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Volume VIII Number 26
December 28, 2005 |
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Guest Essay: Jane Kelley Erickson GUEST ESSAY Among the approximately 20,000 participants at the 2005 School of the Americas protest vigil at Fort Benning, Ga. were a number of Evanstonians, including about a dozen persons from St. Nicholas Church and Martha Pierce from the Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance. The School of the Americas was formed in 1946 to train Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency, psychological warfare and interrogation tactics. Many School graduates have been responsible for torturing, "disappearing" and murdering educators, union leaders, religious workers and students. Countless campesinos have been driven off their land by these soldiers. Since 1990, protesters have been going to Fort Benning to call for the closing of the School. Since 2001, the School's official name has been the WHINSEC, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. The vigil is a rich, full event, with meetings and programs highlighting different aspects of peace and justice issues. The recent weekend offered education programs focusing on Haiti, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela. There were meetings for several Catholic groups and for Fellowship of Reconciliation, Witness for Peace, Christian Peacemakers Teams, Iraq conflict vets and many other groups. This year featured special activities for children, youth and young adults. Participants were inspired by dramatic presentations by the puppet theater group called the Puppetistas and by two lively concerts with sing-alongs. Many attend the vigil year after year, making it a time of joyous reunion despite fundamental sadness that the School still operates. On Saturday morning we were informed at a plenary session about what to expect at the solemn procession on Sunday. There was additional instruction for those who were planning to engage in civil disobedience by crossing on to base property. For the rest of the weekend, we were outside the Fort Benning gate most of the time. At the rally Saturday, speakers included those who had survived torture, those whose loved ones had been murdered and those prisoners of conscience who had served time for civil disobedience in past years. The solemn procession on Sunday took hours. We each held a white wooden cross with the name of someone who had been killed by a graduate of the School. Four people read off the names from the stage, and as we processed, with each name we raised our cross and said "Presente." As we approached the gate, we each inserted our cross in the chain link fence. It is a gut-wrenching experience to hear all those names and acknowledge all those deaths, many of them small children and babies. To raise our spirits, the Puppetistas staged a couple of inspiring performances with larger-than-life-sized puppets. Finally we gathered around the gate and watched as some committed civil disobedience by climbing the base fence or crawling under it. We pondered what it would mean to them to be detained in prison for six months. In years past, many who crossed onto base property were punished by a night in jail. For the last several years, since the erection of the fence, the penalty has been much more severe. This annual protest against violence is a very peaceful event. The protesters have a reputation for nonviolence and, of course, Southerners have a reputation for hospitality. A small number of lightly armed policemen survey the event, and no rude words are spoken and no trash is left behind. Many families living near the base set up tables to sell food to the protesters. One hundred forty-seven people from the Chicago metropolitan area, including Guatemalans and Colombians, were in the Chicago Religious Leadership Network delegation that attended the vigil. As young and old from all over the United States and from other countries as well came together with a common purpose, there was a wonderful feeling of solidarity and hope for the future. |
We all have our local sports heroes, but Shani is by far my greatest hero on and off the ice. It is very rare to have such a gifted athlete in our presence, and we should all root him on to victory in February. I joined the Evanston Speed Skating Club at the age of 9, before our City even had an indoor rink, and practiced at the Skatium Ice Arena in Skokie. Captain Sam Hicks, our coach, used to organize bus trips up to the old outdoor oval in West Allis, Wis. (now home of the Petit Center). I skated for a few years, fell a lot, got very cold toes and loved every minute of it. Every early morning departure to a speed skating meet – whether in an ice arena in Rockford or on a bumpy, frigid pond in Lombard – felt like an adventure in a distant land. For some reason, though, I took up other adolescent pursuits and stopped skating. After a 20-year hiatus, I decided to try skating again when I saw a notice for the Evanston club. One of the first things I saw in December 1994, when I stepped back onto the ice at the Robert Crown Center, was a thin young man of about 12 years of age blurring around the track. I sensed that