Israel Conflict

This past week families across American celebrated Thanksgiving with probably a huge meal and football afterwards. They might have even had everyone at the dinner table say what they are for thankful for. My family did and pretty much everyone said the same thing, from being thankful for healthy family and friends and all the opportunities they have received. However, as my family is Jewish, the topic of Israel came up during dinner. Halfway across the world, Israel and Gaza have been in the midst of attacking each other. 

Gaza launched rockets on Israel and Israel retaliated with launching its own missiles. This course caused massive destruction in Gaza. However after a few days, a ceasefire was agreed on. But this fight was not without serious consequences on both sides. According to the Huffington Post, "The fighting killed 161 Palestinians, including 71 civilians." On the Israeli side, 5 people were killed in the fighting. While this is not the first fight between Israel and Gaza, only more is to come. The conflict between Israel and Gaza is very complicated and neither side is willing to come to an agreement anytime soon. 

Police Brutality

Recently in class we have been discussing various amendments, such as the 8th amendment which is that no person detained can be treated to cruel or unusual punishment. Something that was brought up by our guest speaker this past week, was Jon Burge. Jon Burge was a former Chicago Police Detective and Commander who was convicted of torturing detainees into confessing to their alleged crime.

Jon Burge was found guilty of torturing in physical and physiological ways such as beating them up, electrocuting them, and even giving them death threats. These horrific ways of torture were used on hundreds of "convicted" criminals, who were then sent to jail because of "confessing" to their crimes. Burge was breaking many amendments like cruel and unusual punishment as well as being forced into confessing to your crime. Although Burge did end up being sentenced to federal prison for 4 and a half years, that sentence is nothing to the death sentences and over 30 year sentences that were given to the people he tortured.

Just because he was a former police officer his sentence was not nearly at all as long as it should of been. No matter how horrific his crimes were, because he was a cop it made him look better then he actually was. It also made me wonder how many other people who we see as "good guys" turn out to be "bad." It also makes me wonder how police are portrayed in the media and in the country in general. Most likely, the majority of the police officers in this country are actually helping us and keeping us safe. But what about those few other cops? How are they portrayed after being convicted of something like what Jon Burge did?

What Even Is A Fiscal Cliff?

This week in class as we were discussing the election and various issues voters were taking into consideration, Mr. O’Connor brought up the topic of the “Fiscal Cliff.” Although I have heard many people discussing this topic, ranging from people in some of my other classes to shows on TV, I was still unsure of what exactly everyone meant by “Fiscal Cliff. ” A Q&A article on the New York Times website by Jonathon Weisman really explained to me well what the Fiscal Cliff actually was. What I understood from the article was that in 2001 and 2003, large tax cuts were passed. However, in the beginning of 2013, these tax cuts are going to expire and have a “drastic and sudden hit to the economy” or in other words, a fiscal cliff.

            Both the democratic and republican parties agree that if nothing is done to extend the tax cuts- it could send the US economy back into a recession. What they can’t agree on though, is how to make sure another recession does not happen. The republican party does not want to raise the debt ceiling but President Obama will not sign onto anything giving families with an income of $250,000 or more a tax cut. Going on campaign promises, he is all about the tax cuts for the middle class.

            What Mr. O’Connor also brought up was just thinking about the name, “Fiscal Cliff” and how it sounds. The repetition of sounds in the two words is interesting and may be a reason as to why it is such a popular phrase.

            I think that the debt ceiling will be raised in order to avoid a second recession. But what do you think? How will the two parties solve this issue? And if we don’t even come to an agreement, will a recession definitely ensue?

Better then polls?

After many, many months of campaigns, debates, and TV commercials we will finally find out who the President of the United States will be until 2016. The race is winding down, however the big day is on Tuesday when we find out which candidate took what state. For the past month something constantly that has been on CNN’s homepage is the potential electoral college map for 2012. The map shows each state in either blue indicating will go to democrats or red indicating it will go to republicans.  CNN using polls and experts have predicted who they think will win which state. So far they have President Obama leading with 237 electoral votes over Romney with 206. The most interesting part of this map however is the “swing” states of Ohio, Florida, Colorado, and Iowa. A swing state is a state that electoral votes go could either way in any presidential election. CNN also offers their readers to click and predicate how they think each state will go. This interactive way for readers to visually see who they think will win is much different then other news sources ways of just showing polls.

