Thursday morning I did
something new: Walt Rubel and I were the commentators as hundreds of
Mayfield High seniors experienced the first drive-by Senior
Celebration [not “graduation,”], pulling up in beautifully
decorated vehicles to get certificates [not “diplomas”] from
Principal Eric Flass.
A
first for all of us, with plenty of good energy. An arduous but
pleasant way to serve the community. Many beautiful, happy kids.
Two stretch limousines, a lot of jeeps, and a big yellow Hummer.
Very cute little dogs in laps. Us reading graduates’ words about
their fondest memories and their plans. It all moved at a
challenging pace, two hours of kids’ smiles, parents’ pride, and
loving words about friends who’ll be missed – and then it was
over.
In
the ensuing quiet, I wondered how it felt to graduate and enter “the
real world” wearing masks and worrying about a virus. Does that
mute the delight (large groups sure aren’t getting as drunk as we
did in 1964), or make everything more precious, and dramatic? Or all
of the above?
I
remembered my graduation. Spring of 1964 was the last moment of calm
before the storm. Within months, three civil rights workers would be
killed in Mississippi, Lyndon Johnson would eviscerate Barry
Goldwater in an election, and the Vietnamese resistance to the
powerful U.S. military would begin forcing that undeclared war into
the public consciousness.
I
contemplated the decades since. I wanted to apologize to these
beautiful young kids for the highly defective government and society
we elders are bequeathing them. (What marvelous leaders Johnson and
Goldwater were, compared to Donald Trump!) Since 1964 we have made
some long overdue improvements, notably in the status of ethnic
minorities, women, and folks whose sexual preferences are
unconventional, as well as the physically challenged and the
mentally/emotionally challenged. But we have encouraged economic
inequality to grow rather than diminish, civility and decency in
politics have declined, and we have spurned chances to confront
climate-change, despite decades of dire warnings.
When
I’ve spoken, I think I’ve spoken on the right side; but I
apologize for spending so much of the years since 1964 doing things
that didn’t advance the ball. Any ball. We are not Nazi Germany;
but we have lived in a time when we could have stood up and made a
difference and mostly did not.
I
wondered what I would say to high school graduates. Maybe urge them
to read and listen critically, and keep in mind that though
Mayfield-Cruces rivalry games were fun, there’s a significant
difference between running a country or business and rooting
fervently for a team. I would babble about time, that as Dogen said,
there is only the present moment, because the past is a bunch of
fallen leaves floating away, and the future is not guaranteed. I
would urge them to recall the past and learn from it, but never dwell
there; and to contemplate the future, and perhaps make plans – but
not to dwell in dreams, either. I would say, cherish each moment,
and wring out of it all the fun, love, and learning you can.
Sustainably, if possible.
But
mostly I felt real curious to ask them how they see all this. Some
were pretty impressive kids. All had their different interesting
vantage points. I know too well what I have to say, so that’s
boring. I want to hear from them. It’s their time.
--
30 --
[The above column appeared this morning, Sunday, 24 May 2020, in the Las Cruces Sun-News, as well as on the newspaper's website and on KRWG's website. A radio commentary based on it will air during the week on KRWG and on KTAL, 101.5 FM (www.lccommunityradio.org) and will be available on demand on KRWG's site.]
[The drive-by celebrations were simulcast, too, on www.lcps.tv, and broadcast over KTAL, 101.5 FM. The moment the school folks approached us, it seemed absolutely the right thing for a community radio station to do. What was delightful was how well everyone from both LCPS and the station, particularly people whose voices you didn't necessarily hear, did a quick and competent job in making this wholly unfamiliar event work about as well as it could. Folks also tried to maintain virus-avoidance protocols as best we could. (I ended up doing three of the four traditional high schools, Mayfield, Centennial, and Onate -- with Walt at the first and last, and with Rich Kadzis (the Buzzman) for Centennial Friday morning.)]
[And I do hope to have several of the students as phone guests the second half of our "Speak Up, Las Cruces!" show Wednesday morning on 101.5 FM. Durikng the firat hour (8-9 a.m.), we'll have two or three of the three surviving candidates for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. (Two have accepted at this point. Waiting to hear back from Mark Ronchetti, after emails and phone calls to his campaign. If anyone reading this knows him, and he might be interested in joining his opponents on Cruces Community radio, let him know.) Then from 9-10, students. I've only spoken to one so far, but I'm hopeful we'll have several.]
[It was a neat event in ways I probably lacked time or energy to process while we were working so fast. Reflecting on how many of the students recalled so vividly their first day of high school, and the nervous uncertainty they felt, and on how many articulated some version of "I actually made it!" in their comments or in signs on their car, and on the faces of parents and graduates, with joy and even tears -- illustrates how big the high school graduation was for many, and what a struggle it was in different ways. I think folks forget that part long afterward. Too, one wrote in his comments, "I did this for my sister, mother, and father, who never had the chance," adding (as several did), "I'm proud to be Mexican!" Several of these kids struggled with poverty, learning and writing in a second-language, separation from family, and other hurdles many of us did not. Makes graduating high school pretty sweet!]
[And I do hope to have several of the students as phone guests the second half of our "Speak Up, Las Cruces!" show Wednesday morning on 101.5 FM. Durikng the firat hour (8-9 a.m.), we'll have two or three of the three surviving candidates for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. (Two have accepted at this point. Waiting to hear back from Mark Ronchetti, after emails and phone calls to his campaign. If anyone reading this knows him, and he might be interested in joining his opponents on Cruces Community radio, let him know.) Then from 9-10, students. I've only spoken to one so far, but I'm hopeful we'll have several.]
[It was a neat event in ways I probably lacked time or energy to process while we were working so fast. Reflecting on how many of the students recalled so vividly their first day of high school, and the nervous uncertainty they felt, and on how many articulated some version of "I actually made it!" in their comments or in signs on their car, and on the faces of parents and graduates, with joy and even tears -- illustrates how big the high school graduation was for many, and what a struggle it was in different ways. I think folks forget that part long afterward. Too, one wrote in his comments, "I did this for my sister, mother, and father, who never had the chance," adding (as several did), "I'm proud to be Mexican!" Several of these kids struggled with poverty, learning and writing in a second-language, separation from family, and other hurdles many of us did not. Makes graduating high school pretty sweet!]
[And I couldn't have done my part without a breakfast burrito (to-go) from Nessa's each morning, on my way to the Field of Dreams.]
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| Graduation Photo w poppies |
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