Endangered Species Act

I'm not sure how many people know about this, it hasn't really gotten a lot of press and is sort of pushed under the rug, but the Endangered Species Act which for 35 years has protected some of America's most treasured resources - our national wildlife - is being changed. The change is that the people who now determine who is on the Endangered Species list - scientists and researchers - are losing this role to beaurocrats, and the ill-informed. This could have serious potential for reducing the biodiversity that makes this biosphere work.

To me, this is just another example of how the Bush administration's ignorant policies are having a lasting negative impact on our society and the scientific community.

If you want to read more info, check out this article on CNN.

If you want to do something, click here at the Monterey Bay Aquarium site.

Did you know?

Did you know - shift happens

This is a video that I first watched last year, but I thought it was still relevant, and I wanted to share it. I think it is important to think about globalization and a shifting economy particularly because of the recent US economic news and political scene. Watch it and tell me what you think!

Food for thought.

Seagull Junker Palin

This would be my name if I happened to belong to the Palin Family. Check out your name here.

Acceptance, tolerance and just plain judgement

Ok, so recently I have had a few conversations that have stuck with me, and not in a good way. I can't seem to get them out of my head. Essentially they were about politics and my disbelief in realizing that someone I know fairly well was so misinformed about the candidates - going so far as saying to me that she knows people who believe that Obama is the "antichrist." Her words. Wow. I mean, I kind of stared, in shock at such an utterly insane comment. She was serious. Then I just kept repeating, "that's insane, I can't believe someone would actually think that" over and over. I became a broken record (like I can, I know) and she said, "Heather, these are your peers who think that." My friend is my age and by peers, she meant her peers (and I think mine).

Ok, after having some time to chew on this, I have a few points.

First, I have a hard time even stating the obvious and even addressing the first comment. I doesn't even deserve a comment it is so ridiculous.

But the second, that the person who said this was my "peer" really bothers me. It assumes that she knows me well enough to know what "label" or "category" I place myself in and that she would think I am a "peer" with this crazy person is kind of insulting, I think.

While I think that ultimately we are on different ends of the spectrum politically, what I realized is just how intolerant I am of her view and the view of the conservative right, in general terms. I always thought of myself as opinionated, but willing to see other sides to issues and work out compromise in coming to an "agree to disagree" moment. I have family members and family friends who are conservative, pro-life bumper sticker Republicans. But I am finding it harder and harder to really give an inch in the conservative direction, and I find I have little patience for people who are so ill-informed and make irrational statements based on lies and propoganda. I just can't take it. I think I used to be able to separate the person from the political view much easier in the past. What I have come to understand, really, is that your politics really is in part based on your core beliefs about what you value and who you are. I am trying not to make this into a hallmark card, but I really do think this. Our perspectives and life experiences have shaped who we are and what we believe and I think this is a fundamental part of politics and why so many people are passionate about it. Because we care. And if you care, it means that it is important to you and what is important demonstrates in part, who you are and your identity. I think that is why I can't ignore/can't separate the person from the politics.

Don't get me wrong, I am trying not to place a value on this judgement. In other words, I don't think conservatives or Republicans are bad people, just that we have fundamentally different values that make up our core beliefs. This might mean that on some level there is an incompatibility and you might never get to the "agree to disagree" level.

In this case, I am ok with my judgement of this random no-name "peer." I think this person deserves my "judgement" just as much as I am probably getting it directed back at me through the universe. I'm not going to agree with this "peer." I'm ok with it. I don't have to understand everyone....this sounds like a senior convocation we heard today, and it probably had some influence on my rant.

What do you guys think? Should I accept all the people of the world? Should I be tolerant of varying viewpoints? Or is it ok to judge people based on their politics??

Well, it's late, and I'm sorry if this entry doesn't make any sense and I rambled on.

Signing off,
The Judgemental and Intolerant Liberal

Well, it's been exactly 1 month....

Since I posted an entry and I am feeling a bit guilty. August was a whirlwind. I had my summer camp, getting ready for school, and Joshua's baptism (I am his Godmother officially now!).

I just finished my first full week of school and I am super excited about the fresh start and new beginning. I always love the start of school. I love the school supplies (lets be honest, most people secretly do!), I love seeing my colleagues and catching up on summer events and activities, and I love seeing the kids. What I find most amazing are the students that I struggled with last year, are some of the first to come up to me and ask how my summer was and tell me it is good to see me. It is almost unreal and a little hard to grasp, but I take it in good faith and smile. It really is wonderful to see how the newly minted seniors have changed over the summer. They grow a little taller (I swear!) and there is definitely something in the way they carry themselves that says, "I am not the same girl I was two and a half months ago" that is a bit scary, but in a good way, I see their self confidence and assurance as signs they will be leaving us soon to move on to bigger and brighter things.

I have had a good week. This time last year, I felt like I knew I was going to have a difficult time with two of my four classes. This time, I am excited about all of them. I have some really great groups this year, and I feel very lucky.

I also have realized that I am so much happier doing this job. Parent's night was on Wednesday and I said to the parents, "before I came to Bryn Mawr I was in research, and I feel blessed to have both research and teaching experiences in my life, because I love them both. I am able to give my students a sense of the enthusiasm, energy and love I have for research, and that makes me happy."

It is important for me to remind myself that I love teaching. I mean, I know I do, but on the rough days/weeks, it is important for me to remember why I do it.

The picture is of a praying mantis eating a moth. Look how well it blends in! One of my students was doing her nature journal entry in class and was using it as a subject. I quick grabbed my camera!