I might have a different feeling about marriage than some of you because I outlived a 29-year marriage, which ended with the death of my husband in Aug. 2002. I stuck to those "til death do thou part" vows religiously and if my husband was still here today I would still be with him.
But what is "death" in a marriage? Is it only loss of life? I mean the loss of a human life due to physical "death?" Can't there be other kinds of "death" in a marriage?
People change. How many times do you hear a spouse say "he (she) is not the same person I married." ? Truly, a person can change so much that he or she is NOT recognizable as the person you loved.
And what about protracted illness, that in which the sick spouse has absolutely NO recognition of the marriage partner, no physical or mental activity or is unable to live without assisted means...and what if this would go on for many years? Isn't that a type of death? Is the healthy spouse supposed to give up any chance for a normal life forever (or until the other finally passes on)? I am talking about Alzheimer's, strokes, accidents, whatever...I am not inferring that you should abandon that spouse, I just think you should be free to take up with another if you want to.
And what about change of heart? What if you want children and your spouse does not? I mean, what if you REALLY want a child? What if you marry someone who refuses to work? Or becomes an intractible alcoholic?
Back in "the day," Quakers would allow a man to remarry if his wife were incapacitated, and the new wife would actually care for the "old" wife in the same house...do all the work, etc, have more kids, etc. (not for me). these were very enlightened folk...but they thought it perfectly all right to get another spouse if yours was unable to "perform" and why was this not immoral then but it is now?
Something to think about!!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
HI!!! I HOPE YOU ARE NOT GETTING TIRED OF THIS, BUT THERE are only a few more days!
There is a Shakeapeare reading fundraiser/marathon going on in Courthouse Square this week until Friday the 14th at 8PM. It is easy to access: there is all of the parking for the Schuster Center, and meters parallel with Courthouse Square...after 6PM the meters are free. Just park on 2nd across from the SC and enter the square at the Boston Stoker...you will hear Shakespeare...live!!!!! It is being broadcast from a little art gallery right there. Can't miss it! You just walk in and read for as long as you like. I promise you it is great fun!
There is always food and drink available for participants and there are about a dozen packages for silent auction bids...mostly dinner and theatre...some art pieces if you want to make a bid.
Go read!!!!! It is a HOOT!!!!! There also are cool books about translations, etc and more Shakespeare books to look at. Did I really just put a preposition at the end of a sentence?????
Don't miss the opportunity!!!!! BTW this is a fundraiser for Relay For Life (cancer), so you are reading for a good cause!
There is a Shakeapeare reading fundraiser/marathon going on in Courthouse Square this week until Friday the 14th at 8PM. It is easy to access: there is all of the parking for the Schuster Center, and meters parallel with Courthouse Square...after 6PM the meters are free. Just park on 2nd across from the SC and enter the square at the Boston Stoker...you will hear Shakespeare...live!!!!! It is being broadcast from a little art gallery right there. Can't miss it! You just walk in and read for as long as you like. I promise you it is great fun!
There is always food and drink available for participants and there are about a dozen packages for silent auction bids...mostly dinner and theatre...some art pieces if you want to make a bid.
Go read!!!!! It is a HOOT!!!!! There also are cool books about translations, etc and more Shakespeare books to look at. Did I really just put a preposition at the end of a sentence?????
Don't miss the opportunity!!!!! BTW this is a fundraiser for Relay For Life (cancer), so you are reading for a good cause!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Early America as read in the Early Lit
I think the Lit of 1600-1800 says a LOT about the history of this country!! Until I read about Columbus and Cabeza de Vaca, I did not know Columbus was a prisoner, explorers were taken captive, etc. Unless one reads the literary accounts, all one "gets" from this time period is words from a history book. These writers bring it alive!! It is like you are there with them...can you imagine giving up everything you know in your "home" country and coming over here and running into what some of these folks ran into? I suppose no one had money to return to Europe...would you have stayed if you didn't have to ? I WOULD NOT HAVE STAYED!!!
Also, I wonder if what we know as the United States today would have been like if "we" had never come here? If we had let it be the way it was? If we had left the natives alone? I wonder...
