Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the controversial creative minds behind South Park. For the last 14 seasons they have stunned audiences with their off-color humor and uncanny ability to effectively touch on hot-button issues. Recently, South Park has aired to episodes that mentioned the Prophet Mohammad and featured the him in a bear suit. Although all mentions of his name and potential images of the prophet were censored by Comedy Central, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have still received death treats from U.S. based Islamic extremist. The following article titled, "South Park and Mohammad" discusses this issue in more detail. Consider the many angels of this issue: Freedom of speech, censorship, extremist groups, and potential dangers involved with all three. After reading the article and reflecting on the above issues, write a 250-500 Journal Entry that outlines the cause and effect one or all of these issues.
Apr 27, 2010
DAY 4: Politics
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the controversial creative minds behind South Park. For the last 14 seasons they have stunned audiences with their off-color humor and uncanny ability to effectively touch on hot-button issues. Recently, South Park has aired to episodes that mentioned the Prophet Mohammad and featured the him in a bear suit. Although all mentions of his name and potential images of the prophet were censored by Comedy Central, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have still received death treats from U.S. based Islamic extremist. The following article titled, "South Park and Mohammad" discusses this issue in more detail. Consider the many angels of this issue: Freedom of speech, censorship, extremist groups, and potential dangers involved with all three. After reading the article and reflecting on the above issues, write a 250-500 Journal Entry that outlines the cause and effect one or all of these issues.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the controversial creative minds behind South Park. For the last 14 seasons they have stunned audiences with their off-color humor and uncanny ability to effectively touch on hot-button issues. Recently, South Park has aired to episodes that mentioned the Prophet Mohammad and featured the him in a bear suit. Although all mentions of his name and potential images of the prophet were censored by Comedy Central, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have still received death treats from U.S. based Islamic extremist. The following article titled, "South Park and Mohammad" discusses this issue in more detail. Consider the many angels of this issue: Freedom of speech, censorship, extremist groups, and potential dangers involved with all three. After reading the article and reflecting on the above issues, write a 250-500 Journal Entry that outlines the cause and effect one or all of these issues.
DAY 3: Sports
For all of those NBA fans out there, this blog is for you! Now I wouldn't be surprised if most of you just said to yourself, "Who cares about the NBA?" If you did think or say something like that, I completely understand, especially when you consider the contractual and competitive shambles that the NBA is finding itself in these days.
Bill Simmons, an ESPN, Page 2 columnist writes about this particular issue in his most recent piece titled, "Running on Empty". For this Journal Entry, read the article and summarize Simmons main points. Then discuss the different causes and effects of the current NBA and then the causes and effects that the new NBA that Simmons is posing would have. Write 250-500 words. HAVE FUN!
For all of those NBA fans out there, this blog is for you! Now I wouldn't be surprised if most of you just said to yourself, "Who cares about the NBA?" If you did think or say something like that, I completely understand, especially when you consider the contractual and competitive shambles that the NBA is finding itself in these days.
Bill Simmons, an ESPN, Page 2 columnist writes about this particular issue in his most recent piece titled, "Running on Empty". For this Journal Entry, read the article and summarize Simmons main points. Then discuss the different causes and effects of the current NBA and then the causes and effects that the new NBA that Simmons is posing would have. Write 250-500 words. HAVE FUN!
Apr 26, 2010
DAY 2: Today in History
Courtesy of the World Almanac: Here is a list of every significant event that has occurred on April 28. There are also celebrity and historical figures birthdays listed below. Please pick ONE event and ONE birthday and discuss separately the cause and effect of the event and a particular individual's existence. Highlight the positive and/or negatives that the event or the person has created. This Journal Entry should be between 200-500 words in length. HAVE FUN!
1788: Maryland enters the Union as the seventh of the 13 original states.
1789: British sailor Fletcher Christian leads a mutiny against Capt. William Bligh aboard the HMS Bounty.
1817: The United States and Britain begin signing the Rush-Bagot treaty, limiting armaments on the Great Lakes.
1945: Italian partisans kill Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
1952: Full sovereignty is restored to Japan , but U.S. troops remain as security forces. The ANZUS mutual-defense pact between Australia, New Zealand (until 1986), and the U.S. comes into force when all three signatories ratify it.
1965: Some 14,000 U.S. troops are sent to the Dominican Republic to support the government in a civil war.
1969: Charles De Gaulle resigns as president of France.
1990: The musical A Chorus Line closes on Broadway after 6,237 performances.
1993: Defense Sec. Les Aspin removes restrictions on aerial combat roles by women in the armed forces.
2001: Wealthy businessman Dennis Tito becomes the first tourist in space after paying the Russian Space Agency up to $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station.
2004: The CBS program 60 Minutes II broadcasts photographs documenting physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces at Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad.
Today's Birthdays
1442: Edward IV, king of England (Rouen, France; died 1483)
1758: James Monroe, 5th president of the United States (Westmoreland County, VA; died 1831)
1871: Louise Dilworth Homer, opera singer (Sewickley, PA; died 1947)
1878: Lionel Barrymore, actor (Philadelphia, PA; died 1954)
1889: António Salazar, Portuguese economist and statesman, who ruled Portugal as a dictator (near Santa Comba Dão, Portugal; died 1970)
1908: Oskar Schindler, businessman (Zwittau, Austria-Hungary; died 1974)
1926: Blossom Dearie, musician (E. Durham, NY). Harper Lee, author (Monroeville, AL)
1937: Saddam Hussein, Iraqi president (Tikrit, Iraq)
1948: Marcia Strassman, actress (New York, NY)
1949: Bruno Kirby, actor (New York, NY)
1950: Jay Leno, TV personality/comedian (New Rochelle, NY)
1952: Mary McDonnell, actress (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
1964: Barry Larkin, baseball player (Cincinnati, OH)
1966: John Daly, golfer (Carmichael, CA)
1973: Elisabeth Rohm, actress (Dusseldorf, Germany)
1974: Penelope Cruz, actress (Madrid, Spain)
1981: Jessica Alba, actress (Pomona, CA)
Courtesy of the World Almanac: Here is a list of every significant event that has occurred on April 28. There are also celebrity and historical figures birthdays listed below. Please pick ONE event and ONE birthday and discuss separately the cause and effect of the event and a particular individual's existence. Highlight the positive and/or negatives that the event or the person has created. This Journal Entry should be between 200-500 words in length. HAVE FUN!
1788: Maryland enters the Union as the seventh of the 13 original states.1789: British sailor Fletcher Christian leads a mutiny against Capt. William Bligh aboard the HMS Bounty.
1817: The United States and Britain begin signing the Rush-Bagot treaty, limiting armaments on the Great Lakes.
1945: Italian partisans kill Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
1952: Full sovereignty is restored to Japan , but U.S. troops remain as security forces. The ANZUS mutual-defense pact between Australia, New Zealand (until 1986), and the U.S. comes into force when all three signatories ratify it.
1965: Some 14,000 U.S. troops are sent to the Dominican Republic to support the government in a civil war.
1969: Charles De Gaulle resigns as president of France.
1990: The musical A Chorus Line closes on Broadway after 6,237 performances.
1993: Defense Sec. Les Aspin removes restrictions on aerial combat roles by women in the armed forces.
2001: Wealthy businessman Dennis Tito becomes the first tourist in space after paying the Russian Space Agency up to $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station.
2004: The CBS program 60 Minutes II broadcasts photographs documenting physical and sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces at Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad.
Today's Birthdays
1442: Edward IV, king of England (Rouen, France; died 1483)
1758: James Monroe, 5th president of the United States (Westmoreland County, VA; died 1831)
1871: Louise Dilworth Homer, opera singer (Sewickley, PA; died 1947)
1878: Lionel Barrymore, actor (Philadelphia, PA; died 1954)
1889: António Salazar, Portuguese economist and statesman, who ruled Portugal as a dictator (near Santa Comba Dão, Portugal; died 1970)
1908: Oskar Schindler, businessman (Zwittau, Austria-Hungary; died 1974)
1926: Blossom Dearie, musician (E. Durham, NY). Harper Lee, author (Monroeville, AL)
1937: Saddam Hussein, Iraqi president (Tikrit, Iraq)
1948: Marcia Strassman, actress (New York, NY)
1949: Bruno Kirby, actor (New York, NY)
1950: Jay Leno, TV personality/comedian (New Rochelle, NY)
1952: Mary McDonnell, actress (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
1964: Barry Larkin, baseball player (Cincinnati, OH)
1966: John Daly, golfer (Carmichael, CA)
1973: Elisabeth Rohm, actress (Dusseldorf, Germany)
1974: Penelope Cruz, actress (Madrid, Spain)
1981: Jessica Alba, actress (Pomona, CA)
DAY 1: MUSIC
Rage Against the Machine has long been a voice for the marginalized and disenfranchised. Zack de la Rocha, the lead singer of Rage, has written strongly worded lyrics that protest the kind of behavior that has brought down the less fortunate throughout history. After you listen to the song and watch the video, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the cause and effect of destroying people's heritage in the name of "progress". How has imperialism caused prejudices and disdain on both sides of this issue? For example, think of Native Americans and other indigenous cultures that have been forced off of their land and/or forced to convert to another religion. Put yourself in their shoes. Be thoughtful in your writing. HAVE FUN!
Please excuse the vulgar language
People of the Sun, Rage Against the Machine
yeah people come up
yeah better turn the bass up on this one
check it
Since 1516 minds attacked and overseen, now
Crawl amidst the ruins of this
Empty dream
with their borders and boots on top of us, pullin'
Knobs on the floor of their toxic metropolis
So how you gonna get what you need ta get ? tha
Gut eaters, blood drenched get offensive like tet, the fifth suns sets get back reclaim, tha
Spirit of cuahtemoc alive an untamed
now face the funk now blastin' out your speaker, on the one maya, mexica
That vulture game ta try and steal your name but
but now you got a gun
This is for the people of the sun
It's comin' back around again
This is for tha people of tha sun
Neva forget that tha wip snapped ya back, ya
Spine cracked for tobacco, oh I'm the Marlboro
Man
Our past blastin' on through tha verses
Brigades of taxi cabs rollin' broadway like
Hearses
Troops strippin' zoots, shots of red mist,
Sailors blood on tha deck
Come sista resist
From the era of terror check this photo lens,
Tha city of angels does tha ethnic cleanse
Heads bobbin' to that funk out ya
Speaker, on tha one maya, mexica
That vulture game ta try an steal ya name but now
You found a gun... you're history
This is for the people of the sun
It's coming back around again
This is for tha people of tha sun
Rage Against the Machine has long been a voice for the marginalized and disenfranchised. Zack de la Rocha, the lead singer of Rage, has written strongly worded lyrics that protest the kind of behavior that has brought down the less fortunate throughout history. After you listen to the song and watch the video, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the cause and effect of destroying people's heritage in the name of "progress". How has imperialism caused prejudices and disdain on both sides of this issue? For example, think of Native Americans and other indigenous cultures that have been forced off of their land and/or forced to convert to another religion. Put yourself in their shoes. Be thoughtful in your writing. HAVE FUN!
Please excuse the vulgar language
People of the Sun, Rage Against the Machine
yeah people come up
yeah better turn the bass up on this one
check it
Since 1516 minds attacked and overseen, now
Crawl amidst the ruins of this
Empty dream
with their borders and boots on top of us, pullin'
Knobs on the floor of their toxic metropolis
So how you gonna get what you need ta get ? tha
Gut eaters, blood drenched get offensive like tet, the fifth suns sets get back reclaim, tha
Spirit of cuahtemoc alive an untamed
now face the funk now blastin' out your speaker, on the one maya, mexica
That vulture game ta try and steal your name but
but now you got a gun
This is for the people of the sun
It's comin' back around again
This is for tha people of tha sun
Neva forget that tha wip snapped ya back, ya
Spine cracked for tobacco, oh I'm the Marlboro
Man
Our past blastin' on through tha verses
Brigades of taxi cabs rollin' broadway like
Hearses
Troops strippin' zoots, shots of red mist,
Sailors blood on tha deck
Come sista resist
From the era of terror check this photo lens,
Tha city of angels does tha ethnic cleanse
Heads bobbin' to that funk out ya
Speaker, on tha one maya, mexica
That vulture game ta try an steal ya name but now
You found a gun... you're history
This is for the people of the sun
It's coming back around again
This is for tha people of tha sun
Apr 22, 2010
DAY 5: Example of a Cause and Effect Essay
Learning to Hate Mathematics
by Anne Miller
I started to dread arithmetic back in the third grade because I didn't want to memorize the multiplication tables. Unlike learning how to read, studying math seemed to have no purpose other than to give me massive headaches and shattered nerves. The alphabet was a wonderful code that, when deciphered, entertained me with stories and revealed all kinds of secrets about the world. Multiplication tables, on the other hand, just told me how much six times nine was. There was no joy in knowing that. Although even in third grade I understood that I shared with many other students a terrible fear and hatred of mathematics, I drew little comfort from that fact. Since then, I have struggled with math for a number of reasons.
I especially began to hate math when Sister Celine forced us to participate in her sadistic counting contests. Having ordered us to stand in rows, side by side, this jolly nun would shout problems at us: "Forty-eight divided by three? . . . Nine times twelve? . . . Three times eight divided by two?" The students who called out the correct answers fastest would win; those of us who answered wrong or not at all would have to sit down. To be honest, losing never bothered me that much. Rather, it was that feeling in the pit of my stomach before and right after she called out the numbers. You know, that awful math feeling. Not only did mathematics seem irrelevant and dull, it also became forever associated in my mind with speed and competition. During the counting contests, I would deliberately give an incorrect answer early on so that I could escape the game quickly.
As I grew older, math grew worse, like a persistent headache that makes you want to scream to relieve the pain. Negative numbers, I thought, were simply insane. You either have some or none, I figured--not negative some. Patiently, my older brother would try to talk me through the steps when helping me with my homework. Oh, eventually I would puzzle things out (long after the rest of the class had moved on to something else), but I never understood the point of the game. My teachers were always too busy droning out formulas to explain how and why any of these calculations mattered. Who on earth cared about determining the departure times of trains or figuring how long it would take Arthur to walk to the playground? Constantly frustrated by the sheer meaninglessness of it all, I even grew to hate the people and places mentioned in word problems: I imagined trains crashing in the dead of night and little Arthur becoming hopelessly lost on his way home from the playground.
After years of hating math and only barely passing my classes, I started to compound my difficulties in high school by skipping homework. With geometry, of course, that means death. My teachers would punish me by making me stay after school to do--what else?--more math problems. In anger and frustration, I broke pencils and tore paper as I dutifully filled page after page with utterly meaningless calculations. Not surprisingly, I came to associate math with nothing more nor less than pain and heartless punishment. In my recurring nightmares, my head was fractured by fractions and crushed by multiplication signs.
Though I'm through with math classes now and carry a calculator in my purse, math still has a way of making me queasy. Sometimes at work or on line at the bank, I get that old nervous feeling again, as if Sister Celine is still out there barking out problems. It's not that I can't do the math; it's just that it is math.
Recently, however, a strange thing thing has happened. All those curious (probably maddening) questions that my teachers ignored have begun to crop up again. On a whim the other day, I bought a book called Mathematics for People Who Hate Math, and even though parts of it seem to have been written in a foreign language, I've actually been enjoying the book. In architecture and engineering, in physics and electronics, even in art and music, mathematics does have a purpose and a meaning. Like the letters of the alphabet, numerical signs can tell stories and reveal secrets about the world. Now, without sadistic teachers conducting drills or staging competitions, I think I might even enjoy learning more about math--on my own terms, at my own pace. But don't you dare throw any problems at me when I'm not looking, because I still get that feeling in my stomach sometimes.
Learning to Hate Mathematics
by Anne Miller
I started to dread arithmetic back in the third grade because I didn't want to memorize the multiplication tables. Unlike learning how to read, studying math seemed to have no purpose other than to give me massive headaches and shattered nerves. The alphabet was a wonderful code that, when deciphered, entertained me with stories and revealed all kinds of secrets about the world. Multiplication tables, on the other hand, just told me how much six times nine was. There was no joy in knowing that. Although even in third grade I understood that I shared with many other students a terrible fear and hatred of mathematics, I drew little comfort from that fact. Since then, I have struggled with math for a number of reasons.
I especially began to hate math when Sister Celine forced us to participate in her sadistic counting contests. Having ordered us to stand in rows, side by side, this jolly nun would shout problems at us: "Forty-eight divided by three? . . . Nine times twelve? . . . Three times eight divided by two?" The students who called out the correct answers fastest would win; those of us who answered wrong or not at all would have to sit down. To be honest, losing never bothered me that much. Rather, it was that feeling in the pit of my stomach before and right after she called out the numbers. You know, that awful math feeling. Not only did mathematics seem irrelevant and dull, it also became forever associated in my mind with speed and competition. During the counting contests, I would deliberately give an incorrect answer early on so that I could escape the game quickly.
As I grew older, math grew worse, like a persistent headache that makes you want to scream to relieve the pain. Negative numbers, I thought, were simply insane. You either have some or none, I figured--not negative some. Patiently, my older brother would try to talk me through the steps when helping me with my homework. Oh, eventually I would puzzle things out (long after the rest of the class had moved on to something else), but I never understood the point of the game. My teachers were always too busy droning out formulas to explain how and why any of these calculations mattered. Who on earth cared about determining the departure times of trains or figuring how long it would take Arthur to walk to the playground? Constantly frustrated by the sheer meaninglessness of it all, I even grew to hate the people and places mentioned in word problems: I imagined trains crashing in the dead of night and little Arthur becoming hopelessly lost on his way home from the playground.After years of hating math and only barely passing my classes, I started to compound my difficulties in high school by skipping homework. With geometry, of course, that means death. My teachers would punish me by making me stay after school to do--what else?--more math problems. In anger and frustration, I broke pencils and tore paper as I dutifully filled page after page with utterly meaningless calculations. Not surprisingly, I came to associate math with nothing more nor less than pain and heartless punishment. In my recurring nightmares, my head was fractured by fractions and crushed by multiplication signs.
Though I'm through with math classes now and carry a calculator in my purse, math still has a way of making me queasy. Sometimes at work or on line at the bank, I get that old nervous feeling again, as if Sister Celine is still out there barking out problems. It's not that I can't do the math; it's just that it is math.
Recently, however, a strange thing thing has happened. All those curious (probably maddening) questions that my teachers ignored have begun to crop up again. On a whim the other day, I bought a book called Mathematics for People Who Hate Math, and even though parts of it seem to have been written in a foreign language, I've actually been enjoying the book. In architecture and engineering, in physics and electronics, even in art and music, mathematics does have a purpose and a meaning. Like the letters of the alphabet, numerical signs can tell stories and reveal secrets about the world. Now, without sadistic teachers conducting drills or staging competitions, I think I might even enjoy learning more about math--on my own terms, at my own pace. But don't you dare throw any problems at me when I'm not looking, because I still get that feeling in my stomach sometimes.
Apr 21, 2010
DAY 4: Politics
The Decriminalization of Marijuana
What are the effects of a law that decriminalizes marijuana? Before you answer this question, consider the effects that the current laws have on our society.
Watch this video and consider both sides. Then chose a side that you most closely agree with and explain what the effects would be of either keeping the law the same or changing it. This Journal Entry should be 250-500 words. HAVE FUN!
The Decriminalization of Marijuana
What are the effects of a law that decriminalizes marijuana? Before you answer this question, consider the effects that the current laws have on our society.
Watch this video and consider both sides. Then chose a side that you most closely agree with and explain what the effects would be of either keeping the law the same or changing it. This Journal Entry should be 250-500 words. HAVE FUN!
Apr 19, 2010
DAY 3: SPORTS
The following column was taken from sportsfeelgoodstories.com and is discussing the recent film "The Blind Side". The column also makes a list of the top 20 inspirational sports films of all time. After you read the column, please pick a film that you have seen and that you believe to be inspirational. Then, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the cause and effect that the film had both on you and on the characters in the movie. If the film is based on a true story then you may talk about the influence that the events in the film had on the real life people and/or society in general. HAVE FUN!
Is “The Blind Side” one of the top inspirational sports movies of all time?
The movie “The Blind Side,” based on the book by Michael Lewis, took in an amazing $34.5 million in its opening weekend at theaters. The movie tells the story of Baltimore Ravens’ first round pick Michael Oher. A homeless teenager, Oher was adopted by the Tuohy family in Memphis, Tennessee. Sandra Bullock plays the Leigh Anne Tuohy role, and this movie opened stronger than any other Bullock release. It’s also receiving strong votes from most critics.
But where does it stack up related to other inspirational sports movies?
Sports Feel Good Stories “Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies”
1. Hoosiers
2. Remember the Titans
3. Cinderella Man
4. Miracle
5. Rocky
6. Seabiscuit
7. Field of Dreams
8. Rudy
9. Coach Carter
10. Brian’s Song
11. Friday Night Lights
12. Bend it like Beckham
13. Glory Road
14. The Rookie
15. We are Marshall
16. Finding Forrester
17. Bull Durham
18. Chariots of Fire
19. Breaking Away
20. The Natural
The following column was taken from sportsfeelgoodstories.com and is discussing the recent film "The Blind Side". The column also makes a list of the top 20 inspirational sports films of all time. After you read the column, please pick a film that you have seen and that you believe to be inspirational. Then, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the cause and effect that the film had both on you and on the characters in the movie. If the film is based on a true story then you may talk about the influence that the events in the film had on the real life people and/or society in general. HAVE FUN!Is “The Blind Side” one of the top inspirational sports movies of all time?
The movie “The Blind Side,” based on the book by Michael Lewis, took in an amazing $34.5 million in its opening weekend at theaters. The movie tells the story of Baltimore Ravens’ first round pick Michael Oher. A homeless teenager, Oher was adopted by the Tuohy family in Memphis, Tennessee. Sandra Bullock plays the Leigh Anne Tuohy role, and this movie opened stronger than any other Bullock release. It’s also receiving strong votes from most critics.
But where does it stack up related to other inspirational sports movies?
Sports Feel Good Stories “Top 20 Inspirational Sports Movies”
1. Hoosiers2. Remember the Titans
3. Cinderella Man
4. Miracle
5. Rocky
6. Seabiscuit
7. Field of Dreams
8. Rudy
9. Coach Carter
10. Brian’s Song
11. Friday Night Lights
12. Bend it like Beckham
13. Glory Road
14. The Rookie
15. We are Marshall
16. Finding Forrester
17. Bull Durham
18. Chariots of Fire
19. Breaking Away
20. The Natural
Apr 18, 2010
DAY 2: This WEEK in History
Because late April has historically been a tragic time in American history, I wanted to highlight a number of events that have taken place on April 19 and 20 that are very significant. Although there are other events that have happened on these days that are more positive, I'd like you to focus on the negative for this Journal Entry. The next piece of writing is going to be a cause and effect essay, so you will be writing about what caused a particular event and then the immediate and long term effects that it had on the American people.
The following videos are from April 19 and 20. Please ignore any events that seem to be positive. Again, I want you to focus on the negative events that have taken place on these days and then chose one of them. Once you chose an event, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the causes and effects that surround this incident. You may conduct additional research to help you with the Journal Entry. HAVE FUN!
Because late April has historically been a tragic time in American history, I wanted to highlight a number of events that have taken place on April 19 and 20 that are very significant. Although there are other events that have happened on these days that are more positive, I'd like you to focus on the negative for this Journal Entry. The next piece of writing is going to be a cause and effect essay, so you will be writing about what caused a particular event and then the immediate and long term effects that it had on the American people.
