Real Democracy For the People

Today was a momentous day in my small, fledgling foray into the world of politics.  On Maryland Day, Start School Later witnessed history, with legislation successfully passing the House of Representatives to start the conversation on the long-standing problem of early school start times in public high schools.

I could go on and on about how thrilled I am about the Bill passing and moving onto the Senate.  But, really, what I'm really inspired about is the fact that anyone, with hard work, tenacity, and a bit of know-how, can get started and influence decision-makers in this country to enact laws.

I was able to witness the House in Session, and being a political rube, I found the whole process fascinating.  Aside from the common perception that government is slow and ineffective, I really was able to observe a very methodical approach to lawmaking that allows for checks and balances.  While much of the proceedings may not have completely held my interest, there were some particularly moving aspects for me that I would never have appreciated if I wasn't there.

Imagine my surprise when the bell rang, the Session was called to order and over 100 people stood to pledge allegiance to the flag.  Of course, I promptly stood up and followed suit, happy that there was a flag in my line of sight that I could salute to. But, having not really done that since grammar school, it was amazing to see the pledge in action, with everyone, regardless of belief, position or background, affirming a common allegiance to our country.  Unlike a baseball game, where a song is played, every delegate stated the allegiance and it was quite moving to hear it and see it coming from adults and not children.  I was particularly captivated by a number of delegates who added a fervent "Amen!"  There was a certain reverence, not unlike the prayers Christians begin with to set the tone for church meetings.

The delegates were a mixed lot.  Young and old, from many ethnic backgrounds, from all walks of life.  These people were indeed our representatives, delegated to the task of representing their districts with the issues their constituents care about.  They were regular people, just doing their jobs.  It was particularly moving to me that the oldest running legislative building in our country is not far from the Market Place, the first stopping point of the transport of slaves from Africa in the 1700's.  Steeped in history and tradition, Annapolis harkens to a cruel time of the past, and while it's certainly far from perfect, a glimpse into how far we've come forward.

The fact that I, as a common citizen, can be privy to these proceedings, either by sitting in the gallery, or listening through a live online audio feed, makes governance that much more transparent.  During the announcements in the beginning of each Session, homage was paid to the holidays of Passover and Easter.  In Session I, the story of the Israelites getting safe passage out of Egypt and the LORD's protection was recounted and commemorated.  In Session II, the announcer commemorated the Christian observance of Easter and the hope for Messiah by reciting the Virgin Mary's prayer.

This reverence for the spiritual tradition of the law reminded me that public service is a civic responsibility to care for others.  This is real democracy in action.  I'm not naive enough to think that there are no flaws in our system of government.  But, compared to other countries, where people do not have a say about how laws are enacted, or who gets assigned to help shape the laws in the first place, our democracy is something that can be grasped and experienced.  I treasure it as a gift that our insightful forefathers blessed us with.

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Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he. 
- Proverbs 29:18
 

The Cow Conspiracy

Those who have known me since I was a child will find what I am about to write hard to believe.  As a kid, I was nicknamed "The Cow" because I was always the one caught drinking the last bit of milk.  While I maintained that in a family of seven, I just got the last dregs, or was "just finishing off the gallon", I was nonetheless accused of drinking all the milk, hence the name.

Reputation not withstanding, I have decided to cut cow's milk from my daily consumption.  Rest assured, I have not fallen and hit my head.  It's true.  Perhaps it was the cabin fever of too many sick kids for too long a time (at least one person was sick for a three week stretch this February) that gave me pause to think about this.  However, even though I didn't conduct any scientific, clinical trials, it occurred to me that this winter was particularly rough for my brood with ear infections, a near brush with pneumonia and a funky stomach bug that seemingly plagued the whole state of Maryland all at once.

Last year, my kids were hardly sick at all.  This year was tough and it was also the year my younger two went back on yogurt.  Last year, they all lost interest in it, so I stopped buying it.  This year, my younger two wanted it again, so we started again with a daily smoothie that they've had since they were weaned from breastmilk.  I would've considered it a coincidence.  But, then my childhood came back to me.  I suffered from chronic ear infections and asthma as a kid and was the only one in my family that did.  And last year, aside from a few small colds and fevers, my kids were healthy.

