Thanks for taking interpersonal comYOUnication with me this semester! Comm 321 will be fun and helpful for the rest of your life as well--yes, it will be tough too, but so is beef jerky...that doesn't make sense, but anyway, for this first blog, please post
1. a way YOU & your friends can respond to our new president's call for change and community action/responsibility
2. your name
3. something unusual about yourself
4. any questions about the syllabus
--Thanks--S
Extra Credit: Listen to or read transcripts from the inauguration speech by President Obama and type a half page single spaced in first person, discussing/analyzing it in an interpersonal context-5pts
Well i suppose one way for me to respond to his call for change is to donate some of my time to my local community center. For me I think that would be the easiest and cheapest way for me to do "my part". The only thing I'd have to do is find the time! lol.. anywho my name is Alaa Rashid some peeps call me Aladdin ;o) Something unusual about me..hmm lemme think... i dont know..i am very "usual" hehe =oP
ReplyDeleteA way that my friends and I can respond to President Obama's call is to feed and care for the homeless. Not just throw a bag of food at them while driving by, but taking time out of our day and providing food and time for the needy. Also, it is important to keep this up and not just make it a one time special. In result of this, you get to know some incredible people who happen to be down in life and help them out. This will build community and change simultaneously. My name is Daniel McNeil and something that is unusal about me is that my five favorite sport teams come from five different cities that I have not lived in (Houston, Pittsburg, Boston, Green Bay, and Gainsville).
ReplyDeleteA way that my friends and I can respond to President Obama's call would be to volunteer for after school programs at the local schools. One thing I have been following is http://change.gov/americaserves/, I think it will be interesting to see what kinds of programs are instated by the new administration to promote the idea of service. Something that is unusual about me is I have 7 siblings ranging from 4yrs to 26yrs old. -Rachelle Reed
ReplyDeleteAs Americans, we have a lot of opportunities to make a difference not just in our local communities, but in the whole world. Helping out at homeless shelters and schools are awesome things to do around town, but I think Obama means for us to change more than just America. It all starts at home, so aside from volunteering, we could write suggestions to local congressmen or join awareness programs. It doesn't really matter what - there are plenty of good causes to be had out there. It's important to think about the global community as well as our own.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that at this point, the most unusual thing about myself is my job. I sell hats in Old Sacramento. I like to think it's just regular retail, but from a lot of people's reactions I can tell that it isn't a common occupation. It's fun when people get confused and think I said "head shop" instead of "hat shop." ;)
For me, voting in any election alone is a huge change for me. Honestly, I didn't believe that my vote counted. But I realized that my beliefs are the same as several other citizens in America. When we all come together, change is more than possible. 2008 was my first time voting in an election and hopefully, not my last. :)
ReplyDeleteOther than that, my name is Jessica. Probably the most unusual thing about me is that I can juggle 3 objects at once. Not very bizarre, but it's something. :/
(No questions for the syllabus.)
What we can do to answer Obama's call would be to reach out to the people in need, be it a homeless person, a struggling student, a widower trying to piece his life back together, or a woman trying to get herself and her children out of a violent environment. We have moved away from being a community and become a city of ships in the night, and that is what Obama wants to end. He calls for the feeling of community and closeness once again, where we all matter equally... I think by focusing less on our own lives and more on the world around us, we can begin to bring that to fruition.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Amy Alstrum. Something unusual about me... that's tough. I guess one of the most odd things about myself is that I am scared of mannequins/porcelain dolls/ventriloquist dummies etc (not that cute little "boo!" kind of scared... the sweaty palms, tightness in my chest, bad dreams kind!). I cannot sit through a Burger King commercial because of that stupid mask. I have the shivers thinking about it... lol. :)
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteGood for you for going out and voting... one person may feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but elections have been won by a miniscule amount of votes in the past. Every vote does count, and it is your privilege as an American citizen to cast the ballot in whatever direction you choose. It really is amazing how many first-timers turned out for this election. I hope it won't be your last election either! :)
Amy Alstrum
My friends and I can respond to President Obama's call for change by advocating kindness in those around us...I know that's a cliché, but it's true, especially in these times of economic need. Just random acts of kindness to show people that we will prevail and as Obama would say "Yes we can!" I feel hope is a really important factor in all of this, because without it, we would not have made history in this year's election. So instilling those thoughts in our community could make all the difference.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Bharathi Natrajan. I've played the piano for 13 years and I'm vocally trained in Carnatic music (the main style of classical music in South India)...so that's kind of unusual! =)
To Amy:
ReplyDeleteYou said "We have moved away from being a community..." I think that you are exactly on target when you make this statement. As you pointed out, our national society isn't that "community" focused and prioitizes the individual rather than the community. I hope that people on a nation wide scale listen to Obama's call to take action collectively and make America more of a community.
