Dear Class

Dear Class,

I want to start off by saying that this past weeks blog posting was NOT directed towards anyone. I am sorry that people may have assumed this. Josh, you said that it was directed towards you, but it was not. I am sorry it made you feel that way. That was not my intention at all. I created this posting because several students, not just one, stated I was being a hypocrite. Perhaps it was voiced directly towards me by only a few, but I saw side comments as well. It was also brought to my attention that students were talking among themselves about this after class. I thought to myself, "Oh dear, I need to clarify to everyone what my intentions are and what a hypocrite actually means". I posted this weekly read because I thought it was an excellent opportunity to clarify some things about what I am doing and what I am trying to accomplish. Our discussion also reminded me that we need to start using "I" statements for more effective communication now that some of us are getting more comfortable and voicing more.

I appreciate everyone's comments in class and I want everyone to have or find their voice. I however, believe that when students begin to negatively label each other or me as occurred in front of the class this past week (as people get more comfortable this can occur) , it will only hinder our development and students will not be involved with our discussions because they will become fearful to express their thoughts and opinions. Josh you stated., "I do enjoy this class, but at the same time I feel like there is only a select few of persons that are comfortable enough to voice their opinion", this is exactly why I felt that I needed to address this issue. I wanted to express the need to start using "I" statements and really think about labeling people in front of others and how it can hinder our discussions.

I decide what to post, based on the class prior every week. "It is what it is", is just another example of a posting I created based off of our class discussion. It was brought up during class by a student and I thought, this is excellent; lets really look at that, and so we did. I was thrilled this was voiced and we could work through it. I love these teaching moments they are valuable and teach us the most valuable things about ourselves, each other and life. Last week we had another one of those moments that I wanted to take advantage of.

I choose to blog about this weeks posting to help everyone in class understand what I am trying to accomplish, since my intentions were obviously misunderstood by many. I felt that I had failed at communicating, not you. I left class deeply troubled and upset by this. I felt that it was important to clarify and help everyone realize what I am doing and why. I thought this posting would do that. If people do not understand my intentions, then I am not successful in what I hope to accomplish each week. I owe it to you to do my job well. I wanted to clarify and help you understand what I am trying to do and why. I also wanted to ask students to use "I" statements so all of us can be comfortable in class voicing our thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions. I also wanted to use this weeks posting to continue our class discussion because we did not have enough time to finish it in class because the group assignments have now begun and they take up the last 30 minutes of class.

To all of you...I want to hear what you have to say and so does everyone else in this class. Lets learn from our comments we make together, not alone. Lets work as a team not a group or an individual. Together, we can communicate more effectively. We are all learning, even me. The journey never ends, ever.

My apologies to all of you for not explaining myself well enough that you understood my purpose or what it was I was striving for. I hope that this helped you and that we can grow together.


Monica

November 10, 2010: Announcements and Reminders

Announcement: Next week on Tuesday all Dignitas classes are to go to the Mitchell Auditorium for the diversity presentation with Lee Mun Wah from 12:00 to 1:45. Do not go to the classroom first. Please go directly to the auditorium.

Student #2 group presentations for that day need to be postponed and groups are responsible to complete them during a meeting that they set up.

Be sure to read the weekly read and the blog for this week. Responses are required for both.

Monica

Blog #10: Why Are People Homeless...It may surprise you

Why Are People Homeless?

Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, July 2009

Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Below is an overview of current poverty and housing statistics, as well as additional factors contributing to homelessness. A list of resources for further study is also provided.

FORECLOSURE

Recently, foreclosures have increased the number of people who experience homelessness. The National Coalition for the Homeless released an entire report discussing the relationship between foreclosure and homelessness. The report found that there was a 32% jump in the number of foreclosures between April 2008 and April 2009. Since the start of the recession, six million jobs have been lost. In May 2009, the official unemployment rate was 9.4%. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that 40 percent of families facing eviction due to foreclosure are renters and 7 million households living on very low incomes (31 - 50 percent of Area Median Income) are at risk of foreclosure.