The common denominator in all this is milk consumption.  My oldest stopped drinking yogurt, and while he is the healthiest of the bunch and loves milk, he had less dairy than his younger siblings. 

Now, think about it.  What other species do you know of that drinks the milk from another species?  You got it - none of them.  Humans are the only species that process the milk of other animals for their own consumption.  If you think too much about it, it shoud start to creep you out.

Guess what else?  The largest consumer of antibiotics are.... livestock and poultry.  Ewwwwww.
In the food documentary, Forks Over Knives, they explained the impact of an animal based diet.  They also went on to explain that while cows eat grass by design, they are typically fed corn because it plumps them up and it's fairly cheap filler food.  When corn prices go up, cows have been fed any number of odd things, such as leftover chips, scraps and other things mixed into a slurry.
 
Cows have a hard time digesting that stuff, so they give them hormones and antibiotics as well.  Which is most assuredly being passed into the meat we eat and the milk we drink.  I'm officially freaked out now.

I noticed after I lost weight and had kids that my seasonal allergies abated and I can count the times I've used my inhaler on two hands in 8 years, with the exception of when I had bronchitis, an allergic trigger to pets or pneumonia, since then.  (And, yes, I've had bronchitis every time I had a very young baby, got a cold and was severely sleep deprived).  I was relatively healthy, so I've always thought it was some kind of motherhood immunity.  But, now I realized that I also cut down my milk consumption, simply because it was too calorie rich for my weight loss goals.

This is the cow conspiracy.  We've been lulled into thinking that ear infections, respiratory ailments and allergies are a rite of passage for youth.  Antibiotics are a necessary evil.  And, now, the first question you get asked when your kid gets sick is, "Did you get the flu shot?"  The medicalization of our health is now expected, reasonable and customary.  Really? This is how it's supposed to be?  Allergy rates for common foods (milk, peanuts, eggs) are skyrocketing.  Are you connecting the dots yet?

We are undergoing a massive autoimmune deficiency response to these foods.  Our bodies are rejecting these foods and rebelling.  Now, I'm not going to say I can totally go vegan or plant powered immediately.  There will be no dramatic dumping of all these terrible foods, at least not just yet.

But for now, I am cutting yogurt and cow's milk from our family's diet.  I have not had milk in two weeks and I don't miss it.  Almond milk is becoming more widely available and has a good taste and texture.  It's also loaded with protein, calcium, vitamin E and antioxidants.  It is more expensive, but I don't plan on chugging lots of the stuff, just a cup or two a day.  Even diluted with a bit of water, I could conceivably stretch it out and make it comparable cost wise to cow's milk.  But, for now, the health benefits of switching make it a worthy investment.

Maribel Ibrahim, The Frugal Writer, created www.StartSchoolLater.net and is the Director of Strategic Planning for Start School Later, Inc., a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that the health, safety and equity of children are protected when determining school start times.  Start School Later now has 11 local chapters, working in communities across the country to protect the sleep needs of public school students.   Follow Maribel on Twitter at @TheFrugalWriter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Asleep at the Wheel

I had every intention of writing a post to update our audience on what's going on with Start School Later.  However, what came crashing through my driveway Wednesday, literally, has compelled me yet again to stop in my tracks and make an urgent plea: 

When are we going to wake up? 

When are we going to stop this roller coaster life long enough to realize that we need to stop putting our heads in the sand and wish away our problems?

When are we going to stop accepting that how we live is normal and that we shouldn't expect better?

When are we going to start putting health and safety first instead of wrestling with budget line items and the inconveniences of modern life spinning wildly out of control?

The picture I posted is what I took this morning, next to my mailbox.  If that car chose to lose control an hour earlier, twenty minutes earlier or an hour later, this would be a different post and the news would be much worse.

My insides are still tense at the thought, and I am thankful that while the front of my house is literally surrounded by live wires, we are all safe (and I'm at the Starbucks, waiting to pick up my kids from school...).

