Yes, it has been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina hit Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and most specifically and directly, the city of New Orleans. Levees failed and New Orleans was suddenly under water. Many of us watched and we saw all of the death and misery. People were standing on roofs pleading for help. We saw the flooding, the lack of planning, escape vehicles staged in areas under water. A stadium as a refuge but lacking food, water and infrastructure, filled with parents, children and grandparents for days. Hospitals becoming islands, again without necessary infrastructure and doctors and nurses being forced to make decisions about who would live and who would die. Nursing Homes and their operators unprepared for the emergency and people dying. Neighborhoods wiped out and homes floating by became a regular sight that we all shared. And through it all - no even before - government failed everyone, failed us all. It failed in the preparation, the planning and the response.
Ten years later, two Presidents arrive in New Orleans and celebrate what has been accomplished. Much I'm sure, but the reality is, people are still without their homes - 10 years later. This is the shame of Katrina. It's hard to imagine that people have continued to persevere, living in FEMA housing and waiting for decisions and work to take place. So government continues to fail and hardly anyone notices. The spin is on the success of the French Quarter, a resurgence in tourism and the turn around of local schools. All wonderful, but the slow response in the rebuilding of neighborhoods and homes should be unacceptable to everyone, including the two Presidents who paid a visit last week.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Julian Bond - A Good and Decent Man
I remember watching the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and being excited about the young man being nominated as Vice President that year. The young man was Julian Bond. Julian Bond passed away this past week. He lived a great life and was a good and decent man. He was a major force and leader in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, a civil rights leader, an elected official, a past president of the NAACP and a class act in general.
This past May, I saw Julian Bond along with many other people who had been involved in the peace movement at the conference Vietnam, The Power of Protest in Washington, DC. Today, Democracy Now, posted a video of one of Mr. Bond's last speeches that was given that weekend. We had all marched to the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial to celebrate what people had accomplished over the years and to renew our commitment to peace and social change.
During a break at the conference, Julian Bond and Rennie Davis (Chicago 7) were saying hello, reminiscing and trying to figure out how to take a selfie of themselves. I asked if I could help by taking the photo. I took Julian's phone and snapped a couple of pictures for them. Here is a picture of me with Julian Bond in the background just before I helped him get the picture he wanted.
I was privileged to meet and have a brief encounter with him. He had influenced me greatly and I looked up to him and what he stood for and how he had responded to adversity in his life. Here is the video of Julian Bond's speech that day at the King Memorial with an intro by Danny Glover. Thanks to Democracy Now for sharing it with all of us. Take a minute to hear Julian's story from his own mouth and listen to his message about continuing the struggle.
Julian Bond's Speech
A good and decent man. A man who knew the power of protest and who acted on it.
This past May, I saw Julian Bond along with many other people who had been involved in the peace movement at the conference Vietnam, The Power of Protest in Washington, DC. Today, Democracy Now, posted a video of one of Mr. Bond's last speeches that was given that weekend. We had all marched to the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial to celebrate what people had accomplished over the years and to renew our commitment to peace and social change.
During a break at the conference, Julian Bond and Rennie Davis (Chicago 7) were saying hello, reminiscing and trying to figure out how to take a selfie of themselves. I asked if I could help by taking the photo. I took Julian's phone and snapped a couple of pictures for them. Here is a picture of me with Julian Bond in the background just before I helped him get the picture he wanted.
Julian Bond's Speech
A good and decent man. A man who knew the power of protest and who acted on it.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
How We Treat Marginalized & Devalued People
The New York Times has published an investigative report about the treatment, or more correctly, the mistreatment of prisoners that occurred after the escape of two inmates that clearly embarrassed the NYS Department of Corrections, Correction Officers and Governor Andrew Cuomo. The article reports on allegations by prisoners of beatings, threats and the use of solitary confinement, all used to try to solicit information on the escape. The full article can be viewed here and should be read to get a better understanding of how power and control works.
