WHAT WAS 9-1-1
As hard as it is to believe, that is the question our grandchildren, or in some instances our great-grandchildren will be asking. In fact, if those of us that personally witnessed it had not, we would not believe it had ever happened. Aside from the documentary reminders each year, the ground zero monuments and an occasional social media post, we could never tell that one day twenty years ago, America collectively called
9-1-1.
Our demeanor today bears no indication that 19 men armed with only box cutters and hatred hijacked four US Airliners, that resulted in the loss of over 3,000 American lives. However, from watching local state or even national news broadcasts, it is painfully clear that much of America has 911 Amnesia. In the weeks following the attack that destroyed the World Trade Centers and nearly leveled the Pentagon, much of America seemed to recognize what was almost lost. Much like the demeanor one has in realizing a spouse has survived a terminal illness, Americans had seemed to have fallen in love with America-all over again. For several weeks, churches were full each Sunday, and America was overflowing with American Flags, t-shirts, and celebratory events. Suddenly, just as quickly as it had begun- it suddenly ended. Gone were the symbols of pride and patriotism, replaced by a disposition of, “business as usual.” Within a short period of time, the attitude of the small anti-American minority began to infect the majority. Seemingly overnight, this disdain grew to a prevalence unlike anything we had ever seen before. Now, some twenty years later it, we are reminded daily that it is somehow un-American to be American.
In the last few years, we have watched in shock and horror as our cities were set ablaze and our iconic symbols of history were toppled with impunity. Statues of those that served America faithfully and monuments to those that not only have improved our lives but risked much so that we would even have them, were quickly swept up in the wake of the mobs we saw before us. How is it possible that the tragedies on that fateful day, let alone the tragic lessons we should have learned be all but forgotten? While many today are striving to unravel the very fabric on which this country is founded, they do so with unfortunately little to no resistance. Whether it is kneeling at the sound of our anthem, or the turning of backs on the same, a message has clearly been sent. Regardless of where many of us profess to stand, we have allowed those that don’t represent us to represent us, while forcing those that often stand for us to stand alone. Somehow, many of our parents, and we as parents have failed along the way. Clearly not all or most, but enough of us that our conduct sends the message that when it comes to that terrible day in September so many years ago, we have all but forgotten. Yet, standing amongst the dust and debris of what many have sought to destroy, those that love America and live lives that honor her stand nonetheless resilient, for we refuse to stand by while negative events of the past seek to define a positive future.
George Santayana once famously pointed out that those that do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. We must remember that when it comes to the freedoms that we employ and enjoy, though we may not have fought for them, they were indeed fought, and in many cases, died for. It is in lieu of these tragedies that we can ill afford to make the same mistakes again.
Regardless of your station in life, you must fight. Regardless of your economic status, you must fight. Regardless of your skin color, and/or ethnicity, you must fight. Regardless of even your personal religious beliefs, you must fight. Our country, our future, our freedoms, and way of life are being ripped away from us as we speak. If not for your own sakes, for the sakes of our children and grandchildren. If we fail again, our descendants won't be saying, "What was 9-11?"; they will instead be saying, "What was America?”
-Lawrence Johnson, Sr.
The Price Of Independence
In 2022, we are faced with an especially important question:
Is free speech dead in America?
That such a concern should be raised, no one should be surprised; after all, it's been a long time coming. While some of us are only now just recently grasping the concept -others have known about it for years. In America, the 1st amendment has now become of a guideline rather than a rule. In other words, while you certainly have the right to say whatever you want- just get ready to be unfriended, uninvited, maligned, ridiculed, harassed, insulted, belittled, disowned, disconnected, threatened, talked about, shamed, attacked, beaten, stabbed, shot, and yes, even murdered. In America, while you are entitled to have your opinion- you are not entitled to say your opinion.
Consider this: There was a time in America that certain individuals 'technically' had the right to vote-however, if they dared to exercise it, the same punishment-all the punishments I used earlier-applied to then. And here we are-again. Unfortunately, many of those same acts committed now are by the same group of individuals that once suffered the very same persecution! Wow. Clearly, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." My concern today, is that the high price that was paid for this "Free Speech(which many enjoy)" is all but ignored and is now replaced with toxic rhetoric and fascist commentary masquerading as such.
