Journal 8

Journal 8

 

I got to thinking about forgiveness after watching the movie last week. The movie really spoke to me and I started to think about how forgiveness would affect the world. I believe that if everyone was more apt to forgive then a lot of things in the world would change. Possibly world peace? Or even a drastic change in peoples attitudes.

Is blackboard down?

I need to submit my final but blackboard is down, does anyone have Mrs. Warrens email?

Forgive

                “Forgiveness is to set the prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you” (Lewis Smead). Is it possible to fully forgive a person for an ungodly act committed against you? Let’s ask rape victims, or abuse victims. Is forgiveness really an act that a suffering human can actually achieve? Is it possible for a wife to forgive her cheating husband? Or a daughter to forgive her abusive father? I personally do not hold the key to these questions. I was fortunate to grow up with good parents, in a good neighborhood, in a good time. Personally, I do not know how anyone could forgive the Doctor that performed numerous ghastly experiments that killed thousands of children and twins, but in Eva Kor’s opinion “ Getting even has never healed a person” ( Forgiving Doctor Mengele, 2006)  Eva Kor is a victim of Dr. Mengele’s horrid human experiments. She is also the woman who spoke out to the holocaust survivors and persuaded them to forgive Dr. Mengele. Some did not oblige of course, however from her perspective “We must forgive, but never forget”.

                When we hold grudges it consumes who we are as a person. It is a complete waste of time and energy to keep negative feelings inside of our bodies that will poison our emotions and make the us the ones suffering. If one is to keep a grudge inside of them as life continues on all of our negative feelings will be placed on top of one another and will start to eat away at who we are.  For example, Matthew age 20 is in jail for assault. When Matthew was younger his father was a belligerent drunk. Matthew has been holding onto the feelings of resentment and anger from being abused by his dad since he was 9 years old. Matthews’s entire life has been built around the anger and resentment that he has felt towards his dad since he was younger. Through every negative situation Matthew encounters he will always struggle with the anger that he has broiling under his skin. Keeping in anger such as this, not encountering forgiveness is not the path for someone to live a healthy lifestyle.

                Now we can see a woman, tortured for months in a concentration camp when she was a child, only nine years old. She had to sit back and allow men and women touch her, she had to watch as people all around her died of starvation and where brutally murdered. She lost her parents at the hands of this, her other sisters too. Eva and Miriam were Dr. Menegles twins, the man responsible for genetic experiments done on children. Eva Kor started somewhat of a revolution today, she is a spokesperson for herself and speaks out about forgiveness. Eva is much rivaled by many holocaust survivors that believe that they should do anything but forgive Dr. Menegle and the Nazi’s. Eva Koru speaks out about the truth setting her free, she believes that the only way to find happiness is to forgive, rivaled by many and supported by few she continues on her life to speak out about setting herself free from the bonds of hatred and resentment.

                Eva Koru, a woman who suffered greatly in her childhood is an image of what the world should be like. She doesn’t let her past define who she is; she will not give those that hurt her satisfaction to know that she is forever affected by a tragedy. Where would the world be if forgiveness was granted to each person who had the ability to give it? I don’t believe that there would be as many wars that occurred; I think that more love could be found in the deepest corners of the world. If everyone was set free of their resentment the world may be able to finally find peace. The ability to forgive is in the hands of the one who suffered, however that power if not used correctly could damage a person inside more than the action against did.

