Preface

This blog has evolved out of a semester long course work that challenged the author of the blog to read many literary topics regarding nature and to also write about given topics that parallel the readings. Selected readings included topics such as, True North by Margaret Atwood, The Way to Rainy Mountain by Scott Momaday, and Tides by Rachel Carson. Postings in this blog are responses to assignments that were given in an effort to generate reflection on experiences and topics in our own lives that relate to the readings. The postings were made within an assigned framework, but allowed for creativity and reflective thought.

As a result of my course work and studies this semester, I have gained insight into nature and environmental studies. Most importantly, I have become acutely aware of some major environmental issues and developed a sense of the complexity of the relationship between man and nature. The global problem of energy in terms of locating resources, developing synthetic energy sources, and maintaining a clean and stable environment has become more complex to me, and yet more clear to me after completing these assignments. Studying nature and reflecting on my own experiences in nature has opened my eyes and stimulated my interest regarding the future of our environment. Although I may not choose a career that leads me to directly working towards solving environmental problems, my awareness of nature and its importance to human life will make mesupportive of environmental issues and the efforts to identify, address, and resolve them.

I see my blog contributing to the larger environmental conversation that we have begun this semester by reinforcing both the awesome power of nature, and the personal experiences that each of us has with nature at various times in our lives. Although I have not spent excessive amounts of time in nature, I have had a couple of experiences that were profound in how they impacted my life. I think this is important, because I believe that there are many people who grow up and live in populated areas in the United States where there contact with nature is also very limited. However, these people, like myself, only need a few profound experiences with nature in order to appreciate its awesome power and beauty, and recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy environment. As a result, even with limited exposure to nature, individuals such as myself can become major supporters of local, national, and global efforts to protect and preserve nature and the environment.

Ground Zero

Photo taken by World's Famous Photos

Ground Zero
America is two hundred thirty-two years old. There have been countless locations in America and outside of our borders that were recognized as historic sites regarding American history and culture. Many of these sites are a couple of hundred years old, such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Other sites of historical significance are older than our nation itself, such as the Jamestown settlement, and Plymouth Rock. Furthermore, there are some historic military sites that are actually located beyond our countries borders, such as Normandy, France, which are historic sites for remembrance of American sacrifice and heroism during World War Two. The list of places that are designated for their significance in American history continues to grow. One of the most recent historic sites, and the most significant one in my lifetime is Ground Zero. I had the opportunity to visit the Ground zero site in July 2007, while on a visit to Columbia University in New York City. Standing at the Ground Zero property was an experience that affected me in a profound way by getting me to think of the value of life, and by making me more aware of myself as an individual, an American, and as a member of the global community.

Ground Zero is the term referred to the plot of land in lower Manhattan where the magnificent twin tower skyscrapers known as the World Trade Center towers once stood. This site will forever be recognized as both an American and a world historic site. It will not be remembered so much for the awesome engineering feats of building towers over one hundred stories high, but instead as the pile of rubble that they were reduced to in the matter of hours on September 11, 2001. This act of terrorism changed American culture as we knew it prior to the attacks that day at Ground Zero.

Even though the term Ground Zero refers to catastrophic damage such as the center of a nuclear bomb explosion, it doesn’t seem appropriate to describe that hallowed ground in New York City. Perhaps it is because the word zero makes us think of something without value or full of emptiness. It almost seems disrespectful to the thousands of people who lost their lives there and the millions of Americans and people throughout the free world who suffered through the sadness and tragedy of those terrorist attacks. When I stood at the site and looked at the relatively small piece of property that seems too small to hold the huge towers that once stood proudly there, the land appears as a site of emptiness. However, it is far from empty in terms of its historical and cultural significance. After looking at the site for a while and recalling the events that took place there, that small piece of land eventually gave me an understanding of the magnitude of that historical event and how greatly it has changed our American culture. I recall having feelings that were filled with many emotions, and made the events of September 11, 2001 seem very real and personal to me as I observed that site.

