>> TONIGHT ON IVORY TOWER WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW OUR VALUES HAVE CHANGED SINCE 9/11.
PLUS CONCERNS FOR OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL AND ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
STAY TUNED.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.
I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
JOINING ME IN FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW ARE: NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN, FROM CAZENOVIA COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, AND TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE IMAGES ARE SEARED IN OUR MINDS--- THOSE TWIN TOWERS BURNING--- THE UGLY VIDEOS FROM TWO WARS-- OBAMA AT THE PODIUM ANNOUNCING OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD.
OUR DEMOCRACY REMAINS, BUT ITS PEOPLE ARE QUITE DIVIDED.
SO LET'S LOOK BACK AT HOW AMERICA HAS CHANGED SINCE 9-11.
AND BEN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS MOST SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES?
>> WELL, THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WAS A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
JUST NINE DAYS AFTER 9/11 OCCURRED, YOU HAD TOM RIDGE, WHO WAS THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA AT THE TIME, BE TAPPED TO START THIS ORGANIZATION AND THEN WE STAFORTED TO HAVE INCREASED SURVEILLANCE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL TERRORIST AS LONG WITH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM.
450 DIFFERENT AIRPORTS NEEDED TO BE SECURED.
BEFORE THAT, COULD YOU GET TO A GATE WITHOUT A BOARDING PASS.
AFTER THAT, YOU HAD TSA THAT WAS DEVELOPED AND 30,000 PEOPLE EMPLOYED OUT OF THE GATE WITH JUST A LAPTOP TO START WITH.
A LOT OF CHANGES.
NO FLY LISTS DEVELOPED.
INTELLIGENCE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN PLACE AND THE MOST VITAL LESSON LEARNED WAS HAVING A FOOTPRINT IN OTHER COUNTRIES WAS VITAL TO HAVE TIMELY AND ACCURATE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.
AND THAT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT WE LEARNED FROM 9/11.
>> I'M GOING TO GO A STEP FURTHER AND STAY, BEN, THAT 9/11 REALLY DESTROYED THE VENEER OF SAFETY THAT WE HAD AS FAR AS NOT BEING ATTACKED ON OUR OWN SHORES IS CONCERNED AND PROBABLY TO A GREATER EXTENT, THAN DID THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK BECAUSE, IN THIS CASE, SIMPLY A LONE WOLF, AN INDIVIDUAL TERRORIST CAN WREAK HAVOC.
I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT HAS HAPPENED ON A MASSIVE SCALE AS A RESULT OF NINE 11 IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AN EROSION OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, SO THAT OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY, OUR RIGHT AGAINST WARRANT LISTS, SEIZURES, SEARCH OF OUR PROPERTY AND ALSO THIS MASSIVE SURVEILLANCE OF OTHERWISE PRIVATE AMERICANS LIVES SO THAT UNDER THE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE PATRIOT ACT, WAS OUT OF COURTS INTERVENTION, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN OUR PHONE RECORDS, OUR INTERNET ACTIVITY, WHAT WE DID IN OUR HOMES AND SO FORTH WAS OPEN TO INVESTIGATION AND SURVEILLANCE BY THE COURTS.
AND SO I THINK IN MANY WAYS, THE BEDROCK OF WHAT MAKES AMERICA SPECIAL WAS SHAKEN TO SOME EXTENT BY THE 9/11 ATTACKS.
>> AND I WANT TO ADD TO THAT BY SAYING THAT YES, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES THAT ALSO HAPPENED IS THE CONGRESS ALLOWED THE U.S. PRESIDENCY TO HAVE THIS THEM PERRIAL POWERS WITH THE HELP OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE, WHERE THIS POWER COULD BE USED UNACCOUNTABLY AND EXPANSIVELY IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORD AND THAT HAS CREATED A LOT OF SUFFERING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD IN TERMS OF DEATH OF CIVILIANS AND SO ON.
