The Viral Valley

As a young girl, there were few places I would have preferred to call home than Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. Nestled against the farthest reaches of Northeast Philadelphia, my home, this hamlet of roughly 12,000, in Lower Moreland Township, is picturesque with rolling hills, winding roads, lush landscapes, sprawling homes, excellent public schools and very comfortable incomes.

We lived so close to Huntingdon Valley, it only entailed a short walk across the county line to get there, and I crossed over early and often. Be it Friday night block parties, sorority pledging, Lorimer Park, excellent Deli's, the Bowling Alley, or a favorite Disco, which served as a second home on Thursday nights, I spent considerable time in Huntingdon Valley and, 25 years later, still remember it with mostly fond memories.

When the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia first reported on the Valley Swim Club incident earlier this week, I tagged along, as I knew the story would go viral in a matter of milliseconds. Though I've never been to this particular swim club, I have been to many of the swim and country clubs in the general vicinity, and I'm not at all surprised at what occurred at Valley. And the truth is, since I left the city, virtually nothing has changed at these clubs. In a very perverse way, I'm almost glad that what I've known forever about the suburban hamlets bordering Philadelphia has finally come to light. It's a discussion we didn't dare have yet one which is long overdue.

So much of what is being posted on the Net by people claiming this couldn't have happened in "Philly" is ill-informed. After all, Philadelphia is a majority african american city today. But Huntingdon Valley is not Philly. It's a very affluent place that many white Philadelphians fled to because of the darkening "complexion" of the City of Brotherly Love. To be fair, there was also a desire and the means for these former city dwellers to reside in larger homes with even bigger lots. Another reason often cited to move out yonder was city taxes, but what residents of these well-heeled suburban enclaves pay in property taxes dwarfs the city tax liability, not to mention the hefty gasoline tab for commuting an hour or more, each way, to work in Center City.

Huntingdon Valley's demographics are 97% white. Any diversity the Valley Swim Club claims among its members is either token Asian or Eastern Indian professionals. Why Russians were mentioned by the club President to falsely demonstrate a diverse membership is beyond me, because last I looked, they, like all other Eastern Europeans, are Caucasian. It must be the pesky accents of newer arrivals. Jews were mentioned too! Why? Huntingdon Valley would be a shell of itself without them. The business my favorite Deli racks up on Shivah platters alone is mind boggling. Great stuff too and I'm already craving the Lox and Smoked Salmon just thinking about it.

For all the aforementioned positives about Huntingdon Valley, it's not what I think of today as the real world. Other than religious beliefs, there is a remarkable sameness among every family and that's precisely how they want it. They may speak of diversity and tell their children all the right things about those who are different, but there is little or no association with people who are not exactly like themselves, be it by race or socioeconomics.

These are people who gave Barack Obama the majority of their votes but have no black or hispanic friends, would never venture to at least half of Philadelphia, and don't expect to see people from those city neighborhoods showing up on their leafy turf. It's not overt racism, but simmering under the surface, and it came to a head when 65 children of color suddenly appeared at one of their pools.

Most public swimming pools in Philadelphia are closed this year because of budget cuts due to the economic crisis gripping Pennsylvania and the nation. Parents of the children attending the Frankford Day Camp paid the $35.00 fee to Valley Swim Club so their children could swim 1 hour a week, and enjoy an integral part of the summer camp experience. Valley was obviously looking to boost their numbers otherwise they would not have a website advertising memberships, where you could sign up and pay, online, for several plans. Funds totaling almost $2000 were exchanged and all seemed fine and dandy until the childen of color showed up to use what they paid for.

The people of Huntingdon Valley and all similar white "bubble" communities dotting the urban landscapes up and down the coasts need to move beyond lip service about diversity and open their hearts and minds with meaningful actions and real relationships, not wall themselves off and pretend another world doesn't exist, or worse, utter insensitive remarks, instruct their children to exit a pool, then close it down because of the embarrassment they caused themselves, not to mention innocent children, who just wanted to enjoy an activity that's taken for granted by their own kids.

More than a year ago, as a candidate for President, Barack Obama gave a speech on race in Philadelphia. Perhaps the reason why he chose my hometown is being revealed to us now. As far we've come, there's work to be done.

Dead but never gone

Having been born just weeks after Michael Jackson, I'm finding it almost impossible to remember a time when this amazingly gifted singer, songwriter, performer and icon didn't have a place in my consciousness. No matter where I was at any stage of my life ... child, teenager, adult, wife, Mother ... Michael Jackson, as he sung in one of his most beautiful songs, was always there.

And, shockingly, today Michael departed to another place, but he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of music and humanity for generations to come.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson will live on forever.

RIP

Republicans Gone Wild

Oh where, oh where did South Carolina's Governor go? After disappearing for a week, with his staff running interference about some impromptu hiking trip, alone, through Appalachia over Father's Day, Governor Mark Sanford held a new conference today and confessed to his wife, four kids and the good people of his state that he's been carrying on an affair with an Argentinian woman. Wonder if he'll fast track her for legalized status in the US after staunchly opposing the US Immigration Reform our previous President tried, in vain, to pass.

Barely a week ago, we learned the Republican Senator from Nevada, John Ensign, an exemplary member of Promise Keepers, had also carried on with another woman a year ago, and confessed now, not because of a marital fidelity pledge to which Promise Keepers subscribe, but because his former mistress's spouse went to FOX News to tell how Ensign has destroyed his family.

