Salvation Army is Austin’s only shelter (other than SafePlace) that allows women to stay overnight. We got a former client of the Sallie to take us on a tour of the outside.

Texas Criminal Justice Coalition is using videos to fight the criminals who run the INjustice system. And they are empowering the community by showing you how to make your own media to expose wrong doing and keep the people informed.”

http://criminaljusticecoalition.org

July 20, 2007 marked the 28th Anniversary of the National Hispanic Institute (NHI).
NHI was established in Austin, Texas to serve high ability Latino youth. During the late 80s, NHI began to expand nationally, and today the Institute hosts programs in Argentina, Mexico, and Spain. One of NHI’s signature programs is the Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session (LDZ). Coincidentally, July marks the 25th anniversary of the first LDZ which was hosted at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas in 1982. The following video is Part 1 of 2 that was assembled to commemorate this weekend’s important significance for the Institute and its many past participants. Please look for more information at http://www.youtube.com/nhitv, or at http://www.nhi-net.org.

We’ve seen some pretty sad days down here in Austin recently. As you know, Lady Bird Johnson died last week. She was a valuable asset to the nation. Consider, for example, her environmentalism or how she braved death threats on the Lady Bird Special, a 4-day whistle-stop tour of the South in support of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Yet, Mrs. Johnson was also an important part of Central Texas. We wouldn’t have PBS or KLRU without LBJ’s Great Society and Lady Bird’s personal support. Of course, I can’t forget her very active support of UT-Austin and her creation of both the Wildflower Center here and the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. (There’s talk of renaming the lake after her. That would mean that the recently renamed Ann Richards Bridge would cross Lake Lady Bird. Wouldn’t that be something? Austin really is the blueberry in the bowl of tomato soup!)

I also feel something of a personal connection to the Johnsons. Not only are we products of Central Texas, but President Johnson was also, according to family lore, a friend of both my great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather. My mom’s baby book was a gift from Congressman and Mrs. Johnson.

Of course, I cannot overlook that Lyndon Johnson really blundered when it came to Vietnam (even he admitted that), but the couple’s saving grace was their efforts on behalf of the environment and their unwavering support for civil rights. (That’s more than I can say for the current administration and it’s tragic follies overseas.)

Lady Bird was a good Episcopalian, like I think I am, and I’ve been struck by how her funeral rites were a remarkable counterpoint to the current climate of religious divisiveness. She received viaticum from a Catholic priest who serves St. Austin’s, a local parish. Her priest from St. Barnabas’s in Fredericksburg, Texas, celebrated the Eucharist last Thursday with her family and friends. On Saturday, a larger celebration of her life took place at Riverbend Center, a large Baptist church here in Austin. A relative who happens to be a Presbyterian minister was one of the celebrants. Ecumenism in action.

On Friday I walked over to the LBJ Library after work to pay my respects and to see her casket. To see the steady stream of people pausing to remember her as her friends and family looked on was very moving. When I approached the casket, I first thought of her renowned love for her family. And stories of her public service and generosity also came to mind. But I also had the sense of being at a crossroads in history. Her passing meant the loss of a living and very deep connection to Lyndon Johnson and much of what he represented. This nation has seen the steady erosion of much of the Great Society over the last thirty years or so under a succession of conservative administrations and Congresses. Will what remains survive? Or will Headstart or public broadcasting or other programs go the way of other successful, but less popular ones? It was, for me, a chilling thought.

The funeral on Saturday was itself very moving, a moment of hope and optimism. While the city and the nation mourned her passing, we also celebrated her legacy and looked to the future. Bill Moyers’ eulogy was particularly inspiring. With soaring and sometimes fiery words he celebrated her as both our “Mother Nature” and a brave civil rights activist, someone who nurtured beauty in both nature and in democracy. I found myself applauding loudly in front of the TV in my little den at home when he finished.

(A recording of Moyers’ eulogy can be found here)

Sunday, I took my Mom downtown to see the funeral cortege on its way out from Austin to the LBJ Ranch. We felt that it was the least we could do. Her valiant support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which effectively banned discrimination on the base of race, gender, religion or ethnicity, opened a lot of doors for all of us. I felt that, if I wanted the Great Society to survive in some form, I had better put myself out there on Congress Avenue and show my affection and support for the woman who helped show me the beauty both in nature and in democracy. A wave of spontaneous applause swelled up as her hearse drove past, mingling with the peal of church bells and the shouts of “thank you!” and “we love you!” I’ve since read press accounts of how Boy Scouts lined the route to the Johnson Ranch to sing hymns and how women tossed rose petals from bridges as she passed. All were beautiful and heartfelt expressions of love and respect. But I think that, when the time comes, I’ll also show my love and support in the voting booth, too.

Thank you, Mrs. Johnson, for your service and inspiration. I hope that we all can carry on your fine example.

Robosaurus was in Austin this week at the Alamo Drafthouse South for the opening of the Transformers movie. There is just something about giant robots that is fascinating. As soon as I heard Robosaurus would be visiting Austin, I knew I had to see it. Here is a montage of images from the afternoon of July 2 when the Robosaurus folks were setting up at the Drafthouse for the night’s big events.