To be honest, I personally don't care if you think, feel, act, or believe the way I do; I appreciate that type of diversity, because I can learn from you, and you in turn from me. However, when you have the desire to ridicule, harass, insult, belittle, disown, unfriend, disconnect from, separate from, threaten, shame, attack, beat, stab, shoot, and yes, even murder those who don't think, act, vote, dress, live, look, stand for, support what you do, or believe what you believe, Houston; we have a problem.
Don't get it twisted; America's values are based on God's values- these are the principles by which we were founded on.
Many appear to be under the impression that we could never be a country where freedom of speech is forbidden. Don’t get it twisted; we are not as far from that as you think. For us to maintain this, we all must pay a price. After all, independence has a price.
TRAIN UP A CHILD
“For a child that doesn’t read, the world is a closed book.”
Those profound words were the opening line in a 1973 PSA for an organization called “Reading Is Fundamental,” or ‘RIF.’ Founded in 1966, Its national campaigns during the early 70’s and 80’s spoke to the heart of American’s concern for the then declining literacy numbers, and academic challenges facing the nation. According to Education.net, “Americans who went to school during the 1960s ranked a respectable 3rd; those schooled in the 1970s ranked 5th. But 16- to 25-year-olds, adults who were wandering America’s school hallways during the 1980s and 1990s, ranked 14th. In short, the literacy survey records a simple, steady progression downward.”
When it comes to current rankings, RIF’s own website shares the following abysmal statistics: “34% of children entering kindergarten lack the basic skills needed to learn how to read; 65% of 4th graders read below grade level contributing to 8,000 students dropping out of high school every day; 37% of students graduate high school at or above reading proficiency.” If those numbers are true (and likely, they are higher), coupled with America’s education world ranking at 27% you would think the American education system along with teacher’s unions would be laser focused on improving our children’s academic experience, while giving our children the best possible start.
Well, you’d be wrong.
According to NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association), an organization whose mission statement boasts to be, “a research-based, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiency,” has taken an approach that offers everything but that.
A recent article at nwea.org revealed their suggestions for “The 20 LGBTQ+ books for K–12 readers during Pride Month and throughout the year.” Yes, aside from those shocking numbers referenced earlier and the fact that only a few short months ago we just ended a lockdown period where most of our children’s basic skill levels dropped significantly, those tasked with helping America’s children to be more intellectually sound only desire that they be more Woke. As parents, our advice has long been (among other things) to make sure our kids stayed in school. Now, if NWEA as they say are “trusted by educators in more than 9,500 schools, districts, and education agencies in 145 countries,” many of us may find ourselves making sure our kids- stayed away from schools. As a result, you may be surprised to discover find one or more these 20 books currently at your children’s schools. Here are those books and the summaries offered:
1.‘Love Makes a Family’ written by Sophie Beer
“Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what’s most important in each family’s life is the love the family members share.”
2. ‘The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish’ written by Lil’ Miss Hot Mess
“This delightful play on “Wheels on the Bus” follows a dazzling drag queen on her way to perform a show. It’s a joyful reminder to celebrate uniqueness and a great introduction to the art form of drag for small kiddos.”
..and for the pre-k market:
3. ‘Pride 123’, written by Michael Joosten
“Celebrate and march along in the Pride Parade with this lively counting board book!1 parade in the month of June 2 DJs spin fabulous tunes 3 families of all different types 4 activists fight the good fight Teach your little ones about the Pride Parade with this colorful, energetic counting book!”
4. ‘Love in the Wild’ written by Katy Tanis
“This colorful celebration of love is based on scientists' observations of same-sex couples, adoption, non-binary gender expression and more. Author-illustrator Katy Tanis is currently earning a MA in Biology from Miami University of Ohio. Her graduate work, partnering with the Wildlife Conservation Society, explores the promotion of conservation biology through art.”
5. ‘Bathe the Cat’ written by Alice B. McGinty
“Two dads lead the way: Dad and Papa are the heads of this large and loving biracial family, mirroring illustrator David Robert's own orientation and providing picture book readers with a positive depiction of LGBTQ+ characters in a fun and funny family story.”
