Historic Moment

 

Never before has a former president been arrested and indicted multiple times!  This is a HUGE moment regardless of your political leanings.  So below is the mug shot and an article from NBC News about this Historic Moment!

NBC News Article 

Walkout for Julius Jones

 

I received permission from the student who took these!

Today, 11-18-2021, Booker T. students walked out for Julius Jones in hopes of putting a spotlight on Justice!  Julius Jones has evidence that proves his innocence, but he has been in prison for over 20 years!

So many students said they are SO proud of Booker T!  And their voices need to be heard!

Extinction Warning

 

If you pay attention to Government then you know Global Warming is a BIG TOPIC!!!!  It is often controversial.  I am NOT a scientist, but I am with them!  They  are experts in their field!  They are trying to warn us, and I believe it would be good to listen!

Transfer of Power

 Something that happens every four years in America is a transfer of power!  America elects a new president every four years.  Right now you need 270 Electoral Votes to win!  Check out 270towin.com!   It shows every presidential race since George Washington's presidency!  It is fun to look at!

The 1790s the Federalist Party had the Power then in the Election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson won!  A new party, the Democrat Republicans, was in power!  This was the first time in American History there was a transfer of power!  It was such a BIG deal that history remembers it as the Revolution of 1800!  People were nervous it would not go well?  And to a nice surprise the transfer of power was PEACEFUL!!!!

Every President since Washington has had a transfer of power, and if they lost the race they concede!  Right now our sitting President lost the election and is refusing to concede, and help with a transition!  It is crazy to think about!  But watch what happens!

We have a new president!!!

 November 7, 2020 America declared a new President of the United States - Joe Biden!!!!  It will interesting to see what happens next!  No matter how you feel about the Biden/Harris Administration you must acknowledge for the first time a black woman was elected Vice President of the United States!

 

We Lost A Giant!

 

She was known as RBG, and she was an Icon!  Her image was on masks, hats, t-shirts, and so much more!  But her name was Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and she was on the Supreme Court!  She was nominated by President Clinton, and there was a collective sadness when the world heard she passed!  RBG was in her 80s and sadly had Pancreatic Cancer!  

As a history teacher it will be interesting  to see what happens next!  Watch the process - we will all see it unfold on TV!

LBJ

Rob Reiner and Woody Harrelson made a movie about LBJ - President Lyndon B. Johnson.  It is FANTASTIC!  This depiction of LBJ was heart breaking!  You see a human side to this controversial president!  The film depicts LBJ's political career before JFK's assassination in the Senate, and after.  It was fascinating!  This man knew how to work the Legislative Branch!  In one scene he said he could speak their (Congress) language.   Go see this film!

Equality Wins!

 

Oh my goodness!  I was with my family when I heard the news!  We all started cheering, and even began crying!  This makes my heart so happy!  Gay marriage has not been an issue of morality, but an issue of rights being denied!  American Citizens were being denied their rights!  And that made me so mad!  I always knew the Supreme Court would have to decide!  They are the Supreme Law of the land!  We have to accept their decision no matter what!  This is HISTORY!!!

 

I love Harvey Milk!  I know he is dancing in Heaven!  He was an early champion for Gay Rights!  But ultimately he was an activist for all!  He wanted all to have their rights!

 

Here is the Real Milk, and I LOVE this speech!

Republicans and Democrats

 

Last week in US Government we looked at what is a Republican, and what is a Democrat.  I always like to remember to my students not one party is better than the other.  Not one is wrong, and not one is right.  This country is so polarized, and wants to make each other wrong.  I personally find it so frustrating.  Instead of pointing fingers, I wish the country would come together and try to find solutions to our very real problems!  Both parties have the extremes in party!  We need more moderates!

 

 

What both classes picked up on is Republicans are about the individual and smaller government.  Where Democrats are about the community and big government.  Both parties want the BEST for America, and want to see her be successful.  They just have very different ideas on how to get there!

 

Here are each party's platform.  Take time to read them, and see what party you agree with:

 

Democrat Platform

 

Republican Platform

 

Selma 50 Years Later

 

Yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday.  To remember that day, and the progress America has made Civil Rights Legends, Presidents, Black, White, Young, and Old made that famous walk.  I wish I could have been there!  President Obama made a speech to honor what happened on that bridge.  One of my favorite things he said was Bloody Sunday showed us hope and love can win over hate.

 

The Hive Gets A Special Guest!

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

 

Current Supreme Court

 

 

BTW got an amazing opportunity to host a Supreme  Court Justice.  Justice Sonia Sotomayor was talking at Tulsa University, and she chose to come speak at BTW.  The BTW Teen Advisory Board organized it.  A few weeks before they made a power point explaining who she was, and went to every English class telling the students about her.  That was wonderful because the students needed to know who she was.  I spent a day telling my students about her.

