The following piece uses literature to examine the language used about school closings in Chicago.
As I listened to the dialogue about violence following the proposed school closings in CPS, I was reminded of Jack London’s Call of the Wild. London wrote,
He was a thing of the wild…. He must master or be mastered; while to show mercy was weakness. Mercy did not exist in the primordial (primitive) life. It was misunderstood for fear, and such misunderstandings made for death. Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law; and this mandate, down out of the depths of Time, he obeyed.
The idea that “more” blood will drip in the streets of Chicago as a result of the school closings that will force elementary-aged children to travel across neighborhood boundaries is a problematic narrative that we cannot endorse. Intimated in this narrative is a new coinage for our children – the wild. This is akin to calling African American children savages who only know how to react with violence. Secondarily, this is an indictment of the schools as they exist.
I am not writing as a naïf. I had to travel across neighborhood boundaries in Chicago, and I was forced to make a choice as a high school student attending a school in the Englewood neighborhood – carry a stick or strive for the national honor society. As I wrote in my book, Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males, I chose to do both. Students from Lindblom were often assaulted by students from Englewood and Harper high schools. Also, walking two blocks from 63rd and Wolcott to 61st and Wolcott was often fraught with tension for athletes (I should be a retired baseball player by now – look up my stats in the archives of the Sun-Times and Tribune – all-city varsity player for four years) who traveled after school hours without the presence of the Chicago Police Department. My concern at the time was about the quality of education some students were receiving that yielded a predatory stance against someone who looked like them. A closer view would yield that the same stance was taken within neighborhood boundaries by a small number of students, not the majority.
One of our colleagues often speaks about the need to move beyond language that forges a “tired narrative in favor of a new dialogue.” However, it is easier to remain entrenched in political and racial divisive dialogue and propaganda that have little leverage for interrupting the educational and economic hierarchies that find some students consistently at the bottom in ‘new schools’ and ‘old schools.’
I do not agree with the school closings and the accompanying deceitful rationales, but I have a problem with the language used by some to keep them open, namely the focus on the descent into violence. This essentially suggests that poor schools in a deteriorating society debased by inhumane actions by some children is okay as long as the violence is contained within neighborhoods instead of across neighborhoods.
As a faculty in a public research university, we have a responsibility to not only seek solutions for the impending changes, but also use language responsibly. As a child in CPS, I think I would have benefitted from both. I did not view myself as a “thing of the wild,” but I could have if I heard it often enough.
The new Caste system: Hot chips vs. Arugula
ReplyDeleteI am a middle-class vegan from the North side of Chicago. I am also a high school teacher in an economically depressed neighborhood on the same city’s southside. I bring food for my students that I would never feed my children. Not actual poison, but close--Genetically-modified, high-fructose-corn-syrup-filled, highly processed, multi-syllabic mystery food stuffs, treats commonly known as honey buns and chewies. My rational when I’m throwing it into my cart is that it’s what they eat anyway and with 100 little mouths to feed can I afford cuties and carrots? And even if money was not an issue would they eat the dried cranberries and kale chips I feed my blood children?
The Food and Drug Administration, a part of the federal government, advises eating organic for those who can afford it. We’ve reached a general consensus that certain genetically modified, pesticide-ridden foods are not good for humans. More and more medical research is showing highly-processed foods, low on fiber and nutrients and high in empty calories and sodium are the major contributor to food related chronic illnesses gripping our nation, like diabetes and heart disease. Links to behavior and gastrointestinal illness are also clear.
A caste system is a system which divided groups of people based on the economic and social strata they were born into.
I contest by reinforcing a system that condemns the poor to a diet that will kill them we have a established a new-caste system. The bottom of that caste system is a sea of hot chips and fruties. On the top is free-range, hormone-free, humanely killed sea bass. People who eat the later will live longer and have a better quality of life.
During his first run for President, Barack Obama stood before struggling farmers and claimed he understood the hardship of our recession economy by saying “I know how it feels. Has anybody seen the price of arugula at Whole Foods lately?” And they were all like what’s arugula and what’s a whole foods? It was a telling moment in our economically stratified society.
The divide between rich and poor is growing in America and it is also becoming more and more evident in our diets. If it is clear there is a significant connection between diet and health, then this is a serious violation of my understanding of the American Dream. He can we pick ourselves up by our bootstraps if we are so poorly nourished and overweight?
Forty years ago when women went to work in greater numbers (poor women by and large were already working, but who cares about them right?) the demand for processed food grew. Companies found ways to manipulate chemicals to create “super” foods we are evolutionarily designed not be able to resist, with concentrations of fat, sugar and sodium that cripple our digestive insulin-response system. They found cheaper and cheaper ways to make them, too. Due in part to farm subsidies which make growing wheat and corn profitable and also made them cheap, these foods found their way into all our foods. For this reason, there is corn syrup in soda, cereal, beef stew, pizza puffs and ice cream. This has come to mean the greatest number of calories for the lowest price are likely to come from highly processed foods based on these foods and their weird byproducts.
Contrary to common perception, food (all food) is cheap compared to days gone by. 400 percent cheaper than in the 1970’s thanks to new agricultural practices, yield-increasing genetic modifications and farm subsidies. In fact, according to The Atlantic, we spend less on food as a percentage of our income than any country in the world. However, I, and Oprah is with me on this, am saying the cheapness of this food is a paltry down payment on its future cost. If poor people are eating the poorest diets and these same people are doomed to medicare, and if their diets make them sick as scientists know very well it will, isn’t this a payment we’re all going to be making either in blood or money?
If this is so, if it is our best financial and moral interest is that everyone have access to good healthy, non-GMO, non-pesticide ridden food. One small change the US Government can make is to change the system of food subsidies to support spinach and kale instead or grain. By changing the incentive structure you can change how food companies and consumers behave. Another important change is to stop giving companies like Monsanto preferential treatment over farmers and human bodies. Recent legislation forbids labels about GMO’s to protect the company from bad press. Further, we as individuals have to learn how to feed ourselves less poison, regardless of our caste. Read labels, cook real food, grow some if you can, avoid processed food, eat an apple instead of a honeybun. I, for one, am going to stop contributing to the problem by no longer giving the students what they want. As the Rolling Stones once said, sometimes you get what you need. Enjoy your apples, kids!
