Items

• 
  2020-06-25

  In-Processing Day for the Class of 2024 at the United States Air Force Academy

  Imagine yourself going into your senior year of college... but at a service academy while COVID-19 has sunken its teeth into every aspect of our lives. While most colleges and universities around the globe pushed back the start dates of their fall semesters in 2020 or moved entirely online, Service academies in the U.S. needed to meet congress' demand of supplying a steady stream of future commissioned lieutenants to the military. As a result, I found myself at 23 years old as a flight commander of 30 young, recent high school graduates who needed the same level of indoctrination I received into the Air Force four years prior. Rather than videos of years past with cadet cadre in the faces of soon-to-be freshmen screaming at the top of their lungs, this video provides the innocuous version of in-processing with unedited or dubbed audio. You might even see a few of my basics who didn't know what to expect of basic training during the pandemic. While the cadre in the film stand professionally and talk with a sense of authority towards the basics, I can tell you behind the scenes we were re-writing COVID-19 protocol and adjusting their syllabi as each day passed. Your authority as a military instructor weakens as its filtered through a wet, uncomfortable cloth mask (I strongly encourage you to look up "I-Day" videos of USAFA prior to the pandemic to compare). Can you imagine how much you have to yell through one of those masks to get 30 individuals to hear you over the other 39 flights sprinkled across the campus drill pads? My 6 weeks as a flight commander were filled with frustration, sympathy, reward, and most of all focus. First, focusing visually, I had to maintain social distancing anywhere from when basics were wrapped around the hallways to wait to shower all the way to when they practiced marching non-military standard "double-arm interval" for their basic training graduation day. Also, focusing through sound, I had to understand my basics through sweat or dirt covered masks as they recited knowledge, asked questions during academic blocks, or were struggling and needed follow-up mentoring. The measurable distance between trainers and trainees as well as the pauses of silence, normally filled with a constant cacophony of yelling, are what many graduates of my alma mater would call weak. Despite a lack of intensity, masks added a layer of confusion and frustration during a period that is already filled with fear, stress, and exhaustion for basics. For that reason, I want to ask those who weren't there to understand sensually why the class of 2024 still went through the same basic training experience as years past. Maybe a second listen to the audio can even reveal those same frustrations and fears from the basics reflected in the tone of their cadre.
• 
  2021-04-02

  Strength and Innovation of Indigenous Communities During the Pandemic

  This article demonstrates that despite the inequities faced by Native Americans and indigenous populations they have been innovative in combatting the pandemic and shown strength in the face of fear, illness, and uncertainty.
• 
  2020-03-09

  Future Historians

  Dear Historians of the Future, In 2020, there was a pandemic that occurred known as COVID-19 that made drastic changes in terms of restaurants, traveling internationally, school and work. One of my biggest pieces of advice is to ensure the president you have is not a narcissist or a leader who does not take responsibility for the bad things that happen. According to the article “Donald Trump owns the Coronavirus,” published on March 9, 2020, by a senior economist Dean Baker, this document explains how COVID impacted the community and what experiences people faced. Reading this article will allow you to understand the ability to have directorship in guiding the country to a better path then shifting it to the left. For instance, the reading states “It is very likely that we will face a recession as people cancel travel plans and are reluctant to go out to restaurants, sporting events and other public places.” Because of Trump, Americans and the people that live in it had to cancel many of their plans as a result of Trump not taking accurate information into consideration. He was mainly focused on putting blame towards China or the democrats, rather than looking for solutions with CDC. During the pandemic, many people believed Donald Trump was responsible for the Coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. in the article, Baker concludes: “In short, the fact that we are likely facing a serious pandemic, unlike any we have seen in more than a century, is 100 percent Trump’s fault. Because of his vanity and ineptitude, people will die, and many more will get sick.” This article demonstrates how Trump did not care to take action when the pandemic initially began. Because of this, one can say when it comes to having a narcissist president like Trump, leadership plays a role in situations like this for the world. In conclusion, I chose this source to explain my experience of the pandemic and what challenges people faced. In other words, this article will help you understand how the pandemic had an impact on many people's lives. If president Trump initially took action when he first started receiving news about the COVID, people would still be employed and parents would not have to stay home with their children. The negative aspect of this is some families struggled financially as a result of the pandemic and staying unemployed.
• 
  2020-09-20

