So now I have to worry about one of my T.A's being a bit of a ... caustic woman.
I had no problems with my students, which was a good thing but now I am worried about how will I get from this point of "being a T.A" to being an Teacher.
What do I do?
Friday, February 7, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
To be a Better Person
I have a visitor living with me.
I have problems with selfishness, and this experience will be one that I hope soften's my heart towards my brothers and sisters. I pray this because I want to become a good person and yet I am so worried because I know the thoughts in my heart and my ways are not "right" before the LORD. Therefore I pray that I can
a) Be a good Ghostwriter to those that need my writing skills.
b) Be a good brother to my fellow brothers/sisters that need my help (financial/emotional and spiritual).
c) Grow in Christ, for I am an evil person who has done/thought many evil things about my brothers and sisters.
Oh Help Me LORD !
P.oA. (c) 2014.
I have problems with selfishness, and this experience will be one that I hope soften's my heart towards my brothers and sisters. I pray this because I want to become a good person and yet I am so worried because I know the thoughts in my heart and my ways are not "right" before the LORD. Therefore I pray that I can
a) Be a good Ghostwriter to those that need my writing skills.
b) Be a good brother to my fellow brothers/sisters that need my help (financial/emotional and spiritual).
c) Grow in Christ, for I am an evil person who has done/thought many evil things about my brothers and sisters.
Oh Help Me LORD !
P.oA. (c) 2014.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
An Article on Racism and Classism
I just read an article about the Tiger Mom (Amy Chua) and her new views of success and how to attain it in this 21st century.
I haven't read her new book "Triple Package" but from the writer's analysis it's an ugly piece of work. I cannot wait to get my hand on it and find out what all the hullabaloo is about. You see according to the writer, she espouses that certain groups have been raised to believe they are special and have a manifest destiny to become great or successful in life. It's lists the Jews, Indian-Americans, Chinese, Mormon's, Lebanese, Nigerians, Cubans and Iranians. The basis of this analysis is based on the fact that most of these groups have a chip on their shoulder that drives them to succeed and prove that they are indeed the 'chosen people' in the world.
Reading the analysis, it is easy to agree with the writer that yes, something is definitely wrong with their point of view, but what is scary is how they have played with people's insecurities to espouse a selfish world view that builds on gaining more and more in a world where resources are already scarce.
Now I cannot help but wonder how true can their words be... But then I am a student of history and I realize that God is in control and his Will will be done on Earth as he wants it to be. Though I understand this intellectually sometimes I cannot help but marvel at "Why did it have to be like this?" Why did Jane and not Jill have to be poor and wretched?
You see India is a country of over 1 Billion people and not all of them are successful. In fact the great unwashed masses are living in squalor and poverty. So how can these people that believe themselves to be master's of the world allowing their brethren to suffer like so? To take what a select group of people that have managed to make it into the United States is doing as representative of a whole racial group is doing is such a bad method of analysis.
The United States was called 'mecca della dolla' by Italian peasants that emigrated here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Why? Because over here people could work, send money back home and still manage to live comfortable lives. The spirit of this country is to make money (gain resources) and that has always been its driving point since its foundation by a private Corporation (The Virginia Company) 400+ years ago. People forget this essential fact to their own detriment sometimes. Everything else, the infrastructure, the governmental bodies, the society was built to provide a means for corporations to exploit the residents and others (international) of their resources and energy.
But before I digress, To get back to the scope of my original subject "racism and classism", I wonder about Mrs. Chua-Rubenfeld's premise that it is people's hard work that brings them success. What part does God factor into all this?
See, this is what I mean ~ To say Africans, Latin Americans (which have become a racial group of their own... though many are but a mixture of African, European and Native American heritage) and others are inferior because they don't have a culture of believing in their own manifest destiny is a racist statement. Everybody believes they are part of a group that is the center of the Universe in the eyes of the Creator (Father to us all). We have this ingrained in us as children, because we are the focus of all the attention of our parents and it takes years of careful 'deprogramming to rid us of this mindset. + Why is having a culture that believes in its own superiority necessarily a good thing? The Jews believed they are the chosen people of God (and in a manner of speaking they are correct... The Creator came through the Jewish people) but look at how they treated the Savior of Humanity (the blessing of Abram, the Portion of Jacob) and how they were punished by the almighty because of it. tsk tsk tsk
>So many people are slaves that work very hard across the globe and are not allowed (by circumstance, their masters and even by just their location) + the lack of knowing they can change. Why have those people not found peace and leave away their slavery?
