From: lfsheehy@cfl.rr.com
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: {PBJFlorida} Digest for pbjflorida@googlegroups.com - 8 Messages in 4 Topics
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:49:48 -0400
Violence is NOT a virtue, no matter how it may appear. Some of us have been having a very different conversation after Colorado. The wild west must not prevail in our thinking---and acting.
From: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com [mailto:pbjflorida@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 3:10 AM
To: Digest Recipients
Subject: {PBJFlorida} Digest for pbjflorida@googlegroups.com - 8 Messages in 4 Topics
Group: http://groups.google.com/group/pbjflorida/topics
§ Gun Industry Sales/Profits Rise After Colorado Theater Shooting [1 Update]
§ A BOOK by ME - Deb meets with young authors in Charlotte, NC [3 Updates]
§ Digest for pbjflorida@googlegroups.com - 7 Messages in 3 Topics [3 Updates]
§ July 23, Barton, solar, education [1 Update]
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 24 03:32PM -0400
News from NPR to Huffington Post states that gun sales in Colorado rise after the Colorado shooting. Calls for more restrictions are hardly heard. It's kill or be killed in America. We are a violent people. I suppose that violence has become a virtue.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/colorado-gun-sales-have-huge-spike-after-aurora-shooting_n_1698941.html
Susan Peterson <sbpeterson71@gmail.com> Jul 24 10:19AM -0400
Dear Friends,
I've always believed in the power of the story, and having young people
listen to the stories of older folk and then write down those stories is a
powerful tool. Much progress is made as we learn to listen to people, it
is often difficult to find the time and be mindful of each interaction that
may change our viewpoint, heal our egocentrism, help us to see ways to
solve problems that seem beyond our ability.
We can blame politicians, clergy, communities for the violence that
occurred in Aurora, CO., but there are times when we cannot possibly know
that a man obsessed with death will not enter our lives. We each have to
be aware of the dangers, and when we compare drivers' licensing and gun
licensing---we have a long way to go in doing our best to be sure that
people with guns are going to use them responsibly.
The crazy, mentally ill, obsessed persons in any society are identifiable
by a very small group of people who have known them for a long time--and
maybe even then are not fully known by anyone. We do need to connect with
the pain that causes the action as well as the pain caused by the reign of
terror. Unfortunately, most people, in every nation, respond to the
actions of hate on large scales, but do not do very well in responding to
the day-to-day acts that alienate teens, children, and adults so that they
are no longer rational problem solvers.
Perhaps telling stories, in some way, is the beginning of understanding how
to change things,
Blessings,
Sue Peterson
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: A BOOK by ME <debbow@abookbyme.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Subject: A BOOK by ME - Deb meets with young authors in Charlotte, NC
To: sbpeterson71@gmail.com
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*Newsletter
July 23, 2012*
A BOOK by ME: Holocaust Series
*True stories written by children for children*
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*Teaching Tolerance, Courage, Compassion, Kindness, Perseverance, and more.*
* Deb Bowen, A BOOK by Me
Daniel Gittleman, young author
I'm in Charlotte, NC right now visiting with two young authors. The first
is Daniel Gittleman, son of Stuart and Sandra Gittleman. Daniel's book
entitled From Singer to Survivor is in final edits.
Daniel is proud of the writing project he completed a number of years ago.
He loves his "subject" named Frieda E. Roos-van Hessen. Frieda is a Jewish
survivor and her story has touched his life.
If you know of a young person like Daniel who loves to write, send this
newsletter to them asking them to visit us at
www.abookbyme.com<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qzJQVtkTJniJFpjyQZcltK6aoZkyJ-izY1twuNUX9ubE5lqUQUAHP7VeTS_EE2zr9d4nLfzm6avEBsE-hwxTcrvWTiskAErZsXLNasRBvrc65TMF0qnaK7S9FzVhCjZDbpfUvUU2qe84YoCkJfb_EIaVRmKTGkM8hJOWWlUDS8jN6lLqyolOgkFkmQTzCPomjnjj7fFiNSe48ymy1YqzvSDfJEsjjmeJezE51kqanYpzzCoVK9BMJ1f2HtfaBHuE-EV9Bpk1TwA=>
.
There is a free coloring book download available on the website. It can be
used as a sample for anyone interested in the writing project.
Next week I will tell you about meeting Elyse Bodenheimer.
