One of the orchestras with which I play performs most of its concerts at Arcadia University, a Division III school in Glenside PA, just outside of Philadelphia. Recently, I learned that they fired their president at 3:30pm on a Friday and gave him until 5:00 to clean out his office and go.
Something's clearly fishy here.
More later. Cheers, and good luck Dr. Oxholm.
*--Alan Menken, Disney's The Little Mermaid, 1988.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Meditation*
A haiku:
Who's out there right now?
Are they reading my newest post?
I'm going to bed.
Still no responses.
I'm getting a migraine now.
Good night, sweet readers.
*from Thais by Jules Massenet, 1892
Who's out there right now?
Are they reading my newest post?
I'm going to bed.
Still no responses.
I'm getting a migraine now.
Good night, sweet readers.
*from Thais by Jules Massenet, 1892
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right*
This will be short.
Recently, the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America (www.colbsa.org) sent out a survey for its membership regarding possible changes in its charter that would allow local chartering organizations (sponsors of Scouting troops, packs, and posts) to follow their own organization's beliefs with regard to admitting gay Scouts and adult leaders. My opinion on the current policy and proposed changes to it is documented, so I'm not going to rehash it here. My intent today is to discuss the survey. I'm going to tell you what the survey looked like and sounded like, and then I'll give my opinion of it.
First question--"*The current Boy Scouts of America requirements, stated above, prohibit open homosexuals from being Scouts or adult Scout leaders. To what extent do you support or oppose this requirement?"
The next six questions had to do with situations that actually happened and received much publicity. It then asked the first question again and completed the first multiple choice field with this question:
Different organizations that charter Boy Scout troops have different positions on the morality of homosexuality. Do you support or oppose allowing charter organizations to follow their own beliefs when selecting Boy Scout members and adult leaders, if that means there will be different standards from one organization to the next?
Next, two questions with opportunity to give an open-ended response,asking what the respondent's greatest concern was if the rules were changed or if the rules stayed the same.
Two more multiple choice questions:
"Do you believe the current policy prohibiting open homosexuals from being Scouts or adult Scout leaders is a core value of Scouting found in the Scout Oath and Law?"
"If the Boy Scouts of America makes a decision on this policy that disagrees with your own view, will you continue to participate in the Boy Scouts, or will you leave the organization?"
The survey concludes with some administration-related questions.
If you want to see the whole survey, follow this link. http://colbsa.doubleknot.com/form/ProcessResponse.asp?surveyID=32947. You could even take the survey.
To say the least, the questions are flawed. No attempt is made to determine demographic other than the respondent's relationship to Scouting. Rather than polling its membership their personal beliefs, the survey takes isolated incidents that were poorly handled locally and presents them as typical of Scouting. Worst of all, I was able to take the survey three times. I also was able to publish the link to this survey on my blog. I fear that this survey will have no integrity unless those who might be tempted to stuff the ballot box, don't.
I hope that the BSA gets its collective head together and comes up with a sensible solution. This survey is not the way to get there.
*--Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963.
Recently, the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America (www.colbsa.org) sent out a survey for its membership regarding possible changes in its charter that would allow local chartering organizations (sponsors of Scouting troops, packs, and posts) to follow their own organization's beliefs with regard to admitting gay Scouts and adult leaders. My opinion on the current policy and proposed changes to it is documented, so I'm not going to rehash it here. My intent today is to discuss the survey. I'm going to tell you what the survey looked like and sounded like, and then I'll give my opinion of it.
First question--"*The current Boy Scouts of America requirements, stated above, prohibit open homosexuals from being Scouts or adult Scout leaders. To what extent do you support or oppose this requirement?"
The next six questions had to do with situations that actually happened and received much publicity. It then asked the first question again and completed the first multiple choice field with this question:
Different organizations that charter Boy Scout troops have different positions on the morality of homosexuality. Do you support or oppose allowing charter organizations to follow their own beliefs when selecting Boy Scout members and adult leaders, if that means there will be different standards from one organization to the next?
Next, two questions with opportunity to give an open-ended response,asking what the respondent's greatest concern was if the rules were changed or if the rules stayed the same.
