Category: EDUCATION (Page 2 of 2)

In one of my posts I contrasted the history of Europe’s ruling of its subjects by Monarchs verses the founding of America based on individual liberty. The American Revolution shed the “Divine Right To Rule” here. Current news reports indicate that Russia has massed troops to its west for a possible invasion. For centuries there has been a back and forth cycle of conflicts in Europe. As an example, going as far back as the Napolianic Wars, German states and later a combined Germany, have had bitter breaks with Russia followed by remarkably warm relations. They get along best with a buffer or two between them. The problem is that there are some small countries that pay the price of being buffeted. i.e. Poland/Czechoslavakia.

Also, Russia wanted warmer water ports for its shipping. Think Crimea. Hard to ship much or have a navy only seven months a year. Add to this historical context a Russian dictator who yearns for the days of Soviet Russia’s buffer. (Iron Curtain countries) Now, similar to Hitler in the 30’s, there is talk of helping the native Russians by ancestry residing in Ukraine. And, of course, the alleged horror of the West adavancing east while Russia probes west. Russia has always bristled over NATO. Invasion of Ukraine? How about tossing some fuel of weakness on the situation?

I grew up with the stories and history of World War Two. Munich represented appeasement in my mind. Chamberlain went there for “peace in our time” and Hitler received a green light to take the Sudetenland. Another back and forth piece of European buffer. Surprise, surprise; he didn’t stop there. War followed within a year or so. Today it is reported that more than Ukraine might be considered off limits to the west by Mother Russia. So, to Papa at least, fuel for the fire is a man from Chamberlain’s mold saying we’ll be tough as nails but a small incursion by Russia might be okay. (Wink, Wink? Doing it piecemeal may be okay?) Diplomats are now trying to correct the perception of US weakness. I fear that demonstrated weakness might prompt an invasion. Which could trigger further incursions/demands. Don’t feed the dictator beast.

However, worst case scenario, reeling from an ill-advised show of placation, an unsteady oldster might miscalculate and strike out with force to prove his bona fides. Mistakes can occur in the absence of clear thought. No one wants war. We need to keep NATO strong but do not need to be dragged militarily into Russia’s mischief. We can react with economic power but showing weakness has not helped to this point. I can’t help feeling sympathy for the poor devils potentially caught in-between once again.

BTW: I saw an ad that a movie “Munich” is streaming now. It will be interesting to see if it has a different take on Chamberlain’s trips in pursuit of peace. For decades his attempts were not regarded as worthy. Is eighty-four years long enough for a decent rehab? 1/21/2022

Any day would be a good day to do some reading/research on MLK. Today is the holiday celebrating his life. When I was young my awareness of racism was limited; it was an evil that existed elsewhere. I was raised in an all white city. As a youngster I recall our nuns at school teaching against racial prejudices. As only a sports looney boy would do, I remember my indignation when I read that beloved Milwaukee Braves; Billy Bruton, Hank Aaron and others were not allowed to stay in the same motel with white team mates. It was the teaching that lasted and took root because segregation and prejudice based on race affected all; not only the sports hero.

I did not have any interaction/meeting with anyone of color until I attended Badger Boys State. Limited is how I’d describe my experiences until the Army. I of course knew from the news of the Civil Rights movement and the abuses against Blacks but again that was from within a bubble away from elsewhere. On a family trip to New Orleans I did witness a small part of segregation; such as white/black restrooms/water fountains and one scary boast of retold violence at a gas station. Yet, there was a detachment from the full force of racial hatred. As a boy I could feel clear in my own conscience and point to absolving aspects of an unbringing up in the North. However, being better than one or more Southern states does not equal justice for all. So, as one grows older and has more expeiences/interactions it is easier to see not only the wisdom of MLK but of the need for his principles.

My bunk mate in Basic Training was a black man from Cleveland. I still remember talking about family with him. I especially recall a hot day of running when he grabbed my shoulder harness and gave an encouraging tug to a wobbly recruit. The military provided me a great opportunity to intergrate with a wide range of Americans. All in all I believe the best ideal is that no one is superior to anyone else based on race or any other characteristic. That does not mean that you will get along with everybody; you will learn to choose friends, avoid bullies, tolerate many, and sometimes simply not hit it off. Remember, it is within you that others are not viewed as inferior.

