Editorial

The Great Declaration: A Trio of Promises, a Trio of Pledges

It has been 230 years since July 4, 1776, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. The words create a reasoned, eloquent argument for the separation of a colony from its parent and the creation of a new country.

Among its most famous words are "that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The closing words of the Declaration of Independence are even more remarkable, as the signers pledged "our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor" toward protecting their new country. The collective nature of their pledge and their sacrifice is breathtaking. Whatever they had garnered by way of wealth, family and reputation was on the line.

Reading the Declaration as one integrated document, we see that the promises for individual liberty and happiness depend on the collective pledge to protect them. Instead, much of the time, fragments float up to us which justify the surrendering of some of those rights in exchange for security.

As a society we have embraced the words "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," leaping from their inherent promise to a celebration of our individuals. But in addition we must collectively take risks to ensure these blessings of liberty for all.

Today, the climate of fear promulgated from our nation's capital creates tunnel vision, subsections of citizens - the Protean "us and them." The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, have been continually watered down in the past few decades. We are willing to let the government trample on some of our rights - to forgo some aspects of due process, to give way on what is a "reasonable" government search, to censor certain forms of speech - on the premise that security trumps a benefit of freedom.

We are willing to let the government conduct warrantless wiretaps because other people just might be saying something that needs to be overheard. We have sat by while the government mined information on telephone companies' computers to find out who is talking to whom. We are willing to let the government pry into our personal reading habits, because somebody else might be reading subversive material. We have let certain people remain in unspeakable conditions in our prisons - and at times, without charges or a hearing - because most of them are probably guilty of something. We are willing to let other people be tortured because of information they might have.

We are on a dangerous trend that needs to be carefully watched.

As we look toward the national celebration of our independence we should remember that the price of freedom is vigilance and the price of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was and should continue to be "our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.

Cubbies Fever

By Charles Wilkinson

Last Wednesday spring became summer, which made last February seem years ago. That was when the Cubbies headed to the desert with footlockers filled with dreams and press-clippings heralding the season ahead as being THE year. The team had it all - pitching, hitting, new blood, the lessons of last season, and even newly remodeled bleachers to accommodate fans who just could not stay away from the friendly confines.

Cubbies fever warmed the chills of another Chicago winter. "Boston did it; now it's our turn to beat the Curse," hummed like a mantra in the minds of everyone with even the slightest sprig of centerfield ivy in their veins. The Arizona sun spilled from the sport pages of the morning newspapers and the fever became a friend to every Cubbies fan's dreams.

And, of course, tickets were selling like Good Humor treats in a heat wave.

So went February and March. Then came April and injuries; May and loss after loss; then June and The Swoon. Cubbies fever turned toxic but most fans seemed to treat it like a summer cold. "Here we go again; every year the same damn virus knocks me out but I gotta live with it!"

What is it about Cubbies fans that make them so forgiving and tolerant of the hapless happenings at Wrigley Field? Do they buy masochism kits with their season tickets? Or do they just love their loveable losers so blindly that the team's creative ways of courting defeat are more exciting than their teasing wins? Is that what lures Cubbies fans to the park?

No doubt about it, the north side boys of summer almost always manage to entertain. So do many dentists, if only to distract their patients from the pain they inflict.

There is nothing to be gained at this stage of the season by naming names or pointing fingers, or even blaming billy goats, Buckners or Bartmans. Going back to the off-season trades (check out the stats on Nomar, Moises and Corey) and wondering "Why?" or moaning "If only…" cannot do a thing to change the melodrama and miseries all too familiar to the soul of every Cubbies fan. No wonder the self-medicating oases, the local bars, are thriving.

A predictable symptom of Cubbies fever, though, at its most toxic, is delirium. That is when Wrigley denizens' thoughts turn to next season.

But even that madness does not keep the fans from filling the park, giving the owners of the organization the assurance that they are marketing a winner where winning matters - in their bank accounts.
Maybe Cubbies fans en masse should opt for early hibernation to deal with their fever and, at the same time, send the owners a message.

Microbia*

By Peggy Tarr

None of us knew very much about the background of Microbia, our "leader." She was pretty tight-lipped about her childhood, but her behavior toward us made us wonder whether her behavior was the result of growing up in an extremely oppressive, hateful environment or was just an aberration.**

We couldn't imagine what it was like to live in the same household as Microbia. It was bad enough trying to survive in the workplace with her. Microbia have a new meaning to micromanagement.***

We thought if she could have found a way, she would have measured and documented the amount of air we breathed.

Microbia was neither pretty nor downright ugly, at least we don't think she was. She pinched her face into a scowl most of the time, so no one dared to look at her long enough to make a decision one way or the other. Her looks certainly didn't evoke the saying, "Beauty is as beauty does," but "Ugly to the bone" captured Microbia's behavior to a T.

Microbia, along with other indications of poor breeding, did not greet her employees most of the time, although she certainly let them know she saw them, by looking them up and down as though it was a military inspection.

For whatever reason, Microbia seemed to feel that she had to constantly prove to people that she was in command. No matter how hard people worked, no matter how many hours people worked, no matter how accurate the work was that people produced, no matter how polite people were to Microbia, she had to find ways to micromanage them, insult them, yell at them, contradict previous instructions given to them, anything to jerk them around by any means possible.

