October’s Monthly Feature on “Stand By Me” advised us to choose our friends wisely, knowing that true friends will stick by us no matter what difficulties we face, while false friends will leave us to rot.

Two Weekly Blogs paid tribute to the memory of those who suffered directly from the 9/11 terrorist attack. “World Trade Center” reminded us to find hope when we’re helpless to help ourselves, trusting that our situation can still change. “United 93″ honored the airline passengers who fought against their terrorist hijackers - having nothing to prepare themselves but their own courage and instincts – and succeeded in stopping another terrorist attack.

Stephenie Meyer’s Eclipse encouraged us to find common goals with others, rather than continuing an endless and pointless feud with them, while Stephen King’s Thinner warned us to treat others with respect and fairness, because if we don’t, they might treat us the same horrible way.

Have a great day!

-RAD

September was a month of returning to school and confronting racism and other issues. The Monthly Feature on The Freedom Writers Diary showed how our family and friends can try to instill their negative views in us, telling us what kind of people we must accept or reject, even at the expense of our own integrity. Sometimes we must stand up for ourselves and for what is right, in order to remain true to ourselves and our own values.

From the “Freedom Writers” movie, we learned that many teens have a lot of important things to say, and need to find someone who will listen to them without judgment, in “Finding a Voice”. Another Weekly Blog, “Us and Them and You”, encouraged us to explore the similarities we share with people that we think are so different from us.

Abby’s starting Kindergarten made me consider how we can prepare for a certain career, but need to be open to new paths, in “Kindergarten Cop”. And an insulting racial slur shouted at Nicki and Abby as they walked down the street reminded of the film “Ruby Bridges”, and how a young girl endured the racial hatred and abuse of adults when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in the South in 1960.

Finally, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack, we paid tribute to the memory of all the lives that were lost.

Have a great day!

-RAD