Letter

Hey guys, looks like this will be my last post for this class. This is my cover letter for the portfolio. Because I am turning in a hard copy, I have not pasted links in this copy.

It has been a pleasure taking this class with each of you. I have learned so much from reading your blogs and I hope I have been able to return the favor. I wish only the best for all of you in your academics and future ahead. God Bless!

Lauren Kirkland

ENG 241-DL FALL 2009

December 13, 2009

Dr. Steve Brandon

This semester, I took an online English class that was like no other class I had ever taken before. Under the teaching guidance of Dr. Brandon, each class member was asked to create a blog that would function as a means of communication between students and serve as a place for our assignments to be posted, reviewed, and discussed by our group members. Dr. Brandon also employed a website, created specifically for the English 241 class, which contained a place for class discussions as well as assignments, messages from the teacher, and extra credit opportunities. I knew from the beginning that this class would be different, but I completely underestimated the knowledge and voice I would take away from it. Though I sometimes fell behind in submitting assignments on time, my studies were enriched through exercises that instituted communication, critical thinking and information literacy, cultural and social understanding, and personal development, exemplified in the following pages of this letter. I feel a proper grade for the time and effort I put forth for this class, with minor mistakes and tardiness, would be a B+.

Communication was the main key to this class. Without a classroom type setting, students had to rely on a website, class discussions, and blogs to communicate and interact with classmates, resulting in understanding and being understood. I preferred this type of setting however, because it allowed me to convey my thoughts, opinions, and essays with my classmates which I would have quickly shied away from doing in an open classroom setting. I was able to communicate my voice through my essays, particularly through my most recent essay that expressed my public profession of belief. “This essay presented me with the opportunity to lay it all out and come to terms with what I truly believe” (Public Profession of Belief).  Through class discussions, I was able to communicate my voice and learn from the opinions expressed by others. My classmates shared views that I agreed and disagreed with, and through these discussions I was enlightened and often inclined to share my own. For example, in week ten, we were asked to discuss a time where we had to “fight the good fight.” I shared my fight for religion because “I personally believe that America has entered moral decline because of laws forbidding such things” (Week 10 Class Discussion). Many other students raised the question as to whether or not there should be separation of church and state, something I had not considered until reading their posts. I contemplated the question and determined through my classmates’ posts and my own beliefs that “church and state should not mix…because the Separatists wanted complete separation of church and state because religion was being forced upon them. But the state should in return not reprimand a child for bringing his Bible to school, or forbid speaking the name of Jesus, or remove prayer” (Week 10 Class Discussion). Had my classmates not communicated their own opinions and raised this question, I would have never been able to comprehend the concept or state my opinion. During week fifteen, one of my group members posed a question in her blog concerning an essay I had written about virtues. She asked, “Do you mean the least religious a person is, the least fulfilled their life will be?” This was entirely too thought provoking to pass up, so I posted a response in which I was able to communicate my beliefs with her and found it to be “uplifting and eye-opening for me to talk about” (Week 15 Comments on Group Blogs).

Through this class, I found my own voice often in writing reflections. During week seven’s reflection, “I struggled to write my essay on nature. I discovered a personal flaw, communicating my voice. Sometimes I focus so much on the “eloquent” wording, that my message becomes marred and indirect” (Week 7 Reflections). During week eight’s reflection, “in reviewing and commenting on my own blog posts for week eight, I was able to read how my voice has changed since the beginning of the semester. It seems I am constantly finding a stronger voice every week, something I have struggled with” (Week 8 Reflections).  

Without communication, there would be no thought stimulation and voices would be suppressed. This class has truly opened my eyes to a whole new world of communication, blogging, and through the use of communication in our assignments, I was able to freely express my thoughts, discover my voice, read others opinions, and gain insight into issues discussed.

            Critical thinking and information literacy were primarily applied while reading assignments and writing essays that pertained to the readings, participating in class discussions, and commenting on other group members’ blogs during this course. When reading assignments and responding to the readings through writing essays, I had to recognize information that pertained to me, translate and evaluate how it applied to my life, and decide for myself how I would use it effectively. During week four, while “reading Emerson’s “American Scholar” essay” I was “struck…with the notion that today, it is especially important that myself and my fellow students take initiative to be a “Man-thinking” and not just a “thinking man” (Week 12 Reflections). While writing my essay “I compared myself to Emerson’s ideology for the prime American scholar” and noted “similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses in myself. Because of this” I determined that “I am, and am not, the kind of scholar Emerson describes” (The American Scholar). I discovered extensive wisdom in Emerson’s “American Scholar” essay and decided to apply his challenge to “to cheer, to raise, and to guide men by showing them facts amidst appearances.” Through employing critical thinking and information literacy to Emerson’s work, I found “a sense of empowerment and truth” and “by obtaining knowledge from nature, books, and experience” in turn applied it to my own life so that I might also “prosper from a self-revival” (Week 4 Reflections).

            During the course of this class, cultural and social understanding came into play in various assignments. The topic that personally impacted me the most occurred during week one when posed with the question “What is an American?” We read Whitman’s poem “I Hear America Singing” which describes different characters’ roles in society. The poem gave an accurate glimpse into American culture. We were then asked to describe our own glimpse of America to an immigrant. I distinctly remember most of my group members’ essays portrayed America positively. One stood out from the rest with lines like “America is the land of the free, but that can only be taken in context, because we’re only as free as our bureaucratic governments’ laws let us be” and “it’s a nation that only cares about monetary value, and it can be easy to get taken advantage of and thrown to the wolves if you don’t watch out for number one.” I was shocked when I read the essay and almost jumped to write a rebuttal. After taking a moment to contemplate, I decided to approach the essay from a different social understanding and came to appreciate my group member’s voice and passion in his opinion. He offered different stances on many issues and I found solace and reassurance in reading his essay in week five when he stated “the silence lets us preach to ourselves and come up with our own opinions, which allow us to be individuals” because “this is something I struggled most with, forming my own opinion and then voicing it. By looking at his work with a different social understanding, I benefitted and learned “that silence can be a positive thing, and an individual’s silence can define them as an individual” (Week 4-5 Comments on Group Blogs).

