Giving Thanks!

Now, I think I have made it clear in class that Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. I don't like the way schools fictionalize a story that sounds good, while ignoring the sad facts about how we really treated Native Americans in this country. That being said, I have learned to treat Thanksgiving as a reminder of all the things I am thankful for.

This year, as always, I am thankful for my faith, my family and my friends.  I'm healthy and generally happy, and I am surrounded by people who love me. I grateful that I am able to get paid doing things I love to do.  Yes - when all is said and done, I have it pretty good.  I hope I never lose sight of that, and always continue to be thankful for what I have.

So, in honor of the holiday my question to you this week will be an easy one. "What are you thankful for this holiday season?" Answers are due no later than Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015.  Please note that you have two weeks to finish this blog due to the holiday.  There will be NO class on Thursday, November 26^th! I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday full of good food, good friends and good conversation! Enjoy your break!

I Visit the Gun Range!

A few months ago, at 2:00 a.m. a man tried to break down my parents from door.  Needless to say, when they heard the commotion they bolted out of bed.  My mom stayed upstairs to call the police, and my dad went downstairs to see what the problem was.  It ended up being a very drunk college student (my parents live in Bloomington) who was just at the wrong house, but he still managed to break through the storm door and break the frame of the main door before police came.

I don’t come from a family that owns guns.  We’ve never even talked about having a gun before, but that one incident made my dad change his mind.  Within the matter of a few weeks, he had purchased a handgun and was regularly going to the gun range to target practice.  Even though I don’t think I would want one, I strongly support the Constitution and the people’s right to have guns.  Plus, it was on my bucket list to shoot one, so a few weeks ago, I went with him to target practice.

Being at the gun range was definitely out of my comfort zone.  There were lots of people, in fact lots of kids, and obviously a lot of guns.  There were also a lot of safety measures in place. What was shocking to me however, was the type of guns people were using.  I understand some people may use rifles and shotguns to hunt.  Other may be practicing with handguns for protection – but what were the snippers practicing?  Too old for military practice, I couldn’t figure out why the average American would need all the equipment necessary for being a sniper.  Maybe I’m just ignorant about guns, or maybe we’re taking this whole gun ownership a bit too far.

I was also curious how my dad had purchased his gun.  You see, my dad has a diagnosed mental health disorder and a history of violence.  It seems to me like he fits the mold for a person who probably shouldn’t have access to guns.  However, he told me there was no waiting period, no mental health checks, nothing.  He literally just walked in, and after a quick background check, purchased any gun he wanted.  Again, I support the Constitution, but I also think there should be better regulations around an industry that contributes to thousands of deaths each year – (yes, I know people kill people, not guns, but guns certainly play a role J).

 I’m sure many of you have heard about the recent home invasion, which resulted in the death of 28 year old Amanda Blackburn, a pastor’s wife, who was 12 weeks pregnant with her second child. Unfortunately, it seems every single quarter we’re faced with news stories such as these.  I’ve blogged so many times about gun violence that I’ve lost count.  If you’re interested in reading any of those posts, or your fellow student’s comments, use the word “shooting” in the search bar.  For this week, I’m interested in knowing, “Do you support or oppose gun ownership?  What do you think should be done to curb the staggering amount of gun-related deaths in this country?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Every Life Matters

On our first blog post, I asked you all what you were most interested in learning about this quarter. You had many interests, but one that was mentioned repeatedly was the "Black Lives Matter" movement and police brutality.  Shortly after you responded to that post, a video went viral which depicted a South Caroline school resource officer violently arresting a student while in class.  If you didn't see the video, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq4BR5KHuqA       The officer, Deputy Ben Fields has since been fired.

The “Black Lives Matter” movement started all the way back in 2013, when George Zimmerman was acquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager.  I’m sure most you are familiar with the case, but for those of you who aren’t, you can read about the case and see what your fellow students thought at the time here:  http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2012/04/justice-for-trayvon.html

 The movement, which campaigns against police brutality, really gained momentum when another unarmed African American teenager, Michael Brown, was shot and killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri.  I blogged about that case too and you can read the post here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/12/hands-up-dont-shoot.html

Now it seems we are regularly hearing, and in some cases actually seeing, police shooting, choking, or otherwise fatally injuring unarmed individuals, oftentimes minorities.  The “Black Lives Matter” activists highlight a long history of racial abuse and injustice towards minorities by the police.  As a result of their work, many cities are requiring police to wear body cameras, in addition to their dashboard cameras, to have a more accurate record of what transpires during these encounters. 

Another result of this movement has been the “opposition,” or those who support the police officers.  They argue that police officers put their lives on the line every day, and that many of the “victims,” were actually criminals which is why they encountered the police in the first place.

I’ll admit, I’m torn on these issues.  I was raised to respect police officers.  I have several friends and family members who are police officers.  I know they’re faced with split-second, life-changing decisions every day.  That being said, I also know that when I’ve been pulled over with my Black friends, we’ve been treated differently than we would be if I was alone in the car.  In many cases, I’ve witnessed our Constitutional rights being violated.  So, my question to you this week is, “What have been your experiences with the police?  Do you think the police often resort to violence when there are other, less volatile ways to accomplish peace?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, November 11th, 2015 - which is also Veteran's Day.  To al those of you who have served in our armed forces - thank you!!  You are the true American heroes!