The following videos are from April 19 and 20. Please ignore any events that seem to be positive. Again, I want you to focus on the negative events that have taken place on these days and then chose one of them. Once you chose an event, write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that discusses the causes and effects that surround this incident. You may conduct additional research to help you with the Journal Entry. HAVE FUN!
Apr 15, 2010
DAY 1: MUSIC
Below is a YouTube video for Tupac Shakur's song, "Changes". The song talks about the injustices that exist within urban communities throughout the United States. Tupac also discusses the changes that need to be made within both the white and the black community in order for anything to ever change for the better. Write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that talks about changes that you'd like to see made throughout your community, the Pittsburgh area, or even the world in general.
"Changes", by Tupac Shakur
Come on come on
I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself,
"Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?"
I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.
My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch.
Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero.
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare.
First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers.
Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other.
"It's time to fight back", that's what Huey said.
2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead.
I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.
Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers.
And that's how it's supposed to be.
How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?
I'd love to go back to when we played as kids,
but things change, and that's the way it is.
[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]
(Come on, come on) That's just the way it is. Things'll never be the same.
That's just the way it is. aww yeah...
[Repeat]
I see no changes. All I see is racist faces.
Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races we under.
I wonder what it takes to make this one better place...
let's erase the wasted.
Take the evil out the people, they'll be acting right.
'Cause mo' black than white is smokin' crack tonight.
And only time we chill is when we kill each other.
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other.
And although it seems heaven sent,
we ain't ready to see a black President, uhh.
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact...
the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks.
But some things will never change.
Try to show another way, but they stayin' in the dope game.
Now tell me what's a mother to do?
Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you.
You gotta operate the easy way.
"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way.
Sellin' crack to the kids. "I gotta get paid,"
Well hey, well that's the way it is.
[Bridge]
[Talking:]
We gotta make a change...
It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.
And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace?
There's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty,
they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do.
But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you.
Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up.
You gotta learn to hold ya own.
They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone.
But tell the cops they can't touch this.
I don't trust this, when they try to rush I bust this.
That's the sound of my tune. You say it ain't cool, but mama didn't raise no fool.
And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped & I never get to lay back.
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs.
Some buck that I roughed up way back... comin' back after all these years.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat. That's the way it is. uhh
[Bridge 'til fade]
Some things never change.
Below is a YouTube video for Tupac Shakur's song, "Changes". The song talks about the injustices that exist within urban communities throughout the United States. Tupac also discusses the changes that need to be made within both the white and the black community in order for anything to ever change for the better. Write a 250-500 word Journal Entry that talks about changes that you'd like to see made throughout your community, the Pittsburgh area, or even the world in general.
"Changes", by Tupac Shakur
Come on come on
I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself,
"Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?"
I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.
My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch.
Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero.
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare.
First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers.
Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other.
"It's time to fight back", that's what Huey said.
2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead.
I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes.
Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers.
And that's how it's supposed to be.
How can the Devil take a brother if he's close to me?
I'd love to go back to when we played as kids,
but things change, and that's the way it is.
[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]
(Come on, come on) That's just the way it is. Things'll never be the same.
That's just the way it is. aww yeah...
[Repeat]
I see no changes. All I see is racist faces.
Misplaced hate makes disgrace for races we under.
I wonder what it takes to make this one better place...
let's erase the wasted.
Take the evil out the people, they'll be acting right.
'Cause mo' black than white is smokin' crack tonight.
And only time we chill is when we kill each other.
It takes skill to be real, time to heal each other.
And although it seems heaven sent,
we ain't ready to see a black President, uhh.
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact...
the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks.
But some things will never change.
Try to show another way, but they stayin' in the dope game.
Now tell me what's a mother to do?
Bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you.
You gotta operate the easy way.
"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way.
Sellin' crack to the kids. "I gotta get paid,"
Well hey, well that's the way it is.
[Bridge]
[Talking:]
We gotta make a change...
It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.
And still I see no changes. Can't a brother get a little peace?
There's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty,
they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do.
But now I'm back with the facts givin' 'em back to you.
Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up, crack you up and pimp smack you up.
You gotta learn to hold ya own.
They get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone.
But tell the cops they can't touch this.
I don't trust this, when they try to rush I bust this.
That's the sound of my tune. You say it ain't cool, but mama didn't raise no fool.
And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped & I never get to lay back.
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the pay backs.
Some buck that I roughed up way back... comin' back after all these years.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat. That's the way it is. uhh
[Bridge 'til fade]
Some things never change.
Apr 5, 2010
Short Story Writing Prompts:
You're riding an elevator when the power goes out. The situation take a turn when the pregnant woman next to you goes into labor (375 word minimum).
You're late for work because you overslept, but your boss hates over-sleepers. He does love entertaining stories, so create the most outlandish excuse as to why you were late (375 word minimum).
One week after attending the funeral of a close friend, you receive a postcard in the mail with the words, "I'm not dead. Meet me tonight at Guido's Pizzeria. Tell no one" (375 word minimum).
Your name is called: You've won the "Album of the Year" Grammy for your album, (fill in the blank). You step up to the podium to accept your award and, halfway through, the orchestra tries to play you off. You've worked too long and hard to allow this to happen, so you don't--to the surprise of everyone. Write this scene. Please limit your response to 375 words.
You're standing outside a restaurant next to a phone booth when, suddenly, it rings. Your gut tells you not to answer it, but with each ring you can't resist. Finally you pick up the phone—and end up having the most amazing night of your life (375 word minimum).
You wake up one day with an unusual super power that seems pretty worthless—until you are caught in a situation that requires that specific "talent" (375 word minimum).
You wake up shackled to a chair and can't remember how you got there. Two voices are talking. You recognize one of them (375 word minimum).
You arrive at an annual Halloween party only to discover that someone else is dressed in the same costume as you. Bad things start happening to you throughout the night and you suspect this person has something to do with it (375 word minimum).
Your plane crashes on a deserted island. You and two other passengers survive. The only salvageable items from the plane are pair of scissors, a stopwatch and an electric keyboard. Use these items creatively to get off the island (375 word minimum).
Write about a heated argument you had with your parents--real or fictitious--(375 word minimum).
You're riding an elevator when the power goes out. The situation take a turn when the pregnant woman next to you goes into labor (375 word minimum).
You're late for work because you overslept, but your boss hates over-sleepers. He does love entertaining stories, so create the most outlandish excuse as to why you were late (375 word minimum).
One week after attending the funeral of a close friend, you receive a postcard in the mail with the words, "I'm not dead. Meet me tonight at Guido's Pizzeria. Tell no one" (375 word minimum).
Your name is called: You've won the "Album of the Year" Grammy for your album, (fill in the blank). You step up to the podium to accept your award and, halfway through, the orchestra tries to play you off. You've worked too long and hard to allow this to happen, so you don't--to the surprise of everyone. Write this scene. Please limit your response to 375 words.
You're standing outside a restaurant next to a phone booth when, suddenly, it rings. Your gut tells you not to answer it, but with each ring you can't resist. Finally you pick up the phone—and end up having the most amazing night of your life (375 word minimum).
You wake up one day with an unusual super power that seems pretty worthless—until you are caught in a situation that requires that specific "talent" (375 word minimum).
You wake up shackled to a chair and can't remember how you got there. Two voices are talking. You recognize one of them (375 word minimum).
You arrive at an annual Halloween party only to discover that someone else is dressed in the same costume as you. Bad things start happening to you throughout the night and you suspect this person has something to do with it (375 word minimum).
Your plane crashes on a deserted island. You and two other passengers survive. The only salvageable items from the plane are pair of scissors, a stopwatch and an electric keyboard. Use these items creatively to get off the island (375 word minimum).
Write about a heated argument you had with your parents--real or fictitious--(375 word minimum).
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