Panel tells motivations of book banners

Banned Book speakers from left were Linda Mitchell, James Strand,
Lisa Shapiro and T. Ford (Photos: Rebecca Jefferis Williamson)

Blues singer Lady Jay performs

EL CAJON --Those who would ban books cite inappropriate language or too much sexuality or violence as their motivation for wanting them removed from library shelves.  However, often their unspoken motivation is to suppress ideas that may disrupt the established societal order.

In observance of National Banned Book Week, a faculty-student panel at Grossmont College on Thursday, Sept. 26, delved into some of the themes and beliefs in books that had such critics up in arms.

English Prof. Lisa Shapiro drew parallels between Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, published in 1961 during the U.S. Civil Rights movement, and Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow, published in 2010.  Both books, according to Shapiro, came during periods of pushback by white people in reaction to the gains made by blacks.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, a black man accused in the Deep South of raping a white woman is believed guilty of the attack by a large mob, which wants to spare the state of a trial by lynching the defendant.  However, the case does go to trial and a white lawyer who believes every defendant deserves a solid defense, takes up the case. However, the case is stacked against the prisoner.  When he tries to escape, he is killed by the mob

Today, with blacks having attained the highest of positions -- Barack Obama in the White House, and Oprah Winfrey a media mogul -- there is again pushback.  In author Alexander's view, it is taking the form of putting more and more black males under the thumb of the legal system-- whether they be in prison or jail, or on probation or parole.

Groups called for the banning of both books. Though some piously said  they were opposed to words in the book like "nigger" that degrade African-Americans, their real objection was to exposing the legal system as innately racist, according to Shapiro.

She said readers are "capable of dealing with rape and abusive language."  What the book banners are afraid of, in her opinion, is acceptance of the assertion that the legal system is creating a caste system, which is different from a class system in that in a caste system people cannot move up in social class.   In a caste system, the people are permanently stuck in their positions.

"More than half the black men in the United States are under the control of the legal system" be that in prison, or parole or probation, Shapiro asserted.

"Today's lynching is incarceration," Shapiro said.  "Mobs are in uniforms."

English Prof. T. Ford showed some videos illustrating the point that many black people have internalized negative stereotypes about them.  In one of the clips, Malcolm X, making a speech, demanded of his audience, "Who taught you to hate who you are?"

The torment that black people felt in their lives was often express through the blues, and there was perhaps no better blues singer than Bessie Smith, who lived from 1894-1937. White people were used to seeing black singers in "mammy clothes' but Smith performed in stylish outfits that any white woman would have been pleased to wear, said Ford.

Smith was often barred from singing in white-owned establishments and her songs, some of them sexually suggestive, were kept off the radio.  It was not the sexual innuendo that was the problem Ford said, it was what Bessie Smith represented:  the dignity one could manifest in struggle.

Ford pleased the audience by bringing to the stage San Diego blues singer  Janet Polite, known on the concert stage as Lady Jay.  The  singer introduced herself by saying that her father had been a preacher, and she and her siblings were brought up to be a gospel choir.  Her father believed that the blues were the devil's music.  However, she grew to love the genre.   She sang three songs, one of which was popularized by Ruth Brown.  Asking members of the audience to snap their fingers, she sang:

Mama, he treats your daughter mean;
He's the meanest, meanest man I've ever seen

From race relations, the banned book discussions moved on to the realm of fantasy.

James Strand is a student in the English class of the event's organizer, English Prof. Joe Medina.  He presented a slide and video discussion of the comic book here Superman.   Created by two recent Jewish immigrants to Cleveland--Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel -- the Superman character may have been a response by Siegel to his father's murder during a robbery .

At first, Superman was unrestrained in the punishments he meted out to villains, and Fredric Wertham criticized Superman and other comic book characters for "seducing" the minds of children. In Wertham's view, comic books were badly drawn, baldy written and badly printed, and ought to be banned.

Wertham's concerns were taken seriously. Boy Scout troops across the country gathered comic books and threw them into bonfires, leading in 1954 to the adoption by comic book publishers to a restrictive self-regulatory code.

However, Stan Lee, creator of  Spider Man, the Hulk and X-Man, among others, fought back, eventually rising to the status of guru within the world of comics. At the ComicCon convention each year in San Diego's Lee's appearances draw standing room only crowds.

Superman had a right to exist, declared Strand.

