As May looms close, thousands of students are gearing up for the day when smiling parents will fill the crowd and thousands of boxed caps will fill the air. It’s that glorious day we call graduation.
But inevitably that day will draw to a close and reality will settle in, and many of those graduates will find themselves asking the age-old question: so, now what? Those who have no immediate answer may find themselves taking the back-to-basics approach. Translation: They’re moving back home.
“I’ll definitely go home. I have no money, so it will be a good way to save up,” says Kali Parmley. Saving money is one of the obvious perks of returning home, where there is an always-comforting roof over your head and food on the table. But for some, even those guarantees aren’t enough to lure them home.
Senior Krissy Herman insists that she won’t be moving home. “I don’t get along with my parents, and I’m too used to having freedom,” she says. These seem to be the two biggest reasons that separate those who are willing to spend some time soul-searching at home from those who are ready to move out on their own.
“We get along much better when I don’t live at home,” says Herman of her relationship with her parents. She says that her decision to live elsewhere was a mutual one. Instead, Herman plans to stay in Springfield, OH, where she went to school, but for no more than a year.
But many can’t deny the benefits that come with returning home, especially if there are no familial obstacles in the way.
“I get along great with my parents,” says Parmley, who plans to live at home until she applies for graduate school.
And then there are those who fear that they will become far too comfortable with mom’s homemade cooking or dad’s handling of the bills.
“I hope I don’t go home, because I’ll never leave!” says junior Moe Buckley, already fearing that one possible future.
Home is, apparently, where the heart is. But more importantly, home is where the free food and rent are. And for many soon-to-be graduates, that’s exactly where they’re headed.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
column rough draft
Something remarkable happened in Uganda. Not long ago, while neighboring African nations were reeling from the effects of crippling and ever-increasing AIDS rates, Uganda managed to do the impossible. They turned their rates around.
As Uganda’s AIDS rates fell from nearly 15 percent of the population in 1990 to a much-improved 8 percent by the beginning of 2000, the country’s success story began to offer a light at the end of the ever-darkening AIDS tunnel. But then something went horribly wrong. After years of progress, the rates began to climb back up. What happened?
Well, the United States stepped in.
By implementing campaigns that had already proven ineffective in its own country, the US managed to undo all the incredible work that Uganda’s AIDS campaigns had done. The name of the new campaign? Abstinence
Prior to U.S. involvement, Uganda had it covered. They were doing what other African nations had failed to do; namely, they had gotten people to talk about sex. People in Africa like to have sex but they don’t like to talk about it; in fact, it’s an almost taboo subject. That makes it awfully difficult to battle a disease that is transmitted chiefly through sex, and has led to some wild misconceptions. In South Africa, former president Thabo Mbeki even went so far at to inform his people that AIDS was actually a disease not of sex, but of poverty.
But Uganda managed to sidestep those misconceptions by facing the issue head on with campaigns such as ABC (abstinence/be faithful/use a condom) and “Zero Grazing,” which encouraged people to have only one sex partner at a time. And these campaigns were working. People were talking.
But the U.S. had something to say about that. Unhappy with the way funds were being spent in the HIV/AIDS campaign, the U.S. decided instead to invest their money in evangelical, faith-based campaigns that would promote abstinence rather than safe sex, and earmarked $1 billion to be spent on abstinence campaigns. Soon, the only way for African countries to get any funding for AIDS campaigns and prevention was to adhere to an abstinence policy.
Low and behold, the policy didn’t work. AIDS rates continued to climb and even Uganda, the African little engine that could, began to chug its way up the AIDS rate ladder.
The lesson of this tale is that Western solutions clearly don’t work everywhere (and in the case of abstinence, no where). Uganda was doing great, but when the U.S. stepped in and decided that they were doing it wrong, the whole fight went to pieces.
Imagine what could have happened had that $1 billion gone to campaigns that were already in place, already working. Imagine what could have happened in Africa if those campaigns and their messages had spread across the continent. Had that happened, we might be one step closer to imagining an AIDS-less Africa.
As Uganda’s AIDS rates fell from nearly 15 percent of the population in 1990 to a much-improved 8 percent by the beginning of 2000, the country’s success story began to offer a light at the end of the ever-darkening AIDS tunnel. But then something went horribly wrong. After years of progress, the rates began to climb back up. What happened?