SO I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS WE CAN LEARN IF WE WANT TO FROM 9/11 IS THAT TO RESCIND THESE KINDS OF EMPERIAL POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY AND GIVE THE POWERS OF WAR AND PEACE BACK TO THE CONGRESS, AND ANOTHER THING POLICY WISE THAT WE CAN THINK OF, IS TO BASICALLY THINK ABOUT DRONE WARFARE AND ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF DRONE WARFARE THAT HAS CAUSED HUMAN SUFFERING AROUND THE WORLD.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND 9/11 AND TALK ABOUT IT MORE SERIOUSLY, WE SHOULD DO TWO THUNKS.
1: THE HISTORY OF NINE 11 DOESN'T START WITH 9/11.
IT STARTS A LONG TIME BACK WITH U.S.-SOVIET PAKISTANI INVOLVEMENT IN THE REGION.
THAT WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND SECOND WE SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTAND THE BIGGEST THREAT TO SECURITY NOW IN THE U.S., ACCORDING TO THE FBI, IS WHITE SUPREMACIST TERROR, RIGHT?
AND WE SAW A GLIMPSE OF THAT DURING THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN SEEP IN MIND.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT BUT THERE IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WHICH IS THAT THE PATRIOT ACT, MOST OF IT, IT HAS SUNSET.
BUT THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THERE WAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BEHIND ALL OF THE EXTENSIONS THAT HAPPENED SINCE 2002.
THERE IS A CULTURAL UNDERCURRENT THAT FEEDS THIS.
THERE IS ALSO A POLITICAL ONE AS WELL BECAUSE CONSERVATIVES MOST RECENTLY HAVE EXPLOITED OUR SENSE OF VULNERABILITY TO TERRORIST ATTACKS IN CONNECTION WITH BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION AND MOST RECENTLY WITH THE AFGHAN PARTNERS WHO HELPED US IN AFGHANISTAN.
>> TARA, DO YOU THINK OUR VALUES ARE OR OUR CULTURE HAS CHANGED?
>> I THINK SO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT AND WE DON'T THINK ABOUT BUT CERTAINLY THAT WE ACCEPTED AFTER 9/11 IN A WAY THAT I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY HAD ACCEPTED BEFORE 9/11 WAS INCREASED MILITARIZATION AND ITS FILTERING DOWN AS A WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
CERTAINLY WE HAD ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL THE PATRIOT ACT.
WE HAD, YOU KNOW, THE CIA BECOMING MUCH MORE OF A COUNTERTERRORISM ORGANIZATION AS OPPOSED TO SIMPLY A SORT OF DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIVE BODY.
AS WELL AS WE BECAME CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE LONE WOLF THESIS THAT WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR THAT LONE WOLF AT ALL LEVELS SO TO SPEAK.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT,-- AND WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY.
AND SO THE POLICE FORCE LOCALLY BEGAN TO MILITARIZE SIMILAR TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY.
SO THAT THEY COULD RESPOND QUICKLY AND THERE BEGAN TO BE MUCH MORE CONNECTION BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FAILURES OF 9/11 WAS THE LACK OF CONNECTION AND THE LACK OF SHARING OF INFORMATION.
AND SO THAT INFORMATION BEGAN TO BE SHARED MORE.
SO I THINK WE'VE ACCEPTED THAT MILITARIZATION MUCH MORE THAN WE HAD BEFORE.
>> BEN, I WONDER, ARE WE A BETTER PEOPLE IN ANY WAY?
IS THERE ANYTHING POSITIVE IN THESE 20 YEARS?
>> WHAT A GREAT QUESTION.
I KNOW THAT GOING INTO 9/11 WE WERE VERY DIVERSE, OR WE THOUGHT WE WERE VERY DIVIDED.
BUSH HAD WON THE ELECTION BY AROUND 5 HOW OFTEN VOTES-- BY 500 VOTES OUT OF FLORIDA AND WE WERE VERY DIVIDED PRIOR TO 9/11.
9/11 UNITED THE COUNTRY IN A LOT OF WAYS.
AND SINCE THEN, WE HAVE SEEN SOME MORE DIVISION TAKE PLACE, SOCIAL MEDIA BEING A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THAT WITH POCKETING PEOPLE IN PLACES.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT I'VE SEEN COME OUT OF THIS IS THE IMPROVEMENT ON INTELLIGENCE AND THE USE OF INTELLIGENCE PROPERLY.
