Scholarly diversity article

http://www.helium.com/items/327517-celebrating-diversity-in-schools-without-making-minority-students-feel-different

Part One:
In this article, a language teacher lists different ways diversity can be brought into schools without offending or discriminating against one race. One of her methods was to make a Valentine's Day bulletin board where she wrote "I love you" in different languages and used images showing different types of love from different countries and such. Another method she used was, when newsletters were sent out, instead of using the "stereotpyical white male or female", she used a black man or a person of a different race. Her last example was to have a talent show and have the kids of different races perform things from their cultures or a potlock that focuses on the different cultures and each person could bring a food of their culture.

Part Two:
1. What aspect of diversity does it cover?
This article covers racial diversity.
2. What does the author say about diversity? What kind of audience is the author trying to reach?
The author says that she wants to "celebrate the wonderful diversity of the world's culture".
The audience she is trying to reach is pretty much everyone, but I think she is mainly speaking to other school teachers or adults who associate with kids from different cultures.
3. Who is it going to affect? How is it going to affect a large population of the world and possibly you?
This is going to affect children from other cultures in schools and their teachers. It could affect a large population because if a lot of people do this in their schools and children don't feel like they are being attacked for their race or being discriminated against anymore, less fights will occur and people might be more mature about things. This could affect me because the immature people in my class couldn't say "you're only saying that because i'm black" and other stupid things like that!
4. What is it that makes this an important article about diversity?
This is an important article about diversity because it's a "solution" that isn't disruptive but could still make a difference.

Part Three:
My opinion on this article is, it's a very good idea but may not work out in the long run. If you put this in elementary schools it may take more affect that in high schools or middle schools. In middle or high schools I don't think the students pay much attention to things that are hanging up around the school and if it had to do with race I think they're care even less about it or turn it around some how and try to make it racist in some way. One of her "solutions" to have a potluck or a talent show with the students displaying different things from their cultures is a good idea and even if it doesn't change people from feeling discriminated against, I think it will still bring people together.

Song Analysis

Song: Two Weeks From Twenty
Artist: Yellowcard
Genre: Rock/Pop
Time Period/Date of Release: January 24, 2006
What is the issue being addressed by the song? The issue being addressed in the song is war.
What is the song artist's point of view or opinion? The song artist's point of view is kind of two different ones. They look at it from the point of view of the family but also the point of view of other people in the world.

"And then you hear em' say

That miles away

We lost another one that we sent with a gun

His momma missed him

He was two weeks from twenty

And there's still no shame

From the man to Blame

No there's still no shame

And we're all to blame"

Contextual Factors

What are contextual factors surrounding the writing of this song? There was nothing going on in that point in time, but the war in Iraq had started a few years before. We were sort of going through an economic crisis, which is increasing as the years go by.

Facts and Statistics

• The US 2009 Monthly spending as of October 2009, was $7.3 Billion
• In 2008 it was $12 Billion
• The cost of sending one soldier to Iraq for one year is $390,000
• As of September 30th, 2009. There are 124,000 soldiers in Iraq
• George Bush is the man responsible for sending the troops in the first place.
• Barack Obama promises to pull troops out of Iraq by 2011.

I think the public's attitude toward this war is divided; some think we should be over fighting, and some think we shouldn't. From various tv shows and newspaper articles, "Return to Duty" for example, they talk about and show soldiers that have been through the war, and a lot of them were for the war before they went and when they came back their opinions completely changed.

What is the issue? The issue is the war in Iraq and the fact that people are dying over there.
Who is affected? Everyone is affected, whether it is a soldier that is fighting over seas, a family member of a soldier who is over there, a friend, and there are many other ways it affects others. But it affects everyone one in some way.
What is the severity of this issue? The entire united states is affected by this at least a little bit. The number of us troops casualties is 4,366 and counting. The number of us troops wounded is 31,571 and counting. This war is not only doing damage to the minds and hearts of Americans and Iraqis mentally and emotionally but economically also. There is so much money being wasted because of this war, the US is in terrible debt.
What is the significance of this issue? This issue is significant because there are so many soldiers over seas risking their lives for the American people. They are over there trying to protect us.
Is this a moral, ethical, economical, political issue? This issue is both economical and political.
Is there any one in control of the issue, or who has strong influence over the issue? I think the president has control of this issue. If he wanted to, he could pull the troops out right now, but so far he hasn't. He says that he will in 2011, I guess we'll have to see if that happens.

