Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone!  When we started together it was nice and warm, and now there is no doubt winter is here! I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and hearing your opinions in class!  I wish all of you blessings and success in the future, and hope that you stay in touch.

So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class.  "What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make it better?"  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, December 14th 2016.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter. I wish all of you a merry and bright holiday season!!

We the Jury - Part II

As I mentioned in class a few weeks ago, I received a jury summons last month. Now most people hate when they get the dreaded jury summons in the mail, but I am one of the few people who LOVE jury duty. Doing my civic duty, participating in our judicial process and getting a “free” day off of work, what could be better than that? If I could, I would give up both of my jobs and become a professional juror. Yes, I know, I am a weird political nerd!

Last time I served on a jury was several years ago. I seemed to be the only one on the jury that was excited to be there. Everyone else complained, whined and used every excuse in the book to try and get out of serving, and yes, they all thought I was a weird political nerd too.

I'm sad to say I wasn't called that week, but it got me thinking about why Americans are so apathetic when it comes to jury service. So my question to you this week is, “Why do you think most Americans don’t want to participate in jury duty? Be honest – would you try and get out of it if you were called? Why or why not?” Answers are due no later than Wednesday, December 7th, 2016.

Giving Thanks!

Now, 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 am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me. I am also thankful that I am able to make a living doing two things I love.  This year, I'm especially thankful that I live in a country that allows me to freely express myself, even when I don't agree with my country's choices.

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, November 30th, 2016.  I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday full of good food, good friends and good conversation! Enjoy your break!

This Is My Fight Song

This is not the post I had planned for this week.  It’s not a post that’s been easy to write.  I try really hard to remain unbiased in my teaching.  I believe we need both sides, and that having diversity and a difference of opinions is what makes this country great.  Since the election, I’ve wondered if I can really remain unbiased.  I’ve wondered if I’m still qualified to teach this course – actually, I’ve wondered if my life of service has all been for nothing.  That maybe the world is just the ugly, hateful place that some people want us to believe it is. In short, I felt hopeless.  Over the past 48 hours I have experienced almost all the stages of grief - denial, anger, sadness, and finally, acceptance.

I haven’t heard enough of Donald Trump’s policy initiatives to know how I feel about them.  Perhaps he will surprise us all – perhaps not.  But I love my country enough to not want him to fail.  That will only hurt all of us.  What I have heard enough of from Donald is the vile, misogynistic, racist rhetoric that incites people to violence.  And in regards to that, I cannot and will not remain unbiased.  It is unacceptable to me, and I will call it out time and time again when I hear it from anyone, including my President.  I woke up this morning feeling that I will not remain silent – and I will continue my life of service with the same hope and optimism I’ve always had. That is what I am called to do by faith, and that is how I will heal. 

So this week, I would like to provide a safe, open forum for you to share your thoughts on the election.  All voices and viewpoints are welcome, but you cannot comment on someone else’s post.  This isn’t the time for heated debates.  This is the time to share how you felt and what this election has meant to you.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, November 16^th, 2016.

P.S.  Friday is Veteran’s Day! To all of those who have served on the armed forces, and to the military families who make sacrifices daily, so we can enjoy our freedoms – thank you!!  You are the real American Heroes!

Standing Rock

You may have recently seen your Facebook newsfeed filled with people who were “checking-in” at Standing Rock.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with what has been happening, people are “checking-in” to show support for the large-scale protest that has been protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).  The pipeline will transport 470,000 – 570,000 barrels of crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois, traveling through South Dakota and Iowa along the way.

Supporters say the pipeline will not only transport large amounts of oil, but it will do so much more efficiently and safer than transport by tricks or trains. 

Opponents of the pipeline, which include environmental activists and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, say a spill would contaminate the Tribe’s main source of drinking water which is located downstream.  Their fears are not unfounded, as the original route for the pipeline was rejected because it passed by Bismarck, the North Dakota capitol, and government officials feared a spill could contaminate their drinking water.  Additionally, the pipeline crosses through areas of cultural importance including sacred burial grounds and spiritual places of the Sioux Tribe, some of which have already been destroyed by the construction. This week, President Obama went on record saying he thought the pipeline could be re-routed to avoid Sioux land.

Since August, protesters have halted or slowed the construction of the pipeline.  As of this writing, the North Dakota capitol is on lock-down, and hundreds of protesters have been arrested, pepper sprayed, hit with rubber bullets, and attacked by police dogs.

In a few weeks, we will discuss the concept of “eminent domain,” in which the government can take your property, if they pay you for it and use for the public good.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think pipeline is a good idea?  Do protesters have a right to interfere with the pipeline project?  Does the Sioux Tribe have a right to maintain their sacred lands?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, November 9^th, 2016.  P.S.  Don’t forget to get out a vote!!  Let your voice be heard!   