Standing and observing Ground Zero affected me as a person. I felt a great sense of pride that I am an American. For the first time in my life I realized that I am part of something much larger than my small community in which I live. Standing there and recalling the events of September 11, 2001 caused me to question my own character and how I may have reacted hat day. Many of the firemen, policemen, and others present that day risked and even gave their own lives to help others despite their own fears and the obvious dangers they faced. There were heroes buried in that vacant lot, as well as many more innocent victims who must have been confused, terrified, and feeling helpless as they suffered from the senseless terrorist attacks that day. The realism of visiting that site will stay with me throughout my life. I’m sure that some day I will return there, and there will probably be other buildings and beautiful landscaping where there was dirt and unfinished land. There will probably be monuments there as well that recognize the site and describe the events for people of future generations to visit. However, the impact of the devastation of September 11, 2001 will never be as real to me as it was when I was staring at that vacant lot during my first visit there.

While observing Ground Zero, it also created increased feelings of anger towards the enemies of America and the American way of life. I grew up learning that America was the greatest country in the world, with a way of life that promoted freedom to go where you want and do what you please, as long as it was not illegal. There was little fear of being attacked by terrorists or other enemies, and I was made to feel safe and protected by the armed forces. Seeing the World Trade Center site made these thoughts and ideas seem questionable. Although America remains the leader of the free world, as well as having the strongest military, American life changed after that day, as The War on Terror began, sparking many debates and policy changes regarding war, security and freedom. This became most evident to me whenever I went to the airport to travel by plane for the first time last year. There was a lot of talk about what you are and are not allowed to take on the plane, as well as airport regulations for passengers. The adults that traveled with us referred to September 11, 2001 on several occasions as we talked about the flights and airports. Security was intense, filled with checkpoints and searches, and will probably always be this way in the future. This is just one of many examples of how the events of that day changed American culture, and affected me as an American.

Although Ground Zero is American soil, it is a place that changed the ways in which each of us as Americans relate to the people and countries of the world. My generation and future generations will have to face the challenge of working hard to identify what countries and peoples are our friends, and which ones are our enemies. This will cause many more people to work for the government in security, intelligence, and international relations positions. We have to consider ourselves as Americans first, but remember that our country exists in a global economy that forces us to relate to many foreign peoples and countries. It is easy to think of the towers falling to the ground and want to isolate America from the rest of the world so that we can protect ourselves. Unfortunately, we cannot do that, so we must see ourselves as members of the world community and find ways to protect ourselves from our known and unknown enemies. At the same time, we also must stay positive and work at being successful in a world economy, while trying to make the world a better place for all of us.

In conclusion, standing at the site of Ground Zero in New York City was an experience that affected me in a profound way by getting me to think of the value of life, and by making me more aware of myself as an individual person, as an American, and as a member of the global community. The act of terrorism on September 11, 2001 became much more real to me as I observed that historical site and thought about the profound effects that seeing those awesome towers, full of innocent people, burn and crumble had upon all of us. It instilled fear in all Americans that day, which has lasted to the present day, thereby changing our American culture. Most of the historic sites of American history recognize events that occurred long before I was born, and they make the history books seem more real. However, Ground Zero happened in my lifetime, and visiting that place was an intense experience that changed me as a person because the issues related to those attacks are still present in our society and affecting our daily lives as Americans and as citizens of the global community. As a result, it can be argued that for those of us living today, Ground Zero is one of the most significant historical sites in America.

Happy Valley

Happy Valley

“It’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back,” said Joe Paterno (Paterno). The quote symbolizes the importance of teamwork in achieving success. Penn State is the name on the front of that jersey. The reputation of legendary football coach Joe Paterno and the familiarity of the Penn State name have become synonymous with one another as a result of growing and flourishing together over the past 59 years. Joe Paterno. Penn State. Penn State. Joe Paterno. They go hand in hand, and learning about Joe Paterno is essential to understanding The Pennsylvania State University because his values and virtues reflect the mission statement of Penn State. In all of sports, there has never been a person and place so greatly intertwined in terms of their identification by the national public, reputations in their respective professions, and their collective accomplishments within their community.

Joe Paterno has often stated that it is important to him that the entire country is aware of what Penn State has to offer, and that his vision is for Penn State to be number one in everything, not just football. As a result, he has made numerous contributions to the university that displays his dedication to this cause, and has improved the national image of Penn State University as a leader in student athletics. His personal philosophies of hard work and integrity have placed him among the most respected national sports figures of all time. Furthermore, his dedication to a value system that places graduation from college as the number one priority has brought about national recognition that has established Penn State as a shining example of what college athletics is supposed to be all about (Joe Paterno Biography). However, it is difficult to examine the life of Joe Paterno without reference to what Penn State has meant to him in terms of the opportunity and support necessary for success to occur.

