)
I believe one of the most pressing and important issues within the LGBT community in America today is the issue of same sex marriage.
Throughout this video, Obama expresses his opinions and his adamant stance on same sex marriage. Relating the issues to his personal life, ie work relations and friends, then talking of the issue on a much grander scale, including military personnel and of the country as a whole.
At one point he talks of dismissing 'don't ask don't tell' within the military as a standard practice, and acts as a full advocate of equality in the military, workplace, as well as in general.
Although Obama states 'same sex couples should be able to get married', he never actually makes any mention of same sex marriage becoming an institution, or a regular, legal practice.
Showing posts with label Lee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lee. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
NOW
National Organization for Women.
http://now.org/
Since its foundation in 1966 amidst the civil rights movements, the National Organization for Women has been at the forefront of feminist activism, using both traditional and non traditional means of protest throughout the US.
The main policies and ideals NOW fight for are; fighting for economic equality and employment rights (by way of securing a change to the US constitution), reproductive freedom, and abortion choice rights. Both of which are heated topics in the US today.
As well as fighting for employment and reproductive rights, NOW are also heavily involved in equal rights within the LGBT community. NOW also run campaigns against violence against women, another serious social issue today.
http://now.org/
Since its foundation in 1966 amidst the civil rights movements, the National Organization for Women has been at the forefront of feminist activism, using both traditional and non traditional means of protest throughout the US.
The main policies and ideals NOW fight for are; fighting for economic equality and employment rights (by way of securing a change to the US constitution), reproductive freedom, and abortion choice rights. Both of which are heated topics in the US today.
As well as fighting for employment and reproductive rights, NOW are also heavily involved in equal rights within the LGBT community. NOW also run campaigns against violence against women, another serious social issue today.
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (Mormons)
http://mormon.org/
The reason i have chosen to write my post on the Mormon faith is because it is a relatively new religion, in that it was founded and became popular AFTER America itself became a country, (officially founded by Joseph Smith in 1830).
Interestingly, although the main influence of the Mormon Church resides in Utah, North America, the majority of Mormon faith followers live outside of the USA.
The map below shows the percentage of Mormon faith followers in the United States;
Contritely, this map (below) shows the overall estimated population of Mormon faith followers across the globe;
By looking at the two maps, it is easy to see how the Mormon faith is more spread out, and not just centres in one dense place like it is easy to imagine.
After looking through the official Mormon webpage, a number of things are immediately apparent. Firstly, the Mormon Church, and it's followers a keen humanitarians, placing much pride in their community, missionary, and aid work both at home and abroad, stressing that 'we are all God's children, and that we should all help each other', secondly, the Church of Latter Day Saints is adamant that it is a rigorous and stringent CHRISTIAN group. Although arguments have been made in the past that this is not the case, the Church as earned recognition in the United States, and indeed world wide as to it's Christian background and affiliation.
Furthermore, although the Church operates as a 'strict' and stringent denomination of Christianity, it's doors are open to anybody, no matter of race, colour, creed, or background (including homosexuals), making the Church of Latter Day Saints arguably the most Christian of all the Christian faiths.
The webpage offers a FAQ's section, endeavouring to answer any important question one might have about the faith, including its politics, its stance on marriage, its history, and so on. All throughout the page maintaining that they are tradition Christians committed to helping those in need, and doing whatever they can to help out, no matter who is in need.
http://mormon.org/
The reason i have chosen to write my post on the Mormon faith is because it is a relatively new religion, in that it was founded and became popular AFTER America itself became a country, (officially founded by Joseph Smith in 1830).
Interestingly, although the main influence of the Mormon Church resides in Utah, North America, the majority of Mormon faith followers live outside of the USA.
The map below shows the percentage of Mormon faith followers in the United States;
Contritely, this map (below) shows the overall estimated population of Mormon faith followers across the globe;
By looking at the two maps, it is easy to see how the Mormon faith is more spread out, and not just centres in one dense place like it is easy to imagine.
