Dull Claws and Soft Paws

The changing of the guard is occurring right before our eyes. It’s not as though change was not underway until this moment but it has clearly accelerated and it cannot be ignored.

The old lions are tired. Most are no longer able to compete in today’s jungle. Prey is increasingly scarce and technology is altering the terrain. And as is the case with all things dying, an element of sadness accompanies their exit. These once roaring beasts are barely capable of an occasional snarl and exhibit feeble behavior in their desperate struggle to hang onto power.

The cubs romp restlessly on the sideline showing respect to the dying breed. But this respect could very well spell the doom of the cubs themselves. They, however, are lost without leadership. They are the young lions who themselves exist at the mercy of packs of hyenas. They lack the courage to seize leadership, are without the stature to negotiate a transition and are held at bay by old lions blindly grasping for a last bone to nibble. It is heart breaking and it has surely broken our spirit.

The irony is that the old lions were themselves a feisty lot that challenged the status quo and agitated for progress and change. They created operational modalities and borrowed tactics from revolutionary thinkers. They were both brash and bold. Well, at least enough of them fit these descriptions to fashion movements that pushed reform. Having done that they latched onto a strained concept of power, which in reality was a surrender to process and trappings. They basked in psychic rays and supped on psychic income. It was a collective orgasm of vanity and perceived power that lasted so long that it has nearly rendered us impotent.

There was some feast, but there was mostly roar. And little if anything was brought home to the pride. The cubs were left starving to fend for themselves. They are still hungry. The old lions did not teach them how to hunt and have grown too weak to hunt for them. The vultures and hyenas are circling and prowling and decision-making time has arrived.

The choice is fight or die. It has been the choice of mankind since time. Whether it is fighting disease, crime, ignorance, poverty or corruption, sooner or later we must decide to fight or die. The old lions have not prepared us to fight well. We have witnessed them reaching out with a half-hearted slap now and again but some have been so comfortable for so long as absolute accommodationists that their claws have dulled and their paws have grown soft. The hunt is a long lost concept. They prefer the confinement of the zoo where meals are regular with no elusive prey to pursue. Many are simply holding on and marking time.

We went to celebrate the birthday of an old lion on Saturday past. He is 93 years old. And as we looked at his body taking on the inevitabilities of long life we remembered prowling the legal jungles with him more than 25 years ago. His swift agile attacks and defensive maneuvers were the stuff of legends. His claws were sharp and sure and his paws thundered when they hit the ground. He defended the greater pride and cut a path that all eager cubs could follow to success. He taught us to be fearless hunters. He taught us to protect the pride with our words and our deeds.

Raymond A. Brown was sitting there, 27 years later at 93 years old. The smile was just as infectious, the memory superb, the acidity just as raw and the profanity still eloquent. But above all, the towering intellect and courage were still in tact. This old lion could still roar. His bite remains lethal and the cutting slap of his still sharp claws is hampered only by the felony that nature has visited upon the quickness of his step. Yet there is no real lion that we know who would not on this day accompany him into battle. He still fights as all old lions should but he has taught so many cubs to protect the pride that he need not lead the charge any longer. He takes comfort in those he has prepared. He is a model for the old lions of politics. And he is also an exception. There will always be a few who perform extraordinarily well beyond their prime. But this should be a function of superior performance—not seniority. There is nothing wrong with staying as long as you can but it is always costly to stay beyond your time.

In generational terms, it is time for us old lions of politics to become teachers and the guardians of legacy. We should phase out willingly and refrain from shredding the future in a futile attempt to cling to what once was. Things are changing fast…moving forward. But we are holding back our cubs. And in so doing we are limiting their opportunities, crippling their efforts, dimming their potential and threatening our own survival.

Why don’t we just agree to teach the cubs everything we know about the hunt and take up our stations at the edge of the poli-jungle and roar with delight as we coach and watch them romp to success? It would be intelligent. It’s the lesson that we learn from what Ray Brown did with his pride.