“The weak cannot forgive, that is an attribute of the strong” (Gandhi) it takes a big person to forgive their enemies, it also takes a person with a big heart to forgive when a selfish act was committed against them. However hard it is for someone to bear, it is the quickest route to recovery and one step closer to being whole again. Eva Kor is living proof, a woman who put aside her resentment and past to take a step in forgiving a man with as tainted of a life as he lived. If Eva Kor can forgive Dr. Menegle, why can’t we forgive those who trespass against us? Forgiveness is a key to freedom, I urge everyone to let go of their past and live free from hatred. It is never easy to forgive someone who has hurt you. However I know that I am very thankful that people forgive me. People make mistakes, however it is solely your choice to forgive and forget or carry the baggage with you forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited Page

http://thinkexist.com/quotations/forgiveness/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489707/trivia?tab=qt

http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/gandhi.htm

Superman Final

“Chinese schools do not segregate high achieving students from lower achieving students through tracking levels, like in the U.S. This is mostly due to the belief that all students can succeed if they put in the effort.” (University of Michigan,2011) I do believe that the tracks children take from elementary on up can somehow determine their futures. The children that score tests higher than other children have a choice to go on the fast track, advanced classes, advanced placement, college classes, post grad classes. The children that go on the normal track are destined to go from slow class, to other slow class, to gym, to lunch, to the streets. Why are children treated differently if they are in other classes? The fact of the United States Education system is built on many different factors, however this one needs to not be so prominent. It will lower standards, self esteem, and ultimately the path of life the student takes.

If students are not pushed to succeed how will they push themselves? There is a fast paced more academically challenging feel to AP, Advanced, Honors, and Dual Enrollment classes than the standard ones. Standard classes are a lot less advanced than it’s sister track. When the students aren’t asked for much they are not going to give very much. If all the students where on a one stop shot to graduation, one track, I believe that there would be a lot less students dropping out. Why? It is because the students will actually be pushed to succeed.”Florida school districts currently provide information to parents on accelerated course options through a variety of means, including letters sent home to families. But the bill would require principals to set clearer processes for giving parents that information, and provide detailed information on the requirements for participation. It would also require "performance contracts" among the parents, students, and principals, in setting standards for student who want to take part.” (Foundation  for the future 2013)

From the very first day of elementary school the teachers are picking out the types of students that they have in their classes. They begin to judge which ones pick up on certain areas faster than others. Let’s take siblings for example; there are two sisters about two years apart. They are both very bright; however it takes one a little bit longer to grasp certain concepts. The younger one is quicker than the other and is placed on a fast track in math. At two years apart the younger sister is quickly catching up to the older one. How would this make the other sister feel? Incompetent? Not as smart as the younger one? Less intelligent? All these are correct. Young adults are compared to each other by their academic standings although one student takes a quicker paced class that student is held at a more elite level. The student on the faster track is considered higher among the standard student. This would greatly lower a student’s self esteem and self worth when it comes to school.

What students learn in school they will take with them the rest of their lives, "Principals already have the power to allow students to move on a faster-paced academic track, but sometimes "school districts discourage it," Legg said in an interview, because "it doesn't fit into the typical model."The overriding goal is avoid leaving students in "classrooms where they're not being challenged," (John Legge, 2012) The dropout rates correlate with students not being pushed to a certain level. When there is no motivation in schools how will the students graduate? Find jobs? When they don’t have jobs they need money, whats free money? Gambling, stripping, drugs. When students are not pushed, sometimes life pushes them.

Students need to be on the same track,if they where all in the same classroom then there would be the same level of respect and academics, there would not be an invisible line that separated them from other students. They would all be the same students molded the same way and intellectually brightened. It is not fair that we put the students that don’t learn as fast in throw away standard classes. There should only be one standard class and that class challenges each student. That way teachers would all be on the same page and all be ready to have there students excel!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Citied:

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/vanschaack.356/strenghts_and_weaknesses_of_both_systems

http://www.foundationforfloridasfuture.org/news/2012/Fast_Track_Academic_Path_Approved_in_Florida.aspx?page=Default.aspx&pagenum=0&year=2012

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2011/2011012.pdf

 

Misrepresentation Final

 In today’s modern day media women are portrayed a certain way, to look a certain way, to act a certain way, so they can be appealing to the viewer. All women on T.V advertisement’s are pencil thin, white with perfect hair makeup and clothes, all half naked and made to look like a brainless sex toy, used purposefully to attract the male audience into buying a product. “According to TV ratings company Nielsen, kids in 2012, age 2 to 11, watch an average of 24 hours of TV a week. That’s an average of three and a half hours a day” (CBS Minnesota, Feb 13, 2013) When one lives in a society as immersed in media as us modern day Americans, you cannot help seeing the way that women are portrayed. It is everywhere! Young girls and teenagers are negatively affected by it because as they come to glimpses of what the real world is like they will start to compare themselves to this unattainable figure and face. For young women trying to measure up there can only be negative effects, such as eating disorders, lower self esteem, and lower GPA’S. The future does not look to positive for rising generations in the youth of today or tomorrow.