INITIALLY IT WAS THE PATRIOT ACT THAT RAN OUT IN 2015 AND REPLACED BY THE FREEDOM ACT, WHICH DID RESTRICT THIS USE BY THE NSA THAT SNOWDEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE WILLING TO RISK THEIR CAREERS AND GET IT OUT THERE THAT NOT EVERYTHING BEING DONE IS PROPER.
>> YEAH, I THINK THE OTHER THING, BEN, AND I WONDER YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS, IS GUANTANAMO BAY REALLY EXPOSED THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE WERE WILLING TO SACRIFICE VERY FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN IDEALS IN THE INTEREST OF PREVENTING OR THWARTING TERRORIST ATTACKS AND AGAIN THAT, TOO, HAS HAPPENED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT SO THAT ALTHOUGH 500 OF THE ROUGHLY 780 DETAINEES INITIALLY WERE RELEASED UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, 200 OR SO UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, THERE RETAIN 39 DETAWNEES AND THROUGHOUT THAT TIME WE WERE AWARE THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE BEING HELD WITHOUT TRIAL AND THERE WERE PUBLIC REPORTS OF TORTURE, AND SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING LIKE A TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION, BUT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER THAT IS AN APPROACH THAT WE WANT TO USE IN THE FUTURE IN OR DEALING WITH TERRORISM, WHICH IS WITH US FOREVER.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT HAVING THE INTELLIGENCE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE IS USEFUL.
BUT THEN THERE IS THE OTHER QUESTION OF HOW FAR ARE WE WILLING TO GO.
>> YEAH, WELL, WITH TORTURE, AND INTERROGATIONS AND SUCH, YOU ARE GOING TO GET CONFESSIONS.
YOU ARE GOING TO GET INFORMATION BUT IT'S TYPICALLY BAD INFORMATION.
WHAT WE NEED IS THINGS IN PLACE IN THE FRONT END, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, GLOBAL PRESENCE WHERE WE ARE GATHERING THE INFORMATION AND WE ARE MAKING SENSE OF IT BEFORE IT HITS OUR SOIL.
AND YES, WE DO HAVE A DOMESTIC TERRORIST PROBLEM.
WE ALWAYS HAVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH WITH INTELLIGENCE AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, SAFEGUARDS, TO MITIGATE, REDUCE THE CHANCES OF THINGS HAPPENING, BUT IF THEY DO HAPPEN, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO IT QUICKLY, RAPIDLY.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEGOTIATING WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS ACTIVELY KILLING PEOPLE, ACTIVELY TAKING SOULS OFF OF OUR PLANET.
>> IT WILL BE A SOMBER WEEKEND AS WE ALL REMEMBER BACK 20 YEARS AGO.
THIS WEEK IT HAS BEEN BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK AND MANY PARENTS AND GRAND PARENTS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE RISE IN THIS COVID VARIANT AND THEIR CHURN'S ABILITIES NO THE ONLY TO STAY HEALTHY BUT TO THRIVE AND LEARN IN SCHOOL.
THE NEW GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL WAS QUICK TO ISSUE AN ORDER TO SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO MASK AND VAX OR GET WEEKLY TESTING.
WAS THIS THE RIGHT CALL?
>> IT IS THE RIGHT CALL.
OUR MAIN POLICY FOCUS IS TO PROTECT CHILDREN WHO CANNOT GET VACCINATED SO IF WE KEEP THAT AS OUR POLICY FOCUS TO PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE, THE MOST VULNERABLE, THEN THIS MAKES TOTALLY MAKES SENSE, RIGHT?
AND I WORRY ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PATIENTS AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN INCREASE, YOU KNOW, BETTER MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING IN SCHOOLS AND I WAS TALKING TO YOU BEFORE THE SHOW AND YOU SAID THERE WAS $109 MILLION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT?
>> IN SYRACUSE SCHOOLS.
>> I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS IS BEING SPENT, WHO IS SPEND THIS AND WHAT OUTLAYS ARE BEING MADE TO SPEND THIS.
IS THIS EXPENSE FOR VACCINES OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE SCHOOL?
>> HALF OF IT IS GOING TO READING AND MATH.