Trick-Or-Treat-Or Not

Is anyone else excited that Halloween is this week? I love Halloween! It’s definitely one of my top three favorite holidays along with New Year’s Eve and the 4^th of July. There is nothing better as a kid, than running around in costume in the dark getting tons of candy. As an adult, I love getting dressed up and waiting to scare the children that come to my house.

Which is why it really disturbs me that some public schools aren’t even allowed to celebrate Halloween anymore. According the Seattle Public School district, “costumes could offend or upset students who come from other cultures”. The pagan origins of modern Halloween can be found in the Celtic celebration of Samhain, or "End of Summer." The Celts believed that on this agricultural harvest festival the dead revisit the land of the living and communal fires were needed to ward off evil. Many feel that celebrating Halloween is somehow promoting paganism, witchcraft and the occult.

I’m not sure how dressing up as a comic book hero and knocking on doors for candy is related to paganism, but it did get me thinking. In a few weeks, we will be discussing our First Amendment rights, and the separation of church and state. Halloween isn’t the only holiday that schools have banned in the interest of not offending anyone. So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of school’s celebrating holidays? Should they celebrate all holidays, some holidays or none at all?” For an added twist, “What are your Halloween plans?” I’d love to hear what you’re dressing up as! Answers are due no later than Wednesday, November 2nd, 2016. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Row Over Roe

I was shocked earlier this summer when I opened my latest issue of Glamour magazine to read an article on at-home abortions. You can read my thoughts and your fellow students’ comments here:  http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2016/08/diy-abortions.html  Then, after reading many of your responses last week, and watching last night’s Presidential debate, I realized abortion is more of an issue this election cycle than ever before. 

In the past 5 years, Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TARP) state laws have shut down 162 clinics, or prevented them from offering abortion services.  Here in Indiana, a federal judge recently suspended our new abortion law deeming it unconstitutional.  The Indiana law would’ve prohibited abortions on the basis of disability or race, and required abortion providers to bury or cremate fetal tissue.

The next President will certainly have the opportunity to appoint at least one, if not two or three justices to the Supreme Court of the United States.  In last night’s debate, the candidates were asked about their stance on abortion, and whether or not they would like to see the groundbreaking case Roe v. Wade, which made abortion legal in this country, overturned. For his part, Trump, who has stated he is pro-life, said, “That'll happen automatically, in my opinion, because I am putting pro-life justices on the court. It will go back to the states, and the states will then make a determination."  For her part, Clinton, who has a long pro-choice record stated, “Politicians have no business interfering with a woman’s personal health decisions.”

Abortion is a hard topic to come to terms with, at least for me.  I’d like to think if I were pregnant, my faith would prevent me from considering abortion, but I’m also realistic enough to know that if I were young, and scared, abortion would certainly be on my mind.  I think it’s just a sad situation all around, and I’m glad I don’t have the responsibility of legislating what is a personal and very emotional decision. 

Soon we’re going to discuss the right to privacy that most Americans feel they are entitled to.  As part of that discussion, we’ll look at some of the groundbreaking abortion legislation that has come out of the Courts over the years.  So, I’m interested in knowing what you think – “Do you think we should continue to place restrictions and limitations on when, where and how woman can obtain abortions?  Should Roe v. Wade be overturned? Please explain your answer.”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, October 26th, 2016.

Mudslinging

Like a lot of you, I’ve been feeling pretty disillusioned with the candidates this election cycle.  I know politics and campaigns can get pretty nasty, but this year has topped any year in recent history.  Between the vile, misogynistic and discriminatory language coming from the Trump campaign and the shadiness and dishonesty surrounding the Clinton campaign; even I have started to avoid discussions surrounding the candidates.  This week a decade old tape was released of Donald Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women.  WikiLeaks followed by releasing hacked emails in which Hillary Clinton seems to allude to the fact that she is misleading voters about her stances on some of the issues.

So my question to you this week is three-fold: First, I would like to know “Do you think these revelations about either candidate will make a difference in how people vote?”  Second, I would like you to take this quiz, which will ask you about your thoughts on certain topics, and then tell you which candidate most closely matches your own viewpoints.  It also allows you to tell it how important an issue is to you. You can access the quiz here:  https://www.isidewith.com/ Then tell me “Which candidate’s viewpoints did the quiz match you up with?  Did that surprise you, or were you already planning to vote for that person?” 

You must answer all three parts to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, October 19, 2016. 

Choose Your Own Adventure!

I hope you all enjoyed a nice break.  It's always hard coming back to school after break. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching and being surrounded by all the crazy, creative energy that is all of you. That being said, it's still hard to get back into the grind. So for our first blog post, I'll go easy on you.

This week we will start 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

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 Wednesday, October 12th, 2016. I'm looking forward to a great quarter!

Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone!  I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and hearing your opinions in class!  You make my job fun! I wish all of you blessings and success in the future, and hope that you stay in touch.

So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class.  "What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make it better?"  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 21,  2016.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter.

