JJ's World Views

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  • Repayment Campaign

    Repayment Campaign

    I am Currently running a Go Fund Me Campaign to raise money so that I can get myself back in school by next Spring.  If you would like to donate here is the link to the site.  Below is the introduction and general summary of the campaign.

    Introduction

    Hello I am JJ ODonnell.  I am currently raising money to pay off some student loan debt, so that I can continue my education.  I have recently graduated from Normandale Community College with an Associates of Arts degree.  Now I am stuck with a dilemma because this was my third attempt at getting a degree I have some outstanding debt from previous attempts.  I have defaulted on these loans and need to pay one of them off before I can continue on with schooling.   The first two times I went to school I my living was not stable, I did not know that I had any veteran’s benefits, I had no in school support system helping me through the way student loans worked or how to get grants and scholarships.  The reason for me to do the crowdfunding is so I can pay off a loan from the state of Minnesota that way Normandale can release my records to Metro State University, where I will go for my BA in Social Studies Education.

    How I Got Back to School

    Four years ago, I finally, after years of dealing with depression, I went to the VA to see what I qualified for as a Vet.  They helped me to get my mind thinking in a healthier way and to stop dwelling on the things I cannot, change in the past.  And to start creating goals, then focusing on what I can do to make those goals a reality.  I applied for Vocational Rehabilitation through the VA.  They approved me for study to become a Social Studies Teacher.  So, this is how the current chapter in my life began.  Since then I have accomplished a lot.  I was on the honor roll or the Dean’s list most of the time I was at Normandale.  I made it in to Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society.  I was awarded TRIO Scholar of the year for 2016-2017.  I was part of America Reads and Counts, which helps tutor kids in math and reading.  I took part in a few trips with the Cultural Exploration and Travel club, because I like learning about other cultures and travel.  I worked at both the Diversity Center and the Student Store.  I was awarded a scholarship from the Normandale Foundation, in which I returned the favor by giving a speech about my life and experience which brought me to Normandale.   I also, Graduated with honors from Normandale.

     

    Current Occupation:

    I am currently working as a Substitute Educational Paraprofessional for the Burnsville/Eagan/Savage school district.  Currently, working with special needs kids as a long-term Sub.  This is no easy task dealing with all sorts of issues, most notably behavioral issues.  This job is not for the faint of heart and takes a special type of person to stick it out through the rough parts and see the accomplishments these kids make.  There have been times where I just wanted to through in the towel, but I stay because I love to see their faces when the kids do something that they, thought they could not do.  I try to help inspire the kids with my story and what I have accomplished over the past few years despite my fight with Depression.

    Life Goals:

    My overall goal is to get my Teaching degree and join the Peace Corp.  Then, bring what I have learned from the Corp about the other cultures I worked with to the classroom.  It is my belief that the more we know about other cultures the less we fear them and provide a start to a lasting peace in this world.

     

    How Much and When:

    I need to raise the money by no later than August 31 in order for me to enter back into school by spring of 2019.

    Incentives:

    I will be doing weekly shout out videos for all my donors.

    Every $500 raised I will do a live stream where people can ask me questions about anything.

     

     

     

     

  • Changes

    Changes

    It has been a while since I have posted anything here.  Many things have changed in my life in that period.  I graduated from Normandale Community College and now have my first degree.  My brakes went out on my car and I had to struggle to get the money together to fix it.  I am thankful for my brother in law and his friend for helping me with the repairs.  I have started a new job this week as a educational paraprofessional substitute.   I am working to pay off a student loan before I can go for my B.A. in Teaching Social Studies.  So, I am currently not in school for the time being.  I hope to have that all paid off before June, that way I can get back to work on my degree.

    The next few months are going to be tight but I believe I will be able to make it through.  If I do not make my deadline of June I will head back to school by next spring.  It is good to have goals but they should not I believe, so rigid to the point that if you do not make it with in a time frame it kills your motivation.  This is what does happen to me a lot.  I sometimes push myself, to the point where I start to question my own worth and get down on myself.  Then I let everything go and just give up.  I have to make sure I have a secondary plan of action, because shit happens.

