Grateful

I particularly call your attention to yesterdays post, Precinct Caucuses (as they are referred to in Minnesota, but exist everywhere, this time of year).  It is easy to kick “politicians” around.  Just remember, we, the people, are solely responsible for who represents us in what so far has been a democracy.

(Precinct Caucus in Minnesota is February 1.)

I’d also recommend a quick look at the agenda for an on-line international conference on education on Monday Jan 24 here.  “The power of international exchange.”  At least take a look.  Open to anyone, anywhere.

There have been numerous comments to the Jan. 18 post: “C-word”

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Gratitude.  This week came a gift from the folks who produce Wikipedia.  It is very simple: wonderful photographs submitted by readers from around the world.  It is fabulous.  Take a look, here.

Wikipedia has been around the internet for many years now.  It is useful and ever-more credible source of information.  The last few years I’ve contributed to it, and this gallery is its thank you.

Yesterday came a guest essay in the New York Times from Amanda Gorman, the young poet who spoke at the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris a year ago.  Her Essay, “Why I Almost Didn’t Read My Poem At The Inauguration”, can be read here, (at least I hope it can – as a subscriber to NYT, I understand that this is one item I can forward as an open source.)  The column is very powerful.

Personally, I subscribe to NYT and WaPo and the local Minneapolis Star Tribune, mostly to support credible journalism.

Monday was Martin Luther King Day.  Jeff sent a comment from MLK: “Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance,” King wrote in his 1967 book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” “It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn.”

I am among millions of “whites” who do our best, imperfectly, to get it.  Our very substantial voice tends to be subordinated to other other members of the white persuasion less understanding than we.  Don’t forget or dismiss us.

Finally, Do attend your local Precinct Caucus, whatever it is called, wherever you live.  It is part of the dues all of us should pay for the privilege of living in our democracy.  Once again, here’s the link.   Be more than a passive voice in the conversation about our future as a nation and world.

COMMENTS:

from Peter: (suggestion in below has been incorporated above) [Your] paragraph [quoted below]seems ambiguous, if a reader didn’t know you:

“I am among millions of “whites” who do our best, imperfectly, to get it.  Our very substantial voice tends to be subordinated to other types less understanding than we.  Don’t forget or dismiss us.”

I suggest making it clear that by “other types less understanding than we” you mean other members of the white persuasion.

Unconscious bias is a thing, and a challenge for everyone, though some more than others. Only recently the former Senate Majority Leader was quoted saying something comparing Black people to Americans…

We still hear things like: “People are afraid of Blacks.”

Amy Goodman had a guest last week who did an amazing documentary on race.

Reporter: “What’s your message for voters of color who are concerned that without the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, they’re not going to be able to vote in the midterm?”

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: “Well, the concern is misplaced, because if you look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans.”

Dick: This seems to be credible actual data.