Sincerely,
Deb Bowen
[image: H Book #46 A Safe
Home]<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qzJQVtkTJniJFpjyQZcltK6aoZkyJ-izY1twuNUX9ubE5lqUQUAHP7VeTS_EE2zr9d4nLfzm6avEBsE-hwxTcrvWTiskAErZsXLNasRBvrc65TMF0qnaK7S9FzVhCjZDbpfUvUU2qe84YoCkJfb_EIaVRmKTGkM8hJOWWlUDS8jN6lLqyolOgkFkmQTzCPomjnjj7fFiNSe48ymy1YqzvSDfJEsjjmeJezE51kqanYpzzCoVK9BMJ1f2HtfaBHuE-EV9Bpk1TwA=>
* Free Coloring Book*
A Safe Home*
*Teaching Tolerance, Courage, Compassion, Kindness, Perseverance, and more.*
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qzJQVtkTJnisaJTlNjn7Nbsajm0Mbgiuj167l9hTjjy-ZOewXnMRiqvGJYrxdNaQ46F68LMZDCctC5NEEjR5pkKOxkFytq9uJE_qulZ166LMBD27lk3Px5RvdXzJnbanrmBnTi12v4RQzlee64ZRr54HYQR9ahh2NrwlHNjDuaia14qS2suPFF0TJZNit_ZYsbXOFzX0Lf5hyBCIYXpJ9HomwHIZdBbiGippCqXYQPXxcs3Gm_r5PUuw0jj_TkwhFLBDncscZK1uOPBqiK6KUklHQ6DX0tsUZ0X2HApOc11UqxuNmGk8mz9FPkL7h4Qh>
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[image: Jesse Crawford] * + * [image: Josh Bowen & Jesse
Crawford] *=* [image: H Book #4 A Boy Called Jesse]
[image: deb forward in frame]
*I'm asking ordinary children all over the world to use their talents to
share extraordinary stories. Many students write about Holocaust survivors,
Righteous Gentiles (non-Jews who risked their lives to save the Jewish
people), prison camp liberators and other important stories of World War
II. Since this generation is getting older, the time to interview them,
write and illustrate their important story is RIGHT NOW!*
*-Deb Bowen*
*Operation WRITE NOW!*
*ATTN: Teachers and students
*
*We are asking ordinary students to create an extraordinary writing
project! *
*We are launching a world wide search for stories about Jewish Holocaust
survivors, WWII Veterans (those who were eye-witness to the horrors of the
Holocaust) or Righteous Gentiles (non-Jews who risked their lives helping
the Jewish people). Our subjects are getting older so the time for the
interview and book project is RIGHT NOW!*
*HEY KIDS... YOU CAN GET STARTED TODAY... *
*Find a person to interview by talking with a teacher, Librarian, local
historian, Jewish Federation, VFW or a grandparent for ideas! Or put an
article in the newspaper and be surprised who responds! Then register your
story idea online and get started writing. A $25 Registration Fee Applies
(Scholarships available if needed).*
*This is a great project for public school, home school, or religious
school students! In addition girl scouts, boy scouts, 4H clubs, youth
groups or any club!*
*It's as easy as A,B,C (see our writers guidelines on the website). *
- *A Avoid duplication - find a subject in your hometown and make sure
someone else hasn't already selected the same person by checking the
website. *
- *B Broadcast - tell us who you will write about by registering your
project. Then you are ready to interview your subject.*
- *C Complete the project!*
*Help us please! *
*We need to capture these amazing stories RIGHT NOW!*
*NOTE: There are three series in the A BOOK by ME program: a Holocaust, a
Human Rights, and a Heroes Series.*
*You may register to write for any of the three series but due to the age
of our WWII generation, we are emphasizing the need to capture the WWII
stories immediately.*
Forward
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A Book By Me | c/o The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities | 2715 30th
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--
*Susan B. Peterson*
Local Coordinator
American Councils for International Education
407-678-4693 / 321-439-1105 cell
www.americancouncils.org
Learn about global exchange and opportunities
to participate in U.S. State Department
scholarship programs.
*For more information on hosting an exchange student, check out our **NEW **
website: http://inbound.americancouncils.org*
Penny Villegas <pennyvillegas31@gmail.com> Jul 24 10:56AM -0400
I am encouraged to hear about programs like this. If we can just listen, if
we can tell our stories, we can connect. Thank you, Susan.
--
*Penny*
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 24 11:55AM -0400
Yes, I agree with Penny and Susan. "God created us because God loves stories." - Elie Wiesel
Miguel
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 10:56:28 -0400
Subject: Re: {PBJFlorida} Fwd: A BOOK by ME - Deb meets with young authors in Charlotte, NC
From: pennyvillegas31@gmail.com
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com
I am encouraged to hear about programs like this. If we can just listen, if we can tell our stories, we can connect. Thank you, Susan.
On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 10:19 AM, Susan Peterson <sbpeterson71@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Friends,
I've always believed in the power of the story, and having young people listen to the stories of older folk and then write down those stories is a powerful tool. Much progress is made as we learn to listen to people, it is often difficult to find the time and be mindful of each interaction that may change our viewpoint, heal our egocentrism, help us to see ways to solve problems that seem beyond our ability.
We can blame politicians, clergy, communities for the violence that occurred in Aurora, CO., but there are times when we cannot possibly know that a man obsessed with death will not enter our lives. We each have to be aware of the dangers, and when we compare drivers' licensing and gun licensing---we have a long way to go in doing our best to be sure that people with guns are going to use them responsibly.
