Operation Return to Veganism

When people find out that I am a vegetarian, there are usually a lot of questions and sometimes statements.  "How do you get your protein?"  "I could never give up meat."  Every now and then I get "are you vegetarian or vegan?" and that one makes me perk up.  The person who asks this question has done a little homework.  I was asked this question just this week, and my answer was "depends on the week, this week, I am vegan."

My return to veganism came about for many reasons.  A brief history of my dietary choices may be helpful at this point.  In December 2005 I saw myself on a video and was shocked at how big I had become.  I decided to do something about it, and in January 2006 I began a low fat diet.  It was during this time we visited some friends, the wife of the family being a bosom companion and, at the time, was vegetarian.  I observed her eating patterns, compared them to mine, and decided eliminating meat would help me reach my weight loss goals.  After about a month, I decided to try veganism.  I lost 50 lbs. and continued to live vegan. 

About a year ago, I was ready to lose more weight.  About 15 lbs. had found it's way back into my life, and I was not happy!  I thought I might reintroduce low fat cheese and eggs in an effort to avoid so many carbs- not vegan choices, but it worked.  I was able to lose 40 lbs.  Now, here we are.

Cheese is wonderful and sinful.  I must purge it from my life.  I need rules and guidelines, or I slip.  Thus, I began Operation Return to Veganism on January 27, 2011.  But, I am troubled by my need to lose weight and fit into a mold of perfection.  Who has set this idea in my head?  No one but me.  It is fine to eat well and exercise in an effort to be healthy, but what if I don't lose any more weight?  What happens then?  Why is it so important to me and to society?

This takes me on another spin.  I find the trends in weight loss alarming and somewhat disturbing, even though I have fallen victim to desiring many of these very trends!  Why must we all strive to be perfect?  No one can attain it!  There is so much beauty in diversity- all shapes and colors. 

Being vegan makes me happy, and I feel fabulous.  That is important.  Exercise can be fun (though sometimes it is awful), and if I am using my body for hard work, nourishing it, and taking time to meditate and de-stress, I will be a better person.  I may not be thin (I won't be thin), but I will be happy. 

(Now, everytime I feel defeated, I need to read my own words!  LOL)

Educational Reform?

The following is a reaction paper I wrote this morning for my Instructional Issues in Language, Teaching, and Learning class.  I liked how it turned out, the feelings it brought forth, and I wanted to share.           

 After reviewing the posts of my peers and the articles from the past few weeks, I find myself wondering, “How do we please everyone, and offer quality education?”  American education has set many standards that are based on research.  Highly educated, well spoken men and women sit in meeting rooms and discuss the future of education for our children.  Most of these people have never gone hungry or experienced a severe communication barrier.  In the meantime, children go to school every day in frustration, fear, and confusion from both sides of the diversity fence.

            Woodson stated, “Negros have no control over their education and have little voice in their other affairs pertaining thereto” (Woodson, 1990 pg. 22), but the same could be said for our children today.  Substitute the word “negros” with English language learners, learning disabled students, impoverished students, or even minority students, and one begins to see what the climate of education is like in the United States. 

            Woodson also gave us this wise statement, “Real education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better…” (Woodson, 1990 pg. 29).  “Real education” is not something we have going on today.   We have forgotten how to allow our children to explore and learn.  We have become a nation that is preoccupied with test results and assessments.  This form of performance standard leaves behind those who are not performing typically and this usually includes English language learners and special needs children.

            As an educator, I am saddened and elated in the truth contained the statement made by Tamura, “The controversy surrounding bilingual education demonstrates that the debate has less to do with pedagogy than with the symbolic power of language use” (Tamura 1996 pg. 444).  Language is the root of communication and ties communities together.  In order to reach our children, and teach them effectively, we must understand them.  I put this quote here because it goes back to real education.  No matter what language our students are using (pidgin, slang, Spanish, Chinese), we must find a way to communicate with them and reach them.  This is what being a good educator is about.  “Language intolerance has been especially strong when those in power have felt threatened by people they consider culturally different from themselves” (Tamura 1996 pg. 432).  And?  We are all culturally different, and if we are intolerant of difference, we cannot rightly be tolerant of anyone or anything as we are all different.

            As educators we take on a huge responsibility.  If we desire success we need to think about the whole student, the culture they come from, and the language they choose to use.  As a society we have come a long way accepting diversity, but our children are leading us in this area, and we need to follow their lead.  As much as we need educational reform, we also need reform in how we view our fellow man.  Meeting them where they are and appreciating where they have come from is what will make us a superior educator.

Bibliography

Tamura, E.  (1996).  Power, status, and hawai’i creole English:  an example of linguistic    intolerance in american history.  Pacific Historical Review.  Pacific Coast Branch.    American Historical Association.

Woodson, C.  (1990).  The miseducation of the negro.  New Jersey:  Africa World Press.

Experiment #1

This is truly an experiment.  How would it be to randomly put down thoughts, events, musings, revelations, and other life events in one place, and allow other to read it.  Interesting.  So, my experiment begins. 

Today I am feeling defeated by my body.  I am not well and in need of rest.  This is the only reason I have found the time to create this blog.  If my wishes came to fruition, I would not have the time to write, and I would feel wonderful.