Monday, March 28, 2011
Make Me Change
I believe as Americans we are spoiled. We expect everything to go our way and people to have things ready for us. We had a discussion in one of my classes about how when we go to other countries we expect for them to have a menu in English for us. So why is it we make it so difficult on non-English speaking people or people who learned Englis as a second language. We do not want to help accomodate them at all. We feel as though they should assilimilate as soon as they make the land. This is not to say that they should not try and learn the language, but I do feel as though we do not try and help them through the process. This is a land where people came to have freedom but I feel as though we are forcing people to lose sense of there heritage in some ways. I may be exteme with these statements but we have to realize that we have realize that we assume that we are dominant which we should change. This was just a small rant that I believe could be powerful.
My How Times Have Changed
Last week made me think about how much of a consumer I actually am. I really have to say that I did not grow up with a silver spoon but I definitely was not as misfortuned as some of the people I know. My parents tried their hardest to get me everything I needed, maybe not wanted but needed. I always remember that. It is one of those things that you really did not realize what you did not have until you were older. Then when you get older you realize you had just a little more than you thought a few years ago.
But my mother has said that I better have a great job because I have a very expensive lifestyle. I always look at her funny because I always felt that I worked hard for everything I get and I do not get everything I want. I feel as though I bargain well. But after ready a few chapters in Soul of a Citizen, I realize that my mother is correct. She says I get it honest. My father is the same way because he grew up with never receivng anything he wanted. My grandmother could not afford it. I guess I always wanted to be like my father. But I see now that I have to think about why I am actually buying things. Do I need them?
This society makes us feel as though we have to always be updated. In some ways we do. But I have come to a point now I believe that I can say that I am actually slowing down. I now have a phone that I am not tired of yet and it has been a year. I know that may not sound like much, but for the person I know I am and trying to get away from, that is alot!!!
NOW IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS!!!
But my mother has said that I better have a great job because I have a very expensive lifestyle. I always look at her funny because I always felt that I worked hard for everything I get and I do not get everything I want. I feel as though I bargain well. But after ready a few chapters in Soul of a Citizen, I realize that my mother is correct. She says I get it honest. My father is the same way because he grew up with never receivng anything he wanted. My grandmother could not afford it. I guess I always wanted to be like my father. But I see now that I have to think about why I am actually buying things. Do I need them?
This society makes us feel as though we have to always be updated. In some ways we do. But I have come to a point now I believe that I can say that I am actually slowing down. I now have a phone that I am not tired of yet and it has been a year. I know that may not sound like much, but for the person I know I am and trying to get away from, that is alot!!!
NOW IT'S TIME TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS!!!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Engaging Fathers...Investing in Families
On March 12, I had the opportunity to Attend Engaging Fathers...Investing in Families, an event that was put on by the Memphis Area Fatherhood Coalition (MAF-C). The event including to prominent psychologist on black fatherhood and families, Dr. Joe White and Dr. Wade Nobles. I have to say that they program was very thought provoking while touching on different areas.
There were workshops for first-time fathers, non-custodial fathers, and engaged fathers. Since I am not a father at this time, I decided to attend the non-custodial father since that was the same position my father was in. It was a very good conversation about the rights of non-custodial fathers and a great speech about how fathers who are incarcerated can still be involved in their children's lives. It made me realize how so many children also have aggression towards their fathers because of their mothers.
What I enjoyed the most was the barbershop talks. This were two portions of the event were men would get together on stage on bring up questions about parenthood, fatherhood, and manhood. Members of the crowd who had questions could come into the barbershop and getting a haircut while bringing their questions to the "old heads". What question that came up was can there be fatherhood without manhood? I was strange because many do not know how to answer that question. Some answered the question as if they were men so thats it, but did not think of the mentality it takes to be a man or a father.
I have to say this was an important event because to many black men, the barbershop is your first college in a sense. It is the place where you actually start putting critical thinking skills to use. You are at the barbershop starting at a young age all the way to adulthood. You learn and take what you learn and hopefully use it in your life. It is how many blacks learn in the community.
There were workshops for first-time fathers, non-custodial fathers, and engaged fathers. Since I am not a father at this time, I decided to attend the non-custodial father since that was the same position my father was in. It was a very good conversation about the rights of non-custodial fathers and a great speech about how fathers who are incarcerated can still be involved in their children's lives. It made me realize how so many children also have aggression towards their fathers because of their mothers.
What I enjoyed the most was the barbershop talks. This were two portions of the event were men would get together on stage on bring up questions about parenthood, fatherhood, and manhood. Members of the crowd who had questions could come into the barbershop and getting a haircut while bringing their questions to the "old heads". What question that came up was can there be fatherhood without manhood? I was strange because many do not know how to answer that question. Some answered the question as if they were men so thats it, but did not think of the mentality it takes to be a man or a father.
I have to say this was an important event because to many black men, the barbershop is your first college in a sense. It is the place where you actually start putting critical thinking skills to use. You are at the barbershop starting at a young age all the way to adulthood. You learn and take what you learn and hopefully use it in your life. It is how many blacks learn in the community.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What if?
Lets think back about our lives. I was born in 1988, so my knowledge about life, regardless of research, will be considerably different from others. Even with those differences, think about all the electronics in your life that you have used and/or upgraded. Hard to remember everything is it not? Thats fine, because we all will be like that. The problem is why do we have to upgrade continuously?
After the readings for this week it made me think about my life and how technology has affected it. I love my phone, the Droid X. I love my lap top and my flat screen television. But when somthing new comes out I will obviously want it. But what if something new did not come out every two months?
Lets think about if appliances and other products were made to last for a significantly longer time (which I believe they actually could be). We all the e-waste that we produce wouldn't the environment be much better. What if all this competition for people to have the newest whatever was cut down to maybe just twice a year. Maybe the economy would be better.
With all the toxic waste that is produced from electronics its hard to believe we are still stable individuals. I believe that they are needed but not to the extent that we have them now. Better made products will make for a better world. We have to think about the future and our children. What if they is taken away?
After the readings for this week it made me think about my life and how technology has affected it. I love my phone, the Droid X. I love my lap top and my flat screen television. But when somthing new comes out I will obviously want it. But what if something new did not come out every two months?
Lets think about if appliances and other products were made to last for a significantly longer time (which I believe they actually could be). We all the e-waste that we produce wouldn't the environment be much better. What if all this competition for people to have the newest whatever was cut down to maybe just twice a year. Maybe the economy would be better.
With all the toxic waste that is produced from electronics its hard to believe we are still stable individuals. I believe that they are needed but not to the extent that we have them now. Better made products will make for a better world. We have to think about the future and our children. What if they is taken away?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)