Is the issue being resolved or becoming more controversial? This issue seems to be a little more resolved, the topic doesn't come up so frequently in the news and such, but it is still a big deal. People are over there dying, at a rapid rate.

Did you find information in your research that supported the artist’s point of view? Identify parts of the artist’s opinion that were supported by your research and explain how they were supported using the information from your research.
Well the artist doesn't straight up come out and say his point of view or opinion in the song. He is just talking about a soldier losing his life, and that is most definitely happening in the war looking at the casualties occurring.
Identify parts of the artist’s opinion that were not supported by your research and explain how your research opposed the artist’s view.
The economical part of this issue was not addressed in the song, but a lot of things from doing research would not oppose or agree with this song. The song is just telling about a young man's life being cut short because of the war.
Do you share the artist’s opinion on this issue? Why or why not? Support your arguments with your research.
Well like I said before, the artist doesn't really have an opinion in the song. He just talks about something that is happening over there. But my personal opinion on the war in Iraq is, we should not be over there. We started to pick a fight with them just because of suspicion that they would initiate another terrorist attack. There are a lot of elements about the war that I am not aware of, but I don't think that we should be over there, costing soldiers their lives.

RESOURCES

http://www.thenation.com/sections/iraq_war

http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm

http://www.lyrics.com/two-weeks-from-twenty-lyrics-yellowcard.html

Fort Hood.

1. What are your thoughts, feelings, etc, as you read these articles?
I think a lot of these are just thinking of excuses for his behavior. Looking at his background, looking at the type of person he was, and the way he treated other people on a regular basis. It seems like they can't deal with the fact that he was just a sick evil person.
2. What role do you think terrorism played in this massacre, if any? Why? Do you think that there was an terrorist organization behind the shooting?
I don't know if it's terrorism really. I think he was trying to get back at the people who discriminated against him and said things to him about his race, because he was in helping during war. I don't think there was a terrorist organization behind it, mostly just because of the things the other people said; things like, "he was a quiet man and kept to himself." Also because he had gone to war and served, so he was kind of fighting against his own "people" that would have created this organization for him to be involved with.
3. What role did racism or religious persecution play in this incident? Why?
Hasan felt some racism being directed towards him so I think that was definitely a factor in this incident because he wanted to get back at the people who were calling him names or making assumptions about him. I think the religious part particularly for his race, goes hand and hand because most people think that people of his race are all the same and believe in the same religion. So people would discriminate against him in both ways.
4. Do you think a lot of Muslim Americans have the same feelings as this man? Why or why not?
I think if they're being judged and accused of things just because of their race, then definitely, because no one appreciates being discriminated against. Especially if they are being blamed for things they didn't do just because of their race.
5. What do you think the military could have done to prevent this from happening? Why do you believe this? Were there signs that this man had the potential to do something like this? What were they?
I don't think there was much the military could have done. They could have possibly taken him from war. But if they did that just because he was depressed and stuff, they would have to do that to so many other people. They could have been able to tell from blogs, things he said, and the way he acted, but like I said, they would have to do that to so many other people if they just gave him special treatment.
6. Talk about the leadership of Kimberly Munley (the woman who stopped the shooter). What did she do? How would you have reacted in the same situation?
What she did was incredibly brave. By her stepping in instead of waiting for back up, she saved so many more lives. If I were put into that situation I'm almost positive I wouldn't be able to do it and I'd have to wait for back up.
7. What does this incident say about race relations in America? Specifically with Arab-Americans and Muslims? Is there a reason that Muslims and people from the Arab world feel a certain way about
America?
I think it's saying that America just can't get along with anybody. When someone in America sees a Muslim or Arab person, I'm sure the first thing that comes to mind is something racist, we think back to what happened on September 11th, or we think about whats going on in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. right now. Right now I'm sure they don't like us because we started a war in their country for no reason, and we won't leave!

