I found the photos shown in class today to be extremely graphic and disturbing. I feel that it showed a part of war that we civilians rarely get to see. It is the unintended consequences of war. There is a cost greater than just having our soldiers overseas, or losing the lives of our soldiers. There is the cost of civilians that few ever see. There is a cost of having war occurring in a given country. The civilians almost always certainly suffer. However, I believed that our war on terror was different than the typical all out war that has occurred in the past. We are not at war with any country in the Middle East, but, rather, we are at war with a radical group that does not claim a country. Therefore, we have the general belief in the United States that the U.S. government has been respectful and helpful to the citizens of the Middle East countries. The disturbing images we saw told a different story. To see those images of children made my heart sink. I have a hard time believing that these horrifying things depicted in these images are a result of our military. There are always casualties in a war, but those casualties rarely have a face. To see these images really put this problem to the forefront. The statistic that the majority of the deaths in the Middle East are civilian and not radical combatants was a startling one. This suggests that perhaps our government is not doing as good of a job as it could be. Perhaps our government does not care enough about the well being and safety of the children and families living in the countries we currently have troops in. It is easy to say this as a civilian living in safety here, while our military risk their lives overseas. There is certainly a balance between ensuring that the amount of civilian deaths in the Middle East are minimized, while at the same time trying to keep military deaths to a minimum. In addition, another factor that could have possibly contributed to these problems is the fact that it is hard for the soldiers to recognize their enemy. It is not a typical war, where your enemy is in uniform and clearly identifiable. In this war, the soldiers’ enemy is hidden and in secret. The radical factions hide in these countries and pretend to be civilians. It is this part of the war that may have contributed to the great deal of civilian losses. With that said, these images were still extremely disturbing and certainly showed the unintended consequences of war; consequences suffered by innocent bystanders. I hope that in the future we can minimize such mistakes and, in general, end this war.

2.9% of the U.S. population is multiracial.

I would say that of all the statistics that we went over in class, the statistic regarding multiracial people in the United States was the most surprising one. The statistic said that 2.9 percent of the U.S. population is multiracial. This came as a shock to me. I always imagined that the United States was a place of many different races and cultures. I thought that our immigration policies in the past, and the fact that all of us (Native Americans excluded) were immigrants at some point, help contribute to the thought that America, more so than other nations, is a melting pot of different races and cultures. And while this may be true, what this statistic says is that although America may contain many different races and cultures, these different races rarely interact romantically. I believed that we lived in an age where there was not only racial equality in the United States, but also that the color of your skin is irrelevant with respect to how you are treated and judged. While this may be the case in legal documents and laws, it certainly does not hold with respect to romantic endeavors. This statistic implies that even in the current climate of racial equality, people still tend to mate primarily with people of their own race. However, at the same time I keep in mind that this statistic is not a reflection of our current generations beliefs and thought processes about race, but, rather, is a reflection of the beliefs held by the previous generations. This statistic is a result of the habits and beliefs of our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. It was not that long ago that blacks and white lived segregated and without equality. It was not until Dr. Martin Luther King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference took action in the 1950’s and 1960’s, that change truly started to occur in the United States. That is not very far back in the history of our country. Our parents grew up while activists were still working for the racial equality that we currently enjoy today. So while I found this statistic shocking, after giving it more thought, I understand why this statistic is the way it is. However, I truly believe that in fifty to sixty years, this statistic will be significantly higher. I believe that our generation has a different set of beliefs with respect to interracial dating, and that this shift in beliefs will change this statistic in future years, once we grow older and have children and grandchildren. While I believe that this statistic does not represent the current culture with respect to interracial dating in the United States, I believe that we still have a way to go before we reach true equality and unity. But I believe we have certainly done better than this statistic suggests.

