If you get Tony White's e-mail, there are multiple opportunities to see how those in government are using their power. Depending on your political philosophy, these instances can be perceived to be positive or negative. Some examples:
Last year, when the state legislature could not agree on the budget, Governor Brownback acted unilaterally to balance the budget as required. Most of the $50 million came from education.
When discussing the move to a 401K retirement as part of a defined contribution plan from a defined benefit plan, Senator Steve Morris of Hugoton and a few other moderate Republicans compromised in recommending that Kansas form a committee to look at the consequences before making this decision. Also recommended was that both the state and employees pay more in the future to keep the plan viable.
As a result, it is said that moderate Republicans, such as Steve Morris, will be targeted in their campaigns to replace them with more conservative Republicans who would be backed by organizations such as Americans for Prosperity who are primarily backed by the Koch brothers.
The question for Kansans is whether they want to be seen as being ultraconservative or more moderate in their degree of being conservative. The voters may tell the rest of the story.
Alan- I agree about the people in government using their powers for what they feel is important, but what irks me is the fact that whether they are republican or democrat they should have the Americans best interest at heart rather than a “Parties.” I hate political debates and rarely watch them.
Politics is so in the news with the primaries going on. I keep thinking about the front-runners and their choices of tactics for their campaigns. I absolutely detest smear tactics and wish those would stop. Gingrich fluctuates between spouting his leadership qualities and attacking the others while Romney seems to be avoiding publishing his tax returns. If a voter looked at only the worst said of a potential candidate, no one would ever vote.
On the other hand, I’ve lost her name, but the young homeless student who is using her abilities in a positive light is inspiring others to continue to reach for the stars. She hasn’t let her home situation influence her drive to continue her education and excel.
We all have tough choices to make in life, if we don’t take charge and do what we believe is right, life will happen to us. If we work hard and take control of life (where possible) we could enjoy a better life.
Jerrie-I agree with you on the young girl up for the science award that hasn’t let her family’s misfortune detour her from achieving her dreams. I did see on television the other night that she was on the Ellen show and AT&T gave her a $50,000 award to continue her studies regardless of whether she wins the competition or not.(another good use of power)
The young homeless girl is truly an inspiration and she is also putting a face to "homelessness" and showing that it really can happen to anyone. There was a short coverage of her on Channel One at school and it caught the attention of my students.
I also caught this story on the Ellen Show. It is a very inspiring story and I am happy that she hasn't let her homelessness keep her from achieving her dreams. It shows that anyone can reach their dreams, no matter the situation. I was happy to see the girl receive money towards college from the show and I have seen others receive funds and materials from th Ellen Show as well. They recently gave money, computers, books, and other schools materials to a school in need. I think that Ellen has good use of her power through helping others such as this on her show.
Recently Tim Tebow met with an 8 year old boy who has cancer. The boy was told, he has six months to live. Tebow met with him and gave him an autograph. He used his power as a celebrity to bring a small measure of joy into the life of a dying boy. I also think back the the past headlines of the CEO's of major companies, who used their positions in the companies to embezzle millions of dollars and cheat people out of their life savings. Even worse, theses people had a salary from said companies that was at least four times what I make in a year. I don't understand that kind of greed. Power can be used in positive and negative ways. We all wield power over others of some kind. We need to be aware of how we use that power and what results it will reap in the long run.
I like the story about Tim Tebow. I think it is awesome when someone like him is willing to take the time to meet with someone that sees them as a hero.
Alan~~ at this point in time I am just disillusioned with politics It feels as if education is unimportant to those in charge. I am tired of hearing about more budget cuts. Just once I'd like to hear that parents are going to be held accountable or monitored for student performance. Most teacher I know work very hard and the general public has no idea what this job entails. We need less budget cuts and more REAL solutions the the problems in education. Jerrie~~ I agree that basically, "Life is what you make it." You have to take what you are given and make the best of it, but it is so nice when someone tries to make it better.
