A journey of an artist and theologian

Week 10 Weight of the World Analysis

2005-12-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

There are many pressures to do well in school no matter what level grade school to higher education. Hearing these stories from the section, “Outcasts on the Inside” and “The Contradictions of Inheritance” out of the book The Weight of the World by Pierre Bourdieu explains the different educational experiences and loneliness are intriguing and heart breaking at the same time. This book discusses major social issues that involve class and different institutional structures when placed with personal stories and interviews causes the reader to contemplate and recognize the stress of these larger issues of society especially the pressure to succeed.

Why is there so much pressure to succeed? What is the cost of failure? Failure has social stigma like the articles discussed in this section. Many times students have low self of esteem, depression, anxiety because they fail and they feel like they cannot fail. An example of this discussion is from “Paradise Lost.” Nadine is a student at the French school Verlaine her hopes are dashed to become a photographer because she is required to take sciences classes. The sciences classes are to do well to get into the university system for photography. She is not very strong in math or science and her grades are very low. She decides to repeat the year, but in repeating the year her grades in math and science are even lower because of the stress of repeating the year. Nadine’s dreams of being a photographer are dashed. “She also felt the full force of failure since for her the science was more a transition which had to be made and somehow kept her from making a timely adjustment of her expectations to her opportunities”(446).

At this time too she did not realize that she needed assistance because in the past she could succeed on her on, but in the end the end she needed the help. In each of these interviews with Claire, Nadine, and Muriel have felt like they do well in classes they are passionate about like the literature classes offered. These students are required to take sciences classes because these sciences classes have more prestige for future career opportunities and teachers push the sciences classes on the students. In the interviews with these students speak about the lack of assistance. Are there measures being taken on to assist the students’ needs? The response to this is it seems the measures being taken are far and few because the students feel at the Verlaine they want to weed students in order to have a school of elite and prestige students. Is the correct behavior of an institution? This kind behavior does put students in isolate and lonely states of existence and extreme anxiety about failure.

One of the other articles I read and want to comment on is the "Solitude" by Gabrielle Balazs. The article and interview directly relates to our project. It is interesting to hear this story of Louise B. who is 80 years old and retired from social work. A profession where other people’s problems are her solely concern. Louise has difficulty looking out for herself. Because of her age Louise does recognize she cannot do things by herself anymore. She realizes her need for dependency on others, but she does not want burden others with her problems. Therefore she chooses to deal with them on her own and the end the end prefers to be in a retirement home, where people can visit here . From this article it seems that she is content to be in solitude. As the author continues in her findings, “she rapidly buries the lucidity that would kill her under the cascade of reassuring affirmations: “I have friends,” “I have caring people around,” “I am lucky” (600).

It is the best interest of Jesus followers to take these kinds of conclusions into consideration extending a hand to someone that is hurting or lonely providing an alternative to loneliness. One thing that Louise may need is someone to bestow kindness and love to her and letting her know that she is included in a loving community not out of burden, but out a building relationship with her. Someone like me can glean what she has learned and experienced in her life.

Week 9 Dialoging with Pop Culture

2005-11-27T14:42:00.000-08:00

Popular Culture Analysis

As we seen in our reading Inventing Popular Culture, there are many definitions to what constitutes popular culture. We can study popular culture as well as live it. What I mean by studying it is we analysis what are the theories behind it, such as what is defined as popular in many areas of society like in clothing, electronics, music, movies, and art. We can also study the distinctions already made throughout history. An example of this is through discipline of Art History especially in the discussion about the controversies over distinctions between high and low art. There are many different opinions on the subject, it is hard distinguish which theory is correct. Even thinking about the topic makes my brain hurt because since I have studied in the realm of Art History I feel like I am obligated to answer these questions. Wow I put tremendous pressure on myself to answer these circular questions I guess since this what I want to study this for the rest of my life, I feel like I should be well versed in this area of study. I am realizing that I am not satisfied with the typical answer “ it is all based on interpretations”, which is how I described most things in the artistic realm instead of having a 5 hour conversation based on what constitutes art or is there value to abstract art? So I give people the easiest answer that I can give “it is all based on interpretation” Which is partially true, but there is more to it then that. Reading this book, in a way created angst for me, because it made me realize I truly miss studying art and its theories directly hashing out what all this means

So throughout Art History is the example I am pulling from, In the Impressionist era of painting, many critics thought this art period was low or popular art was worth nothing. It did not hold to the standards of the Renaissance, where the Great Masters at one time painted. So many critics held the Renaissance as the standard and it has forever been institutionalized into the cannon of art history. The same standard goes for the representational art has more value with in the system than abstract art. Michelangelo supercedes Monet. Carroll in the Inventing Popular Culture defines “mass art from art first of all the way in which the former is produced, reproduced, and circulated by the mass media” (95). I think what he is saying is true because once Van Gogh, Monet, and Edvar Munch reached their peaked especially in the art history cannon. Their art has been massed produced everywhere on mugs, calendars, thank-you cards, prints you can own, and even paint by number. These painters and other artists are in homes who cannot afford a multi million dollar painting which would be as much as the original would cost. These art things are marketed to society because they speak to larger issue of consumerism, buying art at an average price.

