Category: Blog

A Masked View of Society

Social Media provides A MASKED VIEW of Society. Anything goes, lies, bullying, deceits, and meaningless friendships. It is hard to navigate safely, especially for teens.

A few days ago, a teen I’m close to shared a troublesome text from an internet boyfriend. The fifteen-year-old high school sophomore said he was depressed because people were suddenly de-friending him, and he had no idea why. I didn’t know how to advise her other than to be cautious of the people she communicates with online. I am sworn to secrecy with no option to tell her parents about her high-speed wireless love life. And, knowing their reaction, it really isn’t a good option, for they don’t know how to talk to their children about important matters. They respond to problems by screaming, and they might take away the phone for a few days, but afterward, it is life as usual.

The daughter stays up until the early morning hours, playing games and texting friends. She is trapped at home with few opportunities to interact with them in person. She is bored yet addicted to computer games that are mindless. As a friend from afar, I take her on weekly excursions and try to get her to read, but beyond that, there is little I can do.

Her story isn’t unique. In June, the Surgeon General, Dr. VIvek Murthy, sounded the alarm, calling the lack of social connection an American epidemic affecting half the country. He says it is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and asked Congress to take action on labels, reminding parents and adolescents that social media has not been proven safe. Though loneliness is a problem among all ages, it is especially problematic for seniors and teens. He offers four suggestions:

speak on the phone or in person with friends, don’t rely on texting.
invite people over to share a meal.
listen and be present during conversations.
look for ways to serve others.

Feeling disempowered is a symptom of disconnection from meaningful work, the natural world, good childhood nurturing, status, respect, and hope for a secure future. It results, in part, from economic displacement in the pursuit of profit. I spoke to a business acquaintance this week who was prohibited from taking a sick day despite having the flu. The person is a dedicated employee, working overtime most days. He was understandably angry, and I hope he speaks out. Not only is it unhealthy for the rest of the staff, but it shows disrespect and is an affront to his dignity as a human being.

Adolescence and childhood are critical times in brain development that make youth more vulnerable to harm from Social Media. When used in moderation, social media can be a good thing, yet according to the Surgeon General, there is growing evidence that social media is unhealthy for young people’s mental health. He says, “Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content to bullying and harassment. For too many children, social media use compromises their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.”

Teens who spend more than three hours per day face double the risk of experiencing depression and anxiety. They’re also more prone to eating disorders, social comparison, and low self-esteem. It compromises sleep and in-person time with family and friends.

He advises parents and caregivers to be open and honest when communicating with youth, suggesting they establish tech-free zones in the house, promote in-person relationships, and teach kids responsible online behavior, asking them to report problematic content and bullying. It is also important to limit time on platforms, block unwanted content, and make sure the young person is careful about sharing personal information.

Listen, don’t lecture, and talk calmly so you gain the child’s trust so they will come to you if there is a problem

like being “defriended.” Teens take rejection so seriously it can lead to anxiety disorders. You can help by acknowledging their feelings. Comfort comes before addressing the issue. Show that you understand and explain that they are not the only ones experiencing such things. When the youth feels secure and less anxious, the next step is reflecting on the situation. The youth may have inadvertently done something wrong or written a text that was taken the wrong way. A communication thought to be private may have been shared with others. The individuals who “unfriended” them may not have been close friends to begin with. Disappointments are a part of life that must be dealt with, and having good communication with the teen will lessen the blow.

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Have you or a loved one experienced a hard time on social media? Please share your thoughts.

Art is always for sale. A Masked View is an acrylic painting on a deep 30″ x 24″ canvas. Available on special this week. Reduced from $885 to $599. Shipped free in the continental U.S. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com

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References:

Website U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, (2023) Surgeon General Issues New Advisory About Effects Social Media Use Has on Youth Mental Health, Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/23/surgeon-general-issues-new-advisory-about-effects-social-media-use-has-youth-mental-health.html

Website. (2024)What To do When Your Child Is Upset That They Were “Unfriended.” Moms. Retrieved from https://www.moms.com/help-child-sad-unfriended-social-media/

Corbin, S. & Waters,J. (2023) What the Surgeon General Missed About America’s Loneliness Epidemic. Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.capita.org/capita-ideas/2023/05/16/what-the-surgeon-general-missed-about-americas-loneliness-epidemic1?

WRITE A REVIEW ON AMAZON!

THE WATER FACTOR, A RIGHTFULLY MINE NOVEL, is a gripping tale of water scarcity and corporate wrongdoing. It is a Firebird International Award winner for best dystopian novel and a Literary Titan recipient for best thriller.

The Water Factor is available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. It can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and ITunes. Ask your bookstore to order a copy from Ingram.

Do What It Takes!

What does it take to become an activist? For some, it is a natural response to injustice. For others, it takes more than acknowledging a societal ill; they don’t act until they experience the injustice personally. In today’s world, we are all victims of injustice. Corporate corruption, government ineptitude, political lies, inequality, rude behavior, pollution, and human-induced climate change affect us daily.

The Supreme Court wiped out the rights fought for over the last sixty years. We lost the right to choose and the right to discuss injustice in the classroom. In the future, neither the FDA nor the EPA will be able to protect us from contaminated food and polluted air. Separation of church and state is on the chopping block by Christian Nationalists who want to control religious beliefs.

To maintain democracy by becoming an activist, it is essential to think positively. Those taking a stance do so with the hope and belief that a healthier planet and a more equal society are possible. Their concern for future generations and the broader culture is invigorating. They have a purpose that gets them up in the morning. There is a lot to do

Discrimination, gun violence, losing the right to decide about your health and well-being, and unfair employment practices send people into

hopelessness and despair. They disengage, which is one of the worst things they can do to help their situation. For some, these horrors are a wake-up call, providing a sense of urgency and meaningful connectedness. The tragedy fills them with responsibility and a feeling of power to effect change.

Activism is a duty requiring those who are strong to help those in need. Remember Maslow’s hierarchy? You can’t be expected to be socially active if you don’t have shelter, food, safety, security, and health. Since a large part of the population falls below the poverty line, they need our help.

Intelligence also plays a role in the responsibility people feel for society.

The normal curve distribution of IQ is a reminder that 16 percent of the population has an IQ lower than 85 percent. These individuals may be wonderful and loving but are less likely to be analytical and can be easily manipulated. Research shows that those with higher IQs tend to be adaptable and willing to explore different ways to problem solve. They are more open-minded, crave new experiences, are curious about the world, and are willing to learn more about how it works. Those with higher IQs usually recognize their limitations and look for answers through research and unique experiences. They are empathetic and skilled at managing and expressing emotions. yet despite these attributes, they need other factors to be successful. Success requires a desire to excel, prudence, forethought, willpower, and perseverance.

