Where at SBSB have learned that UFT SA-Obergruppenführer Mike Mulgrew has gotten the acting bug. Through digital mastery Mike has replaced the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. The new, and improved version has Mike digitally remastered replacing the late Bert Lahr, and get this, the dialogue and song has been altered as well. We here find it more than a coincidence, but highly appropriate that Mike Mulgrew has replaced the so-called Cowardly Lion. Mike by his inaction to endorse William Thompson as mayor, allowed Mike Bloomberg to win a third term. Mike was more afraid of Bloomy getting mad than doing the right thing.
We here at SBSB have acquired through sources a still photo of the movie with Mike and have some of the script which will be shown here for the first time.
Mike Mulgrew sings: Yeah, it's sad, believe me Missy When you're born to be a sissy Without the vim and verve But I could show my prowess Be a leader, not a mowess If I only had some balls I'm afraid there's no refusin' I'm just a confusin’ A fate I don't deserve I'd have balls big as golf balls (Tin Man) I'd be gentle as a lizard (Scarecrow) I'd be clever as a gizzard (Dorothy) If the Wizard is a wizard who will serve (Scarecrow) Then I'm sure to get a brain (Tin Man) A heart (Dorothy) A home (Mike Mulgrew) Some balls
Mike Mulgrew: Balls! What makes a king out of a slave? Balls! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Balls! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman: Balls!!
Mike Mulgrew: You can say that again! Huh?
Dorothy: Mike, if you had a set of balls, you wouldn't be afraid of anything?
Mike Mulgrew: Not nobody! Not nohow!
Tin Woodsman: Not even Bloomberg?
Mike Mulgrew: Imposerous!
Dorothy: How about Klein?
Mike Mulgrew: Why, I'd thrash him from top to bottomus!
Dorothy: Supposing Randi?
Mike Mulgrew: I'd wrap her up in cellophane!
Scarecrow: What if it were a Arne Duncan?
Mike Mulgrew: I'd show him who was leader of the UFT!
Mike, go visit the Wizard. Shanker's grave. You will learn that you had the balls all along.
5 comments:
I am probably the only member of the so-called "Team Polazzo" that continues to engage in this particular form of useless procrastination, but I thought I would comment briefly anyway.
I find it rather amusing that two blog-posts after accusing Matthew Polazzo of being a misogynist, you start accusing people of "not having balls". Yes, I understand that this is a form of juvenile humor, rather than a truly misogynistic attack, but it seems to me that SBSB of five days ago would be shocked and horrified by the SBSB of yesterday...
I don't know all that much about Mike Mulgrew, so I will not bother to comment on the (just about entirely nonexistent) content of this post, but after being partially reassured by the evolution of the tone of the debate over Mr. Polazzo's article to one of relatively well-reasoned arguments, this post brings the discussion of what to do with our schools back to the name-calling reminiscent more of elementary school recess than the insightful discussion expected of those given the responsibility of shaping the minds of our future.
This is pathetic.
Former Stuy Student:
I think it would be a good idea to focus more on the fallacies pointed out in your teacher's arguments than on the juvenile aspects of this blog.
I raised points about how the focus on the union contract as the culprit was a misdirection from the real culprit - the school administration. The contract offer representation and some level of incompetence needs to be proved.
There is also a difference between lazy and incompetent teachers. Many of the descriptions of the teachers point to the former and again better supervision would cut that.
As to teachers who are easy - again I bet no students are asking their parents to complain.
When I first came across the blog, due to the Polazzo fiasco, I took the time to read more than just that one post. If you read a bit more, you'll find that SBSB often uses humor in his/her posts. I've done that on my own blog on a few occasions. Nothing wrong with that. You may not find either of us funny, but that doesn't alter the intent.
It's a real leap to connect this post to SBSB's allegation of misogyny. First of all, Mulgrew is male. Secondly, there is no generalization of Mulgrew's shortcomings to the public at large, so even a charge of misanthropy wouldn't stick.
It's just satire, and like all satire, much of the humor depends on what side of the issue you happen to be on.
And I agree with Norm. The issue here isn't SBSB or me or Norm or any other teacher. The issue here is Polazzo, who took a position that is consistent with the union bashing philosophy of BloomKlein. Did he really expect that everyone would agree with him after he smeared a lot of teachers and advocated they be fired?
I am saying that SBSB is exactly as sexist as Polazzo is, which if you remember, is not at all.
There is a difference between satire and elementary school insults. I have no particular side on this particular issue--I don't really know who Mike Mulgrew is. I just think that while true satire can be an amusing, constructive addition to a dialogue, just calling people names and attacking their masculinity doesn't.
Not about "any other teacher", but is about Polazzo. As far as I know, Polazzo is still teaching...
It is also convenient to make ad hominem attacks one second and to say to focus on the content rather than its juvenile form the next.
At this point, I just find it amusing that you are not willing to move on from this article and start actually talking about the issues instead of fixating on Polazzo, or even on the small subset of issues in the schools that he speaks of in his article.
Once you move on to substance, I assure you I will as well, though I will have less of a feeling of a personal stake in the matter, and thus likely leave you to your own devices...
Former Stuy Student-
I suggest that you read the rest of the blog. And to paraphrase Vito Corleone from Godfather II ask around to other bloggers, Ednotes in particular, and find out the good this blog has done, and what it accomplished.
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