The final presentation of the evening was by retired English Prof. Linda Mitchell, whole tale about werewolves, Satawan: A Humboldt Pack Story is set to be published before Halloween.

There was a time, she said, than any literature with vampires was likely to be banned somewhere.

While today we think of a vampire as a creature who sucks blood to sustain eternal life, in historic times "vampire" referred to almost any one guilty of heinous behavior, or appeared to be deformed, or who deviated from religious norms, Mitchell said.

Bram Stoker's blood-sucking Dracula changed the popular perception of vampires.  This character in some ways was modeled on the 15th century Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia, also known as Vlad the Impaler.  He was reputed to be a vicious killer who impaled his victims on takes pushed into the bloodied ground of battlefields.

But vampire rituals also were parodies of the words Jesus spoke to his disciples, as reported in John 6: 54:  "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Like many Britons of the Victorian era, Stoker felt constrained to write not too openly about sex, so instead he substituted the bite on the neck from which both vampire and donor experience an orgasmic joy, said Mitchell.

In the "Twilight" movie series, the beautiful young women who are enthralled by the vampire's bite are experiencing the ultimate in safe sex, the professor added.

The young adult book Vampire Academy is banned in Texas supposedly because it includes sex and nudity.  But the banners have called for the ban to be extended to any future books in the series -- whether there be sex and nudity or not.

This, said organizer Medina, was an illustration of the thesis that many people who ban books have never bothered to read them.

Medina urged students in attendance to read books that have been banned or challenged, and to decide for themselves what value they have.

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DHH

Modern dance, Bollywood and ballet master classes planned in October

EL CAJON -- Three guest instructors will offer master classes in dance at Grossmont College during the month of October.  Their styles couldn't be more varied.

Laurie Muñiz, known in dance circuits as "Lo," will instruct a class in contemporary modern dance from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in the college dance studio, Room 271 of Building 24.  She has instructed at Coronado School of Arts, Claremont Creative Performing Arts, National City Inner Arts and School of Arts Enterprise of Pomona.  Currently she is an instructor at “The Little Dance World”, The Breese Foundation, and also a board member, instructor & choreographer for “The Good Life with Gabby.”

Later on Oct. 12, Jayati Nath, who has studied many dances of India, will instruct a "Bollywood" course from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m, in the college dance studio.  Bollywood dancing is a mixture of all types of Indian dances, infused together.  Often seen in Indian movies, this style of dancing typically is in association with a song.  It includes such Indian dance genres as Bhangra, Garba, and Bharatanatym, the latter being a classical South Indian dance for which Nath has trained for 15 years.

Two weeks later, on Saturday, Oct. 26, ballet dancer Cathy Kiefer will offer in the college dance studio a beginning ballet class from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and a class for intermediate and advanced level ballet dancers from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m.  Having danced ballet since 3 years of age, Kiefer went on to study on full scholarships with Harold Christensen of the San Francisco Ballet School, David Howard at Harkness House, and at the School of American Ballet in New York City.  After continuing her studies in Europe, Kiefer danced with the San Diego Ballet and for the San Diego Opera.  She now teaches at the San Diego School of Ballet and the California Ballet School.

Any of these classes may be taken for a fee of $10, or two classes for $18. While primarily intended for Dance Department students, it is open to other students and non-students alike.  Please call 619/644-7766 to register.

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Language and culture clubs attract wide followings

EL CAJON -- Students Justin Abdel  and Tam Phan hail respectively from Iraq and from  Vietnam. Can you guess which one of these students serves as the president of the Arabic Club and which one is the president of the Italian Club at Grossmont College?

If you guessed  that Tam Phan was president of the Arabic Club, you were right.  At Grossmont College, language and culture clubs attract members from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds; you don’t have to come from a country where that language is spoken to join or to advance through the club’s officer ranks.

Phan and Abdel were among the students on Wednesday, Sept. 25, who staffed booths in the Main Quad in an effort to build the membership of the campus clubs.  To attract the interest of passersby, club members were quite creative.  For example, three members of the Italian Club dressed like ancient Romans.

Meanwhile, at the nearby Arabic booth, club members displayed beautiful Middle Eastern dresses, and wrote in Arabic script the names of passersby.  They also sold boxes containing a sampling of Middle Eastern cuisine.

At  Le Cercle Francais (the French Circle) booth, there were pastries available as well as bottled water.

