Blog 24

March 28, 2017

Life Trumps Politics

Last week we had a medical emergency in my family.  I had no time to write post cards, call my Moc’s, go to my weekly Indivisible Meeting and guess what the ACA still didn’t pass.   My magical thinking had led me to believe that if I didn’t put in my two hours a day of political resistance, all the things I am most afraid of would indeed happen, but I was wrong.  Millions of people are working to resist the current administration’s agenda and their work is making the difference.  From Indivisible:

“An insider’s account of how you defeated Trump’s top legislative priority. As former congressional staff, we can tell you exactly how this went down. Trump and Ryan were in a bind. With no Democratic support, they needed to pass a bill that would satisfy both the extreme right and the purple-state Republicans. Your constituent power, asserted week after week over the last few months, ultimately made this political calculus impossible.

Your relentless constituent pressure ensured that TrumpCare was deeply unpopular before it was even introduced. That unpopularity made it easy for the far-right Republicans to oppose the bill. Ryan and Trump needed those far-right votes, so they tried to offer more extreme concessions to win them over. Those extreme concessions spooked the purple-state Republicans, who started to bolt. Why? Because of intense pressure from their constituents (i.e. YOU). Suddenly, the bill was losing votes from both the far-right and the purple-state Republicans. In a matter of days, the congressional coalition behind Trump’s top legislative priority simply collapsed. TrumpCare was toast.

TrumpCare was terrible, but terrible legislation passes all the time. The difference this time was that you were organized and determined. You mounted a sustained, nationwide resistance that broke the will of the Republican caucus and derailed Trump’s agenda. Politics is the art of the possible, and you changed what was possible. You stood indivisible and it worked—and people will literally live longer, healthier lives as a result.”

We did it and without me this week.  What a relief!  We are part of something based on what each of us is willing and able to do and this movement is bigger than anyone of us.  Okay to take time out when needed.  And there are many ways to resist.  Artists all over the country are providing us with alternative pathways.

Wise Words

From Jenny Freeman on Face book a quote from Winston Churchill when asked if they should cut the arts during the war..  He said. “No, this is what we are fighting for.”

https://blog.artsquare.com/why-the-world-needs-artists/

   

Why the world needs artists… by Andy Derrick

In a time of great uncertainty when it seems our differences are screaming louder than our similarities, I’m reminded why the world needs artists. Despite obvious divisions, our world is changing and changing for the better. As a global society we seem to be nearing an inflection point. I see signs of the changes everywhere.

As the world “shrinks”, we have increasing opportunities to cross paths with people whose experiences in life and worldview are vastly different from our own; perhaps people we historically would have feared and demonized. It’s easier than ever for us to sit face to face with another human being and see, despite our differences, we are quite the same. The world is becoming more open and more connected and, as a result, more understanding and peaceful.

We’re shedding our old cloaks, the things that separated us like race, religion, sexuality, political ideology. Our shared humanity is becoming more important to us than tribalism or nationalism.

So, how do we reconcile that with the suffering we see in many corners of our world? How can the shift I’ve been describing possibly be real with all the pain, division, and conflict we see in every corner of the world?

We’re still smack dab in the middle of our progression towards love as a human society and we have a ways to go. ARTISTS are the ones who lead the charge. In a world divided up along far too many lines, artists help lead us toward unity. They help us ask the important questions, challenge the accepted norms of thought. Artists turn over the rocks the rest of society would rather leave buried in the dirt.

Artists examine themselves, examine the world and tell the story of what they see. They show us our own soul from a new perspective and ask that we look at it with clear eyes.

The world we live in is not black and white, not so clear cut as right and wrong, good versus evil. Art helps us explore the different shades. What other path is there if we’re to reconcile our differences and create an interconnected world?

Artists show us beauty for beauty’s sake. The lack of productive value of art makes it infinitely valuable. It reminds us we’re human beings, not “human doings”. We’re allowed to pause and enjoy life. We have permission to stop with the frantic doings of productivity and take time to explore the places we find life and beauty…just because.