POVERTY

Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. If you are poor, you are essentially an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets.

In 2007, 12.5% of the U.S. population, or 37,300,00 million people, lived in poverty. The official poverty rate in 2007 was not statistically different than 2006 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2007). Children are overrepresented, composing 35.7% of people in poverty while only being 24.8% of the total population.

Two factors help account for increasing poverty: eroding employment opportunities for large segments of the workforce and the declining value and availability of public assistance.

ERODING WORK OPPORTUNITIES

Reasons why homelessness persists include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits.

Low-wage workers have been particularly have been left behind as the disparity between rich and poor has mushroomed. To compound the problem, the real value of the minimum wage in 2004 was 26% less than in 1979 (The Economic Policy Institute, 2005). Factors contributing to wage declines include a steep drop in the number and bargaining power of unionized workers; erosion in the value of the minimum wage; a decline in manufacturing jobs and the corresponding expansion of lower-paying service-sector employment; globalization; and increased nonstandard work, such as temporary and part-time employment (Mishel, Bernstein, and Schmitt, 1999). To combat this, Congress has planned a gradual minimum wage increase, resulting in minimum wage raised to $9.50 by 2011.

Declining wages, in turn, have put housing out of reach for many workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. [1] A recent U.S. Conference of Mayors report stated that in every state more than the minimum-wage is required to afford a one or two-bedroom apartment at 30% of his or her income, which is the federal definition of affordable housing. Unfortunately, for 12 million Americans, more then 50% of their salaries go towards renting or housing costs, resulting in sacrifices in other essential areas like health care and savings.

The connection between impoverished workers and homelessness can be seen in homeless shelters, many of which house significant numbers of full-time wage earners. In 2007, a survey performed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that 17.4% of homeless adults in families were employed while 13% of homeless single adults or unaccompanied youth were employed. In the 2008 report, eleven out of nineteen cities reported an increased in employed homeless people.

With unemployment rates remaining high, jobs are hard to find in the current economy. Even if people can find work, this does not automatically provide an escape from poverty.

DECLINE IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

The declining value and availability of public assistance is another source of increasing poverty and homelessness. Until its repeal in August 1996, the largest cash assistance program for poor families with children was the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (the federal welfare reform law) repealed the AFDC program and replaced it with a block grant program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). In 2005, TANF helped a third of the children that AFDC helped reach above the 50% poverty line. Unfortunately, TANF has not been able to kept up with inflation. In 2006-2008, TANF case load has continued to decline while food stamp caseloads have increased

Moreover, extreme poverty is growing more common for children, especially those in female-headed and working families. This increase can be traced directly to the declining number of children lifted above one-half of the poverty line by government cash assistance for the poor (Children's Defense Fund and the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1998).

As a result of loss of benefits, low wages, and unstable employment, many families leaving welfare struggle to get medical care, food, and housing.

People with disabilities, too, must struggle to obtain and maintain stable housing. In 2006, on a national average, monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment rose to $715 per month which is a 113.1% of a person’s on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly income (Priced Out in 2006). For the first time, the national average rent for a studio apartment rose above the income of a person who relies only on SSI income. Recently, only nine percent of non-institutionalized people receiving SSI receive housing assistance (Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, 2005).

Most states have not replaced the old welfare system with an alternative that enables families and individuals to obtain above-poverty employment and to sustain themselves when work is not available or possible.

HOUSING

A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis and to homelessness.

According to HUD, in recent years the shortages of affordable housing are most severe for units affordable to renters with extremely low incomes. Federal support for low-income housing has fallen 49% from 1980 to 2003 (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005). About 200,000 rental housing units are destroyed annually. Renting is one of the most viable options for low income people (Joint Center for Housing Studies).