Also, I wonder if what we know as the United States today would have been like if "we" had never come here? If we had let it be the way it was? If we had left the natives alone? I wonder...
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Where do these go???
I have posted three blogs...why do they disappear? I don't get this...anyone have a clue?
I was just thinking...
When reading Rowlandson today I wondered about the "bloodthirsty" among us, today and also throughout history. I wonder if, when your culture celebrates the brutal butchering and torture of a perceived foe, if then there is also a high rate of murder among your own...like if you want a problem solved, you just slay the problem.
Looking back in history of the 16-19th centuries and American dealings with the Indians, there seem to be peaceful natives as well ans bloodthirsty. If you remember, the Trail of Tears was executed in total peace, and those natives HAD to have wanted to kill those who were making them move. And even afterwards, when they had lost so much and were organized again, they HAD to have wanted to seek some sort of revenge. I suppose there was no way of knowing if they were horribly outmanned and outmunitioned, etc. but it just seems to me they would have wanted to kill.
Right here in Dayton, the Great Tecumseh (I think he was a Shawnee or a Miami) did just about everything he could to protect his people and other natives, but every now and then he would gather the troops and go on the warpath. And yet he was very intelligent and thoughtful about the entire situation...he was willing to let the settlers live here, just not on his lands. He had faith in treaty after treaty, only to see one after another broken by politicians in Washington.
If you get a chance, read his eloquent speech...the one he gives to his "brothers" (I don't have my book...look in the index under "Tecumseh" and the speech is there). If you read it, you will see a litany of wrongs and finally, a decision to take action. Obviously, this was not a man with a short fuse or a lack of respect for humans.
Tecumseh's brother, sounds like "Cheek-sicca," was killed right at the corner of Monument and either Ludlow or Perry Streets. Tecumseh himself was killed during the War of 1812 at Thames, (Canada or Michigan). He was well-respected...there is a stunning statue of him lying in death at the Smithsonian.
And apparently, the "new" Americans put up with a lot and decided this country was worth it somehow. When I moved to my neighborhood, I was not constantly afraid that I would be butchered in the middle of the night by a "wild" people. I am not constantly wondering what country will take over my homeland. I certainly never experienced any kind of enemy surrounding my house and killing my family right in front of me. I doubt I would have wanted to stay here after any of those things occurred.
There is still time to read Shakepeare in the marathon which begins this weekend. If you can't or don't want to do it, maybe you work somewhere which would donate a gift card or food or something...they are using restaurant certificates to feed the participants and they have a silent auction, etc for the gift cards which do not involve food. they are taking ANYTHING...this is fundraiser for cancer.
Just look up "Free Shakespeare" and you should be able to find out how to participate or donate. I am going to do it (read) and I am looking forward to it! Happy Fall!!! Julie
Looking back in history of the 16-19th centuries and American dealings with the Indians, there seem to be peaceful natives as well ans bloodthirsty. If you remember, the Trail of Tears was executed in total peace, and those natives HAD to have wanted to kill those who were making them move. And even afterwards, when they had lost so much and were organized again, they HAD to have wanted to seek some sort of revenge. I suppose there was no way of knowing if they were horribly outmanned and outmunitioned, etc. but it just seems to me they would have wanted to kill.
Right here in Dayton, the Great Tecumseh (I think he was a Shawnee or a Miami) did just about everything he could to protect his people and other natives, but every now and then he would gather the troops and go on the warpath. And yet he was very intelligent and thoughtful about the entire situation...he was willing to let the settlers live here, just not on his lands. He had faith in treaty after treaty, only to see one after another broken by politicians in Washington.
If you get a chance, read his eloquent speech...the one he gives to his "brothers" (I don't have my book...look in the index under "Tecumseh" and the speech is there). If you read it, you will see a litany of wrongs and finally, a decision to take action. Obviously, this was not a man with a short fuse or a lack of respect for humans.
