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, most of you hated politics, and now you are ready to go out and change the world!  I wish all of you blessings and success in the future.  Please stay in touch and feel free to visit and post on the blog whenever you like.

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 Monday, December 15th, 2014.  After that, the blog will be down until class resumes next quarter.  May you all have a joyful and peaceful holiday season!  Enjoy the break!

Hands up! Don't Shoot!

I hope you all enjoyed a nice holiday last week.  My Thanksgiving did not go as planned.  As those of you who were in class with me know, I was sick right before Thanksgiving.  At the time, I thought I might have the flu or a sinus infection.  Long story short, I never got any better.  In fact, I got worse.  So much worse, that I had to cancel the work trip that I had planned for this week because my doctor advised me not to fly. 

While I’ve been recovering, I’ve been watching more television than usual.  One thing that has kept me occupied has been the unfolding of events in Ferguson, Missouri.  As I’m sure you all know, on August 8, 2014, Michael Brown, an 18 year old, unarmed, African American was fatally shot by police office officer Darren Wilson.  Brown was walking in the middle of the street with a friend, when Officer Wilson drove up and asked them to move to the sidewalk.  An altercation occurred through the window of the police vehicle which resulted in Wilson’s gun being fired. Brown and his companion fled separate ways, with Wilson following Brown.

What happened next is in dispute.  Some witness report that Brown raised his hands and surrendered, in fact saying, “Don’t shoot!”  Others, including Officer Wilson say Brown turned and started charging the officer.  We’ll probably never know for sure exactly how things unfolded on that fateful day, but what we do know is that Officer Wilson fired a total of 12 rounds, fatally shooting Brown.  On November 24, a grand jury decided not to indict Officer Wilson for his actions, sparking turmoil and unrest throughout the city of Ferguson and in many cities around the world.

My thoughts on this issue are a jumbled mess.  I was raised to respect the police and am grateful for those that put their lives on the line every day for my protection.  I have friends and family members that are police officers.  They’re faced with split-second, life-changing decisions every moment they’re on the job.  That being said, I know first-hand how we’ve been treated when my African-American boyfriend and I have been stopped.  There is no denying that we (and by we, I mean basically him), get different treatment by the police than our white friends get. In some cases, I feel our Constitutional rights have been violated – and yes, I’ve said that.  The sad thing is, it hasn’t just happened once or twice.  It’s happened over and over again.  I’ve felt violated, I’ve cried and I’ve felt rage.  It’s a very small part of what I’m sure thousands of minorities feel across our country in terms of the police.  The whole incident just makes me sad.

So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of the events in Ferguson, Missouri?  How do you personally feel about police and what could be done to bridge the gap between people’s perceptions and reality?”  You must answer both questions in their entirety to earn full credit.  Answers are due no later than Monday, December 8^th.   As for me, I need some chicken soup and a nap!

Giving Thanks!

It's been a weird quarter.  From having my class switched to Tuesday nights, to needing a sub two weeks (thank you, Steve!) to missing another week due to Veteran's day, I feel like it has been a crazy quarter.  Don't gt me wrong - I enjoy missing class every now and then as much as you do, but as an instructor, it always makes it hard to catch up.

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'm healthy and generally happy, and I am surrounded by people who love me. I have two jobs that I really enjoy, and a great class this quarter.  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 Monday, December 2nd, 2014.  I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday full of good food, good friends and good conversation! Enjoy your break!


P.S.  And for those of you who are wondering....she's having a boy!  My little nephew is due to arrive in early April, and I'm already in love with him!  Just one more thing I'm thankful for!

10 Fingers and 10 Toes

This Friday, I will be going with my sister to her ultrasound appointment to find out if I have a little niece or nephew coming soon. I’m super excited!  I don’t have children of my own and my sister’s kids are the closest I’m probably ever going to get, so being able to be there for this moment is priceless to me.  However, I’ll be honest – I can never see anything on the ultrasound pictures.  To me, it just looks like the static on the old black and white televisions, but my sister always stares at it intently and swears she can see all the baby’s facial features.

Which is why I’ve been interested in the recent debate that has sprung up in which some states have moved to make ultrasounds part of the abortion service provision.  Currently, 12 states require that a woman undergo verbal counseling and receive written materials on how to access ultrasound services.  3 states mandate the provider to not only perform an ultrasound, but show and explain the images to women prior to performing the abortion.  10 more states require the provider to perform an ultrasound and then ask the woman if she wants to see the photos.

Those that are pro-life feel that if a woman sees a sonogram of her unborn baby, she’ll want to carry the baby to term.  A recent study by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Association partially supported that theory.  Although the study found that sonogram photos did not sway the decision of those women who said they were “certain” they wanted an abortion, it did sway the decision of those women who said they were “uncertain” if they wanted an abortion or not.  In the majority of cases, those that said they were uncertain prior to seeing the sonogram photos, ended up carrying the baby to term after seeing the photos.

