International Guest Speaker

Joveil Acevedo
President of Education Workers Union in Guatemala

As blogger, I transcribed the text of Sr Acevedo's speech as it was translated into English. I reinterpreted a few words of the interpreter's translation because as he did it "on the fly" a few phrases did not make sense in English. dg

Greetings of solidarity from the Executive Committee of the Guatemala Education Workers Union. I want to share with you a great trouble we are having in Guatemala regarding freedoms that we do not have. My union is just beginning to create a GLBT movement. It's a country of contract persecution and intolerance but we have to do this work. I wonder and ask my brothers and sisters in Guatemala what is the tabu, the problem?

What's going on? What’s the matter with those who control the economy in my country? I’m not talking about majorities and minorities. We have to talk about freedom and rights, not about whether people accept or don't accept. It’s really about truth and facts and reality of both our countries. We have viewed it as a trans-cultural issue. They want to impose everything upon us.

Ladies and gentlemen, GLBT teachers in Guatemala have to hold it in, they can't express what they want to say. It is like someone who wants to cry but doesn't because they are afraid. We shall not continue to tolerate this in my country. Where my office is located in the historical center of Guatemala City, there are hundreds of GLBT people who are forced to be sex workers. The worst thing is that there are groups of the national police, politicians, and the armed forces who coerce these people and intimidate and extort them. They even make them pay to be able to walk the streets. Enough! Two transgender people were murdered about 500 meters from our main office and no one said anything. Murders continued on these transgender people until we said we must do something about it. I am vice president of a grass roots movement bringing human rights. We decided it was time to form an organization in regard to this issue. The group created is called OASIS. It is also a place of refuge. That organization makes us strong and seeks freedom and respect from society. After the murder of a transgender person’s body was left lying on the street we then brought these abuses before the International Court of Human Rights in San Jose, Costa Rica. One brutalized transgender person is a key witness testifying against the police.

I demand freedom.

No one is owner of absolute power. Excuse me... the oligarchy views this movement as a leftist movement because it is against it. This is not acceptable. All for one, one for all. Total activism. Don’t pay attention to the propaganda that the press says in Guatemala.

I would like to give the caucus a token of my appreciation... a Guatemalan tapestry. We need to form a world wide GLBT network. We would like for you to support our GLBT women and men.

OMG! Mr. Holland's OPUS

Oh My Gosh... Richard Dreyfuss is speaking to the NEA Delegation as a special surprise guest. He is speaking to us about how the darkness waits while the light twinkles.

Excerpts...
"Two gifts that America has given the world... There is a curse on mankind, a curse that says that you and yours will never rise... the world says that its heel will always be on your neck until America said that if you can take the crap that life throws at you, you MIGHT rise. That gift of opportunity was created here by men... not heroes that we call men, but men who are heroes. Throughout history thousands died in battle in other lands as they tried to make a place for themselves. In THIS country men took down a quill pen and wrote out... this is who we choose to be so that everyone on earth can see when we fail and when we succeed. it is naive and brilliant, and brave. It is not who we are but who we want to get to be , this nation is in process as it was. When you read the preamble, our constitution is something that is ongoing. Never forget that.

You know that I don't know is at the basis of learning. not to be feared but accepted and embraced. You have to revise the nature of teaching so that people know that it is not the subject of civics that is boring, it is the word civics that is boring. We do not teach civics, it is either evidence of neurosis or suicide. We MUST teach it. We must teach reason and logic, clarity and sense. Applaud the process.

It is not easy to be an American. America does not happen by itself. Government of, by and for the people shall perish unless we do our duty.

(Returning to the stage)

Before the Germans took over Paris they gave Parisians one week to show any film they wanted. They showed Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

We must seduce... we must brainwash our children into a love of America or all we have is a country south of Canada and north of Mexico.

Presidential Candidates

Monday, July 2, 2007

• Hillary Rodham Clinton - NY-D - Senator Clinton was welcomed with a boisterous standing ovation at 2:00PM. The 8,500+ delegates excitedly received her remarks. The senator spoke for approximately 30 minutes then answered selected questions from NEA Members. Her closing comment was, "Let's let education be all that it can be for the United States of America!"

• Senator John Edwards - NC-D - Former Senator Edwards arrived at 2:45PM with another rousing ovation. He pointed out that it is not schools that teach children, it is teachers that teach children. We need a president of the United States who actually listens to teachers. "I will bring back the Teachers in Residence program that George Bush abolished. We need to expand early childhood and expand funding so that every child in America has an equal chance to start kindergarten ready to learn. "Was NCLB an excuse to move away from public schools and to move to vouchers?" While speaking of his strong support for organized labor he shared, "If anyone can join the Republican Party by signing a card, then anyone in America ought to be able to join a union by signing a card."


• Senator Chris Dodd - CT-D - Senator Dodd received an enthusiastic welcome from the delegates at 3:30PM. With his very powerful voice he intoned his strong sense of support for unions and his disdain for the current administration. "I am proud that the NEA is the leading supporter of the legislation regarding my NCLB Reform Act." "I will fully fund NCLB first and foremost. Secondly it is time we have leadership that understands that test scores are not the only indication of student achievement. Learning is not only filling in the bubbles but it is about connecting the dots." "... why not have a system in place that helps our schools that are in need rather than condemning them." "Failure is not an option."

July 3

• Governor Bill Richardson - NM-D - I was unable to be present for this speaker.




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• Congressman Dennis Kucinich - OH-D - I was unable to be present for this speaker.

July 5

• Senator Baraq Obama - IL-D - I struggled to get close enough to catch a few photos and through all this even managed to hear the senator's speech. He arrived around 11:00AM with another extremely warm reception from the NEA delegates. The senator spoke of his goals to strengthen public education and public educators.
  

• Governor Mike Huckabee - AR-R - Former Governor Huckabee arrived at 2:00PM. He is the first Republican presidential candidate to ever address an NEA RA. The governor received a warm welcome. The crowd seemed to greatly appreciate the risk that Gov. Huckabee has taken with his political opponents in addressing our group. No other Republican presidential candidate has ever accepted our invitation. He spoke very strongly of his admiration for teachers. He also addressed concerns that education programs be well rounded and integrated with the arts. It seemed rather obvious that his speech was tailored quite well to this audience but that's what politics is all about, isn't it?

3rd Caucus

3rd Session held July 2

• Nominations announced for Male co-chair - Frank Burger - MI, Stephen Henry - TN
• +++Elected July 3 - Stephen Henry, TN
• Nominations for male directors of regions held.
• Pacific - Carl Bullard, CA; Rhem Bell, CA; Joe Bento, WA
• +++Elected July 3 - Rhem Bell, CA
• Western - Charles Malone, TX - elected by acclamation
• SE - Dan Grell, FL - elected by acclamation
• Mid-Atlantic - Steve Lykins, OH; Jaim Foster, VA
• +++Elected July 3- Jaim Foster, VA
• Midwest - Johnny Walker, IN Michael Fridgen, MN
• +++Elected July 3 - Johnny Walker, IN
• NE - ?

Guest Speakers:

Michael Simpson - Legslative & Judicial Updates

Sheilah Simmons - Director HCR for NEA

Diane Shust

2nd Caucus

2nd Meeting 12:00-1:00 PM

• NEA Candidate Recommendations—Stephen Henry
• SOGI Report—Eric Heins
• Equality Forum - Malcolm
• Upcoming Issues - Resolutions
• NBI’s with any concerns
• Marriage Task Force Report
• Creating an NBI
• Advocating for Change