News Vine Citing

Ball, Linda Stewart. “Administrators Share Vision to Change Schools.” Chron.com Where Houston Lives 26 Jan. 2009. 29 Jan. 2009 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6231154.html.

Hirsch

I believe that a common core curriculum would grant us, as a practicing democracy, with both positive and negative outcomes. Positively, no child will be denied access to their proper education. A poor child living in the projects should be allowed to learn the same criteria as a rich child in the suburbs. "All men were created equal," right? It's not fair for a child to miss out on a great education, due to something that is out of his/her hands. Common learning could be a rewarding experience.

While in a perfect world, "common learning" would be a smooth ride, in the real world there will be drawbacks. If all of a sudden we changed things to make every education exactly the same, it could cause some children to be left behind. Low income schools may not have had access to the proper textbooks, which could cause the students to be clueless with a new curriculum. Also, how will it be determined what the curriculum is? It could be too easy for some students and too hard for others.

That's How I Play, Yeah, That's How I Play

"All that I am, I owe to my mother." 

-Abe Lincoln

11.11.53~07.02.02

Every political part of me is tied back to the Alexander's good times, bad times, and down right ugly times. The main parts being: my belief for equal rights for all and my love for all people.

Acecily Anwar Alexander. Yup, that’s my name, and I’ve spent 21 years trying to live up to it. I’ve heard a few stories about how I got the name “Acecily,” but I’ll tell you the one I like the best. My great grandmother’s name was Cecilia, and Cecily is a form of Cecilia, and then my mom wanted me to have cool initials. Got it? My middle name, Anwar, is Arabic. My uncle converted to Islam while he was in jail- it’s okay to laugh, I just won’t tell you why he was in there ☺). It also means the brightest ray of light. Alexander, the most famous name of them all, is a story on it’s own. I was never told the meaning of my last name, just the epic tales of the people who carried it- my family.

Even without their influence on my name, my family has had a big impact on my life. My mother, Cassandra Alexander, was the youngest of 10, while growing up in Charleston SC, in the late 50’s and 60’s. In other words, the Alexander’s before me were not fond of the Caucasian race. My mother, along with 2 of my uncles, was the first African-Americans to integrate Memminger Elementary School. Growing up, if I wasn’t hearing about how the white boys would spit in my uncle’s face; I was learning how to hold a fist and yell, “Power to the black people!” Luckily, their struggle had an opposite effect on me. I wanted to know a white person. I had to figure out what made them so different. When it was time to take that big step into middle school, I decided to put my all black school options behind me, and attended a predominantly white arts school-School of the Arts.

At SOA, most of my best friends were white, and I loved it! I loved that some of them were like me, and I loved that some were completely different. Yes, them. These people that I was basically taught to not trust. But in the end, I am proud of my race for fighting for what they believed in to pave the way for me. I am proud of my family for allowing me to branch out from their traditional roles. I am proud of myself for not letting the past determine my future.

And it doesn't stop at race. Religion and sexuality are life factors that I also take seriously. No, I am not a "bible banger" or some "super lesbian," but I know what it is like to believe in something and am all about "If it makes you happy." My family has helped me to understand what it is like to have so many people go against what you want, so I don't look down on anyone's beliefs. Now, I'm NOT trying to say that I'm perfect, and that I never judge people or say ignorant things. I'm just Acecily. 

My inspiration: "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." 

-Audrey Hepburn

Now Stalk Me

The Disney Transformation

Imagine this: ten years from now, your hypothetical kids beg you for that dream vacation to Disney World. Not only do you give in to their big, innocent, yet manipulative, eyes; but you also remember the happiness that moved through your body when you first experienced the “Disney magic.” After 8 hours in the car and sing-a-longs, you’re finally there. The kids race into the park and you drag behind. You can see their little bodies jumping up in excitement. You decide to join the hype too. At any minute you’ll be hugging Mickey Mouse, or not. To your surprise Disney World has been taken over by teenage celebrities: boy band heartthrobs and fashion fads. What happened to the Disney that you knew and loved?

That is the question that some young adults are asking today. With such celebrities, such as, Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers, being the faces of Disney, some feel that they will take the place of Minnie and Mickey Mouse. On the other hand, some think that Disney is unforgettable.

“It’s always been known for celebrities. What do you think Donald Duck is?” Shawn Williams explains with a little laughter, “That Cyrus girl is just an actual human.”

The next generations may have to get used to seeing “actual humans” if they plan on sticking with Disney as their choice of entertainment. Television shows like “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” are constantly played on the main Disney Channel. Old school cartoons and other animation can be found on special channels like Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney.

When asked about the Disney image during her childhood, 20-year-old Sharon Lewis said “Mickey Mouse and great movies, but now it is all about the bubble gum pop type shows.”

Watchers of the Disney Channel believe that Today’s Disney stars have it made.
“They do everything!” yells 20-year-old Zimone Mincey, “They get movies with sequels, music videos, and a clothing line. I want a Disney contract!”

Some even compare today’s “real celebrities: with the Mickey Mouse Club, but with a twist.

