On December 5, 2013 the world lost one of its great
leaders. Nelson Mandela passed away at
the age of 95. While all of us impact
the world, very few can claim to have a widespread and substantial influence on
the world that will be felt by endless generations. Mandela’s commitment, perseverance, and
loyalty to the vision of what South Africa could be is remarkable to say the
least.
During his lifetime he actively and non-violently protested against
the legalized segregation of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison, was
elected President of South Africa, and put the country on the path to economic,
social and political reform.
Below is a link to an article which biographies his
life. Please read.
What is something you learned about Mr. Mandela you did not
know before reading the article? What
part of his life do you find most fascinating?
How do you think Nelson Mandela has influenced the world beyond South
Africa?
50 years ago on November 22, President John F. Kennedy was
assassinated. It was a historic moment
in the story of the United States. Most
adults who were alive in November of 1963 can tell you where they were when
they heard the President had been shot.
John Kennedy changed America and changed the presidency in
just the few short years he held the office.
He was the youngest president ever elected, the only Catholic, and a war
hero. His family was as close to
American royalty as one can get. He was
the second born son to Joseph and Rose Kennedy.
For most of his life, he accepted his position as second eldest. The high family expectations were placed on
his older brother, Joseph. Joe was to be
the politician and the face of the family.
Unfortunately, Joe was killed during World War II.
For his service during World War II, John Kennedy received
the Naval and Marine Corps Medal and qualified for the Purple Heart. The story of his heroics followed him into
politics and provided a strong foundation of his leadership qualities.
During his presidency he faced all kinds of obstacles,
foreign and domestic. This is the height
of the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the dawn of live television
coverage. For the first time in history
live news feeds captured events while they were happening and these images were
delivered to Americans across the country.
His youthful and energetic appearance played well on television. He had frequent issues with the communist
Soviet Union. He was at the helm as the
country came about as close to nuclear war as we would like during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. He set the agenda for
our journey into space and landing on the moon.
The 1960’s were a chaotic and exciting time in the United States and
John F. Kennedy was in the middle of it all.
Given the polarizing events of the 1960’s, Kennedy was not
loved by all. When tough decisions are
required, often groups feel alienated and rejected. To many John Kennedy was dangerous. This may be why Lee Harvey Oswald felt
compelled to assassinate him.
On a trip to Dallas, Texas, as the President, First Lady and
the Governor of Texas were driving through the city; John Kennedy was fatally
shot from a high powered rifle by a man in the Book Depository.
As a result of the brutal assassination as well as his
commitment to America, John Kennedy has gone down in history as an iconic president. The country and the news have been honoring
his memory as we are approaching the 50 anniversary of his death. Although the news specials have focused on
the events leading up to his death, it is the life he led that sets him apart.
What qualities do you think make a good president? Why?
Who is your favorite president and why?
If you do not have one, ask your parents or some other trusted
adult. If they don’t know, do some
research.
Last Friday night the Bishop Kelly Knights played the Kuna
Kavemen in the first round of the Idaho High School Football Playoffs. Based on the previous meeting between these
two teams, the game had the potential of being a great game. The two teams have been rivals for many
years. Ask any former player from either
school and more than likely they can
tell you about the time they played each other.
The game and the rivalry seemed far less important after the
tragic event which occurred in the first quarter. Boone Bartlome, a junior wide receiver for
Kuna, suffered a broken neck when attempting a block. After the play Boone laid motionless on the
field for more than 30 minutes while the crowd watched with anxiety and
hope. During the time Boone was being
attended to by medical personnel, the teams, the crowd, the cheerleaders
prayed.
It took some time for the paramedics to secure Boone and
load him into the ambulance. At that
point I was reminded of the strength of humanity and why I love high school
sports. Moments after the ambulance
pulled away, both teams gather in the center of the field, taking a knee and
bowing their heads as the Kuna coach led both teams in a prayer for Boone, his
family, and his recovery. Describing the
image as inspiring does not do it justice.
