Passion [for positive people] Blog — Kenyan Woman Makes Good On Promise and Returns to Village to Change Lives and Challenge Traditions

February 26, 2015 Emma Behr Leave a comment

November 2013 — When Kakenya Ntaiya, now 35, was 5, she was engaged. When she was 14, she was subjected to the ceremonial tradition of her Masai village in Kenya of female genital mutilation. However, it came with a cost, and not just for Ntaiya; she made a deal with her father that she would undergo the mutilation if he would allow her to finish high school, on threat of running away. She knew that after these ceremonies, many girls are promptly married off, their dreams and aspirations snuffed out. She had a different plan for herself. Her father agreed to the bargain, and Ntaiya went on to excel in her studies, earning a scholarship to study at at university in the United States. Her village held a fundraiser to raise the funds for her airfare, and in exchange for the kindness, Ntaiya promised to return to help her village someday.

Approximately 140 girls and women around the world have been affected by child marriage and genital mutilation. While both atrocities are now illegal in Kenya, reports show that they still occur, especially in rural villages like the one Ntaiya grew up in. Child marriage and genital mutilation go hand in hand, both contributing to the oppression and inequalities women suffer every day around the world.

Ten years passed as Ntaiya excelled at University and went on to work for the United Nations, but she never forgot the vow she made to her village. Ntaiya had dreamed of being a teacher since she was small, and her mother always encouraged her dream, a dream that could lead Ntaiya to a better life. Ntaiya wished to bring that dream to life while improving the lives of girls in her village and the surrounding area whose dreams may not have otherwise been permitted to come to fruition.

Ntaiya returned to Kenya in 2009 and started up the first elementary school for girls in her village. She called it the Kenkenya Center for Excellence (KCE). Today, more than 150 girls are being educated and empowered at her school. Just five years old, the school is now among the top-ranked in the district. The school began as a day school, but because of the dangers the girls faced by walking to and from school every day, Ntaiya turned it into a boarding school. This not only keeps them safe, but ensures that their free time is not spent performing domestic chores. Students receive uniforms as well as three meals a day. The school hosts a wide variety of extracurricular activities such as sports teams and debate club, and boasts much individual attention. The girls are inspired to dream big. Some want to become teachers, pilots, doctors, and lawyers. Ntaiya said, “I came back so girls don’t have to negotiate like I did to achieve their dreams…That’s why I wake up every morning.”

It took years for Ntaiya to rally support for her cause and to persuade the village elders to donate the land necessary for the school. The school is public, so it receives some funding from the government. Families who can pay often pay using money, or in good such as maize or beans. Ntaiya assists those families who cannot pay. Ntaiya has one main stipulation: students who attend KCE will not be married off or undergo genital mutilation. Ntaiya was pleased at their agreement and support because that is just the change she was hoping to instill.

Ntaiya’s nonprofit also runs leadership education camps for all sixth-grade girls in the village to teach them about teen pregnancy, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and HIV/AIDS. The girls are informed of all of their rights.

In years to come, Ntaiya hopes to expand the school for younger students as well. She hopes that one day, the school will be the model of girls’ education in Africa, the enabler and empowerment of all girls’ dreams.

Source: CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/world/africa/cnnheroes-ntaiya-girls-school/index.html)

130314145514-ntaiya-balcony-story-body — CNN

Here, Kekenya Ntaiya stands before her school and her students at the Kekenya Center for Excellence in Enoosaen, Kenya.

The link to the website of the Kekenya Center for Excellence is: http://www.kakenyasdream.org/

Civic Issue Blogs -- The Human Condition

The Human Condition — Imminent Cold War?

February 18, 2015 Emma Behr Leave a comment

Since the end of February 2014, there has been violence, unrest, and conflict in Ukraine as a result of the demonstrations by pro-Russian (backed by Russia) and anti-government groups, mainly in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine in the aftermath of the Euromaidan movement, also called the Ukrainian Revolution. The Euromaidan movement, literally meaning “Euro Square,” took place in Kiev in November 2013 and demanded closer European integration and the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych and his government. Protestors wished to change life in Ukraine by combatting the widespread government corruption, violation of human rights, and rejection of western thought.