I was seeing something very special. His energy was contagious, and I caught the bug, suddenly feeling about 20 years younger in his vicinity. When I decided to try skating again, I thought it might just be a casual weekly spin around the track, but Shani motivated me to push myself harder than I thought I would. In the summer of that year, I found myself chasing this seemingly tireless kid up steep hills, doing dry land workouts with Shani and a group of other skaters ranging in age from about 8 to 48. At the time I had no idea that someone less than half my age could be such an inspiring teacher and mentor. After about a month or so of watching Shani skate laps at practice with Nathaniel Mills, our coach at the time and a former Olympian, I knew that he would somehow make it to where he stands today, perched on the edge of history. I believe that this winter Shani is destined to stand on the top of the most coveted podium on the planet and that he will make frequent appearances there over the next decade or so. I am truly proud of Shani for skating to the very limit of his abilities this past week in Marquette, Mich., at the Short Track Olympic Trials. Shani was attempting a feat many thought to be impossible, even foolish: to be the first athlete to qualify for and compete in two different sports (Long Track and Short Track Speed Skating) in the same Olympiad. Though he did not make the 2006 U.S. Olympic Short Track Team, he displayed courage and grace and tenacity in his efforts. A quote from T.S. Elliot sums up Shani's quest: "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." It is amazing that he has the knowledge and skill required to even attempt this feat. Did he risk going too far? Of course: that's the whole point in pushing boundaries and shattering world records. In Shani's case, he is determined to push the limit of how far and
how fast one can go. Look out world, he's only gonna get faster. Barbara Alafat and Gail Washlow Kaufman are to be commended for their gracious offer to provide both the space and the food that we shared the morning of Nov. 18. Along with Faith in Action and Friends in Christ, we were able to gather lay and professional visitors from over 20 organizations and faith communities to hear Nancy Flowers, Evanston Ombudsman, speak on the subject of "Moving Toward YES!" when people are reluctant to accept help. We feel it is so important for like-minded people of the community to gather and share, in this case for the benefit of all the older adults in this wonderful community of Evanston, especially those who are less able to be out and about. In this era of competitiveness for not-for-profit funding, service areas and the like, it is heartwarming to be in a place where collaboration is valued. Thank you, Barbara, Gail and Mather Gardens, and the more than 30 people
who attended and who daily visit and bring a bit of the community in to
the vital members who may not be able to come out to participate but nevertheless
have so much to contribute.
The Summer Reading Program began when Linda Shusterman, a reading specialist at Kingsley School, noticed that the gains achieved during the school year were lost over the summer. As you noted, "…independent literature backed her hunch, in what has come to be known as the ‘summer setback.'" Ms. Shusterman began sending books to her students over the summer, funding the program as best she could since the District didn't fund projects like this. Two years ago, she came to Foundation 65 seeking an Educator Grant. The article described the program we funded – reading specialists sent 24 reading-level targeted books to each student over the summer, and they wrote back to their teachers about the books in self-addressed envelopes. While the original objective was to maintain reading level over the summer, most students actually improved. I am pleased to inform you of the tremendous success that the program has achieved again this year. Last summer the program was expanded to 50 students in four schools. Of the 45 students who returned in the fall, 14 maintained and 30 increased their reading level over the summer. Sixty-seven percent of participating students improved their reading through this program. As your article indicated, the program is having an outstanding impact on those struggling readers who most need our help. This is just one of the exciting programs that Foundation 65 has been able to fund through the generous support of our individual and business donors. Please consider joining me in supporting Foundation 65. You can contact
us at info@foundation65.org. Thank you.
At a time when we were desperate to find a temporary home for our school, the YMCA opened its arms to us, allowing the nursery school to remain open to our families. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming, from Executive Director Bill Geiger and Suzanne Diederich, vice president of Child Care Services, to Tanille Baaske, director of operations, to all the teachers and especially Ruth Stern, who greets each one of us with a big smile. It is gratifying to know that two Evanston organizations whose mutual
goal places a strong value on the future of our children can work together
to achieve this success.