~Daniel McNeil
Hi Sandra My name is Michelle and one way I think we can all respond to the Presidents call is to be aware that the more barriers we put up the harder it will be to solve the issues on a international level. Something unusual about me well when i am tired and doing homework i dont always run spell check!
ReplyDeleteI guess one way my friends and I can respond to President Obama's call is to donate some of our money to any reliable charities. Recently, a few of my friends and I have been going onto sites like freerice.com to help the hungry in that way.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Heather Ito. One thing I find unusual about my self is what when I smile (which is often), my right eye usually squints smaller than my left eye. Also, I usually stay up pretty late doing homework so I might be posting on the blog between 12-2am at times...^_^;
I do have one question about the syllabus: do we just pick a question to answer at the end of each chapter (For Further Thought and Discussion) as our weekly homework assignments for the journal?
I agree with the previous comments in that we would have to do a community service/volunteer of some sort to respond to President Obama's call; anything that would help out a portion of the population, whether it's of social class or a crisis. I like Cody's response as well: everything would have to begin with the local community level to gather supporters for a particular cause, then it can bloom into something bigger-- national and possibly international. As far as what my friends and I can do to respond to Obama's call, I would say volunteering at either a shelter for the abused (for women and children), homeless, and/or health clinics in Sacramento or surrounding areas.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm Julia Kong. I'll say that I have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)when it comes to cleaning, but I'm lazy as well. So either it will be squeaky clean or not clean at all (because I'm too lazy to even bother with it). I'd also like to be buff--one day (again, I'm lazy, so we'll see..)
[no questions regarding the syllabus]
A major way that we, as Americans, can respond to the president's call for change is to start with change at home. Change at home means treating our family members and children with respect and honor.
ReplyDeleteIn times of technological advances that are designed to give us more time for ourselves and each other, we seem to have/spend less time with family and less time getting to know each other and caring for each other. Our culture has become focused on "the quick solution" to our problems without taking the time to look at the deeper issues, which all stem from honor, respect, and caring for one another. All essential charactersitics of a solid family foundation.
My name is Tim Cereceres and an unusual characteristic about me is that I stay up late researching the stock market.
As of right now I do not have any questions about the syllabus.
My family and I can respond to President Obama's call for change by doing just that. Change the way that we think about things in life and STEP IT UP as an individual person.By trying to stay as humble as possible and motivate as many people as we can to get up and make a CHANGE in the way they think and do things.My name is U-kyra Anderson and something unusual about myself is that I cant seem to stick to my plans i always seem to drift off to unplanned buisness.I have know questions about the syllabus. Everything looks OKAY!! CHOW!!
ReplyDeleteA way my friends and i can respond to the presidents call would be to do more community service, working after school tutoring, helping out at a daycare home etc.. i am Brandon tacotaco and something unusual i can do is wiggle my ears haha
ReplyDeleteI think that the fact that this assignment is to ponder and critically think about what our responsibilites are as American citizens is a very important one. I have heard so much talk about our new President as if he is some sort of savor, however it is important to realize that we are responisible for changing this country. Barack Obama can only do so much, he can not give you a job, or make your family life better directly, the only thing he can do for an individual is handle his obligations in the white house and hopefully they will benifit the majority of us. In order for us to better this country we must work harder. Being a college student right now can be difficult with all the budget cuts and such, but we are obligated to work hard and do our best to make sure that our generation has the brightest future possible. I believe that education is the key to this nations future. When we experienced our biggest economic boom in the last fifty years, it was our parents generation that were getting there education and producing at an extremly efficent level. So, with all this said I believe that we as American citizens are responsible for being educated in one way capacity or another and we must work hard to build this country back to where we should be.
