Nite Cap 7-12-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #AFT14

James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."

A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP

OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaign | Bob Braun's Ledger

OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaign | Bob Braun's Ledger: OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaignBrodesser-Akner on TwitterThe Star-Ledger has hired a former Hollywood celebrity gossip blogger to be the senior political correspondent who will cover Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential campaign, according to social media sources. Seriously.Meanwhile, Amy Ellis Nutt, th

by mike simpson / 1min 

GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the Privileged | Bob Braun's Ledger

GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the Privileged | Bob Braun's Ledger: GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the PrivilegedBack to New HampshireBy Linda StamatoIn the wake of “Bridgegate,” press coverage shifted from near adulation of Chris Christie to embarrassed incredulity; the artful politician, poised to become a presidenti

by mike simpson / 2h 

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turning

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turning: Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turningMatt HynesI reported last month about Rahm's machine bagman Matt Hynes jumping ship to go spend "more time with his family." Remember Hynes, the son of former longtime Cook County Assessor, ward boss (1

by mike simpson / 3h 

Districts debate merits of master's for teachers - SFGate

Districts debate merits of master's for teachers - SFGate: Districts debate merits of master's for teachersBy JAMIE STENGLE, Associated PressUpdated 10:35 am, Saturday, July 12, 2014People gather outside the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh, NC during summer 2013 to protest the elimination of tenure and extra pay for teachers with advanced degrees in the state. Efforts to eliminate extra

by mike simpson / 3h 

War and Peace | Bill Ayers

War and Peace | Bill Ayers: War and PeaceA pervasive and widely promoted theory that runs loose throughout the land is that being a military powerhouse makes the US (and people everywhere) safe, protects freedoms, and is a force for peace in a threatening, dangerous, and hostile world. It’s not true, but it has a huge and sticky hold on our imaginations.When some random politician tells antiwar pr

by mike simpson / 6h 

2nd Banana 7-12-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #AFT14

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST  Clowns In The Tent, Oh My!The Camel's Nose In The Tent.The Camel's Nose In The Tent.One cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel gently thrust his nose under the flap and looked in. "Master," he said, "let me put my nose in your tent. It's cold and stormy out here." "By all means," said the Arab, "

by mike simpson / 6h 

Morning Wink 7-12-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSCommon Core Talking Points Decimated in Radio Interview | Missouri Education WatchdogCommon Core Talking Points Decimated in Radio Interview | Missouri Education Watchdog:Common Core Talking Points Decimated in Radio InterviewinShareHow much money has been spent by the Gates Foundation and corporate entities to push the PR message that we will love Common

by mike simpson / 7h 

Common Core Talking Points Decimated in Radio Interview | Missouri Education Watchdog

Common Core Talking Points Decimated in Radio Interview | Missouri Education Watchdog:Common Core Talking Points Decimated in Radio InterviewinShareHow much money has been spent by the Gates Foundation and corporate entities to push the PR message that we will love Common Core once we know what’s in it?  Trouble is, the more we know about it, the more people dislike it. Michael Brickman of Fordham

by mike simpson / 7h 

7-12-14 Key Responsibility Areas | Connected Principals

Connected Principals | Sharing. Learning. Leading.: Key Responsibility Areas Part TwoThis has been a busy summer of hiring new teammates and preparing for the school year to come. Sample Staff KRA In one of our recent interviews, I was asked to give some feedback on some of the responsiblity areas in our office areas. So I shared some samples of our KRA’s. Those samples provided some great feedbac

by mike simpson / 8h 

Stephen Krashen Blog 7-12-14

SKrashen:Literacy Education: Need We Start Early?Literacy Education: Need We Start Early?Stephen KrashenLanguage and Language Teaching, Vol 3, number 2, issue 6: pp 1-7. 2014Most people are convinced that children will have a powerful head start in reading if they are introduced to sounds and letters well before they start school. The conclusions of this paper are these: For the development of Eng

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATS

With A Brooklyn Accent:Why Charter School Scandals Resemble the Subprime Mortgage CrisisTo understand why  we may be approaching a charter school crisis that resembles the one that developed around subprime mortgages, you need to understand how investment banks and credit rating agencies seized upon an instrument to make homeownership available to people with limited resources as a vehicle to make

