We are not born to hate – #unlearn hatred

“To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.”
– Henri Bergson

It’s 2017 – we must, as a society, #unlearn hate, racism, evil, bullying, hurtful speech and cruelty! As we prepare for a new school year, where we in education get an annual “do over” – it’s nice to reflect on the need for us to help create conditions for a better, safer, pro-social world! In this blog post, I’m printing a poem from Robin Davis:

I Have Hidden Super Powers

I don't wear a cape around
My neck, breaking the speed of sound
Or capture bad guys in a web
My powers have never fled
From my heart that's where they stay
Secretly until the day
I see injustice come along
Others are treated so wrong
My super powers become stronger
When I can't take it any longer
Hearing stories of bullying
My special skills kick right in
Set loose, no holding them back
My love alert goes on attack
Not stopping for anything
It won't ease up until I bring
All this hatred to a low
I give one huge final blow
Across the land until there is
No more hate or prejudice
Until then, I'm on alert
Making sure there is no hurt
I will be here till the end
All my powers I will send
Into the hearts of those so weak
Mild mannered, shy and meek
That get pushed around each day
I'll make sure it goes away
This promise will be kept for sure
Any kind of hatred I abhor

Copyright © robin davis | Year Posted 2014

Independence Day 2017 – July 4 – Happy Birthday America!

“The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor, and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.” – – John F. Kennedy

Happy Birthday America!!

On July 4th, in the United States of America, we celebrate our  freedom, liberty, and nationalism with festive Independence Day celebrations! Whether you are celebrating locally (see Deerfield Family Days information) or out of town, it’s always nice to reflect on our national freedom, our country’s history, and about what the foundation of our culture is based! We should give thanks and take pause at the realization that we are free and we live in a society that aims to give liberty and justice to all.

The United States culture is complex. It is one of mixing, melding, combining, and evolving. The public schools in the United States serve to protect and preserve the democratic way of life as well as promote the American “culture”. Part of our culture is a fierce belief in self-governance, voice, vote, representation, and input. Part of our culture is the rich integration of cultures, races, creeds, languages, customs from all corners of the world. Part of our culture is patriotism and allegiance to our flag and our core values.

As we embark on the celebration of freedom and independence in 2017, it’s essential, in my opinion, for we Americans to look very deeply at our core values. To what do we now hold self-evident? Is it still life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Is that what unites us and drives us toward our uniquely free lives? Is it pride in success, growth, creativity, innovation, accomplishment, strength that unites and drives us toward our patriotism?

All of the above probably … whatever makes a US citizen, resident, friend, etc. “American” and whatever motivates us to guard our Bill of Rights, our Constitution, our freedom, our inalienable rights to pursue happiness, enjoy liberty and live our lives without excessive governmental interference; whatever makes us American and proud and patriotic comes alive on the 4th of July. As we celebrate the birthday of perhaps the greatest nation of all time, the long running experiment in limited government, it’s nice to take the time to be proud of our heritage and contemplate our future as we never forget our past.

 

Historical Fun Facts: In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third President in a row who died on this memorable day.Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Independence Day.

Observance

  • In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once at morning and once again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.[13]
  • In 1791 the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred.[citation needed]
  • In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.[16]
  • In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.[17]

 

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner“, “God Bless America“, “America the Beautiful“, “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee“, “This Land Is Your Land“, “Stars and Stripes Forever“, and, regionally, “Yankee Doodle” in northeastern states and “Dixie” in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

 

Veteran’s Day – Honoring our Liberty – #Engage109

“Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

veterans-remembrance-day-quotes

Tomorrow we set aside time to honor our nation’s veterans for service above self and for selfless service in support of our freedom and liberty! We are a free people in a land devoted to liberty and justice for all, a land where the peaceful transition of power has been the norm and not the exception, and a land where being from somewhere else is expected, not questioned. Those who have served and fought for our freedom are heroes in whose memory we offer gratitude and thanks. As a third generation American and a son, nephew, son-in-law, cousin, friend, and neighbor and co-worker to veterans, I say THANK YOU! My wife and I named our son for one of my uncle’s who served our country for decades and who, along with my aunt, is interned at the Arlington National veterans-day-quotesCemetery. Veteran’s Day is a special time for reflection, thanks, gratitude and honor – it is a personally important day for me and my family.

From: Information about Veteran’s Day

Veterans Day is an official United States holiday which honors people who have served in armed service also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11.

The precursor of Veterans Day was Armistice Day, proclaimed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson for November 11, 1919, to honor those members of the armed forces who were killed during war World War I. The date of 11th November was chosen to commemorate the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western veterans-day-quotes-4Front of World War I. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday — a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.”

In 1954, after World War II and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea the Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving.