Consequentially, there was a backlashing Anti-Maidan movement in December 2014. Unrest gripped Ukraine when President Victor Yanukovych refused to sign an association agreement with the European Union in November 2013. Unrest took hold since then.

On September 5, 2014, there was a ceasefire signed by Ukraine and the pro-Russian separatists, called the Minsk Agreement, but military clashes never stopped. More than 5,500 people have been killed by fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels since April 2014, although a recent report estimates that the deaths could number more than 50,000. Over five million people are living in areas of conflict, nearly one million Ukrainians are internally displaced, many of whom are children, and 600,000 people have fled the country, 400,000 of which fled to Russia.

Some speculate that the separatists want to join with Russia because there is confusion as to the identity of Ukraine. Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union until its independence in 1991, so many, Russians and Ukrainians alike, believe that Ukraine is rightfully a part of Russia. In addition, the previous corruption (particularly regarding voting and elections) in Ukraine strengthen desires to join with Russia.

Not all of Ukraine favors and union with Russia. The separatists in eastern Ukraine want to unite Ukraine with Russia, while western Ukraine wants to remain independent and westernized. Only 12% of Ukrainians polled want a union with Russia. 68% of those surveyed agreed that Ukraine should remain independent, while maintaining friendly relations with Russia. This seems like a somewhat impossible feat; Crimea, Ukraine was annexed by Russia in March 2014. This led to the launch of a military counter-offensive against the rebels by the Ukrainian government. This is when tensions between the Ukrainian and Russian governments began.

The conflict is not limited to within Ukraine. Western countries are accusing Russia of arming the Ukrainian separatist rebels and sending troops into Ukraine, such claims Russia denies. Western countries are very frustrated with Russia, its policies, and its leaders, some calling have even called Putin the “20th century tyrant.” (BBC) Currently, the gravest international issue surrounding the issue is the discordance regarding how to deal with the conflict. President Obama is under great pressure from the United States government and military to send weapons into Ukraine. This would be a slap in the face for Russia and could very potentially start a war, or at least, a cold war. Furthermore, some argue that the introduction of heavy weaponry into Ukraine would only “exacerbate the tragedy of Ukraine.” (NPR)

To complicate matters more, Germany and France, under the leadership of German Chancelor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, are strongly opposed to arming Ukraine because of the heavy strain that action would place on relations with Russia. They have, therefore, outlined a plan, called the Franco-German Peace Plan, for Ukraine that includes autonomy for Ukraine’s east, but no weapons for Ukraine. Their main goal right now is for Obama to sign it, but because Obama is under pressure to supply Ukraine with weapons, it is unclear what the result will be. This faction regarding how to address Putin and Russia is also driving a wedge between the U.S. and Europe.

Diplomacy seems like an obvious and desirable solution to the American-Russian tensions, but the two nations are refusing to cooperate diplomatically. The United States and Russia are not engaging diplomatically because of the lack of trust between the two nations. Diplomatic activity to resolve the Ukraine crisis has accelerated between Germany/France and Russia, but not the U.S. The situation could perhaps be resolved if the U.S. and Russia would meet and negotiate diplomatically.

This is an extremely controversial issue. The U.S. is between a rock and a hard place. If they assist Ukraine by arming it, they risk severing all ties with Russia, and potentially souring relations with Germany and France. If they cede to Russia by not arming Ukraine, they let Russia win both its battle with Ukraine and its battle with the U.S. Peaceful negotiations, diplomacy, and the implementation of a plan such as the Franco-German Peace Plan, are arguable the only viable solutions.

However, all of this international confusion seems to distract from the issue at hand. People are suffering in Ukraine as a result of the conflict. All outside interests should be discarded, focusing only on the well-being of the Ukrainians who deserve to live their lives peacefully and securely. If diplomatic negotiations ever do occur between the United States and Russia, the leaders should make a valiant effort to consider nothing but a solution that will not just solve the conflict, but also repair the lives of those devastated. The Ukrainian crisis is an example of the power of diplomacy and the importance of shedding selfish interests and taking into consideration the lives of those afflicted. Germany and France are setting a good example, and it can only be hoped that President Obama will be able to join in on the peace agreement.

