It's funny how things so simple as where we grew up, what type of music we listened to, and even our choice of job defines us. Changes us into the person we are todayw ithout so much as a second-guess as to when, why or how.
For Derwin Emerson -- this certainly is the case.
Emerson was born and raised in Jonesport, Maine. Being a coastal region of the State, Jonesport provided Derwin with plenty of fishing oppertunities (as well as 'worming', sardine factories and boat building). Between he and his brothers, Emerson remember keeping to very odd jobs. The first being: walking up a hill to a small cabin where posters of Aircrafts in silhouette. Jonesport being a tight-knit community, relied on the boys to identify the planes that flew over the town.
At this time the Cold War with Russia was happening, and so the government paid Derwin and his brothers to sit and observe through binoculars from dusk till dawn. At the end of the end they gave in their reports, and immediately sent notice should a 'red' plane be seen. None, however did.
The second jov Derwin contributed to was shooting sea gulls. Armed with a .22 caliber and a bagged lunch, the boys trudged through acres and acres of blueberry fields before settling down for the day. At this point in time, Sea Gulls were considered to be 'protected', however since they were destroying the crops it was alright to shoot them.
Besides identifying planes and shooting a protected species; Derwin was justa normal kid. Participating in sports such as baseball and basketball, as well as 'playing guns' and ice skating when the weather permitted. It was a time of the Lone Ranger and Rin Tin Tin, and Derwin and his friends would spend countless hours outside playing in the forest out back his house.
Throughout the course of his life Derwin Emerson, much like the rest of us, encountered moments and unimaginable disasters that impacted his life. For the better or for the worse -- who knows, but the outcome remains the same.
The Beetles and their rocketing success, New York Yankees winning the World Series several years -- as always a powerhouse. Attending a secondary school in Charleston named Higgins Classical Institute, sometimes called 'Huge Collection of Idiots' as a joke among friends. Here at HCI, Derwin encountered many a different races. It was a place where everyone was accepted.
The "Bay of Pigs" invasion, which launched three days after Kennedy assumed presidency in the United States. However, the fight only lasted three days.
The Death of the 'King' Elvis sculpted Derwin as well as the many assassinations of JFK, RFK, ML King, John Lennon and the attemped assassination of President Regan.
Derwin remembers Watergate and Jogn Dean's week long testimony! As well as President Nixon leaving in disgrace to the office of the MOST powerful country in the world.
Rolling stones and Mick Jagger! The 70's -- in general -- with all the 'hippys' and drug controversies, including the promiscuous entities that come with it.
Ted Bundy, Jim Jones, The hooded terrorists in Munich as well as the unforgettable fight between Muhammad Ali and George Forman.
All of these events have turned Derwin into what he is today; an well-known, successful aged man at Nokomis Regional High. From a boy to a teacher whose hosted witness to more than his fair share of America's greatest and worse moments.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
IMperialism Essay
Imperialism is something we are all familiar with. It's variety ranges from discreet to unjustly so; like water poured into dye, diluting it of its previous matter. We, America, have forfeited all of our morals for wealth and power unknown to Man. It's as though all we can see is the promised land, but have no means of achieving it through hard labor and deceny – and by all means we will have it our way.
“Our fighting blood was up, and we all wanted to kill 'niggers' ... the shooting human beings beats rabbit hunting all to pieces.” From this quote sends a terrible, terrible image of the United States. We are suppose to be he land of the free, not the land of indifference. Who are you to judge someone upon race? Who are you to take it upon yourself and take someone's life? It's past the point of return on the scale of barbaric-ness. That a man of an African American race should be lynched, burned and mutilated on a daily basis of two times a week. That between the years of 1889 and 1903 ... this was the norm.
“We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world ...” It should seem we have founded our country on lies. Who are we to play the part of God? Is there no such thing as religion freedom? Or were the notions set on the Bill of Rights just a half-hearted promise. “ That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also died. And then I went to sleep and slept soundly.”
Where do I begin? Are we so ignorant as to consider the Filipinos as savage creatures incapable of education and empathy, let alone the ability to seek spiritual guidance? I imagine this quote to portray the same scenario that involved the Native American's – who had everything in the world. And in the end the Government took that away from them, too. Their homes, their Gods, and even their children. But, it was only to be expected – right? All America wants is more.