Penn State University is located in State College, a rural conservative region of central Pennsylvania, where a culture of hard work, integrity, commitment, and community has developed, and where Joe Paterno portrays these values both on and off the field (Paterno). In addition, he could not have accomplished such a reputation for success without the support of the administration at Penn State. The argument can be made that their commitment together was actually a risk in terms of being successful in major college football. When Paterno began coaching, it was much easier to claim these ideal values and to reinforce the “student first, athlete second” priority system. However, the true test of his greatness has been the fact that he was able to continue that commitment for so long in face of the modern game of major college football. The modern game is strongly affected by financial and societal issues. Millions of dollars are available to winning programs, and that raises the temptation for a person to abandon their values and bend the rules to achieve success. Also, the athlete of today seeks to go to professional football, where there is the opportunity to make millions of dollars. As a result, the athlete often gives into the temptation of cheating, by using steroids and other performance enhancing substances to get an advantage. Some football programs have been found to ignore academic standards in order to recruit star athletes, and keep players eligible for games, and increased drug, alcohol, and crime prevalence in athletics and college campuses compounds the difficulty of running a reputable program. Joe Paterno and Penn State have not looked the other way on these issues, and therefore they have taken a risk, in that their football program could suffer because of placing themselves at a competitive disadvantage in terms of eligibility and recruiting. Fortunately, they have experienced great success while doing things the right way and refusing to look the other way on issues in the name of having great players on the field. Penn State won the college football national championship in 1982 and 1986 (Penn State Football). The Penn State University shares his value system, and works hand in hand with Paterno to put a winning team on the field without compromising their values and maintaining their reputation as a leader in reputable college athletics. As a result, Joe Paterno has become an icon at Penn State (Joe Paterno Biography). He is a highly recognizable symbol of the University that acts as a representative of Penn State throughout the United States and serves as a role model for hard work, integrity and commitment.

Pride in a national reputation for excellence in academics and athletics is the glue that holds the values of the Pennsylvania State University together, and that school spirit focuses on the successes of Head Coach Joe Paterno and their football team. Joe Paterno is more than a football coach, as he has evolved into a national sports icon that has been outspoken on the need to maintain integrity in college sports, and led by example in a long and prestigious career that has given more to the profession of coaching than he has taken (Joe Paterno Biography). As a teacher of the game, he embraced the opportunity to affect young men’s lives both on and off the football field. His players were challenged to become both better football players and better people. As a result, many of them went on to become successful and entered into leadership roles in their fields. Likewise, Penn State is dedicated to provide a first class education to all students. In 2007, Penn State’s NCAA Graduation Success Rate for football players ranked no. 3 in the country. A priority was established that led Paterno to make student-athletes attend class and study. Greg Buttle is a former Penn State All-American linebacker who in 2007 stated to the San Antonio Express-News in 2007. "Forget what he's done for players. He's done more for a single university than anyone else. It transcends his coaching. No. 1 to him is what he's done for Penn State University; No. 2 is what he has done for players." As a result of his philosophies, Penn State has achieved great success in football. Joe Paterno has coached Penn State to 2 national championships, 5 undefeated seasons, 34 bowl game appearances, 23 bowl victories, and he holds the record for the most victories by a Division I football coach. In addition, Paterno has achieved numerous personal awards such as Coach of the Year, and most notably, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 (Penn State Football). These accomplishments have resulted in a national reputation of Joe Paterno and Penn State as leaders in the commitment for universities to produce student-athletes who become productive members of society by seeing them enjoy success on the field and graduate with a meaningful degree.