United We Stand

It’s hard to believe that the September 11^th attacks were fifteen years ago this week.  Like most of you, I remember exactly where I was that September morning.  Eleven days earlier I had graduated from Indiana University and moved to Indianapolis.  I was excited and hopeful about starting what I liked to call my “real life”.  That morning, I slept in and missed both planes hitting the World Trade Center.  By the time I saw the first images of people running down the street from a big cloud of dust and debris – I could scarcely comprehend what was happening.

It’s easy to look back now at the decisions we have made since as a country and find fault.  My “real life” turned out to be full of more heartache, war and an economy that never quite recovered.  I suppose like everyone else, my life changed a little that day.  America changed a little that day.

I will never forget the feelings I felt as I watched our country under attack.  I was sad, I was angry, I was horrified, but most of all, I was proud to be American.  I don’t say that often, but it’s true.  I have never felt so connected to my fellow citizens as I did on that day.  That is what I remember as I think about how to best memorialize the 15^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks – our unity.  Police and recue workers from around the country left their families and went to New York to help in the recue and recovery efforts.  Blood donations soared and all around the nation, people were helping people. Something good came out of something so bad – even if it only lasted a short while.

So this week, in honor of the September 11^th victims, I will be focusing on the good, not the bad.  I will do my part to bring back that feeling of unity that I had on September 11^th.  It may be just a small random act of kindness to a stranger. It may be spending time with people I love, or giving back to my community.  I may just be one person, but it’s a start. So my question to you this week is, “Where were you during the September 11^th attacks? Most of you were probably little kids. What could you do to make your world a little brighter?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 12^th, 2016.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of September 11^th, and our country’s servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much – thank you!

I Pledge Allegiance.....Or Not.

It was just a few weeks ago in Rio that U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas was vilified in the media for failure to place her hand over her heart as the U.S. national anthem played during her gold medal ceremony.  Then, this week, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of the anthem because as he said “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color."

Both Douglas and Kaepernick stand to lose thousands of dollars in endorsements and sponsors because of what some are calling their “unpatriotic” actions.  An often-repeated criticism of Kaepernick has been that his actions are offensive to members of the US military. Guidelines say all Americans should stand and face the flag during the anthem - by not doing so, as the argument goes, Kaepernick was insulting people prepared to die for it. Some former servicemen and women disagree, however, and have been offering their support using the #VeteransForKaepernick hashtag.  For their part, a spokesperson for the San Francisco 49ers stated, “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem."

I never had to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school on a regular basis.  The national anthem was played at sporting events, and I always stood like everyone else.  So my question to you this week is two-fold: “Did you have to regularly stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in school?  Do you think athletes should be punished if they decide they don’t want to participate?”  You must answer both questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

DIY Abortions

I was shocked earlier this summer when I opened my latest issue of Glamour magazine to read an article on at-home abortions.   Many women who can’t afford to travel, who don’t want their parents or the father of the baby to know they’re pregnant, or who simply can’t afford a child are finding themselves with very limited options.  As access to safe, legal methods of abortion becomes increasingly limited, women are resorting to black-market remedies, which could ultimately land them in jail.  Consider the following:

·         There are still over 1 million legal abortions performed each year in the United States.

·         A 2015 survey in Texas found that 240,000 women had attempted to induce an abortion on their own – and that’s just in Texas!

·         Last year, Google reported there were over 700,000 searches done on “How to give yourself an abortion.”

In the past 5 years, Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TARP) state laws have shut down 162 clinics, or prevented them from offering abortion services.  Here in Indiana, a federal judge recently suspended our new abortion law deeming it unconstitutional.  The Indiana law would’ve prohibited abortions on the basis of disability or race, and required abortion providers to bury or cremate fetal tissue.

Abortion is a hard topic to come to terms with, at least for me.  I’d like to think if I were pregnant, my faith would prevent me from considering abortion, but I’m also realistic enough to know that if I were young, and scared, abortion would certainly be on my mind.  I think it’s just a sad situation all around, and I’m glad I don’t have the responsibility of legislating what is a personal and very emotional decision. 

Next week in class we’re going to discuss the right to privacy that most Americans feel they are entitled to.  As part of that discussion, we’ll look at some of the groundbreaking abortion legislation that has come out of the Courts over the years.  So, I’m interested in knowing what you think – “Do you think we should continue to place restrictions and limitations on when, where and how woman can obtain abortions?  Please explain your answer.”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, August 31^st, 2016.

Educated and Homeless

Last week, I read an article about the rise of college students in poverty.  The cost of attending college usually focuses on the tuition and fees; rarely does the conversation ever include the cost of living.  Now we all know that most college students would say they were poor.  I know there were weeks in college where I subsisted on Ramen noodles, Kool-Aid and McDonalds – which also happened to be where I worked.  However, looking back, I realize I really wasn’t that poor. Yes, I worked a low-paying job, and yes, I incurred a large amount of student loan debt, but I had a roof over my head and food in my belly – even if it wasn’t high quality food.  What’s more, even though my parents couldn’t help me much financially, they lived right down the street.  There was no chance of me ever becoming homeless, and I knew I could always stop by for a home-cooked meal. Most of you know my entire career has been focused on the complex issues related to poverty, which is why I found the statistics in this article so troubling.  Consider the following:

·         1:5 college students have gone hungry in the past year because they didn’t have money for food.