The crazy, mentally ill, obsessed persons in any society are identifiable by a very small group of people who have known them for a long time--and maybe even then are not fully known by anyone. We do need to connect with the pain that causes the action as well as the pain caused by the reign of terror. Unfortunately, most people, in every nation, respond to the actions of hate on large scales, but do not do very well in responding to the day-to-day acts that alienate teens, children, and adults so that they are no longer rational problem solvers.
Perhaps telling stories, in some way, is the beginning of understanding how to change things,
Blessings,
Sue Peterson
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: A BOOK by ME <debbow@abookbyme.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Subject: A BOOK by ME - Deb meets with young authors in Charlotte, NC
To: sbpeterson71@gmail.com
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
POST THIS ON YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK - CLICK ICONS ABOVE!
Newsletter July 23, 2012
A BOOK by ME: Holocaust Series
True stories written by children for children
www.abookbyme.com
A BOOK by ME was born to tell the stories of three Jewish survivors from the Quad Cities, each named Esther. We honor our friends Esther Avruch, Esther Katz and Esther Schiff. Because of the inspiration they provided, 70 stories have been written or are in process.
Teaching Tolerance, Courage, Compassion, Kindness, Perseverance, and more.
Deb Bowen, A BOOK by Me
Daniel Gittleman, young author
I'm in Charlotte, NC right now visiting with two young authors. The first is Daniel Gittleman, son of Stuart and Sandra Gittleman. Daniel's book entitled From Singer to Survivor is in final edits.
Daniel is proud of the writing project he completed a number of years ago. He loves his "subject" named Frieda E. Roos-van Hessen. Frieda is a Jewish survivor and her story has touched his life.
If you know of a young person like Daniel who loves to write, send this newsletter to them asking them to visit us at www.abookbyme.com.
There is a free coloring book download available on the website. It can be used as a sample for anyone interested in the writing project.
Next week I will tell you about meeting Elyse Bodenheimer.
Sincerely,
Deb Bowen
Free Coloring Book
A Safe Home
Teaching Tolerance, Courage, Compassion, Kindness, Perseverance, and more.
To learn more about A BOOK by ME...
CLICK HERE!
+ =
I'm asking ordinary children all over the world to use their talents to share extraordinary stories. Many students write about Holocaust survivors, Righteous Gentiles (non-Jews who risked their lives to save the Jewish people), prison camp liberators and other important stories of World War II. Since this generation is getting older, the time to interview them, write and illustrate their important story is RIGHT NOW!
-Deb Bowen
Operation WRITE NOW!
ATTN: Teachers and students
We are asking ordinary students to create an extraordinary writing project!
We are launching a world wide search for stories about Jewish Holocaust survivors, WWII Veterans (those who were eye-witness to the horrors of the Holocaust) or Righteous Gentiles (non-Jews who risked their lives helping the Jewish people). Our subjects are getting older so the time for the interview and book project is RIGHT NOW!
HEY KIDS... YOU CAN GET STARTED TODAY...
Find a person to interview by talking with a teacher, Librarian, local historian, Jewish Federation, VFW or a grandparent for ideas! Or put an article in the newspaper and be surprised who responds! Then register your story idea online and get started writing. A $25 Registration Fee Applies (Scholarships available if needed).
This is a great project for public school, home school, or religious school students! In addition girl scouts, boy scouts, 4H clubs, youth groups or any club!
It's as easy as A,B,C (see our writers guidelines on the website).
A Avoid duplication - find a subject in your hometown and make sure someone else hasn't already selected the same person by checking the website.
B Broadcast - tell us who you will write about by registering your project. Then you are ready to interview your subject.
C Complete the project!
Help us please!
We need to capture these amazing stories RIGHT NOW!
NOTE: There are three series in the A BOOK by ME program: a Holocaust, a Human Rights, and a Heroes Series.
You may register to write for any of the three series but due to the age of our WWII generation, we are emphasizing the need to capture the WWII stories immediately.
Forward email
This email was sent to sbpeterson71@gmail.com by debbow@abookbyme.com |
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.
A Book By Me | c/o The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities | 2715 30th Street | Rock Island | IL | 61201
--
Susan B. Peterson
Local Coordinator
American Councils for International Education
407-678-4693 / 321-439-1105 cell
www.americancouncils.org
Learn about global exchange and opportunities
to participate in U.S. State Department
scholarship programs.
For more information on hosting an exchange student, check out our NEW website: http://inbound.americancouncils.org
--
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"Glenn M. Stein" <eloasis@earthlink.net> Jul 24 05:25AM -0400
Good commentary Miguel and Jim.
Escapism is certainly the byword in the United States. Quite impressed we
are with ourselves…so much so, we don't wish to see other perspectives.
Here's a quote from the writings of explorer Mikael Strandberg, who sent me
this link regarding his very recent return from Yemen:
"There´s a great need for education. I am not talking about Western style
education, but people need to learn how to read and write. And to understand
there´s another world out there, very different to their own. I used to
believe in preserving old and ancient cultures really hard, for the sake of
their survival in the future, for the rest of us to learn from them, but the
older I get and the more I see, preserving old ways isn´t always a good
thing. The lack of education and understanding of other worlds just creates
fears, misunderstandings, some hostility and injustice. Old ways are seldom
better. Most people we met had no education, couldn´t read and write. Most
of them had never been outside their own area."
