Choose Your Own Adventure!

I hope you all enjoyed a nice fall 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 Monday, October 13th, 2014. I'm looking forward to a great quarter!

Your Thoughts And Feedback Are Appreciated

Another quarter has almost passed. I had fun with you in class this quarter! It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of you this quarter and I hope that you stay in touch, and continue to post on the blog whenever you want.

With that being said, my final question to you is, “What did you like or dislike about the class?  What could I do to make the class better?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 24th, 2014  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter.

Staying For Love?

This week, we probably all heard about NFL player, Ray Rice who played for the Baltimore Ravens.  Rice was arrested on assault charges earlier this year, after hotel surveillance cameras showed him dragging his then fiancée out of a hotel elevator.  In March, the criminal charges were dropped after Rice agreed to go to court supervised counseling. Rice married his fiancée, Janay Palmer the day after the charges were dropped.  As a result of the arrest, he also faced a two-game suspension from the NFL.  Fast forward to this week, when the surveillance cameras from inside the elevator were released, showing Ray physically assaulting Palmer, knocking her unconscious and then dragging her body out of the elevator.  The Baltimore Ravens immediately dropped Rice from his contract, and the NFL has suspended him indefinitely.  You can watch the elevator video here, but I must warn you that it’s graphic and upsetting, so viewer discretion is advised: http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/08/ray-rice-elevator-knockout-fiancee-takes-crushing-punch-video/

To say I was disturbed by watching the video and its aftermath would be an understatement.  A few weeks ago I alluded to the fact that I grew up in a violent home.  Then in 2009, my boyfriend’s sister was murdered in a domestic violence incident, leaving behind two young children who witness the attack. Domestic violence has affected the woman that I am today more than any other influence in my life, short of my faith. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in light of the recent headlines regarding Rice, I thought it would be a good time to blog once again about the issue.

I’m sure we’ve all heard the statistics:

• Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten.
• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
• 1:4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime.

What’s even more concerning is the conversation that has sprung up as a result of the Rice incident, about why Palmer still married him, and has publically supported him since the video footage was released.  Some people just can’t understand what abuse can do to a woman mentally, and why some women are too afraid, or in too much denial to leave.  It has prompted women from all around the country to contribute to a Twitter conversation with the hashtag #WhyIStayed:

“I stayed because my pastor told me that God hates divorce.”

“I stayed because I was halfway across the country, isolated from my friends and family.”

“I stayed because I thought love was enough to conquer all.”

 So my question to you this week is, “Why do you think domestic abuse often goes unreported?  Should there be harsher penalties for abusers?  Was the NFL too lenient in only suspending Rice for 2 games, until the additional elevator footage was released?”  You must answers all questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 17^th, 2014.  If you, or anyone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE and talked to a trained counselor 24/7.

To those of you who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001 attack – my thoughts and prayers are with you today.  To those of you who have served in the armed forces – thank you for your service!

 

Home Is Where Your Heart Is

This past week, I happened to go along with my co-workers to pick up our weekly food pantry supply from Gleaners Food Bank.  Gleaners Food Bank gives our center large, weekly supplies of food, which we then distribute to individuals visiting our emergency food pantry.  While I was there, I noticed one of their advertisements.  It showed two people in conversation, with one person saying “No one in America should go hungry.” Underneath this photo was this: People can’t eat your words.  Put your money where your mouth is: Donate to Gleaners Food Bank. I liked this advertisement because I thought it was true.  Most of us agree with the statement that no one should go hungry in America, but most of us are doing very little to alleviate the situation.

Consider the following statistics taken from the Coalition for Homeless Intervention and Prevention:

·      Families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in Indiana.

·      Although it is difficult to get an exact count, there are roughly 15,000 homeless individuals in Indianapolis each year.  Yes, you read that right – not Indiana – Indianapolis!

·      The average age of a homeless individual in the United States is 7. 

·      1:5 homeless individuals are veterans. 

·      40% of homeless individuals have children living on the streets with them.

I’m sure we’ve all seen folks on the street corners begging for change.  Indianapolis has installed eight boxes downtown to help homeless and attempt to control panhandling.  People can donate money in the boxes and know that the money is going to agencies and shelters that directly help the homeless, instead of worrying what a homeless individual might do with the money if given in.  So far, the boxes haven’t been that effective in controlling panhandling downtown, although they have raised about $12,000 for local agencies.

I’ll admit – I’m torn on this issue.  My entire career has involved working on inner-city poverty issues.  I generally think a better use of the money is to give to the agencies, rather than the individual.  That being said, there have been several times in which I have given coats, gloves, umbrellas, food and other needed items to the individuals I encounter on the street corners.  I don’t always stop, and I never give money, but my heart still breaks sometimes when I see these individuals – even though I know that many suffer from addiction and some even are lying. 

So my question to you this week is, “How do you respond to requests from homeless individuals?  Would you be more likely to give money to an individual or an agency?  What should the government’s response to America’s homeless problem be?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 10^th, 2014.  You must answer all question to earn full credit.