Again, it may seem that America has not seen as much racial turmoil and hatred as today but such conclusions are in the eye of the beholder. Hisory indicates otherwise. Slavery and the 1800’s were violent to the extreme. Ditto segregation. The time of lunch counter sit-ins, Rosa Parks and the Civil rights Marches were very turbulent but primarily non-violent. Nonviolence was MLK’s hallmark. Brown vs. Board Of Education; the Civil Rights and Voter’s Rights Acts and Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech all broadcast the value of no-violent, robust debate on political differences.

Resist being drawn into the current or future poisonous political periods. It’s what in your mind that counts. Do some MLK reading.

Today I was reminded that the anti-slavery movement in the United States took a long time to succeed. Of course, today some would say there has never been success. As is true with so many emotionally tinged issues: use your brains. Blanket statements of success or failure are easy for activists/politicians who wish to self-promote or simply stir the pot. It may be difficult to understand how, in a land founded on liberty, the issue of slavery did so much damage. But, it did. And, for too long. Throughout the 19th cenruty, there were vehement arguements, riots and compromises about enslavement. In the end, liberty did prevail.

The reminder for Papa came from a notice that a newspaper made abolition an early editiorial position in 1833. Even back then the usual “immediate change” versus “gradual transition” undoubtedly existed. Perhaps even within the editorial room of news outlets. Think Edmund Burke vs. Thomas Paine when you get around to reading works from those two. Instant vs. incremental. At any rate, the forces of good and evil are often at work. My study of history has focused on whether and how accomplishments since America’s founding were made. It is hard to think of any rougher internal issue for the country than slavery. BTW: Decent movies on the subject include “Amazing Grace” (England’s ceasing its slave trade); Amistad (America’s slave trade); and “Roots” (Humanity and hope before, during and after the horrors of bondage).

So far there is sigificant evidence of a continued push for the good. At times, it may not seem that progress is being made; especially since it is so easy for cynics to flood the paths to our brains with silly think. (Remember….it is okay to “be” silly vs. “do” silly”.) A ton of Americans argued and proded for freedom before the Civil War. Many then died in our country’s deadliest war. It took courage and gumption on the part of the many to succeed. The 1800’s is an interesting period of Ameican history to study.

From my perspective America has always moved forward. FORWARD FORWARD; That would make a great state motto. I wonder what state would be most likely to qualify for the motto FORWARD? I wonder.

A recent event in the news reminds that you should always adhere to the following: 1. A gun is always considered loaded. 2. Never point a gun at anything or anyone unless you intend to shoot. 3. Keep your finger away from the trigger if you handle a gun. 4. If you ever haphazardly come upon a gun; leave it alone. Don’t touch it. If a friend or other person is present and that person starts to pick up the gun, get far away immediately while cautioning against handling the gun as you retreat. Report the location of the gun to a family member, police or responsible adult. The recent event involved a movie set and a tragic outcome when an actor handled a gun and, contrary to belief, it was loaded. A person was shot and killed.

I briefly had two guns when I was young. For hunting and target use. Hunting never took hold for me and within a few years I gave them to a brother who hunted. If you ever get the urge to hunt or shoot you need to get certified in gun safety by a reputable program. Any gun you acquire must be properly stored/secured. I have no desire to keep a gun at our home for safety reasons. I would not now consider doing so without extensive training.

One more caution: When I was in the army I was trained in the use of both rifles and pistols. On occasion I carried a weapon in Vietnam. Except for training I did not fire any weapon in the military. But, I did learn the valuable lesson of all guns are loaded. At the firing range groups would fire at targets from various positions. I assume hundreds of rounds were fired per session. My recollection is that I’d check to be sure the weapon was empty as did my shooting partner and then also by the drill instructor. I’m not positive but I believe there was possibly a count of ammo distributed and shell casings retrieved. At the end we’d all march to our next fun activity. One fine day we were double timing about a quarter mile down the road and a recruit’s rifle fired off a still chambered but overlooked round. (Thankfully into the air!) Believe me the army was very careful but that damn checked and rechecked empty gun was loaded.

