Tuesday, September 28, 2010

HIV/AIDS resources and links...

Here are a few good web sites to explore that will give you some excellent background about the HIV/AIDS situation in Kenya. Enjoy reading!

http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-kenya.htm

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/Countries/africa/kenya.html

http://www.policyproject.com/countries.cfm?country=Kenya

Ideas about theme for The Last Plague...

Sadly, the white board was erased last night before I had a chance to copy down all of your fabulous ideas about the primary theme of Mwangi's The Last Plague! Here are a few examples that I am drawing from memory...

1. Change is inevitable and sometimes traditional beliefs and customs must give way to new practices, particularly in the face of a major crisis such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

2. Emotional and physical healing can only take place in a community if everyone works together to determine the root causes of a crisis/tragedy, and then responds in ways that result in positive change.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Theme statements for F.D.

Based on our investigation of the 4 checkpoints to find theme, here are two working theme statements for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave:

1) Slavery, in its many complex forms and guises, produces an insatiable desire for freedom and liberation within the individual human spirit.

2) Slavery, in whatever form it takes, murders autonomy and creates a deep yearning for liberation and freedom.