ReplyDeleteA Satirical Proposal (Essay entry)
ReplyDeleteA proposal to rid America of her invasive species (a satire)
Background Knowledge
It is of a deplorable object that living amongst the honorable citizens of this great nation, there are more than eleven million undocumented immigrants (Preston and Shear). This country’s ultimate misfortune is to be plagued by such an invasive species, which have contributed to the economic strife most recently encountered in the United States. Those immigrants who have sneakily crossed into the U.S. borders take desirable jobs such as working as a nanny or as a farm laborer from the hardworking and willing Americans in want of work. Many legal citizens have been forced into unemployment by the manipulation of the illegals because they will work for fewer wages. It is of no fault of the honest, tax-paying business owners who have been enticed by the low rate of pay. No sympathetic American can hold a grudge against these business owners; they simply want to provide a better life for their families, even if doing so illegally by hiring undocumented citizens. Illegals have caused even these most patriotic business owners to turn against fellow Americans in want of work, thus destroying the unity of the country.
Aside from increasing the unemployment rate, illegal aliens are also responsible for the country’s debt. A 2005 study found that illegals pay an estimated seven billion dollars a year in taxes through personal identification numbers or fake social security car numbers (Porter). Nevertheless, they still continuously deplete the country’s resources for healthcare and education. Legal citizens’ tax dollars should not be used for an undocumented child to obtain a world-class American education or to be examined by a doctor in one of the best health care systems.
Not only are illegal immigrants partially responsible for the downfall of our economy, but also they threaten the unity and traditions of this country. From the 2000 population census, it has been predicted that one in five people living in the United States in the year 2020 will be Spanish-speaking (Sharp). This is unfair to the natives of America who speak English. We should not have to conform to the preferences of those who unlawfully live here. When the original colonists, immigrants themselves who wanted religious freedom, came from England and seized the land from savages, it was not intended to allow others to live freely as they chose. For example, the uncivilized savage populations, such as the Apache, the Sioux, and the Cheyenne, assimilated into the acceptable American culture. They learned to speak English, wore the culturally appropriate clothes, and worshipped the only acceptable God. Thankfully, these savages’ original cultures became extinct as they became Americanized. We cannot let this new population of savages threaten the great cultural tradition that is the United States.
Currently, there is a situation in the Florida Everglades where another invasive species is destroying the natural habitats and killing off the populations of those native to the area. The Burmese python has overrun the area, and the effects on the ecosystem has been great; raccoon, opossum and bobcat populations have dropped as much as 99% (CNN Staff, www.cnn.com). The Burmese python is an invasive predator that, after being released into the wild, caused mass destruction to its surroundings. Unless undocumented immigrants stop entering the United States, they too may kill off the native populations of white Americans.
The Proposal
ReplyDeleteTo save the United States from this epidemic of unwanted creatures, it is proposed that both invasive species be used to rid the country of the other. Currently, it is difficult to capture and kill the Burmese pythons in the Everglades. However, with the use of bait, officials will more easily catch and exterminate the snakes, and concurrently, will do the same with the undocumented immigrants. Because the pythons have already annihilated much of the natural species of the Everglades and it is crucial to the ecosystem to preserve what small populations are left of raccoons, opossums, and bobcats, it is recommended that the illegals are used as the bait to lure the pythons.
Much like the pythons, illegal immigrants avoid capture. Of the eleven million undocumented aliens in the country, officials must seize at least 100,000 of them to directly match the number of pythons in Florida (CNN staff, www.cnn.com). Due to the illegals’ evasive ways, it may be difficult to find and identify them. It is suggested that racial profiling of any persons looking like an undocumented immigrant be pulled over while driving, searched, and instructed to show proof of citizenship, much like what is already happening in Arizona with the law SB 1070, known to many as the “show me your papers” law (Berry and Billeaud). Officials will be trained to identify general characteristics of illegals so that they are more easily recognizable. This proposal also suggests that patriotic Americans may stop any questionable persons on the street and hold them without reason until authorities arrive. Lastly, knowing that many illegals have counterfeit citizenship papers, officials may use sound judgment to decide if a person is a resident of the United States or posing to be one and has the authority to confiscate and destroy all papers. With the cooperation of law enforcement officers and citizens alike, this plan will be successful.
Upon capture, illegals will be held in an undisclosed detention center, not unlike the one at Guantanamo Bay where suspected terrorists were tortured, until they can be of use to the country. The illegals will be trained on how best to lure the pythons to them. Because documents will have to be printed in Spanish and thus use the taxpayers’ dollars, food and shelter will be minimal so that further spending is not wasted. Once properly trained, the illegals will be released into the Everglades where one of two situations will occur: the python will eat the illegal, thus getting rid of one invasive species, or the illegal will kill the python, still getting rid of one invasive species. If the illegal survives, he or she will continue to hunt and kill the snakes until his or her natural death.
This proposal will not only benefit the United States of America by decreasing the number of aliens living within her borders, but will also help to restore the economy and morale of the people. Advantages to this proposal include, but are not limited to those listed below:
Advantages to this proposal
• Rid the country of illegal immigrants by way of death or fright (illegals will leave the U.S. voluntarily)
• Deter other illegals from entering the country for fear of capture and death
• Boost the employment rate for legal U.S. citizens because they will get their jobs back
• Will help restore the natural ecosystem of the Everglades as the unnatural predator, the Burmese python, decreases in number
• Will boost the economy in the fashion industry—more snakeskins will be available for boots, belts, shoes, purses, and wallets.
• Will restore the original pride and patriotism in America, the home of the free.
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ReplyDeleteThe Business of Coffee
DeleteBy: Julie Grubb
If you are someone like me you need to have coffee on a daily basis. Okay, so you don’t really need it, but you feel like you do to get your day started. Have you ever stopped to think about how that glorious cup of coffee was made possible? Well sure, it comes from that airtight bag from the coffee shop down the street, but how does this process start?
The timeline for coffee may be a lot longer than you think. Coffee grows on trees in warm, tropical climates. Coffee trees, like any other trees, take years to mature. Coffee trees can take up to five years to develop fully to the point where they are producing fruit. The legend is that coffee was discovered after a man named Kaldi from Ethiopia noticed his goats were too wired to sleep after eating berries from the coffee tree. This lead to a drink made with these berries which ultimately led to coffee as we know it today.
You might be thinking, ‘coffee is a fruit?’ but you would be wrong. The coffee bean isn’t a fruit; it is the bean or seed inside the berry that grows on the tree. Once the fruit grows on the tree the berries are removed to harvest the precious coffee beans. There is no need for the berry, so this is discarded and the bean is saved.
