La Casa Norte More Than Ever Education Scholarship Fund

Supremacist and Entitlement: To Be or Not To Be

STORIES FOR THE TIMES;

Please do not put me in that unfortunate category which has been much used lately: an entitled, older, wealthy, educated, white male supremacist. Do not assume that I am a bad person or that I am arrogant about who I am! I do not consider myself "better" than women or those who are less fortunate than me.

Lately, we have been hearing a lot about "supremacists" and "entitlement," whether "white" vs "black," or "male" vs "female," or "developed country" vs "undeveloped country." 

What exactly is a supremacist and who actually is entitled? Often the terms are used interchangeably. 

A Supremacist is ... an advocate of the supremacy of a particular group, especially one determined by race or sex.

Entitlement ... If someone has a sense of entitlement, that means the person believes he deserves certain privileges, and he is arrogant about it. 

Besides the incorrect inter-changeable use, neither are fair labels for all male members of our society. 

The definitions make sense and I can agree in some ways, however, I think that there is some misunderstanding as to what they really mean and to whom they are applied.

I did some research on Google to see what was being said about the concept of Entitlement, which appeared in the 1980s when Ronald Reagan was apparently the first president to use the term extensively. He may have “tired of getting beaten up every time he mentioned Social Security and wanted a broader and more neutral term,” political scientist Norman Ornstein has suggested.

The following came from the Washington Post, Robert J. Samuelson:

"Let’s get rid of (the term) entitlements."

"Let’s drop the whole notion of “entitlement.” Just eliminate it. Politicians, pundits, and academics who talk about entitlements would then have to name the actual programs and argue their merits and demerits. This would encourage clarity and candor. Of course, that’s why it won’t happen. 

"Generally, Americans don’t want clarity and candor in their fiscal debates. We blame our leaders for budget brawls — this latest was a doozy — but forget that our leaders are largely governed by public opinion, which is awash in contradictions."

"So the government is “open” and the immediate threat of default has lifted. Great. But the political stalemate remains. Americans oppose excessive government spending and persistent deficits. Yet they also support the individual benefit programs (a.k.a. “entitlements”), led for example by Social Security, that drive spending and deficits."

The most important examples of entitlement programs at the federal level in the United States would include Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, most Veterans' Administration programs, federal employee and military retirement plans, unemployment compensation, food stamps, college loans, farm subsidies, and agricultural price support programs.

Mixed in with this list are programs that are paid for by the public as part of their salaries; for example, Social Security, Medicare, retirement plans, repaid college loans, etc. So I am not sure that I would call them entitlements. The difference comes when the government seeks to alter or change benefits that we cry, "I am entitled." Maybe we are maybe we are not.

In my case, I have feelings about many situations in which I might be called "entitled." Does that make me NOT eligible to state my feelings?

I am a man. I am white. I am educated. I am old. I am financially comfortable. This does not make me a Supremacist! I like who I am and what I have accomplished with my life but I do not consider myself better than others.

Just because I am a man, that does not mean I am misogynistic or sex crazy. I respect women at least as much as I respect fellow males.

Not my fault that I am white, but I can still empathize and work towards a better life for someone who is Black or Latino!

I am old, but that is also not my fault and does not mean that I cannot identify with the youth of today and speak to their well being as well as their being somewhat spoiled. I can learn from them and believe that they can learn from me.


I worked hard all my life, paid my taxes and social security fees, paid my dues to the Teacher's Retirement System. I managed my money carefully. 

Does that make me unable to feel for those who struggle to feed their children or afford to purchase drugs for their illnesses? Am I not entitled to the various benefits for which I paid over my entire working life?

I had the opportunity to go to college and worked at getting an education which enabled me to function well in the job market as a teacher for over 30 years and to have "ideas" about how things should be. So I speak up.

I am also generous with helping others in ways that bring them up and do not engage in gossip that bring them down.

Do not put me in that unfortunate category that has been invented: an older, wealthy, educated, white male supremacist and then assume I am a bad person! This seems to be what often happens and I do resent it. Thus I have spoken up!