(http://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2012/07/04/expedition-yemen-by-camel-missio
n-accomplished/)
Marty
From: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com [mailto:pbjflorida@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 3:30 AM
To: Digest Recipients
Subject: {PBJFlorida} Digest for pbjflorida@googlegroups.com - 7 Messages in
3 Topics
Today's Topic Summary
Group: <http://groups.google.com/group/pbjflorida/topics>
http://groups.google.com/group/pbjflorida/topics
§ "Blood on OUR hands" [3 Updates]
§ FW: Birth of a Caste in America? [3 Updates]
§ Please Read the Careerists by Chris Hedges [1 Update]
<http://groups.google.com/group/pbjflorida/t/2fe7e94842caea66> "Blood on
OUR hands"
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 23 01:08PM -0400
Yes Jim. We have forgotten to collaborate because we are too busy, stretched
too thin. Interestingly, not busy enough to pack a movie theater or a sports
stadium. I love movies and I don't deny anyone who is a sports enthusiast,
but most of us rather look at "something" else than at each other. We rather
comment at the screen or at a football play than communicate with each
other. We are an unhealthy society needing help.
From: jimbelcher350@me.com
Subject: Re: {PBJFlorida} "Blood on OUR hands"
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:09:00 -0400
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com
Thank you for this Miguel.
This would be a great starting point for conversation, creativity and action
toward a new cultural possibility. It will take bold individual and
collective/collaborative action to respond to this cultural crisis of our
own making.
You said, "We have not come to accept that violent tragedy is social." The
lack of real response on this list serve of some of the brightest, most
caring people in our community tells me we have forgotten how to
collaborate. Pontification we know, we've mastered "being right";
Collaboration and collective imagining -- not so good yet. I think this is
the heart of the matter AND also the doorway to a new possibility -- a new
cultural narrative.
And you said,"until we take a good long look at ourselves" and "until we
start teaching our children how to think and learn" and I might add, we must
begin learning (relearning maybe) and teaching ourselves and our children
how to get along with each other -- actually, how to get along with all
others. We forgot how to do compassion, caring, support, and love of
ourselves especially and others -- as in each other person and in loving,
caring and supporting ourselves and all species. This is the work, our work.
This blood is on our hands now. It is up to us, not the politicians.
jim
On Jul 22, 2012, at 5:29 PM, Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com>
wrote:
The article is good but the commentator neglects the fact that what gets you
elected president in this country is a show of machismo. A violent society
as ours wants a fictional Rambo, not a real Gandhi. Remember the Willie
Horton campaign ads? Strength is shown through incarceration and arming your
nation and your home to the teeth. Plus, the NRA is one of if not the
strongest lobbying groups in this country. Their power, money, and influence
is immense. Anyone who directly opposes the NRA does not have a long
political career. Just remember what happened when Obama was elected.
Although he kept mostly quiet in his campaign and throughout the
administration, gun sales rose to an all time high. Could you imagine if he
did speak about tighter weapon laws. Now imagine if Obama, or even Romney,
started to advocate tighter gun restrictions in this campaign. Gun sales
would go through the roof and whoever is the proponent of tighter weapons
control would not be elected. Fifty percent or more of the population does
not want gun restrictions. It may sound counterintuitive, but the more you
advocate for gun control, especially in the South and Southwest, the more
gun sales go up. Therefore, even after Aurora, nothing will change.
Furthermore, we can blame our politicians, TV, and violent video games only
so far. I am sure that they all play a part. However, Europe, South America,
Asia, and the Middle East display violence on their big and small screens.
The Middle East, Mexico, and parts of Central America is constantly plagued
by real violence. I believe the difference between those countries and ours
is that they live in reality. Although their movies may from time to time
contain hardcore violence, and even sex, their endings are all to real,
often tragic and rarely happy (or at least not happily ever after). In the
U.S. we escape into escapism. We ignore the soldiers still fighting and
dying in Afghanistan, yet we go and watch gore, mayhem, and horror in our
theaters. We become so enraptured with sports and that our university
administrators and coaching staff turn away from credible reports of child
sexual abuse. In the U.S. we tend to believe in and want happy endings. But
that is not reality. We all die sooner or later. Families split apart.
Lovers end love affairs. The poor are marginalized. Children are abducted,
abused, scarred for life, or never to be seen again. Yet, most of us tend to
pull away from these realities, preferring to believe in and live in fairy
tales until violent tragedy strikes us individually. We have not come to
accept that violent tragedy is social. Aurora's nightmare is Orlando's
nightmare. It is an American nightmare.
Many of the killers have come from middle class or privileged backgrounds.
One cannot say that their financial situation played a part in their crimes.
