West writes:
"All UC-list readers know there's an "anti-gentrification faction" that
is unalterably opposed to exposing West Philly teenagers to the world
beyond West Philadelphia."
Strawman alert!!!
This long time President of the FOCP and UCD committee man has consistent
tactics. It's not just that his statements are completely absurd and were
never put forward by anyone. Notice how his pattern is to assign some
seemingly terrible characteristics to his target too.
It's easy for him to refute the made up motivation to silence anyone in the
school discussion:
"unalterably opposed to exposing West Philly teenagers to the world
beyond West Philadelphia."
But the second part of the false accusation is an appeal to emotions of
anger towards the target group or individual to discredit their points and
positions.
It's the same as we saw attacking the patriotism of people who didn't want
the war. These tactics are not just a personal problem for the victim, but
a serious attempt to silence by intimidation.
The tendency for these types of leaders to scratch their way to lead the
civic associations is the reason I'd like to see them disbanded. This
tactic is part of bullying.
Imagine what it is like when these kinds of tactics give leverage over
others. Unfortunately, no delete button exists when the civic association
leaders come at you! We also can't post the abuse, look at the abuse, and
talk about it like we can here. The victims can only tell their stories
while gang leaders continue to cut backroom deals while spreading
intimidation to the neighborhood.
Sorry to offer bad news. This is the leadership in our colonized
neighborhood..
Glenn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony West" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Wilma de Soto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: "UnivCity listserv" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [UC] Penn schools
Wilma,
What I'm trying to figure out is if you think exposing West Philadelphia
high-school students to world-class influences like Microsoft and Penn is
bad and should be prevented under any circumstances.
All UC-list readers know there's an "anti-gentrification faction" that is
unalterably opposed to exposing West Philly teenagers to the world beyond
West Philadelphia. I disagree with that faction. Historically, the way up
for isolated, disadvantaged communities is to end their isolation and
click into the world's main action.
My personal position is students of color should not be systematically
shuttled away from intellectual and career interests because they are told
"their neighborhood" doesn't care about such interests. More than
anything, students of color need to be freed from these nasty, deadly
stereotypes. That's part of why their 19-year-olds are dying on the
streets.
If West Philly's working-class teenagers can be enabled to explore the
world of international affairs, do you think this will be bad for them?
Philadelphia is a major international port and world trade is as essential
to the future of working-class Philadelphians as it is to the livelihoods
of Penn professors ... maybe more so.
Do you oppose Councilwoman Blackwell on expanding world trade for
Philadelphia? Will West West Philly's young adults truly be better off if
they are taught all universities are bad and scary, all college degrees
are bad and scary, all dealings with middle-class people are bad and
scary?
-- Tony West
Wilma de Soto wrote:
Tony,
What I meant was the community could try to out spend the educational
partner, which they can't do.
Again, I cannot speak on actually how much funding Penn does in
comparison
to the SDP for that school. As I said before things quite often appear
differently on paper than they are put into practice in the District.
Now
more than ever the appearance on paper can change abruptly without a
moment's notice. Such is the way things are in the District; no one
seems
to know what the other is doing, but that's another story.
As for Bill and Melinda Gates' motives I cannot be certain I would
assume
it was expand the Microsoft® brand and make inroads on Apple® Computer's
long-time presence in education with a bit of altruistic press thrown in
for
good measure. It's sound business sense.
Like I said, I do not know who actually attends the school or whether its
enrollment is indeed 75% West Philadelphia neighborhood students.
I do feel with such an infusion of funds from Microsoft, the school would
probably attract a slightly different population than without.
If people NOW wish to attend a school in that part of the city who would
not
have been bothered before, things would probably change in that area to
service that population, to make them feel safer more secure etc., that
had
not been done for the original population.
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