I named this newsletter Another Isolated Incident because I am tired of patterns being dismissed as random occurrences. This is clearly demonstrated this month is the replaying of news footage from 10-20-30 years ago describing oil spills and the lack of engagement around prevention, clean up, the environment, and our dependency of oil. Same story, sometimes different well. This is just another isolated incident of profits over preparedness.

Jess

Reflections from the Road: You!
I have struggled trying to decide what to write about this month. BP and the oil spill and lack of a clean-up plan, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Ethnic Cleansing of Education, Supreme Court Nominees; there are just SO many options this month. As I have been seeking out the answer, I keep coming back to me. When I say me, know that I mean you, the person next to you, people waiting on your friend requests, strangers, etc. This month of news has overwhelmed me into the comfort of my privilege and needs to be addressed. I can turn my head, turn down the volume, click on a new screen, turn pages, look away literally and figuratively from that which upsets me.

I am baffled that the same people that complained about government spending dumping debt on our grandchildren don't seem to notice that the same grandchildren may never swim on the gulf coast. The concept of looking ahead is a good one and I don't think it should be done on a case by case basis. This case by case basis allows us, you, me, to turn our heads to something less disturbing than the reality that we, you, I, don't think about our impact a year in advance (I debated using hour instead of year) let alone one generation — is asking for seven generations ahead asking too much?

Where would offshore drilling be if the drilling technology was paired with disaster relief and both thought seven generations ahead?

What if military regulations were developed thinking ahead of what might come, who might be serving, and what our needs might be?

These are fun questions to ask — and I can pontificate... but what I really need to do is STOP. REALLY LOOK. DON'T TURN AWAY. Take some time and really, really breathe in the truth of our collective impact. Just before you get really upset or de-motivated — realize that we can change today. Seven generations ahead doesn't mean starting yesterday — but today.

My commitment to you is that I am not turning away — I am right here — in it, deep. I would like to make a commitment to people I will never meet seven generations from now that I will do the best I can with what I have got and I will do everything I can to improve what I have got to work with. I will take responsibility for my actions and inactions and take note of the patterns of my behaviors and their intended and unintended impacts. I will show up. I will be heard. I will. What about you?

Top 10 Issues I Get To Address While Holding A Microphone… That You Might Regret Asking Me
One of the scariest truths is that once I am given a microphone, I can and am often encouraged to "speak my truth with care." This section highlights some of my most passionate thoughts about some of the toughest questions I get asked. Enjoy.

Nature vs. Nurture?
Who cares? I mean really! By identifying the exact genome or DNA strand that makes us funny, someone would try to synthetically manufacture it for individual use while yet another person may start an initiative to have this element removed to prevent frivolity. Then there would be a movement for those that are funny naturally as compared to those that learn and study or become funny due to their surroundings and life experiences. What matters to me is that people and persons, even myself, are complicated mixtures of known and unknown chemicals, hormones, and characteristics. The choice that people should respect isn’t how one is to be, but the choice to be that true person regardless of the social implications regarding that way of being. If we are looking for genomes or socialization patterns to point our fingers at a reason, let's focus on where hatred, bias, judgment, and greed come from so that these birth defects can be rectified.

Building stronger and more inclusive campus communities
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October 23 at Kutztown University
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How to Be an Ally to Transgender and People with an Intersex Condition
When you learn about someone’s transgender identity, do not assume that it is a fad or trend. While public discussions about transgenderism and transsexuality are a relatively recent phenomenon, most transgender people have dealt with their gender identity for many years, often at great personal and professional costs. It is important to trust that someone’s decision to present themselves as gender variant is not made lightly or without due consideration.

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