Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Colorblind

Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:36:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

I have moved my whole blog to http://craigberger784.wordpress.com. Please visit me there!

Thanks!

When It's Time to Leave

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:58:00 +0000

Let's put aside the fact that I have a wonderful girlfriend waiting for me in Oxford, Ohio right now, one-half year into her grad school program (one to which I'm currently applying). Even if I wasn't 100% positive I was done here, she would be enough to pull me away because I love her.

Let's pretend, instead, that I am single. How do I decide that I need to leave where I am? How do I know how to leave my current job?

When I was visiting with my brother the other day, it organically came out of my mouth in a car ride: "I know it's time to leave because I'm getting to be comfortable there."

And I can see the stages of development in this realization over time.

In high school, I had no clue what being "comfortable" meant. Those kids surrounding me were the only people I knew in my educational world. Some were good, some were bad. Many were "okay." But I didn't think about having to be comfortable around them. They were just there.

And then came Allegheny. I certainly wasn't comfortable my first year there. I was confident, but there were many challenges. I was exploring my group of friends. I was exploring how to successfully cohabitate with a roommate. I was exploring the differences between a "work-study" job and the ridiculous job I had at home the summer before college. Most appropriately, I was exploring the differences between high school classes and college courses. As I took on different roles, I negotiated the respective social circles that accompanied them. Not until my senior year did I realize that Allegheny was a "home," a generally accommodating host for my trials and tribulations the previous three years. I observed that just as I was going to be able to settle, I needed to leave.

Now, three years into my job (also on a college campus), I'm beginning to feel the same comfort. I know most people here. I know what makes most people tick here (though I sometimes am still surprised at what I hear people say or do, including myself). I know some people here better than I ever knew some of my friends at Allegheny (if you're reading this and from Allegheny, you're probably still safe). By the end of the year, I'm going to be comfortable. Too comfortable. I'm feeling the need to be challenged once more, to be taken out of my comfort zone.

While I've learned a plethora of lessons the past couple years, one has been to never stop paying attention to your gut. It will tell you about your environment. But the other, as a corollary, is to make sure you interpret your gut feeling the right way. Currently, comfort, for me, equals complacency, and so while initially feeling "safe," sounds like a good thing, it's not in my situation.

Tough Times

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:58:00 +0000

It is very easy to experience something rough in life and get so down that you just can't see how the experience can benefit you in the future. Things keep piling on, forcing you into negative thought after negative thought. You start to get tired of the obstacle, wanting to move forward, and sometimes, if you're lucky, it lets you go. But even then, many of us would have no clue how that struggle might help us in the future.

During my freshman year of college, I got homesick, but it happened in February instead of September or October. Things piled on: my great-grandpa died; an off-campus fire took the life of a student, shaking me up and making me realize how fragile life is; the gloomy weather, with more snow and colder temperatures than I was used to, had no apparent end in sight; and after thinking about all this, I caught the flu. Having been used to the attention of a loving mother every other time I was sick, her absence became quite apparent. All of these things combined into what is the closest to depression I believe I've come.

Many mornings and nights were spent on the phone with my mom during this period of time. After the two experiences with death exposed life's fragility, I realized how quickly I could lose the close relationship I had with my mom, my dad, my brother, and the rest of those I loved. Through those conversations with my mom, I realized that what was truly bothering me was the guilt I felt of being away from everyone that, to that point, had been important in my life. It took my mom explaining to me that they were so important and close to me because they all had high hopes for me from the beginning, that they had invested so much patience and so much love in me for moments like those I was experiencing, when everything seemed so tough. Finally, my mom pointed out that no matter what happened, we both knew that we loved each other very much -- it was understood (and the same with the rest of my family). And that's all it took. Once I didn't have to worry about her or others leaving unexpectedly without knowing how I felt, I was free to live life and enjoy it. And for the rest of that spring semester, I did, day by day.

At that time, all I thought about was finishing up and getting home for the summer. But now, six years later, now that I work in residence life and deal with college students on a regular basis, the lessons that were planted in those tough, dark times have bloomed. I am now able to give them back to other students, struggling with various emotional issues, roommate conflicts, or other problems. In two recent roommate conflicts, one roommate was annoyed with the other for being too overwhelming when the "other" repeatedly insisted on helping the upset one. I pulled out the lesson of the understood notion -- we established in both conflicts that the resident who wanted to help would always have an understood offer to the other resident of the room who preferred to be upset alone: "If you need anything or if there's anything I can do, please let me know." It worked. In both situations, the roommates agreed that this was the best policy and they put it in their new roommate agreement. It also worked once more in another conversation I had around the same time.

When we're going through tough times, it is understandable that what happens during that period of time leaves a bad taste in our mouths. But as time takes you further and further away, the lessons sharpen and become easier to see. It is these lessons that form the compensation for having gone through your rut. Embracing these lessons allows you to not only make lemonade from lemons, but it also leads you to helping others in need in the future.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:59:00 +0000

This blog is fast approaching "stale" territory. I recognize that my efforts in updating it have been very poor. I thought I would write just to give any readers out there an update on my life.

I am currently in my last year working in Residence Life at a small, public institution of higher education. I will have a lot on my plate this fall. I am organizing a series of political programming for the campus, recruiting students to serve as "residential service leaders," organizing another trip to Gulfport, Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina relief (yes, there is still much work to be done), all while sitting on a few committees and supervising two first year buildings and one for recruiting students (which means sixteen RAs). Though it is a lot, and there is probably more that I have left out, I am viewing it as a way to prove that I have gotten enough out of my first two years here to be a smashing success during my third and last year.

