18 million cracks

or How to teach women’s roles to young girls

There certainly has been a buzz all week about women – breaking through the glass ceiling. I was fortunate enough to hear Hillary Clinton’s message that while she did not win the nomination of her party she and 18 million others had put cracks in the proverbial male/society created glass ceiling. Then on Friday I sat in my classroom and watch as Gov. Sarah Palin continued that sentiment by saying that while Clinton cracked the ceiling, she was there to finish the job. Two women, one week, one goal………….
Some praised McCain for his choice; some said it was a disaster. Some loved that Hillary was the first to truly jump on the bandwagon to lead our nation; some said it was a disaster. So where exactly do women fit into society?


As a history teacher, in each chapter that I teach there is always the section on “the family” or the “role of the woman” and credit given to the females in my class I always have them asking “Why were women treated like that?” And I have to remind them that finding a woman’s role in society or even within the family is often a difficult task. There are barriers to what a woman can do within each race, religion, section of the world, and even among women. I remember how Hillary Clinton got slapped down when she gave that speech about “stay at home women and how they could make cookies” or something like that. Not all women want to rule the world, not all women want to stay home, not all women want to be the head of the family or leader of a nation, not all women want to be subservient – so even though we look to man and ask “why can’t we” we have to look among our sisters and ask “Who are we”?

This week I taught about the Hindu ritual of the Suttee. A ritual where when the man dies, as he is being cremated it is encouraged that the wife to throw her body onto her husband so that the family sins will be forgiven and they will all be reincarnated into a better caste the next cycle. In India, the most remote parts, they still find it acceptable for the fathers to kill baby girls because they are seen as a financial burden, and yet they accept some women in their politics. So how do we understand a society in India today that – in some regions still practice the Suttee – kill female babies and yet has voted for a female Prime Minister?

Today in China they are facing a huge problem regarding females. Because of China’s rule of one child - thousands of couples have been aborting their female fetuses because of the importance of having the male. In 2004 – you get kindergartens with 45,000 boys and no females. Now China is in the position of having to rethink the societal norms and encourage families to have the females. So how do you say in a communist country that “everyone should be treated equal” - that we are all of one nation without division and yet see their concept of the female?

I don’t even know if I want to go into the realm of religion and the role of women. In some religions women are encouraged to become preachers, ministers, advisors and in others they are to remain – not necessarily subservient, but to understand that the man is the head of the family and that the wife should be obedient to his wishes. I could write 5 blogs on the status of women and religion. But I will leave that for a later time.

So where does the modern female of the 2000’s stand? Is it beside the man, under the man, behind the man, or in front of the man?

I know where the females I know are standing – On a trampoline, jumping up and down and given enough time WE WILL break that glass ceiling My goal, however, is not to break it because of anger, or because we need to “prove” ourselves to mankind; but to break it through compassion and a desire to be better, and to improve our society for not only our daughters, but for all our children.

My favorite women whose leadership I admire the most and who I use as an example in my life:

#1. Golda Meir: First Female Prime Minister of Israel. Negotiate with the United States for additonal weapons during the Yom Kippur War (1973) while making breakfast for her family. Not a beauty but when she spoke her mind it was firm and determined.

#2. Margaret Thatcher: First Female Prime Minister of England. Extremely strong willed and able to stand up to the harshest critic of the English Government. She served England well, and was a great supporter of the United States. She was often refered to as the "Iron Ladyof England".

#3. Queen Elizabeth of England. Married to her country, gave birth to the arts rather than children. Did not back down or show fear towards an emerging King Philip II of Spain. "I may not be a lion, but I am a lion's cub, and I have a lion's heart"

#4. All the females in my life right now.

Be they teachers, wives, mothers, sisters, friends we are

the ones who control our destinies,

we are the ones who will shape the next generation,

we are the ones who will be accountable to

our granddaughters, grandnieces, and others

What will we answer when they say

“What is a glass ceiling”?

Florence Part II

There are two stories with Florence - the first is the art, the second are the churches. In my previous blog I wrote about all the beautiful art and sculptures there are in Florence, today my focus will be on the two main Churches and the Baptistery of San Giovanni(St. John).

