Reading and writing??No NO no..?

Being able to read and write today is something that needed to get through a lot of careers and when doing things. Reading is something we do every day whether we realize it or not. Being literate allows you to have so much more of a variety of opportunities and careers. Reading and writing is a thing that most jobs require you to have and it may be hard to do some things when you are not literate. I can’t imagine how my life would be if I did not know how to read or write because most of my day is spent either reading or writing in school. Some challenges the protagonist from the piece faced because he wasn’t literate was that he had a hard time finding where some people lived because he could not read the address and had to ask people around him where this address was or where that address was. He had to try to keep this job because it was one of the jobs that he could actually pull through without needing the ability to read and write. He found it hard at times because when he had to find an address he had to ask people about where it was and he even got lost one time because he could not read the sign for where he was going to and went a different way. Reading and writing is something adults and children today should have to ability to do because in the world it is hard to do things without this ability.

What I wear.

Everyone has their own way of dressing. Some individuals are required by their religion to wear certain things and some are not. In Maysan Haydar’s “Veiled Intentions: Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering,” I think she really shows her readers that the way someone dresses does not typically define who they are as an individual. Haydar has some disadvantages and advantages with wearing her hijab. Some advantages Haydar has by wearing this hijab is that she does not have to deal with hearing boys sexually harass her or have others look at her inappropriately just for the way she dresses or if she has a lot of skin showing, which may lead some men to look at her wrong. Some disadvantages of her wearing a hijab is that some people look at her differently. People look at her as if she is a treat or question if they should even talk to her. Haydar can be seen by some people as being forced to wear her hijab or may be seen as though she does not have any freedom. I think that Haydar’s hijab does enable her “to be seen as a whole person”, but to some extent. I feel like her hijab allows some individuals to look at her as a regular person but then it may allow some individuals to look at her differently and they may not see the real Haydar. People may look at Haydar and think that she can’t do this or do that just because of what she is wearing. This is unfair and for the most part I think Haydar wearing a hijab does not change who she is as a person.

Male?Female?Neither?

In Stephanie Chen’s article about whether gender identity at same-sex colleges should be kept the same when entering a college and leaving, I think it is ridiculous that some students are being kicked out of colleges just because they have changed their sex gender. Students should have the opportunity to be what they want and if they want to be considered female or male should be their choice. Schools should still see them as what their real gender is though if they applied to a same-sex college. Sex gender problems have been around for a while where gays or lesbians were made fun of for various reasons. I think this is wrong for students to do because if they were in the other person’s shoes I think they would see how wrong and hurtful it is for them to make fun of these people. Whether students come into a school female or male and come out being something else should be no one’s business. I think it makes no difference if someone is female or male and if they change their sex gender during their college experience. Gender is gender and it is common for some people to explore different genders in college if they are interested. There should not be any banning to this because if there was, then I think that would be ridiculous because there is no point in banning whether someone can change their gender. That is their choice and no one should have a saying in it.

Because I want something in my life.

I agree with the quote, “Every act you have ever performed since the day you were born was performed because you wanted something,” by Andrew Carnegie, because I believe everything you do in life, you do for a particular reason. Everyone does things, but no one does it just to do it. Every action always has a reason for doing it. For example, we speak for us to be heard, we go to school to learn or earn a degree, we walk places to reach a destination, and the list can go on and on. Whether we act on something in a good way or bad way there is still a reason for doing it. Some acts we perform in our life can really effect how we are seen by others in a good or bad way. Even from the day we were born we perform to get something. Like when babies cry, they want a bottle or food. When we are a little older we may kiss and touch our spouse for sexual desires. When we are hungry we get some food because we want to fulfill our stomach’s desire. We might not even think sometimes that the actions we perform are performed because we want something but whether we realize it or not we are performing because we want something. We may think that some of the acts we perform in life, when we want something, are in our conscious mind, but sometimes we can perform an act in life when we want something without even realizing we are doing it.

Free taxpayers!

In the article, “Free that Taxpayers: Defund State-Sponsored Media,” by Michelle Malkin, she looks like she definitely disagrees with taxpayers paying for propaganda. Malkin, being a Philly-born, South Jersey raised women, can probably relate to how difficult it is for some people to pay taxes when more of the doing is not their fault and shouldn’t have to pay for that type of stuff.  Public radio stations and television shows are getting our money in so many ways and they shouldn’t be getting so much of our money when there are others out there that should be the responsible ones for paying for public radio stations and television shows. Juan Williams was fired from his job for making comments about the Muslims and people are fighting to free him. Some public radio host say stuff that they shouldn’t be saying and some of their opinions and ideas should be kept to themselves, especially when it is public and anyone can hear because it can offend people. Even if radio host do not notice, they may say something hurtful or judgemental or something can is not right to be said out in the public. People need to start thinking of what they say because the outcome can be bad. Malkin thinks that no more money from the public should go to NPR, PBS, and CPB because there are others out there that should pay the NPR, PBS, and CPB other than the public, for instance, as Malkin says, let the “speech-squelching progressives and jihadi-whitewashing apologists” pay for it.