Sadly this is only one example. We can view pictures of the Watts uprising, Ferguson, read the report on what happened at Attica or review the history of the mistreatment and abuse of people with developmental disabilities from Willowbrook to today. The examples are everywhere and are international in scope. The common theme through all of this are the victims themselves. They are all people who are marginalized and devalued by people in power. Sadly, the people in power seem to believe they are unseen and unaccountable and in many cases are their own victims of abuse, bullying, etc.
Prisoners don't tend to generate large amounts of sympathy. There's an assumption that if you're behind bars, you're not only guilty but probably violent, bad and the symbol of evil. The Correction Officer's Union is currently responding by asking the question "you're going to believe convicted felons?".
Then there are those whose lot or place in our world is established by chance more than anything else. These are people of color, the poor, people with disabilities and many others. They have had no choice in their life circumstances and yet people treat them as inferior or worse. Why would we believe them?
Many of us are naive about the treatment of the people I'm speaking about. We need stories like the one that appears in the NY Times or a TV report showing actual abuse and mistreatment. Perhaps a historic video from 50 years ago in Watts showing the police response alongside a current nightly news broadcast of policing in Ferguson, Mo. The juxtaposition of these scenes may help some understand the frustration and yes the rage that people in those circumstances feel as they continue to seek justice. Old broadcasts of people with developmental disabilities at Willowbrook State School could educate some people about how society reacts to hidden and devalued populations.
I am not naive. I have experienced and seen the control, the power and the abuse and mistreatment. I have been arrested and incarcerated in local and federal prisons as a civil rights and anti war activist. It's amazing what happens when doors close behind you. There are good people and some very, very bad people who work in prisons and other institutional settings. Sometimes when doors close, accountability is left on the other side. Too often these are closed systems. People are given control over other human beings. People are able to shred you of every sense of privacy or dignity from body searches to open bathrooms and showers. Mail and visitations are monitored and information used to punish and intimidate. Solitary confinement is an easily used punishment along with holding back clothing, food or contact. Physical abuse can and does happen in corners and shadows. Psychological abuse can be rampant and extremely harmful.
We've moved to community settings vs institutional settings for people with developmental disabilities. I helped develop some of these settings and supports and yet even now things don't always work out in the best interest of the person supported. The constant in all of this are some of the people who want to control others and who seem to be comfortable with abuse and mistreatment.
I learned many years ago that it is absolutely imperative that we learn to share in the experiences of the poor and those who are treated unjustly. If we don't, our solutions, our answers, our assistance and support will be next to useless. Much of what I learned came from people like Dorothy Day. Dorothy knew the importance of sharing poverty and injustice. She also knew that the experience itself would assist in speaking up and taking action against the things that were wrong. Here is a link to an article that explains much better then I why these beliefs and actions are so important - Where Are The Missing Mystics Of The Revolution?
Many people try to make a difference in the lives of the poor, the imprisoned, people with disabilities and so many more but it's important to realize that there are others who want to treat these people poorly and who are quite willing to abuse and mistreat. It begins with a joke, some disrespect and ultimately control over decision making. Good people need to be on the alert, share the stories and share the experiences of people who may not be seen as important. Systems like filling out forms, checking boxes, etc. become bureaucratic responses that become ineffective quickly. Real solutions come from the heart, come from experiences and come from people not tolerating mistreatment.
Ultimately though it is a recognition of our common humanity, our value as equals that we need to focus on. We can all find ourselves in circumstances that are uncomfortable and unjust. We can all find ways to help people who are in those circumstances now. How we treat marginalized and devalued people is really important to all of us.
Sadly this is only one example. We can view pictures of the Watts uprising, Ferguson, read the report on what happened at Attica or review the history of the mistreatment and abuse of people with developmental disabilities from Willowbrook to today. The examples are everywhere and are international in scope. The common theme through all of this are the victims themselves. They are all people who are marginalized and devalued by people in power. Sadly, the people in power seem to believe they are unseen and unaccountable and in many cases are their own victims of abuse, bullying, etc.