THEY'VE HIRED A NUMBER OF EXTRA COUNSELORS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH FACILITIES.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS.
TARA I'M WONDERING FOR YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL?
>> ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS, AS I CALLED THESE GROUPS OF STUDENTS ARE THE PANDEMIC STUDENTS BECAUSE, IN ESSENCE, AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC WE STARTED OUT ALMOST GOING TO SCHOOL WHAT I CALL TELEVISION SCHOOL.
THEY'RE WATCHING THE TEACHER ON TELEVISION, ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE WATCHING A MOVIE.
AND NOW SOME STUDENTS WENT HYBRID, SOME STUDENTS CONTINUED TO BE ONLINE.
AND SO NOW THEY'RE FACE TO FACE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M NOTICING IS A LACK OF FOCUS, A LACK OF ABILITY TO REALLY BEGIN TO GET INTO THE SUBJECT MATTER.
THEY'RE EXPECTING THE TELEVISION.
AND SO THAT, I THINK, IS GOING TO TAKE TIME AND PATIENCE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN, THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT JUST THEM BEING CHILDREN.
KEEPING THE MASK ON, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH TIME ARE TEACHERS SPENDING SAYING PUT YOUR MASKS BACK ON, STAY BEHIND YOUR LITTLE BARRIER IF YOU ARE STILL USING THE PLASTIC BARRIERS.
HOW MUCH OF THE SCHOOL TIME IS SPENT DOING THAT OPPOSED TO ACTUALLY EDUCATING THE CHILDREN?
>> WOW.
I MEAN GREAT POINTS.
THE LACK OF ATTENTION AND FOCUS WITH OUR KIDS BEFORE COVID WERE ALREADY BEING IMPACTED AND I DON'T WANT TO BE SLAMMING SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY BUT THAT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR ALREADY WITH THE INSTAGRAM, WITH TICK TOCK AND VERY SHORT WITH TIKTOK AND SHORT BIRTS OF INFORMATION, INSTANT GRATIFICATION, DRIVE-THRUS AND HAVING INFORMATION VERY SHORT AMOUNT.
NOW YOU HAVE THIS ASPECT THAT YOU BRING UP WHICH IS A FANTASTIC POINT.
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY THAT HAS SURROUNDED PARENTAL OBJECTIONS TO BOTH MASKS AS WELL AS VACCS AND I WILL SAY THAT IT IS MY OWN SENSE, OF COURSE THE COURTS WILL DECIDE THIS BUT IT'S MY SENSE THAT PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO NOT REQUIRE THAT THEIR STUDENTS WEAR A MASK OR THAT THEIR STUDENTS GET VACCINATED.
PERHAPS THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT I SHOULD SAY.
BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP THEIR KIDS AT HOME AND TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MASKING OR VACCSING.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO THREATEN THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OTHER STUDENTS AND OTHER STAFF AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES AND JUST AS THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO VANE VACCINES FOR MEASLES AND POLIO AND CHICKEN POX AND SOME OTHER DISEASES, THE NAMES OF WHICH I CAN'T PRONOUNCE, AS FOR TEACHERS, WHO ARE OBJECTING, I OFFER AS EXHIBIT A, THE EXAMPLE IN CALIFORNIA OF A SINGLE TEACHER INFECTING HALF OF HER CLASS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, TAKING OFF HER MASK IN ORDER TO READ TO THEM.
THE CDC FOUND THAT THE PARENTS, THE SIBLINGS AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF THOSE STUDENTS WERE ALSO INFECTED AND SO WITH TEACHERS AND STAFF AS WELL, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR BODIES AND THEIR HEALTH.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO JEOPARDIZE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS WITH WHOM THEY WORK AND CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITIES.
>> ANIRBAN, YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> YOUR FREEDOM STOPS AT THE BRINK OF MY NOSE.
YOU CAN HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT VACCINATE YOUR KIDS AND THE COURTS MIGHT DECIDE OTHERWISE BUT I THINK THAT IS A FAIR THING TO SAY.
BUT YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO JEOPARDIZE OTHER PEOPLE'S HEALTH, RIGHT?