Storey speaks about how popular culture drives consumerism. “Consumption is a significant part of the circulation of shared and conflicted meaning we call culture. We communicate through what we consume. Consumption is perhaps the most visible way in which we stage and perform the drama of self formation”(70). Popular culture sometimes defined by what is “in style”. The iPod is one that is redefining technology downloading songs that you can by for less than a dollar, watching your favorite videos on the new Video iPods. You can all the music that you want at your finger tips. You see iPod commercials and there is a worldwide craze for iPods. I feel like I should have an iPod, this is advertising at its best. The thing to do is not get a new portable CD player, but an iPod, the electronic age has dawned. Consumerism through what is popular can shape our identity. What we own can define us

For our group project in terms of ageism, I think some major questions to think about are at both ends of the age spectrum. One question raised is the older population able to handle the advancement of technology? To discredit their capability to access the internet or to operate an iPod is ageism. Some may be really good at handling the internet, I know many grandparents who communicate to their grandchildren through the internet and email. Like others many of us are really savvy at it and others are not no matter what our age. I know there are many classes offered to senior citizens and to other groups about the advancement technology. We as a society can learn many new things from the older population because they are experts themselves advancing through history as the culture around them is changing. This generation has seen TVs installed to the telephone shrunk down to mobile size.

One last comment about consumerism and fandom, “Objects of fandom become a part of our sense of identity; they become embedded in the roots of memory and the routes of desire” (89). Music can be objects of desire I went to a U2 concert for the very first time about almost a month ago. Experiencing the Vertigo tour was amazing. I will always remember the sounds and visual effects that will forever be burned in my brain. I desire to keep seeing them as long as they tour. In this experience, I stood in line all day to get 1st or 2nd row seats on the floor and it was an interesting to stand/sit in line for 8 hours with fans that follow U2 everywhere. It was an experience in itself to see all ages swapping stories of their time at each concert or to listen to conversations about the Bono and the Band like they were our closest friends. For 8 hours that day I was among a ready-made community that would watch your belongings, discuss issues, and I was surrounded by larger U2 fans than I was, but we were all there because we desired to listen to great music that has substance. In a way through U2 music they are trying to empower and transform people make a difference in the world. These are the interpretative practices that Storey speaks about. Popular culture comes in many forms and to understand it is sometimes a challenge, but it part of the world wide culture that makes it tick.

Week 8 Analysis

2005-11-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Week 8 Analysis

What I find most intriguing this week is the class lecture and its comparison to the Sermon on the Mount. Yes it is true that Jesus preached there is a new way to live a part from the law of Torah. As he preached on the Mount he emphasized the need to assist others around us who need help in specific ways. This sermon calls for awareness and compassion It was to many in Jesus’ time a new standard of living for people. For us who are followers of Jesus we are called to the same standards. He calls humanity to be peacemakers, to do the right thing, show mercy and to love one another. The Sermon on the Mount in our specific context of ableism and ageism we may not have all the answers to solve these large complex issues. But we can develop and teach awareness and some practicalities to discuss these two issues and dialogue about equality in both groups, the elderly and the disabled.

We as believers are called like Jesus to work within in the existing structure or powers, which may not be exactly bad to strive for bettering the systems. We are called to be fair and just in all that we do. Many of the elderly and the disabled feel included and excluded from our society. To the ones who feel marginalized, as it states in the Power Practice and Redemption Methodology Welcome all, include, and encourage in their gifts. For example, encourage the elderly to get involved with their surrounding communities like helping first graders learn how to read. Encourage the people living with a disability that they too can participate; they can be taught to water ski, downhill ski, and to drive a car. These examples can prove to people who do not have a disability that the disabled are just as able to do societal things as people who are do not have a disability. As Jesus as said from time to time the kingdom of God is not just filled with one people group. It filled with many people groups, young, old, disabled, not disabled, men, women, of all different ethnicities. The Kingdom is rich filled with unity through diversity.

Diversity in the Kingdom is much like the book what Globalization and Culture is trying to decipher what is necessary for global change. Is it through hybridization or not? Hybridity would change especially in the western sense of individualism and emphasis more on a mix of themes like interculturalism instead of multiculturalism. Out of hybridization produces global mélange which has many different meanings to many different cultures. It very important to understand these differences and one final point is to understand that “we are all mixing cultural elements and traces across place and identities (109).” These cultural elements have become ordinary experience in our rapid transforming world.