The collective accomplishments of Joe Paterno and Penn State has extended deep into the local community, as fan support at Penn State remains high, and their passion and respect for Penn State and Paterno continues to spread. Penn State has been given the nickname of Happy Valley, and their football fans come out in full force at every home game, routinely filling their 106,000 seat stadium, in a display of the closeness of their community and their love for Joe Paterno and Penn State football. That sense of community is evident by the leadership that Paterno provides in terms of his financial support to the academic experience at Penn State. This commitment to the State College community has added to his legacy as a coach. From the beginning, Paterno dedicated himself to creating a collegiate environment whereby the partnering of athletics and academics was a high priority at all times. The Penn State community responded with support, and together they turned out student athletes who consistently achieved outstanding academic success as compared to other Universities who cvompete at the Division I level. The Paterno family has been very generous towards the university. They have contributed in excess of four million dollars to the university which has been allocated for efforts such as endowments for faculty positions, the creation of scholarship funds, gifts to the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and expansion projects. Two new buildings included in that expansion project include the Penn State All-Sports Museum, and the Pasquerilla spiritual center (Penn State Football). The university recognized the national visibility of Joe Paterno to alumni, and his family’s financial support as they raised nearly fourteen million dollars for a new library. As a result, the library was dedicated as Paterno Library, which will serve future Penn State students (Joe Paterno Biography, Penn State Football). These are some of the many efforts and accomplishments that deepen the intertwined legacy of Paterno and the Penn State University within the community at State College, PA.

In conclusion, in all of sports, there has never been a person and place so greatly intertwined in terms of their identification with the national public, their reputations in their respective professions, and their collective accomplishments within their community as that of Joe Paterno and Penn State. The relationship between the Pennsylvania State University, its alumni, and the State College community has been centered on the football program, and they have accepted Paterno as a leader and role model for the Penn State experience. Together, they have achieved a national reputation as a fine education institution and as a national football power. Joe Paterno has flourished within the conservative and deeply valued State College community which has shared his vision for success. Paterno has given a great deal of money, time, and support as well to the University and the State College community. As a result of his lifelong commitment, the University has joined with Paterno to establish certain buildings and services on the campus in his name, that serve as reminders of the intertwined accomplishments of Paterno and Penn State that have helped to create the experience at Happy Valley.



Works Cited

1. "Joe Paterno Biography." Biographybase. 8 Nov. 2008 .
2. "Joe Paterno." Penn State Football. 2008. 8 Nov. 2008 .
3. Paterno, Joe. "Joe Paterno Quotes." Brainy Quotes. 2008. 8 Nov. 2008 .

A Letter to the President

Photo taken by Starry Night Lights

Dear President Bush,
I know that your job is immense, dealing with the overwhelming domestic and foreign issues of the United States. I am nineteen years old, and my day is full of school related tasks as well as the personal, social, and financial problems of a college student. I can only imagine how you feel. However, I am taking time out of my day to write to you about my concerns regarding an environmental issue that I believe needs your attention. Clean alternative energy sources are needed in order to protect the environment, and to reduce our country’s dependence on oil. Since the majority of our oil comes from foreign sources, we are dependent on those countries to survive and thrive. This affects the security and future of our nation. In addition, the current use of oil as our primary energy source causes pollution and harm to the environment. Therefore, we must make it a priority in America to research and develop alternative energy sources such as nuclear power, clean coal, solar energy, ethanol, and other synthetic fuels.

Without alternative energy sources, I believe that the dependency on oil reserves of the Middle East as our primary energy source gives the Muslim nations that are enemies of free democracies such as the United States an advantage against us. They can use the oil as leverage to get what they want, and force us to do things that we do no want to do. We will always be concerned with that area of the world while we are dependent on their oil. Terrorists gain money and power from the oil sales and they would have much less power and influence if countries such as ours were not dependent on their oil. Energy independence can only be achieved once we develop alternative fuel sources.

Environmental issues are going to become more and more important as the population of our country increases. More people means more energy usage, and therefore more pollution at least until we develop clean sources of energy that will become our primary source of energy. The development of alternative sources of energy that are clean and environmentally friendly will not only improve our environment in America, but the technology of clean energy sources can be sold to foreign countries, thereby creating a new sector of business for Americans and improving the environment of the entire world. It is commonly reported and often stated that America is estimated to utilize eighty percent of the world’s energy supply, while failing to come anywhere close to producing that much energy to contribute to our daily needs and usage. Once again, we can bridge this gap by researching and developing alternative energy sources such as nuclear power, clean coal, solar energy, ethanol, and other synthetic fuels that are often mentioned as goals and concerns by politicians during campaigns, but soon afterwards forgotten along with so many other ideas that seem right and fitting for America today. This must become a priority, and a national effort to address this issue can only be effective if it is endorsed and under the leadership of the President’s office.

