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I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 52 years. I subscribe to Dr. PM Forni's concept of Civility. I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, and San Diego. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy, and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader and photographer.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Woman is Amazing...

Watching the Senate hearings for Elena Kagan I'm struck by her self-control.  The committee gets to sit there and talk seemingly for hours, feathering their own nests, throwing her a tidbit here and there, getting in a zinger or two while being totally self-serving, all done without impunity.  And her responsibility in this 'play'?  She sits there, patiently, and takes it. Wow!  So impressive!  Now here is a woman who could play poker!  (I also couldn't help but think this would be a great skit for Saturday Night Live -- Kagan even looks a bit like one of the players -- but that's fodder for another post.)

Could I do this?  HELL NO!   They'd be carrying me out, kicking and screaming after ten minutes, maybe not even that long.   Frankly injustice incenses me --  just frosts my cookies good (or should it be the adverbial form 'goodly'?)  Anyway, yesterday I ran into a colleague from same high school at the gym and lost it when re-counting this story.

A teacher applicant was told by HR to call one of the assistant principals at the school for an interview. I've known this young man for years -- he graduated with my kids from this same high school.  If he made it through the rigors of HR, he had to be good.  He called the AP once, twice, again, and again.  The 'rule' is -- and common courtesy would dictate -- that once they're sent to the interview, they are interviewed or at least spoken to.  What this AP did was unconscionable, if not totally rude:  he ignored the young man.  Even if they did have someone in mind for the job, John, the AP, should have at least called him and been honest.

So picture me in the middle of the gym getting more and more heated up about this -- I know I called John a few names...  Well, now I'm a little embarrassed.  However, not ashamed enough to drop it.  Hopefully, though, I'll calm down a bit before I run into John.  Elena Kagan I'm not.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't know John and I've never met yo...yet but I'm on fire over what this AP did. It's so unbelievably rude. Is this jerk so full of himself that he can't even subscribe to the dictates of common courtesy and call this applicant who is obviously well-qualified for the job? Apparently the answer is yes and that really ticks me off. I cannot stand when people allow manners to fall by the wayside. Our society is becoming one of wild animals overcome by power, corruption and so full of themselves. And when it happens in a school environment where the focus should be on teaching our children to be responsible, upstanding individuals, things are really bad.
ugh! Sorry! to go on so....I just DETEST rudeness like this APs.

I feel so badly for Elena Kagan - I think it's ridiculous what she is being subjected to...the committee members can say basically whatever they want to her, to others or just babble out loud nonsensically and she has to sit there and then she has to answer their questions no matter how inane...
Now that you've made me nuts, Kathy....heee, heee! Hi! How are you? It's great to be commenting on your blog again!
I will email you soon!

~ Amy

Mage said...

LOL...love your message. I'm a note hog too.

Yes, that woman has amazing dignity. Could I do it? Never in a million years.

Linda said...

I've not kept up with the hearings on Elena Kagan. I determined early on that she was a good candidate. I just didn't have the stomach for the mess the senate would dish out only to eventually approve her. It's all theater.

I loved the sketch Al Franken did of Jeff Sessions while he rambled on and on during the hearings. I guess Al was as bored as the rest of us and needed something to help pass the time. Wonder if he gave the sketch to Sessions?

Linda Reeder said...

I would love to be able to read Elana Kagan's thoughts. I bet her poker face is hiding quite a mental dialogue using words like fool, idiot, simpleton, ignoramus. My god, those repub men are a piece of work.
Guess you can tell how well I'd handle it.

George said...

I've watched parts of the Elena Kagan hearings for the past few days and have come to the conclusion that televising these hearings is a mistake. All it does is give the senators a chance to grandstand.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I haven't been watching the hearings. I determined early on that Kagan wasn't going to get fair treatment--when people started looking for clues to her sexual orientation in a photo of her playing slow-pitch softball, a photo that is recognizable to any Chicagoan as someone engaging in a classic Chicago pasttime as opposed to some "coded" declaration of orientation. And even if it were, don't gays and lesbians deserve representation in the judicial branch? Sigh. Now I'm getting hot under the collar.

C.A. said...

I agree with your thoughts on Elena Kagan. I always am conscious of the fact that there is NO WAY I could endure that kind of scrutiny. She keeps composed so well.

That AP is a jerk. It's rude and VERY bad business to leave someone hanging like that or not even acknowledge they've called. I hope it gets brought to the attention of the School Board or other powers that be. You are right to be so fired up about the whole situation, Kathy!

Seth M. Ward said...

Did you see when they asked her where she was on Christmas day? OMG lol she said, "I was probably at a Chinese Restaurant like all good Jews." or something close to that! LMAO I WAS ROLLING!

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

I haven't had a chance to watch the Elena Kagan hearings, but anyone who can survive questioning by our senators has my admiration. That AP needs to take a class in manners and courtesy.

Anonymous said...

I would sit there smugly and quietly too, knowing that I would have this job for the rest of my life and that the guys throwing the questions around could be out the door in a couple of years.

Serves them right for being so self-serving.

Di

A Slice of My Life said...

We were in a very conservative area and all of the talk shows were just tearing her apart, I just KNEW the little sound bites they were giving us were calculated to make her seem like an idoit...ugh, I'm glad I don't live in that area, but it's scary what other folks believe.

Mage said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving notes. :)

Mage said...

Thanks so much for the notes and for stopping by my blog.

beachgirl said...

How very true in your observance.
I haven't watched the confirmation hearings because it's all bullshit the way they treat everyone.

As for new hire practices. It is like that everywhere. No class or tact anymore.

I hope you and your family have a happy 4th of July.

Lena said...

Yes, it is rude to keep people hanging on and no call. That type of thing bothers me as well, but it happens more than you would expect.

I have not watched the hearings but saw a clip on the View and it was funny.