Recently Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was boosting his lifelong mentor Tom Martinez's search for a new kidney after reaching out to his fans for help.Brady has known the highly-regarded quarterback coach since he was a young boy and credits the 68 year old with teaching him the basics and complexities of football that have led him to a fifth Super Bowl. He used his power as a big sports celebrity to help a lifelong mentor out who once helped him out. Another example of a person who is using their power in a more positively way is Chris Rene. He was recently on the X factor. Growing up he was an alcoholic and a drug user. He was so bad that he ended up wrecking his car and was seriously injured and almost died. The only thing that saved him was his passion for music. From rehab he went onto the show X factor and showed America that no matter how rough your life gets you always have a choice to change it. Even though he did not win he still has been cleaned and hasn't given up his dream to become a music artist. Clodfelter- I think it is awesome when famous people like that who we idol and look up to so much take the time to give back to others. It might seem like something so small, but I bet it was the best thing that ever happened to that little boy.
Jerrie- I also believe that "Life is what you make it." We are only given one life and we get to decide what happens, and if you don't that is your choice.
I know this person has been gone for years, but when I think of someone who has used their power for positive, I think of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to helping the poor, orphaned, sick and dying. After reading Power Genes, I believe she was an Inspirer! Even though she passed away in 1997, I still view her as someone to strive to be like.
Another person that stands out for me is Bill Gates. He has donated billions of dollars to help out so many worthy causes. It is truly inspiring to see someone who gives back to those less fortunate.
Ashley - I watched Chris Rene on X Factor and was very impressed with him. Hopefully he will inspirer others to get clean and follow their dreams.
dclodfelter - I was very impressed with Tim Tebow. I was watching a Bronco game. Before they started, they were doing a a piece on the people he invites to the games. All the people who were invited were challenged in some way, physically, heathwise, etc... You could see the impact it had on the young lady that was interviewed.
I think all things and events happen for a purpose and are not an accident at all. People are using their powers all the time. Some people just naturally like to do good while others are simply self-serving. On a positive note, president, Barack Obama, made headlines by volunteering to put together bookshelves at his daughters’ school on Martin Luther King Day. Another positive use of doing the right thing, were the Navy Sea Bees that saved the family that were dangling from the bridge in California a while back. The Navy Sea Bees just happened to be in the right place at the right time and since they had the right equipment they decided to stop and help rather than going on. Then, there are some who have used their powers negatively such as Hitler, Castro, and other dictators.
I think of Tim Tebow and all the media he has gotten for his belief in Jesus Christ. I believe this is a positive way of using his power to help influence/set an example for others, but the media doesn't always display this in a positive way. They make fun of him through comments about "power of prayer" or take his picture of him kneeling and put other people in the same pose. I feel like he is trying to positively influence people and the media has to put it down. Barack Obama, I feel takes advantage of the presidency to "show off" what he does on a daily basis. I feel like he is shown on TV more than any other president, doing volunteer projects. Maybe it's because the media is more present than it ever has or I just get tired of seeing him on TV BSing his way through office. I know there are people out there that are impressed by his actions, but I am not-that's just my opinion.
dclodfelter-I too don't understand the greed of large corporation CEO's that take money from others, and I am sure there are small business' that do the same thing. I just don't understand why you want to take from others for your own benefit. Jerrie-I agree we only have one life and we have the control to make it what we want. I choose to do what I can to be happy and help others to feel happy too.
“Life is not an accidental experience.” Cite 2 examples from the headlines that show how persons have used their power positively or negatively. The first person that comes to my mind is Tim Tebow. He is a young man who has taken a strong stand for his beliefs. Someone else shared a similar story, but in one of the last home games Tebow played in he invited a young lady from Loveland Colorado and her family down to watch his game at Mile High Stadium and arranged for them to watch the game with his family. This young lady has fought many medical battles and someone had brought her to his attention. He spoke about her bravery and courage and gave her several momento’s of the day to take home with her. The other person that comes to mind is Dr. Temple Grandin a world renowned animal scientist from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and a dedicated spokesperson for autism. Not only has she shared her story, but she continues to advocate for autistic children as she travels and speaks to many audiences.
Tim Tebow is an amazing person who uses his fame for good. Although I don't care for his team, he had me (and many others) rooting for him solely because of his integrity as a person. He definitely has a great personality and lives by principles, a characteristic that is hard to come-bye these days.