>Wealth is not found in money, cars and nice cars or nice clothes. True wealth is found in God himself, nothing more, nothing less. You may search the whole world, create a lot of mental paradigms to associate with wealth and convince yourself that your gaining material resources will allow you to change the material outlook of others but remember this always... If you cannot be generous with little, you will not be generous with much.
I haven't read her new book "Triple Package" but from the writer's analysis it's an ugly piece of work. I cannot wait to get my hand on it and find out what all the hullabaloo is about. You see according to the writer, she espouses that certain groups have been raised to believe they are special and have a manifest destiny to become great or successful in life. It's lists the Jews, Indian-Americans, Chinese, Mormon's, Lebanese, Nigerians, Cubans and Iranians. The basis of this analysis is based on the fact that most of these groups have a chip on their shoulder that drives them to succeed and prove that they are indeed the 'chosen people' in the world.
Reading the analysis, it is easy to agree with the writer that yes, something is definitely wrong with their point of view, but what is scary is how they have played with people's insecurities to espouse a selfish world view that builds on gaining more and more in a world where resources are already scarce.
Now I cannot help but wonder how true can their words be... But then I am a student of history and I realize that God is in control and his Will will be done on Earth as he wants it to be. Though I understand this intellectually sometimes I cannot help but marvel at "Why did it have to be like this?" Why did Jane and not Jill have to be poor and wretched?
You see India is a country of over 1 Billion people and not all of them are successful. In fact the great unwashed masses are living in squalor and poverty. So how can these people that believe themselves to be master's of the world allowing their brethren to suffer like so? To take what a select group of people that have managed to make it into the United States is doing as representative of a whole racial group is doing is such a bad method of analysis.
The United States was called 'mecca della dolla' by Italian peasants that emigrated here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Why? Because over here people could work, send money back home and still manage to live comfortable lives. The spirit of this country is to make money (gain resources) and that has always been its driving point since its foundation by a private Corporation (The Virginia Company) 400+ years ago. People forget this essential fact to their own detriment sometimes. Everything else, the infrastructure, the governmental bodies, the society was built to provide a means for corporations to exploit the residents and others (international) of their resources and energy.
But before I digress, To get back to the scope of my original subject "racism and classism", I wonder about Mrs. Chua-Rubenfeld's premise that it is people's hard work that brings them success. What part does God factor into all this?
See, this is what I mean ~ To say Africans, Latin Americans (which have become a racial group of their own... though many are but a mixture of African, European and Native American heritage) and others are inferior because they don't have a culture of believing in their own manifest destiny is a racist statement. Everybody believes they are part of a group that is the center of the Universe in the eyes of the Creator (Father to us all). We have this ingrained in us as children, because we are the focus of all the attention of our parents and it takes years of careful 'deprogramming to rid us of this mindset. + Why is having a culture that believes in its own superiority necessarily a good thing? The Jews believed they are the chosen people of God (and in a manner of speaking they are correct... The Creator came through the Jewish people) but look at how they treated the Savior of Humanity (the blessing of Abram, the Portion of Jacob) and how they were punished by the almighty because of it. tsk tsk tsk
>So many people are slaves that work very hard across the globe and are not allowed (by circumstance, their masters and even by just their location) + the lack of knowing they can change. Why have those people not found peace and leave away their slavery?
>Wealth is not found in money, cars and nice cars or nice clothes. True wealth is found in God himself, nothing more, nothing less. You may search the whole world, create a lot of mental paradigms to associate with wealth and convince yourself that your gaining material resources will allow you to change the material outlook of others but remember this always... If you cannot be generous with little, you will not be generous with much.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
New Job
So I want to become a teacher. Why? Because I want to make a difference in society, hopefully by teaching critical thinking skills to the Youth. If I can get tomorrow's youth to understand why and how the world works, then hopefully I can get them to understand how and why they must change society (for the better).
As it is, I recently accepted a position as a Teacher's Assistant working for a Special Education Consortium here in Tunnels & Bridges. I work with students on the lower end of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. I work in a classroom that has 6 students and 3 to 4 members of staff. From what I have been told, there are two real trouble makers in the class. I worry about how to control them, particularly without using undue physical restraint. You see this consortium has these strict rules on how and why their students should be controlled in a 'out-of-control situation.
This position I am currently in a 'long term sub' position. Which means I will be working until the end of the school semester. But I can only work 4 days a week and I must be on my toes constantly. I have to combat both boredom and frustration with what we are doing here. What am I doing, Why am I so fortunate and where am I supposed to go from here?
I was offered the long term position as a daily sub on the last day of training (yeeaah!) but now I am working with children that have Autism. Special Education was so far down my list of "classes I would teach" that I am shocked I am even in this position. What do I do from here?
