Interesting. NYSUT’s Social Justice work included Many Threads One Fabric and their anti bias workshops, Sticks and Stones. I teach the workshops and ageism is part of our message of biases. We need to practice what we preach Thank you Arthur.
Despicable? A few memes shared in a PRIVATE chat are despicable, a case of ageism and showing implicit basis? Arthur, if you're going to hold all of us to the standard of being appropriate, please explain how the memes that were made of Michael Mulgrew on 9/30, 10/2, 10/8, 10/10, 10/16, 10/24, 11/2 and 11/7 are appropriate. I am highly offended by all of them. They are in poor taste and not funny.
Tastes vary. Evidently you are good with ageism being officially promoted among UFT chapter leaders. That makes two Unity members on this board defending it. Perhaps there will be more.
You know what I found offensive? When King Mulgrew paid UFT lawyers, with my dues, to threaten my First Amendment rights.
Evidently, I have a sense of humor. My job puts me in contact with lots of older members and I have heard them say, more than once, I’m old…I don’t get it. There’s something called self deprecating humor. It was a PRIVATE joke and if the person who leaked these posts to you didn’t like them, he/she should have taken it up with Aqeel. And my question still has not been answered. Why is it not ok for Aqeel to do something privately and it’s ok for you to post memes PUBLICLY that belittle and are mean?
You know, sometimes my Black students use "self-deprecating humor." Were I to use it, I'd be up on charges. And if I got caught shooting out such messages to a group of UFT chapter leaders, I very much doubt the first concern among people hearing about it would be the person who put it out.
That Unity loyalists jump on here to defend ageist memes and messages among DRs and chapter leaders in a chat group as being justifiable while doubling down on comparing such behavior with satire and parody of the rich and powerful is ….
Either willful ignorance or something much more sinister.
When the UFT posted a meme of Eric Adams in a clown outfit and clown face … is it mean? racist? No, it’s parody and satire.
From Thomas Nast to Mike Luckovich to the slew of parody and satire memes we see on social media folks’ opinions about their leaders … it’s part of long history of those who don’t wield power expressing their views. It is legitimate expression even if offensive to some.
Memes and “private” chats that target protected classes of people are not THE SAME. And to think you can make this case is laughable and seriously troubling coming from a group that is entrusted with protecting workers and union members.
Theodore Roosevelt who was likely a target of Thomas Nast satirical political cartoons once said Nast was our “best teacher”.
There is no teaching in ageist rhetoric.
But, I’m sure the Tories were offended by political parody and satire of King George.
Absolutely. And as horrified they are by King Mulgrew, they have no qualms about targeting paraprofessional Migda Rodriguez in exactly the same way. It's remarkable adults don't yet know the difference between stereotyping a protected group and First Amendment protected parody. It's remarkable that these people lead our union. We need to do something about that.
Please read my new reposted post today. I have been hearing a lot of this disrespect for the “older” generations lately from friends family. Please take a look and feel free to comment on it as you see fit. I welcome both negative and positive feedback, alike, to help me become better with my writing. My SubStack is INNER SANCTUM OF. BELIEF. My latest post and note is Unheard and Invisible.
Modus operandi : divide and conquer. Maybe they are Pitting in-service against retirees and banking that perhaps the young teachers can’t envision that they too will eventually be forced into inferior health care .
It's pretty pathetic that they find this acceptable. We do not, and we let them know that in the last election. They're not really doing anything to change this, and this appears to be how they speak with one another. Unacceptable.
Judging from the two Unity people on this board who think stereotyping a protected class is just fine, I'd have to say they are good with it. So I'd advise you to sit while waiting for an apology. Evidently, if Unity does it, it's fine. It's good to be King.
My 84 year old mother who has been member of the retiree chapter for over 20 years and voted for YOUR slate found nothing wrong with the memes. She thought they were "silly," and not offensive in the least. I guess you're going to tell me there's something wrong with her and that I've influenced her way of thinking.
Amy, the manner in which you rationalize and trivialize what Aqeel did, considering that your own mother is affected by this sort of bigotry, speaks volumes about your personal motives to do so.
leslie, I’m just curious. I honestly don’t know the answer to this.
Question: Does a Unity Caucus Representative get paid pensionable per session pay while these memes were created and communicated to others who are receiving pensionable per session pay as well, or do they receive a salary from Unity Caucus?
I’m being sincere. I don’t how a Unity Rep is paid while performing their duties to union members. Can you break it down for me? I don’t understand the “…on the clock…” part.
I don't know if you'll get an answer from Leslie, Mike.
I don't think District Representatives get per session. That is a DOE term. You might get it if you coach, or tutor, or do some job after hours. District Reps teach one class in their home schools. Unlike other lowly teachers, they are not rated by Danielson. DRs used to be elected by chapter leaders, but after CLs kept electing one who was not Unity, Randi changed the rules so the Unity Big Shots could pick Whoever They Wanted.