On Veteran’s Day, as you are in school, at work, on a day off, serving others, please take a few moments

Retired Senior Master Sgt. Billy Neil poses near a quote by President Harry Truman at the National World War II Memorial during Hero Flight 2007 in Washington, D.C., Sept. 15. Hero Flight is an all-volunteer program that sets up trips to allow as many World War II veterans as possible to visit the National World War II Memorial. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Suzanne Day)

to think about the sacrifices so many have made that we can be free. Think about the millions of our countrymen and countrywomen who have fought tyranny and evil so that we can be free to read, write, think, speak, practice religion, vote, travel, and so many other freedoms we may take for granted from time to time. Think about our incredible Constitution and democracy and how we are able to freely select representatives for the government. Please be sure to always thank a veteran, thank a member of the armed and civil services and remember that we are so very fortunate to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave!!

30 Year Old Essay about Government – Relevant on Super Tuesday

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.”
– Henry David Thoreau

download (1)

The following essay, written and published 30 years ago, is reprinted pretty much exactly as it appears in print (I fixed a few minor typographical errors and I kept the original style though my writing style has changed over three decades, but I’m proud to share this essay from my archives … especially on Super Tuesday and during this presidential election season)

Winning Essays … from the US Congressional Record 1986

“Mr. Speaker, I recently conducted my annual Sixth District Congressional Essay Contest for junior  and senior high school students in my district, and I am very pleased to announce the winners today. The first place winner in the Untitled image (49)senior high category is Michael Lubelfeld, a resident of Des Plaines, who attends Maine Township High School East in Park Ridge. I congratulate … Mr. Lubelfeld for [his] outstanding essay, which is included in the Record following my statement. … I’m most pleased to share the winning essay with my colleagues.” 

From the late Hon. Henry Hyde of Illinois in the House of Representatives

Published in Volume 132, Washington, Thursday, April 17, 1986, No.48 – Congressional Record, Page E1249

The Europeanization of America by Michael Lubelfeld

Our world is diverse in many ways, especially the way in which we govern ourselves. The government of the United States of America has grown and changed throughout the years in many different areas, but its basic foundation has stayed the same: the United States Constitution. The United States, with its republican form of government, has been governed by that document for over two hundred years. Other countries, for example, the democratic countries of Israel, Canada, Japan and those in western Europe, also have constitutions, but they have parliamentary governments. This paper will focus on the differences in democracy between the parliamentary system and the United States system.

Parliamentary government is set up somewhat like the United States government. Both types of government consist of three branches of downloadgovernment: the executive, legislative and judicial. The difference between the two types of government is in how each branch carries out its various duties. Although both types of government are structurally similar, theoretical differences do exist.

In the parliamentary system, the executive branch of government consists of the Prime Minister and the cabinet. The Prime Minister is the head of government and also head of the political party that he belongs to. The head of state is a largely ceremonial position. The head of state in the parliamentary system is comparable to the Vice-President in the United States.

In many of these countries, the Prime Minister is chosen by the head of state. The Prime Minister is not directly elected by the people. The person holding that honored position is selected by the political party in control of the government. The Legislative branch of a Parliamentary government, also similar to the United States, usually has bicameral. In England, the upper house is not elected by the people, but rather is controlled by families that have had ancestors who made a notable contribution to Britain. Knighthood and feudal tradition still provide a basis of operation among the members of the upper house. Our upper house, somewhat more aloof than the House politically, still is based on popular government rather than hereditary rule. However, in almost all of these governments, the lower house members are elected directly by the people.

One exception to a bicameral legislature is Israel. In Israel, its Legislative body, the Knesset, is unicameral. The Knesset is directly elected by secret ballot by the people of Israel.

The Judicial systems in these governments are also similar. Both Parliamentary and United States Judicial systems consist of inferior and superior courts. A significant difference, though, is that the United States Supreme Court has the power of judicial review. This means that the Supreme Court can determine that actions by the other branches of government are unconstitutional, thereby null and void. The House of Lords in Britain serves as the equivalent to our Supreme Court.

The White House, Washington, D.C.
The White House, Washington, D.C.

In the United States, the President and Vice-President are elected indirectly by the Electoral College. The legislative branch, which consists of two houses, is elected directly by the people.

A unique quality of the United States government is its system of checks and balances. This system allows all three branches to work separately, but always able to check one of the others’ work and therefore maintain a balance of power within the government. This system is not used in the Parliamentary governments.

