Poverty/Opportunity
By: Nick Roofener & Hunter McLeod
Theme/Big Idea:
Theme/Big Idea: Poverty limits opportunities in life because it creates numerous obstacles to continually overcome.
In other words, with a lack of resources and help, one will be continuously held down in poverty circumstances.
Subtitle/What it is and how it relates to theme:
Subtitle/What it is and how it relates to theme:
Connects to the idea that poverty is hard to overcome because there is constant obstacles to overcome. There’s always other issues staring you in the face in other areas of life.
Subtitle/What it is and how it relates to theme:
Quotes
1.Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty. -Mother Teresa
2. Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor. - James A. Baldwin
3.Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes.
Article 1 Title: Escaping Poverty
Subtitle/Connection to theme: There are multiple articles connecting on how the government has failed in helping those lost in poverty showing even the gov. faces obstacles constantly in stopping poverty. Talks about how those in poverty are submerged gasping for air and can’t get out without the help of others.
Excerpt: “But children born in inner-city ghettos can only pray for deliverance. Only outside intervention can show a poor child a path into middle-class existence.”
Article 2 Title: Rising child poverty pushes American dream out of reach for many
Subtitle/Connection to theme: Talks about the link of low income families and how the children are provided for poorly and have less opportunity in life later as a result. Compared to the rich who score above average studies show consistently, the poor consistently score below average because they have parents who can’t provide properly. Poverty rates are increasing and more and more schools are being found categorized as in poverty.
Excerpt: “Both agree that children higher up the income scale are holding their own in standardized testing and against international competition. "High-income families have much greater parental inputs, they're better fed, they're better housed, better clothed, they have extra curricular activities, their parents provide them with iPads and educational activities that low income families can't afford," said Danziger.”
Link:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/22/demographic-shift-puts-american-dream-out-reach/
Organizations/Leaders
Summary of what the organization does: Deals with Disaster Relief, Womans Empowerment, Health, World Hunger, Education, and Economic Development.
Subtitle/Connection to theme: This Organization is connected to the theme because they help people all over the world get out of poverty or try to keep them alive.
Link: http://www.care.org/
Organizations/Leaders
Summary of what the organization does: Community Outreach, Child feeding, Disaster Response, Agriculture, Womens Empowerment, Rural compassion, Partner Resourcing, helps those in poverty and in horrible life situations not only poverty.
Subtitle/Connection to theme: Shows how lots of people have large and numerous obstacles to overcome and needs their help to do it. In dire need, some are lost and hopeless. Demonstrates how life's opportunities are limited in poverty by a wide variety of possible reasons.
Link: http://www.convoyofhope.org/?gclid=CNGa0MOeiL0CFUVgMgod0HQAqQ
Novels/Plays/Short Stories
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.
Text/Excerpt: Well, I ain’t got no fifty cents this morning…I don’t care what teacher say. I ain’t got it. Eat your breakfast, Travis. (1.1.28)
Subtitle/Connection to theme: The Younger family is so poverty-stricken that Ruth must deny her child money required for class.
Novels/Plays/Short Stories
“Poverty” By Marcia Amidon Lusted.
Text/Excerpt:
Subtitle/Connection to theme: Based off a true story this woman lost a child and her husband lost his job. They survive off of only donated supplies and food. They are in need of outside help with continually new obstacles to daily overcome.
Movies/TV Shows/Video Clips
Title and author: Bill Gates Debunks Myths About Poverty (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Subtitle/Connection to theme: Talks about seeing rapid improvement in poor countries and how they are not doomed to forever just remain poor. Researched on how to do things right and says, “...aid being a key reason which is why it has become my full time work.”
Movies/TV Shows/Video Clips
Title and author:Bill Nye, Science Guy, Dispels Poverty Myths
Subtitle/Connection to theme: Talks about how 83% of 5 year olds deaths and younger is as a result of preventable diseases, and all they need is our help. Connects to how there’s obstacles that they have to overcome that leaves them helpless.
Poverty Anthem By Robot Virgins
Its the only home I know
Just to live another day
Oh, the price I have to pay
Will my children share this fate
Where money decides the life they'll make
Somebody help me understand
What makes me starve in a world of plenty
Connection to Theme: This song connects to the theme because it shows how people wonder why they live on the street with children who most likely will face the same challenges when there are others who live lavish lives and don't care about it. They wonder why they are treated differently when they should be treat equally.
The Promised Land by Bruce Springsteen
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak, I just want to explode
Explode and tear this whole town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
And I believe in a promised land
There's a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I'm heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain't got the faith to stand it's ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing
But lost and brokenhearted
The dogs on main street howl 'cause they understand"
This all describes the pain and terror of living where and how this man does. He feels picked on unfairly by life's situations. He feels hopeless and blown down/torn down and wants all the pain to end. He dreams and believes in a promised land, or a place of greater chances and hope. He's tried his best but is crying out for help and needs assistance to get through life's obstacles to get to a better state of mind and life (promised land). The hardships he faces continually provide obstacles for him to keep overcoming.
Where the Streets Have No Name By U2
Lyrics: I wanna run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name
I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear without a trace
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Connection to Theme: The Lead singer Bono wrote this song about Ireland. In Ireland (and Northern Ireland), the many cities are divided: rich/poor, Catholic/Protestant, etc. By knowing which street a person lives on you can tell their religion, wealth and beliefs.