January 27

This I Believe Draft

I believe in the power of community, even if religion can be confusing. Religious identity has always been something that I wondered about. Not just mine, but those around me who seemed so sure of their faith. I can’t say that I believe in the all the stories in the Torah that were put in front of me, but the power of community and the power of tradition are strong. I remember growing up, I would go to my cousin’s house for Passover, Shabbat, and Sukkot. Going over on Passover we would read the story of Moses leading his people out of Egypt, a story, I was told, was of my ancestors. Even if these distant tales confused me, I can remember feeling more connected to my heritage. Over these holiday visits I can remember finding the Afikomen with my cousins, the sweet molasses like sauce on the kosher meatballs that I couldn’t get enough of. The Sukkah with gaps to let in the night sky. Stars always seemed to stare down on us as we celebrated a tradition that my family had for generations. Without fully comprehending the history, or even the tales I felt closer to the people who made me.  

I carried this confusion with me through Hebrew school. I can’t say I always wanted to go, I mean who wants to wake up on the weekends? But I look back on it and I am glad I went. There I was able to meet more kids who had the same heritage as me, I was able to learn the history, and best of all, I got free pretzels. I can remember zoning out during ceremonies and staring at the stained-glass windows with depictions of holy events. Sunlight bled through them as if highlighting their importance, and yet it didn’t feel real. This all became clearer to me while I prepared for my Bar Mitzvah. Like everyone else at my synagogue I had to do a Bar Mitzvah Project, some project that would help better the community. One morning I saw a magazine article that warned of the diminishing bee population, and I knew that I wanted to help. With the help of a beekeeper named Don Shump we were able to establish a set of hives on the roof of the synagogue. The plan was to sell the honey to the community for the High Holidays, around the Jewish New Year.  

We spent some days on the roof in the beating sun, dripping sweat and lugging the liquid gold onto boxes to take below. This hard work seemed important to me, but I truly realized its impact once I saw the community it affected. After a service during the High Holidays, we began to leave the synagogue and people kept coming up to me and my family. They would say how much they loved the honey and how much it meant to them, and I realized that many of these people were older, those who came to services more than any other. Something struck me then that I will never forget: religion offers more than just faith and belief in God; it offers a community, and there is power in a community. Even if I am still questioning my beliefs, I will never question the power of community and the traditions it passes along. My heritage is taught through that community, even if I don’t know my ancestors, I know what they believed. With every dinner under the stars, every bottle of honey, I can feel those before me, and that is the true power of religion to me. This I believe.  

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January 21

New Semesters Blogging Ideas

As the new semester starts, a new blog starts as well. There are a few differences and a few similarities to last semester. One of these similarities is the Passion Blog. The Passion Blog from last semester that I wrote centered on my travels through the National Park system. I did not actually say all I wanted to say about it, and I think that continuing the topic would be awesome. I have at least one more park to get to, and I also want to talk about the history of the parks and their conservation. I can also talk about some national monuments, as well as historical landmarks. By broadening the subject while staying within the boundaries of the Department of the Interior, I can really highlight the work that the department does and how important it is to the country and the world. If I were to switch up my topic, I would talk about my newfound love for running. I have been running now for almost a year and I love it. I would talk about how I got into running and what I like to wear when I run. I could also talk about how I got to where I am, and where I want to get to as far as conditioning. Although I love that topic, I think that I have more to say by continuing to talk about the country’s national landmarks and parks.  

The Civic Issue blog on the other hand is new. This blog is focused on an issue that is prevalent to the country and our society now, something that I can explore and share about. The obvious idea to me is to talk about sustainability and the environment. I think that there is a lot for me to talk about there. Last semester I did a project on the state of the energy industry, and I think I could use that information as a steppingstone to a larger blog. I could talk about energy, such as how the future of the industry might work, the government’s new environmental policies under the Biden administration and more. I think that this is a topic that is very important to talk about, and that I would be very interested to do more research on it. The other topic that I could talk about would be foreign policy. The United States is in a very strange place right now on the world stage due to the former president, Donald Trump. Over the next few months, we will see President Biden try to work to fix the relationships that have been fractured. I can also look at how the pandemic has affected international relations. These two subjects have a lot to unpack and would be fun to write about, I think. 

