Thursday, December 30, 2010
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Don't ask, don't tell is a policy that restricts the United States military from revealing the sexuality of closeted homosexual or bisexual service members. Many people believe that the acts of homosexuals and bisexuals would jeopardize the high standards of the military. This prohibits any homosexual or bisexual from speaking of personal relationships or anything dealing with homosexual or bisexual acts. The "don't ask" part of "don't ask, don't tell" means that a superior(s) cannot investigate a service member, even if there are hints that are shown about there life choice. A serviceman that is suspected of homosexuality or bisexuality cannot be harassed, because that would violate the policy.
Barack Obama wants to change "don't ask, don't tell". He feels that these men and women should be allowed to be open with their sexuality and serve their country faithfully. An amendment was passed to repeal certain sections of the law. On December 22 a stand-alone bill was signed into law by Barack Obama.
My opinion on this topic is that its fair to repeal "don't ask, don't tell". Gays and lesbians should have equal rights even though I don't agree with the actual choice of same sex relationships. They should be able to be in the military even though they are somewhat different, and I can also see why the "don't ask, don't tell" was created in the first place. The military should still have high standards of morale even though this law is changed. But overall I think it's a good idea. I also know many people will be against this change. I think the "don't ask, don't tell" situation could possibly connect to natural rights. There is no law that states that you cannot have a same sex partner, even though there are laws on same sex marriages. It connects to chapter 6 which speaks of gays and the choices of their relationships. These service members of the military have rights and they shouldn't have to hide their sexualities. That seems unfair. So the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" is a breakthrough for many people.
www.wikipedia.com
Barack Obama wants to change "don't ask, don't tell". He feels that these men and women should be allowed to be open with their sexuality and serve their country faithfully. An amendment was passed to repeal certain sections of the law. On December 22 a stand-alone bill was signed into law by Barack Obama.
My opinion on this topic is that its fair to repeal "don't ask, don't tell". Gays and lesbians should have equal rights even though I don't agree with the actual choice of same sex relationships. They should be able to be in the military even though they are somewhat different, and I can also see why the "don't ask, don't tell" was created in the first place. The military should still have high standards of morale even though this law is changed. But overall I think it's a good idea. I also know many people will be against this change. I think the "don't ask, don't tell" situation could possibly connect to natural rights. There is no law that states that you cannot have a same sex partner, even though there are laws on same sex marriages. It connects to chapter 6 which speaks of gays and the choices of their relationships. These service members of the military have rights and they shouldn't have to hide their sexualities. That seems unfair. So the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" is a breakthrough for many people.
www.wikipedia.com
A Third Party System?
Title of Article: What would it take to be come a three-party nation?
Anderson Cooper really breaks down the history of the Democratic and Republican parties. There has always been two main political parties. The Democratic party really began in 1828, and the Republican party began in 1854. From 1792 to 1824 there was a Democratic-Republican party which was different. Over time there has been major political parties like: Federalists, Whigs, and the Bull Moose party( Teddy Roosevelt's Party). Anderson asks, "What would happen if the Tea Parties and the Conservatives formed a third party?". Anderson believes that if this was to truly happen the party to get hurt and suffer would be the Republican party. This party( Tea/Conservative) would succeed if only the Republicans would loose the mid-elections. But the turn out was that the Republicans won the mid-elections. So this third party may never happen.
For my opinion, I say that this would be really hard to picture happening. It all depends on the Republican outcomes, whether they stay in control or fall. It just seems unlikely to happen. This connects back to class because we are going over the term "third party".(Chapter 9) It's the opposite of a two party system. Another party that is large and dominant is added to the equation. Over history, third party candidates are less likely to win in an election.
Information came from cnn.com
Anderson Cooper really breaks down the history of the Democratic and Republican parties. There has always been two main political parties. The Democratic party really began in 1828, and the Republican party began in 1854. From 1792 to 1824 there was a Democratic-Republican party which was different. Over time there has been major political parties like: Federalists, Whigs, and the Bull Moose party( Teddy Roosevelt's Party). Anderson asks, "What would happen if the Tea Parties and the Conservatives formed a third party?". Anderson believes that if this was to truly happen the party to get hurt and suffer would be the Republican party. This party( Tea/Conservative) would succeed if only the Republicans would loose the mid-elections. But the turn out was that the Republicans won the mid-elections. So this third party may never happen.
