Saturday, October 01, 2011

Iconic image

Iconic images can change the world, often for the better.  Rosa Parks is a clear example.  A seemingly dignified woman claiming a simple right and not just humiliated, but also jailed by Montgomery, Alabama, cops in 1955, made a huge difference.

Today's WSJ includes "The Latest Crime Wave: Sending Your Child to a Better School" with a large photo of Kelley Williams-Bolar, handcuffed and led away by cops.  This mom registered her kids at her father's address so that they could attend a better school.  She spent nine days in jail and was convicted of two felony counts -- later to be granted clemency with charges reduced by Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

We can hope that the photo of Ms. Williams-Bolar will also help change the world.

Our Smart Set identifies "good" as well as "bad" monopolies.  Everyone in tech, large and small, innovates.  But the Googles, Microsofts, IBMs, etc. have been or will be put through costly legal battles because they are seen as "too big". 

But teachers unions are protected even though they are the guardians of monopoly education for poor families.  That puts and keeps the poorest kids in the worst schools.

This could not be made any clearer than by the photo of Ms. Williams-Bolar in cuffs.  Rosa Parks helped to change the world and we can hope that Kelley Williams-Bolar does the same.