Confucian Confusion

Monday, June 11, 2018

I finished reading Operation Chaos by Matthew Sweet, a study of how an informal band of Vietnam War GI deserters morphed into the Lyndon LaRouche movement.  I expect that many of you don't know who LaRouche is and I am conflicted about filling that information gap.  If your taste runs to paranoia, he's the man.  At one time, he maintained that Nelson Rockefeller intended to subject this country to a totalitarian regime.  After Rockefeller's death, LaRouche turned to Queen Elizabeth II, sometimes abetted by Henry Kissinger, as the head of a worldwide heroin ring.  Enough said.

What interested me, in my idiosyncratic fashion, was the use of an apartment at 65 Morton Street by the LaRouche claque in 1965.  It was the same building where 20 years earlier Julius Rosenberg and co-conspirators met to exchange information and purloined documents.  John Belushi lived at 64 Morton Street, when he died of a drug overdose in 1982.  Elliott Gould moved into 58 Morton Street after he separated from Barbra Streisand in 1969.  Henry Roth wrote much of Call It Sleep at 61 Morton Street in the early 1930s.  Wally Cox, the actor who starred on television as "Mr. Peepers", lived at 55 Morton Street early in his career in the 1950s.  Rumor has it that he cohabited there with Marlon Brando, a boyhood friend. 

https://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/2679676.html

So, what's the big deal, Grandpa?  I also lived at 55 Morton Street from November 1968 until June 1971, in a tiny, roach-ridden apartment and look how far I've come.
. . .

There was sad news this weekend.  Ben's Best Delicatessen, 96-40 Queens Boulevard, announced that it is closing on June 30th, after 73 years of operation.  http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/ny-metro-bens-best-deli-closing-20180608-story.html

In my pursuit of tikkun olam, "an aspiration to behave and act constructively and beneficially," according to Wikipedia, I have often taken pains to distinguish Ben's Best Delicatessen, at its sole location, from Ben's Kosher Delicatessen, a small chain of restaurants in the metropolitan area and Florida.  I have maintained that Ben's Best was, indeed, the best Kosher delicatessen in the Holy Land, that is until recently when I went to Pastrami Queen, 1125 Lexington Avenue.  However, after June 30th, the issue will be moot.

To mark the passing of this venerable institution, we are conducting a pilgrimage to Ben's Best on Friday, June 22nd at 12:30 PM, Jewish time (12:40, ten to one, whatever).  The 63rd Drive-Rego Park station of the M & R trains is a few feet away; key transfer points are 42nd Street--Times Square and Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street.  Jay Parker, owner, will meet with us and attempt to defend his decision.  Additionally, I will underwrite the cost of the first 8 cans of Dr. Brown's sodas, any flavor.  Be there or be square.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

There is simply no good news today.  I read the New York Times carefully without finding a note of encouragement or pleasure.  The fact that two dictators spent time in each other's company does not comfort me.  The science section warns against an expanded waist size.  Net neutrality ended yesterday.  The slim reed that might sustain me until bedtime is the hole in the Mets' schedule Monday, a day going by without a loss or an injury to a key player. 

. . .

In a recent interview, New York City's school chancellor discussed the admissions process for Stuyvesant and other "specialized" high schools.  He said: "We can't treat everybody equally.  We have to have equity."  An attempt to explain his comment probably would torture most sincere people.  Further, equality evokes measurement, science, mathematics; equity evokes fairness or the perception of fairness.  Equity emerged in British law as a response to the rigidity of common law, which relied on principles honed by precedent.  Fairness ultimately lies in the eyes of the beholder and is immediately challengeable by the guy standing next to the beholder.  

While the parents of Eric Holder, former US Attorney General, Stuyvesant '69, may have been comfortable with the Stuyvesant admissions test, I understand why many other African-American parents may not be, with their children gaining so few seats in the school.  But, what of the Chinese-American parents, whose children, collectively in the last several decades, have demonstrated mastery in this area of competition?  Here is an anecdotal example:  https://www.stuyalumni.org/news/meet-jason-mei-18-winner-of-the-wexler-scholarship/

For a blessed interval, white privilege is on the sidelines.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

I bought lunch at Yaso Tangbao, Shanghai Street Foods, 220 East 42nd Street, a semi-fast food dumpling joint, on the way to a gathering of the Feingold Faction, which remains active even after Stanley Feingold's death.  In fact, we have been spurred on to collect his writings and sponsor a speech/forum at CCNY in his memory.  For some appreciation of the man and his legacy, read these two articles by Joe Berger.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/education/20EDUCATION.html

https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/decades-away-but-still-drawn-to-c-c-n-y-s-embrace/

I was fueled for our discussion by "Chicken Soup Dumplings w/ Activated Charcoal" (4 pieces for $3.95) and "Shanghai [sesame] Cold Noodles ($7.45).  The dumplings in a charcoal grey wrapper were very good, although the risk of scalding when taking the initial bite was mitigated by the two block walk to Sid Davidoff's office. The large portion of noodles, fettuccine flat rather than spaghetti round, topped with slivers of onion, cucumber and bean sprouts was a disappointment.  Although the dish contained lots of sauce, splattering with every mouthful, it was bland.  That rich taste of liquid peanut butter was missing.  

Thursday, June 14, 2018

"In school districts that are mostly rich, white and suburban, boys are much more likely to outperform girls in math."  

"On English tests, girls test better than boys regardless of their parents’ socioeconomic status."

 

With improved education and better research into human behavior, you might think that stereotypes are on the decline.  A new study seems to establish a few new ones.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/13/upshot/boys-girls-math-reading-tests.html

Of course, a stereotype is often unflattering, but usually factual.

. . .

Speaking of the lack of Jewish athleticism, Michael Ratner sent me the following article: "5 Jewish baseball players hit home runs on the same day."  https://www.timesofisrael.com/5-jewish-baseball-players-hit-home-runs-on-the-same-day/

Both the 5 Jewish ball players and their 6 home runs were a record in a sport that slices and dices numbers more than any other.  And, starting with the Ten Commandments, through the Four Questions of Passover, the Seven Blessings of Marriage and the Eight Nights of Hanukkah, we are a people who love to enumerate.

Friday, June 15, 2018 

Harvard's search for equity in admitting students has led to a difficult law suit.  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/us/harvard-asian-enrollment-applicants.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

In apparently a tacit attempt to limit Asian-Americans, Harvard applies a "whole-person admissions process," regarding "traits like 'positive personality,' likability, courage, kindness and being 'widely respected'" in which Asian-Americans consistently scored below other groups.  For decades, Jewish applicants to the Ivy League faced similar obstacles, according to The Chosen by Jerome Karabel.  Observing Jewish students at Columbia University, a writer noted that "[a]bsent is the grace, the swagger, the tall sleekness."  P. 87.  Indeed, the president of Harvard in 1919 found that Jews have "feebled, stunted, undeveloped bodies, and morbid nervous systems."  P. 91.  Yale's scholarship program in 1928 placed "Manhood, force of character, and moral leadership," ahead of "Literary and scholastic ability."  P. 216.  Harvard adjusted its scholarship program in 1948 "to aid men whose greatest strength lies not so much in the scholarly line of endeavor as it does in the direction of useful citizenship."  P. 193. 

Reading those comments, it's hard not to endorse a meritocratic approach for Harvard and Stuyvesant, one that seems to be based on equality of opportunity, that is the opportunity to get to the front door.  However, getting through the front door may be inhibited by the inequities of the past, a history of violence, deprivation, segregation, exploitation and oppression, far from eliminated even yet.  As one famous Asian said, "It's a puzzlement."