For my opinion, I say that this would be really hard to picture happening. It all depends on the Republican outcomes, whether they stay in control or fall. It just seems unlikely to happen. This connects back to class because we are going over the term "third party".(Chapter 9) It's the opposite of a two party system. Another party that is large and dominant is added to the equation. Over history, third party candidates are less likely to win in an election.
Information came from cnn.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Portland Terrorist Bomb Plot
Mohamed Osman Mohamud tried to plan a bomb event during a Portland town celebration in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square. He wanted to have a "spectacular show" that would kill and injure hundreds or even thousands of people. Mohamud is 19 years old and always wanted to hurt Americans by planning something like this. The FBI has been tracking and watching the moves of Mohamud because he seemed suspicious of something. He was in contact with the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center. The FBI interfered with his plan and gave him a fake bomb for the big "spectacular show". He was arrested at 5:42, which was 18 minutes before the tree lighting would start. He even said that he liked the outcome of 9-11. This investigation basically started in the summer of 2009. Good thing he was caught before he had the chance to hurt many people.
I'm so glad that he didn't hurt innocent people. It seems like you can never be safe. You have to always worry about where you go or if you can go to that place by yourself. I will love the day when I won't have to think of something bad things happening to me or murders and rapists on the news. Why is the world like this? The news is not my favorite thing to watch because you already know what's going to on there; weather and people being arrested for committing something outrageous. Life is scary place, for everyone. Live everyday as your last and all the way to your potential.
www.google.com
www.cnn.com
I'm so glad that he didn't hurt innocent people. It seems like you can never be safe. You have to always worry about where you go or if you can go to that place by yourself. I will love the day when I won't have to think of something bad things happening to me or murders and rapists on the news. Why is the world like this? The news is not my favorite thing to watch because you already know what's going to on there; weather and people being arrested for committing something outrageous. Life is scary place, for everyone. Live everyday as your last and all the way to your potential.
www.google.com
www.cnn.com
Monday, November 29, 2010
Airport Security
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are having more manual pat-down searches and that passengers have more than one screening. But passengers also have the choice to a private screening. Every passenger needs to take off outer wear like jackets and sweaters before they can go through the metal detectors. At airports an imaging device is used to detect threats of weapons or dangerous items. TSA uses two types of imaging technology: millimeter wave and backscatter. These devices are safe for everyone and advanced imaging technology is optional to passengers. From a CBS poll 4 out of 5 Americans support the use of advanced imaging technology at airports nationwide.
These new procedures are good strategies because this is the only way to have good security and protection for everyone at the airport and on the airplanes. I will not lie and say that this method isn't scary and kind of violating, but I would rather be safe than sorry.Some people might think this is too much, but honestly its really helpful. I haven't been on a plane yet and I'm terrified!!! I'm basically scared about heights, but now-a-days I'm scared also of the thought not making it to my destination. If only the world was a little more peaceful. I just don't understand why people are so hurtful, but that's just life. But overall the TSA are trying save and protect lives.
www.cnn.com
www.youtube.com
These new procedures are good strategies because this is the only way to have good security and protection for everyone at the airport and on the airplanes. I will not lie and say that this method isn't scary and kind of violating, but I would rather be safe than sorry.Some people might think this is too much, but honestly its really helpful. I haven't been on a plane yet and I'm terrified!!! I'm basically scared about heights, but now-a-days I'm scared also of the thought not making it to my destination. If only the world was a little more peaceful. I just don't understand why people are so hurtful, but that's just life. But overall the TSA are trying save and protect lives.
www.cnn.com
www.youtube.com
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Japanes American internment v. Holocaust
The U.S. government in 1942 moved about 110,000 Japanese Americans to camps called "War Relocation Camps". Many Japanese Americans lived on the coast of the Pacific. President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the internment with Executive Order 9066 which was issued in February 19,1942. This allowed local military commanders to designate "military areas" as "exclusion zones". In 1988 President Ronald Regan signed a legislation which apologized for the internment on behalf of the U.S. government. This basically said that government actions were based on "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership". The government gave more than $1.6 billion in reparations to Japanese Americans who had been interned. Article 1, Section 9 states: "The privilege of the the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it." But basically its Congress' decision to put this into action. Roosevelt's decision was just like President Abraham Lincoln's when he suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War.
