everybody back again (2nd time)

Everybody was back again today… for the second time. Dusty and Isaiah had been out sick but they were both back today.

Other stuff: talent show is on Friday. Wake Up Jane is performing a song they wrote and Mrs. Bomberger's Chorus class is singing a few, too. Hope we do well. And as far as I know, I'm not exhibiting any of my photography, as I am assuming the photography the Deals are putting on display are prints, and I have very few of those (like four).

Regarding the template, I have a bunch bookmarked from BTemplates. I might note even use any of those, but some of them are pretty cool.

And… the US History class (Anna, Ashley, Blake, Dusty, Isaiah, and Nathaniel) is doing a couple of class projects. Anna, Blake, and Dusty are working on a gigantic timeline of people from 1800-1900. Also, we're doing yet another paper, but this one is accompanied by a fill blown project of some kind (or a poster for losers less points) and the timeline for it stretches into next trimester (the final trimester, woo-hoo!).

Matthew's VOD Essay 2007

[VOD Gallery Index]

[Hullo, Nathaniel here. Upon request, Matthew kindly sent me what he could scrounge up of the VOD essays he has done. Here's his 2007 one. Enjoy, and thanks, Matt.]

My Role in Honoring America's Veterans

My great-grandfather died after WWII of shrapnel wounds. He was a veteran. They have fought, bled and suffered for our country. They have upheld the standard of Justice the world around. For protecting our country, they are honored. What is honor? How do I show it? I show it through observing holidays in memory and recognition of veterans, by supporting them through the government, and by personally supporting and interacting with them.
Honor is defined by Noah Webster as: "The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation," and "reverence; veneration." We esteem veterans because of their worth; because of what they mean to this country. Without veterans, this country would not be free, would not be safe, would not be a place where we can pursue learning and art. As John Adams said, "I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their sons the right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."
It is in honor that a special unit of the third U.S. Infantry continually guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. There the inscription on the tomb reads: "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God." The deep honor and emotion associated with this memorial serve to illustrate the worth America places on her veterans. So how do I, as a citizen, express this gratitude? For one thing, I observe the national holidays instituted in honor of veterans.
A holiday is a day set aside in recognition, honor, or commemoration. Memorial Day is a holiday Americans celebrate in commemoration of those veterans who have died in military service for their country; on memorial day, I remember those who have died to make me free, a very Biblical concept. I buy a poppy, which symbolizes the poppies of Flanders field, where so many soldiers died in WWI; young, full of life, and whose lives were suddenly cut short. Likewise, on Veteran's Day, I take some time to remember how much I appreciate all the people I know who have served in the military.
We also honor veterans by giving them preference in hiring for jobs; we know those who have served our country on the national level will do a good job on the local level. And, finally, I honor veterans in my personal interactions with them. When I see someone with a military bearing and wearing a uniform, I want to show them how much I appreciate all they have done, wether it involves opening the door for them, learning what they have to tell me, or just giving them a smile.
These are all ways I honor America's veterans, but it goes further than that. By being involved with my community and my government, I can show my continued support for the standards we have fought for. I can raise my children with a love for their country and a desire to protect it. And, most of all, I can pray for our country, the people it stands for, and the people who fought to keep it that way.

Nathaniel's VOD Essay 2008

[VOD Gallery Index]

Voice of Democracy

Some of the benefits which the youth of today's America possess are given to them only through the service and sacrifice of Americans in the military. Freedom, peace, and giving back are such benefits.
Our veterans serve and fight for the very thing that the fathers of our nation did. Freedom is something that man craves, and even stronger is the desire for religious freedom. The men of the colonies of America fought for freedom from England. To what end did they desire such? It was for a place with religious liberty and for a place better to raise their children, and for them to raise children of their own in a country free for them to serve God and enjoy Him, not just a random uprising for the sake of pointless revolution. Slavery was abolished in our country following the sacrifice of many lives in the Civil War. Americans currently fight to ensure the freedom of Middle Eastern nations from terrible regimes. Americans serve so that the children of the oppressed may have freedom. It is not just Americans that America fights for.
Had not our men served, would we now be the United Colonies of England? Would we all be forced to be in the Anglican church, not allowed religious liberty? Would the colonization of America have been slower, the harvest of such rich resources put on hold? Would Russia and China have made conquest into America? We cannot be sure of all such futures, but there are some things in history we can be sure of, such as an attack against America from Nazi Germany; such as huge chunk of America being under French control. We can be sure that if no action was taken against Japan, they most certainly would have further assaulted America. To let such things pass would be a watchmen opening the gates to the enemy, allowing them free reign to pillage and murder.
But we did not, and hopefully do not do such things so that youth can sit idle. We did it to give them freedom and peace, so that they could continue building such a country as we have today. We do it so that our youth may have an education, may have a career, may learn and appreciate art, may bless others, and may live a full and fruitful life. We do it to combat those who would take away such freedoms.
The service of America's veterans also benefits youth in another way; that they themselves may serve. Our youth will learn selflessness by giving to their country in this way, and even in giving to other countries, as young people of our military do at this very time. We may look up from our occupations, see and serve others, and remember why our fathers gave their service. America has been blessed greatly by God, and is it too much to be thankful for His grace?
It is altogether too common, and too easy in the minds of the young to forget the stories of their fathers, to not give a thought to their history, and to stumble blithely on. Freedom is not a right. Freedom is a gift. As a catchphrase for the war in the Middle East says, "Freedom is not free." It is without our history, and without our heritage that we crumble. It is my hope that the service and sacrifice of America's veterans will open the eyes of our youth. I hope that they will truly see what our fathers fought for and what we fight for now; it is not our fallen and corrupt and democracy. It is love. If the youth of our once great land would learn to love their brothers in Christian sociability, and make such a great sacrifice as those who have served our country, I hope that we would seek the forgiveness of the God we have violated, and that our beloved homeland would be spared.