2nd Leadership Article

My article was written by Andrew Cox and is about how one man gained respect, and teaches you how to get respect. It goes over the different things a person should do to gain respect from his or her peers. He talks about a man that he met through work. The man was a hardworker and was quiet. This man was really appreciated at his workplace and after a while he would go months and leave, then show up again, then disappear again. Cox always showed him respect through this time because he knew he was a good worker and would show up again.

This article covers the aspect of Respect. What the author is sort of saying about leadership from his article is, if you obey the rules and treat everyone like a human being, they will respect you. You need to be respectful to every person you come in contact with, whether you like them or not to be a leader. The author is trying to reach the working class audience which is older individuals. If you were to put this into action, it would affect whoever you were doing it to, it would affect a large population if you worked at a large company and you treated all of your workers with respect so they worked harder on the job. This is going to affect me because I can do this when I get a job, and maybe I'll be more successful. The fact that it talks about something that a lot of people could actually do in their own lives, and involves working hard is what makes this an important article about leadership.

I think this article is very influential because he affected this man's life whether he realizes it or not. They actually affected each other, but Andrew Cox was being more of a leader I'd say, since Mr. Bentley kept to himself more. "He would come back every night, get his draw, and leave. No talk, no socializing - nobody messed with Mr Bentley." Cox treated Bentley like a real person and he appreciated it, in the end Bentley turned his attitude around and was a more open person.

Headbutt Article

I can go both ways about this, I think some people expect players to get rough in contact sports, but I also don't think that there is enough reason behind it for a player to just headbutt another kid, especially since the other kid didn't have a helmet on. But personally I think criminally charging him for it is taking it a little far.

I don't think there SHOULD be an expectation of violence, but there definitely is. The thing is, in the sport you usually have protection, but when you're just walking around in the real world you don't have anything to protect you unless you have a gun or a knife on you.

How would this make you feel?
What would you want done about this situation?
What would you do about this situation?

Attacker: I would feel pretty bad after I did it, because even if I was mad in the moment.. it was a stupid decision. Of course I wouldn't want anything to happen to me, but I deserve suspension.
Victim: I would feel attacked and like I did something wrong. I would want the guy to get the worst punishment they could give him, but I don't think charging him criminally is necessary.
Attacker's Parent: I would think my child made a stupid decision, I feel embarrassed and disappointed that my child would do such a thing, that is not how I raised him. I think he should be kicked off the team
Victim's Parent:
Police:
Teammate of Attacker: I would be disappointed in my teammate, but I would still be there to back him up no matter what. I think he should be suspended for a while though.
Teammate of Victim: I
Coach: I would feel embarrassed and disappointed at the time, but he is also not my child and I didn't raise him that way.

Leadership Article Summary.

The article I chose is about the difference in Leadership styles in hotels in different places. For example America compared to Australia. Australia gets their leadership styles from different places, and so does America. In the article they talk about hospitality and how hospitality in Australia was most influential.

The article covers educational/ethical leadership. The author says that leadership is thought about the same in most places, but the way they go about the leadership is different. In countries other than America, they are more polite and initiate leadership in different ways. I think the author is trying to reach older/middle-aged people. I think it will affect anyone who works in hotels or that type of work place. It will affect a large population if it were read in like a big setting, maybe at a place where hotel owners and workers get together? Or it could be required by workers to act in this manner, then it would make people more happy and satisfied by the hotel employees attitudes and manners. This is an important article about leadership because people daily have to deal with hotel employees and owners, and we all know that they don't always have the best attitudes. So maybe this could make a difference in that "industry".
I think this article is beneficial for people who work in hotels and all but I don't think that it would actually have an impact on the people who read it because the way people act, especially if they are older people, aren't going to change for anyone.

MSI Weekly Article

http://news.aol.com/article/gas-mask-bra-bottle-breaking-research/700654

This article is about a ceremony which "spoofs" or makes fun of the Nobel Prizes held every October. Harvard students and very respected professionals in their fields get together and invent things that are spoofing awards and inventions that the real Nobel Prizes are awarding. One of the inventions was a gas mask bra, another was an invention proving that cows with names produce more milk.

