“How Do You Sit There?” Congress, are you listening? – YouTube

iTunes – Music – “How Do You Sit There?” – Single by Mario Depeine, Sr.

This song is from the “heart” of America.  It says what many Americans are thinking and wondering about their representatives.  How could our representatives in the government just ignore the very people who voted them in?  Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!

I literally woke up on October 25, 2011 and felt the urge to send a message to Congress.  I wanted to do a YouTube video and see how I could get people in Congress to remember that they “work for us” not us “working for them.”  I said as I have often said:  “Something is wrong with this picture.”  That morning, I woke up at 5:45 and wrote most of the song at the ironing board by 6:00.  Then I got ready for work.  I realized that the song was more than a YouTube song so I proceeded to work on it some more.  My wife, Lavern, was a tremendous help.  I often went to her to see what she thought.  She gave me great feedback and so I kept on revising the song until I thought I could present it to a more qualified artist.  Kenny Simmons, formerly of the Commodores, was that artist.  He has become a great friend and musical adviser.  We worked in the past on another project.  I hesitantly presented the song to him while I sat in my car.  He listened to it, he was nodding his head (good sign) and he said “I like this.”  That made my day!  I went back to Garage Band and made a few adjustments.  Kenny (Phoenix Atlantis Entertainment) mastered the track and by December 13, 2011 (4:57 PM) I had received the finished CD from Disc Makers ready for sale!

I hope that this song sends a very loud and clear message to all of our elected representatives and reminds them that the American Government is a Government of the people, for the people and by the people.  Individuals vote, not corporations!  I hope that many will download this song, play it everywhere.  I hope it is played out loud in Washington, DC so that when members of Congress hear it, they will start to develop a conscience and a memory that tells them that they “owe it to the people” to do what will help America and Americans.  Too many people are out of work and suffering as a result.  Let’s bring this message to every corner of America and let it become a subject of conversation not just because of the “Occupy movement” but because all of America is saying “We see you sitting there doing nothing and we will not accept it any longer!”  Congress needs to get people back to work and stop playing politics.  Pass whatever “Jobs Bill” that needs to be passed and focus on the success of Americans, not on the demise of an American President.

See the music video:  “How Do You Sit There?” Congress, are you listening? – YouTube.

Download the song:  Mario Depeine, Sr. | “How Do You Sit There?” | CD Baby,

iTunes – Music – “How Do You Sit There?” – Single by Mario Depeine, Sr.

Sometimes we have to just stop and examine what “we are doing wrong” so that we could get better at something.  That is what I had to do when it came to writing essays:  Reflections: What I should have known about essay writing – by Mario Depeine Sr – Helium

It was an amazing thing for me to  see seeds begin to germinate. The smell of fresh produce was amazing!  It is so easy to be removed from such experiences when we spend most of our shopping experiences in places that contain mass produced foods.  Every time I think about  my gardening experience that I had as a child it brings a smile to my face.  Here is my story: Growing up gardening: My most amazing gardening memory – by Mario Depeine Sr – Helium

As an educator I realize more than ever that a child’s success is not only dependent on what occurs in the school (between student and teacher) but also by all the events that occur before the child walks into the “safe haven” that is often the school building.  Below is an article addressing the impact of invironment on education.  I originally published this article on Helium.com:

I have been an educator in an urban school system for approximately 10 years. Prior to getting into education, I was in banking and finance. I majored in Psychology (clinical and social) and I have always enjoyed working with people and looking for ways to empower people to succeed at what they do and overcome obstacles. I realize that educating a child is not just a matter of curriculum but overcoming environmental stimuli that compete for a child’s attention.

The city that I work in has a lot of distractions that are very hard to avoid or ignore. There are shootings. There is gang violence and drug trafficking. There are also many single parent households. There are car thefts and of course high unemployment. Many of my students are experimenting with sex and some are being afflicted by sexual diseases. A student in that environment has to overcome and process many things just to get an education.

Each child, unless he or she has severe learning disabilities, has every opportunity to succeed. What I am seeing is that some children have more obstacles to overcome than others. Also, one child’s obstacle may be another child’s “easy pass.” Many of my students come in on Mondays discussing not their difficulties with the homework, but who “got shot” during the weekend and who was “jumped” by gang members. Some have seen their parents killed right before their eyes. Some have seen their friends killed or severely beaten. Many have had brothers and sisters who died before reaching the age of thirty. Many have friends and family members who are in jail. It is a common thing to see students wearing shirts with pictures of loved ones as a tribute to those who have died at a young age.

I often ask my students about their parents. Many of them do not know their fathers. Some have lived from one foster home to another. Many of their moms are eager to treat them as equals by the time they are 12 years old. Many are confused into thinking that they are adults even though they so much crave the attention of caregivers who will sit them down and gently walk them through how life should be lived as a child. It is common to hear young boys (11 – 13 years of age) refer to themselves as “grown men.” It is true that many have seen things that many adults have not yet experienced or never will experience. Yet, they are, at the core, children. They are children who still need to be taught to hope and to still expect the best and strive for a good education.

In such an environment It takes more than just a good curriculum and good supplies, it takes understanding the community and devising ways to counteract the negative effects that are produced. Often, I want to teach my students the importance of Newton’s Laws of Motion (Physics) and I think to myself, “wow, how calloused? These kids need some type of debriefing before I can get into any academic topic with them. They need to be able to say ‘here is what I’m going through’” They need to get the attention that many of them are not getting at home. Many parents would like to be there for them, but with minimum wage being such a “minimum” they work a lot of hours just to get by. The children need to hear over and over again, that “you will live a lot longer than your brother did,” or “you don’t have to go to jail, you can get a meaningful education and career,” or “sports and music are not your only options, you can be a doctor also, or president, if you would like.” They need a class that is not based on any standardized test. They need a class that is simply geared toward helping them have a “voice” and learning how to hope and overcome the negative effects of their environments.

I grew up in areas that were negative. Fortunately, I had two parents and other people that helped me look beyond my environment and look at what I can become and how I can make a positive difference. I had a great support system that many students, especially in “depressed areas” do not have. It may be time that we create areas in our curriculum that are geared toward enriching the emotional health of our students.

How practical is it to believe in God?  Is there any logical reason to believe in God or is it just a waste of time?  Everybody should seriously look at this question and invest real quality time in answering it.  Read the full article below:

Does it Make Sense to Believe in God? – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com

Many people see the things that are wrong in our society.  Many people even have ideas about possible solutions.  Unfortunately, most people have been taught and have learned that “They don’t make a difference.”  They have learned that their voice or their solutions will never reach the right audience.  So, most people spend their time talking about what is wrong but spending very little time investing in bringing solutions to “life.”

I also know that there are many people who talked, they offered solutions and even tried to bring about reasonable and sensible change, but they were quickly “squashed” by those who wanted to keep “things as they are.”

Read a speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. on “silence.”  Click on the link:  Rethinking Schools Online.

Do you know what a GMO is?  Have you ever eaten one?  If you live in the United States, you can be sure that you have had some food item or product that contained a GMO (genetically modified organism).  Read the article below to get a better understanding.

Who can assure GM food is safe? – by Mario Depeine Sr – Helium

Unique deer makes an appearance:  Deers, deers everywhere, even a “white” one! – YouTube

Congress refers to the workings of two groups; the Senate and the House of Representatives.  They make up what is known as the Legistlative branch of the US Government.  Editorial on Congress:  Republicans and Tea Party Congressional Members Are Hurting Their Party and America – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com