My first blog of 2016: Civility in America series continues at Stamford's Ferguson Library with Hope on the Horizon: featuring Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont

Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont 

Courtesy of Wikipedia 

Before an attentive and appreciative audience at Ferguson Library Tuesday night, Governor Jim Douglas, Republican of Vermont  (2002-2009), captivated the crowd with examples of  bi-partisan cooperation in his state.

He thus created positive visions and paradigms that could and will break the congressional gridlock, between the Democratic and Republican parties and even within the fractured latter group--schisms that have paralyzed passage of bills.

He began his discourse with noting that without compromise there is, of course, gridlock. Gallup Polls findings illustrate the alienation of the American voter: 42% of Americans identify themselves as Independents. Locally, collegiality has decreased in Vermont state government as fewer and fewer congressman meeting in  Burlington, the state capital, are electing to board for the week to engage in political give and take. The political debates are more and more often held in chambers devoid of politicians.

Yet there is hope if we attune to changes that are occurring.

For instance, the 2010 budget impasse in Vermont was resolved by bipartisan pressure on the teachers' and other civic unions to accept a decrease in salary.

Photo of Calvin Coolidge while attending Amherst College

He was born in Plymouth Notch, Windsor County, Vermont 

He served as our 30th President from August 2, 1923-March 4, 1929 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia 

Vermont furthers public discourse on major issues. He noted that the 30th President of our country, Calvin Coolidge, Vermont's favorite son, was silent on most issues when in national office (hence he is nicknamed "Silent Cal'); however, while he attended Amherst College, he exemplified the give and take of discourse by distinguishing himself in his debating class.  

So, following his lead, Vermont hosts a World Schools debate camp for Team USA at the Coolidge Foundation located at Plymouth Notch, the President's birthplace.

The Vermont Health Care Reform Bill was passed in 2000 as a result of the common objective that led to a compromise. 

He urged that Congressional districts must be redrawn to reflect a balanced system that reflects the paradigm of one man/one vote.

This program marks the fifth consecutive year the Ferguson Library, The  Dilenschneider Group, Purdue Pharma LP. and Sacred Heart University have sponsored the Civility in America series here in downtown Stamford. 

The series has brought such notables as Olympia Snow, the retired Senator from Maine (click to read her presentation), Baseball Commissioner Faye Vincent ,  NYC Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, former NYC Department of Education Chancellor Joel Klein and, at least, 25 other additional speakers.

Amity Shlaes, who was the 13th speaker in the Civility in America series (on May 7, 2013) attended Tuesday night's event. Ms. Schlaes, an author and columnist is on the board of trustees of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. She is also author of a recent biography of our 30th President.  She addressed the topic of civility in history. 

The next Civility in America presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8th at 6 PM at Ferguson Library and will feature Financial Times reporter Gillian Tett. 

  

...And the winner of the Citizen of the Year Award goes to Bob Dilenschneider and Stamford's Mayor Michael Pavia

Bob Dilenschneider the man behind 

the Civility in America series 
Courtesy of the Hearst Media Group

"There is no man that embodies civility, decency and love of country and community more than this man."

These words of praise for the creator of the concept of Civility in American Series, Bob Dilenschneider, were pronounced by Joel Klein at The Ferguson Library as he began his talk on civility in education.

Joel Klein, former Chancellor of New York City 

Department of Education

courtesy of democraticunderground.com

These two leaders in their respective fields of Public Relations and Education  have known each other for over 10 years and exude tremendous respect for each other. (click here to watch the entire segment).

I must wholeheartedly concur with Joel Klein's assessment and, for  reasons I will elaborate on, award Citizen of the Year award to both Bob Dilenschneider and  Mayor Michael Pavia of Stamford. The latter was instrumental in bringing the series to the Ferguson Library and  passionately exemplifies the values of open discourse in governing.

Under his aegis, Stamford has become, arguably, the most civilized city in our country.

Michael Pavia, Mayor of Stamford 
courtesy of archive constantcontact.com

In introducing the Civility in America series, back in September 2012, Dilenschneider remarked that an unfortunate incident erupted in his Public Relations business that underscored the need for there to be a rational and national discourse about what constitutes civility in various categories.

In this CBS radio broadcast of September 2012, hosted by Fran Schneidau, Bob is heard saying that the idea of civility has entered Presidential politics where it "has been elevated to a new level." (click here to access the printed story and when on the page click again on right arrow under the bold heading reading WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau on the Story to hear the interview)

Bob's brilliance and acumen is demonstrated by his elevating the level of discourse in many fields including but not limited to  ART, EDUCATION, BUSINESS, POLICE RELATIONS, ADMINISTRATION OF BASEBALL, THE MANAGEMENT OF SPORTS FRANCHISES AND, OF COURSE POLITICS.