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Arab professors analyze troubles in Syria, Egypt

Moderator Alana Shuckett, standing, introduces panel members,
from left, Dr. Shak Hanish, Dr.Jiryes Haddad, and Dr. Sonia Ghattas-
Soliman (seated) and standing behind her, obscured, Dr. Todd Myers

EL CAJON – College campuses are often the hotbed of discussion and debate regarding controversial issues. Grossmont College is certainly no exception and offers opportunities for dialogue, debate and sharing.

Recently one such event was held on campus to discuss the situations in Syria and Egypt. Panelists asserted that the United States should try to bring parties together in Syria and should refrain from taking any action in Egypt.

Dr. Sonia Ghattas-Soliman, an Egyptian who serves on the World Languages faculty at Grossmont College, said that in the era following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi , Egyptians“would like to solve their problems by themselves.”

Further, she said, “the Egyptians don’t want military aid” from the United States because it comes with too many conditions. She said these include a requirement that “Egypt does not attack Israel”; that the United States has free access to the Suez Canal; and that the U.S. has full access to the skies above Egypt.

She said that the American arms that go to Egypt are required to be carried by U.S. ships and must be received by American agents. She said the many Egyptians who are pacifists, say stop the aid.

Fellow panelist Dr. Shak Hanish of National University’s Department of Social Sciences said one constructive action the United States could take towards Syria would be to work in concert with the Russia to persuade rebel leaders and Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to negotiate an end to the Civil War.

In addition, said Hanish, who is from Iraq, the U.S. should pressure such allies in the Middle East as Qatar and Saudi Arabia “to stop interfering and selling arms.”

He expressed the wish that if the United States used its drones to attack anyone in Syria, it would be against al-Qaeda forces that have penetrated the country from the outside.

Stressing the danger of Al Qaeda, Dr. Ghattas-Soliman said that in the short time that Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood were in power in Egypt, they allowed Al Qaeda to establish terrorist cells in the northern portion of the Sinai Desert. She said that Al Qaeda has been responsible for killings of soldiers and officers the desert peninsula and the Muslim Bortherhood is to blame for the burning and destruction of Christian churches in Egypt.

A third panelist, Prof. Jiryes Haddad of the World Languages Departments at San Diego City College, said that much of the turbulence in the Middle East today can be traced to American intervention in Iraq. The toppling of the strong central government of Saddam Hussein had the effect of turning “Iraq into the backyard of Iran” and propelling Iran into the position of a super power in the Middle East, said Haddad, who is from Jordan. Whereas previously Iraq had been a barrier to Iran’s expansionism, today Iran easily ships arms to Assad in Syria and to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

A questioner who identified himself as a U.S. veteran of the war in Iraq asked if America’s military effort­and the lives lost – all were wasted.

“This is a tough question,” responded Hanish. “Sadly I don’t know if we did good by going there. Many would think that it was a violation of international law.” On the other hand, he added, there is “relative democracy” in Iraq. But the cost is that people have been dying every day from sectarian violence.

Haddad said the sectarian violence has caused many Christians to leave Iraq. Among those Christians were the Chaldean refugees whose major areas of resettlement in the United States were Detroit, Michigan, and here in El Cajon, California.

A fourth panelist, Prof. Todd Myers of Grossmont College’s economics and political science faculty, said that rather than toppling Saddam Hussein, the United States should have waited for Saddam to die, and then offered a program of democratization. The cruel math of the situation, he said, was that Saddam was killing 4,000 people per year to remain in power. In contrast, U.S. intervention led to the deaths of some 100,000 people. Even if Saddam had remained in power for 10 years, the death toll would have been much lower, he said.

The room was filled to capacity and a few people stood in the back of the room to monitor the discussion When moderator Alana Shuckett, a student who has a masters degree in Homeland Security and subsequently enrolled at Grossmont College to study Arabic, announced that the allotted time had elapsed, attendees gave the speakers a round of applause.

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Panel on Sept. 26 to discuss books others would ban

English Prof. Joe Medina

EL CAJON – What impels some people to call for certain books to be banned?  What might the world have missed if other people had listened to them?  In observance of National Banned Book Week, panelists will discuss these topics at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in Grossmont College’s Griffin Gate meeting room.