Boone was rushed to the hospital and underwent spinal cord
surgery to repair the broken vertebrae. The
reports after the surgery have been optimistic, but it will be possibly weeks
before the swelling goes down and they can assess the extent of the injury. Regardless, Boone and his family are facing
an incredible and long journey to recovery.
Since the tragic event on Friday, both schools have held
rallies and prayer services in honor of Boone and his family. The community is trying in every way to show Boone
and the Bartlome family they are loved and supported.
This week instead of answering a question or sharing your
opinion, I would like for you to leave Boone a message. Thank you.
Each year Forbes Magazine publishes its list of the most
powerful people in the world. They have
a methodology for their selections and the number of people they select. Each year they choose 1 powerful person for
every 100 million people. This year the
list is made up of 72 people.
This year there was a change at the top. In 2011 and 2012 President Barack Obama was
chosen as the most powerful person in the world. This year he has slipped to #2. He was replaced by the Russian President
Vladimir Putin. The one newcomer to the
list from 2012 is Pope Francis at the #4 position. The biggest climber in the top 10 is Xi
Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party in China, who moved from
#9 in 2012 to #3 in 2013.
Below are the top 10 for 2013 and for 2012
2013
1.Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
2.Barack Obama, President of the United States of
America
3.Xi Jinping, General Secretary, Communist Party,
China
4.Pope Francis, Pope Roman Catholic Church
5.Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
6.Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation
7.Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the US Federal Reserve
8.Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, King of Saudi
Arabia
9.Mario Draghi, President of the European Central
Bank
10.Michael Duke, CEO Wal-mart
2012
1.Barrack Obama, President of the United States
2.Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
3.Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
4.Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation
5.Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Roman Catholic Church
6.Ben Bernanke,Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve
7.Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, King of Saudi
Arabia
8.Mario Draghi, President of the European Central
Bank
9.Xi Jinping, General Secretary Communist Party,
China
What do you think about the changes to the top 10 from 2012
to 2013? Why do you think those changes
have occurred? What is your impression
of the people on the list? Based on what
you know about these people, who do you think Forbes evaluates power? Do you agree or not?
The traditions of Halloween started further back than you may think. The origin of the celebration can be traced back to the Celtics in Ireland more than 2000 year ago. Since then the traditions have grown and changed with influences from the Roman, the Catholics, and America.
The first Halloween celebrations are more than 2000 years old. The ancient Celtics would celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of winter on the first of November. They believed the day before, October 31, called Samhain, the boundaries between the living and the dead were blurred. On this day, the ghosts of the dead visit Earth. In addition to potentially damaging crops and causing mayhem, the ghosts were believed to predict the future. The Celtics would dress in costume, usually animal skins in order to welcome the ghosts.
In 43 AD., the Romans conquered most of the Celtic land. After many years of merging cultures, two Roman celebrations were combined with Samhain. The first is Feralia, the day the Romans honor their dead and the second is a day honoring Pomona, the goddess of fruits and trees. Pomona’s is symbolized by the apple, which is possibly where the tradition of bobbing for apples may have originated.
Between the years of 609 and 1000 AD., the celebration was further modified by the papal decrees commemorating All Souls Day on November 2nd and All Saints Day on November 1st. All Saints Day was also known as All-hallows, therefore making the day prior All-hallows eve or Halloween.
The traditions continued to evolve as people moved to America. First the holiday was heavily resisted by most colonists given the strict Protestant views of the colonies. But as time moves on, the holiday gained traction. There are reasons behind all of the traditions of Halloween, from the idea of saying “Trick or Treat”, to handing out candy, to avoiding walking under ladders or not allowing a black cat to cross your path. From its early beginnings of a Celtic celebration, it has morphed into the second largest commercial holiday in the United States.
What is your favorite Halloween tradition? If you are dressing up this year, what are you going as? Why? What is your favorite Halloween candy?
Last week, two Florida girls, ages 12 & 14, were
arrested on felony charges of taunting and bullying after a 12 year old Florida
girls committed suicide. This is a sad
realty in our world today. Bullying is
no longer happening face to face. It is
happening everywhere we have access to the internet and at all hours of the
day. For a victim it is difficult to
escape or find refuge when the attacks are happening even when you should be in
the safety of your own home.
Rebecca Sedwick committed suicide by jumping from an
abandoned cement factory tower in Lakeland, FL on September 9th. She had been a victim of bullying by at least
15 other girls utilizing on-line social networking sites such as Ask.fm,
Instagram, Kik, and Voxer.
More often than not, bullying has been extended to the
digital world. For parents and schools,
this is a difficult evolution. It is
difficult for parents to keep up with the latest trends in social networking.
It seems many of us just figured out Facebook only to have to new application
such as Instagram or Ask.fm become the application of choice.
We are living in a digital age and the responsibilities of
parents, schools, and children have changed.
We have to educate our children about the proper etiquette for using
social networking. As parents we have to
be open and honest with our children and have to be willing to learn about new
technology and be willing to check on our kids.
It is fine line between protecting our children and respecting their
privacy.
In addition to parents having more responsibilities, so do
you students. Here are some tips on how
to prevent and stop cyberbullying:
·Make sure if you are members of social networking
sites, protect yourself by using the security features (for example, make your
profile private if you are on Instagram)
·Never accept a “friendship” request unless you
know the person
·Refuse to pass on cyberbullying messages
·Tell friends or others to stop
·Block communication with cyberbullies, delete
messages without reading them
·Never post or share personal information online
including full name, parents’ names, address
·Never share internet passwords with anyone
·Never put anything online you wouldn’t want your
classmates to see
·Do not send messages when you are angry or upset
·Always be as polite online as if you were in
person
If you are a victim of cyberbullying or become aware of
cyberbullying, you need to ask for help.
Find a
teacher or trusted adult and ask for assistance.
How many different social networking sites do you belong
to? Have you ever witnessed acts of
cyberbullying? Besides the suggestions I
provided, what are steps you believe would be helpful to stopping this behavior?
Last week a seemingly small story gained national notoriety
when a high school football coach suspended his entire team for failing to
behave in a way that reflected the values of the school and the team. In a world where it seems that character is
often not as important as your ability to throw, catch or run, the coach’s
actions were atypical. But to many it
was a courageous and necessary step to helping these young men become
outstanding contributors to the community and model citizens for others to emulate.
Coach Matt Labrum of Union High School in Roosevelt, Utah
made the decision to suspend his entire team after a week where players were
being disciplined for skipping classes, disrespecting teachers, and
cyberbullying fellow classmates. This
was enough for him. After a loss to
Judge Memorial High School, the coach declared that this is no longer a
team. The players and their actions were
not in line with his expectations for students given the privilege to play and
represent their high school. All 80
players were asked to turn in their jerseys and given the option to earn them
back if they wanted to be a part of the team.
Beginning the next morning at 7:00 am, players were given
the ability to earn a spot on the team by participating in a, now required,
community service work project. In place
of practice, players were to attend character development classes. They have been encouraged to monitor one
another and hold each other accountable for their actions.
This was a risky decision by the coach. It very easily could have sparked a revolt by
the players, their families, and the community.
To the coach the risk was worth the reward. The chance the coach took paid off and the
players accepted the challenge. Many
have recognized their actions and the actions of their teammates were in
desperate need of adjustment.
What do you think about the coach’s decision? Should students participating in extracurricular
activities be held to a higher standard?
How do you hold others accountable for their actions in and out of
school?
Last night I was watching the finals of America’s Got Talent. One of the segments included a man by the
name of James Lipton. James Lipton is
the host of a show called Inside the Actor’s Studio. It has been airing on Bravo since 1994.
The show is an interview between Mr. Lipton and celebrities
ranging from Paul Newman to the Cast of Glee.