In Microbia's mixed up brain was the notion that adult employees were actually children, that children were bad and up to no good, and bad children had to be ruled with an iron fist. No matter how many employees escaped Microbia's plantation by transferring out of her grips or just quitting, it was not Microbia's fault.

According to Microbia, employees left because they were seeking new experiences, were too young, too old, too frail, or just plain irresponsible. Employees that Microbia fired were also cast into the aforementioned categories.

"Leaders" like Microbia are epidemic, infecting and afflicting people working under them. Is there no cure for Microbia- types, or is it that those with the power to cure choose not to do so? A tragedy.

* Microbia - Derivative of microbe - a microscopic organism; esp., any of the bacteria that cause disease
**Aberration - a deviation from the normal; mental derangement
*** Micromanage - manage or control with excessive attention to minor details.

Letters

Kudos for Bryon Harris and Project Roots

Editor:
I was thrilled to read your article about Evanston native Bryon Harris and his new program, Project Roots, at Evanston's Metropolitan Family Services. What a success story. The brainchild of Mr. Harris and his childhood friends, Project Roots seems poised for rapid growth and success. In its infancy, the program shows so much promise and there seems to be enthusiasm and engagement by local families.

Congratulations to Mr. Harris and his friends for showing us a creative solution to a problem situation. You are an inspiration to all of us Evanston residents.

I also hope that the District 65 Board of Education is watching closely. Mr. Harris should be our next Superintendent. He's shown more creativity, hope and problem- solving skills than our own leadership, and he's only 30.

Mr. Harris, please stay in Evanston and help us build a stronger school system that makes all of us proud. Run for School Board. Become the District 65 Superintendent. We beg you.
--Erika Erhart

Bad Science

Editor:
David Kraft's guest essay (RoundTable 6/14/06) is fairly typical of the ecological fringe who wrap their illogic around the bogeyman of nuclear power. One must doubt their logic when they make statements such as "Better, safer, cheaper, less environmentally damaging and quicker means of generating electricity exist, and none of these increase the threats of nuclear proliferation or terrrorism. There is no place in a democratic society for this kind of recalcitrant behavior. After 50 years of failing to get it right, we must pull the plug on nuclear power."

What better, cheaper and less environmentally damaging technologies exist? Many of the so-called "clean" forms rely on subsidies, which, when added in, make them costly. Wind power? A few, at best, exist today, and they rely on subsidies. Even the hallowed Kennedys oppose them. What about the bird carnage? Some of the proposed best sites are migratory bird routes. What about human accidents when they clean the turbine blades?

How do we stop nuclear proliferation? Will he personally intercede with Iran's administration? If they succeed, as North Korea did despite attempts to dissuade them, then how do we stop the surrounding countries from following in self-defense? Is he suggesting armed intervention or conversion to Islam?

Jimmy Carter stopped breeder reactors in the U.S., but the only result is an accumulation of hazardous waste that breeder reactors could re-process for re-use. His actions did not stop the suave French from following his example. They derive most of their electrical power from nuclear means, re-process waste with breeder reactors and have cut their carbon emissions. That is why they pushed Kyoto – it would have little economic impact on France, unlike the U.S.

Worse yet is Mr. Kraft's statement:

"…There have now been 24 leukemia deaths, 77 serious respiratory diseases and a total of 407 cancers — and counting" in Monticello, Utah, next to a closed and poorly supervised government uranium mill."

Compared to what? Over what period of time? Over 100 years in a sample group most people will die. Whom do we blame for that? How statistically significant are these stated numbers compared to similar populations without a nearby uranium mill? Did these people smoke? There are many variables he has not factored in as control.

It is this kind of poor use of logic and statistics that does disservice to the ecological movement.

How about having a serious and rational discussion of alternatives, weighing health, technology and economic factors? There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
--Vito Brugliera

SOUL Creations Helps Educate All Our Children

Editor:
The African-Centered Curriculum (ACC) program may provide a benefit to children in the achievement gap in that it will build self-identity in a concentrated dose, much as the Two-Way Immersion (TWI) program provides a supportive environment for Hispanic children.

But what about the children who won't be in the ACC program or the TWI program? What are we doing to build a value of education, effective study habits, and positive self-identity in these children?

We have been so focused on choice programs that the rest of the children who are under-achieving are falling through the cracks. We need to re-think our approach. It is not acceptable that we as a community satisfy ourselves with a curriculum that fails to address all the children who need support.

An effective remedy to the achievement gap must include programs that address all of the children where they are in their need. The schools need them to meet Illinois state standards at their grade level, the community needs them to be positive, contributing members of society.

What do children need? They need to know that they are valuable members of our community and that they can meet state standards at grade level. To achieve this they need contact with positive role models. They need opportunities to learn about African-American history, heritage and achievement through experiences that build their self-identity and self-confidence. They need lessons in organization and study skills built into the curriculum. Workshops for parents would be helpful, too.

How do we achieve this? What resources do we, as a community, have to support our schools in supporting our under-achieving children?