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Jersey Jazzman NJ Ed News Round-up Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekNew Report on the Consequences of Inadequately Funded SchoolsYesterday, the Education Law Center released a report they commissioned from yours truly about the consequences of inadequately funding school districts."Shortchanging New Jersey Students: How Inadequate Funding Has Led to Reduced Staff and Growing Disparities in the State’s Public Schoo

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION:Curmudgucation WeekDetails on New Teacher Equity Equality PlanThis aspect of school reform has been lurking around the edges for some time-- the notion that once we find the super-duper teachers, we could somehow shuffle everybody around and put the supery-duperest in front of the neediest students. But though reformsters have occasionally floated the idea, the feds have been reluct

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefsfrom The Network for Public EducationWhy Is Arne Duncan Still Pushing the Dangerous Myth of Low Expectations? | AlternetJuly 8, 2014  | Sometimes when politicians fail on social media, the result is mostly humorous fodder for critics, such as when South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley posted this Tweet: Click to enlarge. But othe

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog Core Criteria for Collaborative ConversationsThe Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards have drawn new attention to how these skills are developed across curriculum and across grade bands. In their 2014 ASCD Annual Conference session, "Collaborative Conversations: Meeting Anchor Standard 1 in Speaking and

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):Want the latest on education in Los Angeles? Sign up for our email!Tired of checking and re-checking our website for the latest on education news and information in Los Angeles? Why not sign up for our Email Update? It’s free, it’s easy and it comes 5 days a week, (unless we take a day off). Click HERE to

by mike simpson / 8h 

All Week @ The Answer Sheet 7-12-14

The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetHow Microsoft will make money from Common Core (despite what Bill Gates said)Microsoft founder Bill Gates got somewhat indignant when my Post colleague Lyndsey Layton asked him in an interview this past spring about concerns  of some opponents of the Common Core State Standards  that his important support for the initiative has been driven by business in

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership SocietySen. Kirk has outdone himselfOur "moderate" Republican Senator Mark Kirk, who has called for the mass incarceration of 18,000 young black men as a crime-fighting strategy, has outdone himself this time. Kirk, who has to legitimize himself with his anti-immigrant base

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekWARNING: The assault on Connecticut’s Hospitals – Here come the for-profit hospital operatorsFor decades, even centuries, Connecticut’s regional non-profit hospitals have been one of its greatest assets.  Emergency rooms, maternity programs, and access to local, high-quality hospital care have made our communities better, safer and healthier places to live and raise

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumSeattle Schools To Hold Community Meeting on Special EducationFrom SPS Communications:When:  Tuesday, July 22, 2014Time:  6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.Where:  Seattle Public John Stanford Center Auditorium, 2445 3rd Avenue South What:  A family meeting hosted by Seattle Public Schools and the TIERS Group (Teams Intervening Early to Reach all St

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineAFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down Overwhelmingly in CommitteeVoters supporting CTU CC reso stand in support - est 25-30%.Since we were not allowed in, we were watching the Education Issues Committee debate from outside the glass doors. With long lines at the mic, it was clear that Chicago TU people did not have the muscle to win the room over to its a

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherAFT. Common Core will get debated on Sunday.CTU President Karen Lewis pushed for the debate. - Mercedes Schneider blogs at deutch29 A very good thing will happen on Sunday, July 13, 2014, at the American Federation of Teachers (AF

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekSo Much For Randi Weingarten And The AFT Fighting The Common CoreNorm Scott is at the AFT convention in L.A. - he reports Randi Weingarten and her Unity/UFT minions had the votes to secure their own pro-Common Core resolution but rigged the committee process in order to ensure the Chicago Teachers Union resolution condemning Common Core didn't pass

