Justice is not special treatment

Greetings all on Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

     Today seems an excellent day to discuss what is termed Identity Politics.  I hate the term and hope to not use it again in this piece or in any other postings.  It is like Social Justice Warrior or Snowflake, and attempt to take the virtue of demanding justice or caring for the wellbeing of others and making it a vice.  This term attempts to invert the reality around us and place those who are demanding equal treatment of our fellow humans on the defensive.  

     The latest definition of this term, meant to be derogatory, was this:  "Choosing who wins based upon who they are."  

     This attempt to discredit either the Black Lives Matter or other social justice movements shows a shocking lack of awareness while hilighting the unjust situation activists work to overturn.  

     I assert that American politics has always been identity based.  The winners were chosen by accidents of birth and those prejudices codified into the Constitution and state law.  This group was set up to win every legal, moral and social contest at the expense of anyone not in their group.  Of course I refer here to White Men.

     White Men's dominance was so great that they were able to own others not of their elite club.  This included black people via chattel slavery and women via marriage and paternal control.  Their privileges were so ingrained that churches without shame trotted out the Gospels to reinforce that White Men were ordained by God to rule over all things.  I would say the struggle to bring real justice to fruition was and remains, wresting power from the hands of White Men.  

      My fellow club mates, have never been able to see this easily.  Our entire social and political structure was built to make recognition of this reality difficult.  And it is a cruel irony of privilege that if you have it and then conditions change toward equity, you register it as a loss or an affront to yourself.  Therefore it should come as no surprise that as we push for justice and equal treatment for those who are not White Men that they feel aggrieved.    

     This would be funny if not for the violent reaction this inverted perception has brought about.  To change how one sees things is difficult, and those struggling to change I will do all I can to help.  However right now we are facing a reactionary backlash and that requires us to stand firm and push back, especially against attempts to invert the reality and label those striving for justice as the oppressors.  

     I commit therefore, to pushing back explicitly and directly whenever someone laments how this or that marginalized or persecuted group is receiving special treatment.  We have to not allow them to pervert the language of justice to reinstate, injustice.  

     Peace to you on this MLK Day.  May his dream become our reality and soon.  

     Ad Astra Per Aspera,

     Kevin 

I will not be silent

I grew up in a home where multiple generations would hold forth on how Jews and Blacks and "those people" really were.  As a kid I had to keep quiet and let it go.  The incoming president and his congressional allies are normalizing all manner of hatred and prejudice.  I refuse to be silent this time.

This means I will remind those who voted for this man that  they are accomplices to misogyny, bigotry and worse.  

I can hear the retorts now, "I thought you were tolerant?"  Tolerance is not being tolerant of hate.  I refuse to acquiese to that sophomoric linguistic trick.  To stand for things means you must stand against other things when the time comes.  That time is upon us and I will not play nice.

There are some who would have me be silent, to not speak out about the evil that is likely to come from all of this.  They claim I should not point out to those who voted for this person, that they are accomplices in his work.  That pointing this out is hateful.  They go so far as to say my holding people accountable for their actions, is what is wrong with America.  Another attempt to make the one crying for justice sound somehow unjust.  

No what is wrong is that we've given bigots, white supremacists and homophobes permission to act and say what they wish.  We've not confronted them in order to keep harmony in our homes, our workplaces and places of worship.  That ends now.  I will not be silent in order to keep the peace.  

Peace is not just the absence of but the precence of justice.  Any peace we've had in my life came from increasing the justice in our nation.  There is a great deal of justice work that will be undone by this corrupt man and his cronies.  He is only getting the chance to undo these things, because a good many white folks, angry at their lot in life, voted for someone willing to take out their anger on the vulnerable and marginalized.  They voted to scapegoat innocents so that they could feel better about themselves.  

I heard this scapegoating before from people I love.  As a kid I knew it was wrong but was unable to do anything about it.  

Never again will I be silent.   

Love is beautiful

     Love

     There is a charged word.

     It has many forms and manifestations does it not?  Likely you have see new love manifest.  Usually it is loud, expansive even explosive.  It invites all who can be reached to rejoice with those who love in the beauty of it all.  It is beautiful.  I do not know about you, but I cannot help but smile whenever I see it, not in condescension but in joy at their joy.

