The press is a large part of the media. It's my main source for current events.
So, my question is...does the press, with all its freedom and rights, have a responsibility to the government and national security? Or does it have a responsibility to expose all truth to the public. How far can they go? Where is the line drawn?
Defense Secretary Gates says that those documents revealed by WikiLeaks thankfully didn't result in much endangerment of national security. But, the names of the Afghanistan civilians involved with the United States military were revealed. So, who's at fault? Isn't it the government's fault for not being able to keep a better handle on such secrets? The government is responsible for protection of such top-secret information, but it somehow was released to WikiLeaks, and thus to the public.
But when you think about it, is WikiLeaks also at fault? Knowing that what they published could potentially halt the progress of national security in the Middle East and perhaps knowing that this information was classified, did they have a responsibility to the greater good - the protection of the people? Freedom is great. Laws are enforced to ensure equal rights. But at what point does freedom have to be regulated?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
National Coming Out Day
Yesterday was National Coming Out Day, and the GSA at my school made a video where two people "came out". It was brave of those girls and everything...but I have to say that I was slightly...disgruntled?
I didn't feel uncomfortable, I have gay friends and I wouldn't change them for anything. But, why do I have to witness someone's "coming out"? Does that mean that when people realize they're straight, they should make videos to say "I'm straight"? I don't understand why it's a huge deal to come out National Coming Out Day...does it mean that if you come out on this day that it's more symbolic and means more than if you came out on another day? If there is a National Coming Out Day, why can't there be a National Being Straight Day? Because being straight is the "norm"? I thought that gay people wanted to just be accepted, but if they keep making a huge deal out of being gay, it makes them seem different, no?
I just don't think that a school is a place to make these kinds of videos. It should be optional, not at a school meeting for everyone to hear. My school has not allowed a Christian club (where Christians and non-Christians meet possibly for 20-30 minutes once per week before school) because it "upsets" some faculty members, board members, and students. But what if being gay offended someone? THEN, the parents of the gay student would complain and bring up issues and whatnot.
Double standards. They stink.
I didn't feel uncomfortable, I have gay friends and I wouldn't change them for anything. But, why do I have to witness someone's "coming out"? Does that mean that when people realize they're straight, they should make videos to say "I'm straight"? I don't understand why it's a huge deal to come out National Coming Out Day...does it mean that if you come out on this day that it's more symbolic and means more than if you came out on another day? If there is a National Coming Out Day, why can't there be a National Being Straight Day? Because being straight is the "norm"? I thought that gay people wanted to just be accepted, but if they keep making a huge deal out of being gay, it makes them seem different, no?
I just don't think that a school is a place to make these kinds of videos. It should be optional, not at a school meeting for everyone to hear. My school has not allowed a Christian club (where Christians and non-Christians meet possibly for 20-30 minutes once per week before school) because it "upsets" some faculty members, board members, and students. But what if being gay offended someone? THEN, the parents of the gay student would complain and bring up issues and whatnot.
Double standards. They stink.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Powerful Women
In my room, I have a bulletin board hung up. I have pictures, calendars, college brochures, and all kinds of trinkets tacked on. A couple of years ago, I was reading a Fortune magazine, and there were the top 50 most influential women in the world (financially). I have some of their pictures that I cut out from that issue. Some of these women are CEOs and executives of companies; you can see why they have been listed as powerful females.
How on earth does Michelle Obama become listed as the most powerful woman in the world? Really. Honestly. What makes her so powerful? Besides the fact that she is married to the president.
This was just a little rant.
How on earth does Michelle Obama become listed as the most powerful woman in the world? Really. Honestly. What makes her so powerful? Besides the fact that she is married to the president.
This was just a little rant.
We Need Help
My generation. We need help. We need advice from our parents and adults. It seems that our values and ability to discern good from bad are becoming muddled in today's society where everything goes and it's cool to be chill - go with the flow.
Like I've said before, my generation accepts differences and diversity; it's pretty fantastic. But, at what point do we stop and say, "That's wrong. We need to do something to stop it." We're great at speaking out against pollution and environmental destruction, but how good are we at speaking out against social issues? Not as much.
The suicide of the Rutgers' student is just another reminder to how hurtful our words can be. Sticks and stones break bones, and words break our hearts. Great. The Internet is free to all. Technology is available to the public. We know it's illegal to hack and whatnot, but how much are we going to abuse our freedom to abuse others? As a member of the public, we should be more responsible. Just because we CAN do something, doesn't mean we should.
It's really none of your business if a male student wants to have sex with another male student. It's not your problem? So, he might be gay. Leave him alone. To each his own. Who are we to publish information like that to the whole world?
Like I've said before, my generation accepts differences and diversity; it's pretty fantastic. But, at what point do we stop and say, "That's wrong. We need to do something to stop it." We're great at speaking out against pollution and environmental destruction, but how good are we at speaking out against social issues? Not as much.
The suicide of the Rutgers' student is just another reminder to how hurtful our words can be. Sticks and stones break bones, and words break our hearts. Great. The Internet is free to all. Technology is available to the public. We know it's illegal to hack and whatnot, but how much are we going to abuse our freedom to abuse others? As a member of the public, we should be more responsible. Just because we CAN do something, doesn't mean we should.