Week 7Chapter 3 and 4 Analysis of Global Transformations

2005-11-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

Week 7 Chapter 3 and 4 Analysis of Global Transformations

I honestly had a hard time this week connecting the two reading chapters to the team project. The reason I had a hard time making connections to the two chapters Global Trade and Global Markets and Shifting the Patterns in Global Finance they both do not directly relate to our project, ageism and ableism. There is no discussion on the affects that ableism and ageism had on the global market? Also or how do the global markets affect these two issues? Both of these chapters wanted the reader to know and understand the background of the global markets and the shift of finance patterns in the world. I have to say these two chapters were hard to read at times if this is your first introduction to detailed economics, which it is for me. I do not have a background in micro or macro economics and I think the book is calling the reader to have a background in this discipline. This discipline would help the reader absorbs and critique the information which is being presented to the reader.

Both chapters give a strong historical account of what has gone on throughout periods of financial influence. There is a question is the global market really global or it is regionalized to specific continents? There are three areas that help with global trade, the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. There is skepticism to whether trade is actually global or regional. “Regionalization as opposed to globalization implies that trade flows are clustered between similar countries which tend to be geographically contiguous and that markets within a region are (at least) partially insulated from the rest of world.”(168) Japan exports their cars and technology to the United States as much of the coffee trade comes to United States from the South America. The United States export much of the many soft drinks to other countries as well as the example of MacDonald’s starting in the US and moving to global market. Through all these imports and exports to different parts of the world, the world is continuing to grow at a fast rate. We literally have to the power and luxury in the western world at the touch of a button to talk to someone at the other end of the world without any difficulty. This is a great convenience, but I wonder with all these advancements in the global markets is the world getting smaller? Will oral traditions become obsolete because we as a people group do not have the patience to sit and listen to others around us? Will the older generation be more engaged in the practices of ageism around them because the youth have lost value in them as great teachers and the importance of the elderly giving back to society? These are the questions which arose as I was reading these two chapters in Global Transformations.

Week 6 Global Transformation Analysis

2005-11-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

Week 6 Global Transformation Analysis

I think what is important to focus on in these two chapter of Global Transformation is the expansion of the globe changing society and the way of life especially for ageism and ableism. I tried my best connecting the reading to our project. The two chapters do not directly relate to our project, but I did my best to make a clear connection. Like we were talking in class as the industrial revolution occurred many families left the farm and went to the city to work. The older population was left to the farming community to continue working on the farm or to sell the farm. But if we realize much of our farming before industrialization was a source of income and a necessity for livelihood. As the East coast began to boom with industry, the Midwestern states continued to farm.

Globalization was beginning to effect society in all aspects of living. The First World War described this change.

Held states “Unlike fifteen-century warfare, war in the twentieth century in respect of both its prosecution and consequences, had acquired an extensive geographic reach: ‘ war , once conducted by military geniuses on the battlefield of limited scope, had come to embrace whole continents and to involve citizens at the home front in the era of total warfare.’” (97)

Everyone in the global society was involved at these times of war, especially during WWII. Many of the elderly in the 21^st century lived through WWII fighting and helping the war effort. Many of men saw the advancement of globalism through the military construction of tanks and artillery as they were sent over to fight for their country. These advancements allowed precision and accuracy in military targets. The women went to the factories and worked replacing men who worked before the war. Women made many of the military machinery for the war and many in the Midwestern states were in charge of farms. The women worked just as hard as the men tiling the fields and raising livestock for economic profit for their own livelihood and US production. During this time the women were farmers and industrialists and at the same time most likely raising children.

The other thought, I had about applying these two chapters in Global Transformation to ageism and ableism is through the Disabled Veteran Affairs. Many of the older population who fought in WWI, WWII, came home to the United States wounded and disabled not to mention the men and women who have fought since then in other wars. Maybe looking into further chapters in this book will provide some information on the effects of the disabled and the war and effort and how it affects the world surroundings. My questions I will address specifically look at the United States but can also be applied globally. How does the global community take care of their war veterans? Historically when was the Veteran Affairs established? What kind of organizations works with war veterans such as the VA hospitals and the veteran affairs in the US? How are their needs met? Looking at this organization can help our research because we as a group can understand how war affected the disabled and the older generation.