Two more multiple choice questions:
"Do you believe the current policy prohibiting open homosexuals from being Scouts or adult Scout leaders is a core value of Scouting found in the Scout Oath and Law?"
"If the Boy Scouts of America makes a decision on this policy that disagrees with your own view, will you continue to participate in the Boy Scouts, or will you leave the organization?"
The survey concludes with some administration-related questions.
If you want to see the whole survey, follow this link. http://colbsa.doubleknot.com/form/ProcessResponse.asp?surveyID=32947. You could even take the survey.
To say the least, the questions are flawed. No attempt is made to determine demographic other than the respondent's relationship to Scouting. Rather than polling its membership their personal beliefs, the survey takes isolated incidents that were poorly handled locally and presents them as typical of Scouting. Worst of all, I was able to take the survey three times. I also was able to publish the link to this survey on my blog. I fear that this survey will have no integrity unless those who might be tempted to stuff the ballot box, don't.
I hope that the BSA gets its collective head together and comes up with a sensible solution. This survey is not the way to get there.
*--Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Real Men*
I think I mentioned before that I'm the committee chairman of my son's Boy Scout troop. The following is a letter I sent to adult leaders and troop parents in preparation for tonight's committee meeting. I put one or two difficult issues at the end of each meeting--and this month's were lulus. The issue of membership and leadership requirements (Should the Boy Scouts of America change those requirements to allow those of homosexual orientation to be members of the organization?) is being hotly contested across the country, and I have no idea how it's going to resolve. Coupled with that, a recent local issue involved some inappropriate comments the boys were making. Just read it, darn it.
I. Elephant in the Room
Recently, at several troop meetings, I was witness to some inappropriate talk by the boys. In one case, remarks were made about one of the boys looking like he was wearing makeup, to which the response was, “oh, we’re not that kind of troop”. In another case, the boys were setting up tables for Mr. xxx's memorial service. As two of the boys carried a table from the storage area to the meeting room, I heard one of them announce loudly, “I’m coming out of the closet”. He must not have gotten the response he was looking for, and he announced it again. In either case, I can’t say with any certainty whether anyone reacted to what was said, but it was clear that the Scouts heard it, because in the first instance, it was repeated at a later meeting.
In Scouting’s current situation, where membership and leadership requirements are undergoing increasing scrutiny, we can’t afford to be our own worst enemy, by acting and talking in ways that reflect what many in the non-Scouting world think we are. It’s okay to have beliefs and values that may not be in sync with the rest of the world, but it doesn’t give us the right to openly and deliberately offend others by our words or be belligerent in the exercise of those beliefs and values. Rather, it gives us the obligation to quietly go about Scouting’s business, enduring the slings and arrows the world may aim our way.
Point being, all it takes is one careless word or action witnessed by one sorehead with enough drive, determination, friends and funding to skew the balance, and programs like Scouting or symphony orchestras are left wondering why they don’t have a home. While the relationship we have with Ascension UCC seems to be good, things could change quickly and we would be powerless to do anything. I am asking everyone to exercise moderation in what you say and do while participating in a troop meeting. Adult leaders, please don’t have side conversations when one of your fellow adult leaders is addressing the boys. The boys will follow your lead, if not as fast or willingly as you’d prefer. Parents, please insist on respectful listening at home and in Scout meetings, and it will be a huge help to the adult leaders at the meeting. You know your boys best, and what words will carry the greatest effect. I’m not going to dictate what you say to them, but please talk to them.
I believe in what Scouting stands for; I wouldn’t have offered to work with Jeff, the adult leadership, and you, if I didn’t. But it’s also our obligation to stand for Scouting. Let’s make certain that we give Scouting that strong foundation.
Daniel J. De Kok, Acting Committee Chairman, Troop 724
Chartered to Ascension UCC, West Norriton, PA
Chartered to Ascension UCC, West Norriton, PA
*--Joe Jackson, Steppin' Out, 1982.
UPDATE, APRIL 26, 2013: The proposal on the table at next month's national meeting will read, in part, that Scouting may not discriminate in the boy's case for reasons of lifestyle or orientation. If this is based on that deeply flawed survey the BSA put out, their proposal is equally flawed. They know it's going to have to be all or nothing. Where's that box of Morton's salt I can pour in this wound?