    Things happen in our lives that change us for better or worse.  The thing is when we are in a down spin we have to gain our composer and level ourselves off and change direction accordingly.  There is not just one way to get where you want to go in life there are many.  Some are short and sweet, and others may take a bit longer but you will still get there in the end.

  • Why Should We “Shit Hole Countries”

    Why Should We “Shit Hole Countries”

    Over the past few weeks I have been hearing and seeing people talk about want Mr. Trump calls “Shit Holes”.  Did he even think about why these countries are the way they are or does he just assume like many others that it is just the people.  Most of these countries were colonised by white european countries like Britain, France, Denmark and Spain, also the United States of America.  Over the past 200 years or more the pure capitalization of the world have raped and pillaged these countries for their resources.  Giving little regard for the people of these countries.   We have built a world on the back of the less fortunate and people like Mr. Trump are personally responsible for these crimes against humanity.

    They care little about anyone but themselves and how they can exploit people for their own personal gain.  They destroy the potential of people who could help develop the next big enhancements to the human condition, all for the a piece of green paper that if we were not around would not contribute anything to this world.

    So, why should we help out the people of these “Shit Hole Countries” and Mr. Trump puts it.  We should help them out of the kindness of our hearts.  But, the real people who need to help them are the extremely wealthy and those whose money has been handed down from generation to generation.   If it were not for them exploiting these people they may have developed much differently.  Hell, their quality of life could be much better and we may have actual peace in regions that are now in a state of perpetual conflict.

    It is time for us to grow as not just a countries or continents, it is time for us to grow as a species.  We must learn to not take advantage of each other and build a better world together.  It can be done, maybe not in my lifetime, but it can start with in it.  I am not naive to think it will happen overnight or it will be easy.  It will be a long and hard change and there will be many who will die before we evolve to that level as a society.   But as long as we push for the change and leave the world better than when we found it.  We have a chance.

  • A Reaction to the “I’m Not Racist” Video

    A Reaction to the “I’m Not Racist” Video

    I posted the “I’m Not Racist” video yesterday on my Facebook page.  Knowing that many will find it offensive.  It was actually in brought to my attention from a person I worked with at the diversity center at school. The video uses the N word a lot from both a white and black man. It was made to make people feel uncomfortable but you must watch it all the way through in order to get the message that the person is getting at. I left the diversity center because I was hearing the N word being thrown around a lot and it disturbed me. But, it is not up to me or anyone else to tell someone what they can or can not say. It is only when we listen and wait till the person is done talking that we start to understand what they are saying. This is one of the hardest parts of living in America. We must listen to the other person and not try to formulate our responses to what they are saying while they are saying it, even if it is hard to hear. This is how we become better as Americans and as human beings. It is through being willing to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations that we learn and grow as people. Those who know me, know that I help to defend the rights of others especially the right to free speech which in my opinion is the most important of all our rights as Americans. This is why I feel we are having so many issues in our country no one is listening to each other. I have the same problem. I have a tendency to start thinking up a rebuttal without listening to what the other person is saying completely. I have also had it done to me as well. Most of us do not even realize that we are doing it, it is just a natural reactionary response that we have.  I have posted the video below.  Please watch it all the way through before passing judgement.

  • Minneapolis Institute of Art Floor 3 Part 2

    Top right photo

    Madonna Enthroned in Majesty with the Christ Child, Late 12 century

    Marble

    Top Left Photo

    Virgin and Child, 14th century

    Stone, Polychromed

    Flanders

    Large-Leaf Verdure Tapestry Fragment with Birds, 16th century

    Wool, Silk Tapestry weave

    _MG_3906 (2)

    Circle of Gil de Siloe

    Virgin of the Milk (Virgen de la leche), 1500

    Poly Chromed Wood

    _MG_3901 (2)

    Signed Saomotome Iechika

    Helmet, Early 17th century

    Iron, Gold, Wood, Lacquer

    _MG_3894 (2)

    Giovanni Battista Caccini

    Bust of Emperor Hadrian as a Young Man, 1590

    Marble

    Richard Stankiewicz

    Untitled, 1954

    Iron and Steel

    _MG_3891 (2)

    Ship Of Virtues, 1528-1540

    Wool, Silk, Tapestry Weave

    _MG_3869 (2)