Perhaps they faced some types of mental or physical abuse. However, what we
do seem to hear is that they all faced some type of disappointment in their
lives. They refused to face up to disappointment. Rather than see a worthy
challenge they saw unforgivable failure in themselves and in society.
Somewhere along the line they traded reality for fantasy. They refused to
see live as it is, with its ebb and flow of joy and suffering, and instead
adopted the Hollywood, and perhaps even Puritan, version of happy endings.
When that happiness was not fulfilled, they could not cope with reality.
They sought then, to make sense of life not as it is but as they wished it
for themselves. They forced their own twisted view of life into an all to
real act of violent death.
And what about the rest of us. We are a sick nation unwilling to look at
ourselves in the mirror. We are no healthier than those who commit the
horrible mass shootings. We are just one heartbreak or one layoff away. We
are looking for quick fixes and happy endings. How often do you hear about
protests outside the NRA main headquarters? When we get the chance to
non-violently confront the money interests and corporate powers, we back
down as soon as they send the police. And we back down to the police because
instead of non-violent tactics we use violence and violent words. We often
ask our political leaders what will they do? They have done what we have
allowed them to do. The question is what will we (the people) do in the wake
of Aurora, Virginia Tech, Colombine, and so many others.
Until we courageously confront the forces of profit over people, until we
take a good long look at ourselves in the mirror, until we start teaching
our children how to think and learn for themselves and deal with
disappointment instead of teaching them what to learn so they can graduate
to make money (that will mostly likely end up going to pay school loans
anyway), there will sadly be more killers and killings such as in Aurora.
And the blood will be (as it has been) on all of our hands.
God forgive America!
Miguel
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2012 08:03:44 -0400
Subject: {PBJFlorida} "Blood on the hands of Obama, Mitt, and NRA"
From: pennyvillegas31@gmail.com
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com; smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com;
ckavalec@valenciacollege.edu; Junebug49@comcast.net; mamabear888@gmail.com;
kerryp817@bellsouth.net; arnp189@cfl.rr.com; pennyvillegas31@gmail.com;
robinmarie27@att.net; bbobsan2@aol.com; siddhisatori@yahoo.com
Here's a columnist with guts.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/blood-hands-obama-mitt-nra-article-1.1119
049--
Penny
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jim belcher <jimbelcher350@me.com> Jul 23 08:19PM -0400
Miguel,
I agree we need help.
I think that "too busy" and "stretched too thin" are smoke screens we use
for protection. Collaboration requires opening up, baring one's soul, being
vulnerable. Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and
change.
Imagine the time we would save if we worked together instead in competition.
We consider that admitting we need help is a sign of weakness -- quite the
opposit. It takes courage to come out from behind the protective screen of
"I can do it myself."
When the social, economic and environmental systems around us collapse we
will have more incentive to start turning to one another. Even then there's
no certainty. We could just as well turn to violence and chaos; we know that
road better.
jim
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 23 09:28PM -0400
Yeah. In order to turn to one another we need to practice that vulnerability
that you mention. Like you stated, we are more prone to violence and chaos.
Maybe it's different in countries like Norway, but I don't see the culture
of violence changing anytime soon in America.
Sent from my iPhone
<http://groups.google.com/group/pbjflorida/t/8ba5beced9305b9d> FW: Birth
of a Caste in America?
Abhinav Dwivedi <abhinavd45@hotmail.com> Jul 23 06:17AM -0400
Worth reading and pondering over.
With high regards,
Abhinav Dwivedi
From: SIARAM@aol.com [mailto:SIARAM@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2012 8:31 PM
To: siaram@aol.com
Subject: Birth of a Caste in America?
· Cinema Rasik: Birth of a Caste in America?
Birth of a Caste in America?
http://cinemarasik.com/2012/07/21/birth-of-a-caste-in-america.aspx
Few books get the attention and acclaim that has been given to the book by
Charles Murray titled "Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010".
The book, in the author's own words, "deals with the divergence between the
professional and working classes in white America over the last century."
In an Op-Ed
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/opinion/reforms-for-the-new-upper-class.h
tml?_r=1> in the New York Times on March 7, 2012, Mr. Murray outlined "four
steps that might weaken the isolation of at least the children of the new
upper class." He admits that these steps "won't really make a lot of
substantive, immediate difference,", but there "may be.. a symbolic value in
these reforms". He concludes the Op-Ed with:
* "The haves in our society are increasingly cocooned in a system that makes
it easy for their children to be haves."
This sentence rang a bell. The bell got louder as we read The Opportunity
Gap
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/opinion/brooks-the-opportunity-gap.html?_
r=2
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/opinion/brooks-the-opportunity-gap.html?_
r=2&hp> &hp> , an opinion by David Brooks of the New York Times. In his
opinion piece, Mr. Brooks discussed the research of Robert Putnam of
Harvard, research that Brooks described as "horrifying":
* "Putnam's data verifies what many of us have seen anecdotally, that the
children of the more affluent and less affluent are raised in starkly
different ways and have different opportunities."
