Around four years ago, I wrote about the numbing shock that engulfed me as I heard about the murders of several police officers in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas within a week of each other, juxtaposed with rays of hope as I learned about how leaders of law enforcement and African American communities were working together to reduce crime and complaints against the police. (1) I wrote about how political junkies from all stripes were bending the facts as part of…..
Around four years ago, I wrote about the numbing shock that engulfed me as I heard about the murders of several police officers in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas within a week of each other, juxtaposed with rays of hope as I learned about how leaders of law enforcement and African American communities were working together to reduce crime and complaints against the police. (1) I wrote about how political junkies from all stripes were bending the facts as part of…..
A January 4, 2016 Harvard Business Review article entitled “Diversity Policies Rarely Make Companies Fairer, and They Feel Threatening to White Men” (1) continues to cause discomfort among diversity professionals. As the title implies, the authors argue that diversity policies often increase fear among white men that they will be treated unfairly while not convincing people from underrepresented groups that they will be treated more fairly. Additionally, sensitivity training, a staple of most diversity initiatives, often creates more problems than…..
“Senator Harris blindsided me during our first debate. It was unpleasant. Unwelcomed. Bracing.
“I failed to answer her challenge thoughtfully and soulfully. For she was talking about how bussing enhanced her education while I was planning to defend my record on forced bussing.
“Without really listening to what she was saying.
“For which I apologize. I’ll try to do better.
“Back when Senator Harris was in school, bussing was one of those culture war issues that divided us. Some thought…..
Most current United States citizens believe that slavery is a moral stain on our country; indeed, some call it our original sin.
But prior to the Civil War, most conservative Christian leaders believed that God approved, or at least tolerated, slavery. They asserted that Africans were happier as slaves than as free people. They cited a passage in Genesis (1) describing how a curse descended on one of Noah’s sons because he disrespected his father while drunk. They cited passages…..
With around five minutes to play in a recent Monday night National Football League game between the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, the Giants scored a touchdown, cutting the Falcons’ lead in half. Assuming that the Giants successfully kicked the extra point, the expected move in similar situations.
But the Giants chose to try a two-point conversion, a riskier option. This decision startled both the Westwood One radio announcers broadcasting the game and me. But my guide dog, christened…..
Man Of Straw (MOS): Racism talk is politically correct speech that divides.
Peter Altschul (PA): But what does racism mean to you?
MOS: Something about being better than them because of my race.
PA: OK. So how can we tell if a certain action is racist?
MOS: I don’t know. You tell me, smart guy.
PA: SOMETHING to do with excusing a behavior of someone from our race while coming down hard on the same behavior if someone doing the…..
Believe me, I wish I were making this stuff up. But it all too often happens to me and many others with disabilities and differences. Truth is stranger than fiction and sometimes more depressing.
My other half and I went on a short out-of-town trip; we left yesterday and returned today. We took our daughter to visit her stepsister, who teaches elementary school in a town about four hours southeast of us by car. The two sisters enjoy getting together…..
I’ve had the chance to support academics and employers; public school administrators and technology vendors; and pro-life and pro-choice activists to work together towards changing something for the better. I’ve had the chance to assist authority figures, students, and New York City taxi drivers to enhance their conflict management and customer service skills. I’ve had the chance to play percussion in a variety of ensembles. I’ve had the chance to experience the love of a wife, three stepkids, and six…..
Last Thursday, a manager of a Philadelphia Starbucks store called the police because he believed two African American men had been there for too long without ordering anything. The two men stated that they were waiting for another person, and that they would be happy to order something once he arrived. The police officers handcuffed the customers, not even stopping when the white latecomer arrived. The two African American customers were jailed for eight hours before being released without being…..