01-16-2005, 03:28 AM
http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/jan05/292691.asp
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Rosa Parks' small action showed us the way to go
By FORREST ELLIOTT
Golda Meir Elementary School
Last Updated: Jan. 15, 2005
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man it wasn't because she was tired or unaware. Not all of us feel capable of being as amazing or powerful as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but Rosa Parks is someone we can all relate to. Her small, everyday action, like sitting in a seat, caused many people to hold their heads in a new way.
Martin Luther King Jr.
The saying "put yourself in another's shoes" describes one of life's most important lessons. I can relate to that saying with a story from my own experience. A year ago, at a Quaker conference, I was in an acting class and I was to perform a skit with a partner. The boy I had to do it with was really difficult. He was rude and uninterested and I got so frustrated thinking the play would be dumb.
I expressed those feelings to my mom and we had a conference with the teacher. At the meeting, the teacher explained that the boy had Asperger's Syndrome, a mild autism. I realized that I had totally misunderstood him.
My mom advised me to put myself in the boy's shoes. As I envisioned this I thought about how hard it would be to pay attention and be with people to get work done if I had problems like his. The day of the play came around and the play was a success. I was so proud of myself for working through the situation to get an understanding and respect for a boy like him.
Everyone on Earth should have a positive role model. My role model is my mom because of her determination to try and understand people and "get in their shoes." Dr. King's role model was Mahatma Gandhi. While studying in college, Dr. King read about Gandhi, an Indian non-violent leader, and was very interested in Gandhi's work. Many people think that over the course of his life, Gandhi's influence was the thing that made King hold his head in a new way.
As you can see, any person can have a new attitude or hold their head in a new way if they try. I did it, Dr. King did it, and millions of people joined him to do it in the '60s.
So why don't you give it a try?
ON WISCONSIN : JS ONLINE : NEWS : E-MAIL | PRINT THIS STORY
Rosa Parks' small action showed us the way to go
By FORREST ELLIOTT
Golda Meir Elementary School
Last Updated: Jan. 15, 2005
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man it wasn't because she was tired or unaware. Not all of us feel capable of being as amazing or powerful as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but Rosa Parks is someone we can all relate to. Her small, everyday action, like sitting in a seat, caused many people to hold their heads in a new way.
Martin Luther King Jr.
The saying "put yourself in another's shoes" describes one of life's most important lessons. I can relate to that saying with a story from my own experience. A year ago, at a Quaker conference, I was in an acting class and I was to perform a skit with a partner. The boy I had to do it with was really difficult. He was rude and uninterested and I got so frustrated thinking the play would be dumb.
I expressed those feelings to my mom and we had a conference with the teacher. At the meeting, the teacher explained that the boy had Asperger's Syndrome, a mild autism. I realized that I had totally misunderstood him.
My mom advised me to put myself in the boy's shoes. As I envisioned this I thought about how hard it would be to pay attention and be with people to get work done if I had problems like his. The day of the play came around and the play was a success. I was so proud of myself for working through the situation to get an understanding and respect for a boy like him.
Everyone on Earth should have a positive role model. My role model is my mom because of her determination to try and understand people and "get in their shoes." Dr. King's role model was Mahatma Gandhi. While studying in college, Dr. King read about Gandhi, an Indian non-violent leader, and was very interested in Gandhi's work. Many people think that over the course of his life, Gandhi's influence was the thing that made King hold his head in a new way.
As you can see, any person can have a new attitude or hold their head in a new way if they try. I did it, Dr. King did it, and millions of people joined him to do it in the '60s.
So why don't you give it a try?