After looking through the official Mormon webpage, a number of things are immediately apparent. Firstly, the Mormon Church, and it's followers a keen humanitarians, placing much pride in their community, missionary, and aid work both at home and abroad, stressing that 'we are all God's children, and that we should all help each other', secondly, the Church of Latter Day Saints is adamant that it is a rigorous and stringent CHRISTIAN group. Although arguments have been made in the past that this is not the case, the Church as earned recognition in the United States, and indeed world wide as to it's Christian background and affiliation.
Furthermore, although the Church operates as a 'strict' and stringent denomination of Christianity, it's doors are open to anybody, no matter of race, colour, creed, or background (including homosexuals), making the Church of Latter Day Saints arguably the most Christian of all the Christian faiths.
The webpage offers a FAQ's section, endeavouring to answer any important question one might have about the faith, including its politics, its stance on marriage, its history, and so on. All throughout the page maintaining that they are tradition Christians committed to helping those in need, and doing whatever they can to help out, no matter who is in need.
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
The Klamath tribes of southern Oregon.
The Klamath Tribes.
http://www.klamathtribes.org/
The Klamath tribe can be located to a federal reservation located in southern Oregon, just west of Medford, and south of Crater Lake national park. The tribe is a government recognised, as are many tribes in the USA. Although the tribe lost it's government recognised status as an official tribe tribe in the mid 20th century however regained status in 1986. At the time of termination (1956), the Klamath tribe were the second wealthiest tribe in the nation, and since its restoration in 1986, the tribe as had a 5000% growth rate.
On their official website, it states that the people of the Klamath tribe contribute upwards of $25 million each ears into the Klamath county region of souther Oregon through goods and services, including trade, such as casinos, and by avidly existing as an equal rights employer, employing 250 Klamath county (non tribe) tax paying residents. This is to ensure the tribe stick to their treaty agreement signed with the US government in order to gain recognition.
The mission of the Klamath peoples is; " to protect, preserve and enhance the spiritual, cultural and physical values and resources of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin Peoples by maintaining the customs and heritage of our ancestors. To establish comprehensive unity by fostering the enhancement of spiritual and cultural values through a government whose function is to protect the human and cultural resources, treaty rights, and to provide for the development and delivery of social and economic opportunities for our People through effective leadership."
I think that by looking at the above, taken from the Klamath website offers interesting ideas about community, family, the importance of cultural value, and spirituality, while insisting on the importance of cultural and human resources, human rights, and above all treaty rights. I think that by looking at the integration of the Klammath peoples with the non tribal communities in the area, shows the Klamath tribes as a progressive tribe.
http://www.klamathtribes.org/
The Klamath tribe can be located to a federal reservation located in southern Oregon, just west of Medford, and south of Crater Lake national park. The tribe is a government recognised, as are many tribes in the USA. Although the tribe lost it's government recognised status as an official tribe tribe in the mid 20th century however regained status in 1986. At the time of termination (1956), the Klamath tribe were the second wealthiest tribe in the nation, and since its restoration in 1986, the tribe as had a 5000% growth rate.
On their official website, it states that the people of the Klamath tribe contribute upwards of $25 million each ears into the Klamath county region of souther Oregon through goods and services, including trade, such as casinos, and by avidly existing as an equal rights employer, employing 250 Klamath county (non tribe) tax paying residents. This is to ensure the tribe stick to their treaty agreement signed with the US government in order to gain recognition.
The mission of the Klamath peoples is; " to protect, preserve and enhance the spiritual, cultural and physical values and resources of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin Peoples by maintaining the customs and heritage of our ancestors. To establish comprehensive unity by fostering the enhancement of spiritual and cultural values through a government whose function is to protect the human and cultural resources, treaty rights, and to provide for the development and delivery of social and economic opportunities for our People through effective leadership."
I think that by looking at the above, taken from the Klamath website offers interesting ideas about community, family, the importance of cultural value, and spirituality, while insisting on the importance of cultural and human resources, human rights, and above all treaty rights. I think that by looking at the integration of the Klammath peoples with the non tribal communities in the area, shows the Klamath tribes as a progressive tribe.
