Harriet Jacobs

Rather than have a more traditional essay on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, I’d like to hear your informal thoughts on the book. What did the book teach you about slave life? What were some of the most moving passages for you? What disturbed you the most? Was the book an optimistic one? Are there any moral lessons we can take from it to assist us right now in our lives? Please consider these or suggest your own questions as you ponder the life of Harriet Jacobs.

Waterboarding and other things

What do you think?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2206219,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2206219,00.htmlhttp://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/bstephens/?id=110010827

Optional:Waterboarding demonstration/simulation. Please be advised that the content on the following link may be disturbing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdswfKFt4wo

Who is your President?

Please look at the following two sites -- take the quizzes and share what you learned! If you don't know what an issue is, this would be the time to do just a little research. What are the most important issues to you in the upcoming election? Who is your President?

http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460

http://www.dehp.net/candidate/index.php

First Quarter

Because you all have so many tests this week -- let's take this week off from our blog. Look again next tuesday!

immigration

the good, the bad, the ugly -- how do you feel about immigration?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig25oct25,0,4001492.story?coll=la-home-center

Music and History

This week I am thinking about music and history and wondering if you could share with all of us one song in particular that strikes you as relevant for what you feel like you are learning. Of course it doesn’t have to be related to the times exactly, but perhaps appropriate for the feelings, thoughts, and ideas you’ve generated as a result of what we have been studying. What song captures what you’re thinking about in relationship to history? Ideally I’d like to play each of your songs before we officially begin class – so find a way to make that happen. Make a hard copy of the song, post a link (for a youtube video or an mp3 track) as you comment – find a way.

In terms of what to write this week – I want you to write about your song. Tell us why you selected it and why it matters to you. Make connections to what you are learning. And, as usual, comment on someone else’s ideas.

Please don’t save this for the weekend. I’d like to see the majority of you do this before Friday. Let’s all get online at some point Thursday night so we have time to listen and respond thoughtfully.

Bush and Health Care

An interesting issue that I hope creates some debate.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/09/14/get_childrens_health_bill_passed/

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709270353

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299129,00.html

What's meaningful to you?

This week I wanted to try on an idea by someone in my 6th period class who suggested rather than have two blogs, one dealing with the news and the other dealing with the content of our course and its significance for our lives today, that we would try both but rotate them every week. So this week I wanted to start an open-ended dialogue about the first six chapters of our text. There is so much material here, but is there something in particular that stands out as meaningful for you personally, meaningful for us collectively? What is it? Why is it meaningful to you? What does it remind you of? Why should we care? Why do you? I know this requires a different set of tools, but give it a try – we can make our second (or third or fourth) comments on anything that get’s mentioned. Tangents are welcomed.

Ahmadinejad, at Columbia, Parries and Puzzles

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/world/middleeast/25iran.html

curious to see what you think....lots to talk about with this one.

Clinton and Health Care

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/washington/17cnd-clinton.html?hp

These are the rules: you must post your own thoughts and you must comment on the thoughts of someone else. This requires that you know what the article is about and that you formulate an opinion about what you’ve read. Find a way to shape your own unique voice – don’t simply repeat the comments of others or say you agree. Be specific – what works? What doesn’t? What would you do differently? Is there a solution? What is it? – are some questions you might contemplate as you read and comment. I want us to dialogue about the news rather than simply try and memorize what’s happening. Dialogue begins with knowledge and is always respectful, but I hope also controversial! Don’t be afraid to have an opinion – that’s the point.