Taylor+Smith

 9.15.10 New York City : Imam vows to build  After reading and hearing on the news about the Muslim mosque being built, I was in shock. But, in America everyone is allowed to have freedom to religion and we cannot deny them a right that has been the reason we are the Land of Opportunity. I just feel that Abdul Rauf is somewhat trying to 'throw it' in the faces of the people whom were killed and affected by the 9/11 terrorist attack. Why in New York two blocks away from Ground Zero? I agree with the last sentence, 'a wolf in sheep's clothing because so many lives were lost and I feel as if Rauf decided to build this 'bridge' between faith 2 blocks away because he could not be denyed. In addition, Why was Rauf in awe over the heated debate? It is completely a 'slap in the face' to everyone who isn't Muslim, not to mention unjust.

9.20.10
Journal Entry #1

My husband Corporal Andres Pache has been deployed for two months now and I have been working day in and day out to put food on the table. Luckily, there are many job opportunities at the factory in town creating artillery for the soldiers. But even with all the extra money, it is still difficult due to the strict rationing of certain basic foods. Little Tyler wants to know where his father is, but living with his grandmother has seemed to help ease his fears of the war. It also helps me with the babysitting and household chores as we share the duties and jobs. I went to the doctor the other day and found I have been 2 months pregnant. The baby, I realized, had been concieved the night before Andres left the family. I sure hope it is a girl, another child to help keep me occupied while Andres is at war. Luckily for me, due to the EMIC government program I get free prenatal care for the soon to be baby for Andres has not made sergeant yet. When I am not working, I try to volunteer at the Red Cross every other Saturday or when I have free time to do my part and put effort in bringing Andres home. I find myself worrying everyday about Andres and if he is alive or dead. I hope he comes home safe, I do not wish to know the repercussions. I wish I were closer to him, and to be honest I have thought many nights before bed about relocating. Relocating may seem like a smart idea to be closer to my husband, but I cannot go out into the world alone or I will lose my job and not be able to provide for my family. Also, many of the women in the neighborhood are dealing and attempting to cope with the same problems. Feeling the loneliness, they’ve found other men’s arms but it is very difficult to divorce husbands while at war. I would never leave Andres, and even if he dies in this war for our country I will be faithful for as long as I will live. As I put my baby boy, Tyler to sleep, I can hear the planes fly above me and I think of the WAFs doing their part for the war and realize how difficult that must be for their families. I am so glad that I have my mother to help me in these hard times. I hope things will become a tad bit easier, and that Andres comes home safe.

9.23.10 - The World At A Glance - Manilla : Baby in airplane trash

While reading this article, not only did I feel sick to my stomach but I cannot put into words my feelings and thoughts. I am truly disgusted by the woman who gave birth to this innocent and helpless infant, and also horrified. Who would ever leave this gift from god in an airplane trash? Whether this woman was one of the many maids in the Middle East or the under the poverty line, one is not considered human if one leaves their child anywhere unhealthy. Is she human? Animals die protecting their young even if the odds are against them. She should've asked for help while on the plane, I am almost positive someone would help. I was so appalled by this story that I looked further into it and updates have shown that she's eager to see her child? She already saw his little face while she was wrapping him in toilet paper! Raped or not, she would never be allowed to see the baby again or receive her child back. She is lucky that people found the baby before it died, or she would be having to deal with murder. However it is much harder to raise a child in the Philippines than it is in America, for welfare would have been unavailable for the mother. The mother's acts of desparity go against any sane person's morals, however life would have been unsuitable for little George Francis. Also, the baby should be put up for adoption instead of being given to the mother or her relatives because it has already suffered enough and deserves more than that. This child deserves a kind, loving family and a warm place to call home.

P I am glad that you were so passionate about the article...well done!

C Just watch punctuation grammar and usage

=
In this weeks news, the one article that stood out to me was the student who went on a shooting spree in Austin, Texas. The parents of Colton Tooley claimed their child was 'a very smart guy' who 'wouldn't or couldn't hurt a fly." Apparently, his parents were mistaken. I'd like to think that the parents of this child had been observing if he had been acting differently. I honestly cannot believe this 'perfect' student would do such a thing. I wish I could have talked to him before this had happened because I would have loved to know what caused him to do such a thing. I am so interested in this article because when I grow up I want to be a psychologist and help children and adults who have issues in their lives and try to save them from themselves. It is possible that Tooley was under pressure by his parents at home and teachers who were expecting so much out of them or I could be mistaken. Maybe the student population was competitive and aggressive to the point of bullying to those who are superior or unique and this caused his attack. In a final thought about this article, a probable reason is the shock from high school to college since it is such a big step. Tooley may have lost recognition and appreciation from those around him, which he possibly relied on to get through his adolescent years, causing his existence to become meaningless. ======

11.2.10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0&feature=player_embedded

In the article and opinions provided for this week's US At A Glance, I read of 400,000 classified military documents from the war in Iraq portraying the United States engaging in the gruesome torture and killing of Iraqi civillians. These documents cover a period from 2004 to 2009 and includes reports that these soliders sometimes were bystanders to this abuse. Geoff Morrel, Pentagon Press Secretary, claimed these reports to be "shameful" and I agree with this statement. Editorials in the The Washington Post, The New York Times and Investors Business Daily had different opinions in which some I do not agree with. The article talks of WikiLeaks 'dump' revealing the war as an "ugly episode of our history", which many can agree with.

=
We all know war is a tragic affair and what we knew was jarring enough. Yet now we have learned of human beings, most of them likely unarmed, being gunned down from above by our own Army. But our country has just come to the conclusion that we simply cannot trust the government and the military. This is a horrible and dangerous situation for any country, where we cannot trust the people who are supposed to be defending our home. T he American people have a right to know when Americans or their allies commit violations of the laws of war. It saddens me because no one wants to believe that they have been giving money and supporting the United States military to only get leaked files that nobody knew about. I agree that an investigation needs to occur, for the Army was wrong to cover this up. Did they not think it was going to get out? While one may be able to benefit by hiding something so crucial in the short term, when it finally comes out it appears a million times worse. I looked further into this and found a disturbing video of the United States Army shooting Iraqi's as if it was a video game. I am unaware whether these people were terrorists or people defending their families, homes and neighborhoods from the American evasion and I feel that not even out military has any idea. Perhaps, the United States military does not care at all. =====