These are the things the world needs. Unjustified beauty. An honest look in the mirror. To be reminded of the things that make us the same. These are things artists are uniquely able to give that politics, religion, education, and economics (all important) so often fail to do.

The world needs artists. The world needs artists to dance their dance, paint their muse, explore their questions, and shout their heart unapologetically. The global collective of creative voices will be the fuel that propels us into a better future.

Actions this week:

MOC’s- vote no on cloture to end Gorsuch filibuster. Vote to remove Nunes from Chair on House Intelligence committee. Ask Rep. to co-sponsor HR 356 which would create a special commission to investigate Russia interference in our election. Keep pressure on the insist that Trump releases his taxes.

Work locally.  Partner with groups in your community made up of the people who are being threatened by deportation.  They are already organized and need you to follow their lead. 

Make Art.  Play with your children and grandchildren.

Blog 23

March 21, 2017

Get Out of the Bubble

At our latest Indivisible Euclid meeting we were reminded once again that even those of us who have worked on anti-racism for years still get trapped in our bubble of white privilege.  Rather than coming up with our plan with how to stand with the immigrant community in our neighborhoods, we need to join in on the work that they are already doing.   Perhaps hard to swallow as a white person working every day on resisting the current administration’s agenda, but part of that work is to keep acknowledging our bubble and committing to working as allies with the leaders who live and work for justice in marginalized communities.  At a recent inter-faith Sanctuary organizing meeting, with mainly representatives from white churches, a woman who identified as a Latina here on DACA asked the group to “shine their light” on what her community is already doing to protect itself and resist ICE.  Another minister reminded us that there are already programs in place where we can volunteer. And then, there is our Red State/Blue State Bubble.  In fact, in every community, in every state people think and feel differently about what is happening in our country.  We cannot be separated from one another by generalizing about all those folks who voted for you know who.  My husband has been writing to Republicans who question the administration congratulating them and encouraging them to continue their work.  Right now, as I write this 12 Republicans in the House of Representatives are considering voting No on the ACA bill being rushed through the House and others leaning NO (see list below). 

I am encouraged by a growing acknowledgement particularly on social media of white peoples’ struggle with privilege.  Frank Bruni in his NYTimes  article and  review of the film “Get Out”, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-horror-of-smug-liberals.html points to how it is being received especially by  many young people who do not see us in a post-racial age. He quotes a typical twitter post: “What if the blind man in #getout represents white people who claim ‘not to see color’, but still end up contributing to oppression and racism. It was retweeted more than 1000 times and liked by more than 1700.

I am not here to beat my breast and say over and over “mea culpa”, but to stay current and active with an anti-racist perspective that takes me out my bubble and allows me to be an ally with others for social justice. 

Wise Words

Poem from Indivisible Euclid Meeting:

Yikes

We are vulnerable to the overload of

Slithering silver- tongued politicians and pundits

Whose distractions mask our choices.

Emergent sliver of choices, requiring

                Discernment and focus.

                Ellen Coffey

Feathers- East European Hasidic Story

Excerpt:

Words, like feathers, fly

In the wind, in the wind.

Reaching far and wide,

In the wind, in the wind.

Careless words, tossed about,

Cannot again be swallowed up.

Tongues like swords can cut the heart.

Words fly out.

The rumors start.

Cruel words, like feathers fly.

Cruel words reach far and wide.

Try and try to gather them again,

But they fly away in the wind.

Actions:

This week call Moc’s  and pressure them not to allow House to rush through ACA bill. Call or email with encouragement the following Republicans who say they will vote no or are leaning no:

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida) -- "I plan to vote no."

2. Tom Garrett (Virginia) -- "Right now I'm a no. I'm a firm no."

3. Mark Meadows (North Carolina) - "What is conservative about a new entitlement program and a new tax increase?"

4. Rob Wittman (Virginia) -- "I do not think this bill will do what is necessary for the short and long-term best interests of Virginians and therefore, I must oppose it."