We are so appreciative that he has decided to extend this amazing program's lineup of speakers into its THIRD YEAR. The next speaker in the series is George Martin, former defensive end of the New York Giants on Tuesday, January 14th at 6 PM. He will discuss civility on the gridiron. You can register at  http://www.sacredheart.edu/aboutshu/georgemartin. Contact  203-351-8231

Olympia Snowe
courtesy of wikipedia

Judging from the turnouts, the most popular speaker was undoubtedly Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. There was an overflow crowd so many of us were shuttled off to another Ferguson room where there was a large screen TV set up.

She has vacated  her Senate seat to focus exclusively on restoring civility to a Congress that has been in a gridlock mode. Here is a link to my blog on her speech.

On the value of a liberal arts education in promoting civility, please read my blog on Georgia Nugent's speech http://rjschwartz.blogspot.com/2013/10/at-ferguson-library-former-president-of.html

Special mention must be made to sponsors of  the series: The Hearst Media Group, Purdue Pharma, The City of Stamford, The Ferguson Library and  Sacred Heart University.

At Ferguson library , former President of Kenyon College stresses value of liberal arts education in Civility in America series

Georgia Nugent addresses the subject of civility in 

society Tuesday night  at the Ferguson Library in Stamford 

In her informative and entertaining presentation at the Ferguson Library Tuesday evening, Ms. Nugent laid out her case for both the enduring and civilizing value of a liberal arts education and the reasons for attending one of the 600 plus small private colleges in the United States.

Ms. Nugent attended  Princeton cum laude and is a member of its first graduating class to include women (1973).

She went on to earn her Ph.D in Classics at Cornell; then she taught at Swarthmore, Brown and  Princeton. 

She has the credentials to be an Ivy League President, but elected to be President of Kenyon College, a small top-rated liberal arts college with only 400 students in each class. 

Although she has strong affiliations with Ivy League institutions, it is not hard to imagine her strong attraction to Kenyon which sits on 1200 acres and where "it is hard to tell where the Kenyon College campus ends and where the small downtown begins."

She referenced a recent survey in which 71% of those polled indicated that civility is on the decline and 51% felt that civility continues to decline.

She first discussed the meaning of civility (Latin civis, "citizen") in Greece of the 5th century; It was in the nature of Greeks to live in the city. Socrates was perhaps the foremost philosopher of the era.

The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David, 1787
 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
.

The questions he  posed to the youth of Athens in the agora concerned how to live the virtuous(arete in Greek) life; in other words, how can one achieve one's potential?  He asked them questions such as what is justice, what is the best form of government and what is the best life.

The unexamined life is not worth living exclaimed Socrates as he refused to bow to the authorities and admit he was corrupting their youth. He drank hemlock and perished giving up his life in defense of his core principles.

True civility is not a live- and let- live proposition; it is not taking a whatever attitude and walk away.

True civility is confrontational. (more on this in Part II of this subject)

Plato from School of Athens by Raphael (1509)

The Raphael Rooms in the Vatican

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Socrates' student Plato catalogued his mentor's teaching in his Apologia.

Aristotle, Plato's student studied civility from the point of view of the polis (Greek for "city"). His motto was that "man is a political animal."

President John Adams, the second leader of our country

courtesy of Wikipedia

Our founding fathers Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton- all studied the classical writers and foremost in their minds in establishing our republic was writing a constitution of laws that would promote civility. It is important to keep in mind that their education was in institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Princeton which were primarily divinity schools.

Implicit in their thinking was that only citizens living a life inspired by biblical and classical precepts would possess the necessary preparation and skills to form a government and then enter public office to lead the republic.

Ms Nugent then linked the modern day liberal arts education to the classic teaching of Greek and Roman philosophers and the political philosophy of our founding fathers.

 She concluded her talk by doing some myth-busting.

1. A liberal arts education is only for the elite since terribly expensive. In fact 40% of liberal arts students come from lower income households. There is substantial financial aid and the net cost is the same as that of public schools. 28% liberal arts majors graduate without any debt .

2. The liberal arts education is impractical:  Included in the curricula are courses geared for the new digital age: courses in programming, web design, city planning, digital photography, online newspapers and magazines, bridge engineering, etc.

