Simplicity

  After reading the packet on simplicity it seems to me that the last thing it is simple. Simplicity according to one of the definitions in the packet is a choice or attitude a person must make on how to live their life.  It requires a clear focus to decide between a need and want.   In the section, “A Garden of Simplicity” the author tells us that they believe Simplicity has ”eight different flowerings” that overlap each other with each having equal importance.(1)  The ideas listed in the Compassionate Simplicity section is the topic I am going to write about for this assignment.       TV has given all of us a chance to see what is happening in all parts of the world.   Some parts are scary like in Afghanistan and some parts tragic like in Darfur.  In each case TV shows us that the world needs our compassion.    Even here in the United States there are families that face life and death problems.  Homelessness, hunger, and illness are just some of the problems millions of Americans face every day.  Add to this the millions of people that are facing death, starvation, and illnesses all over the world and you can see just how much compassion is needed.   At school we hold different events to help people in Darfur and Japan but there are so many other places that need the world’s compassion.   The problem seems big because it is big.   We each need to stand up and say “What can I do to solve the problem?” Gandhi said, “Choose to live simply so that others may simply live” had a strong effect on me.(2)   Simplicity is a choice we should all take seriously and it wouldn’t really be that painful.   Compassionate Simplicity is feeling a connection with those that need our love and support just to have basic needs.   Each of us has been very lucky to be born into a family that love, supports and spoil us.  Compassionate Simplicity is a choice that is easy to make because of the love we get from home.   When you see the face of a starving kid on TV, how can you not feel compassion?  Now think about the millions of other kids you don’t see who cry themselves to sleep with hunger pains.  We now know we can make a difference if we choose to live a simpler life and share with those that are in need of our Compassionate Simplicity.   (1) Sophisticated Simplicity – A Garden of Simplicity (2) A Garden of Simplicity – Compassionate Simplicity  

English HW 9/22/11

Read simplicity packet
Choose and idea from the packet and write about it.
Be sure to quote the article or passage you are inferring to and make sure you cite your source.
3 paragraph mininum
Grammer and mechanica must be correct

Boys and Girls are Equal, Even on the Basketball Court

  It was the winter of 2004; I was 5 years old and started basketball for the first time.  My brothers are four years older than me, yes twin, and I always went to their games, so that’s probably why I wanted to play too.

Basketball for kindergartners is co-ed!  That means the boys and girls play on the same team.  What do I know and further what do I care.  I always liked bouncing the ball between quarters at my brothers’ games and played with them at home.  Basketball was basketball, not boy vs. girl.

Well, my mom took me to my first practice.  There I met my teammates, a total of 10 of us.  There were 8 boys and 2 girls, Katherine and me.  Katherine was taller than me, most people are and the boys well they ranged in size.  I guess I was nervous.  There were three coaches who were all very nice.   

So, the head coach talked about teamwork and what the season would be like and how we were there to learn some skills and have fun, after all we were 5 and 6 year old.  As we sat listening to our coach, one of the other Dads and a teammate’s older brother were playing at a hoop right behind us.  The ball took a bad bounce and hit me in the head.  I tried not to cry, and I was fine until the coach looked at me and said are you ok.  I cried.  

As we had practice and played games, I noticed the boys didn’t like passing the ball to Katherine or me.  I also noticed that Katherine didn’t seem to care about basketball at all.  She was more interested in the holes on the concrete walls.  But I cared, why didn’t they pass the ball to me?  I hardly ever got to shoot the ball.  I would practice at home and the coach told me I was the best dribbler on the team and the most improved player.  

I continued to play coed basketball through second grade.  The same thing happened, the boys didn’t pass to a girl unless they were desperate so what did I do – I did not pass the ball to a guy unless I was desperate.  

Why, would a little boy not pass the ball to a girl?  We were too young to know who was good and who was bad, right?  Why did those boys think Katherine and I wouldn’t be as good as them?   Who told them that?  Aren’t we equals? Don’t we all deserve the same chance?

 I believe that boys and girls and for that matter, people are equal and should be treated the same.  Whether you are a difference sex, religion, or color, you are still a person.  We should all follow “The Golden Rule” - treat others the way you would like to be treated.  I still love basketball today and play in an all-girls’ league!!!