Prisoners don't tend to generate large amounts of sympathy. There's an assumption that if you're behind bars, you're not only guilty but probably violent, bad and the symbol of evil. The Correction Officer's Union is currently responding by asking the question "you're going to believe convicted felons?".
Then there are those whose lot or place in our world is established by chance more than anything else. These are people of color, the poor, people with disabilities and many others. They have had no choice in their life circumstances and yet people treat them as inferior or worse. Why would we believe them?
Many of us are naive about the treatment of the people I'm speaking about. We need stories like the one that appears in the NY Times or a TV report showing actual abuse and mistreatment. Perhaps a historic video from 50 years ago in Watts showing the police response alongside a current nightly news broadcast of policing in Ferguson, Mo. The juxtaposition of these scenes may help some understand the frustration and yes the rage that people in those circumstances feel as they continue to seek justice. Old broadcasts of people with developmental disabilities at Willowbrook State School could educate some people about how society reacts to hidden and devalued populations.
I am not naive. I have experienced and seen the control, the power and the abuse and mistreatment. I have been arrested and incarcerated in local and federal prisons as a civil rights and anti war activist. It's amazing what happens when doors close behind you. There are good people and some very, very bad people who work in prisons and other institutional settings. Sometimes when doors close, accountability is left on the other side. Too often these are closed systems. People are given control over other human beings. People are able to shred you of every sense of privacy or dignity from body searches to open bathrooms and showers. Mail and visitations are monitored and information used to punish and intimidate. Solitary confinement is an easily used punishment along with holding back clothing, food or contact. Physical abuse can and does happen in corners and shadows. Psychological abuse can be rampant and extremely harmful.
We've moved to community settings vs institutional settings for people with developmental disabilities. I helped develop some of these settings and supports and yet even now things don't always work out in the best interest of the person supported. The constant in all of this are some of the people who want to control others and who seem to be comfortable with abuse and mistreatment.
I learned many years ago that it is absolutely imperative that we learn to share in the experiences of the poor and those who are treated unjustly. If we don't, our solutions, our answers, our assistance and support will be next to useless. Much of what I learned came from people like Dorothy Day. Dorothy knew the importance of sharing poverty and injustice. She also knew that the experience itself would assist in speaking up and taking action against the things that were wrong. Here is a link to an article that explains much better then I why these beliefs and actions are so important - Where Are The Missing Mystics Of The Revolution?
Many people try to make a difference in the lives of the poor, the imprisoned, people with disabilities and so many more but it's important to realize that there are others who want to treat these people poorly and who are quite willing to abuse and mistreat. It begins with a joke, some disrespect and ultimately control over decision making. Good people need to be on the alert, share the stories and share the experiences of people who may not be seen as important. Systems like filling out forms, checking boxes, etc. become bureaucratic responses that become ineffective quickly. Real solutions come from the heart, come from experiences and come from people not tolerating mistreatment.
Ultimately though it is a recognition of our common humanity, our value as equals that we need to focus on. We can all find ourselves in circumstances that are uncomfortable and unjust. We can all find ways to help people who are in those circumstances now. How we treat marginalized and devalued people is really important to all of us.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Chasing Helicopters On Seneca Lake
Yesterday I went out on Seneca Lake, partly to calm down, get away from other thoughts and to just enjoy the beauty of this great body of water. During the week especially, the lake seems pretty quiet. Fewer boaters, water skiers and personal water craft. Although I have a motor boat, I like to go out into the middle of the lake or into an isolated cove, turn off the motor and just sit, drift and think. Sometimes it's the closest thing to meditation that I get to. Listening to ripples of water, watching Osprey, Great Blue Herons or Seagulls brings a certain peace. Every once in a while I'll fish, just to cast the line and reel it in, never really counting on catching anything and I seldom do.