I think CNNs way of using this interactive map is much more effective then just using polls. We have also discussed in class how polls can often be misleading and just a way for news corporations to make more money. It can also be a way for them to make the election seem more interesting then it actually is. Finally, what does this say about America’s new sources. What do you think? Do the citizens of America only want to hear what they want? 

The Media And The 2012 Presidential Campaign

Something that we have been discussing a little bit in class, is the effect of news media on the presidential campaign this year. More specifically is how the media affects a possible voter and who he will end up choosing this November. As I was browsing various news sites such as CNN, Huffington Post and NYTimes I noticed that many of the headlines regarding the campaigns today were the results of various polls and which candidate was leading. On the Huffington Post, I noticed this article. To read it click here. This is something that is not just showing up today, its been the obsession of the news media to be displaying daily polls and who is leading and by how many percentage points. These polls often display where registered voters are leaning towards giving their vote and if they are still undecided, who is their most likely pick. 

I started to wonder how these various polls influence potential voters who read these news sources. Also how did these voters know to trust these polls and know that they are accurate? Finally, why would they let other peoples opinions influence their vote? These are just some questions that I have started to think about. What do you think?

Hidden Messages?

Something that was brought up in class this week was the possibility of hidden messages in some of the children's books that are being read today, when I was in kindergarten and 1st grade, and even before then. I thought that was so interesting because its definitely not a connection I have ever made before. When reading them as children, they come off as entertaining books with big pictures and a fun story along with that. I know that my parents often had to read my favorite books to me several times before going to bed. So after that being brought up in class, I decided to do a little research and see if any common children’s books had “secret” messages in them.

            I first looked at Dr. Seuss’ Wikipedia page. Dr. Seuss was one of the most popular children book authors, writing books such as Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat. These may come off to children just as simple books but almost every book had a meaning attached to it. The Lorax was said to be about environmentalism and How the Grinch Stole Christmas about anti-consumerism. I wonder if these messages really are secret or if children really can pick up on them, they just don’t realize it.

            Another important and very popular book was Where the Wild Things Are. This book not only was banned in libraries for years after its release but was also named one of the Top 100 Picture Books of all Time. I know this was definitely one of my favorites growing up. I wonder if the secret messages in books and the banning of certain books is mainly an American thing to do? What do you think?

Promises

            In the past few weeks, I have been following the CPS strike and all of the other news surrounding that. One personal reason for that is I have a lot of friends who attend various CPS high schools such as Lincoln Park, Walter Payton, or Northside so I’m very interested in keeping up with the news directing affecting their schools. Although the strike has stopped after about 8 days, I have begun to question the lasting effect it will have on school students, teachers, and administrators. Will this hurt or help the students in the end? Will the teachers be more willing to go on strike in the future? We might not know the answer until later this year at minimum.

            Recently though Chicago Public School CEO, Jean-Claude Brizard was replaced by Barbara Byrd-Bennett who Rahm Emanuel placed in that position. Byrd-Bennett believes she has what it takes to turn any CPS school around that needs help.  She says she is very relatable to many students because, “I come from less than blue collar” and “somebody with integrity and honesty.”

            While in this interview she makes a very convincing case for herself as the strongest person to take over as CEO of one of the biggest public school districts in the country, because she was personally appointed by Rahm Emanuel. However it could be an interesting dynamic between her and the teachers. Emanuel and the CPS Union President Karen Lewis have had many disagreements over the past years. Some possible questions come up as to how will the teachers and Byrd-Bennett get along? Will any more conflicts arise? Will Byrd-Bennett be able to keep her promises and turn CPS schools around?