Please consider my request and ask yourself if you have done all that you could possibly do to support alternative fuel sources such as increased use of nuclear power, more emphasis on clean coal technology, solar energy, and research into developing other synthetic fuels. This is a topic which will make a huge difference for future generations of Americans, and there is not a more significant challenge facing our government and our nation than the development of clean alternative energy sources, and the achievement of energy independence.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my letter.
Sincerely,

Joseph Shaffo

My Town

My Town

Everybody has to live somewhere. The town that I am proud to say is my home is called Turtle Creek. It is a small town located in the suburbs about thirteen miles east of the city of Pittsburgh. Western Pennsylvania was once the steel industry capital of the world, and many small towns grew around the steel mills and related industries. Turtle Creek expanded in growth as the result of being the site for some of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation plants, as well as a junction for the major railroads going to and from the Pittsburgh steel mills and local coal mines. It was once a densely populated little town where men walked to work at the plants, and women traveled by street car to shop. Prior to the building of shopping malls, the town had a main street lined with many stores and shops including three drug stores, three food markets, a shoe store, two jewelry stores, a sporting goods store, and two furniture stores. The town had a large Catholic elementary school, and its own public school system, Turtle Creek School District. It was a self sufficient town, and the people became very close to one another because they lived, shopped, worked, and socialized with each other for most of their lives. Strong ethnic backgrounds were the background of people’s values back then, and that remains the same today. My childhood in Turtle Creek was filled with experiences that have instilled upon me the lasting values of respecting your heritage, friendliness, hard work, and diversity.

Growing up in the tradition rich town of Turtle Creek, and under the influence of older generations of my mother and father’s families that helped to make the town part of the once world leader in the steel industry, has instilled upon me a sense of pride regarding my heritage. Unfortunately, the local steel industry no longer dominates the world market, and therefore, western Pennsylvania, and small towns like Turtle Creek have suffered economically because of the shrinking steel industry and factory closings in our region. In additional to the financial loss, the community has been torn apart because many people relocated to other parts of the country and others retrained for different occupations. As a result, the closeness and traditions of the community were severely damaged. Today, there are not a lot of people that live in Turtle Creek, but many of the residents come from families that have lived there for several generations. As a result, they try to continue the traditions of their ethnic and family heritage. Several churches that were founded over 100 years ago continue to serve the people of different religious backgrounds. Ethnic clubs such as The Sub Alpina Italian Club and The Croatian Club continue to operate in the town, and there are still several long-standing businesses located in my town, as well as a few restaurants. One of my favorite restaurants is Palmieri’s Restaurant, which is located in the middle of the town plaza. I went there often when I was growing up, and everybody there was nice and friendly. Each time I drive past that restaurant, I recall good childhood memories. Turtle Creek also has a fire station, police station, and a post office, which was actually the first operating post office west of the Allegheny Mountains. It is enjoyable to hear family members and other older adults talk about Turtle Creek and the many great memories that they have there. Those people believed in a strong work ethic and close families and friendships as a way to success. Those values and beliefs helped to provide the local industries such as steel and coal, with excellent hard working and dedicated employees who are responsible for leading our country during the industrial revolution and through two world wars. Those same beliefs and values have been passed down from generation to generation, and I am proud and grateful that they have been instilled upon me and my generation as well, as we work hard in school and at jobs, while enjoying the close families and friendships that help to make us a success.

Friendliness is a theme that best describes the variety of people that live in Turtle Creek. It is a quality that I admire in people everywhere. Turtle Creek is a family-oriented town, although there are many single people who also live there. I rarely meet anyone there who thinks or acts as if they are better than the rest of us. Turtle Creek is not that type of community. Most of the residents here have grown up in homes where the values of love and friendliness are stressed. These values were modeled for me by my parents and older generations of family friends, and neighbors, and I will take them wherever I go. I am used to seeing a friendly face, and I mostly enjoy living there because the people are very friendly and everyone seems to enjoy their lives. Turtle Creek is a safe place to live because there is a sense of closeness in the community. This sense of closeness becomes most evident at local community events, including the weeklong fireman’s fair which is run by the local fire station each summer. Also, the annual St. Colman church fair brings back many former residents and helps raise money for the local Catholic Church. There also is a weeklong community days that ends on a Saturday that begins in the morning with the Turtle Trot, which is a 5k race to help raise money for the community, followed by a plastic duck race in the creek flowing through the middle of town, a food festival, and is followed that evening by a spectacular fireworks display. It will be difficult for me to live anywhere that does not resemble the value system of Turtle Creek, as the people who live here tend to be middle class people who are kind, hardworking, and friendly.