The United States government is much more stable than the parliamentary form. Prime Ministers may lose control of the government should parliament fail to provide a vote of confidence in their leadership during a national crisis. A prime minister may hold power for twenty-four hours, twenty-four days or, after several elections, twenty-four years. In other words, a Prime Minister’s power to rule depends on constant approval of their policies by Parliament. On the other hand, in the United States, regardless of crisis, the President is in control, still able to exercise his constitutional duties. This system provides stability, greater flexibility, and a more secure government. Just prior to World War II, the government of

Neville Chamberlain (in Britain) had a policy of appeasement towards Hitler. Soon after, Hitler was dominating all of Europe. German bombs fell on Britain and so did Chamberlain’s government. Chamberlain failed to obtain a vote of confidence from Parliament and he was out of office. Whereas, if President Roosevelt made a questionable decision, there would not have been a new government, but the President would have had a chance to correct his mistake. Recently in England Prime Minister Thatcher’s government was faced with a very major problem, the nation’s coal miners were on strike. Mrs. Thatcher, had she not received support of parliament, could have lost her power from something as mundane as a coal miners’ strike. In the United States, with our more stable system, if there is a strike that shuts down a significant supply of important resources to the American people, the government could not collapse – no matter how serious the problem.

Another interesting difference between these two governments, is the role of political parties. Political parties play key roles in government. In the United States, there are two major parties, with many other minor parties. The citizens of the United States elect the people running for office directly regardless of what party affiliation they have. Whereas in a parliamentary system, the party plays a much larger role. In effect, with the parliamentary system, political parties, not people, are what is being elected. The people elect a party in the lower house (of Legislature) and whichever party receives The Washington Monument from the WW II Memorialthe majority of votes, is called the majority party. The prime minister is then selected by the majority party. When the prime minister’s party loses majority, the government is dissolved.

A very common question is this: should the United States of America adopt a parliamentary form of government? The United States government is entirely elected by the people, to govern for the people, so the people’s direct wishes can and will be carried out at every level of government. The parliamentary government evolved from the old fashioned ideas of monarchy. A parliamentary system would contradict the principles of the Unites States’ constitutional government. The American people pride themselves in the form of government that they have. In the parliamentary form the upper house is made up of elite appointed or hereditary officials who can do whatever they wish and whatever their parties wish. However, in this country, the legislators of both houses represent all of the wishes and ideas of the people who they represent.

Parliamentary government in the United States would be detrimental and contradictory to the principles of the Constitution. The Constitution was set up so that the government would always have to respond to the people’s’ needs through the check and balance system. The citizens of the United States of America are very unique and diverse and they have learned to accept and respect this form of government that has been around since the independence of the country. Freedom to elect all public officials, to question policies and to change the policies is every American’s right. American people would not accept the idea of the Parliamentary government.

Why do we have a day off on Monday, March 7? Pulaski Day

“A strenuous soul hates cheap success.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

In DPS109 we have a teacher’s institute half day tomorrow, Friday, March 4, 2016, and we have a “day off” on Monday, March 7th. Why do we have a day off you ask … here’s why:

Retrieved from: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/casimir-pulaski-day

Casimir Pulaski Day in the United States

Casimir Pulaski Day is a legal holiday in Illinois, in the United States, on the first Monday of March. It celebrates the birthday of Casimir Pulaski, a Polish born soldier who contributed to the United States’ independence.

Print of Casimir Pulaski charging with cavalry
Pictured above is an image of Casimir Pulaski charging with cavalry.
©iStockphoto.com/duncan1890

Celebrate Casimir Pulaski Day

Casimir Pulaski Day is included in classroom studies in some schools in Illinois. Some classes engage in historical activities related Casimir Pulaski’s role in the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century.

The day is also celebrated among Americans in other states, including Polish-American communities. Various events may include group gatherings, street parades, and public ceremonies.

Public Life

Casimir Pulaski Day is a legal holiday in Illinois so some schools, libraries, banks and courts are closed.

Federal and state offices, as well as many commercial operations, usually remain open. People wishing to travel via public transport in Illinois on Casimir Pulaski Day may need to check with the local public transit authorities on possible timetable changes.

About Casimir Pulaski Day

Casimir Pulaski (Kazimierz Pułaski) is known for his contributions to American independence. He was known as the “Father of American Cavalry”. He was born in Warka, Poland, on March 4, 1747. His father was one of the founding members of the Confederation of Bar, which begin in 1768 and took up arms against Russia, which controlled Poland at the time. After his father’s death, Casimir took over military command and his brilliance earned him an impressive reputation. However, it was not long before he was accused of being involved in a plot to kill the king and was forced into exile.

Pulaski travelled to Paris and met Benjamin Franklin, who enlisted him to help in the American Revolution in North America. He soon joined George Washington’s army. His first military engagement against the British troops was at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. After a dashing charge at Brandywine that allowed the American army to escape from the British, he was rewarded with a commission as brigadier general and the command of all American cavalry.

In 1779 Pulaski and his troops broke the British siege of Charleston, South Carolina. He was then sent to Savannah in a joint campaign with French allies. Seeing the French attack failing, Pulaski went into battle to rally the soldiers and was hit by a shot from a cannon. He died two days later (October 11, 1779) and was buried at sea. The United States Congress passed a joint resolution conferring honorary US citizenship on Pulaski in 2009, sending it to the president for approval. President Barack Obama signed the bill on November 6, 2009.