Finally, there is the, “This I Believe,” project. Looking at this project I realized that I needed to look at my passions. I had to look at where I got these passions from and the events and relationships that shaped them. One idea that I had would be to talk about the environment. I talked about this in the Civic Issue blog section but if I chose to go another way then this would be a perfect place to write about my passion for sustainability. It may even work if I chose to write about this subject for both. I can trace my interest in sustainability through specific events in my life, and I think this would make a great podcast. My final idea is my struggle with religious identity. Although I am not a very religious person, I was born into a Jewish household. I had a Bar Mitzvah when I came of age as well. Exploring the family that I came from and what I believe could be an interesting topic for me to explore.  

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December 14

Civic Artifact-Extra Credit

The pandemic has created a new identity for the food, entertainment, and health industries. The way that these places have tried to combat the restrictions and changes have created a new world for these owners and workers. Along with all of this change is new advertising and new methods of delivery of the product that people buy. One thing that I do not see struggling as much as other industries is the coffee industry. As a college student coffee has become a daily necessity and the way that people deliver the coffee is changing. Starbucks now is pushing online delivery. At the front of every store, they now have the words, “order ahead online.” They push this so that when you come into the store you have minimal contact. Other coffee shops around the city have changed as well. Those that don’t have the resources that Starbucks does have put ordering on their website instead of an app and have windows outside the shops to order from.  

Over the past two weeks, since I got home from school, I have been exploring the different coffee shops and roasteries around the city. I was able to see the different methods that shops have used. The coffee shop Ultimo, a neighborhood spot, has a window where you can order and pick up the coffee. They have a chalk board outside encouraging you to order online and a link. Although not as easy as the Starbucks app, they offer something that Starbucks doesn’t, something personal. Another shop has a better system online. The Rival Bros Coffee Company has a website that sends you directly to their different locations’ menus. They have a system of two windows, one for ordering and one for picking up. Unlike Starbucks where you have to go into the stores, these locations allow you to get coffee without ever stepping inside.  

The coffee industry has changed, and the change is based on the resources that each company and store have. The Starbucks app has a menu and records all of the orders that you have had so that you can go back to them easily. The new holiday cups came with an encouragement to order online and they ask your name when you come inside. Although this method is more seamless, I have to wonder if the other method of staying outside the whole time, which gives you less of a chance of contracting the virus, is more effective. In a world where the easiest method has become the optimal method, companies have begun to try to advertise their safety, that is the best method of advertising. By looking at coffee companies we can see how an industry has adapted to the new norms. How long this will last is hard to say, but I wonder if these online methods will become the more popular method even after the restrictions are lifted. Will the money being invested in these new methods of delivery change the industry forever? We will have to wait and see.  

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December 14

New Civic Activities-Extra Credit

The Pandemic has created a world that until a few months ago seemed dystopian. In a world where human contact is limited, so much has happened and changed not just politically, but personally. I started college, which was much different from what I ever thought it would be. I had to wear a mask, things were closed, and football games were only on the television. Penn State worked hard to make it work as did other schools, though some not as successfully, and a strange routine became commonplace. I would have class online when the classrooms where siting empty not a five-minute walk from my room. But everyone did their best, and in a world that seemed to stand still for me the larger scheme of things kept moving. An already polarized political society began to crack at the seams, with protests and riots and a questioning of the political system that the country has relied upon for so long. I feel like the world that we knew before the pandemic will not return.  

When I say this, I don’t mean that I think we won’t return to in person activities, because I do, but I mean that the problems that the pandemic has   uncovered will not go away. The struggles of the working class, the distrust of the political system, and the corrupt healthcare network that let so many falls through the cracks will be at the front of everyone’s minds. This leads me to question where we go next. I believe that under the new administration things can change for the better. With the appearance of a vaccine there is hope of returning to activities that we took for granted, but that is just the beginning. The reforms that need to happen start with a government that can push for change, and to do this we as a people must continue to protest and make our voices heard. We must push for climate justice, a reform of the justice system, and so much more. The funny thing to me is the change we have seen during this pandemic has been greater than the past few years. I truly believe that large scale change is on the horizon and I hope it is for the better.  

So, when I am asked what civic activities have come up during the pandemic, I think of the political and societal change that everyone has been pushing for. It is important to remember that much of this has happened before the pandemic, a push for change is not new but it has been in the front of everyone’s minds in a way that it hasn’t in a very long time. I have hope for the future. The Biden administration has many promises, and I would like to think that they can keep all of them, but I will have to see what the future holds. For now, I think it is important for all of us to keep speaking up, change won’t happen without that. The pandemic has changed lives forever, but how we deal with the repercussion will be very important to the identity of the country.  