Week Five Analysis: The Ongoing Challenge

2005-10-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

Week Five Analysis

For our last week of internet research I have a compilation of resources that speak to both ableism and ageism in a social context. I found sites that were interesting and I was curious about for our group project. These sites either provide resources for people looking for assistance or a commentary on limitations of the hold that society puts on them. What struck me this week particularly is the Disability History Museum. I never knew it existed, I thought it must be fairly new and it is. First, I thought that is was an actual physical museum like in Washington DC, but it is a virtual museum. It is a collection of history through an online database of photographs and articles focusing on disabilities through the United States. One of the mission statements is providing people without and with disabilities to have an in depth understanding of human difference and how it has effected America through history. Throughout the database I found many articles speaking on ageism and ableism

One of the articles is from the Australian Disability Review it speaks about the one man’s (the author’s) frustration how people have been treated because of their disability. Zola discusses how children are not afraid to ask questions when they are younger because they are curious about the people and the world around them, but quickly their parents discourage them from asking questions because the parents think that there on intruding on something which could be very personal. He states, “They are taught to respond globally and not particularistically: to recognize a person with a disability when they see one but to ignore the specific characteristics of the disability. Is it any wonder that a near-universal complaint is, ‘Why can’t people see me as someone who has a disability rather than someone who is disabled? Young children first perceive it that way but are quickly socialized out of it”. Disabilities have become socially invisible; many times disability has been swept under the rug pre se. Outsiders are willing to recognize the adversities that they see and applaud the person with a disability for overcoming these struggles. The person with the disability gladly accepts the complement. Zola speaks further more on this interaction. “We are paid the greatest of compliments when someone tells us ‘You know, I never think of you as handicapped’. And we gladly accept it. We are asked, ‘How did you make it against such great odds?’ And we answer the question. And yet in both the accepting and the answering we further distance ourselves from the problems of having a disability. In a sense they become both emotionally and cognitively inaccessible. I am not using these words lightly. I do indeed mean emotionally and cognitively inaccessible.”

What the author is saying is very true because I have cerebral palsy and the same conversation has happened to me several times. I do say thank-you when some one gives me a compliment, but I always feel singled out like I am the only one that has overcome daily struggles. But I am also one that Zola speaks about, I sometimes in the accepting and answering distance myself from my own disability, because yes I know I have differences, but the differences are hard to accept at moments when our culture clearly socializes its people to be “normal.” I am sharing these comments about my life because it is easy to theorize and come up with conclusions, but in reality to put the conclusions into practice is not easy.

I think it is important to concerned the on going dialogue the church has combating ageism. Like Jimmy has researched in the past weeks about the church and ageism I found a sermon by the Unitarian Universalist Church in Palo Alto California that speaks to this issue. The Reverend Darcey Laine wants to know how the UU church can honor the traditions of the elders in when ageism is very prevalent in American culture. People learn many insightful thoughts on life from those who have already gone through it. She gives an example of the Islamic law which up hold parent while they age. “Their laws affirm care, respect, and kindness for parents as they age. This care is not paternalistic however, as the law warns Muslims not to infantilize their elders, but to support them with the respect they are due.” She also considers western culture can learn a lot from the Qur’an. Her suggestions are when people become older we are to come along side and help them as a community. “On the simplest level, we begin by affirming each individual’s right to have basic physical concerns met. We need to make sure that whenever a person begins to experience some of the losses often associate with age that we as a community are there to provide a steady hand. Our laws and social safety net must provide medical care, safe housing, and assistance with food and personal care if that is needed. The difficult question is: who should provide this basic human care? In a perfect world, a family cares for its elder as the Qur’an suggests.”

I think every religious tradition struggles how to care for many demographics of people. What is the correct response? I think if the Christian community starts with forward thinking and compassion rather than negating the physical needs of the older generation (physical needs, the one thing Jimmy and I both found missing between the church and the older population) then maybe ageism will decrease in our communities. As we were talking about church communities in our class lecture on this last Thursday (10-27), I think is important the community understands that every generation from the young to the older has something to offer up as we are all God’s people. As our research continues to finalize maybe we won’t have the answers, but we can give the church concepts to ponder.

Week 5 Resources

2005-10-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Week 5 Resources

1. Individual with disabilities education improvement act This is a site that is helpful to improve the education of students that live with a disability. Part of the improvement act is disabilities and their families and ensure every child with a disability has available a free appropriate public education that: (1) Is of high quality, and (2) is designed to achieve the high standards
reflected in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

2. Mission statement of Faith base Initiative faith base home website I was curious on what was the faith base initiative take on supporting social services. They do receive governmental money to support their initiatives. Some of the work that initiative stands for is they ensure that federal funding social services given by the state and local governments are treaty equally in their provisions. Also the initiative encourages greater corporate and philanthropic support for FBCOs’ social service programs through public education and outreach activities

3. Disability government related information is the website that the American government providing resources on varies subjects, like housing, communities, transportation, technology, and healthcare. These resources support those who are looking for assistance.

4. The disability museum is a new museum based on the historical conclusions about disabilities. There is an archive of articles and photographs based on disabilities through history.