            Throughout this course, I can honestly and proudly say that I engaged in personal development and transformed as an individual. I began noting changes in week five, when we read Thoreau’s “Walden.” When asked to write about what living a full life means to me, “I viewed it as living life without restriction: being happy 100% of the time, never saying no to a selfish ambition, or yes to self-sacrificing demand; it was the most self-centered way of living” (Living Life to the Fullest). I did not want to be someone who lead a life “of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in” me.  However, after  “I evaluated my life without those who mean the most to me, my life dwindled down to nothing but a hollow, empty mess” and I came to the realization that “the repercussions outweigh the momentary happiness by far. In making myself 100% happy and living a self-centered life without restriction, I would bring down everyone I know, ultimately leading to my own downfall” (Living Life to the Fullest). “When I looked at life from this perspective, I had a clearer understanding of why Thoreau believed we should give up our “stuff” to find true happiness in life. It was only after I analyzed his theory from an entirely opposite point of view that I came to an ironic agreement” (Week 5 Reflections).

            Personal enrichment ensued in the latter weeks after reading Franklin’s thirteen virtues. Inspired to create my own list, I realized the need to develop my virtue of spirituality because I believe that once “that once this virtue is developed, other virtues will ensue. Living a healthy lifestyle starts with seeking the most important thing in my life, God, and putting Him above anything else” (My List of Virtues). I began focusing on my personal spiritual development and have rediscovered my passion for going to church and reading my Bible. It amazes me how when you truly and whole heartedly set your mind to something, nothing is impossible, and you sow great rewards.

            The same goes for my future. I know that I can accomplish and achieve anything I set my mind to. This class has not only inspired me to find my voice, but also to speak it. I will carry this insight with me into my career as an event planner, because I will have to have a voice, and a loud one at that, when it comes to dealing with clients, and playing the role of coordinator and leader. I would personally like to thank Dr. Brandon for the thought provoking reading and exercises he organized for us, because through them, I am leaving the class with greater understanding of myself, my classmates and the world.

 

Reflectons Week 15

Thesis:

This semester, I took an online English class that was like no other class I had ever taken before. Under the teaching guidance of Dr. Brandon, each class member was asked to create a blog that would function as a means of communication between students and serve as a place for our assignments to be posted, reviewed, and discussed by our group members. Dr. Brandon also employed a website, created specifically for the English 241 class, which contained a place for class discussions as well as assignments, messages from the teacher, and extra credit opportunities. I knew from the beginning that this class would be different, but I completely underestimated the knowledge and voice I would take away from it. Though I sometimes fell behind in submitting assignments on time, my studies were enriched through exercises that instituted communication, critical thinking and information literacy, cultural and social understanding, and personal development, exemplified in the following pages of this letter. I feel a proper grade for the time and effort I put forth for this class, with minor mistakes and tardiness, would be a B+.

Communication was the main key to this class. Without a classroom type setting, students had to rely on a website, class discussions, and blogs to communicate and interact with classmates, resulting in understanding and being understood.

Exemplified in supporting examples.

Critical thinking and information literacy were primarily applied while reading assignments and writing essays that pertained to the readings, participating in class discussions, and commenting on other group members’ blogs during this course. When reading assignments and responding to the readings through writing essays, I had to recognize information that pertained to me, translate and evaluate how it applied to my life, and decide for myself how I would use it effectively.

Exemplified in supporting examples.

During the course of this class, cultural and social understanding came into play in various assignments.

Exemplified in supporting examples.

Throughout this course, I can honestly and proudly say that I engaged in personal development and transformed as an individual.

Exemplified in supporting examples.

Conclusion – discuss future

My Public Profession of Beliefs

Lately I have had the opportunity to look deeper into my beliefs and the doctrines that accompany them. It seems ironic to me that the situation I find myself in as of late and the discussion of this assignment are so closely related.  Recently, two of my close friends were forced to break up because each of their parents had differing beliefs. One friend is Reformed Presbyterian, the other is Word of Faith. What intrigues me so much is that both faiths have the same foundational beliefs, however, the doctrines that accompany each faith are the cause for disagreement. After a few weeks, the couple decided to go against what their parents had instated and secretly date. Fast forward one month. Both sets of parents found out and now the girl is living with me because her mother kicked her out. Living with her however, has been eye opening and thought inspiring as I am learning the doctrines of her faith and the doctrines of her boyfriend’s faith. I am now aware of doctrines in my own faith that I never knew existed, and I am able to ascertain beliefs I agree and disagree with. This essay has presented me with the opportunity to lay it all out and come to terms with what I truly believe.

I label myself a Christian. I have attended a Baptist church my entire life but share the same foundational beliefs of many other denominations such as Presbyterian, Methodist, and Assembly of God.

I believe in one true, omnipotent God, who created the earth and all who dwell in it. I believe he created humans in His image.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27

I believe that in order to achieve salvation for eternal life in heaven, one must believe that they are a sinner and repent from their sin. I Salvation is found in the atonement alone, where God sent his son, Jesus, to earth, to die on the cross as a sacrifice for the world’s sin. In order to fully repent, one must believe in their heart and confess by their mouth that Jesus is Lord, and that he died to save us, and was raised by God to descend into heaven. Repentance is complete surrender to God, a promise to take up your cross and follow him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:9-13

I do not believe that works have anything to do with salvation. In Christ alone, one can find salvation.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

I believe in an afterlife in heaven when one dies, but only if they have received salvation. I believe God is a just God, who grants the freedom of choice. He will not have mercy on those who have heard of Him but have not repented. I believe those who are not saved will suffer eternity in the fiery flames of hell.

