Hearing from Each Other

That is what I am speaking to...how even with the best of intentions, we can become what we deplore/resist.
The pressures of...matching combatant language w/ the same?
I don't fault NPR for trying to strike against strike, at all, but I do feel we lose what NPR does best with the personal stories.
Why I want to hear from those just doing the jobs, the ones we pay only lipservice. As a teacher, I know, well, the money's no good. Get a grip on yourself.
That's The Stranglers, about rock n' roll.
I'm from a punk rock period--pre-web, pre many things, when nothing happened for immensely talented artists. And I am not in any way knocking how new tech has changed that.
But now I am so bothered that we treat the most important vocations/professions (teaching, doctoring) as throw-away, beacause there is no IPO, no money-lottery slam-dunk that creates millions in a second, on Wall Street. And, maybe, well, there's a trickle down if you got in, and haven't been busted for it.
If we don't get our act together around real education of the students we actually have in the classroom, vs those we think should be there, if we don't get on top of caring for a population fed on living forever while jobs and healthcare (let alone whatever was paid to SS) desert them, well, that sucking sound is no sound effect.
Yeah, this is where the pundit problem comes in.
By definition it is top down, generalities. Nothing concrete, but interesting language. And if you have the time and luxury for that, you'll call in.
But now is the time that Public Radio can deliver more of what it can do so well.
We do need to inspire each other. For me, especially around teaching, when I hear the voice and story of a commited teacher, I do get inspired myself.
I do think it's the time and, hopefully the place, if NPR can expand it so, for a disjointed country to rally. Not for a candidate, just for itself.
As This American Life Proves, as I mention in my piece, we crave to hear each others stories, because we know, at any moment, people are caring for each other, selflessness does happen, every day people that care about what they do, and keep doing it.
Showing up.
It's where I feel my own resolve weaken.
And that's only in my teaching.
Yeah, there are communities "without voices".
Maybe that's too convenient.
We KNOW that's true.
If you get into the ethnic, gender and innumberable other ways we can divide ourselves, then we are divided and fractious, for no real purpose and perhaps the exact opposite.
People talk to people. We know we have that.
NPR is not the only source for this sharing, and isn't that another point?
What does NPR offer in the media-chatter?
It has a great stream. In the chatter, it does have devoted listeners, even though I have struggled myself, I still return.
It feels like OUR voice, even though I rebel, and turn it off and struggle when I detect the compromise.
I guess I just want more of our voices, to help lead us toward the most important challenges that we face, a still-new country, in a new century.

Thanks, Martha

This humiliating age has not succeeded in winning our respect. -- Hugo Ball, 1916.