The man is a man. Simply because he was born a female does not exactly change that, because he transformed himself just into the person he wanted to be, which not a female was. I understand that his last job was for males only considering the duties it entitles, however, since he is a man there should be no problems that would interfere with preforming his job duties.; consequentially he should have promise of waking up to his job every day. However, that was not the case. He was fired for expressing himself. I feel expressing himself isn’t a strong enough way to explain it, though. He is legally a man, he has paperwork and all. I honestly do not understand the difference.
This case reminds me of a story I heard back in high school. There was a case where during the baby’s circumscription the doctor took off just a little too much. The parents decided to make the he a she, without ever telling the child of its originally birth. ‘She’ began her life out as a girl, following after the mother. However, soon enough the ‘girl’ was acting more like a boy each and every day. ‘She’ even liked other females. Now, keep in the mind the child is oblivious to ‘her’ original sex.
There are two points I would like to emphasize. First, this was a sex change, should this child have the same problems when ‘she’ grows up. Will she not be allowed to work at Victoria’s Secret? And secondly, ‘she’ wanted to be like the boys. No one forced ‘her’ to be like boys, there were no invisible strings, and ‘she’ did what ‘she’ wanted to.
After hearing this story, I don’t believe we choose if we want to be gay, straight, male or female; we already have a preset path; it’s only our responsibility to follow our paths. With that said, this man didn’t choose he wanted to be a man, that’s just what he was meant to be, it was his choose to follow that path and be happy with his life.

In a case such as Japan's 'suicide forest', I think suicide is becoming more of a leisure activity, if so possible. So many people are doing it these days that those who even have a slight, faint, little thought of causing any type of harm to themselves will act upon it. It is sort of like monkey see, monkey do. One, what I like to call not- so- brave, solider walks off into the forest in hopes to put an end to all the bad in his/ her life. They may never return, and to him/ her that might be considered a successful voyage. However, those who do return home, might think he/ she is a bigger failure than what they started as. Back to the purpose though, once so many people commit the same, intentional, wrong doing it becomes more casual. Something everyone should do, or could do at least. Suicide is now a mere trend; if very influential circumstances become active in one's life then so be it. Right? Well, obviously, since everyone else in society is why can't a particular individual do it, too.

All know that suicide is the most permanent thing to happen to a person, even stronger than death itself. Yes, suicide is death, but suicide is self inflicted death. Common, natural deaths are nothing that can be avoided. What persuades a person to end it all? A lot of things do I suppose. Nothing is worth calling it quits. But I guess that makes the saying true, 'once a quitter, always a quitter'. If one chooses to quit on life, there is no going back. Ever. That's the permanence of suicide.

Maybe I got a little off track on my blog, but I feel that what is happening in Japan is just merely strugglers giving up, jumping on the band wagon, and forever ending a life of frustration. I in no way agree with suicide... Hey, what does not kill you, makes you stronger. At least the forest survivors will be able to live on and preach that theory.

I was a little disheartened when you said that you offer some of the men there your guidance, especially the ones that you said probably didn’t have guidance and support from their own parents. I was not disheartened by the fact that you are taking them under your wing, it bothers me that you’re the only one to help to help them. There has always been someone there supporting me throughout everything. I had a decently rough life, and by that I mean I am a foster child. Regardless of what I have been through there were people there, including my family. My parents have made stupid choices, lots of them but that does no mean that they don’t care for me. There are times when I feel alone in this world, like no one understands me. No, I don’t always put the foot forth to talk to someone, but I always know that there is someone who is willing to listen me. That is one of the greatest feeling I have in this world, just being secure that I can talk to someone. It’s more than just talking to them though, they are always there supporting me, like you are to them. You’re a man who is confident enough in your life to help those who are still trying to understand what the purpose of their life is. Whether or not they understand what an inspiration you are, you should understand that. Although, I can’t say this with certainty, I could imagine what a tough challenge it is for to become the person you are today. I am unaware of what you did to be granted a life sentence, and I’m assuming, by how composed you are, that you accept your sentence. That’s a great feat in itself. I’m glad that you are comfortable enough to help others get to the same place you are right now. It’s going to take a long time, but when you are where you are right now. Time is one of the only things you got. Keep strong, keep fighting, and most od all keep believing. Regardless of who’s writing you, you have people there and here supporting you.