The road to changing people’s minds is long and can be discouraging. People working for social equality tend to have the personality traits mentioned above. They have higher IQs and are several rungs up on Maslow’s scale.

I feel that the lucky individuals gifted with these attributes have an obligation to help those who are less fortunate. That is why I write. Over the Peanut Fence and The Water Factor are stories, yes, but more than that, they are calls to action. Most people who read my newsletter are in this rarefied group. So, I beg you to take a minute to evaluate what you have already contributed to society and what you intend to do in the future. We can’t sit on past laurels if we are to leave the world a better place for the next generation.

References:

Cox, H. (2014) What motivates us to engage in activism. Retrieved from https://commonslibrary.org/what-motivates-us-to-engage-in-activism/

Website. What is an IQ Score? What Does My IQ Score Mean? Mindware. Retrieved from https://www.highiqpro.com/iq-tests/what-does-my-iq-score-mean

Cherry, K ( 2022) Are High IQ People More Successful? A Modern Look at Terman’s Study of the Gifted. Verywell mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/are-people-with-high-iqs-more-successful-2795280#:~:text

Art is always for sale. Origin Of A Thought is an acrylic on canvas painting in black metal frame, 12″ x 14″. Available for $ 175, includes shipping in the continental U.S. Purchase at www.eichingerfinearart.com

I look forward to your comments.

When you read The Water Factor, be aware that though the situations I write about are fictionalized and exciting, they are based on fact. Don’t sit back. Pay attention. Organize. Returning access to clean water is a human right, not a commodity to be sold on Wall Street.

The Water Factor is available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. The book is a Firefly International Award winner that can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and ITunes.

Speak Out!

Hitler was a powerful, spellbinding orator with the ability to tap into voter anger and helplessness. He attracted a wide following desperate for change and pledged to restore Germany’s “rightfully position” as a world power. Their propaganda machine was highly successful in directing fear against the Jews, Communists, Catholic priests, Protestant pastors, ecclesiastical lawyers, and Social Democrats. When they talked of the purebred blond Arian race, their speeches were similar to those of White Nationalists. They tailored talks to each audience, downplaying antisemitism to business people, assuring farmers their government would prop up falling agricultural prices, and ensuring those on pensions their checks would remain stable. After the Nazis won the vote, Hitler was given presidential powers that ended their parliamentary democracy and convinced the public that the Nazi party was the only hope of ending chaos.

Though many people watched what was happening with horror, they did little to stop the Nazi party’s rise to power. Pastor Martin Niemöller explains the mindset well.

“First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out–Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out–Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out–Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–Because I was not a Jew.”

Then they came for me, and there was no one left–To speak out for me.”

Niemöller was a national conservative, antisemite, and supporter of Adolf Hitler who later opposed the Nazi’s program and wound up in concentration camps, narrowly escaping death. After the war, he initiated the Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt and wrote the above poem. From the 1950s on, he was a pacifist and anti-war activist, campaigning for nuclear disarmament.

Change happened slowly in the public mind. When books were banned, and party membership became mandatory, people shook their heads, thinking things couldn’t possibly get worse. They went about their business, afraid to organize against it. Books were banned with public burnings. When liberal-oriented parties were forbidden, and leaders executed what was later called the “Night of the Long Knives,” people were silent. Some welcomed how anti-Semitism was used to mobilize the police against Jewish citizens. How exciting for a mob to destroy more than 1,000 synagogues and 7,500 homes and businesses in 1938 on Kristallnacht.!When ghettoes were formed and later emptied of their residents, the public was silent. After homosexuals, Romas, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles, disabled people, and political opponents disappeared in concentration camps, people pretended they didn’t know what was happening.

Our country is on a slow march, headed in the same direction. The Supreme Court recently ruled that bribery is okay, judges can overrule scientists and experts, and Trump is immune from anything he did while “officially” President. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the CP2 gas export terminal, which could lead to more global warming pollution than the Willow Arctic oil project. It is up to voters to not let the United States become a Fascist nation.

Right-wing nationalists twist the meaning in the nation’s founding documents, ignoring that diverse people came to our country to escape political and religious persecution. The Constitution accommodated “the tired and poor” without mentioning God. The notion that the United States was founded as a Christian nation is far from the truth. The founding fathers clearly desired to separate church from state. After living under King George’s rule, they wanted to ensure that our president was never given the powers of a king with a system of checks and balances now out of whack. The United States was designed with three branches of government charged with serving the COMMON good.

Though some were indeed slaveholders, the founders were far from establishing a Christian nation. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were Deists. George Washington, James Madison, James Monroe, and John Tyler are identified as having deistic beliefs. They saw God as having created the universe and humans to run it according to the laws of nature, and they believed that God’s existence could only be discovered through human reason and logic. Simply put-nature reveals God’s existence. Deists reject religious authority, scripture, revelations, and miraculous events as sources of religious evidence, relying instead on scientific fact and natural observation.

Presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Millard Fillmore, and William Howard Taft were Unitarians, emphasizing the universal principles of most religions in an inclusive manner. In a more contemporary context, Universalism is the pursuit of a unification of all human beings under constructs such as human rights. It includes all individuals regardless of culture, race, sex, religion, nationality, and sexual orientation.

Those tolerant individuals were the founders of our country. They wrote an inclusive Constitution that thirteen colonies agreed to and signed. They were far from religious zealots pushing for a Christian nation. Unfortunately, many people today aren’t aware of the foundational beliefs our country is based on. Religious authorities and greedy business practices have turned us into hateful people who distrust one another. Rather than admit that humans continue to devastate the planet, they wait for a miracle to save them. They acknowledge authoritarian leaders interested in having power and money over the common good.

We are a lazy nation. It is easier to play computer games, get drunk, and attend concerts than to be an activist fighting for your future. Since writing The Water Factor, I’ve tried to awaken the public to how water cartels have commodified water by taking over water rights and managing municipal water and sewage systems. You and I will pay escalating rates that make those with limited resources suffer even more. What will happen when your city faces a Mexico City-style crisis where there isn’t enough water to go around? Will you move? Or will you pay 2000 times more to have your water delivered, hoping the truck wasn’t stolen on the way?

