http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAJNntoRgA
I recently saw this political ad for presidential candidate Rick Perry. This ad really bothers me, not so much that I consider myself more democratic and he's a republican, but this ad seems ultra conservative. It seems to be condemning homosexuals and the freedom of religion, even though our nation was founded on the beliefs that all people were equal, and everyone had the freedom to follow any religion that they choose. If homosexuals want to serve in the military and protect their country they should have every right to do so, without hiding who they truly are. Perry also mentioned that children can't openly celebrate christmas in school. But schools can't force christianity upon students. And in Illinois students are given the moment of silence which is about 20 seconds for students to pray, reflect, or think during school. Also schools don't forbid students from openly celebrating Christmas in school. At DHS students will celebrate christmas if they want, but no one is forcing them to do so. This ad seems to violate the beliefs that this nation was founded upon, even though Perry claims to be fighting for those beliefs.
Outside Reading #5, A History of the World Since 9/11, Wrap Up
A History of the World Since 9/11 is a book about the significant events that led up to, caused, and were results of 9/11 and the War on Terror. It really helped me understand what happened during the War on Terror and how the government reacted. I felt that the most interesting chapter was the 4th Chapter "Groupthink 7075-T6". I enjoyed this chapter the most because I could relate what I learned during US History last year, and Psychology this year and apply it to this book. Groupthink occurred when the U.S. government failed to anticipate the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the escalation of the war in vietnam, and the bay of pigs invasion. It helped me understand that the government is always susceptible to groupthink. This chapter helped me realize that the American Government is mostly to blame for the events that occurred after 9/11, but they were also somewhat forced into it. The American Public was scared and was demanding a response and retaliation. The Government wasn't sure who exactly our enemy was, and as a result groupthink occurred. The government needed to act fast so all of the events like the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan occurred, and the U.S. government said that they believed that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. IT needed to find a solid reason to invade Iraq and search for the Taliban, even though they weren't sure who supported the Taliban, and where they were.
Outside Reading #4, A History of the World Since 9/11
Chapter seven is titled Friends in Low Places, and it begins with a quote from George W. Bush. "All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you." - George W. Bush, January 2005. It seems at this stage in the war President Bush is trying to give the United States a "World Police" image. He is saying that the United States will protect the freedoms of people who are being ruled by ruthless or oppressive leaders, the United States will intervene and stop that leader, and spread democracy. This chapter was about the United States trying to make allies in the middle east so they could carry on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to hunt down the Taliban and spread democracy in the middle east. The chapter talks about how Uzbekistan-American relationship was a complicated, but vital. Being allies with Uzbekistan gave America easier access to Afghanistan. "The United States-Uzbek Status of Forces Agreement had been a stopgap designed to get the United States into Afghanistan as fast as possible" (266). Having agreements, such as this, with middle eastern nations was vital to American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States had many enemies in the middle east, but by making agreements with middle eastern nations the United States was able to set up more effective military operations, have a safe area for troops, they could open trade with these nations as well.
Outside Reading #3, A History of the World Since 9/11
The fourth chapter is titled Groupthink 7075-T6. Last year we learned about Groupthink during U.S. History. Groupthink is when a group of political leaders, who all share a common goal, get together and make poor decisions because there is no mediation or opposing force to weigh the pros and cons of a certain situation. The chapter mentions two quotes from American political leaders.
"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction" - Dick Cheney, August 2002
"Fuck Saddam. We're taking him out." - George W. Bush, March 2002
The two most powerful leaders in our nation were convinced that the United States needed to enter Iraq and take down Saddam Hussein. In my previous post about A History of the World Since 9/11 I talked about how the United States had strayed away from its original plan when it first entered Iraq. I believe that the United States straying away from its original plan was a result of Groupthink. The United States first entered Iraq and Afghanistan to hunt down those who were responsible for 9/11, and to serve justice. But after entering Iraq it seems that the United States realized that not only was the Taliban a threat to America, but so were nations like a Iraq that were ruled by tyrants like Saddam, and that Saddam could be supporting these terrorist groups, which caused the American battle plan to shift. The American government became a victim or groupthink because our leaders were so focused on bringing justice to those responsible for 9/11, and they used Saddam as a way to ease the American public, but they didn't think about the consequences that come with groupthink.