    Asa Ames

    Portrait Bust, 1830-1845

    Cherrywood

    _MG_3863 (2)

    Lucille Corcos

    Macy’s Parade, 1942

    Tempera on Masonite

    _MG_3854 (2)

    Henry Koerner

    My Parent II, 1946

    Oil on Masonite

    _MG_3851 (2)

    Andrew Wyeth

    Christmas Morning, 1944

    Egg Tempera on Gessoed Board

    _MG_3847 (2)

    Gaston Lachiase

    Woman in a Chair, 1924

    White Marble

    Elie Nadelman

    Draped Standing Woman Figure, 1907-1908

    Plaster

    Edgar Degas

    Dancer Putting on Stockings, 19th Century

    Bronze_MG_3831 (2)

    Anders Zorn

    The Girl from Alvdalen, 1911

    Oil on Canvas

    _MG_3826 (2)

    Franz von Stuck

    Portrait of Beethoven, 1902

    Parcel Gilt and Polychromed Stucco

    _MG_3820 (2)

    Paul Signac

    Blessing of the Tuna Fleet at Groix, 1923

    Oil on Canvas

    _MG_3815 (2)

    Theodore Rousseau
    Autumn at St. Jean de Paris, Forest of Fontainebleau, 1846

    Oil on Canvas

    _MG_3811 (2)

    Aime-Jules Dalou

    Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier (1743-1794), 1891

    Bronze

    Randolf Rogers

    The Lost Pleiad, 1874 (modeled)

    Marble

     

  • Minneapolis Institute of Art Floor 3 Part 1

    Minneapolis Institute of Art Floor 3 Part 1

    William Edmondson

    “Ram“, 1938-1942

    Limestone.

    _MG_4107 (2)

    Jean-Baptiste Auguste Clesinger

    “Bacchante and Satyr”, 1869

    Marble

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    Antoine-Louis Barye

    “Theseus Slaying the Centaur Bianor” ,1850 (Modeled cast, 1891)

    Bronze, Caster: Ferdinand Barbedienne

    Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

    “Pair of Torches”, 1862

    Bronze, Gilt, Silver, Black Onyx, Red Marble

    Henry Bannarn

    “Cleota Collins”, 1932

    Plaster, Pigment

    _MG_4053 (2)

    Jean Hanau

    “Pueblo Indian Group”, 1928

    Oil on Canvas

    Harry Jackson

    “Stampede”, 1958-1959

    Bronze, Wyoming Jade Base

    Wenzel Friedrich

    “Platform Rocking Chair and Stool”, 1880-1890

    Horn, Ivory and Glass with Ocelot Upholstery

    Herman Atkins Macneil

    “A Chief of the Maltnomah Tribe”, 1905

    Bronze

    “Writing Desk”, 1760

    Wood, Paint, Gilt, Gilt Bronze

    _MG_4004 (2)_MG_4003 (2)_MG_3999

    Bertel Thorvaldsen

    “Ganymede and the Eagle”, 1817-1829

    Marble

    _MG_4009 (2)

    Nicolas de Largilliere

    “Portrait of Catherine Coustard, Marquise of Castelnau, Wife of Charles Leonor Aubry with her Son Leonor”, 1699

    Oil on Canvas

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    After Gaspard Marcy

    “Boris Abducting Orithyia”, 1700

    Bronze (Reduction cast)

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    Joseph Venache

    “The Borghese Gladiator”, 1680-1685

    Bronze

     _MG_3997

    Pierre-Phillippe Thomire

    “Clock with Vestals”, 1790

    Bronze, Gilt Bronze, enameled dial, Marble

    Fernandi Tacca

    “Satyr and Nymph”, 17th century

    Bronze

    Unidentified Designers and Cartoonists

    “Waiting the Chase”, 1650

    Wool, Silk, Tapestry Weave

    _MG_3947 (2)

    “Funeral Torch”, 1620

    Gilded and Painted wood and wrought iron

    Attributed to Jose Montes de Oca

    “Saint Benedict of Palermo”, 1734

    Polychrome and gilt wood, Glass

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    Aaron Spangler

    Songbird”, 2006

    Carved bass wood, black gesso and graphite

    Hans Schaufelein

    “Roundel Set”, 1500

    Stained Glass, Lead

     

  • What Type of Society Would You Like to Live in?

