This semester I have had time to give back to the community. Participating in various forms of service throughout Dallas has been such a reward! From teaching dance (via BigThought) to underpriveledged kids at Marcus Elementary to assisting a Club Volleyball coach, I've had a wonderful time. All these experiences have been an excellent way to have fun while also helping the community.
I remember the first time I experienced the true joy of serving others. Alongside my friend Kristen Simmons, I helped run an elementary school's Father-Daughter Dance. Working with my best friend was an adventure and made the work seem to fly by a lot quicker! The fifth form girls were a joy to be around as I watched over the sign-in and crafts (along with keeping the girls from having their own party, without their fathers, in the girls bathroom : ) The Dance was a huge success and I’m glad I had the chance to view what the occasion was like (since I had never attended a Father Daughter dance before).
Needless to say, however, assisting with a nearby Club Volleyball team has been one of my favorite parts of serving this year. Helping the girls train for their meets and then later going on my own time to see them perform (aka the results of my labors haha) has been a very neat experience. I will miss them all now that the experience has come to an end.
Volunteering has sparked my desire to continue to serve with other organizations (like NSCS and SPARC). Moreover, I am sure that volunteering at highschool’s annual Jubilee as an alumna is in store for the not too distant future. I think the service requirements I had to fulfill in highschool (although sometimes hectic to try to fit in) were a great opportunity for me not only in that it helped the community, but also helped me to grow as an individual.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Infantcide of Partial Birth Abortion.
Obama opposed a bill, the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, in his state Senate. This bill called for a ban on partial-birth abortion.
This extreme candidate also remarked, when questioned about partial birth abortion, that he "would not want his daughters to be punished with a baby" because of a unforseen pregnancy.
When trying to choose which presidential nominee to vote for, I often go with the candidate who I agree on the most issues with. Some of these important issues may include the economy, gay rights, the Iraq war, healthcare. And I was starting to lean towards Obama on some key issues. Today I realized, however, I cannot vote for a candidate who condones murder. I consider partial birth abortion murder.
I have included a link to a video on Youtube (it wouldn't let me imbed the actual video). The video talks about how a partial-birth abortion is carried out. Please watch if it isn't too disturbing for you. Scroll down if you want to read a description.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUr0jCbcPNc
Procedure: A baby is not considered "born" until it takes its first breath of air. Because of this, doctors may deliver a baby feet first and kill it while the head remains inside the mother without being charged for murder. This operation, partial-birth abortion, includes the doctor sticking a scissor into the base of the babies' head while it is still in the mother. If this does not instantly kill the baby, a suction tube is placed in the newly created hole in the baby. This tube then kills the baby by sucking its brain out.
This extreme candidate also remarked, when questioned about partial birth abortion, that he "would not want his daughters to be punished with a baby" because of a unforseen pregnancy.
When trying to choose which presidential nominee to vote for, I often go with the candidate who I agree on the most issues with. Some of these important issues may include the economy, gay rights, the Iraq war, healthcare. And I was starting to lean towards Obama on some key issues. Today I realized, however, I cannot vote for a candidate who condones murder. I consider partial birth abortion murder.
I have included a link to a video on Youtube (it wouldn't let me imbed the actual video). The video talks about how a partial-birth abortion is carried out. Please watch if it isn't too disturbing for you. Scroll down if you want to read a description.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUr0jCbcPNc
Procedure: A baby is not considered "born" until it takes its first breath of air. Because of this, doctors may deliver a baby feet first and kill it while the head remains inside the mother without being charged for murder. This operation, partial-birth abortion, includes the doctor sticking a scissor into the base of the babies' head while it is still in the mother. If this does not instantly kill the baby, a suction tube is placed in the newly created hole in the baby. This tube then kills the baby by sucking its brain out.
So that's one issue Obama supports which McCain does not. So for those democrats who daily tell me McCain values are outdated and out of touch with the world, let me ask you this...
Since when did being abhorred by murder turn into being out of touch?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Say It Ain't So Joe
Comments on tonight's Vice-Presidential Debates...
By far the most amusing moment of the evening was when Biden insisted that the McCain administration would only offer more of the same of the Bush administration. This is a point that Obama/Biden continually push, trying to make Bush and McCain synonymous. Palin's response was not what I expected....
"Say it ain't so, Joe -- there you go, pointing backwards again," Palin remarked. "Doggone-it."
I cannot convey how much that statement made me smile. My friend Vanessa and I almost instantly fell to the floor laughing. Sarah Palin is such a refreshing politician in Washington. Her wording alone demonstrates how kicked-back and genuine she is. She is comfortable with presenting herself and her beliefs in a candid manner and I LOVE IT. There's no BS-ing when it comes to Palin. And her mudslinging is also quite professional (if mudslinging can be professional haha). Now I'm not saying I agree with all her political views, that's for certain. But her personality is attractive.
Palin emphasized how Obama voted against a bill to offer more funding for troops in Iraq. This was not surprising, after all, her running mate (McCain) voted against the bill as well, citing that he did not like the time table that went along with the bill. What Palin pointed out, however, was a huge difference in the candidates. McCain said beforehand he would vote against the bill, and he did. Obama, nevertheless, promised he would vote for the bill, only to capsize under political pressure and change his mind.
