DUE MONDAY, 11/16: Current Events Assignment

[Ms. Derstine]

A true understanding of history is demonstrated by your ability to
connect events across time and to recognize significant themes.

STEP 1. Find a news article in an online database (approved sources
are below). Read the article thoroughly. Post a 2-paragraph
response, using the guidelines below. BE SURE TO POST A LINK TO YOUR
ARTICLE!

In Paragraph 1, summarize the article using the prompts below.
Remember that to truly understand the article, you may need to do some
side research!
• Who is the article about? Who are the major players in this
issue?
• What event/issue is this article about? Explain the facts/
opinions of your article.
• When did the story take place? Does it have anything to do with
past events or issues?
• Where is this event or issue occurring?
• Why is this event happening? Is it interconnected with anything
else that is going on or has gone on in the past? What are the events
that have preceded and influenced this?
• How is this story significant? How does this article fit in
with a study of government?

In Paragraph 2, respond to the article using one or more of the
following prompts:
• What did you find interesting about this article? What did you
learn from the article?
• What are the implications of your article for you? Your
community? The US? The world?
• What questions do you have after reading this article?
• If this is mainly an opinion article, how would you respond to
the author?
• Predict what you think may happen as this article develops.

STEP 2: Post at least one thoughtful response to another classmate's
current events post, or continue a current events discussion.

[Bryan D.]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/11/15/support_swells_for_anti_bully_legislation/

This article is about the state going to pass legislation on giving
stricter punishment to bullies because they believe that because of
the bullying's people are becoming depressed and could possible hurt
themselves or each other. The people the article is about are the kids
in high school being bullied and the people in high school doing the
bullying. This story has been happening for years but since right now
it has goten a huge swell of support for the issue at hand. This event
is ocurring in the state legislature as they try to decide whether or
not to realy pass this legislation. This event is happening because
the state cares about the well being of its student and their ability
to learn. This story is significant to me because thats exactly what
happens in schools and people may think its not so bad at first but it
does get worse and people could actually really get hurt so this
article really hits home. This article fits the study of government
because its the states government that is passing this legislation.

What I found interesting about this article is that in the article it
had a chart saying that 14% of all high school kids are doing the
bullying while 22% of all high school kids are the ones getting
bullied. That means that the bullies are really taking more than one
kid to bully and are actually doubling up on people. To me this just
brings me back to the point that Americans really want to be viewed as
one of the most violent types of people. America is supposed to be
this almighty group of people but from what I see is just this big
masculine looking bully that wants to boss al the other country's
around. The only questions I have about this article is just how can
the state really put it off for years at a time knowing that its the
future generations being bullied into these things and it could really
mess up the future for America? I believe that as this article
progresses the state will just continue to put it off thinking that
they have bigger things to do but a better way is always work your way
from the bottom to the top. In this world there really are no places
for short cuts.

[Quesi James]

Quesi James
11/15/09

White House Plan on Immigration Includes Legal Status

After Months past many wondered if President Obama would stay true to
his promise to tackle the Immigration issue in the early months of
2010. As President Obama promised he will do so and on Friday Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano gave some insight on the
government’s plan to give over 12 million illegal immigrants
residency. As the country gets out of the recession more and more
illegal immigrants could be set up paying taxes and finally get their
jobs the same as others. As the government deals with the current
Health care legislation the President will wait until the smoke
clears
This article is personally interesting to me because I know about the
immigration process and know Illegal. I learnt that I and the
president see eye to eye because I have been saying the government
should do this for years. I believe that the issue will obviously be
reviewed and the fine print overviewed.

[n.plaetzer]

Concerns Rise Around Obama Trip
Wall Street Journal, November 16
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125827619829149095.html

President Obama arrived in Shanghai on Sunday evening to address China
on a broad variety of topics, reaching from economic relations to
human rights and environmental policy. Since the conference of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Conference rejected the idea of a binding
agreement on climate change at the conference in Copenhagen next
month, President Obama’s trip has been shifted in the focus of
international media. The opposition to strict restrictions on climate
gas emissions in Congress makes the situation even more difficult for
Obama. Besides, the President has brought the changing balance of
global economy up for discussion.
In my opinion, Obama did very well in combining the different issues
of human rights in China and climate change policy – it is impressive
how the US has changed its character from the “climate sinner” of the
world to a leading nation of efforts to sustainability. On the other
hand, he emphasizes the right aspects of a changing world order. The
USA does not have the opportunity to live on in the way it did in the
20th century. China and America are completely dependent on each other
– Obama sees the way out, a changing economic life style, including a
higher saving rate. But his on policy at home does not support savers
– inflation is the biggest enemy of a high saving rate. The first step
to increase the saving rate would be the governmental promise of sound
money. First of all, the Federal Reserve System needs to have a
stronger audit. After this, further steps to a higher gold backing
should follow. Sustainability is the word of the beginning century –
both in economy and ecology.

[Abby Perez]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/11/15/education_seen_as_hope_for_pakistan/

This article is about the schools in Qutbal, Pakistan and how even
though there is little room, there is a big increase in the students.
This article is about the students in the private schools of Pakistan.
This article has the issue of having a lack of things in school in
different places. Like in Pakistan, it spends 2.9 percent of its gross
domestic product on education, India spends 3.2 percent and the U.S.
spends 5.2 percent. This story takes place on November 2009. This
issue is occurring in Qutbal, Pakistan. This event is happening
because the Pakistani government can’t afford to send their children
to the best private schools. This is also happening in other places
which affect the education to the young generations. This shows that
the governments need to work harder for the education not only in the
U.S. but everywhere so that everyone can get the education they need.

