tamarjacobson

Quote of the day:

I encourage people to argue, to agree or disagree, to discuss and struggle, to engage in conversation. I believe deeply in the pedagogical possibilities of dialogue—of listening with the possibility of being changed, and of speaking with the possibility of being heard—and I believe in revitalizing the public square, resisting the eclipse of the public and expanding the public space, searching for a more robust and participatory democracy. Talking to one another can help. William Ayers

My heart has felt heavy ever since Stephanopoulos’ question to Barack Obama at that notorious ABC "debate (?)" about his association with William Ayers. I am proud to say that Bill Ayers is a colleague in the field of education, but more than that, I admire him greatly for his writings and work regarding social justice. Years ago, when my dearest friend Charlie heard that I had invited Ayers to Buffalo to speak to the early childhood community, he begged to be included and meet Bill for breakfast. Charlie was most honored and excited to spend a couple of hours talking with this man. I had just read Ayers’ book: A Kind and Just Parent: The Children of Juvenile Court, and decided that our community would benefit greatly from hearing him speak. It was a memorable breakfast for me, listening to the conversation of two people I admired so much discussing issues of social justice that were very close to my heart. Indeed, my most proud moment was when Bill Ayers agreed to read my own book and write a "blurb" for its back cover. His endorsement of my book was an extreme honor for me. William Ayers is a man who walks the talk.

Specifically, what I have not been able to overcome is a most uneasy feeling about how quickly Hillary Clinton jumped on the subject of William Ayers and twisted the facts about his New York Time’s interview in 2001, that coincidentally was published on 9/11. One question constantly plagues – niggles – at my mind: "Did Clinton know Stephanopoulos was going to ask that question ahead of time?" For she seemed to have her comment ready to go. It flowed so sanctimoniously, erroneously and twistedly off her tongue. She seemed overly prepared to pounce on that particular moment, as if anticipating Obama’s surprise at the question.

This morning, I wandered over to Bill Ayers’ blog and discovered a post he had written on April 6 about Hannity’s comment to John McCain. Ayers writes on April 6:

The other night, for example, I heard Sean Hannity tell Senator John McCain that I was an unrepentant terrorist who had written an article on September 11, 2001 extolling bombings against the U.S., and even advocating more terrorist bombs. Senator McCain couldn’t believe it, and neither could I.

As I was reading this piece I could not help but think: "Before Stephanopoulos asked his question, did he not do any research about William Ayers? Could he not have found Ayers’ blog and read his own words about it?" After all, April 6 was 10 days before the debate! That should have been ample time.

As I read Bill Ayers’ blog this morning, especially his post of Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspiring speech, tears rolled down my cheeks. Why did Obama denounce Ayers so? I had to agree with Rick Ayers who recently wrote:

He should have said, "Senator Clinton, are you really going to go there? Do you have no shame? Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty, or your recklessness. If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty, I would do so. I like to think I’m a gentle man, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me. Have you no sense of decency, ma’am, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" …

Why give her a pass? Why claim that Bill Clinton had done something even worse, giving pardons to people from the Weather Underground. That’s like trying to out-right the rightist Clinton. Have the courage to call her for what she is.

Indeed, not that I ever needed convincing prior to Clinton’s despicable behavior on last Wednesday night’s debate, my decision is clear: I will not, in good conscience be able to vote for Clinton even if she is the nominee. All this talk about women and children, it takes a village, and her love of early childhood education! Pah! Doesn’t she know who Bill Ayers is?

I am supporting Obama for President. I am sure you all can tell that about me by now! But this morning I am as sad as can be. I had been fired up and ready to go, I have shared my passion with everyone I know, written about it, wept about it.

But right about now … I must write, right here on my blog, even with as few readers as I have and make a public stand for William Ayers. I urge Senator Barack Obama to come out publicly and with pride about his past or present association with Bill Ayers. Obama: The truth will set you free.

If you are the man of integrity that I believe you are, even as I was so proud when you did not denounce Jeremiah Wright – stand up now and have the strength to acknowledge William Ayers for who he rightfully is.

Update:

Check out: Clarifying the Facts at Bill Ayers’ Blog.

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: From the depths

Obama rally in Philadelphia. Thanks Frank at Listics. I needed this.