“I worry about how much pressure my daughters feel. In a society that features anorexic actresses and models and television stars, we get conditioned to think this is what women should look like.”(Katie Couric, Missrepresentation) Speaking from personal experience, I know how emotionally traumatic it is to feel like you are nowhere near good enough because you constantly compare yourself to other people. I partly blame the media for the downward spiral that happened in my life as a result of being different than the models, actresses, and singers that are the “idols” for most of the young people now. It is a dark place, feeling that no one will ever want you because you don’t weigh 99.8 pounds. ”The average 14 and 15, height only increases to 63-64 inches but weight increases to 105-115 pounds. By age 16 and 17, girls' height has basically become static at 64 inches and weighs only increases to somewhere between 115 and 120 pounds. Between 18 and 20, girls are still an average of 64 inches tall and weigh between 125 and 130 pounds.” (LIVESTRONG, weight of teens) “Twenty years ago, the average fashion model weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today, she weighs 23 percent less, it said. When asked for its source, the magazine cited the website of Rader Programs, which treats those with eating disorders.” Women should never have to compare themselves  to an unhealthy size and weight, however in today’s society women do not have a choice.

 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/01/most-models-meet-criteria-for-anorexia-size-6-is-plus-size-magazine/

 

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/362617-the-average-weight-height-of-teens/#ixzz2PzETFITL

 

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/02/18/good-question-how-much-time-do-kids-spend-watching-tv/

Digital Nation Final

Technology is a man’s best friend; it consumes today’s modern day society. Technology overwhelms us it is everywhere; everyone is connected now thanks to the internet and social media. The views on social media are very diverse. Professor Sherry Turkle, an MIT professor believes that social media does a disfavor to today’s students as they multitask around the clock to keep up with their social life’s that are constantly brewing twenty four seven.  Technology consumption is not just with the younger generation it is also with the older generations as they try to adapt to it. Its omnipotence spirals throughout everyone and everything, it the fact is that we cannot avoid it so we tend to embrace it. Schools, work places, home life, and social life, It is so easy to become involved. Why does it appeal so much? I think a good answer to that would be in gamers eyes. Gamers spend hours on hours and days on days consumed within their own virtual world where they try and defeat dragons, witches, zombies, and even militias. A good way to reach out to the youth of America would be to involve a company, corporation, or organization and apply it to a video game. That way today’s youth could tap into the producer’s resources with a common interest. Is this dangerous? The children would see it as all fun and games, there would be minimal consequences due to the fact that it was just a game correct? Or would it begin to plant an idea that real life experiences, such as today’s warfare was just a game that a kid can reset? War, military, enlistment is not a game. It is life altering experiences that can affect a person for the rest of his or her life and ultimately change it forever.