What's next you ask? During the fall, I will be applying to Miami University's (Ohio, not Florida) College Student Personnel graduate program. The application deadline is January 5th. This degree will qualify me for student life jobs higher up the ladder while giving me a more theoretical understanding of what I do on a day to day basis. I'll also be able to get even more experience through an assistantship (hopefully). I will also be applying to Ohio State's Higher Education and Student Affairs program.

As you would probably guess from past posts, I am an Obama supporter and a close follower of the 2008 elections. I do plan on volunteering for Obama over the next few months, and I am very excited about doing so!

I have started writing another blog (which may account for my lackadasical posting here) called Politics of the Common Good. I've found that having more to write about (news cycles guarantee me fresh information every day) makes it easier to get words down and out. I also realize I know more about politics and the political process than I thought I did, though I do still get a bit self-conscious when writing about something I don't know entirely. But that's when you learn, right?

Finally, I am nearly one year into a wonderful relationship, and I'm enjoying every millisecond of it. I love you Molly.

I'll try to be in touch more and share some deep thoughts once they come along. Don't hold your breath though. ;)

A Philly Busride

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:08:00 +0000

I've been meaning to get this story out since I came back from Philly, but actually driving home and visiting with family and friends has gotten in the way a bit.

Molly and I had decided to stay an extra day in Philadelphia in order to sightsee a bit in the city. We drove into the city and parked near the Philadelphia Art Museum (of Rocky fame). In order to get to our destination of Independence Square, we took a trolley that Molly's brother Mike had told us about. Everything worked out fine; after we finished walking through the American galleries, we hopped on the Phlash Trolley to get to Independence Square. After we finished walking around Independence Hall and touring the National Constitution Center, we realized that it was about 6:00 PM -- the last stop for the trolley that evening. Looking through the pamphlet and schedule for the trolley, we saw that we had some time to work with since the trolley was not scheduled to come back to Independence Square until 6:22. Even so, we waited at the stop. At 6:18 the trolley pulls up. I got up, stood next to it, and waited for it to open its doors so we could get on -- except the doors did not open. The woman driving the bus seemingly ignored us (I think she knew she was going to have to drop us off someplace where she had already made her last stop) as she was stopped at the red light at the intersection. When the light turned green, the trolley rolled on down the street with Molly and me watching in disbelief.

"What now?" I asked. Molly called her brother and notified him of what had happened. Mike advised us to find another trolley (luckily there was one within sight, across and down the street). We asked the driver if she was headed in the direction of the Art Museum. She was not, she told us, but the trolley that had driven off without us might be heading back in our direction. Also, the SEPTA bus -- the 17 line -- should go toward the Art Museum. Did we want her to wait on us? No, I told her. We'd figure things out on our own.

Sure enough, the Phlash trolley returned. Instead of pulling up alongside the curb, though, it drove up to the same intersection as before, but in the opposite direction. It was also in the left lane. Choosing to notice us this time, the driver opened her doors and yelled toward us. I couldn't really understand her, but her face and her actions and mannerisms made clear that she had already made her last stop and we were not welcome to get a ride.

We elected to wait on the 17 bus. It arrived fairly soon, but the driver told us that it would not take us to the Art Museum; instead, the driver said, we shoud wait on the other route at that stop, the 33 line, which would take us there. Another five minutes passed before the 33 arrived. Upon boarding, I inquired of the driver the price for tickets. The driver said "$2.00" and instructed me to slide the bill that I had in my hand -- a $10.00 bill -- through the machine and told me I would get change. As I let go of the bill and the machine recorded the dollar amount, the driver suddenly became exasperated, asking me in disbelief why I would slide a $10.00 bill into it. "If I had known you had a $10.00 bill, I would have given you the change myself." You see, apparently the machine on the bus does not process that amount. Exasperated, tired, and ready to be out of the city, I, without thinking, replied, "Whatever." This is not a smart move when you're around people that use the public transportation as a lifeline. Immediately, I got the collective opinion of those on the bus. "That's a damn shame." "Unbelievable. $10.00?" Even the driver chipped in -- "In my eighteen years on this bus, I've never had anyone do that." As the driver filled out the rebate form (for $6), I was bombarded with detailed instructions on how to redeem the rebate. Eventually the driver asked us where we were headed. When I told him the Art Museum, we again elicited frustration. "We're not even going there!" he exclaimed. The driver dropped us off in an average-at-best neighborhood with coupons instructing us to get on the 43 line, which would take us to the museum. After asking a local teenager for help, we eventually got on the 43 and got to the Museum -- finally.

The point of all this? I realized that while I spend so much time in the ivory tower, academic frame of mind, I really don't have the opportunity to feel the differences between different lifestyles and cultures. And when you're in that situation, it's so challenging to see the commonalities in all of us. When we're truly scared of something socially, we notice the differences in our dominant culture and the prevailing culture instinctively. Too many people don't get past that. We need to challenge ourselves, no matter what the situation, to look at the things that bond us together. No matter how big the differences are, there are those links.

Four months before he was shot, President Kennedy discussed these bonds in a commencement speech to American University (June 10, 1963):

...Let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.

Differences -- things that make us unique -- should be celebrated, and the linkages we share should be remembered.

What is a situation in which you found yourself challenged?

'Go get 'em': Death and Control

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:02:00 +0000

I must confess -- I've been blogging elsewhere.

I've set up a blog at wordpress.com discussing the intersection of politics and the common good especially as it relates to the current election news. I really enjoy that as it affords me more material that I can get into. The last couple months I'd click on "dashboard" for this blog and nothing would come to mind about which I could write, so then I'd just give up.

Too many things have happened now, though, to give up on this post.