“And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:42

I believe in the Rapture and Judgement Day; that Jesus will come down from heaven to earth and judge the living and the dead. Those who are saved with rise up with Jesus and descend into heaven, and those who are not must suffer the annihilation that will be inflicted on the earth.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." - Revelation 3:10

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?" - II Peter 3:10-13

These are the beliefs which I believe to be true of my faith, and these are the beliefs I live my life by. I believe I will go to heaven when I die, and that I will live an eternal life with God because I have received salvation through repentance.

Week 15 - Comments on Group's Blogs

Kara:

It sounds like you’re making great progress on you virtue of industry, and as one of my best friends, I am so happy for you. I think you will excel wherever you go because of the drive you exert. I will help keep you accountable, of course, and I think you have a great start, especially since you have 2 months. I admire your determination to get everything done before the end of the semester and wish you the best in your endeavors! : D

Aubrey:

Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, minus the work of course. Your thanksgiving sounds much like mine, especially the football part. : ) That’s definitely my favorite!

Daniel:

I loved all your virtues! My favorite list by far. I thought you did an excellent job of naming them. My favorite was the virtues on moderation and modesty and flexibility because those are two of my biggest struggles as well. Which one do you feel you need to develop the most?

Christina:

Thanks for the website link. It’s a great idea and I appreciate you taking the time to explain it : D. I love the list of things you are thankful for, because it reminded me to be thankful for the little things too, like sunny days and a bed to sleep in every night.

I’d like to respond to the question you posed.

Do you mean the least religious a person is, the least fulfilled their life will be?

I wouldn’t necessarily say that the more religious a person is, the more their life is fulfilled. Instead I would say that in my life personally, I want God to be my fulfillment. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." I feel like with God as the top priority in my life, everything else with fall into place because of His divine plan for me. This is why I want to seek him whole-heartedly, to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5) Jeremiah 10:23 says, "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." This is the principle on how I want to live my life, with God as my guide.

Thanks for prompting me to write that. It was uplifting and eye-opening for me to talk about : D

Reflections Weeks 13-14

One of the most interesting things I learned in the readings this week about Thanksgiving was that the Iroquois Confederation provided a model for Franklin to draw upon in constructing the Articles of Confederation. The tidbit that surprised me the most was in reading the history of the first Thanksgiving and learning that most of the food on our Thanksgiving menu does not even compare to that of the Pilgrim’s menu. While the Pilgrims feasted on wild fowl, venison, seal, lobster, grapes, and onions, just to name a few, ham, potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberries were not on their menu. I think it is interesting that the turkey has become the symbol of our Thanksgiving today, while it was only a minor part of the Pilgrim’s meal. I also found Fern Leaves, 1st series “Thanksgiving Story” interesting because the children were poor and hungry when they had once been wealthy. It steered my mind in a thankful direction as I began to appreciate how thankful I was to be able to celebrate and have a normal Thanksgiving, despite this suffering economy.

Virtue Update: Spirituality

I have set my goals on developing my highly sought after virtue, spirituality. I will honestly say I have been 50-50 dedicated to doing the things I thought would help develop this virtue. While I have been going to church regularly the past two weeks, I have not been setting aside personal time for spiritual development through reading the Bible, praying, doing devotionals, etc. I thought I would share some from a sermon the first week we started working on developing our virtues, and ironically enough, it was about seeking after God and a willingness to respond. My pastor used the example of a broken teapot and compared it to a teapot in mint condition. Obviously, a broken teapot cannot properly function and serve its purpose of pouring tea. In the same way, a person who isn’t whole-heartedly seeking God (or any other thing they strive to accomplish) in their life, cannot function or serve a purpose. We must work to rebuild ourselves and let God work in us. Similarly, we must work at rebuilding the virtue we have sough to develop in our lives, so that we can serve a purpose whole-heartedly. I wanted to share this because it encouraged me and was a friendly reminder as to why we must truly seek and be devoted to seeking something that we want to change.

Blog Comments Week 10 Modern Day Slavery Solutions Essays, Week 11 Revisions, & Week 12 Virtues

Since I have not commented on everyone’s blog essays for the past 3 weeks, I have decided to combine the comments into 1 post for easier reading purposes.

Kara:

I think you did an excellent job answering the questions concerning civil disobediance and I agree with everything you said. I like how you stated your opinion but would have liked to see you state an opinion about a slavery issue. Overall, I thought your essay was well written.

I really liked how you based your virtues off of Franklin’s virtues, but explained what they meant to you personally. I think Franklin was very wise and his virtues are something we should all live up to. And you are doing a great job trying to improve your industry virtue. I saw you applying to colleges and I think its great that you are thinking ahead into the future. You are very smart and will go far! : D

Daniel:

You do an excellent job of getting your point across in your essays. When I read your opening line to week 10, stating that you feel Americans should not be expected to show any form of allegiance to their country, my mouth dropped and I immediately began thinking of a defense….until I read your essay. I completely agree with your idea that these days, the government runs the people more than the people run the government. And that goes against what our nation was founded on, by the people, for the people.

You are a very opinionated person and have some ideas that I agree and do agree with, but either way, you state your ideas openly and do not shy away from sharing them, and I strongly admire this trait. I personally believe that we should keep the declaration as it is, because if someone were to even attempt to change it, they would probably screw it up. I only say this because there are so many diverse ideas, and I truly believe in the principles this nation was founded on, and someone wanting to revamp the declaration, I feel, would take away/change the principles and butcher it.

