Week 13 - What Obama's Election Really Means to Black America.

After searching through articles I cam across one called What Obama’s Election Really Means to Black America by Steven Gray.  Gray writes about the history of America and how not that we have a black president it means opportunity for other races.  He talks about how Obama’s election was a breakthrough for African Americans.  “Our country is showing its forward evolution, that the color of one’s skin cannot inhibit one’s ability, and that’s worthy of celebration” (Argument! 312). 

Almost this entire article I have to disagree with.  Yes, there has been slavery, segregation and judgment upon a race.  However, that is all in history.  It is mean to stay there.  More people bring it up today more than ever especially now that we have a black president.  America’s emerging minority group is white people.  Diversity is an ever-evolving movement.  No one should celebrate the color of one’s skin because in certain people’s eyes that would be discrimination. 

While Obama has been in office there has been more complications than advantages towards America.  Yes, Obama started from the bottom like anyone else.  Even if he started in a bad area why should that matter?  He is making decisions on war and other things that he has no experience in and ruining many peoples lives.  The most experience he has is going to church and doing some volunteer work.  Where does that mean he has the qualification and life experience to make life-changing decision for America.  He is putting in place new policies, restrictions and rules that have been in place for longer that he has been alive. 

Free Choice Week 12

In Pekin Daily Times, on April 14, 2014, the author talks about how there has been 20 calls since April first from residents that have had someone rob their vehicle.  The author says that the Pekin Police Department is warning all residents to lock their vehicles and homes now that the weather is warming up.  Not only do they tell you to lock your doors they also mention to not leave expensive items in the car or in plain sight.  “It is a crime of opportunity” states Officer Mike Eeten.  He also talks about how warmer weather brings out the worst of robberies.
I personally have never had anyone break into my home or car.  However, if you deliberately leave a laptop or something most valuable to you in plain sight of your vehicle then you are taking your chances of losing them to another person.  Even though it seems unfair, people are ruthless and do not care about others. Warmer weather is not what brings out robbers; it is the stupidity of those who choose not to lock their car doors or homes.  I honestly think it is quite humorous that in this day in age someone honestly would trust their neighbor or some random person on the street to NOT rob their unlocked vehicle or home?

Week 11 Text Response- Left Behind, Way Behind

When reading the article by Bob Herbert called Left Behind, Way Behind.  The author talks about how poor kids need more help because they often go to the worst schools.  He also talks about how if the school days and years were to be longer it would increase the amount of time that children spend on learning.  This may be true and rich children do have the advantage by being in a nicer school but it is not the amount of time spent in school that is helping or hurting the kids.  What is really hurting the children are the teachers.  I have had my fair share of careless, insensitive teachers.  That is where the real problems lies.  If the teacher is not willing to take the time with a student who is struggle, whether it is because of dyslexia, ADHD or just simple struggles, then who will?  Their job it to teach students on a topic that they will need to better themselves in the specific area.  If the student does not understand what the teacher is teaching maybe the teacher needs to teach a way the student can understand.  That is where patience, time and effort come into play though.  If a teacher doesn’t have patience, time or put forth effort then they should not be in that position in the first place.  Our future lies in the hands of these children and if we are allowing careless teachers to “teach” them absolutely nothing then where does our future really stand.

Free Choice Blog - Know Your Rights

Today I was reading an article called Infographic: The Real Costs of Distracted Driving by Ronnie Polidoro on NBC News.  In this article, he talks about how texting, emailing and chatting on a cellphone while driving are too dangerous.  Using your cell phone is illegal in more than 40 states in the US and consequences for breaking the law are rising.  He states around a fourth of auto collisions are alleged to be linked to some sort of digital distraction.  While investigating accidents, there are no nationwide standards that permit the authority to inspect the driver’s handheld device.  However, in Ohio, their state police consider cell phones to be potential evidence and are obtained through consent or a warrant.  When they take the device, they have a technician at computer forensics lab access information on the phone as in emails, call logs, texts and even any deleted activity. 

