Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth

Seems like a nightmare, there's been so many now
The gunshots ring so loud and time seems to stop 
We swore that this would be the last time
The people would be the victims of violet crime

Whatever happened to Peace on Earth?
The time when we celebrate Jesus' birth? 
Tell me when did we lose our humanity? 
How did we cause all this insanity?

This year's brought violence 
To our front doors
Now there's an eerie quietness
And blood on the floor 
We ask ourselves how 
And we ask ourselves why

While we debate the 5th Amendment
And sit in judgement
Watching others suffer
Praying there won't be another.

Whatever happened to Peace on Earth?
The time when we celebrate Jesus' birth? 
How do we decide what a human life is worth?
Whatever happened to Peace on Earth?'
Whatever happened to Peace on Earth?

Paris is Burning

In the headlines on Yahoo "Images from Paris attacks!" "This is an act of war" and so on.
Comments pop up on social media platforms condemning all Muslims just like after 9-11 and every terrorist attack since. I have friends who are Muslim, Jewish, Christians, Buddhists etc. They come from every religion, every walk of life. It is not the religion to be condemned, it is not even the terrorists who are to be condemned. (You may now take two minutes to yell at the computer regarding this sentence before moving on) Mother Theresa believed and Buddhists (from what I understand about the religion) believe that what you put out into the universe comes back on you 10 fold. If you put out into the universe the condemnation of terrorists then terrorism will come back 10 fold. Instead put out into the universe prayers/good thoughts/wishes for the people of France. As Josh Lyman said in my favorite TV show The West Wing "You want to get these people? I mean, you really want to reach in and kill them where they live? Keep accepting more than one idea. It makes them absolutely crazy."  I am also struck by a quote from the same episode when the following conversation takes place between a visiting high school class and Sam Seaborne "GIRL 1 You know a lot about terrorism? SAM I dabble. GIRL 1 What are you struck by most? SAM It's 100% failure rate. GIRL 1 Really? SAM Not only do terrorists always fail at what they're after, they pretty much always succeed in strengthening whatever it is they're against." 
Our global neighbor's house is burning. Right now let's offer comfort and prayers to our global neighbors the French. Let the French governments decide what to do about the terrorists. Terrorists been around for thousands of years since the world began, they'll be around for thousands of more until the world's end. There exists both good and evil in the world. The only way to combat the evil in the world is by doing good. Whatever that means to you.

For me doing good means praying for the people of Paris. Praying for Peace with Justice throughout the world and tomorrow going to my church and joining others there in prayer. Let the flames of freedom and Justice burn even more brightly tonight. 

In praise of the B word

In praise of the B word.
If by being a bitch you mean:
I'm a strong independent woman.
I'm a woman who knows her own mind.
I'm a woman who doesn't suffer fools.
I stand up for myself.
I stand up for what I believe.
I stand up with and for my friends.
I love my family and friends.
Most of all I love myself.

If that makes me a bitch in your book that's fine with me. 

What message are we sending to our kids?

I wrote the following letter to my Summer School Students:

To My Wonderful Summer School Class:

I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you guys what a joy it’s been to have you all in class this summer. Summer School was probably not high on your wish list for how to spend 4 weeks out of your already too short Summer Vacation. I hope I’ve made the experience an enjoyable one for you, or at least, a relatively painless one. You have made teaching Summer School an enjoyable experience for me. Since I substitute in the district I might see some of you if I sub at the high school.  I wanted to leave you guys with some final thoughts and advice so here they are:

1.      Don’t ever put yourself down. You are your own champion and sometimes your own worst critic. If you forget what you’re worth, contact me and I’ll remind you.

2.      Don’t ever let anyone else ever put you down.

3.      Ask for help. Whether it’s something in class you don’t understand or something outside of class you need help with ask. We all need help at some point or another. Even adults.

4.      Ask questions. Adults may not have all the answers but chances are we’ve been around long enough to have at least looked for the answer

5.      Remember “Carpe Diem” seize the day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Two of my students thanked me for the letter and said they had never been told this by anyone. I told them I wanted them to know that even though I wasn't their teacher anymore, I still cared about what happens to them. I thought afterwards however, what messages are these kids getting elsewhere? Are they being told anything positive? How often does society "throw away" kids and leave them to the schools and the prison systems and then blame the parents or the school, or the kids for being "bad seeds." When do these kids get nurtured? Just because they're not all cute and squishy like when they're babies and sometimes, yes can be difficult doesn't mean they don't still deserve to be loved. My brother Will says to me periodically he doesn't know why anyone in the family still talks to him and love him after all the crap he pulled when he was teenager (long story short in and out of juvenile hall and then county jail until he eventually got his act somewhat together). I tell him what our great aunt Flo used to say "You do for family." What about the kids who don't have families or who have families that for whatever reason aren't there for them? Who is there for them? So, as always I'll be there for my former students whenever they need me. Even when they're all grown up and don't need Miss B anymore, I'll know I've done all I can to help them succeed.