Liberate Ourselves through Gratitude

Gwendolyn Dow

English 102

Professor Tom Dewit

     We can liberate ourselves when we’re able to perceive all that is around us with gratitude.

Father G worked tirelessly creating an organization with the intent of liberating notorious gang members in Los Angeles, California. Father G was not just taking the journey of liberating others in this selfless experience, he had become the journey. Through words of encouragement and purpose, he allows his-self to become a spirit of openness and a champion willing to be challenged. The challenge for Father G is to work with gang members that have lived a life of hopelessness and despair.  Unconditional love and encouragement are the tools Father G uses when he comes in contact with Ramiro. Although he notices the tattoo on Ramiros forehead, he never once spoke badly of him, but recognizes that in order for Ramiro to become employed the tattoo was definitely a huge problem in his search.  This tattoo displayed words that left one feeling Ramiro had little to no respect for his-self or others. Father G had the skillful means to notice and respond to the service needs of the gang members through bearing witness and loving action. He possessed a greater clarity of vision and becomes engaged in different outreach programs.  “We began tattoo removal because of a guy named Ramiro.  A gang member fresh out of prison, with a long record, had Fuck The World tattooed on his forehead, completely filling the space there”. (pg 7)

Father G gave Ramiro a job at Homeboy Bakery and started the process of tattoo removal of all the gang members seeking to find employment and a pathway to becoming a more desirable member in their community.  Ramiro felt a certain amount of gratitude to Father G, recognizing one of the angriest moments in his life had been removed.  In his own words Father G felt that the removal of the tattoos by Homeboy Bakery was owed all to Ramiro. Father G recognizes through his encounter with Ramiro that a sense of living separate from each other in the real world is an illusion, our fates are intertwined. Therefore, to not see the risk of the well being of others is a risk to our own well being.  As a result,  both Father G. and Ramiro shared gratitude and liberation for the task they had accomplished. While they may not agree on every issue, the two of them emerge from their encounter with purpose and persistence.

    
One of many phone call Father G gets is from a gang member name Cesar.  Father G and Cesar have known each other since Cesar was a kid.  Cesar at the age of twenty-five had recently finished a four year sentence in prison and needs the help of Father G to begin his life on the outside, as he try his very best to stay away from the life that landed him in prison.  Although Cesar was involved in the gang lifestyle, his memory of the closeness between him and Father G never faded. “In this early morning call Cesar did not discover that he has a father.  He discovered that he is a son worth having”. (pg31)  “Look son” I say to him, “Who’s got a better heart than you?” (pg 30) Transforming a negative situation into a positive one with the help of Father G, soon helped Cesar develop qualities such as compassion and forgiveness.  In many instances gratitude must be taught, for it is powerful and liberating and has the power to change the atmosphere around you.  The power of gratitude reveals itself when we can practice it in the face of what is difficult and challenging.  We all must adapt the ability to be humble and find the courage to view aspects in life from many different perspectives and not just our very own.

    Lula one of the young gang members with attention deficit disorder and feelings of self-consciousness, fell victim of others building their happiness on the unhappiness of his. " He was standing by his-self, and no one seemed to include him or pay him much attention, except when they'd steal his eggs." (pg. 47) Lula found living in his own skin a challenge that meant being alone and dealing with his true feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness and excitement. One of Lulas most exciting days was the day he received his report card failing with a all Fs. Father G accepted Lula’s failing report card and praised him for zero absences as tho he was a straight A student.  Father tried to lift Lula’s spirit and not let on any disappointment in him.  “:Lula, nice goin’, Mijo, you didn’t miss a day (I’m thinking, a lot a good it did ya-you didn’t miss a day”. (pg 50).  Lula was so grateful to hear those words come out the mouth of Father G.  This only proves that we are made to grow  through each other, and see the good in difficult people.  To be grateful makes one happy  rather than happiness making one grateful.  Lula’s struggle since he was a small kid hardly ever allowed him to view either happiness or gratitude.”Simone Weil was right: “Those who are unhappy have no need for anything in this world, but people capable of giving them their attention.”  Being that old habits are hard to break, it is necessary for Lula and the other gang members to practice being grateful for the small things in life, thus allowing one to obtain and possess the greater things in life.  The more you continue to remind yourself and be reminded of the positive things in life, the easier it becomes to be grateful and liberated from demons in your past.