5. This is excerpt is from The Oration: Ageing and Disability: Toward a Unifying Agenda. People who age and people with disabilities have traditionally been split into two opposing camps in the eyes of both providers of services as well as their own self perceptions. By focusing on several cross cutting phenomena -- issues of prevalence, the ever changing nature of chronic conditions, the effects of which I call the technicalisation and medicalisation of services, and the full implications of the home care revolution -- I argue for the importance of their finding a common ground.

6. Communication Barriers in the Disability Review. This is a personal article about an Australian man who desperately want society to think about the interaction they have with a person living with a disability. He has some very good points that could be useful to our research.

7. Challenging Ageism website outlines the varied definitions of the word ageism. It names different support or activist groups that are willing to combat the negativity that comes along with ageism.

8. Unitarian Sermon on Age and how to support those who are aging, this is a sermon coming from the Unitarian Universalist church. The sermon speaks from all religious traditions giving examples of how is important to take care as a church the older generation. It also gives a specific example of the western culture not supporting or caring for their parents in the long term.

9. Betty Friedan’s Book The Fountain of Age located in the Pasadena public library, Amazon link to inside the book. The book embraces aging and proves the myths are wrong about aging. It also gives unique alternatives to aging gracefully and gives empowerment to people who are aging and deserve the respect that they call for.

10. Intervarsity book on Christian Living this is a book on everyday living Christianity. This specific page speaks about ageism and discrimination in the workplace. The book states that are Christians are Naïve to think that they are susceptible to discrimination of all kinds.

Reflection on New Perspectives on Jesus and the Jewish people

2005-10-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

My response from what I listened to during the lunch time discussion at the start of the Jewish conference this Thursday and Friday was thought provoking. I found many points by Dr. Mitch Glaser and Dr. Stuart Dauermann intriguing. I want to know about messianic Judaism after attending the lunch discussion and one of the forum relating to Jewish People in the Professional Context. The Jewish people uphold the Law and with that the traditions extend throughout generations . According to Chosen People Ministries envangelism to the Jews is supported by Romans 1:16 because salvation is for the Jews first and also to the Greek according to the passage. Everyone has the opportunity to know the love and grace of Christ. God is not bias he loves everyone.

I like one of Dr. Dauermann's core value for Hashiveno, " because all people are created in the image of God, how we treat them is a reflection of our respect and love for Him; therefore, true piety cannot exist apart from human decency." This statement is so true and is a reflection from what I was reseaching last week, Inclusion. The differences that we see in other people only make communities stronger because people want to engage with others and learn from their lives.

Week 4 Inclusion Analysis

2005-10-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Inclusion Resource Analysis

I was asked by my fellow teammate, Jimmy to answer the following questions: What is a more detailed description of inclusion? What exactly does inclusion look like, specific examples? And as mentioned before, where is inclusion limited and what can we do to circumvent those limitations when they occur?

So I tried my best to find resources which would answer the questions. In terms of ableism and ageism inclusion has many different opinions. There are many who are for inclusion and many who are not, “Proponents of full inclusion assume that the general education classroom can and will be able to accommodate all students with disabilities, even those with severe and multiple disabilities. Those who oppose full inclusion argue that, although methods of collaborative learning and group instruction are the preferred methods, the traditional classroom size and resources are often inadequate for the management and accommodation of many students with disabilities without producing adverse effects on the classroom as a whole.”(From Council of Exceptional Children website). Some educational experts suggest that students with needs should be included into the larger classroom, but also be in a space that is conducive for their learning style. In the early days of mainstreaming kids with special needs they would simply visit classroom and this would be structured as inclusion. This type of inclusion was not affective in some cases. Many of the parents wanted better results for their children. "Regular Education Initiative" (LRE) talked about five different issues addressing the frustration that parents saw with mainstreaming students. These five issues are taken from the web page entitled Inclusive settings from the council exceptional children website: “the exclusion of many students who needed special educational support; the withholding of special programs until the student failed rather than making specially designed instruction available earlier to prevent failure; no support for promoting cooperative, supported partnerships between educators and parents; and using pull-out programs to serve students with disabilities rather than adapting the general education program to accommodate their needs.” From this initiative the public school system change their way of looking at special education. From then on the term inclusion was used in public education.

The Inclusion Network I found to be very insightful about what it means to include all people. Their article on, What is inclusion?is an example how there are limitations even among the ADA and the weakness around the definition of inclusion. Inclusion has meant to invite those who are out, in. The author requests for more practical ways of seeing inclusion. The author comments and questions the nature of inclusion. He states “Who has the authority or right to ‘invite’ others in? And how did the ‘inviters’ get in? Finally, who is doing the excluding? It is time we both recognize and accept that we are all born ‘in’! No one has the right to invite others in! It definitely becomes our responsibility as a society to remove all barriers which uphold exclusion since none of us have the authority to ‘invite’ others ‘in.’” The author is an advocate saying that we do not need a definition of inclusion because we are one, even though we are different. He also states that we were all born "in". Society will immediately improve at the point we honor this truth!!
The author is clearly questioning the nature of our social context in terms of inclusion. It is how people have been condition to think in our society about differences vs. normalcy. So the people who are so called “different” want to be normal by being included. What is “normal” anyway?