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November 18

Ted Talk Reflection and Brainstorm

Ted Talk Style Presentation Reflection: 

 

I had some struggles with my Ted Talk in the beginning. I struggled with what I wanted my thesis to be exactly. I knew I wanted to talk about the energy industry, especially in the state of Pennsylvania, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to focus on sustainability and fracking or not. I first got into this idea because of the presidential election. When they came to Pennsylvania they kept talking about fracking and the energy industry. As someone that wants to get into environmental law, this kind of thing really interested me. But after my conference I was able to get an idea of the path I wanted to take. I wanted it to be more about the politics behind the industry and the voters. There is a large push for green energy and I wanted to talk about how the industry is shifting towards this. After hours of edits, even on the last day, I created a Ted Talk that I am really happy about. I really think that I covered a paradigm shift that is important to the country now and in the future. 

 

Brainstorming Ideas: 

 

There are many public controversies in American history that could be talked about. This makes it more interesting and hopefully my group will cover something that will not be covered by another group. One idea that we could try to focus on is the controversy around the electoral college. I worry that this one is too obvious but it is a very important one to talk about. Some people in some states have a vote that matters more than others due to the system put in place. I understand that the system was trying to create a fair balance for state power, but I think it would be interesting to talk about if the system upholds in modern society. This is an important discussion and one that I think has valid points on both sides. 

Another controversy that my team could discuss is the higher education system. As a freshman during the Covid Pandemic it can be stressful. Many even before the pandemic have questioned the higher education system. I think it would be interesting to do a deep dive into the benefits and the problems with it. This could include talks about student loans and financial aid, and what students do after college. Some students do things that aren’t related to the major that they graduated with. These topics could be cool to look at more in depth.  

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November 18

Saguaro National Park Part 1

The Grand Canyon felt like an experience of a lifetime. The colors melded into shadows as the canyon seem to go down and out forever, like a mosaic. But my time had to end there. One thing about national parks is that the larger ones are so well known that often the others get overlooked, there are after all over 60 national parks in the country. Arizona is home to three including the Grand Canyon. One is Petrified Forest National Park, a desert filled with calcified logs of wood turned into swirling gems of color. Unfortunately, I did not get to go there. It was farther north, and we did not have the time to do it. Although not far from Pheonix is a city named Tucson. Tucson among other things is sandwiched between two halves of a national park. This majestic desert park is called Saguaro National Park, named after the giant cacti, that populate the area.  

Tucson is a two-hour drive from Pheonix but after the four-hour drive to the Grand Canyon it felt like nothing. Near the border of Mexico, Tucson is home to amazing Mexican food and The University of Arizona. Because of my family’s fanatical fascination with food, we were able to find the place that invented the chimichanga. A small restaurant with an old feel to it, but the food was amazing. I can still remember when they brought out the chimichanga steaming from the fryer straight to our table. Filled with hot sauce, beans, and so much more, it made anything else seem like a cheap imitation of this heavenly dish. It is hard to describe sometimes, these surreal experiences, but it felt like I was in history, which only got stronger with our next destination.  

Old Tucson is an old film studio that made westerns. With people like John Wayne filming movies there it is one of the most famous sites in the genre. Now open as a tourist destination, my sister could not wait to go. If you have ever seen Westworld, it is a show at least in the beginning, about people dressing up and going into a fake world, the world of the wild west. This is what it felt like. An old dusty road down the middle of the town was full of sand and some horses. On each side wooden buildings sat like they were hunching over from old age. People in costumes walked around pretending to be a part of what has become such an infamous American period. It is hard to describe it but there is something freeing about feeling like you’re in the wild west. In a world that has become so structured, it can be fun to just let go for a little bit, even if it’s all make believe.  

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November 11

Grand Canyon Part 2

The Grand Canyon was not far from Sedona. The mythical village of red rocks was a shallow imitation of what the Grand Canyon would be. There are things that are so famous, that are talked about so much, that you start to think that they cannot be as great as people say they are.  The thing is, the Grand Canyon is better in some ways. When you think of architecture, you think of man-made objects. This thinking can make it hard to realize how much better of an architect nature is than any one person. As we drove towards the sign, I was excited. We were finally here. Small kitschy stores and hotels lined the road into the park, and a long line of cars was backed up right outside the entrance. Three narrow lanes let in a steady flow of traffic in a timely and organized manner. National Parks aren’t free. I think this can be forgotten, but a lot of the time you have to pay your way in. We did, and drove to the dusty parking lot. I could see the edge of the abyss from the car, but I did not really get a good glimpse.  

