LeBron James Opens First 'I Promise' School

[cabanafrau]

I have several service members and LEO in the family. While "offended" isn't the word I would used, let's just say they turned off the NFL. The service members all said "well, we fought for them to have that right, but I have the right not to watch their disrespect".

Not picking a side, just pointing out that not all service members or LEOs are going to be of the same opinion no more than any other section of the population.

Strikes me as unusual that simply being service members or LEO -- or even in one family for that matter, that they all share the same view -- or that they even were all interested in the NFL to begin with. I must live in an unusual area where all the people I know in various categories don't think with a single, collective mindset. I work in an environment chockablock full of LEO. They're all individuals with varying thoughts and opinions.

 

[luvsJack]

Strikes me as unusual that simply being service members or LEO -- or even in one family for that matter, that they all share the same view -- or that they even were all interested in the NFL to begin with. I must live in an unusual area where all the people I know in various categories don't think with a single, collective mindset. I work in an environment chockablock full of LEO. They're all individuals with varying thoughts and opinions.

All not interested in football? In the south? You must be kidding. A southern perfect weekend is Friday night lights on the high school field, Saturday tailgating at the college game and Sundays is NFL. Or was.

 

[cabanafrau]

All not interested in football? In the south? You must be kidding. A southern perfect weekend is Friday night lights on the high school field, Saturday tailgating at the college game and Sundays is NFL. Or was.

I stand corrected. In the north I'm unfamiliar with entire categories or classifications of people thinking with a collective mindset. I agree with my husband enough to stay happily married nearly three decades. We still each think for ourselves quite happily. Apparently things in the south work differently.

 

[Marchand63]

I personally think Lebron James is a, well he is polarizing - in his sport on the court. That being said if he can benefit a percentage of these kids - well done on him!! Heck at least he is giving back not like some athletes that take the money & run

Coming from a Celtics fan.

 

[Colleen27]

Yeah cause all that kneeling has really helped "solve the problem". Exactly how does insulting law enforcement and veterans help? Oh right we're now "aware" of the problem.

LEOs aren't "serving the flag" the way vets did, so I don't really think their opinions carry any more weight in this than any other American doing an essential job, but there are plenty of vets who have supported that protest, including one who inspired it in the first place.

https://www.businessinsider.com/vet...y-veteran-who-deployed-twice-to-afghanistan-2

Lebron has done so much for his hometown and I hope this school is a success. I do admire all of the detail that went into this and how they are trying to address other issues as well i.e. helping parents obtain their GED and giving them access to job placement services, giving each child a bicycle so they can explore like he did as a kid, food pantry for the families, and paid tuition to the local university if they complete the program. Yes taxpayers are footing the bill like any other public school, but his foundation is paying alot as well with all the extras not to mention all the kids his foundation is helping outside of this school.

That's what makes this so brilliant, IMO. He isn't trying to compete with public schools, or attract students with fewer disadvantages away from their neighborhood schools the way charters do. He's showing what is possible in a public school, if they had the resources available to take a family-focused approach to student success. And in that sense, it isn't a one-off. It is a potential model that could be replicated by other donors in other cities, or recreated with grant/foundation funding, or in a supportive political climate, used as a template for rethinking both public schools and how we administer other anti-poverty programs.

 

[luvsJack]

What does kneeling have to do with LeBron's school, again?

You are very right. It has nothing to do with. Sorry for going off topic.

 

[luvsJack]

I stand corrected. In the north I'm unfamiliar with entire categories or classifications of people thinking with a collective mindset. I agree with my husband enough to stay happily married nearly three decades. We still each think for ourselves quite happily. Apparently things in the south work differently.

I think for myself, thanks. As does dh. We have some very lively debate about our differences of opinions. My sons are on opposite ends of most any spectrum. Dd thinks for herself too. And yet we are all fans of wrestling. We all watch the Saints and the Braves. All enjoying a sport or other entertainment doesn’t make us al have the same mindset. People here actually LIKE football and it’s a social thing.

Do you assume that everyone that votes a certain way can’t think for themselves? Or all go to a certain church? My close friend at work and I have the same favorite color? Are we not able to think for ourselves? Or perhaps the group of friends I have that like a certain TV show and enjoy watching together?

 

[mefordis]

All not interested in football? In the south? You must be kidding. A southern perfect weekend is Friday night lights on the high school field, Saturday tailgating at the college game and Sundays is NFL. Or was.

Miss that about the Midwest. Grew up with that strong community tie of football. Here in the Northeast it doesn't exist.