UPDATE, APRIL 26, 2013: The proposal on the table at next month's national meeting will read, in part, that Scouting may not discriminate in the boy's case for reasons of lifestyle or orientation. If this is based on that deeply flawed survey the BSA put out, their proposal is equally flawed. They know it's going to have to be all or nothing. Where's that box of Morton's salt I can pour in this wound?
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Teach Your Children*
I'm taking two classes again this semester--Digital Libraries and Bibliography of the Sciences--and they're each challenging in different ways. In the case of Digital Libraries, it involves material that might not flummox a 25-year-old recent college graduate, who had far more exposure to computers in their lives than I have in mine, but is definitely making me play catch-up. I'll talk about this at some point, but today's bug under my saddle is the Bibliography class. Nothing against the professor--he's a guest professor from Carnegie Mellon who seems to have a great knack for asking the right questions--and today's are real doozies.
I just finished reading ten articles (!!!) between the two classes--six for Science, mostly about the relationship between libraries and child and young adult patron's needs in the Science area--from toddlers to twelfth graders. He posed the questions on one of the discussion boards:
1)My first question would be ... what other information exists on high quality science literature? Surely I haven't unburied all there is to be had.
2) Did you notice that engineering never seems to be the topic of children's books? Isn't it cool enough? Perhaps nobody has the knack of introducing it to children yet?
Perhaps the answer is found in the question itself. It assumes that children should be introduced to science by reading about it first, rather than experiencing it. I'd like to (respectfully) toss that idea out with the trash.
I have a son who's in Boy Scouts--Life Rank--one 50-mile bike ride and a service project away from Eagle. God, I'm so proud of him. He DOES possess that Calvin-like (Calvin and Hobbes, that is) evil 6-year-old persona, though, as evidenced by his reaction (he was 12 at the time) when I made the mistake of telling him about the Missouri University of Science and Technology summer explosives camp***. You read that right. The kids learn all about explosives (dynamite, primacord, C4, TNT, gunpowder, etc.), and the end of the camp is highlighted with a fireworks show that the campers create themselves.** He got the same look that Calvin gets when he visits the dinosaurs in the museum--and I smile when I think about not only Calvin's imagination, but my son's (and I suspect a LOT of other people's sons). But there is a risk involved in expanding the boundaries of the imagination. In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, "Famous last words--"HEY GUYS, WATCH THIS!".
A good story, well told, can be captivating. But nothing beats first-person experience.
*--Graham Nash (performed with Crosby, Stills, and Nash), No Nukes, 1980.
**--To those of you wondering about why a school out in the middle of Missouri would have such a thing, it would be helpful for you to know that the Missouri University of Science and Technology, which used to be called the University of Missouri-Rolla, was originally called the Missouri School of Mines. Mines make extensive use of dynamite, TNT, explosives, etc. so this camp would be a natural extension of their work (albeit a unique one)
*** Here's the link, just in case you think I'm kidding:
http://futurestudents.mst.edu/precollege/explosives.html
I just finished reading ten articles (!!!) between the two classes--six for Science, mostly about the relationship between libraries and child and young adult patron's needs in the Science area--from toddlers to twelfth graders. He posed the questions on one of the discussion boards:
1)My first question would be ... what other information exists on high quality science literature? Surely I haven't unburied all there is to be had.
2) Did you notice that engineering never seems to be the topic of children's books? Isn't it cool enough? Perhaps nobody has the knack of introducing it to children yet?
Perhaps the answer is found in the question itself. It assumes that children should be introduced to science by reading about it first, rather than experiencing it. I'd like to (respectfully) toss that idea out with the trash.
I have a son who's in Boy Scouts--Life Rank--one 50-mile bike ride and a service project away from Eagle. God, I'm so proud of him. He DOES possess that Calvin-like (Calvin and Hobbes, that is) evil 6-year-old persona, though, as evidenced by his reaction (he was 12 at the time) when I made the mistake of telling him about the Missouri University of Science and Technology summer explosives camp***. You read that right. The kids learn all about explosives (dynamite, primacord, C4, TNT, gunpowder, etc.), and the end of the camp is highlighted with a fireworks show that the campers create themselves.** He got the same look that Calvin gets when he visits the dinosaurs in the museum--and I smile when I think about not only Calvin's imagination, but my son's (and I suspect a LOT of other people's sons). But there is a risk involved in expanding the boundaries of the imagination. In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, "Famous last words--"HEY GUYS, WATCH THIS!".