Ps- Cool story about your trip to 14th and Cary. It’s crazy how much you look like my brother!

Christina:

I think your solutions essay is one of your best yet. I absolutely love how you use the John Brown example from slave times and tie it into your solutions. I completely agree with you on every point, even the point about medical field animal testing. I think awareness is a huge solution too, because the more people know, the more they may or may not use a product. I know I wouldn’t.

Smart idea highlighting changes and additions in bold. Your paragraph in which you relate and understand Emerson’s and Thoreau’s ideas actually helped me understand their ideas even better. It was very eye-opening and insightful. Great revision!

Your virtue essay was a very interesting read and I admire (and will implement for my own use) the idea to record everything, especially the reasons behind why something wasn’t done, like going to the gym. I think every person naturally struggles with bodily responsibility and I think my main reason for being irresponsible with it is time management. But it is something that every American NEEDS to make time for, because it can be life saving. My boyfriend is doing a presentation right now called “Health is Wealth” and he discusses how important exercise and diet are in our lives, because the things we do now will be reflected in and on our body later.

Also, your portfolio is incredible! I am in love with the picture on your home page! How were you able to create the separate webpage? It’s a great idea!

Aubrey:

Your paper was an interesting read in contrast to Daniel’s paper in week 10. I enjoyed reading the things America has done for us, such as offering protection. I agree whole-heartedly with your ideas on moral and civil law and think that during slavery, these laws were selfishly ignored for the bettering of the white man. It’s incredible to see how far our country has come, yet at the same time, how much we have fallen.

You have constructed a great list of virtues. Which one to you think you need to develop the most?

Reflections Week 12

1. My eyes were opened to the world of blogging, which I had heard of, but never endeavored before. I learned how to create a blog, make it personal, and share my thoughts on it.

2. Reading Emerson’s “Self-reliance” essay allowed me to see how un-self-reliant I was, and to strive to start thinking "outside the box" and speaking my opinion.

3. Reading Emerson’s “American Scholar” essay struck me with the notion that today, it is especially important that myself and my fellow students to take initiative to be a “Man-thinking” and not just a “thinking man. One of the ways we can do this is by filtering out dangerous material, and in society today, this is truly important because there are so many ideas being pushed on students from mentors and friends.

4. Reading Thoreau’s essay “Walden” and then analyzing his essay by discussing what a full life means to me from a selfish viewpoint, presented me with a clearer understanding of Throeau’s idea to abandon everything to find true happiness. When I abandoned everything, I came to the realization and was reminded that my life would mean nothing without the people I love.

5. My group members seemed to have a good grasp on what their lives complete and while I was trying to find what made my life complete in my essay, I instead found bits and pieces of advice and wisdom through reading theirs. My eyes were opened and I was reminded how through other’s writings, one can learn so much about the person, and derive vast wisdom.

6. When I struggled to write my essay on Nature, I discovered a personal flaw, communicating my voice. Sometimes I focus so much on the “eloquent” wording, that my message becomes marred and indirect.

7. In reviewing and commenting on my own blog posts for week eight, I was able to read how my voice has changed since the beginning of the semester. It seems I am constantly finding a stronger voice every week, something I have struggled with.

8. When asked to write an essay on modern slavery issues, I found out startling statistics concerning sweatshops present in AMERICA. I was shocked to learn how much forced labor occurs in our country, right under our noses. Though this assignment was less thought provoking internally for me, it was very eye opening and inspired a personal awareness.

9. After reading my group member’s essays on modern slavery, I was impressed at the opinions stated and wished that I had taken more of a passion and stated more of an opinion in my essay. There were also several interesting beliefs in the class discussion, which I tried to participate in more so because it dealt with an issue close to my heart, the fight for religion.

10. When reflecting back over the semester and the errata I would correct if I were to take this class again, it came down to one single, simple word: time. Time management is one of my biggest downfalls and this week I was able to acknowledge this through Franklin’s essay and strive to manage my time better so that I will have more time to consider the assignment, state my opinion and voice it correctly.

My Short List of Virtues Necessary for Well-Being and Living the Good Life:

Diligence

• Being focused on my schoolwork and not getting distracted by facebook, boyfriend time, etc.

Punctuality

• Getting to bed at an appropriate time each night so that I am not running late in the morning, which causes stress

Tranquility

• Keeping my temper at work when coworkers upset me and on the road

• Learning to use caution in my language when I am angry

Spirituality

• Spending time every day reading the Bible/doing devotions and attending church daily for spiritual growth

Healthy Lifestyle

• Eating more fruits and vegetables, less soda, no going out when I do not feel like cooking even though there is plenty of food, no skipping breakfast because I overslept

• Being dedicated in exercising daily by going to swimming classes and not skipping, also training for the marathons I have signed up to run

Balance between carefree and caring too much

• Not caring so much when little things go wrong in my everyday life, also not wanting everything to be so perfect and thorough because sometimes that is impossible

Honest/Outspoken when called for

• Not keeping my thoughts to myself but letting them free when the time is necessary

• Not shying away from my feelings because I do not want to offend other people, this is why I feel trampled on at times

Quick-thinking/Creative/Knowledgeable

• Being able to educate myself so that I can be prepared and have good ideas and suggestions to offer at my job as an event planner

Cleanliness

• Taking the time to nurture my appearance each day, no matter how early I may have to get up, so that I appear professional and calm and not having to rush or stress

• Brush and floss 2x a day to avoid cavities

Balance between selfless and selfish

• Learning how to say no to things when I have too much to do

• Not pointing the finger so fast when I argue with my boyfriend but instead trying to understand the situation before I selfishly blame him

Order

• Being organized so that work doesn’t interfere with school, and neither work or school interfere with family time and spending quality time with my boyfriend

Frugality

• Saving my money for the my future goals, moving out and being independent

The virtue I feel the need to most fully develop is spirituality. I am a firm believer that once this virtue is developed, other virtues will ensue. Living a healthy lifestyle starts with seeking the most important thing in my life, God, and putting Him above anything else.