 

I wonder if the students get what a big deal she is!  Once someone becomes a member of this prestigious court - they have a job for life!  The have the awesome power to decide if laws are constitutional or unconstitutional!  Think about that for a minute.  That is incredible, and then America has to accept their decision whether we agree or disagree.  That is powerful!  And one of their members came and talked to us!  Boy we are lucky!

 

Role of the Supreme Court

 

President Obama nominated her to the court, and the Senate confirmed her.

 

I was so excited to hear what she was going to say to the students, and she did not disappoint.  One thing I loved was how down to earth she was.  She was so real, and you could tell that she care about people.  One impressive thing was she took a picture with every section.  Even the Freshman at the very top!  Here are the big ideas I got from her talk:

 

1.  Build Bridges

She talked about this a lot.  In every moment ask questions and get to know people.  She said she does not like selective groups because that is segregation.  Even if you do not understand a social situation.  Ask questions, and clarify.

 

2. Suck It Up and Do It!

She talked about not understanding everything.  She gave the example of Physics, but she did not let that stop her.  She sought out alternative texts that helped her understand better.  But ultimately you have to suck it up and do it!  That got a big applause from the teachers.  She also mentioned if you have never been overwhelmed by school - you are not challenging yourself.  Be a Life Long Learner!

 

3. Give Back!

She said when you go to bed you should ask yourself two questions: what new thing did I learn today, and what did I do today to help someone?  I loved that!

 

Justice Sotomayor was fantastic, and I did not want it to end!  I hope the students got a lot out of it!  She talked about her memoir a lot.  It is inspirational!

 

 

 





 

 



 

Liberty In North Korea (LINK)

On April 16th Liberty In North Korea did a presentation at BTW for my US Government students.  They came last year, and it was inspiring.  So when I had the opportunity to bring them again this year - I jumped at the opportunity.  Their purpose is this in a nutshell:  Put the focus back on the people.  Most Americans when you say North Korea we think about them wanting to Nuke America.  But LINK reminds us that there are 24 million people living under an oppressive government.  That is who they are trying to help. 

The stories will shock you about the living conditions in North Korea.  Ultimately my hope for my students are to appreciate the life we have in America!  There is a lot wrong with this country.  We all know that - we all could go around and say something that is wrong with America.  But there is a lot right, and when you compare America to other countries it is amazing!  Boy we live in a great country, where we are fee and have rights!

Last year in the video they showed us, a man was speaking about why he escaped North Korea.  He was blacked out, and his voice changed.  Because he had family still in North Korea and if he was found out they would be punished.  In North Korea if you do something illegal they punish not just you, but three generations.  Isn't that unbelievable?  But this guy said he escaped because he wanted to live life as a human being.  Because in North Korea you are not a human being.  When he said that it broke me heart!

This is what LINK wants to do - make a shift in people's thoughts about North Korea.  They are also lobbying the media to report about the people!

This is the documentary we saw!

 

Thoughts about Government

I saw this image and quote this weekend and I had to post it.  This quote encompasses my feelings about government perfectly!  I've decided when it comes to government I will always side with kindness and compassion!  Life is hard and sometimes life can throw you a curve ball.  I want a government that will help people!  Because you never know who will need help - it might be you.  I love the part where Roger Ebert says "we must try to contribute joy to the world.."  Think what our world would be like if we all tried! 

What is Leadership?

We just started the unit on the Executive Branch in US Government, and we did one of my favorite activities.  The class was divided into groups of 4 and they had to make a body that represented the president on a big piece of butcher paper.  They did not add detail because in the body they wrote in qualities and characteristics we look for in a president.  I thought it was great that two groups drew women.  That will be a good day when this country elects a woman to the highest office in the land.

Here are some of the characteristics and qualities the students said:

• Experienced
• Honest
• Religious
• Heart
• Respectful
• Patriotic
• Consistent
• Trustworthy
• Loyal
• Brave
• Intelligent
• Relatable
• In Control
• Loving
• SWAG
• Optimistic
• Hardworking
• Compassionate
• Generous
• Strong Minded
• Resourceful
• Charismatic
• Focused
• Open Minded
• Dedicated
• Decisive
• Thinks Outside The Box
• Tactical
• Good Speaker
• Not Biased
• Happy
• Truthful

 

All the Presidents that were made

 

Everyone loved "SWAGG" in the middle!

 

The woman president one group made.  Love it!!!

 

 

What is beautiful about America?

I asked this question the other day to my students, and was so surprised by their answers!  I thought they would say all the beautiful scenic places in America like:

California Beaches - It looks like Paradise!

The Mountains in Colorado!

Skiing!

Or even big cities like New York City!

No they did not say anything like those.  Here is what they said:

• The Opportunity In America!
• Our Freedoms and Liberties!
• Our Democracy!

I was so impressed with these answers!  They appericiate our country and the freedoms we have!