“And so, by these Providences of God – and the phrase is the government's, not mine – we are a World Power.” Whether it be the Government who spoke it, Ted Bundy, or even the Holy Ghost himself – I could not agree anymore with this. It is as if were are so reliant on material items; more weapons, more fighters, more money – that we cannot see past our insecurities and into the truth. We aren't considered intimidating without some form of bloodshed. We cannot be taken seriously without a bit of brutality handed to those who never truly deserved it.
We, as a country, are having an identity crisis. So well do we wear the mask of injustice and imperialism, that we forget our own morals. Our own truths. We've sunk so far through the holes of corruption that all we can do is fight blindly in the dark. We traded in our equality for racism; religious freedom for hatred; and understanding for unforgiving ignorance.
But what more could you expect through Imperialism?
“Our fighting blood was up, and we all wanted to kill 'niggers' ... the shooting human beings beats rabbit hunting all to pieces.” From this quote sends a terrible, terrible image of the United States. We are suppose to be he land of the free, not the land of indifference. Who are you to judge someone upon race? Who are you to take it upon yourself and take someone's life? It's past the point of return on the scale of barbaric-ness. That a man of an African American race should be lynched, burned and mutilated on a daily basis of two times a week. That between the years of 1889 and 1903 ... this was the norm.
“We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world ...” It should seem we have founded our country on lies. Who are we to play the part of God? Is there no such thing as religion freedom? Or were the notions set on the Bill of Rights just a half-hearted promise. “ That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also died. And then I went to sleep and slept soundly.”
Where do I begin? Are we so ignorant as to consider the Filipinos as savage creatures incapable of education and empathy, let alone the ability to seek spiritual guidance? I imagine this quote to portray the same scenario that involved the Native American's – who had everything in the world. And in the end the Government took that away from them, too. Their homes, their Gods, and even their children. But, it was only to be expected – right? All America wants is more.
“And so, by these Providences of God – and the phrase is the government's, not mine – we are a World Power.” Whether it be the Government who spoke it, Ted Bundy, or even the Holy Ghost himself – I could not agree anymore with this. It is as if were are so reliant on material items; more weapons, more fighters, more money – that we cannot see past our insecurities and into the truth. We aren't considered intimidating without some form of bloodshed. We cannot be taken seriously without a bit of brutality handed to those who never truly deserved it.
We, as a country, are having an identity crisis. So well do we wear the mask of injustice and imperialism, that we forget our own morals. Our own truths. We've sunk so far through the holes of corruption that all we can do is fight blindly in the dark. We traded in our equality for racism; religious freedom for hatred; and understanding for unforgiving ignorance.
But what more could you expect through Imperialism?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Shelby Foote Video
http://sierra1868.blogspot.com/2010/05/shelbyfootevideo.html
My shelby Foote video is on Sierra's blog. I guess it didn't upload.
My shelby Foote video is on Sierra's blog. I guess it didn't upload.
Horse Psychology // Human Psychology - Research, NOT DONE!
*Sierra is writing the human part of the research project*
Horses are creature of habit; quick to flee and undoubtedly curious toward unknown things. Much like people, horses prefer the company of others and the saying, 'security in numbers', could not be any more true in this situation.
Horses are creature of habit; quick to flee and undoubtedly curious toward unknown things. Much like people, horses prefer the company of others and the saying, 'security in numbers', could not be any more true in this situation.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Research Project - 4th Quarter
I would like to do a project on the holocaust. Maybe make another video or something along the lines of it. I really don't know what to put on it, though, at least something that hasnt been done already. I am really interested in it and I feel ... obligated? perhaps, because my family is Jewish; on my fathers side, anyway. However, my religion is Christian and I don't associate myself as my heritage. If that makes any sense at all. Nevertheless, I would like to maybe, as crude as it sounds, research information on the holocaust and find a few people who were murdered from it and give a background view of who they were and could have been. And others who survived and what become of them as the years went along.
I do not know how to go about the entire situation, and I don't want to mess it up ... so thats about it.
I do not know how to go about the entire situation, and I don't want to mess it up ... so thats about it.
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