There are several things I can do develop my spirituality and relationship with God. First and foremost, I can read my Bible at the start of each day. Whether I purchase a devotional to guide me, or I interpret each passage on my own, spending personal time each day will strengthen my personal relationship with God. Keeping a journal and recording my eye-opening findings will provide me with something to go back to when I do not understand something or need more direction. This will also I also encourage me when I am discouraged. Secondly, I need to attend church weekly. This is only a problem for me when I do not get enough sleep on Saturday nights. Therefore, I need to be responsible in getting to bed at a decent time, not only on Saturdays, but every day so that I wake up and allow enough time for my devotion. Prayer in abundance, particularly thanking God every day for the little things, will not only make me a happier person, but will also develop my spirituality. These are several things I can begin practicing with dedication to fully develop my spiritual virtue.

Reflections Week 11

“…when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first. So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing. “ – Benjamin Franklin

Reflecting back over the semester and the errata I would correct if I were to take this class again comes down to one single, simple word: time. I have never been, and am convinced I will never be, able to construct my time wisely. Time management is one of my biggest downfalls and always comes back to bite me, especially in online classes. With the stresses of work, exercising, time with my family, friends, and my boyfriend, it is easier to put school aside and focus on these things first, especially when I do not have to actually attend class. With this in mind, I would change my procrastination habits in a heartbeat! No more waiting to complete all the writing assignments on the same day, last minute. No more lagging to participate in group discussion because I only have a couple hours left before next week’s discussion opens. No more readings not being completed. No more submitting blogs 3-4 days after they were supposed to be posted. NO MORE GETTING BEHIND!

I would also change, as I have stated before, my voice in my writing. I have always struggled voicing my opinion, however, this is something I know I can change. I would like to strive harder to find the meaning behind the reading, to take the time to reflect on it, and to voice the idea that I am most passionate about. This is how I can voice my opinion, and it factors down to setting aside time to think. Fortunately, this week, I was granted another opportunity to rewrite my modern slavery essay, and focus on an issue that I was much more passionate about. Because I was given more time, I was able to reflect on the topic and voice my opinion. However, I would like to get to the point where I am not needing that extra week to find my voice.

Reflections Week 11

“…when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first. So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing. “ – Benjamin Franklin

Reflecting back over the semester and the errata I would correct if I were to take this class again comes down to one single, simple word: time. I have never been, and am convinced I will never be, able to construct my time wisely. Time management is one of my biggest downfalls and always comes back to bite me, especially in online classes. With the stresses of work, exercising, time with my family, friends, and my boyfriend, it is easier to put school aside and focus on these things first, especially when I do not have to actually attend class. With this in mind, I would change my procrastination habits in a heartbeat! No more waiting to complete all the writing assignments on the same day, last minute. No more lagging to participate in group discussion because I only have a couple hours left before next week’s discussion opens. No more readings not being completed. No more submitting blogs 3-4 days after they were supposed to be posted. NO MORE GETTING BEHIND!

I would also change, as I have stated before, my voice in my writing. I have always struggled voicing my opinion, however, this is something I know I can change. I would like to strive harder to find the meaning behind the reading, to take the time to reflect on it, and to voice the idea that I am most passionate about. This is how I can voice my opinion, and it factors down to setting aside time to think. Fortunately, this week, I was granted another opportunity to rewrite my modern slavery essay, and focus on an issue that I was much more passionate about. Because I was given more time, I was able to reflect on the topic and voice my opinion. However, I would like to get to the point where I am not needing that extra week to find my voice.

(Revision) Free Money: Fact or Fiction?

The past couple of weeks, our assignments have been to write about examples of modern day slavery as well as solutions to end them. The two issues I decided to discuss were conflict diamonds and sweatshops. While I felt I made a strong argument with supporting references and material, I was weak in vocalizing my opinion. I believe the reason for this was due to the fact that any humane and good-hearted person would naturally view the issues of conflict diamonds and sweatshops as evil. This therefore made it more difficult for me to state my opinion, as the natural opinion instated was rather obvious. For my revision, I would like to rewrite my essay on modern day slavery discussing an issue that came to light when I read Aubrey’s and Kara’s essay concerning money and personal enslavement. It is also an issue that has personally affected me this week, and a heated one at that….welfare.

I’m going to start with a story that might get you thinking. This past week, one of my friends began receiving welfare. He is a full time student at VCU but has been jobless since the demise of Circuit City. After running into an ex-coworker, he learned that receiving welfare is as simple as filling out an application form and submitting the names of two places you have applied at during the week. Once accepted, you will receive a weekly check for a predetermined number of weeks. My friend has been applying to places but has been turned down because his schedule is rather un-flexible as a full time student. However, the ex-coworker has been unemployed for over 6 months, does not attend school, lives on his own, and in his words “has made little effort to look for a job because he would rather just sit on his butt and take money from the government.” The ex-coworker also relayed to my friend that another guy they both used to work with had a job, was getting paid under the table, and reporting himself as unemployed so that he could receive welfare. And my taxes are going to support these people!