* "Richer kids are roughly twice as likely to play after-school sports. They
are more than twice as likely to be the captains of their sports teams. They
are much more likely to do nonsporting activities, like theater, yearbook
and scouting. They are much more likely to attend religious services."
* "...poorer kids are less likely to participate in voluntary service work
that might give them a sense of purpose and responsibility. Their test
scores are lagging. Their opportunities are more limited."
The bell began tolling with what Brooks wrote next:
* "Affluent, intelligent people are now more likely to marry other
energetic, intelligent people. They raise energetic, intelligent kids in
self-segregated, cultural ghettoes where they know little about and have
less influence upon people who do not share their blessings."
What did our bell toll for? A Caste System. Yes, not a "class divide" as
many have described it but the birth of a Caste in America. Specifically, a
new "Brahmin" Caste in America.
The Etymology of "Caste" & its Development
Today the word "caste" is so intertwined with India and "Hinduism" that
hardly anyone remembers that it's origin is European. The British coined
Caste from Casta <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta> , an Iberian word
(mainly Portuguese & Spanish). Casta means lineage, breed or race. According
to wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta> , casta is derived from
the older Latin word castus, implying the lineage has been kept pure. If you
want a pure example of Casta, look at the Saudi "Royal" family.
The British applied the Caste concept to the social strata they saw in
Indian or "Hindu" society. There is nothing in "Hindu" texts to suggest a
heredity-based segregation of society. At its formative stage at the
beginning of known time, Vedic society described 4 professions or "Varna" -
Teacher-Priest, Warrior, Commerce-Trader and Menial Labor. But these were
pure Varna or professions. Several Vedic Sages came from the lowest economic
and social strata of
jim belcher <jimbelcher350@me.com> Jul 24 08:14AM -0400
Thank you Marty!
So true of my public school trained students (and me too now that i think about it). They seem so sequestered in their narrow views and afraid to venture out. It is a real challenge for me to reach them and offer a broader perspective.
I suppose I am trapped, almost unconsciously, in narrow views too. It takes much courage and vulnerability for me (for us) to break out of what i "know" and what's been so comfortable for so long. I need all the support I can get to do this.
jim
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 24 11:53AM -0400
Excellent point Marty! Thanks for sending. I missed your commentaries.
Miguel
From: eloasis@earthlink.net
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: {PBJFlorida} Digest for pbjflorida@googlegroups.com - 7 Messages in 3 Topics
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 05:25:21 -0400
Good commentary Miguel and Jim.
Escapism is certainly the byword in the United States. Quite impressed we are with ourselves…so much so, we don't wish to see other perspectives. Here's a quote from the writings of explorer Mikael Strandberg, who sent me this link regarding his very recent return from Yemen:
"There´s a great need for education. I am not talking about Western style education, but people need to learn how to read and write. And to understand there´s another world out there, very different to their own. I used to believe in preserving old and ancient cultures really hard, for the sake of their survival in the future, for the rest of us to learn from them, but the older I get and the more I see, preserving old ways isn´t always a good thing. The lack of education and understanding of other worlds just creates fears, misunderstandings, some hostility and injustice. Old ways are seldom better. Most people we met had no education, couldn´t read and write. Most of them had never been outside their own area." (http://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2012/07/04/expedition-yemen-by-camel-mission-accomplished/)
Marty
From: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com [mailto:pbjflorida@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 3:30 AM
To: Digest Recipients
Subject: {PBJFlorida} Digest for pbjflorida@googlegroups.com - 7 Messages in 3 Topics
Today's Topic Summary
Group: http://groups.google.com/group/pbjflorida/topics
§ "Blood on OUR hands" [3 Updates]
§ FW: Birth of a Caste in America? [3 Updates]
§ Please Read the Careerists by Chris Hedges [1 Update]
"Blood on OUR hands"
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 23 01:08PM -0400
Yes Jim. We have forgotten to collaborate because we are too busy, stretched too thin. Interestingly, not busy enough to pack a movie theater or a sports stadium. I love movies and I don't deny anyone who is a sports enthusiast, but most of us rather look at "something" else than at each other. We rather comment at the screen or at a football play than communicate with each other. We are an unhealthy society needing help.
From: jimbelcher350@me.com
Subject: Re: {PBJFlorida} "Blood on OUR hands"
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:09:00 -0400
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com
Thank you for this Miguel.
This would be a great starting point for conversation, creativity and action toward a new cultural possibility. It will take bold individual and collective/collaborative action to respond to this cultural crisis of our own making.
You said, "We have not come to accept that violent tragedy is social." The lack of real response on this list serve of some of the brightest, most caring people in our community tells me we have forgotten how to collaborate. Pontification we know, we've mastered "being right"; Collaboration and collective imagining -- not so good yet. I think this is the heart of the matter AND also the doorway to a new possibility -- a new cultural narrative.
And you said,"until we take a good long look at ourselves" and "until we start teaching our children how to think and learn" and I might add, we must begin learning (relearning maybe) and teaching ourselves and our children how to get along with each other -- actually, how to get along with all others. We forgot how to do compassion, caring, support, and love of ourselves especially and others -- as in each other person and in loving, caring and supporting ourselves and all species. This is the work, our work.