There are many misconceptions about inclusion. In The Ethics of Inclusion article, the author discribes the three misconceptions of inclusion and states that we all have to be one big happy family; in that we are not prided on our differences they are buried. Inclusion cures all ills, is equated happiness. Denying the struggles that people have in their life makes them to feel like they only belong if the inclusion cures them of their struggle. We are all the same is the last misconception about inclusion. “The delusion of sameness leads away from the values of Inclusion. It blurs differences and covers over discomfort and the sense of strangeness or even threat that goes with confronting actual human differences”, the author states.

We need learn to celebrated our differences, not everyone is the same. What I have learned from looking at the word inclusion this week, is that the word is just as loaded a word as ableism and ageism. There are many views on this word in a specific context. If we try to be something we are not, then we are just fooling ourselves. There is unity through diversity.

10 Resources on Inclusion

2005-10-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

10 Resources On Inclusion
1. Chancellor Birgenau speaks specifically on UC Berkeley lack of inclusion with its students. The articles is not specifically talking about our context for our project , but it is interesting to look how inclusion is applied in many different disciplines.

2.Inclusion Network is a website devoted to dialoging about inclusion and the misconceptions that the word inclusion holds. There are three articles describing inclusion and how it affects the social interaction with people living with a disability and the elderly. What is inclusion?, Inclusion: Its About Change, and The Ethics of Inclusion the meaning of inclusion. These articles also express different view points on the subject.

3. This is a website from the Council of Exceptional Children it discuss the pros and cons of inclusion in the public education setting. There is another link about mainstreaming students into the classroom, this link talking about the issues that are presented when mainstreaming kids with disabilities to the public schools.

4. The government of Scoland has issued a document about social inclusion to make Scotland a place. There is are commentaries on people living with disabilities as well as the older population. This a good resource because it shows that other countries are trying their best to include others in pratical ways.

5 Bahrain is a country located in the Arabian Gulf. The Government of Bahrain has drafted a document talking about the necessity of including the disabled and the elderly into society by giving some practical examples of both demographics ,Bahrain inclusion document

6.Camp Barnabas is a non-denomination Christian camp devoted to offer childhood experiences to kids who have been robbed of them by disease or disability. Many of the children that come to come to Camp Barnabas have range of prognoses from cerebral palsy to AIDS. The camp allows children to learn their gifts in all different area and follow through on faith.

7. The Web access and inclusion for Disabled people is a document that investigates the accessibility and inclusion of the web for people with disabilities. It explores the limitations of the web and suggests in improvement.

8. Inclusion and Belonging for the Elderly is a paper specifically looking at ageism. It talks about one people get older, many of them take passive roles in society and society tells that is ok. This may be a great resource

9. Developing an understanding of societal responses is a paper talking about the social responses to long term disability. It also discusses the nature of inclusion how that affects society, economically and political

10. Gender and Disability is a newsletter that speaks of Gender and disabilities issues. It also speaks about the limitations of inclusion.

Fighting Forms

2005-10-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

This is a painting entitled Fighting Forms created by German Expressionist artist, Franz Marc in 1914. It is one of my favorite paintings. I am posting it to my blog because this is the image I get when I am wresling with myself and God. This picture comes to mind when I am hashing out things that I do not understand. I know God is along side me when I am fighting myself to understand what is the reality of truth. God is right there fighting along side me.

Week 3 Global and Community Resource Analysis

2005-10-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Week 3 Global and Community Resource Analysis

My focus on ableism this week is looking at the community and global aspect of ableism. These may be two large topics in and of themselves. I think for our research it is important to look at both these topics. The community is very important, because like I said before many people living with disabilities often times feel marginalized and isolated from society. Like any other people group is good to get connected to community so one can share identity with others. Some of the websites that I wanted to share this week incorporate inclusion in various ways. The focus of this inclusion is sense of identity and community. Below I have listed organizations that provide community in different ways. The point that I hope you would take from these example communities is to understand the importance of identity and inclusion, not being isolated from society.