     There is another quite different manifestation of love.  It is deep, abiding, old love.  It may not announce itself in broad behaviours yet it is there.  Radiating from those who share that sort of love like a comforting hearth on a cold night.  It is beautiful and not easy to see, yet when I do, it also brings a smile to my face.

     Which of these extremes, or any of the gradations in between, is True Love?

     My answer is all of them are True.  Love is true for those who have recently stumbled upon love for the first time and those who have lived within love for many years.  Not only would I not presume to know the validity of the heart of another, I would say from my own experience is love is True.  Because all of the love I know is and has ever been True.  Love can and does change, but it remains true throughout.  So I say, whatever expressions of love you see, take that love to be true.

     Making that assumption I find is not only gracious and easier on the heart, it helps when dealing with love as experienced by another.  It puts me on an empathetic rather than a judicial footing.  It helps when dealing with those who express their love in ways or degrees that I find uncomfortable.

     Especially it is helpful when living with our fellow lovers of our nation.

     This whole weekend is centered around love of our home and country the United States of America.  Perhaps you do not readily agree that this love and other loves are similar nor would the attitude towards love I mentioned earlier apply.  I believe it does and can be helpful.

     This weekend those who are newly flush with love of this nation will rub elbows with those who've loved our country for many years.  Bold, expansive and yes explosive, expressions of new love will dance next to the solemn dignity of old love.

     And both are True.  Both are real, honest and genuine.  Accepting that their love, however expressed, as manifestly True, is a great place to begin our 241st year.

     My wish for all of you is that you go and love openly and deeply as loudly or softly as you prefer, this beloved we call the United States of America.  Go and be with your neighbors, laugh with the loud and exuberant, stand with the dignified and silent and share in their love.

     Happy Independence Day to all of you!

     Ad Astra Per Aspera,
     Kevin

   

New beginnings

Good morning all!
      It is a new day, a new month and a new half of the year.  This looks like an excellent time for new beginnings.

     People wiser than me say if I want to write, I should set aside time and write something every day.  

     Becoming better at writing is not my primary goal however, yet it will help.  I want to connect and communicate with folks in a more substantive way.  Looking around even cursorily shows connection and good discussions are sorely lacking.  I may not be able to change the whole world, but I can change myself.

     So good morning all!  There is a big day ahead and it is time to get started.

     Ad Astra Per Aspera,
     Kevin

Test Blog Post

Greetings all,

    Just working out the kinks of posting.  

Ad Astra Per Aspera, 

Kevin

To the fathers in my life

Greetings all,
        There are many men I wish to aknowledge and thank on this day set aside to honour those whom we neglect to honour as often as we should.

        John "Johnny" Kocour
        Johnny was married to my aunt Margueritte Katherine and was father to my cousin Kathy. Though my uncle by marriage he treated me as a son. Took me everywhere with him. He left us far too soon yet in the nine years I was able to know him, he taught me to love. Love fully and care genuinely for each and every person, especially every child, that comes across your path in life. He was an honest man, a wise man, one of those Roman Catholic gentlemen who would invite priests to dinner and engage them in stimulating debate. There are many times I wonder how different our lives might have been had red meat and unfiltered Camels not taken Johnny from us so soon. We miss you Johnny.

        Robert "Buck" Burrows
        Buck married my aunt some years after Johnny passed and he has been my uncle for most of my life. Nothing like the John Candy character, Buck is a hard working man, an honest man, a good man to be sure. I admire him for all of that and thank him for being patient to explain how things work and how they are done, even to ignorant college graduates like myself. He's been a fantastic grandfather to Kathy's son, Nick. Nick is a hands on sort of kid and so is Buck. God truly knew what he was doing putting these two in each other's lives.

        John Thomas "Jack" Tones, Sr. (a.k.a. Papa)
        Papa you are missed. It was he who taught me the worth of work. Because he did work and work hard. First as a coal miner, then pipe fitter, whatever was required to keep the family going. Never with a complaint either. His only concern about work was that there was work. Lest you get the wrong impression, he was in no way a dour or morose man. I remember him calling for my Dad, "Hey, John Thomas!" and smiling like a Cheshire Cat. It was only years later I learned that a "John Thomas" was English slang for a certain portion of a man's anatomy.
        Papa did enjoy a laugh. My cousin Kathy asked him to give her away at her wedding. Right before the music started this was the conversation:
        Kathy: "Papa, when we get up there you need to put my hand in Ken's hand."
        Papa: "What?"
        Kathy: "Put my hand in Ken's hand..."
        Papa: "What's the matter? You helpless?" and he gave that broad Cheshire grin.         
        He also taught me how to tell a good story. He repeated them often just so I would not forget them either. I'm sure Amy could attest that I learned that lesson in spades myself. Papa was always very proud of his grandkids. He marvelled at our grades and was proud beyond expression when I was fortunate to come to work at NASA.
        I miss you Papa. Would that you could have seen the fine young men your great-grandsons have become.

