11 Comments
Feb 8, 2022Liked by Abdul El-Sayed

Wow! I have to admit that I've been in deep despair like some of the students you describe. But this piece offers me a new perspective on our situation. To go with the car analogy... thank you for the

" jump start" (= I'm going to reread and then share widely. I do have a request for your next piece: HOW do we begin fixing this beautiful broken down car?

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Feb 8, 2022Liked by Abdul El-Sayed

It can be easy to insist that something designed in a former era - with some horrible flaws that were linked to that era - can still have been a courageous leap forward in ways that are still crucial today. There were several inspiring things we can probably all celebrate despite our opinions on the best next step.

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founding

If the clunker car was the only way that you, your family, friends and neighbors could get to town on Saturday night and/or Sunday morning, it would quickly be fixed. Everyone would share a common goal and all would participate in fixing the engine so the car would be functional. Currently too many people are motivated by harming the other. They choose to put sand in the gears and gas tank. A common crisis usually unites us. A universal goal for all must be articulated, understood and agreed on. The keys to the car might change hands from time to time but all would want the car to run when needed.

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That old car has a good frame but in order to keep it on the road, you have to be willing to get rid of the old broken parts that never worked that well and replace them with new, better parts that improve the entire performance. It’s the only way to keep the old geezer chugging along. But we first have to admit that it never ran that well all the time, even when it was new.

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