Too often the old lions are not willing to acknowledge the end of their reign and the young lions turn on them out of necessity. It is completely legitimate to defend oneself against ineffective and/or corrupt leadership that threatens the survival of the pride. Particularly when the old lions have dull claws and soft paws.

May 7, 2008

The Port

Growing up in Newark’s Third Ward in the forties and fifties we all knew and looked up to people in our community who had the good jobs. There were those few professionals who lived just up or down the block but most were working-class and poor. A small number of schoolteachers were always in the mix but as professionals went they were not put in the same category as doctors, lawyers and dentists—these were the biggies. Among the working-class these were the dream jobs but some other jobs were equally cherished and vigorously sought after. They were viewed as pathways to retirement and pensions. And retirement with pension was the worthy achievement and sign of success.

The post office, for instance, was a great job to have. And though few and far between, police and fire were highly regarded opportunities. Also a handful of factories were status places to work. The breweries paid well and were steady. All these jobs offered a “stability status” because the pay was more than decent. At the time, municipal government jobs were virtually unheard of and most people landed in factories. General Electric and Westinghouse were plums and you weren’t doing badly at all if you wound up at Breyers Ice Cream Company, even for the summer. At some later point department store jobs were more common and construction trade barriers began to fall. It was all honest work at a level that paid the bills.

Even under the worst circumstances you could actually leave your house in the morning and walk along Frelinghuysen Avenue and have a good chance of finding some kind of a job before sundown. Some of these were the least desirable jobs but they were available if you wanted to work. And in those days, most people wanted to work.

But there was this other world about which we knew little then. It was the world of the Longshoreman. He worked at the Port—a place where strong men willing to work hard could make a lot of money. At least that’s how we kids saw it. But you had to be connected to get a spot at the Port. You couldn’t just walk on without knowing someone. You needed a hook-up. The Port was a place where tough guys with “serious jackets” could hold down a gig. It was its own prisoner re-entry program. Over the years the department stores, all but one brewery and the big factories either quit or died. They have all succumbed but the Port has both survived and thrived. It is bustling, robust and looking to the future. It is a city within a city sporting its exclusive culture and controlled by a unique breed of bureaucrat. Port Newark is the city’s most significant asset and Newarkers know little or nothing of its potential. Most have not even seen it up close. Its inner workings are cloaked in plain sight. As a result it is being largely mismanaged.

Over the next ten years Port Newark will grow dramatically with or without the help or direction of Newark residents and leaders. It is so large, rich and important to commerce in our region that development will be driven by growth, which is running on automatic. But that development might not be smart or best for Newark and its residents. Attention and effort must be concentrated and on making the right choices for Port development if we are to reap the benefits that rightly belong to us now and in the future. The Port and Port District represent Newark’s economic development future more so than any combination of development schema currently under consideration and Newarkers are mostly unaware of what that portends or how they might benefit.

What we do know is that we have gotten far less than a fair shake from the Port Authority for years. We know that there was a costly lawsuit that yielded a questionable settlement whose spoils were used for a private purpose with minimal public say. Such practices and behaviors are likely to continue unless and until the Port receives focused municipal attention. It is a grave error to believe we can take a “by the way” approach to Port development and somehow do what’s best for Newark. Our Port’s future will encompass trillions of dollars in materials, goods and transactions that can propel Newark to become a well off, economically stable city for as far as we can see into the future. It can also generate thousands of jobs and hundreds of significant business opportunities at an unprecedented pace and help Mayor Booker reach his stated goal of creating wealth in Newark’s indigenous community. Port related industries could even be planned to support critical re-entry needs. As such, Port Newark is poised to husband a genuine renaissance to help buttress Newarkers who have hung-in against the worst aspects and ominous threats of gentrification.

Neighborhoods have changed, businesses and industries have moved on and the lives and fortunes of Newark residents have been wildly jostled through it all. The good jobs are still out there but kids growing up in Newark today see fewer and fewer of them. Too many professionals are out of reach/touch in suburbs or urban enclaves. Too few opportunities for role modeling exist on kids’ doorsteps and the past cannot return. But the issues of constructive exposure and survival are as real as ever and the opportunity to address both is at our fingertips. The Port and all it offers can help fill the gaping hole left by the abandonment of Newark by business, industries and outwardly mobile individuals.

