Race in America

The issue of race is very prevalent in the United States.  Yet, as a nation, we manage to cover up all of the conflicts that result of the racial disparities. Instead of learning from one another, we judge and our “hidden biases” are ever more apparent. These biases exist because we do not educate people based off of race. One of the articles I read was “Trying not to raise racist kids.” I was immediately drawn to this article because of the title. I thought to myself, is there really a right way to try to raise kids who are accepting of all races? The process of teaching kids not to be racist must be difficult because everyone has their own opinions.  However, it is important to recognize that young adults develop perspectives based off experiences.  One of the ideas that I found to be similar to the articles from Andrew Hacker and Time Wise is that of ignoring the topic of race in general.  The article suggests the importance of being real and truthful with children. Instead of making ignorant comments, parents should not gloss over the racial disparities. Often parents talk in code about race instead of openly discussing race; as a result, these discussions are pointless. Furthermore, when parents do not acknowledge the differences of race, they are giving their children mixed messages. While some may argue that talking about race doesn’t come easily, as Wise and Hacker both mentioned, we do not take the time or effort to talk about race in an open environment.  Another article that I found to be striking was titled “Behind the Scenes: Black and shopping in America.” One black woman recalls herself and two of her friend’s power shopping in a store; they were all dressed professionally, but they ended up being detained for suspicious of shoplifting. Police found no stolen merchandise in the hands of any of the women. However, neither the manager of the store or police even bothered to apologize. This is extremely troubling to me because they did not do anything wrong, yet they were discriminated on the basis of race. This idea connected to one that Wise talked about- getting around the law. Wise was able to avoid many legal problems due to his race and he was actually doing things that were against the law. However, he recognized that if he were a black kid, he would have been in trouble. In this particular circumstance, Wise would argue that if he was in the store with friends, power shopping, he would have never been detained. And if in fact he was, the manager and police would be humiliated.  It is ridiculous to me that racial discrimination still exists to this extent. The solution? While there is no definite answer to solving racial discrimination, all of these articles propose the idea of talking about race openly. Black and white people must talk about the shared history and common bond that everyone shares.  It is time to have an open discussion about race, one that is truthful.  This goes back to the common idea that there are more similarities than differences. Yet, people in today’s society, seem to focus on the differences which results in more problems.

What's going on in the world?

I am very interested in the Wisconsin unions fight that is occurring. I have some background of the events so chose to read an article from “The Opinion Pages” on The New York Times section. It is called “Shock Doctrine, U.S.A” by Paul Krugman. He compares the events that have been occurring as very similar to that of Baghdad in 2003. Madison has been the scene of large protests against the governor’s budget bill. This bill involves denying collective-bargaining rights to public-sector workers. Although Scott Walker, governor, states that he needs to pass the bill in order to deal with the state’s problems, it should be noted that his attacks on unions do not correspond to the budget.  Krugman argues that the events in Wisconsin is a power grab, meaning that they are trying to exploit the fiscal crisis to get rid of the last major counterweight to the political power of corporations and the wealthy. The power grab goes beyond union-busting. The bill that everyone has been arguing about is 144 pages long. There are major pieces of information that are hidden deep; this goes beyond the argument at hand. Walker and his party do not intend on changing any of their goals because Union-busting and privatization remain the priorities. They will do whatever they can in order to sneak in their ideas to various budgets. I also looked at an article from CBS news, “Walker to unveil plan for Wis. budget crunch.” I was shocked that the cuts are projecting to around $3.6B. This is an extremely large number and it is what they are cutting that is troubling. The school districts are being affected greatly. Education is extremely important. Yet, it is being affected in that the class sizes will be larger, teachers are being laid off, and activities are being cut. This is something that the citizens cannot afford to happen because education is the basis to the future.  In a poll that I looked at, the public is against both cutting pay and benefits. The public’s opinion should be considered because they are the ones who live in Wisconsin every day. Their lives will suffer if things do not turn out the way they should be.