A good story, well told, can be captivating. But nothing beats first-person experience.
*--Graham Nash (performed with Crosby, Stills, and Nash), No Nukes, 1980.
**--To those of you wondering about why a school out in the middle of Missouri would have such a thing, it would be helpful for you to know that the Missouri University of Science and Technology, which used to be called the University of Missouri-Rolla, was originally called the Missouri School of Mines. Mines make extensive use of dynamite, TNT, explosives, etc. so this camp would be a natural extension of their work (albeit a unique one)
*** Here's the link, just in case you think I'm kidding:
http://futurestudents.mst.edu/precollege/explosives.html
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Run for the Roses, part 1*
Two recent decisions--one by the International Olympic Committee and one by the US Department of Justice--makes me wonder about what's happened to sports.
First, another monumentally stupid IOC decision.
To whit:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blank-headline-received-111718465--spt.html
How can they DO this?
They saved rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and golf, yachting, equestrian events, and ping pong. What's next, duplicate bridge? Scrabble, for God's sake (don't get me started on the hierarchy in [i]that[/i] game)?
Reasons they gave included ticket sales (yeah, 97% sold out in London is a real failure)number of countries involved (71 for wrestling, 34 for equestrian) and tv coverage. Really? Ask any American sports fan whose interests don't include swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, or any of the women's sports about the quality of NBC's coverage for the Winter OR Summer games. If they're like me, you'll get an earful. I know that they're gone, but give me Howard Cosell and Jim McKay and ABC any day over these clowns.
It was widely thought that the Modern Pentathlon, a melange of shooting, riding, swimming, and I'm not sure what else was on the chopping block, but one of the current members of the IOC, the son of Juan Antonio Samaranch, lobbied to keep it and in the end wrestling got the heave-ho. Just like that.
I want you to think and think hard about all the kids you know who are involved in youth sports of any kind, especially one where the Olympics are held up as the highest standard of their sport. All those wrestling coaches get to go back to all those kids and explain how a bunch of overstuffed high-priced suits are destroying their dreams. You may not have a youth wrestling program where you are but just apply it to football or soccer or volleyball, take your pick. Softball and baseball already got the IOC shaft, and now wrestling is next.
If you support youth wrestling, high school, college, whatever level, whether you have kids in it or not, I strongly urge you to do whatever you can to help the idiots at the IOC see the light. Wrestling has been part of the Olympics since the outset. There are too many kids who will be hurt by this outrageous action and we mustn't let another day pass without doing something. If you're in a state where wrestling is big (at least it is in Pennsylvania where I live), go to a meet (state tournaments are going on right now), volunteer, write letters, make phone calls, emails, do it today!
*--Dan Fogelberg, The Innocent Age, 1981.
I'll get into the DOJ nonsense later.
Bronx Cheers for the IOC.
Cheers for all my brother wrestlers and their parents, siblings, teammates, opponents, and coaches and their staffs, and yes, even the guy scrubbing the mats.
First, another monumentally stupid IOC decision.
To whit:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blank-headline-received-111718465--spt.html
How can they DO this?
They saved rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and golf, yachting, equestrian events, and ping pong. What's next, duplicate bridge? Scrabble, for God's sake (don't get me started on the hierarchy in [i]that[/i] game)?
Reasons they gave included ticket sales (yeah, 97% sold out in London is a real failure)number of countries involved (71 for wrestling, 34 for equestrian) and tv coverage. Really? Ask any American sports fan whose interests don't include swimming, gymnastics, figure skating, or any of the women's sports about the quality of NBC's coverage for the Winter OR Summer games. If they're like me, you'll get an earful. I know that they're gone, but give me Howard Cosell and Jim McKay and ABC any day over these clowns.
It was widely thought that the Modern Pentathlon, a melange of shooting, riding, swimming, and I'm not sure what else was on the chopping block, but one of the current members of the IOC, the son of Juan Antonio Samaranch, lobbied to keep it and in the end wrestling got the heave-ho. Just like that.