Savvy Port development in Newark is the best chance for our city to outpace the never-ending cost spiral that naturally flows from heavily subsidized inefficient government. It will provide the best opportunity to intelligently plan rather than haphazardly confront the gloomy economic realities in the offing. But none of this will be possible so long as the debate over how the Port shall be developed is dominated by efforts at control rather than genuine concern.

We will be hosting tours of the Port. We encourage all concerned/interested Newarkers to become intimate with this incredible asset so as to equip ourselves to guard against the squandering of vital opportunities and to ensure that we are not ripped off yet again.

It is likely that Port Newark will be a dynamic economic engine so long as any of us remain alive. Given what we have learned and know, and given the abuse we have borne in the past, allowing our Port to be treated cavalierly would be criminal.

May 7, 2008

Death and Mayhem

The death and mayhem visited upon innocent young victims who are hard at work building positive lives has got to stop. Their flesh and dreams is now routinely being fed to the animals that are being raised by our community. It would be fratricidal to further ignore this epidemic of senseless horror and the cradle of fear that nurtures it in “the hood”. No man woman or child is safe so long as the “hood maws” are allowed to relentlessly feed on our innocent babies. They must be stopped at all cost. No risk is too great to take in pursuit of their elimination.

Many of us who grew up in what is now irreverently referred to as the “hood”, have youthful memories of criminals. We witnessed a degree of violence and antisocial behavior. But then, even the criminals were not scummy. There is evidence that even their worst behavior was guided by an ethic. For one thing, women and children were off limits. Senior citizens were generally respected. And activities like drug peddling or use were a back alley and underground reality. Gambling and numbers writing and playing were prominent in the culture and apparent, but drugs were almost universally frowned upon. Even the vilest amongst us tried to hide their filth and maintain a semi-respectable front. First class gangsters hid their cigarettes from senior citizens and stepped aside as the old folks strolled along the sidewalks. They operated with a hint of civility owing, perhaps, to a vague recollection of some distant character training. There was a code of basic decency even among criminals. They were crooked but not cruddy.

Today drugs flourish out in the open. They breed abusive, threatening and filthy behavior. People who report drug dealers or their crimes are likely to be targeted for retaliatory violence. Senior citizens are routinely intimidated, terrorized or victimized by the poison peddlers. In many quarters respect for the law has been supplanted by fear of the lawless. Against the backdrop of a war in Afghanistan where young people are sent to kill and die in the cause of “building and securing democracy” for others, kids in Newark are killing and dying over the profits from the harvests reaped in Afghan poppy fields. In other words we are fighting to save the lives of those who are growing the poison to kill us. We are “saving” our murderers.

For us, drugs and handguns are the “weapon of mass destruction”. And in many ways their ready availability is protected and encouraged by our leaders. They tell us we must support the world’s major drug dealing nations because it is in our national interest and we must do nothing to restrict the proliferation of handguns because “the right to bear arms” is protected by our constitution. In theory, following this advice is supposed to protect us but in reality it is killing us. With the appearance of a government collaborating against our safety and welfare, it is no wonder that we easily grow cozy with conspiracy theories.

But even given the ready availability of these weapons of mass destruction (drugs and handguns) we need not become their victims—because our condition is less a function of our environment than a result of our choices. Those choices begin with our choice of leadership (civic, moral, spiritual and political). It is precisely the collective collapse of this leadership that has nurtured a culture of malevolence in which violent crime has put down its roots and engulfed an entire community in a fearful death grip. It has to end! Leaders who don’t tell us the truth and refuse to step up to lead the fight against fratricide must be turned out and rejected. They are not leaders for our time. And ugly sacrifices might have to be made to restore the kind of civility that allows average citizens to pursue normal lives. Otherwise we will remain a captive community ruled and cowed by a ruthless mob. If we can kill and die in wars that save others and fatten the pockets of warmongers, we can certainly muster the will and courage to defend ourselves against “a real and present threat”.

