Tag Archives: democracy

Smoke Signals

Posted on October 10, 2020 by jyourist

According to Wikipedia, “The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication. It is a form of visual communication used over a long distance. In general smoke signals are used to transmit news, signal danger, or gather people to … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, election 2020, postcards, voting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kate’s Flag

Posted on September 26, 2020 by jyourist

This is my grandmother’s American flag. It has 48 stars, before Alaska and Hawaii became states. I remember my father telling me that this flag was the very first thing she purchased when she came to the United States over … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, equity, father | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The battle is formally joined

Posted on August 20, 2020 by jyourist
Posted in democracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Together You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation

Posted on July 30, 2020 by jyourist

This was printed in the Opinion Column of the New York Times today, July 30, 2020. Mr. Lewis, the civil rights leader who died on July 17, wrote this essay shortly before his death, to be published upon the day … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, African-Americans, civil rights, democracy, justice, voting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Postcards from the Edge

Posted on May 23, 2020 by jyourist

Does it really make a difference to write these political postcards asking people to vote. I’m really not sure. I assume it has to have even the meagerest of influence, but am not so sure it’s anything significant. However, I … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, politics, postcards, voting | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Government of the people, by the people, for the people

Posted on July 24, 2016 by jyourist

I couldn’t really watch any of the Republican Convention. The whole affair made me sick to my stomach. I read postings and articles about it in social media including newspapers and listened to some coverage as well. I have to … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, equity, justice, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

At the root, heart, character of this nation

Posted on July 9, 2016 by jyourist

Today is the anniversary of the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, perhaps the most important amendment in our Constitution. This is the amendment that is used most frequently in civil rights litigation, including the most recent same sex marriage decision … Continue reading →

Posted in citizenship, Civil War, democracy, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Memorial Day created by former slaves

Posted on May 30, 2016 by jyourist

Though Memorial Day was first formally declared in 1868 by General Logan, in charge of the GAR—an organization of Civil War vets, in order to decorate the graves of those who died in the Civil War, there are many cities … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War, democracy, equity, Holidays, justice, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Use it or lose it

Posted on January 13, 2016 by jyourist

In class today we talked about Obama’s State of the Union last night. The students claimed they were not bored listening to it like Donald Trump was who claimed in a tweet, “It was boring.” They were intrigued with the … Continue reading →

Posted in democracy, politics, Reconstruction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Posted on November 6, 2015 by jyourist

Every year as we study the Constitution, I show the students Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It is an amazing 1939 film with an incredible cast —Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Harry Carey, Claude Rains— directed by Frank Capra. … Continue reading →

Posted in democracy, film, school, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment