Question of the Week #4 - Deck The Halls With Boughs of Hollyyy Fa La La La La La La La La

My favorite holiday memory is probably one every kid can relate to!

When my brother and I were younger, we would set out cookies and milk for Santa Clause, food for the reindeers and stay up as late as my mom would let us. Then, we would wake up really, really early and sit in front of the tree waiting for our parents to wake up. The anticipation actually leading up to the present opening was always the best, sometimes better than the excitement (or lack thereof) obtained from the presents we received.

Anyway, ^^^ that's what I love about the holidays. I don't really have just one specifically great memory. However, I do remember how one year when we were at our cousin's house for Christmas, my parents, Santa rang the doorbell in the morning and our presents were sitting on the doorstep because there was no chimney at their house. :)

In any case, I really appreciate the lengths my parents went to make sure we had a enjoyable Christmas, especially seeing how its not even my religion. I can't wait to do it for my kids!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a blessed New Year :) Happy 2012!

Child labor laws are STUPID!

1. Who drew the cartoon?
John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune

2. List and describe the key objects in the cartoon and describe what each represents:
Santa = Newt Gingrich
Children = children

3. What techniques or devices does the cartoonist use?
Caricature, analogy

4. What issue or event does the cartoon deal with?
Newt Gingrich's opinion on child labor laws

5. What is the cartoon's message?
Children shouldn't be lazy and need to work for their own things

6. What is the cartoonist's point-of-view?
Newt said that he thought child labor laws should be done away with and that children should work so that they can gain experience in the real world. Darkow clearly thinks this is as ludicrous as Santa telling children to work for their Christmas presents 

Question of the Week #3 - B.H. Obama

Obama's job approval: 43% APP, 50% DIS
Obama 47% - Romney 47%
GOP Ballet Support - Gingrich 33%
Obama 49% - Perry 45%
Even though Obama's approval ratings are at a historical low, I think he has a pretty good chance for reelection. As it is, incumbents usually have a bigger advantage. Plus, the Republicans aren't putting forth any really strong contenders, and the ones who are leading within the party are still a couple points behind him.

Newt Gingrich... A Bad Christmas Present for America - Week 3

1. Who drew the cartoon?
Nate Beeler for The Washington Examiner

2. List and describe the key objects in the cartoon and describe what each represents:
Man in the stocking = Newt Gingrich
Elephant = Republican party

3. What techniques or devices does the cartoonist use?
Symbolism, caricature, captioning/labels, analogy, exaggeration

4. What issue or event does the cartoon deal with?
Newt Gingrich running for President

5. What is the cartoon's message?
Gingrich would not make a good president

6. What is the cartoonist's point-of-view?
Newt Gingrich is not well suited for President, and he would be the absolute worst thing that could happen 

Question of the Week #2 - Mitt Romney

As of right now, my number one choice for the Republican nomination would be Mitt Romney. This is not because he is such a stand out candidate, but rather because Gingrich disgusts me and Romney is second in line to him.

Anyway, the best thing going for Romney in my opinion is that he has a lot of money and therefore a lot of connections. Gingrich doesn't have as much as Romney, and that may be a key factor as the race progresses. However, Romney has a weak base with conservative Republicans, and that may be his downfall. Also, he only holds a very marginal lead in 1 of the first 4 primaries (New Hampshire), and if he doesn't win it, he may be in serious trouble. 

The Occupy Movement Continues - Week 2

1. Who drew the cartoon?
David Fitzsimmons for the Arizona Daily Star

2. List and describe the key objects in the cartoon and describe what each represents:
Santa = our government
The little boy = Occupy protesters
The list = the protesters demands

3. What techniques or devices does the cartoonist use?
Caricature, captioning/labels, exaggeration

4. What issue or event does the cartoon deal with?
Occupy protests

5. What is the cartoon's message?
Occupy protester's demands are not very clear

6. What is the cartoonist's point-of-view?
The protests are going on for too long and the protesters don't even have a clear goal in mind - they don't know what exactly it is they want

Second Quarter! Question of the Week #1 - Rick Perry

Contrary to most people, I actually really like Rick Perry. The fact that he usually can't keep track of what he's saying is probably a major reason why he would not win. Also, many people think he is a little too much of a hard core Conservative - he has some radical ideas such as closing off the borders that most people don't agree with. 