Art is always for sale. Fractured America is an acrylic on canvas painting, 24” by 24” x 2”. Available for $ 485, includes shipping in the continental U.S. Purchase at www.eichingerfinearart.com

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References:

Website (2024) The Nazi Rise To Power. Holocaust Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nazi-rise-to-power

Website. (2024) The Nazi Party and Hitler’s rise to power. Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nazi-Party/The-Nazi-Party-and-Hitlers-rise-to-power

Website. (2024) Martin Niemöller. Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Niemöller

Negotiating Volatility

Limitless Possibilities

Confusing, Volatile, Hateful, Loss, Changing, Compassionate, Loving, Opportunity, Joy

Negotiating Volatility

Though retired, I keep one foot in the museum world. This February’s American Alliance of Museum magazine was about navigating the future during a volatile time. Trendswatch, a center forecasting the future for museums, supplied data for the article. Since insights are as pertinent for ordinary people as they are for museums, I decided to share them.

The magazine begins by summarizing data that affects us all. I was surprised to read that one hundred sixty educators have been fired for political reasons since 2022, and the increase in global carbon emissions since 1970 is 90%. By 2090, with the adoption of generative AI, they project job loss to be as high as 30%. The number translates into 300 million current jobs being eliminated globally. Last year, 53 % percent of hiring managers reported that their company eliminated the requirement for a bachelor’s degree in some or all roles.

I knew that book banning was a problem but was horrified to learn that over 2,571 book titles have been challenged or banned in U.S. public libraries and school libraries between 2020 and 2022; so much for freedom of expression, with so many people becoming morality censors. I’m not surprised that the segment of U.S. adults who reported feeling lonely a lot of the time yesterday is 17% of the population (44 million American adults).

The speed of change is increasing exponentially. Google’s director of engineering predicts that a year’s worth of change that occurs today will only take three months to do by 2041. ChatGPT, launched in November 2022, had over a million active users by January 2023. It and other AI platforms are changing the landscape for thousands of writers, illustrators, and journalists. Rapid change is unpredictable and can be terrifying for those unprepared. AI is a record-breaker. It processes data and completes tasks faster than humans. Plus machines, don’t need bathroom and lunch breaks.

Frey and Osborn, who accurately predicted job loss over the past twenty years, predict that the following jobs are at immediate risk.

Transportation and material moving (nearly 12 million jobs)
Sales and sales-related roles (3.8 million jobs)
Production (2.8 million jobs)
Office and administrative support (14.4 million jobs)
Food preparation and service (4.4 million jobs)
Business and financial operations (700,000 jobs)
Other, which include:
- Art, design, entertainment, sports, and media (14,000 jobs)
- Building, grounds cleaning, and maintenance (3.8 million jobs)
- Legal occupations (414,000 jobs)
- Personal care and service operations (179,000 jobs)
- Protective service operations (91,000 jobs) These predictions are causing people to rethink career paths.

What does this mean to you and me? The future will be frightening and challenging for anyone set in their ways. There will be exciting possibilities for individuals with a broad outlook who are not afraid of technology and can adapt. Those who survive unscathed will set a course that helps them adapt without becoming overly stressed.

They will–

Pay attention to hot-button topics likely to set people off, realizing that verbiage matters. They won’t use words designed to hurt or likely escalate emotions.
Find purpose through meaningful social interactions with people who support their beliefs. It will be a mechanism for developing friendships and close family relationships. It can start with discussions around the dinner table, getting children used to analyzing the risks and benefits of their positions. It will mean joining friendship groups to get help with employment opportunities.
Learn to deal with angry, aggressive people and find ways to engage them in a more productive dialogue. They will do this by participating in discussion groups that include people with differing backgrounds and beliefs. They will take into account the perspectives of others, respecting their viewpoints even when they disagree with them.
Participate in neighborhood watch, become friendly with neighbors, and are willing to help and be helped in an emergency. They will discuss ways to deal with extreme weather situations and will stock up on supplies so they are prepared for natural disasters predicted in their area.
Monitor local legislative and legal decisions to ensure that water, utilities, and land use aren’t areas for corporate exploitation. They will take a stand on issues that concern them—knowing that everyone loses when cultural and educational institutions are held hostage by partisan politics. These institutions are among the few that can be trusted to deliver non-partisan information.

Navigating the future will be difficult and not for the light-hearted. We are headed for a time of extreme poverty, displaced people due to climate change, and increased mental illness due to stress. Maintaining a democratic society will be difficult, but it can be done. We can’t give up hope.

While working through confusion, we’ll have to roll with the times and find enjoyment where we can. We can love and be loved and expand our love to include those less fortunate than ourselves. Compassion can get us through bad times and stir up peace. Valentine’s Day is an excellent time to start expanding love.

I look forward to your comments about the volatility of your life. Do you find change stressful? How do you deal with it? Please share at www.eichingerfineart.com/blog

Art is always for sale. Limitless Possibilities is a 24″ x 18 “acrylic painting on canvas. Available for $595. Free shipping within the continental U.S. To purchase, contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com or go to the abstract work category on my website at www.Eichingerfineart.com

and buy online.

Steve Johnson – Hopscotching Through the Age of Bots

**The Estate (NFS)**
**While I created homes on my easel, Steve Johnson built structures on his computer. Our hobbies evolved and we began selling our creations.**

Steve Johnson – Hopscotching Through the Age of Bots

He discovered his passion, not once, not twice, but many times over the course of his 62 years. What fascinates me is how Steve Johnson, former NBA All-Star, grabbed on to his dreams and turned enthusiasm into paying ventures.

Being the third of six children in a family headed by a disabled vet on disability and a school bus driving Mom was not easy. Poverty led them to a cinderblock apartment house in Watts, California, with bars on the windows and the sound of gunshots outside the front door. Fortunately, they moved to San Bernardino one year before the Watts riots.

Mom was a Seventh Day Adventist who insisted the children attend private Adventist schools and attend prayer meetings several evenings a week. Dad buried himself in their garage practicing for hours in his music studio though, according to Steve, he never managed to play one song all the way through. He insisted the children play an instrument and though Steve could play several horned instruments by ear, unlike his brother, he never took to it. He had other things on his mind, especially after discovering his first passion.

At the age of fourteen, his father took him to watch his cousin in a practice basketball game in L.A. At the end of the session he was introduced to the man who later become his coach. That evening his cousin joined the family for dinner. The boys went to a playground afterwards to shoot baskets. His cousin showed him a few moves and advised him to learn the hook shot, advice that made him unstoppable on the court. By the end of that eventful day, Steve knew what his future would be.

Academically he was an underachiever. School didn’t interest him so he struggled. But, he was a thinker and a planner capable of developing goals in his early teens. They were;

Get to a public school
Get noticed in high school and receive a scholarship to college
Become an All American
Be a first round NBA draft pick
Become an All Star.