..and of course, picture books for grades K–3:
6.’Calvin’ written by Vanessa and Jr. Ford “Inspired by the authors’ child, Calvin follows a transgender boy as he prepares for his first day of school. He has worries about introducing himself to friends and teachers, but his family and classmates rally around him. It’s a great story about inclusivity and creating welcoming environments so everyone can thrive!”
7.’My Rainbow’ written by Deshanna and Trinity Neal
“Trinity is a transgender, neurodivergent kiddo in search of long hair like her dolls have. When a trip to the beauty store disappoints, Trinity’s mom springs into action, crafting a wig as radiant as her daughter. This one is a really sweet celebration of living authentically and loving without limits.”
..more picture books for the early grades:
8.Ho’onani: Hula Warrior, written by Heather Gale
“Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as Wahine(girl) or Kane(boy). She's happy to be in the middle. But not everyone sees it that way. When Ho'onani finds out that there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it. But can a girl really lead the all-male troupe? Ho'onani has to try . .”
9.‘Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle’ written by Nina LaCour
“For one little girl, there's no place she'd rather be than sitting between Mama and Mommy. So when Mommy goes away on a work trip, it's tricky to find a good place at the table. As the days go by, Mama brings her to the library, they watch movies, and all of them talk on the phone, but she still misses Mommy as deep as the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the stars.”
10. ‘Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution’ written by Rob Sanders “A powerful and timeless true story that will allow young readers to discover the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement--a movement that continues to this very day.’ Let’s not forget middle-grade books (grades 4–8)
11. ‘The Insiders’ written by Mark Oshiro
“Three kids who don’t belong. A room that shouldn’t exist. A year that will change everything. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Meg Medina, this debut middle grade novel from award-winning author Mark Oshiro is a hopeful and heartfelt coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in.”
12. ‘Hurricane Child’ written by Kacen Callender
“Caroline’s bad luck takes a turn for the better when Kalinda becomes the newest student at the small school in St. Thomas. Even though Kalinda is far away from her beloved homeland, Barbados, she always has a special smile for everyone. Her presence at the school has brought a light into Caroline’s dark world and she becomes Caroline’s first and only friend—and she’s the first person that Caroline has ever had a crush on. Will Caroline be able to come to terms with the intense feelings she has for Kalinda?”
..Even more middle-grade books:
13. ‘The Pants Project’ written by Cat Clarke
"My name is Liv (Not Olivia)... I'm not technically a girl. I'm transgender. Which is a bit like being a Transformer. Only not quite as cool because I probably won't get to save the world one day. Liv knows he was always meant to be a boy, but with his new school's terrible dress code, he can't even wear pants. Only skirts.”
14. ‘The Best at it’ written by Maulik Pancholy “From award-winning actor Maulik Pancholy comes a hilarious and heartfelt middle grade debut about a gay Indian American boy coming into his own. One of Time Out's "LGBTQ+ books for kids to read during Pride Month,"
15. ‘The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets’ written by Gayle E. Pitman “This book is about the Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous, often violent demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBTQ+) community in reaction to a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.”
And of course, at least four young adult books:
16. ‘Darius the Great Deserves Better’ written by Adib Khorram “This sequel to Darius the Great Is Not Okay bests the first book in almost every way. The story follows Darius, a gay, Iranian American, Star Trek–obsessed, soccer-playing high schooler, as he navigates his first boyfriend, complicated friendships, a new job, and trouble at home.”
17. ‘Last Night at the Telegraph Club’ written by Malinda Lo
“The logline for this book is wild: a teenage romance that sparks at a lesbian bar in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1954. Interest piqued, no doubt. Add a masterful handling of tough topics like the Red Scare, bigotry, and immigration and you have a page turner perfect for young adults (and not-so-young adults).”
18. ‘How It All Blew Up’ written by Arvin Armadi “Eighteen-year-old Amir Azadi always knew coming out to his Muslim family would be messy--he just didn't think it would end in an airport interrogation room. But when faced with a failed relationship, bullies, and blackmail, running away to Rome is his only option.”
19. “Late to the Party” written by Kelly Quindlen “Seventeen is nothing like Codi Teller imagined. She's never crashed a party, never stayed out too late. She's never even been kissed. And it's not just because she's gay. It's because she and her two best friends, Maritza and JaKory, spend more time in her basement watching Netflix than engaging with the outside world.”