When Tim Russert died last Friday, something inside me changed. I can't quite put a finger on it. I've always had this preoccupation with death. I remember when I was in preschool or kindergarten and I kept asking questions about the subject. Eventually my minister at the time gave a book called Freddy the Leaf to my mom to read it with me. The book traced the life of a leaf through the different seasons ending in autumn. I don't really remember what I thought about the book, but I do know it quenched my need for knowledge -- at that point.

But then I grew a bit more and in sixth grade, I remember being in tears. Some of it was stress because all of a sudden hormones hit me like a locomotive. I worried what other people thought about me. I worried about whether or not my friends were really my friends. I worried about worrying about it. And I remember one night where I was once more in tears and for no apparent reason realized that I had not been as close to my dad as my mom growing up. And then, of course, I thought about my dad dying. Why? I'm not sure. But now you see -- the topic of death, whether it was relevant or irrelevant, logical or illogical, was still there.

Fast forward to college. I didn't get homesick in the fall of my freshman year like most other incoming college students. Mine was delayed for a few months. By the time the middle of February rolled around, I became very sick, I hadn't really made too many close friends, and then... a house caught fire just off campus, and a student died. BAM. The reinsertion of death into my thoughts didn't exactly help my homesickness. After going home for a long weekend to recover and after talking with my mom for a long time, I finally realized that the four years I would be spending at Allegheny were too little to be counting down the days until I could go home again. I couldn't be worrying about what might happen when I'm not in Salem, Ohio. And there's the marriage of control and death again.

After Tim Russert passed on Friday, I realized that the connection between death and control (or lack thereof) is precisely what gets to me each time a major event happens that triggers those fatal thoughts. I am reminded of how quickly everything can be gone. And it's not me I'm concerned about finishing things up. It's the people I love. To some degree, I feel like I have just a bit more control over whether I die or not. But I know I have none over the fate of my loved ones. And it's the fear of receiving that call that so and so has passed away that, at points in my life, was paralyzing.

But I've realized that whether I like it or not, that call is going to come someday. In the meantime, I have to model the lesson Tim Russert taught all of us -- to take each day and be fascinated with the opportunities life gives us. "Go get 'em," Tim would tell his reporters. I think I'll take his advice once and for all.

Annie Oakley

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:20:00 +0000

After acknowledging he could have said things a bit differently and admitting that his statement was not "artful," and after being on the receiving end of yet another onslaught of scolding bankrupt of any credibility whatsoever, Obama dug in and stuck up for himself. See below.

For those of you not watching the whole video, here's the part where he throws the counterpunch :

"She’s running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment, she's talking like she's Annie Oakley! Hillary Clinton's out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday, she's packin' a six shooter! C'mon! She knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton. I want to see that picture of her out there in the duck blinds."

Fine. Obama may not have been as tactful as he should have been last Sunday, but for Hillary to seize on this -- it shows how disingenuous she and her campaign really are.

Politics New versus Politics Old

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:47:00 +0000

This whole campaign for the Democratic nomination is a real-time lesson on the transition between post-1960 politics and a more pragmatic politics. The most recent controversy over Obama's statements, largely media- and Clinton-driven, is the latest example.

First, what did Barack say? In speaking to a group of fundraisers last weekend in San Francisco, he said the following, speaking about the effect of a poor economy on rural voters, like Pennsylvanians: "It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Certainly not the way to phrase things, and it probably isn't the easiest of comments for a politician to articulate – it just doesn't sound good to say that about a group of people.

However, Obama's ends are, in my opinion, quite justified. We HAVE to get past the cultural issues to discuss the more serious and influential economic, quality of life issues. At some point, in order to do that, we need to have a conversation about why our national dialogue is centered on issues that only serve to distract us. I believe Obama's pragmatism drove him to make these statements for that purpose.

Conversely, we have Senator Clinton who is still stuck to the old politics like molasses. In fact, it's very much her lifeline. With Obama so far ahead in pledged delegates and catching up in superdelegates, Clinton is facing a situation in which her only way to victory is by tarnishing Obama to the point that the superdelegates – the key Democratic officeholders and staffers – start to lose faith en masse in his candidacy and think about supporting Clinton as a lifesaver for the party. This approach can be seen in her reactions to Obama's statements. Recognizing where Obama wanted to go, Clinton chose to focus on Obama's comments, sans context. This was the perfect opportunity for her to pounce on a supposed weakness of Senator Obama – his arrogance.

So again, it's Obama, trying to dig deeper than we have in forty or fifty years to actually solve problems in this country, versus Clinton who continues the trench warfare politics of the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's – watch out for sniper fire, Hill!

The correct and prudent choice seems pretty damn clear to me.

Your critics tell you they still love you by giving you brick walls.

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:40:00 +0000

Over the past year, I've become familiar with the story of a professor at Carnegie Mellon University named Randy Pausch. Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and it since has spread to his liver. Doctors have told Pausch he only has but a few months to live. Pausch didn't respond the way people might expect him to.

After he regrouped, Pausch took the time to analyze his life, his dreams, and the progress he had made in meeting those dreams. He's delivered a lecture at CMU, his last, that discusses the importance of realizing one's childhood dreams and the lessons that accompany this process.

A few parts of this lecture stood out to me. One part was when Pausch was describing a grueling football practice he experienced growing up and a conversation he had following that.

"When it was all over," Pausch said, "one of the other assistant coaches came over and said, 'Yeah, Coach Graham rode you pretty hard, didn't he?' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'That's a good thing.' 'When you're screwin' up and nobody's sayin' anything to you anymore, that means they gave up.'... When you see yourself doing something badly and nobody's bothering to tell you anymore, that's a very bad place to be. Your critics are the ones telling you they still love you and care."

