Inconvenient truth about football

A StarTribune article, The truth behind the death of a Vikings legend, noted how researchers are discovering that the physical impact from games like football is likely causing repetitive brain trauma. Thanks to Wally Hilgenberg's family for donating his brain to researchers in Boston.  This however presents an inconvenient truth about the long-term consequences of football, a popular American sport.

Instead of passively watching football it would be far for people's physical and mental health to choose from the great abundance of non contact sports and just "do it". As for people that want to continue to play the game, it is still a free country!  Just don't expect me to watch your games.

PS  I have great admiration for Wally and Mary Hilgenberg and their son Eric.  For many years they mentored Matt, a young man through Kinship.  Matt came from a troubled home environment in South Minneapolis.  Thanks in large part to the encouragement and support he received from the Hilgenbergs he graduated from law school. Eric Hilgenberg serve as the best man at his wedding.

PSS Minnesota Public Radio had a show on this topic just this morning, Is the NFL concerned by head injuries?

Role of government in society

Great Blue Heron

Given the great budget impasse we've had here in Minnesota, which also reflects a similar state of affairs in Washington, one has to ask the big question.... What is the role of government?  Should it be only for defense and some basic infrastructure and public education needs?  What is its role in serving as a safety net for the poor, young, handicapped and elderly? A MinnPost article suggests that the vulnerable may get hammered by the upcoming Minnesota budget, "Groups serving poor and disabled worry about budget deal".

When infrastructure needs aren't properly monitored and met we see poorly maintained roads, and even collapsing bridges. The sick, unemployed, and elderly people suffer when adequate care isn't accessible through publicly subsidized support (i.e. taxes).  Sometimes those that don't receive adequate care can even cause harm to society, as is noted in an article in today's StarTribune, "Did the system fail a budding killer".

Great Blue Heron with morning sun

In days of old it was the role of family to care for those in need. Those without family support people could find themselves sold into slavery or begging for a living.  The breakdown of many families and the wide spread distribution of family members makes this approach to care giving impractical in the 21st century United States.  So, we have relied on government assistance: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, AFCD (aid to families with dependent children), Unemployment Insurance, etc.

Some suggest that religious institutions might take on the role of care providers.  I know from recent communication with the CEO of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches that they are in no way capable of taking on the huge role government plays in providing services.  In fact, they receive considerable government funding to provide supportive services to those in need, and receive only a very small portion of their budget directly from congregations.  The faith-based mentoring program for which I recently worked, Kinship of Greater Minneapolis, recently lost its federal funding to mentor children of prisoners.

So, if as many Republicans are suggesting that government dramatically reduce its role of providing "entitlement funding", how will care be provided to disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals?

Caring for all of our children

Northside residents

The challenge schools face educating both children of privilege and those from disadvantaged environments is highlighted in a recent commentary "Strong homes in a weak village won't do" by Daniel Shaw, a speech language pathologist.  He notes that while his own children had all the advantages of a strong start, including a two parent household and stories being read to them at an early age, others have far less advantage.  Many receive very little reading and minimal verbal exchange during those early critical childhood years. Often they have a poor diet and lack stable supportive role models. Hence, schools have a much greater challenge to work to overcome the vastly different experiences and support systems that children bring with them into the classroom.

It turns out the instability caused by divorce also significantly diminishes children's ability to learn in school.  A study released by the University of Wisconsin - Madison, found diminished test scores and social well-being of children in grade-school following the divorce of their parents. A news release "Children of divorce fall behind peers in math and social skills" further describes some of this research performed by Hyun Sik Kim. She noted that after a period of time these kids tend to progress with their peers, but after two years still don't catch up.

So it is that many children face tremendous adversity.  One of the ways this adversity can be overcome is through supportive mentors, who provide stability, encouragement and guidance.  A 30 year longitudinal  study was conducted by Emmy Werner of children growing up under adversity on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.  Concluding her research Dr. Werner noted:
The life stories of resilient individuals on the Garden Island have taught us that competence, confidence and caring can flourish even under adverse circumstances if young people encounter people in their lives who provide them with a secure basis for the development of trust, autonomy and initiative. (Children of the Garden Island.)

Mentoring in service to others

Minneapolis police officer on horse

I had the pleasure last night of helping to serve a meal once again to some of the people impacted by the tornado in north Minneapolis.  It was an added delight to see one of the volunteers, a young man, "K.J." who was matched many years ago in the Kinship mentoring program.  He was there serving others with his Kinship friends, Walt and Heather Carpenter.

K.J. was a little guy when he got matched up with the Carpenters, who lived nearby by him in north Minneapolis. Now he's 14 and can look them in the eyes.  Walt jested that he's got to be nice to K.J., having himself grown up in a family with brothers that grew to be bigger than he was.

Horses drawing attention and adoration

The Carpenters are very involved members of Christ English Lutheran and exemplary models of service.  During the meal last night Heather was organizing the food and volunteers, while Walt was manning the dishwasher.

There was a great turn out of a few dozen volunteers helping out.  And again, the Northside residents were most gracious and appreciative.  As is often the case, those serving may have been more blessed than those receiving.

When leaving the church it was interesting to see a couple of police on horseback who were patrolling the area. The horses were a big hit with residents.