Sources: BBC (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31242403), NPR (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/02/07/384514520/merkel-hopes-to-dissuade-obama-from-arming-ukraine), (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_pro-Russian_unrest_in_Ukraine), BBC (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31392473), Vox (http://www.vox.com/cards/ukraine-everything-you-need-to-know/what-does-ukraines-east-west-divide-have-to-do-with-the-current-crisis).

UKRAINE-POLITICS-UNREST — www.cityam.com

Turmoil has engulfed much of Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict in 2013. This picture was most likely taken during the riots earlier in 2014.

UKRAINE_-_Majdan_prayer — www.asianews.it

Ukrainian orthodox priests demonstrate peacefully during riots in Ukraine. Many priests interjected during riots such as the one pictured above in order to prevent further violence.

Passion [for positive people] Blogs

Passion [for positive people] Blog — Connecticut Cowgirl Reins in At-Risk Youth

February 18, 2015 Emma Behr 2 Comments

Hartford, Connecticut — Fred Wright, 17, grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Hartford surrounded by negative influences. Raised by a single mother, Wright transferred schools several times due to behavioral issues, and eventually began to feel worthless.

Wright’s life swung in a completely different direction when he met Patricia Kelly. Kelly is a former U.S. Marine who is also a cowgirl. She took Wright under her wing and placed him on a horse. Kelly, 66, says, “We use horses as a hook to create pride, esteem and healing. They learn that they have ability. They just have to unlock it.”

Kelly has, for the past 30 years, helped Hartford’s at-risk youth stay on the right track by staying in the saddle through her nonprofit, Ebony Horsewoman. Annually, over 300 youth participate in riding lessons and animal science classes at Ebony Horsewoman. Her stables are tucked away in a 693-acre park in the middle of Hartford. Ebony Horsewoman includes a stable, a riding arena, and an ice cream parlor, providing a paradise away from inner-city Hartford. On the farm, there are fourteen horses, one pony, chickens, fish, birds, turtles, and rabbits. All of these animals have been bred and cared for by the children.

Connecticut ranks as one of the wealthiest states in the U.S. However, it also ranks as one of the states with the largest disparity gap between the rich and the poor. Kelly, who has lived most of her life in Hartford, has witnessed the devastating ramifications of inequality on the youth of Hartford. Kelly wants to provide a happier alternative to the streets in the form of horsemanship, thus providing an opportunity to nurture a passion and turn life around.

One of the programs Kelly began is called the Junior Mounted Patrol which is for the young men and boys who come to Ebony Horsewoman. They patrol the park and report suspicious and criminal activity. It gives them a sense of purpose, authority, responsibility, and excitement. They also tend the barn and horses, take riding lessons, and participate in wellness workshops.

Kelly’s nonprofit has changes lives. Wright, who was seven when he first met Kelly, is now seventeen and aspires to attend Cornell University to study to become an equine blacksmith and a dentist. Kelly engendered the growth of not just youth, but dreams and goals. She has proven the therapeutic powers of horses and nature.

Source: CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/07/us/cnnheroes-kelly/index.html?iid=article_sidebar)

Pictured above is Kelly with some of the Junior Mounted Patrol members.

Above, a child takes a riding lesson at Ebony Horsewoman.

Passion [for positive people] Blogs, Uncategorized

Passion [for positive people] Blog — Reuniting Soldiers and Their Best Animal Friends from Nowzad to New York

February 12, 2015 Emma Behr 1 Comment

Imagine a soldier, far from home, lonely in a very foreign place. This soldier seeks normalcy, comfort even. One day he is walking with his squadron and they witness a dog fight. They break it up, and one of the dogs follows the soldier back to the base. They quickly become fast companions, completing each other. This is the story of Sergeant Pen Farthing. He fell in love with the dog that followed him back to the base, and named him Nowzad after the town he was fighting in. Farthing went through a strenuous process to get Nowzad back to England, and realized that he wanted to help other soldiers do the same.

Since the 2007 founding of Nowzad Dogs, Farthing has helped hundreds of soldiers reunite with stray dogs and cats they cared for in Afghanistan. His organization also opened up the first and only official animal shelter in Afghanistan that is now run by fourteen Afghanis, including four veterinarians. The shelter spays, neuters, and vaccinates stray animals and places rescued animals in caring homes in Afghanistan.