Crisis in Iraq

As I mentioned in a previous post, several weeks ago President Obama authorized airstrikes against ISIS – an al-Qaeda offshoot that has been on a terrorist campaign throughout Syria and Iraq.  ISIS has been carrying out mass executions, placing heads on fence posts and imposing harsh religious restrictions all in an effort to gain an Islamic state governed by a religious figurehead.  You may have recently seen the public online broadcast of the beheading of American journalist James Foley.  Seriously horrible stuff – and it gets even worse.  Consider these numbers as reported by the Huffington Post:

• 1,922 – The number of people killed in Iraq in June, making it the deadliest month since May of 2007.  A majority were civilian.
• 30,000 – 50,000 – The number of militants now fighting with ISIS.
• $2 billion – The approximate value of ISIS cash and assets after looting hundreds of millions of dollars from Iraqi banks.
• 0 – the number of openly practicing Christians thought to be left in Mosul after ISIS made Christianity punishable by death.

Now I’m not one to condone violence, by us or by them.  While I support our troops and the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country, I’ve never thought the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were going to end terrorism.  I’m not sure what the answer is, but I generally believe that violence just results in more violence. That being said, the nightly news is starting to sounds more like a recap of a Games of Thrones episode, and I know something must be done.

So, my question to you this week is, “How should the United States handle the ISIS crisis in Iraq?  Would you support military action, including sending more troops?  Does the U.S. have a responsibility to end the violence?”  You must answer all questions to earn full credit. Answers are due no later than Wednesday, September 3^rd.  Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! 

They Say It's Your Birthday!

It's my birthday too!  Those of you who know me, know I'm a big believer in giving back.  I hope to leave the world a little better than I found it.  Last year on my birthday, I had just returned from my mission trip in Nicaragua.  While I was there, working to get people access to clean water became an important issue for me.  So for my birthday, my friends all donated to build a well in Africa and give hundreds of people in the local village clean water.

Yesterday, I was nominated by my sister to take the ALS ice bucket challenge.  You've probably seen this challenge, which has gone viral in recent weeks and already raised over $12 million for ALS research.  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. It's basically like being buried alive - your muscles stop working, but your brain stays fully functional. ALS is terminal and there is no cure.

My grandmother had ALS.  It is a horrible, awful disease that no one should have to go through.  So, I have gladly accepted my sister's challenge.  I will be completing my ice bucket challenge tonight in class. There is no better way I could think of than to end my birthday by honoring my grandmother and the thousands of other people suffering from this disease. 

So, in light of it being my birthday, I will go easy on you this week.  I would like to know, "What causes do you support?  What issue is important to you and why?"  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, August 27th, 2014.  If you would like to donate or learn more about ALS, you can go here: www.alsa.org   Also - stay tuned to the blog as I will be posting a video of me accepting my ice bucket challenge later this week!

Oh Captain, My Captain!

Shortly after I posted last week’s blog, President Obama authorized air strikes against ISIS militants in Iraq.  I planned on blogging about it this week, and in fact had even written the post.  Then I heard about the unfortunate passing of Robin Williams.  I know the situation in Iraq is important.   In no way do I intend this post to indicate its insignificance. But I’ve blogged many times about terrorism, and the passing of Williams hit too close to home.

Mr. Keating, Williams’ character from the movie Dead Poets Society is my teaching idol.  When I first started teaching, I didn’t know what methods worked and what didn’t work.  I knew I loved political science, but I wasn’t sure I could teach it.  I just knew that I wanted to inspire students to be different – to care about the world around them – to question everything - to march to the beat of their own drum and make their own way in the world. In short, I wanted to be Mr. Keating.  The movie also made me take notice of Robin Williams as an actor, and I continued to love his work.

So I would’ve been sad regardless upon hearing about his death, but news of his suicide made me that much more.  Depression goes way back in my family – my great-grandfather committed suicide during the Great Depression.  My father has been diagnosed as bipolar, which for me meant growing up in a turbulent and sometimes violent household.  During college I went through my own serious bout with depression, which could’ve taken my life.  So I understand how someone so talented, who brought joy and laughter to so many, could feel so dark and isolated that he saw only one way out.  It just breaks my heart.

Which is why, in memory of Robin Williams, I am sharing my story and dedicating this post to him. Depression isn’t shameful.  It doesn’t mean you’re weak.  We must start having open and frank conversations about an illness that affects millions of people. The same day I sat down to write this post, I received the September issue of Glamour in the mail which contained an article on the psychiatric bed shortage in America (Hillary Clinton was also on the cover - #winwin). According to the article, psychiatric bed space is even lower than it was it 1850!  The number of beds available on average is 12.4 per 100,000 people, when experts recommend there should be at least 50.So my question to you this week is, “Why do you think depression and mental illness carry such a stigma in this country? What should be done to ensure quality mental health care in America?”  Answers are due no later than Wednesday, August 20^th, 2014.

If you, or anyone you know is facing depression or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies, call 1-800-273-TALK to be connected to a skilled, trained counselor 24/7.