Discussion on weeks-89-research-and-journal
Sandy B
the one from 5-7 and 8-9 since it's the same research.
Sandy Bonilla
Professor E. O’Connell
English 101 Section #3226
Journal/Research Week 5-7/8-9
April 2, 2010
H.R.2815
Title: Anti-Gang Enforcement Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] (introduced 6/10/2009
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland
Security.
“Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to amend its sentencing
guidelines to provide an enhancement for crimes committed in
furtherance or in aid of criminal street gangs.”
A) One thing, I do like about this bill that it’s related to what
Goldhagen says in how a small group of people that share the same
anger and the way they feel powerful then they come across their
limits until they use violence against their “enemies” as people from
different culture or race or religion. After a group commits a
violence in one area, it will rapidity continue to use more violence
in different areas. This is the way Nazi begin as a small political
party, then it turn a military of swastika with advance firearms
weapon taking over the world in just one moment.
B) One thing, I do not like about this bill that they are taking
forever to take actions on in gang crimes. Also I’m trying to compared
the present issue with the past history events conflicts that
Goldhagen mentions in chapter 10 and 3.
C) What I don’t understand of this bill that what type of aid beside
security in the community what else would they provide to criminals
that are already members of gangs. Also I would like to know if this
bill refers to any street gang criminals including Neo-Nazis or any
other foreign gang that are in USA.
Reference:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:9:./temp/~bdKThK:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/d111query.html|.
William W
Professor O’Connell
04.09.2010 Weeks 8-9 Research & Journal
Bill: H. CON. RES. 97
Title: Support of the President of the United States (short). Calling
on the President to support United Nations Security Council referrals
of situations involving genocide, war crimes, and crimes against
humanity to the International Criminal Court, to cooperate with
investigations and prosecutions conducted by the International
Criminal Court, and participate as an observer at meetings of the
Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (long).
Sponsor: Kennedy, Patrick J. (Democrat)
Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The thing I like about this bill is that it helps me understand the
other side of the story. From Daniel Goldhagen’s point of view, we
got to take a look from his eyes in how the United Nations is
ineffective in preventing genocide. Here, we get to see how complex
such a task can be and can better relate to Goldhagen’s complaint.
What I do not like is how conservative or “weak” the United States
sound in the resolution of the bill. The words, “support”,
“cooperate”, “exercise” and “invoke” are used to describe the actions
the United States would take. I would have preferred stronger and
bolder words such as “enforce”, “collaborate”, “exert” and
“instigate”.
What I don’t understand is why in the resolution, did they write that
the United States would not support this bill if it was not in the
national interest of the United States? Does this mean that we are an
exception to this rule? Is this a way of covering their own ass if
our government should decide to commit a crime against humanity? The
forced internment of Japanese Americans in 1942 comes to mind. Looks
like we could very well break the law again all in the name of
national security. In other words, someone's political interest.
Reference:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.CON.RES.97:
> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:9:./temp/~bdKThK:@@@L&su.../bss/d111query.html|.
Ryota F
English 101 #3226
Professor Ed O’Connell
Weeks 8-9 research & journal
I have already worked on the draft of Essay 2 and used a
bill – S. 1704 World War II War Crimes Accountability Act of 2009.
This is a bill to hold the surviving Nazi war criminals accountable
for the war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity they
committed during World War II, by encouraging foreign governments to
more efficiently prosecute and extradite wanted criminals.
For the essay 2 topic, I have chosen the Holocaust because
it is probably the most known eliminationist assault in history. This
bill helps understand the topic and proper course of action to avoid
similar future situations. This bill is important because it seeks to
hold the war criminals accountable for the war crimes, genocide and
crimes against humanity they committed during World War II. Doing so
might deter other dictators from trying to eliminate a group of people
whom they find undesirable and/or threatening.
Goldhagen’s analysis in understanding the situation is very useful and
this bill is consistent with his ideas. According to Goldhagen,
eliminationist beliefs have been universally held by people throughout
history. In fact, eliminationist anti-Semitism among Germans was very
strong for many years. However, he says, eliminationist assaults are
not inevitable because as the case of the Holocaust shows it does not
happen unless political leaders (such as Hitler) decide to act on
eliminationist beliefs and initiate, organize and oversee
eliminationist assaults. The belief behind this bill is also that
eliminationist assaults are caused by individuals and they must be
held accountable for their actions. By pursuing these criminals who
participated in the Holocaust which is now over 65 years ago, this
bill might deter individuals from acting on their eliminationist
beliefs and has a potential for avoiding similar future situations.