His first goal was the most difficult to achieve. Since Adventists didn’t play team sports, he had to battle his parents over leaving school for an out of district public education. He ran away several times hoping to establish residency but failed repeatedly. He wasn’t successful until the summer before his senior year when the high school coach introduced him to a man who let him stay in a condemned house he owned. Steve used a coat hanger to enter. To eat, he pilfered food and other items he could sell for cash. He avoided prostitutes and the gambling room at the back of his house, and convinced the board of education to let him transfer in despite a ruling that kept seniors from doing so.

That fall, without ever having played on a team, the coach took a risk and let the 6’10” athlete join. Half way through the season, the starting center was hurt. Steve played in his place, made 25 points, and earned a permanent spot in the game. During the rest of the season he stacked up enough points for six colleges were interested in giving him a scholarship. He chose Oregon State University and played basketball for four years under Naismith Hall of Fame coach, Ralph Miller. There, as a record breaking athlete, he became All-American and PAC-10 Player of the Year in 1981, eventually being inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

Upon graduation, Steve was the seventh pick in the first draft of the NBA. Over the course of his career he played for Kansas City Kings, The Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Seattle Supersonics and The Portland Trail Blazers. Ten years later Steve was ready to retire after living with the pain caused by years of wear and tear on his feet.

In retirement he undertook several entrepreneurial ventures, that flourished and sputtered in the recession of 2008. He remained self-confident and driven and stayed focused on the idea of being successful-this time, as a businessman. His present undertaking fascinates me for it shows what a person can do who is willing to take a calculated risk and embrace change. His passion started with a computer came he played for fun. He became as absorbed in this new hobby as he did playing basketball.

Not a strong reader, Steve relies on YouTube Videos to teach him what he wants to know. He sees himself as a self-taught natural problem solver who knows how to mine and analyze social media for data. He is a planner and a goal setter who doesn’t give up.

The Sims is a computer game that allows players to explore a digital world where they buy property, design and build houses, and furnish them to their taste. When the game became internet connected, players could communicate and share information but The Sims had drawbacks. Steve’s son introduced him to Second Life, a more sophisticated game offering better tools and a marketplace for players to sell their designs. One day, with the help of his Avatar, Steve took a world tour and discovered a man building virtual boats. Rather than pay $40 to purchase the design, Steve started building his own yacht. When the president of Christensen Yachts discovered similarities to their boats, Steve was given permission to use their name. His virtual yachts sold for $175.

Millions of dollars are spent and made on simulation games. Some players move on to well paying jobs in the real world. Virtual players become racers, drone and robot operators, marketers and fashion designers. Many tech companies are attracted to entry-level job candidates who cite playing or developing video games as a hobby. According to Ashley Deese of the Smithsonian Institution’s science education center in D.C., “They (gamers) tend to be problem solvers, organized, and adaptable.” Law student Aylmer Wang, said gaming taught him “leadership, entrepreneurialism, dedication and organization.” Gamers are motivated and determined says Christopher McKenna, head of a student recruiting for the law firm Bennett Jones LLP.

During the 2008 recession Steve realized that when the economy returned, yachting would not be the same. New customers with money would come from high tech, yet they were unaware of yachting. Rather than purchase boats, Steve imagined them more willing to charter them. The going rate to charter a 100 to 160 foot yacht is between $100,000 and 300,000 a week, plus expenses. There was money to be made and he wondered how to turn his hobby into a lucrative business in the real world.

Under the name of Monaco Yachts, Steve created virtual experiences for potential customers by placing them on yachts and take them to places they might visit on a chartered boat. Final contracts are often signed at yachting conventions taking place around the world. His web site, yachtinglifestyle365 is basically a marketing brochure–a very successful one that writes about the yachting lifestyle.

Steve’s story is an example of why our current system of education needs to be improved to help students survive in the age of bots. Workers of the future will need to be flexible, team oriented, determined and confident of their ability to learn on their own. They will skills that enable them to adapt to change and hopscotch across occupations.

A goal of the education system should be to help students find their passion. To do so, vocational options, exercise, crafts, the arts, and computer games need to be blended with academics to insure graduates develop meaningful leisure time activities. High school students should leave with enough self-esteem to enable them to shift confidently as the economy changes. Letting students pursue activities they passionately embrace, teaches them what is involved in setting goals, acquiring skills, and achieving a modicum of success.

Resources:

Needleman S. (2019) When a Passion for Videogames Helps Lad a Job. Wall Street Journal. retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-a-passion-for-videogames-helps-land-that-job-11551888001

Molloy,D.(2019) How playing video games could get you a better job. BBC News. retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49317440

#InfantAbuse

The following segment is taken from my latest book, “Over the Peanut Fence.” I am sharing it, because of the move to outlaw abortions without fully understanding the consequences. We can look to Romania, between 1965 and 1989, when contraception and abortions were strictly forbidden. Thousands of unwanted infants were sent to overcrowded, sterile orphanages. Communist leadership hoped to increase the fertility rate of the country but instead nearly 10,000 women died due to complications arising from illegal abortions and thousands of unwanted infants were sent to overcrowded orphanages where brain development was thwarted. Those who had abortions were sent to prison, and those suffering from complications due to seeking an illegal abortion, were turned away from healthcare.

**Eva** – **Why does she cry? She has to face a decision that has no right answer. It is not easy.**

From chapter on Lovelessness: “Over the Peanut Fence”

“The majority of us are fortunate for we are surrounded by affectionate parents and relatives. As infants, we were held and cherished us and as adults, we find partners and form bonds based on fondness and mutual respect. But what happens to children who are never caressed or told they are special? What are the long-term effects of never having been touched or cuddled? What befalls those who are abandoned, left on door steps or placed in cribs and not attended to when they cry, or when their diapers need to be changed?

A cornerstone study about infant neglect was initiated in the 1980s when Dr. Nathan Fox and colleagues from Harvard Medical School, walked into an orphanage in Romania. Due to a recent ban on abortion, the number of orphan babies had soared. 170,000 children were placed in 700 overcrowded and impoverished facilities across the country, staffed with an insufficient number of caretakers. Though the facilities were clean, the infants were emotionally neglected. Left day and night in their cribs, the babies were changed periodically and fed without being held. The nurseries were eerily quiet places. Since crying infants were ignored, they stopped making sounds. No attention—no cries—only silence.

Dr. Fox followed the children for over fourteen years. During the early years, autistic-like behaviors such as head-banging and rocking were common. As the children aged, their head circumferences remained unusually small. They had difficulty paying attention and comprehending what was going on around them. Over time, 50 percent of the children suffered from mental illness. They displayed poor impulse control, were socially withdrawn, had problems coping and regulating emotions, and handicapped by low self-esteem. They manifested pathological behaviors such as tics, tantrums, stealing and self-punishment. Poor intellectual functioning caused them to have low academic success.

