Voice

I have been thinking a lot lately about voice. Where do our voices come from? How do we find a voice? At what point is it a good idea to muffle our own voices? To what end does having a voice provide us with identity, or a lack there of?

I can recall sitting at the kitchen table with the grown ups. My mother always had a rule for us to sit there and if it wasn't followed the privilege was revoked. Her rule--If you sit with the grown ups, then you are a listener only. Grown ups need to have their time to talk. I learned a great deal about conversations, conservation etiquette, and conversation appropriate public versus private topics. This was also where I started to find my voice.

To read this probably begs the question as to finding voice in silence. I know it sounds weird or contradictory. It is a paradox of sorts--to find a voice in silence. However, my voice rose out of observation and listening. I have always been an observer. I often get busted at the mall for sitting and watching others interact. They look at me weirdly and expect my gaze to quickly find a new location. But to me, a great deal can be learned through observing. I watch how facial expressions mask emotion, how body language fidgets or twitches tell us when the heart and mind do not agree, how eyes tell us what people really think when they try to cover up disgust, worry, sadness or fear.

My voice has changed because of this. I learned that to speak to my mother required a different approach than to speak to my students. I learned that my vocabulary switches dependent on the company I am in. I learned that there are some places where silence is stronger than response. Additionally, I learned that sometimes my voice gets lost and will only truly come out through writing poetry or stories.

I want you to think about your voice. How did you find it? What have you learned from it? Who do you change your voice for and why?

Outsiders

According to the dictionary, an Outsider is someone who does not belong to the group. I want you to listen to a song called, "Outsiders" by a band called Need to Breathe. (Click on the title of the song.) It is not important if you like the song.

What is important is that you listen and choose a couple lyrics to respond to. Once you have chosen your lyrics, explain why you chose the lyrics. What do you think they mean?

Think about how the band defines Outsiders. What does the band's definition mean? What are the benefits of being an Outsider?

The rest of the world has an opinion of what it means to be an Outsider. How do you think the world defines it and why? Think of an example in history where we see the idea of Outsiders and the result of being one. Explain.

Night

When I was a kid, I hated the dark. If I was the last one to go to bed and had to turn the lights off, I found myself running as fast as I could up the stairs sometimes taking them two at a time. It was my hopeless pursuit of light. For some reaon, the dark behind me was frightneing. The light at the top of the stairs provided me with comfort and as long as I did not look back, I could move forward.

In Language Arts, we have discuss archetypes. We discussed light versus dark: Light--hope, renewal, or bright ideas, the beginning of knowledge. Darkness--the unknown, ignorance, despair, the absence of knowledge.



In looking at these two ideas, I want you to define "Night" (not the book title) in your own words. What do we know of night? Why do you think people experience fear at night? Why do you think our author, Elie Wiesel, entitled his book Night? Use quotes from the book to support your thinking.

Material Things

I have a hard time getting rid of things. I am a keeper. I keep photos, letters, dried flowers, memories, books, etc... These things have emotional attachments to them. I remember my first journal. When I graduated from high school my best friend's mother gave me a journal. I was never much of a journal writer, but the book was perfect. When I went to basic training, I took it with me and wrote every day. It holds so much of what I was and how I evolved not only in age, and maturity, but as a writer too. Since then, I have filled 13 other journals with my musings, rants, poetry, letters, observations of my children, and whatever else I feel compelled to write. These journals are important to me. I am also a scrapbooker. I have made many scrapbooks for my family and spent hours designing and remembering. Even though these may not seem like much, they are things that I will take with me wherever I go.

In our book, Night, as his family was forced to leave their home many took prized possessions with them. So much was stripped from them, but they took what they could. I want you to think about what you would take with you. Why would you take those items? What value do they posses?

In addition to posting this week, your points will be determined on you posting to one other person's post. It does not have to be long, but it does need to be on topic and thoughtful.

Indifference

Elie Wiesel argues in his speech, The Perils of Indifference, that, "Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. And therefore, indifference is always a friend to the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor--never his victim whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten."

Webster defines indifference as a "lack of interest or concern." In looking at these two definitions of indifference, it is necessary to look at our own indifference. I think we are all guilty of indifference at one time or another. As Wiesel questions if we do it for our sanity? To remain normal? He also cautions that indifference is dangerous. More dangerous than anger and hate.

I ask you to think about indifference. When have you watched indifference occur? Your witnessing of indifference may not ever be as dramatic as that of Elie Wiesel or soldiers in war. But I am sure it exists in our world. Perhaps you witness it here at school, at home, in Brunswick.

I watched one day, as a teenager, as my dog was hit by a car and no one stopped to help or check to see what could be done. My dog pulled herself out of the road and to the side where I picked her up to carry her in the house. Those who drove by were indifferent to her crying, to her struggle to move, to her dying. I do not know why? As the person who watched indifference be born, I was sickened by those who did nothing. I should also say, that I have also watched as individuals stepped up in other instances and did not allow indifference to be born. They helped when needed and reminded me of what it means to be part of the human race.

I want you to think about why people are indifferent?

Be mindful, that in this blog we are not to give names. We must respect others.

Holiday Movies

I love holiday movies. I love: It's a Wonderful Life, The Bells of Saint Mary's, The Santa Clause, A year without a Santa Clause, and White Christmas. I could also make an argument for the movie Meet me in St. Louis. All of these movies seem to capture for me the idea of appreciating what you have and the appreciation of family. Most of these have songs attached to them and when I hear the songs, I cannot help but sing along or smile. They take me to my childhood and remind me of when I was little.

For this week's blog, think of what makes the holiday season special to you. I know that family is near and dear to each of us. I want you to think about what event, movie, song, etc... makes the Holiday season come to life. My daughters would argue that going ice skating at Lock 3 in Akron is the start of the season or watching Elf as a family is the start. Each of us, however, has our own start to the season.

Describe how you know the holiday season is upon you and if you feel so inclined, link us to your favorite school appropriate holiday song. (Please make sure the song or link is appropriate. No credit will be awarded for inappropriateness.)

What we value

I have spent so much time lately with family--my kids, my husband, my sister-in-laws, and nieces and nephews. I know that the holidays are upon us. As this time grows closer, I get to be with those I value. To listen to the stories, to watch the smiles, to cook for those who appreciate it are what I love to do. I value the opportunity to spend time with those who enhance my life in a positive way.

The books we are reading, The Lone Survivor and Of Mice and Men allow us to examine what it is that we value. I think literature in general does this. I cannot read without thinking about what response I will have and I know that my responses are value based. I am outraged when I read about injustice. I am outraged when I see meanness born and raised. I am outraged when I read about the senselessness of death. My values come through. I read and respond based on my personal values, background experiences and because of who I am.

I ask you to think about what it it that you value. Think about a moment in one of the books we are reading or in a past book that you have read where your values were impacted by what happened on the page. Your response may have been anger, fear, frustration, excitement, etc.

Write about what you value and provide an example from a book in your reading experience that has impacted your values either for the good or for the negative.