DAY 1: MUSIC-"Working Class Hero", John Lennon
The following song is from the album John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band, which was released on December 11, 1970. The song takes the listener through the typical life of someone raised in the working class. Analyze the tone of the song. Think about what is being said in this song. Do you believe that anything in the song is still applicable in today's society? If so, please explain.
After listening to the song and answering the above questions, write a Journal Entry that discusses one or more of the main ideas that are brought up in the song.
Please excuse the vulgar language:
Working Class Hero, John Lennon
As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school,
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool,
Till you're so f***ing crazy you can't follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still f***ing peasants as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be.
A working class hero is something to be.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me,
If you want to be a hero well just follow me.
Feb 11, 2010
DAY 2: TODAY IN HISTORY
Again, find a topic that interests you and think about how this event positively or negatively effected the world. Then write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses what would have happened if the following event never took place, or a particular person was never born (i.e., the verdict on the Chicago Seven was never overturned, Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy decided to not succeed from the U.S., or John Travolta was never born or never went into acting). Use the following links to find out more information about each topic and its subsequent influence. Mark Twain, Jefferson Davis, Chicago Seven,FBI Agent, Dale Ernhardt, and John Travolta.
Again, find a topic that interests you and think about how this event positively or negatively effected the world. Then write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses what would have happened if the following event never took place, or a particular person was never born (i.e., the verdict on the Chicago Seven was never overturned, Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy decided to not succeed from the U.S., or John Travolta was never born or never went into acting). Use the following links to find out more information about each topic and its subsequent influence. Mark Twain, Jefferson Davis, Chicago Seven,FBI Agent, Dale Ernhardt, and John Travolta.
DAY 3: SPORTS-"The Misbehavior of Athletes"
Rick Reilly is a columnist for ESPN The Magazine. He writes a weekly column that discusses the most current and usually the most outrageous topics going on in the sports world today.
The article titled The Misbehavior of Athletes discusses Mark McQuire's steriod use and some other controversial stories concerning pro athletes. After you read the article, pick a topic that you'd like to discuss further and write about it.
Rick Reilly is a columnist for ESPN The Magazine. He writes a weekly column that discusses the most current and usually the most outrageous topics going on in the sports world today. The article titled The Misbehavior of Athletes discusses Mark McQuire's steriod use and some other controversial stories concerning pro athletes. After you read the article, pick a topic that you'd like to discuss further and write about it.
DAY 4: POLITICS-Standing Up For What You Believe In...Most of the Time
The following is an excerpt from an article by CNN reporter, Roland Martin. Keep in mind that this is an opinion column, written with the intent to criticize Sarah Palin. Please read the article with care and consider the main problems that are being addressed. First of all, using words like "retard" are offensive and people in the public eye should realize how language like this is hurtful. The second issue is that of "sticking to your guns" or standing up for what you believe rather than changing your opinion based on the situation.
After reading the article and watching the clip of Rush Limbaugh, chose a side and develop an argument that's related to the issues mentioned above. HAVE FUN!
Excerpt from Roland Martin's article. To read the article in its entirety, click here.
When it was reported that President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, told a group of liberals that they were "f-----g retards" for threatening to run ads against fellow Democrats who weren't jumping on the health care reform bandwagon, Palin demanded his resignation.
As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, Palin has often used her bully pulpit to demand respect for the mentally challenged. Nothing wrong with that. It is an issue that is close to her heart, and she should be a fierce advocate for them.
Yet when one of her biggest supporters, conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, also castigated liberals by calling them "retards," Palin provided him cover, even trying to explain away his comments.
In an interview with Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace, she said Limbaugh was using satire, while Emanuel was blasting those who disagree with him. But anyone who can read or listen could hear Limbaugh calling folks he disagrees with the same. Palin even went further, agreeing with Limbaugh that liberals are "kooks."
So Emanuel and Limbaugh used the word "retard" to describe folks they disagree with, but only Rahm was wrong? Yep, that's how it is in Palin's world. The advocate for the mentally challenged was quick to pounce on someone she disagrees with politically but defended her patron saint, Rush.
Sarah, when you hold yourself up as a fierce protector of the mentally challenged, politics shouldn't enter into the equation. Either you criticize everyone who uses a word that you consider a slur, or you come across as a crass politician who is afraid to offend your chief booster.
Maybe you ought to listen to your spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, who thought you cared about the mentally challenged when she sent this e-mail to HotAir.com about Limbaugh's comment: "Gov. Palin believes crude and demeaning name-calling at the expense of others is disrespectful."
