Nomar Knight's Top Ten Annoying Things 2015

Nomar Knight's Top Ten Annoying Things 2015


10. When people prostitute themselves for FaceBook likes. 

9. The selfie disease. Even older couples are doing it.

8. Local Politicians

7. Liars! (Like local politicians).

6. Any poor, hardworking fool that's dumb enough to vote for Trump. 

5. People that blast their car radios so the world could hear their crappy music. 

4. Religion! It's a double-edged sword. Good people do good deeds regardless of religion, but it seems throughout history that atrocities were carried out in the name of some iconic god, and it's STILL happening. Yikes!

3. People who force their beliefs on others.

2. That my country, (USA) spends more on war than education or the poor.

1. Bigotry and Hate! When will ignorance be eliminated? Yes, ALL LIVES MATTER!!!

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. 

A Knight Chills Blog Presentation.

Share the Love by Ramon Flores

This poem is dedicated to all my students and a kind soul, Gladys Marie.

Share the Love

By Ramon Flores

I do the best I can

With what I have

At any given moment

Though it's usually

Never enough

I know I tried my best

"Always do your best."

"Let God do the rest."

My teacher said.

A lesson learned

And now I share

With a new generation

These kids

Have so many distractions

Detractors a plenty

Easy money lures

Material wealth shines

Happiness to buy

No way kids

Break through the myths

Don't believe the lies

Happiness can't be bought

Materials stay behind

Money means nothing

What counts

Is that you

Share the knowledge

Don't expect

Anything in return

Spread good vibes

Be happy

Take care of yourself

And share the love

© Copyright Ramon Flores 2015. All rights reserved.

Ramon Flores has granted Knight Chills non-exclusive rights to display this work.

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. All rights reserved.

A Knight Chills Guest Blogger Poetry Presentation.

Discrimination: America's Darkest Pastime

To be acutely aware of this world's frightening state, is to condemn your consciousness to a lifetime of horror. ~ Book of Tortured Souls

Discrimination: America’s Darkest Pastime

By Nomar Knight

     There’s another media frenzy where ignorant people are showcasing their discriminatory minds for all to see. It seems everywhere I turn, there are articles and interviews with people who not only are in favor of discriminating against gays, but they seem to illustrate pride in defending their position. Amazingly, the excuse used to openly deny the LGBT community’s basic rights is the hot topic of religion. For a country born on the concept of religious freedom, it seems ludicrous how some people are blind to the double standard they wield like a sword specifically designed to kill anyone who is not like them. I wonder, how can homophobia be so blinding? To illustrate my point, a florist in Georgia claimed that she would deny service to gay people but not adulterers because, “That’s a different kind of sin.”

     Obviously, logic and compassion are not required when practicing the latest darkest form of pastime. Thankfully, not all Americans agree with the growing number of bigots and are protesting with vigor. While one of the best things about what makes America great is the right to disagree and freedom of speech, it’s obvious to me that we still have not learned how to live with our differences.

     Perhaps there will come a time when education will prevail. Unfortunately, as long as there is a fundamental difference in how Christians view the world from within their own ranks, bigotry will remain a constant nuisance to society. I call for cooler heads to prevail. I hope that enlightenment will show that in spite of our differences, people just want a chance to live in peace, surrounded by love. Let’s eradicate hate from all walks of life, Christian or atheist. Let’s all get along.

Catch you on the dark side.

Nomar Knight

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. All rights reserved.

A Nomar Knight Presentation.

Puerto Rico's Dysfunctional Department of Education

Puerto Rico's Dysfunctional Department of Education

     I don't normally like complaining about work on Knight Chills, but since I do like writing about real life horror, I decided this rant is somewhat appropriate. 
     While I admire my peers working in the states and abroad for being able to do wonders with their students, I must admit, I'm miffed at our Department of Education here in Puerto Rico. For starters, they don't allocate enough money in the budget for classroom resources. Instead, the powers that be have been giving expensive contracts to their political buddies. The fact that those contracts tendered this year have proven a waste of time and money, yet it hasn't stopped them from continuing this unsavory practice, proves that the DE, like the rest of the government run organizations is completely dysfunctional. 
     Another thing that irks me is the fact that teacher pensions are unstable. There may not be a pension by the time I retire. Also, our DE wants us to use differentiated strategies, which are much needed everywhere, except, I and many of my colleagues don't have the resources, not to mention we are at least twenty to thirty thousand dollars a year underpaid. 
      Of course, I understand that some of you are probably wondering why I don't pack it up and leave this island. Well, my family is here. Plus, I'd like to be part of the education revolution that must occur if Puerto Rico is going to compete worldwide. For that to happen, teachers like me should have the basics, like internet in the classroom, computers or laptops that work all year round, and a diverse amount of resources so that our students can finally enter into the world the U.S. students have known for the last twenty-five years. Yes, many of our schools lack the proper foundation for success and for what I have seen, politicians are throwing all the burden on us teachers. Surely it takes a community to educate our children, so why should things be so dysfunctional in Puerto Rico? 
     As proof of a dysfunctional society, I only have to direct you to the news sources. Gun violence brought on by drug turf wars are far too common in this island. Poverty is rampant. Unemployment hit new highs, and government corruption is stuck in a never-ending loop with no end in sight. 
     President Obama, I implore that you send an independent investigator to the Puerto Rico's Department of Education. You promised a change we could count on, yet the changes I have seen on this island, regarding education, have us headed back to cave man days. It's time to get your hands dirty, Mr. President, and stop ignoring us second-class citizens. That's right, upon moving to Puerto Rico, I lost the right to vote for President. Clearly, the political system here and in the U.S. has severe cracks that must be patched up before more people migrate to other countries. 
     Perhaps, migration has been the plan all along. God knows many of our citizens have abandoned this sinking ship. How long before Americans decide enough is enough? How long before the people of Puerto Rico decide that a violent coup is needed here? Help us, Mr. President, before it's too late.