    What type of society would you like to live in?  Collectivist or Individualistic?  This is a question we were asked in Pillars of Leadership program at school this week.  This is a very hard questions to be asked and takes a lot of thought as to not give people the wrong idea.  If you say you want to live in a collectivist society people in the states think China or the former USSR.  If you say Individualistic people think of America and the corporate plutocracy that runs it.  I would chose a combination of both a more socially individualistic and economically collectivistic society.

    In America we have been traditionally a socially collectivist and economically individualistic society.  This means socially if you were different from the group you were labeled the outcast, different, freak, ect…  If you are are not white, Christian, hetrosexual you were the other and have historically been segregated against in one form or another.  Yet, if you raised have money, and power you were held in high regard even worshipped to some extent.  This paradigm has been hard for me to live in because I do not think the way I was taught to think.  I do not view wealth or power as a success factor.  I also see people as individuals and judge them on there actions not race, gender, sexual orientation, ect…  I view happiness and empathy as how successful a society is in the grand scheme of things.

    I do not think that it is up to the government or corporation should  decide what you do as a career or job.  I feel we help people to reach their potential in the field they enjoy and are good at.  Yes, this is would not be a nice and ordered society but it plays to people’s strengths and move society in a more positive direction.  This allows people to find out who they are and what they are passionate about.  This also breeds a much happier society and less conflict.  I feel that when a society reaches a certain level of development that the government can not only help it’s people militarily but making sure that the basic necessities are taken care of like food, clothing, housing, ect… They would not get to chose these thing for them, but, helps people to afford these items making sure no one is left behind or falls through the cracks.  This way the economic schizm does not grow so great that a few people control the rest of the society against their will.

    People will ask, “But, if we don’t have money to use as an incentive how can we motivate people to do the work?”  To them I answer ” There are many ways to motivate people like their passions. some people like helping others, some like to create things like art, science, or music..  Think of all the artists that have died in poverty, like Van Gogh, yet, after their deaths the pieces would have made them wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.  Think of people in the scientific realm like Nicola Tesla who died in poverty not to be respected till well after his death.”  How many minds have we wasted because of the greed of our society?  How many more will not have the opportunity because others think that because they are wealthy they are the best?  How many ideas will be stolen because of greed and pride?  These are questions I asked myself when people ask me “What type of society I want to live in?”

    I feel we need a combination of both in our societies and no pure system will ever work in a world full of differences.

    Peace and Love To all who read this and even those who don’t.

  • Love Vs. Hate

    I wrote this poem after have a what at supposed to be a discussion but, devolved into that person insulting me and calling me names because I did not agree the them.

    Hate Destroys the heart

    Gives the person hated power over your feelings

    Hate is easy and takes no real thought

    Love heals the heart

    Gives power power to those who love and those who are loved

    Love is hard, it takes strength and encourages thought

    Hate acts like a cancer

    eating at your mind and body

    Hate breeds more hate

    Love cures all ailments

    It fills the mind and body with hope

    Love breeds more love

    Why do we hate so much? Why can we not love more?

    We should love the world

    As we love ourselves

    Spread the love to as many people as we can

  • This Semester

    This has been the hardest semester for me yet. I have been procrastinating too much. In away I have been doing a great job of self sabotage. In a way I  think I do not deserve to get my A.A.  Though I have put in all of the time and work that I need to, maybe even more.  I am less than two months away from finally getting my A.A. in Liberal Arts.  Maybe it is because I fear the success it could bring.  I do not want to let things go to my head.  I like the way I am now in a personal sense, I worry that I will become arrogant because of the success.  As I am now and how I hope I will see myself in the future is that I am just a guy trying to do more for society and not just for myself.

    The class I am doing the worst in right now is Spanish.  At this point I just want to pass the course.  That is the first time I have said that about any of my classes.  My history class I am a bit behind in but, I can make that up no problem.  I have liked all my social science teachers.  Hell, I have a crush on the teacher I had last semester for U.S. history 2.  The current history course I am taking is History of World Civilization 3.  And I have been looking forward to this class for awhile.  The reason for that is I want to try and understand what the more recent history of the middle east is like.  This way I can help to figure out a solution to some of the problems over there.

