She Only Said "No" One Time

Our children are in danger! As a high school teacher, I experience things daily that make me want to roll on the floor laughing, jump for joy, or...cry. Today, I wanted to cry. I know that media has a great impact on our children. They are highly desensitized to pain. They lack empathy for others. It really is a cold, cold world. It is evident in their speech with one another and their interactions. Among many new terms that I wish to eliminate from their vocabulary, the newest response to anything spoken and displayed is: "You ugly". Words are piercing, especially to students who already think that they are ugly or less than. It is saddening. Today, when discussing Bigger's actions in the novel "Native Son", I was told by both males and female students that Bigger did not rape his girlfriend Bessie because (1) she was drunk, and (2) she only said "no" one time. There were students ready to defend his actions to the death. In a post Ike and Tina world, in a post Chris and Rhianna world, there is only a small margin to convince these children that certain things are not acceptable within relationships. It is scary. I asked them, how many times should she have said "no" to have really meant it. I received a room full of blank stares.

What do our children know about sex? And, who's teaching them?

Cyber Thugs

Just when I thought that I had nothing to blog about, I find inspiration. I love Facebook. Most know that I am a functioning addict. As a poet, I meet new people weekly. I can only pray that one day this will increase, and I will be able to say that I perform so often that I meet people daily. LOL. Facebook is a great tool for keeping in contact with those artists, fans, and friends. Like most social networks, it works wonders for promotion. In the midst of it all, I have formed some great relationships with people who encourage me and provide me with inspiration and laughter either through their kindness or their personal progress. Yet, I find that I am often annoyed by cyber thugs, some of which I know, many of which I don't. Ever find that some poeple are extremely bold, even blunt via the web but not so much in person? It annoys me that people who I have conversed with emerge as gangsta's on the web or that people who don't know me past the "add" become confrontational on "my" wall, on my post. LOL. I have learned to avoid web-debates. I refuse to have conversations on the computer that would not exist in real life. There is too much pretense involved in the cyber world. It really is a "catch 22". Luckily, the good outweighs the bad. If adults do this; however, imagine what the children encounter.

Knowing the God You Serve

It is amazing to me that I have lived and worshiped this long having not read the bible. I have read select scriptures. I grew up reading bible stories in isolation. I pay attention in church BUT, I have never read the bible. I am very aware of the arguments that most will present about the bible, its creation, its authenticity. I have heard and listened to many-a-perspective. I, personally, believe in the book and recognize that it is impossible to continue to grow in my relationship with God without my own knowledge of "the word". I trust my pastor to giuide me. It is high time that I...the poet and English teacher...trust myself to read to interpret the stories of the bible. I am happy to say that I will know the God that I serve by the end of 2011. I want to thank Erin S. for inviting me to "befriend Jesus" in 365 days and for Brian K. for encouraging me to read and to listen CDs on this journey. This blog will be "All Things Rebecca Dupas"...It will not focus solely on religion but on whatever is pertinent to me at the time. I look forward to hearing from you all.