A World In Pictures - Anthony Tamasi

 On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech to hundreds of thousands of civil rights supporters during the March on Washington in Washington, DC. The March was intended for people to show their support for civil rights legislation. 

 This speech was a defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement during the late 1950s and 1960's in America. 

 From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, it seems only fitting that he first references the Emancipation Proclamation saying that, "one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free."  

 This speech shows the passion that some people held for the advancement of rights for African Americans. During the speech, Mahalia Jackson (African-American gospel singer) cries out "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" This prompts Reverend King to "preach" and begin listing off his dreams for America, deviating from his prepared speech. This is the moment of his speech that has become most famous, and pivotal in our remembrance of the Civil Rights Movement.

 Pieces of legislation concerning the African-Americans and their rights were passed later on in the 1960s, as the speech had mobilized people to fight (nonviolently, of course) for racial equality. 

A World in Pictures- Amelia Rogers

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to ever walk on the moon. Armstrong, along with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, accomplished what had never been done before: they successfully completed a mission to the moon and back. It was a mission previously thought impossible, unimaginable. In Armstrong's famous words, it was "one giant leap for mankind."

This moment impacted America as a country. It empowered our nation because we did it. We were the first people to ever set foot on the moon. It didn't matter that only two men actually walked there– every American then, and every American now feels a special connection to this moment, as though we ourselves walked on the moon with them. This moment changed everything for space exploration. If we could reach the moon, how much more could we accomplish? 

This moment is inspirational. This moment is pride. This moment is adventure. 

This moment is reaching out into all the impossible things that just might be possible. 

Assignment 4: A World in Pictures

On Monday morning, you could have stood on the top level and witnessed the beautiful eccentrics of New York city. On Tuesday morning, you would have run in horror.The two tallest buildings in New York City fell on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and because of the consequential pain and destruction, America would forever be changed.

On September 11, the majority of the nation watched in horrific silence as they saw the pictures of chaos.

This picture from New York Magazine marked the start of a new era for America.

Pictures show us what we cannot know first-hand. They can make a statement or argument. They can educate on the reality of the world. They can change how a person thinks about an idea or event. This week, find a picture that shocked, comforted, or changed a nation or community of people (falling of Berlin wall, JFK assassination, etc.)

Include your picture, a description of it, and what it provokes you to think about in your blog.

If you're facing writer's block, consider the following:
What happened just before the photograph was taken?
How do the people in the photograph feel?
What is happening outside the frame of this photograph?

Due Sunday, September 21st at 11:59 pm.

Come to the Dark Side, Luke - Caleb Combs

The is a very fine line between what is good and evil.  It varies from person to person on whether something is considered right or wrong.  Personally, I believe that there is good in everyone.  Everyone starts out as a good person, but at a young age, people are innocent, and highly impressionable.  The background in which someone is raised is what shapes who they are as a person and the direction in which their lives will head.  I believe that there is good in everyone, but the certain decisions may not be considered ideal.  Negative aspects in the world can be changed by the good intentions of good people.  Many unfortunate people rely on the kindness of strangers just to get by in life.  Good people live life by their conscience.  Leah is a great example of this.  Anyone would be ecstatic about having that much money at their disposal.  The difference between good and bad people is that a good person refuses to live with this on their conscience.  Bad ones don't bother to consider any other factor that the fact that they have found some money.  In conclusion, there is no way to avoid the bad things in our society.  All we can do is try to make each generation of people more and more pure of heart, a try to make the good outweigh the bad.

Come to the Dark Side, Luke- Amelia Rogers

            Imagine that you are in a room that is darker than the night. Everything is black, and you can’t see your hand an inch in front of your face. You don’t know who or what is in the room with you. There is nothing but darkness.

            But then, in an instant, there is light. Bright and white and glowing and illuminating everything around you.

            You can see.

            There are people there with you, all kinds of people. There are beautiful things and opportunities. There is life.

            I believe that there is an absolute evil and an absolute good, and it is as clear as darkness against the light. Darkness is simply the absence of light. In the darkness, we are lost, confused, defeated. But there is an easy way out– you just need a source of light. In the presence of light, there is no more darkness.

            Evil is the absence of good. In the darkness of evil we are lost, confused, defeated. But there is an easy way out- you just need a source of good. In the presence of pure goodness, there is no more evil.

            God is the light, the absolute epitome of good. Satan is the dark, the absolute epitome of evil. There is an exact line between good and evil, in black and white. However, no one can live perfectly. No human can be wholly good, no matter how hard they try. There is only one person who has ever lived a perfectly good life– Jesus Christ. People who are living in the light make mistakes. People who are living in the dark, whether openly or unknowingly, can do good things. People can cross from good to evil, from light to dark. But there is still no gray area. Good is defined in the pattern of life God has planned for anyone who will choose Him. Evil is defined in the absence of God and the absence of a lifestyle that attempts to reflect Him.

            I can’t be the judge of good actions and bad actions. Only God can judge that. What I can do is try to live in the light, to live a life of good that God has laid out for me. I am convinced that a life under His pure goodness is the only way to have a beautiful life here and after here, because I also believe good is the winning side. I believe that one day good will eliminate evil, and God’s pure and holy goodness will be revealed to everyone.

            In the human side of me, I want to say that this is just my opinion. But I cannot deny what I know is true– God is living and God is good.

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ~2 Corinthians 4:6

Come to the Dark Side, Luke—Gabriel Molina

My answer to the first question is yes, I do believe in absolute good and evil. I am a Christian, and I believe God is absolutely and completely good. Yet, although He created the universe and everything in it and said it was all good (Genesis 1:31a), this world clearly does not represent total good. I don’t think anyone would describe the ISIS beheadings, for example, as good. So obviously and undeniably, there is a battle between good and evil. The bible says that God is absolutely good, and satan (also referred to as the evil one, the accuser, the thief, among others) is absolutely evil.

As for humans, we were originally created in God’s image: good (Genesis 1:27). Though that was our original design, we chose sin. We choose evil, not because we are forced to, but because the evil one convinces us to doubt the goodness of God. The battle between good versus evil is seen in this world mainly in how the evil one tempts us to choose sin, and therefore be separated from God.

The bad news is, we have all sinned. We’ve all given into this temptation and chosen evil. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” I don’t think a single person can say that they have never done wrong. The best news is that through receiving Jesus, we can be made right with God, and be pure in His sight. If you receive Jesus, all your past, present, and future sins no longer define you. You instead become defined by Christ and His good. Romans 3:22 says, “We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.”

Now can good or evil eliminate the other once and for all? The answer is this: Jesus Christ defeated sin, death, and all evil when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. All we have to do is receive His victory and through His grace we take part in it.

I am more than willing to talk to anyone who might want to ask anything about what I have said here!

Come to the Dark Side, Luke-Emily Cashman

I don’t think the world is as clear-cut as Harry Potter vs. Voldemort, meaning, I don’t think anyone is entirely good, or entirely bad. Regular people are not like the superheroes in movies who are 100% just and right, and they also aren’t like the fairytale villains who have 100% evil intentions. I believe each person is, for the most part, good, but there are still things about he or she that could be classified as “bad”. So, I guess I believe in the grey area where good people can sometimes do bad things. For instance, I don’t think someone who cheats on a test once should be forever labeled as a cheater and therefore “bad”. I don’t think either can be eliminated completely because both are somewhat necessary for the world to continue functioning. I know that sounds weird and doesn’t really make sense but I think both good and evil have to be present in our lives, even if we don’t want them.