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

THE BECOMING RADICALEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Racism not Below the Surface in U.S., StillSince it is just sports, that LeBran James and Carmelo Anthony are wielding a significant amount of power during the NBA off-season could easily go unnoticed except for sports fans and those enthralled by ESPN and sports media. But how James and Anthony are fra

by mike simpson / 8h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-12-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  Draft Revision Of Lcap Moves ForwardBy John Fensterwald | EdSource  | http://bit.ly/1r4JKNJ July 10, 2014 |Members of the State Board of Education uniformly praised the way school districts have created plans to comply with California’s new school improvement and accountability system, but said Thursday that s

by mike simpson / 8h 

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 7-12-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYInfographic: “Why Language Learning Is Important”I’ve got a few issues with this infographic but, in general, it offers decent advice. I’m not quite sure why it shows up so small but, if you click on it, a bigger version appears…..by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h YESTERDAYThree Good Resources On Asse

by mike simpson / 8h 

This Week's Education Research Report 7-12-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTCensus Bureau Reports Majority of STEM College Graduates Do Not Work in STEM OccupationsThe U.S. Census Bureau reported today that 74 percent of those who have a bachelor's degree in science, technology, engineering and math — commonly referred to as STEM — are not employed in STEM occupations. In addition, men continue to be overrepres

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-12-14 Schools Matter All Week

Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekFollowing Rhonda's Advice: Be a "Little Badass"With salary and benefits at $550,000 a year, it won't be easy to pry Weingarten from her offices at AFT.  But following the advice she offered teachers at the convention, here are a few ways teachers might be a "little BadAss":1) Stop paying union dues until Lily and Rhonda (aka Randi) resign

by mike simpson / 8h 

All Week 7-12-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Does anyone else struggle with movement in the classroom?This from the Answer Sheet: In the following post, Angela Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of TimberNook, a nature-based development program designed to foster creativity and independent play outdoors in New England, suggests yet another reason more children are being di

by mike simpson / 8h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 7-12-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGTeacher: No Time For Teaching, Only TestingThis teacher laments the explosion of testing in school, which has reduced or eliminated time for play, recess, and activities. This is the brave new world of Common Core and PARCC: H/she writes: “The Common Core and PARCC will ruin education as we know it..And, of course, it is

by mike simpson / 8h 

YESTERDAY

Weingarten lays out bold call to move country forward - AFT - A Union of Professionals -

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Weingarten lays out bold call to move country forward: Weingarten lays out bold call to move country forwardAFT President Randi Weingarten kicked off the AFT national convention in Los Angeles July 11 by outlining a bold plan to both fight back and fight forward to reclaim the promise of America and create economic and educational opportunity for all.In her keynote

by mike simpson / 22h 

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Remarks by AFT President Randi Weingarten at the AFT Convention 2014

AFT - A Union of Professionals - Remarks by AFT President Randi Weingarten at the AFT Convention 2014: Reclaiming the Promise of AmericaRemarks for AFT President Randi WeingartenAFT 2014 ConventionLos Angeles, Calif.July 11, 2014I. INTRODUCTIONFor everyone joining us here for the first time: welcome.For everyone else: welcome home.Home is where we seek comfort. Where we connect. Where we can debat

by mike simpson / 23h 

Nite Cap 7-11-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPWhy A Great Principal Burned Out – And What Might Have Helped | Gatsby In L.A.Why A Great Principal Burned Out – And What Might Have Helped | Gatsby In L.A.: Why A Great Principal Burned Out – And What Might Have Helped Boxes crowd the hallways,

by mike simpson / 23h 

2nd Banana 7-12-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 7-5-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 6-28-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 6-21-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 6-14-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 6-7-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

Nite Cap 7-11-14

Nite Cap 7-10-14

Nite Cap 7-9-14 

Nite Cap 7-8-14

Nite Cap 7-7-14

Nite Cap 7-6-14

Nite Cap 7-5-14

OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaign | Bob Braun's Ledger

OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaign | Bob Braun's Ledger:

OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaign

Brodesser-Akner on Twitter

The Star-Ledger has hired a former Hollywood celebrity gossip blogger to be the senior political correspondent who will cover Gov. Chris Christie’s presidential campaign, according to social media sources. 

Seriously.

Meanwhile, Amy Ellis Nutt, the only Star-Ledger writer ever to win a Pulitzer Prize, left the paper last week. She will work for The Washington Post.

