The King of pop

www.pimpmyspace.org/graphics/view/82446/

I usually do not get angry very often, but today, as I was watching "This is it", I felt a sudden need to let the film reviewer in out local paper know (IN BIG LETTERS) that she has totally missed the point! I mean, how MJ looks and dresses is not an issue at all, in my opinion. The fact that he is the greatest pop icon the world has ever known however, is!

I was blown away by his kindness towards his co-workers and his perfectionism and dedication to his music, his show and most of all - his fans. I simply loved all his props and his back drop for "Earth song". All the imagery, the symbols and the contrasts in this movie. The girl, a symbol of mankind, in harmony with nature until the machines begin to destroy our planet. How she manages to find strength to go save the only plant left - our one last chance, as MJ says. The movie ends with the image of this tiny girl grabbing the plant and then looking up at the monster machine as MJ sings "What about us?" Yes, what about us? Where and when will this destruction of our planet end? "This is it", MJ says. "We have four years before it is to late. "This is it" - the chance to save our planet is here and now. This is it - MJ´s final tour. The expression has more than one meaning.

Watching this film made me wish that his concerts would have taken place this summer. All the work, the energy and the powerful messages of MJ deserved to be heard. I do not ever think an artist has contributed with so many hits and all of them with such an important message, too!

Tomorrow morning I will spend some time watching my concert DVD of MJ remembering one of the greatest artists in our time. And what better way to end my stream of thoughts with MJ´s own words? I just can´t stop loving you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nm_h9dLtJM

If you have been to this movie and want to write a film review on it, feel free! The criteria on how to write a film review can be found on NDLA - English (http://ndla.no/en/node/10649/menu360)! Hand it in as an attachment to a message on ITS :0)

"Bridge over troubled water"

The one thing that has occupied my mind since I read the newspaper this morning is the article on one of my students, Mehdi Hassani. Even though I read about his hazardous and dangerous flight from his homeland, the loss of his parents and his fear for his younger brother´s life, I still cannot really and truly understand this. Because I have not lived it. However, just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Being 18 and living in a foreign country with no relatives close by must be unbelievably though - to though for me and other priviliged Norwegians to understand. He is probably one of the bravest young people I know. In fact, he is the bravest.

I just cannot understand why it is so difficult to get his brother to Norway! I mean, a rich country like Norway with all its contacts and resources. This is really beyond my understanding, and it makes me angry. Seriously angry! That´s why would like to challenge some of you to write either a personal text based on this article (diary entry or others) or an essay about the cruelties of war.

Another question comes to my mind, too. Are Norwegian teenagers spoiled and do not appreciate the important things in life, like growing up in a peaceful country and being around their relatives all the time? What do you think? Feel free to write an essay based on this question, too, or any other text you are inspired to write after having read the article about Mehdi in the paper or the thougths in my blog :0)

NOVEMBER QUIZ

traveldk.com

WHERE IS THIS?
Send your answer to
ceciliee@vfk.no
or to me as a message
on ITS Learning!

:0)

"Man in the mirror"

"I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . ."

So how can I make a change, and what kind of change am thinking about? I mean, I would LOVE to make a huge change for a lot of people. Maybe help needy and poor kids in a foreign country or even here in little Norway, where quite a few kids are living troubled lives. Or perhaps do some charity work at an old folks home or a house for disabled people. It is really easy to be overwhelmed with guilt for not contributing enough to make this world a better place.

I discussed these thoughts with a colleague once, and after a while he said: "Being a teacher also gives us a chance to make a difference, you know!" There and then I realized that my contribution, small but hopefully not unnoticeable, was to try and make a difference for my students. My motto was going to be "catch them being good". They should feel self confident, important, valuable, brave, caring and know that they too were making a difference. "Yes, I can", I thought. Or better "Yes, we can!" For what is a teacher without her students? Nothing.

One of many ways to reach out to my students is this blog. Here I will write about reflections on our topics in class, things I think about, things that are important to my students and more. So without further ado:

"I´m starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself,
And Then Make A Change"

My change is here. My change is now. "Yes, we can!"