20. ‘A Queer History of the United States for Young People’ written by Michael Bronski “It is crucial for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth to know their history. But this history is not easy to find since it's rarely taught in schools or commemorated in other ways. A Queer History of the United States for Young People corrects this and demonstrates that LGBTQ people have long been vital to shaping our understanding of what America is today.”
Without question our children are under attack. As you can clearly see from this list- no age is too low or out of bounds. Our only recourse is to maintain unlimited resolve, by staying vigilant to our monitoring of these schools and their materials, whether its charter or public schools. We must keep in mind that when it comes to those desiring to contribute to the delinquency of our minors, it is not a question of if; it is a question of when.
PLEASING ALL OF THE PEOPLE...
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.”
While this age-old quote is attributed to several authors, the truth of the statement is undeniable. It is a slippery slope indeed when we begin the thankless, endless task of giving people what they want- simply because they want it. Case in point:
Recently, much ‘ado’ has been made about Walt Disney’s forthcoming remake of their own 1989 classic, “The Little Mermaid.” The issue? The uproar? The brouhaha? This new ‘Little Mermaid’ (Ariel)- is Black. As a longtime fan of Disney films (not the corporation), I took issue with some of their remakes of late, not because of the ‘changes’, but rather how the changes affect the basic, beloved original storyline. “The Lion King” is remade, and suddenly Sarabi (Simba’s mother) is now center stage with her ’lioness’ crew, much like Beyonce’, the singer/actress doing her voice-over. “Beauty And The Beast” is remade, and suddenly Belle is a feminist who doesn’t really ‘need a man.’ Aladdin is remade, and now the Genie is a hip-hop artist and Jasmine is a feminist too. So, Ariel is Black; what’s the harm? Isn’t change good? Is change always necessary? Good questions. Consider if you will, this example:
In 1957 the film, “12 Angry Men” was released. Director Sidney Lumet’s critically acclaimed production was almost instantly considered a cinematic classic. Taking place mostly in a jury deliberation room, the film chronicles a day in the lives of 12 individual and distinct men (who happened to be 12 White actors) as they challenge themselves (and each other) concerning the fate of an 18-year-old boy of color (the ethnicity of the youth is never denoted in particular) accused of murdering his father.
Fast forward 40 years.
In 1997 a remake of, “12 Angry Men’ is released to a new generation and audience. This time the legendary William Friedkin is in the director’s chair, and once again all-in-all, a very well-done film, clearly utilizing some of the same thematic elements that made the original the classic that it is. So, with that in mind, one might ask, why remake a film that by all accounts needed no remake? While many suppositions and rationales could be offered, there are none that could change its impact, or the effect that it has made. Do we always need a redux? Is it necessary? Some might cite “lack of color as a reason. But is that valid? It isn’t-and here’s why.
Let’s keep in mind the year is 1957. In many films of that period, many but not all the roles are portrayed by White actors or ethnicities whose pigmentation indicate a derivative of European heritage. In other words-they look White. Sydney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and James Earl Jones (to name a few) were making an indelible mark as well at this time. In spite of what some may profess, few could argue with the fact that 12 Angry Men was a landmark film- not because of who was in it, but rather WHAT was in it. It gave its viewers (regardless of color) a long hard lingering look at the challenge and intense pressure on the hearts and minds of jurors. The weight of the world on their shoulders, as they grappled with those three seemingly harmless words, “beyond reasonable doubt.” Under such circumstances, race would not have been a factor. The message that the film sent was not better received when Ossie Davis replaced John Fielder. Jack Klugman’s role was not more believable when cast through Actor Dorian Harewood. Edward James Olmos was not more convincing than George Voskovec.
Will Actress Hallie Bailey be as endearing an Ariel as Actress Jodie Benson was? Wil her voice be as mesmerizing singing, “Part Of Your World?” From what I have seen, it certainly seems a resounding ‘yes’ to both questions. Regardless of what is popular or fashionable, hip or trendy, filmmakers owe it to the integrity of the original to respect the original’s intent. Much like turning a building created as a church into a night club- no matter how you spin it, it is blatant disrespect. So, when it comes to whether remakes or reboots should be done, If the original is not by any measure enhanced, for the sake of the film, for the sake of the audience the film was made for- leave well enough alone.