But knowing that wouldn't sit well with Rush, you backed off and gave him cover.
If you were true to your cause, you would have demanded an on-air apology from Limbaugh and scolded him for using the word. Instead, you showed your true colors.
Sarah, I haven't bought into your fake "I'm-a-real-American" persona. You slam the president for using teleprompters, but write crib notes on your hand to remember basic beliefs that should be easy to regurgitate.
You decry the "lamestream" media, but you bask in its glory and have joined its payroll as a Fox News contributor, even having the network build a studio in your home. Talk about media elite.
You give a speech riddled with falsehoods about the president and national security, and then try to shrug them off as the "lamestream" media attacking you.
You don't fool me, even as your legion of fans considers you the second coming of President Reagan. You quit on the people who elected you to become a political celebrity, which your presidential running mate blasted then-Sen. Barack Obama for doing.
You had the opportunity to show everyone that you're willing to take on anyone who crosses the line against those who are mentally challenged, and you failed.
Please, make as much money as you can. Paraphrasing comedian Martin Lawrence, ride this train until the wheels fall off. But please, cut the crap. You're a crass politician with no true conviction. Your actions have shown that.
The following is an excerpt from an article by CNN reporter, Roland Martin. Keep in mind that this is an opinion column, written with the intent to criticize Sarah Palin. Please read the article with care and consider the main problems that are being addressed. First of all, using words like "retard" are offensive and people in the public eye should realize how language like this is hurtful. The second issue is that of "sticking to your guns" or standing up for what you believe rather than changing your opinion based on the situation.
After reading the article and watching the clip of Rush Limbaugh, chose a side and develop an argument that's related to the issues mentioned above. HAVE FUN!
Excerpt from Roland Martin's article. To read the article in its entirety, click here.
When it was reported that President Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, told a group of liberals that they were "f-----g retards" for threatening to run ads against fellow Democrats who weren't jumping on the health care reform bandwagon, Palin demanded his resignation.
As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, Palin has often used her bully pulpit to demand respect for the mentally challenged. Nothing wrong with that. It is an issue that is close to her heart, and she should be a fierce advocate for them.
Yet when one of her biggest supporters, conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, also castigated liberals by calling them "retards," Palin provided him cover, even trying to explain away his comments.
In an interview with Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace, she said Limbaugh was using satire, while Emanuel was blasting those who disagree with him. But anyone who can read or listen could hear Limbaugh calling folks he disagrees with the same. Palin even went further, agreeing with Limbaugh that liberals are "kooks."
So Emanuel and Limbaugh used the word "retard" to describe folks they disagree with, but only Rahm was wrong? Yep, that's how it is in Palin's world. The advocate for the mentally challenged was quick to pounce on someone she disagrees with politically but defended her patron saint, Rush.
Sarah, when you hold yourself up as a fierce protector of the mentally challenged, politics shouldn't enter into the equation. Either you criticize everyone who uses a word that you consider a slur, or you come across as a crass politician who is afraid to offend your chief booster.
Maybe you ought to listen to your spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, who thought you cared about the mentally challenged when she sent this e-mail to HotAir.com about Limbaugh's comment: "Gov. Palin believes crude and demeaning name-calling at the expense of others is disrespectful."
But knowing that wouldn't sit well with Rush, you backed off and gave him cover.
If you were true to your cause, you would have demanded an on-air apology from Limbaugh and scolded him for using the word. Instead, you showed your true colors.
Sarah, I haven't bought into your fake "I'm-a-real-American" persona. You slam the president for using teleprompters, but write crib notes on your hand to remember basic beliefs that should be easy to regurgitate.
You decry the "lamestream" media, but you bask in its glory and have joined its payroll as a Fox News contributor, even having the network build a studio in your home. Talk about media elite.
You give a speech riddled with falsehoods about the president and national security, and then try to shrug them off as the "lamestream" media attacking you.
You don't fool me, even as your legion of fans considers you the second coming of President Reagan. You quit on the people who elected you to become a political celebrity, which your presidential running mate blasted then-Sen. Barack Obama for doing.
You had the opportunity to show everyone that you're willing to take on anyone who crosses the line against those who are mentally challenged, and you failed.
Please, make as much money as you can. Paraphrasing comedian Martin Lawrence, ride this train until the wheels fall off. But please, cut the crap. You're a crass politician with no true conviction. Your actions have shown that.
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