Since 2000, the incomes of low-income households has declined as rents continue to rise (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005). In 2009, a worker would need to earn $14.97 to afford a one-bedroom apartment and $17.84 to afford a two-bedroom apartment. There has been an increase of 41% from 2000 to 2009 in fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit, according to HUD (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2009).

The lack of affordable housing has lead to high rent burdens (rents which absorb a high proportion of income), overcrowding, and substandard housing. These phenomena, in turn, have not only forced many people to become homeless; they have put a large and growing number of people at risk of becoming homeless.

Housing assistance can make the difference between stable housing, precarious housing, or no housing at all. However, the demand for assisted housing clearly exceeds the supply: only about one-third of poor renter households receive a housing subsidy from the federal, state, or a local government (Daskal, 1998). The limited level of housing assistance means that most poor families and individuals seeking housing assistance are placed on long waiting lists. Today the average wait for Section 8 Vouchers is 35 months (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2004).

Excessive waiting lists for public housing mean that people must remain in shelters or inadequate housing arrangements longer. In a survey of 24 cities, people remain homeless an average of seven months, and 87% of cities reported that the length of time people are homeless has increased in recent years (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Longer stays in homeless shelters result in less shelter space available for other homeless people, who must find shelter elsewhere or live on the streets. In 2007, it was found that average stay in homeless shelters for households with children was 5.7 months, while this number is only slightly smaller for singles and unaccompanied children at 4.7 months. (The U.S. Conference for Mayors, 2007).

In 2003, the federal government spent almost twice as much in housing-related tax expenditures and direct housing assistance for households in the top income quintile than on housing subsidies for the lowest-income households (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2005). Thus, federal housing policy has not responded to the needs of low-income households, while disproportionately benefiting the wealthiest Americans.

OTHER FACTORS

Particularly within the context of poverty and the lack of affordable housing, certain additional factors may push people into homelessness. Other major factors, which can contribute to homelessness, include the following:

Lack of Affordable Health Care: For families and individuals struggling to pay the rent, a serious illness or disability can start a downward spiral into homelessness, beginning with a lost job, depletion of savings to pay for care, and eventual eviction. One in three Americans, or 86.7 million people, is uninsured. Of those uninsured, 30.7% are under eighteen. In 2007-2008, four out of five people that were uninsured were working families. Work-based health insurance has become rarer in recent years, especially for workers in the agricultural or service sectors (Families USA, 2009).

Domestic Violence: Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between abusive relationships and homelessness. In addition, 50% of the cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005).Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives (Network to End Domestic Violence).

Mental Illness: Approximately 16% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005). Despite the disproportionate number of severely mentally ill people among the homeless population, increases in homelessness are not attributable to the release of severely mentally ill people from institutions. Most patients were released from mental hospitals in the 1950s and 1960s, yet vast increases in homelessness did not occur until the 1980s, when incomes and housing options for those living on the margins began to diminish rapidly. According to the 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Report, most homeless persons with mental illness do not need to be institutionalized, but can live in the community with the appropriate supportive housing options (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003). However, many mentally ill homeless people are unable to obtain access to supportive housing and/or other treatment services. The mental health support services most needed include case management, housing, and treatment.

Addiction Disorders: The relationship between addiction and homelessness is complex and controversial. While rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionately high among the homeless population, the increase in homelessness over the past two decades cannot be explained by addiction alone. Many people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs never become homeless, but people who are poor and addicted are clearly at increased risk of homelessness. Addiction does increase the risk of displacement for the precariously housed; in the absence of appropriate treatment, it may doom one's chances of getting housing once on the streets. Homeless people often face insurmountable barriers to obtaining health care, including addictive disorder treatment services and recovery supports.

NATIONAL ESTIMATES OF HOMELESSNESS

There are several national estimates of homelessness. Many are dated, or based on dated information. For all of the reasons discussed above, none of these estimates is the definitive representation of "how many people are homeless.” In a recent approximation USA Today estimated 1.6 million people unduplicated persons used transitional housing or emergency shelters. Of these people, approximately 1/3 are members of households with children, a nine percent increase since 2007. Another approximation is from a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty which states that approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007). From Monica..to help you put these numbers in perspective, Duluth has a population of 84,284 on February 9th 2010.)

