[thecircleofcho-blog]

Aims of O Level Lit

The study of Literature in English can be an effective means for students to explore moral and social issues.

Moral Issues

• Via the study of literary texts, students explore the human condition and are able to better understand their own existence and values in relation to society.

• Literature addresses a wide range of psychological and social issues. At the heart of literary works are issues of conflict and a range of human desires that contribute to such conflict.

• Such exposure will encourage an understanding of moral and ethical issues, prompting students to develop an awareness of the world they live in.

Social Issues

• The study of Literature in English encourages students to explore literary contexts that promote an awareness of social factors that influence people.

• Literary works provide an effective way for students to appreciate and understand the different aspects of human nature, values and perspectives.

  - taken from the syllabus breakdown thing

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Stop Being Yourself

“Be yourself,” people say to people. “Live your truth,” is another one of my favorites. You know what I say? I say this can be some very bad advice. What is a self? A self is the core of a person. A self is how we distinguish ourselves from other people. But selves aren’t made in vacuums. Selves are the consequences of our biology that has been passed on to us from our natural parents. Selves are the result of our environment because we grew up in a certain place at a certain time with a certain of group of people. What we include in our construction of self is indeed socially constructed – both biologically and environmentally. But perhaps most importantly, a self is also a matter of the individual choices that we make.

But because by being who we are, we can be selling ourselves short and keeping ourselves from being more, being different, being greater. Being who we are can keep us from being who we can become. 

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Miserable? Forgive Someone

But maybe above all, the hardest but least-talked about form of forgiveness is the humility and courage to forgive one’s self. We hurt ourselves by our choices in what we say and do and don’t do. But we also hurt ourselves when we hurt other people. And it is tempting to hold onto feelings that we are undeserving because of our wrongdoings. And it is tempting to be consumed by feelings of unworthiness. But no matter how much we forgive others and are forgiven by others, if we don’t learn to forgive ourselves and in so doing love ourselves, we may find that the forgiveness we give and receive is meaningless.

When we forgive, we are clearing the scoreboard. When we are forgiven, someone is clearing our scoreboard. It’s tough to clear the scoreboard. But the only thing that’s probably tougher than clearing it is keeping it going. Because keeping score only makes us miserable; it makes us unable to forget and to trust and love. And if we’re unable to love, we might able to live but we will never be able to live well.

[thecircleofcho-blog]

I know that getting older isn’t a death sentence, but rather proof of life, proof that I was here and that I fought hard enough in some way to stay alive. I know by being older I will have experienced love in its numerous forms, and I will have lost that love numerous times, and I will keep on trying to love some more and lose some more.

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Miserable & Magical: A Graduation Speech for Paradoxical Times, by Nipun Mehta

When the student body of an elite private school in Silicon Valley was given the chance to vote on who would give their graduation address, their first pick was Nipun Mehta. An unexpected choice for these teenagers, who belong to what Time magazine called the Me Me Me Generation. Nipun's journey is the antithesis of self-serving. More than a decade ago, he walked away from a lucrative career in high-tech, to explore the connection between inner change and external impact. ServiceSpace, the non-profit he founded has now drawn over 450,000 members across the globe. In this electrifying address that garnered a standing ovation, Nipun calls out the paradoxical crisis of disconnection in our hyper-connected world -- and offers up three powerful keys that hold the antidote.

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Wendy Davis, feminist super hero

The filibustering pro-choice Texas state senator took a step toward turning her state blue. Ann Richards is smiling

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Texas Abortion Bill Appears to Win Final Approval

One day after House passage, the Senate adopted restrictions that legislation opponents said could close most abortion clinics in the state.

[thecircleofcho-blog]

GOP Lawmakers Suspend Abortion Rights Filibuster

BY JIM VERTUNO AND CHRIS TOMLINSON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN, Texas Texas' lieutenant governor late Tuesday suspended a senator's filibuster against wide-ranging abortion restrictions, but Democrats moved quickly to appeal the decision and set off a parliamentary fight over the rules.

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Sens. Deuell and Davis start Q&A over abortion bill during filibuster

The reading of testimony has paused momentarily to have a debate on the merits of the omnibus abortion bill between Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, -- a doctor who opposes abortion -- and Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. Here's some of their exchange, specifically with Deuell asking why she ...

[thecircleofcho-blog]

After 12.5 hour filibuster, Senate Bill 5 is dead

Live video via Texas Tribune. Update at 12:55 a.m.: Davis said she couldn't speak too loud but wanted to thank a crowd of hundreds that gathered outside the Senate chamber well past midnight.

[heaveniswheremyheartis-blog]

 Photographs courtesy of the Alif Laam Meem fraternity

Muslim men also support women’s rights, don’t allow the media to shape your views. 

[pussyharvest-deactivated2013102]

#this is from Dallas #that’s our convention centre in the background

These are UT Dallas students, to be exact! :)

[daunt]

in other news, look at how amazing the world is, too. :)

[fluent-in-lesbianism]

This is Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D), and she needs to be known and recognized right alongside Senator Wendy Davis.

She couldn’t be at the start of the senate session because her father died in a car crash last week and the funeral was the day of Davis’...

[glintglimmergleam]

We don’t take this lightly.

WE WILL NOT FORGET AND WE WILL NOT FORGIVE

[barkbarkbarkbarkbarkbarkbarkbark]

holy shit no wonder they muted the streams

[yurilyfe-deactivated20140128]

THIS IS FUCKING INCREDIBLE 

[thecircleofcho-blog]

The Free Little Library by Stereotank | Colossal

[gem-report-unesco]

More often than not, we hear sayings like; “the youth are the leaders of tomorrow”, “the youth are our future” and so on…I think a lot has been taken out of those phrases and we are now at a point where they have almost lost all essence and have little or no effect on most members of our...

[thecircleofcho-blog]

Singapore ‘lunchtime hero’ skips daily meals to bring food to needy

When the clock strikes for lunch, Tan Choon Kiang slips out of his office at the Land Transport Authority in central Singapore and quietly makes his way east. But there is no time for the 62-year-old to eat. He has an important date – with the poor, elderly and disabled of the Chai Chee estate.

[thecircleofcho-blog]