However, ideas such as his Flat Tax (everyone pays 20% income tax - richer people pay less, poorer people pay more compared to progressive) really appeal to those on the right who want a fairer taxing system (fiscal conservatives). Also, the fact that he has lots of prior political experience is only helping him out; as the Governor of Texas he has a good record of creating new jobs - something the US needs very badly.

And It Looks Like A Handoff! - Week 1

1. Who drew the cartoon?
Pat Bagley for the Salt Lake Tribune

2. List and describe the key objects in the cartoon and describe what each represents?
**The man in the red represents priests who are known to be involved in sex scandals
**The man in the Penn State jersey represents one of the coaches of the Penn State football team... Jerry Sandusky
**The child represents young boys who have been involved in abuse scandals

3. What techniques or devices does the cartoonist use?
Bagley is basically making fun of both Sandusky and the priests who are known to get involved in scandals with young boys. By using the phrase "And it looks like a handoff!" he is tying it all together with football terms by showing that now the focus is shifting to football coaches like Sandusky and the guy from Syracuse.

4. What issue or event does the cartoon deal with?
Abuse scandals - especially the most recent one involving Jerry Sandusky

5. What is the cartoon's message?
People have come to expect behavior like this

6. What is the cartoonist's point-of-view?
If someone is involved in abuse scandals they will be ridiculed, made fun of, looked down upon, and forced to account for their actions.

Question of the Week #4: Virginia's Biggest Issue

From personal experience, I would say the biggest issue in Virginia right now is traffic control....the worst downside to living so close to an urban area and a technological hot-spot. 


22.7% of people working in DC commute from Northern Virginia alone, 13.2% of which are from Fairfax County - you can just imagine how hard it is to get to work on time amidst all the traffic. After NYC, DC has the second highest percentage of public transit commuters in the United States!


Virginian politicians are known to put traffic at the top of their agendas, and rightly so! Lucky for us, the Metro is creating a direct line from Reston to DC. However, for those within DC, traffic can be a nightmare. Because the city is so old, the streets are narrow and run in a grid-like pattern, which make them an absolute pain to drive through. The slightest change in weather upsets the entire balance, and delays ranging anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple hours are commonplace.


If politicians desire election or reelection, it is in their best interest to find a solution to the transit problems in NOVA/DC. Some people's jobs rely on being able to get there in a timely fashion ........ As for the rest of us, we just avoid DC as much as we can!

GOP Updates - Gingrich Makes A Comeback, Romney and Cain Contest First (Current Event #4)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/newt-gingrich-gops-consummate-survivor-is-back-on-his-feet/2011/10/29/gIQAG6rYTM_story.html?hpid=z4


After Newt Gingrich's disastrous campaign collapsed due to debt earlier this year, many thought he was done for good. However, due to his recent performances in debates, his fan base seems to be growing. Herman Cain, whom many consider to be Mitt Romney's biggest challenger, continues to make mistakes every time he speaks. Most believe that Romney is currently holding a strong first, followed closely by Cain and/or Gingrich.


Newt Gingrich is gaining ground slowly, hoping for an upset. He consoles his disciples stating simply that “If you’re with me, I think we will win the most decisive election in modern times, and I think we will win it by a shockingly big margin.” 


Only time will tell who will gain the Republican nomination, but until then, I believe it is very important that we pay close attention to the similarities and differences between the candidates, as that will be the deciding factor for who gets their name on the ticket.

Question of the Week #3: Obama's Report Card

Health care: A
I actually like the Affordable Care Act, and I think Obama has achieved a lot by actually getting it to pass. The bill bans lifetime limits and dropping your coverage when you need it the most, helps cover young adults on their parent's plan, prohibits discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions, and restricts the use of annual limits. For those who call this socialized medicine or believe that government will take over health care, Obama has this to say: "The Affordable Care Act puts people, not health insurance companies or government, in charge of health care. The new law strengthens the existing employer-based health insurance market while making the market fair for consumers by implementing landmark consumer protections. Families and individuals that don't have access to affordable coverage can receive tax credits to help them purchase coverage in the private health insurance market. There is no government-sponsored, public, or "single payer" plan in the law."