People living with a disability are capable of doing most things that an able-bodied person can do. They may just need assistance or adaptations to complete specific tasks. Many of the resources provide people with the assistance that they need to thrive in everyday society. For example the National Arts and Disability Center NADA and VSA arts, are organizations which provide disabled artists the necessary tools to develop their skills in creativity. Both organizations advocate for artistic students with disabilities to have engagement to the culture that surrounds them. NADA provides the technological assistance needed to create a piece of artwork. They also provide a directory of California artists living with a disability, so that artists can contact each other and provide a community where they can learn and teach each other. VSA provides a juried competition of artist who what to share their self expression. The Farm and the Dell is another organization which provides community. It is a residential community that provides vocational skills for people living with developmental disabilities. They live on site learning farming techniques. The Ability Explorations is another group assisting those who want to challenge the forces of natures and take on life through mountaineering, canoeing, and other out door activities.

Another important component to our research is the global aspect. This research looks at what other countries think about people living with disabilities. The generality I found within these articles are other countries are looking to include and accept disabled people into the larger community. Some of the articles advocate for change. Countries in Central Eastern Europe and the newly independent states are associating disabilities with isolation and institutionalization. In the article “Violence against Women with Mental Disabilities”, these women are considered invisible because they do not have the same value as others, there is a stigma against them and they are often abused. Many resources for mental disabilities are scarce so many women are labeled psychiatric, inappropriate medicated, and then hospitalized. One current solution to this victimization is The Farm and the Dell has built in Krygzastan a new resident facility, where people who have developmental disabilities can live life in society and not be isolated from it.

A comment from Michael Steer from the Office on Disability in New South Wales on the article “Aging and Developmental Disabilities Perspectives From Nine Countries” states “our goal must not be to add yet another societally devalued group to the world community, but to discover ways both attitudinal and pragmatic, to support our communities so that all, whether or not disabled, can share long lives together.” The goal for this research is to look at ageism and ableism in a humane way, where all people groups are treated with equality and respect from surrounding communities.

10 Resources on the Globe and the Importance of Community for Ableism

2005-10-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

1. "Aging and Developmental Disabilities: Perspectives From Nine Countries," edited by Steve Moss American journal of mental retardation : AJMR. 99, no. 3, (1994): 322, this Journal can be located in the Fuller Library and may be on mirofiche.

2.http://nadc.ucla.edu/ the mission of the National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) is to promote the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community.

3.http://www.vsarts.org/x16.xml VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA arts is creating a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts is committed to driving change - changing perceptions and practice, classroom by classroom, community by community, and ultimately society.

4. http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/ IDA represents more than 600 million people in the world with a disability.IDA has the following goals: Some of the goals are to idenitify some common positions on disability issues and then lobby them to the UN agencies and to encourage involvement at the regional, national, and local levels.

5. 22 residents live and work at the Farm in the Dell in Helena Montana. This is a place were people with developmental disabilities can live and gain vocational skills. The Bartels are committed to their effort. They have said, Our primary interest is to help local communities serve citizens in need. This a News paper article on the expansion of the Farm and the Dell in Krygyzstan Independent Record article.

6. Legislation in other countries this article about other legislations in other countries about Disabilities rights.7.Violence on Women with Mental disabilities is an article Article on about women in central Europe and Newly Independent States. Most of the women are issolated from society. The article tracks how mental disabilities are seen in these countries.

8. http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/bibliography/MEasttoc.html The response to how the middle east is treating disabilities, You can access it through this link.

9.European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions wrote this paper, Illiness, disabilities, and social Inclusion. This paper may help understand the European polices on disabilities.

10.http://www.ability-uk.org/explor.html Ability Explorations believes that adventurous, challenging and creative experiences should be made accessible to everyone, offering inspiration for personal change, new confidence through surprising acheivement, development of latent skills from latent talents, and lasting memories that can influence everyday life. Our activities range

Analysis of Resources

2005-10-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

Analysis of resources

Many of the websites are devoted to helping people living with disabilities. Today in class we discussed the natures of the powers that dictate our lives. In our small groups we discussed the good intentions that people have in assisting with those living with a disability or those who cannot take care of themselves anymore; such as in nursing homes or group homes. But we also discussed the disconnect that society and the church have with people living with disabilities. A high percentage people living with disabilities many times feels marginalized and neglected as a whole because our culture is not socialized properly to know how to react to a person living with a disability.

The theme to my overall findings is to describe the background of ableism. I desire to provide information about ableism as well as giving providing the response of the government of the United States to people living with a disability. I also want to look at the personal lives of people living with disabilities and how they cope with their struggles. The University of Vermont has described ableism on their race and culture website as, “stereotyping, negative attitudes, and discrimination toward people based on a physical or mental disability resulting in discrimination and/or prejudice.” I located the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website. The ADA is a document that is very important in the discussion of ableism. It gives background information on why it was signed into law. The act prohibits discrimination against people living with a disability in employment, public service, public accommodations, and telecommunications. The Freedom Initiative signed by President George W. Bush expanded on the ADA. In 2001 this initiative helped further education and employment opportunities with assistive technology. It will be interesting to look back over time to see if the ADA really accomplishes what it set out to accomplish.