Education: Past and Present

The days were different, and the students were different ... but all four of us kept up with the changes and were some of the best teachers you might imagine! And our students were some of the best people you might imagine.

In my retirement people comment, "You got out in time, education has changed so much!" My reply is always, "We changed with the times and as the students changed. We didn't notice the difference in a negative way, we just lived and taught in the here and now."

More Than Ever Educational Foundation

This was also published on my blog

"michael a. horvich cares about alzheimer's disease" 

• • •

When Gregory and I established our Trust, shortly after receiving the diagnosis for Dementia/Alzheimer's, we called it the "More Than Ever Trust." The purpose of the trust was to put our personal and financial matters in order to protect both of us and especially to protect Gregory in the event that I died before him. He would need help and attention to continue even if I could only "watch over" him from elsewhere.

(Interesting in the above paragraph, I automatically called it "the diagnosis," almost changed it to "his diagnosis," then realized that it was really "our diagnosis." Perhaps that is what helped us (and me) weather the path which while often sunny and sprinkled with colorful flowers;  was often rainy, slick, muddy, dark, and frightening with lightening and thunder. Apt metaphors!)

The name, More Than Ever Trust" came from the expression Gregory and I used to symbolize the fact that even thought we were on a difficult, frightening, bumpy road and roller coaster ride, each day our love has continued to grow and we continue love each other more than ever. We could say "More Than Ever" each day and mean it when compared to the previous day!

One of Gregory and my fantasy desires has always been to do good for others. We would ask each other, "What would you do if you won the lottery and suddenly were a multi-millionaire?" Besides buying a few things for ourselves, possibly more travel, and a new car we always arrived at "Doing good for others."

How does one go about doing good for others? There are many ways to do this but for us we decided it meant giving a person a hand up in a way that would provide them with the skills to continue to stay up and perhaps to go higher. That meant giving a person the gift of an education when they could not afford to pay for it themselves.

So many people want to go back to school to finish their high school work, to get training, or to receive a degree for higher level studies. They want to get ahead with new skills, a better job, a more promising future but cannot afford it while trying to pay the rent, feed their kids, maintain a family, continue helping their parents, pay the tuition, whatever.

So Gregory and I talked about how wonderful it would be to be able to set up a foundation to help people do just this. At the time of our discussions we had enough obligations of our own that we could only now and then donate, or support good causes. Now that our lives have calmed down age wise, and need wise; and now that we are closer to the end than the beginning, we realized that when we are gone, we will be in a position to help others.

We decided, while Gregory still could, that besides remembering our family, nieces, nephews, and god-children in a token way when we are no longer living; our savings and insurance monies could go to fulfill this desire to help others get an education.

This will be part of our legacy and our contribution to the future. This will be our thank you to the countless, sometimes nameless others who have helped us during our lives. We have no children to support so (large thinking) the world becomes our children and our family.

As of August 1, 2015, Gregory and I have created the "More Than Ever Educational Foundation" which will do just that after we have died. We are overjoyed and I believe that Gregory is aware of this great accomplishment as well. (See the attached video.)

In addition, we have attached this foundation to supporting the work that Casa Norte has been doing since 2002 whose mission is to serve youth and families confronting homelessness and to provide access to stable housing and deliver comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities. 

We have been involved with Casa Norte for over ten years; attending events and galas, making donations of clothing and household items to their "closet," giving photographs and jewelry created by Michael for their raffles and silent auctions, and more. When Gregory Maire Architect ltd shut its doors we gave desks, chairs, lamps, book cases, and an almost fully stocked kitchen to Casa Norte's first supportive living facility.

We love the people who run Casa Norte, with a special hug to Ms. Sol Flores, Executive Director, and admire their work. We are excited about being a greater part of the good work they do. Michael will continue to be actively involved now and in the future the memories of Gregory and Michael will help provide the gift of education to countless others ... our new family!

Gregory and Michael have been in a committed, life partner relationship for over 40 years. Gregory was diagnosed with Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease over 12 years ago.

