VOL. 112 - NO. 37 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 $.30 A COPY Sarah Palin as Joan of Arc by Llewellyn King You see Sarah Palin, gov- the new feelings of nation- has been repeating the ernor of Alaska; I see Joan alism in the French army same speech on the stump of Arc, the peasant girl who and the peasantry. Essen- and has only granted one vanquished the English in tially, what Palin has done television interview. France and facilitated the so far for the Republicans. The strategy of keeping crowning of Charles VII as Joan believed that she was Palin from the public is be- King of France, thus ending the instrument of God – that ginning to wear thin. And English claims to the she had heard voices from even John McCain himself French throne. the age of 12, urging her to seems to be hankering for Like Palin, Joan was an expel the English from the recognition that he is invigorator: She inspired France. Unfortunately, the the nominee for the presi- the French to fight the En- voices were to be her death dency not the trophy vice glish. When she failed to win knell. She was captured by presidential candidate from over the generals and the the English, who handed her Alaska. nobles, she went over their over to an ecclesiastical Yet for McCain, it is also heads to the people of court, which tried her for all about Palin. If he wins France. Soon she had liber- heresy. She was convicted the presidency, she will be ated Orleans, after a string and burned at the stake. She credited with attracting of victories, and cleared the was just 19, but she had women and blue-collar vot- way for Charles’s investi- changed the course of Euro- ers to the Republican stan- ture at Reims. Even before pean history. dard. If she falls apart in the his ascent to the French Later, the Roman Catholic next month, through a com- throne, Charles had made Church decided that it had bination of hubris and igno- the teenager co-commander made a terrible mistake and rance, she will take down of his army. denounced the trial, finding the McCain candidacy. © 2008 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished There is dispute over her innocent after the fact. Also, the speculation in without permission whether Joan actually But Joan was not canonized Washington is that Barack fought or just carried the for another 500 years. Obama’s forces are retooling French standard in battle. No Look at Palin and see the for an assault to coincide Kerry Cruises Past O’Reilly, matter. She electrified the “Maid of Orleans”: She has with the one and only vice French. And although the fought the Republican estab- presidential debate. It is a Wilkerson Toppled by Chang-Diaz 100 Years War dragged on for lishment and energized the debate fraught with peril for by Sal Giarratani another generation, Joan rank and file of the party. both the Democratic vice- Dianne Wilkerson, the Latina, Sara Orozco of had shaped the future of the And that is probably where presidential nominee, Joe state’s only African-Ameri- Needham who will face French nation, giving it a the similarity ends, al- Biden, and for Palin. can state senator lost in the incumbent State Senator sense of national identity though she seems to be Biden is given to talking September 16 primary. She Scott Brown, a Republican in that it had lacked. quite certain about God’s too much and he knows too was defeated by Sonia Chang– November. Voter turnout in She galvanized all levels of purposes. much, which is sometimes Diaz of Jamaica Plain. Boston was only 14 percent. French society, revitalized a The speculation in Wash- a disadvantage. He will be Wilkerson, a 15-year in- It was a bit higher in the Sen- sick and cautious political ington is when the Palin cumbent had the backing ate District Chang-Diaz won, establishment, and ignited bubble will burst. So far, she (Continued on Page 13) of big name Democrats, in- but still low and this certainly cluding Governor Deval didn’t help Wilkerson. Patrick and Boston Mayor Meanwhile, John Kerry in Tom Menino. his first primary fight since Mayor’s Column Chang-Diaz received 50.57 1984 cruised by Ed O’Reilly in by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston percent of the vote to Wilker- the US Senate primary. Kerry son’s 49.29 percent. The vote carried every city and town in Three weeks ago, I wrote about the Between 2007 and 2008, individual margin was only 228 votes. Massachusetts. The out- exciting changes that many of our school results show that more schools Chang-Diaz received a come, Kerry 69 percent, Boston Public Schools children and fami- saw an increase in their