Dog Sledding's Dark Side

The world-famous Iditarod dog-sled race took off  today from its traditional Anchorage, Alaska starting gate, bound for Nome.  For two weeks, about 60 contestants drive their teams of 12-16 dogs across treacherous terrain covering over 1000 miles.  The race is a commemoration of the the dog-sledders who saved the lives of residents of Nome in 1925, when a diphtheria outbreak required dog-sled teams to carry life-saving medicines to the stricken.  The trail itself has been preserved as a National Historic trail.


I wonder, though, if this gruelling and dangerous race, which the Iditarod's own web site describes as
"temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills" is fair to the dogs who have no choice in the matter.


Of course, those who work closely with mushers and their dogs claim that the dogs "love" to run and that they are born for it. On the other hand, since the race became an official event in 1973, over 140 dogs have died in the race due to freezing, illness or injury.

The Iditarod seems to be rooted in a tradition and culture of regarding dogs as property ready to be discarded if they are unable to perform.  I saw a heart-rending article recently about a British Columbian sled-dog tourist attraction, Outdoor Adventures Whistler, which experienced losses in business following a downturn tourism after the 2010 Olympics, and indiscriminately slaughtered about 100 of its dogs.  The article in the February 5 Change.org (among other sources like the Calgary Herald) described how

 "...over 100 dogs were shot or had their throats cut while tethered after business took a downturn." The bodies were thrown into a mass grave. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the slaughter, as are local police....."

Apparently this is not all that unusual treatment for sled dogs that become ill, lose their speed, or become otherwise unwanted.


I have used my journal as a single voice in a collective shout of condemnation against animal cruelty, which exists far and wide beyond the dog-sledding industry.


While I applaud the intent of the Iditarod for its commemoration of important history, and while I can appreciate the sincere love most mushers have for their dogs, I believe that the very act of running dogs in this treacherous event, knowing what the risks are, is inhumane.  Time for a new way to mark Alaskan history, or to create a token "run" for a short duration in better conditions.  


  *    *     *    


Here's a video covering the terrible incident in British Columbia from The Associated Press...Be forewarned: It is saddening and infuriating... 

Tina Fey Channels Joni Mitchell

*

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

Amid the Oscar madness of the last two weeks, I missed an item about Tina Fey that connected to me in a personal way.


Fey, a brilliant comic talent, won last year's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.  Her sharp writing on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock", and her political satire and impersonation, guarantee her a permanent place in the annals of classic American comedy.

And so I was at first dismayed, but then delighted, when I heard that on a recent "30 Rock", Fey wrote a parody of a Joni Mitchell song, and mimicked Joni singing it in the background during a scene from the show.

The song, called "Paints and Brushes", recalls Mitchell's heyday in works such as "Blue" and "Court and Spark". 

Listen to it here (From Huffington Post, February 22)

My dismay came from my deep respect for Mitchell as a poet, lyricist, and musical artist.  My long-standing love for Mitchell, with her ability to interpret life's sweet bitterness and love's mystery, has rendered her almost sacrosanct to me.  I feel it my life's duty to extol her virtues, and champion her as a singular voice of an era.

But then I listened to Fey's parody, and had to hand it to her....the pitch, the phrasing, and the angst, only slightly off, was marvelous...and so good-natured, I don't see how offense could be taken.  

Once you're in on the joke, "Paints and Brushes" is like an insane person's version of "A Case of You" (where her "Oh Canada" is replaced with the goofy repetition of "Medicine Hat").

Two women who I greatly admire, one of whom was inspired by the other to heights of madcap creativity....They have in turn inspired me....

Next week, a post or two in appreciation of Joni...

"Well something's lost but something's gained / In living every day...."  "Both Sides Now"

Jean Brodie's Definition of Education...and the Crisis in Wisconsin

While reflecting on the economic crisis in Wisconsin that is being played out on the backs of teachers and other public workers, I happened to remember that great film, "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", and the expansive, complex, and romantic creation of Muriel Spark realized on-screen by the excellent Maggie Smith.


I mused as to whether Jean Brodie, teaching today in Wisconsin, would lead the charge against loss of Collective Bargaining Rights, whether she would have earned tenure at all (after inadvertently inspiring a hapless student to join a group of anti-American terrorists), or whether she would have paid any attention to labor politics, swept away as she was in the pursuit of Beauty, Honor, and Courage, in her prime.


I don't mean to make light of the terribly desperate situation in Wisconsin.  The Governor of the state seeks to cut spending, AND for some reason restrict collective bargaining rights for teachers, while Wisconsin Democratic Congressmen have fled the state in hiding in order to hold off a vote on the matter.


Amid all of this theater, there is little media attention to the students and what they stand to lose. 


Adults keep brandishing the word "education" until it has become a blunt instrument. 


I never forgot Jean Brodie's philosophy of education, nor her derivation of the word and how she viewed the process.  I had never considered it this way before, and from then on, it came to my mind with every endeavor at learning....