The site LA Observed reported that Claude Brodesser-Akner, a former blogger for the gossip site TMZ,  revealed the move to New Jersey’s largest newspaper himself on his Facebook page:

“Longtime LA and Hollywood journalist Claude Brodesser-Akner is moving east to become the senior political writer for the Newark Star-Ledger, covering New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his anticipated run for the presidency. ’Those of you who know me well know this is about as close as it gets to me to winning PowerBall Lotto,’ Brodesser-Akner writes on Facebook. ‘It’s also a dream job that I need to point out ONLY came true with the endless love, support and sacrifice of the world’s hardest-working and best possible wife, Taffy Brodesser-Akner.’’’

The media site Cision also reported:

“Claude Brodesser-Akneri s joining The Star-Ledger as a senior political writer, focusing on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and his anticipated 2016 presidential run. Currently a freelance writer, he was most recently West Coast editor for New York magazine and Vulture from January 2010 to March 2013. He previously served as bureau chief for Advertising Age and co-editor for Madison + Vine at Crain Communications. Prior to this, he hosted and co-wrote The Business on KCRW, a show he created. Before that, he was a blogger for TMZ, a staff reporter for Variety and an intern for Charlie OMG!!!!! Look who’s covering Christie’s prez campaign | Bob Braun's Ledger:

GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the Privileged | Bob Braun's Ledger

GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the Privileged | Bob Braun's Ledger:

GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the Privileged

Back to New Hampshire

By Linda Stamato

In the wake of “Bridgegate,” press coverage shifted from near adulation of Chris Christie to embarrassed incredulity; the artful politician, poised to become a presidential contender, was reduced in a heartbeat to a tarnished pretender. The phrase, “He can’t lose,” morphed into “He can’t win.”

Well, we’re witnessing a shift back and for no apparent reason other than the limited attention span of the public and the press (not to mention the effective spin of state and national political machines.)  “’Bridgegate’ is SO over, let’s move on.” about sums up the message.

But, it’s never been just about the massive tie-up of the traffic at the GWB and the antics of Christie’s side-kicks in this particular political adventure.  What the scandal opened up, or gave folks comfort in scrutinizing, openly, is far more important than that caper, however significant and probably, for the acts of some, illegal that it was.

It is about these things too:

.   Corrupting the Port of New York and New Jersey Authority in a multitude of ways that have been recounted over and over in the press (and some of which are under investigation by the SEC and the Manhattan District Attorney in New York State and the US Attorney in New Jersey, not to mention the subject of continuing legislative hearings);

.   Mismanaging the public’s money in ways that advantage him and his supporters by, among other things, cutting payments to the pension funds; diverting earmarked funds from federal projects to state projects–to avoid having New Jersey responsible for essential infrastructure spending (requiring funds that he’d have to raise and, of course, taxes are anathema to aspiring Republican presidential candidates); questionable diversion of Hurricane Sandy funds to projects associated with political supporters barely touched by the storm, etc., etc., etc.; and disadvantaging those unlikely to provide support to him in future campaigns, including those from whom he removed the unearned income tax credit.  But, you know, if it costs you more in what you pay the state, you can call it anything you like but the impact is the same; you’re paying more with the ending of the unearned income tax credit than you were paying when it was in force.  The tax credit ended, thanks to Christie, in 2010, and every effort to restore it, he has vetoed, along with other programs that are GUEST: Bridgegate is so NOT over: Chris Christie and the Priorities of the Privileged | Bob Braun's Ledger:

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turning

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turning:

Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turning

Matt Hynes

I reported last month about Rahm's machine bagman Matt Hynes jumping ship to go spend "more time with his family." Remember Hynes, the son of former longtime Cook County Assessor, ward boss (19th) and big-time lobbyist Tom Hynes and brother of former state ComptrollerDan Hynes, was the guy who first put the great pension heist idea in Rahm's ear and got SEIU leaders to buy into it.

Now we know who Hynes meant by his "family".

Crain's reports:

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's departing chief lobbyist has a new gig and, metaphorically, it isn't far from City Hall. Matt Hynes, who last month announced his departure as the the mayor's director of legislative counsel and government affairs, will be joining Grosvenor Capital Management L.P., the firm run by Emanuel confident and kitchen-cabinet member Michael Sacks.