DRs get paid their full DOE salary, plus a UFT salary. So, say, a DR gets paid 100K from the DOE, and 50 from UFT. That person would get the DOE pension based on 100, and a UFT pension based on the 50. Of course, it can be more than that, and of course, that person has to sign a loyalty oath to do and support whatever Unity says. DRs do attend the UFT Delegate Assembly. I assume they don't do it strictly for fun, and it's part of their duties.
DRs might organize a group of seats for the chapter leaders they support. Of course, in this case, it appears one CL was concerned a "geezer" might use one of the seats. 300 of us were elected to represent the Retired Teacher Chapter, and we are NOT Unity. Honestly, thiis kind of talk makes me wonder whether the Big Shots at 52 are modeling it for the DRs.
Thank you for the breakdown Arthur. I appreciate that. By the way, I grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. I look as Irish as ever. I was raised a Catholic. However, my mother is Jewish.
I could go on forever with reflections on past events related to the antisemitism that would be whispered in my ear because I looked like “…one of them.”
The benches within my public housing complex were lined with elderly “Survivors”. Their tattooed arms, and wrinkled faces, told the saddest of stories, without a word being said. The few words of wisdom that they did impart upon me still ring true in my ears to this day. “You’ll miss that red hair once it’s gone. You complain while I can’t get that from a bottle?” Now that it’s been replaced by gray hair, oh how right they were.
When we were growing up in the Sheepshead/Nostrand Houses, my mother was the night manager of King David Manor on Surf Ave in Coney Island. All seven of we siblings had to work there as teens. I found my humanity while tending to the elderly, showing old black and white movies to them on Wednesday night, and walking them to their rooms. I don’t recall a film reel breaking unless I left the recreation room for a moment. It always seemed to work out that way. I can still hear the cry of “Splicer!” in my ears. I didn’t know it at the time, but the life lessons that I learned there are woven into every fiber of my sentient existence.
Mom also drove a small bus for Project Hope, through the YMHA on Coney Island Ave. When she caught us cutting class in high school, we would be ordered to get on her bus so that we could help her drop off elderly people. Mom always said, “Hurry up.” as we walked slowly towards the apartment buildings where many of them resided. It was her way of slowing us down from the teenage pace that seemed to be speeding us in the wrong direction.
Mom passed from brain cancer two years ago. She was tough. She prepared us since we were children for her eventual departure, just like she did for our Bubbe when she passed away in Florida many years ago.
I don’t think that your detractors are able to make the comparison, or see how their behavior is similar, to the many other forms of prejudice.
As for myself, I learned to hold the elderly’s person’s arm so they didn’t trip on the way to their apartments and homes. It seems like some of the folks in Unity are instead, sticking their foot out to trip the elderly, as they/we traverse the cracks and crevices along the pathways towards home.
You write very well, Mike. Are you an English teacher? You should be.
I started as an English teacher. Someone asked me, "Hey, do you want to teach ESL:?" I said, "What's ESL?" And then the person said, "Try it." That gave me five preps during the first semester I was teaching, with no experience whatsoever.
A couple years later, I was a full time ESL teacher. I always remember a pair of girls from Afghanistan who told me stories of crossing the mountains to Pakistan at night, with no water. I remember all kinds of kids. And I remember watching every stereotype I'd ever held, or heard of. broken. I'd never met so many people from so many places before. I knew I had to do this.
I turned down the first appointment offered me, as an English teacher. I went to get my MA in Applied Linguistics and supported myself by playing guitar and fiddle in the worst Irish show band in the world.
We can't help but be what we are, be we Jewish, Catholic, short, tall, young, old, straight, gay or whatever. You can attack me for being wrong, and I am wrong sometimes. If you're right, I'll apologize. But attacking people for what they are is really a vile thing.
I think, in part, they do it because we are not Unity. But whatever their motivation, it's despicable, and anti-union.
Mike, while I appreciate your back story, I fail to see what it has to do with this. So I'll give you my backstory... My mom is 84. She still drives, goes to school 2-3 days a week, has season tickets at the MET and is never home, much to my and my sister's dismay. We finally got her to wear a medi-alert in the house. A lot of her friends are retirees also and they don't think of themselves as old. As a matter of fact, when my mom needs some help with something she will start what SHE CALLS, "The old lady routine," and she gets the help that she needs. She doesn't mind that my sister and I make fun of her routine. She doesn't care that people may say, she's a codger. There are things that should be taken personally and things that don't have to be. I know the importance of respecting my elders. I also have a sense of humor.
I come from a family of educators. My dad was an AP at IS 285 in D18, my mom taught special ed at PS279 in D18 and then Tilden high school, my grandmother was an art teacher at Erasmus, My nana was a school secretary at Wingate high school, IS 275 in D23 used to be named for my grandfather. I was taught to know what is correct and what is going over the line. They all instilled that in me and in my 36 year career, I have seen inappropriate and wrong behavior. I am almost 100% certain that my father would have found those memes hilarious. In my mind, I'm sure you can find many other better things to be outraged about.
