Pre- and post-9/11 Thinking

Karl Rove is right, the "Republicans have a post-9-11 worldview, and many Democrats have a pre-9-11 worldview”, but not in the way he meant. Many Democrats work to predict and prevent attacks while Republicans largely engage in posturing and cynically exploiting the national post traumatic stress for partisan gain. And yes, these Republicans are both unpatriotic and wrong.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40 (KJV)

Dr. King worked for justice, most famously and successfully in the struggle for civil rights in the USA. Before he was killed, he was expanding the effort to help poor whites as well as blacks. He was connecting the Christian message of mercy with the circumstances in America and abroad. He spoke out against the US involvement in Vietnam. He challenged the comfortable cooperation of many mainstream Christian churches with imperial, capitalist America. He was threatening to throw the money changers out of the temple.

On the night before he died, he made a speech in which he seems to have prophesied his own death. Close associates wondered whether he had a premonition. He summarized an inspired survey of history by saying that this, now was his time. He concluded the brilliant speech with this:

"Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me togo up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

Who could read or hear this without a thrill and a sadness, strangely mixed? He echoes Christ's plea and submission to God in the Garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matt. 26:39. They were young men, only in their 30's, but both were threats to the state. The Romans did their killing in public. Pontius Pilot even tried to wash his hands of the proceedings in public. We Americans count on lone gunmen to do the job, so a quick rinse will do, in private.

It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it's nonviolence or nonexistence. MLK, Memphis, April 3, 1968, last public speech.

Education: it's cheaper than ignorance

In most areas of government we happily throw money at problems. Too much traffic? Spend $700 billion on roads! Moribund manned space program? Buy a trip to Mars! Afraid of a flu pandemic? Spend $7 billion looking for a vaccine! Worried about missiles? Blow $100 billion on “Star Wars”. It's only in education where we appreciate the simpler pleasures of working harder and doing more with less.

Situationally frugal politicians often cite the failure of money to make a difference in some, consequently infamous, instances (read: Washington DC public schools). Since when did failure discredit anything in the eyes of politicians? We spend enormous amounts on the roads every year and traffic worsens every year but we still spend more every year. We simply accept that it might be even worse if we didn't. More importantly, they ignore the overwhelming majority of the cases where money is correlated with success. Of course, nothing will succeed like an involved parent or guardian. But does anyone seriously doubt that reducing the student-to-teacher ratio would help?

Even the US Chamber of Commerce, not a particularly progressive organization, is now alarmed at the state of education in the US. They'd rather continue to simply import and hire well-educated foreigners, but the Congress is threatening to limit these visas. If we hope to educate workers born in the USA, then we better do more than just test them. Maybe we should invest in our futures and put our money where our hopes are.