    Cricket needed a helpful dose of gratitude in his life to say the least.  Even when Father G greets him with kindness he still displays a disregard for graciousness.  To say that he would “give me the cold shoulder” would impugn shoulders”. (pg 55)   All it took for Father G to have a breakthrough with Cricket was to call him by his name, ( William) even as he walked away with no response. However, Cricket was elated in his own right that the priest knew his name. “Hey the priest knows my name.” (pg 55) To have the attention from Father G in calling him by his birth name allowed him to reap emotional and personal benefits, and for that he was grateful whether he showed it or not.  In life we often take for granted things that most deserve our gratitude.  In spite of Cricket’s coldness toward Father G, he had now been elevated to be acknowledge as a human being, with a name other than the one that associated him with all  the derogatory things in his past. For that reason, he assumed ownership with feeling of quiet liberation, if only for the moment.  Although humans are driven by emotions, our worth is not diminished by what others think of us.  There comes a time when we all must be willing to be misunderstood, grateful and fully liberated from our past mistakes.

Not Afraid To Embrace Freedom #2

Gwendolyn Dow         

March 7, 2014

English 102

Professor, Tom Dewit

Not Afraid To Embrace Freedom

    What is freedom? We all aspire to have personal liberty or the power to determine our own action.  In the book titled “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, a five-year old exhibits act of bravery while yearning for freedom and a sense of independence. As an African American woman coming from an era of poverty, racism and substandard education,   I can relate to the plight of this very courageous soul and his fight for freedom.  The endurance and strength that he represents is remarkable.  While much of the same factors that he was confronted with still exist for today’s underprivileged youth, their journey in comparison to Arnolds is minimal. Although the emotions he felt were at times overwhelming and exhausting he maintains them well. Throughout his fight for freedom he manages to overcome many obstacles to keep his head above water. Arnold found the ability to swim by “Not Being Afraid to Embrace Freedom”.

    Arnold was able to swim because he wanted more for his-self than what surrounded him. Arnold grew up in a family that was loving but was also trapped in a life of poverty, and alcoholism.   As a young boy he clearly wanted more than what was attainable for him on the reservation.  Arnold was well aware of the fact that his family was poor, and in his mind

would always be poor. While attending Wellpinit High School Arnold trusted and believed in his math teacher named Mr P. Mr P told him that if he did not leave the reservation, chances are he would die there.  “If you stay on this rez,” Mr. P. said, they’re going to kill you.  I’m going to kill you.  We’re all going to kill you.  You can’t fight us forever.” (pg.43)  As a result, Arnold found the strength to leave the reservation to pursue a better education and gain new life experiences at Reardan High School. Seeking a better life, Arnold left the reservation to escape all the dreadful things that engulfed him .He did not want to mimic the inherent characteristics he was born into.

    Entering Reardan, Arnold was a proud student despite the school being an all-white school. The kids at Reardan stared at him as though they could not believe their eyes, as if he was the only Indian that had ever visited the town. Although he felt unwelcome, his desire to accomplish what no one in his family had ever come close to was astounding. Arnold entered with an encouraging amount of bravery and hope of becoming successful.  He never looked at his self as a victim and embodied the most important quality that he felt called hope.  His hope extended to one of the basketball games he played against his old team at Wellpinit High School.  Arnold asked his-self “can an Indian have a legacy in a white town”? (pg 182).  He knew that no matter how good he was or how well he played, he would always be looked at as an Indian. Through hope there was freedom, and considering his bravery and steadfast belief, the freedom of all things exceptional were possible. Ultimately, for Arnold drowning was not an option. Hence, Arnold found several ways of not becoming submerged. 

      

One precise outlet for him was the wisdom of his grandmother named, :”Grandmother Spirit.” Grandmother Spirit was the wisest of the family and would always give Arnold advice on how to handle situations that may leave him feeling unacceptable or imperfect.  

Grandmother Spirit emphasized strength and in her eyes, Arnold was perfect. For Arnold strength implied power and the ability to transform his own life. According to Arnold, his grandmother was “smart and kind and had traveled to about one-hundred different Indian reservations, but that had nothing to do with her greatness”.  She possessed “the greatest gift of tolerance and approached each new person and each new experience the exact same way”. Arnold had two best friends Oscar and Rowdy, both played an important role in helping him survive and not become submerged in the surrounding norms of life on the reservation. Rowdy and Arnold spent an average of eight hours a day for fourteen years together playing basketball and sharing each other’s dreams.  In fact Arnold states, “I think Rowdy might be the most important person in my life.  Maybe more important than my family.” (pg.4)  The attachment that Arnold and Rowdy felt was crucial to their human existence and each one felt that they could depend on the other no matter what. Basketball was very much a vehicle used by Arnold, playing basketball with his friend Rowdy contributed to his physical strength and mental capability to cope with his misfortune of growing up as a poor Indian on the reservation.  Nevertheless, through all of the mental gymnastics Arnold was able to allow his-self to be vulnerable.