Those youngsters fortunate enough to be put in a caring foster home before the age of two were able to rebound. Those who entered foster care at a later age were not so lucky and many became permanently damaged.”

We know for sure that warmth and love are crucial for a child’s well-being. Dr. Fox’s study continued for thirteen years teaching us much about infant brain development, the need babies have to be touched and responded to when they cry, and the unforeseen effects of imposing a political will on the right of a woman to choose. Abortion is currently legal in abortion.

In 1965 Romania’s population was 19.4 million.The population of the United states is currently 327.9 million, approximately 16.9 times larger. These laws will likely cause 169,000 deaths due to illegal abortions. If we use Romania’s numbers and multiply them by 16.9, the U.S. will find itself with 2,873,000 unwanted infants over a ten year period. Most will not get adopted. Many of will become brain damaged due to lack of love and attention for we are not set up to care for them. We will have to care for them the rest of their lives. The average cost of raising a child to seventeen is $ 233,610. Total amount needed for ten years of unwanted infants will be more than $671,161,530,000. Who will pay for these children’s care? Is it better to have a child who will most likely be brain damaged and need care throughout his or her life or to abort?

References:

Nelson, C. & Fox, N. & Zeanah, C. (2014) Romania’s Abandoned Children, Deprivation, Brain Development, and the Struggle for Recovery, Harvard University Press.

(2010) Decree 770: Abortion Outlawed in Communist Romania, CARAOBRIEN,retrive from https://caraobrien.tumblr.com/post/352715826/decree-770-abortion-outlawed-in-communist-romania

Furedi,A ( 2013) On aabortion, we should study Romanian history. The Guardian. retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/15/abortion-romanian-history

Population of the United States. (2019) Population of the World. retrieved from https://www.livepopulation.com/country/united-states.html

Ganjanan, M (2017) The Cost of Tasing a Child Jumps to $ 233,61. Money. retrieved from https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=pty&hsimp=yhs-pty_email&param2=5f96e1b7-3733-4d

Art Work is always for sale. Contact MARILYNNE EVA/ Acrylic on Canvas / 40” by 30”

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Finding Your Passion

Discovering what you love to do will lead towards a #passionatelife.

Several weeks ago I met an orchestra conductor who grew up on a kibbutz, a communal farm in Israel. When he was a teenager, the commune decided it needed a bee keeper and assigned him that job. He toiled at beekeeping for three years before leaving the kibbutz to follow his passion which lay in music. Fortunately his dreams, talent, and perseverant personality lead him towards a successful career. Yaacov Bergman served for years as Music Director of the Colorado Springs Symphony and The New York Heritage Symphony and 92nd St. Y Orchestras in New York City. He now conducts regularly in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and makes frequent guest appearances across the globe.

Finding a career that provides purpose and passion is not limited to youth. It is a reoccurring theme in most people’s lives. High school and college graduates look for meaningful careers they can embrace throughout their lives. Some become dedicated workers, buying into their employer’s goals. Yet, it’s is not unusual for them to become frustrated in their forties and fifties. Others who spend their early careers chasing after wealth, find it to be a goal that is no longer satisfying. Many discover that their bodies are no longer able to do tasks required for their success. Models became wrinkled, gymnasts lose flexibility, and rock climbers fear falling. Those who followed goals set by their parents begin to wonder how they got talked into their present careers. They may have been pushed to become lawyers, doctors, jewelers, actors, fishermen or financiers and now, as adults, wonder why they spent so many years following their parent’s dreams. And so, the search to find themselves and for meaningful employment begins.

Middle age, however, is not likely to be the last time they confront questions of meaning and purpose in daily toil. Active retirees face similar dilemmas of passing their hours purposefully and productively. They search for engagement in meaningful activities, though they may not be as physically strenuous as ones pursued when younger.

Questioning the purpose for being and spending hours in fruitful pursuits continues throughout life. Happily, finding what you are meant to be and do at each juncture in life is definitely doable. Following are a few thoughts of how to go about it.

Know who you are. Sound easy? It’s not. We do change over time and need to gauge who we are at the particular moment we start our search. Life’s occurrences can alter the way we think and act. As you seek a new direction, appraise your skills and consider what you love to do. What type of books do you read over and over again without getting bored? What did you enjoy doing as a child If money wasn’t a consideration, what would you be willing to do for free? What are your hobbies?

What you are mediocre at? Is it worth spending time (money) to increase your skills? Are you willing to return to school, attend workshops or find a master to apprentice yourself to? In my twenties, I taught dancing to elementary school children. Surprisingly, my worst student was the only one to become a professional dancer. She was inspired and put in hours of practice to get where she wanted to go.

Accept that passion and purpose don’t have to be the same as your job. Many people have repetitive work situations they do for a paycheck. Their purpose is found outside of their employment. Some interests and hobbies will never make you wealthy. Yet, these activities can provide richness and color to living and they may move you in the direction of a career. For example, Jane loved to draw and paint, but to earn a living, required training in computer aided design, marketing, and other business skills. These added proficiencies enabled her to fuel an emerging passion.

List what you hate doing and eliminate those activities from you search. Then ask yourself if there’s something you wish you had been doing for the last twenty years? What would it take to start?

Though some people have immediate insight into what they want their future to be, most do not. Finding purpose and passion is like digging for gold. You need discipline and have to be willing to try over and over again, accepting failures as you go. Visualization is a technique I use from time to time to help me solve problems. Imagine dressing quickly because you‘re looking forward to leaving home on a sunny day for a job you like. Where are you going? What will you be doing?

As an employer, during interviews, I always asked people to describe themselves. I was particularly interested in what they did outside of work. Watching them light up as they passionately described their hobbies was often the reason I offered them a job. I wasn’t looking for perfection, but I wanted to know that they were willing to learn and were capable of feeling intensely about something they loved to do. People with a zest for life made our workplace a creative exciting place to be.

References:

Alex. (2019) Eight ways to find the true passion in life that has eluded you. THeTelegraph. retrieved fromhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/11499695/Eight-ways-to-find-the-true-passion-in-life-that-has-eluded-you.html

Gordon-Barnes,C. (2019). 6 Fresh Ways to Find Your Passion. The Muse, Career Paths. retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/6-fresh-ways-to-find-your-passion

Webb, M.( 2015) How to Find Passion In Your Work. Forbes. retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/maynardwebb/2015/09/22/how-to-find-passion-in-your-work/#19754a826cfd

zest for life

Seeking Community

Millennials and Gen Zs are more interested in experiences than possessions. The great outdoors beckons them with freedom, health and companionship.

acrylic on deep canvas /20” x 16” / $ 399.