SO THERE CAN BE SOMETHING THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET YOUR GET VACCINATED, THERE IS AN OPTION FOR THE STUDENTS TO YOU KNOW, STUDY ONLINE.
BUT YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS WHO CAN GET VACCINATED, I SAY COME ON.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS WEIRD RESEARCH?
GROW UP.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK ANOTHER ASPECT IS PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FREEDOM AND THE AMERICAN CHOICE.
YOU CAN'T GET ANYMORE AMERICAN THAN GEORGE WASHINGTON REQUIRING HIS SOLDIERS TO GET THE SMALL POX VACCINE.
SO YOU MAKE GREAT POINTS NINA.
>> DO I HAVE TIME TO ADD THAT WE'VE OFFERED ANECDOTES AND OUR PERSPECTIVES WHICH OF COURSE ARE GROUNDED IN OUR STUDYING LOTS OF THINGS.
BUT THERE ARE SOME VERY CONCRETE FACTS HERE.
SO THAT THE CDC-- I'M SORRY, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS HAS SHOWN THAT OVER LAST WEEK ALONE, JUST LAST WEEK, 250,000 STUDENTS WERE INFECTED WITH THE COVID VIRUS AND BETWEEN AUGUST 2 AND SEPTEMBER 2, FULLY 750,000.
SO WE ARE NOT IN THE CLOUDS OR IN THE ABSTRACT TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO AND NOT TO DO.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
>> AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT KIDS AND AS WE THINK ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL, WELL, THAT ALSO BRINGS FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL.
ESPN AIRED ON SUNDAY A HIGH SCHOOL GAME THAT BRINGS UP THE ISSUE OF WHETHER HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.
THIS GAME WAS A MISMATCH IN WHICH A BOARDING SCHOOL, A SPORTS POWER HOUSE ROUTED A LITTLE KNOWN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL 58-0.
THE LOSERS HAD TEENS PLAYING BOTH SIDES, OFFENSE AND DEFENSE AND THEY JUST PLAYED ANOTHER GAME TWO DAYS BEFORE.
THIS IS PERHAPS ALL ABOUT THE QUEST FOR TEENS AND PARENTS TO GET THE COULD HAVE COVETED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.
ARE THESE REAL SCHOOLS?
>> BASE CLIS BISHOP SYCAMORE IS NOT A REAL SCHOOL.
IT'S LISTED AS A CHARTER SCHOOL BUT WHEN YOU GO TO ITS WEBSITE AND ACTUALLY LOOK UP WHERE THE SCHOOL IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
IT'S AN ATHLETIC COMPLEX NEAR A BIG SHOPPING MALL IN OHIO AND BASICALLY THEY SHOW A LIBRARY WHERE THEY APPARENTLY I TRY TO GET AN OFFICE BUT THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE.
SO IT'S NOT EVEN A REAL SCHOOL.
>> THESE ARE THE LOSERS.
>> THE LOSERS, YES, BISHOP SYCAMORE.
>> IN MORE WAYS THAN UNMAYBE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> BUT WHAT IS SAD ABOUT IT IS THAT APPARENTLY THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE SPORTS WRITER WHO HAD TRIED TO SORT OF SOUND THE WHISTLE THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THE SCHOOL MORE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A REAL SCHOOL.
ITS PLAYERS, IF YOU WATCH THE PREVIOUS GAME, CLEARLY WERE ADULTS, SOME OF THEM, NOT TEENS AND HE TRIED TO SOUND THE ALARM AND NO ONE REALLY LISTENED.
AND PART OF THE REASON NO ONE REALLY LISTENED WAS BECAUSE A: YOU KNOW, IT IS GOING TO BE ON ESPN AND THAT BRINGS MONEY AND IT BRINGS TALENT SCOUTS, HIGHLIGHTS THEIR PLAYERS.
THE SCHOOLS THAT, OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE PLAYED THIS BISHOP SYCAMORE AND THEY GENERALLY WON HANDILY, WHICH HELPS THEIR RANKINGS.
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, REVS UP THE FANS.
EVERYBODY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY AND NO ONE SEEMED CONCERN BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME TEENS ON THE BISHOP SYCAMORE TEAM, NO ONE SEEMED TO CARE ABOUT THE TEENS ON EITHER SIDE.