              

 Being that Arnold stayed hopeful his experiences and circumstances did not drown him

and he was able to detach his-self from the hopeless life of alcoholism, and drug addiction that he witnessed daily.  Mr P. his math teacher always seen the best in Arnold and said to him “you’re a bright and shining star” “You’re the smartest kid in the school. And I don’t want you to fail.  I don’t want you to fade away.  You deserve better.”(pg42)  Because Arnold was hopeful he was more resilient than some of his peers and found it challenging but mandatory to stay connected with who he wanted to be.  He spent a considerable amount of time and effort trying to change and make a difference in his substandard life. When Arnold left the reservation, hope was the road he set out to travel. The question Arnold asked himself was, “Where is hope?” (pg 43) Mr P his math teacher said to him, “You’re going to find more and more hope the farther you walk away from this sad, sad, sad reservation.” (pg 43,)  To be free of all the destruction back at the reservation meant Arnold had to have the courage as well as hope on his journey to freedom as he seek  to find his voice as an Indian.  During the course of his journey he was able to stay forgiving and show a substantial amount of courage. Arnold found ways of making light of his situation by drawing cartoons to express his feelings to the outside world. (pg 43, see cartoon)  In countless ways he felt the huge responsibility to promote the dignity of self-sufficiency all while embracing freedom.  Although at times he felt like damaged goods, he was able to swim and individualize his strong desire to embrace freedom.

              

     Embracing freedom empowered him to remain hopeful and express the continual mixed emotions of his life on the reservation.  Although he was trapped in poverty he still found the ability to navigate and swim beyond what may have drowned others on the reservation where he lived.  Finding the strength to leave the reservation and the life he had become so accustomed to was not an easy task, however he needed to break the cycle and hold his-self accountable for his own legacy.  He never once looked at his-self as been victimized by his circumstances and found a way to stay encouraged and hopeful as an acquired gift.  The heroic example in his life always pointed directly back to his grandmother, “Grandmother Spirit” whom he loved dearly.  Because of her Arnold was able to view the unpleasant things happening in his life as just a part of life on the reservation.  Arnold and his grandmother connected spiritually and emotionally through the achievement of tolerance and forgiveness.  Consistent with “Grandmother Spirit”, Arnold harbored no hatred, anger or revenge for all that he suffered.  The prospect of leaving the rez was embraced by him as nothing more than another quiet challenge.  A challenge he felt was fundamental in breaking his family's cycle of addiction among many other things. Whether it was playing basketball with his friend Rowdy or leaving the reservation to attend the all-white school. From the beginning Arnold felt comfortable in his own skin and recognized that it would be his responsibility to achieve self-sufficiency and embrace freedom above all. 

 After reading the story, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman

Alexie, I can only reflect on the words quoted in the global post of Nelson Mandela which states, “difficulties break some men, but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end”.  The survival techniques he used by making light of his-self and drawing pictures to

tell his story championed him to stay encouraged and eager to succeed.  Although there were many misfortunes in Arnold’s life, he always found a way to display the two most important virtues, hope and courage on his journey of embracing freedom!

classmates blogger address

 Professor Tom DeWit- humbug642.blogspot.com

 Norma(Angelica) Haro: lifeofangelicaharo.blogspot.com
Lucila Daval Santos - bboy61405.blogspot.com 
Aaron Mercado - thegoodlifeofaaron.blogspot.com
Christina Hunter- xtina09042014.blogspot.com 
Rainalene Tolentino - rainalene.blogspot.com
Tony Galli- tonygalli94.blogspot.com
Raj Milan Bogati- rajbogati.blogspot.com
Zak Gainor - zgainor.blogspot.com
Chase Martinez- cmartinez25.blogspot.com
Jasmine Carrera- jasminecarrera18.blogspot.com
Edith Espinosa- edithespinosa.blogspot.com
Anna Harchenko- englishatcollege.blogspot.com
Oswaldo Zamudio- findwaldo12.blogspot.com
Sean Jenkins - sjenksbaseball.blogspot.com
Greg Gomez - Greg19g.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Hernandez- bebekyuzz.blogspot.com
Darlene Cabatu- dcabatu.blogspot.com
*****Azeb Berhane- azebberhane2014.blogspot.com
Mushfiq Islam- mislam5.blogspot.com
Da'rell Calvin- goofykid55.blogspot.com
Jesse OCon- Jessoconjr.blogspot.com
Lissette (liz) Franco- mylifeasliz13.blogspot.com
Italy Brown- queenofitalyy.blogspot.com
madelyn kelly madelynkelly2863.blogspot.com
Gwendolyn Dow gwendolyndow.blogspot.com
Guillermo Perez guillermo2010p.blogspot.com 
Bereket Fantahum Bereketf.blogspot.com
Hoang Tran hoangmt.blogspot.com
Myron Waters myronsnlndr95.blogspot.com
Eason Chan eason123.blogspot.com
****Damien Coleman mackadamien.blogspot.com
Richard Singh richardsingh95.blogspot.com
Raymond Baldwin raymondbaldwin.blogspot.com
Marisol Morales elysian018.blogspot.com
Andrew Rice  arice278.blogspot.com 
Casey Moranton mrsgray1217.blogspot.com/

Convincing a young boy to read The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian

Xavier how would you like to play a game of magic with me?  Remember the little Indian boy we seen at the Halloween party, and how much you liked his costume? Ok, we are going to read a really magical book about a kid just like the one at the party and how cool he is. The book is called The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. The main character in the book is a little boy named Arnold. We all  know how much you enjoy characters.  So, since you like to play dress up and have all the best Power Ranger outfits, I decided to get you a costume just like the little boy at the party and you can be Arnold every time you read a page in this really good book.  Just like you, Arnold is a very smart kid, he loves to play basketball, draw pictures, and he even gets to ride Eugene’s motorcycle.  I know that you love riding motorcycles because they are so much fun and can go really, really fast. Eugene is his dads best friend, just like your dad has a best friend named Jamil. Arnold has a best friend named Rowdy and they spend a lot of time together just like you and Malaki. The pictures in the book are so much fun to see and he draws almost everything he’s thinking, now how cool is that? Just like you he loves his mom, dad and his grandmother, and they love him.  You will see that Arnold has a lot of things happening to him in the story but he handles it like a champ.

Arnold is a very strong kid and he lives on what's called a reservation. He is sometimes bullied by other kids, however he does not  let any of the negative things people say get to him. When the other kids at school bully him, he still find a way to be that cute little Indian boy that loves learning new things. Oh, and did I tell you he has a sister?  When you get to that part in the book, please let me know what you think about his sister. We know you always talk about your sister and how smart she is, so let’s see who’s sister is the smartest after we finish the book. I’m sure you will be surprised! The most amazing thing that happens is that Arnold gets to go to another school and meet new friends. Wow! That must have been fun! He even becomes the best basketball player and will play basketball against his best friend he left on the reservation. More than that he beat him at his own game. One of the new friends that Arnold meets at the new school is named Gordy who is really nice to Arnold and you will read about the big guy Roger who was not so nice.  I know you hate when someone is being mean to your friend Malaki and wish he would punch them.  Well guess what? Arnold was not going to be bullied anymore and he punches Roger in the face.  Because Arnold stood up for him-self he earned the respect of the other kids at school.  He even gets to talk to a girl named Penelope and go to a party.  I won’t tell you the whole story, however I’ve given you enough information to “Have Fun Reading”!

Sample Paper # 3

Sample Paper #3 Critique   

    After reading the sample paper #3, I felt it was very well developed and supported the topic primarily. The author started out by asking the question, what would a child do when forced to grow up in a world without parents?  The introduction was very clear and very easy to understand as it laid out various accounts on what one may be going through in a situation best described in referencing  the main thesis,  “The Path Of A Child”.  The focus that I feel was well represented in the sample paper appear to be written by an author who could have very well put themselves in the eyes of this very fragile soul.  I was able to easily understand each point that was being discussed, and each topic sentence was followed by a convincing statement.  As the author transitions from the child to “Arnold” the boy, it became evident that we were now speaking of a young Indian boy who went through many struggles, not only with his parents but friends, teachers and other Indians on the reservation While. I feel there could have been an elaboration on the fact that Junior had two parents, granting they were very inadequate and flawed when it came to the responsibility of caring for a young medically challenged boy. Despite the fact that much was not revealed about the parents, the image of Junior as a young Indian boy living on the reservation was utterly clear and precise.  I was captivated by the structure of each moment as I went from one story-line to the other, systematically  interpreting the observations the author brought to light.

