The importance of learning about contemporary issues is acknowledging us in everday issues.  We have a right to know what is going on today.  By informing me, I now have some background knowledge that I can look into, because I would love to help!  Somehow I want to contribute, and do my part to try to make a difference. I was impacted on this class in a positive way because I love to help others, and by me doing a small part, I might influence other teens too. 

Tuesday, October 2, 2050, we have reached a stand still.  Human right violations have only been exacerbating across the world.  You’d think that we as one of the top advancing nations with the technology today, and being the “big brother” of them as well, would have instead of just talked about helping but actually contributed to the causes.  Today is a particularly crucial time in our nation’s history to recommit ourselves to upholding human rights.

Back on December 10, 2008, was the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Back then, we were still struggling to meet the standards set down in that Declaration.

An outbreak has occured today in China. It is being reported that people in St. Chips hospital are being held hostage still, in which women and young girls are being cut into pieces. In the earlier 2000’s, we were already duly informed of the one- child policy.  The one- child policy had advanced to having 2 children. If the first child conceived was a girl, the women had to have a second child that was a boy.  If these rules were violated, the child would be killed.  The conundrums are only becoming more insidious today. What are our options as a nation?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

  Summary: Police said, “Shots were fired Tuesday at a Coast Guard recruiting station in a Woodbridge, Virginia, strip mall. Some believe the shooting was related to other overnight shootings at the Pentagon. Chinn said, “Ï would say it’s relatively similar.  We won’t know until we get ballistics.” The Marine museum shooting took place early on October 17, and 10 bullets were fired.  Shots were fired at the Marine Corps recruiting station early on October 25, according to the FBI. Fortunately, no one was injured in any of the shootings.

Response: I believe they have a strong possibility on finding out who’s responsible.  My belief is backed because they already have a lead and the bullet left a streak on the window instead of going all the way through.  I don’t know who’s responsible or who would want to be responsible for whatever they were trying to do.  I’m glad no one was kilt or injured.  Hopefully, whoever they were won’t try this again seeming as though they weren’t successful the first time.

Summary:  Two days after a hostage standoff at a Catholic church in Baghdad, at least 63 people were killed and 285 others were wounded.  Shiite neighborhoods were even hit in a wave of explosions.  In fact, 14 explosions struck areas all across the city.  Ten were car bombs, three were roadside bombs, and another was a sticky bomb, in which they refer to as a device that’s placed on an object, many times a vehicle.  No U.S advisory units had been requested to the scenes of the attacks.

Response: I feel sorry for them. My heart goes out to all of the people, their family, and friends who have to endure pain like this that’s not happening in the U.S.  My heart goes out to all the families who are affected by this incident. In a sense I feel that it’s unfair that people like them have to go through things like this on a regular day basis, and the U.S doesn’t.  I would love for there to be world peace, but obviously there are people who are impervious to what I think.

Summary: Basically, “the death toll from a hostage standoff at a Catholic church in Baghdad has risen to 58”, policie officials with the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Monday.  On Sunday, 75 more causualties were added to the list, mostly of whom were women and children. As many as 120 people were taken hostage. 17 security officers and 5 gunmen were kilt.  The standoff ended Sunday after Iraqui security forces stormed the Sayidat al-Nejat church.  Only eight suspects were arrested.  Iraqui Defense Minister Abdul Qader Obeidi said on state television Sunday, “All the marks point out that this incident carries the fingerprints of al Qaeda.

Response: Obviously I can’t change or control anything happening that the al Qaeda might be behind, but I want to.  All I can do is pray.  I feel as if they hit defenseless people gathered in the house of the Lord, which is home to reconciliation and love.  I feel bad that there are even terrorists in the first place.  What more can we do to help or stop al Qaeda from what they’re doing.  I feel as if we should focus more on finding al Qaeda, then fighting a war in Afghanistan whoms mission was to find al Qaeda in the first place.  If we focus more on finding al Qaeda, then maybe incidents like this would start decreasing.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/01/iraq.violence/index.html?hpt=T2

Summary: Since two of the suspicious packages that were intercepted were addressed to religious institutions in Chicago, all churches, synagogues and mosques in the Chicago area should be vigilant for any unsolicited or unexpected packages, especially those originating from overseas locations. It’s way too early to rush to conclusions seeming as though there has been heightend security at airports.  President Obama has directed U.S intelligence, law and Homeland Security agencies to take steps to ensure American safety and decide whether or not the package threat is part of terrorism plotting. A number of items removed from a cargo plane in the Midlands Airport in Central England, are being tested.  Within the last twenty four hours, security officials recieved a tip from an unnamed ally that packages coming from Yemen were destined for synagogues in Chicago, Illinois.