The Duomo di Santa Maria de Fiore: “Our Lady of the Flower”
(The Flower in this case is the Christ Child)
This is probably the most recognizable dome in all the world. It has been in movies, documentaries and has come to symbolize the great achievements of artists Brunelleschi and Michelangelo. Started in 1296 it took 170 years to complete. The Nave was completed in 1418. In 1419 the famous Dome was started by Brunelleschi.
The horizontal and vertical bands of marble are from various regions of Tuscany. The white marble called “Carrara” are from the city in the province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany. The green is called Prato and the red Siena each also from Tuscany regions.
The outside façade was first designed in 1587, then a new façade, which we see today, was constructed in 1867 -1887.

The bronze doors are dedicated to the “Mother of Christ”
Be sure to notice the cross beams in the ceiling.

The Battistero di San Giovanni (The Baptistery of St. John the Baptist)
As I have commented in several blogs the Catholic faith believed that you had to be baptized before entering the church so they built a beautiful Baptistery across from the Duomo di Santa Maria. The most important part of the building are the Bronze door which were designed around the 14th and 15th century. The first Baptistery on this space was built in early 600’s.
The much larger one we see today was built from 1059 - 1128. The doors are scenes from the life of John the Baptist, and reflect the Baptism of Christ. The doors are referred to as “The gates to Paradise”.

The Basilica di Santa Croce
Built in 1294 by Arnolfo di Cambio - it was consecrated in 1443 by pope Eugene IV. It houses the tombs of both Michelangelo and Galileo. The Neo-gothic façade was added in 1857. It has 16 chapels inside

These are the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. The Pope wanted Michelangelo to be buried at St. Peter's Basilica but the people of Florence, as Michelangelo was a Florentine, insisted that his body be returned to Florence. If you click on his tomb the statues have taken a rather funny stance.

Sunsets


I often wonder about GOD. Is he there, does he care. What proof do we have of his existence? How do we feel his love? Is it as the Deist believed – that GOD is seen as this watchmaker who came to earth and set things in motion and then left?
I know there are a lot of people in this world today who are suffering, in all areas of their lives, emotional, mental, physical, economical, and social are they looking for the answers from man or from GOD??
For me GOD is simply a feeling of peace that comes over me when I think his name. There is that silence that comes into my heart that helps me to know that he is near – maybe not even a silence but more like calm.

For me GOD is in the sunset. I love sunsets. It is the time of day when all is done, and we can sit back in awe and know that this was a day GOD meant for us to have. What did we do with it? Did we make someone happy, did we spread a kind word, and were we the people he set out for us to be.
If sunsets could have a sound I would imagine some of them with the quiet hum of nature and others with the gentle giggle of an innocent child.

The colors of sunset can be as vibrant and exciting as an adrenaline rush, while others can be the warming gentle breeze of a hammock on a warm summer eve. Sunsets are not just for summer. Take time this year to watch the winter sunsets. They can be as beautiful and warming.
I was sitting here wondering where all this love of sunsets comes from when it hit me like a ton of bricks – my mother. I can remember ALL of the pictures she took of sunsets. She had a 35 mm camera and would stand on my front porch and snap shot after shot of sunsets.

God created our world from the smallest creation to the grandest of all messages –
“I am here…. I am with you….. I love you”.
Look to the sunset the next time you feel alone and see the life that is there, the quiet that is there and the knowledge that with the sunset, comes the morning.

I am proud to be an American

Today is a special day for me – the celebration of a ragtag group of Americans, under the rule of King George III, who took it upon themselves (the arrogance of them) to say “We wish to make the following declarations”. If you really look at the Declaration of Independence, beyond the preamble, you will find that it is a basic statement of complaints. We find that the king did this, or that England did that – 27 of the 32 paragraphs deal with complaints. But what were we really trying to say. Basically = we are old enough to be on our own. Scary thought given the climate of the late 1700’s. But they were willing to sacrifice everything they had = to obtain the simple concept that when decisions are made then everyone should have representation in that decision. The Revolution came on the heels of the Enlightenment period in Europe and, believe me I teach how terrified each of the monarchs was because of what was going on in “those Colonies”.
Think about it – those 13 colonies flatly said to one of the most powerful nations in the world at that time “we don’t need no stinking king”. Granted the English did not take it all that well, I mean after all they did send ships, and soldiers to “put us in our place”. But sometimes you can destroy the strongest ship by simply removing the smallest pieces.

I have taught American Government for the past 18 years. The past few years I have had the pleasure of teaching Advanced Placement United States Government which allows me the ability to really spend time on “What is America”. But for each class my daily statement is “Popular Sovereignty”. What is it and why is it important in your life?

