Month: January 2010

True Exchange of Ideas Could Lead to Less Partisanship

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In  President Obama’s State of the Union address this week he acknowledged  the partisanship that has so frustrated Americans and prevented political action by calling it a “poisoned political era.”

Today he went to a meeting of Republicans.  Obama took questions and defended his positions for more than an hour at the House Republicans Annual Meeting in Baltimore.  It was televised live and that makes it unlike those that former President George W. Bush attended with Democrats during his administration and the one that Obama did last year.  Television provides a transparency that we so desperately need.  After all, seeing is believing and far too often we rely of what others say about an event, speech or document instead of watching, reading and deciding for ourselves. 

During today’s meeting, Republicans voiced anger that their ideas and proposals were ignored by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and said that this culture has pervaded his administration. Republicans handed Obama a book of all their proposals and alternative solutions to current legislative initiatives.  Obama acknowledged fault on both sides, but said he has read Republican suggestions and incorporates the good ones. 

Obama said not having more communication between the legislative leaders of the major parties was “a failure on my part” and that he would try to do more on that issue this year.

Republicans also confronted the president for breaking promises on transparency referring to the many commitments he made during his campaign about televising debates on healthcare.   He defended this by saying most congressional hearings on healthcare were televised on C-SPAN, but did admit it was a legitimate criticism and took responsibility. 

Obama said he was having fun towards the end of the meeting.  You know what?  An intellectual exchange of ideas is fun.  That’s what argument really is.  It’s not name calling and pointing fingers.  We can disagree in the country.  That’s what makes America so great.  In order to be critical thinkers, we must talk and listen to those with different ideas.  Partisanship has prevented this and perhaps today opened the door to a more productive era.

Today’s Supreme Court Ruling is a Victory for Free Speech

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Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling will not drown out the voice of the individual.  It supports our First Amendment rights.  It is important to remember that this decision  leaves in place a ban which prohibits both corporations and unions from directly contributing to candidates. 

The Supreme Court overturned laws on the books for nearly a century that corporations can spend freely on political campaigns to buy ads.  TV viewers will likely be bombarded by more corporate ads during campaigns and that will most certainly be annoying.  Without this ruling however, Congress could ban corporations from posting their views on You Tube, Facebook or Twitter.  Today’s ruling is a win for the First Amendment.  We all should be able to express our political views.  Without today’s ruling other free speech in the form of movies, books and periodicals could be banned. 

I disagree with the Supreme Court’s four dissenters:  Stephen Breyer,  Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, John Paul Stevens who predicted that corporate money will drown out the voice of the little guy.  I also think President Obama is making a mistake by directing his staff to make changes to the law to undermine the Supreme Court’s decision. 

Constructive public discussion only helps our country.  Critical thinking requires hearing all points of view regardless of who is footing the bill.

Hope That Senator-Elect Scott Brown Ushers a Change for Politics at Large and Republicans Specifically

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I hope Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts marks a new beginning for the Republican party and for politics at large.   Republicans and all candidates must stand for something, they simply can’t just tow the party line or oppose those in power. This no longer plays with American voters.  As Brown said this morning on the Today show, “I look at every single issue on its merits whether it’s a good Democrat idea or good Republican idea.”  He calls himself a different kind of Republican who wants to solve problems regardless of partisanship.  This is what we need. 

Voters  refuse to accept that things have always been done one way and therefore, that’s the way they should continue be done.  No seat is owned by any individual, family, corporation or party. As Brown repeatedly said, “This is the people’s seat.” In no way is he diminishing the Kennedy legacy, however. Senator Ted Kennedy was an amazing man who tirelessly worked for change and Republicans and Democrats cannot deny his legacy. 

Critical thinkers question everything they are told, everything thing they believe and even that which they consider to be common sense.  While a policy sounds great in theory, its implications and results must be examined before enacting a law. 

A change is needed and perhaps this forces all politicians to require more of themselves and be better representatives of their constituents. The ways things have always been done is no longer acceptable and simply won’t be tolerated.  Americans are indeed becoming more critical thinkers.  Rather than vote along party lines, research and consideration of the issues as well as possible legislative outcomes must be given thorough reflection before votes are cast. 

