Like a what?

It has been forever since I have blogged. My own laziness has consumed me and once again I find myself committing to being more committed. I think my blog, all the time. It is just a task to actually sit down and transfer my thoughts to the computer screen. So here's to New Year's Resolutions in July.

I've been thinking about the election a lot lately. Since my last blog, B. Hussein Obama has secured the Democratic nomination and gone on a world tour. I was watching the news the other day when it cut to a live shot of Obama giving a speech to 200,000 people in Berlin, Germany. Now here's my question: What the heck gives this guy (merely a state senator) the right to give a speech to hundreds of thousands of people on another continent? And furthermore, why are these people so interested in listening to what he has to say? Does no one else out there find this scenario a little suspicious? Seriously? Honest to goodness, no facetiousness intended, this scares me a little. This guy is talking about breaking down walls between nationalities and religions and every other unique identifying characteristic. I realize we are all one human race and recognizing this can benefit us all. But I love the polychromatic world in which we exist. I love to flaunt my uniqueness and wander at that of others. I don't want globalization and some guy intent on changing the world to start using his cookie cutter.

At first, I just didn't like Obama. Probably simply because I liked Hillary better. And I still do. But my concern for our country has grown leaps and bounds since he secured the party's nomination. I don't trust this guy one bit He gives me an uneasy feeling. His motives are questionable. He is an elitist by every definition of the word. With every interview my disdain for him increases. I watched an interview this week about his proposed tax plan and how this will benefit the middle class. When asked what income level he considered the middle class he said those making less than $250,000/year. When pushed a little further he said definitely those making less than $150,000/year. Hello? I guess as a public school teacher in Eastern Kentucky I can deal with being considered at the poverty level. Labels never bothered me. I wander when it was the last Mr. Obama had to decide what bill not to pay for the month because his income was overstretched? Or what school supplies he won't buy his children this year because money is tight? Or when he had to water down milk so his kids could eat more cereal? Before I get hit with the criticism, I know that none of these candidates have to make those decisions. They all live comfortably. But something tells me that Mr. Obama nor his wife will ever be faced with those decisions nor ponder solutions for those who do.

I guess I can sum up my feelings about Mr. Obama with a comment I heard a stand-up comic make. He said Obama is like a girl you pick up at a strip club. You only see the really good parts until you get her home and turn the lights on. I'm legitimately afraid of what parts we will see if Obama makes his home in the White House.

Paranoid? Crazy? Maybe. Or possibly just a concerned American.

Primary season continues and so does the harassment I get from friends and students, and even family apparently. The democratic race is close, but I'm not about to admit defeat just yet. I'm holding onto hope that Americans will start thinking before this thing is over. We're divided down the middle on the democratic side and I don't think this is a good thing. I've been told my rationale for picking Hillary is foolish, that despite choosing the lesser of two evils my choice is still evil and that tradition really isn't important.

Last week, my humanities classes discussed how art is sometimes utilized as a means of propaganda. Okay, so this was a part of the core content I'm required to teach them. And we discussed artists such as Francisco Goya. I made it relevenat. But maybe, just maybe, I had an ulterior motive for picking this topic at this exact time. After discussing how the guys in the Romantic period used art as a means of social protest, to give themselves a voice they wouldn't otherwise have had, I tried to make some real-world connections for these young whipper snappers.

We looked at images from World War II and the Save Darfur Campaign. And I had them create their own propaganda about the Iraq war. It was actually one of those days when you know you have it--a fleeting moment when the students actually recognize some sort of relevance in this class to their own existence. Finally, I had them watch the "Yes We Can" video I posted on this blog awhile back.

Now, most of these teenagers do not care the least for politics. Save a few liberal, socially-conscious nerds, these kids may not even be able to tell me who is running for president right now. Heck, I have kids that can't tell me what continent they live on or how many states are in our country. Yet, these kids are bombarded by propaganda on a daily, even hourly basis. And I think that most of them realized this by the end of the period. I didn't show them this video to influence them. But instead to inquire them, maybe even beg them to think critically and not just be American sheep.

Thankfully, my MTV generation was not easily swayed. I think this video is an amazing propaganda tool and very powerful. I'll admit that. But most of these kids recognized it as just that, propaganda. It's a naive attempt to influence their thinking by exploiting the very things they hold so dear in their daily lives--technology, music and hope in some sort of goodness that they may have lost since their youth, but don't yet realize.