>> BEN, IS THIS JUST AN ANOMALY OR SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT THIS COMMERCIALIZATION OF SPORTS PARTICULARLY HIGH SCHOOL?
>> I HOPE IT IS A ONE OFF BUT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING INTO IT.
YOU HAVE THE COACH THAT NIGHT WAS FIRED WHO HAD AN ACTIVE WARRANT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT THE TIME.
THE NEW COACH THAT WAS HIRED SPECIFICALLY SAID IT'S NOT A SCHOOL AND THAT THEY DON'T OFFER ANY CURRICULUM, WHICH IS IN COMPLETE CONTRAST TO THE FOUNDER, PETERSON, WHO WAS SAYING THAT THEY DO HAVE THAT AND THEY DO MEET AT A BUILDING.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED.
>> ANIRBAN, WHAT ABOUT TELEVISING THE HIGH SCHOOL GAMES.
IS THAT REVING IT UP TOO MUCH?
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, BUT IT SEEMS ESPN GOT SCAMMED INTO SHOWING THIS, YOU KNOW, GAME.
BUT YEAH, ON THE LARGER EXTENT, I THINK A LARGER COMMERCIALIZATION OF SCHOOL FOOTBALL MIGHT BE DETRIMENTAL TO EDUCATION ITSELF AND YOU KNOW, IN THE FORMATIVE YEARS, TEAM SPORT IS GOOD BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE BALANCE BETWEEN HOW MUCH COMMERCIALIZED WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, RIGHT?
SO I THINK IT'S BETTER NOT TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY INTO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BUT THAT'S MY HUMBLE OPINION.
>> YEAH, I HAVE A SOMEWHAT HUMBLE OPINION ALTHOUGH I KNOW I SAID I WAS GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS.
BUT IF THE QUESTION IS PARTLY THAT COMMERCIALIZATION IS A FUNCTION OF SCHOOLS THAT REALLY AREN'T SCHOOLS, WE COULD START LOOKING AT A WHOLE BUNCH OF INNER CITY SCHOOLS THAT ARE FAILING THEIR STUDENTS AND PRODUCING FOLKS WHO CAN'T READ TO ASK WHETHER THEY'RE REALLY SCHOOLS AND SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS.
I KNOW THAT'S STRETCHING IT BUT IT IS KIND OF A FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE TO CONSIDER.
>> YEAH, AND I WILL QUICKLY SAY THAT THERE IS OHIO STATE LAW IN PLACE THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE CRICK-- CURRICULUM, ATTENDANCE AND SCHOOL BUILDING TO BE CONSIDERED A HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR HAS OPENED UP AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS.
>> IT'S INTERESTING THE DISTRICT IN WHICH I LIVE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIELD A VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE OF COVID CONCERNS OR CONCUSSION CONCERNS.
I'M SURE WE ARE NOT DONE TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
IT'S TIME TO OPEN THE GRADEBOOK AND LET'S SEE, WE WANT TO GO TO NINA FIRST FOR YOUR F PLEASE.
>> THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE DEATH OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER WAS SACRED TO ALL OF US.
NOW IT'S POLITICAL.
THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THAT SOME OF THE FAMILIES OF THE 13 SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN HAVE DECLINED TO OFFER TO MEET-- DECLINED AN OFFER TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT BUSH.
SIX OF THE 13 HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY CRITICAL OF BIDEN.
MEANWHILE, TRUMP TELEPHONED SOME OF THE FAMILIES AND SOME OF THEM HAVE INVITED HIM TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THOUGH THAT TRUMP'S PAC HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE AFGHANISTAN PULLOUT DEBACLE.
I WONDER HOW MUCH MONEY HE MIGHT RAISE IF HE WERE TO ATTEND THE FUNERALS OF THE SERVICE MEMBERS.
>> AND BEN, MY F GOES TO A LAID HO WAS ARRESTED AT AN AIRPORT IN HONOLULU UNDER MISDEMEANOR CHARGES FOR FALSIFYING THE VACCINE DOCUMENT THAT YOU ARE SEEING ON YOUR SCREEN HERE.