This is the third accident in as many months.  In December, some poor soul plowed into my tree, barely missing the utility pole, because he had to swerve away from an oncoming car that lost control.  This past fall, my next door neighbor's utility pole took a hit when an out of control car hit it, knocking out everyone's power in the next 5 miles for most of the day.

While I'm thankful there were no fatalities in all these wrecks, it wasn't because the accidents were fender benders.  It's because, thankfully, no one happened to be out in at the exact time of impact.  We are playing roulette with this road.

B&A Blvd is a state road (Route 648), which has a speed limit of 45 MPH and zero traffic lights from Lower Magothy Bridge Road all the way to Ritchie Highway.  The road is packed during peak hours (I can set my watch to the standstill of cars at 5:30pm every week day).  And, some folks may not realize, that this highway is also a RESIDENTIAL road.  People reside right on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard.  I live right there - not  tucked away in a cul de sac or community development.

I cannot tell you how many times I see and hear the bus drivers, frantically leaning on their horns to get cars to slow down because the buses are coming to a stop and attempting to pick up school children.  My children.  Your children.

With the recesssion, there have been more pedestrians (not to mention runners and bikers) on this road than ever before. 

The solution is to put in a traffic light on B&A and Willet Road and slow down the speed limit. (The speed limit of a residential road is 25 MPH).  The fact that there is no traffic light on this curved stretch of open road with a high speed limit encourages fast driving.  Couple that with the fact there are no sidewalks and it is a recipe for disaster. 

I will be requesting a traffic light and a lowered speed limit on this road and will keep you updated on my progress.  When I mentioned this on Facebook, a friend, posted, "They won't do anything unless there are fatalities."  Sadly, it didn't take me long to pull up a fatality on this same stretch of road.

We are a nation asleep at the wheel.  The state of sleep deprivation is so rampant that hardly anyone can get on without a few cups of coffee.  Step into the Walgreen's and you'll see two aisles dedicated to energy drinks, energy shots, pills, and gums, all of which are available to minors.

Sleepy's Mattress stores are multiplying like rabbits and the problem isn't our mattresses, it's that we have been lulled into thinking that 24 hour access to everything is a necessity and we can't rest.  It's no wonder we're busy getting addicted to sleep drugs like ambien and now have access to ZzzQuil instead of NyQuil, JUST to go to sleep.

It's no wonder that we tell our students they should just "suck it up" and take this kind of abuse, because they'll have to learn to cope with it as adults.  We save a few dollars and tell our students by our actions that they are just about as important as the recycling we leave on the curb during predawn hours.

I cannot leave well enough alone.  Just as I will campaign for traffic safety on my own street, I will continue to beat the drum for later school starts.  It's high time that we stop putting athletic programs, convenience and budget line items ahead of the health and safety of our students.

I shudder to think that while all four of the accidents I documented here happened during daylight hours, there are many that have happened during predawn hours across the country, as students figure out a way to get to school in the dark.

For a listing of accidents and fatalities involving school students during predawn hours, look here.

If we invested $800,000 in transportation costs, that would be the equivalent of just under $11 per student in our system of 74,795 students.

With $11 per student, we could reduce sleep deprivation, which would then reduce obesity, depression, suicidal ideation, risky behaviors such as underage drinking and illegal drug use and crime.  Eleven dollars.  Are we going to continue to sit down and say that eliminating the cause of endangering our youth and restricting their ability to get the sleep they need is not feasible?

It's time to wake up.  Our kids deserve better.  We all deserve better. And, we are smart enough, inventive enough and more than able to work together as a community to fix this.

Maribel Ibrahim, The Frugal Writer, created www.StartSchoolLater.net and is the Director of Strategic Planning for Start School Later, Inc., a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that the health, safety and equity of children are protected when determining school start times.  Start School Later now has 11 local chapters, working in communities across the country to protect the sleep needs of public school students.  Most recently, the Howard County Chapter joined the effort to combat unhealthy school start times. 

Homespun Christmas Spirit

Sometimes, we find things far off the beaten path, but in this case, I wanted to share something that is right in front of our faces, in the middle of city traffic.