The peace that I speak of above was broken by the constant drone of a helicopter. For a number of years I've seen this event taking place on the lake. Helicopters arrive, do some flyovers and then settle in on a specific area and hover for long periods 100-200 feet above the surface of the lake. I've seen them continue this type of operation for two to three hours at a time. There are times that they may drop something about the size of a 55 gallon drum from a cable and let it settle in the depth of the water while they continue to hover, later lifting the item back into the copter.
I've tried over the years to find out what this is all about with no success. There are lots of theories but no real answers. I've contacted my Congressman, the FAA, and the media. No answers, nobody's talking. Now I don't think it's a deep, dark military secret. My own theory is that it's testing of both the helicopter and sonar. There have been Helicopter facilities in the Southern Tier area for many years and I'm sure officials see this big body of water as an ideal place to do their testing. But yesterday I was angry and frustrated so I decided to take a little action. I saw the Helicopter in the distance on the east side of the lake fairly close to shore doing what it always does, hovering above the water creating little water spouts and swirls of waves splashing. I approached from the northwest and began aiming for the area east of the aircraft close to the eastern shore. As I moved in that direction I noticed the Helicopter moving toward the center of the lake while still hovering. I kept up my movement, now going to the center and coming in from behind the copter. Clearly we were engaged. As I got closer the aircraft suddenly rose, moved forward to the north and turned toward me. Now I was being buzzed. He came in low and got a good look at his stalker, rose again and flew off over the eastern hillside, gone for the day.
I felt like a Greenpeace activist for a moment. I had chased a Helicopter away from an otherwise peaceful place. I remembered a few Februaries ago when one of these aircraft disrupted a flock of a thousand or more Snow Geese. This is for you geese, I thought to myself. Many see the Snow Geese as an invasive species and a nuisance. I feel the same way about the aircraft. It's only one day and one Helicopter but it's a start and I feel better. What's that sound off in the distance? Ah, more work to do.
The peace that I speak of above was broken by the constant drone of a helicopter. For a number of years I've seen this event taking place on the lake. Helicopters arrive, do some flyovers and then settle in on a specific area and hover for long periods 100-200 feet above the surface of the lake. I've seen them continue this type of operation for two to three hours at a time. There are times that they may drop something about the size of a 55 gallon drum from a cable and let it settle in the depth of the water while they continue to hover, later lifting the item back into the copter.
I've tried over the years to find out what this is all about with no success. There are lots of theories but no real answers. I've contacted my Congressman, the FAA, and the media. No answers, nobody's talking. Now I don't think it's a deep, dark military secret. My own theory is that it's testing of both the helicopter and sonar. There have been Helicopter facilities in the Southern Tier area for many years and I'm sure officials see this big body of water as an ideal place to do their testing. But yesterday I was angry and frustrated so I decided to take a little action. I saw the Helicopter in the distance on the east side of the lake fairly close to shore doing what it always does, hovering above the water creating little water spouts and swirls of waves splashing. I approached from the northwest and began aiming for the area east of the aircraft close to the eastern shore. As I moved in that direction I noticed the Helicopter moving toward the center of the lake while still hovering. I kept up my movement, now going to the center and coming in from behind the copter. Clearly we were engaged. As I got closer the aircraft suddenly rose, moved forward to the north and turned toward me. Now I was being buzzed. He came in low and got a good look at his stalker, rose again and flew off over the eastern hillside, gone for the day.
I felt like a Greenpeace activist for a moment. I had chased a Helicopter away from an otherwise peaceful place. I remembered a few Februaries ago when one of these aircraft disrupted a flock of a thousand or more Snow Geese. This is for you geese, I thought to myself. Many see the Snow Geese as an invasive species and a nuisance. I feel the same way about the aircraft. It's only one day and one Helicopter but it's a start and I feel better. What's that sound off in the distance? Ah, more work to do.
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