That is a key reason I am voting for McCain. He does what he says he will do. He doesn't simply vote along party lines like Obama has in senate (over 94% of the time). McCain thinks for himself. I used to idolize Obama. I even had the wonderful opportunity of taking a Politics class with one of current Obama's speech writers during summer school in Ohio. In fact, until May or so of this year, I had planned on voting for Obama in November. That was until he decided to flip-flop back and forth on numerous issues. Here are a few copied directly from www.washingtonpost.com. Also, for anyone reading this who wants straight facts about the election (what candidates say vs. what the history is in Washington) go to http://www.factcheck.org ! You'll love it.
1. The Cuba embargo. In January 2004, Obama said it was time "to end the embargo with Cuba" because it had "utterly failed in the effort to overthrow Castro." Speaking to a Cuban American audience in Miami in August 2007, he said he would not "take off the embargo" as president because it is "an important inducement for change."
2. Illegal immigration. In a March 2004 questionnaire, Obama was asked if the government should "crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants." He replied "Oppose." In a Jan. 31, 2008, televised debate, he said that "we do have to crack down on those employers that are taking advantage of the situation."
3. Decriminalization of marijuana. While running for the U.S. Senate in January 2004, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use. In the Oct. 30, 2007, presidential debate, he joined other Democratic candidates in opposing the decriminalization of marijuana.
By far the most amusing moment of the evening was when Biden insisted that the McCain administration would only offer more of the same of the Bush administration. This is a point that Obama/Biden continually push, trying to make Bush and McCain synonymous. Palin's response was not what I expected....
"Say it ain't so, Joe -- there you go, pointing backwards again," Palin remarked. "Doggone-it."
I cannot convey how much that statement made me smile. My friend Vanessa and I almost instantly fell to the floor laughing. Sarah Palin is such a refreshing politician in Washington. Her wording alone demonstrates how kicked-back and genuine she is. She is comfortable with presenting herself and her beliefs in a candid manner and I LOVE IT. There's no BS-ing when it comes to Palin. And her mudslinging is also quite professional (if mudslinging can be professional haha). Now I'm not saying I agree with all her political views, that's for certain. But her personality is attractive.
Palin emphasized how Obama voted against a bill to offer more funding for troops in Iraq. This was not surprising, after all, her running mate (McCain) voted against the bill as well, citing that he did not like the time table that went along with the bill. What Palin pointed out, however, was a huge difference in the candidates. McCain said beforehand he would vote against the bill, and he did. Obama, nevertheless, promised he would vote for the bill, only to capsize under political pressure and change his mind.
That is a key reason I am voting for McCain. He does what he says he will do. He doesn't simply vote along party lines like Obama has in senate (over 94% of the time). McCain thinks for himself. I used to idolize Obama. I even had the wonderful opportunity of taking a Politics class with one of current Obama's speech writers during summer school in Ohio. In fact, until May or so of this year, I had planned on voting for Obama in November. That was until he decided to flip-flop back and forth on numerous issues. Here are a few copied directly from www.washingtonpost.com. Also, for anyone reading this who wants straight facts about the election (what candidates say vs. what the history is in Washington) go to http://www.factcheck.org ! You'll love it.
1. The Cuba embargo. In January 2004, Obama said it was time "to end the embargo with Cuba" because it had "utterly failed in the effort to overthrow Castro." Speaking to a Cuban American audience in Miami in August 2007, he said he would not "take off the embargo" as president because it is "an important inducement for change."
2. Illegal immigration. In a March 2004 questionnaire, Obama was asked if the government should "crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants." He replied "Oppose." In a Jan. 31, 2008, televised debate, he said that "we do have to crack down on those employers that are taking advantage of the situation."
3. Decriminalization of marijuana. While running for the U.S. Senate in January 2004, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use. In the Oct. 30, 2007, presidential debate, he joined other Democratic candidates in opposing the decriminalization of marijuana.
Hm. I'm sensing a pattern here. haha
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Dancing for the Buckingham Palace Guards
Normally I would practice writing my notes backwards if I was bored. Or place as many pencils as possible on the back of my hand, only to thrown them in the air and try to catch them. But if you get bored in a dance technique class, where there are no pencils or desks to keep your mind entertained, what can you do?
I've been trying to figure out the answer to that question the last few weeks of school and I've come to the conclusion that the best solution is simply this:
Pretend you are dancing for different people.
On Mondays my imaginary audience may be a crowd of guards for the Buckingham Palace in London. I dance to try and make them smile. On Wednesday, however, I may dance with more restraint and solemness as I pretend I'm stuck in Limbo.
My brain has an endless supply (I hope!) of imaginary audiences. I am depending on them to get me through this semester. That and the new music dawning our inner ear each class. From Stevie Wonder to Tower of Power, every class beckons new musical entertainment. The music is a great motivational tool for me. It can let me escape the boring steps I've done way too many times, and find a new idea to make those steps somehow feel new as well.
So until I actually go dance for the Buckingham Palace guards, I plan to fill the empty studio with whatever audience I choose. That's what is so great about dance. Creation is continuous in the studio. Where success is found in happiness of your art rather than the numerical value one’s profession provides, the studio turns the idiom of “making a living” into “living through the making.” Creation is continuous in the studio not only in the choreographic sense but as an individual as well. More on this later perhaps...
I need sleep :P
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