ReplyDeleteJarreau Gilbert
Im Rob, Rob Collier
ReplyDeleteAs far as the call to action, Ive (along with my buddies) have been trying to help, my neiborhood by setting up a CPR day, where I we as CPR instructors, certify our community to allow them to be prepared in the case of danger or it the event of an emergency.
An interesting fact, Ive won a standup comedy companion. Its no big deal, Everyone else sucked...regardless I won, yeah!
Zuleika Becerra
ReplyDeleteAs an alumni from the CLYLP- CHicano Latino Youth Leadership Program- I've learned that there are many ways to action upon yourself. I have volunteered my services to many organizations and have tried to make these organizations more known to friends and family members, whether it is for their benefit or their help. Also, I have planned to work more closely with my Outreach Coordinator at work. We in Cover the Kids have been working hard to keep all children covered with Health Insurance and have referred many adults to programs which we believe might help them in the same cause. I believe that to keep these programs going and people well informed is a great way to respond to Obama's call. My real goal would be to try to enlarge the program to not only cover kids but also adults, or the elderly. But this issue will rest with the oraginzation's President.
An uncommon thing about me is that I have exactly 100 first cousins (for now, some more might be on the way) AND they range from 30-something to 2 years old.
I have no questions about the syllabus.
I am so excited that President Obama is our new president. For the first time in a long time I actually feel like our country will soon be back on track, I have hope again. I actually voted for the first time and for once I feel like my voice was heard. Though President Obama plans to make all of these changes, we as American's have to do our part. To make a change in our community my friends and I can volunteer in different youth programs and also dedicating more of our time to help our society in anyway possible. Most importantly I believe that if we want to make a change we must first look at ourselves and be the change that we want to see in the world. Change is like an infant learning how to walk, it takes time and baby steps.
ReplyDeleteBless McCrary
My friends and I can respond to President Obama's call to action by volunteering at a local school for mentally challenged kids. That's something I've done in the past, and it turned out to be very rewarding. My name is Justin Turner and an unusual fact about myself is that I was training to be an mma fighter for a while. Legal discrepancies and financial hardships forced me to stop, but I love the sport and would love to return to it. I have no questions about the syllabus for the time being.
ReplyDeleteI feel that me and my friends could take action in respond to our new presidents call for change in the community, by volunteering in local youth groups.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Brianne Knight a unusual fact about me that i have 3 beautiful kids 2 years apart and going to school fulltime and working part time.A question i have on the syllabus is when we have a quiz is it going to be essay form everytime? Brianne Knight
This is reguarding Justin Turner's comment to the way he would change the community. I think that is a good way to help people. Especially the metally challenge. Brianne Knight
ReplyDeleteDaniel Flores
ReplyDeleteI think everyone's comments on Obama's call for action is great, but i think just doing the simple things could help Obama's message for change. These things can be very simple, like just keeping our residential areas clean and recycling more could also help.
Lets see something unusual about me is I guess being a really strong sleeper. I mean I could sleep at any hour of the day and you probably couldn't wake me up(without me getting really grouchy anyway), but not only that, I can also sleep for more than 12 hours....easily.
1. To answer Obama's "call of duty" I would like to start with staying in school so that one day I am able to help others in my line of work. I am also not going to be afraid to spend my money (though not too crazily..) in hopes of preventing the economy collapsing. I also use my Sigg bottle religiously to cut back on plastic bottle waste.
