I think being the chair of a committee burns a person out just like being the teacher of a class. I like just showing up; that I can do. And do well. But when I have to assign and delegate and “move us along”… ugh. Double ugh, even. And I wonder how this kind of attitude keeps many people from being politicians. You know, like the good ones. Because I bet I could be a good leader. I mean, I am a leader in my classroom and … can be, to a certain degree, as a chair of committees. But, I don’t think I could handle that much responsibility. That much “watching what I say.” I could probably DO IT, but I wouldn’t WANT TO. Hmph.

Pre and Post Election sure brought out the political side of everyone and their dog.
This is what I’ve noticed. I don’t think I’m as guilty because I think a few of my close friends & family can vouch for the fact that I’ve been politically-charged ever since I realized the “politics in education” that favored white, married males who coached over blasphemous single women. Now, as for those I’ve known forever suddenly coming out of the woodwork to protest Obama… that’s another story. Either way, I hope we all continue to educate ourselves and move forward.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another.
We complain about “them” all the time.
No solutions given.

I’ve read quite a few blog posts lately about Obama and him being apparently “god-like” to his supporters. I don’t follow all the news as much as I should, but I’ve never looked at him like a god. I appreciate the fact he wrote a book about what to do with our nation (because I know publishing is tough, as is writing politically) and I like that he’s “green” as far as politicans go. Beyond making those two comments, I’m not going to write much more. Who cares? (At least, that’s how I feel today – I may have to make fun of a Bushism later.) Plus, as a nation, we pretty much detest politicans, policies, government… yet, what do we really do about it? Nothing. Blog about it, but that’s it. Ugh.

Moving on to things more important to me at this moment…

So, my first class o the semester went well. Composed of 27 males, which is okay. And all from three disciplines: Rec Engines, Electrical, and Diesel. I covered all I wanted to cover, and then was able to give them about 20-25min to get started/finish their Introductory Memos about themselves. It’s a great assignment to start with because they write about themselves, get introduced to the memo format, and when we read ‘em aloud tomorrow, they have a piece of paper in front of them and don’t have to wing it.

And now for some more prepping for tomorrow’s afternoon classes. As well as the redoing of Project 1 in English 105. Allison shows up sometime today; it’ll be awesome to see our rockin’ workstudy again.

One last thought about liberals & conservatives… it just came to me. As a liberal, I often have to watch what I say around conservatives (or say nothing at all – “Don’t say that in front of your grandfather”). Tippy-toe around them. Now, is it the same for them? I’d have to say “No” from my own personal experience.

Will uncomfortable subjects always be uncomfortable subjects?
A question I mainly pose to myself… with Xanga’s homepage providing insightful blog entries on racism, with the Olympics causing us to question more about culture and politics and rules, with an election coming up…

Uncomfortable subjects are those I detest talking about with my mom.
- But I endure them because I think differently than she does, and I’m oddly proud of that.
Uncomfortable subjects are those I bring up with anxiety in the classroom.
- But I bring them up because I feel that some (key word = some) freshmen haven’t truly thought of what they REALLY feel about certain things. Are they really okay with the US in Iraq, or has their father/grandfather told them about “those people” over there and how “when he went to war, …” because I have that family. I come from military. I’m still upset with what my uncle said about my sister’s former French boyfriend.
Uncomfortable subjects are those that are still whispered about.
- “He’s gay.” “She thinks Hilary is a bitch.” “Oh, yea, um, he’s in jail for touching a girl.” “They smoke weed together; that’s why they’re friends.”
Uncomfortable subjects are… not comfy, cozy, topics you can bring up at a random Thanksgiving dinner or even a bar scene with strangers or even friends.

Perhaps the reason I don’t think I’m a racist (to connect this to the recent conversations on Xanga) is because I’m willing to talk about my possible prejudices. GET THEM OUT THERE. In the open. Let others judge me as I supposedly & possibly judge others. When a black student in my classroom a few semesters ago accused me of treating the white students better than he and his buddies, I asked him out into the hallway. I looked him straight in the eye and asked him if he really thought that, or if it was something that should just be said in a predominatly white community college because it was the “cool” thing to accuse me of (or an easy thing to accuse a young, white female teacher of = sexism & ageism). Perhaps I should’ve cowered, worried about my job, but I knew myself better. I wanted to holler that, yes, I was treating them differently based on their efforts and attendance, like many of the students in that classroom (and in many of my classrooms). I do judge based on whether students show up and do the work; go ahead and nail me down for that. He later apologized. And sadly, dropped out of our college.

