One week from today we find out who wins the elections! I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for everything to be over already. Every other commercial is by one party or the other bashing their competitor. These commercials and ads have been running for a while now as the country prepares for what could be history. We sit on edge wondering, are the democrats going to hold onto both the Senate and the House, are the republicans going to take both the Senate and the House, or will they split??? Here is Georgia we're wondering who will win the Governor's race, Deal or Barnes??? Will people actually go out and vote???
Who knows, but I can say that I will be so excited when it's all over. I know I know, it's weird that I'm a political science major and i can't wait for this all to be over, it's not because I really want to know who's going to win, I do care, but I'm ready for it to be over because I'm tired of the bashing. It's like geeze, if you want to go into politics then you better know how to throw a punch and take one too cause it's getting brutal in these election races.
Many people are speculating that the country is upset at how Obama has handled the administration so far and think that the Congress may flip. Well, if that happens, we'll have a democratic President and a republican Congress. I wonder how well that would work (insert sarcasm). Let's just say it is possible that everything would work out, but let's be honest with ourselves, it probably wouldn't work too well. Would Obama be a lame duck for the last two years of his administration? Maybe, maybe not, I guess we'll have to wait and see, but until we find out next week, can we PLEASE lay off the political bashing. By bashing your opponent it does not make me like you any better, if fact it does the opposite. I do not care what you think of your opponent, we all know you don't like each other anyways no need to publicize, but I DO care about your own policies and how you handled situations. So, political leaders, let's try focusing on how you yourself perform and what you yourself believe in for a change. Maybe then people would actually go out and vote. Why? Because they might actually be more well informed about their candidates, shocker I know. Can we give it a try please, just once.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Haiti just can't catch a break
It has been reported over the past couple of days that Haiti is experiencing a cholera outbreak. This poor, little country whom back in January experienced one of the worst earthquakes, just can't catch a break. Haiti was destroyed by the earthquake back in January, thousands of people died and many more were injured, millions were put out of their homes, because well, there was nothing left of their homes. Thousands dead, millions displaced, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, what are they to do? With billions in international aid and aid workers flocking into the country, Haiti began the process of rebuilding and trying to organize the country once again. The country is still in shambles, however. Millions are still displaced, and now, there is an outbreak of cholera.
Cholera can be easily cured and is extremely preventable. Cholera is a bacteria and can spread through contaminated food or water. Basically, if the people of Haiti had clean drinking water this could be prevented. The news in Haiti has reported that due to the extreme rains recently the Artibonite River has flooded and since this river is the main sewage drainage for the country the sewage spread. Cholera is said to cause diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. The CDC reports that once an outbreak of cholera starts it is most likely spread through the feces of the people who already have the disease. This occurs because many countries were cholera is prevalent are poorer countries that do not have good clean water sources. So if someone who has cholera goes the bathroom upstream from where someone who doesn't have cholera gets their drinking water, then the person downstream is most likely to get the disease. Cholera can spread very quickly and if not treated can be fatal. So far, in Haiti, 208 people have died. Kits to help decontaminate the water have been and continue to be distributed throughout the country. Workers are also trying to help prevent and stop the spread of the cholera outbreak any further.
When Haiti first got hit by the devastating earthquake back in January people were very anxious to help and aid flooded in; now as like with many natural disasters people have moved on and forgotten about the devastation that continues in Haiti. It's harder for people who don't live there and go through what these people are going through to remember what happened because we aren't as affected. Now it's not an excuse to stop helping, but it is the truth. Since we don't live it every day we don't think about it every day.
Cholera can be easily cured and is extremely preventable. Cholera is a bacteria and can spread through contaminated food or water. Basically, if the people of Haiti had clean drinking water this could be prevented. The news in Haiti has reported that due to the extreme rains recently the Artibonite River has flooded and since this river is the main sewage drainage for the country the sewage spread. Cholera is said to cause diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. The CDC reports that once an outbreak of cholera starts it is most likely spread through the feces of the people who already have the disease. This occurs because many countries were cholera is prevalent are poorer countries that do not have good clean water sources. So if someone who has cholera goes the bathroom upstream from where someone who doesn't have cholera gets their drinking water, then the person downstream is most likely to get the disease. Cholera can spread very quickly and if not treated can be fatal. So far, in Haiti, 208 people have died. Kits to help decontaminate the water have been and continue to be distributed throughout the country. Workers are also trying to help prevent and stop the spread of the cholera outbreak any further.
When Haiti first got hit by the devastating earthquake back in January people were very anxious to help and aid flooded in; now as like with many natural disasters people have moved on and forgotten about the devastation that continues in Haiti. It's harder for people who don't live there and go through what these people are going through to remember what happened because we aren't as affected. Now it's not an excuse to stop helping, but it is the truth. Since we don't live it every day we don't think about it every day.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Freedom for Miners!!!