Mock Trial Recap

1.       I felt that the result of the case regarding sexual harassment was justified. I feel that while the defendant could have been viewed as a humorous and hardworking man in the bureau, his actions were sexual harassment.  One of the most compelling facts is the fact that the defendant put up racy and inappropriate pictures which clearly affected the welfare of the plaintiff. The pictures were just the half of it; he made disrespectful remarks to the plaintiff. He would playfully flirt and tease with her.  Although they may not have seen as serious to the defendant, the plaintiff clearly stated that she was uncomfortable. Whether or not the defendant agrees that his actions are inappropriate for the work place, he must respect the request. However, he blatantly ignored the plaintiff which was stated in the testimony. He could see that she was suffering and that is why she missed so many days of work. While she was disturbed, she still showed up to work as often as she could.  One of the witnesses that really stood out to me was the head of the bureau. She, in addition to the defendant, ignored the complaints by the plaintiff. This makes her just as guilty as the defendant himself. By not stopping him, she is condoning the sexual harassment behavior. In order for me to reach the opposite outcome, I would have to have been given testimony that the plaintiff engaged with the defendants remarks. She would have had to flirt back or said mixed things. However, this was not the case. She always stayed true to herself by saying no; she was firm and should not have had to deal with the sexual harassment that occurred in the workplace. In the second trial between David Jones and Susan Williams, I disagree with the verdict of non-guilty.  I feel that David Jones raped Ms. Williams because of the simple fact that she said “no.” Their relationship is long, and yes they have been intimate before, but in their most recent relationship, they had been taking it slowly. Mr. Jones was aware that Ms. Williams was not ready to be intimate, but still, he planned everything all along by putting on a condom. Before even discussing the possibility of being intimate, he put on a condom. This comes across as Mr. Jones fully intending on being intimate with her even if she did not want to. Another striking piece of evidence was the torn shirt that appeared to be ripped with a lot of force; she also had bruises along her arm. I feel that the testimony of Lee Streams, the psychologist, proved to be the weakest. His focus has always been on adolescent psychology. Neither Mr. Jones nor Ms. Williams are adolescents and he did not even know Ms. Williams. I feel that his testimony should have been disregarded. Furthermore, Ms. Williams’s testimony was difficult to listen to because she was obviously very distraught. However, it was honest and real. She was raped. In order for me to believe that she was not raped, I would have had to understand more of their relationship and of her leading him on. While she engaged in casually kissing, she did not intend on having sex with Mr. Williams that night. She was not ready; he should have respected her.

2.       People must know that in both sexual assault and sexual harassment, people react differently. We must respect the boundaries of other people. While some people may enjoy flirty comments and touching, others may find it to be extremely offensive. People must be cautious and learn to understand and respect the emotions of other people in order to avoid problems such as these.  I do not think that there is a problem of sexual harassment or sexual assault at DHS. I feel that the majority of guys respect the girls and their feelings. I have never seen any guy be physically or verbally abusive in school. That being said, I also do not look for it that much. If I saw something out of the ordinary I would notice it, but I do not go around analyzing conversations between the guys and girls. Both girls and guys are respected at DHS. The majority of everyone has an extracurricular activity that they are involved in. They work hard and understand the significance of treating others the way they would like to be treated. If sexual harassment or sexual assault was a major problem at DHS, I feel like it would be talked about more. Still, counselors and teachers look out for it and will react accordingly. I definitely feel safe at DHS. Overall, people must be aware of what is going on around them and understand that everyone behaves and reacts in different ways. There is no right way, but everyone should be respected.  

The State of The Union

Although I am not really interested in politics, I really did enjoy watching the 2011 State of the Union address. Obama used several tactics throughout the speech in order to leave an impact on the nation.  He urged Americans to recognize the importance of innovation and reforms in order to keep the United States as leader among the rest of the world. He believes that it is our Sputnik moment;  it is our time to win the future. In order to do so, he pointed out several ordinary people that may have only done small things, but these small actions caused great things to occur. For instance, he recognized a man whose small company was named the "Plan B" in order to rescue the miners.  While they were the back-up plan, they worked tirelessly for days and ultimately, became the plan that was used to rescue the miners. It are the stories like these, typical American companies and corporations that have the potential to greatly influence the rest of the world.  Obama effectively used these stories, in addition to The Wright Brothers and Edison to show how powerful and great America is. The history of our country is successful and today, there are several figures that have risen to the occasion to help recreate America. Obama proved that we are a country of intelligence and composure by reminding us of all the success that has taken place. This was a positive approach because he put faith back into the typical American citizen. However, America is not perfect and he was not afraid of admitting this. He urged the importance of budget cuts, health and education reform in order to get Americans truly back on track. This requires great cuts and change, but he is ready and willing to make the sacrifices. I felt that Obama made a great speech; not only was the content relevant, his leadership skills were reflected. He is firm when he speaks and he makes the average person feel like they should make a difference.  He gives us hope, but also urges us to make a difference.