Then there is the fear... Fear that I am not good enough, fear that my student wont respect me, fear that I wont go up the ladder, that I am stuck as a Daily Sub T.A. for the rest of my existence at the Consortium.
This is on top of all the other personal problems I currently have and that is not making life any easier for me whatsoever.
I know I must be strong, I am just scared that I will be the wrong type of strong or even worse.. not strong enough.
oh Lord... What do I do?
As it is, I recently accepted a position as a Teacher's Assistant working for a Special Education Consortium here in Tunnels & Bridges. I work with students on the lower end of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. I work in a classroom that has 6 students and 3 to 4 members of staff. From what I have been told, there are two real trouble makers in the class. I worry about how to control them, particularly without using undue physical restraint. You see this consortium has these strict rules on how and why their students should be controlled in a 'out-of-control situation.
This position I am currently in a 'long term sub' position. Which means I will be working until the end of the school semester. But I can only work 4 days a week and I must be on my toes constantly. I have to combat both boredom and frustration with what we are doing here. What am I doing, Why am I so fortunate and where am I supposed to go from here?
I was offered the long term position as a daily sub on the last day of training (yeeaah!) but now I am working with children that have Autism. Special Education was so far down my list of "classes I would teach" that I am shocked I am even in this position. What do I do from here?
Then there is the fear... Fear that I am not good enough, fear that my student wont respect me, fear that I wont go up the ladder, that I am stuck as a Daily Sub T.A. for the rest of my existence at the Consortium.
This is on top of all the other personal problems I currently have and that is not making life any easier for me whatsoever.
I know I must be strong, I am just scared that I will be the wrong type of strong or even worse.. not strong enough.
oh Lord... What do I do?
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Which was better (Part 1)
I have a friend that just moved from Tunnels & bridges headed to die Reichland. He married a reichborger woman, so he moved so he could be there with her - congrats to him (for managing to leave "Tunnels & Bridges") and for his upcoming marriage/baby.
He said something to me about Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean situation that shocked me. Well it was a racist statement, firstly but also because it made a little sense. He said "I call Zimbabwe, Rhodesia because things were better under white rule... Can you deny this statement?"
I had to think about this for a second.. Where things really better in Zimbabwe under white rule or not?
I have an uncle that grew up during the colonial era and he always praises that era as if it was the best of times. I have to wonder about that for a second... ~ What questions did I consider, Hm, here we go:
1. Rhodesia had a moderately developed infrastructure, unfortunately the majority of this infrastructure was created for the comfort of the oppressor class in Zimbabwe. You see, if you were of European ancestry, you automatically became part of the Upper class and were given advantages and support as necessary for your survival. Cheap Land, low cost loans, preference in Education, Employment and Social standing ~ all these were there for you.
2. Legally Europeans were placed in a position of authority and privilege. I remember reading a book by an African author who grew up in Zimbabwe when it was ruled by the Europeans. His sister and her husband were arrested because they were caught consuming European liquor. It was such a sad scene.
3. The wealth of the land was created by land stolen from the local African people, who were then forced by arbitrary laws created by the oppressor class (Europeans), to work on this same land for little to no pay for the economic benefit for the oppressor class. Here is an instance: My Great-Great Grandparents were forcibly removed from their land and forced onto crowded, less desirable land with all their livestock and families. They were then charged a "hut tax" of 2 pounds, payable in European currency only. So the young men and women were forced to leave their homes and families and take up employment with the oppressor class on their own land to earn money for a tax imposed by the same people who had disposed them of their land. By the way, this tax in no shape or form was used (for at least 60 years) to the benefit of the people paying the tax! My Great-Grandfather was given a homestead and build a family farm because he fought in the second world war for the oppressor class (we all know what sort of jobs the Africans enjoyed during that era, don't we?). He was given 10ha of land, while those veterans from Oppressor class were granted 50 - 100ha of fertile land. Congratulations !
Africans were mistreated and oppressed both economically and socially in the old Zimbabwe. Men could be called 'boy' and were never treated with respect either by their employers or the general Oppressor class. One of the arbitrary laws forbade Africans from buying land/educate their children/worship or trade in designated European areas. The Europeans lived high on the hog, while the vast majority of Africans suffered poverty.