Zach Wahls gave a terrific argument in respect to his family. He spoke with integrity and wisdom. I completely agree with him about same sex marriage. Regardless of the sexuality of your parents you have the ability to be who you want to be.
Although, I do feel that the intellectual level of this young is unique to him. He is above and beyond ‘average’. So does this mean that he represents a positive correlation to having same sex parents? Possibly, but I wouldn’t go that far as to say that. I mean, this young man is an exemplar to the finest of students. He said himself he scored in the 99th percent. I may be rotten for saying this, but this young man should not be allowed to solely represent the children that are products of a gay marriage.
Don’t get me wrong, this kid is great; he is among the finest of the fine. He has the great, yet rare, ability to speak publicly. If I wasn’t already for his opinion, he would have persuaded me.
I strongly believe that your sexual orientation is predetermined. With that said, to not be allowed to marry, according to Tim Minchin, “the one girl [or boy] on Earth specifically designed for me” is wrong! (For those who didn’t watch that social issue video, it is Tim Minchin’s ‘If I Didn’t Have You. If you didn’t already, definitely watch it!) Marriage is not something that should be determined by anyone other than the people engaging in it.
What is so wrong with two people of the same sex getting married anyway? Is the best argument against it religion? If so, it’s a great thing that more than one religion is believed in the world. God would look at such an act as a sin? That may be true, or at least it would have been. Times are changing, not everything is the way it used to be. And it’s about time people start to accept that what it is.
Just let it be, if a person wants to display their affection of another. Let it be.

I am not mentally retarded. I am not ‘special’. I am healthy. I was born ‘normal’. However, I am still beyond offended by the r-word.
I don’t understand how the r-word could be taken so lightly. The social norms are so lenient on the usage of it, I just don’t understand why. I am guilty of using the word, I will admit. However, I am over whelmed with guilt afterwards. I apologized, too, after using the r-word. I do not curse, and I don’t want to tarnish my language with a foul word. I am not affected when other people curse, because it is our language. Not cursing is hard, nearly impossible actually, I slip every once in a while too; because they are part of my vocabulary. I was raised with the curse words and I continue to hear them every day, everywhere. There is no escaping them. But those words seem so miniscule compared to the r-word. I believe it is because the r-word actually offends a group of people. Those who were unfortunately born with disabilities are referred to as mentally retarded, which is and should be politically correct because that is the medical term. That is the phrase the r-word derived from.
The r-word is most definitely the worst word I have ever heard; nothing quite stings me like that word. I have personally seen people with disabilities called the r-word before and I know they didn’t understand the intentional rudeness behind the word, but I did. I feel nothing but anguish towards the people who use the term, especially towards those who actually have special needs.
My brother has autism, ADHD, bipolar, and even a few more things that I can’t remember. He is the friendliest kid ever. He could make you smile no matter what the circumstances are. My sister has down syndrome. Her heart, figuratively speaking, is the size of China. I love them more than anything, and to see them called the r-word in any other fashion than medical terms is heart breaking. I stand up them, because I know they don’t know the difference. They are the kindest people I have ever met.

First, I must say I absolutely love this song; I must have doubled the play count once I discovered it.

After that though, this song is completely true. He does love his wife however; if he did not know her he would not know he loved her at all. Therefore he would have another love in his life, somebody else. You don’t know what you have if you do not know it even exists. This may be similar to the idea that after a poor person moves up in society on the social ladder, they do not know how to act. They are unaware that even how they are acting does not even belong. They do not know another way of life exists. Meaning do they do not know that their life style isn't the only way to live a life. Once, they move up the social latter they might not realize that the why they are acting is not normal for their new fond environment. Additionally, in a poor, run down, country think their life is great and full of happiness. However, to us, the people in one of the most industrialized countries look at how they are living and can't help but feel a little ashamed knowing we are living a life of completeness, having free time, having new toys, and there is always food on the table. We are, for the most part, happy with our lives, and so are they. But we have so much more than them, they just don't know it.