    Human Geography is another good class I am taking and I am all caught up in.  I only have a presentation, a short essay on urbanization and the final left for that class.  My teacher for this class I had last semester for Physical Geography so I kind of knew what to expect from him.  Then I have my Career Exploration class which helped me to decide to change my Major from Social studies Education to a straight History major.  I am doing this because I do not want to have to narrow of a major and a History B.A. can open a whole lot of doors as I found out.

    The last class is not really a class but a certificate program called Pillar of Leadership.  In this program we go over the different types of leadership but, focus more on the Social Change Model of Leadership.  This is a pretty cool program and is going to look good on my resume.  Though the main reason I am taking this is because I do want to help change the way things are in this world, for the better.

    I guess for me now it is crunch time.  I need to make sure I pass all my classes and by February I will have my A. A. degree in my hands.  Now I just have to find another job because the job I am currently working at is the student store on the Work Study Program.  So, I really do want to start looking for jobs and internships in my field of study.

  • Crying Spells

    It sucks living with depression.  Not only do I sometimes have issues just finding reasons to get up in the morning.  I also have times where I can not stop crying.  This one I am in now has been going on since I gave my speech on Thursday.  I can stop for a while but then it starts back up again.  It doesn’t matter if I am sad, happy, hopeful or cynical I cry for it all it seems.

    This past year has been herd for me.  I have been losing focus and not keeping up with my homework.  I think knowing this is my last semester at Normandale Community College has this affected me.  I have been comfortable there for the most part, though I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone more since I have been there.  I love the teachers and faculty there.  They have been really supportive and caring.   Hell, I am 41 I knew this was coming.  I just didn’t think it would come this soon.  These past 2 1/2 years have gone by so quickly.

    I guess I might fear change a bit but, I know that is how life is and how we grow as people.  I guess I have just gotten so comfortable that it is really hard to do.  Especially, since I have not had a place where I felt I belonged so long before I came to school.

    For the twelve years prior to me heading to school I bounced around a lot about 30 time in that time period.  I have had many jobs, 2 hernia surgeries, married, divorced, and lost my grandfather.  Though we had only met when I was 20 because, of my mom not thinking it was important for me to know them until that time.  She never even told me about them till I was 20 and I had not asked about them just my Biological father.  I remember one time when I was like 15 years old, when I got into it with my dad (the man who raised me) we almost came to blows.  My mom showed me a letter that bio-father had written me.  He told me he loved me and all that jazz in the letter.  To tell you the truth I don’t remember much of what it said because I was stuck in my own little world, after the fight.  I don’t know why my mom didn’t tell me about my grandparents then.  This to me seems like it would have been the best time to do so.  But, she waited.

    It was always nice talking to my grandfather.  We could talk about anything it felt like.  We talked about our lives, politics, religion, ect… I always felt comfortable talking about these topics with him.  Not like now where I sometimes feel my head and ears burning when I talk about them with other members of my family or friends for that matter.  I never felt judged by him or my grandmother.

    It is time now again to start feeling uncomfortable and push myself to do better.  Not just for me but for the world as a whole.  This is my philosophy of life “I want to make myself better in order to better help the world.”  I know this sounds Idealistic but that how I see things.  Do I think I am better than anyone else? Hell, No!  Do I think we are all the same? Once again, Hell, No. We are only the same as it pertains to us being human.  We are all a part of the same family in a sense .  We all have different talents and skills, this is why we are not all the same and why none of us is better than another, at least in my perspective.  There’s only one exception to me thinking I am not better than a person and that is if they see violence as the only solution.  Even then I think some those people can change their thinking.

    We all have the potential to be both good or bad or fall somewhere on the spectrum.  We can all learn from one another if we are willing to put ourselves out there.  We can find inspiration anywhere and everywhere in life.  It is sometimes comes from the most unexpected places.  Look at me I am an Atheist but, I was inspired to go back to school by a young Muslim woman named Malala.  Her courage to stand up to the Taliban gave me hope for the future.  The fact that she is still pushing for Girls to have the right to an education even after she was shot, amazes me.  I just hope and wish I have the same amount of courage she has.