Bio Hazard

A&E sponsors a Biography of the Year challenge that essentially consists of writing a 300 word or less persuasive essay presenting an argument for who has significantly impacted society in 2005, either positively or negatively. [An example of a previous 9-12 winner.] It is a worthwhile assignment, in my view, because it requires thoughtfulness about individuals who have made a difference within a chronological context. Biography is also one genre of history that tends to be up close and personal.

The writing challenge is just as important. To take an individual's impact and twist it within 300 words that is persuasive, creative and fits the criteria is a challenge to be sure. Overall, an excellent exercise in thinking, analysis, history and writing. It is also interesting and even compelling for me to have a sense of who student's seem to think are significant contemporary personalities.

Some of those chosen include Rosa Parks, George W. Bush, sport figures like Terrell Owens, and lesser known people, such as a math teacher here at school, and parents.

I would like to share just one.

Millions of people across the US are seething with anger. " Where are the weapons of mass destruction?" they ask. "Why have we been continually lied to by President Bush and his advisors?" And what is the real reason behind the slaughter in Iraq?

Cindy Sheehan showed just how deep and broad that anger is, when she set up camp outside of George Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch for the month of August. Her son, a US soldier, was killed in Iraq in April 2004. Casey Sheehan re-enlisted with the Army in August of 2003, knowing that his unit would eventually be deployed in Iraq. Casey was killed in Sadr City.

Angered that her son was sent to fight and die in an unjust war for reasons that have proven untrue, Cindy Sheehan is speaking out about the Iraq Invasion. Cindy has joined other moms and families who have lost loved ones in the conflict to tell Americans about the true costs of the war.

The war in Iraq has sent to their graves more than 1,000 Americans, almost 120 coalition soldiers and somewhere around an estimated 10,000 Iraqis--a good portion of whom were civilians. The was has cost American over $120 billion as of last June, and there is no end in sight. The war has cost us the respect of many in the world and of many astute Americans. Cindy Sheehan helped us all confront the realities of the war and helped to open an honest debate.