     The author takes you on a journey allowing the reader to look inside the soul of a young boy with courage, determination and resolve.  Sample paper number three became very interesting to me as I share the same sentiment after finishing the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.   l would have liked to have seen the author bring to the attention of the reader the medical condition that Junior was battling from the onset as he maneuvered from birth to where he eventually ended up.  The mention or implication of drawing a picture of two halves was quiet clever in the representation of knowing oneself and what others may think of you.  To speak of children in their own right as an open book, I feel is fair and  balanced as we view our children from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicity.  The author articulates the views of the young boy with compassion, empathy and grace as it is emphasized the “constant struggle one faces in finding acceptance from others “.  I did not find much that I was not able to understand.  I followed the topic very easy and was able to make the transition when necessary. The conclusion was exceptional and powerful as the acknowledgment of “the measure of one's dignity depends on one measure of themselves”, and that the only opinion that matters is your own. In many ways the paper was concise and to the point in its overall analogy.

Current State of The Native American Indian

In the United States the Bureau of Indian Affairs has the responsibility of listing all federally recognized tribes.  According to the National Congress of American Indians, there are 562 federally recognized Indian nations. The U.S. relationship with Native Americans allow for certain treaty rights and sovereignty, giving authority over certain geographic areas.  Per the Us Department of Commerce The current state of affairs allows the Native American to be self-reliant and hold several rights to self-governing.  The Indian Civil Rights Act, Child Welfare Act and Indian Religious Freedom Act are all important pieces of legislature protecting the indigenous people. Currently through self-governing the opportunity exist for the Native American to acquire restitution for all they have suffered and been denied.

Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole)

Beginning in the 1820s, the U.S. Government began moving all tribes east of the Mississippi River to the Indian Territory in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. A series of treaties provided for the removal of almost all principal eastern tribes.

The Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole (known as the Five Civilized Tribes) were among the many southeastern tribes who were removed by treaty to Indian Territory. In 1838 the Cherokees who had not already moved voluntarily were forced to move to Indian Territory. This migration became known as the “Trail of Tears.” Large parcels of land were distributed to these five tribes who became self-governing “Nations.”

White settlers moving west after the Civil War pressured the government to extinguish Indian title to lands and relocate the Indians. The alliance between the Five Civilized Tribes and the Confederacy during the Civil War also provided Congress with an excuse to realign tribal boundaries. Treaties in 1866 and later reduced the land of the Five Civilized Tribes by almost half. These created the “Unassigned Lands” in central Oklahoma that were eventually opened for land runs.

The Oklahoma Historical Society also has identified the "American Indian Nations" within the boundaries of their state. That list is available on their web site.

 “Fresh perspectives and new ways of dealing with challenges will be the promise. The future Native peoples will have the survivor-ship, the inventiveness and the adaptive abilities of their parents and grandparents. The new generations will take the Native life path with less burden, and build new traditions that protect the homelands, the culture, the traditions, and carry the language into another millennium . . .”

by Janine Pease Pretty On Top (Crow). In a column entitled “Viewpoint,” in Native
Peoples Magazine, Vol.11, No. 1 (Fall/Winter 1997). Published by Media Concept
Group, Inc., Phoenix, AZ.

Topic discussed in class

Equal Pay For Women




The topic Equal Pay for Women is one that concerns me as an African American woman. My concern is that so many households tend to be run by single women, women with children, and women who may be suffering from disabilities. Unfortunately, the compensation for the hard work performed by this group of women is seldom fair. Per The National  Women's Law Center, women are paid an average of seventy-seven cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. Women of color, African-american and Latino receive considerably less.  Thanks to President Barack Obama, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into Law on January 29, 2009 addresses the inequalities that women have been subjected to in the workforce. This happens to be the first piece of legislature signed by the president, and an important one.The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act ensuring that individuals who may have suffered unlawful pay discrimination are able to assert their rights, providing for a 180-day limit to file a claim.  Evidence to prove the unfair practice women have suffered for decades point to the Supreme court case, "Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber".  Ms Ledbetter worked two decades facing discrimination of equal pay as well as sexual harassment.  Ms Ledbetter was clueless of the discriminatory practice been used against her, until she received an anonymous note revealing the salaries of three male managers working in the same capacity, and receiving better pay. She filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Counsel.  Her case went to trial and according to The National Women's Law Center she was awarded a 3.3 million dollar settlement in compensatory and punitive damages for pay discrimination.  I feel this law protects myself, my daughter and all the other women striving to make it to the top of the ladder. Nevertheless, still today,  women are fighting to receive equal pay.