He feels that to met his wife at the young age of seventeen is unlikely, which it is. What are the chances of meeting that one person designed for you so early in life? They are slim. Very slim. He claimed that everyone has someone designed perfectly for them, we are meant to be with them and that affection will grow over time, like bananas. The more drama there is, the stronger the relationship will be. So his wife is not exactly ‘special’, she is average, within a ‘bell curve’. Anything, any relationship is possible, giving the time to grow and develop.

To have such a high percentage of teenage pregnancy in a high school is not acceptable. I believe any amount of teenage pregnancy is unacceptable, but after the rates begin to sky rocket, there is more that should be examined than just the lack of condoms being distributed. It is not exactly the school districts responsibility to ensure that their students are practicing safe sex, but the least they could do is bring awareness. But what good will that do? It’s not like these young adults don’t know what the potential consequences of their actions are. They know to have sex without taking the proper precautions is dangerous. They know it could be life altering; yet they still do regardless of all they have been preached about.

The fact that the article mentioned the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, leads me to believe that they believe their poverty level reflects their chance of teenage pregnancy. There are studies that prove there are connections, however, there is more behind this other than the fact that ‘they can’t afford to go the movies so they are going to get pregnant instead.’ Regardless of the amount of activities there are for students to become involved there will still be plenty of time for them to engage in risky business. If they want it, they will get it. There is no doubt about it. They don’t exactly just choose to get pregnant one day, they enjoy sex, so they do it. It is just that all too often they have sex while making very poor decisions.

I think teenage pregnancy is turning more into something that is accepted at that school rather than something that is looked downed upon. Once something becomes so widespread it transforms into a trend. So, I’m not trying to say that everyone is opting into pregnancy just because so many others are doing it; rather, that since so many already have been pregnant is acceptable for another to become pregnant. Ex. “Why is everyone making a big deal over my pregnancy, when I have two friends who are pregnant too and no one is making a big deal over them.” Because she has two friends who are pregnant means it is more acceptable and more understandable she is pregnant.

Those parents are not living ‘vicariously’ through their children. Anyone who watched the show would probably realize that. The children want to dress up and express their talents on stage. Every little girl in that show wants to compete. Along with competing, they want to win. The parents did, of course, introduce their children to this world of make-up and long gowns. There are points when the parents will take some drastic measures to ensure their children win, such as getting their eye brows waxed.

I do remember an episode where all the toddler wanted was to drink energy drinks, and she refused to cooperate with anything to do with the pageant until she got an energy drinks. Of course, her mother caved to child’s desires. With the pageant in just a few days, in was necessary to manage all their time accordingly so they couldn’t afford for the little one’s temper tantrum, therefore the young girl consumed several energy drinks a day. Several more energy drinks than any age should consume. That was in fact, poor parenting. That child’s health is worsening with every sip she is taking, but the parent will allow because as long as the little one is getting her way, she is happy and will behave like a perfect little angel.

To dress a toddler in a ‘Madonna Outfit’ is something some parents would choose to avoid doing, however it is still innocent. The toddler more than likely does not understand anything wrong the wardrobe, it’s just something funny. The simple fact that the toddler doesn’t understand what exactly she’s wearing makes it acceptable. However, if 10 year old were to wear a ‘cone bra’ she would be labeled and judged. That is because she is of the age where they begin to learn about sex and puberty. They understand the cone bra, and they also understand some of the things Madonna did as ‘fashionista’. What the mother did was innocent, no one should be offended by it. I felt the wardrobe gave the girl a ‘one up’ over the other girls, if not an advantage. Madonna was, and still is, an icon.