Well, the United States stepped in.
By implementing campaigns that had already proven ineffective in its own country, the US managed to undo all the incredible work that Uganda’s AIDS campaigns had done. The name of the new campaign? Abstinence
Prior to U.S. involvement, Uganda had it covered. They were doing what other African nations had failed to do; namely, they had gotten people to talk about sex. People in Africa like to have sex but they don’t like to talk about it; in fact, it’s an almost taboo subject. That makes it awfully difficult to battle a disease that is transmitted chiefly through sex, and has led to some wild misconceptions. In South Africa, former president Thabo Mbeki even went so far at to inform his people that AIDS was actually a disease not of sex, but of poverty.
But Uganda managed to sidestep those misconceptions by facing the issue head on with campaigns such as ABC (abstinence/be faithful/use a condom) and “Zero Grazing,” which encouraged people to have only one sex partner at a time. And these campaigns were working. People were talking.
But the U.S. had something to say about that. Unhappy with the way funds were being spent in the HIV/AIDS campaign, the U.S. decided instead to invest their money in evangelical, faith-based campaigns that would promote abstinence rather than safe sex, and earmarked $1 billion to be spent on abstinence campaigns. Soon, the only way for African countries to get any funding for AIDS campaigns and prevention was to adhere to an abstinence policy.
Low and behold, the policy didn’t work. AIDS rates continued to climb and even Uganda, the African little engine that could, began to chug its way up the AIDS rate ladder.
The lesson of this tale is that Western solutions clearly don’t work everywhere (and in the case of abstinence, no where). Uganda was doing great, but when the U.S. stepped in and decided that they were doing it wrong, the whole fight went to pieces.
Imagine what could have happened had that $1 billion gone to campaigns that were already in place, already working. Imagine what could have happened in Africa if those campaigns and their messages had spread across the continent. Had that happened, we might be one step closer to imagining an AIDS-less Africa.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
review rough draft
The first thing that hits you when walking into Bob Evans is the line—the long, seemingly endless line. On any given weekend between breakfast and lunch, dozens of people can be found hovering just inside the doors, waiting for their turn to take a seat. Clearly, Bob Evans brunch is a big deal.
Anything that draws this big of a crowd must be worth a try, and the reason for its popularity becomes almost immediately apparent: a big breakfast at a relatively small price. It doesn’t hurt that the food isn’t half bad either.
The breakfast menu spans four and a half pages of eggs, bacon, hotcakes, crepes, and almost anything else your stomach desires. I played it safe and stuck with the Rise and Shine, the most popular item on the menu which comes with two eggs cooked any style, your choice of bacon or sausage, home fries and biscuits or toast. It’s a big meal, so come hungry.
I have no complaints about the food; it certainly wasn’t gourmet but it was simple and satisfying. My overeasy eggs were the just the right amount of runny and the toast was buttered to perfection in the way that only restaurants seem able to master. The highlight of the meal was the home fries, and of course the bottomless cups of coffee.
But the meal itself is only half of any dinning experience. The other half belongs to the service. I sat at the counter, and was able to catch a brief glimpse into the inner workings of the Bob Evans staff. The worked like a family and treated me like a friend, and had a knack for knowing exactly when my coffee supply was running dangerously low. Nothing says good service like a big smile and a waiting coffee pot. To top the experience off, the service is so quick that the initial intimidating line disappears quickly.
By keeping the food simple and the staff friendly, Bob Evans has come up with an easy system that is sure to keep the lines forming. It may not be the highest culinary experience, but as far as breakfast goes, Bob Evans it can’t be beat.
Anything that draws this big of a crowd must be worth a try, and the reason for its popularity becomes almost immediately apparent: a big breakfast at a relatively small price. It doesn’t hurt that the food isn’t half bad either.
The breakfast menu spans four and a half pages of eggs, bacon, hotcakes, crepes, and almost anything else your stomach desires. I played it safe and stuck with the Rise and Shine, the most popular item on the menu which comes with two eggs cooked any style, your choice of bacon or sausage, home fries and biscuits or toast. It’s a big meal, so come hungry.
I have no complaints about the food; it certainly wasn’t gourmet but it was simple and satisfying. My overeasy eggs were the just the right amount of runny and the toast was buttered to perfection in the way that only restaurants seem able to master. The highlight of the meal was the home fries, and of course the bottomless cups of coffee.