"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction" - Dick Cheney, August 2002
"Fuck Saddam. We're taking him out." - George W. Bush, March 2002
The two most powerful leaders in our nation were convinced that the United States needed to enter Iraq and take down Saddam Hussein. In my previous post about A History of the World Since 9/11 I talked about how the United States had strayed away from its original plan when it first entered Iraq. I believe that the United States straying away from its original plan was a result of Groupthink. The United States first entered Iraq and Afghanistan to hunt down those who were responsible for 9/11, and to serve justice. But after entering Iraq it seems that the United States realized that not only was the Taliban a threat to America, but so were nations like a Iraq that were ruled by tyrants like Saddam, and that Saddam could be supporting these terrorist groups, which caused the American battle plan to shift. The American government became a victim or groupthink because our leaders were so focused on bringing justice to those responsible for 9/11, and they used Saddam as a way to ease the American public, but they didn't think about the consequences that come with groupthink.
Invisible Children and School Chest
Joseph Koney is an African warlord who brutally murders innocent people and children and he enslaves children and forces them to fight for his rebel army (LRA) through brainwashing and fear tactics. Invisible Children fights for the children and people without violence by spreading awareness of the situation, and providing shelter, resources, and technology that improves communication. They build radio towers to broadcast information about the LRA's location to warn African people, and to convince child soldiers that they can escape and return home because Joseph Koney convinces them that their community will shun them for what they have done, but these radio towers are a way to counter Koney's brainwashing. The organization looks to stop Joseph Koney through these non-violent tactics. Barack Obama has sent in 100 troops to hunt down and arrest Joseph Koney to put him on trial for some of the worst crimes against humanity.
I am very impressed by this organizations efforts and how much they have accomplished to help these people who constantly live surrounded by fear and violence. The crisis tracker is a very effective way to combat the LRA because it spreads knowledge about what is happening in Uganda, and the more people that know about the LRA's actions, the more pressure is put onto government officials to take action in order to stop Joseph Koney. I am very happy that DHS selected Invisible Children as the School Chest beneficiary because something tangible is being created through our efforts and money. Invisible Children is using the money we raised to build a radio tower to spread word about the LRA and inform people of danger, and it is also as a way to reverse the brain washing that Joseph Koney is doing on these children, by telling them that it is okay to go home and that they can escape the LRA. I support things like cancer or diabetes research but when we raise money for those types of organizations we never see results of our hard work. Invisible Children is building a radio tower with our money and that is a tangible result of all our hard work and money.
Abortion
1. NARAL - Prochoice America vs. National Right to Life
The NARAL website seems to be a lot more official that the National Right to Life Website. Each website has an image in the top left corner. The image that NARAL uses is a picture of the face of the statue of liberty, which has been a world wide symbol of freedom for generations. The website for National Right to Life is two circles and a flame in the center, which seems like a spiritual or religious symbol. The NARAL website is better because it seems more official and it has information about birth control, sex education, and healthy pregnancies. It is not forcing abortion onto women. It is providing information about preventing a pregnancy, safe sex, and it gives a woman information about going through with a pregnancy or getting an abortion. The information is also easy to see, its in bold red letters on the left side of the website. Since NARAL provides information for abortion, or having the baby. This side believes in giving woman options, and it doesn't force a certain belief on them.
2. Parents should have a right to know if their daughter is having an abortion, but they should not be allowed to consent in it. Their daughter has the right to her body, and she should be the only one making the decision about her body. But her parents should have the right to know about it because an abortion is a medical procedure, and it can be dangerous. The parents should be able to know about their daughter receiving an abortion because they will be able to guide their daughter through the process in a responsible manner, and they can provide their daughter with financial, physical and emotional support throughout the process.
3. The father should not have the right to consent to an abortion. If a woman cannot bare the physical burden of having a child, or they cannot financially support a child, she shouldn't be forced to have a child. The father should be notified so he can discuss all options with the mother, and they can make a rational decision together since it is both their child.
4. Illinois does not allow abortion, I disagree with I would legalize abortion in Illinois, and make contraceptives more accessible to people.
