Rising Above the Clouds

Yesterday I received an email from a friend, Janet Christensen, who is serving with me in a group that is focused on improving the academic achievement of Hispanic learners. Her words, "It is wonderful to be part of a group that seeks to rise above the clouds and help others get out of the clouds as well" made me realize that this is what we need to do. It is only by rising above the clouds that we can see the bigger picture and gain a broader perspective.

Rising above the clouds will also help us not get caught up in all the chaos taking place around us. On an After Words broadcast where Akbar Ahmed interviewed Mark Siegel, longtime friend and former speechwriter who helped Benazir Bhutto write Reconciliation, spoke of the glow Bhutto seemed to have about her in spite of the chaos as well as threats to her life. In other words, because of her focus on a higher purpose she was able to transcend what was happening around her.

Herndon L. Davis who is an author, lecturer, and TV Host gives us some insights into Bhutto's life that can be an example for us as we advocate for Hispanic learners. Davis said of her, "Bhutto could have easily remained safely in self-imposed exile. She could have kept a low profile and remained an observer....But instead Benazir Bhutto chose to become the change that she wanted to see for her country....She allowed her life to be used as a tool for a greater purpose, a greater cause and for a greater calling...Further Bhutto knew that her life was symbolic as a living example of patience, idealism, faith, and determination. (italics mine).

We, too, must not give up the fight for our Hispanic learners even though we are attacked on every side and in spite of the fact that we may not see the fruits of our labor. It never was about us anyway as Mother Theresa's words remind us.

Influence Change

One of the reason I like Kevin Eikenberry so much is because he goes the extra mile. He followed up his conference call message with more resources that could benefit us in our change effort.

One resource included 5 ways to influence change in others:

1. "Get" their perspective: It's the other person's perspective about the change that really matters. Valuing that perspective will help the other person feel part of the conversation, not that feel that one is being given a sales pitch.
2. Acknowledge their perspective: Let the person feel that you recognize that the view is valid even if may be different than yours.
3. Speak to their interests: Talk with the person about the differences in your perspectives, explaining how the change has personal benefits for him or her.
4. Recognize natural tendencies: Recognize that not everyone moves at the same rate in regards to change.
5. Be patient: Give a person time to reflect on what you have shared. This could help "save face" for a person who is moving from opposition to a change to being an advocate for the change.

Kevin has more information about change at his website, http://www.kevineikenberry.com/

History and Forgiveness

It is critical that young people (and adults, too!) learn the history of our world and nation for as George Santayana warns, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."


It is not only critical to learn history, but it's also important that it be observed from different perspectives. After all, as Ralph Waldo Emerson tells us, "All history becomes subjective; in other words there is properly no history, only biography." Seeing American History through the eyes of Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics, and/or other minorities will paint a different picture. By studying one, we don't dismiss the other. We just acknowledge that history isn't one-sided.

Seeing history from other perspectives can often times be extremely painful, but Maya Angelou
reminds us, "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."

We must exercise extreme caution when sharing painful history. If the result is "white guilt" and/or anger and hatred and revenge and feelings of victimization we have lost site of our goal and ultimate hope to change the present and the future for these kind of responses are paralyzing.

So what is the healthy response to painful history that will allow up to paint a brighter future: FORGIVENESS

As we ponder the words of Anne Frank, Corrie Ten Boom, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ishmael Beah, Coretta Scott King, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and the Amish people, we can glean the wisdom from them about the power of forgiveness.

Therefore, as we teach young learners painful history, it is crucial that we also teach them the importance of forgiveness, even when the offender doesn't ask for it. It will only be through forgiveness that our nation and we as individuals can heal and be strong. For only then can we be united in working together to fight the evils that hurt us all.

What American History To Teach?

"The history curricula of public schools should be constructed around the principle that all people have been significant actors in human events.....The history of minority groups is critical to the understanding of the American past as well as the present.... A successful history education should help students understand what binds Americans together while simultaneously promoting respect for America's pluralism and diversity."

From the Organization of American Historians' Statement

on Multicultural History Education

Looking at history through the lens of different groups of people, will more likely than not result in a clash of perspectives. Therefore, it is critical that each perspective be based upon sound historical scholarship.

Sound historical scholarship can't help but reveal the flaws and imperfections of individuals and groups of people as well as their sterling attributes. After all, they were human, as we are. We must also remember that our history of them was their present. They were living it, not looking at it with hindsight.

It's also important to remember that people from our nation's history such as our founding fathers were aware of their imperfections. Their inability and our nation's inability to live up to the ideals they espoused should in no way diminish the importance and value of those ideals. It is the responsibility of each succeeding generation to carry the torch, striving to come closer to the ideals.

We can only carry that torch and be an educated participant in our democracy if we know our history. Being cynical and negative about our nation's history will dim, if not extinguish, the light of that torch. David McCullough has said, "Cynics don't get much done. Cynics don't advance the cause."

Tomorrow's "blog" post will carry on this discussion focusing on what we can do to advance the cause.