I was BORN THIS WAY BABY!

Thank you baby Jesus! I was able to download the latest Gaga single “Born This Way”! 

Obsessed! Brilliant! Inspirational! Been listening to it on repeat for days! Literally can’t get enough …never ask me to, cuz I never will (Frankism). It will become as classic as “Like a Prayer” and I can’t even breathe thinking about it (Frankism).

Born This Way is an anthem of self acceptance, originality and love.  The lyrics are empowering for anyone who has been rejected or targeted or marginalized because of who they are.  The song gives special attention to those who identify as LGBT-Lesbian, Gay Bisexual or Transgender, as it seems the assault of their humanity is never ending, from school bullying to governmental policies. 

Born This Way simply reminds us all that, we were born they way we are.  If you are gay, you were born that way.  If you are Black, you were born that way.  If you have a disability, you were born that way.  And as Gaga sings out, she empowers us not to feel ashamed of who we are, but to embrace and love ourselves…because as she sings, “God makes no mistakes, we were Born This Way”.

Although I love Gaga, I think she might actually be the second coming of Jesus Christ, she is not the first to introduce this liberating concept to the world.  I first came to understand the concept of “Born This Way”, of self acceptance and love, when I was a very young child, in a children’s book called “Free to Be…You and Me” by Marlo Thomas.  

“Free to Be…You and Me”, is a collection of short stories, poems, songs and pictures, that promote to children and adults alike, the very same ideas that Gaga’s “Born This Way” promote.  “Free to Be…You and Me” teaches children that it’s okay to be different.  And encourages children to love and accept themselves and others for who they are.  To this day, “Free to Be…You and Me”, is not only one of my favorite books but also my life motto. 

And although we, as a society, have come a long way in accepting “differentness”, we still have a long way to go.  Unfortunately it still takes great courage to be “different” in our society.  To live in truth.  To recognize and honor that we were Born This Way. 

So I write this post for all those people who do have the courage to live their truth and those who are gaining the strength, maybe even from Born This Way, to one day embrace who they were born and to live their truth.  And I write this in hopes that that one day we won’t need songs or books to tell us that it is okay to be Born This Way.  And we will really will be Free to Be… You and Me.     

ps... I thought I would share with you some parts of both Born This Way and Free to Be... You and ME.  

 

 I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way 

For a land where the river runs free
For a land through the green country
For a land to a shining sea
For a land where the horses run free
And you and me are free to be you and me

Shout OUT- True Student Achievement

Attention Teachers and all those who work with or interact with Teachers! Some food for thought....

There has been a lot of attention paid to the state of education lately and most of that attention has focused on teachers and holding them accountable for student achievement.  With all this, mostly negative attention paid to teachers, I can’t help but think about the teacher who has had the largest impact on my own achievement. 

The year was 1999, the beginning of my sophomore year at Downers Grove South High School.  The class was United States history. And the teacher Ms. Dawson.

Ms. Dawson was not like other teachers.  Instead of giving out textbooks the first day of class she put on the national news and asked us to take notes on it.  After, we were encouraged to discuss with each other the various issues that were raised.  Ms. Dawson taught US history through current events, films, readings and class discussions.  We examined the complexities of politics, violence, gender relations, discrimination, racism, poverty, education, government and civil liberties both in a historical and contemporary context.  And we never did get those textbooks.    

Ms. Dawson’s class was not about memorizing and spitting back information on multiple choice tests, like so many history classes have become.  Her class was about building our reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking skills.  It was about exposing us to different perspectives and helping us to understand abstract concepts such as: equality, freedom and justice.  Ultimately her class was about providing us with the knowledge and skills needed to better ourselves and the world around us. 

For me her class was truly transformative.  It was in her class that I began to enjoy learning.  I became interested in history.  I began to read the newspaper and engage in conversations with adults about social and political issues.  Ms. Dawson encouraged me to read books, which opened my mind and heart to other experiences.  And she taught me that writing could be used as a tool of self expression and an agent of change.

    

But most importantly Ms. Dawson encouraged me and all her students to become socially responsible citizens.  Citizens who engage in public discourse, care for one another and try to make the world a better place.

