/Summary_budget_report.shtm">http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/bud/Summary_budget_report.shtm</a>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So let’s do the math….If the city were to suspend its debt service for this year they would not only cover this year’s deficit but make a huge dent in the 2012 projected deficit. Yet, no one talks about this option. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">THIS IS CAPITALISM. Profits come before people. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></b></p>Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-52173210709999428712010-05-29T18:45:00.002-04:002010-05-29T18:48:29.385-04:00Vanishing Students, Rising Scores: Middle School Charters Show Alarming Student Attrition Over Time<div>Here is a wonderful study from the EDWIZE blog on how charters dump students who will pull down test scores.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.edwize.org/middle-school-charters-show-alarming-student-attrition">Vanishing Students, Rising Scores: Middle School Charters Show Alarming Student Attrition Over Time</a>Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-78831690714181119062010-05-27T21:11:00.005-04:002010-06-01T22:06:38.052-04:00The Gulf oil spill and education. What's the connection?What does the BP leak in the Gulf of Mexico have to do with the future of education? Bear with me and I’ll try to work through this.<div><br />The Obama administration has been taking a beating for “not acting fast enough.” This is true, but doesn’t really explain the relationship between the U.S. government and “Big Oil”. Oil drilling is no longer three guys on the Plains looking for gushers. It is a highly technological, scientific endeavor. This “gusher” is at the bottom of a column of water as deep as the Grand Canyon. To monitor these wells, and to fix any problems are major undertakings and require a well developed technical/engineering know-how. This is something that the U.S. government has been more than happy to allow the oil companies to fund and basically have let the oil companies self-monitor. This has become the practice over many years and continued by the current administration.</div><div><br />The problem for anyone who takes the time to think about this is that oil companies are driven by the basic DNA of capitalism – MAXIMIZE PROFIT. It is becoming clear that BP knew about problems with this rig, but did not act on them. They chose ways of dealing with issues that were “faster” (i.e. cost less money) rather than safer. It is clear that the “fail-safe” devices were not correctly tested in order to save time. </div><div><br />The role of government in all of this? To help these companies make those profits (BTW – BP profits before this disaster? $45 million/day). Politicians don’t get to run by taking on big business. In this system government protects profit!</div><div><br />So what does this have to do with education? Our union has given up on any form of mass movement. Our leadership has had only one plan of action – rely on these same politicians. What we get is a system of education “reform” that is bad for both teachers and students. So who is it good for? BIG BUSINESS! </div><div><br />In 2008 the AFT invited Arne Duncan to speak at their national convention in Chicago. Let’s look at his history there and his actions as Sec. of Educations. He destroyed almost all of the protections that teachers had won through hard fought battles. At the same time he instituted a program of aligning high schools with the military. Over two dozen schools have programs where students required to participate in JROTC programs. One of the new plans being floated by the U.S. Dept of Ed. Is to set up 2 levels high schools – some 2 year schools leading to “technical diplomas” and some 4 year schools leading to academic diplomas and college. This would provide a guarantee to businesses about the level of achievement of high school graduates and college students, while at the same time providing even more workers whose choices are severely limited and who are more likely to become cannon fodder in future wars.</div><div><br />Big Oil, or Education it’s all about maximizing profits for big business. </div>Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-70620673666485085302010-04-05T22:32:00.002-04:002010-04-05T22:39:02.482-04:00Stop Texas from rewriting historyThe Texas Board of Education is about to vote on the most wide ranging change to its state education standards in recent memory. This will bring a shift to the right among publishers that will affect text books across the nations. Go to Change.org to sign the petition to stop this.<br /><br /><span id='change_BottomBar'><a id='change_Start' href='http://www.change.org/start_a_petition' target='_blank'><strong>Start a Petition »</strong></a></span><script type='text/JavaScript' src='http://www.change.org/widget_flash/SinglePetition/change_embed.js'></script><script>change_setup('300', '28030', '#1A3563')</script>Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-30963758159864091202009-08-31T21:00:00.007-04:002009-09-01T21:42:16.349-04:00Heterogeneity vs Tracking - Is the pendulum swinging back?On Sunday Aug. 30th, the New York Daily News published as its lead Op-Ed piece a "critique" of heterogeneous class and a call for a return to tracking of students. In this article Anna Penny, a teacher for all of 3-and-a-half years decries her inability to motivate students in a 12th grade Literature elective. What is the cause? Could it be a society that does not value reading? Could it be class sizes of 30-34 students? Could it be a system that throws new teachers into a class with little or no support?(her principal taught for all of 2-1/2 years before getting his job through the "mis"-Leadership Academy) NO! It is the fact that she had a heterogeneous group of students with a wide range of reading skills.<br /><br />It is not that I am not sympathetic to Ms. Penny's ordeal. I have taught Chemistry and Physics to heterogeneous groups of students for many years. Believe me, I KNOW what it is like to have students who are ill-prepared and unmotivated. The thing is, there is a history to heterogeneous grouping that is very important to remember. The tracking systems that were being used in the past were inherently racist. Statistics showed that many more black and latino students were being kept out of college-prep and honors tracks than white students. The placement of student was based on the whim of teachers, guidance counselors and administrators or the results of tests that were culturally biased.<br /><br />I remember my elementary school P.S. 165 in Manhattan. All of the classes were numbered: 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 etc. Everyone knew who the "smart" class was. And guess which class got the extras, like trips or the most experienced and motivated teachers- It wasn't 5-10. So for many years progressive educators, students and families fought to bring and end to tracking. We fought to allow all students the opportunity to take courses that would prepare and allow them to go to college. We fought for heterogeneous classes.