He was texting with his chapter leaders during the DA which ALL DRs do. My DR would text frequently. People had questions or thoughts and he would answer. We also shared jokes and silliness from time to time. I would expect him or any DR to be on the clock. It's part of their job. From my understanding from one of the CL's in his district, his texts were only going to them. (or so he thought) From your perspective, what you're saying is that ALL DR's and ALL CL's are on the clock and getting paid during the DA. As an aside, CLs are NOT paid to go to a DA. I was one for 14 years and I was not paid.
So is what you are saying Mike, is that no full time representative is allowed to be on their phone at ANY POINT IN TIME during a DA? Is that what you're saying?
I was a CL too. Maybe the DR was on the clock, and maybe he wasn't. Regardless, stereotyping protected groups is an outrage, no matter who makes fun of themselves, and no matter how hilarious anyone finds it. It's a disgraceful example to set for the CLs who the DR supposedly guides.
Unity is a remarkable entity. There is no excuse. But maybe next week sometime, I'll list and address all of them. Every one, without exception, is logical fallacy.
Amy, like all things, relevancy plays a part here.
“So is what you are saying Mike, is that no full time representative is allowed to be on their phone at ANY POINT IN TIME during a DA? Is that what you're saying?”
I’ll answer that with something that you portrayed as acceptable and normalized. “We also shared jokes and silliness from time to time.”
Question: Is it appropriate to engage in the above during the setting in which you were joking around and acting silly with each other?
I ran all of your posts through AI, with a prompt that asks for a simple solution to the topic of discussion.
“Professionalism is a set of standards that govern how someone behaves in a work or business setting. It's more than just wearing a suit or carrying a briefcase. It's about being responsible, accountable, and excellent, and communicating effectively and appropriately.
Professionalism can lead to workplace success, a strong professional reputation, and a high level of work ethic. In fact, 97.5% of employers in a recent NACE study said that professionalism was either "absolutely essential" or "essential" for a new college hire.
Here are some examples of professional behaviors:
Be respectful: Be mindful of others' personal space and time.
Be productive: Take initiative and maintain effective work habits, such as prioritizing, planning, and managing work.
Be honest: Be honest at work.
Be ethical: Demonstrate integrity, resilience, and accountability.
Be considerate: Think before you post or comment about work or your coworkers.
There you go.
By the way, I worked at Tilden as well. It was always sad to see the elderly former students who came back to visit. They always asked if Ruby’s Knish cart was still there. Sadly, both Ruby’s, and Tilden, as both your Mom and I knew it, are gone forever.
Outstanding piece Arthur! Huge thanks to you, Norm, Jeff and the Unity Leaker! I can't say enough how alarming this broken way of seeing is --no less by a union rep --and allowed on his payroll time! This now has me wonder what Mulgrew got so busy snickering at when Bennett Fischer read the vital Healthcare resolution we all need during the DA?! Was he enjoying one of those sick memes? Not hard to believe when he's okay with unconstitutionally shutting down your previous blog; when he's been fine spewing baldfaced lies (even to 80 year old seniors); when he's aggressively devised ways to divide actives from retirees; and since he's found it reasonable to unite with Big$ Insurance predators and their deceiving talking points. What a joke on anyone who insists he and his Unity Caucus are the people who'll protect our lives and the Labor Movement.
Thank you Laura. I found it shocking that this was going on, but the more I think about it, the more I think that this is the Unity tone. It didn't just appear from nowhere. I can't say for sure they blocked my old blog, but I can say it happened weeks after I posted the lawyer letter my dues paid for. I'm not a large believer in coincidence. That said, I've had a huge spike in readership since moving here, so if they ever admit it, I'll send them a thank you card.
I’m not sure he’s ageist since he’d not do the same to unity retirees like Soldini and Vinny and Murphy. They are no longer at the DA since we replaced them and are showing up in great numbers and dominating meetings which ironically the active oppo groups have never been able to do.
He's indulging in ageism. The fact that he does it to those who oppose his Patronage Cult is not an excuse. If I were to post racist memes about only Unity members, it would not excuse me.
I'd wager he was. Vincent is a former Bronx Borough Representative and was active in the Tom Murphy version of our chapter, you know, the one in which I was never allowed to vote on anything.
Arthur, so these folks are the same as what Charlie Turner used to be? I knew Charlie. We used to share stories about his time in the Navy during Vietnam, and my time in the Marines while deployed to Beirut in 1983-84. He was a riot at the district end of year party.
I then remember him coming to my new school, pitching another contract that added more time to the day, with low raises, the gap in raises between contracts, retroactive payments for the Bloomberg years without a contract, and more of the same old regurgitated declarations. “This is the best that we’ll get. The city’s cupboards are bare.”
I always voted “No” for each initial offer. Apparently, the majority of my colleagues voted “Yes” for each initial offer. There was the expedited disciplinary process for ATR’s, more professional development, more parent engagement, no change in the use of CAR days for maternity leave, etc. I’ll stop there. As you know, the list is long.
We need electronic voting for both UFT elections and voting during collective bargaining. As you noted, it’s the only way to bring back the type of union activism that we saw under people such as Al Shanker. It’s only with Unity that one witnesses far too many who enjoy this level of self-flagellation.
We need an MLC that will focus on a minimum pattern, as opposed to selling us out on health care. I've heard many Charlie Turner stories, but that line about the cupboards being bare is an old Unity chestnut they taught him to sing at meetings. And yes, of course we need electronic voting.
In a comment about Arthur Goldstein's expressed outrage about Brother Aqueel Williams' use of the word geezer, a friend of mine wrote: "I am a perfect example of a geezer: old, phelgmatic, short tempered." I couldn't have better described the term!
I know Aqeel Williams, worked with him, shared meals with him. He' s got a wit that can sum up a situation concisely. There isn't a person who knows him who would dare to remark about him as has been done by Goldstein and others here! In fact the geezer Goldstein and the other geezers who wrote here only prove Aqueel right. You rush to judgment because you think your age and your phlegmatic and short-tempered personality give you the right to demean someone else. Trust me, this old geezer ain't afraid to know what I am and the decent human being Aqeel is.
Thank you for your comment, Vincent. I certainly know a lot of friendly people who indulge in racism, ageism, and bigotry of all sorts. I'm glad you see that as a defense, and I'm glad you're comfortable with it. However, it is not acceptable here. Nor is your name calling. Be advised that this is the last time I shall tolerate it.
The original comment about which your article was written was a private comment, I presume to friends. If the person who revealed it to you was indeed a friend to Aqeel and was offended, s/he should have spoken directly to Aqeel. To have passed to you or to whomever gave it to you is insincere as a friend. YOU turned it into a personal insult and went forward to make it an internal political issue. No, I am not rhetorically or politically correct in all my speech to my close friends, never have been, never will be. You're an alleged writer. What is it about irony and satire that you don't comprehend in how and what I wrote?
My only question is whether or not Aqeel was being paid by the union at the time of the alleged private message that wound up being the source of such consternation. Yes? No? Vinny?
To be frank, Mike WHO?, that's b___s____! If everyone of us were held to that standard when we were in a classroom, there would be no teaching force. Like I said, if the friend who revealed it had made disapproval to Aqeel, that was the way to handle. Don't confuse political gamesmanship for honesty or integrity! Mike WHO????
If a teacher were to stereotype a protected group at the workplace, or worse, send memes of it to students, Vincent, that teacher would likely as not be up on charges. I was chapter leader of the largest school in Queens for 12 years, and I was at more disciplinary hearings than I care to recall. The notion that every one of us might do such a thing is absurd. Kindly try to be civil in this forum. You're not at 52 Broadway anymore.
Vinny, a fine littérateur you are. “He’s a decent guy. He made a mistake. I’m sure he’s embarrassed by it and would be willing to apologize.” That would have sufficed.
Indeed you do control your own page and the commentators and comments on it. That is your prerogative. And you even have the right to define uncivil as you wish. My definition is obviously different than yours because I don’t believe that I have said anything uncivil to anyone in my comments here in this thread.
I have my own personal understanding about anonymity. I consider that uncivil. Why anonymous commentators? From what are they shielding themselves when they write a comment? Fear? Of whom? You? Of other commentators? Of what? I think anonymity emboldens people to say things that they do not want to be associated with personally. That is deception.
And anything that I have written in general or generic terms, if the shoe fits, people will wear it as they choose. I asked what was uncivil in what I wrote. Your reply was not specific.
The actor Denzel Washington gave a speech, quite inspirational, that included a quote to the point that small minds speak of other men, great minds speak of events, the greatest of ideas. That's why anonymous commentators and this blog sometimes provoke me to write. The uncivil are the small minds who speak anonymously, who speak of other men, not events or ideas. If you think that my calling out such individuals is uncivil, as you said your choice. At least you are frank to your readers of your position.
Interesting. NYSUT’s Social Justice work included Many Threads One Fabric and their anti bias workshops, Sticks and Stones. I teach the workshops and ageism is part of our message of biases. We need to practice what we preach Thank you Arthur.
We do indeed need to practice what we preach. Unity's culture, though, is essentially anti-union, self-serving, and frankly despicable.
Despicable? A few memes shared in a PRIVATE chat are despicable, a case of ageism and showing implicit basis? Arthur, if you're going to hold all of us to the standard of being appropriate, please explain how the memes that were made of Michael Mulgrew on 9/30, 10/2, 10/8, 10/10, 10/16, 10/24, 11/2 and 11/7 are appropriate. I am highly offended by all of them. They are in poor taste and not funny.
Tastes vary. Evidently you are good with ageism being officially promoted among UFT chapter leaders. That makes two Unity members on this board defending it. Perhaps there will be more.
You know what I found offensive? When King Mulgrew paid UFT lawyers, with my dues, to threaten my First Amendment rights.
Evidently, I have a sense of humor. My job puts me in contact with lots of older members and I have heard them say, more than once, I’m old…I don’t get it. There’s something called self deprecating humor. It was a PRIVATE joke and if the person who leaked these posts to you didn’t like them, he/she should have taken it up with Aqeel. And my question still has not been answered. Why is it not ok for Aqeel to do something privately and it’s ok for you to post memes PUBLICLY that belittle and are mean?
You know, sometimes my Black students use "self-deprecating humor." Were I to use it, I'd be up on charges. And if I got caught shooting out such messages to a group of UFT chapter leaders, I very much doubt the first concern among people hearing about it would be the person who put it out.
Amy, Revisionist much?
I don’t understand your comment, Mike. I revise nothing.
That Unity loyalists jump on here to defend ageist memes and messages among DRs and chapter leaders in a chat group as being justifiable while doubling down on comparing such behavior with satire and parody of the rich and powerful is ….
Either willful ignorance or something much more sinister.
When the UFT posted a meme of Eric Adams in a clown outfit and clown face … is it mean? racist? No, it’s parody and satire.
From Thomas Nast to Mike Luckovich to the slew of parody and satire memes we see on social media folks’ opinions about their leaders … it’s part of long history of those who don’t wield power expressing their views. It is legitimate expression even if offensive to some.
Memes and “private” chats that target protected classes of people are not THE SAME. And to think you can make this case is laughable and seriously troubling coming from a group that is entrusted with protecting workers and union members.
Theodore Roosevelt who was likely a target of Thomas Nast satirical political cartoons once said Nast was our “best teacher”.
There is no teaching in ageist rhetoric.
But, I’m sure the Tories were offended by political parody and satire of King George.
Absolutely. And as horrified they are by King Mulgrew, they have no qualms about targeting paraprofessional Migda Rodriguez in exactly the same way. It's remarkable adults don't yet know the difference between stereotyping a protected group and First Amendment protected parody. It's remarkable that these people lead our union. We need to do something about that.
Please read my new reposted post today. I have been hearing a lot of this disrespect for the “older” generations lately from friends family. Please take a look and feel free to comment on it as you see fit. I welcome both negative and positive feedback, alike, to help me become better with my writing. My SubStack is INNER SANCTUM OF. BELIEF. My latest post and note is Unheard and Invisible.
Done and done.
Modus operandi : divide and conquer. Maybe they are Pitting in-service against retirees and banking that perhaps the young teachers can’t envision that they too will eventually be forced into inferior health care .
It's pretty pathetic that they find this acceptable. We do not, and we let them know that in the last election. They're not really doing anything to change this, and this appears to be how they speak with one another. Unacceptable.
Bravo Arthur
Thank you Alan.
As the Brits would say, “feckin ‘ell!!!!” 🤦🏼♀️
Thanks!
So when will Aqueel apologize? Probably never. Nevertheless, we should all write him and tell him our feelings. I am not senile yet Mr. Williams.
Judging from the two Unity people on this board who think stereotyping a protected class is just fine, I'd have to say they are good with it. So I'd advise you to sit while waiting for an apology. Evidently, if Unity does it, it's fine. It's good to be King.
My 84 year old mother who has been member of the retiree chapter for over 20 years and voted for YOUR slate found nothing wrong with the memes. She thought they were "silly," and not offensive in the least. I guess you're going to tell me there's something wrong with her and that I've influenced her way of thinking.
No actually I would never say that. I'm sticking to my original point, and I think you've now given me enough for a new post.
Amy, the manner in which you rationalize and trivialize what Aqeel did, considering that your own mother is affected by this sort of bigotry, speaks volumes about your personal motives to do so.
“Shanker is rolling over in his grave.”
Mike, I trivialize nothing.
leslie, I’m just curious. I honestly don’t know the answer to this.
Question: Does a Unity Caucus Representative get paid pensionable per session pay while these memes were created and communicated to others who are receiving pensionable per session pay as well, or do they receive a salary from Unity Caucus?
I’m being sincere. I don’t how a Unity Rep is paid while performing their duties to union members. Can you break it down for me? I don’t understand the “…on the clock…” part.
I don't know if you'll get an answer from Leslie, Mike.
I don't think District Representatives get per session. That is a DOE term. You might get it if you coach, or tutor, or do some job after hours. District Reps teach one class in their home schools. Unlike other lowly teachers, they are not rated by Danielson. DRs used to be elected by chapter leaders, but after CLs kept electing one who was not Unity, Randi changed the rules so the Unity Big Shots could pick Whoever They Wanted.
DRs get paid their full DOE salary, plus a UFT salary. So, say, a DR gets paid 100K from the DOE, and 50 from UFT. That person would get the DOE pension based on 100, and a UFT pension based on the 50. Of course, it can be more than that, and of course, that person has to sign a loyalty oath to do and support whatever Unity says. DRs do attend the UFT Delegate Assembly. I assume they don't do it strictly for fun, and it's part of their duties.
DRs might organize a group of seats for the chapter leaders they support. Of course, in this case, it appears one CL was concerned a "geezer" might use one of the seats. 300 of us were elected to represent the Retired Teacher Chapter, and we are NOT Unity. Honestly, thiis kind of talk makes me wonder whether the Big Shots at 52 are modeling it for the DRs.
Thank you for the breakdown Arthur. I appreciate that. By the way, I grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. I look as Irish as ever. I was raised a Catholic. However, my mother is Jewish.
I could go on forever with reflections on past events related to the antisemitism that would be whispered in my ear because I looked like “…one of them.”
The benches within my public housing complex were lined with elderly “Survivors”. Their tattooed arms, and wrinkled faces, told the saddest of stories, without a word being said. The few words of wisdom that they did impart upon me still ring true in my ears to this day. “You’ll miss that red hair once it’s gone. You complain while I can’t get that from a bottle?” Now that it’s been replaced by gray hair, oh how right they were.
When we were growing up in the Sheepshead/Nostrand Houses, my mother was the night manager of King David Manor on Surf Ave in Coney Island. All seven of we siblings had to work there as teens. I found my humanity while tending to the elderly, showing old black and white movies to them on Wednesday night, and walking them to their rooms. I don’t recall a film reel breaking unless I left the recreation room for a moment. It always seemed to work out that way. I can still hear the cry of “Splicer!” in my ears. I didn’t know it at the time, but the life lessons that I learned there are woven into every fiber of my sentient existence.
Mom also drove a small bus for Project Hope, through the YMHA on Coney Island Ave. When she caught us cutting class in high school, we would be ordered to get on her bus so that we could help her drop off elderly people. Mom always said, “Hurry up.” as we walked slowly towards the apartment buildings where many of them resided. It was her way of slowing us down from the teenage pace that seemed to be speeding us in the wrong direction.
Mom passed from brain cancer two years ago. She was tough. She prepared us since we were children for her eventual departure, just like she did for our Bubbe when she passed away in Florida many years ago.
I don’t think that your detractors are able to make the comparison, or see how their behavior is similar, to the many other forms of prejudice.
As for myself, I learned to hold the elderly’s person’s arm so they didn’t trip on the way to their apartments and homes. It seems like some of the folks in Unity are instead, sticking their foot out to trip the elderly, as they/we traverse the cracks and crevices along the pathways towards home.
You write very well, Mike. Are you an English teacher? You should be.
I started as an English teacher. Someone asked me, "Hey, do you want to teach ESL:?" I said, "What's ESL?" And then the person said, "Try it." That gave me five preps during the first semester I was teaching, with no experience whatsoever.
A couple years later, I was a full time ESL teacher. I always remember a pair of girls from Afghanistan who told me stories of crossing the mountains to Pakistan at night, with no water. I remember all kinds of kids. And I remember watching every stereotype I'd ever held, or heard of. broken. I'd never met so many people from so many places before. I knew I had to do this.
I turned down the first appointment offered me, as an English teacher. I went to get my MA in Applied Linguistics and supported myself by playing guitar and fiddle in the worst Irish show band in the world.
We can't help but be what we are, be we Jewish, Catholic, short, tall, young, old, straight, gay or whatever. You can attack me for being wrong, and I am wrong sometimes. If you're right, I'll apologize. But attacking people for what they are is really a vile thing.
I think, in part, they do it because we are not Unity. But whatever their motivation, it's despicable, and anti-union.
Mike, while I appreciate your back story, I fail to see what it has to do with this. So I'll give you my backstory... My mom is 84. She still drives, goes to school 2-3 days a week, has season tickets at the MET and is never home, much to my and my sister's dismay. We finally got her to wear a medi-alert in the house. A lot of her friends are retirees also and they don't think of themselves as old. As a matter of fact, when my mom needs some help with something she will start what SHE CALLS, "The old lady routine," and she gets the help that she needs. She doesn't mind that my sister and I make fun of her routine. She doesn't care that people may say, she's a codger. There are things that should be taken personally and things that don't have to be. I know the importance of respecting my elders. I also have a sense of humor.
I come from a family of educators. My dad was an AP at IS 285 in D18, my mom taught special ed at PS279 in D18 and then Tilden high school, my grandmother was an art teacher at Erasmus, My nana was a school secretary at Wingate high school, IS 275 in D23 used to be named for my grandfather. I was taught to know what is correct and what is going over the line. They all instilled that in me and in my 36 year career, I have seen inappropriate and wrong behavior. I am almost 100% certain that my father would have found those memes hilarious. In my mind, I'm sure you can find many other better things to be outraged about.
He was texting with his chapter leaders during the DA which ALL DRs do. My DR would text frequently. People had questions or thoughts and he would answer. We also shared jokes and silliness from time to time. I would expect him or any DR to be on the clock. It's part of their job. From my understanding from one of the CL's in his district, his texts were only going to them. (or so he thought) From your perspective, what you're saying is that ALL DR's and ALL CL's are on the clock and getting paid during the DA. As an aside, CLs are NOT paid to go to a DA. I was one for 14 years and I was not paid.
So is what you are saying Mike, is that no full time representative is allowed to be on their phone at ANY POINT IN TIME during a DA? Is that what you're saying?
I was a CL too. Maybe the DR was on the clock, and maybe he wasn't. Regardless, stereotyping protected groups is an outrage, no matter who makes fun of themselves, and no matter how hilarious anyone finds it. It's a disgraceful example to set for the CLs who the DR supposedly guides.
It’s amazing how she continues to explain it all away. I’m still trying to figure out her motive to do so? It’s almost surreal, but hey; Unity.
Unity is a remarkable entity. There is no excuse. But maybe next week sometime, I'll list and address all of them. Every one, without exception, is logical fallacy.
Arthur, I am the first to admit that my logic is skewed but it is no where near fallacy.
I'll have to disagree there.
Mike. Yes I’m Unity. Your point is what? That I have a sense of humor and I am not sufficiently outraged?
Amy, like all things, relevancy plays a part here.
“So is what you are saying Mike, is that no full time representative is allowed to be on their phone at ANY POINT IN TIME during a DA? Is that what you're saying?”
I’ll answer that with something that you portrayed as acceptable and normalized. “We also shared jokes and silliness from time to time.”
Question: Is it appropriate to engage in the above during the setting in which you were joking around and acting silly with each other?
I ran all of your posts through AI, with a prompt that asks for a simple solution to the topic of discussion.
“Professionalism is a set of standards that govern how someone behaves in a work or business setting. It's more than just wearing a suit or carrying a briefcase. It's about being responsible, accountable, and excellent, and communicating effectively and appropriately.
Professionalism can lead to workplace success, a strong professional reputation, and a high level of work ethic. In fact, 97.5% of employers in a recent NACE study said that professionalism was either "absolutely essential" or "essential" for a new college hire.
Here are some examples of professional behaviors:
Be respectful: Be mindful of others' personal space and time.
Be productive: Take initiative and maintain effective work habits, such as prioritizing, planning, and managing work.
Be honest: Be honest at work.
Be ethical: Demonstrate integrity, resilience, and accountability.
Be considerate: Think before you post or comment about work or your coworkers.
There you go.
By the way, I worked at Tilden as well. It was always sad to see the elderly former students who came back to visit. They always asked if Ruby’s Knish cart was still there. Sadly, both Ruby’s, and Tilden, as both your Mom and I knew it, are gone forever.
You're making me want a knish. A cart would be just the thing.
Mike, there was also a Knish cart out in front of PS 272 when I first started working in the late 80's.
Mike, did you know my mother?
Outstanding piece Arthur! Huge thanks to you, Norm, Jeff and the Unity Leaker! I can't say enough how alarming this broken way of seeing is --no less by a union rep --and allowed on his payroll time! This now has me wonder what Mulgrew got so busy snickering at when Bennett Fischer read the vital Healthcare resolution we all need during the DA?! Was he enjoying one of those sick memes? Not hard to believe when he's okay with unconstitutionally shutting down your previous blog; when he's been fine spewing baldfaced lies (even to 80 year old seniors); when he's aggressively devised ways to divide actives from retirees; and since he's found it reasonable to unite with Big$ Insurance predators and their deceiving talking points. What a joke on anyone who insists he and his Unity Caucus are the people who'll protect our lives and the Labor Movement.
Thank you Laura. I found it shocking that this was going on, but the more I think about it, the more I think that this is the Unity tone. It didn't just appear from nowhere. I can't say for sure they blocked my old blog, but I can say it happened weeks after I posted the lawyer letter my dues paid for. I'm not a large believer in coincidence. That said, I've had a huge spike in readership since moving here, so if they ever admit it, I'll send them a thank you card.
I’m not sure he’s ageist since he’d not do the same to unity retirees like Soldini and Vinny and Murphy. They are no longer at the DA since we replaced them and are showing up in great numbers and dominating meetings which ironically the active oppo groups have never been able to do.
He's indulging in ageism. The fact that he does it to those who oppose his Patronage Cult is not an excuse. If I were to post racist memes about only Unity members, it would not excuse me.
Fill me in on the tea, as my daughters say. Was Vinny one of the Unity members who lost in the election?
I'd wager he was. Vincent is a former Bronx Borough Representative and was active in the Tom Murphy version of our chapter, you know, the one in which I was never allowed to vote on anything.
Arthur, so these folks are the same as what Charlie Turner used to be? I knew Charlie. We used to share stories about his time in the Navy during Vietnam, and my time in the Marines while deployed to Beirut in 1983-84. He was a riot at the district end of year party.