CONCLUSION

Homelessness results from a complex set of circumstances that require people to choose between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Only a concerted effort to ensure jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for those who cannot work, affordable housing, and access to health care will bring an end to homelessness.

Questions to ponder ??????
What will you do? How will you help? Will you help? The holidays are approaching, and Americans will spend tremendous amounts of money on gifts they do not need. Will you ask your families to do something? Would you ask your family not to give you anything but to give the money to a person that truly needs it?

REFERENCES

Arnst, Catherine. “Health Care: Not So Recession Proof”. Business Week. 25 March 2008.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “Policy Basics: An Introduction to TANF,” 2009. 820 First Street, NE, Suite 510, Washington, D.C. 20002.
Children's Defense Fund and National Coalition for the Homeless. Welfare to What: Early Findings on Family Hardship and Well-being, 1998. National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036; 202/462-4822.

Children’s Defense Fund. “Bush Administration Policies Exacerbate Growing Housing Crisis For Families With Children”, 2005. Available at www.childrensdefense.org.

Daskal, Jennifer. In Search of Shelter: The Growing Shortage of Affordable Rental Housing , 1998. Available from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 820 First Street, NE, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20002; 202/408-1080, center@center.cbpp.org.

Dolbeare, Cushing. "Housing Policy: A General Consideration," in Homelessness in America, 1996, Oryx Press. National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036; 202/462-4822.

The Economic Policy Institute. Minimum Wage: Frequently Asked Questions, 2005. Available from www.epinet.org.

Families USA. Losing Health Insurance: The Unintended Consequences of Welfare Reform, 1999. Available from Families USA, 1334 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005; 202/628-3030.

Federal Task Force on Homelessness and Severe Mental Illness. Outcasts on Main Street: A Report of the Federal Task Force on Homelessness and Severe Mental Illness, 1992. Available, free, from the National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness, 262 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY 12054-1123; 800/444-7415, nrc@prainc.com.

Greenberg, Mark, and Jim Baumohl. "Income Maintenance: Little Help Now, Less on the Way," in Homelessness in America, 1996, Oryx Press. National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036; 202/462-4822.

Homes for the Homeless. Ten Cities 1997-1998: A Snapshot of Family Homelessness Across America. Available from Homes for the Homeless & the Institute for Children and Poverty, 36 Cooper Square, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003; 212/529-5252.

Institute for Children and Poverty. A Shelter is Not a Home: Or is it? April 2001. Available online at www.homesforthehomeless.com/ or from the Institute for Children and Poverty, 36 Cooper Square, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

Joint Center for Housing Studies. “200,000 Rental Units Demolished Annually, Contribute to Serious Housing Affordability Squeeze Harvard Study Asserts,” 2006. Harvard University, 1033 Massachutes Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Koegel, Paul, et al. "The Causes of Homelessness," in Homelessness in America, 1996, Oryx Press. National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036; 202/462-4822.

Mishel, L., Bernstein, J., and Schmitt, J. The State of Working America: 1998-99, 1999. Available for $24.95 (paper) from the Economic Policy Institute, 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036; 202/331-5510.

National Coalition for the Homeless.”Foreclosure to Homelessness,” 2009.. National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036; 202/462-4822.

National Coalition for the Homeless. No Open Door: Breaking the Lock on Addiction Recovery for Homeless People, 1998. National Coalition for the Homeless, 2201 P St NW, Washington, D.C., 20036; 202/462-4822.

National Low Income Housing Coalition. “Out of Reach,” 2009.. Available from the National Low Income Housing Coalition at 1012 14th Street, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20005; 202/662-1530.