Dana and dclodfelter: I read the Tebow story from the perspective of the young lady and her family who go to the church my son went to when he lived in Loveland. His kindness and that of his family meant alot to her.
Another person is Dave Roever; who has spoken at many FFA conventions. He was badly burned in the Vietnam war and miracously survived. He is a powerful motivational speaker for young people but in the past few years has spent most of his time working with wounded warriors and their families coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. He says that he has logged more hours in a helicopter now than when he was enlisted and that he wouldn't change his horrible burn experience because now he truly knows what these young soldiers have gone through.
A negative use of power that immediately comes to mind is the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal. The school president or whoever made the decision to cover up the abuse used his power in a negative manner. Also, the police chief who stated Joe Paterno failed to meet his moral duty seems to be the one who started the ball rolling to fire Joe Paterno. Depending on what side you are on, you can argue a case that he used his power in either a positive or negative manner.
A positive use of power that I recently read about is Bill Self asking the Kansas students to stop shouting "and the home of the Chiefs" at the end of the national anthem. He stated he felt it was disrespectful to the United States and what our country stands for. He used his position/power to make a positive change and to put an end to disrespectful behavior.
The Penn State scandal was definitely a negative use of power by choosing to cover up such an awful thing. I can't imagine how people can cover up things like this and sleep at night. I know that it was probably easier for them at the time to hide the sex scandal, but usually the truth comes out in the end anyway.
There are so many examples of negative uses of power in the headlings to cover up, to satisfy grudges, to line pockets. I don't know that it is exactly headlines, but it nice to see in the Tony White newletter sometimes reporters, who have so much power over public opinion, sharing stories of success in education from time to time. We need more positive press.
I agree that we need more positive press. I had a hard time thinking of one story I have heard in the past few weeks - just one, but I could list off quite a few negative ones...
Negative ways in which people use their power is sadly always in the news. Politicians are notorious for this, from getting paid to vote on bill when they knew it had bad effects, to engaging in illegal extra curricular activities because they don't feel they'll get caught. The first thing I thought of was the Italian Prime Ministers situation for negative current events. Positive ways that people are using their power is Oprah's school for girls in Africa. Although the building of this school was not new, the first graduated class completed classes recently and all but two girls are continuing their education into college. It is amazing what a difference one person can make in the world to even just one other person.
I believe that life is what you make of it. People can determine their destiny by their actions. One example is the homeless girl who others have mentioned. She is pursuing her dreams and using her power in a positive way. She has received publicity and funds through her studies and is defiantly making the most of her situation. She was on the Ellen Show and received money to continue her education. I think it's wonderful when talk show hosts, such as Oprah and Ellen, give back to others and tell their stories on their shows. Some may think that the only reason they do it is to make themselves look generous, but I would like to think that isn't a factor. They are using their power in a positive manner.
One negative use of power is politicians using smear tactics and bashing each other on commercials. It gets old seeing it on tv and makes them come off as immature, in my opinion. It turns me off to politics in general.
Both of my headlines involve people who have taken advantage of the position they were in to use their power in a negative way. I included the links to the articles if you want to read more about them (Especially in the second example, I didn’t feel comfortable posting a whole lot of the related details). The reason I chose these particular articles is basically because they blew my mind. I know stuff like this happens a lot more than we’d like to think, but it’s still just absolutely ridiculous. I can’t wrap my mind around it.
1.) The sheriff at Rooks County was arrested 12/30/2011 on a probable cause warrant, but since, has been filed with 9 felony meth distribution charges (5 of them were for distribution within 1,000 feet of school property!). He made his 1st court appearance on Monday, and could face a max sentence of 8 years, 2 months in prison.
http://www.hdnews.net/Story/Axelsonweb011012 (This is from 01/10/2012, but has a few more details about the case) http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/axelson-1-30-12 (This is from 01/31/2012, and the most recent article I found)
2.) A 61-year-old, 3rd grade teacher from south Los Angeles was arrested Monday on “charges that he committed lewd acts on 23 boys and girls, ages 6 to 10, between 2008 and 2010.” The superintendent of this school noted that there was absolutely nothing in the teacher’s 30-year career with the district that would suggest there was the slightest problem. Additionally, an involved sheriff commented that if it hadn’t been for the film processor who brought the pictures to the attention of authorities in January, this situation could still be continuing unnoticed. The teacher made his 1st court appearance Wednesday (today), and his bail was raised from $2.3 million to $23 million.
