Monday, August 01, 2011

Why We Will Keep Marching

I am in a Holiday Inn Express in Northern Virginia, about to head down to TN for a foot surgery to repair the last foot surgery I had back in December.  And yet I hiked, a little hobbled, around the White House Saturday as the President huddled inside waiting for the fascist corporatistos to give up on their extortion plans that this morning has the President once more on his knees.  Oh well, what's new.  Hey Mr. President, you're not at the Harvard Law Review anymore.

When people asked me on the Metro why I was marching, I said to end the corporate takeover of public schools.  They didn't know what I was talking about.  Oh well, what's new.  Hey America, you're country is being dismantled by slimeball hedge funders, Wall Street leeches, and a trainload of oligarchs who have no loyalty to the Republic.  None.

And yet we march and organize and educate, with enthusiasm and determination.  Anyone parent and any teacher who still teaches and who still believes in the NEA Code of Ethics, which NEA's president and Board have have left behind, should know that you are not alone--by a long shot.  Thousands of us were in DC this weekend for spirited rallies, conferences, marches, socializing, organizing, networking, and building new capacity to move forward.  We emerge from DC with a plan to move our mission wider and deeper, to see these EdRoots grow deep and grow tall, to claim a place where all parents and teachers who care for children can find protection, education, inspiration, organizing weaponry, determination, and solidarity.. 

So even as I am not humbled by the racist and greedy fools of the Business Roundtable, I am humbled to be among such caring and dedicated people this past weekend who have the welfare of our children, our future, our democracy, as their central concerns.  We are in accord that the time for talking is over and that the time for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience has begun in earnest.  We shall not be moved from this commitment.  Gates doesn't stand a chance.


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