I think this appealed to me so much because of the difficult time I have with criticism, both in giving it and receiving it. But this all goes back to communication. We function so much better when we're all on the same page. I think maybe it's natural to fear others. Think about it -- strangers are a negative thing to us. We've had "don't talk to strangers" singed into our brains since our early childhoods. This warning presumes that most of humanity is fundamentally bad. So when we're criticized -- even by those we care about -- we defensively presume that others are intent on harming us. But, as Pausch points out, maybe they're not? Some people would love to have people care enough about them to throw some criticism their way.

The other part of his presentation I liked was a Powerpoint slide that contained the image of a brick wall next to the phrase, "Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things." When I think of the turning points in my life that guided me to where I am now, most were initially negative events. They were the brick walls that Pausch alluded to. I was told my sophomore year that I wasn't able to study at American University because I wasn't qualified. What did I do? I became more active on campus. I became President of the College Democrats. I ran for President of ASG, and while I wasn't successful there, I still became more familiar with student life which then encouraged me to get into Student Affairs. We all have that tendency to perceive brick walls to be harmful, but there is always the possibility -- the hope -- that we can make them a good thing.

Here is the entirety of Pausch's last lecture. Enjoy!

All caught up

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:14:00 +0000

After moving apartments about a month ago, I put the finishing touches on that effort tonight. For the first time in a long time, I feel organized and ready for the next few days of my life.

Tomorrow will be spent traveling to Harrisburg for a conference on what communities can do to stem the abuse of alcohol among underage students. That drive from Erie is exhausting -- the turnpike is an extremely boring road to drive on.

Not much time for a very developed post, so I'll just stop here for now.

Social mapping in residence halls

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:35:00 +0000

Since I’ve decided to stay at Behrend an extra year, one thing I’ve become very excited about is the ability to experiment with something called “social mapping” in the residence halls. I got this idea from a coordinator at the University Park campus who wanted to see his RAs strengthen relationships with their residents on their floors. In order to do this, he decided to make the process visual.

Ideally, over the summer, I would create copies of floor plans for every RA on campus. Each RA would then be responsible for keeping these plans with them all the time, turning them in during regular one-on-one meetings with his or her coordinator. The coordinator would review the plan with the RA. The plan would be color-coded, with strong relationships between the RA and both residents of a room perhaps signified by the color blue, while relationships for improvement might be shaded in red. Not only would the plan contain these colors, but it would diagram relationships on the floor – for example, the RA would mark on the plan that Kimmy from room 201 is best friends and sorority sisters with Lindsay from 203. Finally, RAs would be listing personal information next to each resident’s name. Obviously the plan would get a bit crowded at the end of the semester, but if that’s the case, that just means the RA is doing his or her job.

Our office will get a few things because of this.

1.) As previously stated, RAs will surely get to know residents much better.

2.) RAs will be able to focus on problem areas – perhaps spots on the hall that are low-traffic that may be susceptible to cliques or discipline issues. The coordinator and the RA can then discuss strategies to confront these problems.

3.) The RA-Coordinator relationship will improve. Instead of the traditional floor test, during which the coordinator quizzes each staff member on the names/room numbers of his/her residents, this program will promote teamwork, allowing the coordinator and RA to work with each other and develop more of a one-on-one relationship that is still focused on the job.

4.) The job becomes fun. For both coordinators and RAs, visually representing their job can give it a new meaning and thus, both can be renewed when they see the difference they’re making.

I’ll be sure to report back as I start preparing this summer. I think we will be seeing much more of this kind of thing over the next decade in our field, especially due to the rise of social networking sites, like Facebook.

I hope everything is going well with you!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:52:00 +0000

Last night I ended up watching CNN's two hour special on the assassination of MLK. Soledad O'Brien did a great job telling the story, with at least half of the focus on James Earl Ray.

While I was watching, I thought about Christianity. For a long time I had resisted the divisive rhetoric used by "super-Christians" who wanted to make everything a discussion of abortion and gay marriage. I was especially taken with Jim Wallis's approach the last couple years I was in college -- the incessant focus on poverty and financial morality. But then I found Wallis a bit too arrogant for me.

Last night's special made me realize that King's (and Gandhi's) methods and message are probably the largest examples of Jesus's teachings we have. King did the unbelievably tough things. To stare down an evil system that had no shame in oppressing other human beings -- all without resorting to violence -- that's pretty courageous.

When I think of what Jesus wants us to do, I find King's example a much better one to follow than the words of those who are obsessed with gay marriage, abortion, and other non-important issues.

Courage through perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:11:00 +0000

I wrote something for our Alternative Spring Break blog, and I thought I'd post it here...

While I have already said this many times -- in Facebook groups and on this blog – and while I will continue to say it while we’re in Mississippi, thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on something you don’t know. Thank you for foregoing what might otherwise be a guaranteed week of rest and relaxation after a grueling seven or eight weeks of school. Thank you for putting the work into organizing for this trip.

Most of all, though, thank you for your courage. You’ll see throughout our trip that residents of the Gulfport area aren’t grateful that you’re hammering a nail into a piece of wood, or sanding until you’re covered with drywall dust. They’re grateful because you’re there. Your presence, in many ways, speaks more than the completed portion of any project. Your presence lets these victims know that even though the country’s dialogue might be focused on Britney Spears or what J. Lo and Mark Anthony named their babies, there are people in America that remember them. Your presence radiates courage.

But while we’re courageous for traveling over one thousand miles to show our commitment, you will also see a different type of courage on this trip. You’ll see it in the homeowner, who month after month and year after year, has watched his/her house and property sit in silence, with front stairs to nothing, fireplaces with no living room, and sand-filled yards all-to-often staring back at them. You’ll see it in the merchant or the business-owner who, after losing everything, is teetering on the edge, fighting day by day to return to financial and emotional security. You’ll see it in victims of Hurricane Camille (which hit the same area in 1969) who, after thinking it couldn’t happen again, face the awful reality: it did. While many have moved on, some are still looking for that fuel – that courage – to continue forward.