·         8-12% of college students are homeless, or lack permanent housing.

·         20% of college students have gone an entire day without food because money was tight.

These numbers broke my heart. Some say the numbers are even higher, and that the issue hasn’t been studied enough to know for sure.  Many students don’t talk about it because of the stigma associated with poverty.  Others who do talk about it are often rebuffed by family and friends who consider college poverty a rite of passage that comes with the territory.  I’m interested to know what you think, so my question this week is, “Do these numbers seem high to you – or is this what you would expect?  Do you think schools and universities have a responsibility to help address these issues – and if so, how?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, 25^th, 2016.  Please note that you have two weeks to complete this blog because I will be out of town next week. If you or someone you know is dealing with homelessness or food insecurity, please feel free to reach out – I may have resources that can help!

***I would be remiss this week if I didn’t dedicate this post to Shay Gaither, an Art Institute student who lost her life this past week.  I will always remember Shay’s infectious laugh and beautiful light. As I’ve mourned this past week, I’ve been comforted by the fact that we’re forever sisters, and somewhere, her soul lives on.  Shine on, sister, shine on!***

Ready for Rio!

The Summer Olympics begin on Friday! For those who know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of the Olympics (An election and the Olympics?!  I'm in television heaven!). I love the artistry of the opening ceremonies. I get all caught up in the emotional stories of the athletes who have struggled so hard and overcome so many obstacles just to make their Olympic dreams come true. I watch sports I've never even heard of before (like curling) and I always, always cheer for the underdog.

So, to have a little fun this week, I’ll go easy on you.  My question this week is, "What is your favorite Olympic sport, and why?"  It's funny because I'm way too uncoordinated to play sports, but I love watching them on television.  My favorite Olympic sports are gymnastics and swimming in the Summer Olympics and snowboarding during the Winter Olympics. Their tricks look amazing!  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, August 10th, 2016.

Deciding I'm With Her

Like a lot of you, I’ve been feeling pretty disillusioned with the candidates this election cycle.  I know politics and campaigns can get pretty nasty, but this year has topped any year in recent history.  Between the vile, misogynistic and discriminatory language coming from the Trump campaign and the shadiness and dishonesty surrounding the Clinton campaign, even I was starting to avoid discussions surrounding the candidates – primarily because I didn’t want to have to fight anyone.

Which is why I was surprised to find myself feeling proud this week, as our country nominated the first woman candidate for President.  Suddenly, all the controversy surrounding Clinton didn’t seem to matter as much as the glass ceiling she’s worked so hard to shatter.  For just a brief moment she wasn’t Hillary with the email scandals, and Benghazi hanging over her head – she was Hillary, the first woman candidate to be nominated for President – and in that moment, I was proud.  Proud of the fact that although we have a long way to go, we’ve come so far since women first gained the right to vote in 1920.  Proud of the fact that my four year old niece lives in a world where a Black man is President and a woman may be next.  Proud of the fact that my gender just took a giant leap forward.

So my question to you this week is three-fold: First, I would like to know “Do you think this country is ready for a woman President?”  Second, I would like you to take this quiz, which will ask you about your thoughts on certain topics, and then tell you which candidate most closely matches your own viewpoints.  It also allows you to tell it how important an issue is to you. You can access the quiz here:  https://www.isidewith.com/                       Then tell me “Which candidate’s viewpoints did the quiz match you up with?  Did that surprise you, or were you already planning to vote for that person?” 

You must answer all three parts to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, August 3^rd, 2016. 

P.S.  If you or someone you know needs to register vote, you can register here:

https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/OVR/Introduction.aspx

America's Black and Blue

**Warning – the video links in this post contain graphic footage.  Viewer discretion is advised.**

July isn’t even over yet and already it has been a month filled with violence, devastation and grief.  It was the day after we celebrated our nation’s independence when Alton Sterling, 37, was shot and killed by police outside of a convenience store.  Police were responding to reports of a man with a gun.  Bystanders captured the shooting on video which you can watch here: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/06/us/baton-rouge-shooting-alton-sterling/index.html

The very next day, another man, Philando Castile was shot 4 times during a traffic stop.  Castile has been pulled over for a broken taillight. The aftermath of the shooting was live streamed by Castile’s fiancée, who states in the video that Castile told the officers he had a weapon, which he was legally allowed to carry, and was reaching for his license when the officer began firing into the car.  Castile’s 4 year old daughter was in the backseat.  You can watch the video, which includes the officer, with his gun still trained on a dying Castile, here:  http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/07/07/philando-castile-police-shooting-minnesota-gringras-pkg-erin.cnn

This wasn’t the first time we've heard about shootings of unarmed, Black men.  You can read my posts and your fellow students’ thoughts on Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2012/04/justice-for-trayvon.html and here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/12/hands-up-dont-shoot.html  However, these two shootings, so close together, and with the accompanying video, set off a firestorm of protests around the country.  It was during one of these protests in downtown Dallas, that Micah Johnson, a 25 year old military veteran opened fire on police, killing 5 and injuring 7 others.

