Update From Waxahachie

As reported earlier this week, Waxahachie (TX) High suspended student Pete Palmer last September for refusing to remove an "Edwards '08" t-shirt. (Did they want him to go to class half-naked?) According to the school, the shirt violated the Student Code of Conduct. The Palmer sued with help from the Liberty Legal Institute, a conservative foundation with the mission of "protecting religious freedoms and First Amendment rights." Why LLI and not, say, the ACLU? Pete's father has the story:

"I was solicited by this admittedly right wing group because this case is so clear cut [that] a ruling in it will help their other cases, which mostly involve religious speech in school. This is one of those instances where the libertarian instincts of the left intersect with the anti-government instincts of more or less honest conservatives. This group was the best fit because they were most focused on this issue and wanted to make this case the centerpiece of their legal efforts. Politically, it allows us to show the court (and potentially the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals) a broad spectrum of support -- a Bush official who clerked for Sandra Day O'Connor linked with a Libertarian-esque organization, two other big firm attorneys, and a lefty legal aid attorney. The ACLU was much less focused, has a lot of irons in the fire all across the state on a variety of issues, had fewer quality outside attorneys who were willing to aid them, and, frankly, pissed me off when I spoke to their legal committee. As an organization in Texas they are weak, underfunded, poorly managed, and have no established agenda."

A little background on Waxahachie High: "Waxahachie High also got some bad publicity 2 years ago for the Honor Society picture in the year book. Instead of finding out the name of an African-American girl they didn't know, the staff just listed her as 'Black Girl.' When the yearbook came out and she complained, folks just about pooped themselves trying to explain it away. For me it came down to this - why is the school so segregated that in a class of only about 300 the yearbook staff didn't know the name of one of the honors students? I told Pete that since Edwards was out, he needed to get an Obama shirt to wear, but he should just get one with a picture of Obama and the caption 'I Support Black Candidate.'"

Finally, guess what good ol' Waxahachie High's mascot is (hint above)? Of course: The Indians.

Sex Wars

Sex Wars: A Novel Of Gilded Age New York, Marge Piercy. Piercy's novel explores the formative years of feminism through the intersecting lives of four characters. Three of them -- proto-feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, free love advocate Victoria Woodhull, and moralist Anthony Comstock -- were pivotal players in the gender wars of the late 19th Century. The fourth character, the fictional Freydeh Leibowitz, is a young Russian-Jewish widow searching among the tenements for her lost sister while trying to make a life for herself and Sammy, the street urchin who attaches himself to her. Other historical figures come and go, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, Susan B. Anthony, and Henry Ward Beecher. At all times, Piercy demonstrates command of the era, as her characters find themselves involved in everything from unregulated financial shenanigans to the manufacture and selling of condoms.

While Piercy is no F. Scott Fitzgerald as word smith, she paces her story effectively. Her genius lies in making debates over the nuances of 19th Century feminism compelling as fiction, as alive as the rough-and-tumble of tenement life. As a consequence, her characters thrive in the imagination, as does Gilded Age New York as witnessed by them. The fullness of their lives also conquers the light narrative: You're so interested in finding out what they will do next that you don't mind a thin plot. The people and the times are more than enough.

The monstrous Comstock, progenitor of the Religious Right, is perhaps the most memorable character -- a twisted fusion of sexual repression and perversion who takes pleasure in the suicides he causes. Even in his case, though, Piercy plays fair: She shows how Comstocks' disastrous childhood left him with a penchant for control and authority combined with a fear and awe of women.

Woodhull and Canton receive more sympathetic treatment. As a pair, they stand for a femme ideal of intellectual attainment, free thinking, and liberated sexuality. In constrast lies Comstock's notion of the ideal woman: His quiet, compliant, mildly retarded daughter. Better a little slow than too quick, he tells his wife.

Piercy is especially strong on the debates and competing personalities with the feminist movement. She contrasts Stanton's broader vision with Anthony's single-minded dedication to gaining the right to vote, a cause Stanton eventually loses interest in. Who will care about voting when their immediate worry is food for their family, Stanton wonders. We see this perspective embodied in Freydeh, who achieves independence without even thinking about voting and despite running afoul of Comstock.

Stanton and Anthony's complex and conflicting responses to Woodhull also illuminate the differing perspectives of the political and personal. Fascinated by Woodhull's spiritualism and personality, the prim Anthony is nonetheless repelled by Woodhull's frank advocacy of women's sexuality, believing it will slow the progress of the movement. Stanton disagrees. How can anyone claim progress for women if obtaining the vote means behaving the way men want them to? Isn't Woodhull in effect living the dream, doing as she wants and encouraging other women to do the same without worrying about what men think about her? Anthony dominates the movement, though, and when Comstock trains his sights on Woodhull, the suffragists who once embraced her turn away.