  Jewish Melbourne: Mt Scopus Rosh HaShana 5781 Greeting from Rabbi Kennard

  "Rabbi Kennard passed on his Rosh HaShana greetings to staff, students and the whole #ScopusFamily at the conclusion of the virtual Student Leadership Induction Ceremony on Tuesday 15 September, 2020."
• 
  2020-09-24

  Female World Leaders’ Pandemic Lessons

  Author Kara Cutruzzula cites Avivah Wittenberg-Cox’s assertion that four principles successfully guided women leaders: trust, decisiveness, tech, and love. The six lessons from female leadership are as follows: 1) Include everyone, 2) Be authentic, 3) Tell the truth, 4) Be decisive, 5) Embrace technology, 6) Leaders of every kind can learn from these women. This article highlights COVID-19 responses that are of international importance. The decisions these women made for their respective countries are of great historical value. The article also provides a contemporary opinion about the positive reception these decisions received.
• 
  2020-10-08

  トランプ氏「コロナ感染は神からの祝福」豪語のワケ(2020年10月8日) - Mr. Trump "Corona Infection is a Blessing from God" A reason for the bold statement (October 8, 2020)

  トランプ大統領が新たな動画を公開。「感染は神からの祝福だ」と話しました。 　7日、ツイッターに投稿されたメッセージ。トランプ大統領は自らに投薬された未承認の抗体薬を絶賛しました。しかし、この動画には批判の声も。 　そもそも、こうなったのは誰の責任か。副大統領候補による討論会。現副大統領は上司の擁護に追われます。 　共和党・ペンス副大統領：「皆さんに知ってほしい。大統領は最初から皆さんの健康が第一だと考えていた。ワクチンなどもまもなくできる。大統領のリーダーシップで」 　果たして、そうなのか。例えば、マスク。大統領がしていなかった期間はあまりに長く、感染発覚後、スタッフの前で外す様子も確認されています。対策は十分なのか。トランプ大統領はいまだに陰性かどうか明らかにされていません。その一方で、バイデン候補との討論会には意欲を示しています。新たな動画でこう主張しています。 　トランプ大統領：「抗体薬は無償化する。皆さんの責任ではないのです。中国の責任だ。中国は大きな代償を払うことになる。 [I have personally translated the debate from Japanese to English and thus, it might not be the exact meaning/words from the actual debate.] President Trump releases a new video. "Infection is a blessing from God," he said. The message posted on Twitter on the 7th. President Trump has praised the unapproved antibody drug he had been given for treatment. However, there are criticisms against this video. Standford University, Subramanian said she was appalled by Trump’s comment that his diagnosis had been a blessing from God. “It really makes my stomach turn,” she said. “So would he say that the 210,000 Americans who died, they were cursed by God?” In the first place, who is responsible for this situation? Kamala Harris: “On January 28th, the Vice president and president received the information that this pandemic will cause death and yet they did not tell the citizens. Debate by Vice Presidential Candidates. The current Vice President is busy defending his boss. Republican Vice President Pence: "I want you to know. From the beginning, the president thought that your health was the number one priority. Vaccines will soon be available. Under the leadership of the president." Is that actually true? For example, a mask. The period that the president was not wearing the mask was too long, and it has been confirmed that he removed it in front of the staff after he was known to have the virus. Are the measures sufficient? Moderator: “(Last month) During the even at the White House, people in the front row were not social distancing, most did not wear a mask, and a lot of people from that event was found to be infected. Do you think the citizens will follow the president despite this incident?” Vice President Pence: “There are great deal of speculations. But a lot of people who participated did receive the test.” President Trump still has not stated whether he is a negative or not. On the other hand, he was enthusiastic during the debate with Biden. In the new video, he insists "The antibody drug will be free. It's not your responsibility. It's China's responsibility. China will pay a big price. Please remember that."
• 2020-03-09