The amazing thing about many of the people who want to ban a book is that they often  haven’t actually read it, says English Prof. Joe Medina, who  will moderate the panel discussion  celebrating the constitutional guarantees of free speech and a free press.

In the area of fantasy, student James Strand will tell of the efforts to ban Superman after the Man of Steel made his first appearance in a comic book in 1938.  English instructor Linda Mitchell will discuss the current resistance to vampire literature, which has become increasingly popular.

In the area of race relations, English Instructor Lisa Shapiro will discuss Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, a book which suggests that through its penal system America is re-segregating itself.  Prof. T. Ford will discuss some of the blues songs of Bessie Smith.  

Medina said that during her lifetime Smith faced racial discrimination as well as condemnation for lyrics that critics contended were “racy and overly sexy, filled with sexual innuendo.” However, Medina said,  in the same songs, Smith sings not only about sexuality, “she sings about the Depression, about repression, and about the plight of women being in secondary roles.  That made many people in the audience really relate to Bessie Smith.”

Medina said this is the 22^nd year at Grossmont College he has helped to celebrate banned books.  As a result of a reputation the program has developed over more than two decades, with faculty members often offering extra credit to students who attend the forum, “we generally have very good attendance, sometimes even standing room only ,” he said.

While he disagrees with people who try to ban books, Medina says he understands and sometimes sympathizes with their motives.  “There are groups that don’t want young minds to be exposed to profane topics, profanity, an excessive amount of sexuality or violence, death wishes, deception or lying – the flaws in our society – so they get caught up with those types of issues within the works. 

“However, they fail to see the big picture, that in these same works there are often redeeming values, important lessons to be had,” he added in an interview.

An example, he said, is the children’s book by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, And Tango Makes Three, based on a true story of two male zoo penguins who paired off, and when given an opportunity by zoo keepers, helped to hatch an egg together and to raise the penguin chick.  Critics suggest that this plot is an attempt to promote homosexuality, said Medina, but “some of the people who want to ban it, haven’t even read it,” he said.   

There are also people who want to ban the entire Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling because they believe it promotes sorcery, he said.

“My mantra is let’s read these works.  Let’s see what is controversial about them and then let’s discuss the works.  What issues are being addressed through these books, and what particular audiences are being offended, and why?  Is there material that they might also find commendable?  And then, after having a discussion about the book, we can make a decision on the merits.”

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'Continental Army soldiers' visit Grossmont College

Sons of the American Revolution members include, from left, Ernie McCullough, Philip Hinshaw, Stan De Long and Will Tisch.  They distributed copies of the U.S. Constitution on the Grossmont College campus Sept. 18.

EL CAJON – Even on a campus with a high percentage of students who are military veterans, four men in their vintage U.S. Army uniforms drew more than their share of wondering stares at Grossmont College on Wednesday, Sept. 18, a day set aside to celebrate the U.S. Constitution.

The uniforms were historical ones worn by units of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence, fought in the late 18th Century.   Proudly wearing them were members of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), all of whom can trace their lineage to Revolutionary War days.

For example, Ernie McCullough can boast of three direct ancestors who lived in America at the time – one a soldier, another a merchant and the third a preacher.  Philip Hinshaw said two of his forebearers served in the Pennsylvania militia.  And Will Tisch said he is descended from a man who served in the New Jersey militia.

But if anyone had the right to brag about lineage– although he was quite modest about it – it was Stan De Long, who said he has common ancestors with George Washington through his direct ancestor, Samuel Ball.  Washington’s mother was Mary Ball Washington.

Two members of the SAR unit could also boast of close relations to Grossmont College.  Hinshaw said he taught geography as an adjunct instructor in the late 1970s on the campus.   And Tisch said at age 56, graduating in general studies from Grossmont College last year was “a matter of hope for me” and a way to “keep my mind sharp.”   A machinist’s technician, Tisch said he would like to become an engineer.

The uniformed Sons of the American Revolution passed out copies of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and happily chatted with students who stopped by their station in front of Griffin Center.

One of Philip Hinshaw’s main interests is the San Diego connection to the American Revolutionary War.  Although San Diego was founded only in 1769—just seven years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia—the soldiers garrisoned at the Presidio above modern-day Old Town San Diego were encouraged in 1780 to make a monetary contribution to the U.S. Revolutionary cause, which some did.