I would venture to say we have more resources than have been explored. For one, we have S.O.U.L Creations, an organization specifically developed to provide an educational, multi-cultural experience for all children but geared towards addressing the issues that African-American children face.

Recently I took the opportunity to attend The S.O.U.L Creations SOUL Experience Culminating Performance, which was part of the culmination of residencies taught in various Evanston schools, as well as being a Ceremony of Completion for the children who participated in their after-school program.

The performance was wonderful, but the most exciting thing was that I learned that S.O.U.L Creations' residencies include curriculum that meets a variety of Illinois state standards.

The lessons are taught through the arts (dance, music, and writing) and include building a portfolio and the opportunity to perform. S.O.U.L Creations has done residencies in most Evanston schools with many positive results.

Through personal and group experiences the children build their academic knowledge, self-discipline and skill for self-expression. The residencies are led by a diverse group of experienced, educated teachers.

How can we integrate this established Evanston-based educational organization into each school to help fill the achievement gap for all of our children? As a parent of children in District 65, as a community member, I want to see programs in our schools that support all of our children and creatively use as many resources as possible.
--Kristen McCall

Gore's Painful Truth Must Be Heeded

Editor:
I urge all readers to see Al Gore's remarkable movie about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," now playing in Chicagoland theaters, and in Evanston at the Century Theatre.

Many scientists from around the world say that global warming is the most serious problem facing mankind – and when you see the movie you will agree. But the movie isn't based on scare-tactics, just solid, scientific information in the form of an extremely sophisticated PowerPoint presentation Mr. Gore has given to a live audience – which he has done literally a thousand times in cities all over the world, including some in China.

The evidence is overwhelming for global warming, with temperatures rising and carbon dioxide levels not seen in any natural cycle of change in literally hundreds of thousands of years. The hottest 10 years ever recorded on the earth were in the last 16 years, with 2005 the hottest year on record ever.

He shows pictures of mountain glaciers in Asia and Europe which have completely melted over the years in this century, with live footage of glaciers falling apart in the Arctic – all of which can in time put coastal cities in parts of the world under water.

Mr. Gore frames the issue as a moral imperative, upon which we must act, and he frames this in a structure of hope – hope for all that we have come through and survived, not only as a nation, but as a race of beings – the menace of Hitler in the recent past, plagues, diseases, droughts, famines and wars and so much more.

But, we also need, he says, to heed the prophetic words of Churchill, that the era of delays and excuses has come to an end to bring us the era of consequences if we don't act.
--Michael Zucker

Parents of Achievers Depend on Themselves, Not the District

Editor:
I appreciated the last line in John Harmon's letter (6/14/06), admonishing District 65 for failing to ensure the academic achievement of African-American students. "Depend on District 65? Depend on ourselves," he writes.

That's an awfully good idea. In fact, the parents of students who achieve, whether those parents are white, black, poor or affluent, do just that. They depend on themselves to set high expectations for their students. They depend on themselves to get their students to attend class and to do their homework. They depend on themselves to communicate with teachers when performance or behavior concerns emerge.

Parents of successful students depend on themselves to get the job done. The fact that District 65 has outstanding resources, including teachers, simply increases the odds that the parents' efforts will pay off.

Mr. Harmon's comment represents a disservice to the African-American parents in our community who already understand the concept of "depending on ourselves," and who are producing outstanding academic achievers as a result.
--Carolyn Laughlin

AP Grades Are Unfair

Editor:
As a parent and community member, not an educator, I believe that the grading system at ETHS and all high schools that award higher points for grades achieved in honors and AP (advanced placement) classes is inherently unfair and may contribute to the culture of the achievement gap.

At ETHS and other good high schools, the curriculum is offered in remedial, regular, honors and for certain courses, such as APclasses that enable students to earn college credit while still in high school.

The population of students at ETHS bring various skill sets to the classroom. Students who work hard in a regular level English class, utilizing their skill sets to achieve an A, are awarded 4.0 points.

Students who best utilize their skills sets in honors English and achieve an A will be awarded 4.5 points. Students whose skill sets allow them to take AP English during senior year and who utilize their skills sets just as well as the students with A's in regular English, will receive 5.0 An ETHSstudent who has used her or his skill set well and worked hard to achieve "straight A's" in regular classes will graduate with a 4.0 average.

However, this student will not be the valedictorian nor even close to the top 10 percent of the class, because another student who had some B's and mostly A's (but not straight A's) in honors and AP classes will have a higher GPA, perhaps a GPA of 4.4 or higher. The hard work of the student in honors and AP classes is valued more by the school system than is the hard work of the student in regular classes.

As all the students at ETHS know, the regular classeshave a higher proportion of black students, and the honors and AP classes have higher proportions of white students.I wonder if this unfair grading system contributes to lowermotivation to achieve among students in regular classes.

I graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1969 with a B+ GPA and a class rank of 15 percent. Now, due to the higher value put on AP and honors grading at ETHS, a B+ average would barely rank in the top 50 percent of the class.

As I recall, parents of incoming freshmen are told nothing about this unfair grading system. I believe that parents and students should be fully informed on numerous occasions about this.
--Deborah Wolen