mean scores qualified concession from O’Reilly 31 percent. Kerry lies would benefit from this year. The than saw a decline. In critical reading, Wilkerson who may ask for a even carried Gloucester, newly renovated Jeremiah Burke High 22 schools saw an increase in their recount in this very close O’Reilly’s hometown 52 per- School is the hallmark of these renova- mean scores, double the 11 schools that race. cent to 48 percent for O’Reilly. tion efforts, which opened its doors to saw a decline. In mathematics, 21 Chang-Diaz could become Somerville–Medford State much fanfare. With classes now in full schools experienced an increase, again the first Latina woman in the Representative Carl Sciortino swing, it’s time to get down to business, nearly double the 11 schools saw a de- Massachusetts State Senate, Jr., held off a challenge from and for many of our students standard- cline in the area. In writing, a section said Giovanna Negretti, Ex- Somerville Alderman Bob ized testing can be a daunting task. How- added to the test in 2005, our schools ecutive Director of the State Trane. A great comeback by ever, Superintendent Carol Johnson re- net averages remained rather consis- Latino Political Organization Sciortino, since he had to do cently received a report on the 2008 SAT tent, with 16 schools showing increased Oiste. There is another it as a write-in candidate. scores for the Boston Public Schools, and numbers and 17 schools showing a the results are reassuring. I am pleased decline. However, the district as a whole to report that scores for the district con- experienced an increase in mean tinue to rise at rates that exceed those writing scores compared to 2007, with News Briefs of the state and the nation. the mean score rising 6 points to 436 by Sal Giarratani As you may know, the SAT is the in 2008. Over the same time, the state- nation’s most popular college-entrance wide mean score increased by 4 points, examination, testing students in a va- while the national mean remained City Hall’s Turbine Lights Up riety of subject areas including critical unchanged. 19 Lightbulbs reading, mathematics, and writing. These improvements aren’t acciden- According to a Boston Herald story, the efforts Scores for Boston Public Schools have tal either. One of our city-wide strate- by the Menino administration to go green thanks generally increased over the past five gies to improve SAT scores is to offer to the installation of a wind turbine on the roof years, while state and national scores and pay for all sophomores and juniors of City Hall is costing taxpayers a bill just to light during the same period have generally to take the PSAT. The district has of- up 19 lightbulbs. declined. The top score for each section fered free participation in the PSAT for According to Environmental and Energy Chief of the test is 800. From 2004 to 2008, all BPS sophomores and juniors since James Hunt, the windmill project is “definitely the BPS mean critical reading score 2004. The PSAT measures critical read- worth doing.” rose 7 points from 431 to 438, while ing skills, math problem-solving skills mathematics rose 12 points from 445 to (Continued on Page 14) 457. (Continued on Page 12) Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR MICHAEL FLAHERTY SAYS City’s Heliport Plans are Like a Game of Musical Chairs “Major community opposi- Planning should not be a JUPITER tion appears to have game of musical chairs. I am I noted previously that the you understand the real signatures, seals and wit- squashed the plans of the calling on the BRA and the serious aspect of Roman re- meaning behind the con- nesses, but the Romans BRA and Administration to administration to create a ligion appears to have begun struction of their temples?” used the scepter and flint put a proposed heliport in new process for planning and at the time of Romulus in Additionally, we were stone, the sacred symbols of South Boston. But one development in the city, in 750 B.C. He marked out the asked to remember that Ro- Jupiter, together with some neighborhood’s victory every neighborhood. Neigh- limits of a temple to Jupiter man mythology was based grass from his temple. should not have to be an- borhoods should be consulted and after suitable offerings upon, or influenced by, Because Jupiter pos- other neighborhood’s loss. first before plans are sent this became the first temple Greek mythology. This is the sessed such powers over the Now they are taking their out to print. that was consecrated in reason why I’m constantly elements, he was always poor planning on the road to Residents deserve an op- Rome.