On my Sunday morning blog stroll, I came across mechanic post. Until that moment, I didn't even realize what today was... am I that focused on school? Or did I subconsciously want to ignore?
Four years ago today, my life was humming along. I was living in one of the largest cities in the world, contemplating jumping into politics, thinking about writing and pondering another weekend of drunken escapades... both past and future.
Riding the subway to work (wondering if today would be the day the axe finally fell), my phone rang and my life took a quick left turn. Suddenly, the world wasn't all played out on the nightly news and a lot of things weren't so important. After last week's disaster, I wonder how many still remember that moment? Every year, it seems like fewer people care about those around them - it' seems like it is always about me and mine - to hell with everyone else. When did we become a country where a person would claim that those evacuated are better off having lost their homes and livelihood because they're able to get a better brand of donated clothes? Or that all evacuees must be screened, because those receiving welfare benefits are not worthy of help?
Any teacher will tell you that actions speak louder than words; that it only takes one leader to loose everything you've worked for and without a good model, students have nothing to aim for... so let's look at our leadership. Harry Truman used to have a plaque on his desk that said "the buck stops here." The staff around our current President plays the blame game so well, I seriously doubt Mr. Bush has ever seen the "buck." It seems like our President views his job as largely a ceremonial one. He takes some great pictures, gives speech (the shorter the better), and signs whatever is put in front of him. He's admitted that he doesn't like to read and relies heavily on aids to give their advice and synopsis... Congress is charge of making laws, the Supreme Court says whether they're legal, all he has to do is sign it. It's a cushy job. Plus, if the President hires all his friends and "good buddies," all those boring staff meetings and diplomatic functions are a heck of a lot more fun.
It's really easy to say things "it's going to be all right" and "stay the course," but they don't make a lot sense when that's all that is being said. There doesn't seem to be an actual course to stay on. Seriously, when a piano player can drive a truck into New Orleans with few problems, but FEMA can't bring in a single bottle of water, we all know it is NOT going to be all right.
This entry didn't turn out quite the way I had it planned, but I guess it's a lot nicer that what I've wanted to scream for years. The ignorance and selfishness permeating our society is destroying us. The alarm is ringing - does anyone hear it?
Four years ago today, my life was humming along. I was living in one of the largest cities in the world, contemplating jumping into politics, thinking about writing and pondering another weekend of drunken escapades... both past and future.
Riding the subway to work (wondering if today would be the day the axe finally fell), my phone rang and my life took a quick left turn. Suddenly, the world wasn't all played out on the nightly news and a lot of things weren't so important. After last week's disaster, I wonder how many still remember that moment? Every year, it seems like fewer people care about those around them - it' seems like it is always about me and mine - to hell with everyone else. When did we become a country where a person would claim that those evacuated are better off having lost their homes and livelihood because they're able to get a better brand of donated clothes? Or that all evacuees must be screened, because those receiving welfare benefits are not worthy of help?
Any teacher will tell you that actions speak louder than words; that it only takes one leader to loose everything you've worked for and without a good model, students have nothing to aim for... so let's look at our leadership. Harry Truman used to have a plaque on his desk that said "the buck stops here." The staff around our current President plays the blame game so well, I seriously doubt Mr. Bush has ever seen the "buck." It seems like our President views his job as largely a ceremonial one. He takes some great pictures, gives speech (the shorter the better), and signs whatever is put in front of him. He's admitted that he doesn't like to read and relies heavily on aids to give their advice and synopsis... Congress is charge of making laws, the Supreme Court says whether they're legal, all he has to do is sign it. It's a cushy job. Plus, if the President hires all his friends and "good buddies," all those boring staff meetings and diplomatic functions are a heck of a lot more fun.
It's really easy to say things "it's going to be all right" and "stay the course," but they don't make a lot sense when that's all that is being said. There doesn't seem to be an actual course to stay on. Seriously, when a piano player can drive a truck into New Orleans with few problems, but FEMA can't bring in a single bottle of water, we all know it is NOT going to be all right.
This entry didn't turn out quite the way I had it planned, but I guess it's a lot nicer that what I've wanted to scream for years. The ignorance and selfishness permeating our society is destroying us. The alarm is ringing - does anyone hear it?
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