Abortion

1. NARAL Pro-Choice America: In this organization, they argue that women should have the opportunity to choose abortion. The site states the problem which is that anti-choice groups want to outlaw abortion and will stop at nothing. They  have many violent tactics that they will go through in an effort to get rid of abortion. The proposed solution of this organization is to keep abortion both safe and legal. While their opinion on abortion is clearly stated, the organization also makes an effort to explain different aspects to abortion. For example, they go through bans on abortion after 12 weeks in addition to "Crisis Pregnancy Centers."   They give the facts to different parts of the controversy, but then also state "The Challenge" and "The Solution." This allows people to understand the many diverse aspects; it is easy to understand because everything is split up. One of the sections that I found particularly moving was that of the violence that occurs. Dr. George Tiller was murdered outside of his house because he provided abortions. In addition to doctors, other people are at risk for going through abortion including patients and their families. They face threats, murder, arson, stalking, etc. They propose to make sure that the laws are enforced that provide safety. National Right to Life: On this website, the organization instantly gives the medical facts. There are many different techniques that come with abortions during the first, and second  & third trimesters. As the time goes along, the health risks increase. One of the techniques that struck me is the instillation methods-- Hysterotomy. The method horrified me because not only is the greatest risk to the mother, but also because there are many incisions that are used. The website goes through many different aspects to abortion, but primarily the idea of the safety of abortion. They state that abortion is not safer than giving birth. Just as many other pro-life organizations, this one argues that life begins way before the actual baby is born.  The organization believes that there is no reason why any woman should have to go through any surgery of any kind especially induced abortion and not even be informed about the potential health risks. Overall, I believe that pro-choice has a better argument because their research is more evident with all different sides to the argument. They include everything from a legal standpoint to the importance of abortion and the benefits.  Some of the comments on the pro-life website are extremely misleading and even unnecessary such as "If the baby's life is not interrupted, he or she will someday become an adult man or woman. "Although I have always been a supporter of pro-choice, these websites helped me stick to my beliefs even further.

2. I think that a parent should not have the right to know if their daughter is having an abortion depending on the circumstance. If a girl is living in a comfortable atmosphere, where she feels safe, then she will willingly tell her parents that she is having an abortion. There would be no problem with her telling her parents because she would want to tell them. They could be there to assist her. However, the girl may be in a dangerous living situation where her parents are abusive; If she must her tell her parents that she is having an abortion, she may end up being in a terrible situation. Therefore, while I believe that girls should tell their parents, they might not be in the right situation to do so. It is ultimately up to them to decide. I believe that even by the age of 16, girls know what their morals are and will make the best decisions for themselves. They do need to to have their parents to consent to it because it is their choice, their health, and ultimately their life.

3. There should not be a requirement that the father is notified of a woman's decision to have an abortion. Like I mentioned above, if a woman makes the decision to have an abortion, she also has the right to decide who she would like to tell. If she wants to tell the father, who may be her husband or boyfriend, then she should and can. If the father was a loving and understanding person, he would understand the choice she is making. He would be there to support and it is evident that the woman would know that. However, what if the father raped her? Then, the mother should not have to tell the father; she had no choice to be raped. Why does the father have the right to know that she went through an abortion.  In the right situation, a woman will tell the father of her decision to have an abortion and this ultimately up to her.

4.  It is upsetting to me that 92 percent of Illinois counties have no abortion provider. I feel that we should have more because woman have the right to choose abortion if it is right to them. Woman should not feel like they have to go through with having a child if they are in a bad position.  One of the Illinois laws that I disagree with would be the counseling ban/ gag rule. This states that Illinois prohibits certain state employees and organizations receiving state funds from counseling or referring women for abortion services. While it is a woman's decision, the state should do everything to help support her when she does make this decision. The state helps fund other surgeries. Why is abortion any different? While everyone may not be pro-choice, the woman has the right to aid when she needs it.  Another law that I disagree with would be the Other Anti-Choice Law which states Illinois law includes a strongly anti-choice policy statement. While they are not telling them what to do, they are swaying people to a certain standpoint. This is not right because woman should receive fair and equal information about everything.

Death Penalty #3

There are various aspects in a capital case that are designed to protect the rights of the accused. For example, the initial step in a criminal prosecution when the defendant is able to make a plea. The defendant has the opportunity to speak honestly and openly. Whatever they may plea, will be recorded accurately so that there are no misunderstandings. The preliminary hearing also protects the rights of the accused because they examine the evidence to see if it is sufficient enough.  A defendant cannot be convicted if there is minimal evidence; this step helps to understand the evidence that is being used against the defendant. Furthermore, the grand jury ultimately decides if the indictments should be issued.  The juries are decided in a way to eliminate biases. The defendant is given a fair and equal; trial. All these steps help to make sure that only the guilty are convicted. I believe this system is successful because it thoroughly goes through all the evidence. In addition, the jurors decide the sentence meaning that the defendant is receiving a fair trial. Although these steps are sufficient, I believe that there is always something else that can be done in order to guarantee that only the guilty are convicted. In this case, it may be re-examining the evidence even more times. The system needs to ensure that only the guilty are convicted.