The feeling soldiers received when their Afghani animal friends would greet them upon returning to the base was deeply joyful and much needed. The bonds formed between the soldiers and the animals is symbiotic and therapeutic. They fill voids in both the life of the soldier and the life of the animal. The soldiers do not want to just abandon the animals they came to love, so Nowzad Dogs creates an opportunity for the friendship to carry on indefinitely. Caba met his Afghani dog, Cadence, at the airport in New York after she was shipped over by Nowzad Dogs. Caba said, “”When I pulled Cadence out of the crate at (the airport), I was just so excited. I was even more excited that she remembered me…It kind of brought me back to coming back after a mission and having her there. It brought me right back to that feeling.”

Source: CNN <http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/14/world/asia/cnnheroes-farthing/index.html>

Image source: www.mirror.co.uk

Pen Farthing is the recipient of the 2015 CNN Hero Award for his work to improve not just the lives of soldiers by reuniting them with their animal loved ones, but also the quality of life for Afghanistan’s stray animals.

For more information about his award, follow this link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/18/world/2014-cnn-hero-of-the-year-pen-farthing/index.html

Rhetoric and Civic Life Blogs

Response to Malcolm X’s Speech at the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity

February 12, 2015 Emma Behr Leave a comment

Malcolm X’s rationale for the creation of the Organization of Afro American Unity was to unite all people of African descent, in both the western and eastern hemispheres, with the aim to eventually merge the two. Malcolm implies that African Americans living in the United States would join Africans on the continent of Africa eventually. This is because he acknowledges the lack of freedom, justice, and equality for African Americans in the United States, a place supposedly founded upon the principles of freedom, justice, and equality. He wants to take people to a place where they can control their own destiny. During his travels in Africa, Malcolm X witnessed the success of the creation of such organizations in Africa and was inspired to establish one in the United States.

Malcolm X unites the words “self-preservation” and “self-defense.” Self-defense is not an offensive move; it is to defend your life, nothing more. Malcolm X feels that because the government, law enforcement officials, and neighbors will not look out for the African American community, African Americans need to take advantage of their Second Amendment rights and protect themselves since no one else will. Furthermore, African Americans were and still are violently and hatefully targeted by many, so self-defense is the only natural course of action in order to counter the attacks and offenses.

Malcolm X’s take on the importance of education in the Civil Rights Movement is not to increase one’s worth in the eyes of others, but to increase one’s dignity and self-worth. It would seem that Malcolm X’s take on education is a form of intellectual and emotional self-defense. He cites the glaring inequalities of African American schools when compared to white schools and the cruciality of leveling the disparities in order to empower the children who were and still are being “criminally shortchanged in the public school system of America.”

Civic Issue Blogs -- The Human Condition

The Human Condition — Je suis Charlie, ou je ne suis pas Charlie?

February 6, 2015 Emma Behr 1 Comment

On January 7, 2015, there was a shooting in the office of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical newspaper, that left twelve dead. The suspected gunmen were two young men, brothers, who were members of Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch.

Charlie Hebdo makes fun of all religions, cultures, countries, and politics, but their jokes about the Muslim Prophet Muhammed were found particularly offensive by many, including the two gunmen. Following the shooting, France raised the highest terror alert and deployed soldiers to parts of France. There was a manhunt for the gunmen that resulted in their deaths.

Several events occurred after the shooting attack at Charlie Hebdo. On January 11, 2015, two million people, including over 40 world leaders, marched in Paris in protest of the shooting. Protestors were advocating for the freedom of speech, press, and expression that they believed to have been infringed upon by the Charlie Hebdo shooters. To stress this point, protestors held pencils. They also held signs that read, “Je suis Charlie” which means, “I am Charlie” in support of the victims of Charlie Hebdo. Yes, no one should be victimized and killed, and freedom of speech is fundamental, but the protestors failed to acknowledge two other grave incidents that took place almost simultaneously along with the Charlie Hebdo shootings and gave rise to the opposing slogan, “Je ne suis pas Charlie,” which means, “I am not Charlie.”

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shooting, 26 French mosques and Muslim-run businesses and organizations were attacked violently. Non-extremist Muslims (the vast majority of Muslims) were stereotyped, judged, and generalized, not to mention insulted and injured. No one marched for the targeted and victimized Muslims.