Dana~ I have to be honest, I was “aware” of Tim Tebow before he hit the NFL, but didn’t become a fan until I saw a clip of him singing “Awesome God” on the sidelines during warm-ups at 1 of his Broncos games. Now, I’m hooked, haha! And it wasn’t like he was doing it to get attention or anything like that (at least that’s how I viewed it). He was just sort of singing to himself, like he was in his own little world. He doesn’t come across to me as a questionable type of person. However, I think sometimes the media blows things out of proportion and tries to shine his words/actions in a negative light (like you mentioned). Overall, I think he’s taking advantage of the platform he’s been given and using it in an appropriate and positive way. To me, he’s a WAY better role model for children (and people in general) than several other individuals in the news who have that kind of celebrity status.
dclodfelter~ Reading your comment about CEOs who have used their position to embezzle and cheat made me think of a story I just saw on TV last week. It was talking about a man (and I’m not for sure of his official company title) who had been a long, long, LONG time friend of this family. He had handled 3 generations of money for aunts, uncles, cousins, other family friends, you name a relative and this guy was involved. The main woman in this particular story was the granddaughter; a single mom with 3 girls who had trusted this man with her entire life’s savings, and he cleaned out every last penny (over $3/4 million I think). He’s in jail right now, but I can’t remember for how long. He had done this to 8 other separate families I think. And like I had mentioned in my original post, I’m certain things like this happen everyday, but I do NOT understand how people can do that to one another. I feel guilty when my parents want to lend me money for something, you know???
“Life is not an accidental experience.” Cite 2 examples from the headlines that show how persons have used their power positively or negatively.
1. I am going to cite the example of the headlines the media throws at us about presidential candidates. I get really sick of hearing negative story after negative story about opponents. These stories rarely deal with the issues at hand. No one is perfect. It is ridiculous that we rake these people over the coals and often drag their family members into it. Stick to the issues. I am not saying character does not matter because it does. I am simply saying that the news media needs to stick to the issues at hand.
2. I am going to take a headline from the Garden City paper. I am feeling very blessed to be living in a community that has a high school that received the Governor's Award. It is amazing that a small town in southwest Kansas has a high school that is in the top 5% in the state of Kansas for academic excellence. I was extremely glad to see that the newspaper took that and made a headline out of it. It sure helped to foster a lot of community pride.
“Life is not an accidental experience.” Cite 2 examples from the headlines that show how persons have used their power positively or negatively.
Wow just today reading about the school in Los Angeles who had those 2 teachers abuse their students and they had to get rid of ALL THE STAFF to figure out if there is going to be more abuse stories just shows that those stupid stupid men TEACHERS used and abused their power of influence over their students. This will give the media more things to bash us about. http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/justice/california-school-case/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Headline #2 about the half time show of the super bowl and the stupid chick who flipped off the crowd or whoever she was doing that to. How freaking immature, but also if that person is known for doing something like that, why in the world would the censors not be monitoring her even more? Sorry I picked 2 negative things to post about, but wow, what is the world coming to???
A positive I saw in the media was the homeless teen who is a science whiz turns her life around and shows the world that no matter your life is like if you put your mind to it you can do anything. On the other hand I have seen a lot of negatives power plays in the media with the 2010 election and the politicians that we hear about nightly. They all promise wonderful things but they all seem to at one time or another talk out both sides of their mouths!
When I look at the news there are many people who fall into this category. I also saw the Science fair winner and all she had to go through. Another instance was this article in a magazine about how this family has 2 children with autism. It talked about all the struggles they go through, but they were still positive and had made a documentary about what they are going through.
If you get Tony White's e-mail, there are multiple opportunities to see how those in government are using their power. Depending on your political philosophy, these instances can be perceived to be positive or negative. Some examples:
ReplyDeleteLast year, when the state legislature could not agree on the budget, Governor Brownback acted unilaterally to balance the budget as required. Most of the $50 million came from education.