I was shocked by the various methods that are used for the death sentence. Some people discuss the death sentence very casually. However, I do not think they realize what exactly the death penalty, itself, involved. While I believe many are cruel and unusual, I believe the most humane is the lethal injection. There are no gun shots, nor electric chair. Rather, two needles (one is a back-up) are then inserted into usable veins, usually in the inmate’s arms. Out of the 38 states which allow the death penalty, 37 use this technique. I believe this proves that it is the most human;  it is widely accepted. To be completely honest, I believe that all the other techniques including hanging, firing squad, electrocution, and gas chamber should be considered cruel and unusual punishments. I had no idea that these were the different techniques and I believe they are violation of the 8th amendment. Specifically, I believe the gas chamber is one of the worst. It reminds me of the idea of the ways Jews were executed in the Nazi camps. The hanging also really strikes me as being cruel and unusual. It reminds me of pictures I have seen from slavery in history class.  I think that America can rise above this; we can do better than this.

I learned that 14 states are currently using the death penalty.  One of the statistics that struck me was that out of 3264, 1099 were actually executed. In other words, while over 70% of states allow a death sentence, many have barely used it. For example, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, South Dakota and more only have issued the death penalty once. In Kansas and New Hampshire, it has not been used at all. In several regions, all of the states allow the death penalty. However, bordering states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan do not allow the death penalty. In addition, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island do not allow the death penalty. This becomes an issue of justice. If a defendant happens to have committed the crime in one of the 14 states that does not allow the death penalty, their sentence is not equal to those who are in a different state. That being said, every crime is different and must be examined individually. The death penalty does vary, but I believe that there should remain consistency throughout all the states.

This information impacts what I have just learned because there are several changes. For instance, now there are 15 states who do not use the death penalty. It is interesting to see that there was steady increase of executions from 1976-1993. However, from 1994 to 2010, there has been several increase and decreased. The death penalty was used the most in 1999 with a total of 98 executions. That was over 10 years ago, and since then there has not been nearly as many.  I was shocked that over 75% of the murder victims in cases resulting  inexecution were white, even though nationally only 50% of murder victims generally are white. This demonstrates the idea that race does influence the sentence. However, in the race of the defendant executed, it remains relatively similar among white and blacks.  There have been 266 more white executions than black which appears as a relatively small difference to me. It concerns me that 139 defendants were placed on death row when they were innocent. However, I learned that many of these inmates who were innocent is based of of legal technicalities. In addition, the fact that they were released shows that once someone is on death row, it is not the end all, be all. The system was able to find the innocent people and release them.  Nevertheless, I am sure there are currently defendants that are also innocent. Since 1994, public support has decreased as the May 2006 Gallup Poll found that overall support of the death penalty was 65%. I believe that Death Penalty Information has significant information to be examined. It provides information worth knowing and I believe it presents the facts to reveal how the death penalty support has decreased and that it should not be used. Furthermore, there a lot of innocent people who have been released from death row.

Death Penalty #1

I believe that Clifford Boggess should have been executed.  It is undeniable that Boggess lived an extremely difficult childhood consisting of unstable familial relationships. He did not have it easy. Some may argue that Boggess's abuse caused him great distress. While this is true, it is untrue to say that the emotional stress he faced led him to commit the crime. He even admits that he was completely aware during the time of both murders. If he was psychologically insane, then he would not have been able to admit that he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew what he was doing was wrong. Furthermore, both of his murders were extremely violent and brutal. Once the victim was already dead, Boggess continued to act aggressively. Boggess did not just kill once; he killed twice.  I believe that people do have the ability to change after a crime of this sort. However, I believe that Boggess did not change. He claims that he has changed as a Christian and an artist, but I believe that he is masking is true self. Boggess talks very openly of his murders. While this demonstrates his honesty, the graphic images he conveys are very gruesome. He talks very briefly of the guilt he feels and shows little remorse. It is as if he feels that he is better than everyone and had the right to do what he did. In addition, he always appears very cheerful which makes me feel that his talk of being  apologetic to the families is an act. Boggess did not deserve to live a life in the prison nor out of prison. He asserts that he is a better person now. Still, I believe strongly that his life has nor value. He is saying things and acting in certain ways that people want to hear.  It is tough to determine whether the victims' families got justice after Boggess was executed because I was not in their same position. I believe that the only people who can say whether or not they feel that justice was served by executing Boggess is the victim's family. According the video, they appeared relieved that he was no longer living. While they will never get their loved ones back, they do not have to feel any sense of threat. They deserve to feel safe after such a terrible crime has been committed.