Once, being an American meant something grand. Once, being an American meant being a part of something bigger than yourself, being a part of a greater unit, a country that was rich and bountiful. Any who added their blood and sweat to this soil was considered American because he was here, investing his life in America. He wanted to be an American. This has changed.
"Diversity!" has been the rallying cry of America - or so the liberals think. Diversity, they say, will bring us together.
Diversity is tearing us down.
Everywhere, there are 'diversity fairs' and 'cultural awareness' programs. It saturates our schools, permeates the minds of our students, infuses our culture, and, most of all, divides our hearts.
No longer do we look at black people and call them, "American", but "African American", even if the individual has never seen Africa or has no ties whatsoever to Africa. What is wrong with being just an American?
Recognizing that their are different ethinic groups is perfectly all right. It's good, necessary, to realize that we all have different talents, abilities, backgrounds, styles. That's exactly what makes people individuals, not human #8379038.
And of course, it is perfectly all right to carry on traditions from the "old counrty". Traditions are so valuable. Remember your roots, but also establish new roots in America. Be American first, then you can remember what you were. In the name of Diversity, Americans are opening the doors to illegal aliens.
America is taking a good thing, Diversity, and warping it so that it tears apart our nation. So that it causes us to categorize people into different ethnic groups.
As our founding fathers said, United we stand, Divided we fall.
27 February 2008
Technically Speaking Article #3
This is an article I wrote for the culture section of the newspaper.
A Swinging Alternative
By Sarah Anzivino
The dimly lit ballroom is brimming with couples whirling and dancing to the lively music emanating from the live band playing on the stage. A group of high school boys and girls stand in the corner of the room, laughing and talking. One of the boys has a brown plaid fedora on his head. He takes it off as he bows, grinning to one of the young ladies in a black-and-white polka dot dress. He replaces his hat on his head and leads the young lady to find a place in the swirling mass of dancers. The air is thick with the Big Band music and the lively crowd.
Such is the typical night at one of the Piedmont Swing Dance Society (PSDS) meetings. The PSDS meets on the second and the fourth Saturday nights of every month. The second Saturday meetings are held at the Vintage Theater in Downtown Winston Salem, and the fourth Saturday meetings are held at the Oriental Shrine Club in Greensboro.
Swing dancing is a good alternative to a night at the movie theater. A night dancing to the lively tempo of the live bands is a great way to burn extra calories and meet new people. Most people, however, don’t know how to swing dance. The PSDS has made sure that this stops no one from having an enjoyable time. A free lesson in the basics of swing dancing is offered from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The lesson is taught by real swing-dance coaches. At 8:30, the band strikes up and dancers flood the floor. You don’t need to bring a partner to participate because there are plenty of dancers, experienced and novice alike, that dance with people they don’t know. The dance floor closes at 11:30 pm, but you can leave before then.
The Piedmont Swing Dance Society is a nonprofit organization, and so there is a small entry fee. For Students under 21 and PSDS members, the cost is $8. For non-members, the cost is $10. For more information, you can call the PSDS at (336) 508-9998 or visit their website at www.piedmontswingdance.org.
Before you head out to the movies or spend a night at home, consider joining the people at Piedmont Swing Dance society and learning something new.
A Swinging Alternative
By Sarah Anzivino
The dimly lit ballroom is brimming with couples whirling and dancing to the lively music emanating from the live band playing on the stage. A group of high school boys and girls stand in the corner of the room, laughing and talking. One of the boys has a brown plaid fedora on his head. He takes it off as he bows, grinning to one of the young ladies in a black-and-white polka dot dress. He replaces his hat on his head and leads the young lady to find a place in the swirling mass of dancers. The air is thick with the Big Band music and the lively crowd.
Such is the typical night at one of the Piedmont Swing Dance Society (PSDS) meetings. The PSDS meets on the second and the fourth Saturday nights of every month. The second Saturday meetings are held at the Vintage Theater in Downtown Winston Salem, and the fourth Saturday meetings are held at the Oriental Shrine Club in Greensboro.