“Well it’s way before my time,” claims A’jai Alexander, “but wasn’t it just a bunch of kids that can act and sing, just like now?”
Artists, such as, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake were once Mouseketeers.

“I only watched the re-runs once I found out that Justin was on it,” admits Lewis, “Disney knows what they’re doing! They give us these sexy stars, and we have no choice but to watch everything they’re in.”

Alexander thinks that Disney is just giving their best audiences what they want. She doesn’t think that cartoons and cool movies are disappearing, but Disney is altering how they do things because of who their audience.
“It’s the same as MTV and BET. Remember when it was all music videos?” Alexander said, “Now it’s a lot of dumb reality shows with maybe an hour of music at 8 A.M!”

Antoni Deas, 20, enjoys today’s Disney Channel stars “new Disney,” but at the same time she feels that the 1990’s is the image that her generation will always love the most.

“Who can forget about the awesome movies of the 90’s, like Pocahontas and Toy Story?” said Deas, “But I do listen to my Hannah Montana 2 CD a lot.” For those of you who are unaware, Hannah Montana is the alter ego of Miley Cyrus. It started off as a television show about a young girl who has two lives: a regular kid and a superstar. The show has exploded over the years by creating a movie, dolls, music, and clothing.

Disney has had its share of stars that are in the spotlight for a few years, but slowly fade away as their fans get older. Mickey and his gang have been around for over 70 years. Will these current pop stars’ legends be around for that long?

“They can’t replace Donald, Goofy, and Mickey with some Jonas Brothers. Those boys are irreplaceable.”
Don’t worry people; you won’t be paraded with teenagers and guitars during your dream Disney vacation in ten years! Just be prepared to deal with the temporary stars, and know that the Disney that really matters will be here forever.

Hate Crimes: Oxymoron Much?

On May 16, 2007, Elke Kennedy of Greenville, SC had to face the hardest thing that any mother would have to face. Her son, Sean Kennedy, was dead. Drinking and driving or using drugs did not cause Sean’s death. He was simply being himself without causing harm or putting anyone in danger. Unless, you believe that being homosexual is a threat. Maybe that is what Stephen Moller thought when he ruthlessly punched Sean in the face hard enough to break his face bones.
“He fell back and hit the asphalt. This resulted in his brain to be separated from his brain stem and ricochet in his head” (Elke Kennedy/seanslastwish.org).
Moller performed a hate crime. According to PublicEye.org, a hate crime is “a legal term that describes criminal acts motivated by prejudice.” Sean’s life was taken away because he was, as Moller would claim, a “fagot”. In more fitting terms, Sean was a loving young man who loved whomever he wanted, despite what society thought.
“Sean loved everybody regardless of whom or what they believed in or stood for. He never judged but was always there to help people, either by listening or giving them whatever they needed” (Elke Kennedy/seanslastwish.org).
It seems like Sean would get nothing but justice for being almost helpless in this situation. Instead, Stephen Moller’s five-year sentence was reduced to three years, and is able to face parole after ten months in jail. As part of his parole, he will have to do thirty hours of community service and participate in anger management classes (seanslastwish.org). In the state of South Carolina, there are no laws specifically for hate crimes. Victoria Boynton, 19 of Charleston, South Carolina, said that she was not aware of the SC’s laws that were made especially for hate crimes. While Antoni Deas, 20 of Sumter, South Carolina responded as though she was disgusted with, “I don’t think we have any.”
The families of South Carolina hate crime victims may feel that there is no justice when it comes to the sentencing of the murders. Although Sean it is too late to give justice to Sean Kennedy, there is something to aim for in the future. Elke Kennedy does not want to create new laws, but to improve the ones South Carolina already has. She is pushing to add a “second degree murder charge and expand on the voluntary manslaughter charge” (Elke Kennedy). After Boynton and Deas defined what a hate crime is, they both came with the conclusion that “murder is murder.”
From this devastating situation, came a beautiful organization, Sean’s Last Wish. The organization’s name is in memory of Sean Kennedy’s life, but allows his dream to live on. Elke Kennedy says that SLW is here to inform anyone about what is missing in the SC laws to provide equal rights.
Kennedy states, “The purpose of SLW is to get people involved. The effect will be to change hearts and minds. They will learn what they can do, how to challenge and educate our legislators at the local, state, and federal level.”
Most people learn of the Kennedy’s circumstance and organization through gay pride festivals around the country, but Elke has bigger plans in the future. She would like to take it to the next level by speaking to all grade levels. Miss Kennedy believes that it is important to educate children while they are young, because that is where important impressions are made. Kennedy feels that the laws are not all that needs to be changed, but also the “hearts and minds) (Elke Kennedy).
SLW receives national and local support. Although Sean’s Last Wish is well on its way to being well known, both Boynton and Deas would like to see it in the public eye more often or even seeing a documentary.
“People are uneducated. Society is so black and white,” raves Deas, “Sean’s Last Wish can help raise awareness to parents if their child is coming out. [They] go through so much from everybody else, the last thing they need is their parents to not support them.”
“This really does happen. You can’t care about something that you don’t know about,” explains Boynton.
If you would like to get involved or more information about Sean’s Last Wish, please visit www.seanslastwish.org.