BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks

Subject: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 01:39 PM

Molly Ivins is one columnist that everyone can read, imo, even those who don't agree with her conclusions. In fact, I think the conservatives should feel a greater need to read her than should those of a more liberal persuasion, simply because if she wrote it, you had better know what she is saying.

Here is a link to a column of hers that is somewhat different. Without selling out in any sense, she is trying to find ways that we can all support- liberals and consrvatives alike - to fix the mess that we find ourselves in.

She starts out by saying:

"AUSTIN - Leap I lightly, with the grace of a gazelle, over such mundane news items as indictments at the White House and Supreme Court nominations. All the better to continue my crusade to focus attention not on what's wrong but on how to fix it.

"Here's a starter: I would like America to be a country where we spend more money on educating people than we do on the military.

"On a panel in New Haven, Conn., the other night, Ray Suarez of PBS answered the "How do we fix it?" question with the proposal that we make K-12 our top priority. He suggests that this would have so many unexpected side effects -- ranging from science to race relations -- that it would effectively be a revolution."

She ends with this:

"Nothing simple about this effort -- anyone who thinks international relations and diplomacy are simple, straightforward subjects has not been paying attention. This how-do-we-fix-it series is a conversation, not a lecture, and all suggestions are welcome. You can send suggestions to me at [e-mail]."

The whole column is well worth reading, and just maybe it will bear fruit.

Can We Talk?

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 01:48 PM

I posted a link to her columns in that Woodward thread, thinking she might address that topic with well-reasoned discussion and wit. I see she has moved beyond it, but as ever, is wise in that choice.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 02:15 PM

But I'm a fencer! Can't I just this once make a school desk into a sword? I promise I'll be good with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 02:27 PM

That's going to be one unreliable - and ugly - sword, Rap. The other side will carry torches so as to eliminate the threat from your wooden swords. And the older your sword gets, the more at risk it will be. But if it suits your sensibilities, have at it! One thing about it, a field of flaming swords will be a colorful sight.

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 25 Nov 05 - 03:07 PM

Rapaire:
Don't worry, God's on your side. He said:
"Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears!"

Which is not quite the quote in the thread title.

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 12:07 AM

The primary difficulty with Ms. Ivan's observations is that she make wwaaaayyy too much sense. How can we prop up the profits of the defense industry if somebody comes along spouting off about sensible alternatives? That's Un-American!;-)

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 01:15 AM

I think the "Coalition" is hammering Swords into School Desks in Iraq at the moment...

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 09:24 AM

All seriousness aside, we're going to have to do this (in the US and the rest of the world) or, as the other thread says, "China is gonna eat our lunch." The number of engineers graduating from China and India far surpasses the total for the so-called "First World."

Molly Ivins or not, there's an educational crisis looming and we're doing NOTHING about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 11:16 AM

I'm hoping I can convince my kids that math, science, physics, engineering, subjects like that are not only worthwhile to pursue in college, they are essential. My daughter starts university next year.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 05:23 PM

Welcome aboard, 'Catters. I have been begging all and sundry to read Molly Ivins for years. Not only does she make sense (is that still legal here?), she makes me laugh--and informs me so I know more when I've finished an article than when I started it.....Horrors, don't tell the Bush admin. They might get me for being terroristic....Tw

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Nov 05 - 05:53 PM

A lot of us have been fans of hers for years, tw. She makes Texas palatable. *G*

Subject: RE: BS: Molly Ivins- Swords into School Desks
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 27 Nov 05 - 09:58 AM

Eb, there's lotsa good eatin' in Texas--an' it ain't all Tex-Mex. Y'all come an' see us some time. Love to all yer folks.    Tw