Not unique!?

In the article “The Other Blind Side,” by Josh Levin, I think Levin is correct on the point that there are other people with the same situation as the movie “The Blind Side”, but not every sports player that moves to do better in their lives, are being only helped by white people. This article shows that most sports players are being helped and getting better lives by the help of white people but I am pretty sure that there are many people in this world that are being helped by people other than white people are being put in the same situation. I think that sounds somewhat racist for Levin to say that African Americans are being helped by white people because he leaves out the point that there are African Americans being helped by other colored people also to help them bring themselves up higher than they are and better their lives. Situations like Oher’s are happening a lot of places but aren’t being as recognized as others are being recognized. There may even be better stories out their but the world is so big that we might not get the chance to even hear about these stories at all. Levin should not have said, “Black athlete meets white family, flourishes on account of the added support, and everyone lives happily ever after.” I think he should not have said that because it shows that black athletes get better from only white family help, which is definitely not true everywhere.

Girls or Boys Equally?

According to Nathan Hegedus, in “I will put my little boy in pink pants,” Hegedus explains how he wants his son to be comfortable and okay with his soft, feminine side, but others are looking at his son weird and at times it can be embarrassing. Girls are allowed to be tough and wear guy clothing, but if a guy were to wear girl clothing or act girly and soft, it would be a problem to the environment around him and people would look at him weird and even sometimes may make fun of him. The color pink has been known to be a girls main color and blue has been known to be a guy’s main color. The problem is, if a guy was to be seen wearing pink, people would look at them weird, but it would be okay if a girl wore blue. This is crazy because people should be able to wear whatever they feel like wearing and should act how they want without being judged, but that is impossible in this world. Clothing can tell a lot about someone and is a big part of how individuals judge others. I don’t think people should judge people just because of their clothing because sometimes that is all that someone has to wear and it may not be their choice. I think it is important to raise girls more like boys, but it is equally important to raise boys more like girls because girls should not only be gentle and soft but also be tough so when they are faced with hard and tough situations. It is just  as equally important to raise boys more like girls because boys shouldn’t have to only be tough and hardworking but also have the characteristics of being gentle and emotional at times.

Phoebe Prince

This article, “What really happened to Phoebe Prince,” by Emily Bazelon was a really eye opening article. I never thought that the outcome of bullying could be so horrible still. I think it was good that this article was published to educate people, like me, about Phoebe Prince’s experience and how much bullying can affect someone and their life decisions. Bazelon shows us how schools need to do more when it comes to bullying. Some schools know that bullying is taking place but are still not taking any action toward preventing it. From reading this article I think that all the students involved shouldn’t be all criminally prosecuted but there should be some step taken to show them the wrongs they have done. Bullying is taking place everyone and this needs to show students the consequences that can happen if you are caught in the act of bullying someone. If a student is being bullied I think they should talk to someone and not just keep it in. Schools need to take action also to make sure bullying is not present and that students know that they have a place they can go and feel safe and not scared. Bullying should not be taking place at all because I am pretty sure no one would like to be treated this way. It is sad to see that some people do not care if they bully others and think that it is okay to be like this. Bullying is still happening right now around the world and needs to come to a stop. Phoebe Prince was just one of the students that have committed suicide due to bullying and this should so others the affects and should teach others how wrong the act of bullying is wrong.

"Church of Reason?"

Phaedrus was a member of the English department that thinks that the University is like the “Church of Reason.” This all started when a professor was prohibited from speaking on the University because they did not have the statement “cleared through the college public-relations office.” This is not right because professors are supposed to speak and give speeches and for them to have to get their speeches cleared by the public-relations office is kind of absurd. The legislatures are making ridiculous laws now, like for every student that does not pass the college has a fine of eight thousand dollars, or that now funds for colleges are being cut. Phaedrus tells us that there are two types of Universities and that at the “real University” there is no specific location and that the second University is a legal corporation where they do not “generate new knowledge or evaluate ideas.” Phaedrus says that the University is like the “Church of Reason,” because just like a church that was sold and now is a bar, Universities are supposed to be for learning purposes and now they are a place people go just to go and “socialize” and sometimes “party.” Phaedrus says that Universities have changed and aren’t what they used to be. I think from my experience so far, the University has its ways. If you want to go to a University just to party and not take your school education seriously then that is your choice, but you can go to a University and take it seriously and do good in it.