My thoughts on this issue are a jumbled mess.  I was raised to respect police officers.  I have friends and family members who are police officers.  I know that each day they put their lives on the line and are forced to make split-second decisions to save lives.  That being said, I also can’t ignore these videos or the countless other lives that have been taken unnecessarily by police officers.  I know that when I’ve been a car with my Black friends, we’ve been treated differently during traffic stops than when I’m alone, or with my White friends.  In some cases, our Constitutional rights have been violated.  I don’t have the answers, but my heart breaks at the thought of all this violence. 

So my question to you this week is, “How do you feel about these incidents?  What has been your experience with the police?  How do you think the country should start to heal?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, July 27^th, 2016.

Choose Your Own Adeventure!

I hope you all enjoyed a nice break.  It's always hard coming back to school after break. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching and being surrounded by all the crazy, creative energy that is all of you. That being said, it's still hard to get back into the grind. 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

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 Wednesday, July 20th, 2016. I'm looking forward to a great quarter!

Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone!  I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and hearing your opinions in class!  I wish all of you blessings and success in the future, and hope that you stay in touch.

So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class.  "What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make it better?"  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, June , 15th 2016.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter.

Now Hiring - Part 2

You may have heard recently about the controversy surrounding President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died in February, and ever since then there has been a vacancy on the court. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states, “[The President] shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint…Judges of the Supreme Court.”  The President has always nominated an individual for the Court, and the Senate rejects or confirms them after going through a lengthy confirmation hearing in which they interview the candidate about their background, choices, and legal opinions.  This process is designed to provide the “checks and balances” we have discussed in class.  Both the President and the Senate have important roles in choosing our next Supreme Court Justice.

By all accounts, President Obama’s nominee is qualified to serve.  Garland currently serves as the Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals. According to the White House, Garland has a “distinguished career and impeccable credentials.” So what’s causing all the controversy?  There are 9 Supreme Court Justices – currently 4 of them are considered to be more liberal on issues, and the other 5 (before Scalia’s passing) are more moderate and conservative. Justice Scalia was by all accounts a more conservative justice – perhaps one of the most conservative on the bench.  With his passing, President Obama has the potential to nominate a more liberal justice, which will effectively shift the political leanings of the Court – giving the liberal justices a majority for the first time in years.

Republican Senators have said they will deny holding confirmation hearings for Garland.  Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell said he “agrees that this decision ought to be made by the net President, whoever is elected.” For his part, President Obama has said the Constitution is clear, it’s his responsibility to nominate someone, and he has done so.  

So my question to you this week is twofold, First, “Do you think the Senate should hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland, or should we wait until after the election for the incoming President to do so?”  Second, “If you sat on the Supreme Court, what is one issue that you would like to issue a ruling on – and what would be your opinion?”  You must answer both questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, June 8th, 2016.  

Money, Money, Money

I’ve never really cared much about states legalizing marijuana for recreational use.  I visited Colorado shortly after the law passed, and I was surprised to find out how little had really changed, just because people could now legally buy marijuana for recreational use.  You can read about that trip, and your fellow students’ responses here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-mile-high-city-may-be-higher-than_8.html

What has struck me as interesting is what states like Colorado are doing with all the revenue they’re generating from legalizing marijuana.  Colorado first legalized the drug in January of 2014.  Within the first month, they had generated $46.9 million in total sales.  That’s right – million! Their cumulative revenue in 2014 was $76.2 million, by 2015 that number had jumped to $86.7 million.  Currently, Colorado imposes three types of tax on marijuana sales.  They have a regular 2.9% state sales tax, with an additional special marijuana sales tax of 10%.  Then there’s a 15% excise tax on wholesale transfers.  So what are they doing with all this revenue?

First, they’ve earmarked the revenue generated from the excise tax for school construction projects.  Aurora, Colorado’s third largest city is using the $1.5 million they’ve generated from marijuana taxes to support the homeless, through increased shelter beds, and vans for additional homeless outreach. It’s not just Colorado either.  In March, Los Angeles said they plan to use the revenue generated from their 15% tax on marijuana cultivation to also support homeless individuals – through housing, supportive services, mobile showers, vouchers and outreach. LA, which currently only allows marijuana cultivation for medicinal usage has said if they were able to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the revenue generated would be “significantly more.”

So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of legalizing marijuana for recreational use?  Do you support or oppose these laws?  Do you think how states are using the revenue will change anyone’s minds?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

Does It Matter If You're Black or White?