Swing dancing is a good alternative to a night at the movie theater. A night dancing to the lively tempo of the live bands is a great way to burn extra calories and meet new people. Most people, however, don’t know how to swing dance. The PSDS has made sure that this stops no one from having an enjoyable time. A free lesson in the basics of swing dancing is offered from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The lesson is taught by real swing-dance coaches. At 8:30, the band strikes up and dancers flood the floor. You don’t need to bring a partner to participate because there are plenty of dancers, experienced and novice alike, that dance with people they don’t know. The dance floor closes at 11:30 pm, but you can leave before then.
The Piedmont Swing Dance Society is a nonprofit organization, and so there is a small entry fee. For Students under 21 and PSDS members, the cost is $8. For non-members, the cost is $10. For more information, you can call the PSDS at (336) 508-9998 or visit their website at www.piedmontswingdance.org.
Before you head out to the movies or spend a night at home, consider joining the people at Piedmont Swing Dance society and learning something new.
Tehcnically Speaking Article # 2
Go hard or go home.
These are the words that Josh Chilton lives by. These words were spoken to him by a football coach, and they’ve stuck with him over the years. They’ve helped him through some hard times.
Chilton, a native of Clemmons, North Carolina, coaches Pop Warner football for the team the Broncos. Pop Warner is a league of junior football teams from around Winston-Salem. He also coaches high school basketball at Mt. Tabor Methodist Church. Because of his love of sports, Chilton wants to go into sports communication.
But Chilton is in a wheelchair.
Four years ago, Chilton was driving to his girlfriend’s house the day after Thanksgiving of 2003. It was raining really hard that day, and his car hydroplaned. He lost control of the vehicle and is now partially paralyzed. It is a struggle every day to realize that he can no longer walk. The first eighteen years of his life, Chilton was able to walk. Now, he is confined to a wheelchair.
He has hope of regaining the ability to walk. Five days a week, Chilton has rehab at the Comp Rehab Center sponsored by Baptist Hospital.
Four years is a long time to go without the ability to walk, but Chilton hasn’t given up on life. Perseverance colors his life. Due to the accident, Chilton had to sit out of college for a while. He still thinks that education is one of the most important things in life and hopes to transfer to either Wake Forest University, where his dad works, or to UNC Charlotte, where he already spent a year.
The accident taught Chilton that life is precious. His paralysis hasn’t stopped him from living life to the fullest, from going hard. He wants to coach sports; he coaches sports. He wants to get a college education; he’s getting a college education. He wants to regain his ability to walk; he’s doing everything in his power to do that.
Everyone can learn something from Chilton’s life. Go for what you want. Persevere. Don’t give up. As Chilton says, “If you’re going to do something, don’t do it halfway; just go for it.”
These are the words that Josh Chilton lives by. These words were spoken to him by a football coach, and they’ve stuck with him over the years. They’ve helped him through some hard times.
Chilton, a native of Clemmons, North Carolina, coaches Pop Warner football for the team the Broncos. Pop Warner is a league of junior football teams from around Winston-Salem. He also coaches high school basketball at Mt. Tabor Methodist Church. Because of his love of sports, Chilton wants to go into sports communication.
But Chilton is in a wheelchair.
Four years ago, Chilton was driving to his girlfriend’s house the day after Thanksgiving of 2003. It was raining really hard that day, and his car hydroplaned. He lost control of the vehicle and is now partially paralyzed. It is a struggle every day to realize that he can no longer walk. The first eighteen years of his life, Chilton was able to walk. Now, he is confined to a wheelchair.
He has hope of regaining the ability to walk. Five days a week, Chilton has rehab at the Comp Rehab Center sponsored by Baptist Hospital.
Four years is a long time to go without the ability to walk, but Chilton hasn’t given up on life. Perseverance colors his life. Due to the accident, Chilton had to sit out of college for a while. He still thinks that education is one of the most important things in life and hopes to transfer to either Wake Forest University, where his dad works, or to UNC Charlotte, where he already spent a year.
The accident taught Chilton that life is precious. His paralysis hasn’t stopped him from living life to the fullest, from going hard. He wants to coach sports; he coaches sports. He wants to get a college education; he’s getting a college education. He wants to regain his ability to walk; he’s doing everything in his power to do that.
Everyone can learn something from Chilton’s life. Go for what you want. Persevere. Don’t give up. As Chilton says, “If you’re going to do something, don’t do it halfway; just go for it.”