5. Dave Brat (Virginia) -- "I can't support."

6. Andy Harris (Maryland) -- Opposes in its current form

7. Darrell Issa (California) -- Bill "not in a form I can approve of"

8. Tom Massie (Kentucky) -- "Stinking pile of garbage"

9. Ted Yoho (Florida) -- "I could not support the bill as it is right now."

10. Justin Amash (Michigan)

11. Raul Labrador (Idaho)

12. Warren Davidson (Ohio) — "If we called the votes today, I would be a no."

Leans no or has very serious concerns

1. Trent Franks (Arizona)

2. Jim Jordan (Ohio) -- Very critical. Introduced "clean repeal" bill

3. Louie Gohmert (Texas) -- "Just one thing is not going to fix it"

4. Mark Sanford (South Carolina) -- "Lean no"

5. Walter Jones (North Carolina) -- Said Congress needs to slow down.

6. Mo Brooks (Alabama)

7. Leonard Lance (New Jersey) -- "I do not want to vote on a bill that has no chance of passing over in the Senate."

8. Claudia Tenney (New York) -- "Just looking at what the CBO report came out with, and some of the issues in New York, I'm leaning toward voting no."

9. Gary Palmer (Alabama) -- "In my opinion, the current bill does not answer this crisis."

10. Tom McClintock (California) -- "I don't think it's defensible or sustainable for us to be giving massive tax cuts to investors while we have not assured that the tax system is supporting low-income families as they try to reach out for new health care insurance in the new market we are creating," he said n MSNBC.

11. Ken Buck (Colorado) -- "I'm leaning against this bill as it stands now," he told CNN's John Berman.

Proposed Education Bill  House Bill 619- We cannot let this happen. From Esther Rosenfeld by way of Joan Carney
To those of you not in the education field, you may not understand a lot of the educational jargon and the foundation of the American education system. Having a school voucher system proposed by Trump's Education secretary Betsy DeVos) doesn't just mean you can choose any school you want your kid to go to. It also means the public education program will be dismantled. Let me explain...
If your child has an IEP, frame it. Then kiss it good-bye.
If you have a job in special-education, meaning if you're a: special education teacher, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, a para, or a teacher's aid, you're in the same boat.
If you are in ESL teacher, you'll go first.
House Bill 610 makes some large changes.
Inform yourselves.
This bill will effectively start the school voucher system to be used by children ages 5-17 and starts the defunding process of public schools.
The bill will eliminate the Elementary and Education Act of 1965, which is the nation's educational law that provides equal opportunity in education.
ESSA is a big comprehensive program that covers programs for struggling learners, advanced and gifted kids in AP classes, ESL classes, classes for minorities such as Native Americans, Rural Education, Education for the Homeless, School Safety (Gun-Free schools), Monitoring and Compliance, and Federal Accountability Programs. Yes, there are all of these programs happening in our education system, in addition to just academics.
The Bill also abolishes the Nutritional Act of 2012 (No Hungry Kids Act) which provides nutritional standards in school breakfast and lunch.
The bill has no wording whatsoever protecting Special Needs kids, no mention of IDEA, and FAPE.
Some things ESSA does for Children with Disabilities:
-Ensures access to the general education curriculum.
-Ensures access to accommodations on assessments.
-Ensures concepts of Universal Design for Learning.
-Includes provisions that require local education agencies to provide evidence-based interventions in schools with consistently underperforming subgroups.
-Requires states in Title I plans to address how they will improve conditions for learning including reducing incidents of bullying and harassment in schools, overuse of discipline practices and reduce the use of aversive behavioral interventions (such as restraints and seclusion).
Please call your representative and ask him/her to vote NO on House Bill 610 (HR 610) introduced by three Republican reps.

Let Barbaara Lee House Representative know that you support her bill to stop troops from being sent to Syria. https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-block-the-deployment-of-ground-troops-in-syria