The Chilean miners have been freed from their underground imprisonment!!! All 33 men were safely brought to the surface in a capsule to a warm welcome from the family, workers, and some government officials. The men, who have been trapped underground for the past couple of months after an explosion at the mine, were brought up one by one and taken directly to the hospital for examination. Before being brought up the men were checked to make sure they were all in suitable condition to make the journey. All of the men seemed to be in good spirits and in as healthy a condition as possible. Since being discovered just over two weeks after the explosive the men have been being supplied with food, water, and clean air. They were allowed to make short videos for their families. At first it was said that the media would not be allowed to see the miners come up and a tarp was put up around the hole, however, as time went on the media was allowed to see what all happened. The world, burdened by what had happened, watched hopefully as one by one the miners were brought to the surface, and guaranteed, tears were flowing as the miners embraced their loved ones. What had started out as a tragedy ended in a triumph! Not only were 33 men who should have died saved and reunited with their families, but the dangers of mining and not keeping up with mine regulations was exposed to the world. Most people just do not care where their coal, copper, gold, whatever, come from as long as they have it, but now international steps are being taken to make sure that mines are safer so that these types of situations can be avoided in the future. We may not be as lucky next time.
The media played a huge role in helping to get these men rescued. If the families had not contacted the media and alerted the world about what had happened these families may be having funerals instead of celebratory parties. When the news stations broadcast what had happened the world listened and wanted something to be done. American companies were essential in helping to retrieve these men, but if not for the media they may not have known what had happened. This experience is one example of how the media played a vital and crucial role for the better.
The media played a huge role in helping to get these men rescued. If the families had not contacted the media and alerted the world about what had happened these families may be having funerals instead of celebratory parties. When the news stations broadcast what had happened the world listened and wanted something to be done. American companies were essential in helping to retrieve these men, but if not for the media they may not have known what had happened. This experience is one example of how the media played a vital and crucial role for the better.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
9 Years
Nine years.....nobody would have thought that nine years ago today when the United States invaded Afghanistan that we would still be fighting a war today. Nine years ago America had just been attacked in the worst terrorist attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Americans were revved up and willing to do just about anything to protect our country. Oh how things have changed.
When we invaded Afghanistan it wasn't because we thought they had weapons of mass destruction, it was because Osama bin Laden and his crew of terrorists had just killed almost three thousand of OUR people and they needed to pay. It was the first time in history that NATO invoked Article 5 of the charter, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. So we had the world on our side and were ready and willing to fight and die for our country and to get justice for the almost three thousand lives lost that fateful day. We bombed the mess out of Afghanistan and the terrorists, but never could quite get Osama bin Laden, a task we are still trying to accomplish nine years later. However, the question arises quite often, if we had focused ALL of our energy on Afghanistan instead of chasing some, let's say, questionable information, could we be out by now? Could this war be over already? We will never know the answer to that question since we can't turn back time, but it is a possibility.
Two years after invading Afghanistan we invaded Iraq. Why? Well, there have been many explanations thrown out there so you can believe whichever one you would like, but the fact is we did invade, right or wrong, it happened. However, the motives were different. Iraq had never attacked us, but they did harbor terrorists. Was that justification? Or the fact that we had "information" that they had WMDs, was that justification? Even if they did have WMDs was it really our place to invade since we were already fighting a war? Could we not have let the international community handle it the way they wanted to on their time? Some people might say that we were looking for a reason to invade Iraq. An old beef between political leaders. Take your pick from the reasons. But as soon as we invaded Iraq the attention from Afghanistan dissipated. The people that had attacked us were forgotten. The new enemy, an old enemy, the not-at-the-moment enemy, Iraq had done nothing to invoke our attack. But, Americans were still revved up from 9/11 so any terrorist was a good target. At first Americans were very supportive and the media was too. However, over the past 9 years as our men and women have died and paid the ultimate price, people have begun to wonder if a war in Iraq was worth these soldiers' sacrifice. Whether this war was really worth fighting. As more and more soldiers were sent home in flag-draped coffins to grieving families, the country began to turn. No longer was the war seen as worth the sacrifice. America grew tired of fighting a war that was never ours to begin with. The media began to turn and question whether we were fighting for the right reasons, or any reason at all. When the country began to turn on the Iraqi war they also began to turn of the Afghan war. Have we forgotten what Afghanistan is really all about? Have we forgotten the almost three thousand lives lost? Have we forgotten the terrible men who committed those heinous acts and continue to today? I think so in a way. Our focus for so long has been on Iraq that we forgot why we began fighting in Afghanistan in the first place. Let me remind you, a man named Osama bin Laden. He has been quoted as saying that it is his and every Muslim's duty to acquire nuclear weapons to use against America to kill us. He will not stop until he is dead. So unless you want to continue to be attacked by terrorists, by all means protest the war in Afghanistan. Now the war in Iraq is a different story, but Afghanistan, there is no question why we are fighting there. Maybe people just need a little reminder. So here it is, 9 years ago today almost 3,000 lives perished at the hands of 20 heinous men. Our cities were attacked, our buildings destroyed, our people killed. Every single person in this country was affected on that day and millions more continue to be affected every single day. Let's not forget that day, because if we do......well I don't really want to know what our country will look like then.