Confused on the Internet

I am so confused. Trying to create a larger presence on an already large internet is disconcerting. So far I have: 1) a website with my partner Gregory, 2) a me.com gallery, 3) a professional site, 4) a Michael's Museum site, 5) a writing BLOG, 6) an Alzheimer's BLOG, 7) a photography BLOG, and 8) a Michael's Museum BLOG. I will soon be linked to: 9) The Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier site, 10) am beginning to develop a Twitter visibility, 11) just opened a Twitpix account, 12) just remembered I have the Google Picasa picture site, and 13) want to do more on Linkedin. A baker's dozen. A good luck number. A lot of work. 


I wrote this BLOG after I tried to share a picture on my friend Jan's BLOG entry "Bookshelf Porn." First, I couldn't figure out how to do it. Then, I did it, but incorrectly. Next I figured it out. Finally, there is probably a better way to do so, but one of which I am still unaware. I am confused on the internet. 


So here is my answer. Here is my BLOG entry. Here is a picture of my contribution to Jan's BLOG "Bookshelf Porn." And here is a link to Jan's BLOG. (P.S. You can reach most of my active internet endeavors and those of my friends by clicking on the links to your right!)


CLICK HERE FOR
Jan's BLOG: "Bookshelf Porn"

MY ADDITION/COMMENT ON JAN'S BLOG:

Bedroom Books. Note two art pieces (left-"Me at My Wedding" and right-"Broom Lady") by Jan.

Back to School

The signs on the street lights let us drivers know that children are out and around again and headed back to school now that September has shown its fall-like head. I started teaching when I was twenty, taught for thirty years, and am now retired for fifteen. I guess that makes me old. 


From age five through fifty of my sixty five years, I lived by the seasons. In the beginning I was the student and then the teacher. With fall leaves, followed by trick or treat and turkeys, Hannukah and Christmas ornaments, winter snow flakes, Valentines Day hearts, St. Patrick's Day shamrocks, spring flowers, and finally goodbyes "It's been a great year" my yearly story was told.


My gayly decorated bulletin boards helped tell the school year story along with posting shared student writings, poetry, art work and other student projects scattered around the classroom. With the students, I yearned for winter break, spring break, and chased downhill towards summer vacation but also relished each day I spent in the classroom with my students.


When I look back at my teaching career I have many wonderful memories as well as memories of difficult times in the process. Being a teacher is no easy task when students matter the most but educational politics and parental opinions color a lot of what you must do.


I always held very high expectations for my students least they fall short of their abilities but was told that my expectations were too high. My curricular goals for my students were "Be yourself! Do the best you can do! Perfect doesn't exist! Sometimes less than great is OK. You decide! Don't give up!" among others. But my goals didn't always show up on the yearly achievement tests, the district curriculum ones did.


I think I was a success although a teacher never really gets much feedback on the completed product. Actually I would hope that my students, now grown adults possibly with families of their own, are still not complete as they continue to grow, always seeking to learn more and to experience life to its fullest. 


You know, come to think of it, I still live my life by the seasons. Fall mums decorate my balcony, Indian corn and gourds fill the baskets on the kitchen counter, trick or treat candy is still a weakness. I go all out for Hannukah and Christmas decorations and entertaining, enjoy hot chocolate and a long walk on the first snow fall of the season, enjoy sending flowers to the older women in my family for Valentine's Day, drink a pint of green beer in honor of Saint Patty, and bring in small pots of daffodils and tulips as soon as they show up at the grocery.


Even though I haven't been teaching for fifteen years now and consider myself retired, I still enjoy weekends and look forward to "summer vacation." Come September I worry a little about what my new class will be like, have work oppressive dreams, then wake up and remember that I can turn over and go back to sleep or get a cup of coffee and spend the morning reading. No back-to-school for me.


Once in a while I do get to see the product of my efforts in their grown form and they usually say something like, "I still write in my journal every day." or "I still look at the books we wrote and bound when we were in fifth grade." One student told me, "You are the only teacher that really understood me!" Nice part is students still matter, nicer yet politics do not interfere anymore.