There are two ways to harvest coffee beans. The older method is dry processing. In this method the berries are placed out in the sun to dry and are turned to make sure they dry evenly. This makes it possible for the coffee farmers to remove the outer berry and get to the bean. This can take up to two weeks! Wet processing is a more modern approach and is used more frequently as it is better at preventing any damage to the bean. This process consists of the berry being washed and the beans being fermented. The pulp of the berry becomes soft and is easily rinsed off leaving only the coffee bean behind.
After all the pulp of the berry is removed the coffee beans, which are green at this point, are sorted into piles. The good beans are kept for the next step in the coffee making process while the bad beans are discarded.
Next comes the roasting! Roasting is essential and also a delicate process. The roasting must be exact with time and temperature to get the flavor or roast that is desired. Roasting beans even one minute longer or at a temperature only a few degrees higher can alter the taste, or the roast, of the entire batch of coffee beans. During roasting the beans split open and release their coating. The longer a bean is roasted the stronger the flavor. Likewise, a batch of beans that is roasted for a shorter time will have a lighter flavor. You might think that a bean with a stronger flavor has more caffeine. This is surprising not so. The longer a bean is roasted, the more chemicals, caffeine, is released and removed from the beans.
Most of the beans in the supermarkets are already roasted, however it is possible to purchase green beans and roast them yourself. To roast at home, several requirements must be met for the roast to be successful. There are different appliances that can make this possible from a popcorn popper to an actual roasting machine. For a roast to be successful the following must be completed: beans need to be roasted to 370 degrees to 540 degrees Fahrenheit, the beans need to be in constant motion, beans must be properly ventilated while roasting and beans must be cooled quickly after roasting. For a guide on how long to roast the beans use your favorite flavored bean to compare the color. You will also notice a change in smell when the coffee beans are done. The beans will no longer smell like wet grass but will smell more like the color aroma you are used to.
If you choose not to roast your own beans there are many other ways to get the coffee you love. Coffee can be bought and made at home in many different ways. Some of the more popular ways to brew coffee are the French press, espresso machine, stovetop espresso maker, drip coffee maker and single-serve coffee makers.
DeleteThe French press was created in the early 1900’s. It is made up cylinder beaker, a lid with a plunger and a filter. This is a good method if you want to make a single serving. Make sure to use a coarser grind so the grinds don’t seep into the finished coffee. Coffee grinds are mixed with the hot water and then the plunger is pushed down to trap the grinds at the bottom to create a cup of coffee. The French press leaves more of the natural oils in the coffee for a richer flavor.
The stovetop espresso maker, also known as a Moka pot, is also great for smaller serving. The pot is used over an open flame or on an electric range. The coffee is created when the hot water, pressurized by steam, passes through the coffee grounds. The coffee is very rich and is very similar to the taste of espresso.
The espresso machine is used in all coffee shops but there are commercial machines that can be purchased for home use. Home espresso machines come in all shapes and sizes but the premise is the same. The espresso is pressed into the portafilter to create the espresso pod. The hot water passes through to create the rich espresso.
The drip coffee maker and the single-serve coffee makers are very similar. They are some of the newest forms of coffee machines and they are the most popular. The drip coffee machine creates coffee when the coffee grounds are placed in a filter and the water passes through to create the coffee. This is a great method to use if making multiple servings of coffee. The single-serve coffee maker works the same way but the coffee is packaged in individual pods to create one cup of coffee.
There is not one right way to create your coffee experience. No matter which path you choose, making coffee is more than just the process of brewing. It is a complicated and lengthy process which starts as a berry on a tree and eventually finds its way into the cups of coffee lovers all around the globe.
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ReplyDeleteThe Great Fire
ReplyDeleteIt had been a dry autumn in 1871 and families were preparing for the winter by having stacks of hay stored in their barns for the winter that was approaching. Most of Chicago was constructed out of wood, including majority of homes and sidewalks. With the combination of the dry weather, the amount of wood in the city and the amount of hay in barns - Chicago firefighters had been battling 20 fires within the last week. On the night of October 8, 1871 between 8:30 and 10:30pm a fire started at 137 De Koven Street on the West side of Chicago in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, right behind their cottage. The O’Leary’s were in bed at the time that the fire started. Their neighbor Daniel “Peg Leg” Sullivan followed later by Dennis Rogan had stopped by to visit earlier in the night but left when they found out the family was already in bed. Ironically, after the fire spread across Chicago, the O’Leary’s cottage still stood.
When the fire started, a watchman who located the fires for the fire department reported the wrong location of the fire which caused the firemen to lose time as they responded to the location reported. The watchman realized his error but the telegraph dispatcher refused to send out the new location for fear of confusion. Close to the fire, a storekeeper pulled one of the new fire alarm boxes but it was broken. As the fire started to spread across the city, wooden buildings and lumber yards along the river started to burn. Most of the city was without electricity as the gaslights exploded around midnight. Prisoners were released from the jail to get a chance at survival as the Courthouse that was supposed to be fireproof started to burn. The Bridge on State Street also started to burn as Chicago residents begin fleeing their homes. A boy named Justin gives his personal account of fleeing his house in a letter that he wrote with a picture of his family and their goat leaving. A copy of the actual letter and a translation are below.
Sunday ends and the fire continued to burn and destruct the city into Monday. Around three a.m. the waterworks caught on fire which contaminated the drinking water for the entire city. This dwindled hopes of saving the city. As the fire spreads, people flee to Lincoln Park as well as to the shore of Lake Michigan to escape. People as well as horse drawn carriages, furniture and other salvaged belongings began filling up the wooden sidewalks. City of Chicago residents were also going into the lake to stay alive. Michigan Avenue went up in flames at this time. George F. Root who was from the firm of Root & Cady wrote a song “Passing through the Fire” which gives the feeling of how a person fleeing from the fire felt. The song is to be sung “con fuoco” which means with fire.
By eight a.m. a large lumber yard, the Illinois Central Railroad and McCormick Reaper Works burn. As the north side continued to burn, people were forced farther north resulting in citizens going into the prairie. The bridge on 12th Street was the only entrance into the burned center of the city. The ground is still too hot to stand on but some residents found themselves homeless as they began searching what remains of their homes to salvage any belongings they can find. Between ten a.m. and noon all buildings were blown up on Michigan Avenue in order to slow down the great fire. Many people on the north side believed that the fire would die out or change direction so they did not flee until the last minute when they realized that the fire was approaching. The west side of the city was safe from the fire but it was inaccessible which forced people to continue traveling north on Lincoln Avenue with the fire following them. The fire blazed into the prairie by midnight which forced people to take off again. During Monday night there was rain which extinguished some of the fire.