Furthermore, on January 3 and 7, 2015, attacks were perpetrated by Boko Haram on the Nigerian town of Baga leaving an estimated 2,000 civilians dead. Boko Haram (“Western Education is Forbidden”) is a terrorist Islamist movement based in northeast Nigeria that has been linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Boko Haram carries out attacks such as these in an attempt to strengthen and enforce the rule of Sharia law across Nigeria which is mostly split Muslim in the north and Christian in the south. Boko Haram’s attack on Baga, Nigeria is estimated to be its deadliest yet. Nearly 15,000 Nigerians fled to Chad, displaced, following the attack. It was a devastating disaster, yet no one marched for the 2,000 Nigerian victims who were killed the same day as the 12 French victims.

News of the attack at Charlie Hebdo spread like wildfire across the globe, and small, local businesses in towns as small as State College, Pennsylvania sport signs that read, “Je suis Charlie” in their shop windows. How is it that this relatively small-scale attack made reverberating world headlines, yet comparatively few know of the terrorized French Muslims and the massacred Nigerians? It leaves room to wonder where the supporters are of victims in other parts of the world; the non-western world.

Presenting the alternative, “Je suis pas Charlie” view is not to decry the victims of Charlie Hebdo. It is to raise awareness and attempt to rally support for other victims, the Muslims in France, the families in Baga, Nigeria, and all others whose numbers are much greater than the twelve killed at Charlie Hebdo. Again, this is not to deprecieate the lives of those lost at Charlie Hebdo, it is to pay tribute to other victims. To draw attention to the numerical difference between 12 French people and 2,000 Nigerians is not to depreciate the fact that because more people died in one attack, their lives are to be mourned more than the fewer people who died in the other attack. No life is more valuable than another, and all deserve respect and love. However, it could be argued that an injustice exists in the acknowledgement of the three attacks.

The march in France should not have been limited to “Je suis Charlie.” No terrorized person should have been excluded from the grief and support displayed by the march in France. We must not turn a blind eye to the plights of others. We must not be selective in our sympathy for those who suffer around us. Cultural, language, and geographical barriers must not interfere with our support and care for humankind. We share this planet, and we share much more in common than many know.

Je ne suis ni Charlie, ni pas Charlie. I am neither for Charlie nor against it. The issue is too broad, too vast to isolate sentiments in a three or five letter phrase. I am for the world.

charlie-hebdo-musulman-notinmyname_5183949 — www.lexpress.fr

charlie-hebdo-paris-shooting-21 — www.thewrap.com

Sources: Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-nelson/je-ne-suis-pas-charlie_1_b_6497284.html), Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hebdo_shooting), (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Baga_massacre), The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/firebombs-and-pigs-heads-thrown-into-mosques-as-antimuslim-attacks-increase-after-paris-shootings-9977423.html), BBC News (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30987043), and CNN News (http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/09/africa/boko-haram-violence/).

Passion [for positive people] Blogs

Passion [for positive people] Blog — Body Builder Strengthens the Disabled

February 4, 2015 Emma Behr Leave a comment

Albany, New York — Ned Norton, a former trainer of Olympic athletes and bodybuilders, made a decision that not only changed his life, but improved the lives of many.

One fateful day 25 years ago, a young man with a spinal chord injury walked into Norton’s gym and asked for help. Such physical and psychological progress was made with this young man, a news paper article was written, word spread, and Norton’s phone began to ring off the hook. It was then that he realized that this was his calling.

So he dedicated himself to providing twice-a-week strength and conditioning training for people with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities at low or no cost (many of his clients are already living on Social Security and disability income).The building in which the gym is located was donated to Norton by the city. The equipment he uses is specially made to fit the needs of his clients. Norton, who is the only trainer, trains 120 people per week at his nonprofit which he calls Warriors on Wheels.

Norton’s goal is to make his disabled clients as capable and independent as possible. He acknowledges that the world is more wheelchair friendly now, but that strength is required in order to get around in a wheel chair. His clients grow strong and independent, and they are able to live full lives. Kathleen Lane, 51, has multiple sclerosis. She said of Norton’s gym, “I come out of here feeling better than I do when I first come in … It changed my life. … Ned’s unbelievable.”

