"Cleveland police kill boy, 12, carrying a replica gun"
By: BBC Staff
Source: BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30172433
Tragedy has struck Cleveland after police officers shot dead a twelve year old boy, Tamir Rice, waving his replica gun around in a play ground. A person who reported Rice indicated that he did not know whether the gun was real or not. Responding officers then ordered Tamir to raise his hands, but after failing to do so, was shot to death with two bullets. One officer was a ten year veteran of the force, while the other officer was new to the police force. Tamir was not reported pointing the gun at officers, nor did he make any verbal remarks. Police report the "weapon" Tamir Rice was carrying was a airsoft replica gun. Alicia Reece, a local lawmaker, will introduce legislation to make replica guns brightly colored. The Rice family lawyer said the family plans on proceeding with civil action against the Cleveland Police force.The United States Department of Justice is also conducting an investigation.
This was an absolutely, totally avoidable, tragedy. Tamir Rice's life was taken from him by trigger happy officers. Nothing is more tragic then a parent outliving their child, and unfortunately Tamir's parents will have to live with this pain. The officers responsible for this should be fired and punished by the law. There is no justifiable reason for this senseless violence.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
War on Terror News
"Obama to Send 1,500 More Troops to Assist Iraq"
By: Helene Cooper and Michael D. Shear
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/world/middleeast/us-to-send-1500-more-troops-to-iraq.html
As the Islamic State group continues to terrorize Iraq and Syria, President Obama has authorized the deployment of 1,500 troops to Iraq bringing the total number of U.S. personnel in the area to 3,000. These troops are meant to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish troops in order to combat the extremist Muslim terrorist group. U.S. personnel are trying to prepare for an offensive attack planned in Spring 2015. Training sites are to be established throughout the nation of Iraq, including the Anbar region. The White House is to request $5 billion dollars from Congress in order to train and equip troops and militants. The efforts on part of the United States are meant to retake regions of Iraq controlled by ISIL including retaking the city of Mosul, which is home to over a million people. President Obama is assuring that the 1,500 troops are not going to be engaging in combat. It is believed that the announcement of the deployment was made three days after the mid-term elections in an effort to avoid tarnishing the Democratic name, and to avoid further angering the American people prior to elections.
Many Americans are upset that our troops are being sent back to Iraq, despite the President's promise to retract our troops from the Middle East. The Islamic State group is no longer negligible, but is now a threat to the United States and its allies. American troops will be providing a service by training the ill equipped Iraqi and Kurdish troops and assist in retaking Iraq from ISIL.
By: Helene Cooper and Michael D. Shear
Source: New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/08/world/middleeast/us-to-send-1500-more-troops-to-iraq.html
As the Islamic State group continues to terrorize Iraq and Syria, President Obama has authorized the deployment of 1,500 troops to Iraq bringing the total number of U.S. personnel in the area to 3,000. These troops are meant to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish troops in order to combat the extremist Muslim terrorist group. U.S. personnel are trying to prepare for an offensive attack planned in Spring 2015. Training sites are to be established throughout the nation of Iraq, including the Anbar region. The White House is to request $5 billion dollars from Congress in order to train and equip troops and militants. The efforts on part of the United States are meant to retake regions of Iraq controlled by ISIL including retaking the city of Mosul, which is home to over a million people. President Obama is assuring that the 1,500 troops are not going to be engaging in combat. It is believed that the announcement of the deployment was made three days after the mid-term elections in an effort to avoid tarnishing the Democratic name, and to avoid further angering the American people prior to elections.
Many Americans are upset that our troops are being sent back to Iraq, despite the President's promise to retract our troops from the Middle East. The Islamic State group is no longer negligible, but is now a threat to the United States and its allies. American troops will be providing a service by training the ill equipped Iraqi and Kurdish troops and assist in retaking Iraq from ISIL.
Transcendentalism
Today at 12PM I had the chance to mimic a transcendentalist era writer. I was instructed to sit for thirty minutes in my backyard with only my thoughts and absolutely no technology by my side. I am ashamed to admit that it was a pretty difficult task for me. Trying to think of what to write was the most daunting task. I could only think of my future plans, about going to college and eventually running for Congress. My thoughts then drifted to my plans later today. I was planning on knocking on my neighbors' doors to collect money for the school walkathon. I already asked for donations on Saturday, and after today I am finally eligible for the Golden Raffle and the chance to win an iPad Mini. My main motivation behind raising the money, instead of just asking my parents for the twenty five dollars, was the experience I would gain from interacting with my neighbors. I received many no's, but those only served as a contrast to the yes's I received. This was good practice considering I plan on running for public office one day, requiring me to meet with my constituents on a daily basis. My future is something I think about almost every waking hour. It is my dream to serve the American people in Congress, and sitting outside in my backyard allowed me to properly reflect on my hopes, something I should do more often.