ReplyDelete2. My name is Alisa Escalante
3. Something unusual about myself.. I am a former ballet dancer. Though in the past year I have traded in my pointe shoes for a rotating brass pole! I have taken up pole dancing and fallen in love with it, there's no stopping me now :)
4. I have no questions about the syllabus thus far
1. i guess one way to get involved in the community by mentoring kids or helping out at after school programs or becoming a big brother or sister. i feel that if we help the youth of today it will make for a better future.
ReplyDelete2. my name is Vanessa Swan
3. something unusual about me is that i can tie a cherry stem in a knot, in my mouth
4. no questions on the syllabus
GO OBAMA! In order to respond to our presidents call to action I believe that we should all take time out of our daily lives to try and help our community out a bit. Just being polite in the neighborhood and being eco friendly (recycling) can go a long way. Also we can all be quicker to lend a hand to someone in need instead of turning away. If everyone would lend a hand imagine how much we the people could acccomplish on our own.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Cristina Jimenez and something unusual about me is that I have two small moles on each one of my wrists and if I bring my hands together to clap both moles align.
(No questions about the syllabus)
By making education a priority in my life I have been responding to Obama's call for 3 years now. This country will be improved by those who place a high priority on knowledge. Encouraging ignorance is how the Bush presidency and its supporters in the religious wrong managed to make this country fall to pieces in 8 short years. Overturning environmental regulations, dumbing down our science and sex-ed classes, and deregulating the financial sector in the name of growth and family values--this could never have been accomplished without the aid of an ignorant and disinterested populace all too eager to be spoonfed American Idol rather than pay attention to the important issues that the media carefully ignored.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting thing about me is my tendency to speak my mind.
That last comment was posted by Amber Beckton. In case anyone wanted to know. :)
ReplyDelete1* The best way me, and my friends' can respond to our new President Barack Obama's call for change is to support him; and the community he represents.
ReplyDelete2* Hola, me llamo Meriam *
3* Something unusual...Im a Bartender, and the President of the Outdoors Club, hardy har
I belive it may be easier to reach out to minority students now that Obama was elected. What better role model could there be? We could use him as an example to perhaps reach more at risk youth.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Melina Chapula. I'm not sure what is unusual about myself. I frequently run into walls... And refridgerators....?
Melina Chapula
THANKS ALL! THESE IDEAS ARE INSPIRING--THINK GLOBAL-ACT LOCAL,THAT IS MY MOTO-EVEN A SMILE OR HOLDING A DOOR CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD,AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THOSE THAT NEED EXTRA HELP, RIGHT? CU IN CLASS--SANDRA
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. Well I'm not a big fan of politics to begin with. It just seems like there is alot of scandal and things that I dont understand half the time. Currently there seems to be so many issues with our financial security. Alot of people are experiencing tremendous financial strife right now and it's getting uglier by the day. All I can really say about the "CHANGE" is I hope it takes place soon. It took us 8 years to get here and I expect it to take at least half of that time for it to improve. There are references in regards to institute a "cap-and-trade" system of carbon emissions to combat global warming. I honestly have no idea what that means to even begin to answer if that is good or bad. In regards to our current financial crisis , my question is "How did all this even begin?" "Was it the war?" "The money spent to go towards that expense?" How do we cut back, where do we cut back? How can we truly offer an answer to what our answer to "CHANGE" will be if we honestly dont know where to begin on what the real problem was to begin with?
ReplyDeleteI think I'm unusual in ways that I cant stand the world of politics. I find it too hard to follow and all over the place at times. There are so many issues and so much drama, how do you attack it all to rectify the problems or offer solutions? I can only imagine that President Obama has stacks, and stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks of bills and subject matters he needs to start implementing to make them effective. When I sit down to pay my own bills I'm overwhelmed,so I can only imagine what he feels like in reference to trying to fix our current financial crisis, cap-and-trade, healthcare,auto maker industry woes and whatever else he has on his desk. It kind of reminds me of moving into someone elses room and having to clean up the mess they left behind. Overwhelmed you think to yourself, "Where do I start!?!?!?" We can only begin to "CHANGE" by chopping away at our problems a little bit at a time.
Mimi Lee