BFFs

When I was younger, I always thought my popularity depended on how many "best" friends I had.  And aside from my imaginary friend, Bill, I had none.  But really, after graduating from high school and then college, I realized that all the friends I thought I had, ended up being phases in my life - mere acquaintances.  My true best friend stayed with me from middle school to the present.  I call him my best friend not because we spend a lot of time together, text every day or BBM every minute, but because we can go months without any communication and when we reconvene, it is like we were never apart.

Collin is to me, someone I can randomly call and have  a two hour conversation with about the most heart-wrenching situation, or the funniest line Michael Scott said on the latest episode of The Office.  We had a love-hate relationship in middle school - he would tease me and beat me at knock-out in his driveway - a "Bonnie and Clyde" partnership in high school - I would cover for him when he snuck out of his parent's house when grounded - and an almost undefinable relationship now.

Think of the person or people you identify as your best friend(s).  What qualifies that person as such?  What is a best friend and how are true friendships cultivated?  What kinds of friends are Gene and Finny and how can you evaluate their friendship thus far in the first five chapters?

If you still aren't sure what friendship means, take this statement into consideration:

"Friendship is being there when someone's feeling low and not being afraid to kick them." - Randy K. Milholland

(EXTRA CREDIT: to the student who can identify the grammar mistake in the above quote - goes to the first person to catch it!)

Everyday Use for . . . .

. . .who? 

Mama has a difficult decision to make in Alice Walker's short story, "Everyday Use for your Grandmama."  She finds herself in the position of a mediator between Dee and Maggie.  She is amidst two different worlds and must choose the daughter who will receive the family heirloom.

So, based on the evidence in the story, who should have the quilt?  Assume a fictitious role as someone who knows the situation regarding the controversy over the quilt.   Create a persuasive argument stating your opinion as to which sister should have been given the quilt.  Make sure you construct a clear argument on behalf of one of the sisters, and you may also be creative in your perspective in relation to the story.  Be sure to include plenty of evidence to support your position. 

We can pretend we are a panel of judges presiding over the "Case of the Family Quilt."  When you present your argument, be sure to address at least one other argument made by a classmate to either agree with or refute.  Meeting adjourned.

"Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe, aren't even aware of."

Ellen Goodman

WHERE WERE WE and HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

When viewing this film or even teaching the unit on Equality and Human Rights I am usually met with the same sentiment:  "Things are better now; people aren't so racist."  And my response is always the same: prove it.

Racism and discrimination may not seem to be as prevalent today as it was during the Civil Rights movement, but that does not mean it does not currently exist.  The more overt and direct racism historically represented in To Kill a Mockingbird, A Raisin in the Sun, "Recitatif," and Black Like Me may seem outdated, but racism still lies dormant and if you really look hard enough, you may be able to find it hidden in the recesses of people's minds, lurking in the loopholes of our justice system, and whispered in hallways.  After watching the documentary, The Trials of Darryl Hunt, we can see the obvious proof that we may not have advanced as far as we think we have in eradicating racism and prejudice.

Larry Little, the Alderman who organized the Darryl Hunt Defense Committee spoke very eloquently about the circumstances surrounding Hunt's wrongful conviction.  Read each statement below:

"It's like a little old man trying to move a mountain with a shovel ... but you try because if you don't you die."

"Racism is more powerful than facts because racism is illogical and it is emotional and therefore, facts don't matter."

Choose one of the statements above. Interpret and analyze its meaning.  How does it apply to the film?  How does it relate to the world at large?  Do you agree or disagree with his beliefs and why?  If you could sum up your reaction to the film in one "quotable statement" to a journalist asking for your opinion, what statement would you make?


For further information about recent injustices, you may read about one or more of the cases listed below. 

1997 - Abner Louima
1999 - Amadou Diallo
2006 - Jena Six (Click here for audio news)
2006 - Sean Bell

"Even after his repeated wrongful convictions and losses in the appellate system, Darryl remained prayful and never angry.  I cannot say as much for myself.  I was angry at the beginning and am still angry that all this happened, and I am angry that we still have a capital punishment system that cannot be fair." - Mark Rabil, Hunt's defense attorney

IMPOSING DEATH

The death penalty as a punishment has been argued for and against its ethical, moral, and justifiable implications since its entrance into our justice system in 1630.  Since colonial times, our ideas of justice have changed, adapted and responded to a variety of criminal activity.  The employment of capital punishment varies from state to state and currently there are 35 states upholding the death penalty. New Jersey abolished the punishment in 2007 - not too long ago.

Do you think our court system has the right to impose the death penalty on a criminal?  What is your viewpoint?  What do you think are some arguments for and against its constitutionality?  Knowing what we have studied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is there room for such a sentence?

Think about your position on the subject not only as a citizen, but as a hypothetical criminal, juror or judge, or victim or family member of a victim's position.  You may change your opinion depending on several factors.  Try to think of all sides of the argument before expressing your opinion.


For further information, you may be interested in reading a piece by New York Times journalist, Bob Herbert entitled, "Broken Beyond Repair" or an article called "The Death Penalty: Morally Defensible?" .