After the Fire
DeleteThe tragedy caused by the fire resulted in 300 people dead and 500,000 people were homeless. “As the last of the flames die out, Chicagoans surveyed their wrecked city. Seventy-three miles of streets and 17,450 buildings had been destroyed. A third of the population was homeless. Some struggled to comprehend the tragedy; others immediately set to the work of rescue and repair. An official inquiry determined that shoddy construction, lax building inspection, and a poorly-equipped fire department are to blame. Yet many hold Catherine O’Leary responsible, including the press. Although she was in bed the night of the fire, not in the barn with her cow, she spent the rest of her life — 24 years — a virtual recluse. Over time, her alleged role in the Great Fire passed into legend. In 1997 the Chicago City Council will passed a resolution that finally absolves Mrs. O’Leary of any wrongdoing.” ( HYPERLINK "http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/maps/chicago_fire_text.html"http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/maps/chicago_fire_text.html)
Evening Journal Editor Andrew Shuman and Tribune co-owner Joseph Medill found a printer in the West division to print their paper as the newspaper offices were located downtown. Unable to obtain horses to help with the delivery, they had to haul the papers themselves to sell their one page edition. Telephones, radios, televisions and the internet were not invented which meant that citizens living farther out in Chicago could see the glow of the fire but did not know the magnitude of the fire. Friends and relatives arrived at their houses as telegraph lines allowed short stories of the disaster to be told to other cities. The headlines read: “The Great Calamity of the Age!” “Chicago in Ashes!!” “Hundreds of Millions of Dollars’ Worth of Property Destroyed” “The South, the North and a Portion of the West Divions of the City in Ruins” “All the Hotels, Banks, Public Buildings, Newspaper Offices and Great Business Blocks Swept Away” “ The Conflagration Still in Progress” “Fury of the Flames” and “Details, Etc., Etc.,”
People wanted a solid reason as to why the fire started so a rumor was printed in a newspaper that said a cow Mrs. O’Leary was milking kicked over a lamp which started the fire. Unfortunately, this was never identified as a rumor so people believed this myth even though Mrs. O’Leary was in bed at the time that the fire started. It would have been impossible for her to have started the fire.
Some of the homeless were able to find shelters, while others went to other cities and 50,000 army tents were pitched. Donations came pouring in to help Chicago citizens as these citizens began relocating their friends and family that were separated while trying to escape. The citizens of Chicago found determination and worked together to rebuild their city. “A count done by the city building commission reported that by the end of 1871 there were over 6,000 wooden shanties, 2,000 solid wood-frame buildings, and 500 structures of brick of stone up or nearing completion.” (Murphy 120). The Great Fire is still remembered in Chicago today as the Water Tower that survived is still on Michigan Avenue and Chicago’s major league soccer team is named the Chicago Fire.
It’s High Time To Legalize Hemp (Part 1)
ReplyDeleteHemp is the same plant as marijuana; its scientific name is "cannabis sativa." For thousands of years hemp was used to make dozens of commercial products like paper, rope, canvas, and textiles. In fact, the very name "canvas" comes from the Dutch word meaning cannabis, which is marijuana. That's correct, real canvas is made from marijuana! Many years ago hemp was unjustly banned. However, hemp has recently been rediscovered as a plant that has enormous environmental, economic, and commercial potential.
What is Hemp?
The marijuana plant has many uses apart from drug use. A distinct variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, known as hemp, can be grown to maximize the fibers in the stalk of the plant or to maximize seed production. Hemp has a minimal amount about 1 percent, of the psychotropic chemical THC. Hemp can grow about 18 feet tall. Hemp fiber from the stalk is similar to flax, the source of linen, and can be used for fabric, rope, paper and even as bedding for animals. Hemp seeds crushed for oil and flour are found in nutrition bars, chips, beer, salad dressing and other foods. Hemp oil is sold by itself as a nutrition supplement. Soaps, shampoos, moisturizers and other body care products contain hemp oil as an ingredient.
Hemp is Green
In addition to being historically cultivated, hemp production is measured “greener” than many other crops. It’s sustainable and can be grown in the same plot of land year after year, not depleting the soil like some other crops. It can actually be used as a rotation crop, helping to regenerate the soil normally used to grow things like soybeans. Further, the plant doesn’t need as much fertilizer as corn, nor does it need to swim in pesticides. When planted with other crops, the roots can prevent runoff and erosion while the leaves can protect paired plants from the elements. Hemp actually removes soil contaminants. Phytoremediation removes a variety of toxins from the soil including pesticides, metals, oil, and even nuclear contaminants. Its system of roots acts as a filter, stabilizing contaminants within the soil. Hemp was even planted at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to help remove nuclear toxins.
Paper production from hemp would eliminate the need to chop down billions of trees. Millions of acres of forests and huge areas of wildlife habitat could be preserved. Biodiesel fuels emit 80% less carbon dioxide & nearly 100% less sulfur dioxide. Trees must grow for 20 to 50 years after planting before they can be harvested for commercial use. Within 4 months after it is planted, hemp grows 10 to 20 feet tall and it is ready for harvesting. Hemp paper can be recycled up to seven times; wood pulp paper can be recycled four times.
Hemp can be grown on most farmland throughout the U.S., where forests require large tracts of land available in few locations. Substituting hemp for trees would save forests and wildlife habitats and would eliminate erosion of topsoil due to logging. Reduction of topsoil erosion would also reduce pollution of lakes, rivers, and streams.
Fewer caustic and toxic chemicals are used to make paper from hemp than are used to make paper from trees, so therefore, less pollution.
It's High Time to Legalize Hemp (part 2)
ReplyDeleteMore Jobs
With the national unemployment rate hovering somewhere near 8%, legalizing industrial hemp could bring jobs back to the country. Not only could legalizing hemp give farmers another source of viable income, it could create a hemp production, manufacturing, and distribution industry. The problem, however, is that industrialized hemp remains banned by the federal government while hemp products do not. This means we must buy our hemp from other countries, countries that are seriously profiting from our growing demand. But with a North American market that exceeds $300 million in annual retail sales and continued rising demand, industrial hemp could generate thousands of sustainable new jobs, helping America to get back on track.