The parallels to today are obvious, and Piercy doesn't try to hide them. Comstock not only stands for the religious right in America, he stands for the Taliban. Some women and some societies may have progressed, Piercy reminds us, but women around the world remain oppressed by poverty, ignorance, and religion. And the forces arrayed against them haven't changed much at all.

Coach Gibbons Friday:

1000m row

5 sets of:

15 wall balls (16 lb ball at 8' high target)

21 sumo dead lifts (53 lbs kettlebell)

250m row

Edwards T-Shirt = Youth In Trouble

Today, Pete Palmer, the son of longtime friends, filed suit against the Waxahachie (TX) Independent School District for violating his First Amendment rights. Last September 21, Pete had the temerity to wear a "John Edwards '08" t-shirt to school. He refused to remove the shirt after school officials informed him that it violated the Student Code of Conduct. Apparently, the same Code of Conduct that would allow him to wear a Dallas Cowboys jersey does not allow him to express a presidential preference. (It would also allow him to wear a jersey from the Washington Redskins -- the Cowboys' hated rivals -- which might well have put him in physical danger. But I digress.)

Now, let's get real here. In my day, codes of conduct were all about long hair on boys and pant suits on girls. That a student would know who was even running for president before the conventions would have amazing in itself. Pete has probably already killed his chances of an invitation to Skull & Bones. Isn't that punishment enough? Moreover, does anyone seriously think he would have been kicked out of school for wearing an Operation Iraqi Freedom t-shirt?

Here's the press release from the Liberty Legal Institute announcing the lawsuit:

Waxahachie , TX- High school Sophomore Paul “Pete” Palmer is filing a lawsuit against the Waxahachie Independent School District (WISD) today for prohibiting him from wearing a John Edwards ’08 t-shirt and violating his right to free speech. Pete is an honor student and member of the WISD high school football team and plays tuba in the WISD high school band.

“It is disappointing for the District to censor a student’s support of a presidential candidate when we are suppose to be teaching our students to be involved in their communities and to be active citizens of this country, “ said Allyson Ho, lead attorney for Palmer and former domestic policy advisor for President Bush and now with Baker Botts.

Sophomore Palmer was suspended from class on Friday, September 21, 2007 after refusing to change his John Edwards ’08 t-shirt on a matter of principle. Pete’s teacher, Ms. Johnson and the Executive Director for Human Resources, Mr. Rick Rodriguez, told Pete his shirt violated WISD’s Student Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct only allows students to wear clothing with messages that promote a WISD club, organization, or sport team or a college or university.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Morse v. Frederick last year that school officials may only prohibit students from engaging in religious or political speech only when that speech poses a substantial threat to school discipline. School administrators admitted to Pete Palmer that he was not suspended because the speech on his shirt was offensive, but because it contained “unapproved words.”

“It is shameful that Waxahachie ISD allows students to support college football teams but not a candidate for President,” said Hiram Sasser. Students have a constitutionally protected right to wear shirts with religious and political messages, even if some disagree with that message.”

After his suspension, Pete Palmer’s parents appealed the disciplinary action against him with the WISD Principal, Mr. Nix, the Superintendent and the School Board. All upheld the decision to ban the Edwards T-shirt.

The lawsuit filed against WISD today requests declaratory and injunctive relief that would prevent WISD officials from preventing or taking any action against Pete Palmer for wearing the John Edwards ‘o8 shirt.

Liberty Legal Institute is a legal organization committed to the defense of religious freedoms and First Amendment rights. The Institute has won a myriad of cases at the highest levels, including two landmark religious freedoms cases in 2007 alone.

Note: LLI seems like a pretty conservative outfit. Pete's parents, why LLI?

Letterman

From recent public and private correspondence--

To Helen Thomas:

Reading your column has replaced taking Communion as my Sunday sacrament. Thanks especially for this week. It's about time that someone pointed out how little the desires of the people of the United State count with this Administration and Congress when comes to continuing the war in Iraq.

One of the main mysteries to me of this whole sorry mess is why the press doesn't make more of this. A democracy that fights a war against against the wishes of 70% of its people has lost its way. Whether you support or oppose the war, this ought to give you pause. Why doesn't the press ask this question and pressure the government about it?

Paul Goode

Ms. Thomas replied:

I have contempt for those in a position to see the fracturing of democracy and do nothing - and I do mean the press.