In fact, it looks tired, beat up and uncared for – hard to believe it would be acceptable to the people in charge. Is the tree subsidized merely by contributions? If that is the case and the coffers are a little less full, blame it on the shock of our real estate property taxes and, perhaps, take a little out of that. With the incredible increase, there should be enough there to put up a tree we could be proud of. I have a feeling I am not alone in this sentiment, so feel free to exclude
my name and have a wonderful holiday. It is hard enough in this weather to get a parking spot. I wouldn't be upset if I did not already pay enough to this City in taxes – and on top, a $60 sticker hold-up once a year. Does anyone out there agree that this is just ridiculous, with all our other bills going up, too? I am just tired of paying more and more and getting less respect as a property owner here. Then I realized that here in Evanston parking is an industry unto
itself. Their little traffic Jeeps crawl through the side streets,
grubbing for more cash. |
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Letters, Guest Essays and Announcements Letters of 450 words or fewer and announcements of 200 words or fewer must be received eight days before publication. Send them by mail to 1124 Florence Ave., Evanston, 60202; by fax to 847-864-7749 or by email to info@evanstonroundtable.com. Anyone wishing to contribute a guest essay
should contact one of the editors.
The
Resolution of Resolutions In a few days we will welcome in the beginning of another year, at least a new year based on the Gregorian calendar – "the reformed Julian calendar now in use, according to which the ordinary years consists of 365 days, and a leap year of 366 days…in every year whose number is exactly divisible by four except centenary years, whose numbers are not exactly divisible by 400; named after Pope Gregory XIII, 1502-05" (Webster). Of course, there are other calendars in which the New Year commences on other dates (e.g., the Chinese calendar, Hindu calendar, Jewish calendar, Julian calendar and Muslim calendar). For many people the New Year offers a new lease on life, the start of a moderated lifestyle. And so, on New Year's Eve, the world reverberates with vows and mutterings of new resolutions: "I resolve not to get drunk this year." "I vow not to gamble any more." "I resolve to lose 15 pounds." "I will exercise every day." "I will not use profanity." "I promise to be more patient." "I promise to go to church." "I promise to give something to the needy every month." "I won't buy any more clothes." "I'll stop trying to keep up with the Joneses." "I promise. I pledge...I vow...I swear...I will...I won't...I shall...I shan't." "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." – Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962, American stateswoman; wife of the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt) Many of those New Year's resolutions will not be kept. What happens then? Guilt? Or a shrug of the shoulders and a resolution to stick to one's resolutions next year? Well, I must confess that I took the easy way out and just gave up making New Year's resolutions. I'm not recommending this, but it did eliminate my frustration over not sticking to my resolutions. What I do instead is to reaffirm what I consider important in the world and in my life, and that is an appreciation of others. The media, in their better moments, showed footage of young people collecting, sorting or distributing money, food and clothes for the needy. They were not paid to do so in currency or class credits. They did so because they saw and felt the need to do something for those less fortunate than they. I don't know if their deeds were based on New Year's resolutions or spontaneous resolve. I suspect the latter. I am convinced, after watching these young people, that for all of us the resolution of resolutions is to care about other human beings and, especially, to value and nurture our young people to be the positive forces of the future. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Indira Gandhi "You must work; we must all work to make the world worthy of its
children." – Pablo
Cassals (1876-1973; Spanish cellists, conductor and composer) An Insight and a Wish 2006 is just days away. If you are like me, you are already thinking about resolutions for the new year. But I have learned from other years that my resolutions invariably prove to be as substantial as champagne bubbles – they glisten with promise but last no longer than the feelings that prompted them. So this year I have decided to settle for an insight and a wish. The insight I will carry into and hopefully through the new year is that life is more about questions than answers. I did not learn that as easily as I write it. Most of my education was all about finding and knowing the right answers to the questions my parents and teachers and church posed to me. Back then my memory was sharper than it is today, and I became very adept at rote learning. Later, as a Catholic priest, I found myself giving answers to whoever asked the questions I was trained to handle. Eight years into teaching in a seminary I encountered questions of my own that taught me things about life and myself that I would never have known otherwise. There were questions I could not dodge or ignore. I discovered also the unsettling but challenging fact that my questions did not give me answers but led to other questions. Along with that discovery, I found a sense of life and journey I live with today. Along the way I have encountered some very smart people who offered me some very dumb answers to my seekings. I have also met some not-so-smart others who have given me questions that have enriched my life. There are some questions that, though humble and simple, may leave us restless – and growing. Describing this insight makes me even more grateful for it as I turn in my journey toward the new year. My wish? That the questions that await me in 2006 will be far less painful than those of this dying year. But saying that in no way diminishes their gifts – of insights and still other questions. |
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