After a long struggle, the Africans finally won concessions from the Europeans that allowed for political and social suffrage. Economic suffrage was denied (overtly at first but subtly later on) to them, but these people were so desperate that they took the deal (known as the Lancaster House Agreement) and prepared for ruling the country. These leaders later became the political rulers of the country. Personally I believe they were given personal incentives to sell out their people, which is so sad too when you think about it. The current leader of Zimbabwe is/was smart enough to know that if he agreed to this deal, it would take time for him to realize the development dreams/goals he and his colleagues had set.
Fast forward 33 years later... The nation is in economic shambles and everybody is angry at the ruler and are baying for his head. Supposedly he has been winning the elections in the country for the last 34 years, which we all know is a poppycock! The nation was created for economic exploitation. The majority of its raw materials (minerals, agriculture and livestock) were/are exploited outside the country (80% goes the the Global manufacturing centers in Asia).
Personally I would rather suffer in poverty than live in a palace while all this pain and oppression continues, but that is just me. So no! Life was not better under European rule, for it was a false rule that hurt many people... People are being hurt now, but this is not 100% their fault. We must always blame the Oppressor clique that is part of the Oppressor class (World Bank/IMF) ~ but that we will address another day altogether in the mean time...
Good/Morning/Afternoon/Evening
He said something to me about Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean situation that shocked me. Well it was a racist statement, firstly but also because it made a little sense. He said "I call Zimbabwe, Rhodesia because things were better under white rule... Can you deny this statement?"
I had to think about this for a second.. Where things really better in Zimbabwe under white rule or not?
I have an uncle that grew up during the colonial era and he always praises that era as if it was the best of times. I have to wonder about that for a second... ~ What questions did I consider, Hm, here we go:
1. Rhodesia had a moderately developed infrastructure, unfortunately the majority of this infrastructure was created for the comfort of the oppressor class in Zimbabwe. You see, if you were of European ancestry, you automatically became part of the Upper class and were given advantages and support as necessary for your survival. Cheap Land, low cost loans, preference in Education, Employment and Social standing ~ all these were there for you.
2. Legally Europeans were placed in a position of authority and privilege. I remember reading a book by an African author who grew up in Zimbabwe when it was ruled by the Europeans. His sister and her husband were arrested because they were caught consuming European liquor. It was such a sad scene.
3. The wealth of the land was created by land stolen from the local African people, who were then forced by arbitrary laws created by the oppressor class (Europeans), to work on this same land for little to no pay for the economic benefit for the oppressor class. Here is an instance: My Great-Great Grandparents were forcibly removed from their land and forced onto crowded, less desirable land with all their livestock and families. They were then charged a "hut tax" of 2 pounds, payable in European currency only. So the young men and women were forced to leave their homes and families and take up employment with the oppressor class on their own land to earn money for a tax imposed by the same people who had disposed them of their land. By the way, this tax in no shape or form was used (for at least 60 years) to the benefit of the people paying the tax! My Great-Grandfather was given a homestead and build a family farm because he fought in the second world war for the oppressor class (we all know what sort of jobs the Africans enjoyed during that era, don't we?). He was given 10ha of land, while those veterans from Oppressor class were granted 50 - 100ha of fertile land. Congratulations !
Africans were mistreated and oppressed both economically and socially in the old Zimbabwe. Men could be called 'boy' and were never treated with respect either by their employers or the general Oppressor class. One of the arbitrary laws forbade Africans from buying land/educate their children/worship or trade in designated European areas. The Europeans lived high on the hog, while the vast majority of Africans suffered poverty.
After a long struggle, the Africans finally won concessions from the Europeans that allowed for political and social suffrage. Economic suffrage was denied (overtly at first but subtly later on) to them, but these people were so desperate that they took the deal (known as the Lancaster House Agreement) and prepared for ruling the country. These leaders later became the political rulers of the country. Personally I believe they were given personal incentives to sell out their people, which is so sad too when you think about it. The current leader of Zimbabwe is/was smart enough to know that if he agreed to this deal, it would take time for him to realize the development dreams/goals he and his colleagues had set.
Fast forward 33 years later... The nation is in economic shambles and everybody is angry at the ruler and are baying for his head. Supposedly he has been winning the elections in the country for the last 34 years, which we all know is a poppycock! The nation was created for economic exploitation. The majority of its raw materials (minerals, agriculture and livestock) were/are exploited outside the country (80% goes the the Global manufacturing centers in Asia).
Personally I would rather suffer in poverty than live in a palace while all this pain and oppression continues, but that is just me. So no! Life was not better under European rule, for it was a false rule that hurt many people... People are being hurt now, but this is not 100% their fault. We must always blame the Oppressor clique that is part of the Oppressor class (World Bank/IMF) ~ but that we will address another day altogether in the mean time...
Good/Morning/Afternoon/Evening
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