My experience as a transcendentalist was both challenging, and ultimately rewarding. I don't know If i can guarantee that I will do this again, but the 34 minutes I spent in my backyard will be something I will remember doing for a long time.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Death With Dignity Advocate passes at 29
"Brittany Maynard, terminally ill advocate for death aids, dies at 29"
By: Frank Shyong
Source: Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-brittany-maynard-suicide-20141102-story.html
Brittany Maynard, a champion for the Death With Dignity Act, which allows patients of sound mind to request medical assistance to end their life, died in the loving arms of her family on Saturday. Maynard made national headlines with her decision to move to Oregon from California to take advantage of the Death With Dignity Act, which is only legal in four other states; Washington, Vermont, Montana and New Mexico. Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer on April of this year and her doctor told her she had six months to live at best. The State of California was to pass a similar law, but legislation was dismissed as it did not receive a sufficient amount of votes. Brittany Maynard a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Irvine, strongly advocated the passage of similar laws throughout the whole nation. She loved to travel, and even scaled Mount Kilimanjaro. On Saturday she consumed life ending drugs and passed away surrounded by her loved ones in her Portland, Oregon home. "If Nov. 2 comes along, and I've passed, I hope my family is still proud of me and the choices I've made," Maynard says in her video about her decision (Brittany Maynard).
Brittany Maynard's death must not be in vain. The Death With Dignity Act should be enacted in all fifty states of the Union. Terminally ill people should be able to decide if they want to end their lives peacefully, instead of being forced to endure pain and suffering, swallowing pills that would prolong the inevitable. If animals are put down humanely if they are suffering, why are humans not given the same right?
By: Frank Shyong
Source: Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-brittany-maynard-suicide-20141102-story.html
Brittany Maynard, a champion for the Death With Dignity Act, which allows patients of sound mind to request medical assistance to end their life, died in the loving arms of her family on Saturday. Maynard made national headlines with her decision to move to Oregon from California to take advantage of the Death With Dignity Act, which is only legal in four other states; Washington, Vermont, Montana and New Mexico. Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer on April of this year and her doctor told her she had six months to live at best. The State of California was to pass a similar law, but legislation was dismissed as it did not receive a sufficient amount of votes. Brittany Maynard a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Irvine, strongly advocated the passage of similar laws throughout the whole nation. She loved to travel, and even scaled Mount Kilimanjaro. On Saturday she consumed life ending drugs and passed away surrounded by her loved ones in her Portland, Oregon home. "If Nov. 2 comes along, and I've passed, I hope my family is still proud of me and the choices I've made," Maynard says in her video about her decision (Brittany Maynard).
Brittany Maynard's death must not be in vain. The Death With Dignity Act should be enacted in all fifty states of the Union. Terminally ill people should be able to decide if they want to end their lives peacefully, instead of being forced to endure pain and suffering, swallowing pills that would prolong the inevitable. If animals are put down humanely if they are suffering, why are humans not given the same right?
The Future of High School
I believe that high schools in 2035 will be very similar, if not the same, as high schools today. Yes high schoolers will have more advanced technology at their disposal, but most of it would be too expensive for everyday high schools to be able to afford. Private high schools may be able to purchase some of these new devices and machines, like Pilibos has done with the Smart Boards, but if they would be willing to is another question. Teachers of 2035 would be raised in the technological age, and thus would be able to utilize these new gadgets, but regular public schools would never be able to afford them unfortunately due to underfunding. Students of 2035 will still be using paper textbooks, notebooks and pencils. It will not take twenty years for the American public education schooling system to reform. It would likely take several generations until public schools are given more attention and funding from the federal government. Students of 2035 would most probably have similar reading lists to the ones we have today unless a literary masterpiece is released within the next two decades. I can not imagine myself as a teacher, as teaching is not my passion. It takes a special type of person to be able to teach young people; someone who is completely selfless, patient and unfortunately unappreciated. There are many bad teachers, but they serve as a contrast to the rare breed of amazing teachers that mold the minds of young students, and these teachers make a true difference.
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