Ground Zero..

idk why but this really stuck to me when i saw it this weekend, thoughts becuase I need help figuring out if i like the idea or not.

Richard Rodriguez

Reflection
I really enjoyed Aria by Richard Rodriguez because I have heard similar stories like his. Richard talks about how he had to transition his primary language of Spanish to talk predominantly in English. He learned the language because his parents would try and talk mostly English at home instead of Spanish. He used the word “public language” in relation of changing his speech from Spanish to English. After a tough road he became a legal citizen and spoke English like it was his first language. He became “more confident” when talking in English he almost forgot a lot of the Spanish language like how to address his parents.

“Mother and Father, Ma, Papa, Pa, Dad, Pop (how I hated all –American sounds of that last word especially) - all their terms I felt were unsuitable, not really terms of address for my parents.”

I met a man from Judy’s soup kitchen who had the same story. For the past two weeks I would engage in conversations with him how he hated talking in English because he was Spanish and wanted to talk in his “native tongue”. I told him how Spanish is being a more and more predominate language and in a couple years it might be a primary language. He laughed and said “I won’t be around for that my dear but im sure you can tell me later about it.” I wasn’t quite sure what he meant, when we met in heaven? Or next time I visited. I made a copy of the article and im going to read it to him. I really can’t wait to see what he thinks and says.
Another thing to think about is how to be a United States citizen. How did Richard do it? Was it really hard? Hope someone in class can help me on that one but I found a link to help me a little

http://www.visaus.com/citizen.html

Kozol/McIntosh

The quote in Peggy McIntosh’s paper “White Privilege”

“I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege as males are taught not to recognize male privilege”

forced me to read it over and over again. Questioning, what does it mean? Am I like that? But what it white privilege? McIntosh listed twenty six different privileges that she as white female has. But I recognized that a lot of them stated “...most of the time...” or “…not all the time…” so is that really a privilege and she asked this too if it is misleading. And I truly think it is.

According to thefreedictionary.com/privilege, it states, “A special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste. Such an advantage, immunity, or right held as a prerogative of status or rank, and exercised to the exclusion or detriment of others.” So do we really have Privilege, I don’t think so from my perspective but from someone else they might think so.
I asked my boyfriend what he thought and he had this to say…

“It’s a strong stereo type of societies due to recent and long term history. White males have always held the position of power in society. Not sure why but it’s always been that way.”

Another article that hit home to me was Jonathan Kozol’s piece called “Amazing Grace.” For a missionary worker, I can more than ever relate to what he was talking about. Children are constantly surrounded by illness and death; I’ve seen it, and still dream about it. Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. MSC began in 1978 as a home for abandoned and handicapped children on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. Through the years Mustard Seed Communities have spread across the Caribbean nations and recently into Africa, building additional facilities in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Zimbabwe. Committed to providing not just for our children but uplifting the marginalized and forgotten of society as well, MSC has involved itself in numerous outreach programs. The majority of communities are dedicated to the care of children with serious physical and mental disabilities such as Down’s syndrome, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. MSC also cares for children affected by HIV/AIDS and pregnant teenagers. Father Gregory Ramkissoon, a Diocesan priest in Kingston, Jamaica is the Founder of MSC. He is described as a man who is deeply spiritual and caring, with boundless energy and charisma. No obstacle is too great for him when it comes to helping where ever there is a need (MSC WEBSITE UNDER MISSION)…here is a link to the website
http://www.mustardseed.com/site/PageServer?pagename=mustard_seed_index

Delpit

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So hello this is my first post for this FNED class. my names GIana Verducci, im a sophmore here at RIC. i live in new hall but im orinally from Johsnton, NO im not a Gudio as jersey shore says. im an elementary edducaiton major consentrating on special ed. i chose this becuase of this missionary trip i went on.

In April 2009 I embarked on a life changing trip to Kingston, Jamaica, that changed my views on life forever. Making a difference in a child’s life was my main priority upon entering this trip. After a lot of preparation and fundraising I reached my fifteen-hundred dollar goal. Filled with enthusiasm I knew that this trip with my high school, LaSalle Academy, would be the best trip ever.
We arrived at our destination called Mustard Seed Communities. This is a community center for orphaned children that have mental and physical problems, HIV/AIDS and young mothers. These children, ranging from one to eighteen, are taken in and given education and taught how to live their lives outside of the community center. While there, I was able to help the nurses and play with the kids. In the specific area I stayed in, I fed the children ever morning and night, played with them with bubbles and other small games, and prayed. Some, if not most of the children, were handicapped so playing games such as throwing the ball around was not a good idea. One of the students did bring instruments and the children were able to shake them so on Easter Sunday we were able to sing our praises to God.
The most memorable moment was when a child named Anthony was in his crib at night. He is deaf and blind and has hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is a disease that enlarged his head to twice the size of a football. He was moaning and not really making any movement. Timidly I walked over to him and wrapped my hands around his hands. I started to clap his hands together; I did this a couple times to see if I could get a reaction. This made no difference to him. One the verge of giving up I placed my hands to his sides. He took my hands and placed them in front of his and clapped my hands like I did to him moments ago. Tears streamed down my face, tears of joy.
To me volunteering is not a job but an enjoyment. Being with kids and helping others is a great experience. It is something I plan to do for the rest of my life. My future plan is to become a teacher and travel back to Jamaica to volunteer teaching the children. Doing community service is the best way to interact with children, learn something for your life and help teach others. If it wasn’t for community service I would have never met Anthony and learned to never give up on anything.

i love telling this story to everyone and i have so many more!! just ask i can keep talking about it for hours... anyway...idk what else to say so ask me anything and ill tell you anything