The Army Experience Center in Philadelphia is located at the Franklin Mills Mall, it is a 14,500 square feet of video games. Ryan Hansen of Ignited Corporated  who helped assist the Army create this facility ( FIX) "The center is an attraction tool. There is no recruiting mission here," Hansen said. "Here it is more about changing perceptions" (Army News Service, Aug. 2008). This facility was created to build real life Army experiences without the actual experience of war. The AEC has simulators and virtual reality devices that can transport a 13 year old child into a combat zone.  With this in mind, imagine how the 13 year old perceives a battle to the death.  He or she will begin to have false interpretations of a chaotic scenario. To the young teen it will be all fun; shoot as many as you can and you never have to worry for your life or the others around you. Although the Army claims that there are no actual “recruiters” in the center, there are soldiers that walk around the center that are said to be informants “  The Soldiers at the AEC don't have quotas. They don't wear traditional Army uniforms, but rather black Army polo shirts and khaki pants. They are from diverse backgrounds and have unique stories to tell. At first glance they seem more like tour guides than Army recruiters, and in a sense, they are. They guide center visitors through their tour of the facility.” (Army News Service, Aug. 2008) Just because the soldiers do not have quotas, who is to say that the Army does not influence these teenagers while they are in the center? It would be very easy to lure a gamer into talking about the army whilst playing a video game, and soon they could be hooked on false perceptions. Once the door is open for the idea to weasel its way into one of these kids mind it can soon consume them into a false vision of glory that comes with the high price of victory. Bloody, battered, beaten down soldier’s come to the end of a level and drag their dead to a corner and carry on with killing the next group. With a video game there is no feelings, no emotions, nothing close to the reality of warfare. The gamers don’t feel the lifelong trauma and impact of dragging their brothers to a peaceful place. They sit back in the comfortable seats able to return home, nothing like reality.

The concept of recruiting whether it is implied or not is very dangerous when involved with teenagers playing video games, the fact of the matter is that kids are just not educated on what the actual consequences of enlisting into a military branch are. Video games do not place an individual in experiences such as a battlefield no matter how detailed the graphics are or how in depth the sounds are. This makes teenagers that enter the gaming room see the military as just a place to blow things up and not think about the lives that are being taken all around them. The Things They Carried, a war novel by Tim O’Brien sums up a young man’s life after he was affected by the Vietnam War “ I’d come to this war a quiet, thoughtful sort of person, a college grad, Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, all the credentials, but after seven months in the bush I realized that those high, civilized trappings had somehow been crushed under the weight of the simple daily realities. I’d turned mean inside.”( Tim O’Brien, The things they carried)  Real soldier’s know that war is not a game, however that is what technology through the military can bring about. To justify, the military is enveloped within the heartstrings of America, it is crucial to America and they do their duty every single minute of every day to protect its citizens. However, a false understanding of warfare is what modern day technology can do. Although the graphics can depict real scenes it will never put a person in a soldiers place feeling what they feel, living their lives. “ Fifty years' of research on violent television and movies has shown that there are several negative effects of watching such fare (see Violence in the Media - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects)…studies by psychologists such as Douglas Gentile, PhD, and Craig Anderson, PhD, indicate it is likely that violent video games may have even stronger effects on children's aggression because (1) the games are highly engaging and interactive, (2) the games reward violent behavior, and because (3) children repeat these behaviors over and over as they play (Gentile & Anderson, 2003). Psychologists know that each of these help learning - active involvement improves learning, rewards increase learning, and repeating something over and over increases learning.” (APA, Effects of games)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cite Page

1.        Violent Video Games. N.p.: APA, 2008. 1-2. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://www.apa.org/research/action/games.aspx>.

2.      McLeroy, Carrie. Army Expirence Center. N.p.: www.armymil.com, 2008. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://www.army.mil/article/12072/army-experience-center-opens-in-philadelphia/>.

3.      The things they Carried.

Waiting on Superman Blog

Waiting for Superman really opened my eyes to see a new type of tradgedy that I never really thought about, in the movie we follow childern who want a better education for themselfs. Unfortunatley not that many childern in cities get the education that they need to sucess in an everyday society. The movie was very heartbreaking considering the fact that I love childern I dont think any child should suffer because they cannot go to the school that they wish to go to, its not their choice where their parents can and cannot live so why are they affected? Another thing that I would absolutley change is this ridiculose law called tenner. I think that if a teacher sucks, the teacher needs to go. Our generation does not need to be affected because a teacher has been at a school for over 10 or so years. Why not have a certain curiculum test to administer to the random students drawn out of a lottery for the test? Although some students may have a higher GPA that can be studied and watered down to a science.