Seeking Community in a Time of Change

In past blogs, we explored social change and the pressure it puts on people to adapt. We looked at why young adults marry later and birth fewer children. And, at the other end of the age spectrum, we saw what happens to elders when family and friends move out of town or die, leaving them without support. Lastly, we examined technologically savvy teens who replace face-to-face interactions with social media. Adapting to change is difficult, leaving people feeling isolated and frightened. I listen to many of them during counseling sessions and feel their pain. Yet, despite all I hear, I have great hope for the future. The young adults I meet are loving, compassionate, active and community minded.

The need to adapt to change can be troublesome, for it sneaks up to surprise us. To transition from old ways of thinking, a person has to accept that there’s a need to do so. For instance, the need people have for community is the same as it was in previous generations, but the way younger people go about it today, differs greatly. Since lives no longer center around families who reside in stable neighborhoods, ways to communicate on the computer were invented to help us find meaningful relationships.

The flight from small towns and farms to cities initiated change in the way we live. Seeking better employment and more exciting places to roost required newcomers to be aggressive and outgoing when searching for companionship. Finding others with shared interests and values is time consuming. It can take years before acquaintances turn into deep friendships.

Adapting to social change requires forethought, patience and a willingness to practice new ways of interacting. The front porch rocker is no longer the place to go for a chat. It’s been replaced by sitting isolated for hours before a computer. At the same time, the computer is like a friend, for it is now the usual way to be introduced to those with share interests.

The World Wide Web opens doors to companionship. Walking through the door, however, takes a certain amount of courage. At some point it’s necessary to get off your chair and step outdoors. Following are a few paths people take to find community. Some are firmly embedded in the new reality, while others are becoming more so.

1) Used by millions of people, Computer dating services quickly became the norm. Websites like eharmony, Silver Singles, Match.com, and Zoosk sieve members through algorithms that match personal attributes. Those seeking love and companionship no longer wait for introductions from friends, family or matchmakers. As with many internet based services, however, caution has to be taken, for it’s possible to be victimized by scoundrels.

2) Meetups offer adults ways to connect through interest groups. There are gatherings for hiking, dog-lovers, photographers, artists, writers, readers and singers. Those who crave physical challenges band together for volleyball, camping and hiking. There are groups watch ingJapanese Movies, holding Forgiveness Discussions, coping with disability, and even participating in Oil Education sessions. A great many gatherings form around eating, drinking, talking and laughing.

Some of these associations lead to close relationships, but not all. It’s fairly common to attend weekly sessions without befriending the person sitting next to you. Friendships require effort and the participant has to take the next step. It involves a willingness to do meet for coffee or engage in activities with new acquaintances. Close relationships require trust and being open to discussing hopes, dreams and fears.

3) Maker groups come in many flavors, bringing people who like to create together in interest specific groups. Gatherings run the gamut from Digital Fabrication, 3D printing, Tinkering, Data Science to Movie Making. There’s a group called Coffee, Art, and Music and one named Sewing, Craft, DIY. There’s a Wine & Wineries Socializing Group, Hardware Startups, a Healthy-Tech-Think-Tank and even a Rainbow Duct Tape group. Some makers get involved in music festival projects while others form around making Pizza. Think it and you can probably find it as a subset of Meetup.

4) Co-housing: Throughout history, people lived in villages and small co-dependent communities. Not impeded by doors and fences, they helped neighbors needing food and childcare. They joined hunting parties, farmed and prayed. Today, few of us have neighbors who will come running when we need help. According to the 2010 Census Bureau, the average number of people living next door to you is three. They reside in self-sufficient units and take pride in being independent. Yet, private accommodations drain money and time and they don’t contribute to building community.

Today’s young adults are choosing to live communally in dwellings that combat loneliness and isolation. Co-housing is a distinct, yet American, way to reside, for it brings together strangers who value individualism and privacy, yet desire community. Co-housing combines private space with common areas to share meals, gardens, physical workouts, tools, and craft activities. Co-housing is not the same as the hippie communes of the 1960s where finances, cooking, social activities and ownership was shared by all, though it does offer ways to increase social interaction.

Co-housing, began in Denmark in the 1960s and was introduced to the U. S. in the 1990s. They vary in design and size with some being restricted by age while others are intergenerational. How often residents dine together and the extent of their shared facilities varies. Larger developments often employ a community manager to organize events, volunteer activities, and dinners.

Last summer I visited an eco-village composed of twelve houses with footprints limited to 1,200 sq. ft. Each structure was an experiment in energy efficient construction. One had solar heating panels while another used a heat pump. My friend built her house with thick walls that she and volunteer college students insulated with a slurry composed of mud and grass. Property owners share workshops, gardens and communal dining facilities. The compound’s layout makes it easy for people to interact.

Another co-housing development I toured consisted of twenty-four condominiums. Each was constructed with kitchen windows facing the compound’s playground. The founders wanted residents to feel like they belonged to a loving extended family. Seniors are encouraged to share their time and wisdom with children living in their community. Neighbors help each other with everything from home maintenance to childcare, cooking and shopping. All residents buy into the development’s land and participate in maintaining its property.

Home ownership is not a requirement for co-housing to be successful. Apartment buildings are being similarly built around shared amenities to encourage relationships that keep loneliness at bay. I’m impressed by Roam, a fairly new global community of co-living and co-working spaces where dwellers sign a single lease and live in sites worldwide for a week or a lifetime. Since so many people work from home, roaming the world and taking advantage of global housing while earning a living is enticing.

5) Shared living and work spaces are growing trends among Millennials, Gen-Zs and even some Baby Boomers. Unrelated adults join to purchase homes or rent rooms in houses where expenses and upkeep are shared. Living with housemates is more affordable and less lonely than being alone, and it allows money to be saved and used for travel. Sharing is part of the minimalist movement sweeping the country. Status is gained by having few posessions, getting by as a one-car or zero-car family and using services like Uber, Lyft, Smart Cars or CarGo.

Businesses are adapting to societal changes by incorporating ways to promote community into their planning. For example, Capital One Cafes turned traditional banking into a place where customers (and non-customers) can get coffee, work, chat with friends and receive help with banking needs. Rather than provide services, many businesses are using data to facilitate transactions for people when and where they want them. Bicycle and scooter rentals, Airbnb, apartment/home lending, WeWork, talent-sharing are a but few. Tools are borrowed through sharing resources like “Neighborgoods” and tool lending libraries, and fashionable clothing can be rented through stores serving black tie events.