You may remember hearing about the “racist” Gap advertisement that was released last month.  Like some of you, I clicked on the headline to see the offending ad, only to discover I couldn’t really identify what was racist about it.  In the ad, a 12 year old Caucasian girl leans her arm on an 8 year old African-American girl, who also happens to be her adopted sister.  Both girls are part of a performance troupe and were featured along with several other children in the ad campaign, which ironically was designed in part to “encourage girls everywhere to be themselves.”  In case you didn’t see it, you can check out the offending ad here: http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/Business/HT_gap_kids_ad_pulled_mm_16046_v4x3_12x5_1600.jpg

Critics said the ad gives the message of passive racism.  They complain that the black girl appeared to be more of a “prop” than anything else.  The ad has drawn criticism from many black people who find it to be yet another offensive example of the ways in which black women and girls are belittled, undermined, and dehumanized in the media.

Others have argued that the reaction to the ad is a wild over-exaggeration.  For their part, Gap pulled the ad and apologized stating in part, “As a brand with a proud 46 year history of championing diversity and inclusivity, we appreciate the conversation that has taken place and are sorry to anyone we’ve offended.”

As I said, initially, I couldn’t identify what was racist about the ad.  After reading the comments, I started to get it.  I’m still not sure the ad is racist, but I do understand that it leads to a bigger conversation about the images of African Americans in this country. The reality is that there are so few positive, powerful representations of black women and especially black girls out there that, frankly, it’s unsurprising that the photo would touch a nerve.

Many of you will engage in freelance work for photography and graphic design throughout your careers.  In some instances, one image can make or break a career.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think the Gap advertisement was racist? Should companies be responsible for encouraging positive representation and diversity in their campaigns?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, May 25^th 2016.

*Please note: You have two weeks to complete this blog.  There will be no new post next week while I’m out of town.

Periods for Pence!

I couldn’t let this quarter pass without blogging at least once about Indiana’s new abortion law recently signed by Governor Mike Pence.  The law bans abortions if they’re being performed because of the fetus’s race, gender, or fetal abnormalities, and punishes doctors if they perform abortions under these circumstances.  The law also requires the fetus to be buried or cremated after any abortion or miscarriage.

Governor Mike Pence said the new law “affirms the value of all human life.”  Supporters of the new law also say it protects people with disabilities from discrimination.  However, the law has caused much controversy, as both the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood have sued citing the law as unconstitutional.  They say the law supports the government intruding on doctor/patient relationships, and that it demeans women.  The also says the required burial or cremation of the fetus is a costly requirement that doesn’t exist for the disposal of medical tissue for other types of operations.  In fact, many women miscarry during their normal menstrual cycle, and may even have no idea that their miscarrying.  It is this component of the law that has caused the social media movement “Periods for Pence” to arise.  The movement, which opposes the law, has hundreds of women calling or tweeting to the Governor’s office about their regular menstrual cycle; just to show what they feel is the absurdity of the law.  Regardless of how you feel about the law itself, the comments are pretty funny.  You can read a sampling of them here if you’re so inclined: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-06/periods-for-pence-highlights-womens-concern-over-indiana-abortion-bill

Abortion has already been a controversial issue – long before this newly signed piece of legislation which only seems to complicate matters.  I’m interested in knowing what you think, so my question to you this week is, “What do you think of Indiana’s new abortion law?  Do you think it upholds the value of human life, or infringes on a woman’s right to privacy?”  Answers are due no later than, Wednesday, May 11^th, 2016.

I Vote! I Count!

Last week, we discussed political parties and what each party’s platform is in class.  As we move into election season (am I the only one excited?!?) it will be important for you to know which party and which candidate you most closely align with.  So with that being said, this week’s blog will be a little different. 

First, I would like you to take this quiz, which will ask you about your thoughts on certain topics, and then tell you which candidate most closely matches your own viewpoints.  It also allows you to tell it how important an issue is to you. You can access the quiz here:  https://www.isidewith.com/

 My question to you this week is, “Which candidate’s viewpoints did the quiz match you up with?  Did that surprise you, or were you already planning to vote for that person?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, May 4th, 2016.

P.S.  If you or someone you know needs to register vote, you can register here:

https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/OVR/Introduction.aspx

Shaming the Victim

I was shocked last week when I heard about Marina Lonina, an 18 year old who stands accused of live streaming her 17 year old friend’s rape.  Yes, you read that right – she livestreamed a RAPE!  Lonina has been charged with 1 count of kidnapping, 2 counts of rape, 1 count of sexual battery, and 2 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity material.  She stands to serve 40 years in prison if convicted on all charges.  Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve blogged about people sharing rape and sexual assaults on social media.  You can read my post and your fellow students thoughts here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2013/04/take-back-our-nights-take-baqck-our.html

Rape is not only prevalent in America, it is the only crime “in which the victim has to prove her innocence,” according to author Alina Klein.  Consider the following statistics:

• According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are over 89,000 rapes reported every year. 
• Since many victims don’t report their assaults, the Bureau estimates that there are over 300,000 rapes occurring every year. 
• Women stand a 1:5 chance of being raped in their lifetime.
• The United States ranks 13^th in the world for crimes of rape.