He ends each show with a series of questions which provide the audience
insight into the personality of the celebrity.
This week you are going to answer these questions.
For your comment please respond to the following:
1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What inspires creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or
emotionally?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word? ***KEEP IT CLEAN
8. What profession would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. When you get to Heaven, what would you like to hear God
say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
The problems in Syria are not getting any better. After two years and 100,000 lives, the sides
are further apart than ever before.
While the international community has resisted the urge to get involved,
the government regime headed by President Bashar Assad may have crossed the
line forcing the United States and other countries to engage in some military
activity.
On August 21, 2013 the government regime elected to use chemical
weapons on Syrian civilians, including children. The use of these weapons has been outlawed by
the international community. President
Obama has plainly stated if the Assad backed military uses chemical weapons,
the United States will respond.
On September 10th President Obama addressed the
nation. He spoke to the people of the United
States about the evidence indicating the use of chemical weapons and his desire
to conduct a targeted military strike against the Syrian military. As per his address, he considers it a matter
of national security. If the United
States does not respond with decisive military action, it will leave the door
open to other governments and organizations to use chemical weapons. He stated that he will not commit any ground
forces or long term air strikes. Others
are not entirely convinced.
Many members of Congress are concerned about United States involvement
in the Syrian civil war. They are
concerned about the effectiveness of any military action as well as the
potential of engaging our military personnel in a long-term, difficult to win
scenario.
To complicate the issue even further, there are the Russians. The Russians are backing the government led
Assad regime and have warned the United States about potential retaliation for
military actions taken against Syrian military.
The Russians are trying to deter the use of force and are negotiating
with President Assad to turn over chemical weapons to the international community.
Have you watched, read or heard anything about the situation
in Syria? What do you think the United
States should do? Please provide reasons
for your opinion.
If you had asked me to list the top 50 Hollywood role models, Ashton Kutcher would not have made the list. It is not that I had anything against him, I just would not have considered him. My only exposure to Ashton is through the movies he has been in, his enjoyment in punking people, and replacing Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men. All of that changed on August 13th.
While giving an acceptance speech at the Teen Choice Awards, Ashton completely changed my mind and my impression of him. Taking full advantage of the situation and his audience, he delivered one of the most inspirational and classy speeches I have had the privilege of hearing. He left his audience with three things:
1. What opportunity looks like
2. What is sexy
3. The difference between living a life and building one
After watching the video, what do you think about Ashton’s ideas? Why do you think he is sharing these ideas at this moment and with this audience? Do you have any role models? What is your definition of a role model?
50 years ago, on
a hot and sweltering August day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered
one of the most memorable and significant speeches to millions of people
present and watching on televisions all over the world. His call was selfless and peaceful. He wanted to ensure the rights of all
Americans were protected and recognized, regardless of the color of your skin
or social circumstances. His
non-violent, rational approached inspired countless people in all generations
to examine their conscience and sparked a societal change long overdue.
Below is the
transcript from the “I Have a Dream” speech delivered in Washington, DC on
August 28, 1963:
I am happy to join with you today in
what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the
history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great
American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation
Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to
millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering
injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their
captivity.
But one hundred years later, the
Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is
still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of
discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of
poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years
later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and
finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to
dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our
nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the
magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they
were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This
note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be
guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on
this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead
of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad
check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the
bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient
funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to
cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom
and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed
spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage
in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.
Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise
from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial
justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial
injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a
reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to
overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's
legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of
freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And
those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content
will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And
there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is
granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake
the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must
say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace
of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty
of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by
drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our
struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our
creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must
rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which
has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white
people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here
today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And
they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our
freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the
pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the
devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never
be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of
police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with
the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and
the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility
is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as
our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by
signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a
Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has
nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be
satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a
mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you
have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come
fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your
quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and
staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of
creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is
redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South
Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and
ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and
will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of
despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the
difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply
rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this
nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold
these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the
red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave
owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the
state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering
with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and
justice.