Technically Speaking article #1
This is the first article for the campus newspaper of Forsyth Tech, Technically speaking.
Just Like You and Me
Students with disabilities are just like you and me. They may look different, but they’re really not.
Diversity is an issue that catches many people’s attention. The sad thing is, diversity is often stopped at skin tones. In today’s world, students with disabilities are often discriminated against or ignored because they’re different and people are confused about their disabilities. But really, students with disabilities are just like you and me.
“They might look different or walk different or talk different, but they’re people just like everybody else,” said Gail Freeman, head of the Students with Disabilities department.
Out of the 9,616 students enrolled at Forsyth Tech (as of Fall 2006 – Summer 2007), 300 are students with disabilities. There is a support group for the students, Students Understanding Disabilities (SUD) club. It meets the first Tuesday of every month in Gail Freeman’s office. The meetings are casual, and the students meet to discuss issues they are experiencing in class and anything else the students find interesting.
Only about a dozen of the three hundred students attend these meetings, however. Gail Freeman says that this is a good sign. It means that Forsyth Tech is doing its job and providing plenty of support elsewhere. The low attendance is partly due to the amazing technology available to assist students with disabilities, she says.
Sitting in her office surrounded by Christmas cards, flowers, and pictures of her three beautiful children, Freeman explained that her position at ForsythTech is her dream job. She’s always wanted to help people.
“It inspires me,” she says. “Often students with disabilities have had to overcome challenges and obstacles that most people never imagine.”
“Life is a struggle no matter who you are,” said Price Watts, a facilitator in the ITV computer room, “The struggle just differs for every person.” Watts finished his degree at Forsyth Tech in 2001 and is a long time employee of Forsyth Tech. He says the school has taken great strides in becoming more accessible to students with disabilities. He helped bring about many of the changes that made ForsythTech friendly to students with handicaps.
These students are just like you and me. They are people, not to be defined by their disabilities any more than someone should be defined by what blood type he or she has or what kind of toothbrush he or she uses. Disabilities are a part of who they are, but first they’re people. Try to make an effort to get to know everyone in your class, regardless of what you see on the outside. Who knows? You could be sitting next to your next best friend.
Just Like You and Me
Students with disabilities are just like you and me. They may look different, but they’re really not.
Diversity is an issue that catches many people’s attention. The sad thing is, diversity is often stopped at skin tones. In today’s world, students with disabilities are often discriminated against or ignored because they’re different and people are confused about their disabilities. But really, students with disabilities are just like you and me.
“They might look different or walk different or talk different, but they’re people just like everybody else,” said Gail Freeman, head of the Students with Disabilities department.
Out of the 9,616 students enrolled at Forsyth Tech (as of Fall 2006 – Summer 2007), 300 are students with disabilities. There is a support group for the students, Students Understanding Disabilities (SUD) club. It meets the first Tuesday of every month in Gail Freeman’s office. The meetings are casual, and the students meet to discuss issues they are experiencing in class and anything else the students find interesting.
Only about a dozen of the three hundred students attend these meetings, however. Gail Freeman says that this is a good sign. It means that Forsyth Tech is doing its job and providing plenty of support elsewhere. The low attendance is partly due to the amazing technology available to assist students with disabilities, she says.
Sitting in her office surrounded by Christmas cards, flowers, and pictures of her three beautiful children, Freeman explained that her position at ForsythTech is her dream job. She’s always wanted to help people.
“It inspires me,” she says. “Often students with disabilities have had to overcome challenges and obstacles that most people never imagine.”
“Life is a struggle no matter who you are,” said Price Watts, a facilitator in the ITV computer room, “The struggle just differs for every person.” Watts finished his degree at Forsyth Tech in 2001 and is a long time employee of Forsyth Tech. He says the school has taken great strides in becoming more accessible to students with disabilities. He helped bring about many of the changes that made ForsythTech friendly to students with handicaps.
These students are just like you and me. They are people, not to be defined by their disabilities any more than someone should be defined by what blood type he or she has or what kind of toothbrush he or she uses. Disabilities are a part of who they are, but first they’re people. Try to make an effort to get to know everyone in your class, regardless of what you see on the outside. Who knows? You could be sitting next to your next best friend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
