Not Just Words

I first off wanted to talk about how enjoyable our conversation was in class last week. I really enjoyed talking about GLBTQ and I even more loved reading the book Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. I have never looked at this topic in class or out of class. I find it so interesting how much can be spoken about within this topic. What I loved the most about this book was that it is something that can one day happen. I know in our discussion in class some people didn't think that it could ever become true, but I believe that it can come true; in fact some of has come true at my high school. It is not that far fetched.
This discussion brings me to an interesting thing that I noticed this weekend. Not only do I use to the word "gay" a lot, but it is used a lot in movies. This weekend I went and saw Role Model's. In this movie, they used the word "faggot" a lot and I was just appalled. I never thought about how I use certain words or how other people use certain words that are derogatory in the GLBTQ community. After our discussion in class, my eyes were opened to all of these things around me. I will no longer use the word "gay" nor will I just pass by the fact that people say "faggot" or any other words that could be offensive.
This book was fantastic and I really really enjoyed out discussion in class. This has been the best book and discussion thus far in this class! Everyone should read Boy Meets Boy!!

Flashback

A little flashback from the beginning of the year when we spoke about The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac. Every week I read Post Secret and I came across this particular picture and it reminded me of the discussions that we have had in class about stereotypes. I found it interesting in this picture that there is an Indian wearing a ceremonial outfit with a head dress. Either this is a really offensive post because this particular person is not Indian and when they think stereotypes this is what they think of; or this could actually be an Indian girl or boy who does not fit into the stereotypes of being an Indian. I find all of this very interesting and it made me ponder what we spoke about in class about The Fighting Illini and their mascot. Maybe this particular person has the same feeling as that woman did in that video that we watched. I thought you all might want to take a gander at this post and let me know what you think about it as well!

An Author's Note

As we were in the computer lab last week in the Library, I stumbled across a complication. I didn't know that the books for our final project had to be insiders. I had gone to the library earlier that week and checked out a whole bunch of children's books about grandma's and grandpa's. I checked out a book call Grandpa Had a Stroke by Dori Hillestad Butler. I had read through this book and I absolutely loved it and I want to use it in my final project. However, I didn't know that the author's had to be insiders. So, while we were in the computer lab finding our scholarly articles, I look at this book in particular. I went on the author's website and I couldn't find anything about her having experience with grandparents have strokes or anything. On her website, I came across a page where you could send her an email if you had any questions about her or her book. I thought what a great way to personally talk to the author and ask her if she is an insider to this topic or not. I sent the email while we were at the library and I got a response shortly after. I was so excited that the author of a book that I am doing a research project emailed me back! She told me about her inspiration behind Grandpa Had a Stroke and she wanted to know more about the project. I thought this would be a good thing to tell everyone if they ever run into a problem or anything with a book; email the author and see what happens. I just thought it would be good advice, especially for the students that are in my class. It is pretty neat to actually talk to the author of a book you are researching!