Boycott the NY Post

So the NY Post published a political cartoon depicting police officers shooting a monkey or chimp, with a caption that reads something to the effect of  someone else will have to write the next stimulus package.  The fallout of this seemingly innocuous statement has been nothing short of nuclear.

Al Sharpton was the first to latch on and attack.  Many others followed suit, including Dr. Eric Michael Dyson, Julian Bond and Eric Holder, the first African American US Attorney General.

I have to admit that I initially was offended by what I deemed to be an overreaction.  My first thought went to the chimp in Boston who was shot by police after he attacked his owner's best friend.  I was extremely disturbed by this as I had just read an article about the myth of 75 years old Cheeta the Chimp who is apparently a hustler.

My next reaction was that I was expecting this.  When President Obama was elected one of my first thoughts was woe be unto the cartoonist who portrays the President as a monkey. Remember, for better or for worst, President Bush, Jr., was incessantly portrayed as a monkey in looks and deeds.  No one had a fit about this.

I get the historical context in which to be offended, but there is a real opportunity here.  The conversation about the Post should, IMHO, crash and die.  I never read the Post and I never will, especially now.  The conversation needs to focus on Eric Holder's comments about the cowardice of actually having a conversation about race in this country.

I am going to stop here, because this is a topic for another blog, but I hope I have gotten your minds attuned to where I am going with this . . .

Ode to my teachers

As I was driving home today, I heard a phrase that spun me in a time warp . . . Dream Deferred.  I learned this poem by Langston Hughes when I was about 13 and I recite it to myself from time to time to remind me never to find out the answer to the question.  I will blog about this later, but today I wanted to thank the teachers that inspired me to never know experience the answer:

Nancy Nott - 10th grade English teacher who told me that I should do Forensics (acting and orating) because I had so much expression in my face.  I think she was one of the greatest and most passionate teachers I ever had and I hope she would be pleased to know that I minored in English.

Ms. Kirkpatrick - I am not certain if I have the name correct, but yet another english teacher. In my yearbook, she wrote, "always be prepare, which you always are."  I was stunned by this, and it helped me realize I can fake preparation really well ;).  I have no clue where my yearbook is and this is the only inscription I remember.  She was also the Forensics and Debate coach at the high school I graduated from.

George Forrester - 11th grade AP History teacher whom I probably owe an apology to because I neither studied nor applied myself to his class, but was profoundly influenced by the subject-matter.  Mr. Forrester introduced me to "The Elements of Style," by Strunk and White.  I have given this book to many young people, including my so, and I peruse the pages at least once a year.  Do not judge my ability to demonstrate my technical writing ability by this Blog, please.

Emily Duma - 11th and 12th grade French teacher.  I enjoyed learning so much that I almost minored in French, but I chose English instead.  I hope Ms. Duma (and Professor L. Wilhite) is proud that I made it through Paris without any dirty looks because at least I tried.

Julie Bowen - 9th and 10th grade Spanish teacher.  Well . . . I actually have nothing good to say about her and mention her only to say I hated her teaching so much that I pursued French.  Teachers like her should not be allowed to teach!!!  The same goes for Dale ?, the band teacher who I dislikes so much that I did not pursue band in high school.

I say all this to say that I applaud ALL teachers, but rise to applaud those teachers whose passion for teaching and learning inspire generations to whatever greatness they pursue.  I want to thank these teachers and Kay Jackson for inspiring me to find my way and who lit a spark for learning that yet glows bright.