NLA Discussion: Advocates Talk

[Anne764139 at aol.com]

On March 27, George wrote:

I don't see the political, social, and economic conditions changing much
and the above very well may be a lost battle.  I agree with you that the
disparity between the wealthy and poor is as wide as ever and its playing
out in our field as in so many areas.  At the same time, I see no see no
serious collapse of the middle class, but agree with you as well that the
middle class is far from a unified body, with downward mobility a
significant feature of Reagan-Bush-Clintonesque global economics.  It
would be instructive to look carefully at our field to see how these
dynamics are being played out, including the incredible pulls and strains
of the local literacy and ABE programs to "mediate" the cultural and
material gaps between the haves and have nots and the struggles so many
of us go through between the tension of being "pragmatic" and telling it
like we really believe it is.

Dear George,

Your remarks about the role we play as mediators was a wake up call to me.  It
stirred a sense of unrest and discontent I haven't felt in a long time.  It's
a good thing - to feel it again.

Anne Serino
Lynn, MA