Relation to the culture of power

Laws and rules are made by human beings so they can live in harmony in society. I learned that a long time ago, as a young person. Indeed, going to school during my childhood, I came to know that to live in peace and enjoy freedom in this world, one has to abide by the laws and rules set up by authorities. Those people to whom we gave power by electing them. Thus, being aware of the laws and rules governing our society, I have full control over my life. I have power, so to speak. If I drive while drunk, have an accident, and harm someone, I must be held accountable for my action. I shouldn't blame anybody but myself, if I get arrested and thrown in jail. There are so many things in this world that can help us avoid getting in trouble with the authorities. For instance, as a child, my parents told me that taking someone else' belongings without them knowing is a crime. And that you can go to prison if arrested. In addition, the media deal with crimes that people commit on a daily basis; and their consequences. We also learn in schools the importance of respecting rules and laws, otherwise there will be negative outcomes. So with all the means or tools that are available to all human beings, to learn the culture of power, there should be no excuses if one ignores the rules and laws governing us. Therefore, violating them, constitutes a crime that can be punished. In fact, unless someone has a mental problem, who is not aware of the fact that raping someone is a serious crime? Who doesn't know that murder is another serious crime?
I was able to get the job that I enjoy right now because, before I went to the job interview, I got prepared, by learning how to dress appropriately and how to behave during the interview.
To sum up, I will say that adapting to the culture of power allowed me to go to school and get a "Licence d'enseignement", a teaching certificate, after three years in college, in the French education system. To land a job after graduation, to respect the authorities and thus to live a peaceful life with my family. When I wake up in the morning, I'm so happy to know that I slept in my own bedroom and not in a jail cell. And I thank God for that.

Charles' third blog

In the article entitled "The silenced Dialogue", Lisa Delpit discusses her concerns regarding the No Child Left Behind program in which educators are more preoccupied by test scores than "the development of the human beings in our charge". According to her, children should be taught the rules and codes of the culture of power so they can be successful in the American society. She agrees that students from various cultural backgrounds need to keep their languages and values when she says on page 37 " children have the right to their own language, their own culture. We must fight cultural hegemony and fight the system by insisting that children be allowed to express themselves in their own language style". But at the same time she deems it important that the same children learn the language and the values of this country if they want to succeed. This is what she means when she states on page 25 that " The codes or rules I'm speaking of relate to linguistic forms, communicative strategies, and presentation of self; that is, ways of talking, ways of writing, ways of dressing, and ways of interacting".
I will give an example about my family. My wife and I speak French at home and so does our 10 year old child. Our son is so interested in French that I sometimes I tell him that it is okay to learn and speak French, because it is part of our culture, but that if he wants to make it at school, he needs to concentrate on learning English for schooling purposes. I don't think he quite understands due to his age, but at least I tried as a parent. Because education starts at home.
On the other hand, if the East Indian was aware of the rules and codes of the culture of power, maybe he would have gotten the job he applied for. Indeed, he would have prepared himself better to face the interviewers.
The author also maintains that white educators should listens to the ideas, and suggestions of black educators when it comes to the education of black children because both black educators and children live in the same communities, therefore they have the proper means and tools to ensure their education.

We're in trouble blog

In the book entitled "Privilege, Power and Difference", by Allan G. Johnson, the author argues that a group of people have certain privileges over other groups simply because of the color of their skin or their gender. For instance, he states that if he, as a white person goes shopping at a store, he would be waited on quicker than his friend who is black. That, if his friend uses a credit card at the cash register, the store clerk will ask for more identity papers from her than the clerk will do him, Allan Johnson. This is so typical of the society we live in. Being a person of color, I personally experience this type of situation almost everyday. At work, school, restaurants, stores, on the bus, etc. One example: two weeks ago, I went to a convenience store in Chepachet, RI to pay a utility bill, through Western union. As soon as I went in, the store clerk walked quickly to the back of the store, as if she was looking for a safe place; and from there she asked whether she could help me with anything, while looking very nervous. To reassure her, I showed her some money and said that I was there to pay a bill. Then she walked back to the cash register. I am sure the attitude of the clerk would have been different if I was a white. And I cannot really blame the her because the store is located in a white neighborhood.
As far as gender is concerned, I must say that the author is not totally right, when it comes to discrimination against women, based on their sex. in fact, women can be found in all types of professional activities. They are engineers, astronauts, physicians, teachers, senators, you name it. In my mind, they would do anything that men do. If senator Clinton gets nominated within the democratic party, and is elected president of the United States of America, I think it would not be reasonable to keep talking about sexism in the American society. Not that Mrs. Clinton's election would definitely put an end to sexism, but that it would kind of contribute to put men and women at the same level. She would therefore make history. The same way senator Obama would make history, if he was elected president of this country. One of these two senators might become the next president of the US because a lot of people no matter what color they are, want some positive social changes in this country.

Vacation in the Caribbean

My name is Charles and I'm currently enrolled in secondary education at Rhode Island College, majoring in French. I would like to share the following. It is summertime and lots of people are wondering where to go for fun. I am one of those people and I did ask a few friends for suggestions. One of them, from Haiti told me about the beauty of the Caribbean islands. Another friend, let's say a co-worker, mentioned Miami beach in Florida. One of my cousins living in New Jersey talked to me in length about Saint Catherine Street in Montreal, Canada, where he had been two years ago.
After much thinking and some research on my own, I chose to go to the Caribbean, precisely to the Bahamas. Why the Bahamas? Well because my Haitian friend, among other interesting things that he mentioned, pointed out the fact that the sea in the islands in general and the Bahamas in particular is so clear and clean that you can easily see the sand at the bottom of the ocean or fish moving around. I decided to experience this myself.