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
On line review of Push.
http://www.womanist-musings.com/2011/09/review-of-push-by-sapphire.html
Throughout this on line book review, the writer makes it explicitly clear that the brutally real and uncomfortably graphic style of narration throughout makes for a difficult read, claiming the book as 'brutally real', and 'shocking'.
The writer, on more that one occasion throughout the review, refers to issues of sexuality, listing some of the key homosexual characters in the book, notably Miss Rain, the protagonists teacher at the Alternative school, noting her as 'the first positive gay person in Clarice's life'. I think it is important to mention, or at least make reference to the homosexual view point throughout the book, as the author Sapphire is a lesbian.
The review often makes reference to the heavy features of race and class within the book. Suggesting an evident imbalance of society, especially in relatively impoverished areas such as Harlem, where the book is set, noting how Clarice 'fell though the cracks of the system', as poor black girl, Clarice simply never had a chance, and unfortunately, this can be found all too commonly within lower class America.
http://www.womanist-musings.com/2011/09/review-of-push-by-sapphire.html
Throughout this on line book review, the writer makes it explicitly clear that the brutally real and uncomfortably graphic style of narration throughout makes for a difficult read, claiming the book as 'brutally real', and 'shocking'.
The writer, on more that one occasion throughout the review, refers to issues of sexuality, listing some of the key homosexual characters in the book, notably Miss Rain, the protagonists teacher at the Alternative school, noting her as 'the first positive gay person in Clarice's life'. I think it is important to mention, or at least make reference to the homosexual view point throughout the book, as the author Sapphire is a lesbian.
The review often makes reference to the heavy features of race and class within the book. Suggesting an evident imbalance of society, especially in relatively impoverished areas such as Harlem, where the book is set, noting how Clarice 'fell though the cracks of the system', as poor black girl, Clarice simply never had a chance, and unfortunately, this can be found all too commonly within lower class America.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Anti immigration group website; the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) http://www.fairus.org/
Founded in 1979, FAIR was set up specifically to take action through political means, to instigate change within the government's immigration policies, making it harder for immigrants to gain entry to the United States.
With more than 250 000 members ranging from far right Conservatives, to far left Liberals, including politicians and regular citizens, FAIR operates as a non profit organization relying on donations and membership subscriptions from it's many affluent members and supporters.
FAIR goals;
-To end illegal immigration through enforcement of existing immigration laws, as well as the application of mew technology
-To set legal immigration to the lowest feasible levels consistent with the nation security, economic, demographic, environmental and socio-cultural interests of the present and future.
Fair Objectives;
-To increase public awareness and understanding of the causes and effects of immigration through sharing research and policy analysis.
-To inform leaders in academe, government, and the media, as well as the public at large of the costs of uncontrolled immigration.
-To influence public policy directly by lobbying and by protecting the citizens' rights in the courts.
Although FAIR are not completely against legal immigration, they do insist legal immigration should be capped at numbers as low as 300,000 per year. Throughout their website you can find facts of legal and illegal immigration. Including an interesting interactive map showing immigration in real numbers;
http://www.fairus.org/facts
Pro immigration group website; Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. https://www.gcir.org/
Since 1990, GCIR has worked to promote philanthropy in an effort to advance contributions in order to address the needs of America's ever increasing immigrant communities, helping communities financially, legally, and through education.
Like FAIR, GCIR is another non profit organisation, relying on donations from members all across the country, ranging from Conservatives (although not many) to Liberals.
GCIR pride themselves on being an organization concerned with human rights, and equal rights, and do not discriminate within minority communities, thus building a bigger range of people to help when in need.
Immigration is a major part of the fabric of American society, whether you're for or against it, it is impossible to ignore it. I think that these two organization, like many others like them, being donation based really shows how much influence and power the average American can have, ergo making the topic a real issue for the general public. But one thing is certain, the United States always has been, and will continue to be a nation of immigrants in one sense of the term or another.