Just a semester ago, the word GAY was placed on my windshield in marker so I could read it when I plopped myself down to leave for the day. I guess it’s “out there” that I have no problem with homosexuals; this particular person wanted to do harm to me via my car because of that, I guess. I was frustrated, but I didn’t shrug it off. I filed a report, yet I’m sure nothing will happen.

In communities like mine, I wonder if these uncomfortable subjects will remain as such because it’s still acceptable to tell racist jokes, call people the N-word, make fun of homosexuals, etc. I get more looks when I ask people to not say those things in front of me than I do when I participate and tell a dumb blond joke.

Just a few nights ago, I was asked what religion I was, since my mom pointed out I’d “left” the Catholic faith. I replied, “Agnostic with a bit of Buddhism” refering to my love of the concept of karma. The woman across the table seemed, yes, uncomfortable. Moments later when I mentioned how I loved our family tradition of going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, she had to clarify that, “See, you’re still religious.” I simply frowned.

People want to be right.
People want to pinpoint who others are with jokes or interview-like questions. (Tell a joke, and you’ll see who else hates Mexicans.)
Yet people don’t want to be uncomfortable even when they put others in that situation.

QUESTION: With this being an election year (and an up-coming election semester), how can a teacher use conversations about the election (change, politics, advertising, media) in the classroom…? Or, firstly, CAN a teacher use that topic in the classroom? I say “heck yes” but I have a feeling I’m in the minority lately about that. For many of my students, this will be the first time they vote. It should be talked about, yes? Maybe not argued necessarily (and I’ll keep my anti-Bush comments to myself, promise), but talked about. This will affect their futures… jobs… gas prices… mortgages… their children’s educations…

To all those people who just love to say that people don’t change, I say, “You are WRONG.” Granted one can’t change another (unless they’re stealth-like and secretly manipulative), but I’ve noticed change in people lately. Big time. A lot has to do with the politics that surround us. Really. Can anyone truly follow through on a “campaign” promise anymore? There’s too much “red tape” and sometimes the ones who notice the change in others should probably just “take matters into their own hands” and do what needs to be done. For the good of their own stress levels. For the good of the country. For the good of the college. And then deal with getting hollered at later?

To all those people, too, who think that believing karma means I have to be a nice person all the time, I say, “Um, not so much chief.” Sometimes, the crappy karma that others have been producing needs to be snuffed out. Stopped. And if I gotta be the one to call them out on that crap, so be it. 

Someone who I thought was tough, who would call out others for their stupidity, recently didn’t do so. Complained about it instead. I thought, “What the heck?” So, no more of that… And the next person who says that students are stupid, I may have to “unleash the fury.” Students aren’t stupid; students can be lazy. Just like every other person I deal with on this planet.

What a lovely Friday rant, eh? Yes. Yes, indeed. And I am actually in a good mood.

“Don’t worry ’bout him; he’s just an old guy.”
The morning walk produced this awkward chain of thoughts in my head. I know a lot of “old guys,” and usually, but not always, they are the typical “dirty old men” too. Now, here’s my pondering: when I am around these sorts of “old men,” they’ll tell all sorts of jokes that offend everyone but themselves. Degrading sexist jokes, horrible racist jokes, and, of course, use the word I love to hear – the N-word (heavy sarcasm). Now, what I find INTRIGUING is that once the tables are turned on these lovers of free speech, they don’t like it too much. Tell a joke about President Bush or tell a story about a female basketball player, who after we went to war with Iraq, didn’t want to stand for the National Anthem, and all hell breaks loose. They like when free speech pertains to them, but just to them. And they’re usually all for a war because NONE OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE OVER THERE. And if they are, then they’d rather they die conforming than rebelling and heading off to Canada. Only sissies do that. One dies honorably if one dies in a dumb war.

*I have no idea why I’ve become so political lately, but I guess these things have crept into my brain.
*Did anyone see that Daily Show episode where he showed clips before and after the war?… How Bush flip-flopped or changed his mind on the necessity of timetables, for example (before the war, yes to timetables, now, not so much)… here’s a similar clip, but not the one I am thinking of.

con·ser·va·tive (adj.)  

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.

lib·er·al (adj.)  

1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.