Rosemarie J
Weeks 8-9
Rosemarie Johnson
Professor E. O’Connell / English 101, Class #3226
April 9, 2010
Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide
Resolution
(Introduced in the House)
111th Congress
1st Session
H. Res. 252
In the House of Representatives, March 17, 2009
Sponsor: Rep. Schiff, Adam B., (CA-29) co-sponsors – 137
Latest major action, referred to the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs
Resolution
Calling upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the
United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes.
RadioFree Europe/Radio Liberty (2010) reported that while H. Res. 252
was still in committee, Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton called the
Committee Chairman, Rep. Howard Berman (CA) on behalf of the Obama
Administration, to argue that the “legislation would harm efforts to
normalize Turkish-Armenian relations.” Committee Chairman, Rep.
Howard Berman (CA) went ahead with the vote, which passed 23-22,
saying that “Turkey was a vital ally but nothing justifies Turkey’s
turning a blind eye to the reality of the Armenian Genocide,” as
reported by Asbarez.com (2010).
Despite passage of the non-binding resolution, the pressure from
President Obama, and Turkey’s withdrawal of its ambassador to Ankara,
H. Res. 252 never reached the full House. In a statement issued after
the vote, a Turkish government spokesman said: “We condemn this
resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a crime it has not
committed.” Asbarez/com (2010)
What I like most about H. Res. 252 is that the intervention of
President Obama, to prevent the resolution from reaching the full
House, is a classical example of what Goldhagen, in referring to the
United States, describes as the “national interest.” Goldhagen, D.J.
(2009), Worse Than War, (p250). Goldhagen correctly claims that “the
most basic question, why so-called national interest should be the
governing concept for acting internationally is hardly asked.”
What I dislike most about H. Res. 252 is that the Obama
Administration was well aware of any objections it might raise to the
passage of the resolution for consideration by the full House. As it
was, Rep. Howard Berman steered the resolution through the House
Foreign Relations Committee, giving the Armenian-American lobby only a
token recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
What I would like to know more about H. Res. 252 is whether the
attempted passage of the measure by the full House had any connection
with the 2009 Congressional Research Service, an arm of Congress that
classifies bills, changing its policy to exclude the term “genocide,”
which will no longer apply to bills on Gov. Track.
References
Asbarez Staff (2010, March 4). Asbarez/Com
Turkey Recalls US Ambassador; Armenia Hails ‘Yes’ Vote on Genocide
Bill http://www.asbarez.com/78024/turkey-recalls-us-ambassador-armenia-hails-yes-vote-on-genocide-bill/
Schiff, Rep. A.B. (2010, March 6). House Resolution 252, (Thomas)
Library of Congress
Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide
Retrieved March 28, 2010 from
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:2:./temp/~bd2XG8::
Staff, (2010, February 8). RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty
Turkey Slams U.S. Over Armenian Genocide Bill
http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkey_Slams_US_Over_Armenian_Genocide_Bill/1952409.html
Goldhagen, D.J. (2009). Worse Than War
United States: Public Affairs, a member of the Perseus Books Group
MG
Professor E. O’Connell
English 101 Section #3226
April 9, 2010
I chose the congressional bill H.CON.RES.7 because this bill fights
for universal freedom and human rights. It fights against intolerance
and prejudice against other races and creeds. I chose to write about
the decsion President Truman did when he ordered to drop two atomic
bombs on Japan. I chose to write about this conflict because this was
the first nuclear bomb to be ever dropped on any country. I think this
conflict was probably the most known mass slaughter that happened in
history. The times of Truman were known to be racist times and the
people being bombed were simply Japanese. That's why I chose the
congressional bill H.CON.RES.7 because it's against intolerance and
prejudice against other races and creeds. Goldhagen would agree on
this bill it takes a step towards peace. The bill's essance goes
against genocide. The bill does not however provide Goldhagen's
proposals about the solutions to genocide.
patrick d
#3226
Prof. O' Connell
Weekly Journal 8-9
Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( MN ). Introduced on December 4, 2009. S.2839 : A
bill to amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize
appropriations to provide assistance for domestic and foreign programs
and centers for treatment of victims of torture, and for other
purposes.
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends the
Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize FY2010-FY2011
appropriations for: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) for grants to domestic treatment centers for the costs of
services provided in the rehabilitation of victims of torture
(including treatment of the physical and psychological effects of
torture), social and legal services, and research and training of
health care providers outside of treatment centers or programs; (2)
the President for grants to foreign treatment centers and programs for
activities designed to treat victims for the physical and
psychological effects of torture; and (3) the United Nations Voluntary
Fund for Victims of Torture.
a) One thing I like about this resolution is that it looks into the
welfare of torture victims which is associated with every genocide or
mass murder occurrence in the world. Taking into consideration the
emotional plight of survivors, if there are any, on such incidents
would require various programs that would account for the physical,
mental, and emotional health of the victims for them to assimilate in
the society. This bill, will target the immediate needs of the
victims.
b) One thing I do not like about this proposal, is that no major
action has been done, to show support for the bill. It was supported
by two co-sponsors, namely Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, and Sen.
Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, in which it was read twice, and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. This kind of bill is
to be supported, for there are lives that needs to be repaired in
repercussion to the trauma they have suffered. Such victims need
international support, if there own countries would not provide for
their needs.
c) One thing I don’t understand, is that in any war, innocent people
and their lives are taken for granted. People are used as pawns by the
perpetuators of war and mass murders, torturers and bombers. Victims
are either tortured, raped, and killed. The many casualties, the
bigger the prize of pride. There are winners and losers. The victims
lose everything. They lose their pride, their families, their life,
but, we, as supporters of human rights , can put them back together on
their feet to gain back what they have left for themselves. That is
why bills, such as this should be supported.
Works Cited:
“Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009”. The Library of
Congress. Accesssed Apr 06, 2010. <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi- bin/
bdquery/D?d111:47:./temp/~bdyd7C::|/bss/111search.html|>
Meagan Judkins
Meagan Judkins
On Apr 12, 10:32 am, Meagan Judkins <sweetbabyjudk...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Meagan Judkins
Research Journal Weeks 8-9
April 10, 2010
#3226
H.J.RES.46
Title: To acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-
conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian
tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the
United States.
Sponsor: Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] (introduced 4/30/2009)
What I like about this bill is not only does it seek to bring some
justice to the treatment of Native Americans, but it also recognizes
just how much help was given to the Europeans when they arrived,
suggesting in some ways that our stay here may not have been possible,
or at the very least far more difficult without the aid of the Native
Americans.
What I don’t like about bill is that I fear a simple apology is not
enough for retribution. What else can we offer or do in order to not
only admit our guilt, but offer in some way action to make up for our
fault? Maybe there isn’t anything we can do? The damage has been
done?
I choose this bill because what I am trying to prove in my essay is
that the treatment of the Native Americans by the hand of the first
settlers was in fact an act of genocide. That the killings, expulsion
and neglect were not an accident or circumstance. The horrors the
Native Americans experienced could have been avoided. I think this
bill with its call for admittance of guilt gives me all the fodder I
need for my essay.
Jose D
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard (IL) 3 Co-Sponsers
Passed with flying colors and made law within 90 days of
introduction.
This bill expands the criteria for prosecution and establishes a
specific agency within the Department of Justice dedicated solely for
the investigation and proscution of crimes deemed "serious human
rights offenses". These same crimes are identified by Goldhagen as
"eliminationist" acts, such as genocide and intents to commit suicide
as well as recruitment of children soldiers. Goldhagens analysis of
the problem with the international communtiy (never doing or
effectively doing anything towards the reduction of serious human
rights violations) is useful in regards to this bill, because in his
argument he specifically mentions the timeframe for the prosecution of
politicians engaging in eliminationist acts and how it is outdated to
say the least. This bill removes that timeframe, which is good for
starters. Another important aspect about this bill, in my opinion, is
the fact that it actually received attention and was pushed through
rapidly. This would be important in the future with these types of
matters as Goldhagen also mentioned that more often than not whatever
resolutions do come about receive little to no support and generally
nothing comes about. In this case we see an example of the contrary.
Hopefully issues as important as these continue to receive prompt and
swift action.
Jayne R
(Just a little bit about this bill)
A bill I did use for research for Essay 2 was H.CON.RES.87.
It is a bill to observe the 15th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide
and calling all responsible nations to uphold the principles of the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
This bill gives historical events that took place leading up to the
Rwandan genocide. Towards the end of the bill it asked congress to
solemnly observe the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, which
claimed the lives of 800,000 people. Also the bill asks to remember
those who were lost in the campaign of mass murder, honor the heroic
actions to stop it, recognize the genocide unleashed in Darfur and
Sudan, commend the commitment of peacekeepers, and uphold the
Convention on the prevention and punishment. This bill has 27
cosponsors, but just went from the House committee to the House
committee of foreign affairs. It has not been agreed with to be
passed. But with all the lives that were lost in this Genocide it
needs to be recognized as one.
--
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Jose D
for issuing a warrant for the arrest of Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir,
President of the Republic of the Sudan, for war crimes and crimes
against humanity, and expressing the hope that this will be a
significant step in the long road towards achieving peace and
stability in the Darfur region.
This bill is useful in relation to the situation in Africa and
genocide, or elimination as Goldhagen likes to call it. The use in
this bill is that it is recognizing that an instrument identified by
Goldhagen to be generally useless in preventing and stopping
eliminationism. Recognizing that it is taken steps to stop being that
useless instrument is a first step forward toward the ICC becoming a
formidable tool towards the prevention and destruction of elimination
regimes.
Jose I De Anda