Notions of what constitutes success is being redefined. Rather than measuring the size of their house or bank account, younger generations see success as purposeful work and meaningful relationships. According to Blake Morgan Self-sufficient Americans live in homes and apartments behind closed doors. of Forbes magazine, “Companies (like Capital One) that can transfer to become more experience-focused are the ones that will succeed in the changing world.”

I agree with her assessment but go a step further. The time is ripe for redefining our relationship to the land, not just to people. The “relational worldview” model, seeking harmony among competing factors may offer insight in how to do this-but that’s another story.

References:

Morgan, B . ( 2019) NOwnership, No Problem: An updated Look at Why Millennieals Value Experiences Over Owning Things. Forbes. retrieved from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/01/02/nownership-no-problem-an-updated-look-at-why-millennials-value-experiences-over-owning-things/#7da0e97d522f

Mairs, J. (2016) Millennials want experiences not possessions, say co-living entrepreneurs. deZeen. retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2016/04/05/co-living-shared-collective-accommodation-housing-millennials-trend-common-wework/

Goodhart,S. (2018) Shared housing— millennial or Baby Boomer trend? The Washington Blade retrieved from https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/11/30/shared-housing-millennial-trend/

Roam, An international network of co-living spaces. Retrieved from website at www.roam.com.

Marr,B.(2016) The Sharing Economy- What IT Is, Examples, and How Big Data, Platforms and Algorithms Fuel IT. Forbes. retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2016/10/21/the-sharing-economy-what-it-is-examples-and-how-big-data-platforms-and-algorithms-fuel/#6e8b58037c5a

Dance to Life

The Studio Acrylic on canvas/ $ 399 / framed “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.” ―Winston S. Churchill

Dance to Life

When four-years-old, Mother took me to my first dance class. She enrolled me young because I tripped over my feet when walking. She thought my clumsiness would be helped by engaging in an activity that stresses balance. Mom never realized that those classes would teach me a great deal more than dance. Though I still have a difficult time balancing, dance lessons guided me through the years.

As a mother of five with a full time job, I was, as the saying goes, “up to my ears in alligators.” I dealt with one challenge after another at work and at home. My daily diet was responding to situations like, “So-and-so hit me. What’s for dinner?” to “Earnings are down. Should we lay people off?” Following is how dance guided me.

BALANCE: To manage a demanding schedule stress-free, I had to make sure that work and playtime were balanced. This was not always easy to accomplish, for I often wanted to bury myself in what I work or artistic endeavors. Instead, I carved out time to spend with for friends and family, to take flute lessons, and to vacation with and without children. I retreated to a quiet place to meditate daily and get away from noise and chaos. Today, my situation is reversed, for in retirement, I’m able to vacation year-round if I want to. But that is boring so I’ve added a bit of chaos by volunteering, painting and writing.

GRACE: Dancers learn to move with grace, a skill that guides daily interactions. The way I connect with others is important for developing friendships, creating business collaborations and insuring loving relationships. Graceful people understand the struggles between good and evil, yes and no, kindness and hostility and ignorance and knowledge. They use their knowledge to waltz, tango and spin through illnesses, conflicts, anger and loss. Moving gracefully requires a calm, firm center that can glide delicately through the mist.

FLEXIBILITY: Body and mind become expansive when limber and stretchable. Flexibility is required when facing challenges that can’t be overcome by ordinary means. Its opposite, rigidity can turn you into an uncompromising has-been who may as well be dead. Flexibility allows for adaptation to change upon change. One truth I value knowing is that society and individuals are in constant states of transformation.

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” ― Alan Wilson Watts

PRACTICE: “Try again until you get it right,” was a mantra drilled into me as a child. Without developing the gifts we are born with, our talents may as well not be there. Once you discover what they are, they have the potential of providing great joy. It takes effort to overcome inertia and requires energy to train. Dancers prepare by practicing for hours each day—as do doctors, artists, basketball players, teachers, plumbers and many more. Perfected skills enable them to perform their craft with competency, ease and grace.

CONCENTRATION: Staying focused, being mindful and remaining centered reduces stress. Dancers whose minds wander while executing a leap or turn may get hurt. Those who can’t memorize their routines are unable to perform. When fully engaged in what you are doing, there is little room for worry. When in control of your mind, you are able to turn off unwanted thoughts and fears. Learning to concentrate in the moment, is an acquired skill that enables relaxation when walking through storms.

PERSEVERANCE: Muscles and toes ache from hours of practice. Not giving up and remaining committed are difficult when in pain. When a ballerina falls, she is taught to get up and finish the performance. Similarly, mishaps occur throughout life, yet we must continue on. Failure becomes a teaching moment when it is accepted as a lesson in how to improve and not make the same mistake twice. Perseverance requires overcoming embarrassment, remembering the goal and acknowledging small steps taken in the right direction.

STRENGTH: Moving effortlessly requires strength and stamina. Dancers learn to be aware of the weak parts of their bodies and to work diligently to make them stronger. Strength does not happen overnight. Recognizing faults is the first step towards growth. The second involves hours of hard work to overcome them. With strength comes the ability and courage to make clear headed decisions even in the face of opposition.

RISK: Dancers accept that there is a certain amount of risk in their art. Though not as bad as football, where players are prone to getting concussions, ballerinas get bloody, misshapen toes, and suffer from sprains, broken bones and back injuries that may last a lifetime. But, life is uncertain and, at times, dangerous. Walking across a street, riding a bicycle, putting money in the stock market, purchasing a house, starting a new business, getting married, accepting a challenging job, though risky, are also full of possibility. Risk needs to be analyze, understood, and consciously accepted. Dance thought me not to be foolish and leave life to chance.

When balance, flexibility, concentration, gracefulness and strength come together, dancers say they are “in the flow” or “in the zone.” It’s a moment of full engagement directed towards purpose and provides feelings of unabashed joy and wellbeing. Flow is motivating for it awakens a desire to achieve the next level of excellence. Once a person experiences what it is like to be ”in the zone,” a craving develops to be there again.

Several times during over the course of my life, I was fortunate enough to experience “flow.” In my twenties and thirties, when my body was young and under my control, strength, flexibility, concentration, grace and balance allowed me to dance with rapture. Another time was when I was exiting a supermarket with four children bouncing around my cart. For some reason, when I looked at them that day, an overwhelming feeling of contentment enveloped me. I was a supermom assure of my purpose at the moment. More recently, the feeling of being in the zone occurs when painting or writing. There are times I become so engrossed in what I am doing that the outside world fades away. Being at one with my art is like being struck with lightning. I am lit and alive with aspiration, peacefulness and contentment.