Governor Marion Cuomo of New York

speaking at a rally in 1991

photo courtesy of wikipedia

3.The graduates of liberal arts schools are unemployable. Mario Cuomo former governor of New   York State was an English major at St. John's College, Barbara Walters was an English major at     Sarah Lawrence College, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was an English Major at Holy Cross University and film director Steven Spielberg was an English major at California State University at Long Beach.

Kudos to Dr. Nugent for an excellent presentation.

P. S. There are still some major unanswered questions that I will simply   pose now; but know, dear reader, they must be dealt because the very survival of our global community depends on our duty, as Americans, to know in depth the history of other civilizations, especially the avowed strength and power of  China.

For instance, a major issue is whether the liberal arts education in a small private college setting will be more conducive to a rational civil  non-polarizing discourse between opposing parties than a similar program on the stage of a public university.

A second issue is whether Dr. Nugent can team up with another speaker we heard in Stamford's Civility in American series--  ex-Senator Olympia Snow of Maine.  (As you might remember from my prior blog, that amidst congressional gridlock, she abruptly quit her reelection campaign to focus on solving the near stalemate intransigent polarization that has beleaguered Congress)

And finally, why should NOT two other major global forces- the Islamic and Chinese cultures (including each one's  history, major influential writings, art and music ) be included in the so-called Core Course curriculum (click here for background) introduced by Columbia College nearly 100 years ago?

Have they not proven that they merit serious study--in light of major turbulences of the first 13 years of the 21st century-- and discussion alongside  traditional Western Civilization courses?

So stay tuned.....

2014-2015 Issues and Individuals that resonate: Bullying,Sexual Assaults on Campus,Civility in America, Governor Gerry Brown

This blog is a continuation of my prior article on Notable Stories of 2014 Continuing to Resonate into 2015. 

9. BULLYING CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR NATIONAL CRISIS FOR ALL AGES, IN MANY FAMILIES AND IN ALL PROFESSIONS.

Here in Connecticut, Greenwich High School has responded to the suicide of a GHS sophomore following some allegedly severe incidents of bullying.

The use of social media apps such as Yik Yak, Whisper, Confide or Secret have been magnets for bullying abuses. GHS has taken steps to shut down access to Yik Yak on the school district's wireless network. This is a small first step because students can still access these networks on their own data plans.

The root problems lies with educating the parents who often are poor role models in displaying verbal, physical and mental abuse. Bullying is indeed a hand-me-down disease.

Finally, kudos to the Stamford Advocate for its publicity and the town of Greenwich's Affirmative Action Advisory Committee for holding a writing contest encouraging students to discuss whether society can bring an end to bullying.

The contest winner, Ruis-Jimenz, 11th Grade, describes the dilemna:

Bullies are broken, too.

And until we can Unbreak what's Broken
and Unspeak what's Spoken
Policies and laws
are all going to have flaws.

In a late breaking story, three AITE High School students were named winners in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship's World Series of Innovation. They have developed an app that aids students to combat bullying, depression and suicide by contacting volunteer counselors via video chat.

from Washingtonmonthly.com

10.  SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

     College administrators have been slow in dealing with the rising reports of sexual assaults on campuses. A New York Times article highlighted the enormous hurdles facing those who do have the courage to report incidents.

    It is thus encouraging to hear that Dartmouth College President Phillip Hanlon just announced that beginning March 30, hard liquor will be banned on campus for all students regardless of age. In addition the students will be required to learn about sexual violence prevention each year.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1825 college students between 18-24 die each year from alcohol related unintentional injuries and more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

Other colleges have likewise banned hard liquor on campus. They include Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia and Brown University.

It was recently reported in the New York Times that "Colorado, Wisconsin and seven other states allow people with legal carry permits to take concealed firearms to campus, some with restrictions.."
Furthermore "In addition to those in Florida and Nevada, bills that would allow guns on campus have been introduced in Indiana, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming."

The key issue is whether allowing students to carry concealed weapons on campuses prevent rape?

Henry Timms speaking at Ferguson Library 

11. CIVILITY IN AMERICA SERIES AT STAMFORD'S FERGUSON LIBRARY CONTINUED INTO ITS FOURTH YEAR. The last speaker was Henry Timms  who spoke about Civility in the New Media  on Tuesday, February 10th. 

    Here is a summary of his speech from the Stamford Advocate.

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown

34th and 39th Governor of California

from wikipedia 

12.GOVERNOR GERRY BROWN OF CALIFORNIA, now turning 77,  won an historic fourth term last November. He has taken a state with a massive debt of about $27 billion and turned it around so that he has a surplus. To help alleviate the pervasive drought that has plagued California, he has successfully urged the voters to approve a $7.5 billion plan that provides for new reservoirs, dams and water tunnels.
    He was elected governor in 1974 and then re-elected in 1978. He served as Mayor of Oakland (1999-2007) and recaptured the governor's seat in 2010.