I learned that education is important to have in life. I learned that
people like in the U.S. are lucky to have the schools we have unlike
other students that have to learn with what they are given. Is there
anything we can do to help those schools? Is there any way we can
teach those students in a better environment and in a better way? I
think if people read this article, they can find a way to help them so
that every single person can have an education that will make their
lives better and their community better as well.

[Miguel Peguero]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/16/prosecuting_911_prisoners_in_us_carries_complications?mode=PF

This article is about the prosecution of the 9/11 prisoners, and
issues that are surrounding the prosecution. This article is mainly
about the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba and how President
Obama had planed its Closing. The facility announced prosecution of
the 9/11 prisoners which might near certainly President Obama will
miss the January deadline to shut it. Five detainees - including self-
proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, will be tried
in federal court in New York. But the plans leave unsettled the fate
of more than 200 remaining detainees, who represent the biggest
obstacle to closing the prison. Holder acknowledged Friday that it
would be difficult to close Guantanamo by Jan. 22.

I think that the prisoners from Guantanamo bay should not be moved
from there I think it is better if the facility remains operational. I
really think that the military prison would be closed by the expected
date of Jan. 22. I also don't think that prisoners from Guantanamo Bay
should be held in the US because issues might come up in the community
they are placed in and there might be issues with security. It was
interesting to see that the State of Illinois is endorsing the idea
because it will create approx. 3,000 jobs in the state which has
unemployment rate of 10%. I what to know what are the plans of
Governor Pat Quinn and US Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois are to
relieve the security concerns of the community.

[Jessica Booker]

Jessica Booker

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33958780/ns/politics-white_house/

This article is about Obama going to China trying to persuade Chinese
officials that they should make the internet a free and open source to
the public and change the censorship rules. Obama says he belives in
non-censorship because it allows research of all kinds and gives
Americans the ability to do and think for themselves. China has over
25 million internet users and China has control over what they get to
read and view at all times. Obama goes on to say that he too belives
in non-censoship because it allows him to read opionons all across the
world, some even that aren't so much on his side but it makes him a
better president because he see's how America thinks of him.

I've always known that China has this great rule of how they censor
the internet and what people view, and I believe that it has it's
pro's and it's con's. I think that China shouldn't restrict things
that the public see's because it continues to isolate them from the
world and causes this unawrness of what is really going on. I am fully
on Obama's side on this one, espically when he says that it makes him
a better president because he hears perspectives of all sorts from
people all over the world. I think that China does though have a good
side because it restricts both sexual and violent content so people's
minds aren't posined and they don't think about stuff like that. The
interent is like it's own little worlds and the things you can do are
endless which can sometimes have a bad effect, one can sit and plot
how to either end the world or save it, so I also understand what the
Chinese are doing.

On Nov 16, 8:59 am, Miguel Peguero <infamouse...@gmail.com> wrote:
> http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/16/pros...

[gregory lespinsse]

This article is about the Obama administration is stepping up pressure on Pakistan to expand and reorient its fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. The article mostly discuss about new strategy and troop increase for Afghanistan that President Obama is preparing to approve. This story take place last week, the exact day is not current. This article has to do with past event because for the past few moth President Obama had to make a decision on rather we should send more troop or bring them back home.

 Should we send more troops to Iraq, but more troops we sent the more danger we put on our self? I don’t believe that we should send more troops because more will die and their family will suffer because they husband, son and more. I understand that were trying to help those people to get back in track, but we have to find another way that will not cost our soldiers life’s. But that’s not my decision to make; I’m just hoping that president Obama will make the right decision  

[carla torres]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/16/court_wont_hear_complaint_about_redskins_name/

 

This article is about how  The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from a group of Native Americans who think the name of the NFL's Washington Redskins football team is offensive. The major players in this article are the group of Native Americans, The supreme court and the Washington Redskins. This has been a 17-year court battle between the Redskins and a group of American Indians who want them to change their name. The high court on Monday turned away an appeal from Suzan Shown Harjo. This article fits in with government because this is an appeal to the supreme court from the appeals court which sided with the redskins. The supreme court will only review a technicallity of the trademarks law. they will not review whether the name is appropriate or not since it was not decided by the lower court.

I found it interesting that this has been going on almost for 2 decades. It is extremely disturbing that the courts do not find such a name as “Redskins” offensive. It is a derogatory word. I believe that the use of Native Americans as mascots objectifies the cultural group in a negative way. Sports mascots that mimic Native Americans rely on cultural fragments that stereotype an entire race . Native American mascots bring about inappropriate, inaccurate, and harmful understandings of living people, their cultures, and their histories. The uses of such mascots negatively influence the youth, and Non-Native Americans. These negative images, symbols, and behaviors play a crucial role in distorting and corrupting Native American children’s' cultural perceptions of themselves as well as non-Indian children’s' attitudes toward Native Americans. As long as such logos remain, both Native American and non-Indian children are learning to tolerate racism.