        John Thomas "Jackie" Tones, Jr. (a.k.a. Papa Jack)
        Dad was always there. Still is for that matter, and his constancy was a lesson to me while growing up. He is a loyal and honest man. Given how often colleagues and friends of his traded out wives or carried on illicit affairs his dedication and faithfulness to my Mom stands out. Dad taught me to be honest. He has shown me that no amount of money or advantage is worth the loss of your integrity. Thank you Dad for not just saying these things but living them fully and completely, every day I've known you.

        Thank you to all of those fathers that have come into my life. Your example and love are an inspiration to me.

        Ad Astra Per Aspera,
        Kevin

Shuttles

Greetings,
        Let me begin by saying I am quite disappointed that Houston will not be receiving a Space Shuttle Orbiter. Yes I would like that piece of history to come here and be a part of all the other things we have here that are so much a part of one of the best things in our nation's history. It belongs here and it does because of the blood, sweat and tears so many at this center have shed for the last thirty years. Such a resting place would be fitting.

        KSC is another place that should indeed have an orbiter. They had their hands all over that magnificent beast and none I think feel the pride, joy and overwhelming awe of the Shuttle launches more than do they. It is a matter of pride for them and a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made in Florida to make the whole thing work.

        The Air and Space Museam is a good and reasonable place to put a national treasure. This seems fitting. Such a monumental portion of our history at rest in a place dedicated to aeronautics and space endeavors is fitting indeed. I have no qualms about that at all. This seems fitting.

        Rockwell Downey is where the orbiters were born. Each one, from Enterprise to Endeavour, were all built right there. Though times and the center of gravity of the Shuttle program have changed, still this place does have a legitimate connection to the Shuttle heritage. Also it is not a bad idea to have one on the West Coast where it might be more easily seen by those whose tax money flowed East to get them built.
        That said, I wonder if LA in particular and California in general have the financial wherewithal to properly care and feed a Shuttle Orbiter. The question may well be asked and should be answered, carefully. This is a bit of history irreplaceable and oddly fragile. It is not something to be left setting for years in the elements and deteriorating. It must be up kept and well for it to be preserved.
        Therefore in spite of the historical connection, I'm not sure this is a good choice. I could understand it, but not agree with it.

        Then there is New York City. Frankly this is thoroughly inappropriate on almost every level. NYC had no involvement in the creation or operation of the Shuttle fleet. None. I'd be curious to hear the historical gymnastics required to form any rational basis for this decision. Might be entertaining.
        Furthermore the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum does not seem to be a great choice to put an orbiter either. The Shuttle is quite large. It is larger than the SR-71 which has to reside on the open deck of the Intrepid. To house a Shuttle Orbiter will require some sort of specialized building. A single New York winter with it sitting in the elements might be disasterous for purposes of preservation. Perhaps they have a place. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that. But that leads to my last point.
        New York has Broadway, Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, hell... It is New York City for cryin' out loud! This place does not require a boost to attract tourists. It needs no special props to bring people to visit. The Shuttle is more likely to be lost in the crowd, to be forgotten amid the myriad wonderful things for which it is famous. I doubt seeing the Shuttle will supplant Time Square or Broadway for folks going to see New York. A Shuttle that goes to NYC, goes there I think to be largely forgotten. That is the real shame in this.

        This was for the most part, a dreadful set of decisions. The Enterprise going to NYC is a blatant and petty eye-poke to the good people of Houston, TX. This is little better than "I'm going to take my marbles and give 'em to people who like me. So there!" Here was a chance for an administration, whether you like their other policies or not, to act above the fray, to honour the past and to consider carefully where our national treasures could best be cared for and made available to the people. Bad form Mr. President. This does not become you, or any president.