Those that are pro-choice say this is an attempt by the pro-life side to “shame” woman who seek abortions.  They also argue that this is a major violation of the women’s right to privacy and that whether or not to have an ultrasound performed should be the decision of the woman and her doctor.

Next week, we will be discussing our Constitutional rights and freedoms (my favorite class, btw!).  We will learn why the right to privacy in America is an implied right rather than an enumerated one. I’m interested in knowing your thoughts on the topic, so my question to you this week is, “What do you think about requiring ultrasounds to be performed and shown to women seeking abortion?  Does it help save the life of an unborn baby, or does it violate a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body?”  Answers are due no later than Monday, November 24^th, 2014.  As for me, I don’t care whether I have a niece or nephew coming – I just want a healthy baby, which I love already – even if I can’t see anything but static!

 

National Coming Out Day - Part 3

We've talked a bit about same sex marriage in class.  It usually  coincides with National Coming Out Day which is October 11^th. This year, because of the schedule changes, it didn't work out as nicely as it has in the past.  I got busy, other topics came up, and before I knew it - November had arrived!

National Coming Out Day, which began in 1987 promotes a safe world for LGBT individuals to live truthfully and openly. You can read about the controversy that happened here in Indianapolis several years ago on National Coming Out Day and what your fellow students had to say about it here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2010/10/celebrating-national-coming-out-day.html
This year, in honor of National Coming Out Day and in support of a more tolerant America, I decided to blog about the rise of bullying due to sexual orientation. In a previous class, we discussed the issue of cyber-bullying. You can read my thoughts and the student comments here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2010/09/cyber-age-of-bullying.html

The first time I remember hearing about this issue was in 1998, when Matthew Shepherd was targeted, tortured and murdered because of his sexual orientation. I’m sure other hate crimes such as this had happened prior to this event, but it was Matthew’s murder that sticks in my mind most. Tomorrow marks the 16^th anniversary of Matthew Shepherd’s death. Today, hate crimes and bullying based on sexual orientation remain on the rise. Consider the following:

• According to the Gay Lesbian Straight Educator’s Network, students hear anti-gay epithets over 25 times a day and teachers fail to respond 97% of the time.
• According to the Task Force on Youth Suicide, gay youth are 3 times more likely than straight youths to commit suicide. In fact, 30% of all youth suicides have been linked to issues the youth faced concerning their sexual identity.
• The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reports 28% of gay students drop out of high school.
• In a survey done by the National School Climate Task Force, 64% of gay students feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.

So my question to you this week is, “What do you think can be done to prevent bullying or hate crimes against homosexuals? How should students, parents and the community raise awareness of this issue? Be specific!” Answers are due no later than Monday, November 18th, 2014.

Thank You Veterans!

Next Tuesday, there will be no class (for real this time!) in observance of Veteran’s Day.  I’ve devoted many posts to veterans during the 5 years I’ve been blogging. I’ve blogged before about the mental health issues many veterans face: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2011/08/do-we-really-support-our-troops.html  I’ve blogged about how many veterans in this country wind up homeless, which to me, happens far too often: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/09/home-is-where-your-heart-is.html   I’ve even blogged about the true meaning of Memorial Day, which is often lost on younger generations: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2014/05/celebrating-three-day-weekend-thank.html   If you’re interested in reading my thoughts or your fellow students’ comments on any of these issues, you can click the links above.

I make no secret about the fact that I despise war and violence.  I might even go as far as to consider myself an anti-war activist – especially in my younger days.  That being said, I will always have nothing but respect for the men and women who sacrifice so much for the freedoms we often take for granted.  It used to be that everyone felt that way.  Serving in the military was an honor.  Veteran’s returned home to big parades and celebrations and there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that they were true American heroes.  The Vietnam War changed all of that.  Suddenly, because people disagreed with reasoning of the war, they disagreed with those who fought in the war.  Soldiers went from “heroes” to “baby killers,” and although our attitudes have softened slightly since Vietnam, many soldiers returning today still face a lack of appreciation from their country for their service.

No one has served in the military in my family since both of my grandfathers served in World War II.  I’ll be honest, if someone in my family decided to serve I would be scared for them.  I’d be really curious about what was prompting their decision.  However, ultimately I would also be really, really proud of them.  I would support their decision and respect their sacrifice.

So, my question to you this week is, “1) For the veterans: what made you decide to serve?  For everyone else: Would you support a family member who decided to serve?  2) For everyone: What do you think America could do to better support our troops?”  You must answer both questions for full credit.  Answers are due no later than Monday, November 10^th.  To all of our veterans:  Thank you for your service!

Want to know a great way to honor a veteran?  VOTE! If you have questions about where to vote today, please click on the following link: https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/Public/FT1/PublicLookupMain.aspx?Link=Polling  

 

 

Trick-Or-Treat-Or-Not

Is anyone else excited that Halloween falls on a Friday this year? 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 Monday, November 3rd, 2014. Have a happy and safe Halloween!