Tecumseh's brother, sounds like "Cheek-sicca," was killed right at the corner of Monument and either Ludlow or Perry Streets. Tecumseh himself was killed during the War of 1812 at Thames, (Canada or Michigan). He was well-respected...there is a stunning statue of him lying in death at the Smithsonian.
And apparently, the "new" Americans put up with a lot and decided this country was worth it somehow. When I moved to my neighborhood, I was not constantly afraid that I would be butchered in the middle of the night by a "wild" people. I am not constantly wondering what country will take over my homeland. I certainly never experienced any kind of enemy surrounding my house and killing my family right in front of me. I doubt I would have wanted to stay here after any of those things occurred.
There is still time to read Shakepeare in the marathon which begins this weekend. If you can't or don't want to do it, maybe you work somewhere which would donate a gift card or food or something...they are using restaurant certificates to feed the participants and they have a silent auction, etc for the gift cards which do not involve food. they are taking ANYTHING...this is fundraiser for cancer.
Just look up "Free Shakespeare" and you should be able to find out how to participate or donate. I am going to do it (read) and I am looking forward to it! Happy Fall!!! Julie
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Quakers
I am not so sure there are any Puritans left over today but there certainly are Quakers. I bought an 1885 house near Caesar's Creek which was built by Quakers as were many of the (old) houses in Springboro, Wanysville, Lebanon, etc. While there, the family of the woman who had built my house befriended me and I was included in their family events for a couple of years until I moved. The entire family was still "Friends" and so were most of their friends. I learned a lot about them...there was nothing not to like. Here are a few things of note:
In the Civil War, the Quakers did not fight but they certainly took car of all the farms where the soldiers had gone off to war and left wives, children.
The Quakers (men and women) in the late 1800's were registered to a political party, but did not vote. they were on city councils, etc and helped make policy for the regions in which they lived. They certainly were not "apolitical." Women were encouraged to express their views publicly the same as the men.
By 1870, Young Quaker women were abandoning "plain speech," the "Thee and Thou" we all associate with that sect. They were abandoning the plain Quaker dress as well.
Quaker girls were allowed to date outside of their Friend circle and did not necessarily have to have permission on whom to marry.
Each Quaker believed he or she had a single high calling...preaching, ministery, caring for the sick, etc. and pursued perfection in that calling. there was also a strive for perfection in everything they did.
More than other cultures of the time, Quaker women shared a large amount of equality with their husbands.
Enough!! have a great weekend! Julie
In the Civil War, the Quakers did not fight but they certainly took car of all the farms where the soldiers had gone off to war and left wives, children.
The Quakers (men and women) in the late 1800's were registered to a political party, but did not vote. they were on city councils, etc and helped make policy for the regions in which they lived. They certainly were not "apolitical." Women were encouraged to express their views publicly the same as the men.
By 1870, Young Quaker women were abandoning "plain speech," the "Thee and Thou" we all associate with that sect. They were abandoning the plain Quaker dress as well.
Quaker girls were allowed to date outside of their Friend circle and did not necessarily have to have permission on whom to marry.
Each Quaker believed he or she had a single high calling...preaching, ministery, caring for the sick, etc. and pursued perfection in that calling. there was also a strive for perfection in everything they did.
More than other cultures of the time, Quaker women shared a large amount of equality with their husbands.
Enough!! have a great weekend! Julie
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sad note about what the explorers brought with them:
One thing which really stuck with me when reading about the earlier explorer/writers is that we see in Harriot a description about how the settlers from Europe infected the Native Americans with diseases not indigenous to this country at the time. The diseases are not described (like pox, sores, coughing, etc) but on p 41 about halfway down, there is this telling of how the explorers would go to a village and sickness would arrive, but the "whites" would not get it (they obviously were carriers). And then evidence that the diseases spread from village to village...and the natives assumed that they were doing something wrong since the whites did not get the diseases and they did. Even the whites thought this was strange.
This must have happened with European expansionism all over the world. Pretty sad!
This must have happened with European expansionism all over the world. Pretty sad!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Continuation of Blog # 1 Lit 211/Fall 2011
The Native American story I referred to on my last blog (how the Big Dipper was formed) can be found in the book we are reading now...author N. Scott Momaday, pg 2706. 2nd paragraph from the top.