This is news because of the oddity of it. You wouldn't expect professionals to make fun of such a classy ceremony, you'd expect them to want to be apart of it. But it's good that they can have a sense of humor about it and give the college students some entertainment. It doesn't really effect anyone, it's just a story that will make people smile or chuckle when they read it.

I think this is a good idea for Harvard to do because it gives the students a chance to express themselves while making fun of prestigious awards. Some may think its wrong that they're making fun of it but they're not doing anything wrong so it's fine.

This is my 4th blog and I am reallllll tired.

1. A quote that I had a reaction to that Coach K said was, "I believe God gave us crises for some reason-and it certainly wasn't for us to say that everything about them is bad. A crisis can be a momentous time for a team to grow-if a leader handles it properly." I really like this quote, because I honestly feel that way about everything thing. When something happens, even if it doesn't turn it good, you have to smile because it happened in the first place. You enjoyed it while it lasted and you have those memories to look back on and learn from the mistakes you made that are making it not work out now.
2. I think a lot of basketball coaches go by these traits. I don't know anyone personally who goes by any of these traits, but I would think that the tips and leadership things Coach K describes in here would be the same for them. For example when a player gets hurt, your parent mode sort of comes on, then when the player is taken care of you're back to being a leader and after that incident you have more of a drive to get your players back out there and get that win.
3. I personally don't think leadership itself is very important, because it isn't mandatory to be a leader to be live, but if you want to make good money and do something bigger with your life you need to have good teamwork skills and a team always needs a leader. It is important for us to look at what others do as leaders for inspiration because we don't know what to do already on our own.

Blog 3

1. The things I find interesting are the stories that Coach Krzyzewski shares throughout the book. For example one about a basketball game against Clemson where one of his players was injured. He was worried about the player but he couldn't act like what he called a "concerned parent", he had to be a leader. He had to call the plays that would make sure none of his other players would get hurt but make sure they still play hard and win.

2. Some traits that the leader of my book has talked about being important are communication, trust, responsibility, pride, and caring. He says that each one separately is important but all of them together are "unbeatable"

3. "Well if you're always striving to achieve a success that is defined by someone else, I think you will always be frustrated." I think this quote is important because most people have a someone they look up to or whose goals they'd like to achieve or exceed. But if that is the only thing that you try for you will end up getting frustrated if you can't achieve that. So you should set your own lower goal to work towards that is more realistic and achievable.

4. There was a time that I was in a situation where there was going to be alcohol involved. I'm against drinking, so I wasn't comfortable with staying where these actions were taking place. Everyone wanted me to stay and have fun, but that was just against my morals so I had to leave. When I think back to it now, I had two options. I could have stayed back to keep my friends safe while they were drinking, or take myself completely out of the situation; and I took myself out of the situation.

"Too many rules get in the way of leadership. They just put you in a box... People set rules to keep from making decisions."

1. So far this book kind of confuses me. He mostly tells stories about his time at Duke University, but they don't really tie in to leadership. The book is more about ways to get things going or how to run a basketball team, than how to be a leader. One thing it does do a good job of show though, is ethics. Mike Krzyzewski doesn't want his players to just scrape by in college, he wants them all to graduate and wants them all to love basketball. He says that if a player comes and doesn't plan on graduating or does anything to affect his schoolwork, he should not come to Duke University. One part that stuck out to me was in the second chapter when he talks about twelve years old and forming a basketball team at school.
2. So far my views on leadership have not changed.
3. I haven't really been put into a leadership situation. I'm a shy person and am not usually the person to step up and take charge for anything.
4. "Leaders have to search for the heart on a team, because the person who has it can bring out the best in everyone else." Coach K. This makes me think that even though I am shy and not very confident, I should try to be a leader if I have a good heart because I can make the people around me do good things also.

First Posttttt!

My book is called "Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life." This book is by Mike Krzyzeweski with Donald T. Phillips. The book talks about Coach Krzyzeweski's struggles and triumphs in basketball while coaching Duke University. In this book there are some tips for basketball and team building.
Whether the author is qualified to write a book about leadership is different to each person.
So far in the book there are experiences from Mike Krzyzeweski, experiences hes gone through with his team and other experiences hes had in his life so far.