Hinshaw said the King of Spain and the King of France were cousins, and while Spain was more circumspect than France in supporting the 13 Colonies, it did so.  The French naval fleet that helped Washington defeat the British General Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, had been stationed in the Caribbean Sea, he said.  Only after Spain agreed to patrol that area of the world in France’s behalf were the French able to sail north to Virginia for the decisive battle.

Free speech walls were set up elsewhere on the Grossmont College campus for students, faculty and staff to write their thoughts on large sheets of paper.   The thoughts so inscribed reflected a variety of viewpoints.

“Our freedoms are meant to protect that which is unusual, unpopular or against those in power.  To live in fear is to sacrifice the one thing that cannot be stolen from us… our opinion,” was one comment.

“If it’s free, why do I pay taxes for it?”  asked another anonymous writer.

Another advised: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

One of America’s first diplomats and sages, Ben Franklin, was quoted as saying “Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither and lose both.”

There was also this slogan: “Stand for something or fall for anything.”

And near a written message that included a common cuss word was another message:  “You can do this because of the U.S. Constitution.  Defend it!  Don’t change it!”

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Scholarships available for Mexican students

Students who are from Mexico or are of Mexican descent are eligible for an immediate $500-per-semester scholarship available through the Scholarship Offices at both Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College. 

Applications, which are due Sept. 30, will be judged on the basis of a student’s financial need, a 1,500-word essay, and on having maintained a C average or better.  Recipients making satisfactory progress will be able to renew the $500 award the next semester.   Under terms of the scholarship grant, preference will be accorded to students who are involved in assisting Mexican immigrants. 

“We are absolutely delighted that the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME), through the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, has chosen to help students with financial needs in our college district,” said John Valencia, associate vice chancellor for advancement and communications for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

“These scholarships – ten at Grossmont College and five at Cuyamaca College—will help not only the recipients but will also assist our college, where students of Mexican origin are a significant portion of our population.”

In awarding a $15,000 grant for the 15 scholarships, IME stated “the purpose of this scholarship is to raise the educational levels of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans living in the United States. The goal of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance for promising low-income students of Mexican origin who are pursuing an undergraduate degree. The scholarship also seeks to support students who demonstrate a commitment to leadership or service that benefits the Mexican immigrant population.”

Fill out the Grossmont College scholarship application and return it to the college’s Financial Aid office by September 30. 

Grossmont College students sponsor diverse speakers

EL CAJON--A series of speakers sponsored by student groups will be bringing diverse topics to the Grossmont College campus.  With three lectures scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the upcoming programs include:

Thursday, Sept. 19 – Michael Benoit, executive chair of the San Diego Libertarian Party, speaks at an event sponsored by the Young Americans for Liberty at 3 p.m. in Griffin Gate, Building 60, Room 180.  Benoit is described as a “Second Amendment advocate” in YAL materials distributed on campus.

Monday, Sept 23 – The Arabic Club sponsors a panel discussion on "Egypt & Syria: Arab Spring or Civil War?" Panelists will include Dr. Sonia Ghattas-Soliman of Grossmont College's language department; Dr. Shak Hanish of National University's social sciences department; and Prof. Jiryes Haddad of Grossmont College and San Diego City College's world languages department.  The discussion from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. will be held in Room 583 of Building 51.  It will be moderated by Alana Shuckett, a master's degree holder in homeland security.

Tuesday, Sept. 24—The Associated Students of Grossmont College present Steven Schurr in a lecture on “Pharmageddon,” which is Schurr’s description of America’s prescription drug crisis, at 10:30 a.m., in Griffin Gate, Building 60, Room 180 A-D.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Motivational speaker Ja Marr Brown lectures on “Start Your Future Now,”  based on his career as Black Student Union President and later Student Body President at Whittier College, and later vice president for sales at a medical device company.  The author of What’s Your Sales Story and You’re Ugly, his lecture at 2 p.m. in Griffin Gate, Building 60-180, is sponsored by the Associated Students of Grossmont College, the Inter-Club Council and the Student Affairs Office.

Tuesday, Sept. 24 -- Dr. Davida Kotluski, a psychologist and author who focuses on issues of LBGT equality and self-actualization, will speak  on the topic “Out of the Closet, Into Power,” at 3:30 p.m.in Griffin Gate.   Her lecture is sponsored by the Associated Students of Grossmont College, the Inter-Club Council and the Student Affairs Office.