When discussing the move to a 401K retirement as part of a defined contribution plan from a defined benefit plan, Senator Steve Morris of Hugoton and a few other moderate Republicans compromised in recommending that Kansas form a committee to look at the consequences before making this decision. Also recommended was that both the state and employees pay more in the future to keep the plan viable.
As a result, it is said that moderate Republicans, such as Steve Morris, will be targeted in their campaigns to replace them with more conservative Republicans who would be backed by organizations such as Americans for Prosperity who are primarily backed by the Koch brothers.
The question for Kansans is whether they want to be seen as being ultraconservative or more moderate in their degree of being conservative. The voters may tell the rest of the story.
Alan- I agree about the people in government using their powers for what they feel is important, but what irks me is the fact that whether they are republican or democrat they should have the Americans best interest at heart rather than a “Parties.” I hate political debates and rarely watch them.
DeletePolitics is so in the news with the primaries going on. I keep thinking about the front-runners and their choices of tactics for their campaigns. I absolutely detest smear tactics and wish those would stop. Gingrich fluctuates between spouting his leadership qualities and attacking the others while Romney seems to be avoiding publishing his tax returns. If a voter looked at only the worst said of a potential candidate, no one would ever vote.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I’ve lost her name, but the young homeless student who is using her abilities in a positive light is inspiring others to continue to reach for the stars. She hasn’t let her home situation influence her drive to continue her education and excel.
We all have tough choices to make in life, if we don’t take charge and do what we believe is right, life will happen to us. If we work hard and take control of life (where possible) we could enjoy a better life.
Jerrie-I agree with you on the young girl up for the science award that hasn’t let her family’s misfortune detour her from achieving her dreams. I did see on television the other night that she was on the Ellen show and AT&T gave her a $50,000 award to continue her studies regardless of whether she wins the competition or not.(another good use of power)
DeleteThe young homeless girl is truly an inspiration and she is also putting a face to "homelessness" and showing that it really can happen to anyone. There was a short coverage of her on Channel One at school and it caught the attention of my students.
DeleteI also caught this story on the Ellen Show. It is a very inspiring story and I am happy that she hasn't let her homelessness keep her from achieving her dreams. It shows that anyone can reach their dreams, no matter the situation. I was happy to see the girl receive money towards college from the show and I have seen others receive funds and materials from th Ellen Show as well. They recently gave money, computers, books, and other schools materials to a school in need. I think that Ellen has good use of her power through helping others such as this on her show.
DeleteRecently Tim Tebow met with an 8 year old boy who has cancer. The boy was told, he has six months to live. Tebow met with him and gave him an autograph. He used his power as a celebrity to bring a small measure of joy into the life of a dying boy.
ReplyDeleteI also think back the the past headlines of the CEO's of major companies, who used their positions in the companies to embezzle millions of dollars and cheat people out of their life savings. Even worse, theses people had a salary from said companies that was at least four times what I make in a year. I don't understand that kind of greed.
Power can be used in positive and negative ways. We all wield power over others of some kind. We need to be aware of how we use that power and what results it will reap in the long run.
I like the story about Tim Tebow. I think it is awesome when someone like him is willing to take the time to meet with someone that sees them as a hero.
DeleteAlan~~ at this point in time I am just disillusioned with politics It feels as if education is unimportant to those in charge. I am tired of hearing about more budget cuts. Just once I'd like to hear that parents are going to be held accountable or monitored for student performance. Most teacher I know work very hard and the general public has no idea what this job entails. We need less budget cuts and more REAL solutions the the problems in education.
ReplyDeleteJerrie~~ I agree that basically, "Life is what you make it." You have to take what you are given and make the best of it, but it is so nice when someone tries to make it better.
Recently Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was boosting his lifelong mentor Tom Martinez's search for a new kidney after reaching out to his fans for help.Brady has known the highly-regarded quarterback coach since he was a young boy and credits the 68 year old with teaching him the basics and complexities of football that have led him to a fifth Super Bowl. He used his power as a big sports celebrity to help a lifelong mentor out who once helped him out.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of a person who is using their power in a more positively way is Chris Rene. He was recently on the X factor. Growing up he was an alcoholic and a drug user. He was so bad that he ended up wrecking his car and was seriously injured and almost died. The only thing that saved him was his passion for music. From rehab he went onto the show X factor and showed America that no matter how rough your life gets you always have a choice to change it. Even though he did not win he still has been cleaned and hasn't given up his dream to become a music artist.