 

[mefordis]

I think for myself, thanks. As does dh. We have some very lively debate about our differences of opinions. My sons are on opposite ends of most any spectrum. Dd thinks for herself too. And yet we are all fans of wrestling. We all watch the Saints and the Braves. All enjoying a sport or other entertainment doesn’t make us al have the same mindset. People here actually LIKE football and it’s a social thing.

Do you assume that everyone that votes a certain way can’t think for themselves? Or all go to a certain church? My close friend at work and I have the same favorite color? Are we not able to think for ourselves? Or perhaps the group of friends I have that like a certain TV show and enjoy watching together?

Where I'm from that's called having something in common.

 

[goofyernmost]

I'll be so happy when all the people (and I use that word sarcastically) that are bigots, ignorant as to what this country was founded on and unwilling or possibly unable to read, the First Amendment to our constitution or think it only applies to white people, crawl back under that rock where they have been hiding for the last 50 years and perhaps when they die, they will no longer be able to destroy our country.

Thank you LeBron James for caring enough about people in need to not be one of those people.

 

[mefordis]

I'll be so happy when all the people (and I use that word sarcastically) that are bigots, ignorant as to what this country was founded on and unwilling or possibly unable to read, the First Amendment to our constitution or think it only applies to white people, crawl back under that rock where they have been hiding for the last 50 years and perhaps when they die, they will no longer be able to destroy our country.

Thank you LeBron James for caring enough about people in need to not be one of those people.

Where did the thread turn bigoted?

 

[luvsJack]

LEOs aren't "serving the flag" the way vets did, so I don't really think their opinions carry any more weight in this than any other American doing an essential job, but there are plenty of vets who have supported that protest, including one who inspired it in the first place.

https://www.businessinsider.com/vet...y-veteran-who-deployed-twice-to-afghanistan-2



That's what makes this so brilliant, IMO. He isn't trying to compete with public schools, or attract students with fewer disadvantages away from their neighborhood schools the way charters do. He's showing what is possible in a public school, if they had the resources available to take a family-focused approach to student success. And in that sense, it isn't a one-off. It is a potential model that could be replicated by other donors in other cities, or recreated with grant/foundation funding, or in a supportive political climate, used as a template for rethinking both public schools and how we administer other anti-poverty programs.

I read something today that had some people putting LeBron down for taking the credit. It said that the university tuition won’t be coming from him or his organization but from the university itself. All I could think was, what difference does it make where the $$$ comes from. If his being a part of this and working with the university got them to do this then it’s still a great thing!

 

[goofyernmost]

Where did the thread turn bigoted?

Page 1... We need to stop normalizing evil. We are perhaps the most backward country in the world right now. I sure hope it changes soon.

 

[mefordis]

Page 1... We need to stop normalizing evil. We are perhaps the most backward country in the world right now. I sure hope it changes soon.

I'll have to go back and read page one, but I have to say if you think we are the most backward country in the world I have a few key words for you to Google so you can learn what is happening in the world right now that might make you feel a bit better about where you live.

Rohingya
South african farmers
Libyan slave trade

Anyway, good for LeBron or anyone else who is offering a helping hand to their fellow human (or animals).

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'll have to go back and read page one, but I have to say if you think we are the most backward country in the world I have a few key words for you to Google so you can learn what is happening in the world right now that might make you feel a bit better about where you live.

Rohingya
South african farmers
Libyan slave trade

Anyway, good for LeBron or anyone else who is offering a helping hand to their fellow human (or animals).

Why did you add South African farmers to the list?? Unless those farmers were in the trenches fighting against apartheid and/or refused to benefit in any way from Apartheid, they do not deserve sympathy.

It aint no fun when the rabbit has the gun.

 

[Hikergirl]

Page 1... We need to stop normalizing evil. We are perhaps the most backward country in the world right now. I sure hope it changes soon.

That’s a bit dramatic

 

[mefordis]

Why did you add South African farmers to the list?? Unless those farmers were in the trenches fighting against apartheid and/or refused to benefit in any way from Apartheid, they do not deserve sympathy.

It aint no fun when the rabbit has the gun.

Because innocent people are being beaten and murdered by brutal thugs.

The farmers are being given visas to enter Australia. Once they leave, South Africa is going to have a humanitarian crisis on their hands with mass starvation, much like Zimbabwe is having right now.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I wonder how many visas Australia granted to black South Africans during Apartheid. Men, women and children were beaten, raped and murdered by brutal thugs.

 

[luvsJack]

I wonder how many visas Australia granted to black South Africans during Apartheid. Men, women and children were beaten, raped and murdered by brutal thugs.

So the entire country of Australia is now racist because of what they did in one crisis vs another? So no one should help anyone for fear of offending one side or another? Is that better?

You do realize it’s not a competition?

 

[Marchand63]

OMG has this thread gone left - thinking it really should be closed.