    Kudos to Gerry for his leadership and stamina in leading the bellwether state.

Why Stamford is a great place to live in

I could have entitled this blog: We commemorate the end of the Third quarter with 10 good reasons to celebrate living in Stamford and looking forward to the fourth quarter.

 1. The weather has been great the last few days temps in the 70's and cloudless skies and there is no finer place than Stamford downtown to dine alfresco; the restaurant patrons have been out today at tables set up in front of San Remos Pizza and Lucky's Restaurant basking in the sun.

 2. The road maintenance crews do a great follow-up job; during the summer they dug up streets laying new pvc tubings; they are now out in full force in my neighborhood preparing the roads to lay down new smooth surfaces.

 3. Stamford's Ferguson library has been hosting The Civility in America series with the support  of Mayor Pavia and the City of Stamford , The Dilenschneider Group,  Purdue,  Hearst Media Services and Sacred Heart University. We have been fortunate to hear Senator Olympia Snow, Faye Vincent, William Bratton and Joel Klein  to name a few personages.

 Set aside Tuesday, October 15th at 6 PM.  S.Georgia Nugent, past president of Kenyon College in Ohio is an advocate for liberal arts education. She will be speaking about Civility in American Society.

 4. Stamford Downtown hosts an outdoor summer art show entitled Art in Public Places. This summer thanks to presenting sponsor SAC CAPITAL ADVISORS and many other local supporters, we had 43 sculptures by 18 artists. 

 5. Our town has other permanent outdoor pieces such as J. Seward Johnson's Uninvited Advice. See the slide show by clicking here.

 6. The Curtain Call theater has been  presenting free outdoor Shakespeare performances On the Green for the last 14 years. . This year we enjoyed Othello under the stars.

  In nearby Rowayton, Shakespeare on the Sound performed As You Like it

 7. Major stars host performances in our town. Art Garfunkel, a classmate of mine, can be seen at Stamford's Ferguson library on November 8, 2013.

 8. Mill River Park has recently opened. Designed as a downtown oasis of walking paths, lawns, cherry trees, plants, benches, a carousel, skating rink and fountain, the Park now consists of 12 acres and will grow in future years to 28 acres.

     Projected cost will be $60 million. of which $14 million has been raised.

 9. Excellent public schools is another draw.

  Success Symposium 2013, featuring a panel of educators, will discuss strategies for public education. David Kirp, professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, is the keynote speaker. It airs at Ferguson Library this Wednesday, October 2nd from 4 to 6 p.m.

 10. Stamford hospital boasts the Van Munching facility, one of the Northeast's premier acute inpatient rehabilitation centers.

All of the above are good reasons Stamford stands out....

Douglas Brinkley Presidential historian speaks at Ferguson Library on Civility in American History

Douglas Brinkley, Presidential Historian

Douglas Brinkley who currently teaches at Rice University in Houston electrified his audience last Monday night.

He began by introducing us to Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress first appointed in 1774. After Washington became our first president, Thomson remained a fierce supporter of allegiance to our country's leader.

Thomson gathered many papers with a view of writing a history of his time.  Toward the end of his life , he destroyed nearly all his papers. Brinkley suggests that one of the reasons may have been his desire to leave no record of the contentious and fiercely fought election of 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

Polarization of political parties, vehement rhetoric and gridlock have been a part of American politics from its inception.

The highlight of the evening was his discussion of his latest book "American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race."  Though the Russians were first at orbiting a man in space in April 1961, President  Kennedy announced in May, 1961 his intention to land a manned spacecraft on the moon by the end of the decade.

This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing which unfortunately Kennedy did not witness. But what is significant, says Brinkley, is that this project ushered in a time when both parties laid aside their enmities and joined in a camaraderie to help fund the project to land a manned spacecraft on the moon.

Civility had commandeered a Camelot 'moment' in American politics.

When asked what he would do to ameliorate the current atmosphere of incivility which plagues our national government, Brinkley suggested that answer lies in the education of our youth  We must reintroduce civics and geography in the classroom curriculum.

It is only through understanding how our government functions can there exist an atmosphere of respect and tolerance for the opinions of others.

Again, thanks to the Dilenschneider group for their support of Civility in America series as it enters its eighth year.