Clodfelter- I think it is awesome when famous people like that who we idol and look up to so much take the time to give back to others. It might seem like something so small, but I bet it was the best thing that ever happened to that little boy.
Jerrie- I also believe that "Life is what you make it." We are only given one life and we get to decide what happens, and if you don't that is your choice.
I know this person has been gone for years, but when I think of someone who has used their power for positive, I think of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to helping the poor, orphaned, sick and dying. After reading Power Genes, I believe she was an Inspirer! Even though she passed away in 1997, I still view her as someone to strive to be like.
ReplyDeleteAnother person that stands out for me is Bill Gates. He has donated billions of dollars to help out so many worthy causes. It is truly inspiring to see someone who gives back to those less fortunate.
Ashley - I watched Chris Rene on X Factor and was very impressed with him. Hopefully he will inspirer others to get clean and follow their dreams.
dclodfelter - I was very impressed with Tim Tebow. I was watching a Bronco game. Before they started, they were doing a a piece on the people he invites to the games. All the people who were invited were challenged in some way, physically, heathwise, etc... You could see the impact it had on the young lady that was interviewed.
Mother Teresa is definitely someone that dedicated her life to helping others. She should be an inspiration to us all.
DeleteI think all things and events happen for a purpose and are not an accident at all. People are using their powers all the time. Some people just naturally like to do good while others are simply self-serving. On a positive note, president, Barack Obama, made headlines by volunteering to put together bookshelves at his daughters’ school on Martin Luther King Day. Another positive use of doing the right thing, were the Navy Sea Bees that saved the family that were dangling from the bridge in California a while back. The Navy Sea Bees just happened to be in the right place at the right time and since they had the right equipment they decided to stop and help rather than going on. Then, there are some who have used their powers negatively such as Hitler, Castro, and other dictators.
ReplyDeleteI think of Tim Tebow and all the media he has gotten for his belief in Jesus Christ. I believe this is a positive way of using his power to help influence/set an example for others, but the media doesn't always display this in a positive way. They make fun of him through comments about "power of prayer" or take his picture of him kneeling and put other people in the same pose. I feel like he is trying to positively influence people and the media has to put it down.
ReplyDeleteBarack Obama, I feel takes advantage of the presidency to "show off" what he does on a daily basis. I feel like he is shown on TV more than any other president, doing volunteer projects. Maybe it's because the media is more present than it ever has or I just get tired of seeing him on TV BSing his way through office. I know there are people out there that are impressed by his actions, but I am not-that's just my opinion.
dclodfelter-I too don't understand the greed of large corporation CEO's that take money from others, and I am sure there are small business' that do the same thing. I just don't understand why you want to take from others for your own benefit.
ReplyDeleteJerrie-I agree we only have one life and we have the control to make it what we want. I choose to do what I can to be happy and help others to feel happy too.
“Life is not an accidental experience.” Cite 2 examples from the headlines that show how persons have used their power positively or negatively.
ReplyDeleteThe first person that comes to my mind is Tim Tebow. He is a young man who has taken a strong stand for his beliefs. Someone else shared a similar story, but in one of the last home games Tebow played in he invited a young lady from Loveland Colorado and her family down to watch his game at Mile High Stadium and arranged for them to watch the game with his family. This young lady has fought many medical battles and someone had brought her to his attention. He spoke about her bravery and courage and gave her several momento’s of the day to take home with her.
The other person that comes to mind is Dr. Temple Grandin a world renowned animal scientist from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and a dedicated spokesperson for autism. Not only has she shared her story, but she continues to advocate for autistic children as she travels and speaks to many audiences.
Tim Tebow is an amazing person who uses his fame for good. Although I don't care for his team, he had me (and many others) rooting for him solely because of his integrity as a person. He definitely has a great personality and lives by principles, a characteristic that is hard to come-bye these days.