Nelle and Dick came to town this weekend, and early this morning, Nelle and I decided it that it was time to join in Obama’s track for change.

After purchasing buttons and my T-shirt we wandered along onto the station with hundreds of others.

We stood in the glorious sun of a hopeful spring day for a couple of hours. And we made some friends.

Some were as young as could be but managed to wait patiently along with us, chatting and smiling. I was delighted to be able to share one of my beaded bracelets from Kenya with my new young friend, as we waited for Obama’s train to come by.

What a diverse group of people crowded onto Wynnewood station to greet Obama! Some even allowed me to take their picture, knowing that they would be up on my blog. I was grateful for their humor and generosity of spirit.

Yes indeed! Chris Matthews was there. I ran over to him and unashamedly said, "Chris, I have been in America for 20 years and only recently did I discover you. I know this is going to sound a bit like a hippie groupie but … I really love you!" He smiled and gave me a hug replying that he was quite okay with "hippie groupie."

"I will put this picture on my blog," I exclaimed. "That’s fine, " he replied. "Just don’t abuse me."

And then … the train arrived and the crowd went wild …

Bob Casey was there too …

Yes we can!

And as Nelle and I strolled off to our car, we noticed a Borders Bookstore and ducked in quickly to buy a Haggadah for Passover tonight.

What a day! Freedom and Independence, holiday time and Spring. New beginnings.

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR!

Quote of the day:

Don’t turn away. Keep looking at the bandaged place. That’s where the light enters you. RUMI (hat-tip to sister Sue)

I needed that quote today. For as I drove into work today thinking about last night’s debate, I slowly started to realize that I had witnessed a lynching at last night’s debate. The symbolism was overwhelming: A pack of vicious, white, conservative dogs with Hillary Clinton at the helm, as golden girl mouthing one more sanctimonious word after another, attacking the brown skinned candidate. In fact, if I am not mistaken, I believe I felt the ominous presence of the ghost of Karl Rove hovering, shadowing, coaxing, prodding, and guiding them.

Shame on you ABC network; Shame on you, Michael Nutter for standing by; Shame on you, Hillary Clinton; Shame on you America. "All are punished."

Let me say this. Barack Obama, if you were or are acquainted with Bill Ayers, in any way, I am even more proud to stand by and vote for you as President. For Dr. Ayers is an inspiring early childhood teacher educator whose literary works and speeches have urged me to social justice and become the self reflective teacher I am today.

Rise up, Barack Obama and return to us stronger than before. You are so much bigger than all that sleazy garbage ABC and the Clintons have to offer us. We need your vision and message of hope now more than ever. For, last night I saw the swirling, whirling storms of darkness cloud our television screens, blinding pundits and filling the cynics with devilish glee.

Someone called me on the phone for a survey yesterday morning. They said: "If the vote for the Democratic Primary was tomorrow, who would you vote for?" I answered just as I would if they called me right now this minute …

"Senator Barack Obama."

… with a view to a Hillary Clinton Presidency:

Right here.

Yes we can!

AND, UPDATE: Thanks to Winston!

Quotes of the day, that arrived in my e-mail box these past two days. They feel fitting under the circumstances:

From the April issue of O, The Oprah Magazine:

Lavish [love] on others, receive it gratefully when it comes to you. Cultivate friendship like a garden. It is the best love of all. Sister Helen Prejean

From CCIE:

Every path has its puddle. English Proverb

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: A passing thought; Keep on

Update:

This just in from Ilene:

We can remake the world every day. Paul Wellstone

Danny Miller tagged me for this meme (haven’t I already done this some time ago?)! And I feel that I must reply. Although I must admit I am having such a difficult time coming up with 7 weird or random things about me. I guess that lately I feel that I am quite the ordinary and boring person. Mostly I go to and from work, do the shopping and laundry, cook occasionally, adore my cat and feed the birds out by the huge oak tree. There simply does not seem to be anything weird about me. Or random, for that matter! So, here goes, and I hope I do not put you to sleep with boredom …