There are 2 things that people in the United States do not always remember.

First Popular Sovereignty: means that the power of the government lies in the hands of the people. The Government literally can not do anything without the people’s permission. Let’s say that Congress writes a law requiring all of us to shave our heads on Tuesdays. WE THE PEOPLE contact our president and have him veto the bill. But lets say he doesn’t – WE THE PEOPLE still have another option – take the bill to the Supreme Court and say it violates our basic principles of freedom of choice to shave or not. Or lets say we want something – all we have to do is contact our representatives and, with a little pressure, we can usually get it done. If not; we always have the power of the vote………… ah…. The power of the vote.

Second – VOTE!!!!! America you do not realize how powerful that simple act of punching a button, pulling a cord, or yes Florida even punching a hole, has on the life we live today. I preach and preach to my students how important voting it. It is the act of choosing your representative on the local, state and federal level. It is also the ONLY TRUE RIGHT TO PRIVACY you have as Americans. The government can find out 99.9% of what you do with your life, and they can control about 75% of your life through federal regulations BUT…….. they can not regulate, or find out how you voted! Think about the last time you went to vote – you sign it (but it doesn’t say how you voted), you get a ballot (but there is no record of which ballot is yours), and you go into a secluded voting both or slot to mark your ballot. I have never understood people who then walk out and tell the news media how they voted. Why would you discount your one true right to privacy??? No where in the Constitution does it say you have a right to privacy, but you have to believe in your heart that the ACT of VOTING is the one right to privacy that the founding fathers gave you without having to tie it down with regulation and bylaws, and all the government double speak. It is a simple, pure right. VOTE!!!!!

Lord, we have a number of problems in our nation today. Left, right, straight, gay, 1st amendment advocate, anti everything, civil rights civil liberties, the rights of the one outweighing the rights of the many. I think we have lost who and what we are. It’s like we need a NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBERING who, what and why we are. What was it that made us great, that keeps us great, that offers the next generation hope. There are days when I want to go into class and say “Students I can not find one thing I like about our country today”……but then I remember – It was because of men like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Richard Henry Lee with 52 other brave men that I HAVE a classroom to teach in – THAT I HAVE the right to wake up and say “I Love the United States, but today I may not like it”. THAT I HAVE the right to redress my government without the fear that someone will break down my door and throw me in prison.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA~~~~~

May GOD and the people of this nation

take a moment to look around and smile……

to say – thank you forefathers – ya done good.

Here’s to the neighborhood parade, hamburgers,

hot dogs, potato salad and watermelon.

GOD BLESS and Keep the Faith America!!!!!

Remember to take time to pray for our men and women overseas. May they stay safe and return to us soon.

Florence Part I

Today’s blog is Florence (the first of two). You can go back to 2007 and see my writings on previous trips to Florence. I was thinking about what I could put in new that would make Florence more interesting but decided that after 4 trips to Florence it still comes down to the two famous churches in the town and two specific statues that just blow me away.


When you arrive in Florence the first thing that catches your eye is the beauty and calm of the Arno River. But don’t let that fool you – it has on occasion flooded Florence, the last being 1966. There are several bridges or Ponte that cross the river. The most famous is the Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) which was the one remaining bridge that the Germans did not destroy during WWII. The outside of the buildings on the bridge are reminiscent of the Middle Ages but in reality the inside of those building are used for storage from the many shops you find on either side of the river.


One of my many favorite stops is the Loggia Della Signoria – built around the end of the 13th century. It houses many famous statues. The first statue is that of Perseus holding the head of Medusa. It served many purposes – to warn enemies of Florence of what they were capable of doing, and it also served as a symbolic recognition by the Medici family as to their desire to split with the other Italian Republics.

The second statue has a little history to it – Neptune Il Biancone (wasted Marble). Often times the Florentines refer to this statue as the “ugly white thing”. It was built by Bartolomeo Ammannati and the people would say……..
“Ammannato, Ammannato,
quanto marmohai sciupato!
(you've ruined so much of marble!)”
It has suffered much humiliation – being used as a washbasin to being damaged during war. It was restored in 2007 after vandals destroyed part of the arm in 2005.

As a tribute to the Medici family, wealthy patrons of artists, a bronze statue was made of Cosimo De Medici. Cosimo ruled Florence from 1537 (age 17) to 1574. He was crowned the first Grand Duke of Tuscany. He had 14 legitimate children and 3 illegitimate. He was a very strong and powerful ruler.