Park the car and take a peek, or you might miss this gem of Christmas spirit.

I heard about this one through a friend's Facebook post, checked it out for myself and felt compelled to share it here.  It's no Lighthouse on the Bay, but then again, I didn't have to shell out $20 and view something loaded with corporate sponsorships.

What I saw instead touched my heart and filled me with the real joy of Christmas.  And, yes, it's worth the trip.  The show is at a private residence in Brooklyn, MD (yes, Maryland, not New York!) along a bustling thoroughfare called Ritchie Highway.

My YouTube video is also homespun.  I literally sat in my car and recorded it on my phone.  I only recorded 6 minutes of it, because I thought it would be worth it for anyone anywhere to see it.  If you want to see more, get in the car and go already!

If you want to see the full length of the 25 minute show, just drive over to Advance Auto Parts, park your car facing the street and check out the magic.  Full instructions and details about the show are included right here ------------------ >

Placement of the show is pure genius.  Across the street from the home is a large parking lot for a large strip mall.  The masses could converge, drive through style, turn on their radios and enjoy the show.  Just be sure to turn off your headlights.

What I loved most about this show is that the traffic is whizzing by as the show progresses.  If you are in one of those cars, you might notice house lights blinking furiously, but miss the whole thing entirely.  If you take the time to stop, park, look and listen, you get to see Christmas cheer unfold in the hustle and bustle of life.

The show starts at 6:00pm sharp.  But, you don't have to worry.  Get there when you can.  The show runs through for 25 minutes and cycles again until 10:00pm, so you can see the show when it suits you.  Thankfully, the light show runs nightly until January 6th, so you can still have a little Christmas well into the New Year.

Even in the midst of unspeakable tragedy in Newtown and elsewhere, amid the muck and mire of ordinary life, there is light.  The Saunders Light Show demonstrates that there is compassion and generosity, and yes, hope for us all.

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“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." 
- Luke 9-11

Dyslexia: To Be or Not To Be?

Young Reader, Credit: Kriss Szkurlatowski; 12frames.eu

I was recently outraged at a recent post regarding the possibility of dyslexia being "unclassified" as an official learning disability.  If it's not an official "problem", then all the kid has to do is try harder. That's like telling a nearsighted person to see better (Thank you for that analogy, Dr. Ned Hallowell!).

This issue very closely parallels ADHD. A child that has ADHD or is at least struggling to sit still in a school environment and deal with a lot of distractions will not get any accommodations in a public school setting unless he has a diagnosis.

Many boys struggle with being able to sit still for long periods of time and write as much as these schools want them to. Schools are designed for the way girls learn, not boys, so boys will struggle. I'm almost thankful that my son has ADHD, so he can get accommodations that every boy his age should have.

Plenty of schools (mine included) will say they have individualized plans to help every child, but they are not held accountable to implement anything unless there is a 504 or IEP in place. Even then, only the boldest of parents, that are willing to tirelessly bird-dog the schools, will see action.

Then we wonder why doctors overprescribe ADHD meds so easily?  It's an injustice, especially because many people think ADHD is a joke at best, or at worst, an excuse. ADHD is a real condition that is really debilitating for many people that actually have it.

When a kid's brain flips letters around with dyslexia, and they need to remap their whole approach to reading, it's despicable to say it's not a "problem". Oh, and hold the phone.... ADHD and dyslexia are two conditions that are frequently co-morbid (or for us lay folks, they frequently occur together).

I hope you'll join me and sign the Yale Center petition decrying this change to the DSM-5, the upcoming edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).  Just because we can't "monetize" dyslexia and prescribe medication for it does not mean that it is not a valid medical diagnosis.

My Political Party - A Deuteronocrat

Credit: Chase Anderton http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1282859

I registered as a Republican many years ago because I wanted to be able to vote in my Christian candidates in the primaries.  I have since removed that designation because the current Republican Party is out of touch with most of the middle and lower class.

