MUCH APPRECIATED

Shouldn’t we all take time to thank others?

Most of us will never bask in the unrequited glory of a stadium filled with adoring fans. That seems to be a station in life reserved for sports heroes, rock stars, evangelical ministers and the occasional politician.

What must it feel like to havethousands of people cheering uncontrollably because you’re there, because of what you’ve done and because of what you might do?

As part of the crowd for one of these lovefests, I’ve felt my own blood pressure rise simply because of the excitement around me. And I’m just anonymously along for the ride, not even an afterthought in the day’s celebration.

More than anything else, perhaps a crowd’s frenzy serves as validation of the recipient’s life lived well.

Truthfully, and perhaps a little bit secretly, it’s a good feeling when people seem to like us, and it’s even more of a rush when they love us. The power of appreciation is immeasurable in terms of what it does for the recipient. And energetically giving thanks seems to make givers happy, too.

Why is it, then, that most of us slog through each day doing our jobs and living our lives without handing out or receiving meaningful recognition? Or if we are recognized, it’s for a negative rather than a positive? Why is mocking someone online or chewing them out behind their back more common than saying “thank you”?

And what’s the ultimate point of life if, at the end of the journey, we’re unlikely to be feted in a stadium, much less than receive boundless praise from those around us?

This month’s story about neighborhood residents who were part of World War II answers those questions. These are people who, for the most part, didn’t set out to be heroes, didn’t strut around after taking their turn, and didn’t expect to be patted on the back when they came home. Instead, they dug in and did their jobs, perhaps hoping the satisfaction of a job well done would be appreciation enough for the sacrifices they made.

On a global scale, we’ve worn out and, to a certain extent, devalued the moniker “the greatest generation” by essentially c ommercializing this dwindling group of heroes. But their life-changing bravery and sense of responsibility a generation ago remains a gift the rest of us continue to enjoy every day.

It just so happens we’re entering our country’s annual time of thanksgiving for the good things impacting our lives. These war-veteran neighbors deserve a stadium full of adulation. But failing that, they deserve a pat on the back directly from us. And for that matter, so do our

Why is mocking someone online or chewing them out behind their back more common than saying “thank you”?

families and our teachers and our co-workers and maybe even some of our bosses.

Being appreciated isn’t necessary to live a good life. It isn’t required to be happy. But it sure doesn’t hurt to let people know we’re thankful for them. It’s kind of like creating our own little stadium of support for the relatively anonymous around us who deserve our respect, even though they probably aren’t holding their breath waiting to receive it.

BLOG SERIES: CIVIC PUNCHING BAG

For two weeks in September, it looked quite possible that Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa would leave the district to take the head job at Clark County schools in Las Vegas, roughly twice the size of DISD. News headlines told us he was resigning, then told us he wasn’t, then he was one of three finalists, then the DISD board, after declining twice to extend his contract past 2012, voted to extend it until 2015, and then Hinojosa was passed over for the Vegas job.

Advocate publisher Rick Wamre followed the back and forth on our Back Talk blog and, amid the hullabaloo, gave two cents of his own — or more like a quarter’s worth. Read post excerpts below, and for the full posts, plus links to much of the news coverage, visit and search: Hinojosa.

SHOULD

HE STAY OR GO?

09.19.10 It wasn’t the relentless carping by teachers’ groups that turned Michael Hinojosa into a civic punching bag. It wasn’t the endless stream of Dallas Morning News investigative stories (and blog comments) about this or that DISD shortcoming that destroyed the man’s spirit. It wasn’t the surprise $64 million budget shortfall two years ago that permanently damaged his reputation. It wasn’t even the currently divided school board, which has three or four automatic “no” votes for just about any initiative Hinojosa brings forward. All of that contributed to Hinojosa’s ongoing flirtation with the Las Vegas school system, but none was the final straw.