Today in class Dr. Cassel told us to look at "MAP" on Angel to make sure we have a workable plan for transitioning to semesters or graduation.
If you are attending SCC to transfer to a four-year, look up "transfer.org." You can get a real good idea about which SCC classes transfer to another college. Some of them do not transfer at all...some give one quarter of credit for two quarters of work at SCC, and some only require two quarters when you assume they require three in a sequence, like American History 101,102,103..
I recently went to an advisor at OSU to see what would work out for me...he used transfer.org. for the evaluation. So it must be pretty reliable!
Today in class Dr. Cassel told us to look at "MAP" on Angel to make sure we have a workable plan for transitioning to semesters or graduation.
If you are attending SCC to transfer to a four-year, look up "transfer.org." You can get a real good idea about which SCC classes transfer to another college. Some of them do not transfer at all...some give one quarter of credit for two quarters of work at SCC, and some only require two quarters when you assume they require three in a sequence, like American History 101,102,103..
I recently went to an advisor at OSU to see what would work out for me...he used transfer.org. for the evaluation. So it must be pretty reliable!
LIT 211 FALL 2011 Blog #1
There are two things here...one, I hope you all will look up local artist Sarah Luttrell on Facebook and open and "like"her art...she is UD Grad with a degree in English...she is an extraordinary writer but she is a knockout artist as well! You may enjoy her offbeat stuff...she now has works displayed at various venues and coffee shops around town, and in the mayor's office (Dayton). She is versatile in all art media, it appears.
So I have a deep interest in these Native American readings. My daughter is a second-year teacher at a native village/school in Newtok, Alaska. The people there subsist on fishing and their language is Yupik. In her district are about 15 villages of natives, all different tribes.
The children speak Yupik in Kg, 1st and second grades, then they go to second grade again and are immersed only in English until 12th grade. These kids use the Russian alphabet at home and speak Yupik at home, so there are difficulties for them in school. They are very close to their native culture and have tribal music, dances, ceremonies, etc which vary from tribe to tribe.
In Lit 213 we read a story of how the Big Dipper was formed...a story about a boy who turned into a huge bear, leapt for the sky and his 7 sisters followed...they became stars which formed the pattern we know as the Big Dipper. Now, this folk tale was thousands of miles from Alaska, but the Alaska State Flag is the Big Dipper made of yellow stars on a blue field. How did the story get to Alaska????? Or did it begin in Alaska and migrate southward with the migrant tribes, and end up in the mainland? It is a fact that the people we call Eskimos or Inuits came across the former land bridge (Beringea) (Bering Straits) from Russia and settled in Alaska, Canada, and the Northwest areas we know as Washington, Oregon, etc.
I have noticed that other folk tales from widely different areas seem to have been spread all over and each tribe claims to "own" them. I find this stuff interesting...how cultures end up with similarities sometimes.
Anyway...back to the readings! Julie
So I have a deep interest in these Native American readings. My daughter is a second-year teacher at a native village/school in Newtok, Alaska. The people there subsist on fishing and their language is Yupik. In her district are about 15 villages of natives, all different tribes.
The children speak Yupik in Kg, 1st and second grades, then they go to second grade again and are immersed only in English until 12th grade. These kids use the Russian alphabet at home and speak Yupik at home, so there are difficulties for them in school. They are very close to their native culture and have tribal music, dances, ceremonies, etc which vary from tribe to tribe.
In Lit 213 we read a story of how the Big Dipper was formed...a story about a boy who turned into a huge bear, leapt for the sky and his 7 sisters followed...they became stars which formed the pattern we know as the Big Dipper. Now, this folk tale was thousands of miles from Alaska, but the Alaska State Flag is the Big Dipper made of yellow stars on a blue field. How did the story get to Alaska????? Or did it begin in Alaska and migrate southward with the migrant tribes, and end up in the mainland? It is a fact that the people we call Eskimos or Inuits came across the former land bridge (Beringea) (Bering Straits) from Russia and settled in Alaska, Canada, and the Northwest areas we know as Washington, Oregon, etc.