The fourth statue has a little more history to it. The story was written by Livy and then adapted to sculpture. It is called the Rape of the Sabine Women. But it is important for you to understand that the word Rape back during this time period really meant -the Abduction or kidnapping- of the women. History according to Livy stated that the Roman men needed wives. They asked the Sabine fathers for their daughters. When the fathers refused they arranged a dinner for the Sabine to celebrate the festival of Neptune. Once there the Romans stole or kidnapped the women and forced them into marriage. These women were given rights and were treated very well. As the Sabine fathers decided to go to war with the new Roman husbands it was up to the women to run to the battle field and bring peace between father and son-in-law.
What makes this statue so unique is that it is made of ONE piece of marble. You have to look at it several times to understand the complexity of sculpting marble to make it appear that there are several different people before you. The designer went through 5 different mock ups before he felt comfortable enough to start with the actual marble. I find myself standing in awe at the way he chiseled the marble to make the pieces seem apart and yet bonded by history.

The remaining statues are of famous people in Italian history. This works well in my classroom as the students get to have that “visual” where they can see what the person looks like. We have the traditional people Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and DaVince, Donatello but my favorite Francesco Petrarch.

Francesco was one of the founders of Humanism –a new way of thought during the Renaissance. He has a famous quote that goes something like this: “Nothing weighs less than a pen, and nothing gives as much pleasure”. I require my students to think about the power of the pen, or these days, the power of the keyboard. We can write I hate you and have a horrible effect on people, or in the same matter we can write I love you and have the most profound effect on people. Think about the quote – what is your interpretation????


(Petrarch was found dead July 1374 in his library, his head resting on an open book, his pen fallen from his hand.)

The Island of Capri

Ahh....... the Island of Capri

From Sorrento we traveled to Naples where we caught a ferry ship to Capri. Once in Capri we got on a very small power boat for our cruise around the island. There are spectacular views of the cliffs surrounding Capri as well as the water. If nothing else it was worth it just to see the beautiful clear and I mean clear waters. I hope that you will take the time to click on the pictures so you can get a greater view of the water. As we were traveling the guide pointed out some interesting facts about Capri and the surrounding areas. But I admit I was more taken with the water than anything she was saying so this blog will be short on history… The water is so clear you can see the floresant coral under water.




(for my love affair with water see my blog from last year “Are we of water or land”)

One of the unique views was of a rock formation that the people of Capri have deemed the Virgin Mary. They believe that the rock formations have taken on the image of the Holy Mother and her followers after Christ’s death.


The rock formations here are called the Faragilione – or the Sea Stacks. These are natural formations that have been weathered over millions of years. The one closest to the mainland is called Stella, the next Mezzo, and the most unique of all is called Scopoto. It is impossible to capture the magnitude of these rocks in picture. You have to be there to truly appreciate the beauty and significance of them.
Once our boat ride was over – one moment – I forgot to tell you that there are so many boats out there making waves that during one eventful period I was drenched by a wake from another boat. So much for looking nice in Capri= I had to suffer with “wet butt” syndrome. Thank goodness it was sunny and hot and I dried quickly.
Ok – so we were on our way to Capri – you have to take a tram up the cliffs to Capri. Once there you walk to the most expensive sections of Capri only to end in one of the most beautiful garden areas I have seen in Italy. These are called the gardens of Emperor Augustus. After taking pictures we were led over to the side of the cliff where you could take pictures of the Marina Piccola below.

Again breathe taking views.

Capri is a beautiful island and I hope that someday you will have an opportunity to see the clear blue waters and the fantastic natural rock formations.

Sorrento, Italy

What a beautiful place to get refreshed.........
On our way to Capri we stopped off and spent the night in Sorrento. The City overlooks the Bay of Naples, Mt. Vesuvius, and Capri. There is a very very scarry drive to get to Sorrento. It is called Amalfi Drive. As you can see from the pictures Sorrento is beautiful, and what a wonderful way for the kids to relax, swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea) and catch our breathes before heading off to Capri the next day.






Our hotel is at the base of the cliff on the left side.
First stop after dinner - the water...........
This is the view from several of the hotel rooms.

Sunset - my favorite time. A time to relax, a time to reflect, a time to become one with life.
We move 900 miles a hour through life, there is so much to see, so much to do, and yet we rarely can find the time needed to slow down and ask ourselves - What did I just do, or What did I just see???



Sunsets.............my time to be