This intrigued me! The welfare system is constructed so that those who pay taxes actually support those who are on welfare. So how does slavery tie into a system where work is not mandatory yet money is handed to the less fortunate on a silver platter?  Simply put, a person can become a slave to a system and a slave to free money. It becomes a way of life, and they learn to selfishly depend on the government and workers of this country to feed, clothe, and provide a home for them. Their minds are dulled, they lack the motivation to work, and their actions become lazy. This is not to say that all people on welfare are this way because my friend is a very hard worker who has been turned away from several jobs due his availability. The money he will receive for a period of 14 weeks will go to support him until he can change his school schedule next semester. However, it is because of people like the ex-coworkers, who take advantage of free money and the inadequacies of the government during these hard times that welfare is viewed so negatively.

Right about now you may be questioning certain things like they can only be on welfare for a specified amount of time, so what’s the big deal? Well, here is some food for thought. Some people have been on welfare their entire lives. Their parents received money from the government and welfare is the only income they know. President’s like Obama want to extend the number of weeks a person can be on welfare or add a weekly bonus to their check. In fact, just recently Obama increased every welfare check by $25 per week! Or maybe you’re wondering why the government wouldn’t look into the truthfulness behind filling out applications for jobs each week. After all, the only requirement for a weekly check is submitting the names of two businesses. But the sad truth is that in today’s economy, the government lacks the hired help to investigate every application. Because of this, people take advantage of the system.

So how do we solve the inadequacies of welfare when a system that is supposed to promote good is so negatively abused? Here’s an idea. Hire those on welfare to make up for the lack of hired help in our government and let them investigate the applications. After 3-4 months, cut off the weekly paycheck that is going to the able-working man who is sitting on his ass at home too lazy to accept a job after applying. Our government does not have money to throw away to the lazy in this poor economy, and either do I!

Reflections Week 10

This week, in my opinion was the most informative week as I read my peers essays and gathered a wealth of knowledge about modern day slavery issues, however, I was rather bored with the overall material. I was not extremely thought provoked by the readings, and nothing really struck me in my writing. However, I was impressed at my group’s opinions and wished that I had taken more of a passion and stated more of an opinion in my essay. There were also several interesting beliefs in the class discussion, which I tried to participate in more so because it dealt with an issue close to my heart, the fight for religion.

Comments on "Modern Slavery" Essays

I really enjoyed reading everyone's essays this week. Opinions were disputed and passions were expressed. So far, this has been my favorite week for essay readings and commentary.

Christina:

Great opening! You really drew me in by making your paper personal and discussing your cute pup. I would have been interested to read more examples of specific testing done on animals that is harmful, however, the end of your paper was incredible when you discussed social justification and the sacrifices any human would naturally make despite how it might affect the animal. It put animal testing into a different perspective and I really enjoyed reading it.

Daniel:

Great title, very catchy. I agree with many of your ideas, especially welfare, but would have liked to see concrete examples to support your opinion. I for one, would like to know why the government will back up huge car companies and bring them out of “debt” while restrictions are put on small businesses. I do however, disagree with your war opinion. I think it is great that the government offers to pay for your college if you join the ROTC and enlist to serve. It is for this very reason, that my boyfriend is able to attend VCU and be debt free after college. In my opinion, the government is making you work for your money and make some sacrifices instead of just handing money to you as in welfare. Overall, great paper, just go back and do a little grammar editing this for this week’s assignment : )

Kara:

I would have liked to see a more specific topic for your paper, but it was very persuasive and interesting to read from a broader perspective. It provided me with understanding as to why people do not fight against the slave system, “they keep working for fear of their lives and the lives of loved ones and even though their forced labor may be tiresome and possibly life threatening tasks, they continue to work rather than be beaten by their employer.” I also enjoyed how you took it from a more personal and everyday perspective stating that “free citizens can also be slaves to certain things.” I found this idea very intriguing, and the more I read, the more I agreed.

Aubrey:

I couldn’t agree with your idea that money is the root of all evil and people will do anything for it. So sad, yet so true. I would have liked to see you take your paper a bit farther, such as suggesting that it is because of the desire for money, that lead people to commit inhume acts such as forcing others to work in sweatshops for very little income.

Workable Solutions: Awareness, Awareness, AWARENESS

Last week I wrote about conflict diamonds and sweat shops. This week I will write about workable solutions to end these un-American slave acts.

As stated last week, conflict diamonds today make up less than 1% of the world’s diamond sales. This is an extreme decrease from 4% in the late 1990’s. The Kimberly Process, initiated in 2002, was established “to ensure that conflict diamonds do not become intermixed with the diamonds not controlled by such rebel groups” requires “diamond-producing countries to provide proof that the money they make from selling the diamonds is not used to fund criminal or revolutionary activities” (“Diamond”). Yes, the Kimberly Process has led to a massive decrease in the sales of conflict diamonds however, 130 million carats are mined annually, averaging 9 billion total value in sales. Of these 130 million, nearly “49% of diamonds originate from central and southern Africa,” a notorious area for trafficking conflict diamonds (“Diamond”). And if 9 billion dollars worth of diamonds are sold annually, then at least 90,000,000 dollars worth of conflict diamonds are purchased. The government has done what they can to establish trade laws and combat terrorist groups that inflict conflict diamond enslavement, but now it is up to us, as consumers, to put an end to the selling of conflict diamonds. There are three questions we can ask to ensure that the diamond we purchase is not conflict. "How can I know for sure that these are non conflict diamonds?" If the diamond is from a non-conflicted environment, the salesperson should have records on file proving the diamond has passed the Kimberly Process. These papers will also have “embellishments and specials textures to prevent forgery.” Second, ask, "Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?" If the diamonds originated from areas like “Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo,” you might want to reconsider your purchase or look elsewhere as these countries are hotspots for conflict diamond trade. Third, ask the “retailer’s policy in buying and selling” conflict diamonds. They should be more than willing to assure you and provide you with a guarantee that their store or company does not have any association with the trade and sale of conflict diamonds (Ryan). Taking simple steps such as just asking questions and raising awareness among consumers can help lead to the annihilation of conflict diamonds and slavery.