<br /><br />Are heterogeneous classes a panacea? No. They are more work for teachers. It is always easier to teach a more homogeneous group of students especially if they are motivated. But we should not stop heterogeneity because it is hard. We need to fight for ways to make us more effective teachers. We have to fight for the resources that our students really need. So if you have a 12th grade student with a 2nd grade reading level in an elective lit. class (as Ms. Penny claims) the struggle should be for the literacy support that this student obviously needs. Did her school have a pullout literacy program? If not, why not? Was this a full class of 34 students? Why aren't more teachers, parents and students fighting for smaller classes so that we can give all of our students the attention they deserve. For too long we have accepted it when the UFT leadership says that we can't negotiate for smaller classes in the contract. OF COURSE WE CAN! We just can't use it as trade-off to get higher wages.<br /><br />I'll end with some questions that I hope you respond to.<br />Why did the NY Daily News give such primo space to this article?<br />How does this tie in with Obama's "Race to the Top" call for more testing and an end to tenure?<br />How do we motivate students, parents and teachers to get involved in these struggles?Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-88070660113215090352009-08-24T20:37:00.007-04:002009-08-24T21:23:07.124-04:00Real, uncensored effect of BloomKlein budget cutsI teach at new high school. Last year we had 112 students and a budget of $1.2 million. This comes to just over $10,400/student. Our student body is 100% English Language Learners and 100% Title 1 (an indicator of poverty level) although we did not get any Title 1 money last year because we were a new school.<br /><br />This year we will double our student register to 225, still all ELL and all Title 1. Our budget for this year - $1.6 million including the addition of Title 1 money. This comes to just over $7111/student. This is a cut of 32%!<br /><br />$7111 per student. The next time you see that campaign ad for Bloomberg that claims he has done great things for education in NYC think of this - our school, with 100%high need students, will get 32% less money than last year. We will get approximately half of what schools in places like Scarsdale NY get. Half the money! Yet, in three years our graduates will have to compete with those from places like Scarsdale for college entry. This is the definition of <em>de facto</em> racism.<br /><br />It is not hyperbole to say that these budget cuts are racist and anti-working class. They will affect black, latino and poor whites disproportionately. Schools serving these students are already struggling behind those in middle-class or rich areas. Our students need more services. Their families can't afford private tutors or "college admissions coaches".<br /><br />Top universities get to say that they are not racist, it's just that there are not enough qualified black, latino and poor white applicants. As if all students start from a level playing field. That is the real danger of this kind of racism. No one stands up and talks about "those people". Everyone gets to look like they are only concerned about "merit". And blame gets put on the victims - they're just not good enough. This is the racism that too many people close their eyes to because it is easy to ignore.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-56260545347260485122009-08-22T23:28:00.006-04:002009-08-23T11:03:24.595-04:00Why we need healthcare reformI am not going to give you all of the statistics or generalities that fly around the Internet. I want to deal with this from the personal. As someone once said "the personal is political."<br /><br />Seven months ago today my mom had a stroke. What happened to her illustrates some of the best and most of the worst in how this system treats patients - and my mom had what is considered a good insurance with Medicare and her union supplement.<br /><br />When she suffered the stroke she was taken to one of the best stoke centers in the Northeast. She received very good treatment initially and through her stay in ICU at the hospital following surgery. However, onece she left the ICU and began to need extras (like therapy) the hospital moved quickly to discharge her to a rehab center - sending her out with an active MRSA infection.<br /><br />At the rehab center, again considered one of the best in the Northeast, the doctors and nurses did not want to deal with a patient who was sick. They ignored her symptoms for 48 hours until she went into congestive heart failure. She was taken to a local hospital, almost died and again entered an ICU. Once again she received very good emergency care, but when she began to need "extras" that the hospital could not bill medicare for it was time to send her back to the rehab center.<br /><br />Once again she was not really ready for rehab, and still more work that the doctors and nurses really wanted to deal with. Another "crisis" happened and mom was sent back to the hospital. Three more weeks in the hospital and on to a second rehab center/nursing home. Here she finally started therapy, but the home was so short staffed that inside of three weeks she BACK in the hospital due to DEHYDRATION!<br /><br />One week later and it was on to rehab center/nursing home 3. Here she has received excellent therapeutic care, although the nursing staff is over worked (a 25:1 ratio on the sub-acute floor) and her doctor has missed at least one near decent back towards congestive heart failure. <br /><br />All of this is with a health insurance policy that is considered on the best short of having several million dollars to pay for all of this out pocket. Health insurance does not work in this country. As long as it is profit based hospitals and nursing homes will push patients out before they are well. They will cut staffs in areas that not money generating.<br /><br />The only way to guarantee health care for all under this capitalist system is with a single payer plan. Anything else will perpetuate "for-profit" health care. In the U.S. that means profits before patients.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2651769178652847402.post-63439920466974839422009-08-22T23:14:00.003-04:002009-08-22T23:27:46.410-04:00Who am I and why am I doing this?The <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">first</span> part of this question is easy. I am a science teacher in a public high school in the Bronx. I am a truly native New Yorker and a product of the NYC public school system. I am also someone who has been active in progressive/left politics for as long as I can remember (the term used to be "red diaper baby").<br /><br />The second part is harder. What do I have to add to the vast noise in the bloggesphere? I don't know, but my voice is not there now. The funny thing is the final impetus for me was watching "Julie and Julia". I mean if people can be moved by someone cooking all of Julia Childs recipes in one year then I should be able to reach some people out there.<br /><br />I will write about what I observe in my life, cause isn't that what this is really all about. I promise NOT to write about my current school, administration, co-workers or students because I really don't want to piss off people I have to work with every day. I also will not write about my wife or our relationship. So if it is personal dirt you want go to TMZ or some other gossip site.Jonathan Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04186620756120303137noreply@blogger.com1