SHE WAS UNVACCINATED WHEN SHE ALLEGEDLY SKIPPED THE HAWAII'S 10-DAY QUARANTINE AND UPON REVIEW, THE AGENT NOTICED THAT IT WAS MISSPELLED.
DID AN INVESTIGATION AND FIVE DAYS LATER THEY ARRESTED HER AS SHE WAS TRYING TO LEAVE HAWAII COULD GO BACK HOME.
>> ANIRBAN, WHO GETS YOUR F. >> TO THE PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL WHO IS NOW PLOTTING A FAR RIGHT VIOLENT COUP IN BRAZIL.
MODELING A COUP AFTER THE JANUARY 6 ATTACKS ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BUT UNLIKE THE ONE HERE IN THE U.S., WE FEAR THAT THIS VIOLENCE CAN HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATION OF BRAZIL.
>> TARA.
>> WELL, MY F IS A BIPARTISAN F, AN F TO FORMER TRUMP PRESS SECRETARY KELLY CONWAY FOR HER SURVEIL YOU ARE TO RESIGN.
THE OTHER HALF OF THE F GOES TO ALEXANDRIA CORTEZ CRITICIZING DONE WAY.
I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS SHE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON.
>> A DOUBLE F. LET'S GO TO THE As.
AND NINA, YOUR A.
>> NOT EVERYONE HAS BOWED A KNEE TO OR BECOME CONSUMED BY THE INTENSE POLARIZATION OF TODAY'S POLITICS.
THERE IS A GROUP APPROPRIATELY NAME MAVERICK CITY THAT IS ON A MISSION TO SHOW US A BETTER WAY.
THEIR YOUTUBE VIDEOS GET AS MANY AS 25 MILLION HITS.
THEY REPRESENT A DIVERSITY OF VOICES SINGING IN DIFFERENT KEYS BUT UNITED BEHIND THE SAME PURPOSE OF SPREADING GOOD NEWS.
>> WE LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT GOOD NEWS.
BEN, WHAT IS YOURS?
>> MINE IS AN A FOR JOHN STEWART'S ONGOING ADVOCACY FOR OUR 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS.
HE POINTED OUT IN A PASSIONED SPEECH THAT THE RESPONSE TIME OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO 9/11 AND GROUND ZERO WAS FIVE SECONDS.
THOUSANDS DIED THAT DAY.
THE FIRST RESPONDERS RAN TOWARDS THE DANGER.
THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO AND HE CONCLUDED WITH THIS.
THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO 9/11 SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DECIDE TO LIVE OR HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.
THEY RESPONDED IN FIVE SECONDS AND DID THEIR JOB AND HE POINTED OUT TO CONGRESS, IT'S 1 YEARS 18 YEARS LATER, DO YOURS.
>> ANIRBAN.
>> MY A GOES TO CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE, THE ONLY REPRESENTATIVE THAT VOTED AGAINST THE EXPANSIVE WAR POWERS OF THE U.S. PRESIDENCY AFTER THE NUN 11 ATTACKS.
-- 9/11 ATTACKS.
I HOPE WE NEVER FORGET HER ASTUTE JUDGMENT AND REASON.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN LEE.
AND TARA, YOUR A.
>> MY A GOES TO CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMAN AND FORMER POLICE OFFICER MIKE JIBSON WHO SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL BAN POLICE OFFICERS FROM USING ANY TECH NECK THAT CREATES-- TECHNIQUE THAT CREATES A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF POSITIONAL ASPHYXIA.
>> POSITIONAL ASPHYXIA.
>> AS WE CLOSE, I JUST WANT TO SECOND BEN'S A THAT IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM 9/11 WE HAVE SOME GOOD HEROES AND SOME GOOD ROLE MODELS BUT WITH THAT, IT IS TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.
IF YOU'VE AGREED OR DISAGREED WITH OUR DISCUSSION, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THE ADDRESSES ARE ON THE SCREEN.
IF YOU MISS THE SHOW ANY FRIDAY NIGHT, IT REPEATS SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 • OR YOU CAN FIND THE SHOW ONLINE ANYTIME AT WCNY.ORG.
GOOD NIGHT!