Studying dance has taught me how to live. Yet, there is much more to know and I remain a willing student.

“The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, or gives you a sense of meaning, joy, or passion.” ―Terry Orlick

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A Way Out of Madness

Solar Systems

We live in the same universe and share the same planet. Can’t we live on it in peace?

Acrylic on Canvas/ 16” x 20”/ $ 299

A Way Out of Madness

People are concerned about how our country is going to heel the current political divide before it leads to a full fledged civil war. If you don’t think that scenario is possible they say, look at Syria. It used to be a vibrant country of 22 million that was considered a political and military heavyweight in the region. It’s rich history is both complex and diverse. Before the war, it boasted bustling marketplaces in Damascus and Aleppo with an innovative IT industry despite economic sanctions imposed by the west. It was known for having a sophisticated literary tradition, film industry, supermarkets and modern shopping centers to go along with the old. Friends and family gathering around tables for celebrations welcomed all who knocked on their door. It was a melting pot of religion and ethnicities, allowing for mixed marriages between Christians and Muslims. Syria was a cradle of civilization in the Middle East. Are we headed in this direction? Is this image from Syria a possibility for us?

A friend told me how upset she was because her conservative brother-in-law made demeaning and nasty comments on Facebook about her liberal leaning brother. She said she now understands how families, split over political beliefs, were devastated by the Civil War. Looking back, hopefully, most people can see that war is not the way forward.

Wars benefits ammunition dealers, financiers and this hungry for power. They rarely help citizens who are instead used as fodder. They kill thousands of ordinary people, destroy homes, and leave families and friends destitute and bitter. As with our own Civil War, some people never heal and put the conflict behind them. PTSD and long lasting grudges spill into future generations. Is war the training we want to give our children?

Who will stop the madness taking over America? It has to be tackled on many fronts but I look to our children. They view the world differently than their elders, are more accepting of differences and better educated in environmental issues. However, the quality of their schooling is not evenly distributed. Our job as adults is to change that trajectory and insure that everyone receives a comprehensive education. Perhaps they will them be able to help us stop this madness.

Let’s start with bullying, a problem that can make a young person afraid to attend classes. Programs to eliminate bullying are now part of curriculums nationwide.They begin in the elementary years and continue through twelfth grade. My hope is that graduates will not stand for the type of name calling and bulling that now invades the highest levels of government.

I was taught that “sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never harm me.” Unfortunately, that’s not true. Labeling people horseface, Pocahantus, bimbo, dumb as a rock, sophomoric, beggar, clown , sleepy-eyes and dumpy-political-pundit is not only hurtful and ugly but is childish. Most parents don’t support this type of rhetoric at home or in their schools. Upset parents are the reason schools now emphasize compassionate communication and bully free zones. With this type of early training, I anticipate our children will lead in more civilized ways.

The study of history provides ways to learn from the past, but only if it is presented in honest, complete and unbiased ways. Reading textbooks that are slanted towards the white race at the expense of other groups will not heel our country’s divide. Subjects need to be included that are often glossed over such as the Indian Wars of the late 1800s, the growth and suppression of labor unions and the racially motivated immigration laws of the early 1990s. By understanding both sides of issues we learn to open our hearts so we can hear divergent concerns. Studying the past enables youth to see what worked and what didn’t so that they can better deal with the world they find themselves in today.

It is important that students learn how to search for truth, but even more important that teachers inspire them to want to do so. Encouraging curiosity is the greatest of tasks. There are consequences to complacency and ignorance. From an early age on, questioning should be encouraged. If a parent or teacher does not have an answer then the two should challenge themselves to discover what it is. Parents can inspire curiosity when visiting national monuments like the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty or the Capital. If the budget doesn’t allow for travel, then videos, books and local museums can provide material for discussion. In either case, there is no substitute for talking to children about what is seen. Exploring deeply will prepare them to be thinkers and intelligent voters.

With the exception of a few states, most school curriculums cover environmental issues around global warming. The teens I speak to are knowledgeable and concerned, often more aware of the human influence on climate change than older adults. It is good that they understand the science but it would also be helpful if economic factors were brought into discussions for they are at the crux of congress’s unwillingness to act. Combatting warmer temperatures requires people to change the way they live, what they eat, and how they move.

Learning where money flows, who benefits and who sacrifices tells a lot about the political debate. It is a subject that should not be glossed over if we want our children to get us out of the mess we’re in. Recognizing that there are winners and losers and debating the pros and cons of various economic, religious and political systems is challenging but also interesting to most young minds. A place to start could be a discussion of “the common good,” for it is at the base of many political and economic beliefs.

My bicycle riding neighbor stop me, “ I don’t believe in the common good. I believe people should sink or swim on their own merits. I started out dirt poor. I’m a self made man. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined. Anyone who works hard can do the same. I probably will wind up living in a gated community.”

This man of color pulled himself out of poverty. He is intelligent, college educated, earned a pile of money that allowed him engage in entrepreneurial ventures. Unfortunately, most people do not have his skills nor the support that helped him become an NBA player. Thousands fall through the cracks of poverty, poor schooling and parental ignorance.

Public education has the potential of being the great equalizer. But adults need to insure schools have resources and teachers who are willing and able to reach out and encourage students to express concerns, to think for themselves and to problem solve. They need to learn when they’re being duped and how to analyze fake news. Collecting and considering information is something curious people do

Public education is under attack and we can not let that happen. The move to use public money for private schooling through vouchers will exasperate the divide. Religious indoctrination doesn’t belong in public education. Integrating schools in the aggregate, works. Giving marginal students extra help, works. Funding pre-schools works. Providing school meals for the hungry, works. Special education for those with disabilities, works. Subsidizing college tuitions, works. Fair programs will allow our children to heal the social divid and make America great again.

I’m not hopeful about our country right now. I don’t like being marginalized and told I’m not a true patriot. We are all Americans and need to work together to keep democracy working. Seemingly we don’t have the ability to get over our differences, so let’s make sure our children do. Five them the tools to govern more rationally.

References:

Saleh,S. (2014) Five things you never knew about Syria before the war. news.com.au. retrieved from https://www.news.com.au/world/five-things-you-never-knew-about-syria-before-the-war/news-story/50aee87307f613edcd8505f7bce12d0b

Krueger, H., Hardiman, K., Kelly, C. (2015)Trump’s most notable insults. The Hill. retrieved from https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/249102-trumps-most-notable-insults

Lynn,R & Vanhanen,T., (2010)All Countries: What is the Average I! in the United Sates? IQ Research. retrieved from https://iq-research.info/en/average-iq-by-country/us-united-states

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