Reading the statistics started making me depressed – before I started getting really mad.  Why aren’t we talking about this more?  Why are victims harassed about what they were wearing, where they were at, or their life choices?  The prevalence of social media makes it that much easier to blame and harass the victim, and in some cases, even publicize the actual assault.

So my question to you this week is, “Do you think individuals who use social media to broadcast crimes, are just as responsible as the person committing the crime?  Should they face the same punishment?”  I also want to know what you were taught about rape growing up: Ladies – we’ve probably all been told not to accept drinks from others, walk alone late at night and/or wear revealing clothes.  That doesn’t get at the heart of the issue.  Guys – I’d love to hear more about what you’ve been taught growing up about rape and sexual assault as well.  How will we teach our daughters, sisters and nieces about this issue? 

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Black Fish

I’ve never been to Sea World, but I do love animals.  A few quarters ago, a student did her final project on animal abuse, and she encouraged me to watch the documentary Blackfish. If you’re not familiar with the movie, it is primarily about Tilikum, an Orca who was captured in 1983 by Sea World and has been involved in Sea World’s live Orca shows.

Over the break, I happened to catch this documentary on CNN and what I discovered was horrifying.  I had never really given it much thought, but I assumed that the animals at Sea World were “rescued” or in need of care in some way.  In Tilikum’s case, he was captured off the coast of Iceland for no other reason than to provide entertainment and ultimately make money for Sea World.  Orcas are social creatures by habit and the movie heartbreakingly showed their reactions to being stripped away from their mothers and family units.  The pools that the Orca’s live in at Sea World are .00001% of the amount of water that Orcas would swim in a typical day in the ocean.  In some case, the Orcas could barely turn around, their massive bodies stretching from end to end of their tiny pools.  The whole movie was so distressing that twice I had to turn it off and come back to it later.

As a response to his captivity and his primitive nature, Tlilkum has been involved in the death of three people since his capture.  He is also the main breeder for Sea World and as a result, it is estimated that up to 90% of all Orcas at the Sea Worlds parks share his DNA.

For their part, Sea World Vice President has stated that they have “altered how we care for, display and train these extraordinary animals,” and that Sea World has “changed facilities, equipment and procedures at the whale habitats.”  In fact, as a result of this documentary Sea World has pledged to end their Orca breeding program and phase out all of their live Orca shows.

I’m glad Sea World responded to mounting public pressure to end these practices, but the movie got me thinking about other animal habitats, including zoos. My family holds season passes to the Indianapolis Zoo and it is a favorite place of my niece and nephew.  Again, without giving it much thought, I always assumed that the zoo supported conservation and the animals in the zoo had been “rescued” in some fashion.  I now fear I am terribly wrong and I wonder what my money has gone to support. 

So my question to you this week is, “Do you think zoos are positive organization which support conservation and teach kids about animals they otherwise would not have a chance to see – or do you think zoos exploit the animals to support their own financial gain?  What do you think could be done to ensure that animals in zoos are properly cared for?”  You must answer all questions to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, April 20^th, 2016.

This post is dedicated to one of my best friends, Azriel Sassafras, who passed away on March 25^th, 2016.  She was the best first pet I could’ve asked for and I will miss her much!

Choose Your Own Adventure!

I hope you all enjoyed a nice break.  It's always hard coming back to school after break. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching and being surrounded by all the crazy, creative energy that is all of you. That being said, it's still hard to get back into the grind. 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

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 Wednesday, April 13th, 2016. I'm looking forward to a great quarter!

Your Thoughts and Feedback Are Appreciated!

Well another quarter has come and gone!  I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and hearing your opinions in class!  When we started together it was dark and cold, and now Spring is just around the corner. I wish all of you blessings and success in the future, and hope that you stay in touch.

So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class.  "What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make it better?"  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March, 23rd 2016.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter. For those of you who celebrate - have a Happy Easter! I hope all of you enjoy the break!

Just Say No!

This week, former First Lade Nancy Reagan passed away at the age of 94.  If you're a child of the 80's like me (yes, I am really that old!) you remember Nancy Reagan as an anti-drug crusader who encouraged kids all around the country to "Just Say No!" Critics viewed the slogan as an over-simplistic and unrealistic approach to lower drug usage in our country.  In fact, there's no denying that drug use actually soared in the U.S. throughout the 80's and has continued to plague our country.  Consider the following:

• According to a 2012 National Survey on Drug Use& Health, 23.9 million people reported they had used illicit drugs within 1 month of the survey.
• Emergency room visits for non-medical usage of prescription drugs rose 98.4% from 2004 – 2009.
• From 1998 – 2008, drug overdoses increased 56%.
• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are 23 million addicts in the United States and only 2.6 million ever seek help or treatment.
• 8.4 million people who abuse substances also suffer from at least one mental illness.