With 25,000 known applications from paper, clothing and food products, to construction and automotive materials, hemp could be just the crop to jump-start America's green economy. But growing hemp remains illegal in the U.S. DEA has lumped the low-THC plant together with its psychoactive cousin, marijuana, making America the planet's only industrialized nation to ban hemp production. We can import it from Canada, but we can't grow it. Hemp can create jobs in some of the hardest-hit sectors of the country, rural agriculture, equipment manufacturing, transportable processing equipment and crews, and the products could serve and develop the same community where the hemp is farmed: building ecological new homes, and producing value-added and finished products. Add to that all the secondary jobs such as restaurants, health care, food products, community support networks, schools, etc., that will serve the workers. The Midwestern U.S. and the more remote parts of California and other states would see a surge of income, growth, jobs and consumer goods. Nutritional Benefits of Hemp
Hemp oil is the highest source of essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which, among other things, help control cholesterol, arterial blockage and the immune system. Hemp foods are expanding onto the shelves of grocery and natural food stores across
North America. Examples of currently available hemp food products include salad dressings, nutrition bars, breads, cookies, granola, waffles, nut butter, chips, pasta, frozen desserts and cold-pressed oil supplements.
It's High Time to Legalize Hemp (part 3)
ReplyDeleteLike other oil seeds, the hemp nut consists mainly of oil, protein and dietary fiber and other carbohydrates. In addition, the nut contains vitamins, phytosterols and trace minerals. Overall, hemp's main nutritional advantage over other seeds lies in the composition of its oil, and in its protein, which contains all of the essential amino acids in nutritionally significant amounts and in a desirable ratio.
Commonly known medicinal uses of hemp include: nausea & vomiting; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasm disorders; spinal cord injuries; Crohn's disease; Alzheimer’s disease; Tourette’s syndrome; digestive disorders; glaucoma; asthma; neurodegenerative disorders.
Hemp was Once Grown in Every Household
Hemp was grown by the founding fathers of this nation? In 1619, the Virginia General Assembly passed a law requiring every household to grow the crop. Its value was undeniable and it was even used as legal tender in early colonies. As recently as World War II, the federal government subsidized the plant. This means they actually paid U.S. farmers to grow it. For fuel, textiles, rope, animal bedding and feed—hemp’s use in the United States is far from a new occurrence. While hemp remains illegal, the U.S government is subsidizing much safer (sarcasm) GMO crops. Not all age-old practices are acceptable, but this one is.
Reasonable people can disagree about whether marijuana should be legalized. But the dangers of growing industrial hemp are next to nonexistent. To date, nine states have approved its cultivation, but none has any active fields because of a refusal by the DEA to grant growing permits. Enough. Hemp is a rare issue that Republicans and Democrats, and members of Congress from both rural and urban states, ought to be able to agree on. Legalize it.
Raised Garden Beds
ReplyDeleteBy Alison
Do you enjoy cooking flavorful dishes with fresh vegetables and herbs? If so, you should consider planting a home garden. A home garden will save you money on produce and give you quick access to healthy foods. One easy way to start your home garden is by creating a raised garden bed.
Advantages of a Raised Garden Bed
A raised garden bed is simple to build, will make caring for your plants easier, and will serve as an attractive addition to your yard. With a raised garden bed, you won’t have to worry about poor soil quality, since you’ll fill the bed with your own high-quality soil or compost. You’ll have much more control over the water and nutrients that each plant receives, especially if you build different beds for different plants. The soil will become warmer more quickly in the spring, and water will drain out faster during periods of wet weather. Having the plants higher up off the ground will make planting, weeding, and harvesting much easier on your back. Additionally, you’ll be able to plant seeds closer together, leading to a greater yield.
Planning Where to Build Your Bed
When thinking about where to place your raised garden bed, consider the amount of sunlight your plants will need. Generally speaking, a vegetable and herb garden will need about 8 hours of sunlight per day. You’ll want to build the bed to have a north-south orientation to maximize the amount of sunlight your plants receive. Each bed should be no longer than 4 feet wide, for ease of caring for your plants, and you should leave 2 feet between each bed so that you can mow the lawn. A standard garden bed size is 4 x 6. If you have more than one bed, make sure the beds are aligned in straight rows. You can outline where you’d like to place the bed by using chalk or string. Then, rake and level the ground you’ve marked off, so your bed will lie flat.
Gathering Materials
The sides of your garden can be rock, brick, concrete, interlocking blocks, or, most commonly, wood. If you do choose to purchase wood, make sure you buy pre-cut boards. Additionally, make sure that the wood you purchase is not preserved with toxins. The toxins could potentially seep into the garden bed soil and contaminate your plants. Instead, opt for rot-resistant cedar or redwood, or use pressure treated wood. Your garden bed should be between 1 and 2 feet in height (remember that about half of each wooden wall will be buried in the soil). You will also need to purchase 3-inch galvanized or stainless steel screws (3 per junction). In addition to the material you purchase for the sides of the bed, you may also consider buying peat moss, compost, or another soil mix for filling the bed.
Assembling the Bed
When assembling the bed, you’ll lay each wall separately, and then fasten them together. Before laying the walls, dig with vertical strokes around the outline of where the bed will be. Then, place the wood in the small trenches you have created; about half of each board’s height should be buried. You will also want to use a level or framing square to make sure the frame is level in all directions (if it is uneven, water will run off of one part of the garden and sit in another, which will be detrimental to your plants’ growth). If you don’t have a level or framing square, just use a measuring tape to measure the diagonal distance between each pair of opposite corners, and adjust the bed until both the diagonals are equal in length. If necessary, you can use a rubber mallet to gently tap the walls until they come together at each of the four corners. Once the boards are in place, join them together using 3-inch galvanized or stainless steel screws. You should use 3 screws each time you join two boards together.
Continued below...
Preparing the Garden
ReplyDeleteEither before or after you lay the boards, you’ll probably want to consider creating a “floor” of sorts for the bed. Weed-suppressing landscape fabric can serve as the floor, as can a base of rubble (stones, broken pottery, etc.). If gophers and moles are a problem in your area, consider lining the bed with hardware cloth. You will place the topsoil on top of the floor, filling the bed with soil up to about three inches from the top. Rake the soil smooth and moisten it with water from the hose. Allow the bed to sit for a few days before you plant.