Then there was this missive to Eric Alterman's blog Altercation:

That Dick Cheney's "So?" remark touched off no more than a one-day flurry of coverage calls into question the media's perception of exactly what is happening in this country. A democracy that fights a war against the wishes of 70% of its people has lost its way. That should be apparent to anyone regardless of political persuasion. And yet Cheney's manifestation of this sorry reality winds up with less attention than the fulminations of a minister.

The media seems to see itself as players in a fiction -- a screenplay that in their minds they write, direct, and even act in. With few exceptions -- such as the great Helen Thomas -- they inflate Reverend Wright and downplay Dick Cheney because that's their perception of where the ratings are. The quality and importance of the story to a vibrant, functioning democracy doesn't enter into the equation at all: This is television and the good guys will win in the end anyway. That other forces, forces whose only interest is the accumulation and exercise of power, might be the writers and directors doesn't occur to them.

Well, guys, this is serious business. I guarantee you that Dick Cheney thinks so, and that he wasn't kidding when he said he didn't care about ratings. Heck, that ought to shake you up ...

Meanwhile, over at The Root, Michael C. Dawson tells how he was radicalized by the assassination of Martin Luther King. Sixteen years old at the time, he wondered "if Dr. King would not be allowed to successfully lead a non-violent movement for social justice, who could?"

Stop the presses! A too-close relationship Federal Aviation Administration and major airlines has compromised the enforcement of safety regulations! How could that happen with the ever-vigilant Bush Administration in charge?!?!

The Grand Soul Of Charles Lloyd

Last night, Premium T. and I had the pleasure of seeing the great Charles Lloyd lead a brilliant quartet through a superb 75-minute set at Seattle's Triple Door. At 70, Lloyd, one of the finest post-Coltrane reed players, continues to compose and play vibrant, transcendental music that inspired repeated ovations from awed patrons. The quartet, which includes pianist Jason Moran, double bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer Eric Harland, communicated among themselves in a nearly palpable manner, exchanging musical ideas that coalesced into a single, concentrated thought.

Lloyd generally began each number with a soft, unaccompanied notes from either a soprano or tenor sax. Slowly, the band joined in as Lloyd's solo gathered momentum and then gave way to someone else. He generously and democratically gave each plenty of space, and it paid off repeatedly. Moran's hands were a constant blur, although neither his solos nor his accompaniment betrayed the slightest busy-ness or ornamentation. Harland  is an incredibly inventive drummer who was a pleasure to watch. (Read his amazing personal story here.) As for Rogers, it beats me how a man can be so virtuoso when he plays a huge upright instrument with strings like cables and fretless neck the length of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Each composition developed into an incredibly intricate exploration of four fine minds effecting the creative soul of a single grand genius. I've seen gifted A-list soloists before, but they never executed with the kind of cohesion and vision of these four men. Once everyone had their say, Charles Lloyd stepped up for one more solo that trailed off softly, began to close the door, then reopened it for a few more soothing words, then a few more, then...

I leave you with this Charles Simic poem, included with Rabo de Nube, Lloyd's most recent CD:

Two for Charles Lloyd

The sound of flute,

That purest of instruments,

Close to breath,

Close to wind in the leaves.

Voice of solitude.

Voice of insomnia.

Call of a night bird.

Continuous prayer.

The instrument of

Lone shepherds

Sitting cross-legged

Nomads setting out in their caravans

Under a sky full of stars.

The mystery of this moment,

That sudden realization

That we have a soul.

Late night talk

On a tenor

With the dead

And the shadows they cast.

memories of dark cities,

Rain-slicked streets,

After-hour clubs

With deep stairwells,

The thrum of bass and drum.

Company of phantoms,

Be-bop greats

On the band stand

The one in shimmering evening gown

Stepping down.

"Sweet Georgia,"

I hear someone whispering,

"Without this music,

Life would be a mistake."

Have A Heart, Somebody

The Associated Press reports this morning that Vytorin, a cholesterol-reducing drug made and marketed jointly by Merck and Schering-Plough, has little effect in improving heart disease. According to the article, the "study was watched closely because Zetia and Vytorin have racked up $5 billion in sales despite limited proof of benefit. [Italics mine.] Two congressional panels launched inquiries into why it took drugmakers nearly two years after the study's completion to release results." The article also reports that the "New England Journal of Medicine also published a report showing that Vytorin and Zetia's use soared in the United States amid a $200 million marketing blitz. In Canada, where advertising drugs to consumers is not allowed, sales were four times lower."

