If you haven’t been watching The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, there is a new recurring segment called “Don’t Have Time for That.”  The premise?  You just start digesting one news story before the next one grabs your attention.  This was one of those weeks.  So here are a few topics I considered blogging about but was quickly distracted by the latest breaking news.

Red Flags

Much has been made about the many missed warning signs which strongly suggested Nikolas Cruz, the confessed shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was a potential danger to himself and others based on past behavior and social media posts. Too bad the Republicans will not let the Center for Disease Control or any other federal  agency conduct or support research which might focus on not only HOW to spot these red flags, but propose better methods to respond to them.

But the Parkland shooting, unfortunately shared space on cable news and the front pages of national newspapers when the continuing saga of the chaotic Trump White House reemerged.  In particular, further indictments against Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and the announcement Chief of Staff John Kelly would make the decision whether son-in-law Jared Kushner would still have access to classified information despite the FBI’s assessment he did not merit the required security clearance.

What “red flag” do these two situations have a common?  Both Manafort and Kushner offered to work for no salary.  In Manafort’s case, the question is, “If he is not taking a salary from the Trump campaign, who is paying him?”  Based on last Thursday’s indictments we are much closer to an answer.  As for Kushner, there is a second question.  “Isn’t the signature on your paycheck an indication for whom you actually work?”  By not accepting a salary for the work he performs as a public employee of the American people, does he feel he is not bound by the same rules as those who actually deposit their due compensation?

Referring to General Kelly’s disposition of Kushner’s status, Trump said, “And I have no doubt he will make the right decision.”  But, for whom?

November 9, 1994

Speaking of “red flags,” on the morning of November 9, 1994, I was in Moscow on a USAID funded project conducted by the National Governors Association (NGA) to build better relations between U.S. governors and their Russian counterparts.  My first meeting was with Anatoly Tyazhlov, the governor of the Moscow oblast (equivalent of a state) and chair of the Association of Russian Governors.  Governor Tyazhlov asked me what I thought of the American mid-term elections the day before when under the banner of “The Contract for America,” the Republicans picked up 58 seats and control of the House and eight Senate seats.  I told Tyazhlov I believed it was a reaction to what many Americans saw as an extreme shift to the left by President Clinton and the Democratic Congress.  My fear was that there would be an over-reach in the opposite direction.

To my surprise, Tyazhlov told me he had the same fear for Russia.  After years of communist rule, he expressed concern that his homeland would also swing too far to the right.  Especially if the current government (headed by Boris Yeltsin)  did not relieve the economic distress many Russians were experiencing following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and cradle to grave care.  We should have listened.  Less than six years later, Vladimir Putin was elected Russian President.

NO Surprise

Except for a few sadistic conspiracy theorists (including Donald Trump Jr.), everyone is heaping accolades on the students from Douglas High School for their efforts to shed some light on the issue of gun violence in America.  However, almost every positive review is prefaced by a statement of amazement about the bravery and commitment of these young people.  Who knew?  Well, anyone who had studied every previous cultural movement in the United States.

It was a generation of young people who rode buses to the Deep South to protest segregation and register black voters.  Some were beaten.  Others–Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney–were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

Ten years later, it was young people who challenged the government over the Vietnam war.  And it was the death of four Kent State students which signaled one more, “Enough is enough.”

Young people have been at the forefront of the LGBT movement.  And protection of the environment. And the effort to decriminalize and legalize marijuana.

So why should we be surprised when students who have been in fear for their own lives are willing to stand up and lead the debate over America’s addiction to guns?

Bill Strickland

Anyone who believes “hardened schools” will lead to anything but “hardened students” needs to visit the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild (MCG) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  In 1968, Bill Strickland asked a simple question, “Why should inner-school schools look like prisons?”  Instead of bars on the windows, each table in the cafeteria has linen table cloths and flower centerpieces.  Students engage in culinary, music and horticultural activities all of which have become profit centers to support MCG’s operations.  The music program has received five Grammy awards for its “Live at the Manchester Craftman’s Guild” recordings.

Despite its location in an old warehouse district which used to be a place for drug deals and gang confrontations, safety is not an issue.

In our forty-plus year history, MCG Youth & Arts has never had an incidence of violence at our facility. To quote our founder, Bill Strickland, “If you put people in a world class facility, you get world class citizens.” We have filled our building with light, art, music and a staff dedicated to realizing the genius in everyone.

So to all those who sent their “thought and prayers” to the students at Douglas High School and every other site of a campus based mass shooting and believe armed teachers are the answer, may I suggest you open your Bibles this Sunday to Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP