#296 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Friday March 11)
Good morning,
BASEBALL IS BACK!
Major League Baseball and the players agreed on terms for a new collective bargaining agreement yesterday. Subject to ratification, which should be pro forma, Spring training is a week away and the season will begin in mid-April.
While I am disappointed with this periodic negotiation between millionaires and billionaires that threatens to deny people the joys of baseball, I am happy this is finally over. In these challenging times, it is comforting that one can look forward to each year is the arrival of Spring and baseball. Now, we can revile our neighbors less for their political views and instead fight about something truly meaningful—like which team they support. For those not “in the know,” here are some hints: it is commonly accepted that Red Sox fans are devil-worshipers (with the notable exceptions of Ted Williams and Big Papi). The Yankees, besides generally being the team everyone west of the Hudson loves to hate (why else was Damn Yankees a “thing”?), think they are the best team money can buy. The Dodgers are the best time money can buy. And the Marlins fans need to be reminded there is a team in the vicinity.
One of the few areas where the players and owners seem to agree is taking steps to speed up the game. What was a game typically taking 2 1/2 hours to play in the 1960s now averages more like 3 1/2 hours. Shortening the game to fit modern attention spans is a must. I, for one, think teams should be penalized for excessive “package adjustments” in the batters’ box.
THE NEW MATH
Apparently, the way we teach math is racist. I really can’t believe it. Apparently there are those who consider the precision required of mathematics to be a white construct. The process, even with a wrong or approximate answer, is deemed more “fair.” Math is the last of the “pure” factual enterprises. There are right answers and wrong answers. Imagine incorrect math in the Apollo moon program, or in calibrating the brakes in your car, or in balancing bank accounts. Sure math is the process of thinking toward an answer—but, of course, the thought ultimately must lead to the right result. And some math (or the facility for addressing problems) is learned through memorization.
Rick Kirkbride highlighted an article about the “new math” that doesn’t seem to think answers need to be right:
California Tries to Close the Gap in Math, but Sets Off a Backlash
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/us/california-math-curriculum-guidelines.html?referringSource=articleShare
As evidence of having taken things to their illogical extremes, in 2020 a graphic on its Talking About Race publication, the Smithsonian identified rational thought, politeness, objectivity, and the Protestant work ethic as harmful “white” characteristics that perpetuate systemic racism. And the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported a group publishing “A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction,” arguing that a “focus on getting the ‘right’ answer” and requiring students to “show their work” were facets of white-supremacy culture.
CANCELING EXISTS EVERYWHERE IN POLITICS
“Cancel Culture has, until now, been pretty much the exclusive signature weapon of the far-left wing of the Democratic Party and, to some extent, of the hallowed halls of the academy.…Now comes the new vindictive Republican cancel culture, which condemns to oblivion any Republican who, essentially, has displeased Donald Trump, the current ringmaster of the party. Sadly, the targets of the new Republican cancel culture are invariably found among those Republicans who put the country ahead of party and who vote conscience rather than fealty.” --Howard Gershowitz
There are no innocents in the drive to delegitimize one’s political opponents. It really must stop.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
This is Women’s History Month. In its honor, I have two thoughts:
The first thought is that, while acknowledging the firth for women’s rights and pay and continued advances in that regard, the month should not solely be focused on “women’s history,” as defined as “the history of women’s rights.” Rather, the focus should be in honoring women in history—like Harriet Tubman, Frances Perkins, Abigail Adams, Golda Meir, Marie Curie, Sally Ride, Geraldine Ferraro, the Bronte sisters, Katherine the Great, Elizabeth I, Twyla Tharp, Frida Kahlo, and countless others—and countless others in sports, entertainment, literature, politics, science, and the arts.
The second thought is that I have been lucky to have been surrounded all my life by tough women—feminine, to be sure—but strong and determined women. Much of it seems to have come from genetics but some of this is learned behavior. Besides being good, kind, learned and determined, being strong is something we need to teach our daughters. The world can be a tough place and sometimes women are taken advantage of. It is a blessing to be around the “Abrahams women” all my life—witnessing all they accomplished, often following their example, always benefiting from their wisdom (sometimes solicited—often not). It also is heartening to live in an era that empowers women, recognizing them as the equivalent of men and providing them far more opportunities than were available even a generation ago.
Happy Women’s History Month!
Glenn
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