I find myself sitting there, watching this video for five straight class periods. And if I let my brain be lulled to sleep, I might just be "inspired" by this guy. What he says sounds so good. But what is it he's really saying? Geez, I get the same inspiration by listening to my Ipod. Mr. Obama would make an amazing preacher. That charisma is unmistakable. Admitted.

Let me just mention an interesting connection I discoved to Obama last week. I've mentioned before that Obama was a law professor at the University of Chicago during my time there. And I had a great deal of respect for him at the time. Well, it was during this time that I lost my attitude of tolerance and took a firm stand on my beliefs. It was the year after 9/11 and I was a student studying the Middle East. I took a class with a guy named Rashid Khalidi. He's an amazingly intelligent guy who is very active in that region of the world. I even saw him being interviewed on CNN once while I was his student. He's an amazing lecturer because his knowledge is so vast. You guys know I'm a nerd and I'm gonna work myself to death when it comes to school. No matter what I did for this guy, despite conferences and reworks, I was not going to do do better than a B. And all the Muslim girls in their headscarfs refused to sit next to me in this class. I mean, get up and move if I sat within 3 seats of them in the lecture hall. Turns out good ol' Dr. Khalidi has some connections to the PLO and may have a sketchy background. Not surprising to me. But don't worry Steve, I'm not going to accuse Mr. Obama of having any radical Muslim connections. Please. I'm sure they have a beer together, maybe play darts. No deeper connection. A mere coincidence.

But it comes down to this, win or lose. These are two people, filling two minority demographics, with very similar stances on very important issues. There are differences, yes. But will it matter? Likely not. I'm still on board with Hillary. But I've been thinking more about issues than people lately. And hoping that whoever gets in come November, does something to make life a little easier for people. That's all we want, and that's all we need.

We need to figure out how to stop a war and still protect ourselves. How to provide healthcare to the people in our country. How to solve poverty at home and globally. How to educate our children and light a fire in them for something, anything. How to cure apathy in our citizens. If someone can do that, I throw my support behind them. I don't want to hear catchy songs or inspiring speeches, repetitive rhetoric with intellectual jargon. I want action. I want solutions. I want to see evidence. Whoever, whatever.

So, in the spirit of issues and not people, our country and not characters, I'm including a video, without candidates, just issues, and thoughts. It's about people and changing things.

Propaganda

So, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a nerd. So Super Tuesday means super nerdiness and lots of watching the news. This is especially true since Ann Coulter's declaration this week that she will support Hillary Clinton if John McCain wins the GOP nomination. I am a Hillary supporter. Yes, some of you may gasp that my conservative ways would lead me to vote for a Clinton. Nonetheless, she is my pick. I don't really care for Barack Obama. I could write a list of superficial reasons why and maybe even point to his stance on actual issues. But it comes down to the fact that I don't trust him. I think he's a poser. Totally fake. Someone trying to recapture the sentiment of hope from the Civil Rights Movement, yet not absolutely trustworthy. There's just something about this guy that makes me suspicious. I'll agree, he's a very charismatic speaker and what he says can inspire the masses. As a graduate student at the University of Chicago, Mr. Obama was a law professor there and spoke at our orientation. And everyone was given the chance to shake his hand and converse with him in a casual setting. As a 22 year-old idealist, I liked him. I thought he was a guy who knew what he was talking about and was willing to look out for the average American. And maybe he does. But he seems transparent to me now.

This rant had its own inspiration. I was perusing videos on the internet the other day and came across this amazing propaganda. As obviously stated above, I don't like Barack Obama. But his propaganda was impressive. So impressive, I wanted to share it. Not because I'm campaigning for this guy. But just to point out how powerful this stuff can be. Someone, and I'm thinking specifically of 20something idealists/college students who may not check out all the facts, but instead vote on visual appeal, can be easily swayed by such propaganda. This video make me think of Nazi propaganda, that despite how obviously horrible the movement seems in retrospect, it had the power to appeal to the masses and cause absolute terror. I know, it's an extreme comparison. But we're living in extreme times. We live in a country still divided along racial lines, fighting a religious war (although we'll call it a war on terrorism) and on the verge of a recession. The election is a big deal. And lots of idiots who will watch and not think will be voting for the leader of our country.

Long time, no blog

So, I haven't blogged in forever. Forgive me. I could state excuses, but I won't. It's finally January and some things have ended and others are just beginning. Let me update you and then I'll be my usual esoteric self.

-I finally finshed the second Master's Degree in December. This is really good because for the first time in my life, I was tired of school. Maybe because these were classes I didn't really find interesting, just requirements. Whatever the case, I am finished. For the moment. But I never say never because some of you know how restless I can become in life.

