ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN VIEWS on "Need to Know" (PBS)

An EXCELLENT segment from "Need to Know." One on Israeli perspectives and one on Palestinian views of conditions in the West Bank. In this interview - David Grossman says;

"Those on the right who don't realize the plight of Palestinians are denying reality - just as those on the left, who deny the threat to Israel's very existence, also deny reality."

This is an extemely rare and balanced veiw to take on this issue and one I respect deeply. Please watch the full interview. (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/israeli-author-david-grossman-on-the-conflict-in-the-middle-east/5142/)


In Part 2, you will see BOTH the AMAZING development in Palestinian cities AND the less than amazing conditions for those in refugee communities. At the very least, this should convince anyone who thinks otherwise that the WEST BANK is NOT an open air prison. Complaints about rules and regulations that make life and business LESS CONVENIENT do not a humanitatian crisis make. Work for peace and improvde conditions - but do not demonize EITHER side. Palestinians deserve freedom, independence, and a future of their own. But don't promote the cause by claiming things that simply are not true. Conditions are improving in the West Bank and conditions in Gaza could improve in a similar way. Yes Israel is often obstinate in its quest for security, but whey does the international community not demand that Gaza be more like thier bretheren whose quality of life is improving because they have come to grips with the reality that is the Israel. (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/security/growing-a-state-palestinians-build-a-homeland/5139/)

THE STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS - BULLYING, HAZING, and the ABSENSE of SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

Serendipitously, but sadly, our topic for this week was already going to be the still real plight of GLBT youth in schools and by extension really, all students of difference. Of course this past week saw a brand new incident of bullying and hazing in our public schools - in Needham, MA. But Needham does not really deserve the harsh spotlight. The cycle of bullying and hazing the rears its ugly head regularly in schools is our own fault.

Any society that pays lip-service to civility in its public discourse and gets enjoyment from highlighting difference deserves these episodes - especially ones that end in parents and students wanting to simply brush the events under the rug so we can learn from them at a more convenient time. The only convenient time people is the present.

Routinely, our culture puts an emphasis on standardized tests and not on character development. As a teacher of eight year, I can tell you from first hand experience, that message gets through loud and clear to students. As I always say, x+y=Z in math and culture. If you put in x amount of time on y issue, you will get z as a result. Not enough time spent on examining behavior and difference leads to fear of the other and turning a blind eye to its ramifications. How else can we explain, in the latest episode, the coach knowing about the practice of leading girls around by a leash and the fact that parents cared more about winning then focusing on having woman paid more respect in their town.

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THE JOKE IS ON US ... 20 Days Since the GOP/FOX Duping of the Century

(posted from The COHEN SIDE show website http://www.cohenside.com/)

Never have so few (42% of the Elecorate) been so wrong, with such great impact. But what now? How do rational citizens who realize the world is not black white take back the dialgoue? How do those who know our society needs to both foster capitalism AND allow government intervention so that its abuses are limited? And how do we remind the country that trickle down ecomonics is no more a solution today than it was in the '80s.

The bottom line is that presidents and congresses are rarely to blame for economic catastrophes. It is generally a purely ecenomic trend (correction) or the abuse of fair practices (the mortgage crisis) that is to blame. And to think any policy will creat a quick recover is ludicrous. But we are the nation of the short term memory - so I am sure the electorate will be angry in a brand new way in 2012. And of course Washington will still be "broken" and "change" will still be what we need.

Of course "real change" would be the removal of big money and lobbyists from their undue influence on our lawmakers and a real removal of pork from the basic expectations of what we want from our representatives. If these real soutions were ever tackeled, social programs that do reall good in the world would not be the targets of misperception they currently are.

The party of antihistory - The Boston Globe

This is a bit long - but good (I also recommend the book). Finally the historians fight back to reclaim their craft. And I quote - regarding the Tea Party's mis-use of the founding fathers - “it’s a tool we can use — personalizing the ideas about the way government should be. I admit it’s a little contrived, but it’s... no different than campaigning for a candidate or marketing a movie star.”


The party of antihistory - The Boston Globe