The issue of slavery through sweatshops was also discussed last week. While raising awareness about this issue among consumers will help to abolish it, I personally believe our government should take more steps to terminate the practice of sweatshops. These terroristic institutions are established on American soil, allowing our government to have a hand in taking action in the situation. Because the issue is so rampant among illegal immigrants who are forced to take a job at an institution that does not document its’ workers, our government first and foremost needs to tighten its borders against illegal immigration. Secondly, a specific sector should be comprised to investigate companies under suspicion of enforcing slavery tactics on its workers. If a company is found guilty of such acts, the company should be immediately destroyed, all licenses removed, and the people responsible for committing such crimes should be put in jail. I am well aware that our government has already developed a group such as this that has uncovered companies and brought those responsible to justice, however, “budget cuts enacted during the Reagan and Bush administrations put severe limits on the Department of Labor’s ability to police garment factories, and now there are only 800 DOL inspectors available to police more than 6 million factories of all kinds” (Buzzle Staff & Agencies). The government needs to be reminded that sweatshops still do exist, and it is up to the workers to raise this awareness. For this issue, I readily “condone physical, coercive means of persuasion” to stir recognition through protests and rallies to gain public attention. Through protests, consumers become consciences of what companies are associated with sweatshops, and we can stop supporting these companies with our purchases.

Sources:

Buzzle Staff & Agencies, "Sweatshops: No Longer a Thing of the Past". Buzzle.com. October 28, 2009 .

"Diamond". Wikipedia. November 1, 2009 .

Ryan, Allison. "How to Recognize a Non Conflict Diamond". Articlesbase. November 1, 2009 .

Reflections Week 9

This week were asked to write about a modern day slavery issue. While we were supposed to better understand the slave owner and his ideas behind slavery, it only instilled in me more hostility towards them. Nothing justifies or rationalized a decision to devalue and dehumanize a person through slavery, no matter what race, color, or status. In my research, I found out startling statistics concerning sweatshops present in AMERICA. I was shocked to learn how much forced labor occurs in our country, right under our noses. The idea that I might be supporting this mutilated idea of cheap labor is sickening. That is primarily why the issues I wrote about are things that Americans have the ability to end, if they are only more aware of their purchases.

In my readings and our class discussion, I still am bewildered by our nation’s own Presidents who incorporated slavery. I simply cannot believe how far we HAVE NOT come as a nation. To think that over 100 years ago, we fought a war to end slavery, yet it still exists today. Even with all the modern advances in technology, and laws established, we cannot dismember organizations and companies that enforce slavery antics. Though this week was less thought provoking internally for me, it was very eye opening and inspired a personal awareness.

Modern Day Slavery Issues: Conflict Diamonds & Sweatshops

Here is my very late post for week nine's essay.


This week, we had to write about examples of modern day slavery. Because most people in the United States live a free, wealthy, and good life, I want this essay to focus on the slaveries that we, as Americans, might be supporting unknowingly. These issues include conflict diamonds and forced labor.

Conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds, are defined by the United Nations as “diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council" ("Conflict Diamonds"). Conflict diamonds are mined predominantly in central and western Africa, where “tyrant groups take over” diamond “mines and the” surrounding “villages, forcing villagers into slavery” (Ryan). The diamonds are sold to “international diamond trading centers in Europe” who knowingly fund “this horror by buying up to $125 million worth of diamonds a year” but care more about the carat than the lives lost. ("Blood Diamonds"). The issue of conflict diamonds came to public light in the late 1990’s during the Sierra Leone uprising in western Africa, funded by Liberia. “Between 1991 and 2002, the country suffered a brutal, ten-year civil war during which the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) committed horrendous atrocities” to gain control of the country's diamond mines. The RUF terrorists’ signature method of terrorizing was amputation. “Thousands of prisoner-laborers worked to exhaustion, digging up the gems from muddy open-pit mines. Many of their lives “ended…in shallow graves, executed for suspected theft, for lack of production, or simply for sport” and “local citizens were left to fend for themselves against bloodthirsty and drugged child soldiers. Commanders often cut the children's arms and packed the wounds with cocaine; marijuana was everywhere.” Tens of thousands of people were left dead, mutilated, or forced to flee the country. Throughout this time, blood diamonds “represented 4% of the world’s diamond production” and were mined in the countries of “Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo” ("Conflict Diamonds"). “The profits” from these diamonds “also filled the coffers of Al Qaeda, and possibly Hezbollah–terrorist organizations notorious for committing human rights violations, including crimes against humanity” ("Blood Diamonds"). Weapons purchased from “the gems the rebels sold unimpeded to terrorist and corporate trader alike—allowed the RUF to fight off government soldiers, hired mercenaries, peacekeepers from a regional West African reaction force,” and “British paratroopers.” Finally, in October 1999, the United Nations stepped in and launched the Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the most “expansive and expensive peacekeeping mission the U.N. has ever deployed.” Since then, numerous efforts, particularly the Kimberly Process, have led to reduction in the sales of conflict diamonds to less than 1%, but “efforts to end the trade in conflict diamonds” were hindered during “the Bush administration” which was “reluctant to impede business in any way or have its hands tied by any international agreements, even when the U.S. diamond industry called for it” ("Blood Diamonds").

