A Few Things I’m Tired of Hearing About

It’s been awhile, but I am feeling the need to post again.  As a social studies teacher, this may shock you, but I have stopped watching the news.  I am fed up with the media and what is portrayed on their stations.  With all of the news or whatnot that’s out right now, I feel the need to express just exactly when I’m tired of hearing about:

1) Michael Jackson. I’m sorry he’s dead, really I am, but let’s move on.  There are way more important things out there right now in this world than obsessing endlessly over the death of a fallen star.

2) Jon and Kate Plus 8. Or as I am calling them now “Jon and Kate plus 8 multiplied by paparazzi minus Jon divided by lawyers.” It not only makes me sad, but all this talking about it is, I believe, the root of everything.  Leave the poor people alone. And that’s all I’m saying

3) Barrak Obama as celebrity. He is the president of this country.  I could care less what show he went to with Michelle in NYC.  He does not need to be on E! but on CSPAN.  Stop putting him in the same category as Brangelina or the Jonas Brothers.  He is the president and I’d like to hear more about his policies than his swimsuit color choice.

4) The Recession/The Economy.  Would you like me to give you a simple overview how this whole recession thing started? Step One: before this county was technically in a recession, the media was whining about it.  Step Two: People freaked out.  Step Three: People stopped spending money.  Step Four: Places where people would have normally spent their money had to shut down.  Step Five: Other people lost their jobs.  Step Six: Those people stopped spending money.  Step Seven: The United States Government bought Chevrolet with the tax monies of those people who can’t afford to buy a car.  Ta da. Yes, it sucks, but seriously, stop talking about it.  When it gets to the level of the Great Depression, let me know.  Though if you’d watch MSNBC, they’ll tell you it’s already there.  For shame media.

5) The Phrase “How’s the job hunt going?”.  There is a hiring freeze in my school system. No one is hiring, no one is interviewing.  Our dear state government and governor can’t tell which way is up, much less plan a budget for next year—because it’s more important to spend money keeping the education lottery going rather than to spend money on keeping jobs for teachers.  I don’t have a job yet.  I’ll let you know when I do.

6) Twitter.

These are not, by far, the only things I’m tired of, but they are the biggies right now.  This weekend is the Fourth of July.  This holiday means so much more to me now that I’ve been in Ireland.  I love America more than I can express so I want to hear more about the good things in this country and those I can be proud of.  I want to hear about soldiers who are bravely doing their duty.  About families who are working for themselves to beat this economy.  About the politicians who are doing more than cheating on their wives. I want to know what is stimulating and thought provoking.  There needs to be more that encourages people to think, not sit mindlessly by and let the rest of the world pass.  I am seeking a better way.

 

102 Minutes

I beg you all not to forget what today is and what it’s significance has become.  September 11 truely was the 102 minutes that changed this country.  So many needlessly lost their lives for nothing.  Don’t begrudge those that still lose their lives for us every day.   It happened only 7 years ago and so many have already forgotten.  Please I just ask you to remember where you were when you found out and how you felt.  I don’t care if you are Republican or Deomocrat.  I don’t care if you are black or white or anthing in between.  This impacted all of us.  Don’t forget.  I pray none of us ever do…

September 11, 2001
2,974 fatalities
2603 NYC Citizens, including 411 emergency workers
88 on American 11
59 on United 175
125 at the Pentagon, including 55 military personal
59 on American 77
40 on United 93

102 minutes

 

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew. “
- President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001

 

Oh Say Can You See?

Did you know that the tune to the Star-Spangled Banner was originally the tune to a drinking song?  It makes sense if you think about it because I’m pretty sure that some of those notes are only confidently “hit” by someone drunk enough to attempt them.  Also, that song has four verses. Look up the rest of them, they are pretty incredible.  The second one even answers the question that the first verse asks – see there, I bet some of you didn’t even realize that the 1st verse ended with a question mark.

Right up there with Christmas, the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday.  I love dressing up like a flag – yes, I’ve done it for years.  Back when I was a little girl I had a red and white striped skirt I would wear with a Tshirt that had stars on it.  Even right now I’ve got a flag scarf in my hair.  I love the cookouts and spending time with the family.  And of course, not to mention the fireworks (of course, tonight my brother decided it would be a fun idea to put on a show of his own, but in a development with plenty of cars, houses, powerlines, and people, that he scared the crap out of me) But even more importantly, this holiday reminds me to be so thankful for our military.  They have been the backbone of this country since July 4, 1776.  I know you’ve heard this same old line a million times, but be thankful for our military.  They give their lives for our freedom and the right we have to have those so-called freedoms.  We are the luckiest country on earth because of the men that fought for us and continue to till this day.  I would like to, therefore put forth a challenge for you.  When you see someone in uniform in a resturant or walking down the street or in a store or anywhere, stop.  Shake their hand and tell them “thank you”.  It may very well be the first time they’ve heard it from anyone.  They deserve that much from us, if nothing else.  I could keep going on and write a long eloquent blog post about this or I could start going off on the history of the Fourth of July (John Adams predicted to his wife Abigal in a letter the day the Declaration was signed that 4 July would be a day celebrated by Americans for centuries to come) but I’m not going to.  Rather, I’ll end with Happy Independence Day!  If you see an Englishman, don’t be afraid to run up to them and stick your tounge out.  It was kind of pathetic that the greatest army in the world lost to a bunch of hick-colonist-farmers.  Haha, just kidding.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!