1. I tend to love people even more when they are being nasty to me. It is a sickness, I know. And after years of therapy I am, at least, able to identify that they are not treating me well. It took an enormous amount of mind exploration to understand: a) that a person is treating me badly, b) I do not deserve that kind of treatment, and then (and this still is the hardest part), c) to walk away from it – give it up – refuse to take it any more. But, I’ve got to admit it’s getting better, it’s getting better all the time!
2. When I am feeling happy I tend to sing out loud operatic style, interspersed with duck quacking sounds, while I am doing regular, daily chores. This has earned me the name of "Berk" by my life partner and oldest sister, around whom I tend to feel safe enough to do that.
3. I prefer the movie to the book. I just really love movies. Indeed, I watch those that I love over and over again, always finding and seeing different and new scenes, actions, behaviors, ideas, acting, sights, sounds …
4. I adore therapy. Therapy of myself, therapy of others. It is intriguing to me – the different layers of the human mind, the way people think, feel and behave. It is better than any thriller or adventure story for me.
5. I have lived 19 years in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), 19 years in Israel, and this year it will be 20 years in the United States. But then don’t you all know that by now? Wherever I live I become politically involved. I feel like a citizen of the world but believe that all politics start with the communities closest to us. I have discovered that, as Barack Obama says, with all our differences, we are also alike, with similar dreams and aspirations. Of course, I have been saying that, too, for the longest time. And so, that’s why recently I sent him a copy of my book: Confronting Our Discomfort.
6. I am an atheist. But I enjoy many rituals of different religious celebrations. Mostly I am extremely interested – nay, intrigued – about anything that has to do with the human condition – the human psyche. That includes religious beliefs.
7. I have written two books (both are listed in the column on the right side of this blog under Connections and Interests). This is not terribly weird and certainly not random. But it is a fact about me that I feel like sharing here. For me, I guess it means that I have chosen writing as my way of self expression. I used to think I would be a singer, but instead have become a writer. What is weird and seemingly random, however, about both singing and writing for me, is that I become hoarse after doing either of them. Even as I am hoarse right now after writing this post!

No, oh no. I did NOT bake them. On this easy going Friday morning, after purchasing some telephone batteries and ink cartridges for my printer at Staples in Chestnut Hill, I strolled across the street to the Night Kitchen Bakery.

I thought I’d browse a bit and find some really good multi grain bread for breakfast. There was a sign announcing some Hillary and Obama cookies. Naturally, I bought three Obama cookies. One for Tom, one for Sue and one for me! As I was rummaging in my purse for my wallet the young woman at the counter said, "It’s a landslide for Obama." "What?" I exclaimed excitedly thinking she had heard some news this morning that I had not. "The cookies," she went on, "We’ve had to bake many more trays of cookies for Obama: one tray for Hillary and many for Obama," she said. I beamed. "Oh, how exciting!" I said finding the exact change to purchase the cookies. "Yes," the woman continued, "This morning Ted Kennedy was just down the road at the Trolley Car Diner. We thought it was Obama and we rushed there with a tray of Obama cookies. Ted Kennedy was gracious to accept the cookies in Obama’s name." By now I was gasping for breath with excitement. "Ted Kennedy!" I almost yelled, "Here, at our own Trolley Car Diner? This morning?" The young woman smiled at me. "Oh my goodness, what a day!" I said with a smile extending from my left cheek all the way over to the right side of my face. Obviously delighted with my enthusiasm, she told me that Hillary supporters had been agitated to find that at first the cookies iced with her name had red icing while Obama cookies had been made in blue. "They did not want people thinking that Hillary was a Republican," the young woman told me. "So now, we are making red and blue cookies for both Obama and Hillary." I shook my head from side to side. Pennsylvania is in the thick of it. This election season is electrifying. Everyone is involved.

But for now, I am going to make a cup of coffee to accompany one of those deliciously iced shortbread Obama cookies. YUM!

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: Knowing me, knowing you, …

Update:

This just in – an e-mail message from the owner of Night Kitchen Bakery:

Dear Tamar,
Thanks for the kind words!
This has been the greatest idea we have had yet. People are really excited and engaged when they come into the shop and see the cookies. The Obama cookies are selling 2 to 1 Hillary. We are keeping tally and will post the results at the shop the day before the election …
The [Philadelphia] Inquirer is running a story in the food section this week. This election is so exciting!