Planting and Tending the Garden
When deciding what to plant, remember that some vegetables will be harvested multiple times throughout the season (i.e., tomatoes and squash), while others will be harvested only once (carrots and corn, for example). You may not want to use all of the space available in the garden bed, so that you can plant different crops later on in the season. Read the seed packets carefully before deciding upon vegetable varieties. Some varieties will be better suited for smaller containers or gardens, others are best for colder climates, and so on. Remember that if the seeds you choose this year aren’t successful, you can always try out a different variety next year (or even later on in the season, depending upon the vegetable).
To care for your plants, make sure they receive at least 1 inch of water per week. In dry weather, you may need to provide this water for them. A raised bed will usually require watering every other day, if there is no precipitation.
Minimize weeds by using a hoe or hand fork to gently stir the top inch of soil. Doing this regularly will help prevent the growth of weed seedlings. Many gardeners choose to use a packaged vegetable fertilizer or high-quality compost to maximize yields.
If deer or rabbits become an issue, construct a fence around your garden. To deter insects or protect crops from frost, you can use a row cover. Prevent fungal diseases by watering the soil, rather than the leaves of your plants. If you choose to use chemical pesticides, make sure to read the label and administer them with care.
Tend your garden regularly, and you will soon see the fruits (or vegetables!) of your labor. Good luck, and enjoy your produce!
Resources:
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/planning-your-first-vegetable-garden/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/lawn-garden/4308264#slide-1
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/how-to-build-a-raised-bed/
The Forever Remembered, Courageous Endeavor of the Mighty Lewis and Clark
ReplyDeleteBy: Sarah Cavoto
Do the name Lewis and Clark ring a bell? Well, they just so happen to be the courageous explorers who ventured out west when the United States consisted of only 17 states. Lewis and Clark and their crew took a risk and discovered the vast lands beyond the Mississippi. Their journey was remarkable and their vivid journals made it possible for the future to relive their ever so famous endeavor west.
It all started when the mighty Thomas Jefferson bought a large piece of land west of the Mississippi River. This land was known as the Louisiana Purchase. With the purchase of this new land, America suddenly doubled its size in a matter of days. This was the best things that happened to America during that time. It was getting super crowded! Americans knew that land was well beyond the Mississippi River but exactly what that land looked like was a mystery. What animals lived there? Could we farm there? Where are we going to get water? To entice Americans to move west and reduce the crowdedness, Jefferson decided to ask Meriwether Lewis to explore the new land. The more people know what they are getting into, the more likely they will decide to pack up shop and move out! At least, this was the hope.
Not only did Jefferson want Lewis to explore the land, he had a few requests. Lewis knew this was a big job, so he wrote to William Clark, another explorer, to accompany him. With Lewis and Clark now being a packaged deal, Jefferson’s demands did not seem so cumbersome. Jefferson asked the men to create maps of the West. He also asked them to keep detailed journals of the animals and plants they were encountering. Lastly, Jefferson requested that the men try to find a water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean that went through the United States. Lewis and Clark accepted the offer and started to make arrangements for the long journey ahead.
Lewis and Clark gathered together a team of great men with a variety of different skills. Each man would be able to contribute to the group and help their journey West run much more smoothly. Before they took off, Lewis and Clark and the crew also collected materials that would be useful. Such materials consisted of a variety of different presents for the expected Native Americans that were going to be running into. They also brought supplies for their housing and sleeping arrangements. Some other supplies consisted of books to help learn about plants and animals, clothing, and a wide range of tools. With their assignment from Jefferson, a group of talented men (and a dog too), and knapsacks full of useful materials, Lewis and Clark were ready for the adventure of a lifetime, or so they thought.
Their journey started out beautiful. They were discovering new lands, new plants, new animals, and a variety of helpful Indians. These Indians meant life or death during some situations for the explorers. The Indians knew the land, the plants, and the animals well. Most of the Indians, the crew came upon were friendly and willing to help. At first the Indians were nervous to see the explorers approach their living quarters but the explorers friendly demeanor helped to ease those tensions. The Indians showed Lewis and Clark different ways to use animals, ways to built canoes, ways to make homes, and good and bad plants to eat. The Indians also advised the explorers on the best way to continue throughout their journey. Although most of the Indians were very friendly, Lewis and Clark did swagger upon some not so nice tribes.
ReplyDeleteLewis and Clark did meet a very special Indian. Her name was Sacagawea. Sacagawea met Lewis and Clark earlier on and later traveled with them throughout their journey. She was extremely helpful! Her guidance was a huge asset to their endeavor. She also was able to met up with her long lost brother as the crew traveled farther and farther west and met more and more Indians.
Building forts was another big part of the journey west. Lewis and Clark built two big forts during their journey, one of which they named Fort Mandan. These forts were build so the crew could stay there throughout the winter. Winters were brutal enough without having to travel. Indians helped the crew build these forts and it was also a time when Lewis and Clark could get caught up on Jefferson's requests. While Lewis and Clark were busy writing in their journal and making maps, the crew built canoes and other tools to use when they recommenced their journey.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!! Animals were another addition to the very eventful journey. The crew saw all different types of animals. Similar to their experiences with the Indians, some of the animals were welcoming while others were clearly marking their territory. Gentle prairie dogs, vicious beavers, swimming squirrels, and roaming buffaloes, and terrifying bears were all noticed during their journey.
It was very clear that Lewis and Clark had a journey that will be remembered as one of the most courageous adventures ever taken. When it came to the three requests Thomas Jefferson gave to Lewis and Clark, they were only able to fulfill two. Their journals provided the government and Americans with valuable information about the plants and animals beyond the Mississippi river. Lewis and Clark were also able to keep detailed maps of the land as well. Through their journey, they were not able to find a water route that would connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Lewis, Clark, Thomas Jefferson, the crew, and Americans believed their journey to be successful nonetheless. Their adventure lead to the westward expansion of the United States by giving people access to land beyond the Mississippi River. As Americans, we thank Lewis and Clark and their crew for their brave endeavor and allowing America to grow.
From Playwright to Producer: Turning Thoughts into Dreams
ReplyDeleteBy Latisha Lewis (Essay)
Part 1
I can remember when I was just a kid growing up on the Southside of Chicago pretending to be a playwright. My mother had just purchased the family’s first video camera a week or so before our trip to Disneyland. Of course, at first, there were moments where my mother wouldn’t even allow us to look at the thing; let alone pick it up and handle it. As I sit and reminisce about those days, I get excited all over again. As I started approaching adulthood, I could still visualize myself front and center preparing to deliver another one of those famous lines I had written as teenager. Being an actress had always been a dream of mine. If I could only do it for a day, I’d be completely satisfied with my fifteen minutes of fame.