But the meal itself is only half of any dinning experience. The other half belongs to the service. I sat at the counter, and was able to catch a brief glimpse into the inner workings of the Bob Evans staff. The worked like a family and treated me like a friend, and had a knack for knowing exactly when my coffee supply was running dangerously low. Nothing says good service like a big smile and a waiting coffee pot. To top the experience off, the service is so quick that the initial intimidating line disappears quickly.
By keeping the food simple and the staff friendly, Bob Evans has come up with an easy system that is sure to keep the lines forming. It may not be the highest culinary experience, but as far as breakfast goes, Bob Evans it can’t be beat.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Poll story draft
The Wittenberg Bubble isn’t quite as protective as one might think. Despite its reputation for academic excellence and religious affiliation, Wittenberg University houses students that know how to have fun. They streak, they steal, and they certainly have sex.
A recent non-scientific poll designed to reveal students’ “secret sins” was distributed to 118 students of both genders and all classes. The results ranged from funny to downright frightening.
While most are familiar with the infamous task of streaking the Hollow at Wittenberg, many may not realize that the penchant for streaking extends far beyond the campus gates.
“I streaked a football game in highschool,” admits one student, a venture which ended in the backseat of a cop car. He certainly isn’t alone, 64 others admitted to streaking, one even recalled a streaking adventure through two sorority houses.
But once those clothes are off, Wittenberg students appear to have a hard time putting them back on. Twenty-two students have had threesomes, while 82 admitted to sexting someone. The most popular place to have sex? Anywhere in public.
“I had sex in a pool with a girl while 30 people were watching,” says one student. Other public showings include a public bathroom at a hotel, outside a park while a family was playing nearby, and one student admits to having “made love in the club at McMurrays.” Others get points for ambition. One student attempted a foursome, while another had a threesome with a pair of twins.
Of course, there are some who keep their craziness under wraps, admitting only to adventures in bungy jumping or sky diving, or a quick skinny dip in a neighbors pool. Shoplifting was a frequent occurrence. Fifty students said they had taken something, and items ranged from condoms to kitty litter.
Others take their risky business to a whole new level—a drug induced level. One student snorted Vicadin, another beer bonged 151, and one had a memorable “LSD induced conversation with a bunny.” Overall, 50 students reported that they had taken Adderall not prescribed to them, and 73 had driven under the influence.
It also appears that schoolwork is often a casualty in a student’s quest for fun; some of the most surprising results were related to academics. Ninety-five students admitted to cheating in school, and 78 have come to class under the influence.
Not to burst the Wittenberg bubble, but it looks like the college experience can be defined as crazy.
A recent non-scientific poll designed to reveal students’ “secret sins” was distributed to 118 students of both genders and all classes. The results ranged from funny to downright frightening.
While most are familiar with the infamous task of streaking the Hollow at Wittenberg, many may not realize that the penchant for streaking extends far beyond the campus gates.
“I streaked a football game in highschool,” admits one student, a venture which ended in the backseat of a cop car. He certainly isn’t alone, 64 others admitted to streaking, one even recalled a streaking adventure through two sorority houses.
But once those clothes are off, Wittenberg students appear to have a hard time putting them back on. Twenty-two students have had threesomes, while 82 admitted to sexting someone. The most popular place to have sex? Anywhere in public.
“I had sex in a pool with a girl while 30 people were watching,” says one student. Other public showings include a public bathroom at a hotel, outside a park while a family was playing nearby, and one student admits to having “made love in the club at McMurrays.” Others get points for ambition. One student attempted a foursome, while another had a threesome with a pair of twins.
Of course, there are some who keep their craziness under wraps, admitting only to adventures in bungy jumping or sky diving, or a quick skinny dip in a neighbors pool. Shoplifting was a frequent occurrence. Fifty students said they had taken something, and items ranged from condoms to kitty litter.
Others take their risky business to a whole new level—a drug induced level. One student snorted Vicadin, another beer bonged 151, and one had a memorable “LSD induced conversation with a bunny.” Overall, 50 students reported that they had taken Adderall not prescribed to them, and 73 had driven under the influence.
It also appears that schoolwork is often a casualty in a student’s quest for fun; some of the most surprising results were related to academics. Ninety-five students admitted to cheating in school, and 78 have come to class under the influence.
