Blog Post 2

I believe that Atticus Finch is definitely a parent. Just because he is not overly protective and "fluffy" with reality, does not mean he is not a good parent. Atticus' teaching strategies may not be popular, but may have been necessary during the time that he was raising his children. His methods may not have only been affected by the time period, but maybe by the fact that his wife died. This could have made Atticus far less flowery with the way he taught his children. He could have possibly thought that his children were growing up without a mother, and that was the reality of it. He figured that they should live their lives knowing and understanding the reality of things since they had to start their lives with the harsh reality of no mother. Atticus teaches his children important things in life. He raises his children to be racially accepting, and respectful of others. One major life lesson he teaches his children is not to shoot mockingbirds. He tells his children that they could shoot all the blue jays they wanted, just never a mockingbird. Mockingbirds are innocent birds that just sing. Blue jays are not innocent birds. They steal eggs and terrorize other birds. This requirement for his children was a lifelong message for them. They should never blame and/or attack the innocent ones life just because they can or it is easier. In some sense I think Atticus is a better parent than all of the rest in Maycomb. His children are mature, respectful, and not racist. Adults in today's world need to be extremely cautious with their children. There are so many danger out in the world now. The internet is an amazing thing, but it can also be very dangerous. Parents need to be strict with their children in different areas than what was needed in the past. Making sure that their children know internet safety and other safeties is extremely important. Though their are new factors that need to be accounted for in parenting, mush of it is similar to previous teaching methods. Like Atticus' teaching style, parents should teach their children to be respectful and accepting of others. Parents should be close with their children. They should give guidelines on what their children should do, not just advice after something happens. Parents should make sure their children know that they are the adults, and even though they are friends, the children must respect the parents.

Blog Post 1

In today's America, race relations are far better than than they were decades ago. The American history included slavery followed by extreme racism. After reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, and watching the PBS documentary, Freedom Riders, I believe the United States to day is a far more racially accepting place today than it was in the 30's and 60's. In the past, not everyone had equal rights and freedoms, however, today every American citizen has equal rights. Although race-relations are far better today, there is still evidence of racial hatred. One major example of this is the Ku Klux Klan. This hate group consists of 3,000 - 5,000 member who believe in white supremacy. The robed and hooded racists have terrorized countless groups of people for years. These people feel threatened by other races, and fear acceptance of them. This group, however, is a rarity. Most people in the United Sates are not racist. There are even more and more political positions being held by different races. For example, in 2008, the Unites Sates had its first black president. Not just in leadership and politics is their equal racial opportunity, but in large companies and businesses too. There is no logic behind racism, and we the people of the United States as a whole, are finally beginning to understand that. It is amazing to see how many different races and cultures are present at Wissahickon High School. Being exposed to this unique setting is not available everywhere. I believe racial equality and acceptance will only get better as time goes on, and as the United States becomes more and more of a melting pot.