My brother made a great director; reminding everyone of their places and the lines they were supposed to have memorized. I had a notebook full of plays and short stories that I recorded in my spare time. The notebook, of course is nowhere to be found today, but I remember it just like it was yesterday. Did she play like that as a child? Did she always envision she’d be doing something that captured the attention of millions, weekly? Evidently, she had ample support from her family and friends to have reached such accomplished tasks in her lifetime.
Did Shonda feel the same way I did as a kid? Destined- is what I think about when I imagine her at work; creating masterpieces that leave lasting impressions on viewers worldwide. Shonda Rhimes, born in Chicago, Illinois; screenwriter, director, and producer is the mastermind behind ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Off the Map, and her latest Scandal, which debuted last April 2012. Shonda Rhimes writes scripts in such a way that leaves viewers spellbound. Each episode’s end is a cliffhanger, leaving you wanting more. Shonda was raised in Park Forest, Illinois. She was the youngest of two older brothers and two older sisters.
From Playwright to Producer: Turning Thoughts into Dreams
ReplyDeleteBy Latisha Lewis
Part 2
“Rhimes stated that she exhibited an early affinity for storytelling and that her time spent as a candy striper while in high school sparked an interest in hospital environments.” Rhimes attended Marian Catholic High School, before enrolling at Dartmouth College, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. At Dartmouth, she divided her time between fiction and directing and performing in plays. After college, she relocated to San Francisco with an older sibling and obtained a job in advertising. Rhimes would later relocate to Los Angeles to attend USC to study screenwriting. Rhimes was ranked at the top of her class and earned herself the Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship Award, one of the most prestigious awards one could earn as a writer. Rhimes earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television.
After graduating from USC, Rhimes found herself an unemployed scriptwriter in Hollywood. To make ends meet, Rhimes worked at a variety of day jobs, including as an office administrator, and then as a counselor at a job center that taught mentally ill and homeless people job skills. During this period, Rhimes also worked as research director on the 1995 Peabody Award-winning documentary, Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream (1995). Rhimes made her directorial debut in 1998 with the short film “Blossoms and Veils” starring Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jeffrey Wright.
It was a total surprise to learn she penned such titles as Introducing Dorothy Dandridge 1999 starring Halle Berry, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement 2004 starring Julie Andrews, and my favorite, Scandal 2012 starring Kerri Washington. The way she has the characters interact is unbelievable. It seems as though each person has plotted revenge against the other for some things that happened in the past. Every piece of information; every detail, from the names of the characters to their personalities speaks volumes as to the kind of work Shonda is capable of producing. She does an awesome job of keeping the audience tuned in week after week and month after month. Her artistry, what I call it, is phenomenal.
Watching Scandal places me back at the tender age of thirteen where my brother and I were excited to write and record one of our first screenplays. My dream of becoming as actress/playwright is still a dream. I’d jump at the opportunity to share my hidden talents with the world. For now-I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to change lives one student at a time, teaching. Teaching has always been a childhood dream of mine. And now it’s become my reality. Which leaves me with this: “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
An Icon Passes On: Margaret Thatcher
ReplyDeleteBy, Erin Tunney
On April 8th, 2013, the world lost one of the most pivotal female leaders to ever grace world politics. Margaret Thatcher was known for quick whited sayings, which earned her the nickname of “The Iron Lady.” A nickname typically given to women in government, or strong women, Margaret Thatcher bore the name proudly. And should have, throughout her adult life, she broke down barriers for Englishmen and woman, paving new roads in the world of politics.
The Making of a Leader
Margaret was born on October 13th, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Her upbringing was much more private than her life long career of being the head of state for England from 1979 to 1990. Her father was a green grocer and the family lived above the store in a small apartment. She had a modest upbringing working at her father’s store and going to school in their small community. Her parents did not raise her as most families raised young women during this era. Margaret was exposed to conservative politics through her father’s membership on the local towns council. He was very outspoken and Margaret attended many of the council meetings in support of her father. Through his round table discussions of politics at the dinner table, Margaret formed her own views on the subject matter when she later went to college.
Margaret was accepted into the Oxford University in the 1940s, which was a great accomplishment. During this timeframe, the place of a woman was largely still perceived to be in the home. If a woman were afforded the luxury of going to college, it was largely to learn skills that would help with their employment within the home – social skills, home economics, etc. However, being a homemaker did not interest the young woman whose appetite for politics was wetted in her conversations with her father. While studying chemistry at Somerville College, she also served as the president of the Conservative Association, a student-run political organization. In 1947, she graduated with a degree in chemistry and later whet on to become a researcher in the field.
Earning a Title
Margaret did not shed her involvement in politics after leaving Oxford. Two years after she graduated from college, Margaret made her first attempt at public office. Taking on the nearly impossible feat of being elected to a position in the Dartford parliament, in the 1950 election, knowing full well the population was largely supported by the liberal Labour Party. However, this defeat earned her respect within the conservative party, which she would later use as a platform to run for other offices. However, life was not all work and no play for the Iron Lady. Shortly after losing the election in 1951, she married Denis Thatcher, a wealthy businessman, with whom she had two children.
Having a family did not slow down Margaret’s political ambitions, but she did put them aside to study. While raising her twin’s, Carol and Mark, Thatcher qualified to become a barrister in 1953. She practiced law for six years before returning to the political arena. In 1959, she won a seat in the House of Commons representing the Finchley, a district of North London, England. It was not an easy parliament position fro Thatcher, who represented the Conservative party which had the minority position in parliament for the better part of the decade that Thatcher served.
Margaret was not handed anything, nor did anyone take it easy on her in the political world because she was a woman. In fact, in 1970 when the Conservative party returned to office, she was selected from the secretary of state for education and science, and dubbed "Thatcher, milk snatcher," after her abolition of the universal free school milk scheme. She despised the position, not only because of the press’ ability to tarnish her image by creating catchy phrases and slogans against her, but largely because of her difficulty in successfully getting Prime Minister Edward Heath to take her ideas seriously. She viewed her failures as a sign that she would not see women progress more in politics.