Our trip, in many ways, is a gift exchange. We Penn Staters give our courage to those stuck in a hole, looking for a way out. Each wave of weekly volunteers is an expression of faith, hope, and admiration all rolled into one. We provide them the energy to keep driving forward. Yet those same people offer us inspirational courage through the lesson of perspective. We all have those nagging day-to-day problems that we love to inflate; but these brave Katrina survivors and Mississippi residents show us issues that need no magnification, and we see how determined they are in confronting them.

In a speech in South Africa in 1966, the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy explained that we owe many of our greatest accomplishments to courage.

”It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

This trip will contain many “diverse acts of courage;” every nail hammered, every piece of drywall installed, and every minute spent talking with a victim are a few. But remember: just by coming, you send that ripple of hope that impacts more people than you probably realize. And just by being there, you engage yourself in a whirlwind of courage that builds the current that Kennedy mentions – a current that is much different than Gulfport and the rest of the Gulf Coast saw on August 29, 2005.

Obama versus Clinton

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Because I’m a political dork and I think about the 2008 race for the Democratic nomination every day now, I wanted to offer a few insights regarding the big differences in the platforms of both frontrunners.

The first major difference can be found in their healthcare plans. While both use “universal” to describe their plans, they differ from each other. Obama explains his by saying, “My opponents think the government should force you to buy healthcare. I believe that the reason people don't have healthcare isn't that they don't want it, it's that they can't afford it.” In other words, Obama’s plan proposes mandatory coverage for children but not adults. Obama believes that adults, once the prices start to fall thanks to the children being covered, will be responsible enough to purchase healthcare on their own. Meanwhile, Clinton’s proposal mandates healthcare across the board for both children and adults. Clinton portrays her mandate as a guarantee that everyone will have access to health insurance.

The other major difference is the role each candidate played in the lead-up to the War in Iraq. The following is a list of those Democratic senators who, in a Democratically-controlled Senate, gave President Bush the authority to use military force in Iraq by voting for S.J. Res. 45. The vote passed 77-23, with the 29 Democrats below teaming up with 48 Republicans to vote for the resolution.

YES (29): Baucus (MT), Bayh (IN), Biden (DE), Breaux (LA)*, Cantwell (WA), Carnahan (MO)*, Carper (DE), Cleland (GA)*, Clinton (NY), Daschle (SD)*, Dodd (CT), Dorgan (ND), Edwards (NC)*, Feinstein (CA), Harkin (IA), Hollings (SC)*, Johnson (SD), Kerry (MA), Kohl (WI), Landrieu (LA), Lieberman (CT), Lincoln (AR), Miller (GA)*, Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Reid (NV), Rockefeller (WV), Schumer (NY), Torricelli (NJ)*.

You’ll see Clinton’s name listed (because I bolded and italicized it). Clinton’s floor statement in support of the resolution went something like this.

It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security.

…

And finally, on another personal note, I come to this decision from the perspective of a Senator from New York who has seen all too closely the consequences of last year's terrible attacks on our nation. In balancing the risks of action versus inaction, I think New Yorkers who have gone through the fires of hell may be more attuned to the risk of not acting. I know that I am.

The proof suggests Hussein was actually not in a position to do anything of the sort. See for yourself.

Meanwhile, while Clinton was approving of the war, this is what Barack Obama had to say as a state senator in Illinois:

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings.

What’s noticeable is not just that Obama got the decision right and Clinton got it wrong, but also, that Obama refused to pair 9/11 with the Iraq mess, while Clinton virtually wrapped her vote in 9/11 (and thus, fear).

Take what you want from this, but I see the candidates’ stances on these two issues as the most substantive. Thanks for reading!

Google Reader

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:45:00 +0000

About a year ago, I realized that I was becoming overwhelmed by all the content I was interested in reading on the web. Of course, me being the trendy person I am, I realized how much easier digesting content on the web would be with an RSS reader. I created my own reader using Google Reader, and I haven't looked back.

Using Google Reader today, I made another discovery. I apparently have my own reading list that can be read as a blog. Anytime I come across something interesting on Google Reader, I can click "Share with friends," and it'll publish it here for all of you to see. Nothing is there as of now, but I'll surely be taking advantage of it starting now.

Stay tuned for another post tonight -- still working on it.

Peace!

Yes, We Can

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:38:00 +0000

Yes, we can.

Out-of-body experience

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:05:00 +0000

I had a very weird experience today.

I googled myself under the news section of the website and then clicked on blogs to see what other Craig Bergers were out there. And then I found this:

http://craig-howes.blogspot.com/2007/10/today-i-attended-funeral-of-craig.html

Today I attended the funeral of Craig Berger. He is the husband of my
cousin Linda. He was a very big man. I am not sure how tall he was, but he was
well over 6'6". His shoe size was 18 EEEE. He died at the very early age of 52
of heart failure. Besides his wife Linda, he has left behind three children, the
oldest 16 years of age.

...

Our prayers go out to Linda, Brian, Aaron, and Aria. May god bless.

1.) If you know me, you know I'm a pretty big guy.

2.) My cholesterol count's probably not the best.

3.) I have big feet and wear 18 in Nikes.

4.) I have a brother named Aaron.

5.) I have the same first name, middle initial, and last name.

'Me' Time

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:17:00 +0000

As a part of my responsibilities, I am expected to have meetings with each RA that I supervise. As with the individuals in the RA position, these meetings take on many different personalities. I have the quick five minute meeting when I make sure things are going well with their floor, we talk about any possible maintenance issues, and how the staff is getting along. I also have hour-long one-on-ones in which no topic is restricted.