The NARAL website seems to be a lot more official that the National Right to Life Website. Each website has an image in the top left corner. The image that NARAL uses is a picture of the face of the statue of liberty, which has been a world wide symbol of freedom for generations. The website for National Right to Life is two circles and a flame in the center, which seems like a spiritual or religious symbol. The NARAL website is better because it seems more official and it has information about birth control, sex education, and healthy pregnancies. It is not forcing abortion onto women. It is providing information about preventing a pregnancy, safe sex, and it gives a woman information about going through with a pregnancy or getting an abortion. The information is also easy to see, its in bold red letters on the left side of the website. Since NARAL provides information for abortion, or having the baby. This side believes in giving woman options, and it doesn't force a certain belief on them.
2. Parents should have a right to know if their daughter is having an abortion, but they should not be allowed to consent in it. Their daughter has the right to her body, and she should be the only one making the decision about her body. But her parents should have the right to know about it because an abortion is a medical procedure, and it can be dangerous. The parents should be able to know about their daughter receiving an abortion because they will be able to guide their daughter through the process in a responsible manner, and they can provide their daughter with financial, physical and emotional support throughout the process.
3. The father should not have the right to consent to an abortion. If a woman cannot bare the physical burden of having a child, or they cannot financially support a child, she shouldn't be forced to have a child. The father should be notified so he can discuss all options with the mother, and they can make a rational decision together since it is both their child.
4. Illinois does not allow abortion, I disagree with I would legalize abortion in Illinois, and make contraceptives more accessible to people.
Outside Reading #2, A History of the World Since 9/11
Chapter 3 is titled The Wedding Party and it begins with this quote.
"We did not start this war. So understand: responsibility for every single innocent casualty in this war, whether they're innocent Afghans or innocent Americans, rests at the feet of the al-Qaeda and the Taliban." - Donald Rumsfeld, December 2001
This chapter is about how the United States entered Iraq and Afghanistan, and the original plan that the United States had when the war first began. "The White House's plan called for a 'light footprint' in Afghanistan. Special Forces and the CIA would infiltrate the country, recruit allies among the Taliban's enemies, then use them - together with the wholesale application of US air power - to take the country. Once the Taliban was gone, the Afghans would rebuild their nation themselves. The United States would assist, of course, but not with troops." (page 89). Its interesting to read this quote now that the war in Iraq is over. The United States did not really follow this plan. Troops were deployed in both Iraq and Afghanisatan, and both sides have suffered tremendous casualties without very many significant and positive changes other than the death of Osama Bin Laden, the Capture of Saddam Hussein, and the long process of rebuilding a nation under a democracy, and even after the United States left Iraq the democracy is very fragile. I believe that Rumsfeld's quote from the beginning of the chapter is unfair. The United States entered Iraq and Afghanistan to search for those responsible for 9/11, and to search for weapons of mass destruction. After the United States confirmed that there were not WMD's in Iraq the country began searching for Saddam Hussein and trying to create a democratic government in Iraq. The United States goal in Iraq was no longer to find the Taliban and both sides suffered many casualties, which is the United States fault because it did not stick with its original plan.
"We did not start this war. So understand: responsibility for every single innocent casualty in this war, whether they're innocent Afghans or innocent Americans, rests at the feet of the al-Qaeda and the Taliban." - Donald Rumsfeld, December 2001
This chapter is about how the United States entered Iraq and Afghanistan, and the original plan that the United States had when the war first began. "The White House's plan called for a 'light footprint' in Afghanistan. Special Forces and the CIA would infiltrate the country, recruit allies among the Taliban's enemies, then use them - together with the wholesale application of US air power - to take the country. Once the Taliban was gone, the Afghans would rebuild their nation themselves. The United States would assist, of course, but not with troops." (page 89). Its interesting to read this quote now that the war in Iraq is over. The United States did not really follow this plan. Troops were deployed in both Iraq and Afghanisatan, and both sides have suffered tremendous casualties without very many significant and positive changes other than the death of Osama Bin Laden, the Capture of Saddam Hussein, and the long process of rebuilding a nation under a democracy, and even after the United States left Iraq the democracy is very fragile. I believe that Rumsfeld's quote from the beginning of the chapter is unfair. The United States entered Iraq and Afghanistan to search for those responsible for 9/11, and to search for weapons of mass destruction. After the United States confirmed that there were not WMD's in Iraq the country began searching for Saddam Hussein and trying to create a democratic government in Iraq. The United States goal in Iraq was no longer to find the Taliban and both sides suffered many casualties, which is the United States fault because it did not stick with its original plan.
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