This blood is on our hands now. It is up to us, not the politicians.
jim
On Jul 22, 2012, at 5:29 PM, Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> wrote:
The article is good but the commentator neglects the fact that what gets you elected president in this country is a show of machismo. A violent society as ours wants a fictional Rambo, not a real Gandhi. Remember the Willie Horton campaign ads? Strength is shown through incarceration and arming your nation and your home to the teeth. Plus, the NRA is one of if not the strongest lobbying groups in this country. Their power, money, and influence is immense. Anyone who directly opposes the NRA does not have a long political career. Just remember what happened when Obama was elected. Although he kept mostly quiet in his campaign and throughout the administration, gun sales rose to an all time high. Could you imagine if he did speak about tighter weapon laws. Now imagine if Obama, or even Romney, started to advocate tighter gun restrictions in this campaign. Gun sales would go through the roof and whoever is the proponent of tighter weapons control would not be elected. Fifty percent or more of the population does not want gun restrictions. It may sound counterintuitive, but the more you advocate for gun control, especially in the South and Southwest, the more gun sales go up. Therefore, even after Aurora, nothing will change.
Furthermore, we can blame our politicians, TV, and violent video games only so far. I am sure that they all play a part. However, Europe, South America, Asia, and the Middle East display violence on their big and small screens. The Middle East, Mexico, and parts of Central America is constantly plagued by real violence. I believe the difference between those countries and ours is that they live in reality. Although their movies may from time to time contain hardcore violence, and even sex, their endings are all to real, often tragic and rarely happy (or at least not happily ever after). In the U.S. we escape into escapism. We ignore the soldiers still fighting and dying in Afghanistan, yet we go and watch gore, mayhem, and horror in our theaters. We become so enraptured with sports and that our university administrators and coaching staff turn away from credible reports of child sexual abuse. In the U.S. we tend to believe in and want happy endings. But that is not reality. We all die sooner or later. Families split apart. Lovers end love affairs. The poor are marginalized. Children are abducted, abused, scarred for life, or never to be seen again. Yet, most of us tend to pull away from these realities, preferring to believe in and live in fairy tales until violent tragedy strikes us individually. We have not come to accept that violent tragedy is social. Aurora's nightmare is Orlando's nightmare. It is an American nightmare.
Many of the killers have come from middle class or privileged backgrounds. One cannot say that their financial situation played a part in their crimes. Perhaps they faced some types of mental or physical abuse. However, what we do seem to hear is that they all faced some type of disappointment in their lives. They refused to face up to disappointment. Rather than see a worthy challenge they saw unforgivable failure in themselves and in society. Somewhere along the line they traded reality for fantasy. They refused to see live as it is, with its ebb and flow of joy and suffering, and instead adopted the Hollywood, and perhaps even Puritan, version of happy endings. When that happiness was not fulfilled, they could not cope with reality. They sought then, to make sense of life not as it is but as they wished it for themselves. They forced their own twisted view of life into an all to real act of violent death.
And what about the rest of us. We are a sick nation unwilling to look at ourselves in the mirror. We are no healthier than those who commit the horrible mass shootings. We are just one heartbreak or one layoff away. We are looking for quick fixes and happy endings. How often do you hear about protests outside the NRA main headquarters? When we get the chance to non-violently confront the money interests and corporate powers, we back down as soon as they send the police. And we back down to the police because instead of non-violent tactics we use violence and violent words. We often ask our political leaders what will they do? They have done what we have allowed them to do. The question is what will we (the people) do in the wake of Aurora, Virginia Tech, Colombine, and so many others.
Until we courageously confront the forces of profit over people, until we take a good long look at ourselves in the mirror, until we start teaching our children how to think and learn for themselves and deal with disappointment instead of teaching them what to learn so they can graduate to make money (that will mostly likely end up going to pay school loans anyway), there will sadly be more killers and killings such as in Aurora. And the blood will be (as it has been) on all of our hands.
God forgive America!
Miguel
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2012 08:03:44 -0400
Subject: {PBJFlorida} "Blood on the hands of Obama, Mitt, and NRA"
From: pennyvillegas31@gmail.com
To: pbjflorida@googlegroups.com; smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com; ckavalec@valenciacollege.edu; Junebug49@comcast.net; mamabear888@gmail.com; kerryp817@bellsouth.net; arnp189@cfl.rr.com; pennyvillegas31@gmail.com; robinmarie27@att.net; bbobsan2@aol.com; siddhisatori@yahoo.com
Here's a columnist with guts.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/blood-hands-obama-mitt-nra-article-1.1119049--
Penny
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jim belcher <jimbelcher350@me.com> Jul 23 08:19PM -0400
Miguel,
I agree we need help.
I think that "too busy" and "stretched too thin" are smoke screens we use for protection. Collaboration requires opening up, baring one's soul, being vulnerable. Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.
Imagine the time we would save if we worked together instead in competition.