Sacks is one of the biggest money-bags patrons feeding Emanuel's campaign trough. He was part of the Emanuel team that negotiate City Council's parking meter deal with operator Chicago Parking Meters LLC. Former mayor Daley now works for that firm. Sacks reportedly talks with Rahm several times daily.

Ald. Bob Fioretti, 2nd, one of Rahm's potential opponents in next year's race, voted “no” on the meter deal and says unpaid mayoral advisers are one thing. “It's another thing when you have them as active participants in a government function,” he says. “We want government-business partnerships, but not these types.”

Sacks is a big promoter of charter schools and serves as a mayoral adviser on the Schooling in the Ownership Society: Revolving door from Rahm's City Hall to hedge-funder's office keeps turning:

Districts debate merits of master's for teachers - SFGate

Districts debate merits of master's for teachers - SFGate:

Districts debate merits of master's for teachers

By JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press

Updated 10:35 am, Saturday, July 12, 2014

• 
  People gather outside the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh, NC during summer 2013 to protest the elimination of tenure and extra pay for teachers with advanced degrees in the state. Efforts to eliminate extra pay for teachers who earn advanced degrees are gaining momentum in a small but growing number of U.S. schools. Among issues related to teacher pay that legislators are debating this summer include reinstating the extra pay for those teaching in the subject in which they got their advanced degree. Photo: NCPolicyWatch.com, AP

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DALLAS (AP) — Efforts to eliminate extra pay for teachers who earn advanced degrees are gaining momentum in a small but growing number of U.S. schools, stirring a national debate about how best to compensate quality educators and angering teachers who say the extra training is valuable.

More than half of the nation's teachers have master's degrees or higher, but the changing salary structure is giving pause to others considering the same path. Texas' two largest school districts, in Houston and Dallas, recently eliminated advanced degree pay going forward, following the example of North Carolina, where lawmakers last year started phasing it out. A few other states have made tweaks to reduce how much advanced degrees factor into pay.

"They're trying to say there's no value at all for a teacher going back to increase their knowledge," said Rena Honea, president of Alliance-AFT, which represents Dallas Independent School District employees. "Just by having the additional knowledge in their content area gives them more tools in their toolbox to be able to reach the different types of learners that are in the classroom."

Those championing dropping the extra pay say advanced degrees don't necessarily translate into better student test scores. They say the money is better spent elsewhere, such as on rewarding teachers deemed most effective in the classroom.

"Effectiveness is more based on results rather than any checklist of things," said Dallas Superintendent Mike Miles, who implemented a pay-for-performance system in the Districts debate merits of master's for teachers - SFGate:

War and Peace | Bill Ayers

War and Peace | Bill Ayers:

War and Peace

A pervasive and widely promoted theory that runs loose throughout the land is that being a military powerhouse makes the US (and people everywhere) safe, protects freedoms, and is a force for peace in a threatening, dangerous, and hostile world. It’s not true, but it has a huge and sticky hold on our imaginations.
When some random politician tells antiwar protestors picketing his town hall meeting that it’s “because of the sacrifices our troops are making in [take your pick: Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, the Middle East, Europe, Panama, or wherever’s next] that you have the freedom to stand there and speak out,” he is tapping into that seemingly bottomless cliché. When a TV talking head or pundit says that it’s a misfortune that US economic strength rides on a resource—oil—that “happens to come from a nasty neighborhood,” but a “blessing” that we have the power to police that part of the world, he’s doing the same thing. And when Americans across the political spectrum express public gratitude and support for “our fighting men and women overseas,” even while refusing to send their own children into war or harboring serious private doubts about the wisdom, purpose, and execution of whatever US invasion and occupation is currently in play, they are similarly situated in that open field of received wisdom, stuttering and unexamined truisms, and diminishing options.
Questioning this sentimental dogma in these instances might mean, for example, insisting that the most honest and straight-forward way to support US military men and women would be to demand their immediate return home, and to insist that they be provided with excellent medical and psychological care, good jobs, affordable housing, and the best available educational opportunities. Speaking up in the face of that wooly politician might mean challenging him to draw a straight line between free speech and the specific invasion he’s War and Peace | Bill Ayers: