Wow, 2 posts in one day! I just have to write about this before I forget to.
About a month ago David, Cameron and I went to Cameron's Parent Teacher Conference. When he told his Physics teacher that he was interested in building a trebuchet, his teacher said, "You should join MESA, we're building trebuchets this year."
We were all stunned. "They won't let white boys join MESA," we said.
"Oh, that changed this year. A white boy wanted to join and took MESA to court, so now white boys can join," his teacher replied.
Interesting.
So, we go home and tell Jarom, our math whiz, "You can join MESA now. They're building trebuchets this year."
Jarom thought MESA and trebuchet building might be cool, so the next night at his Parent Teacher Conference, we talk to his Algebra teacher about it. She turns kind of pale and says, "Oh, no, white boys can't join MESA. If we allow any white boys to join MESA at the Jr. High our funding will be pulled."
So we tell her about the High School. "I only know what they told us at our meeting," she says. "If Jarom would like to join, he can write a note stating he would like to join and I can forward it to the district representative, but I can't promise you anything." Then she turns to Jarom, "MESA was created for populations that don't traditionally enter math and science professions. The club is mostly girls and hispanics. Are you sure you would even want to be in MESA?"
Jarom looks at her and says, "My friend Cody is in the club, that's why I want to join." Score one for Jarom. I was proud of him. His teacher didn't really know what to say to that.
One morning when I was driving Meagan, Cameron and Tyler to school, we were talking about white boys and MESA. Tyler, who is half white, but probably couldn't pass for it, says, "Have you looked around the High School lately? White boys ARE the minority!"
In the end, neither Jarom or Cameron joined MESA. Jarom didn't want to make waves and Cameron didn't get a parent's signature in time. Maybe next year.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Politics!
Why I'm voting for Barack Obama:
1- I went to http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm and checked out who I agree with most on the issues. Just click on the “2008 Presidential Vote Match Quiz” to find out who you agree with most.
2 - I would vote for Ralph Nader, except he is extremely anti-gun. I don't really love guns, but when people start messing with the Bill of Rights, that makes me very nervous. And, no, I don't think that voting for Ralph Nader would be a "throw away" vote. If people stopped thinking like that and would vote for whomever they think is the best candidate, politics in the USA would shift dramatically. While I'm on my soapbox, what's the deal with only allowing the Republican and Democratic nominees to debate. Isn't the US a free country??? All candidates should get equal time during the debates, regardless of how big their campaign fund is.
3 - Sarah Palin is just WAAYYY TOO SCARY! Sarah Palin for President (if anything happened to John McCain) -- ACK! Why is Sarah Palin scary? Road to Nowhere, TrooperGate, selling the Governer's tiny jet and then getting her own VEEP mega-jet. Everything she says would make her a good candidate is a lie. Of course, according to David they're ALL telling lies (McCain, Obama, Biden, Palin...) Which could, sadly enough, be very true. I'm hoping Obama will bring change – good change -- to Washington and the US.
4 - My mom and dad are voting for Obama, and I think they have very good judgment. Also, Colin Powell is supporting Obama. I would definitely vote for Powell if he were running!
While I'm talking politics, here's a question for you. What is the deal with raising so much money for Presidential Campaigns? A job that pays $400,000/year but you have to raise and spend MILLIONS of dollars just to compete? Does that make any sense at all? To quote Shakespeare, "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark."
When I was young and naive, I thought that people ran for President so they could help make the world a better place. Now I think they must do it for power, so they can get kickbacks and make sure the laws are/stay good for them and their pocketbook. Maybe it's watching Fahrenheit 9/11 that did it? Of course, I came to that conclusion BEFORE I watched the movie.
Lastly, I think that whoever becomes our next President should put Ralph Nader in charge of straightening out the Wall Street / Banking / Real Estate mess this country is in. Just look at what Nader has done for consumers in other areas. He’d be the perfect choice.
Now if I could just figure out who to vote for in all the local elections...
1- I went to http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm and checked out who I agree with most on the issues. Just click on the “2008 Presidential Vote Match Quiz” to find out who you agree with most.
2 - I would vote for Ralph Nader, except he is extremely anti-gun. I don't really love guns, but when people start messing with the Bill of Rights, that makes me very nervous. And, no, I don't think that voting for Ralph Nader would be a "throw away" vote. If people stopped thinking like that and would vote for whomever they think is the best candidate, politics in the USA would shift dramatically. While I'm on my soapbox, what's the deal with only allowing the Republican and Democratic nominees to debate. Isn't the US a free country??? All candidates should get equal time during the debates, regardless of how big their campaign fund is.
3 - Sarah Palin is just WAAYYY TOO SCARY! Sarah Palin for President (if anything happened to John McCain) -- ACK! Why is Sarah Palin scary? Road to Nowhere, TrooperGate, selling the Governer's tiny jet and then getting her own VEEP mega-jet. Everything she says would make her a good candidate is a lie. Of course, according to David they're ALL telling lies (McCain, Obama, Biden, Palin...) Which could, sadly enough, be very true. I'm hoping Obama will bring change – good change -- to Washington and the US.
4 - My mom and dad are voting for Obama, and I think they have very good judgment. Also, Colin Powell is supporting Obama. I would definitely vote for Powell if he were running!
While I'm talking politics, here's a question for you. What is the deal with raising so much money for Presidential Campaigns? A job that pays $400,000/year but you have to raise and spend MILLIONS of dollars just to compete? Does that make any sense at all? To quote Shakespeare, "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark."
When I was young and naive, I thought that people ran for President so they could help make the world a better place. Now I think they must do it for power, so they can get kickbacks and make sure the laws are/stay good for them and their pocketbook. Maybe it's watching Fahrenheit 9/11 that did it? Of course, I came to that conclusion BEFORE I watched the movie.
Lastly, I think that whoever becomes our next President should put Ralph Nader in charge of straightening out the Wall Street / Banking / Real Estate mess this country is in. Just look at what Nader has done for consumers in other areas. He’d be the perfect choice.
Now if I could just figure out who to vote for in all the local elections...
Monday, October 13, 2008
Cathedral of the Madeleine
Meagan and I went to her last religious service for her Humanities class yesterday morning. We got to the Cathedral of the Madeleine at about 8:15 am. The first Mass of the day started at 8:30 am. (Aren't you proud of me, mom?)
The Cathedral of the Madeleine is such a beautiful building. I have only been there once before and I remember it being really dark. This time it did not seem very dark at all. Maybe it was because I went in the morning instead of the evening? Maybe they restored the frescoes when they re-did the cathedral a few years ago? Anyway, the paintings on the walls and ceilings and the stained glass were bright, colorful and very pretty. Maybe I don't have to go to Europe to see beautiful cathedrals after all--although I'd still like to!
Meagan and I switched seats 3 times because we wanted to be able to see what was going on without being too conspicuous that we were visitors that didn't have much idea what was going on. I think we may have still been conspicuous, because we didn't stand up, sit down or join in with the congregation much. That, and there was only one other person sitting in the section we were in. Since we were obviously visitors, they didn't bring the collections basket around to us or come to us during the "Peace be unto you" part. That's ok, 'cuz I wasn't expecting it. The greeter at the door was friendly, though, and the Pastor welcomed all the visitors at the end of the service, so I guess it's ok that we were there.
The service lasted about 1 1/2 hours, which wasn't too bad, but near the end, those wooden benches were starting to get hard! They had all the robes and candles and crosses you'd expect, but no incense. That was ok with me, we got enough incense at the Hindu Temple. We were given a printed program when we walked in that had lyrics to the music the congregation sang and the general program, but since I am not familiar with Catholic Mass, I was a bit lost. Meagan kept telling me how similar it is like the Lutheran services she's been to with Tyler. I was glad the services were in English and not Latin.
One of the more interesting things that happened was that the Associate Pastor got up and said he was from a Diocese in southern India. According to him, about 85% of the people in India are Hindu and only 1-2% are Catholic. He's in the US collecting money to help the Tsunami orphans in his Diocese. He told us that the caste system in India is still very strong, even among Catholics. Apparently the upper caste does not associate with or help out the lower caste. That's sad. Then again, the woman at the Hindu Temple told us that when they offer milk to the mother goddess in India, they give the milk to the poor. Who can say? I thought it very interesting that both of the worship services we went to had something to do with India/Hinduism.
When we left, I had the feeling I had stepped back in time. If I had been alive 400 years ago, I suspect the building and religious service may have been very similar to what I had just experienced--except it probably would not have been in English. I suppose I have had many ancestors who were Catholic.
Anyway, that was the end of our religious excursions. It was interesting, but I'm glad it's done. Although I would still like to go to the Buddist Temple...
The Cathedral of the Madeleine is such a beautiful building. I have only been there once before and I remember it being really dark. This time it did not seem very dark at all. Maybe it was because I went in the morning instead of the evening? Maybe they restored the frescoes when they re-did the cathedral a few years ago? Anyway, the paintings on the walls and ceilings and the stained glass were bright, colorful and very pretty. Maybe I don't have to go to Europe to see beautiful cathedrals after all--although I'd still like to!