The one area in which there is a glaring difference for our respective generations is with the receipt of news. Good luck on finding reliable sources of the news. I find it extremely difficult right now. However, don’t expect that the US has historically enjoyed solid gold credentials for truth, justice and the American Way from its media. Current day media may believe they stand for truth but I wonder if journalism schools stress objectivity enough. In today’s digital information age it will be harder for you to sift and winnow. Too much is not necessarily a good thing.

When I was young we received three daily newspapers at our house. (Milwaukee Sentinel a nd Chicago Tribune in the morning and the evening Milwaukee Journal.) I admit that my main focus was on the comic stripes or on the sports section. But, for whatever reason I was also interested in politics and current events. I remember “The Joe Must Go” movement; the Soviet invasion of Hungry; the Nixon/Kennedy debates. I heard people say that the three newspapers were identified as republican or democratic. For the life of me I had a difficult time discerning the political leanings of the three newspapers. I also saw no great discrepancy between news stories in Newsweek, Time or US News And World Report which our house received weekly. I believe national TV news initially consisted of 15 minute segments and we received some news from movie newsreels. My mind was a sponge of sorts for news but I don’t recall that I felt manipulated or steered in any particular direction by the media.

In 1968, circumstances arose in which I was able to watch the three major TV network news cast in succession. For 3 or 4 months in a row I watched 1/2 hour segments each of CBS, ABC and NBC on basically the same news of the day. 1968 was a year of great turmoil. LBJ decided not to run for re-election; Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were murdered; there were riots in many US cities; there were presidential primaries and conventions; all with the Vietnam War and its protests as a backdrop casting a black cloud over America. Lots of news to report. Watching these outlets I never had the sense that I wasn’t getting an accurate telling of the events of the day. After months however, I did get the impression that there was an element of bias via adjective laced descriptions of the exact same facts. Against today’s version of left vs. right on a 1 to 10 scale I placed the networks between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 on any given day. I felt good about that as news reporting had seemingly come a long way since its “yellow journalism” days. I felt comfortable that I was receiving legitimate facts from all corners.

Through the years it became increasingly clear to me that news reporters are inclined towards being newsmakers. Now the bias in the media is easily identifiable. Worse, I’ve lost faith that I am getting reliable facts in reporting. Slanted bias and conflicting opinions can be handled. But, knowing the truth from the news media is like sorting through trash bins to get accurate information. I have over twenty favorite links to news sources on my tablet/computer. Those are my starting points for research in some cases. Except when rain is reported and it is actively raining against my window, I try to verify “facts” that are reported to the best of my ability. It is no longer a matter of sorting through bias/slants; it is a search for reality itself. Reporters and news sources outright lie. Plain as day they have no shame. I make my judgments in that regard. You must do so also. Use your noggin. Think for yourself and be cautious about “news”.

However, probably the greatest danger comes from the narrowing of the mind of news “viewers”. If a person is placed on the 1 to 10 scale mentioned above, many if not most consumers, confine themselves to news sources within 1 to 10 with which they agree. So, lies are accepted without question if consistent with a position on the 1 to 10 scale. No need to think further. This was brought home to me when someone repeated a lie to me about a verifiable news fact. When asked, this person did not cite any basis for the belief in the lie other than to say, with a straight face, ” I have the best news source.” Don’t look further. No need to sift and winnow in that brain. The dangerous part of rigid thinking is that it precludes discussion within the citizenry. It is not unhealthy to debate and have different opinions. By the way, debate team in high school was useful. And, people wonder why a philosophical divide exists in this country as folks blindly rush to occupy slots 1 to 10.

News, opinions, provocations, outright lies and re-writes of history will swamp you. I find a lot today that is outrageous. You may or you may not agree with that opinion. Stay strong. Keep an open mind. Think for yourself. But, pay attention to current events. It is very important to stay informed as a good citizen; especially when it is time to vote. You need a good grip on factual information in order to exercise that precious right/responsibility.