July is Really Nice

having been in higher education for nearly 25 years, summer is wonderful.

i have always been a 12 month man...no three month break...but the pace of summer and the awareness and urgency of summer students is really what i would prefer...however, the fall semester always brings a new level of intensity and a corresponding level of re-commitment to purpose....it is called first time freshmen...FTFs...if you want use U.S. Dept. of Educ. vernacular.

now that we, in the State of Louisiana have barely survived another round of crippling budget cuts, we must look forward towards the frosh who look forward to their first semester in college...both the highs and lows...my first year college experience was supreme...but thanks to the lack of vision, commitment and sense of purpose of our state leaders...my son's senior year will resemble something i recall being the state of affairs in 1981, when Ronald Reagan came to power and ushered in a new level of pessimism as commander in chief...this country and this country's gov't was now the enemy.

i pray for him...and just shake my head at all that he will not have the chance to enjoy as a college senior...thanks to Hurricane Katrina...he sacrificed so much as a high school junior and senior...it motivates me to stand by his side even more...it is God's will...and all one has to do is answer the call.

the work of the 1960s had been all for naught...people died...for nothing...according to the righteous right...slavery and discrimination never happened....and after 400 yrs..."negroes" needed to be content.

well...i have a differing view on the state of affairs now...a little less militant than 1985...but still angry because my boss today has a problem with me spending time at the center for elders in my neighborhood of origin for whatever reason...a black man...with more than 20 years of time in this State's higher education system.

well...she has another thing coming...if there will be ANY confusion where my loyalties lie.

perhaps i would be better off cutting grass and driving miss daisy...as much as i fight for the campaign of togetherness...it is apparent...that Malcom X was right...as long as you are south of the Canadian border...YOU ARE SOUTH!!

all of our state legislators have failed and should be fired...the governor has failed...and should be replaced...but these so called leaders have taken politics and law to a level where they are insulated from review, evaluation and most important of all...reprisal.

elective politics...is nothing more than a business.

shame on the governor...the state legislature...and me...most of all...for staying in Louisiana after Katrina...i did have my chance to escape.