I’ve blogged before about my personal experiences with mental health issues, and the shortage of mental health beds in this country.  You can read my personal journey and your fellow students’ comments here:  http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/08/oh-captain-my-captain.html

Drug addiction is a complex disorder, with mental health issues being just one aspect of the disease.  Since treatment for abuse and addiction is delivered using a variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches, it can be hard to quantify the number of treatment facilities and space available, but the estimate that I could find was that there are 14,500 specialized drug treatment facilities in the United States.  14, 500 may seem like an adequate number until you realize that there are 23 million addicts!  Even you are one of the few who seek treatment; you may not be able to afford it.  Health coverage doesn’t always adequately cover treatment, which results in shorter stays for many addicts who needs months and maybe even years to fully recover.  The Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as ObamaCare), includes parity of coverage for both mental health and substance abuse problems, which only means the demand for these services could grow even higher, resulting in a continued shortage of treatment facilities.

It’s a tough problem, and one America hasn’t done a great job of solving.  We have either taken too harsh of stance – in the case of marijuana, which is still classified as a Schedule I narcotic, along with cocaine and heroin, or we have taken too passive of a stance – as in the case of the “Just Say No!” campaign. 

 I’m interested in knowing your thoughts.  So my question to you this week is, “What do you think can be done to curb America’s drug problem?  Do legalizing “lighter” drugs, like marijuana help or hurt the problem?  Should health insurance companies be mandated to cover drug rehabilitation stays, or is the individual responsible for their own addiction?”  You must answer all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March 16, 2016.

 

  

How Do You Like Them Apples?

You may have heard recently that the FBI has requested that Apple help the FBI unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino terrorists.  If you’re like me, you may be wondering why the FBI needs Apple to unlock the phone.  (Seriously – the FBI can’t hack into an IPhone?!) Apparently, the phone’s security measures have prevented the FBI from being able to access what may or may not be critical evidence in the San Bernardino case.

Apple has refused to help create any software that would circumvent the phone’s security measures, stating in part that, “helping the FBI unlock this phone will be setting a dangerous precedent for everyone’s cybersecurity.”  Apple feels the new software could possibly leak, and entice hackers to modify and/or breach the system on their own, thus weakening the security of all its products.

For their part, the FBI has stated that if Apple isn’t compelled to help it will be the equivalent of creating “evidence-free” zones, thus empowering terrorists even further.  Both sides have taken their case to Congress this week.

Since we will be studying 1^st Amendment Freedoms this week in class, which includes freedom of speech, I thought this seemed like a good case to blog about.  In this age of “terrorism,” it seems we must often choose between our own security versus our civil liberties.  So my question to you this week is, “Do you think Apple should be forced to develop software that could help the FBI access iPhone data?  Are you willing to give up some of your freedoms if it means making our country safer?”  You must answer both questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March 9^th, 2016.

 

When the Past Catches Up to You

I was surprised to learn while reading last week’s blog that several of you wanted to issue rulings on our criminal justice system, and how felons are treated in terms of employment.  As a person who has spent my entire career working on inner-city poverty issues, including those affecting people with criminal history, I knew this would be a good issue to blog about.  Consider the following statistics according the Bureau of Justice:

• There are currently roughly 2.3 million people in prison or jail.
• There are currently roughly 5.1 million additional people on parole or probation.
• 9.7% of males ages 30-34 have been in prison – the highest rate since the data became available in the early 70’s.
• 11.3% of males born in 2001 will be imprisoned at some point in their life, compared to only 3.6% in 1974.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that people with misdemeanors or felonies on their record have a much harder time finding employment.  With no job, they often can’t pay the staggering fees that come with being on probation, which means there’s a much higher chance they’ll recidivate. Fortunately, in 2012, Indiana changed its laws related to the expungement and sealing of criminal history records.  Individuals can now have their records expunged if the charges were never filed, dropped, or the individual was found not guilty.  It may not seem like much, but it’s actually a pretty big deal.  I’ve seen people with 4 pages of criminal history – yet they’ve never been convicted of anything.  Have the opportunity to remove all of the charges from their record, give them a clean slate.  Frankly, if they haven’t been convicted, I think clearing their record is only right.

Indiana law also allows people to “restrict access” to the criminal history.  Individuals who have misdemeanors or non-violent, class D felonies can “restrict access” to their record, meaning only law enforcement and the criminal justice system can actually see the convictions.  Employers and others that pull criminal history records will not be able to see these convictions.  Individuals can also legally state they’ve never been convicted of a crime on a job application.  It’s considered to be a game changer in terms of individuals with convictions on their records finding gainful employment.

So my question to you this week is, “Do you think people who were convicted of crimes should be able to restrict access to their criminal records – or do you think employers have the right to know if you committed a felony?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, March 2^nd, 2016.