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2015. All rights reserved.

A Nomar Knight Presentation.

Living With Monsters: A Brief Look At Domestic Violence

Living With Monsters 

Living With Monsters: A Brief Look At Domestic Violence

By Nomar Knight

There may be a thin line between love and hate, but some lines should NEVER be crossed.  It’s bad enough that we’re surrounded by violence, but do we have to put up with that nonsense in our homes?  I don’t know what would possess a guy to hit a woman.  Although I’ve had my buttons pushed and in my mind I committed some atrocities, I never lost it to the point where I would lay a finger on a woman.

Here’s some National Data on Domestic Violence:

• One in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime.
  (Source: Sexual Assault Experiences and Perceptions of Community Response to Sexual Assault, 2001)
• One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.
  (Source: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
• On average, more than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States.
  (Source: Family Violence Prevention Fund)
• Every nine seconds, a woman is beaten in the United States.
  (Source: American Institute on Domestic Violence 2001)
• Women ages 20-34 endure the highest rates of domestic violence.
  (Source: American Institute on Domestic Violence 2001)
• Only about one in five domestic violence victims with physical injuries seek professional medical treatment.
  (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics)
• Sexual violence starts very early in life. More than half of all rapes of women (54%) occur before age 18; 22% of these rapes occur before age 12.
  (Source: Tjaden and Thoennes, 2000)
• Intimate partner violence is the leading cause of injury to women. It affects 1-3 million women a year in the U.S., making it more common than muggings, stranger rapes and car accidents combined.
  (Source: Frisso JA et al., 1996. Tjaden P, Thoennes N, 1998)
• Domestic crime against adults accounts for almost 15% of total crime costs: over $67 billion per year.
  (Source: Victim Cost and Consequences: A New Look. National Institute of Justice Research Report, Jan. 1996)

Okay, so this has been around for years and the numbers seem to be escalating.  I wonder when the madness will stop.  Like Rodney King said, “Can’t we all get along?”

Unfortunately, the chilling statistics spill over into medical costs.  Here a few more stunning stats:

Health Care and Violence

• An estimated 10% - 20% of emergency department visits by women with intimate partners are a result of domestic violence.
  (Source: The Health of Washington State Domestic Violence, 2004)
• 50% of all mental health care dollars are spent on adults who were abused as children.
  (Source: Victimization Costs and Consequences: A New Look. National institute of Justice 1996)
• In an HMO study, abused women cost the plan 92% more than the general female population.
  (Source: Wisner, C.L., Gilmer, T.P., Saltzman, L.E., and Zink, T.M. Intimate partner violence against women: Do victims cost health plans more? Journal of Family Practice 48(6): 439-43)
• More than 50% of abused women present with the following symptoms: fatigue, depression, anxiety, chest pain, back pain, abdominal pain, sleep disorder, shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, headaches, decreased appetite, dizziness.
  (Source: Sutherland, C et al., 1998)
• More than one third of sexual assault victims and battered women experience symptoms of depression.
  (Source: Toolkit to End Violence Against Women)
• 46% of domestic violence victims have symptoms of anxiety disorder.
  (Source: Toolkit to End Violence Against Women)
• If an injured victim of domestic violence is treated by a physician or nurse who does not inquire about abuse or who accepts an unlikely explanation of the injuries, and the patient then returns to the abusive situation and sustains further injuries, the physician or nurse could consequently be held liable for those injuries.
  (Source: AMA Guidelines on Domestic Violence, 1992)

I feel the best way to combat this problem is to educate, especially our male species.  Certainly we can rise above this and treat women with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Catch you on the dark side.

Nomar Knight

Statistics provided by Washington State Department of Health.

©2011 Copyright. Nomar Knight.  A Knight Chills presentation. 

Chaos by Nomar Knight

Chaos

     I teach therefore I'm forced to go against the grain and deal with a culture that wants to imitate Americans, yet fight to hold on to their Spanish heritage.  As a result of political and social prejudices against the English language and those who dare tread in the murky waters of education, I find myself trying to do the impossible. Maintaining a strong will to continue to reach my students in the hopes that at least 25 % of them can survive college, makes me wince because I know they can always do better. 

     Perhaps if the governor of Puerto Rico could make the state tests valid and promote literacy, things would change for the better.  Until that day comes, I continue struggling against the grain amidst the chaos that is the Puerto Rican education system.     


This poem epitomizes the struggles that all teachers on this island are going through. 

Chaos

By Nomar Knight

Whispers swirling around my head

Coming from the left no the right

Soothing melody awaking desire

The thirst for knowledge revealed

Murmurs buzzing around my ears

A planted seed looks to grow

Before its time giving birth

To ignorance and selective deafness

Shouts pounding individuality

Clashing against the grain

Fallacies of promises rendered

Falling into an abyss of disinterest

Screams shocking rebellion

Listen to the master

Expend time and energy

Treated like a discarded rag

Cries acknowledging inexperience

Tripped by chance

Thoughts lost in confusion

Seeking answers to wrong questions

Wails stunning progress

Sorrow walking hand in hand

As remorse sets in

Chaos snuffs out opportunity

When will politics end

And Education begin?

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2011. All rights reserved. 

A Knight Chills poem.