And make no mistake about it.  Voters are watching.  In today’s ever-increasing era of transparency when news is received immediately (through Twitter, Facebook, cell phone video footage, etc.) without gatekeepers, we learn about pork barrel spending, failure to live up to campaign promises and ethical infractions faster than ever before.

There is more to Martin Luther King Jr. than his “I Have a Dream” speech

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There is more to Martin Luther King, Jr. than his “I Have a Dream” speech. In honor of Martin Luther King Day tomorrow, consider taking a moment to read one of his lesser known works. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is arguably one of the most well crafted persuasive pieces ever written.

In 1963, King was arrested for participating in a march because no parade permit had been issued by city officials. While in jail, he responded to a letter published in a city newspaper from eight clergymen called “A Call for Unity.” King’s response is extremely well crafted especially considering it was written in the jail cell on scraps of paper smuggled in for him.

When this letter was written, King was not the wildly known and respected civil rights leader we know him to be today. In the views of many, he was just a black man in a jail cell up to no good. But King was extremely well educated. He graduated from Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary and Boston University. His education, passion and control come through eloquently throughout his letter.

The best arguments use a combination of all three appeals—the emotional, logical and ethical to persuade. King uses all three appeals to persuade his readers. It is nearly impossible to determine how readers make their decisions, so strategic arguers use all three methods.

King uses the emotional appeal to attempt to get his readers to feel something and does so quite successfully especially when he draws upon examples any parent can relate to. He says, “when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year old daughter why she can’t go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people…”

King uses the logical appeal when he provides facts and evidence in his appeal. At times, he even appears to be educating his readers. He says, “in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community.” The ethical appeal is also evident throughout his letter as he builds his creditability by using fair-minded language, citing experts and explaining his own expertise. King does this very convincingly when he tries to explain the difference between just and unjust laws. He says, “In no sense do I do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.” King continues, “ There is nothing new about this type of kind of civil disobedience.” He cites the early Christians, the Boston Tea Party and even the Hungarian freedom fighters confronting Adolph Hitler’s legal actions in Germany as examples.

King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is worth viewing, but it is by no means his greatest work and it does not adequately reflect the true measure of Martin Luther King Jr. and his vast intellect. If you read “Letter from Birmingham Jail” you will appreciate the holiday whether you are at workin on his federal holiday or not.

Parenting Children With Special Needs

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When I first considered this topic for my radio show, I thought about it approaching it from the perspective—What happens when you learn something is wrong with your child?  My initial thought behind that was that this is the way parents first feel when they receive any diagnosis ranging from hearing impairment, cognitive processing difficulties, behavior issues or physical challenges.  The very phrasing is problematic, however.

While most parents first think of their child’s challenge(s) as a wrong, that thinking often shifts into something much more hopeful.  How can you turn a feeling of loss into one of hope that spurs action?

Sue Mayer shared her experiences with me about the challenges and joys associated with raising children who have special needs.  As a mother of three children, two with special needs, Sue says, “I have had the opportunity/privilege to learn/experience with my children how each of them learns differently. My oldest son has introduced me to the joy and challenges of ADHD/Dyslexia/LD in Reading/Writing/Spelling. My daughter allows me to experience a typical child with an exceptional personality. My youngest son has educated me on the many aspects of Down Syndrome/Brain Injury/Apraxia/Dysphagia/Bi-Lateral Conductive Hearing Loss.”

Sue blogs about her experiences.  Her blog is an honest account of both the emotional highs and lows that make up her life. It’s become a fantastic resource for parents of special needs children and those who just want to understand how to help be more empathetic. 

Sue is a woman of action.  Not only does she home school her youngest child, help her oldest son to advocate for himself, encourage her daughter’s natural enthusiasm for nurturing, Sue works hard to better her community as well.  Sue was one of the founders of Possibility Playground. It is a universally accessible playground for children of all physical abilities located in Port Washington, WI. 

One the greatest things about Possibility Playground is that it was not built by any government program. It was built entirely through $450,000 in donations raised by the community. The playground was built in just six days with the help of more than 2,800 volunteers.  That’s right, no government red-tape, no government funding and it’s a fully functioning playground where all children can play together. 

For more information, listen to my interview with Sue Mayer at http://www.toginet.com/shows/criticalthinkingintherealworld