We must be absolutely intolerant of the households among us that are raising and harboring children with animal minds. Too many are vampires who sleep by day and pillage by night. They are sucking the blood of our communities. Snuffing out the lives of children and others who want to make progress and live decent lives. They deserve no words of defense. They are worthy only of every assault that we can bring against their behavior. They must be given up to the authorities and maybe even given up on. Parents and others who turn a blind eye to their obvious criminality must be drawn into the fray. They are not innocent bystanders. They are enablers—plain and simple—enablers who must be held accountable for acts against civilized life. They are accessories to misery and need to be firmly dealt with as such. Anyone that condones and or harbors violent criminals and their acts is guilty.

What we now must have is courage and carefully crafted strategies to combat crime and protect the innocent. We don’t know exactly what that means yet but a collective view of the best approach must emerge from the community. This is not a law enforcement issue. Our enemy is depraved character, obsessive materialism, irrational fearlessness and a total lack of respect for all authority—even force. This is a formidable enemy but it must and can be overwhelmed. The question that the community must answer is at what price? There can be no peaceful coexistence with people who callously murder our babies and elderly. And there can be no war without casualty.

April 23, 2008

Slavery

As a people, African Americans are the product of rape, pillage and savage brutality—a product that was made in America. But for our absolute obviousness we would be America’s dirty little secret.

Barack Obama has opened a dialogue about race that must be continued and concluded. This matter has been before us many times but has always receded to the background mainly because of the discomfort that accompanied it. Now the issue of race and race relations in America has been joined on a stage that has the attention of the world. We can no longer run or hide from it. America is being tested. Not for its military might but rather for her moral might.

In a calculated attempt to derail the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama a band of viperous conspirators unleashed a scheme to savage his reputation and call into question his judgment and patriotism. In a moment of desperation born of the realization that this Black American might actually become the Democratic nominee for president of the United States of America, they reached low into a deep chasm of filth and played their race card. Unable to saddle Obama with words and deeds of his own that met the ominous race test, they sought to ascribe to him the words and deeds of others.

After a period of respectful resistance, Obama took the bait. He rose to face his accusers, responded forthrightly to every attack and elevate the discussion of race to a level of dignity that offers America an opportunity to put the stain of human bestiality behind her once and for all. An in depth discussion of race will inevitably lead to an in depth discussion of slavery. America has avoided this discussion for far too long. And many Black Americans have been more reluctant to open this wound than Whites. As Obama so plainly put it, “Not This Time.”

Young Americans are dutifully ignorant about the internecine debilitations of slavery. Indeed they know little or nothing of the dreaded institution. That long shameful chapter in history has been mollified at best and ignored at worst. Children are told virtually nothing of slavery in school and, in large part, Black educators are uncomfortable with the idea of teaching about slavery. “Black History” which offers relatively shallow treatment of slavery has become the acceptable modality inoculating Americans against the most evil manifestation of humankind. It is no wonder that White youth feel no responsibility for anything that they did not accomplish with their own hands. They have not been told the brutal truth about how they achieved such enormous advantage.

Of course there are books and articles that set forth all these facts in detail. But they are easily avoided. And avoidance is often the action of choice when faced with a bitterly unpleasant truth. The only way to really get at this thing is to make teaching and learning about the details and history of slavery mandatory in our public school system in all of America. Nothing could be more disdainful than the virtual blotting out of hundreds of years of a people’s history in an effort to cover-up and escape the truth; particularly in a nation where self-righteous zealots routinely condemn one another for minor acts that offend Christian orthodoxy. But perhaps this can best be explained in the words of
Melvin R. Sylvester, Professor Emeritus, C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University as he wrote in SLAVERY AND RACE:

Many Europeans came to America to exercise their God fearing beliefs and to practice religious freedom. Slavery, on the other hand, was a form of persecution which, in the eyes of colonial America, had to be justified. Therefore, the black slave became an easily identifiable group targeted as being inferior, subhuman, and destined for servitude. The early Christian churches did not take up the cause of eliminating slavery until much later in the century. The famous Boston theologian, Cotton Mather, in 1693 included in his Rules for the Society of the Negroes the explanation that “Negroes were enslaved because they had sinned against God.” He later included a heavenly plan that “God would prepare a mansion in Heaven,” but little or no way for the end of forced slavery on earth was undertaken by most religious groups.