Meagan and I switched seats 3 times because we wanted to be able to see what was going on without being too conspicuous that we were visitors that didn't have much idea what was going on. I think we may have still been conspicuous, because we didn't stand up, sit down or join in with the congregation much. That, and there was only one other person sitting in the section we were in. Since we were obviously visitors, they didn't bring the collections basket around to us or come to us during the "Peace be unto you" part. That's ok, 'cuz I wasn't expecting it. The greeter at the door was friendly, though, and the Pastor welcomed all the visitors at the end of the service, so I guess it's ok that we were there.
The service lasted about 1 1/2 hours, which wasn't too bad, but near the end, those wooden benches were starting to get hard! They had all the robes and candles and crosses you'd expect, but no incense. That was ok with me, we got enough incense at the Hindu Temple. We were given a printed program when we walked in that had lyrics to the music the congregation sang and the general program, but since I am not familiar with Catholic Mass, I was a bit lost. Meagan kept telling me how similar it is like the Lutheran services she's been to with Tyler. I was glad the services were in English and not Latin.
One of the more interesting things that happened was that the Associate Pastor got up and said he was from a Diocese in southern India. According to him, about 85% of the people in India are Hindu and only 1-2% are Catholic. He's in the US collecting money to help the Tsunami orphans in his Diocese. He told us that the caste system in India is still very strong, even among Catholics. Apparently the upper caste does not associate with or help out the lower caste. That's sad. Then again, the woman at the Hindu Temple told us that when they offer milk to the mother goddess in India, they give the milk to the poor. Who can say? I thought it very interesting that both of the worship services we went to had something to do with India/Hinduism.
When we left, I had the feeling I had stepped back in time. If I had been alive 400 years ago, I suspect the building and religious service may have been very similar to what I had just experienced--except it probably would not have been in English. I suppose I have had many ancestors who were Catholic.
Anyway, that was the end of our religious excursions. It was interesting, but I'm glad it's done. Although I would still like to go to the Buddist Temple...
Monday, October 06, 2008
Hindu Temple Excursion
Meagan, her friend Netta and I went to the Hindu Temple in South Jordan yesterday. Their worship service/prayer started at 5:00 pm. We left right after the last session of General Conference and had enough time pick up Netta and make it to the temple about 20 minutes early. The Hindu Temple is tucked away on a dead end of a little back street. If you didn't have directions, you would never find it. It is interesting that you can see the steeple of the LDS Jordan River Temple from the Hindu Temple's parking lot. Wonder which was built first?
After trying to decide if we should go in 20 minutes early or not, we finally decided to go in at about 10 to, so the Hindu worshippers would not wonder why three white women were loitering in their parking lot. Meagan did call ahead, but did not tell the nice woman on the phone exactly which service we would be going to. Apparently they have worship services seven days a week.
We had to take our shoes off just outside the temple, so I was glad I wore slip-on shoes. There were sure a lot of shoes scattered outside the entryway. We tucked ours in a corner by a bench to make sure we'd be able to find them again. Everyone there except us looked like they were directly from India, which, I guess, is what you would expect. Most of the women wore beautiful elaborately decorated dresses. Other than the priests, most of the men wore slacks or levi's. The people who did talk to us were very nice and no one really stared at us or seemed to wonder too much who we were or why we where there. BTW, we were there because Meagan and Netta are taking a Concurrent Enrollment Humanities class through SLCC. They get college credit for it even though they are still in high school. Cool, huh?
The man we talked to just inside the entryway told us to go in and look around. They had a few little rooms (kitchen, etc) just off the entryway and one big room at the back with several shrines and a big open area with several large rugs on the floor. The temple is a Sri Ganesha Temple, so the main shrine is of Ganesh (the god with the elephant head). We looked around at all the shrines and the pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses on the back wall. Colorful flowers and lights and little oil lamps surrounded the shrines.
As we made our way around the Ganesh Shrine, we met a very friendly woman who explained what the symbols meant. There was a big mandala on the floor that looked like a sand drawing and had several unlit oil lamps on it. In the middle of the mandala was a big red circle with 9 white triangles inside it. It was actually an eight petaled lotus which was on top of a 32 petaled lotus. There were apples and bananas laid at the corners. Apparently food offerings?
The woman who was telling us about the symbols said that right now they are in the midst of a 9 day celebration honoring the mother goddess. I can't remember the name of the mother goddess, but she is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesh (and all of us, according to their beliefs). Something about using 108 types flowers (or as many as they could find) to honor her. They did bless and toss a lot of flower petals while we were there.
At 5:00 they started what our guide said would be an hour long prayer. The prayer was in Sanskrit, so we could not understand a word they were saying. Two priests, one in red robes and one in white robes, chanted/sang the prayer. They had very good voices and it was quite soothing when they were singing. Some of the piped in music was not quite so soothing - drums and I don't know what other instruments.