National Low Income Housing Coalition. The Crisis in America’s Housing, 2005. Available from www.nlihc.org.

National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach, 2007-2008. Available from www.nlihc.org.

National Priorities Project and Jobs with Justice. Working Hard, Earning Less: The Future of Job Growth in America, 1998. Available from the National Priorities Project, 17 New South Street, Suite 301, Northampton, MA 01060; 414/584-9556.

National Network to End Domestic Violence. 2007. “Domestic Violence Counts: A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services across the United States.” Washington, DC: National Network to End Domestic Violence.

Nickelson, Idara. “The District Should Use Its Upcoming TANF Bonus To Increase Cash Assistance and Remove Barriers to Work”, 2004. D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute. Available at www.dcfpi.org.

Santos, Fernanda and Robet Ingrassia. “Family surge at shelters.” New York Daily News, August 18th, 2002. Available at www.nationalhomeless.org/housing/familiesarticle.html.

Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force. Priced Out in 1998: The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities, 1999. Available from the Technical Assistance Collaborative, One Center Plaza, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02108; 617/742-5657.

Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc. and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force. Priced Out in 2006: The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities, 2006. Available at http://www.tacinc.org/Pubs/PricedOut.htm.

U.S. Bureau of the Census(a). Poverty in the United States: 1997. Current Population Reports, Series P60-201, 1998. Available, free, from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Income Statistics Branch, Washington, DC, 20233-0001; 301/763-8576, or at http://www.census.gov/hhes/ww w/poverty.html.

U.S. Bureau of the Census(b). Health Insurance Coverage: 1997. Current Population Reports, Series P60-202, 1997. Available, free, from U.S. Bureau of the Census, Income Statistics Branch, Washington,DC, 20233-0001; 301/763-8576, or at http://www.census.gov/hhes/ww w/hlthins.html.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. Income, Poverty and Health Insurance in the United States: 2003, 2004,2005. Available at www.census.gov.

U.S. Conference of Mayors. A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: 2001. Available for $15.00 from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620 Eye St., NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC, 20006-4005, 202/293-7330.

U.S. Conference of Mayors. A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: 2005. Available from http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/home.asp.

U.S. Conference of Mayors. A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: 2007. Available from http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/home.asp.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Blueprint for Change, 2003. Available through National Resource and Training Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness, www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. Rental Housing Assistance -- The Crisis Continues: 1997 Report to Congress on Worst Case Housing Needs, 1998. Available for $5.00 from HUD User, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD, 20850, 800/245-2691.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. Waiting In Vain: An Update On America's Housing Crisis, 1999. Available for $5.00 from HUD User, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD 20849-6091, 800/245-2691, or free from the HUD User web site at www.huduser.org

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, A Report on Worst Case Housing Needs in 1999: New Opportunities Amid Continuing Challenges, 1999. Available from HUD User, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD 20849-6091, 800/245-2691, or free from the HUD User web site at www.huduser.org

Wright, James and Beth Rubin. "Is Homelessness a Housing Problem?" in Understanding Homelessness: New Policy and Research Perspectives, 1997. Available, free, from the Fannie Mae Foundation, 4000 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, North Tower, Suite One, Washington, DC 20016-2804; 202-274-8074 or email: fmfpubs@fanniemaefoundation.org.

Zorza, J. “Woman Battering: A Major Cause of Homelessness,” Clearinghouse Review, 25(4) (1991). Qtd. In National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “The Importance of Financial Literacy,” Oct. 2001.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Administration’s Section 8 Voucher Proposal Closes National Low Income Housing Coalition.

November 10, Weekly Read..Comment Required

My own reflection...

