Mike Klonsky was a leader of the students’ rebellion against the Vietnam War and racism in the 1960s.
He just returned from a visit to Parkland, and he thinks this new movement may be the change we need now, especially if it expands its vision.
“Florida happens to be the state most averse to gun control legislation with a majority of state legislators receiving big campaign donations from the NRA. In FL, for example, if municipal officials pass a firearms-related law, they must pay a $5,000 fine and lose their jobs. They can also be forced to pay up to $100,000 in damages to any “person or an organization whose membership is adversely affected by any ordinance” —such as, say, the NRA.
“To show how deep the divide is, the old, white male Republicans who rule the state, after refusing to meet with Parkland students to consider a ban on assault rifles, passed a resolution declaring that pornography endangers teenage health.
“Refusing to be demoralized or turned around, not even by death threats from the right, the students are turning their grief and anger into militancy, organizing an NRA boycott, two national student walkouts against gun violence and lobbying for a ban on assault weapons. The shootings have sparked a new national movement with students taking the lead.
“Students have traditionally been the igniters of larger and broader progressive social movements. That was true of the Civil Rights Movement (SNCC) anti-war and anti-imperialist youth revolt (SDS) of the ’60s and the student uprisings here and in Europe 50 years ago.
“The power of the youth movement rests in its embodiment of a vision that transcends the immediate demands and aims at reshaping the world in which the next generation will live, work, and lead.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
In that sad, and embarrassing to the nation way, we have to thank the pro NRA trolls and media hate mongers for their help in pushing corporate America over the line into dropping all support for the NRA. When faced with the trolls and pundits vile, disgusting attacks and lies about the students, they chose to stand with the students and join the movement to “divest” from the NRA, just as they have done with boycotts against other hate based actions in the past. Kudos to the kids for continuing to stand strong and for showing what real leadership looks like in the face of hate and lies.
In my extensive training in human development, it was stressed that adolescents and young adults are the true change agents, so if you want to start a revolution, they are the ones to do it.
We saw this in the late 60s and 70s, as demonstrated by many college students then, and high school students, too (I was one of the latter). However, ever since, we have been experiencing a very strong backlash in response, which was encouraged by Lewis Powell. See “The Powell Memo: A Call-to-Arms for Corporations” http://billmoyers.com/content/the-powell-memo-a-call-to-arms-for-corporations/.
From the stealth formation and growth of ALEC, to the buying of politicians by big business, to the heavy hand of billionaires, like the Koch brothers, Waltons, Broad and Gates, in directing the course of higher and lower ed, we have seen the power of wealthy elites flourish. Simultaneously, labor unions have come under attack and their presence has diminished, while the inequitable distribution of wealth has dramatically increased.
Meanwhile, “liberal” became a dirty word as the party of the left moved center right and adopted neoliberal economic policies, many of whom co-opted the misnomer of “progressive,” and conservatives galvanized at the very far right. So now look at what we’ve got… This is one hot mess!
I am very glad to see revolution coming from high school students today, and yes, their vision needs to broaden. However, I think we are going to have to be very alert to, and try to prevent, the kind of backlash that we have been experiencing for the past 50 years which resulted from our last revolution by young people.
This column will appear in a number of suburban and rural Mn newspapers over the next 2 weeks:
https://www.hometownsource.com/elk_river_star_news/opinion/columnists/youngsters-and-adults-can-reduce-gun-violence/article_2dfc68f4-18c1-11e8-aa8f-b77d1721b20b.html
http://centerforschoolchange.org/2018/02/youngsters-adults-can-reduce-gun-violence/
Youngsters and adults can reduce gun violence
Feb 26, 2018
History tells us that young people trying to make America safer via better gun policies can make a difference. That’s if, and it’s a big if, they learn from past efforts to change America. Whether parents, grandparents or educators, adults can help youngsters understand what has and hasn’t worked to make America better.
Young Minnesotans are joining others to urge changes in gun policies. As I write this column, a website lists efforts by students in Apple Valley, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Osseo, St. Paul and Wayzata. Info is found here: http://bit.ly/2DKVi2L.
I can’t independently verify this. But clearly some youngsters are making plans.
I’m not advocating here for a specific local, state or national policy. That’s beyond my expertise, although I strongly believe changes are needed.
But I think adults should help young people understand past efforts to, for example, increase civil rights and end the war in Vietnam. Educators should help their students decide what to do without telling them what to do.
Many years ago, activist Peter Marin wrote about the “open truth and fiery vehemence of youth.” Marin skillfully described the complexity of issues such as gun violence and the passion that many young people feel.
Here are four lessons to consider.
First, persistence is vital. Very few changes are made in a day, week or month. That is not meant to discourage youngsters. It is meant to help them understand in a democracy, change almost never happens quickly.
Second, there are not just two “sides” in this, and many other controversies. Pulitzer Prize winner David Halberstam wrote a wonderful book about young civil rights activists, “The Children.” Halberstam makes clear that teenagers made a huge difference in the civil rights era. He documents that leaders and followers sometimes intensely disagreed about strategies and goals. Some favored demonstrations, while others promoted lawsuits, voter registration or “bus rides.” Some wanted to stress voting rights, while others focused on school integration or housing. There was no single “truth” about what the country should do or what strategies should be used.