Obama's State Of The Union Speech

                                                   State of The Union 2014

While watching the President's State of The Union Speech some things were quiet evident. I noticed as we discussed in class the staging of the room.  From the small business owner to the lady that lost her unemployment insurance, it was definitely an  "In Your Face"  kind of atmosphere.  I was especially moved by the Sfc Cory Remsburg.  To know that a young man left home and joined the military at the age of eighteen years old says a lot about his courage.  Not only did Cory have the courage to defend the country we all love, he deployed ten times and was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.  Coming home as a wounded warrior facing many surgeries and left blind in one eye, Corey deserved every bit of the sustained applause he was given and more.

Our own Mayor of San Francisco Ed Lee was spotted by the camera, and seating for the democrats and republicans appeared to be mixed. The supreme court justices were seated right in front as with all State of the Union Addresses while Justice Ruth Ginsburg gave the President a big hug.

As I scanned the room with the camera crew it was evident that not everyone was a very happy camper. The look on the Speaker of the House's face, John Boehner would tell the story as the President articulated some of the "Hot Button Issues".  The word Affordable Care Act, seems to still be the elephant in the room. However, President Obama still seem eager to engage in asking his republican friends in the house to offer a better plan or maybe just a plan period to fix the problem. After all the republican house members have actually voted with no luck over forty times to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Other issues  include; the voting rights act, minimum wage increase, climate change, restoring unemployment insurance, reforming the tax codes for small business and the broken immigration system. 

On foreign policy, it was clear that the President was able to get a rise out of some of his republican counterparts, after all they seem to love war more than people.  The troops will always get a rise out of both groups democrats and republicans, as we must support our troops!  The fight over diplomacy in Iran is a huge issue right now because not everyone is on board with easing sanctions in that region. The President ask that we "give diplomacy a chance" and threaten to veto any bill that would threaten to derail talks with Iran.  I was little surprised I didn't hear more on gun violence although it seem to have been tied in with mental health issues.  Manufacturing is one issue on the horizon that seem to be creeping its way back in some sense, and may very well be the vehicle for training Americans skills for companies that are hiring right now.  I thought it was a clever idea to ask the companies and corporations for help in the arena of creating jobs for the unemployed. 

The rebuttal given by the republican side by the congresswoman from Washington,  for me fell short. In my opinion it was basically a repeat of what the President had just spoke about with very little substance as to what the plan is for the other side.  Per CNN that held a focus group during the speech, they found that the highest rise came from the democrats during the reference to equal pay for equal work. The Affordable Care Act was the low point for the republicans, while independents tend to gravitate negatively as the minimum wage increase was address.

I found the speech to hit more on domestic and foreign policy, with emphasis on creating opportunity for all Americans and not a select few. When referencing work place policies for women, equal pay for equal work the applause from the women in the audience was palpable.  On a lighter note the comment made by the President when referring to how women is treated in the work place as "something out of a mad man episode",   I thought was pretty funny.  Overall  I feel the main focus for the President was for America to speed up growth while expanding opportunity.

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/americas/barack-obamas-2014-state-of-the-union-address-highlights-125479.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/us/politics/obama-state-of-the-union.html?_r=0
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/state-of-the-union-2014-video_n_4590455.html

http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20140128/state-of-the-union-2014-transcript-of-president-obamas-speech

Introducing myself!

Hi fellow students and Professor DeWit,

My name is Gwendolyn Dow and I am a returning student after 20+ years out of the loop.  I'm very excited about being back in the environment of higher learning and look forward to a wonderful semester with all of you.  I have worked in the healthcare field of Radiology as a Radiologic Tech and have chose to continue my education in the field of medicine. My goal at chabot is to transfer to the University as I am seeking a degree as a Physician Assistant.  I'm actually torn between a business degree, however my first love is the medical field.  I suffered a work injury and have had several back surgeries that limit my performance as an xray tech at this time.  Because of this fact I must consider moving on to a less strenuous career being I can no longer lift patients are move xray equipment.  So nice to meet you all, and good luck on your endeavors.