Every once in a while the worshippers would join in or repeat what the priest in white robes was saying. People would come and go at random and some stayed the whole time. It was almost like an open house. Near the end of the prayer, which actually lasted an hour and a half, they lit a bunch of incense. They also lit a bunch of candles and all the oil lamps that were in and around the mandala. Meagan leaned over to me and said something about a fire hazard. We found out that the big black square coming from the ceiling we were sitting under was a big vent. I'm not sure if it was good or bad that we sat by it, but it was rather smokey.
I did find out they really do use yoga's prayer pose when they pray (at times) and some of the kneeling and bowing they did near the end reminded me of bits of the sun salutation. They used bells off and on - one hand held bell the priests used and a bigger bell that hung from the ceiling and had a long rope.
I could say a lot more, but I'm running out of time. I have never been to a non-Christian worship service before and it was totally different from what I am used to. I told Meagan it was interesting to go to, but I would probably not go back because the incense and repetitive chanting gave me a headache. I guess it's what you're used to, huh? I'm glad we live in a country where everyone can worship in the way that suits them best. Thank goodness for the Bill of Rights.
I had dreams about Hindu worship most of last night. Hmmm...
After trying to decide if we should go in 20 minutes early or not, we finally decided to go in at about 10 to, so the Hindu worshippers would not wonder why three white women were loitering in their parking lot. Meagan did call ahead, but did not tell the nice woman on the phone exactly which service we would be going to. Apparently they have worship services seven days a week.
We had to take our shoes off just outside the temple, so I was glad I wore slip-on shoes. There were sure a lot of shoes scattered outside the entryway. We tucked ours in a corner by a bench to make sure we'd be able to find them again. Everyone there except us looked like they were directly from India, which, I guess, is what you would expect. Most of the women wore beautiful elaborately decorated dresses. Other than the priests, most of the men wore slacks or levi's. The people who did talk to us were very nice and no one really stared at us or seemed to wonder too much who we were or why we where there. BTW, we were there because Meagan and Netta are taking a Concurrent Enrollment Humanities class through SLCC. They get college credit for it even though they are still in high school. Cool, huh?
The man we talked to just inside the entryway told us to go in and look around. They had a few little rooms (kitchen, etc) just off the entryway and one big room at the back with several shrines and a big open area with several large rugs on the floor. The temple is a Sri Ganesha Temple, so the main shrine is of Ganesh (the god with the elephant head). We looked around at all the shrines and the pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses on the back wall. Colorful flowers and lights and little oil lamps surrounded the shrines.
As we made our way around the Ganesh Shrine, we met a very friendly woman who explained what the symbols meant. There was a big mandala on the floor that looked like a sand drawing and had several unlit oil lamps on it. In the middle of the mandala was a big red circle with 9 white triangles inside it. It was actually an eight petaled lotus which was on top of a 32 petaled lotus. There were apples and bananas laid at the corners. Apparently food offerings?
The woman who was telling us about the symbols said that right now they are in the midst of a 9 day celebration honoring the mother goddess. I can't remember the name of the mother goddess, but she is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesh (and all of us, according to their beliefs). Something about using 108 types flowers (or as many as they could find) to honor her. They did bless and toss a lot of flower petals while we were there.
At 5:00 they started what our guide said would be an hour long prayer. The prayer was in Sanskrit, so we could not understand a word they were saying. Two priests, one in red robes and one in white robes, chanted/sang the prayer. They had very good voices and it was quite soothing when they were singing. Some of the piped in music was not quite so soothing - drums and I don't know what other instruments.
Every once in a while the worshippers would join in or repeat what the priest in white robes was saying. People would come and go at random and some stayed the whole time. It was almost like an open house. Near the end of the prayer, which actually lasted an hour and a half, they lit a bunch of incense. They also lit a bunch of candles and all the oil lamps that were in and around the mandala. Meagan leaned over to me and said something about a fire hazard. We found out that the big black square coming from the ceiling we were sitting under was a big vent. I'm not sure if it was good or bad that we sat by it, but it was rather smokey.
I did find out they really do use yoga's prayer pose when they pray (at times) and some of the kneeling and bowing they did near the end reminded me of bits of the sun salutation. They used bells off and on - one hand held bell the priests used and a bigger bell that hung from the ceiling and had a long rope.
I could say a lot more, but I'm running out of time. I have never been to a non-Christian worship service before and it was totally different from what I am used to. I told Meagan it was interesting to go to, but I would probably not go back because the incense and repetitive chanting gave me a headache. I guess it's what you're used to, huh? I'm glad we live in a country where everyone can worship in the way that suits them best. Thank goodness for the Bill of Rights.
I had dreams about Hindu worship most of last night. Hmmm...
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