More than 100...

A picture is worth 1,000 words, so how on earth did B'oc expect us to do the image justice by describing it in one tenth of that? I'm not sure either... Luckily they gave us the opportunity to elaborate on our picture from the voice thread and what it means to us, in more than 100 words..

The poem I submitted originially:

Title: Breaking News

Just in from the white house, is that Mr. Obama I see?
First BlackPost Options Prez. in American history
I see a Hispanic woman, Judge of the Supreme Court
Remember when minorities couldn’t even play in our pro sports?
Now they’re leading our country, so I must be confessing
From the Soiling of Old Glory, we are mosdef progressing
I think our old prejudices, we’re beginning to shed
What’s this I hear? Gays can be wed?
So I can’t help but wonder how long will this last?
Til we start hatin’ on eachother- a relapse of the past.
Put the doubts aside and our future looks bright
Jump on the American bandwagon, hold on and sit tight.


The picture is from a news telecast that shows Obama "nominating federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court". In addition to the leap America made on November 4, 2009 when Barack Obama was voted the nation's first black President, America also made a step toward becoming an increasingly more tolerant country when a Hispanic woman was appointed to be Judge of the Supreme Court. Both Obama and Sotomayor have similar backgrounds that follow the too familiar redemption story trend that Americans fall in love with time after time. With the See, Think, Wonder format I explored the picture and what I believe it stands for. This year certain states are legalizing gay marriages, the election of the first Black President, and Obama's appointment of the first female and Hispanic Supreme Court Justice America is clearly progressing forwards into the future where equality is real and things are no long "separate but equal".

One of These is Not Like the Others

I was trying to find some flags around my house and failed miserably. I always thought we were a pretty patriotic family, but realized there was no hard evidence to show for it. Well, I shouldn't say I completely "failed" because through out my search I did find a few things where I hadn't expected American Flags to pop up...

1. My TNT (Tiny New Triers) basketball jersey from '02 with an American Flag patch positioned so it would rest on your heart, this was added solely because of 9/11.
2. A roll of stamps in my very own desk drawer were patterned with our American Flag
3. The stack of news papers waiting to be recycled...

It seems minor, but as a matter of fact, that is my point exactly... On the cover of each Wilmette Life there was a little flag, whether it be in the middle of the title or in the upper left corner, on every issue there was a flag. Or almost everyone.. I was surprised that I found one missing the beloved flag, which got me thinking: Is it on the cover as a true patriotic symbol or just because it adds to the cover? If it was truly an important aspect of the cover page, don't you think it would have been difficult to omit it? Well, unfortunately I don't have the answers to these questions, but perhaps I'll write the editor a letter and ask his thoughts on what the flag means on the cover of the Pioneer Press' Wilmette Life.

Some Fun Photos

This site has some pretty cool pictures that I wanted to share with all of you... (click the link)

ENJOY!


They give you perspective on life in addition to being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Junior Theme 3

Currently I'm in the middle of citing some sources. I am still sort of fuzzy about my questions and am worried I will lose focus in my essay, but I'm crossing my fingers everything will come together... I'm debating whether or not to use notecards, because I know it's a very efficient method and will keep me organized (I need that), but I don't know if I want to waste my time on that. I have a few books and I really want to read them all, so I think I have fun action-filled weekend to come. Not. I love my topic, but it's a little out of my comfort zone, for it's not very black and white, or factual if you will. I like dealing with facts whether I'm analyzing or connecting them, but when it comes to parenting it is very indiviualistic. Every parent is different, and some may say yes to getting your belly-button ring and some may say no, but all of these decisions in essence affect the child and their upbringing. Anywho, back to my citations which Ms. Gressel and Ms. Eich coached me through. OH and I forgot my ID at home so I need to find a way to check out my book... wish me luck!

Junior Theme 2

So I figured this blog would be a great way to put all my sources to help keep track of them... Most recently Bolos sent me a great link to an interview and article on NPR. I haven't exactly looked into it yet, but it looks promising. In addition to this, I found a pretty professional site that cited the different styles of parenting, which seems to have solid facts. I'm not sure what book I am going to do, because the book that related to the Dr. Spock article in the previous post, Born Liberal Raised Right, could be to opinionated as opposed to research and facts. The intro is due Monday and I still have a ton of information to sift through, but so far I have not been too overwhelmed and feel pretty confident in my topic. I think the thing I am struggling with most, is that there is no set answer I am trying to argue. The idea that I have to concoct a solution or create some sort of answer will be a challenge for me.

Here's my definite Why question, which may, and I think Doc Oc would like this, CHANGE after all of the reading I do and information I absorb.

Why are parents less authoritative now than they have been in the past?