I have noticed that other folk tales from widely different areas seem to have been spread all over and each tribe claims to "own" them. I find this stuff interesting...how cultures end up with similarities sometimes.
Anyway...back to the readings! Julie
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Joshua Dunbar
Memorial Day Trivia: Joshua Dunbar, Paul Laurence Dunbar's father, served two terms in the
Civil War and is buried at the Veteran's Cemetery off Gettysburg in Dayton. He was an escaped slave. The roadside marker tells an incredible story...this was quite a man! It is said that his war stories influenced his son to write about the war and the "colored" soldier.
If you want to visit this war veteran's place of rest, go to the veteran's cemetery, look for the Civil War monument, and follow it around until you spot the roadside marker. It was an honor to stand before his grave there. Take care!!
Civil War and is buried at the Veteran's Cemetery off Gettysburg in Dayton. He was an escaped slave. The roadside marker tells an incredible story...this was quite a man! It is said that his war stories influenced his son to write about the war and the "colored" soldier.
If you want to visit this war veteran's place of rest, go to the veteran's cemetery, look for the Civil War monument, and follow it around until you spot the roadside marker. It was an honor to stand before his grave there. Take care!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Native American Legend Becomes Popular!
Monday, May 23, 2011
How to keep a culture alive
This pertains to the Native American culture represented in Momaday (Lit 213) as well as the essay from 297 about Inuits...
Native kids from here are losing their language...not by intention, just because they are becoming more "Americanized." In Newtok, they are taught in Yupik until 3rd grade, then it is 100% English til they graduate from high school. Since there are very few native teachers (because they occasionally do go off to college but they don't graduate) the English-speaking teachers are left to try and help them retain their native language at times. But it is an upward climb. There are few native language storybooks and no textbooks. The school and the teachers encourage the children to read Yupik by pasting Yupik words next to the English spelling words. They do try!!!
The children do present wonderful music and dancing shows...they all know how to sing and dance in the Yupik culture. But as this current generation of young children ages, I wonder how many of them will keep their Yupik culture close? It must be difficult when all around you is English! And the way people think is based in large part upon language (which is why we all need to know more than one language!).
I wonder if this same phenomena would have occurred if the "lower 48" natives were left to thrive alongside the American children? I woncder if their culture would have simply been "absorbed." Just a thought!
Native kids from here are losing their language...not by intention, just because they are becoming more "Americanized." In Newtok, they are taught in Yupik until 3rd grade, then it is 100% English til they graduate from high school. Since there are very few native teachers (because they occasionally do go off to college but they don't graduate) the English-speaking teachers are left to try and help them retain their native language at times. But it is an upward climb. There are few native language storybooks and no textbooks. The school and the teachers encourage the children to read Yupik by pasting Yupik words next to the English spelling words. They do try!!!
The children do present wonderful music and dancing shows...they all know how to sing and dance in the Yupik culture. But as this current generation of young children ages, I wonder how many of them will keep their Yupik culture close? It must be difficult when all around you is English! And the way people think is based in large part upon language (which is why we all need to know more than one language!).
I wonder if this same phenomena would have occurred if the "lower 48" natives were left to thrive alongside the American children? I woncder if their culture would have simply been "absorbed." Just a thought!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Permafrost layer erosion, Newtok, Alaska
The darkest layer of this erosion cutaway is the permafrost layer. It is melting and the land is sinking.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Photos from Newtok, Alaska
Hi! If you want to see amazing pictures of Newtok, AK, check out my daughter's FB page and look at all the shots of the outdoors. I am not cool enough to choose and post them here for you...when I get to Anchorage maybe she will help me learn how to do this. there are some recent photos ("kayaking" and kite-flying...have you ever seen kids fly kites in the snow? Guess who sent the kites??? their favorite Room-Grandmother, ME!!