I can’t go Democrat, because they are too liberal for me, but frankly, if you examine the heart of these issues, and the fact that the Democrats are looking at how they would like to be treated, they genuinely want more compassion for others, even if it is misguided. The democrats do not depend on a higher power, they just think everyone should be treated fairly. The Republicans throw the name of Jesus around as an excuse to say “God helps those who help themselves” (which is NOT a verse in the Bible!)

Now, what I find repugnant is when the Republican Party uses all kinds of words like “pro-life” and “family values” to rope in the uninformed Christian voter. Then, they refuse to acknowledge that there will always be the poor, widowed and fatherless among us. They presume that everyone has to take individual responsibility, when clearly, many among us cannot.

As Christians, we are called to take care of the poor, widowed, fatherless and foreigner (Deut 10:18), regardless of whether they “deserve it” or not. Jesus even said, "The poor you will have with you." (Matthew 26:11) The true heart of the current Republican Party is cold and rife with self-determination and crass “forgetfulness” that we are beholden to the unrepresented in our communities.

The Republican Party stopped at nothing to launch personal attacks on an incumbent President. They refuse to accept that many people, while not fully agreeing with the Democratic party, cannot buy into the fact that the Republican Party, with it’s arms-dealing, oil baron influencing, conflict of interest dallying, is NOT a trustworthy or acceptable alternative.  This is why they lost the election and sadly, they are still licking their wounds instead of congratulating the person who got the people's vote.

What we all really need to do is roll up our sleeves and start a dialogue on how we can start to fix problems and reach across the aisles despite our differences. As a Christian, it doesn’t matter who is in office now. I need to pray for them and ask God for real solutions and wisdom. And, for the record, I am proudly NONAFFILIATED!

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He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigners residing among you, giving them food and clothing. - Deuteronomy 10:18

Baseball's Secret Weapon: Maribel Magic

I am not a superstitious person.  At least, not anymore.  However, given the current state of affairs with Postseason Baseball, it's time to 'fess up about my childhood obsession, watching the Yankees.

I am a huge, huge baseball fan.  I grew up in Jersey and only dreamed of going to Yankee Stadium.  I had a crush on Bucky Dent, loved fellow Brick City native Rick Cerone and saw Goose Gossage shut it down many times before Mariano even signed on with the Yankees.

It almost horrifies me to say it, but I never did get to the old Yankee Stadium in my lifetime and I haven't been to a live home game in New York yet.  Purists may argue that I'm not a real fan, since I've never been to a real home game.  (I did watch the boys in Camden Yards though, but I know that doesn't count.)

Yet, the thing that gives me cred with the Yanks, at least in my humble opinion, is my passion for watching the game.  My passion for watching matches their passion for winning, which is huge.  While it may have been highly coincidental, and has most certainly never been statistically verified, I observed very early on in my watching career as a kid that if I did not watch the game to the end, the Yanks would lose.  More importantly, if I watched the game, no matter how far behind the Yankees were, they would have a famous Yankee rally and go on to win the game.  I've recently dubbed this phenomenon Maribel Magic. 

I recall many nights on the couch, watching intently while the boys would come alive with two outs in the ninth inning and rack up over 5 runs to tie a game and send it to extra innings, or just clinch it right there.  Those rallies were just amazing to witness and are the reason I will always hold the Yankees close to my heart.  Payrolls and personalities aside, there has always been something transformational about their will to win, even when they struggled with weak pitching or hurt players from the 70's all the way to today.

Baseball fans are generally a superstitious lot, and I began to feel the pressure to watch my boys.  I would feel a twinge of guilt when I fell asleep and the boys lost.  I really felt remorseful when they lost a lead in my absence when I was growing up.   Now, as a full-time mom, I can't watch a lot of baseball games and I don't live in Jersey anymore.  But the Yankees have given me the pleasure of watching many Postseason contentions, even while here in Baltimore.  So, while I don't believe Maribel Magic wields some actual, real power over Yankee wins, it's fun to think that if I can will it enough, the Yankees will take it all the way to another World Series title.  And, it just seems to happen more often than not.  When I watch the games, they win.  When I don't?  Oh boy....