What Is The State Of Our Union?

Last week, President Obama gave the first State of the Union address of his second term.  The State of the Union address is a time for the President to inform Congress and the American people about….well, the State of the Union.  As expected, President Obama touched on many different priorities for his second term including immigration, gun control, job creation and raising the minimum wage.  In case you missed it, you can watch the full address here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2013

We’ve spent time in class talking about how Presidents spend a lot of time crafting their political image and message, and how they help set the agenda for what the American people see as their top priorities.  So my question to you this week is, “What was one thing President Obama said that you could support?  What was something he left out, that you wish he would’ve mentioned?”  You must answer both questions to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 24^th, 2013.  To read the full transcript of President Obama’s speech, go here: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-12/politics/37059380_1_applause-task-free-enterprise

Ode To Presidents

This week in class we will talk about the Presidency.  Next Monday, the nation celebrates George Washington's birthday, commonly known as President's Day. So, in honor of our first President, I decided to blog this week about the men who have served our nation as "Commander in Chief".

Some of our Presidents have had great courage. George Washington and Dwight D. Eisenhower commanded troops in battle in two of the most important wars in our nation's history. Without their courage, it is hard to say if America as nation would be where it is today.

Some of our Presidents have been great scholars. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which remains a model of democratic thought and is studied in political science classes around the world to this day. Woodrow Wilson was the only President to earn a doctorate degree, which he earned in political science.

Some of our Presidents have been great orators. John Adams was considered the "voice" of the revolution. John Kennedy's inauguration address inspired a new generation of Americans to serve their communities. Ronald Reagan was known as "The Great Communicator" and is credited with helping to end the Cold War.

My question to you this week is "Throughout history, who do you think would've made a great President that never held the office?" My answer is Benjamin Franklin. We all know of Benjamin Franklin's famous lightening rod experiment, but did you know he invented many other things including the Franklin stove, bifocals, batteries and the glass 'armonica'? He also formed our nation's first library and fire departments, and founded the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin was a great statesmen, diplomat and politician. He is credited with developing the ideals of the American character. Had he not been so advanced in age, it is possible he would've added 'President' to his long list of accomplishments. So, "Who do you think would've made a great President that never held the office?" Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 17th, 2013.

G.I. Jane Reporting For Duty

Last week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that he was lifting the military’s official ban on women in combat.  This decision overturns a 1994 rule restricting women from artillery, armor, infantry and other combat roles.  As of last year, 800 women have been wounded in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and an additional 130 have died.  The Pentagon is allowing three years for the military to implement the changes.  Congress doesn’t need to approve the new rule, but if they disagree, they could pass legislation prohibiting the change.

Supporters say this new rule change will open hundreds of thousands of additional front line jobs to women, and that more women will be able to seek higher ranks within the military, which are usually only open to those with combat experience.  Public opinion polls show 3 out of 4 Americans favor placing women in combat. 

Opponents say combat conditions are no place for women.  Retired, three star General William “Jerry” Boykin criticized placing women into Special Forces where “living conditions are primal without privacy for personal hygiene or nor mal functions”.

In a few weeks, we will discuss the Supreme Court, and how historically, they have allowed gender discrimination against women in some cases related to combat duty.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think women should be allowed in combat zones?  Why or why not?  What changes will they military need to make to accommodate women?”  Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 10^th, 2013.

Someone, Somewhere Needs Us

I want to start off this post, by saying how proud I was of your responses to the blog last week.  When we started this class, most of you shared how apathetic or uninterested you were in politics.  My goal is to show you that politics is so much more than Democrats and Republicans, corruption, attack ads and very little change.  I loved reading how each of you is involved in changing your little corner of the world. From recycling to food drives, from random acts of kindness and/or faith-based initiatives, to advocacy work on behalf of AIDS victims and the homeless, most of you are contributing something good to the world.  Keep it up!

This past weekend, my mom visited me and we went to see a movie she suggested called, “The Impossible.”  This movie is based on the true story of one family’s mission to survive the 2004 tsunami that struck the coast of South East Asia.  The cinematography was excellent and really brought to light exactly how horrifying that experience was.

Many times, living in Indiana, we are far removed from the natural disasters that can affect the rest of our country and the world.  It’s easy to forget about those being affected by natural disasters, when we are nice and comfy sitting in our own home.  In 2010, the United States gave $52.7 billion dollars in assistance to other countries.  The top ten countries that received aid were: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, Iraq, Egypt, Haiti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Columbia and Kenya.