Another issue Americans fall victim to blindly supporting is forced labor. Recent studies show that “forced labor occurs in at least 90 cities across the United States, the researchers found, and at any given time, 10,000 or more people are forced to toil in sweat shops, clean homes, labor on farms, or work as prostitutes or strippers.” Statistics have revealed, “forty-six percent of those trapped in forced labor in America are found in prostitution and sex services…another 27 percent are domestic workers, and one in 10 works in agriculture.” Yes, sweatshops are STILL present in modern day American, making up 5% of work in our economy. “Restaurant and hotel work makes up 4 percent” and “sexual exploitation of children represents 3 percent” (Gilmore). Most sweatshops are “a common fixture in other large cities that have large communities of immigrants” in states like New York, Texas, Florida, and California. People hire the immigrants as “undocumented workers” and force them to work under harsh, cramped conditions. The laborers are threatened through means of “verbal abuse, beatings, and sexual assault” but rely on their captors for money to repay their smugglers who transported them into the United States (Gilmore). The Department of Labor “estimates that about half of the 22,000 garment contractors registered in the US are paid less than minimum wage, 2/3 do not receive overtime pay, and more than 1/3 work in environments with serious safety and health violations. Any workers who try to protest their poor working conditions run the risk of being fired.” Even more shocking, the DOL approximates that “more than half of the 7,000 garment factories in New York City are now sweatshops.” In 1995, a federal raid on a sweatshop took place in El Monte, California, and it was discovered that “72 immigrants from Thailand who were working for $.69 per hour, were locked inside an apartment complex that was surrounded on all sides by razor wire. The workers had been threatened with being raped or killed if they stopped working” (Buzzle Staff & Agencies). More recently, this past August, “over 100 garments workers rallied outside Great Wall Corp in Long Island City, Queens. Great Wall is a garment factory and subcontractor for Silver Fashions Inc. Workers say they frequently worked 100 hour weeks for as little as $300 and were even forced to work overnight at the factory. Last November, six workers from Great Wall filed a lawsuit stating that the company violated “several federal and state labor laws. A month later, the company terminated all the workers who filed suit plus an additional 50 workers” (Gooljar). Other cases documented include “a Berkeley, Calif., businessman who enslaved young girls and women for sex and to work in his restaurant; a Florida employer who threatened violence to force hundreds of Mexican and Guatemalan workers to harvest fruit; and two couples in Washington, D.C., who brought Cameroonian teenagers to the United States with the promise of a better education and then forced them to work 14 hours a day as domestic servants, without pay and under the threat of deportation.” Yes, federal laws have been established to “combat these crimes” but more is required (Gilmore).

This is where we come into play. Both these issues, conflict diamonds and forced labor, sweatshops specifically, can be terminated with our awareness.

Sources:

"Blood Diamonds". Amnesty International USA. October 28, 2009 .

Buzzle Staff & Agencies, "Sweatshops: No Longer a Thing of the Past". Buzzle.com. October 28, 2009 .

"Conflict Diamonds". World Diamond Council. October 28, 2009

Gilmore, Janet. "Modern slavery thriving in the U.S.". UC Berkley News. October 28, 2009 .

Gooljar, Jason. " There are still sweatshops in the United States of America". October 28, 2009 .

Ryan, Allison. "How to Recognize a Non Conflict Diamond". Articlesbase. October 28, 2009 .

Reflections Week 8

The assignments this week have enabled me to get back on track and put me at ease. I would like to thank Dr. Brandon for graciously giving us a week to catch up, because it was very needed on my part. In reviewing and commenting on my own blog posts, I was able to read how my voice has changed since the beginning of the semester. It seems I am constantly finding a stronger voice every week, something I have struggled with. I also have developed an appreciation for the assignments we have been asked to read and write about (who would have thought) because they have been eye opening and refreshing for me personally. After this week, I also feel more confident about my portfolio contents because I have a better understanding of how this class has truly helped me grow, strengthening my character and personality in my writing and everyday life.  

SeLf~aSsEsSmEnT

Reading back through my essays over the past seven weeks has been more enlightening than I originally anticipated. It’s interesting how my voice has changed as I have gotten to know my group members better, and read their thoughts and ideas. For example, my American essay was very cloying, filled with only good things about our country despite the fact that there are many things wrong in our nation. I appreciated that Daniel, one of my group members, was able to offer a differing view and more negative approach towards America. Through reading his essay, I was able to expand my own ideas. 

During week three, we wrote an essay on our ideal selves. This essay allowed me to share a more honest depiction of myself to my readers and I worked to infiltrate the positive and the negative. While searching deeper for my ideal self, I found that I was not as self-reliant as I deemed, because I lacked a voice due to my insecurities. However, in week four I uncovered a sense of knowledge and empowerment from Emerson’s essay “The American Scholar,” and established that I needed to strengthen my self trust. 

My most honest and eye-opening piece I have written so far stemmed from Thoreau’s essay “Walden” in week five. Through reading his essay and writing my own essay, I was able to analyze a lifestyle that I thought would bring me happiness, only to come to the realization that I would conversely be discontent with such a life. Through this recognition, I found true contentment in the people that are closest to me, as well as the life’s little surprises. 

In week six, I wrote my favorite essay yet on a subliminal moment in high school, when my boyfriend and long-time crush asked me to date him. This piece was most fun for me because I felt like I was able to share the happiest moment of my life with my group members. My most hated essay I have written so far dealt with nature in week seven. It was during this week that I discovered my struggle to communicate my voice when asked to translate into writing a profound experience in nature. I apprehended my habit to nit-pick words and the need to focus more on conveying the message. 

Overall, I think I have done well in organizing my points in my essays, making for an easy read. Through every assignment, my mind is stretched, and as I assert my opinion, I learn more about myself, instilling an eagerness to continue onward.