week8
2131 words by dominiquetomlinson
I sent my letter concerning my project to the following four people/organizations:
Mayor Ray Nagin
Governor Kathleen Blanco
Louisiana Department of Education/Recovery School District (Advisory Committee)
President Bush
Hello, my name is Dominique Tomlinson. I am currently a sophomore at Xavier University of Louisiana by way of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Next semester I will be a Pharmacy student. As a part of my school’s mission students are encouraged to perform academically while serving the community and assuming leadership roles. In accordance with the school’s mission I have decided to become a mentor at a local elementary school, St. Peter Claver School. My involvement is also part of a theology course in which I am currently enrolled. My assignment is to identify a problem in the world and propose a plan to solve the problem. I chose education in New Orleans primarily after Hurricane Katrina. I have a genuine concern for the students in my community and the quality of education they are currently not receiving. I am doing a small part by volunteering in after school/summer programs but I do not feel that this is enough. I am only one person. I feel that in writing to you more can be done to help the education situation here. This is an opportune time to reconstruct the previously failing public school system in New Orleans. It is important to note the demographics of the city in order to help them. While it needs help those whom the system serves has very little to no money (once again) particularly following the events of the last year. My plan consists of three aspects that will not entirely fix but at least improve the school system. In detailing the following ideas I hope to gain support both financially and spiritually from you. First, I would like to see more (if possible, free) after-school programs. This would provide students with something to do after school while also reinforcing those skills learned in the classroom. Perhaps subjects hardly available in school (or some cases not at all) could be introduced here; such as art, music, and dance. Next, I would like to see a new books and equipment in the classroom. New things have a tendency to motivate students and perhaps in teachers. Some of the material I have seen in the classrooms seem out of date and may be a part of the problem. Also, in a time of advanced technology computers almost seem like a necessary part of the classroom. Typing lessons, computer games, and instructional classes about the internet would all be ways to enrich the students. My final idea is to really focus on the team of educators that are involved with the students. I know it is hard to judge one’s motives but herein lays yet another problem in the New Orleans public school system. I have seen the lack of care and apathetic attitudes of some of the teachers in these schools. It is sad. I know this solution is asking for a lot. But education is bad from the top to the bottom. In other words it takes an uninterested educator to produce in part an uninterested student. In all of this I have also seen positive things since my return to New Orleans. The recovery and admittance to schools seems to be very organized. Registration is to be held in the coming month. As the state relies on its citizens to occupy the city; the citizens are coming back and expect in return an improved way of life for their families. In all my two years here at Xavier University I have never done anything more active than to write my community and national leaders. Thank you for taking my suggestions and concerns into consideration. I hope to be hearing from you soon. Also, please feel free to mention better or additional suggestions to this problem.
Israel wants a monarchy because they do not want to be ruled by the corruption of Samuel’s sons. Samuel’s predecessor, High Priest, Eli was also corrupt. His sons have sex with women in front of the Tabernacle and eat sacrifices meant for God. Eli also partakes in eating the sacrifices.
The Israelites battle the Philistines. Israel believes fighting with in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant will lead to their success. Instead the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant. Overwhelmed by this news Eli, old, fat, and blind, falls and dies. Samuel is left to takeover. Just like Eli’s sons, the sons of Samuel are also corrupt. They accept gifts from their people who want to gain favor with the royalty. Tired of the corruption Israel wanted to have a king ruler like every other nation. They felt that this would eradicate corruption and possibly bring them out of a rut.
The Israelites request that Samuel appoint a king—with more power. Samuel is mad, almost insulted that his people do not have faith in him. He tells God about the situation. God instructs Samuel to do as his people say because they are not rejecting Samuel but actually God as their king. Samuel obeys. But before granting the people what they wish he warns them that the election of a king will result in men being drafted for war, “daughters serving in the royal harem,” and everyone will have to work on specific project’s for the king. The people do not heed the warning and Saul is appointed king.
Despite a few shortcomings David is a good king. After God rejects Saul as king he tells Samuel to appoint a new one. David is sought out and anointed king. Even with the knowledge of his soon-to-be kingship David does nothing to expedite the process. He even goes to Saul because he wants to defeat Goliath. The people take favor to David after his performance but he still is loyal to his king. In the Israelite-Philistine bout Saul and his sons are killed. The man who claims to have single-handedly killed the three men is put to death. More than being king David is loyal to the anointed one.
