Who Will Triumph?

Who Will Triumph?

It is unbelievable how quickly the world seems to have turned upside-down. I go about my day and mail packages, go shopping, even watch my favorite soap opera, but when I sit down and actually think about what is happening in Wisconsin and around the country it terrifies me.

I recently spoke with a young college student -- a really sweet girl -- about the frightening situation that is growing more ugly every day. I tried to explain to her what is going on and why it is so important that young people take the difficult steps needed to learn about what is going on now and the long, hard struggles that came before it. I'm afraid she really didn't get it. I blame myself that – my words were not clear enough, not powerful enough, and not passionate enough.

I want to come up with some way of reaching people who see no reason why they need to be involved. They feel no urgency to probe, to scrutinize, to examine what is happening. People have busy lives -- I know that. Young people have school, others have jobs, others have family needs, and still others have health and financial concerns. But it is because of all of these vitally important issues in our lives that we must reexamine and rearrange our priorities and find the time to become involved.

The enormity of the crisis we are facing now cannot be denied. We must do all that we can to solve this crisis. But equally important, we must learn from what is happening. We must realize that if we care about people, really care about people, then our concern must extend beyond our own realm of security, our own safe haven. For if we close out eyes to the misfortunes and misery in the lives of those who seem so distant from us, we may also become blind to injustice and corruption as it steals silently into our own lives.

If the current chaos and turmoil going on around the country frightens and concerns you – that is good! It should frighten you. What I am hoping is that it will frighten enough people that everyone will do something. Protest! Write letters to editors! Call your elected officials! Talk to your neighbors – not just the ones who agree with you! Unless people reach beyond their safe zone these injustices and corrupt behaviors will not stop. For many of us this may be the most troubling time we have experienced.

I am certain that you have heard many times the wise saying by the Irish philosopher Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Please do something!!!

Wisconsin Voters Did Not Elect a Demigod.

February 22, 2011 

Wisconsin Senator ,

Governor Walker has said that he is acting in the best interest of the people of Wisconsin and that he has “heard” the messages of the people. I am one of those people and I don’t believe the governor has heard my voice. Since the Legislative hotline was taken down I have been unable to leave a message about what I want to say to the governor. I am not being heard, my concerns are not being addressed and my questions are not being answered. I am writing to you to say that I hope YOU will hear my message.

The governor has talked about negotiating with the Democrats who have chosen to take the only action available to them in order to have their ideas, concerns and amendments to Senate Bill 11 actually, seriously, legitimately considered in the negotiations. The governor has said it is the Democrats responsibility as legislators to return to Madison in order to approve the bill. He has, however, said over and over again that he will make no concessions – he will make no changes – he will, in essence, not listen to the tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who oppose the destruction of workers’ rights. Wisconsin voters did not elect a demigod.  They elected someone they hoped would be a leader – a leader who listens, negotiates and builds consensus. They elected someone they hoped would serve the people of the state – all of the people – and that includes public workers!!

People around the country and around the world are watching Wisconsin to see whether this governor and his political party will defend or destroy the rights of the middle class workers throughout the state. I am asking you, Senator, to be strong and independent in your decision to speak out to protect the collective bargaining rights of the workers in Wisconsin. In a democratic society, all voices are heard and considered. I appeal to your better nature to act in a manner that you know to be morally right not simply politically convenient.

Thank you for your willingness to read and consider what I am thinking,

It's Hard to Fight the Good Fight

I'm so new to this blogging idea that it is difficult to know quite what to say. The past week has been so tumultuous and emotionally draining that it seems that very little that I say can change the utimate result of this battle. Walking along today I felt that not only am I part of a totally powerless minority, but even within that minority my voice is very faint. The governor has money, power and ego -- a frightening combination.He offers no thoughts on bringing the sides together, no thoughts on listening, no efforts to understand or reach out. For now I guess this will be simply a journal. If anyone actually finds my page I hope it has meaning for you.

I'll close now. I may enter some of the messages I have been sending.

This is what Democracy looks like!

This Is What Democracy Looks Like

I was one of the tens of thousands of Wisconsinites who dressed in red and carried banners in support of unions and the rights of public workers in our great state over the past week. Many of the protesters are young teachers, nurses and community workers at the beginning of their professional lives. They are hard workers who care deeply about the students and others who are entrusted to their care. They are voters; they are taxpayers; they are parents and sons and daughters who trust that their government will be strong enough and secure enough to allow its citizens also to be strong and spirited. 

In some ways I am very different than many of the young protesters. My gray hair stands out in sharp contrast to many of the young people I encountered. I am a retired Milwaukee Public School teacher and I continue to be a union member. Unlike many of the young people, I am not in danger of losing my job if the governor uses job losses as a threat to intimidate workers into submission.

My fears are much deeper and wider than my own possible losses. The governor is out for much, much more than a few percentage points added to pension contributions or health care coverage. He is out for the total devastation of unions and the rights of workers that the unions are designed to protect. He wants no collective bargaining; he wants no negotiation. He will use his power to silence the voices of the thousands who are asking to be heard. He will use his power to destroy rather than concede that the workers have rights that need to be protected. He will use his power (and his ego) to proclaim that he is above the people not in service to them. These are my fears. These are the fears of many of those who protested this past week in Madison.

I am proud that I participated in the protest in Madison. The most powerful moments came for me when thousands of proud, concerned citizens chanted, “Tell me what Democracy looks like” and thousands responded, “This is what Democracy looks like.” I am proud to be an American and I am proud to be a citizen of Wisconsin. I am not proud of what the governor and his people are attempting to carry out at the expense of the workers of Wisconsin. I hope that reason and compassion will prevail and that the legal rights of the unions and workers in Wisconsin will be upheld.

Justice should never be a negotiable idea.

************************************************************************

Marilyn McKnight

Retired Milwaukee Public School teacher

Continuing MTEA union member

414-332-3727