Seems like a great video line for Joe Francis, who's run the gamut of spring break college co-eds.

They had it all, and Now ... Nothing!!

With excerpts of Elizabeth Edward's new book, Resiliance, trickling out, it appears we will now bear witness to a wife's public emasculation of her cheating husband. After the sorry saga of the Edwards' duplicitous deception left our consciousness, here comes the sequel with more lurid details about two people who are shells of their former selves and a relationship that makes a mockery of marriage.

The loss of their beloved son Wade notwithstanding, John and Elizabeth Edwards had it all and, by their own selfish choices, ripped it to shreds. They were complicit in their efforts to deceive a nation and, though I pray for Elizabeth's health, I can't forgive her for asking voters to believe in a man who continues, to this day, to lie to her and all of us.

Why'd He Do It?

Okay, I'll admit to some serious self-congratulating today upon learning that Arlen Specter, the longtime Republican Senator from Pennsylvania was switching parties, which will finally provide Democrats in the Senate with their filibuster proof 60 vote majority to pass legislation and render Republicans on the Hill truly useless. After all, my last blog post on March 25th outlined precisely why I believed Specter would switch. To save himself!

But why did Arlen Specter make the move now? Three words ... HEALTH CARE REFORM!
Perhaps the current Swine Flu outbreak was the impetus. Specter has been a huge advocate for the Centers of Disease Control and the NIH, and generally votes in support of anything expanding health care access and affordability. In that regard, he almost stands alone in the Republican Party of today.

In the current budget, which the House just approved, the Democrats insured they would have wiggle room to prevent a Republican filibuster by leaving the option open for a procedural maneuver known as budget reconciliation if the Republicans again choose to thwart a major health care initiative such as universal coverage, which has the support of the vast majority of Americans.

Unfortunately, there are some weak kneed "moderate" Democrats in "red" states who've been warning that if the Senate Democratic leadership resorts to a budget reconciliation maneuver because they come up short of the required 60 votes to cut off debate and move to a vote, they'll be less inclined to support the legislation.

With Specter's vote and the inevitable seating of Al Franken in Minnesota, the discussion is almost mute. The Democrats won't need a single republican vote to pass health care reform!

Hallelujah! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

And to Senator Specter ... this may end up being your greatest legacy to date!

Specter Will Jump Republican Ship to Save Himself

A new Quinnipiac Poll out today has Club for Growth President Pat Toomey leading Arlen Specter in a Pennsylvania Republican Primary match-up by 14 points with a ridiculous 28% of Republican primary voters undecided. I say ridiculous because everyone in the state, party notwithstanding, knows Arlen Specter and, honestly, knows right now whether they will support him in a primary vote or not, regardless of what these voters are telling pollsters.

What these early numbers tell us is Arlen Specter is in a heap of trouble with Pennsylvania's Republican voters, who never much liked him from the get-go, and he'll lose a 1 on 1 primary battle with Toomey. An even more right-wing nutcase, Peg Lusik, is also planning to jump into this primary on the Republican ticket which would be Specter's only shot at pulling out a primary victory, with Lusik and Toomey splitting the "Alabama" votes between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Such a scenario is hardly guaranteed and Specter could go down regardless because of his overall weak support among the Republicans left in the Keystone state.

Personally, I'd rather see Arlen Specter retire. If he runs as a Republican, he will lose the primary and the Democrats will claim this Senate seat in 2010. Politically, he could do now, a year in advance, what he should have done 8 years ago and bolt the Republican party, caucus with the Democrats, and sail to reelection in 2010.

If Arlen Specter flips now, the Democrats will FINALLY have their filibuster proof 60 votes in the Senate, once Al Franken is seated from Minnesota, which would guarantee massive support for his reelection from National Democrats. Further, the AFL-CIO has already told Specter, a longtime ally, that they will back him 100% if he switches parties. I suspect Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy may even allow Specter to co-chair this all important committee, an historic event by any measure.

Specter's choice is clear ... sink with the Republicans or swim with the Democrats. My money says he'll grab the life preserver.

Wanna lose business? Outsource Sales

Since the start of the new millenium, US companies have accelerated the pace by which they've outsourced customer support, tech help and AP departments, to the exasperation of nearly everyone here who has dealt with these remote and virtual call centers. Adding insult to injury, the latest corporate brainstorm appears to be offshore sales solicitations. I won't name the companies but I've received several such calls this new year, and all with the same result. I'm not buying and I'm not even listening!

With the economy reeling, I can appreciate just about anything a company deems necessary to remain viable and profitable but sales in such a competitive environment requires experienced, competent sales persons who possess requisite communications skills. Cold calling for new business requires at least a rudimentary background about a company, its products and the market sector. To my amazement, I'm now fielding sales calls from novices in foreign call centers, using substandard VOIP communications, for products or services which don't apply, make no sense, are of no added value and won't increase sales or productivity. Above all else, these "sales persons" are incapable of putting together a coherent sentence.

If I can't understand you, why would I give you my business? And if a company thinks so little of my business potential, that it would hand off the possibility of gaining my business to someone who knows nothing about it, doesn't ask the right questions, and can't give understandable answers, isn't the company wasting its time and money?

Certainly, the answer is yes, which is why only a few seconds are needed to promptly hang up on these callers and the companies who outsourced their most important asset.