I have always wanted to be a teacher. Teaching and working with people inspires me. I began my journey wanting to teach children that were like me; deaf. I wanted to make a difference in their lives and let them know I truly understand their frustrations, their struggles, and the heartache that they will experience in their lives. I wanted to advocate for them and be their rock. I wanted to give them peace and acceptance in themselves when others were trying desperately to make them something that they are not. I wanted to make a difference. In college, my path changed. I wanted to be part of a movement, a movement to make people's lives better. I decided I wanted to reach out to the hearing community, and my passion became teaching American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. I wanted to educate people so that they would understand who deaf people are and in return they too would be a part of this journey and help end the discrimination against Deaf people. It was this path that lead me to Dignitas. I was honored to become part of this team of incredibly insightful and intelligent people. I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with freshman and be a part of their first year college experience. I thought long and hard about my class. I wanted it to be worth while and important. I wanted to make people think, challenge themselves, be aware of their environment and our world, be able to support what they believe logically and passionately, make a difference in peoples lives, see things from many angles, understand that there is not one right or wrong, not everything is black and white, and above all; ask people to approach each day with dignity and motivation to live life to the fullest and allow others to as well without passing judgement, prejudices, and stereotypes.


I have led some very difficult class discussions and have asked you to think, really think. I have not told you how to think nor have I judged you or shown you disrespect. I have listened to you actively and allowed you to voice your feelings and beliefs. I have however really questioned your responses, I have asked you to see things from different angles. I have taken you on a path that is not straightforward and does have many twists and turns. I have not argued with you, nor have I put you down. I have simply asked "why?" I have asked you to question yourself and really hear yourself. I have shared with you personal experiences that have helped me grow as a person and taught me valuable lessons and asked you to share yours. Never have I said this is what I am going to do and you should too. Never have I preached that this is what we should do and then not do it myself. All I have done is challenged you and perhaps forced you out of your comfort zone.


After our discussion this week, I was called a hypocrite. Am I a hypocrite? Well, what is a hypocrite anyway? Lets take a look.


In the modern sense, being a hypocrite is a disagreeable thing, and there are plenty of idioms that express when someone is acting in this manner. “The pot calling the kettle black,” is a classic one and “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” is equally popular. Both represent the modern take on hypocrites in general. The hypocrite is someone who criticizes something that he also does. Alternately, someone who acts in manner that he specifically does not condone is acting in a hypocritical way.

Politics are a fertile field for finding examples of hypocrisy, but so is parenting. A parent who smokes and tells her children not to, is reeking of tobacco and hypocrisy. It’s difficult to expect children to take such a parent seriously, since he/she is acting in a manner which cancels out his/her advice. Similarly, a parent who curses frequently will have a hard time convincing children not to swear.

Political candidates and commentators from all sides of the political spectrum act with hypocrisy. Candidates who run on “family values” platforms and then have affairs are a good example, and unfortunately number many in the US. When their behavior is exposed, much of what they do or say in all aspects of their lives or political careers is called into question.

Just as in Greek times, when debate made use of hypocrisy, though in different fashion, political candidates attempt to expose hypocrisy in their running mates. Comedians, especially those who evaluate politicians often find hypocrisy one of the easiest things to mock. You’ll note in Stephen Colbert’s show, that his “Word of the Day” segment tends to focus on how political candidates make statements that are hypocritical. He points out statements political leaders have made in the past, to show that their positions do not stay static and often contradict what they’ve previously stated.In other words, they set double standards: one for themselves, and one for the rest of the world.

Think about this for a moment....In other words, hypocrites set double standards: one for themselves, and one for the rest of the world.

Hmmm.... Am I a hypocrite....After reading about it and seeing the actual definition, Does this define me? No, it does not. I am not a hypocrite. I abide by the very creed I teach. I do not have double standards. I want everyone to treat everyone with dignity, respect, understanding, acceptance and kindness. I challenge myself and place myself in uncomfortable situations to learn, to grow, and to understand just as I am doing in class to you.

I would appreciate that everyone refrain from making these kinds of comments in class. Negative words are powerful and provoke strong emotions. If it not an example of effective communication. Enjoy the challenge, embrace it, and live in the moment. If discussions in class are making you angry, ask yourself why? Who and what are you really angry at or about?