We consider that admitting we need help is a sign of weakness -- quite the opposit. It takes courage to come out from behind the protective screen of "I can do it myself."
When the social, economic and environmental systems around us collapse we will have more incentive to start turning to one another. Even then there's no certainty. We could just as well turn to violence and chaos; we know that road better.
jim
Michael Rodriguez <fireryphoenix@hotmail.com> Jul 23 09:28PM -0400
Yeah. In order to turn to one another we need to practice that vulnerability that you mention. Like you stated, we are more prone to violence and chaos. Maybe it's different in countries like Norway, but I don't see the culture of violence changing anytime soon in America.
Sent from my iPhone
FW: Birth of a Caste in America?
Abhinav Dwivedi <abhinavd45@hotmail.com> Jul 23 06:17AM -0400
Worth reading and pondering over.
With high regards,
Abhinav Dwivedi
From: SIARAM@aol.com [mailto:SIARAM@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2012 8:31 PM
To: siaram@aol.com
Subject: Birth of a Caste in America?
· Cinema Rasik: Birth of a Caste in America?
Birth of a Caste in America?
http://cinemarasik.com/2012/07/21/birth-of-a-caste-in-america.aspx
Few books get the attention and acclaim that has been given to the book by Charles Murray titled "Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010". The book, in the author's own words, "deals with the divergence between the professional and working classes in white America over the last century."
In an Op-Ed <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/opinion/reforms-for-the-new-upper-class.html?_r=1> in the New York Times on March 7, 2012, Mr. Murray outlined "four steps that might weaken the isolation of at least the children of the new upper class." He admits that these steps "won't really make a lot of substantive, immediate difference,", but there "may be.. a symbolic value in these reforms". He concludes the Op-Ed with:
* "The haves in our society are increasingly cocooned in a system that makes it easy for their children to be haves."
This sentence rang a bell. The bell got louder as we read The Opportunity Gap <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/10/opinion/brooks-the-opportunity-gap.html?_r=2&hp> , an opinion by David Brooks of the New York Times. In his opinion piece, Mr. Brooks discussed the research of Robert Putnam of Harvard, research that Brooks described as "horrifying":
* "Putnam's data verifies what many of us have seen anecdotally, that the children of the more affluent and less affluent are raised in starkly different ways and have different opportunities."
* "Richer kids are roughly twice as likely to play after-school sports. They are more than twice as likely to be the captains of their sports teams. They are much more likely to do nonsporting activities, like theater, yearbook and scouting. They are much more likely to attend religious services."
* "...poorer kids are less likely to participate in voluntary service work that might give them a sense of purpose and responsibility. Their test scores are lagging. Their opportunities are more limited."
The bell began tolling with what Brooks wrote next:
* "Affluent, intelligent people are now more likely to marry other energetic, intelligent people. They raise energetic, intelligent kids in self-segregated, cultural ghettoes where they know little about and have less influence upon people who do not share their blessings."
What did our bell toll for? A Caste System. Yes, not a "class divide" as many have described it but the birth of a Caste in America. Specifically, a new "Brahmin" Caste in America.
The Etymology of "Caste" & its Development
Today the word "caste" is so intertwined with India and "Hinduism" that hardly anyone remembers that it's origin is European. The British coined Caste from Casta <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta> , an Iberian word (mainly Portuguese & Spanish). Casta means lineage, breed or race. According to wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta> , casta is derived from the older Latin word castus, implying the lineage has been kept pure. If you want a pure example of Casta, look at the Saudi "Royal" family.
The British applied the Caste concept to the social strata they saw in Indian or "Hindu" society. There is nothing in "Hindu" texts to suggest a heredity-based segregation of society. At its formative stage at the beginning of known time, Vedic society described 4 professions or "Varna" - Teacher-Priest, Warrior, Commerce-Trader and Menial Labor. But these were pure Varna or professions. Several Vedic Sages came from the lowest economic and social strata of society. The prevailing dictum was "all are born as Shudra (menial class); it is with education that one becomes twice-born (upper class)".
Fast forward about 1,000 - 1,500
jim belcher <jimbelcher350@me.com> Jul 24 05:23AM -0400
This quote is taken from the following article, and explains some republican thinking and gives a glimpse of why our prospects for the future is less than bright:
"It is perhaps no surprise that two Texas Republicans are being attacked for critical thinking — since the Texas GOP's 2012 Platform actually opposes any teaching of "critical thinking skills." The Platform contains a plank on "Knowledge-Based Education" that reads (on page 12 here):
Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.
None of that fancy "knowledge-based education" for Texas!"
It is perhaps no surprise that two Texas Republicans are being attacked for critical thinking — since the Texas GOP's 2012 Platform actually opposes any teaching of "critical thinking skills." The Platform contains a plank on "Knowledge-Based Education" that reads (on page 12 here):
Knowledge-Based Education – We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority.
None of that fancy "knowledge-based education" for Texas!
how long will it before critical thinking is banned from Florida schools?
Welcome to Dark Age II.
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