Response: I believe that the whole thing is petty.  Why would someone want to hide and do things.  If they don’t like the U.S that badly, then they should come out from hiding so we can battle it out.  Obviously, we have to invest in more money and do extra thing we shouldn’t even have to do because of the attacks.  Why should we have to be more alert and cautious to protect our people from something we the United States got ourselves into?  It’s nice to help other countries and all, but they want us out anyways.  We’re spending way too much money and time in something that shouldn’t even have been our business.  Our focus was to find the Taliban, and we’ve obviously gone astray from that plan.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/29/hazmat-incident-at-philadelphia-airport/?npt=NP1

Summary: After investigators found suspicious packages in atleast two locations abroad of cargo trucks and planes, law enforcement sources with detailed knowlege of the investigation said, “U.S. officials believe that al Qaeda in the Arabian Penninsula (AQAP) is behind the plot.”  In fact, one suspicious package, found in the United Kingdom, contained a “manipulated” toner catridge, but tested negative for explosive material. A similar package has been discovered in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Investigators were looking for a “possible nexus to terrorism.” Also, they believe that everyone should take appropriate precautions, and report anything suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

Response: I believe that if we were looking for the Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, which is why we started fighting the war in Afghanistan, and they’re gone, why are we still over there?  First things first is that we need to leave Afghanistan now and focus more on protecting the people from the Al Qaeda; as in looking for them.  If we bring the troops back home today, we would save much more money.  As far as mysterious boxes being hidden in trucks and planes, I believe they need to set up a system of patrolling and expecting everything.  That might cost a lot of money, but if we bring the troops home from Afghanistan right now, then we won’t be spending as much money.  We need to be more alert and use trepedation of materials that are being shipped by any form of transportation.  Our second step, after bringing the U.S troops back to the U.S, should be to look for the Taliban.  That should be our main focus seeming as though we’ve been sidetracked.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/29/security.concern/index.html?npt=NP1

Summary: We spend fifty percent on health insurance, but the U.S ranks 15th in preventable death.  Although we have the best science, we don’t have the best health insurance. 2.2 million Americans are uninsured for health insurance.  With some jobs, they help cover you on health insurance.  Your age and how much you make a year determines your status on health insurance.  What about the people inbetween the ages of Medicare and Medicade? There are people in the world today, working people, that either have bad health insurance, or none at all because they can’t afford it. Their bills continue to pile up, and are continuously piled in depth.  Is this the way people are supposed to live? Life should be fun, not regretful. People should be in their happiest years between the ages of 19 and 65.

Response: I believe the U.S should be focusing more on the U.S and our problems; airgo our health insurance. We’re doing other things such as fighting wars in other countries for other countries, when we have issues of more importance in the U.S.  I also believe that the cost of health insurance should be lowered so Americans can actually afford it. Also, I believe it’s unscrupulous to terminate people from their jobs when they’re dealing with medical issues and are occupationally at a hospital. Kids today need to realize that having health insurance is very vital, and that going to college, preferably a good one, would increase their likeliness of better health insurance.