I also wanted to demonstrate that people living with a disability are doing great things to share it with others in their lives. Take for example Alison Lapper who is an accomplished visual artist in photography and painting. She was born with out any arms and shortened legs a chromosomal condition called, Phocomelia. She paints with her mouth or feet. Recently she has been featured in articles because Marc Quinn has completed a 13 ton sculpture of her and it is Trafalgar square in London. She says in the 24 Hour Museum article, “It is so rare to see disability in everyday life – let alone naked, pregnant and proud. The sculpture makes the ultimate statement about disability – that it can be as beautiful and valid a form of being as any other.” People living with disabilities can demonstrate their able-bodiness in so many ways, instead of focusing on their disability. Another example of taking pride in able-bodiness is Joni Eareckson Tada. She is created a ministry and is an advocate for reaching people living with disabilities I think that it is important to demonstrate the perseverance that people have when they have struggles. It is vital for our research to understand that strength can come from struggles. These two women exude strength and have over come the stigma of being disabled.

I hope with these resources we will be able to examine the flaws of our culture as it pertains to acceptance of those living with disabilities.

10 Resources on Ableism

2005-10-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

1. http://www.eeoc.gov/ada/ this is the site of the American Disability Act 1990-2002. It has detailed information about the Act and and the New Freedom Initiative that George W. Bush signed into law promoting new technologies and expanding educational and employment for people with disabilities.

2.http://www.uvm.edu/~culture/site/frameset/frameset_ableism.html This website is from the University of Vermont website in their Race and Culture program in their college of Education and social services. It gives a definition of ableism and points the researcher to other helpful websites.

3.http://www.disabilityrights.org/905.htm this is a news article on whether disable inmates may sue the states for prison conditions under the ADA.

4.http://ableism.com/ a student research project about ableism, really bad web layout. It is very hard to read.

5. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice is a Book on racism, antisemitism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, and classism located at the Central Pasadena Public library
ISBN Numbers :
0415926335 (acid-free paper)
0415926343 (pbk. : acid-free paper) :

6. http://www.niadart.org/ The National Insistute of Art and Disabilities. Go to the welcome page. It is a visual art center helping people with disabilites think creativley and provides inclusion and socialization.

7.http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART30597.html News article on the British artist Alison Lapper, her friend Marc Quinn has created an 13 ton sculpture of her while she was 8 months pregenant. The sculpture in London Trafalgar Square it is a tribute to Motherhood and people with disabilities.

8. http://www.hopehaven.org/, http://www.rocwheels.org/newsletter.htm Wayne Hanson's group traveling to south american and fitting kids into wheelchairs made out of old wheelchair parts

9. http://www.joniandfriends.org/apcm/APCMviewer.asp?a=1&z=1 Joni Eareckson Tada website Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada in 1979, Joni and Friends exists to communicate the gospel and equip Christ-honoring churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected by disability, from the home page.

10.http://www.pluk.org/Who.html Parents Lets Unite for Kids Billings Montana. PLUK is a private, nonprofit organization formed in 1984 by parents of children with disabilities and chronic illnesses in the state of Montana for the purpose of information, support, training and assistance to aid their children at home, school and as adults. PLUK is an organization of parents and other caring individuals who serve families and individuals with disabilities of any age and at no cost.PLUK was founded by parents who felt strongly that parents of children with disabilities need to band together to give each other information and support, from their fact page

Painting of Christ

2005-09-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

I like this image of Christ. So I though I would add it to my Blog for class. It gets me to think about the many portrayls of Christ and how each of them are very different from one another. The artist is Joseph Arthur, the musician.

My first Blog posting!! Can I say interesting?

2005-09-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

I guess you would like to know where I am from, I grew up in Helena Montana. I have lived coast to coast. I lived in Tacoma, Washington while attending college and then decided to move to Worcester, Mass. to complete my undergraduate study in Art History at Clark University. Before moving to Pasadena to attend Fuller Theological Seminary I moved back to Montana to work at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena. I worked as an curatorial/administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator. The Holter is one of the few contemporary art museums in the state of Montana.

This is my second year at Fuller. I am in the Master of Theology program concentrating in Theology, culture, and the study of the arts. I always been curious about the intersection between Art and Theology. My church background is Lutheran and Baptist, What is interesting mixture don't you think? If you ask me where I am attending church now, I visit many different denonominational and non-denonominational churches on a regular basis.

I think what I want to get out of Transforming Contemporary Cultures is to engage many different aspects of the global culture and meet people where they are at. We as the church cannot expect people to change from looking from the outside to the inside. We as the church have be willing to understand where people are coming from whether that is the art world, the internet, or science. Understanding each of these differences can create community and unity and better understanding how one can see Christ.