I Don't Get It

"Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education."  

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

and

"The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values. "  William S. Burroughs

"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family."   Kofi Annan

"A quality education grants us the ability to fight the war on ignorance and poverty."   
Charles B. Rangel

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."    James Thurber

"The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth. "  John F. Kennedy

"There are many problems, but I think there is a solution to all these problems; it's just one, and it's education."  Malala Yousafzai

"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one."    Malcolm Forbes

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."   Robert Frost

"The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn."    Alvin Toffler

"I believe education is the great equalizer."   Dave Heineman

"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." H. G. Wells

When did education become suspect?  How has it come to follow that being educated automatically means you must think you are elite or better than anybody else?  When did being educated become a threat, or something to be belittled, demeaned or dismissed? How could the President of the United States boast that he loves the poorly educated?

The more I see that his lack of character and his immaturity, his blatant hypocrisy and outright pathological lying are condoned or tolerated by his followers - or that his weekly golfing excursions, executive orders, and proposals clearly benefit himself and the wealthy and yet, they still think he cares about the average American, well, I can understand his boast. Why wouldn't he love the poorly educated?!

I am a second generation American whose paternal grandmother did not learn English and whose father did not graduate from high school; yet  I was the first female in my family to go to college. I not only became an elementary school principal but also went on to create and manage a boutique consulting firm for 25 years. I know the power of education. Not only a formal education, for I have met many learned individuals who didn't go to college and much of my education has occurred since graduating.  But a good formal education can also inspire -where it has been absent - curiosity, creativity, thoughtfulness, tolerance, a questioning mind, critical thinking skills and perhaps above all, the desire to keep learning. 

In only two generations, our family rose from among the working poor to solidly middle class.  My brother became a dentist and then a master wood worker, my sister a choral director and now a clinical social worker.  Each of us has learned from teachers, scientists, books, the arts, friends, strangers, each other.  Learning formally and informally.  Learning to love and appreciate learning.

It is because of our educations that we have realized the American dream of having it better than our parents did. It is with the help of our educations that each of us made career changes mid-stream, that we have weathered the vicissitudes of life. It is with the help of our educations that John and I are managing his health care today.  

That this President loves the poorly educated rather than encourage them to become educated, that he has a Secretary of Education whose intention is to gut public education, that he boasts that he doesn't read, that his vocabulary is that of an average 4th grader, that he tweets reactively and irresponsibly in the middle of the night- is an embarrassment at best, a disgrace at worst.  That he does not believe in climate change and demeans the scientific and intelligence communities, that he supports defunding the arts and educational opportunities for the disadvantaged bodes harm for our economic and cultural future. 

Yes, I am concerned, upset, even fearful.  But  I will continue to write, to call my representatives, to express my concerns and share my observations.  I will continue to read, to learn, to challenge my assumptions and challenge the assumptions of others who are willing to learn with me..  But when I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of this disaster, I will rant awhile.

And last, but definitely not least...

"Education is our only political safety. Outside of this ark all is deluge."

~ Horace Mann

If I Ruled the World...

"If I ruled the world,

Every man would be as free as a bird

Every voice would be a voice to be heard..."

~ Cyril Ornadel, Leslie Bricusse  

This has been a tough week.  I have watched with dismay as this President signs executive order after executive order that I disagree with.  I have serious concerns about his mental health and the agenda of many of the people he surrounds himself with.  I can't believe that the interference of a foreign government, let alone Russia, hasn't raised more of an outcry nationwide. I have watched demonstrations that remind me of the divisiveness of the 60's that tore apart our families and communities.  I fear our very democracy is being eroded before my eyes, fed by the beliefs of a small segment of our population with little regard for the needs or values of the larger whole, even blatant disregard.

I want to think "we are better than this."  But that belief is being tested almost everywhere I look.  When lies are called alternative facts and people brag about posting false stories, when basic Constitutional rights (freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly) are threatened, when I see resistance that looks as ugly as that which is being resisted, when I see and hear behavior I would have chastised a 10 year old for, I am at best stunned, at worst saddened and afraid.  So....

If I had my way -

• we'd challenge our generalizations - not all Republicans support this president and his policies; not all Muslims are terrorists; not all Christians are Evangelical; not all Democrats are Progressives; not all Pro-Choice supporters advocate abortion; not all voters who didn't vote for him voted for her; not all who voted for him are racist, etc., etc.
• we'd "seek to understand, then be understood" - whether in personal conversation or on social media, we'd ask more questions for clarity; consider at least a point, if not the entire perspective, that is being made; provide feedback for understanding (even if not in total agreement) before countering with our own points of view.  
• we'd move beyond blame, especially overarching blame of a single group of people - there are many factors that contributed to the outcome of this election, many groups that can be pointed to for the roles they played or didn't play; we'd do well to remember that blame elicits more defensiveness than ownership.
• we'd tamp down the flames of hatred rather than fan them -  name-calling, profanity, insult, ridicule and rudeness are running rampant; hatred is being justified by anger; respect is being demanded without being given; "argument turns too easily into animosity; disagreement escalates into dehumanization." (George W. Bush) 
• we'd be as aware of our own biases, as much as we are the biases of others - President Bush said it beautifully in Dallas, "too often we judge other groups by their worst examples, but judge ourselves by our best intentions."  I also would add that too often we justify with single anecdotes rather than patterns of behavior, belief rather than fact.
• we'd do our homework - we'd learn from history - ours and that of other countries, understand how easily populism morphs into Fascism, what trade wars can do to an economy, how easily the fabric of a society is torn apart and how long it takes to sew it back together again.  We would demand more than platitudes and slogans, proof and plans, not mere promises; personal character would be as much a criteria for success as wealth is.
• we would be engaged citizens - we'd understand how our government is supposed to operate; we'd understand something about basic economic theory; have some knowledge about the rest of the world; at least we would vote...and rid ourselves of the gerrymandering that has contributed to the belief - and in many cases, the reality - that our vote doesn't matter.