I want you to think and think hard about all the kids you know who are involved in youth sports of any kind, especially one where the Olympics are held up as the highest standard of their sport. All those wrestling coaches get to go back to all those kids and explain how a bunch of overstuffed high-priced suits are destroying their dreams. You may not have a youth wrestling program where you are but just apply it to football or soccer or volleyball, take your pick. Softball and baseball already got the IOC shaft, and now wrestling is next.
If you support youth wrestling, high school, college, whatever level, whether you have kids in it or not, I strongly urge you to do whatever you can to help the idiots at the IOC see the light. Wrestling has been part of the Olympics since the outset. There are too many kids who will be hurt by this outrageous action and we mustn't let another day pass without doing something. If you're in a state where wrestling is big (at least it is in Pennsylvania where I live), go to a meet (state tournaments are going on right now), volunteer, write letters, make phone calls, emails, do it today!
*--Dan Fogelberg, The Innocent Age, 1981.
I'll get into the DOJ nonsense later.
Bronx Cheers for the IOC.
Cheers for all my brother wrestlers and their parents, siblings, teammates, opponents, and coaches and their staffs, and yes, even the guy scrubbing the mats.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Be Prepared*
For some people, the words of Anne Frank say it best: "I am a bundle of contradictions". On the surface, that may appear to be true of a lot of people. In my case, people may say that regarding a whole host of opinions that I've given over the years. I prefer to think of the immortal Ralph Waldo Emerson and "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" when thinking politically. I don't subscribe to everything in the GOP Talking Points Manual** but for many in the liberal camp, to believe one conservative point is to believe them all (and I KNOW it works both ways, especially on the pro-life issue. Don't call it pro-choice--the baby doesn't GET a choice). And the Libertarians wonder why they don't make any headway.
So I think I talked previously about my work with my son's Boy Scout troop (We call it Boy Scouts here in the United States. The USA is the only country where Scouting isn't co-ed). On Monday, www.scouting.org had a statement regarding an issue that has been hotly contentious for many years. In it they acknowledged that the national organization is considering local options on whether gay Scouts and leaders may be active members. It would be up to the chartering organizations to determine standards for membership/leadership.
UPDATE: It's Wednesday and National is meeting this morning on this very issue. It'll be interesting to see how this goes. There are more than a few who are steadfastly clinging to the way things were and are, but I think in the end that it will be left up to the local chartering organizations, which will lead to the organization admitting anyone with a pulse after hundreds of lawsuits are filed. Personally, I think that the organization is missing the boat. There are thousands of worthy men out there who could help boys in myriad ways whose only offense is not being straight. Gonna make for one heck of a parent meeting.
UPDATE 2: It's Tuesday the 12th and the BSA decided to table their decision pending a national board meeting in May. Hope people can wait that long--or can be civil enough to allow Scouting to hash this out.
*--Tom Lehrer, Songs by Tom Lehrer, 1953.
**--published by Pagliacci Press, 4/1/2012 (note the date)
So I think I talked previously about my work with my son's Boy Scout troop (We call it Boy Scouts here in the United States. The USA is the only country where Scouting isn't co-ed). On Monday, www.scouting.org had a statement regarding an issue that has been hotly contentious for many years. In it they acknowledged that the national organization is considering local options on whether gay Scouts and leaders may be active members. It would be up to the chartering organizations to determine standards for membership/leadership.
UPDATE: It's Wednesday and National is meeting this morning on this very issue. It'll be interesting to see how this goes. There are more than a few who are steadfastly clinging to the way things were and are, but I think in the end that it will be left up to the local chartering organizations, which will lead to the organization admitting anyone with a pulse after hundreds of lawsuits are filed. Personally, I think that the organization is missing the boat. There are thousands of worthy men out there who could help boys in myriad ways whose only offense is not being straight. Gonna make for one heck of a parent meeting.
UPDATE 2: It's Tuesday the 12th and the BSA decided to table their decision pending a national board meeting in May. Hope people can wait that long--or can be civil enough to allow Scouting to hash this out.
*--Tom Lehrer, Songs by Tom Lehrer, 1953.
**--published by Pagliacci Press, 4/1/2012 (note the date)
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