From the beginning, Africans were never intended to be Americans. As such, it is no wonder at all that such an uneasy relationship exists. We believe that all Americans and children in particular must be taught everything there is to know about American chattel slavery. Every intimate vile detail must be unearthed for review and study. We are owed the full truth about the origins of American racism so that we can agree on the necessary steps to end it. At the urging of mischievous protagonists the dialogue on race has been joined and it just might wind up to be the most important occurrence in this entire election cycle. In our humble opinion, entering onto a path that leads to the neutralization of the horrible stain of slavery in the fabric of America’s history is far more important than who is President of the United States. We believe that the universe has embraced Mr. Obama and propelled him on a course that he could not have imagined despite his bold agenda.

We believe that it is all but impossible for a fair mind to understand the full-throated realities of American slavery and its dependent injustices and still embrace racism. A thorough baptism in the entrails of our slave culture is just the cleansing that Americans need to divest our false sense of superiority as it relates to Black America and the entire non-white world.

March 19, 2008
Carl’s blog can be read at www.carlsharif.com.

The More Things Change

Power is poised to shift significantly in 2008 at all levels of government. Partly as the result of the national race for president where local factions were deeply divided and partially because of local races on the 2008 election calendar. We can expect a severe testing of political relationships that might lead to a series of interesting realignments. Certainly for political junkies and even for interested bystanders, wherever Newark ends up on the coming roller coaster of politics the ride is bound to be exciting.

Obama v. Clinton witnessed a split in the community that was so ward specific as to be unmistakable in its implications. Since that Tuesday, February 5th Democratic Primary race speculation as to how it will impact the future has been rampant. And we have seen signs of serious assessment taking place among the major local political camps. Many viewed the outcome as a test of strength for the camps; we viewed the results as predictable for the informed observer.

Reading too much into the results might create a reckless rambunctiousness among the heady setting the stage for a series of needless and counterproductive confrontations. But even cool heads will no doubt seize on the outcome to move toward strategic repositioning. Where everyone will wind up is anybody’s guess. And that is precisely what makes it worth watching. Will the Obamaization of the political landscape that has led to record turnout trickle down to school board and district leader races or will the general public reserve their concern and energy for the November elections?

Young people in Newark have not usually flexed their political muscle in the recent past. They have most often been passive observers offering critiques that serve up their reasons for non-participation in tones that alternate between elitism and nonsense. We can only hope that the Obama/Clinton fever pushes a little heat down to the local level where children and ordinary people need the best representation they can get.

All over the nation young people have sprung into action and made the statement that they are relevant. Now we get to judge their deeper interests and determine whether or not they are consistent. Once again remembering the adage that “all politics is local” we HOPE that when the smoke clears and however the new alignments stack up the sheer energy that falls out of a string of robust political encounters leaves us with a better represented community.

Some volley of activity we see reflects legitimate concern, some is mere posturing and some is insidious and calculating. The uninitiated have to be more careful than usual lest they find themselves entwined with plots and counterplots not of their making that might trigger astounding repercussions for those who get sucked in to this high stakes game. Caution is the watchword. Being too eager to be a player could lead to being played.

In some minds the rest of this political season is just the day-to-day scrimmage work that leads to the next round of municipal elections in 2010. Even so, now is a single moment amidst a never to be repeated history defining circumstance for a dynamic alteration of the political status quo. This is Newark’s period of political rebirth. The struggles are many but we see the generational struggle as most prominent.

On Tuesday February 5, 2008, Newark was portrayed as a dangerously divided city. Everything that happens politically going forward must sense the gravity of where we are. Every step forward must be intentional, thoughtful and aimed at mending the fissures that have long lurked beneath the surface but now rage in the open. It is better we know the truth of where we are than stumble around in a deep pretentious sleep. For sure we are headed for a political shake up. Newark just might realize the culmination of its political fate in 2008. We HOPE it is for the better.