It's really none of your business if a male student wants to have sex with another male student. It's not your problem? So, he might be gay. Leave him alone. To each his own. Who are we to publish information like that to the whole world?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Hypocrisy?
What is this?!
Npr.org reports that one 19-year-old female African-American student said, "Just when I think about politics, get a mental picture — I see old white men," she says. "I'm a young black female, so it's like I have no relationship to it. It's like they make the laws and I just have to deal with it." What I don't understand is how this statement is not being blown up as a racist statement. Old white men?
So, the Democrats are trying to rally support among African-Americans again, especially since they appeared to really relate to President Obama. Yet, they feel that they don't really have an urge to vote for Congress members because the president and his campaign have not come and attempted to really influence the black voters. I didn't think it was the president's DUTY to come and CONVINCE anybody to participate in anything. Because this young female thinks of old white men when she thinks about Congress, she doesn't really care because she's young and black. How is that NOT racist?
They make the laws and she deals with it. True. But, if she's not very please with the laws being passed then why not vote and rally up support for African-American Congressmen and Congresswomen?
Where is the news media freaking out about racism, now? What, because it's not a "white supremacist", we're not all going to freak out about it? Double standard, much.
Npr.org reports that one 19-year-old female African-American student said, "Just when I think about politics, get a mental picture — I see old white men," she says. "I'm a young black female, so it's like I have no relationship to it. It's like they make the laws and I just have to deal with it." What I don't understand is how this statement is not being blown up as a racist statement. Old white men?
So, the Democrats are trying to rally support among African-Americans again, especially since they appeared to really relate to President Obama. Yet, they feel that they don't really have an urge to vote for Congress members because the president and his campaign have not come and attempted to really influence the black voters. I didn't think it was the president's DUTY to come and CONVINCE anybody to participate in anything. Because this young female thinks of old white men when she thinks about Congress, she doesn't really care because she's young and black. How is that NOT racist?
They make the laws and she deals with it. True. But, if she's not very please with the laws being passed then why not vote and rally up support for African-American Congressmen and Congresswomen?
Where is the news media freaking out about racism, now? What, because it's not a "white supremacist", we're not all going to freak out about it? Double standard, much.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Suicide
Today, a young man took his own life at the University of Texas, at Austin. On the way to school, I heard on the news that there was a gunman at the University of Texas at Austin, only to discover later that his goal was to commit suicide.
Suicide is a topic that isn't really talked about that often in schools like drugs, alcohol, and sexual education. My school offers "wellness" classes in order to provide lifestyle advice for us high-schoolers; often, there are topics of stress and time management. But, I really think that depression and suicide itself need to be addressed more in teen environments where suicides are more prone to occur.
At a local school, Henry M. Gunn High School, there have been several suicides on the Caltrain tracks. I never really thought about the impact of depression and suicide, but with this suicide at the University of Tecas at Austin, I can't help but wonder why people commit suicide.
In my opinion, teen suicides appear to happen due to depression and specifically - bullying/harassment. I think this gives more perspective to the idea that people need to treat others nicely and with respect. You never know how much impact you may have on a stranger.
Suicide is a topic that isn't really talked about that often in schools like drugs, alcohol, and sexual education. My school offers "wellness" classes in order to provide lifestyle advice for us high-schoolers; often, there are topics of stress and time management. But, I really think that depression and suicide itself need to be addressed more in teen environments where suicides are more prone to occur.
At a local school, Henry M. Gunn High School, there have been several suicides on the Caltrain tracks. I never really thought about the impact of depression and suicide, but with this suicide at the University of Tecas at Austin, I can't help but wonder why people commit suicide.
In my opinion, teen suicides appear to happen due to depression and specifically - bullying/harassment. I think this gives more perspective to the idea that people need to treat others nicely and with respect. You never know how much impact you may have on a stranger.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
STOP TEXTING
People. Stop texting while you're driving. Stop talking on the phone sans Bluetooth while you're driving.
I assume that many of you would not like to get into an accident or lose your life because you choose to rebel against the laws of society and do illegal things with your precious cellphones while you drive an automobile, endangering not only yourself, but also the possibly-innocent people around you.
As you're driving, it's not all about you. In a way, yes, you want to keep yourself safe, but in order to do that, you might want to look out for those other cars in neighboring lanes. Today, my friend was driving somewhere to get frozen yogurt, and she needed directions. I received a text message from her, asking me where the frozen yogurt store was located. I was scared to text back - SHE WAS DRIVING.
That statistics prove it. Texting/talking on the phone (with or without Bluetooth) while you're driving is "equivalent to a major airliner going down every week in this country" according to a member of FocusDriven (Yahoo! News).
I assume that many of you would not like to get into an accident or lose your life because you choose to rebel against the laws of society and do illegal things with your precious cellphones while you drive an automobile, endangering not only yourself, but also the possibly-innocent people around you.
As you're driving, it's not all about you. In a way, yes, you want to keep yourself safe, but in order to do that, you might want to look out for those other cars in neighboring lanes. Today, my friend was driving somewhere to get frozen yogurt, and she needed directions. I received a text message from her, asking me where the frozen yogurt store was located. I was scared to text back - SHE WAS DRIVING.
That statistics prove it. Texting/talking on the phone (with or without Bluetooth) while you're driving is "equivalent to a major airliner going down every week in this country" according to a member of FocusDriven (Yahoo! News).
