International Day Extra Credit

On Wednesday November 19, 2008, I attended International Day at the Engineering building. When I heard about this happening on our campus I thought that there was going to be a bunch of booths with people from all different cultures displaying art work and sharing part of the culture with us. However, it was completely opposite. When I walked it there was a little drummer boy (about 10 years old) playing a drum to authentic African Music. I was so impressed! He was so good and the audience really enjoyed listening to him playing his drum and watching a lady dressed in clothing from her culture dance along side him. Then after his song was over, a music teacher spoke about her experience working with children and how talented they all are. She also announced all the songs we were hearing and then proceeded to teach us a song that she teaches her students. It was called “Sunshine in Africa” and it had a very nice beat and very easy to remember. She got the audience all involved and everyone was singing along! I was very interested in hearing their music and watching the dancing because I had never seen anything like this before.

After we sang the song, A group of Mexican dancers preformed a traditional dance for us. There were two boys and two girls dressed in authentic Mexican apparel and they explained to us how this is a common dance that many young adults learn in Mexico to keep their culture alive.

also got to see artwork from Julian K. Van Dyke. He had paintings for sale and on display. His paintings were very beautiful and included horses, and many outdoor settings. He also had a painting representing MSU! I learned he is an actor, illustrator, and an author. His work in is galleries, on the front cover of books, on the exterior design on churches, and on murals in Benton Harbor Michigan. He was the recipient of the silver anniversary in the arts from the Greater Lansing Area Club of National Association of Negro Business And Professional Women’s Club Inc. He said he was very grateful and appreciative to be asked to show his work at MSU.

GLBT "For the Bible tells me so" Extra Credit

I attended the Safe Schools Seminar on October 30th, 2008. I was very glad I was able to make it to this one, along with the last one because each one was a little different. This seminar allowed me to think about GLBT issues surrounding Christianity. I enjoyed the introduction on families in the beginning of the seminar however what really struck me as being powerful was parts 2 and 3 about what the bible says and unconditional love. The movies talked about the ability to procreate and how that was a violation of the norm in homogeneous relationships. Then it talked about how a man who sleeps with another man should be killed because god said it and we should obey. When I heard this comment, it made me sick to my stomach because I call myself a christian yet, I would never, ever think about believing someone should die if they were gay. In the unconditional love part of the seminar, I was also so shocked by the story about the girl who committed suicide because her family did not accept her. I cannot believe how some families beliefs stretch so far into making your own child commit suicide. I learned though this seminar that they are 3-7 times more likely to commit suicide. This just makes me very sad to think that people out there are saying that being gay is preventable and that their can be treatment to get rid of it. I just cannot believe that in today's society people are still showing so much hatred for GLBT members. This seminar opened my eyes to these issues going on today centering around religious beliefs. As teachers we need to make sure that our students feel safe and secure in our classrooms no matter what our religious beliefs are.