ReplyDeleteOf course she was mistaken. During the early 1970s, Thatcher found herself, although not the party, as the principal strength in the Conservative party, beating out Prime Minister Heath for the position. With this political momentum she became the first female British Prime Minister. While this was history in 1979, England was clearly ready for change. The country was fundamentally in economic shambles. Thatcher had her work cut out for her.
Thatcher broke down the labor unions and privatized many public entities such as public housing and transportation. She said that these divisions had caused "the culture of dependency, which had done such damage to Britain.” She had similar views as United States President Ronald Reagan and the two allies used each other’s “shared similar right-wing, pro-corporate political philosophies” to make changes not only to the two largest industrial countries, but also to politics in general.
These changes did not go over well with all of their constituents. Both Reagan and Thatcher had attempts on their lives. The attempt to assassinate President Reagan was on Monday, March 30, 1981, just shy of three months into his presidency. President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr. who was later declared mentally insane. Thatcher’s attempted assassination was much more organized and masterminded by the Irish Republic Army (IRA). The IRA fought for their political freedom and independence from England for the better part of the twentieth century. They planned to use a bomb during the Conservative Conference to kill the Prime Minister. The plot was foiled and Thatcher, being the Iron lady that she is, would not allow the attempt to prevent her for speaking.
While this was the only publicized attempt on her life, she faced many political battles. She pushed for a standardized educational system, which if you read the headlines now; you know this was well before its very public debate in the United States currently. She made other popular changes like to the medical field. Unfortunately much of what she did during her three terms as Prime Minister is glossed over because of one of the last items she passed as the leader of the British Parliament. Towards the end of her last term, she passed a largely unpopular fixed rate tax – better known as the poll tax, which caused public protests and dissention within her party.
Legacy
After stepping down, Thatcher continued publically speaking until she had a series of strokes. Around this time, her husband of over fifty years passed away, as did her trusted confident former President Ronald Reagan. With her passing come all walks of life to reflect on her legacy. She had many supports and many enemies, but say as you may, she was a revolutionist for women around the world. The Way Margaret Thatcher lived her life, demonstrated how deeply she knew doing what she felt was right, and did not always make her popular.
Religious Opinions
ReplyDeleteBy: Sara Holic
Growing up Baptist, going to a Catholic elementary school was always funny to me until my mother made me get baptised in the 3rd grade. We went to mass once a week on Wednesday’s and then had to go again with my mom on Sunday. This was in addition to having to take a mandatory religion class every day until I finally graduated 8th grade and went to a public high school. Even with all of my religious immersion I had reservations. I never truly bought into the whole idea. Regardless of my own personal beliefs I have always respected people’s faith and the comfort it provided.
Looking at religion from a global perspective 90% of North and South America consider themselves Christian and 95% of the people in South America identify themselves as Catholic. In the Eastern Hemisphere Christianity, Hinduism and Islam make up a large majority of the population. Across the entire globe Judaism makes up one of the smallest religions with about .22%. There has been a shift over the centuries where the line between ethnicity and religion has blurred. Some of the largest ethnic cleansing schemes in our world history have close ties with religion. Everyone has heard the argument “Religion has killed more people than any other “fill in the blank here” in our history,” and while I haven’t been able to find any evidence to confirm it’s truth it does make you wonder. We will investigate religion through two lenses. The first by which religion is used as a means to an end and the second in which religion is both the means and the end.
Religion has always been a very convoluted concept and when applied to different events and throughout history it becomes even more so. Take for example the Inquisition of the 15th and 16th centuries. During this period of time there were many different religious groups threatening the sovereignty of the ruling monarchies. Many countries turned to the Pope for help in sanctioning Inquisitions to help eliminate the problem. Spain in particular had been in the midst of almost a 1000 year tug-a-war between the Christians and the Muslims when Christians began to prevail. When Ferdinand and Isabella were married they untied two large kingdoms in Spain. Their goal was to unify the country. Identifying and promoting a common enemy was and still is one of the easiest ways to do so. Ferdinand and Isabella received permission from the Pope and began driving out Jews, Protestants and any other non-believers. It is estimated that between 3,000-5,000 people were executed over the 350 year Inquisition. Many more thousands fled and/or converted during this period of time. During the Inquisition the monarchy enacted strict censorship laws in which many scientific, philosophical, and other religious books were banned. One cannot help but draw the conclusion that by limiting people’s access to information that they would be more willing to comply with the ruling party’s religious beliefs.
Imperialism has also been another guise in which religion has been closely interwoven. During the later half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th the British empire set its sights on Africa in the name of religion. At the height of this movement there were over 10,000 Christian missionaries living in Africa. This same movement makes it’s way to South America and looking at the percentage of Catholics there it seems the method has worked.
Religious Opinions Cont'd
ReplyDeleteJumping forward to the rise of Hitler it is easy to see how the lines between religion and politics become blurry again. Here you have a defeated and embarrassed Germany looking for someone who might lift them out of the depths of their despair and on cue arrives Adolf Hitler. He identifies the Jews as the common enemy. It is they who are to blame for Germany’s defeat in WWI and their subsequent depression. By the end of his reign he has succeeded in murdering over six million Jews and many others he considered unworthy, as well as precipitating another one of the world’s deadliest wars. And to date there are still debates over whether Hitler was a Christian or not.
Shifting focus, more often than not the attempts made by exuberant adherents of a religion to organize the Earth conflicts with the ideals of other religious (or nonreligious) groups. Contributing to this intense conflict has been been the return of religious fundamentalism. The term fundamentalism originally referred to Christianity but became more widely used during the Iranian Revolution in 1978-79 (Beeman). Today, fundamentalists embody both the religious orthodoxy and evangelical practice which call for action beyond traditional rituals into the political and social realm. Looking at religion as a series of stories provides a whole other perspective when taking fundamentalism into account. You have groups of people who take these stories literally and disapprove of anyone not living by exactly by words transcribed. It is here where you hear the rationalization for some of the worst human atrocities: Slavery, Sacrifices, Stoning, Boiling lead poured into your ears. The list goes on and on. And when looking at the original creation myths many researchers have concluded that these stories are important and essential to evolving societies. But what happens when the stories stop evolving? When many no longer apply or make sense in our world today. People try to force their application and chaos ensues. What happens to civilization at that point seems to be a work in progress.
So in the end what is religion? A set of rules to keep society in check? I suppose it depends, but at least here in the United States there is some freedom to figure it out for yourself.