In many of the pictures you can see the tundra and the boardwalks built by the Army so that the people have above-water places to walk. You can also see the primitive huts and prefab units they live in. Not for everyone...my daughter lives in a 12 X 24 modular. With holes in the walls. She has a toilet ("incinolet")which literally burns wastes when you push a button. She has water only at the school. The teachers shower at the school and do their laundry by appt. You will note, however, that the classrooms look 100% like the ones here. The kids primarily play at the school gym, and it is the town hall. This is their last week of school...there is still snow on the ground but it is melting. It is light til about 11 at night.
So here is the FB page: Betsy Duhl I think you will enjoy the photos! Julie
In many of the pictures you can see the tundra and the boardwalks built by the Army so that the people have above-water places to walk. You can also see the primitive huts and prefab units they live in. Not for everyone...my daughter lives in a 12 X 24 modular. With holes in the walls. She has a toilet ("incinolet")which literally burns wastes when you push a button. She has water only at the school. The teachers shower at the school and do their laundry by appt. You will note, however, that the classrooms look 100% like the ones here. The kids primarily play at the school gym, and it is the town hall. This is their last week of school...there is still snow on the ground but it is melting. It is light til about 11 at night.
So here is the FB page: Betsy Duhl I think you will enjoy the photos! Julie
African American Quilts
http://www.wcqn.org/exhibit.html You REALLY need to check this out! the originator of the network is Carolyn Mazloomi, PhD, and she started the network when she realized that there were several black women creating beautiful art quilts with no unified venue to show them. Carolyn herself has quilt(s) at the Smithsonian in shows...I think she has permanent ones (or at least one) in the Smithsonian Gallery of Af. Am. Art. They are BEAUTIFUL!!! Check out the gallery shows and if you ever get the chance, go see the show! For now, at least look at the pictures. I have met this lovely woman...she is very unpretentious, a very lovely person...she has written several books on this subject. when she can't find fabric she likes she dyes her own...she has deep visions of what she wants. the quilts are full of history and emotion. enjoy! Julie
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Sand County Almanac
I want to suggest that you actually read the whole book. It is pretty dry reading for the most part, but this guy really is very passionate about his cause,and he walked the walk, he didn't just write about it. If you want to see some of the stuff he describes, there are "replicas" here in the MetroParks...at Possum Creek, there are several well-marked hiking trails of various lengths on which you could see some of what Leopold describes. If you go, hike the trail called "Argonne Forest." It used to be part of an amusement park circa 1920 or so. Besides massive beech trees, there are remnants of the amusement park swimming pool and streetcar skeletons (they were used as snack bars, camp sites, etc.). This particular trail is suitable for anyone...even me. Takes about 30-45 inutes to walk it. Take your dog (on a leash). Take some kids!!!
We should all use the MetroParks...they are paid for with property taxes. They are for all of us to use.
We should all use the MetroParks...they are paid for with property taxes. They are for all of us to use.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
I have been thinking a lot about ecoterrorism lately. It occurred to me that Nature (capital N) creates her own ecoterrorism...isn't a terrible tornado, a tsunami, a fire caused by a lightening strike, etc ecoterrorism? Maybe it is called by another name (Act of God?) but it destroys what it has built or what exists already or things man makes.
Along this train of thought, a beaver is an ecoterrorist when he builds a dam which floods a valley. Is a flock of Canadian Geese flying into a jet engine and causing a plane to crash an act of terrorism?
I know it is not the same thing but then it is. The difference is that Nature acts with some force Man does not understand and someone who blows up a controversial bridge knows EXACTLY what he is doing, with the purpose of being destructive.
But EITHER is ecodestruction...for whatever reason. Both need to be dealt with! Just a thought. Okay, I just had a couple of beers. (Rare event for me.)
Along this train of thought, a beaver is an ecoterrorist when he builds a dam which floods a valley. Is a flock of Canadian Geese flying into a jet engine and causing a plane to crash an act of terrorism?
I know it is not the same thing but then it is. The difference is that Nature acts with some force Man does not understand and someone who blows up a controversial bridge knows EXACTLY what he is doing, with the purpose of being destructive.
But EITHER is ecodestruction...for whatever reason. Both need to be dealt with! Just a thought. Okay, I just had a couple of beers. (Rare event for me.)
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