Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g65GMQX16111; Fri, 5 Jul 2002 12:22:26 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 12:22:26 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <AF772C87340CD511889C00B0D079953C566975@RMC_SERVER_2> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Bonnie Lynch <bonnie_lynch@rmccorp.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1218] RE: Brava, Leah! X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Status: O Content-Length: 3689 Lines: 73 Oh, Leah, I wish that all of our elected leaders put as much thought and feeling into their work as you apparently do. I share your concerns, and think it can only help to speak about them as you do. The system is supposed to work for ALL, but it sure doesn't feel that way sometimes, when you see large numbers of people (and it's generally the same people, the ones who don't look like our legislators) falling through the cracks. That's frustrating. I think that enough individuals who want to make a change can do so, rather like the ants who push, drag, and roll huge and seemingly immovable objects over great distances. I'll push a little from here, and you pull from there, and as long as nobody has to do it alone, we can keep it going. I think the listserv helps us know that there are other ants helping with the task, even though we can't see them. Persevere! Bonnie -----Original Message----- From: Leah Carpenter [mailto:lcarp@kih.net] Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 8:27 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1217] Re: Clips and Cross Posts I have been out of the office for a few days meeting with the school systems that we (Head Start) collaborate with. I had been following the voucher/failing schools string prior to leaving the office and may be reviving a topic that the list has moved past. But, I can't remember when a topic stuck in my mind the way it has. I went back through all the responses today and found such wisdom and diverse thinking. I guess that is why this list continues to be a success! I have been increasingly concerned about what I see as an attempt to return us to the way of life we saw back when , as I have heard said, "bible stories and the pledge were the first order of the day." This is not an argument for or against the pledge or the bible...but, imho, you cannot apply the values and systems of yesterday to today. To use a biblical analogy... you can't put new wine into old wineskins. Another example would be the fact that the Old Testament states that offering up a bull as a sacrifice is pleasing to the <Higher Power> (last two words obviously my choice). Now, this might be perfectly acceptable, understandable and appropriate for the society it was written for. However, I don't believe we would want to stand in our front yards building alters and burning bulls today. We could do it but we would be as wrong as anyone else who tried to impose their traditions outside the system they were created for. That rambling discourse was to say that I am more frustrated than I have ever been about this topic. It WILL NOT, imho, change what we see if we break down the back door of separation of church and state. I have mentioned before that more and more of the current administration's decisions seem to point straight to that. Several years ago I worked with the homeless in DC. It was an experience that changed my life. I saw buildings and schools that were abandoned or still running but in decrepit shape. One of the people we worked with attributed it to white flight and "NIMBY" (not in my back yard). So now it appears that we have found a way to fund those things. Yes, we now can indoctrinate into commercialism, religion..whatever we please and as an added bonus...we don't even have to hang around those neighborhoods or people that don't live or think like us. Pardon the length of this but I am frustrated and tired. I know that we don't accomplish anything in that shape, so I will rail and work it through. Thank you all for your input and opinions...you have helped me to work through a lot of this. Leah Carpenter Family Services Coordinator KRFH Head Start 501 S. Keeneland Drive
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