Rehab..Cures Addiction? Or Not?

In Maia Szalavitz’s, “Teen Drug Rehab Cure Addiction or Create It?” Maia shows how rehab centers and different treatments do not always work and help cure addiction but sometimes instead can worsen the situation. Many addicts go into rehab or some type of treatment for their addiction and end up actually coming out worse than they were or end up learning about something new to try from the other individuals in the group or treatment location. I think someone who might oppose to this article may think that many drug addicts can get better if they put their minds to it. They might say that people can get better from their drug addict or some might even oppose that no matter what you can never get better from your addiction. Rehab and treatment for teen drug addiction is not the only way for parents to help their children out who may be spiraling into drug addiction. I think parents should talk to their children face to face and see where they are coming from and why they are doing what they are doing. One on one therapy tends to work out more than group therapy or rehab. Parents should try making the child see a counselor who is not just there to make money and can only see the child for an hour only. Parents are concerned about their children and their child’s wellbeing, so I think that sometimes it is necessary for parents to over-react when their child is taking drugs or alcohol. I don’t think parents should over-react too much if they find out their child is using these things because some kids can get offended so their parents should talk to them about it instead of going straight and yelling at them. Maia also shows us that drug addiction is a problem for many teens and they should try to not get themselves into these situations or find help getting out of these addictions before it is too late.

Let them drink water!

In Daniel Engber's, "Let Them Drink Water! What a Fat Tax Really Means for America", is an article trying to tie people into the idea of “fat tax.” Since we are about to spend about $1 trillion on health care on our second-most expensive war, Engber’s explains to us how commentators want to put tax on fat people and the junky foods and soft drinks that we eat and drink every day. They are thinking of adding tax on junk foods and soft drinks so that consumers will soon decrease their spending amounts on these items and even make the people in America with “health, wealth, and obesity.” I am guessing they think that obesity is a big problem in America and think that if they add taxes to these junky items, people will not buy them as much and overeating and diabetes rates will decline. Engber states that junk food is like cigarettes and we can get addicted to them. We sometimes just eat for pleasure and this is what makes us fat. Companies are trying to persuade the consumers to eat and buy the products and design and make the foods look good for us to want it. Engber thinks that these “sugar sweetened beverages are not necessary for survival” and we could always just drink water which is free or little cost and is not destructive like these other products we put into our bodies. Raising taxes to these things will make people not want them and will help people and their health. Daniel Engber explains that “fat tax” will mostly affect “mostly the nonwhite people who drink a lot of soft drinks and most sensitive to prices” and I think this is unfair because it is not right that it will be beneficial to the rich people. This article was kind of bias and I think they should think of another way of getting money rather than focusing on the obese people and the foods we eat almost every day for snacks. Yes, there not necessary for survival but sometimes those are the only foods and drinks available around when you’re hungry or thirsty at most places.

Who Rewrites Civil Rights History????

In Will Bunch’s, “Glenn Beck Rewrites Civil Rights History,” I think Glenn Beck tries to show people that history is important. This is good, and might impact our nation because many people try to ignore the past and do not want to know anything about it, when truly, it would be beneficial if they did know even a little about it. In Bunch’s article, I think Glenn Beck I doing a good job and I like the fact that he is trying to make it “equal rights for racial and ethnic minorities, women, and homosexuals,” which is really respectable because before, some of these people would have found it very offensive when they read history textbooks or anything to do with history when it talked about these things. The ideas in both, “Glenn Beck Rewrites Civil Rights History” and “Something Has Gone Very Wrong”, by James Loewen, is to a certain extent relative because both men are trying to make people see that history is important but should be taught differently, so that, people can understand it better. Both men also think history should be taught how it really happened and not taught with hidden facts. Mutually, Glenn Beck and James Loewen would probably agree, in Bunch’s article, where he talks about “studying U.S history is a powerful connection with people’s youth” and “the only problem in history is that what people are learning is “bunk” and is not history as it happened.” Loewen was a big believer that half of what history textbooks teach is misunderstood, due to the fact that they hide what really happened in the past. This was a good article though, showing that others notice the incorrectness with history.