DeleteDana and dclodfelter: I read the Tebow story from the perspective of the young lady and her family who go to the church my son went to when he lived in Loveland. His kindness and that of his family meant alot to her.
ReplyDeleteAnother person is Dave Roever; who has spoken at many FFA conventions. He was badly burned in the Vietnam war and miracously survived. He is a powerful motivational speaker for young people but in the past few years has spent most of his time working with wounded warriors and their families coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. He says that he has logged more hours in a helicopter now than when he was enlisted and that he wouldn't change his horrible burn experience because now he truly knows what these young soldiers have gone through.
A negative use of power that immediately comes to mind is the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal. The school president or whoever made the decision to cover up the abuse used his power in a negative manner. Also, the police chief who stated Joe Paterno failed to meet his moral duty seems to be the one who started the ball rolling to fire Joe Paterno. Depending on what side you are on, you can argue a case that he used his power in either a positive or negative manner.
ReplyDeleteA positive use of power that I recently read about is Bill Self asking the Kansas students to stop shouting "and the home of the Chiefs" at the end of the national anthem. He stated he felt it was disrespectful to the United States and what our country stands for. He used his position/power to make a positive change and to put an end to disrespectful behavior.
The Penn State scandal was definitely a negative use of power by choosing to cover up such an awful thing. I can't imagine how people can cover up things like this and sleep at night. I know that it was probably easier for them at the time to hide the sex scandal, but usually the truth comes out in the end anyway.
DeleteThere are so many examples of negative uses of power in the headlings to cover up, to satisfy grudges, to line pockets. I don't know that it is exactly headlines, but it nice to see in the Tony White newletter sometimes reporters, who have so much power over public opinion, sharing stories of success in education from time to time. We need more positive press.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need more positive press. I had a hard time thinking of one story I have heard in the past few weeks - just one, but I could list off quite a few negative ones...
DeleteNegative ways in which people use their power is sadly always in the news. Politicians are notorious for this, from getting paid to vote on bill when they knew it had bad effects, to engaging in illegal extra curricular activities because they don't feel they'll get caught. The first thing I thought of was the Italian Prime Ministers situation for negative current events.
ReplyDeletePositive ways that people are using their power is Oprah's school for girls in Africa. Although the building of this school was not new, the first graduated class completed classes recently and all but two girls are continuing their education into college. It is amazing what a difference one person can make in the world to even just one other person.
I believe that life is what you make of it. People can determine their destiny by their actions. One example is the homeless girl who others have mentioned. She is pursuing her dreams and using her power in a positive way. She has received publicity and funds through her studies and is defiantly making the most of her situation. She was on the Ellen Show and received money to continue her education. I think it's wonderful when talk show hosts, such as Oprah and Ellen, give back to others and tell their stories on their shows. Some may think that the only reason they do it is to make themselves look generous, but I would like to think that isn't a factor. They are using their power in a positive manner.
ReplyDeleteOne negative use of power is politicians using smear tactics and bashing each other on commercials. It gets old seeing it on tv and makes them come off as immature, in my opinion. It turns me off to politics in general.
Both of my headlines involve people who have taken advantage of the position they were in to use their power in a negative way. I included the links to the articles if you want to read more about them (Especially in the second example, I didn’t feel comfortable posting a whole lot of the related details). The reason I chose these particular articles is basically because they blew my mind. I know stuff like this happens a lot more than we’d like to think, but it’s still just absolutely ridiculous. I can’t wrap my mind around it.
ReplyDelete1.) The sheriff at Rooks County was arrested 12/30/2011 on a probable cause warrant, but since, has been filed with 9 felony meth distribution charges (5 of them were for distribution within 1,000 feet of school property!). He made his 1st court appearance on Monday, and could face a max sentence of 8 years, 2 months in prison.