Not to burst the Wittenberg bubble, but it looks like the college experience can be defined as crazy.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Feature rough draft
A book can hold the adventure of a lifetime. Readers can fall in love, laugh, cry, defeat an army or kiss the prince without ever leaving the comfort of their own home, all through a single book. But the magic is fading fast.
The villain in this story has plagued readers for years, inducing gut-churning dread in children and teenagers alike: assigned reading. Those two little words carry some heavy baggage, and have drawn a distinct line between pleasure-reading and school-reading, a line which many students seem to reluctant to cross.
According to a study conducted by Dayton University, 58% of the adult U.S. population never read a book after leaving school, and that number appears to be increasing. What this means is that once the dreaded assigned-reading phase is over, most adults are content to part ways with the book. Even more alarming is that in the same study it was reported that 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year. Not only are adults not reading, they’re passing the habit on to the new generation.
Several book professionals told the Boston Globe’s David Mehegan that introducing reading to children at a young age is the key to reading for pleasure in adulthood.
So how do we make reading fun before it becomes a chore? First of all, give students a choice; let them decide what they want to read.
“Knowing that they have to read a specific book takes away half the fun,” said Jessica Costa, a sixth grade student-teacher at Tecumseh Middle School. At the middle school age, there are no assigned “classic” books designated to English classes, and teachers are free to choose their own reading lists. Sounds like the perfect time to have a little fun.
“We make it a competition,” Costa said. “We see which class can read the most books in nine weeks, and the winner has a little party.” They also form “mini book clubs,” where each group of students is allowed to choose a book they want to read and later share it with the rest of the class.
While this seems like a step in the right direction, inching ever closer towards fun, Costa’s students hit a major roadblock with the introduction of two new little words: Accelerated Reading.
Here’s the rundown: the AR system is designed to make sure students are reading books appropriate for their level. Students are first given a test to determine their reading level, and then choose from specific books that have been designated appropriate for their particular level. Each book is worth a certain amount of points, and each student is responsible for fulfilling a number of points. To reward all the hard work, the kids then get to take a test over their level-suitable book.
The system was introduced to Tecumseh Middle School just last year, but sadly the results thus far haven’t seen improvement in children’s reading activities.
“There’s a couple of kids who are outside of their points, but it’s very rare, “Costa said,
The system’s intentions may be good, but in reality it is simply putting up another hurtle for students’ to jump in order to read what they want.
“It discourages kids, because they have to get this certain number of points. And if they want to read a book higher than their reading level, they have to ask their teacher. It’s embarrassing if they say no,” said Costa.
Simply reading a book has suddenly become very complicated. Whether it’s assigned reading or accelerated reading, the fact is it’s stripping the fun from a book and taking the imagination out of reading.
The villain in this story has plagued readers for years, inducing gut-churning dread in children and teenagers alike: assigned reading. Those two little words carry some heavy baggage, and have drawn a distinct line between pleasure-reading and school-reading, a line which many students seem to reluctant to cross.
According to a study conducted by Dayton University, 58% of the adult U.S. population never read a book after leaving school, and that number appears to be increasing. What this means is that once the dreaded assigned-reading phase is over, most adults are content to part ways with the book. Even more alarming is that in the same study it was reported that 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year. Not only are adults not reading, they’re passing the habit on to the new generation.
Several book professionals told the Boston Globe’s David Mehegan that introducing reading to children at a young age is the key to reading for pleasure in adulthood.
So how do we make reading fun before it becomes a chore? First of all, give students a choice; let them decide what they want to read.
“Knowing that they have to read a specific book takes away half the fun,” said Jessica Costa, a sixth grade student-teacher at Tecumseh Middle School. At the middle school age, there are no assigned “classic” books designated to English classes, and teachers are free to choose their own reading lists. Sounds like the perfect time to have a little fun.
“We make it a competition,” Costa said. “We see which class can read the most books in nine weeks, and the winner has a little party.” They also form “mini book clubs,” where each group of students is allowed to choose a book they want to read and later share it with the rest of the class.
While this seems like a step in the right direction, inching ever closer towards fun, Costa’s students hit a major roadblock with the introduction of two new little words: Accelerated Reading.
