Comments for Life - As I See It

Comment on The Myth of Fingerprints: You Are What You Read by gwen07

gwen07 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:24:22 +0000

Marie, Having taught at the middle and high school levels for a combined 24 years I could see an argument (though a weak one) for this story maybe – maybe for 13 year olds who go through a period of morbid curiosity with death and such. And, even then it would pay (for the teacher) to know the audience – I had a 14 year old student once whose sister and husband set an older man on fire because he wouldn’t buy them liquor! This is not a story you want relatives of that child reading. It is better, as you imply to not read the story at all as it serves no educational purpose. As a parent you have the right to do just what my niece did – contact the teacher and politely ask for another reading assignment. The teacher, in my nieces case, understood and assigned another short story. Please consider that not all schools feed “garbage” to their students. Sometimes young teachers (again, as in my nieces case) need to be made aware of certain offensive material. Continue to protect your child against the horrible images of life that abound on television and in print. In our vast and beautiful world, there are certainly better images to plant in the minds of our young.

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog.
Gwen

Comment on The Myth of Fingerprints: You Are What You Read by Marie

Marie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:55:16 +0000

Thank you for writing about this horrible story. My sixth grader was assigned this story along with questions. I think it is sick and disgusting that a school would have my child read such a graphic “mystery.” He had to answer questions like, “What do you think is in the bags?” and “What do you think the smell is?” I do not want my child reading a story like this let alone thinking of more sick details. We try to protect our children from the horrible things in this world and the school feeds them this garbage.

Comment on WAR HORSE: In praise of Schmaltz by Gwen

Gwen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:58:42 +0000

Both you & Tom crossed my mind as I was watching War Horse. I can think of no other person who can connect with horses on a Horse Whisperer level like Tom. Every time someone patted the horse in the movie I wanted shout – why are you slapping that horse? Thanks for the kind words, my friend.

Comment on WAR HORSE: In praise of Schmaltz by Deb

Deb — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:01:13 +0000

Superb write up, Gwen! Tom and I saw the movie, and while he was able to control his emotions in public, I cried out loud during various scenes! I am sure that man has a soul; I am just as sure that the horse has a soul!!

Comment on Waiting For The Osprey – Peacefully by gwen07

gwen07 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:36:35 +0000

Nancy, yes I’m still living in upstate but right now I am in the Florida keys – dreading going back to NY tomorrow

I live about 90 miles south of Rochester (Corning, NY area) – in fact, we will be landing (keeping fingers crossed) in Rochester tomorrow evening.

Good luck with your hawk – we have a couple of red-tail hawks that hunt over the fields – where field mice are plentiful after a plowing.

Thanks for reading my blog.

gwen

Comment on Waiting For The Osprey – Peacefully by dogear6

dogear6 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:39:28 +0000

I live in suburbia with a tiny backyard – we actually had a hawk in our yard this fall! I got some really good pictures through the backdoor before it flew off.

http://livingtheseasons.com/2011/12/23/squirrel-blind-to-danger/

Are you still in upstate New York? We loved living in Rochester, except of course for the constant snow (!).

Nancy

Comment on WAR HORSE: In praise of Schmaltz by dogear6

dogear6 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:25:42 +0000

Gwen – what a wonderful write-up! It was worth the time for readers like me to enjoy. The movie has many wonderful truths in it and your post does too.

Nancy

P.S. I came over via Kate’s link.

Comment on WAR HORSE: In praise of Schmaltz by Kate Kresse

Kate Kresse — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:58:37 +0000

I put up a post about your amazing post today. I had to almost tie my hands behind my back to resist putting my favorite quote from your post in my post. I didn’t want to take it out of context. The buildup and aftermath within your post made it even more powerful. I couldn’t figure out how to say how fabulous this was…but here is my link… http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/do-you-love-to-be-swept-away/

Comment on WAR HORSE: In praise of Schmaltz by Do you love to be swept away? | Believe Anyway

Do you love to be swept away? | Believe Anyway — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:55:07 +0000

[...] But today—it was a blog post written by a blogger that moves me. It is a review of the movie War Horse. But it is SO, SO much more. She has such a breathtaking way with words. So, rather than quote her and take her words out of context, I urge you to go to her link. I swear you will not be sorry. here is the link. No, don’t resist!! http://gwensworld.net/2012/01/16/war-horse-in-praise-of-schmaltz/ [...]

Comment on WAR HORSE: In praise of Schmaltz by Kate Kresse

Kate Kresse — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:17:51 +0000

i’ve been writing but not reading. i got way behind on reading your book and some other reading too. hang in there.your words are always worth waiting for—hugs from arizona-<3 Kate