When we invaded Afghanistan it wasn't because we thought they had weapons of mass destruction, it was because Osama bin Laden and his crew of terrorists had just killed almost three thousand of OUR people and they needed to pay. It was the first time in history that NATO invoked Article 5 of the charter, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. So we had the world on our side and were ready and willing to fight and die for our country and to get justice for the almost three thousand lives lost that fateful day. We bombed the mess out of Afghanistan and the terrorists, but never could quite get Osama bin Laden, a task we are still trying to accomplish nine years later. However, the question arises quite often, if we had focused ALL of our energy on Afghanistan instead of chasing some, let's say, questionable information, could we be out by now? Could this war be over already? We will never know the answer to that question since we can't turn back time, but it is a possibility.
Two years after invading Afghanistan we invaded Iraq. Why? Well, there have been many explanations thrown out there so you can believe whichever one you would like, but the fact is we did invade, right or wrong, it happened. However, the motives were different. Iraq had never attacked us, but they did harbor terrorists. Was that justification? Or the fact that we had "information" that they had WMDs, was that justification? Even if they did have WMDs was it really our place to invade since we were already fighting a war? Could we not have let the international community handle it the way they wanted to on their time? Some people might say that we were looking for a reason to invade Iraq. An old beef between political leaders. Take your pick from the reasons. But as soon as we invaded Iraq the attention from Afghanistan dissipated. The people that had attacked us were forgotten. The new enemy, an old enemy, the not-at-the-moment enemy, Iraq had done nothing to invoke our attack. But, Americans were still revved up from 9/11 so any terrorist was a good target. At first Americans were very supportive and the media was too. However, over the past 9 years as our men and women have died and paid the ultimate price, people have begun to wonder if a war in Iraq was worth these soldiers' sacrifice. Whether this war was really worth fighting. As more and more soldiers were sent home in flag-draped coffins to grieving families, the country began to turn. No longer was the war seen as worth the sacrifice. America grew tired of fighting a war that was never ours to begin with. The media began to turn and question whether we were fighting for the right reasons, or any reason at all. When the country began to turn on the Iraqi war they also began to turn of the Afghan war. Have we forgotten what Afghanistan is really all about? Have we forgotten the almost three thousand lives lost? Have we forgotten the terrible men who committed those heinous acts and continue to today? I think so in a way. Our focus for so long has been on Iraq that we forgot why we began fighting in Afghanistan in the first place. Let me remind you, a man named Osama bin Laden. He has been quoted as saying that it is his and every Muslim's duty to acquire nuclear weapons to use against America to kill us. He will not stop until he is dead. So unless you want to continue to be attacked by terrorists, by all means protest the war in Afghanistan. Now the war in Iraq is a different story, but Afghanistan, there is no question why we are fighting there. Maybe people just need a little reminder. So here it is, 9 years ago today almost 3,000 lives perished at the hands of 20 heinous men. Our cities were attacked, our buildings destroyed, our people killed. Every single person in this country was affected on that day and millions more continue to be affected every single day. Let's not forget that day, because if we do......well I don't really want to know what our country will look like then.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
By now most everyone has heard of the terror threats that happened across Europe, but what about the terror threats that happen in America every day? Why don't we hear about those as much? Is it the media's fault? Is it the government's? Or is it just a lack of caring by the American people? I think it's a mixture. The government doesn't always release information about terror threats in America because they think it would create widespread panic. They aren't exactly wrong. Americans are used to having wars and terrorism being on far away lands thT the large majority of us will never go to. I've often thought that Americans believe that we live in our own little world, since we're the dominant superpower in the world we don't really think about many others besides ourselves. 9/11 brought a reality check to America, we are not invincible. Just like every other country we are susceptible to terrorism and its effects. But still, even after 9/11, people either don't want to or just never do heat about the very real terror threats that are foiled in our nation everyday. We all knew that the government doesn't always tell us the truth oreven let us know about what's really going on, but what if they did tell us? Maybe then people would understand how to handle a terror threat better abs so when one does come along people won't freak out. Is that asking too much of the government? Of the people? People in other countries deal head on with terror threats every day. So why should America be any different? Is it that if we deal head onwoth terrorism that people think our country would devolve? I don't know the answers but that would be my guess. Ok so we know why the government doesn't always let us in on the secrets, so Noe why doesn't yhe medi always divulge information? More than most people, the media has accesss to information. They don't always share in the wealth of knowledge though. Partly because they can't, either due to national security or other reasons. Do the American people have a right to information though no matter what? Well not always. Besides, a lot of Americans honestly don't care. Ad ling as the war stays where it is, they don't need to know about it. That's sad, but true. Why don't some people care? I mean everyone should, we do have men and women over in the Middle East fighting every day. Is it ignorance? Because it's not here in our own backyard we just don't want to know about it? I believe, and not just I'm a political science major, that every single American should know what is going on in their country. We have so many ways to gain information these days that there is no excuse not to know. So thoughts? Should we as Americans be informed and care about what our nation doing not just abroad but within our own boarders?
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