I have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in
Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping
with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" --
one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able
to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every
valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the
rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight;
"and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it
together."2
This is our hope, and this is the
faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to
hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be
able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony
of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray
together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom
together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this
will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new
meaning:
My
country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land
where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From
every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great
nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious
hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty
mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the
heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the
snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous
slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain
of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout
Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and
molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom
ring.
And when this happens, when we allow
freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from
every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and
white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join
hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!3
What was the purpose of the speech and who was the intended
audience? Did the speech accomplish its
purpose? How do you know? Do we still feel the effects of this speech
today?
Welcome back to school.
Even though you have not been in class, I hope you have been paying
attention to some sort of news. This
summer has had its fair share of intriguing stories. Below are a few from various aspects of
society.
Celebrity news
The big celebrity news had to be the birth of Prince George
Alexander Louis. Prince George was born
on July 24th to Prince William and Kate Middleton. The news was filled with every detail of the baby’s
coming arrival and all the events that have happened since his birth.
International unrest
Egypt is a mess. It
has been a mess for more than 2 years.
In 2011 the people protested to force the leader out of office. After a successful overthrow, Egypt conducted
its first democratic elections in decades.
While not everyone was pleased with Mohamed Morsi’s election to lead
Egypt, it did seem as though Egypt was moving in a democratic direction. Just over a year later, the people have taken
to the streets again to force Morsi out of office. The political unrest has resulted in
approximately 900 deaths in the past four days as the government of Egypt tries
to establish some stability.
Uneven playing field
The biggest sports story has to be the ongoing steroids
suspension in major league baseball.
Around a dozen
players were suspended a couple of weeks ago for using
illegal performance enhancing drugs.
Every player has accepted the suspension without appeal, except
one. Alex Rodriguez is continuing to
fight the charges against him. To me the
entire story is ridiculous. Throw them
all out of the game for cheating and lying.
We need better role models in society and in sports. I could also mention the ongoing saga of
Johnny Manziel, but I get nauseous every time I see another story about him…
Close to home
Idaho is on fire.
After a dry winter and a hot summer, the conditions are perfect to have
an incredible fire season. Over the past
few days the Sun Valley area has gained the nation’s attention as over 700
firefighters are going to battle with the fire which has destroyed 100,916
acres to date. The fire started by lightning
on August 7th and has been spreading even since. More than 2,300 residences of Sun Valley and
Hailey have been evacuated.
Do you pay attention to the news? Why or why not? Which types of stories interest you? What do you think was the biggest story of
the summer?
Congratulations. You
are two and a half weeks from completing your first year of middle school. As you are well aware, school is more challenging. You are expected to take more accountability for
yourself and your work. I would like to
say you have done a nice job.
Middle school requires you to change classes every 43
minutes. You have 6-7 teachers instead
of 1 or two. Each of you teachers has a
different personality and expectations. By
now you have a good idea what upsets each one of us and what makes us happy. You understand the nuances with our tests and
teaching styles.
You have also realized that with middle school come more
privileges. You have your own
locker. A private space to hang up your
pictures of One Direction or whatever else you may have an interest. You have lunch with the older students and
use the annex for afternoon break. You
no longer have to wear the school plaid or blue shorts and pants. Next year you get even more privileges. You are eligible to fully participate in TVCS
sports and dances. In addition, you get
to play in the Hallissey tournament and enjoy the assembly.
Before we move on to next year, I would like you to reflect
on this past. What was your favorite part
of being in the middle school? How would
you describe each of your middle school teachers? What advice would you give to next year’s
sixth graders?
May is full of holidays and special days. Throughout the month you have May Day to
Memorial Day. There are holidays for
mothers, workers, and teachers. It can
be a festive month which also marks the end of the school year. From start to finish, below are some notable
special days:
May 1 – May Day
Celebrated as the unofficial start of spring, festivals and
parades are common across the globe. The
use of flowers and the May pole are traditions.
May 1 – International Worker’s Day
To commemorate the 1886 Haymakers’ affair in Chicago, over
80 countries observe the 1st of May as a national holiday to celebrate
the workers. The Haymakers were able to
secure an eight hour workday and improve the safety and treatment of the
workers. Over the years the activities
have been led by socialist, communist or anarchist groups. The original intent was to recognize the rights
of the workers and their safety and financial security. Unfortunately, the day has also been full of
riots and destructive parades. In
Seattle this year 17 people were arrested for various reasons including the
destruction of property when someone through a skateboard through a Walgreen
window. 8 police officers were injured
as they attempted to break up the anarchy.
These often violent protests have occurred in many places annually.
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
Possibly the most misunderstood holiday. Most Americans assume Cinco de Mayo is the
celebration of Mexico’s independence.
They are all wrong. The national
holiday in Mexico recognizing their independence is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is not even a national holiday
in Mexico. It is primarily celebrated in
the province of Puebla. In 1862 the French
decided to invade Mexico and make it a territory. Before the French made their way to Mexico
City, they met a ragtag group of Mexican citizens which fought and
defeated the
superior troops.
While the town of Puebla commemorates the day, it is not a
big holiday throughout Mexico. The
commercialization as well as a tie into the Civil War has elevated this holiday
in the United States.
May 7th – National Teachers Day
It is not a national holiday, but more of a day to recognize
the people who take on the profession of educating the youth of our country. I personally do not need a day of
recognition. Working with all of you
each day is all the thanks I need.
May 9 – The Ascension of Jesus
40 days after the resurrection of Jesus, we celebrate His Ascension
into heaven. The description of the Ascension
can be found in Luke 24:50-53 and Mark 16:19.
A more detailed description can be found in Acts of the Apostles 1:9-11.
May 12th – Mother’s Day
Circle this day on your calendar each year. Our mothers do more for each of us than we could
ever imagine. They are your biggest
fan. They work tirelessly to provide you
with a great life. They are selfless,
generous, caring, and deserve to be celebrated every day of the year. Make certain to give your mom something
special to let her know how much you love and appreciate her. Make sure you give her a hug and tell her you
love her.
May 18 – Armed Forces Day
This is a day to thank the members of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, and
Marine Corps for their patriotic support and defense of our
nation. The day was initiated by
President Harry S. Truman.
May 19 – Pentecost
This is a Catholic holiday celebrating the gift of the Holy
Spirit to the disciples of Jesus.
May 27 – Memorial Day
The national holiday was originally designated to honor the
men and women who have died in defense of our country. It started soon after the end of the Civil
War to recognize the price paid by both Union and Confederate soldiers. It has since been expanded to all men and
women who have given their lives in defense of our country. People have taken this time of remembrance to
honor any loved one who has passed, regardless of military service. Loved ones visit cemeteries and bring flowers
or other mementos. The decoration of our
national cemeteries is remarkable.
As you can read, May has a holiday for everyone. Which May holiday do you enjoy the most? Do you have any special traditions with any
holidays above? Were you surprised by
any of the holidays? If you could create
a holiday, what would it be and why?
April 22 marks the 33 Earth Day in the United States. The idea for a day dedicated to the
environment originated 7 years earlier by Senator Gaylord Nelson. He was concerned over the lack to awareness
and regulations of the pollutants being released into our world.
Now more than 30 years later, Earth Day and its organizers
have increased public awareness of pollutants, identified and promoted “green”
acts, have leveraged our schools and communities to enhance the knowledge and
dedication of our youth to the cause, and countless other accomplishments.
The Earth Day website (http://act.earthday.org/)
is tracking personal pledges to commit “green” acts. The pledges include recycling grocery bags,
unplugging appliances, recycle paper and plastic, and buying more local
food. While each of these acts may seem
futile on their own, the impact of the collected group across the globe will
have a significant impact on our environment, especially over an extended
period of time. To date the website has
over 1 billion personal pledges.