Dealing with the economic downturn: B-
Although Obama has tried a lot to help out the economy, we're still not doing as well as we could be - however, that is not entirely his fault. The biggest problem with bipartisan politics is that each party wants it their way, and no one wants to compromise. Obama tries and tries to pass bills that will please both parties, like his new Jobs Act, but nothing happens. I think the Congress and Obama need to work a little harder and find a solution to this problem, because arguing is getting us nowhere!


War on terror: A
I think Obama has done a really good job so far. He has shifted the focus of the war on terror from Iraq to Afghanistan, signed an order to end prisoner torture at Guantanamo Bay, provided better body armor for our troops, restructured military command and deployed additional troops to Afghanistan, ended the "stop-loss" policy that kept soldiers overseas past their enlistment dates, provided the Department of Veteran Affairs with more than $1.4 billion to help America's veterans, improved conditions at Walter Reed, changed the war strategy in Afghanistan (limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans), improved pay and benefits for military personnel and veterans, killed Osama bin Laden and other notable terrorists, etc. etc. Though all these things may not be directly related to the War on Terror, they impact those involved in many ways. In any case, Obama has done a lot more than past presidents have to better conditions. 


Reelection bid: B-
As of the 13 of October, Obama has raised $70 million for his reelection (not including PACs), leading his Republican rivals by tens of millions of dollars. However, I wish he would be as prominent and "out there" as the Republicans are. Although he is doing well, I don't see a lot or hear a lot from him, and so I would give him a B-. President Obama has faced months of declining polls numbers, largely due to the economy. 

MLK Memorial Dedication Takes Place Amid Controversy (Current Event #3)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/16/us/mlk-memorial/index.html?hpt=hp_t1


On August 28, 1963, over 200,000 civil rights supporters gathered in Washington, DC to listen to a speech by a influential and well-known man known as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, supporters have once again gathered in DC, shortly after the 48 year anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech to remember, commemorate and honor a man who did so much for this country.

Though we have come a long way since the '60s, some say that there is still a lot of work to be done. Dr. King's son urges us to remember that although he paid "the ultimate price for our civil rights," we seem to have forgotten what his goal was; in his son's words, "we've lost our souls," referring directly to the racism and inequality that is still a part of our every day lives.


Unfortunately, the American people cannot allow this memorial dedication ceremony to be free of controversy. Some of King's most devout supporters, including Maya Angelou, claim that the quotes inscribed on the memorial have been altered, therefore making Dr. King seem more arrogant than he really was. Those who know him claim that he was a humble, down-to-earth man who has been misportrayed. 


For example, the first quote on the memorial reads "I was a drum major for justice peace and righteousness." However, the original quote from Dr. King was "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter." According to Angelou, the removal of the word "if" makes a big difference in the meaning of the sentence. 


I believe that as a nation we should just be proud that we are able to honor him in this way, instead of nit-picking at little issues. 


Regardless, the outpouring of support for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today shows that America has not forgotten his message, and that we still have a dream in which our "nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Tea Party fo lyfe!

So everyone has been telling me lately that I support a lot of Tea Party ideas... which I do. Is this good or bad? I don't want to really be associated with ditzy candidates like Palin and Bachhman, but they do have some good points.

Is this political suicide? Is everyone going to think I'm radical?

Tea Partiers .....
-they are whiter, angrier, and more racist
-they are generally male, over 45
-they think government should be smaller no matter what
-they call themselves "very conservative" and Obama "very liberal"


Some Tea Party ideas I agree with (part of their non-negotiable 15 core beliefs)
-Illegal aliens are here illegally
-stronger military is essential
-gun ownership is sacred
-reduce personal income taxes is a must
-english as core language is required
-traditional family values are encouraged
-"you don't have to be a Christian to enjoy freedom - the Tea-Party welcomes all red-blooded US citizens"

All I have to say is .... RON PAUL 2012. Lets legalize everything!

Question of the Week #2: Discuss one political event you are interested in...

I've already touched on this a little...  there are two topics that mainly catch my attention: gay rights and abortion.