Clients are not only empowered with strength and confidence. They find themselves among peers who understand what they are going through. This is often a bonding experience between not just Norton and the clients, but also amongst the clients. A network of understanding and friendship is built and lives are changed.

Norton said that many of his clients have gone on to work again, drive again, and pursue their hobbies and interests without the limitation of their disabilities. Norton says, “I’m not a genius. I’m not a miracle worker … But I do know what I’m doing in the gym, because that’s what I love doing and that’s what I have to offer to people.”

Source: CNN <http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/us/cnnheroes-norton/index.html>

Passion [for positive people] Blogs

Passion [for positive people] Pilot Blog — Obama Opens Doors to Education

January 30, 2015 Emma Behr 3 Comments

To reiterate, I have decided that this semester’s passion blog topic will be to focus, once a week, on an individual who has done something noteworthily positive and inspiring to better the world in some way, big or small.

This week, I would like to recognize President Barack Obama for announcing, in his sixth State of the Union Address, his plan to make community college education free for all Americans. Community college tuition currently ranges from $1,500-$7,000 depending on the state. Over the next ten years, Obama proposes that six billion dollars be invested so that the goal of free community college for all come to fruition in order to make “two years of college will become as free and universal as high school is today.”

It seems like a foolproof plan — who would disagree with this? Well, as usual, the issue of promoting education as a right has become a popularly polarized political issue. Many Republicans are opposing the somewhat costly investment, saying that if states want to, they can make community college free themselves, in order to minimize federal government control. However, Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Hasslan was actually the creator of a program after which Obama’s plan was modeled.

Obama’s plan is not designed to help “for profit” colleges and universities. It is only meant to help students who might not be able to graduate from or event attend an institute of higher education without the minimal cost of community college that would be enacted by the plan.

However, there are some strings attached to the plan. Not for students, but for the community colleges themselves. The colleges would have to make infrastructure changes, elevate graduation rates, and make credits transferrable to four-year colleges. Students receiving the free education must be at least part-time students maintaining GPAs of 2.5 or higher. These changes could potentially decrease attendance at for-profit and even state schools, and could drive up enrollment at community colleges. Ted Mitchell of the Department of Education acknowledged, “We think this is a good problem to have.”

Obama’s plan would change lives. It sends a message to our country and to our world about education and its station as a human birthright. It took great bravery for Obama to take such a strong stance on the issue, and despite the harsh criticism he has and will receive for his crucial idea, he remains stoic and inspiring as ever.

W.E.B. Dubois wrote, “Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 5,000 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.” Obama’s plan solidifies my conviction that education is indeed a right, and my hope that education will not, for much longer, be experienced as a privilege.

Image courtesy of www.nbcnews.com

Here, Obama is proposing his free community college plan in Tennessee on January 9, 2015.

Source: The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/us/obama-announces-plan-to-pay-for-community-college.html?ref=us&_r=0>

Rhetoric and Civic Life Blogs

“This I Believe” Draft #2

January 23, 2015 Emma Behr Leave a comment

As you may have noticed, I have not included my second draft. That is because I do not have one. I am having a hard time finding things from my first draft that I want to change, as unrealistic as that might sound. I want to have a recurring statement or theme, but I am having a hard time finding one that flows with what I have already written. When I wrote my first draft, it came so directly from my heart, I am almost hesitating about making changes. But I am very open to suggestions, thoughts, and change, so if you can think of anything I can do to improve my first draft, please let me know!

Rhetoric and Civic Life Blogs

Civic Issues and Passion Blog Decisions

January 23, 2015 Emma Behr Leave a comment

After much deliberation, I have decided that for my Civic Issues blog, I will discuss global education’s manifestations as a privilege or a right, the history of why it is both or neither a privilege or a right, the current ramifications, and what can be done to ensure equal access to quality education across the globe in order to close the opportunity gap between the educated and the uneducated.

I have decided that for my Passion Blog, I will focus on individuals in current events who are making a positive impact and difference on the world in one way or another. I will focus on their achievements, actions, character, and motivation. I will assess the positive difference their action, words, or decision made and the short and long-term effects. I hope to inspire others, and myself, by focusing on how compassionate humanity can be.