Stories you may have missed and some you still might miss

California Chrome winning the 140th  Running of the 

Kentucky Derby
Photo from the Daily News 

1. The Kentucky Derby still has room for dreamers with modest means:  The winner this year, California Chrome, was purchased by  his owner for only $10,000 proving you don't have to be a multi-billion dollar Sultan to win.

2. In New York City, pre-kindergarten applicants are up 36%-- a milestone advancement in education. See my prior blog on why this is so important. Click here to view

3. With the help of Governor Molloy and Stamford Mayor David Martin, the loft artists' fund raiser was a success. Monies raised will fund the LAA's free summer art workshop for children.

4. A nepotism ordinance in Stamford city government hiring is advancing thanks to the Board of Representative's mandating human resources officials to write and implement such a policy.

5. The Greenwich Arts Council is again sponsoring a public display of art along Greenwich Avenue. For the 17th year running, art will be displayed on the walls and among the merchandise through May 26th.

Canyon Flow by Ann Marie Tetelman

Best of Show at Spirit of Water exhibition 

6. The Stamford Art Association's juried art show entitled, Spirit of Water, opened at the Ferguson Library and and will be on display until July.

7. The annual Royce and Dr. Alfred Wolfsohn Lecture will be held on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 PM at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford. The speaker is Rabbi Abe Cooper of the Wiesenthal Center, whose subject is Report from the Trenches: The New and More Virulent European Antisemitism.

8.. Kudos again to Bob Dilenschneider, Hearst Media Services CT  and other sponsors of the Civility in America series. Abraham Foxman will speak about Civility in Public Life on Tuesday, May 20th at 6 PM. Reservations are recommended. Call 203-964-1000 or register online at     http//www.sacredheart.edu/civilityinamerica
For an illuminating three year history of this seminal series at Ferguson, click here 

9. Americares Free Clinics in Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury and Bridgeport will be provided free drugs by Boehringer Inglehiem. Three classes of drugs will be provided: antibiotics, those to treat high blood pressure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Over 3,000 Connecticut residents without insurance who use these clinics will be aided.

Retiring Senator Olympia Snowe voices her frustration with congressional gridlock



Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Speaking to a packed audience at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, Maine Republican senator Olympia Snowe explained why she is quitting the senate this year.

She was the third speaker in a series dealing with "Civility in America" sponsored by the City of Stamford, The Dilenschneider Group, Hearst Media Services and Purdue Pharma among others.

She emphasized that the level of discourse across the aisle has turned so negative and divisive. In fact according to one cited authority, today there is the highest level of polarization between the two major parties since reconstruction and we are witnessing the worst Congress ever!

90% of the American people do not approve the way government representatives are doing their job.

She said "You bet I care about civility."

She named the few moderate centrists in the Senate besides herself: Ben Nelson (Dem. of Nebraska) , Scott Brown (Rep. of Mass)., Joe Lieberman (Indep. of CT ) and Susan Collins (Rep. of Maine)

So, she is leaving her senate post to spearhead a political action committee called Olympia's List. She will be instrumental in building a concensus from the outside.

Good luck, Senator Snowe.

Faye Vincent, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, emphasizes strict morals at Stamford's Civility in America series

Faye Vincent spoke about civility in baseball

at Stamford's Ferguson library last night 

                                                    

Stamford played host to Faye Vincent last night.

 He was introduced by Stamford's Bobby Valentine and Ralph Branca who is the last surviving team member of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers. This was the year that Jackie Robinson,  also a resident of Stamford, broke the color barrier. 

Both Bobby and Ralph characterized Faye as the man who does things right. 

These remarks could not be more right on. 

Faye spoke convincingly from his notes. 

He said it was only appropriate that Pete Rose was banned from baseball for life because betting on baseball is the top crime. "If you get caught, you're out for life."  It's not about PR he said; its about deterrence. 

There will be no redemption or Hall of Fame for Rose. 

When questioned about steroids or performance enhancing drugs (peds), Vincent stressed that if you are caught, then you should be out. 

He also spoke about  little-known civilities on the diamond. One such example he gave occurs when a batter fouls a ball off and the ball directly hits the catcher on his mask. To give the catcher some time to recover, the umpire will first dust off home plate. Then he will leisurely walk to the pitcher's mound and hand a new ball to the pitcher. He will then head back to the batter's box and again dust off the plate.

Vincent grew up in Waterbury Connecticut, attended Williams College and earned his law degree from Yale. 

After practicing corporate banking and securities law, he was named President and CEO of Columbia Pictures. He was then promoted to be Executive Vice President of Coca Cola, responsible for entertainment activities. 

Kudos to Faye, Stamford and all the sponsors  of last night's event.