This idea of social responsibility, of making the world a better place, had a profound impact on me.  It motivated me to do community service.  It provided me the courage to come out and be proud of who I am.  It led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in teaching and a graduate degree in social work.  It inspired me to become a social justice activist.  And it is the reason I am currently in Mozambique serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. 

In the current school reform movement, where America’s teachers are disrespected and blamed for the failures of public education and where there is strong push towards high stakes testing, measurable results and teacher accountability, I can’t help but think about Ms. Dawson.  And the countless other Ms. Dawson’s out there. 

They are teachers who are called “untraditional” “radical” or “controversial”.  They are teachers who teach their students skills not facts.  They are teachers who push their students to think and feel differently about themselves and the world around them.  They are teachers who change student’s lives on daily basis.  And they are teachers who ultimately change the world. 

The reality is that the impact a teacher has on their student’s “achievement” is everlasting and often never is fully known.  It seems to me that the school reform movement should spend more time and resources building teachers up than tearing them down.  And should do everything possible to encourage and cultivate the Ms. Dawson’s of the world.  Because those are the kinds of teachers we want in America’s classrooms. 

It is the influence of the Ms. Dawson’s that lead students to become engaged in learning, more confident, empathetic and open-minded.  It is the kind of influence that shapes lives and eleven years later pushes them to be a Peace Corps volunteer.  And it is the influence of the Ms. Dawson’s, far beyond the walls of the classroom, that help to create a better world.  A world where people take care of each other, where creativity and innovation thrive, where being different is embraced and where knowledge and power is used for good. 

I want to thank Ms. Dawson and all those teachers like her.  Teachers who understand that true student achievement is not realized by high test scores but instead is realized in the character of their students and the kind of society these students create. 

Mozambican Funeral

Earlier this week I attended my first Mozambican funeral.  It was for one of my organization’s members’ sister.  I did not know her, although I have had a handful of conversations with the member, who is soft spoken and very friendly.  The funeral started out at someone’s house, where prayers were said and songs were sung, however, in true Mozambican fashion my supervisor and I were late and got to the house just as everyone was leaving to go to the cemetery. 

Much like in the States everyone in attendance travels to the cemetery together and as the processional passes on the road everyone, cars, bikes and people stop and allow the processional through.   

In Mozambique, the body is often put into the back of a pick-up truck, which is marked with a cross and often carries several people as well.  That pick-up truck leads the processional.  Then the rest of the people, pile, and I mean they pile into the back of other pick-up trucks, sometimes as many as 20 people per truck.  There is also normally a large crowd walking behind the trucks as well, as there often isn’t enough vehicles for everyone. 

In this particular funeral, because the cemetery was over 4 miles away no one walked in the processional.  There was a huge flat bed truck that took at least 70 people or more and then a few smaller pick-up trucks carrying people.  I rode in one of the pick-up trucks, standing in the front of the truck, holding onto a pole, there was probably 20 other people in the back of the truck with me.  The mood was serious, some people were crying, some were singing, no one was really talking.  The processional took about 30 minutes, because it was far and we were going very slow. 

Once we got to the cemetery, we all got out and went to the burial site.  The service continued immediately.  There were some prayers and more singing, some in Portuguese and some in the local language.  There were several outbursts of screaming and crying as well.  Then everyone was given a flower to implant into the dirt that covered the casket. 

Once it was over, everyone immediately got back on the trucks.  I got my same spot back, as some Mozambicans made some room for me.  The ride back was much more spirited.  There was a lot of talking and laughing, as the people in my truck were all family members and told stories of the past.  Almost like a celebration of life.  

Spotted in Quelimane!

 2 men walking down the street holding hands!

I know what you are thinking….there are gays in Mozambique!?!  And technically you would be correct…there are gay people here in Mozambique, just as there is all over the world!

However, these men were not gay or at least my gaydar (which is impeccable, even here in Moz) didn’t pick up on them.  They are just two good friends.  It is actually very normal and culturally appropriate for 2 guys, who are good friends, to walk around holding hands.

Whenever I see this I can’t help but smile and feel happy! It is just so refreshing to see adult males show affection, in a non sexual way, to other males.  Plus it reminds me of the gays….I you know how much I love the gays!