Today I had one of the latter, and in this conversation, the RA and I discussed the need for "me" time in a schedule like hers (and like mine). While I usually am the one being told to take that time for myself, I found myself imparting this advice on her. This RA does a great job and connects well with her residents, though many times they don't connect well with each other. Knocks on the door at 2:00 AM to solve a conflict are getting to be regular for this RA, and while she is able to maintain that connection and trust with her residents, it's getting to be a bit much. So when she told me she really wanted time for her -- not to do schoolwork, or not to work on something for one of the many student organizations of which she's a member (or officer) -- I jumped at that. I explained to her that down the road people aren't going to remember the one time that she couldn't answer the door because she was watching TV/reading/relaxing. They'll remember her for the positive attitude, smile, and sincerity she gave them because she was able to have that alone time.

While she took the advice well and had an "aha moment," I did too. And while it occurred after I decided to take some time off next weekend, it did make me look forward to the break. Next Friday I am going to be driving home during the day, not taking any work with me whatsoever, and sincerely enjoying the time with my family, possibly friends, while I am home. Originally it was going to be a three-day weekend, but after my conversation with the RA today, I'm going to go ahead and take that Monday off too.

Fresh start

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:34:00 +0000

There’s really nothing like a fresh start to motivate people.

I’m seeing that in many of my RAs, as they are doing a great job of planning programs, spending the money they didn’t do such a great job of spending last semester, and connecting with their residents.

I’m seeing that in myself, as I am getting in a nice routine, holding office hours in each building I’m in charge of – sounds easy, but it isn’t – and staying on top of various processes on which I fell behind last semester.

I’m seeing that in regular students, those involved with the Alternative Spring Break trip to Gulfport, and those I meet with for discipline.

This semester, so far, seems to be going very well. Keeping fingers crossed…

South Carolina Democratic primary

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:08:00 +0000

I’m getting ready to head off to RA training here, but before I do, I wanted to reflect a bit on last night’s victory by Obama in South Carolina.

First, young people continue to pile on to Obama’s candidacy. Per CNN’s exit poll, 68% of those voters in the 18-29 year old age group chose Obama, compared to 23% choosing another candidate. In what certainly came to be a racially-charged election, the interesting aspect of the youth numbers is their ignorance of any racial fault. In what appears to be an embrace of Obama’s post-racial politics, young voters – black and white – overwhelmingly chose the Illinois senator. Blacks in the 18-29 year old demographic voted for Obama by a 79% to 19% margin, while whites in the same age group gave Obama a 52% to 28% edge. Of note in the latter statistic is Edwards’s performance – Edwards was able to capture 20% of whites aged 18 to 29, which then helped Obama in his effort to top Senator Clinton.

Next, young people continue to vote at exorbitant rates. Mike Connery, at Future Majority, elaborates on the CIRCLE data released after last night’s contest.

Turnout in the Democratic Primary in South Carolina almost tripled yesterday. According to CIRCLE, 74,245 young voters went to the polls, 19 percent of eligible young voters. In 2004, only 26,181 voters aged 18 to 29 participated. As a share of the electorate, young voters made up 14 percent of the electorate, an increase of 5 percent over the previous cycle.

Racial politics aside, it appears as if we’re finally seeing a legitimate presence in an electoral coalition by youth. I think we’re beginning to see that the conventional wisdom that relegated youth to their Facebook groups was simply wrong.

Finally, most impressively, the South Carolina Democrats again reinforced why Republicans have large reason to be terrified this coming November. The turnout for the Democratic primary was greater than that of the Republican primary last Saturday (the last estimate is that some 532,000 Democrats voted last night compared to 446,000 last week for Republicans). The reason why this is so remarkable is that South Carolina is typically the reddest of the “red” states – the Republican voter registration edge over Democrats is significant. Also, the latest poll asking Americans whether they would pick a generic Democratic or Republican presidential candidate in November gets overwhelmingly Democratic results – and when labels are replaced with names, the results narrow only a bit, except for when one Republican candidate is mentioned: John McCain. McCain has mucho crossover appeal, and beats Clinton and competes strongly with Obama in the latest poll. But even with McCain, Republicans are going to be hard-pressed to avoid losses downballot, in congressional races, and in state senate and house races.

Bottom line – the political landscape is dramatically changing. And we move on to Super Tuesday with very little decided in either party’s contest for the nomination, and very many opportunities remaining for rank-and-file party members and independents to make a difference in this election. About time.

Introverts

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:29:00 +0000

I forgot about this until Molls reminded me of it tonight. I thought I'd post this since it comes closest to expressing the introverted side of my personality. This is an article that was published in the Atlantic Monthly entitled, "Caring for your Introvert."

Do you know someone who needs hours alone every day? Who loves quiet conversations about feelings or ideas, and can give a dynamite presentation to a big audience, but seems awkward in groups and maladroit at small talk? Who has to be dragged to parties and then needs the rest of the day to recuperate? Who growls or scowls or grunts or winces when accosted with pleasantries by people who are just trying to be nice?

If so, do you tell this person he is "too serious," or ask if he is okay? Regard him as aloof, arrogant, rude? Redouble your efforts to draw him out?

If you answered yes to these questions, chances are that you have an introvert on your hands—and that you aren't caring for him properly. Science has learned a good deal in recent years about the habits and requirements of introverts. It has even learned, by means of brain scans, that introverts process information differently from other people (I am not making this up). If you are behind the curve on this important matter, be reassured that you are not alone. Introverts may be common, but they are also among the most misunderstood and aggrieved groups in America, possibly the world.