  The Lies #REL 101

  This object is something that the president of the united states said to his people in response to the start of this pandemic. Telling them that this whole virus is just a hoax and that hardly anyone would contract this virus because it is not strong enough. In the beginning Trump failed to accept this virus is a dangerous thing and that he needs to do something in order to protect his people but instead he did nothing and the United States of America has become the hot spot of this virus and the laughing stock of the world. Throughout the process of the virus only becoming worse he did not suffer it was us the people who had to deal with it the most. What this shows the people of the pandemic is that it was not taken seriously and our national leader lead us to our own demise. The pandemic has lasted nearly a year since today, October 8, 2020, and we are still having people ignore that this is a real issue because our leader does not see it as one. What people failed to seem to understand is that the only reason that we are still in this pandemic is because of the person new have put in office. This is important to me because it shows everyone how much of a joke our president is and how his stubbornness was more important than all of the thousands of lives that have been lost to this pandemic. It is also a showcase of what a joke our president is and how this needs to be changed. This just goes to show how this man has done nothing for the people beside doom us all and lead/ kept us in this pandemic that could have been prevented from getting to where it has gotten.
• 
  2020-09-08

  The Puzzle Pieces of America

  This essay was produced as a part of the American Studies program at California High School in San Ramon, California. The essay is in response to the prompt "Is America currently living up to its core values?" This essay argues that leadership and hard work are currently being fulfilled today. It also includes references to the following modern events: foreign aid and current high school graduation rates .
• 
  2020-06-19

  Arctic nomadic indigenous peoples in new collaboration with the World´s top university

  "his is a continuation of our academic collaboration with Harvard University for nearly two decades, representing a new and exciting step forward”, says Anders Oskal, Secretary General of WRH and Executive Director of ICR. “…With this collaboration, the scientific and educational resources of Harvard University can become available also for our emerging indigenous leaders and our indigenous scholars across the Arctic, just as our communities find themselves on the frontlines of Arctic climate change and globalisation”."
• 
  2020-04-06

  "A message from Chief Friend."

  "At the Wyandotte Nation, we have taken across-the-board action to dull the impact of the virus and keep Wyandotte citizens, employees and our customers safe."
• 
  2020-05

  "A New Reality Wyandotte Nation makes changes to help stop spread of virus"

  "At the Wyandotte Nation, we have taken across-the-board action to dull the impact of the virus and keep Wyandotte citizens, employees and our customers safe. In mid-March, we announced the closure of a number of Wyandotte facilities. These closures included our Title VI Program (Elder Nutrition Center) inside meals, Preschool and Childcare Facilities, Wyandotte cultural sites and all Wyandotte casinos."
• 
  2020-06-03

  “These Last Few Months We Have All Felt Frustrated, Sad, Scared, and Angry”: Forest County Potawatomi Chairman Encourages the Community to Get Through the Crisis Together

  Outlines plans for event postponements and reopenings. He also addresses the violence across the country, encouraging people to speak up using their “heads” and not their “fists.”
• 
  2020-05-17

  Cherokee Nation Cancels 2020 Remember the Removal Bike Ride

  The Cherokee Nation is canceling the 2020 Remember the Removal Bike Ride in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Remember the Removal Bike Ride is a youth leadership program that retraces the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears.
• 
  05/17/2020

  Changing Federalism in the Time of Coronavirus

  A discussion of how the state of federalism in the US has changed and how this has become evident by the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• 
  2020-04-06

  New IBM's new CEO Arvind Krishna on 04/06/2020

  A first person letter shared for the world from one of the world's largest technology companies, IBM, by their CEO who started his job in the midst of the pandemic
• 
  2020-04-12

  Planning is everything

  Although at one time we had the mechanisms in place to deal with a pandemic, those resources were disbanded for short sighted financial and political reasons. So, we were woefully unprepared for this pandemic. Lack of leadership worsened the situation and even exasperated the problem with negligence and outright misinformation. The long term consequences will be catastrophic. Personally I am frustrated every day as the death toll rises and the whole planet suffers. This would have been a bad thing at best, and is being made much worse by the lack of credible leadership.
• 
  2020-04-06

  Not an Essay but not Quite and Treatise: A Disquisition on Fear and Incompetence in the Age of COVID-19, Based on a Moderate Amount of Input

  Personal blog