In my daughter's elementary school, they encourage students to make "I statements." Rather than saying, "He's distracting me!" They are instead encouraged to say, "I feel frustrated that I am distracted." Please work to make "I statements" along this journey as this is an example effective communication; the very goal of this course.

Live, learn and grow....I want you to comment on your development so far.

Your partner in learning (if you let me be),
Monica

November 2, 2010: Weekly Read..Response Required!

Be advised: this weekly read has strong language.




Information taken from: http://www.flakmag.com/misc/images/iagiiwii.jpgIt's

All Good vs. It Is What It Is

William S. Burroughs was right: language is a virus. Words are communicated through the population from person to person, ever mutating and recombining to suit the occasion, neither living nor dead and fundamentally beyond human control. Most of the time, these phrases, sentences and paragraphs are essentially ephemeral, expiring on transmission, their constituent parts returning to the linguistic soup from which new ideas will be drawn.

But now and then, some primordial alchemy will spark a new sequence so powerful that its contagion quickly reaches epidemic proportions. Suddenly you hear it everywhere, on TV, at the next table, on your own lips. "Wazzup?" comes to mind, in the evil days before its carriers were brutally quarantined. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't find a cure for "Have a nice day!" And please, don't get me started on "Don't get me started."

What is it that makes these tropes so tough? As with a virus, success comes through conforming to the environment. Language is at best a poor fit for expressing the human condition, but now and then a usage comes along so ideally suited to the zeitgeist that it becomes a slogan for the times.

A catalog of such catchphrases would be as insightful a social history as one could hope for.

For years, you heard it everywhere: "It's all good." It's what Puffy said after he was ankled by J-Lo, to indicate there were no hard feelings. In 2001, the NBA adopted it as a marketing slogan, a way of saying fans shouldn't be disturbed by Michael Jordan's seeming retirement. It's how you buck up a friend who's had a bad day, or put a philosophical gloss on your own tale of woe. Use it in place of "isn't it ironic" in that Alanis Morisette song to discover how this magical incantation can shine a light on even the darkest moment.

Some have suggested that "It's all good" originated on the street as an expression of stoic resilience by the downtrodden. Certainly, hip-hop played an essential role in its popularization, first in the 1994 Hammer song of the same name, then the following year in a cameo by Dr. Dre on the Tupac track "California Love." More recently, DMX captured its insouciant joie de vivre in yet another tune of this title:

It's all good, it's alright
Fuck all day, fuck all night
Call my bitches, cause wherever I go, y'all my bitches
East to the West coast, all my bitches

As is so often the case, this expression of black consciousness was quickly co-opted by the mainstream, presumably spreading via young suburban aficionados to their parents and thus to the mass media. Soon even the squarest parts of the country had caught on. Marketers far from the NBA demographic embraced its new widespread appeal. The phrase found particular favor among New Agers, even sparking a localized backlash among Old Agers.

But nothing lasts forever. "It's all good" had a good run; now, as they say, it's played out. No less an organ of cultural insight than the Boston Globe has written its obituary. The NBA now exhorts fans to "Love it live," a slogan unlikely to inspire similar affection (or even comprehension).

Maybe the times have changed. Maybe "It's all good" is no longer relevant in a post-Sept. 11 world. In any event, we move on. What could possibly take the place of such a cherished dictum?

Lately, you may have become aware of a new contender: "It is what it is."

"It is what it is" means what it means. Depending on context, it can be a statement of resignation or of defiance, but in neither case does it connote the optimistic good humor of "It's all good." If anything, it expresses the absence of emotion, the abdication of feeling. Although it seems to imply value-neutrality, that misses the point; it's not so much that something is neither good nor bad, but rather that its quality simply isn't relevant, that it's not worth the energy to make a value judgment.