Here’s the rundown: the AR system is designed to make sure students are reading books appropriate for their level. Students are first given a test to determine their reading level, and then choose from specific books that have been designated appropriate for their particular level. Each book is worth a certain amount of points, and each student is responsible for fulfilling a number of points. To reward all the hard work, the kids then get to take a test over their level-suitable book.
The system was introduced to Tecumseh Middle School just last year, but sadly the results thus far haven’t seen improvement in children’s reading activities.
“There’s a couple of kids who are outside of their points, but it’s very rare, “Costa said,
The system’s intentions may be good, but in reality it is simply putting up another hurtle for students’ to jump in order to read what they want.
“It discourages kids, because they have to get this certain number of points. And if they want to read a book higher than their reading level, they have to ask their teacher. It’s embarrassing if they say no,” said Costa.
Simply reading a book has suddenly become very complicated. Whether it’s assigned reading or accelerated reading, the fact is it’s stripping the fun from a book and taking the imagination out of reading.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Loney interview--rough draft
Nothing strikes fear in a college kid’s heart like the back seat of a police car on a Saturday night. Unless of course that college kid is climbing in to Police Chief Carl Loney’s car. Then he’ll likely be met with a smile, a “where to?” and a quick trip home. No questions, and absolutely no vomit allowed.
“If you’re smart enough to get in the car we don’t want you in trouble,” Chief Loney said on Friday. For the past eight years Loney has served as the chief of police at Wittenberg University, where programs such as the aforementioned car service have helped to improve relations between the students and police force.
In those eight years Loney has seen his fair share of college crimes, from the wicked to the weird. He’s had to step in to save students from the “can man,” who in addition to collecting cans was caught inside student’s homes making sandwiches and phone calls. Others he lets go, such as the infamous streaking the hollow.
“It ain’t like robbing a bank in my book,” Loney said.
Born in Springfield, OH, Loney got his start at age 18 in the Clark County Sheriff’s office, where he spent 30 years before joining the Wittenberg police. The force currently employs 13 officers and handles 80-90% of crimes on campus, according to Loney.
The past few years have seen a general improvement in student behavior. Loney reports that the biggest campus crime is alcohol infractions, which have dropped from 210 in 2006 to a much-improved 106 in 2008.
“Things have changed for the better,” Loney said, “Students seem to be a lot more respectful.”
This positive trend could in part be attributed to the police force’s big-brother approach to the job. While Loney makes an imposing figure with his strong build and close-cropped hair, he seems more likely to smother a student with a bear-hug than a ticket. He keeps the communication lines open between the students and police, and his frequent campus e-mails have earned him the title of “e-mail man”.
Of course, even seasoned veterans like Loney can’t be prepared for everything. Just ask the boy in Meyers Hall who found himself face-to-face with a fugitive snake in the men’s urinal and called in Loney for backup. The snake got away, but the story “was one for the books,” said Loney.
While that remains Loney’s weirdest encounter, he always has a campus full of students to keep life interesting. Does he enjoy the job?
“I wouldn’t trade it,” he said. Snakes, streakers and all.
“If you’re smart enough to get in the car we don’t want you in trouble,” Chief Loney said on Friday. For the past eight years Loney has served as the chief of police at Wittenberg University, where programs such as the aforementioned car service have helped to improve relations between the students and police force.
In those eight years Loney has seen his fair share of college crimes, from the wicked to the weird. He’s had to step in to save students from the “can man,” who in addition to collecting cans was caught inside student’s homes making sandwiches and phone calls. Others he lets go, such as the infamous streaking the hollow.
“It ain’t like robbing a bank in my book,” Loney said.
Born in Springfield, OH, Loney got his start at age 18 in the Clark County Sheriff’s office, where he spent 30 years before joining the Wittenberg police. The force currently employs 13 officers and handles 80-90% of crimes on campus, according to Loney.
The past few years have seen a general improvement in student behavior. Loney reports that the biggest campus crime is alcohol infractions, which have dropped from 210 in 2006 to a much-improved 106 in 2008.
“Things have changed for the better,” Loney said, “Students seem to be a lot more respectful.”
This positive trend could in part be attributed to the police force’s big-brother approach to the job. While Loney makes an imposing figure with his strong build and close-cropped hair, he seems more likely to smother a student with a bear-hug than a ticket. He keeps the communication lines open between the students and police, and his frequent campus e-mails have earned him the title of “e-mail man”.