JEAN BRODIE: To me, education is a leading out. The word education comes from the root "ex," meaning "out,"and "duco..."I lead."
To me, education is simply a...a leading out...of what is already there.

HEADMISTRESS: I had hoped there might also be a certain amount of putting in.

JEAN BRODIE: That would not be education, but intrusion...from the root prefix "in," meaning "in," and the stem "trudo..." "I thrust."
Ergo, to thrust a lot of information into a pupil's head...

This is a wonderfully liberating and progressive idea...Of course, a certain amount of input is necessary; but the idea that each student can be observed so closely that the right kind of input is provided, to draw out each student's particular strength, is an educator's dream.  If there were enough money and commitment, if class sizes remained smaller and guidelines for measuring progress were expanded (rather than limited by mere standardized test scores), we might produce some significant learning, and see a big return on the investment in education.


Good teachers will work closely with students, inspire them  and draw out their strengths, whether they belong to a union or not, as long as they are provided with good working conditions and updated materials, fair hours, and competitive, decent wages.  Good teachers deserve at the very least these things, and the ability to demand them.


But we're in the midst of a dangerous time.  The pendulum has swung us back to the early 1900's, it seems.


It is ironic that Wisconsin passed one of the nation's first collective bargaining laws for public employees in 1959.  The state of Wisconsin was a leader in workers' protections, including workers compensation and unemployment benefits.  Here is a fascinating presentation published today by the Wisconsin Labor History Society. 


Without an historical perspective, Americans are easily convinced that workers and unions are the only demons in the current economic struggle.


Of course it is unfortunate that labor laws, so hard-fought and won, are unfairly abused by the lazy and the weak.  Yes, there are ineffective, even dangerous, teachers whose jobs are safe, while skilled, caring educators can't break into the classroom due to layoffs and the resultant lack of jobs.  Unions need to revamp their tenure laws to create new measurements of success.


But the deadbeats should not be used  as a rationale for rolling back protections and leaving outstanding educators vulnerable.


President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a Senate address on May 8, 1937, said: “The right to bargain collectively is at the bottom of social justice for the worker, as well as the sensible conduct of business affairs. The denial or observance of this right means the difference between despotism and democracy.”
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1962, signed an executive order giving public-employee unions the right to collectively bargain with federal government agencies. (Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club)


I suspect, in the end, that Jean Brodie would put up a fight.  Whatever you think of her methods of instruction, she had an indelible and lifelong influence over her girls.  She would make mistakes, but she was passionate about education.  She would not be forced to resign.  She would give the Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker a piece of her mind.

 

"I am a teacher! I am a teacher, first, last, always!"

A Dog-Friendly Greeting From Our Friend In Switzerland

Our friend Jillian sent us a postcard from Switzerland, where she has been staying on business for the past month.  On the front is a photograph of a most adorable Bassett Hound pup, along with a paragraph (in French) called "La Priere du Chien", or A Dog's Prayer.

If a dog were able to write a tribute to its human companion, it might just sound like this.

Here is the actual text, with my fledgling attempt at translation below.  If any of you are fluent in French and English, please send me a correct translation, with my deep gratitude:

"Seigneur mon maître, dont je partage la destinée, ma fidélité n'est pas mesurée aux commodités de la
demeure, ni à la pâtée que tu me réserves. Je garde ta maison comme la mienne qu'elle soit de planches ou
de marbre. Je te suis où tu veux, fais ce que tu m'ordonnes et tout est facile et agréable quand tu me
montres de l'amitié. Car plus que les biens que tu as ou que tu n'as pas, plus que le confort que tu
m'assures ou ne peux m'offrir, j'apprécie la caresse amicale de ta main et ton regard confiant. Montre
moi souvent que je compte un peu pour toi. Seigneur mon Maître, qui est tout pour moi."

"Lord, my master, whose destiny I share, my loyalty is not measured at the belongings you have, or the food you save for me. I consider your home my home, whether it is made of wood or marble.
I will follow you wherever you want, do what you command me, and everything is easy and enjoyable when you look at me with love. For more than property which you have or more than the comfort you
can offer me, I appreciate the friendly caress of your hand and your look of confidence. Notice me often even though I count for very little.  My Lord, you are everything to me. "

See below for a European movie-image of winter...

Good-Riddance to February's Record Snowfall--Like A Classic Film

This has been a long, long winter. Who's ready for spring, warmer weather, longer days, and time outdoors? I'm with you!


Chicago set a record for snowfall in February   This year's 28.7 inches broke the old record of 27.8 inches...set in 1896!


Most of it has melted, although there are still patches that remain from the blizzard of February 1 & 2, which dumped 20 inches of the white stuff, making it the third biggest Chicago blizzard on record.


I have seen enough snow in my life...


At times, we felt as though we were trapped on the set of the classic film pictured below...do you recall what it is?