But most of all, we'd look for ways to pull together, rather than divide further - we'd seek compromise, solutions that work for the largest segments of our population, not just a single segment or group.  Next month I will be 76.  Although I am concerned for my own future should this regime impact Medicare and Social Security and health care as they promise to, I am not going to be here in 15 to 20 years, maybe less than that.  But my nieces and nephews, my grand-nieces and grand-nephews will be.  If I had my way, they will enjoy the opportunities I did.  They will live in an environment of clean air and clean water.  They will feel safe to express their political views, to practice the religion of their choice, or no religion at all. 

I know I will never rule the world.  But at least, I can still hope "this is not who we are."

A Little Rant

"...whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." 
~Martin Luther King Jr. 

A couple weeks ago, I blogged that the role of patient advocate calls for "skill, patience, tenacity and fearlessness." After yesterday, the seven hours John was in the hospital, I would add an adequate knowledge base, courage, a thick skin, support and the ability to regroup and try, try, again (is there a single word for that?)

Yesterday...John was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy to provide information as to the efficacy of the chemo treatment he has been receiving.  Going into this procedure, we knew from the results of his blood work on Monday that his hemoglobin count was low and dropping; we could see the overt physical signs and indicating, from four months experience, the likelihood that another transfusion soon would be necessary was obvious. Going into this procedure, we were both, I believe, understandably anxious.  Trying to be responsibly proactive and to avoid more tests and procedures for John than necessary,  I requested help from our cancer clinic to arrange for a transfusion at the hospital while we were there, if so indicated.  I was assured that this could happen.  I also repeated my request Tuesday with the liaison for the hospital when she called to confirm appointment particulars, and once again was reassured that this could happen. Well, you know where this is going.  I was able to arrange for his blood to be typed (a step necessary for a transfusion) shortly after we arrived, but when the hemoglobin count came in indicating a further drop and the hospital physician contacted our hematologist for his authorization, he reported that he had been told not to provide the transfusion so we might see if his numbers improved- even though this count has compelled prior transfusions and has never improved without transfusion.  

This decision, I felt, would put John at further risk and possibly require a visit to the ER.  A visit we would endure, not the hematologist nor hospital personnel.So, I pressed on.  I called the clinic myself and expressed my concerns, knowing full well that I was being labeled as "upset" (which I was, both labeled and upset), probably over-reactive, and daring to challenge authority.   I asked for more information regarding the decision, the minimum I felt we were owed.  Bottom line, John received a transfusion.  And we left, seven hours after we arrived, exhausted.  And I am not done.  I will speak with our hematologist to clarify what happened and why.  I will provide feedback to the hospital that the attending nurse was amazing.  She helped whenever and wherever she could, more than others might have.  But, I will also convey that I wonder why I gave all that information to the hospital on Tuesday if it never filtered down to the appropriate department.  

I will provide feedback that I would hope the assistance I received was because John needed it, not because I was "upset" and needed to be appeased. I will convey that there is a cost to these breakdowns and they need to know the cost.  John would undoubtedly be in worse shape today had I not persisted.  I know that it adds to John's stress to see how hard I often have to work to get him the help he needs, even the help we are being promised...and anything that adds to the stress we already face, is, duh! at a minimum, upsetting.  An additional cost is we lose trust in the organizations we must be able to trust. To be clear, I know these things happen.  I suspect they will happen again, in another context, with other players. I see no malice of intent.  I appreciate the help I did receive.  Too often, these breakdowns are the consequences of  system issues - the lack of communication, guidelines that become law and hamper creative problem solving, cultural biases that discourage questioning or taking personal responsibility.  

But although I recognize the system issues and can appreciate the frustration those within the system may also experience, only they can improve the system.  I know I will deal with each occurrence as it happens. No doubt. I suspect this isn't the last time my upset will loom as the immediate problem.  No doubt.  I will strive to be as proactive as possible and continue to provide feedback that might be helpful, both positive and negative.  I will continue to be better informed so that I can ask effective questions, make effective requests.  As the expression goes, I can be like a dog with a bone.  Just wish it wasn't so demanding.  Just wonder how other caregivers, who may not have the skills, the tenacity, the energy and support, are making it? 

But I do feel better for this little rant!