PBS Documentary Critical Condition (youtube)

The propostion is the legalization of marijuana. San Francisco- A ballot measure that would legalize marijuana in California won the support Tuesday of the largest union in the state. The campaign has won the support of several other labor groups including the Northern California council of the International Longshore & Warehouse Unionand Communications Workers of Americal Local 9415. Proponents say that prohibition has failed and that it’s time for “a common sense approach to control marijuana.  “Opponents, backed by law enforcement organizations and the California Chamber of Commerce, challenge almost every claim made by proponents, starting with the title: The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010. They contend it would do no such thing.  The proposition is being proposed in the first place for medication of those who are ill.  The negative side is when it’s legalized there can be possibilities of fraud.  If it passes in California, why wouldn’t it be able to spread to other states?  If it doesn’t pass, the possiblity can still be likely for the proposition to spread to other states if the same issues apply for the actual medication for the people.  The proposition is germaine to this day because the proposition has been passed, even though society’s views may not support it one hundred percent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/21/proposition-19-legalize-pot_n_733826.html

http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/10/proposition_19_to_legalize_mar.html

The Afghan government lacks legitamacy and infrastructure, and we, the United States, cannot be an antidote. The U.S troops are dying for something we cannot cure.  The public opinion of the civilians and women in Afghanistan wants us to leave because they feel as if we’re exacerbating the situation; such as an invasion.  The more troops there are will mean the more casualties of innocent civilians.  We’re the reason the insurgents are joining the Taliban.  What else can they do but fight for their country instead of helping like we promised to them.  They’ve seen their homes blown up, family, etc., and they have nothing!  What other choice do they have other than to join the Taliban? Some have even come down to the desparate need of selling their children because they have nothing.  What else can they do when they’re caught inbetween a cross fire?

The Afghan government lacks legitamacy and infrastructure, and we, the United States, cannot be an antidote.  The U.S troops are dying for somethin our nation cannot cure.  The public opinion of the civilians and women of Afghanistan wants us to leave because they feel as if we’re exacerbating the situation; such as an invasion.  The more troops there are will mean the more casualties there are of innocent civilians.  They’re the cost of more insurgents to join the Taliban.  What else can they do but fight for what’s ruining their country instead of helping like we promised. They’ve seen their homes blown up, family members, etc.  The outcome is that now they have nothing.  What other choice do they have other than to join the Taliban? Some are choosing to sell their family members because they have nothing.  What else can they do?  I enjoyed this documentary because it was very informative and actually foretold facts. 

Infact, this documentary changed my overall opinion on the war. War profiteering does exist and should be illegal if not used in the right way because in the past people have been known to take pictures of things already built and make money off of them.  On the other hand, war profiteering could be a good thing like whoever’s making their uniforms, etc.  Without this documentary I’ve watched, I would not have known as much vital information as I do right now.

mrmickley:

You read the hard copy, now link to the soft (electronic) copy and post your response.

Mr. Mickley

 I believe it’s wrong for it to be legal for law enforcement to secretly place a tracking device on a suspect’s car without getting a warrant, even if the car is parked in a private driveway.  I also believe it’s unfair to be on a federal watchlist and reuglarly taken aside at airports for secondary screening.  All citizens in the U.S should be treated equally.  If one person gets a high-tech tracking device planted in their car, then all the American citizens should get them installed in their car as well; the same should apply at the airport.  Also, I believe they need to have more proof, as opposed to something silly posted on the Internet, to be able to hack into someone’s car.  If Afifi were not from the ethnicity he was, they probably wouldn’t have gone through the same amount of trouble, as if it was an American putting something silly like that on the Internet.  Although I have this opinion, I’m not saying it’s okay to put stuff like that, joking or not, on the Internet as a joke because it can be interpreted the wrong way.

We are in Afghanistan helping them fight a “War on Terror” against the Taliban. We messed up their Afghan government, so it’s the least we can do.  This war has lasted long enough. We should send the troops home now, and let the neighboring countries of Afghanistan pitch in.  The U.S should most definitley take into consideration the public’s opinion because they have family members in Afghanistan, and are affected as well.  We can’t be one hundred percent sure of when we have won or lost the war because the Taliban have children that can carry on their beliefs, and then what.  If we try to make some sort of treaty or compromise, how are we going to be able to trust if they won’t turn on us. But naturally we could know if we won if the Taliban surrendered or want to make a compromise.  We will know if we lost if we surrender, meaning the troops that have died died for nothing.  Also, obviously we will know if we lost this war when most a lot or all of our troops have died. My solution to the war is since the Afghan government already wants us gone and so does the U.S public, then we should leave.  But if they end up needing our help again, we shouldn’t go because it’s to much money time and confusion.