This last point raises more questions than it answers. As Canada's population is one-tenth that of ours, one might well ask why sales there were so relatively high. Clearly, something stealthy and insidious is going on, something that merits a full-fledged journalistic inquiry from somewhere. Among the questions that need answering:

• What conditions allow $5 billion dollars of sales of a drug with limited proof of benefit?
• What is the full extent of the Merck/Schering-Plough marketing strategy?
• How are doctors complicit?
• To what extent to state and federal regulations permit this? (Too often, the real scandal is what's legal.)
• How could the government have legally interposed itself and why didn't it, or why didn't whatever efforts it took have more impact?
• What other Vytorins and Zetias are out there?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing over 1,200 Americans every day. Think of it this way: Every 2.5 days, heart disease kills as many of us as died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. This is a serious matter deserving of a sturdier inquiry than "Gee, how did they get away with dragging their feet on releasing the results of the study." Don't get me wrong: That's a great question, but it's only the first of what should be many. This is a great example of where the press must assume some public responsibility, because you can bet that no one else will...

One sad day, 87-year old Helen Thomas will no longer be with us. Until then, may she write many more columns as good as this one, which wonders why the people of the United States have no say in whether we continue the blundering in Iraq...

David Horsey, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, writes a nuanced and thoughtful blog entry about Bruce Springsteen and Friday night's show here. A whole bunch of stupid comments follow, as well as at least one nuanced and thoughtful defense...

Remember the back page fold-ins in MAD magazine? Then you won't want to miss this opportunity to revisit them. Enjoy!

Still Amazing After All These Years

Last night, we caught the Bruce Springsteen Show at Seattle's Key Arena. Simply put, he remains the once and future Boss. More than anything, a Springsteen performance at its best is a sacramental rite in which he confers the blessings of rock and roll on the true faithful. In that respect Saturday's show was quintessential Springsteen: From the opening strains of Jimmy Cliff's "Trapped" to the closing encore of the Pogues-like "American Land" he rocked, pled, seduced, and communed with us, drawing on the fervency of his fans to fuel each song.

Unlike just about any other rock act, Springsteen demands the involvement of his audience as a condition for a great show. And last night, he got it. Women swooned and girls clutched at his ankles. Men raised their fists in solidarity. Everyone danced and sang. At 58, Springsteen remains a marvel of athleticism, energy, drive, and involvement. He exacts at least the last three from the crowd, transforming the base metals of the individual into an alchemy of joy and community. As the man said, it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.

I went to the show unsure of what to expect. Magic, his new CD, did not especially impress me. However, loosed from the shackles of Brendan O'Brien's production, the new material meshed seamlessly with old favorites and rarities. "Magic" became a poignant folk song supported by Springsteen's acoustic guitar and Soozie Tyrell's violin. "Last To Die" received the passion it deserves. The anthemic qualities of "Radio Nowhere" shone.

Springsteen also demonstrated his ability to recast old songs. After the Boss introduced "Reason To Believe" with a dissonant harmonica solo, Little Steven Van Zandt joined in with a John Lee Hooker boogie rhythm, and Springsteen finished off with a weirdly distorted vocal. In the process, this somber number from Nebraska became an anthem of defiance. Moreover, he infused old warhorses like "Rosalita" and "Born To Run" with unexpected freshness. (At one point during BTR, he held out his guitar so that the fans by the stage could strum it.)

The E Street Band seemed much more integrated into the show than in past tours. Springsteen, Van Zandt, and Nils Lofgren traded leads, dueled and duetted. Clarence Clemons stepped forth for more sax solos than I've seen in a while. Tyrell's violin served as a featured instrument rather than part of the mix. Backing them all, of course, was the brilliant rhythm section of Max Weinberg, Garry W. Tallent, Roy Bittan, and new member Charlie Giordano.

I've been going to Bruce Springsteen concerts since 1975. For ten years, his audience grew, reaching its peak in 1985 when the mondo Born In The USA tour packed stadiums around the world. His audience has aged with him, although there was no shortage last night of parents and children, and at least one instance of what looked like a grandfather and grandson. Springsteen's music at time has shown a great and unprecedented artistic maturity. He has wedded the personal to the political like no one ever has. He's also made some questionable moves. But always, he gives you reason to believe.

Set List:

Trapped

Radio Nowhere

No Surrender

Lonesome Day

Gypsy Biker

Magic

Reason to Believe

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Because the Night

She's the One

Livin' in the Future

The Promised Land

Waitin' on a Sunny Day

Your Own Worst Enemy

Point Blank

Devil's Arcade

The Rising

Last to Die

Long Walk Home

Badlands

* * *

Tenth Avenue Freeze-out

Rosalita

Born to Run

American Land

Backstreets.com review here. Photos courtesy Backstreets.com.

Seattle Times review here, along with a link to photos.

Finally, for the last word from me on Bruce Springsteen, here's an essay I wrote upon the release of Magic.

"American Land," 10/7/07

Sunday Funnies

Click on the image for a large version. For more, see www.tomthedancingbug.com