In his reign David tries to move the location of the Ark of the Covenant and attempts to “remodel” the Tabernacle into the Temple. But God feels that David has killed too many people. Instead the Davidic covenant is established and David’s house will never die. His biggest flaw was when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. One spring David decides not to go to war and sends Joab instead. One day he sees a young woman, Bathsheba, indulging in a ritualistic bath following her period. This indicates to David that she is not pregnant and he soon goes to bed with her. Bathsheba discovers she is pregnant. In an attempt to cover his adulterous act the king sends for the woman’s husband, Uriah, in the war. Instead of being a horny soldier upon arrival Uriah does not sleep with his wife because he feels guilty that his comrades are out fighting while he enjoys his wife. Finally David sends Uriah back to war with a note with instructions to the general to kill Uriah. Bathsheba bears the child and David is not held accountable for anything.
Later in the story a man by the name of Nathan tells King David that there is injustice in the city. A man with a lot of sheep steals another man’s only sheep in order to feed a visitor. David agrees that it is injustice and says the thief must be killed. Nathan reveals that that man is David. In addition to this message from God the king is dealt three punishments.
At the end it is David who realizes his sins and that following repentance is forgiveness from God. Even if David is not perfect his is a wise and god-fearing man worthy of being king.
King Solomon reigned for 40 years and after his death the throne was left to his son Rehoboam. It is due to Rehoboam that the United Kingdom split into the Divided Monarchy. Upset with his father’s policies the people inquired whether Rehoboam would overtax and overwork them also. One set of advisors tell the new king to be easy and grant these requests of the people. Another set of advisors recommend that Rehoboam stand his ground from the beginning to gain respect of the people. He took the advice of the latter advisors and told the people that if they thought his father was unfair he is going to be ten times stricter. The people rebelled and left nation which led to the Divided Monarchy. The northern portion was called Israel; while the southern portion was called Judah.
The famous split of the United Kingdom occurred in 922 BCE. Northern Israel is also known as Samaria. The nation changed the location of its capital several times but it was mainly located in Samaria. Also, Israel ran through many rulers. It was the least stable of the Divided Monarchy. Southern Judah keeps its capital in Jerusalem. Lasting for more than 400 years is David’s firmly established dynasty.
For the next hundred of years southern Judah and northern Israel warred which led to the decrease in the power of both nations. Assyria’s king Tiglath-pileser III took over much of Israel and later elects a new king, Hoshea. The new king feels that with an Egyptian alliance he can make moves to attack his oppressor Assyria. In an unsuccessful effort Hoshea is defeated by Assyria. Tiglath-pileser III is very upset and in 722 BCE Assyria conquers Israel and destroys its cities.
In 701 BCE King Hezekiah of Judah, backed by Egypt, revolts against King Sennacherib of Assyria. King Sennacherib sacked many Palestinian cities, but fails in his attempt to take Jerusalem. Although he is unsuccessful Sennacherib is paid tribute by Hezekiah.
Next, Hezekiah’s son Manasseh rules the kingdom but he is corrupt in his practices. For this God promises that Judah will be no more. Soon after Manasseh dies and his son Amon takes over. Due to his father’s corruption Amon too is disliked and assassinated only a few years into his reign.
Amon’s son, Josiah, is only eight years old when he takes rule of the nation. Josiah turns out to a really effective ruler as he leads many religious reforms. The people were happy with Josiah. Unfortunately he was killed in a battle with Egypt.
After Josiah’s death super-powers Babylon and Egypt fight between themselves for control of Judah. At first Egypt has control of the land and even makes Josiah’s son Jehoiakim a vassal ruler. Babylonian king, Nabuchadnezzar, ends up killing Johoiakim bringing Judah almost even closer to its end.
Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin, takes over the Egyptian throne but it is not long before Nabuchadnezzar overtakes Jerusalem. He spares the city from destruction, moves Jehoiakim’s family to Babylon, and Johoiakim is replaced by his own uncle Zedekiah. Zedekiah revolts causing Babylon to besiege the city. For months Jerusalem is trapped inside the city. They were starving and desperate. Finally in 586 BCE the Babylonians bring down the city’s walls. As punishment Zedekiah’s eyes are gouged out but not before his children are killed in front of him. Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jeruslaem, including the holy temple.
Schneider’s “Did Jehu Kill His Family?” investigates different accounts from different sources of Jehu’s family lineage to decide whether or not he killed off his entire family in order to reign. Supposedly when Jehu came to hold the throne Israel fell to the hand of Assyria. He wanted to kill off any remaining members of the royalty. The author compares a four-sided limestone monument known as the Black Obelisk of Assyrian King Shalmaneser II to the Hebrew bible. The inscription on the Black Obelisk refers to Jehu and “Jehu son of Omri.” Possible explanations include that the “Omri” part of his title is in part due to ancient people’s being identified by the first persons they contact with within that region. Another probable reason for the reference is that Omri had many sons and those that he killed were also Omri’s son’s (or his brothers) that he did not know about. In comparison to Osama Bin Laden, Jehu too killed many innocent people in an attempt to display his power and strengthen his rule over the remaining people.