Of course, even seasoned veterans like Loney can’t be prepared for everything. Just ask the boy in Meyers Hall who found himself face-to-face with a fugitive snake in the men’s urinal and called in Loney for backup. The snake got away, but the story “was one for the books,” said Loney.
While that remains Loney’s weirdest encounter, he always has a campus full of students to keep life interesting. Does he enjoy the job?
“I wouldn’t trade it,” he said. Snakes, streakers and all.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Convocation Speaker
Love was in the air on Monday when poet Elizabeth Alexander delivered a speech at Wittenberg University. The kind of love that, according to Alexander, fueled Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for equality.
Having been present at Dr. King’s famed “I Have a Dream” speech, Alexander was a first-hand witness to Dr. King’s teachings. Admittedly, she was just a baby being pushed in a stroller when she “marched” on Washington D.C. in 1963, but King’s message has stayed with her nonetheless, and Alexander came to share that message with the Wittenberg University campus at its annual Martin Luther King Jr. convocation.
“Love is having the strength to know you’re wrong, to know you deserve better,” Alexander firmly declares to the packed audience in Weaver Chapel, emphasizing the point with her hands as much as her words.
This love, according to Alexander, is what motivated Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for justice and equality. She explains that because of the love he had for his community and his people and the belief that they deserved better—deserved equality—he fought to make his message a reality.
Alexander reminds the audience, “It is the kind of love that takes work but still eludes us today.” Though we have come far since the day Dr. King stood at the nation’s capital and shared his dreams with the world, the struggle is not over. But Alexander is firm in her stance that we are well equipped to fight it, as she quotes from one of Dr. King’s speeches, “It is love that gives us a vision of what we move toward.”
That vision became a reality in 2009 when Barack Obama was elected the first African American president, and Alexander, an established poet and chair of the Department of African American Studies at Yale University, was asked to pen and recite a poem for his inauguration.
Alexander ended her speech at the university by reading the poem she wrote for the Obama inauguration, telling the audience that she had not planned on reading the poem again, thinking it had served its purpose. But its message aptly applies to more than just that one monumental occasion, and she felt it lent itself well to the teachings of Dr. King.
The poem, “Praise Song for the Day,” is at first a praise for the ordinary, the everyday man. But as Alexander reads out, “I need to see what’s on the other side. I know there’s something better down the road,” she reveals that it is also a praise for those who have fought to bring us where we are today. A praise for those like Martin Luther King Jr. The audience returned the praise with a standing ovation.
Having been present at Dr. King’s famed “I Have a Dream” speech, Alexander was a first-hand witness to Dr. King’s teachings. Admittedly, she was just a baby being pushed in a stroller when she “marched” on Washington D.C. in 1963, but King’s message has stayed with her nonetheless, and Alexander came to share that message with the Wittenberg University campus at its annual Martin Luther King Jr. convocation.
“Love is having the strength to know you’re wrong, to know you deserve better,” Alexander firmly declares to the packed audience in Weaver Chapel, emphasizing the point with her hands as much as her words.
This love, according to Alexander, is what motivated Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for justice and equality. She explains that because of the love he had for his community and his people and the belief that they deserved better—deserved equality—he fought to make his message a reality.
Alexander reminds the audience, “It is the kind of love that takes work but still eludes us today.” Though we have come far since the day Dr. King stood at the nation’s capital and shared his dreams with the world, the struggle is not over. But Alexander is firm in her stance that we are well equipped to fight it, as she quotes from one of Dr. King’s speeches, “It is love that gives us a vision of what we move toward.”
That vision became a reality in 2009 when Barack Obama was elected the first African American president, and Alexander, an established poet and chair of the Department of African American Studies at Yale University, was asked to pen and recite a poem for his inauguration.
Alexander ended her speech at the university by reading the poem she wrote for the Obama inauguration, telling the audience that she had not planned on reading the poem again, thinking it had served its purpose. But its message aptly applies to more than just that one monumental occasion, and she felt it lent itself well to the teachings of Dr. King.
The poem, “Praise Song for the Day,” is at first a praise for the ordinary, the everyday man. But as Alexander reads out, “I need to see what’s on the other side. I know there’s something better down the road,” she reveals that it is also a praise for those who have fought to bring us where we are today. A praise for those like Martin Luther King Jr. The audience returned the praise with a standing ovation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)