To put it another way — it doesn't matter what you think about it because you can't do anything about it anyway. It was in this spirit that Al Gore invoked the phrase after winning the popular vote and possibly the electoral tally as well: "I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court decision and the way in which they interpreted and applied the law. But I respect the rule of law, so it is what it is."

Meanwhile, the current administration has embraced the phrase as a tautological device to preclude further inquiry. Pressed about the intentions of the US regarding the ABM treaty, a 30-year-old agreement that would seem to preclude the Star Wars-type missile defense system currently under development, a defense official told a NATO ministers' meeting, "The ABM treaty is the current ABM treaty. It is what it is."

"It is what it is" can also be an agent of insinuation, a coy refusal to spell out something that the speaker clearly thinks goes without saying. During the run-up to GW2, the administration made a lot of noise about Iraq's links with international terrorists but refrained from presenting concrete conclusions. Instead, a senior official merely said, "It is what it is. It is a series of facts. People will have to judge for themselves."

Similarly, to sound an ominous note following the discovery in February on board a freighter of North Korean Scud missiles bound for Yemen without committing to a specific response: "Obviously this was suspected by American authorities for some time and I think it is what it is," said US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

For years, "It's all good" served as a rallying cry for the down-but-not-out, a smile as the ultimate umbrella. But there's no smile on the face of "It its what it is." This is no Yogi Berra chestnut, but a blunt recognition of power, either by those who hold it or those under its shadow, with no illusions about the ability of mere words to shape or alter frank reality. When the administration invoked a policy of proactive military action against a regime that might at some point prove threatening, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: "You can call that defense, as I do, or you can call it preemptive, but it is what it is."

What does the replacement of "It's all good" with "It is what it is" mean? What does it say about the tenor of our times, the popular outlook, our existential commonwealth?

It is what it is.

— J. Daniel Janzen (jdaniel at flakmag)

What should our new phrase be....create one. Your phrase should drive people to action and not allow them to accept things as they are.

Blog #8 De·sen·si·tize (Verb) 1. Make less sensitive. 2. Make (someone) less likely to feel shock or distres

STUDY: RACIST LANGUAGE COMMON AMONG WHITE COLLEGE STUDENTS
by Carmen Van Kerckhove

Given the proliferation of “ghetto” and “gangsta” parties, blackface and racist “satirical” student newspaper articles lately, the results of this study come as no great surprise.

From The Associated Press:

A University of Dayton sociologist who analyzed journals kept by 626 white college students found the students behaved substantially differently when they were in the company of other whites than when they were with other races.

Part of the culture?
When the students, who were asked to record their interactions with other people, were alone with other white students, racial stereotypes and racist language were surprisingly common, researcher Leslie Picca found. One student reported hearing the “n-word” among white students 27 times in a single day.

The results suggest white students have little sense of shame about racial insults and stereotyping and treat them as simply a part of the culture.

“This is a new generation who grew up watching ‘The Cosby Show,”’ Picca said. “They have the belief that racism isn’t a problem anymore so the words they use and the jokes they tell aren’t racist.”

Picca said she found it “heartbreaking” to see so many well-educated students perpetuating the stereotypes.

Be honest. How often have you heard racist language since you started college? Do you know someone who tells inappropriate jokes about religion, sexuality, gender, race, and cultures? Perhaps it is even your family. Now lets be really honest. Have you engaged in this kind of behavior? What did you do? Perhaps you did not even realize it until now. Amanda very honestly admitted to using gay inappropriately. She learned from her mistake and has grown by acknowledging it and educating other about it. That takes courage. What will you do to make a difference? We need to stand up to change and make it better. Things do not have to be as they are and they shouldn't be. Accepting things that are not right and not working on change is not what dignity is about. Nor is it truly acceptance. No one should accept hatred.

Is this acceptance really that we just do not see it anymore? Do you believe people are becoming more and more desensitized? What is something you are going to change to become a better person? How will you change your communication? What will you do in groups to really make a difference rather than laughing along with everyone to be a part of the group?

No Blog this past week