http://www.hdnews.net/Story/Axelsonweb011012 (This is from 01/10/2012, but has a few more details about the case)
http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/axelson-1-30-12 (This is from 01/31/2012, and the most recent article I found)
2.) A 61-year-old, 3rd grade teacher from south Los Angeles was arrested Monday on “charges that he committed lewd acts on 23 boys and girls, ages 6 to 10, between 2008 and 2010.” The superintendent of this school noted that there was absolutely nothing in the teacher’s 30-year career with the district that would suggest there was the slightest problem. Additionally, an involved sheriff commented that if it hadn’t been for the film processor who brought the pictures to the attention of authorities in January, this situation could still be continuing unnoticed. The teacher made his 1st court appearance Wednesday (today), and his bail was raised from $2.3 million to $23 million.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10289454-disgusted-beyond-belief-parents-shaken-by-ex-calif-teachers-molestation-charges
Dana~
I have to be honest, I was “aware” of Tim Tebow before he hit the NFL, but didn’t become a fan until I saw a clip of him singing “Awesome God” on the sidelines during warm-ups at 1 of his Broncos games. Now, I’m hooked, haha! And it wasn’t like he was doing it to get attention or anything like that (at least that’s how I viewed it). He was just sort of singing to himself, like he was in his own little world. He doesn’t come across to me as a questionable type of person. However, I think sometimes the media blows things out of proportion and tries to shine his words/actions in a negative light (like you mentioned). Overall, I think he’s taking advantage of the platform he’s been given and using it in an appropriate and positive way. To me, he’s a WAY better role model for children (and people in general) than several other individuals in the news who have that kind of celebrity status.
dclodfelter~
Reading your comment about CEOs who have used their position to embezzle and cheat made me think of a story I just saw on TV last week. It was talking about a man (and I’m not for sure of his official company title) who had been a long, long, LONG time friend of this family. He had handled 3 generations of money for aunts, uncles, cousins, other family friends, you name a relative and this guy was involved. The main woman in this particular story was the granddaughter; a single mom with 3 girls who had trusted this man with her entire life’s savings, and he cleaned out every last penny (over $3/4 million I think). He’s in jail right now, but I can’t remember for how long. He had done this to 8 other separate families I think. And like I had mentioned in my original post, I’m certain things like this happen everyday, but I do NOT understand how people can do that to one another. I feel guilty when my parents want to lend me money for something, you know???
“Life is not an accidental experience.” Cite 2 examples from the headlines that show how persons have used their power positively or negatively.
ReplyDelete1. I am going to cite the example of the headlines the media throws at us about presidential candidates. I get really sick of hearing negative story after negative story about opponents. These stories rarely deal with the issues at hand. No one is perfect. It is ridiculous that we rake these people over the coals and often drag their family members into it. Stick to the issues. I am not saying character does not matter because it does. I am simply saying that the news media needs to stick to the issues at hand.
2. I am going to take a headline from the Garden City paper. I am feeling very blessed to be living in a community that has a high school that received the Governor's Award. It is amazing that a small town in southwest Kansas has a high school that is in the top 5% in the state of Kansas for academic excellence. I was extremely glad to see that the newspaper took that and made a headline out of it. It sure helped to foster a lot of community pride.
“Life is not an accidental experience.” Cite 2 examples from the headlines that show how persons have used their power positively or negatively.
ReplyDeleteWow just today reading about the school in Los Angeles who had those 2 teachers abuse their students and they had to get rid of ALL THE STAFF to figure out if there is going to be more abuse stories just shows that those stupid stupid men TEACHERS used and abused their power of influence over their students. This will give the media more things to bash us about.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/07/justice/california-school-case/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Headline #2 about the half time show of the super bowl and the stupid chick who flipped off the crowd or whoever she was doing that to. How freaking immature, but also if that person is known for doing something like that, why in the world would the censors not be monitoring her even more? Sorry I picked 2 negative things to post about, but wow, what is the world coming to???
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/06/showbiz/ent-super-bowl-halftime-show/index.html?hpt=hp_bn4
A positive I saw in the media was the homeless teen who is a science whiz turns her life around and shows the world that no matter your life is like if you put your mind to it you can do anything. On the other hand I have seen a lot of negatives power plays in the media with the 2010 election and the politicians that we hear about nightly. They all promise wonderful things but they all seem to at one time or another talk out both sides of their mouths!
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the news there are many people who fall into this category. I also saw the Science fair winner and all she had to go through. Another instance was this article in a magazine about how this family has 2 children with autism. It talked about all the struggles they go through, but they were still positive and had made a documentary about what they are going through.
ReplyDelete