Founded in 1979, FAIR was set up specifically to take action through political means, to instigate change within the government's immigration policies, making it harder for immigrants to gain entry to the United States.
With more than 250 000 members ranging from far right Conservatives, to far left Liberals, including politicians and regular citizens, FAIR operates as a non profit organization relying on donations and membership subscriptions from it's many affluent members and supporters.
FAIR goals;
-To end illegal immigration through enforcement of existing immigration laws, as well as the application of mew technology
-To set legal immigration to the lowest feasible levels consistent with the nation security, economic, demographic, environmental and socio-cultural interests of the present and future.
Fair Objectives;
-To increase public awareness and understanding of the causes and effects of immigration through sharing research and policy analysis.
-To inform leaders in academe, government, and the media, as well as the public at large of the costs of uncontrolled immigration.
-To influence public policy directly by lobbying and by protecting the citizens' rights in the courts.
Although FAIR are not completely against legal immigration, they do insist legal immigration should be capped at numbers as low as 300,000 per year. Throughout their website you can find facts of legal and illegal immigration. Including an interesting interactive map showing immigration in real numbers;
http://www.fairus.org/facts
Pro immigration group website; Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. https://www.gcir.org/
Since 1990, GCIR has worked to promote philanthropy in an effort to advance contributions in order to address the needs of America's ever increasing immigrant communities, helping communities financially, legally, and through education.
Like FAIR, GCIR is another non profit organisation, relying on donations from members all across the country, ranging from Conservatives (although not many) to Liberals.
GCIR pride themselves on being an organization concerned with human rights, and equal rights, and do not discriminate within minority communities, thus building a bigger range of people to help when in need.
Immigration is a major part of the fabric of American society, whether you're for or against it, it is impossible to ignore it. I think that these two organization, like many others like them, being donation based really shows how much influence and power the average American can have, ergo making the topic a real issue for the general public. But one thing is certain, the United States always has been, and will continue to be a nation of immigrants in one sense of the term or another.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
K-12 Immigration
http://www.walworth.k12.wi.us/3-4%20Team/Stelling/Immigration%20Web%20Quest.htm
With the USA becoming increasingly an 'immigrant' nation, and with immigrant numbers predicted to continue to rise in years to come, the education of the youth on immigration has never been more important.
The K12 project i have chosen is made up of 4 parts; a timeline, a boys journey, tours of Ellis Island, and an immigrants friendly letter.
The timeline consists of students creating on line timelines including at least 7 dates which are important to US immigration, 5 of which must be when large groups of different immigrants entered the US. This part of the project is designed for students to discover for themselves gather an appreciation of the immigration history and diversity of the United States.
A boys journey involves students reading A boys journey by Seymour Rechtzeit (a story of a boys journey from Poland to the USA in the 1920s) on the Scholastic webpage. After each chapter, students are asked a series of questions challenging what they have took from the book, while challenging their opinions of immigration in the story. This section is designed for the students to encounter a real life retelling of the immigration process to the USA.
Tours of Ellis Island involves students taking interactive tours of Ellis Island and making notes for the next section; an immigrants friendly letter.
An immigrants friendly letter involves students using the information they have learned from the rest of the project to put themselves in the place of an immigrant and to write a first person letter back to their homeland. This portion of the project is designed to literally put the students in place of an immigrant and make them think along the same lines, and see the world as they do.
All of the sections of the project above revolve around inclusion, diversity, understanding, and compassion. I think that overall the project teaches on the theories of the salad bowl, in that although there are so many different races, ethnicities, and so on, the one common denominator is that they all share the same land, and that they are all American.
With the USA becoming increasingly an 'immigrant' nation, and with immigrant numbers predicted to continue to rise in years to come, the education of the youth on immigration has never been more important.
The K12 project i have chosen is made up of 4 parts; a timeline, a boys journey, tours of Ellis Island, and an immigrants friendly letter.