Gay Rights: As per my religion and culture, I don't really recognize gay marriage, and I don't think the government should either. HOWEVER, I do believe that homosexual couples deserve every privilege that heterosexual married couples have. I think "partnerships" should be recognized and be given the same benefits "marriages" have. Marriages should only be between a man and a woman, but there shouldn't be a law that prevents the union/partnership of a man and a man or woman and a woman.


Abortion: I think I've already made it pretty clear how I feel about abortion - I am as pro-life as you can get, unless the abortion is saving the life of the mother. However, someone asked what do I think should be done in the case of rape, incest, etc. My answer? I don't really know... its a tough question, and I understand that the woman may not want to keep the child... however, its not the fault of the baby, so why should it be punished?


These are two charged and controversial topics, and I enjoy following developments in them because they affect so many people, not only in our country, but throughout the world.

Occupy Wall Street Gains Momentum (Current Event #2)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/06/politics/occupy-wall-street/index.html

For the past three weeks, irritated citizens have been taking matters into their own hands by protesting and standing in at Zucotti Park, NY, among other locations. Protestors claim to be “fighting for democracy and economic justice” and are protesting Wall Street and its “regulators’ purported role in expanding economic disparities.”

          Obama agrees and claims that we need “a strong, effective financial sector in order for [the US] to grow.” The protests are slowly gaining national attention as reports of police brutality begin to surface, and are shifting to other big cities in the US, such as Washington, DC; Jersey City, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Los Angeles, California.

           Wednesday night, the protests turned violent as police officers arrested 23 young citizens for “various offenses, including one facing charges of assaulting an officer.” These protests are showing how Americans are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the 1% wealthy elite who seemingly control US politics and business. Congress cannot resist the call for change for much longer before things get out of hand.

It will be very interesting to see how this all pans out. I am planning on attending the Occupy DC rally on Saturday ... I'm really excited! If anyone wants to come with, let me know :)

Oh, Sarah!

Have you guys seen this? Absolutely freakin' hilarious! For those of you who don't know.... this is NOT Sarkozy.

Watch Sarah Palin Get Pranked

This Is Why I've Avoided Politics

There is a very good reason I have stayed away from any politics (Republican/Democratic) debates in the past couple of years... I am so tired of people criticizing others for their viewpoints. Why does everything have to become a big argument? If I believe something is right or wrong, why can't you just let it be? Why do others feel the need to prove that their idea is better than mine?

I have my own ideas and my own opinions about things, and I'm tired of others implying that it makes me a bad person. I'm not forcing my viewpoints on anyone, so just let it be. Seriously.

My political science class can be so annoying sometimes - Graney simply asks a questions but it always turns into an argument about morals and right vs. wrong blah blah blah. I'm not advocating narrow mindedness, but I think we should just accept others' opinions as just as valid as ours. 

This is America, right? Aren't we all entitled to our own beliefs? Jeez. Lighten up people!

Do unborn babies have rights too?

Since I'm already procrastinating on doing calc homework I might as well tackle another issue.... does a woman have a right to kill a baby? Does that baby, after conception, even have any rights? 


We talked about this a little in Graney's class a couple weeks ago. Imagine this scenario.... a pregnant woman is walking down the street and is mugged and knocked to the ground. In the process, her baby is killed. Should the mugger be charged with murder??


I say yes. That mother *wanted* her child, which was taken from her, and so the mugger must be punished. So what if he didn't intend or mean to kill the baby? We don't base punishments on intent, because if we did everyone would get off scot-free.


However, can this same scenario be applied to abortion? A woman is essentially killing her child, which everyone should assume has a desire to live, and so she is no better than the mugger. Should abortion be punishable? I wish there was an easy answer to all these questions....


The issue of abortion is enough to make me want to cry. How anyone can think of hurting a child is beyond my imagination. I do understand that sometimes it is absolutely necessary, but being 16 and pregnant is not one of them. Critics of abortion claim that the fetus can feel and "responds violently to painful stimuli, needle puncture, and injection of cold & of hypertonic solutions." Giving a baby an deadly injection is no better than shooting someone in their sleep. 


There is scientific evidence that 18 days after conception a baby's own heart starts to beat. On or around day 22, the baby's heart beats with its own blood. Is that not enough to make him a real human being? How do you possibly justify killing a baby after hearing that?