-I am still teaching Humanities. But, I now have a real, actual classroom. I'm talking a room with four walls, a ceiling and a door that I get to stay in all day. This may not seem like a big deal to some of you. But imagine teaching 25 plus teenagers in a giant office cubicle surrounded by other classes. And let me mention that the Parenting Class was right next to me, although this did lead to some interdisciplinary teaching opportunities. Like the day my class was discussing the Trojan War and we could hear the sex ed teacher giving condom advice over the cubicle wall. Yeah, priceless.

-A long basketball season continues. Do I hate basketball at this point? No. Do I sometimes ask myself why I'm there? Frequently. But anyone who knew me in high school knows I struggled through some long seasons, but never gave up. It's a challenge. It's adversity. And no matter how bad things get, its still a game I love. So yeah, I'm still there and plan to be for awhile.

-A trip to India this summer may be traded in for a venture to Manchu Pichu in Peru. There are many reasons for this that I may get to later. Everything goes back to a moment in the 5th grade that compels me to go there. We'll see if this trip becomes a reality or gets moved to the backburner. But for the moment, its on the table. A trip to the musuems in Chicago and hopefully a return to Cedar Point are also on the agenda. No one need remind me why I love the schedule of a teacher.

-Somehow this week, I got talked into coaching tennis. No, I didn't play tennis in high school. But hey, life is about learning new things. Right? I'm open to the situation, so I'll keep you updated on the gig.

-And students continue to fascinate me with the unbelievable statements that come out of their mouths. In the last couple of months I've had one tell me George Chaney is our Vice President, one who created her own 25 Theses (to match Luther's) that included the statement "You shouldn't have to love your neighbor if you don't want to" and "Murder should be acceptable because sometimes you have a good reason", one who informed me that Muslims practice Mussilism, and one who tried to convince me that optimystical is a real word.

That's a brief update of my life as a high school teacher in never-a-dull-moment Greenup County. And yes, I still ask myself every morning how I got to this exact moment in my life. But that question isn't a bad thing, although some think otherwise. I'm here because I want to be here. I had a conversation with a very wise person over the holidays. He asked my educational background and then inquired about my profession. He kind of snickered when I told him I was a high school teacher--and that I taught something as useless on the surface as Arts & Humanities. He said to me that being a public school teacher is like being a missionary. You're in this foreign land full of restless natives who don't always want you around unless they see some immediate benefit they can gain by your presence. Hostility and unappreciation is the norm. You have little support from headquarters, yet a great deal of responsibility relying on your job performance. Sometimes you're successful and sometimes you get your head cut off. Over the course of our conversation, this wise person and I determined that there are four types of students in our world. And that to be a life-long teacher, it is absolutely necessary to realize and acknowledge this fact:

-There are students who will never get it. They are in school until they are either old enough to drop out or finish enough requirements the school moves them on. It doesn't matter what you say to these kids, their attitudes will never change. These students will move through life, maybe get a job they'll lose, with the same attitude they've always had--just do enough to survive.

-The second group of students will do well no matter who their teacher is. Heck, this group doesn't even need a teacher. They are driven to be successful by the standards of the world. These students can teach themselves, but make teachers look good when they have them in class. These students are driven by the goal of achieving and overachieving expectations. The real value of learning is lost on them in the pursuit of accomplishing goal after goal. These students will find superficial success in life. Good jobs, good-looking families, but something will always seem like it is missing.

-The third group of students really wants to get it. They push themselves, ask questions and do everything possible to meet the expectations of the teacher. And in return, a good teacher will try to provide all the resources that will help these students reach that desired success. But no matter how hard they try, these students won't be as successful as they'd like. They're just not capable. Life will be a struggle for them. But they will find work, have families and make every effort possible to be successful. But it won't be easy for them.

-The last group of students are the ones that help teachers get up in the morning. These students want to learn, but might not have always known this fact. They do pretty well for themselves throughout school, until they encounter that one class, or more usually that one teacher that sparks it all for them. After that spark, the gears start turning and learning takes on a real value for these students. From this point forward, learning is "what does it for them." Learning illuminates the world for these students. These students are the individuals that will take the knowledge that inspires them and use it to change the world. Oftentimes, these students bask in learning to the point they decide to give that gift back and become teachers themselves.

A year and half into this adventure, I am by no means declaring myself successful. By no means. But, I am declaring that if a teacher does not realize this fact, success will elude them their entire, wasted career. I know, that is a big statement. But teaching is a big responsibility.

So this blog really didn't head in the direction I anticipated. But sometimes the best things are the unexpected things. I intended to blog in a different direction, but maybe that will come later in the long weekend. I'm sure I will have plenty to comment on after the weekend. Tomorrow is the Kite Runner and the Patty Griffin concert. The Kite Runner is possibly one of my most favorite books ever (yes, nerds have favorite books) and hopefully the movie will not disappoint. And Patty Griffin's lyrics could be the soundtrack to my life. The fact that Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris will also be at the concert is pretty great. And hopefully the official photographer of roadtrips will provide a visual accompaniment to the next blog.

Are you a windsock?

So, tonight I went to see the movie "Lions for Lambs" with a friend of mine. My friend complained about horrible this movie was from the moment it ended until about an hour later. Note to my thinking friends out there: Go see this movie. I think my friend disliked the movie because she is unaware of things going on in the world around her and she didn't really understand what the movie was about. During one part of the movie, a college student points out that 50 percent of college juniors don't know the names of their state senators. About an hour after the movie, my friend asks who her senator is.

There are about two dozen quotes from this movie that I could type right now. The basic premise of the movie is as follows, although I don't plan to give everything away:

A college professor of political science pulls a student into his office that he feels is not reaching his full potential. He tells a story to this student about two of his previous students. The professor says that you have to find something to stand for or you're nothing. His previous two studetnts were from bad neighborhoods, but got an elite education on athletic scholarships. These two bright students decide to enlist in the military so they feel like they are doing something to change the world. The professor tells this student of a privilieged background, that its always those that our country cares the least about that are first to volunteer to defend it and those who are privileged that take the biggest step back from responsibility. That its not what grade you get from a class that matters, but the lessons you learn from it. Meanwhile, a journalist is struggling with the fact that during her 40 years in the profession, her network has gone from gathering the facts to reporting entertainment news. A state senator with a new plan for Afghanistan calls her a "windsock." He says she "goes with the prevailing winds" and has let the majority opinion become the moral opinion.

I can't do justice to this movie. It's relatively short and the ending leaves you pondering the state of things in our society. I love the college professor character in the movie. Reminds of a mentor I was had. And the senator makes an extraordinary point when he says the government has screwed up in the war on terror and mistakes were made by those in power. But the mistakes were honest mistakes because they were made in a moment of fear to protect families, children, our values, our entire existence.

See the movie. Tell me what you think. Just when I feel apathetic and don't wanna think about the war on terror or our horrible foreign relations, this movie pushes me to think--a good thing. I don't want to be a windsock...

Faithless

Alright, so yeah, I'm pitiful at blogging. I can admit it. I'm trying, seriously. And I think it will be better after the degree is finished in December. So, I'm posting the blog I posted this week on my other site. And my goal is to post a blog of some substance about some significant something by the end of the weekend. Really. But, here's an update in the meantime:

So I'm procrastinating and thought I'd post a blog to aid in that attempt at laziness. Things are busy...really busy. The good thing about this is that my weeks go by pretty quickly because I don't have enough time to get everything finished that needs to be finished. The bad thing about this is that some things must get finished, and this may result in me being overwhelmed...frequently. Insomnia has returned after a three month hiatus. I have to say that those around me are being pretty understanding about my various committments at the time and these same people are assisting me in keeping my sanity and getting things done as efficiently as possible.

Despite the demands to get things done related to work and my own school, I've become a little apathetic towards the world in the last few weeks. I could come up with a dozen reasons why. Maybe I'm just due a meltdown. Maybe I'm just being dramatic. Maybe it doesn't even matter.

It is amazing to me how little things can add up to cause you to lose faith in all the things you believe in. I know its temporary, and I'll get my marbles back. But in the meantime, it feels hollow. Things you think you know are questioned and you're not sure you were right in the first place. So if you weren't right about one thing, could you have been wrong about more things? How can someone or something you thought was so good possibly turn out to be so bad? Do you consider yourself an idiot or blame that other person or thing? Yeah, this rant is pretty abstract. But some of you will know what I'm talking about and how much it really sucks.

And I'm missing a feeling that I once knew. Transcendence of the trivial and recognition of the higher. A sense of knowing and comfort that I worked so hard to find. And I kept it awhile. But gradually it disappeared in the daily monotony of the world. And no matter how hard I try I can't get it back. So you think maybe, if we're lucky, we get a glimpse of this for just a moment. And then we're supposed to spend the rest of our lives seeking it out again because we know its there. But if we had it all the time we would take it for granted and never be able to appreciate it? That's my hypothesis on life right now. I glimpsed it, and now I'm chasing it.