Hard work seems to have always been a value associated with all those who have lived in Turtle Creek. The town was first settled by Native Americans who gave it the name Turtle Creek, and they had to work hard in order to provide enough food and shelter to survive the winters. Coal miners and factory workers that populated the town during the Industrial Revolution, labored many long hours in order to provide for their families and help to create the culture of family and closeness in the valley. Over the years, many famous people called Turtle Creek home, even if only for a few days. General George Washington camped there during the Revolutionary War. More recent notables include Robert McMillan, an Olympic gold medalist, The Vogues, a popular singing group, and Leon Hart, who was a 1946 graduate of Turtle Creek High School, and would go to Notre Dame University and become a Heisman Trophy winner in 1949. He was the last lineman to do so, and is in the NFL Hall of Fame. Each of these people possessed a strong work ethic that they learned from family and passed on to their friends and families thereby promoting hard work as an important means success to the people of Turtle Creek. The current residents of the town continue to carry on the tradition by working very hard to pay bills and send their kids to college so that they can better their lives. It is these lasting values, such as hard work, that help us to keep our identity and be successful in the challenges and changes that occur in our lives.

A challenge for modern society is to recognize the diversity of the people in our culture, and that has brought about a desire to change some of the ways in which we live our lives. Change is never easy, and Turtle Creek was faced with an unexpected challenge to address diversity twenty-seven years ago. The Turtle Creek School District ceased to exist in 1981 after being included in the merger to form Woodland Hills School District, as part of the last Federal court-ordered forced school merger in the United States that was the result of a Federal judge ruling. Many residents from all of the thirteen affected communities in our school district, including Turtle Creek, exercised their right to freedom of speech, and voiced their objection to the merger. However, ultimately the power of the courts prevailed. The citizens of those communities represent a wide diversity in background, including racial, financial, religious, as well as various cultural differences. They were forced to accept the merger, and challenged to rely upon their strong values and sense of community to build a new and better more diverse community. Turtle is still a unique community in itself, but it is much more closely connected with the surrounding communities. Over time, the people of these communities have discovered that they are much more alike than different, and they have benefited from sharing resources such as schools, police, fire, and ambulance departments, athletic facilities and sports teams. That diversity still exists in the community today, and has become part of our heritage. I personally experienced it as a student at Woodland Hills High School, where exposure to ethnic, cultural, racial, and economic differences among students made the concept of diversity very clear, as working together on common academic and athletic goals made us stronger. It made us stronger as a group, and as individuals by showing us how unique we are and by helping us to accept others for who they are. That impressed me, and I realize that it has been a privilege for me to be exposed to the diversity of the Woodland Hills student population. Our differences serve as a source for growth in the human experience, which is now a part of living in our town. As a result of growing up in Turtle Creek, I will maintain my values of hard work, friendliness, closeness to family and friends, and diversity, as I approach life with an open mind towards all that is different from me and seek to grow as an individual and acquire knowledge.

In conclusion, my childhood in Turtle Creek was filled with experiences that have instilled in me the lasting values of respecting my heritage, friendliness, hard work, and diversity. Heritage is created through the hard work and success of previous generations. Those generations shaped Turtle Creek as an American town that has been very productive and instrumental to the progress of America as a great nation, and I am proud of them. They were instrumental in my childhood as I learned the values of friendliness and hard work that have helped make me the person that I am today. The diversity of America and the world is something that I understand because of the influence of experiencing diversity at the high school in my town. As a result of all of these family, cultural, social, academic, and athletic experiences and influences during my childhood, my life and way of thinking about others and my future has been permanently affected by being raised in the town of Turtle Creek. I am very comfortable there, and I am very proud to call it my hometown.