What do you think of Earth Day? What are some additional ways we can support
Earth Day at school and in our community?
What are things you do at home?
Are there any additional activities you would be willing to commit to at
home to support “green” living?
On Monday the city of Boston celebrated Patriot’s Day with
its annual running of the Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon originated in 1897.
In that year they had somewhere around 15 participants. Since then the number of participants has
swelled each year. It has become one of
the largest marathons in the world and is one of the six World Marathons Majors.
Boston has always considered its place in history with pride
and honor. The first battles of the Revolutionary
War took place in Lexington and Concord, miles from Boston. In order to commemorate the enormity and
symbolism of the birth of the United States and its independence and liberty,
Boston has designated the third Monday in April as Patriot’s Day. As part of the city’s celebration, the annual
Boston Marathon is run on the same day.
I imagine it was difficult for the first planners of the
race to envision what the race was going to become. With 15 participants in the first race, they
would have had no idea the numbers would swell to over 20,000 annual
runners. In 1996, its centennial race, the
Boston Marathon set the world record for participants with 38,768 entrants,
36,748 runners and 35,868 finishers. In
2013, there were 23,336. Those runners
came from 92 different countries and every state in the Union. In addition they represented 35 official
charities and numerous causes, including Sandy Hook Elementary. Not to mention the 500,000 spectators who come
to celebrate human achievement by cheering on the runners.
We all know how the race ended in 2013. 3 dead and 175 injured. Unfortunately, senseless violence has become
a part of our lives. Whether it is
terrorist actions using explosives or mass shootings in schools or other public
forums, we have lost our innocence.
It would be easy for us to live in fear or paranoia and
become untrusting of our society. That
is the evil trap we have to avoid. I
believe we have to focus on the selfless acts of heroism and the countless
stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help each other get
through these times. We have to continue
to find the good in our neighbors and try to inspire the world through our
Christ-like behaviors. It is not
easy.
Do you think there has been an increase in the amount of
violence in our society? What do you
think is causing people to turn to violent acts? What do you think we can do as a society to
decrease acts of violence? What can we
do for Boston to help the city and its people recover?
Today the United States Senate passed a procedural bill that
will allow the Senate to start the process to consider additional gun control
laws. While it is a long way from
approving any measures, it was a great step towards passing laws expanding background
checks on gun purchases.
The issue of gun control took on a national priority in wake
to the tragedy in Connecticut in December.
Government representatives and citizens from regions across America were
horrified by the crazed actions of a man with a gun and his assault on innocent
school children. As with any inexplicable
situation, people look for answers and action.
Amongst other checks, the law under consideration would
require background checks to be conducted in private sales of weapons including
the transfer of weapons between family members.
Current law only requires background checks to be completed when a gun
is bought from a Federal Firearms Dealer, this does not include private transactions. According to CNN 80-90% of criminals obtained
their weapon from a family member, acquaintance or from a street
transaction.
While many are in favor of tighter gun control and
additional background checks, there are also many concerned additional background
checks may lead to requirements that are too expansive and infringe on our
constitutional right to bear arms provided by the second amendment. They are also not convinced additional
background checks would have prevented the tragedy at Sandy Hook. The National Rifle Association last week
proposed options they believe would make our schools safer. In addition to other security checks and
education, they were proposing the arming and training of teachers and other
school personnel.
What are your thoughts about gun control in the United
States? Even though schools have proven
to be some of the safest places for children, when something like Sandy Hook
happens, we evaluate potential changes, such as arming teachers. Of the two proposals presented, which do you
think would be more effective in reducing gun violence?
The United States is taking recent threats by the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea seriously.
The DPRK, or North Korea, has communicated it is a state of war with
South Korea and the United States. Kim
Jong Un, the 30 year old leader of North Korea, is threatening to attack United
States bases in Korea and in other places in the Pacific.
Kim Jong Un is using the recent military exercises conducted
by the United States and South Korea as a catalyst to rally his nation behind
the idea of being the victim of the aggressions of their neighbors and
America. The propaganda deployed by the
North Korean government is shocking but effective with the people of North
Korea.
The threats from North Korean’s head of state is nothing
new. Kim Jong Un’s father and
grandfather have been saber rattling about the United States and South Korea
since the armistice was reached in the 1953, ending the fighting of the Korean
War. While the threats are nothing new,
the variables have changed. Kim Jong Un
is young and unpredictable. His
inexperience in world affairs concerns leaders in our state department and Pentagon. In addition, North Korea, while still lacking
the necessary technology to launch an attack on the United States, their nuclear
and warfare technology is far more advanced than it was a year ago.
While the United States and South Korea are preparing for
potential attacks, they are trying to figure out what North Korea wants and how
they can put an end to the rhetoric. The
recent statements from Kim Jong Un can be for a number of reasons including:
1. An
attempt to coerce the South Koreans and the United States to provide additional
aid the North Korea
2.Demonstrating North Korea’s resentment and anger
towards the United Nations about recent sanctions against North Korea due to
their unauthorized nuclear weapon testing
3.An attempt to distract the North Korean people
from their current economic struggles and give them some national issue to
rally behind
4.A desire to show strength to his people and over
compensate for his lack of age and experience
The most tragic part of the story is the plight of the people
of North Korea. Since the government
controls access to information, the people do not understand the realities of
the world outside of the DPRK. They
truly believe everything they hear from the government and the lies about the
United States. These are people who are
starving. They lack the basic needs of
survival. Instead of the government
investing in their people, they continue to invest in warfare technology.
What do you think about the threats from North Korea? How should the United States respond? How should the United States respond if North
Korea attacks South Korea or a United States base in Asia?
On Tuesday of this week New York City was set to implement a
new mandate passed down from Mayor Michael Bloomberg eliminating the sale of
sugary drinks in quantities greater than 16 ounces in restaurants, movie
theaters, and other food service establishments. At the last hour a New York Supreme Court
justice struck down the law, but the mayor vows to fight the appeal.
This is just one of a series of city ordinances the mayor
has implemented dealing with public health issues. Earlier in his term he has pushed to disallowed
smoking in restaurants and bars in the city, banned the distribution of food
containing artificial trans-fats and the posting of calorie counts at chain
restaurants. His rationale is to look
out for the well being of the citizens of New York City. The fact is that 60% of adults and 4 of 10
children in New York City are overweight.
It is the definition of a health crisis.
While the obesity rate for New York City is 24% among
adults, which is below the national average of 35%, the trend for adults
contracting Type 2 Diabetes is outpacing the nation. According to the Huffington Post, the United
States pays $245 billion each year battling Type 2 Diabetes.
According to Mayor Bloomberg, “It would be irresponsible not
to try to do everything we can to save lives.”
The Supreme Court of New York struck down the ordinance
calling it "fraught
with arbitrary and capricious consequences". Some of the difficulties with the ban include
establishments run by the state, not the city, would not have to abide by the
ruling. For example, because 7-11 is
monitored by the state of New York, it does not fall under the city’s
jurisdiction. Therefore, the sale of Big
Gulps would not be affected.
Mayor Bloomberg has vowed to continue this fight in spite of
the court’s ruling. He is committed to
doing whatever he can to improve the overall health of New York City, by whatever
means available to him as mayor.
What do you think about the ban of sugary drinks in New
York? Is Mayor Bloomberg acting responsibly
or is he over-extending the powers of his job and violating peoples’ right to
choose? Do you think obesity is an issue
in our country? If so, does the
government have a responsibility to do something about it?
During his lifetime he actively and non-violently protested against
the legalized segregation of South Africa, spent 27 years in prison, was
elected President of South Africa, and put the country on the path to economic,
social and political reform. 
