32 names in Eskimo--so where did WE go wrong?

The word "love" gets thrown around so much on a day-to-day basis, it's a wonder the letters haven't broken off and gotten lost forever. Or--have they? How often do you say you "love" something as silly as a pair of shoes or an ice cream flavor? On page 140 in Bees, August tells Lily,"We are so limited, you have to use the same word for loving Rosaleen as you do for loving Coke with peanuts. Isn't that a shame we don't have more ways to say it?" The first time I read that line (Summer of 2005) I pondered it for hours afterward, desperate to find another word to replace the one that should remain sacred. And came up with....exactly nothing. It has never been far from my thoughts since then.
So, your challenge for this week, poppets, is to dig deep inside yourself and think about what it is that you really love. In order to do that, I think it would be beneficial to start out with a working definition of what love is. How would you define it? What characteristics would be a good representation of it? And then, at long last, ask yourself..."What do I love?"
Does putting a classification on things you have previously said you "loved" change your perspective on what the meaning of love should be?
(450 words/50 pts)

Nature or Nurture?

The nature versus nurture debate has raged on for what seems like eternity. The debate, loosely defined, is a dispute between the idea that human beings are born with characteristics that are innate, versus the idea that all behaviors and traits are learned through experience.
If you had to pick a side on the issue, which would it be? None of the usual, "I see both sides” or anything like that. Are you a product of your environment or of your genetics? Pick one and argue for it.
This will be the stuff of a larger class conversation, so your responses should be indicative of reflective thought and intelligence.
(500 words/60 pts)

Cultural Identity vs Societal Expectations

I want you to really think about this question before you answer it. It requires you to closely examine yourself, your surroundings and your experiences.
From your own perspective, what is your definition of racism?
Does ignorance of racism promote or prevent it from becoming an ideology? By ignorance I just mean the lack of knowledge that it exists. Because, if you were raised in an area that is predominantly white and you're white, odds are, you don't see much evidence that it does exist--right? Or wrong?
If you were never exposed to a multicultural environment, would you be more or less attuned to the cultural differences that exist in society? And for that matter...Do you believe that there ARE cultural differences? If so, what are they?
Do you think people hide behind the definition of cultural differences to excuse rude, inappropriate or obnoxious behavior? (450-500 words/60pts)

"Dear Mama..."

So, coincidentally, I was thinking about the idea of mothers the other day. It is a concept that seems almost foreign to me based solely on personal experience. I mean, I have a mother--someone who went through "hours of pain just to give me life!"-- but I think there is a fundamental difference between having a mother and having a mom. Do you? Myself, I had a mother. If you think there is a difference, what do you think it is? What is your definition of a mother? A mom? What is your earliest recollection of your mother (or other maternal figure)? Girls, do you want to be a mom? Boys, are there certain qualities in girls that you associate with the idea of moms? Do you want to be like your mom? In what way? If there was one thing you could tell your mother on this blog that she didn't know before, what would it be? (400words/50pts)

Fall Feast to National Holiday

Thanksgiving. The word alone fills me with joy. I am not really sure why, though. Food? Sure, but to be honest, the type of food that is normally served for Thanksgiving meals is not even close to being my favorite, so although it is good, I don't crave it at any other time. Football? Pass. I can watch for about 10 minutes before I am so confused, my brain starts to itch. Family? Hard to say; it's been so long since I had one. Maybe it's the just the idea of what it represents. Maybe it's the fact that the best shopping in the world happens the day after. Maybe it's the notion of Christmas being 4 weeks away. Like I said, I am not really sure what it is, but I love this holiday more than any other. So, in the spirit of this fine celebratory day, let's do a little self-reflecting.
What are you thankful for? Don't be hasty in answering, really consider the idea of thankfulness. And while we're on the subject, tell me about the best Thanksgiving you ever had. What made it so special and memorable? How about the worst one? Do the two have anything in common? Do you have any family traditions? Will you carry them on when you have families of your own? Do you celebrate Thanksgiving at all or do you do something else? (While not traditionally a religious holiday, some people are philosophically opposed to the idea of it, for obvious reasons)
And finally, what is your favorite part of the day? If it's the food, tell me what your meal consists of, if it is family, talk about why. If it's football (J.W.), well, explain something that will make me understand the game so I can watch it for longer than 10 minutes. (400-450 words/50pts)

Just Say No? But...to what?

John P. Walters, Director of the White House Office Of National Drug Control Policy said the following in a recent statement:
"By giving students an incentive to stay away from drugs, random drug testing helps them lead healthy, successful lives. For that reason, it's one of many tools we believe schools should use to fight drug use among teens."
He is, basically, preaching the pros associated with random drug testing in high schools. Now, there are many people from many different groups that tout the benefits of this policy, and of course there are just as many waving their fists and screaming "civil rights violation!"
What are the benefits to this policy? What are the drawbacks? Does allowing random drug testing in public schools pave the way for other types of "safety precautions?" What about random search and seizures? Is there a racial bias to those types of ideas? What about a sexual bias? Are boys more likely to get pulled for random testing? Black kids? Tell me what you think and for this blog it is VERY important to respond to someone else's post. (450-500 words/55pts)

Devil's Advocate

Ahh...controversy. Intellectual conversations are rife with it, families are torn asunder by it, school boards thrive on trying to eliminate it. You should probably know that I am not someone who shies away from controversy or controversial topics. Quite the opposite, in fact. I believe that controversy and the topics that define it have much to teach us, and I am confident that the subject of this blog will only serve to reinforce that belief. Remember the golden rule of 204--to disagree is not to disrespect.
In 1999, a Gallup poll indicated that only approximately 60% of Americans believe that there is a hell. Out of that 60% only 4% were convinced that was their destination. So, first question--do YOU believe that hell exists? If so, do you know what it looks like? Smells like? Feels like? Where did your belief come from? Your parents? Your church? Your friends? What do you have to do in order to get there?
The word that is used most frequently in the New Testament for hell is Gehenna. Gehenna is a reference to the Valley of Hinnom located on the south side of Jerusalem, which served as the city's "garbage dump" during Jesus' time. The fires that burned here never went out. The Old Testament makes a reference to sheol as being a place where spirits reside (Deut. 32:22) and some of them will be resurrected to "everlasting life," while others are bound for "everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2) One is a worldly destination, the other spiritual. Which one sounds more realistic to you?
Dante Alighieri was a prolific writer who wrote the epic narrative poem titled Inferno in which the main character, Alighieri himself, travels through nine circles of hell. The main theme of this particular work is that there is a perfection to God's justice. Sinners on earth are relegated to various circles (or levels) of hell depending on the severity of sin. This would seem to indicate, at least in Alighieri's eyes, that there are varying degrees of sin and that each one is punishable in its own way. Do you believe this? If so, what is the worst sin that you can imagine and how should it be dealt with in hell?
Lastly, is it easily reconcilable to think of God as being the embodiment of love and grace yet imagine that it is through his word that people descend into hell, which is, ostensibly, a place of eternal suffering? (50 pts/400 words)