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Let Us Lift Our Voices Higher

by Mark F. Stone

Don’t let leaders make their choices
never having heard your voices.
Pay no heed to churlish chatter,
that your input doesn’t matter.

They are hoping we’ll refrain from
weighing in, that we’ll abstain from
sharing views infused with passion
on which policies to fashion.

Poems often serve to stir us.
They can also serve to spur us
into fertile, fruitful action,
not deterred by deft distraction.

Ranting brings a brief elation,
but it will not save the nation.
Showing up is key to winning.
Don’t wait till the final inning.

Step on the accelerator.
Reach out to your legislator.
Pen your stances. Send a sample.
Donate, if your funds are ample.

Send that tweet. Attend that rally.
Add your two cents to the tally.
Hurry. Scurry. Hustle. Bustle.
Plant your flag and flex your muscle!

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Note: On April 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education published some proposed changes to the regulations that implement Title IX. Title IX provides equal opportunities for girls and women in competitive school athletic programs. The proposed changes are open for public comment, and comments must be submitted by May 15, 2023. For more information on the proposed changes, and for guidance on how to submit a comment, you may go to: markfstone.substack.com

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Mark F. Stone grew up near Seattle. After graduating from Brandeis University and Stanford Law School, he worked as an attorney for the United States Air Force for 33 years. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel. He began writing poems in 2005, as a way to woo his bride-to-be into wedlock. His poems have been published by the Society of Classical Poets, Light, Whatfinger News, and the Ohio Poetry Association.  Some of his poems and photographs can be found at: markfstone.substack.com.  He lives in Ohio.

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Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Changes to Title IX

On April 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education published in the Federal Register a 22-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Notice”) that would make significant changes to the Title IX regulations. Title IX provides equal opportunities for girls and women in competitive school athletic programs. The proposed changes are open for public comment, and comments must be submitted by May 15, 2023.

The title of the Notice is: “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: Sex-Related Eligibility Criteria for Male and Female Athletic Teams.” The Summary of the Notice reads as follows:

“SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) proposes to amend its regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) to set out a standard that would govern a recipient’s adoption or application of sex-related criteria that would limit or deny a student’s eligibility to participate on a male or female athletic team consistent with their gender identity. The proposed regulation would clarify Title IX’s application to such sex-related criteria and the obligation of schools and other recipients of Federal financial assistance from the Department (referred to below as ‘‘recipients’’ or ‘‘schools’’) that adopt or apply such criteria to do so consistent with Title IX’s nondiscrimination mandate.”

The Notice can be found on pages 22860 – 22891 of the April 13, 2023 Federal Register. The Notice is at:

Click to access 2023-07601.pdf

The Notice states: “Comments must be received on or before May 15, 2023.” The Notice also states: “Federal eRulemaking Portal: Please go to https://www.regulations.gov to submit your comments electronically.” The Notice further states:

“The Department’s policy is generally to make comments received from members of the public available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. Therefore, commenters should include in their comments only information about themselves that they wish to make publicly available.”

If you’d like to comment on the proposed changes, go to www.regulations.gov and type “ED-2022-OCR-0143” in the Search box. To submit a comment, click on “Comment.” Comments are limited to 5000 characters in length and can have up to 20 attachments.

As of April 24, 2023, at 11:59 PM, the number of comments submitted was 23,143. You can browse the comments that have been submitted. Some are as short as 14 words in length.

On April 14, 2023, the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies (DFI) issued (and posted on its website) a press release entitled “DFI-Led Coalition Calls on Biden Administration to Extend Public Comment Period for Proposed Title IX Athletics Regulation.” Linked to the press release is a six-page letter that the coalition sent to the U.S. Secretary of Education. The letter explains the issues and requests that the 30-day comment period be extended to 90 days. This press release is at:

https://dfipolicy.org/press-release-dfi-led-coalition-calls-on-biden-administration-to-extend-public-comment-period-for-proposed-title-ix-athletics-regulation/

The FAQ at the regulations.gov website has a link to a three-page document entitled “Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.” This document contains the following guidance: “A comment can express simple support or dissent for a regulatory action. However, a constructive, information-rich comment that clearly communicates and supports its claims is more likely to have an impact on regulatory decision making. …A single, well-supported comment may carry more weight than a thousand form letters.”

NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets.

The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


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14 Responses

  1. Brian A Yapko

    Thank you for this poem, Mark. It is a powerful reminder that we have voices and votes — we must never willingly relinquish our right to be heard, nor should we ever passively submit to accepting the unacceptable. As you say — “Showing up is key to winning.”

    Reply
  2. Margaret Coats

    An entire poem of 24 lines with feminine rhymes only! Great way to reflect the subject in the structure, Mark. And they are all perfect rhymes persuasively employed. Thanks for your work, and for including the information about how to comment on the proposed government action. From the “Tips for Submitting Effective Comments,” I imagine even regulators may enjoy the poem tremendously.

    Reply
    • Mark F. Stone

      Margaret, You’re welcome. I think trochaic meter works well for exhortations. Mark

      Reply
  3. Cheryl Corey

    Mark, I enjoy your rhymes and appreciate the poetic rallying cry on this critical issue. What’s happening in our society and culture is absolute madness.

    Reply
  4. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Mark, that is a great call for speaking up and taking actions needed to end this horrendous transgression!

    Reply
  5. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Mark, your poem is an inspirational joy to read, from the rousing title to the melodious closing couplet. I believe poetry makes a difference and your powerful message rings out with poetic aplomb and passion. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Mark F. Stone

      Susan, I agree with you that poetry makes a difference. As Percy Bysshe Shelley said, poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. Thank you for your kind words! Mark

      Reply
  6. Patricia Allred

    A powerful poem, I hope your work reaches thousands!
    The additional information is most helpful as to getting into action..
    as silence is deadly.
    Thank you….

    Reply
    • Mark F. Stone

      Patricia, I hope so, too! Thank you for dropping by and commenting. Mark

      Reply

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