The parking lot was near the edge of the canyon itself. A small trail lined the edge going for what seemed like miles around. Families gathered around the edge and took selfies and hung their legs off the cliff face that led thousands of feet down. Daredevils walked a tightrope of rock around crumbling formations, worn down from millions of visitors. It is maybe the closest thing to a nightmare for someone who is afraid of heights. Or a better way to put it, it is a nightmare for my dad. Every time I tried to walk to the edge he would cringe and make me come back. I did get to go a few times, but his fear got the best of him. The trail down into the canyon is called the Angel Trail, and I wanted to go down for a while, but without my father, my mom didn’t want to go down far. I remember turning back in disappointment promising myself I would come back for this trail. 

Although the disappointment washed away as I took in the canyon. A vast bowl of gray and red rocks meshed together, a living, breathing, time capsule into the geological past. It is hard to comprehend what it is like. The wind near the edge gets stronger and you feel like you’re on top of some vast unknown world. There is something poetic to me that one of the most beautiful places in the world was not built in a number of years, but was worn and weathered over thousands, creating a masterpiece of all ages, not just our own.  

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October 28

Sources for Paradigm Shift

The first source is the website for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commision. It the commission that oversees things that we use every day and the power and electricity that powers them. This specific link leads you to their sustainability efforts in what they call, the sustainable energy fund. This link provides different projects that they are doing as well as recordings of all board meetings connected to the topic. I can use this source to look at how the state is pushing forward with renewable energy.  

The second source is the website for the State of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Protection agency. This specific link leads you to information on renewable energy and the projects that they are doing right now. This is also a government link, but it is a different department all together. This focuses mostly on conservation of the environment so it will give me a different look at some of the state policies in place.  

The third source is from a state lobbyist group that focuses on sustainability and environmental protection. Titled Penn Future this link brings you to their home page. It is important to see more than just what the government is doing. Paradigm shifts can be seen through a government lens, but they happen more with the society and they are more up to date than the government, which can move slowly. I can use this source to look at the other side of state politics on the issue.  

The fourth source is a study done by NPR that shows the places that there is fracking going on in the state of Pennsylvania. This resource will be very helpful because fracking is a big subject in this year’s election, and it is a very polarizing issue especially in our state. I can use this source to look at the impact of fracking as well as what should be done and what is being done.  

The fifth source is an article from the New York Times. It is an article that looks at the risks of fracking in PA and what it is doing to both the environment and the economies of the local towns where this is happening. I believe by narrowing in on this subject of fracking it can be seen as a microcosm of the bigger issue.  

 

 

The sixth source is from another lobbyist group named, The Wilderness Society. This page in particular looks at the dangers of fracking and what it does to the environment. It also describes the process in detail. I can use this source to look at how the process works and for background information.  

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October 28

Grand Canyon Part 1

The national parks that I have talked about so far have generally been on the East Coast. A trend that makes sense when you think about my proximity to them, but one I was determined to change. This opportunity came when my family decided to take a trip to Arizona. This meant getting on a plane and going farther west than I had ever been before. To say I was excited was an understatement. I had always dreamed about seeing the desert. Iin my dreams, John Wayne was there in an old tavern, sipping whatever it is that they used to drink in the Wild West. Knowing this wouldn’t happen, I decided that the Grand Canyon and enough cactuses for a lifetime would be more than enough to satisfy the taste of the Wild West I had always dreamed of. So, we packed our bags, and we flew to Phoenix, Arizona, a world away in just a few hours. It’s hard to describe how different it feels to be there. The desert is exactly what you would expect it to be, a rolling expanse of cacti, rock, and tumbleweeds. Images of RVs and Walter White from Breaking Bad stumbling around seem so normal there that I half expected it to be real.  

The culture there is different as well. The city of Phoenix isn’t like a city in the Northeast. It’s spread out, not really walkable in the way you would think it is. They don’t have a subway system the way Philadelphia or New York City has. Native American culture is very prevalent in the art and the businesses around the area in a way that it never would be in Philly. I can’t say it was everything I imagined because I wasn’t sure what to imagine, but the second my sister dragged us to a store to buy cowboy boots I felt like this was exactly the trip I had wanted. With the Grand Canyon being nearly four hours north of Phoenix that was a trip that we would have to take in a few days.  

When the day came to go to the Grand Canyon we hopped in our rental car and got on the road. On the way we stopped in Sedona. Sedona is a wonder all in itself. Formations of rose-colored rocks rise out of the ground with sheer drops that go hundreds of feet down. I couldn’t help but stare in awe and think to myself, if this is just Sedona what will the Grand Canyon be like? And I have to say I wasn’t prepared for that answer.  

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