This is a perfect example of law enforcement and government taking advantage of their position.  Law enforcement is here to protect against crime not dig for it.  Going through someone’s personal emails, call logs and texts is invasion of privacy.  This is intrusion into the personal life of another with out just cause.  Yes, there may be some type of car accident but no one should automatically start pointing fingers and making false accusations about phone usage.  There are accidents daily from many different situations.  Whether it is falling asleep at the wheel, following too closely, drinking and driving or even just speeding, that does not give anyone the right to violate your privacy.  Know your rights and fight for what is right.

Text Response

For this week’s text response, I chose to read the Newspaper column "What's Up Doc? A Bloody Outrage, That's What" by Katherine Ellison.  In this article, the author writes about an Internet cartoon called Happy Tree Friends. It is a cartoon that is about small animals that are very cheery dancing around until a bear wearing dog tags and camouflage that has suffered an apparent psychotic breakdown starts killing off all the innocent animals.  When the writer talked with the executive producer, he actually compared this gruesome cartoon to the well-known Tom & Jerry.  The fact that he would relate a cartoon that has a conscience compared to a cartoon that pulls knives or tears off heads and uses someone's intestines to strangle another like Happy Tree Friends does is atrocious.  A neuroscientist, Marc Iacoboni stated, “Not only do you get exposed and desensitized; you’re primed, facilitated, almost invited to act that way.”  This statement makes a lot of sense to me because I have a six-year-old nephew who I have personally taken away gruesome games from.  I can see how he acts more aggressively especially after I make him play outdoors instead of playing a game online.  The games I have seen him play are very dangerous and harmful.  One game actually allowed him to pick whatever type of weapon he wanted to assault and kill others with.  Other families and parents allow their children to continue to play these horrendous games.  What is going to happen when kids get bored with games and then start to take it out on others?  Oh wait, we already know.  It is called bullying.  A lot of children from the beginning of school through their entire lives get bullied and it is not the easiest thing to get past.  In all reality, no one can pin point why exactly bullying begins they can just state theories. However, what if this is one of those reasons and parents are standing by allowing their children to continue on the hateful trend?  It breaks my heart when my nephew comes home telling me about how he is picked on and I would try anything to end the trend.

Week 8 - Poor Parenting at its Finest.

Today I came across an article that talks about how some parents are suing Google after their children racked up in-app bills.  When purchasing games and apps in the Google Play store you have to enter a password, once this is done the user has a 30-minute window that allows you to make purchases without a password.  A New Yorker mother was shocked to find this out when her five-year-old son ran up $66 in games.  The author then talks about how games should not unfairly manipulate children into spending money. 

Honestly, this article is outrageous.  The fact that some woman is trying to sue Google over something she could’ve avoided if she had been paying closer attention to her son.  The lack of attentiveness is a sign of poor parenting.  Even with this, the fact that the mother blames Google vice herself is absurd. Take responsibility for your actions lady! When I say your actions I mean you should be devoting your attention to your five-year-old son, who should be out playing with other children instead of playing on technology.  Children playing on technology are the most common trend these days in which the parents have allowed.  The fact that parents have the audacity to blame others for their failures is foolish. 

Week 7 Text Response - What Rights?

After reading through a couple columns in chapter 19 about freedom of expression in the 21^st century, I came across an article I can really relate too and partially agree with. A Little Civility, Please, by Mark Davis, talks about how in schools you cannot wear certain types of clothing that can be “disruptive” in the class basically on the guidelines of possibly offending someone.  The columnist speaks of a junior in high school who wore a t-shirt that had the face of President Bush with the words “International Terrorist” framed around his face.  He was ordered to turn his shirt inside out and go home from school.  This all happened because of how someone was “offended” by a t-shirt.  Davis stated “Most people have shed the absurd notion that an 11^th grader in a public school has the exact same First Amendment rights as an adult in the outside world.” (Argument! 343).  This statement speaks for the whole column because it is so true and outrageous at the same time.  From the beginning of our adolescent years we as Americans have had our rights taken from us with out really even noticing it.  It all starts in schools where they are trying to teach you “right from wrong” and how to progress through life successfully. When in all reality, school are teaching you to allow someone to control you and basically mold you into not taking a stance and fighting for your rights because there will be consequences even though you are not doing anything wrong?  When will it stop? The government has allowed schools to take away your freedom of speech but telling you what you can and cannot wear or say.  Even after graduation into the “outside world”, the government is slowly taking away our rights.