        Ad Astra Per Aspera,
        Kevin

        

Standing Houston

Greetings,
        Lately I've been feeling more and more aches and pains almost all of them arriving or worsening when I've been sitting for awhile.  So the recent medical report that all of the sitting we do increases our chance of heart attack by 54% I sat, er, stood up and took notice.  

        It is likely I spend 12 hours a day sitting.  This does not include sitting up in bed or driving.  This is just sitting at a desk, at work or at home.  Which means of the hours I spend conscious each day 75% of them are spent in a semi-recumbent position. Holy Sedentary Lifestyle, Batman!!

        So for an experiment I thought I would try standing more of today. Here are a few initial observations.

1. I am feeling a bit more energized and engaged. Although I am a morning person this is still a bit of an increase in sharpness.
2. It is obvious that my body is thoroughly unaccustomed ot this. My legs, back and other bits are complaining that they have not been asked to do this for some time. Which is more evidence that this might be good.
3. My office is thoroughly committed to me being in a semi-recumbent position. ☺ I can work at my computer and keyboard in this posture, but as for writing and reading or study, that is completely not feasible. I would need to raise my desk level some 12.5" in order to comfortably write at it.
4. Standing will mean I can look into everyone else's cubicle with ease. As there are few of us over here right now that is not an issue, later it may be.

        So I'm coming up on one hour of verticality this morning. The fun part too is engineers are problem solvers. I just gave my office mates a whole host of problems to solve and are they off to the races. ☺

        Ad Astra Per Aspera,
        Kevin

Baseball Scoring

Greetings,
        A friend of mine who coaches kids' baseball suggested an application for scoring the games which runs on my iPhone, links back to a website and provides play by play information live. Pretty slick huh?

        Here is the link. I am not great at this and some of the information, especially on the teams we are playing, is limited. That is I don't have access to the rosters ahead of time and so the opposing teams will be numbers only. What is more our boys swap positions fairly regularly and I may miss those swaps.

        That said if you wish to follow Aidan's team this Spring, the River Bandits, give this a try. If you try it and it doesn't work let me know.

<iframe src="http://www.gamechanger.io/team-2870253/scoreboard?g=5&p=885872" width="728" height="90" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe>

        Ad Astra Per Aspera,
        Kevin

What's up with NASA?

        I get this question, or some version of it almost every day. Somedays I'm tired and simply don't feel like an extensive explanation so I give a terse or evasive answer. Perhaps it is time to correct that.

        To begin, I can't possibly speak for a NASA as a whole nor for anyone besides myself. What I can do is convey what we are doing and how we are feeling, at least at JSC and in my division.

        We are hurting. We are a community of capable, dedicated people who enjoy nothing more than a difficult, even impossible task, and making it happen. We have done such things and we want to continue to do them. Yet for reasons truly beyond understanding, we are cast adrift. The old mission is moribund, the new mission is non-existent. This is a dreadful situation and it saps the strength from us in ways not easy to explain. We want to leave the old and start the new, but we can't. This hurts.

        We are angry. Not merely because we are hurt but because colleagues are being sent out the door. People who know how to do things, how to design and implement flight systems are walking out the door, to never be back. We wish them the good fortune to find a job to take care of them and theirs. But they are lost to us. All of that talent is gone. For every four folks working on Shuttle since Challenger who leave we lose a century of experience. What possible price may we put on that? No amount of cash will conjure experience, wisdom and understanding.

        This profligate waste of talent is what angers us. We at JSC spend a great deal of time and effort to train up our people. Furthermore we do a great deal that must be learned but cannot be taught. By example and leadership do we turn a bright, eager engineer into a capable professional whom you would trust with our national treasures. Losing any of these good people is an impact upon us. Losing so many is incalculable. Even should we get a new, vibrant mission to pursue next week, it will take us years to recover from those already lost.

        We are angry. I am angry. I would encourage you to be angry as well. It was your money which created what is being lost. It will be your money used to make up that ground again.

        We are hopeful. We have initiatives right now at JSC which promise to change how we do things for the better. They are exciting and thankfully I have the good fortune to be a part of one of them. It is great stuff. We who are left will do all we can to make wondrous things happen. It is why we get out of bed in the morning. That has not changed.

        We are NASA. We are the ones who turn aspirations into living reality. We will continue to do that come Hell, high water or low budgets. It is what we do.

        Ad Astra Per Aspera,
        Kevin