Supporters of this aid feel the United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to those struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster, or live in a free country.  It’s one of the things that makes our country so great.  Opponents of this aid, feel the money could better help those struggling right here at home.  A few weeks ago, we watched a video on the government’s inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina.  This morning on the radio, I heard how thousands of victims of Hurricane Sandy are still without heat in what has been a devastatingly cold winter.

So, my question to you this week is, “Do you think the United States should provide economic assistance to foreign countries in need?  Is it our responsibility as a wealthy and free nation, or does it take money away from Americans in need?”  Answers are due no later than Sunday, February 3^rd, 2013.

Leaving A Legacy

I started this blog four years ago, right after President Obama’s first inauguration.  During his first inauguration, the President called Americans to a new era of responsibility.  He said in essence, that each of us has a responsibility to help one another, to life one another up.

Today as I sit here watching all of the inaugural festivities, I am reminded of that chilly January morning four years ago, and how much hope we all seemed to feel.  Many of you who know me know that I am a big believer of giving back.  Whether its volunteering time or resources, or just doing a random act of kindness, my mission is to leave my little corner of the world better than I found it. 

With that being said, in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, who gave our country so much, my question to you this week is, “What is one thing you could do to help your school, community or planet? What will your legacy be?”  Answers are due no later than Sunday, January 27^th, 2013.

Remembering Newton

I would be remiss if I did not devote at least one post to another senseless tragedy that took place over the holiday break in Newton, Connecticut.  I’m sure by now you have all heard the details about how Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School and shot 20 children and six adults before taking his own life. Shootings such as these are never easy to understand, but the timing right before the holiday, combined with the young age of the victims, made this one that much worse.

Each time we have a mass shooting such as this (and there have just been far too many in my opinion), our nation’s political dialogue becomes more focused on our country’s gun laws. Some have felt that we need stricter gun laws to prevent tragedies such as this from happening. According to Senator Dianne Feinstein, “weapons of war don’t belong on our streets”. Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper, expressed skepticism that tougher gun laws would’ve prevented the Aurora, Colorado tragedy stating, “If there were no assault weapons available – this guy’s going to find something right?” Senator Ron Johnson agrees, “I don’t think society can keep sick, demented, individuals from obtaining any type of weapon to kill people. Somebody who purposely wants to harm another individual is going to find a method to do so”.

 I’ll be frank – I’m torn on this issue. I don’t come from a family that owns guns. I don’t think I would want one in my home. That being said, I strongly support the U.S. Constitution and the people’s right to bear arms. I just think there should be better background checks, waiting periods, etc. I think the real problem here is a lack of mental healthcare in this country – which might be a whole other blog. I know I don’t have all the answers, but it’s clear to me that something must be done to stop, (or at least try and stop) this senseless violence.

So my question to you this week is, “How do you feel about our country’s gun laws? What should the government’s responsibility be, if anything, in preventing crimes like this in the future?” Many of you said in our last blog post, that you are interested in learning how other countries do things.  I would love to hear some statistics on what other countries are doing in terms of gun control.  Answers are due no later than Sunday, January 20^th. My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone affected by senseless violence, especially the community of Newton, Connecticut.

 

Choose Your Own Adventure

It's always hard coming back to school after a long break.  Don't get me wrong, I love teaching and being surrounded by all the crazy, creative evergy that is all of you.  That being said, it's still hard to wake up early on these cold January mornings - even for teachers.  So, for our first blog post, I'll go easy on you.

This week we started our study of the Constitution and the freedoms that make us uniquely American. You can order your own free copy of the United States Constitution from: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=bookstore&page=freeCopy.cfm

Normally, our first blog post has something to do with the freedoms you value most and whether or not you are proud to call yourself an American. This quarter, I would like to start with something different. A good portion of this class will be spent discussing current events and political issues that affect our everyday lives. For this post, I would like you to tell me at least one issue that you are interested in studying. To help you out, you can look over the blog posts that we've had in the past several years to get an idea of the type of things we've covered. Many of the topics are pretty controversial and I do my best to not censor the information available to you.

So my question to you this week is, "What is one issue that you are interested in studying in this class?" Answers are due no later than Sunday, January 13th, 2013. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season! I'm looking forward to a great quarter!