Instead, it was the oddly timed and ill-fated powergrab by Mayor Tom Leppert to take DISD control away from Hinojosa and the board that ultimately made DISD’s superintendent realize that he had better look after himself because no one who counts in Dallas was going to cover his back. We’ve collectively created a toxic environment that Hinojosa can no longer stand, even for $300,000 a year and even though he’s a Dallas guy through-and-through who likely would have been happy to end his career here had we given him the chance.

A SOLUTION TO DISD’S BIGGEST PROBLEM

09.20.10 There’s something fundamentally wrong with a job description that requires one person to be both a right-brain and a left-brain genius. That person may, indeed, exist. But if that person really is out there, he or she is by definition way too smart to take a job as DISD superintendent.

Talk about a dumb career move: Who in their right mind would want a job that is a guaranteed political minefield, one that will assuredly result in you being

You Said It

called a racist and an idiot, even if you’re being paid $300,000 a year? The job expectancy is only around three years, so about the time you’re getting settled and have surrounded yourself with people you can trust, you’ll be shown the door for some perceived failing that will likely damage your future career prospects and might not even involve what you’re best at doing.

That’s the situation we’re in right now with the job description for DISD superintendent. The single person running the district is equally responsible for everything financial and everything academic. And I submit to you, that’s a big, big mistake. We need to break the superintendent’s position into two separate jobs staffed by two separate people. That’s right — we need an academic superintendent and a financial superintendent, and both should be independent of each other and report directly to the school board.

And here’s the other beautiful part of that plan: Suddenly, the school board is responsible for hiring and/or firing the person for each position independently, so we as stakeholders know exactly who to hold accountable for what.

VEGAS BOARD VOTES 6-1 AGAINST HINOJOSA 09.29.10 In a weird way, this whole thing could be a turning point for DISD. The board has now given Hinojosa more than four additional years to run the district. And once he signs the contract, he’ll have his money guaranteed. That puts him in a unique position to take some dramatic action in Dallas to continue turning around the district, and it could make him a motivated man on a mission because he really has nothing to lose. Think D.C.’s Michelle Rhee with a whole lot more guaranteed money.

DISD trustee Edwin Flores, who was part of a panel discussion after a screening of the education documentary “Waiting for Superman”, said something interesting: He predicted that within 10 years, DISD will have one of two structures — either the district will be a veritable multi-pronged collection of public and charter schools, or 130,000 of its 160,000 students will be enrolled in charter schools.

ON “STARBUCKS GETS MORE EXPENSIVE”

“When will people learn … White Rock Coffee is a great place to go, and now Oak Cliff Coffee is at Central Market and at Dallas Theological Seminary for a great price.” —TOMMY

“[I prefer] Legal Grounds or The Coffee Company on LaVista behind York Street. I can walk to both. No chains — this is East Dallas!” —KYLE RAINS

EVENTS ONLINE Does your organization, house of worship or school have a holiday event you’d like to promote? Submit it to our online calendar at bizfinder.advocatemag.com/event. It’s free, or you can purchase an enhanced listing

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Question Of The Month

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PUMPKIN DESSERT?

My wife makes an excellent pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling, but then she also adds some cranberry filling. It’s definitely appropriate for the season. —NATHAN VAUGHN

Pumpkin and spice oatmeal crisp!

—MEREDITH STEGALL

My mom made this wonderful pumpkin cheesecake pie. She would put pecan halves on the top and drizzle it with caramel ... simply scrumptious! —ANNETTE BOARDMAN

Pumpkin flan! —LeaAna DAVIS

Pumpkin milk or Doghead Fish

Punkin Ale! —JADA HARDI

Marbled pumpkin and chocolate cheesecake. Time intensive but yummy! —ELIZABETH ARDANOWSKI

Pumpkin crème brulee.

—TERRY CASNER

Cinderella cake with Prince Charming icing. Made with walnuts and real pumpkin, bundt style. Deeelish! I make it every year.

—BETHANY HOWARD JOYCE

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