February 27, 2008

"TRUST" RESIDENTS

Former Atlanta Georgia Mayor Maynard Jackson is a legend in minority political circles because he so skillfully used the power and permission of municipal government to create wealth among African American businesspeople. You might think that with the emergence of Black mayors all over the nation the Jackson model would have been repeated over and over. Unfortunately that has not been the case. We don’t want to speculate as to the reason or even postulate whether or not the model is still relevant or appropriate. What we do know is that it was short lived and nothing effective has replaced it.

So what is happening in Newark? Initial steps are being taken to help establish minority builders and developers as an economic force. But much more can be done if we allow our creativity to blossom. It generally takes a very long time for a new developer to generate real wealth. And in today’s real estate market the prospects have dimmed considerably. Real estate development as a pathway to wealth is fraught with roadblocks. We must pursue other avenues if we want to give Newarkers a shot at the really big bucks.

In the meantime here is an idea that our community might pursue with municipal support: The creation of a “Resident Taxpayer Real Estate Trust” open to investment by resident taxpayers of Newark. Residents who would accumulate wealth through the development of their city would own such a “Trust.” As tax paying property owners, we are already investors in the development of our city. Particularly since new developers are frequently exempted from taxes as an inducement to develop. Whenever that happens taxpayers pick up some portion of the financial burdens created by these new developments. If the municipality would agree to use available incentives to encourage all developers to joint venture with the “Resident Taxpayer Real Estate Trust,” the development of Newark would necessarily benefit Newarkers. The legalities and details of how such a “Trust” would come about or operate rely upon details better left to experts. We are positors. Our idea would not generate gobs of cash for any individual. But it would provide real opportunity to cash in on the red hot redevelopment of their city, substantially increase overall community wealth and cause an uptick in resident commitment to Newark.

Imagine the energy that could be unleashed among citizens if they knew that they could literally own a piece of their city. With every skyscraper and shopping center that went up, their wealth would increase. Their investment in their city would lead to an increase in pride, concern and public participation. It is not likely that resident investors would harbor a casual attitude toward anti-social behavior or mediocre and failing institutions. The establishment of such a “Trust” could even trigger a burst of enlightened in-migration. More importantly residents might be motivated to invest and learn about how money works to drive development. Terms like capital formation and dividends might become commonplace among common people. Just suppose for a minute that the reality of ownership could tamp down consumer tendencies and give birth to notions of commercial productivity. With such luck, we could actually stumble into the creation of a class of entrepreneurs.

Surely some will say we can’t create a “Resident Taxpayer Real Estate Trust.” They will support their case with arguments that protect their interests. We believe there is a way to accomplish this idea. The application of serious thought fueled by the will to change creaky paradigms is all that is required.

Others will question: What of tenants who are not property owners? Our view is that they are second tier taxpayers and as such accommodations for their participation should exist.

A friend of ours recently reminded us that the residents of Green Bay own the Green Bay Packers. While mulling that over we wondered had there been a moment, during the negotiations that sent 220 million of Newark taxpayer dollars to the New Jersey Devils, when it occurred to someone that the arena might have provided an investment opportunity for residents?

A community trust could certainly emerge without the support of government but its potential potency would be far less likely to be realized. On the other hand if the government had the foresight to view supporting the development of a resident (community) based financial business as they might a local developer or construction company, we could turn an important page in the concept of wealth creation among indigenous Newarkers. We think it’s worth consideration.

February 13, 2008

Vote For Kids

Tuesday, February 5th was an incredible day for politics and the democratic process in Newark’s South Ward. Voters turned out in large numbers to vote in the primary election for President of the United States. It was impressive. Even early in the morning it was clear that the turnout would be good. We all have a right to be proud and encouraged by the solid participation. From what we heard, there was high voter enthusiasm all over the ward. Citizens were pumped up by the prospects of making history. Barack Obama was on the ballot and voters were determined to make their voices heard in this precedent setting contest among democrats to select their candidate for president.