All you pro choice people out there.....Have you ever heard of suction aspiration abortion? How about a D and C abortion? D and E? Probably not. Let me outline them for you...


Suction aspiration is performed between 6-12 weeks, and the baby is literally "vacuumed" or sucked out of the cervix, tearing its little body into pieces. 


In a D and C abortion the pathetic, excuse for a doctor who performs this goes in there with a knife, dismembers the baby, and then sucks the pieces of the body out.


In a D and E abortion, performed in the SECOND TRIMESTER (when the baby's pain sensing organs are fully developed) "forceps are inserted into the uterus to forcibly dismember the fetus. The skull is then crushed and removed. A suction aspiration is then introduced to remove any remaining fetal parts, the placenta and uterine lining."


I could go on and on about this. Does anyone else feel the pain I feel when I read this? Speak up. Let America know that we WILL NOT allow this genocide to continue.

Question of the Week #1: What political party do I align with?

This question has had me thinking for a couple of years. In class, I took a couple of ideology quizzes, but they confused me more than anything else. While I agree with lots of Democratic views, I wouldn't call myself a hardcore Democrat. I also like some Republican views, but I absolutely detest the candidates they put forth. 


Anyway, in the past, I always aligned myself with the Democrats, just like my parents. Now, while I'd rather not be called a Republican, I find myself agreeing more and more with their ideas. For example, I do not believe abortion should be legalized. The only circumstance under which a woman should be allowed to murder her own baby should be if her own life is in danger. There is no need to destroy someone's chance to live. I'm not trying to be controversial here, but I don't support gay marriage. I think the institute of marriage is sacred and should only be between a man and a woman (I'm not saying that their community doesn't deserve rights). Also, I have a more Conservative view point (most of the time):
-I have a good foundation in religion (not necessarily Christianity) and I think there should be a stronger sense of it in our day-to-day lives.
-I think morals are very important.
-I believe that we need stronger immigration laws and need to stop allowing more immigrants into America for the time being (Disclaimer....I AM NOT BEING RACIST). I absolutely cannot stand for allowing illegal immigrants too continue to mooch off of the government.
-I think English should be our national language and that everyone must learn it.


However, I do disagree with some Conservative Republican viewpoints:
-I think we should broaden our public welfare programs.
-I don't think government is too large/over-involved.
-I think we should tax the rich, help the poor.


In any case, be prepared for me to change my mind often on these issues. I'm still getting the hang of becoming more involved in American politics. I can't wait to vote in 2012!

Why I'm Disappointed In America (Current Event #1)

Don't get me wrong... I'm your average, run-of-the-mill, red-blooded American, but sometimes I just don't see eye-to-eye with the rest of the country. Specifically, I'm talking about people making fun of poor Chris Christie. It is SO SHALLOW to think that he would make any less of a president just because he is 300 pounds. Doesn't anyone think about how this may all affect him psychologically or emotionally? And I thought bullies matured after high school.....


Some of the worst jokes I heard went something like this:
"Forget Iraq, lets invade Ihop,"
"No vetos, more cheetos,"
"The solution to the budget crisis starts with supper,"
"The cabinet will now have a Secretary of Cake."


Did I mention that when you go to Google "Chris Christie," some of the most heinous suggestions come up? This is absolutely disgusting...
"Chris Christie fat bastard"
"Chris Christie fat slob"
"Chris Christie fat jokes"
"Chris Christie fat pig"
"Chris Christie fat photos"


I'm disappointed in you, America. The man said he doesn't want to run for president, so just leave him alone! As for Letterman, he has another thing comin'. Christie can lose weight, but unfortunately, you just can't fix stupid.


(Edit 9 pm: I don't mean to generalize.... This is not in any way supposed to be a representation of all Americans)

Herman Cain Wins Florida Straw Poll, Romney Takes Michigan

I was really surprised when I heard that Herman Cain won the straw poll in Florida ... he basically came out of nowhere. I really thought Romney would win, but strangely, he came in third. Perry somehow came in second, which was weird considering how badly he did in the last Republican debate.

In Michigan, however, Romney "rolled over" his opponents and took first in yesterday's straw poll. It will be interesting to see how the race pans out over the next couple of months.... I think the major weakness for the Republicans is not having one solid candidate.