The timeline consists of students creating on line timelines including at least 7 dates which are important to US immigration, 5 of which must be when large groups of different immigrants entered the US. This part of the project is designed for students to discover for themselves gather an appreciation of the immigration history and diversity of the United States.
A boys journey involves students reading A boys journey by Seymour Rechtzeit (a story of a boys journey from Poland to the USA in the 1920s) on the Scholastic webpage. After each chapter, students are asked a series of questions challenging what they have took from the book, while challenging their opinions of immigration in the story. This section is designed for the students to encounter a real life retelling of the immigration process to the USA.
Tours of Ellis Island involves students taking interactive tours of Ellis Island and making notes for the next section; an immigrants friendly letter.
An immigrants friendly letter involves students using the information they have learned from the rest of the project to put themselves in the place of an immigrant and to write a first person letter back to their homeland. This portion of the project is designed to literally put the students in place of an immigrant and make them think along the same lines, and see the world as they do.
All of the sections of the project above revolve around inclusion, diversity, understanding, and compassion. I think that overall the project teaches on the theories of the salad bowl, in that although there are so many different races, ethnicities, and so on, the one common denominator is that they all share the same land, and that they are all American.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND
UNCF- United Negro College Fund.
http://www.uncf.org/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6X-M7riOHo
The United Negro College Fund, or UNCF, is a charity set up in 1944 in order to provide college education to African-American students from low or moderately low family incomes. The charity over the years has aided more than 400,000 students earn degrees, though working with over 900 colleges across the country.
As the United States of America is such a vast and widely varied nation, acting as a melting pot for people of different race, religion, ethnic background, and other distinguishing attributes. It's evident that personal and cultural identity are prevalent. You can see this by looking at the multitude of cultural, racial, and personal identity advocacy groups present in the USA.
Historically, African-Americans have been severely mistreated. In fact up until the 1950's civil rights movements, African-Americans had very few rights at all. The reason i have chosen UNCF to explain the importance of identity in America is simply because of the fact that UNCF exists. And what i mean by that is, even though we live in the 21st century, as civilised as we think we are, that fact that African-American children (among others) are so disadvantaged that many of them rely of charities to provide education shows a huge cultural gap between the African-American community and the rest of the nation. This in turn says to me that the importance of identity simply says we're all different, and no two groups of people are the same. Although they share the same nationality, their cultural views, values, religions, and ways of life could be worlds apart. This is why identity is important.
The video linked at the top is from a UNCF add campaign aimed to promote the charity and to increase donations. The tag line at the end of the add (which is also the charity motto) says 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste'. This says to me that beneath things like race, sexuality, and so on, we're all human.
http://www.uncf.org/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6X-M7riOHo
The United Negro College Fund, or UNCF, is a charity set up in 1944 in order to provide college education to African-American students from low or moderately low family incomes. The charity over the years has aided more than 400,000 students earn degrees, though working with over 900 colleges across the country.
As the United States of America is such a vast and widely varied nation, acting as a melting pot for people of different race, religion, ethnic background, and other distinguishing attributes. It's evident that personal and cultural identity are prevalent. You can see this by looking at the multitude of cultural, racial, and personal identity advocacy groups present in the USA.
Historically, African-Americans have been severely mistreated. In fact up until the 1950's civil rights movements, African-Americans had very few rights at all. The reason i have chosen UNCF to explain the importance of identity in America is simply because of the fact that UNCF exists. And what i mean by that is, even though we live in the 21st century, as civilised as we think we are, that fact that African-American children (among others) are so disadvantaged that many of them rely of charities to provide education shows a huge cultural gap between the African-American community and the rest of the nation. This in turn says to me that the importance of identity simply says we're all different, and no two groups of people are the same. Although they share the same nationality, their cultural views, values, religions, and ways of life could be worlds apart. This is why identity is important.
The video linked at the top is from a UNCF add campaign aimed to promote the charity and to increase donations. The tag line at the end of the add (which is also the charity motto) says 'A mind is a terrible thing to waste'. This says to me that beneath things like race, sexuality, and so on, we're all human.
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