But there was another and perhaps equally important process taking place for part of the day at one of the South Ward election polling sites. At Maple Avenue School from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm there was a public hearing to give all residents—voters and non-voters alike— an opportunity to make their voices heard on the question of who will be the next Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. The people who showed up to speak deserve the highest commendation and the gratitude of the entire South Ward community for demonstrating an increasingly rare level of civic responsibility. The problem is that for such an important matter, far too many residents opted out and passed on the opportunity to help shape the future of thousands of our children.

Because the hours of 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm happen to also be the height of the rush hour for residents who vote after work we could see them pouring into Maple Avenue School to cast their ballots. Unfortunately most left without ever even poking their heads into the auditorium where the Superintendent Search Committee was conducting the public hearings. It was painful to watch. We winced in frustration. Particularly knowing that many of those who breezed by the sign-in table are dissatisfied parents whose children attend Newark Public Schools. And it was not so much that there was only a modest turnout for something to benefit our children—that has come to be expected—it was painful because they were right there, just a few feet away and chose to walk on by.

What does this mean in the context of that old political adage that all politics is local? Here we are faced with perhaps our most important local decision in more than a decade, and a national issue, taking place at the same time in the same place, roundly thumped it. And of course we realize that people are caught up in the legitimate excitement of the Obama campaign but that is precisely the reason that the auditorium should have been jam-packed.

There is virtually nothing in our community that is not affected by the quality of our schools and their product. Crime, taxes, culture, public services, economic development and overall quality of life all tie back, in part, to what schools do or don’t do. And what schools do or don’t do ties back to parent and public participation. School success or failure cannot be viewed in isolation. We all have a hand in it. Walking away is not a viable option. Neither is any other avoidance mechanism. We have to get involved.

So it was Election Day and people were in line, most waiting to vote for Barack Obama. You could not help but recall the ringing oratory and inspiring vision of Barack Obama. It is compelling and tantalizing. But perhaps even more compelling is the presentation of Michelle Obama who herself is a tough act to follow. Her stump speech is every bit as good as her husband’s. Michelle talks about her childhood and how she attended the public school right around the corner. She calls it a good school without which she would not be where she is today. She goes on to say that these good neighborhood schools is what ordinary people want. Is she right? Michelle Obama tells us that making these good schools available to all parents is one of the reasons that Barack is running for president. Do we believe that? It is confusing trying to understand how people (voters at Maple Avenue School) who claim to buy into this vision turn a blind eye to the process set up to give us “ordinary people” a say in creating these “good schools” right here in Newark.

We have commented before that our children have reasons to doubt our sincerity when we say we love them and want the best for them. There are too many signs to the contrary. Caring is not a video game, clothes or pocket money. True concern is keeping children safe from harm, sending them to school with instructions to behave and learn, going to see the teacher, and “attending public hearings.” Well, it’s something like that. So we should not be surprised in the least when children for whom we have shown no concern show no concern for us. Much of their antisocial behavior should be anticipated.

There is no issue before us that is more important than the education of our society beginning with our kids. Getting our systems of public education under productive control and seeding them with the very best leadership is essential. Anti-intellectual pedestrianism and the corruption of standards have taken a heavy toll on public education. Any real hope of reversing the fortunes of public schooling is necessarily tethered to the best efforts of active citizens. No saviors will be arriving anytime soon. Not even Barack Obama. We are either our own best friends or worst enemies. It doesn’t get any more basic than that. It’s time to do for self. Our kids are depending on us to show up for them. They want our vote of confidence and interest. One certainty is that so long as we fail them they are much more likely to fail themselves and us.

A brilliant woman educator warned us of a scary possibility a few years back. She said that we were entering upon a generation of people wherein many parents don’t believe in the ability of their own kids to succeed. This sounds inconceivable. But is it? In any event, civilized society has a duty to rise above the lowest expectations and create schools that foster the highest. There are two more public hearings to allow citizens to make their voices heard about the kind of leadership we want for our public schools. Please.

February 6, 2008