That leads to a third lesson: It’s wise to study the issue and listen to different viewpoints. Research on gun control is not always definitive.
This is not a defense of the status quo. However, studying what has and has not worked in this and other countries makes a person more informed and potentially more effective.
Fourth, coalitions can be helpful. I’m encouraged that some gun owners are speaking out publicly, saying that more must be done. Over decades of social change in America, we’ve learned that bringing together people who don’t always agree increases the likelihood that we’ll see progress.
Young people also have plenty to teach older people like me. For example, I’m in awe of how some are using social media to organize and share information. And the passion that many youngsters bring to this effort is heartening. They are being heard.
As I write this column President Donald Trump is being quoted by various news sources as saying: “We cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make a difference.” I didn’t vote for President Trump and question many of his actions. But this statement suggests he is feeling pressure. That’s good.
Educators call our current situation a “teachable moment.” Millions of young people are upset about school shootings and want to “do something.” Adults can help youngsters do something that makes this a safer country. — Joe Nathan
(Editor’s note: Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher, administrator and PTA president, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org or @JoeNathan9249.)
I am horrified at the new low that our society has reached. These brave, intelligent, articulate student mass killing survivors are speaking out in ways that our bought out Congress hasn’t. The fact is that these students are now receiving death threats and vile smears. Our Great Leader can take credit for encouraging the scum of the earth to come out from under their rocks.
I hope they are the wave of the future. Many young progressive adults also supported Bernie Sanders. Perhaps there is hope for our future.
“In FL, for example, if municipal officials pass a firearms-related law, they must pay a $5,000 fine and lose their jobs. They can also be forced to pay up to $100,000 in damages to any “person or an organization whose membership is adversely affected by any ordinance” —such as, say, the NRA.”
These kinds of laws cannot be real, can they?
Most (not all) public officials are sworn to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States. The wording may vary from state to state. And not every state/municipal/county official is sworn to defend the federal constitution.
The 2d amendment is part of the federal constitution. (Some, not all, state constitutions contain a firearms-rights provision). if an official who is sworn to uphold firearms rights, initiates/supports an ordinance that is contrary to the federal/state constitution that they are sworn to uphold, then they are violating their oath of office.
Of course they should be fined and/or imprisoned. They should also be impeached and removed from office.
Assault rifles were banned from 1994-2004. No one suggested impeaching the members of Congress who banned assault weapons for 10 years. You are wrong, Charles. Presidents Reagan, Ford, and Carter endorsed the ban.
Whatever. You Charles are tangled up in reading and evaluating laws. We here try to see what is in the childrens’ best interest. You, on the other hand, want to bring in other interests as well, hence I do not see how we have anything to talk to each other about.
Invoking laws is not a good way to argue. Laws are just legal wordings of usually quite easily understood principles, and if these principles are lacking, laws are changed.
In the documentary about Gloria Allred (Netflix), it is explained that as she was representing the 33 victims against Bill Cosby, they discovered that the courts wanted to dismiss many of the charges because of a 40 year statute of limitation. You, Charles, would have said, well that’s it for these women. Allred, on the other hand, examined the basic principle behind the the 40 year limit, and found that the 40 year was posed because they didn’t want to overwhelm the system with old rape cases. In other words, the law served to protect the legal system instead of the victims. The 40 year limit got eliminated in short order.
That’s what is going to happen with laws regarding guns: eventually they will be changed so that they protect schools, children and other innocent victims. As they are now, they don’t do that.
I just listened to Steve Inskeep interview a Florida legislator and the legislator said the legislators in Florida have not received NRA monies. That is certainly different from what her blog says – says a majority of legislators receive monies. After listening to the legislator, if the legislature as a whole votes the way he talks then nothing will be done on gun safety. I wish more of these people that say any regulation on guns is violating the second amendment – it does not and even Scallia said reasonable regulations can apply to guns. Thanks. later. George
From: Diane Ravitch’s blog To: korea8wv@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 9:35 PM Subject: [New post] Mike Klonsky: A New Student Movement, Beginning at Parkland #yiv9558626804 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv9558626804 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv9558626804 a.yiv9558626804primaryactionlink:link, #yiv9558626804 a.yiv9558626804primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv9558626804 a.yiv9558626804primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv9558626804 a.yiv9558626804primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv9558626804 WordPress.com | dianeravitch posted: ” Mike Klonsky was a leader of the students’ rebellion against the Vietnam War and racism in the 1960s.He just returned from a visit to Parkland, and he thinks this new movement may be the change we need now, especially if it expands its visio” | |
see
http://time.com/money/5166607/florida-school-shooting-gun-control-fines-laws-protests/
Isn’t that absurd.
See, what you are doing Charles? You are invoking laws instead of making sensible arguments. In this case, you are showing us a completely ridiculous law which blackmails Florida lawmakers not to change gunlaws: they get fined for just trying to enforce stricter gunlaws.
That law will be one of the first that will go away, since its rationale has nothing to do with children’s and other innocent people’s interest. We have a new era now, new ways of looking at old rules and laws.
Trump, Parkland and the #NeverAgain Movement: A Closer Look
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Published on Feb 26, 2018
Seth takes a closer look at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and how the #NeverAgain movement continues to put pressure on Republicans and the NRA.