Alright, so enough being esoteric. School is hectic, basketball is hectic. I can't get my last two classes at Morehead finished quick enough. I absolutely hate Canada at this point and I wander daily why this was the only class offered this semester. I'm not sure my freshmen basketball team speaks english. I need to learn some relaxation techniques so I don't stroke out this year. Yeah, its that bad. I'm blaming all this on the fact they are all middle-school kids.

Things are hectic and rough, but I'm still thankful for all those great friends around me. Seriously. If you're reading this blog and you haven't heard from me in a few weeks, sorry about that. I'm trying to get things done and rejoin the world of the living. I'm pushing for the week of Thanksgiving when we get the entire week off at good ol' GC. Time with family and friends is just the remedy that I'm needing right now to get my sense back.

So you all know I have a Starbucks addiciton. And I pretty much love the quotes on the side of the cups there. I usually get the same one over and over. But I got a new one today and I really liked it because you all know that I wouldn't survive a day without music. So, I'm gonna share it with you all. It's a quote from a neurologist describing the importance of music to his patients. But I'm gonna paraphrase and make it apply to us all:

Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears--it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. Music is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Random Stuff

Alright, so things are a little busy and the blog continues to suffer. But here are some random things I've been pondering:

A weird thing happened at school a couple weeks ago. Our school is undergoing renovations and there are about 12 classrooms in the cafeteria that are basically office-style cubicles. The noise level is insane and this makes effective teaching a gigantic challenge. So it's a stretch to ask my classes to read a couple pages in the textbook because their concentration and focus are minimal in this environment. So, I decided that instead of asking them to read, I would read the section to them while they followed along in the book. Keep in mind here, I teach all juniors all day. These are 17 and 18 year old creatures. The most amazing thing happened. There was absolute silence in my cubicle and everyone in the class followed along while I read. No talking. I repeat, no talking. I was shocked and more than pleasantly surprised. So I'm trying to figure out if maybe these kids can't read or even those we don't expect still like to be read to. I don't know. But it was a cool experience for me so I've repeated it this week with the same results.

So on to things in the news that have made me think:

I saw a story about a Mexican immigrant who has lived in this country for a couple of decades. Last year, his son, who was born in the United States and consequently a U.S. citizen, was killed in the Iraq War. Well, this man, the father of the soldier, is about to be deported back to Mexico. I am the first to say that our immigration laws should not only be stricter, but actually be enforced. But I took exception with this story. The custom is usually that the immediate family of a fallen soldier is granted amnesty and the soldier's wife was. But come on, this guy has made the ultimate sacrifice for a country that isn't even his. I know, I've gone soft. But war pretty much sucks and it changes the rules of life.

So my humanities class has been discussing Imperial Rome this week. To entertain myself, I posed the question to my classes as to whether or not the United States is an imperial nation, the Roman Empire of the modern age, if you will. Wow. This started a serious debate in which some students thought the U.S. should mind its own business and stop trying to help people who don't even ask for help. An exchange student from Switzerland informed me that the U.S. tries to make itself "the police of the world" and we should "mind our own business." Another kid said "we should just blow them all up. why do we even need Iraqis. they're the ones causing the trouble." Just when I think teenagers are apathetic and they've frayed my last nerve, there's a glimmer of hope that they might actually care about something that matters.

A teacher in Oregon is suing the school board so that she may carry a gun to school. I'm not really sure how I feel about this. For the record, I am a gun owner, but have never even remotely thought that carrying it to school would be a good idea. I can see both sides of the issue here and neither one really captures me. Sure it could be dangerous to have a gun in the classroom considering a number of variables that could occur, including a student getting their hands on the gun. But could a teacher carrying a gun prevent a major crisis? Possibly. And if someone possesses a concealed weapon permit, they must be a law abiding citizen who has met certain criteria. Rather than putting guns in teachers hands, I think it would be a better route to create more efficient security in schools. When our renovations are complete, security cameras will be in every classroom and this feed will also be available to law enforcement agencies. We also have a school resource officer on site at most all times. I'm glad this decision is not one I have to make.

Alright, I'll try to be more faithful it posting things that make me think. I'm still pondering that forced abortion issue in China that was posed to me. Maybe next time. But I'm open to suggestions. Basketball season begins Monday and time becomes even more precious. But I'm gonna make the effort.