I know. My name is Jonathan, and I am an introvert.

Oh, for years I denied it. After all, I have good social skills. I am not morose or misanthropic. Usually. I am far from shy. I love long conversations that explore intimate thoughts or passionate interests. But at last I have self-identified and come out to my friends and colleagues. In doing so, I have found myself liberated from any number of damaging misconceptions and stereotypes. Now I am here to tell you what you need to know in order to respond sensitively and supportively to your own introverted family members, friends, and colleagues. Remember, someone you know, respect, and interact with every day is an introvert, and you are probably driving this person nuts. It pays to learn the warning signs.

What is introversion? In its modern sense, the concept goes back to the 1920s and the psychologist Carl Jung. Today it is a mainstay of personality tests, including the widely used Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Introverts are not necessarily shy. Shy people are anxious or frightened or self-excoriating in social settings; introverts generally are not. Introverts are also not misanthropic, though some of us do go along with Sartre as far as to say "Hell is other people at breakfast." Rather, introverts are people who find other people tiring.

Extroverts are energized by people, and wilt or fade when alone. They often seem bored by themselves, in both senses of the expression. Leave an extrovert alone for two minutes and he will reach for his cell phone. In contrast, after an hour or two of being socially "on," we introverts need to turn off and recharge. My own formula is roughly two hours alone for every hour of socializing. This isn't antisocial. It isn't a sign of depression. It does not call for medication. For introverts, to be alone with our thoughts is as restorative as sleeping, as nourishing as eating. Our motto: "I'm okay, you're okay—in small doses."

How many people are introverts? I performed exhaustive research on this question, in the form of a quick Google search. The answer: About 25 percent. Or: Just under half. Or—my favorite—"a minority in the regular population but a majority in the gifted population."

Are introverts misunderstood? Wildly. That, it appears, is our lot in life. "It is very difficult for an extrovert to understand an introvert," write the education experts Jill D. Burruss and Lisa Kaenzig. (They are also the source of the quotation in the previous paragraph.) Extroverts are easy for introverts to understand, because extroverts spend so much of their time working out who they are in voluble, and frequently inescapable, interaction with other people. They are as inscrutable as puppy dogs. But the street does not run both ways. Extroverts have little or no grasp of introversion. They assume that company, especially their own, is always welcome. They cannot imagine why someone would need to be alone; indeed, they often take umbrage at the suggestion. As often as I have tried to explain the matter to extroverts, I have never sensed that any of them really understood. They listen for a moment and then go back to barking and yipping.

Are introverts oppressed? I would have to say so. For one thing, extroverts are overrepresented in politics, a profession in which only the garrulous are really comfortable. Look at George W. Bush. Look at Bill Clinton. They seem to come fully to life only around other people. To think of the few introverts who did rise to the top in politics—Calvin Coolidge, Richard Nixon—is merely to drive home the point. With the possible exception of Ronald Reagan, whose fabled aloofness and privateness were probably signs of a deep introverted streak (many actors, I've read, are introverts, and many introverts, when socializing, feel like actors), introverts are not considered "naturals" in politics.

Extroverts therefore dominate public life. This is a pity. If we introverts ran the world, it would no doubt be a calmer, saner, more peaceful sort of place. As Coolidge is supposed to have said, "Don't you know that four fifths of all our troubles in this life would disappear if we would just sit down and keep still?" (He is also supposed to have said, "If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it." The only thing a true introvert dislikes more than talking about himself is repeating himself.)

With their endless appetite for talk and attention, extroverts also dominate social life, so they tend to set expectations. In our extrovertist society, being outgoing is considered normal and therefore desirable, a mark of happiness, confidence, leadership. Extroverts are seen as bighearted, vibrant, warm, empathic. "People person" is a compliment. Introverts are described with words like "guarded," "loner," "reserved," "taciturn," "self-contained," "private"—narrow, ungenerous words, words that suggest emotional parsimony and smallness of personality. Female introverts, I suspect, must suffer especially. In certain circles, particularly in the Midwest, a man can still sometimes get away with being what they used to call a strong and silent type; introverted women, lacking that alternative, are even more likely than men to be perceived as timid, withdrawn, haughty.

Are introverts arrogant? Hardly. I suppose this common misconception has to do with our being more intelligent, more reflective, more independent, more level-headed, more refined, and more sensitive than extroverts. Also, it is probably due to our lack of small talk, a lack that extroverts often mistake for disdain. We tend to think before talking, whereas extroverts tend to think by talking, which is why their meetings never last less than six hours. "Introverts," writes a perceptive fellow named Thomas P. Crouser, in an online review of a recent book called Why Should Extroverts Make All the Money? (I'm not making that up, either), "are driven to distraction by the semi-internal dialogue extroverts tend to conduct. Introverts don't outwardly complain, instead roll their eyes and silently curse the darkness." Just so.

The worst of it is that extroverts have no idea of the torment they put us through. Sometimes, as we gasp for air amid the fog of their 98-percent-content-free talk, we wonder if extroverts even bother to listen to themselves. Still, we endure stoically, because the etiquette books—written, no doubt, by extroverts—regard declining to banter as rude and gaps in conversation as awkward. We can only dream that someday, when our condition is more widely understood, when perhaps an Introverts' Rights movement has blossomed and borne fruit, it will not be impolite to say "I'm an introvert. You are a wonderful person and I like you. But now please shush."

How can I let the introvert in my life know that I support him and respect his choice? First, recognize that it's not a choice. It's not a lifestyle. It's an orientation.

Second, when you see an introvert lost in thought, don't say "What's the matter?" or "Are you all right?"

Third, don't say anything else, either.

Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:56:00 +0000

Just as it does with any movie or book, it’s taken me a while to wrap my head around the race for the Democratic nomination for president. I knew I wanted Edwards going in, with Obama a close second. In 2004, Edwards’s populism and idealism appealed to me. This year, it was his populism – this time a bit more strident – but it was also the enemies he had made. The political establishment had it out for him; with his repeated attacks on lobbyists, corporate greed, and a system that he calls “rigged,” he did just what he did in his career as an attorney – he stepped up to the challenge and decided to fight. I thought he might take Iowa due to how much time he had spent there and due to how well the plight of the Iowan voter matched the former senator’s platform. But the night of the Iowa caucuses surprised me. Not only was I surprised that someone else won, but I finally was able to hear why Barack Obama inspired everyone in his victory speech that night.

“They said this day would never come.” What a brilliant line. So many meanings. The national media – doubting Obama the whole summer and into the fall. Could he really compete with the Clinton machine and win? What about his experience? The fact that a black candidate won the Iowa Caucuses – a contest in a state that is 97% white – and catapulted himself to the top of the highest tier in the race for the nomination. The fact that the youth vote – so often portrayed as a myth by the media – materialized. Just a great opening line.

Obama went on to deliver an equally brilliant speech that night, including this passage, my favorite of all:

I know you didn't do this for me. You did this-you did this because you believed so deeply in the most American of ideas - that in the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.

I know this-I know this because while I may be standing here tonight, I'll never forget that my journey began on the streets of Chicago doing what so many of you have done for this campaign and all the campaigns here in Iowa - organizing, and working, and fighting to make people's lives just a little bit better.

I know how hard it is. It comes with little sleep, little pay, and a lot of sacrifice. There are days of disappointment, but sometimes, just sometimes, there are nights like this - a night-a night that, years from now, when we've made the changes we believe in; when more families can afford to see a doctor; when our children-when Malia and Sasha and your children-inherit a planet that's a little cleaner and safer; when the world sees America differently, and America sees itself as a nation less divided and more united; you'll be able to look back with pride and say that this was the moment when it all began.

What I like most about these few paragraphs is his actually linking politics with public service – what a concept! The fact that he’s a former community organizer surely informs his politics, and so it’s no wonder why so many youth, who are drawn to pragmatism and getting things done, are drawn to him.

But overall, what I like most about his victory speech, and what I like most about his candidacy is that it is not contained in 2008 as the other candidacies are. At every turn, Obama is sure to describe the historical significance of what he is doing. He’s sure to explain the only kind of rift that he does like – that which separates the old politics of “anything goes” (that seeks to divide us) from his new brand (that reinforces the positive attributes of all Americans). Ironically, Bill Clinton may have described Obama’s approach best in his first inauguration when he said, “There is nothing wrong with America that can’t be fixed with what is right in America.” Obama insists that we have what we need in order to fix the mess, but reminds us that we can’t use our tools unless we use them together.

Am I strictly an Obama supporter now? No, not strictly. And I think Obama would like that. As he acknowledges in his speech above, people don’t organize and fight for him. They engage in the process because they are inspired by someone having the courage and tenacity to improve not only America, but its political discourse. John Edwards still has a message that dovetails with this one quite nicely; but I’m beginning to understand that Obama’s politics is the future. And in a time when we desperately need to leave behind the scorched-earth politics of the ‘60s, it sure is welcome.

Snow...

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:06:00 +0000

Can we please have summer?

In the zone

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:39:00 +0000

Today I had one of those "in the zone" days. Actually, it's been that way for the past few days. Everything I've been wanting to do for the past month or two has been completed for the most part, and I find myself still having the energy to complete more.

One of the things I've been working on the past few days is our Alternative Spring Break trip to Gulfport, MS. From the ride back from the Pittsburgh airport at the end of last year's trip, I knew I wanted to do what I could to make it bigger for this year. I was able to link the trip with the Service-learning Floor at Behrend, which allowed for some more funding for the trip and a few more interested students (linking it also allowed for more substantive programming, resulting in better prepared volunteers). Next, we received support from Behrend's Student Activity Fee, making clear we intended to surpass last year's total of nine. As of now, we have twenty four students signed up for the trip, with four more funded positions available. Finally, we've expanded the trip by opening it up to the rest of the university. While Behrend will be taking 35 people this year, a nearly 400% increase over last year, we'll be working with 36 other Penn Staters from the other campuses across the state. While we had to share a camp last year with elderly people, this year the whole camp will be filled with Penn Staters.

I'm pretty excited about all of this, and I'm looking forward to next year to see if we can capitalize on all this momentum and make it even bigger.

But.. one step at a time. =)

Hope everything is well with each of you reading this.

Bill O'Reilly's a loser

noreply@blogger.com (Craig) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:06:00 +0000

Poor Bill. With this whole tidal wave of support for Barack Obama and a new approach to American politics, Bill O'Reilly seems to be finding himself on the outside of the circle. Literally. And he's getting a little frustrated:

NASHUA, N.H.--Bombastic Fox News host Bill O'Reilly got into a confrontation with an Obama aide after O'Reilly started screaming at him as he tried to get Barack Obama's attention following a rally here.

The incident was triggered when O'Reilly--with a Fox News crew shooting--was screaming at Obama National Trip Director Marvin Nicholson "Move" so he could get Obama's attention, according to several eyewitnesses. "O'Reilly was yelling at him, yelling at his face," a photographer shooting the scene said.

O'Reilly grabbed Nicholson's arm, said "move" and shoved him, another eyewitness said. Nicholson, who is 6'8 said O"Reilly called him "low class."

Secret Service agents came after O'Reilly pushed Nicholson and the agents flanked O'Reily (sic).