I then remember him coming to my new school, pitching another contract that added more time to the day, with low raises, the gap in raises between contracts, retroactive payments for the Bloomberg years without a contract, and more of the same old regurgitated declarations. “This is the best that we’ll get. The city’s cupboards are bare.”
I always voted “No” for each initial offer. Apparently, the majority of my colleagues voted “Yes” for each initial offer. There was the expedited disciplinary process for ATR’s, more professional development, more parent engagement, no change in the use of CAR days for maternity leave, etc. I’ll stop there. As you know, the list is long.
We need electronic voting for both UFT elections and voting during collective bargaining. As you noted, it’s the only way to bring back the type of union activism that we saw under people such as Al Shanker. It’s only with Unity that one witnesses far too many who enjoy this level of self-flagellation.
We need an MLC that will focus on a minimum pattern, as opposed to selling us out on health care. I've heard many Charlie Turner stories, but that line about the cupboards being bare is an old Unity chestnut they taught him to sing at meetings. And yes, of course we need electronic voting.
Don't they say, "Spill the tea?"
Yes! They walk in and say, “Spill the tea.” while miming a tea cup being brought to their lips. LOL.
As a matter of fact, I am not rhetorically or politically correct in all my speech to my close friends, never have been, never will be.
Like an older version of the artist Scott Lobaido? I can see that.
Vinny Gaglione....
In a comment about Arthur Goldstein's expressed outrage about Brother Aqueel Williams' use of the word geezer, a friend of mine wrote: "I am a perfect example of a geezer: old, phelgmatic, short tempered." I couldn't have better described the term!
I know Aqeel Williams, worked with him, shared meals with him. He' s got a wit that can sum up a situation concisely. There isn't a person who knows him who would dare to remark about him as has been done by Goldstein and others here! In fact the geezer Goldstein and the other geezers who wrote here only prove Aqueel right. You rush to judgment because you think your age and your phlegmatic and short-tempered personality give you the right to demean someone else. Trust me, this old geezer ain't afraid to know what I am and the decent human being Aqeel is.
Thank you for your comment, Vincent. I certainly know a lot of friendly people who indulge in racism, ageism, and bigotry of all sorts. I'm glad you see that as a defense, and I'm glad you're comfortable with it. However, it is not acceptable here. Nor is your name calling. Be advised that this is the last time I shall tolerate it.
Have a nice day.
The original comment about which your article was written was a private comment, I presume to friends. If the person who revealed it to you was indeed a friend to Aqeel and was offended, s/he should have spoken directly to Aqeel. To have passed to you or to whomever gave it to you is insincere as a friend. YOU turned it into a personal insult and went forward to make it an internal political issue. No, I am not rhetorically or politically correct in all my speech to my close friends, never have been, never will be. You're an alleged writer. What is it about irony and satire that you don't comprehend in how and what I wrote?
My only question is whether or not Aqeel was being paid by the union at the time of the alleged private message that wound up being the source of such consternation. Yes? No? Vinny?
To be frank, Mike WHO?, that's b___s____! If everyone of us were held to that standard when we were in a classroom, there would be no teaching force. Like I said, if the friend who revealed it had made disapproval to Aqeel, that was the way to handle. Don't confuse political gamesmanship for honesty or integrity! Mike WHO????
If a teacher were to stereotype a protected group at the workplace, or worse, send memes of it to students, Vincent, that teacher would likely as not be up on charges. I was chapter leader of the largest school in Queens for 12 years, and I was at more disciplinary hearings than I care to recall. The notion that every one of us might do such a thing is absurd. Kindly try to be civil in this forum. You're not at 52 Broadway anymore.
Always civil. Don't know what to which you refer. Please explain for my next post.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Vincent.
It’s called Implicit bias. Our union offers a two segment workshop on it. It’s called Sticks and Stones. There are no excuses.
Perhaps some Unity members need it, among other things.
Vinny, a fine littérateur you are. “He’s a decent guy. He made a mistake. I’m sure he’s embarrassed by it and would be willing to apologize.” That would have sufficed.
Indeed you do control your own page and the commentators and comments on it. That is your prerogative. And you even have the right to define uncivil as you wish. My definition is obviously different than yours because I don’t believe that I have said anything uncivil to anyone in my comments here in this thread.
I have my own personal understanding about anonymity. I consider that uncivil. Why anonymous commentators? From what are they shielding themselves when they write a comment? Fear? Of whom? You? Of other commentators? Of what? I think anonymity emboldens people to say things that they do not want to be associated with personally. That is deception.
And anything that I have written in general or generic terms, if the shoe fits, people will wear it as they choose. I asked what was uncivil in what I wrote. Your reply was not specific.
The actor Denzel Washington gave a speech, quite inspirational, that included a quote to the point that small minds speak of other men, great minds speak of events, the greatest of ideas. That's why anonymous commentators and this blog sometimes provoke me to write. The uncivil are the small minds who speak anonymously, who speak of other men, not events or ideas. If you think that my calling out such individuals is uncivil, as you said your choice. At least you are frank to your readers of your position.