What are you talking about, Glenn?
You have published your flat-out opposition to an
international-relations-themed HS in West Philadelphia. You don't want
it and you have said it would be bad for West Philadelphians: they
should not have such a HS, because it is connected to Penn. Your
published position is very clear.
Have you changed your mind? Are you now in favor of Philadelphia's
having a HS with an International Relations theme? Would such a HS be
acceptable to you if it were sponsored by LaSalle instead of Penn ... or
Petco, perhaps?
You are a leader of an anti-gentrification faction on UC-list. That's
not a straw-man argument, that's a simple observation. You oppose every
possible connection between West Philadelphia's youth and the University
of Pennsylvania, do you not? If not, name the connection you support.
-- Tony West
Glenn wrote:
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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