To me, I think the government went crazy! This whole situation reminded me of the Holocaust. How the Nazis captured all those Jews and then tried to kill off the whole entire race. The government paniced just because the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but that doesn't give a good reason why to imprison other Japanese because of those people. That's like we put all of them to together and said that every last one of them bombed Pearl Harbor. Adolf Hitler didn't have a good reason for killing and imprisoning every Jew either. The government at least paid the damages for what they did but it still was a bad thing. Sometimes we just learn from other people's mistakes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American_internment
To me, I think the government went crazy! This whole situation reminded me of the Holocaust. How the Nazis captured all those Jews and then tried to kill off the whole entire race. The government paniced just because the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but that doesn't give a good reason why to imprison other Japanese because of those people. That's like we put all of them to together and said that every last one of them bombed Pearl Harbor. Adolf Hitler didn't have a good reason for killing and imprisoning every Jew either. The government at least paid the damages for what they did but it still was a bad thing. Sometimes we just learn from other people's mistakes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American_internment
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Gays and Lesbians Rights
To me, gays and lesbians should be treated equally because its not fair that they are shunned upon in our communities just because they are different. Now I wouldn't go out there in say that I wholeheartedly support what they do, but that's how I see it. When I look on the news and hear about someone who was bullied to death or committed suicide just because they didn't feel like they belong hurts me in all different kinds of ways. Never should a kid be scared to attend school, or not have any friends. Parents and teachers should watch closely for these signs in schools, especially high schools. I have never been bullied before and I don't plan on that ever happening either. Before we judge and criticize one another we should think of that person's feelings and what they go through that you don't have a clue about. Last week I encountered a situation just like this. One boy took something from the other boy and tried to play it off as if he didn't go in the boy's pocket. So I told the boy to give it back but he didn't. The boy that took the pencil called the other boy a "faggot" and I was like say sorry and he wouldn't. To me I thought this was extremely wrong because the boy who said that didn't have a clue about the other boy to even call him that. We should always think before we speak, seriously.
The Equal Protecton Clause doesn't really protect gays and lesbians. To bring this issue to court the person would have to prove intentional discrimination. Civil Right groups that fight for gays and lesbians want equal rights in employment and work environments( school environments), military service, health care issues, state ballot intiatives prohibiting gay civil rights ordinances, and custody rights and same-sex marriage. Tittle VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 deals with sex discrimination in employment. Sexualorientation is currently legal in 41 states, they can be fired because of sexual orientation. Harassment at school or in the work environment aren't always legally defensible. In June of 1998, President Clinton amended Executive Order No. 11,478 : this was supposed to give equal employment opportunities in the federal government. President Nixon was the first to sign this, and it prohibits discrimination in federal employment on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. To me, gays and lesbians should just keep fighting for equal rights until they get them.
http://law.jrank.org/pages/12493/Rights-Gays-Lesbians.html
The Equal Protecton Clause doesn't really protect gays and lesbians. To bring this issue to court the person would have to prove intentional discrimination. Civil Right groups that fight for gays and lesbians want equal rights in employment and work environments( school environments), military service, health care issues, state ballot intiatives prohibiting gay civil rights ordinances, and custody rights and same-sex marriage. Tittle VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 deals with sex discrimination in employment. Sexualorientation is currently legal in 41 states, they can be fired because of sexual orientation. Harassment at school or in the work environment aren't always legally defensible. In June of 1998, President Clinton amended Executive Order No. 11,478 : this was supposed to give equal employment opportunities in the federal government. President Nixon was the first to sign this, and it prohibits discrimination in federal employment on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. To me, gays and lesbians should just keep fighting for equal rights until they get them.
http://law.jrank.org/pages/12493/Rights-Gays-Lesbians.html
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