The Average American Worker

In class before winter break, we talked about a symbol that represents U.S.A. - the average American worker. When we were told to picture an average American worker, the majority of the class came up with the image of a male laborer (mailman, policeman, firefighter). Why all physical laborers? And the better question, why all men? I think it has to do with what we see and hear from the media while growing up. We obviously know there are other jobs out there and we obviously know women work, but as a child we aren't taught that there are jobs like stock brokers or accountants. We're only used to seeing the "male laborer" job. I remember reading a book when I was younger about jobs. Of course it had the big colorful pictures of firefighters, policemen, and even milkmen. I can only remember there being one woman in the book: the stereotypical teacher. So, yeah, we do know what kind of jobs there are besides the laborers, that include both men and women. But I think it's just that we've still got that male laborer image stuck in our heads from when we were little.

I actually pictured someone different for the average American worker. I had the "businessman" image in my head. It was a man, yet not a physical laborer. I think it's, again, because of the media. I've watched so many movies and T.V. shows that depict the man that goes to the office every day with his briefcase and coffee (like The Office, although not as comical). The media clearly plays a huge role in our lives.

What was your "average American worker"?

The Impeachment of Bush

In class yesterday and today, we discussed whether or not we should impeach Bush and if the impeachment of Clinton was essential. After reading Al Gore's writing, The Assault on Reason, and analyzing the evidence he provided, I decided that Bush should be impeached. Although some say that the "crimes" Bush committed weren't really crimes at all, Bush did violate the laws of the Constitution. The Constitution was set up to provide the government rules to abide by in order for the country to be run smoothly. When Bush became president, he vowed to follow these laws; yet he's gone against them. To go against the Constitution is, I think, a high crime. Committing a high crime, as stated in the Constitution, is a reason for impeachment; therefore, Bush should be taken out of office.

As for Clinton, I'm undecided. Although he lied under oath, which should be enough reason for him to be impeached, what he lied about isn't strong enough for him to be taken out of office. It doesn't bother me to have a president who had a sexual affair with someone. I really don't think that affects how someone runs the country. Apparently, Clinton had done other crimes besides his affair. Why they chose to impeach him for lying about his affair, I don't know. If it were me to decide if he should be impeached, I'd still be unresolved.

What is your stance on Bush's and Clinton's impeachment?

Injustice During 1984

Friday, in class, we watched a movie called Minority Report where they would arrest people for murder before they actually committed the crime. This reminded me of a book I read last year called 1984. It was based on a totalitarian government (dictatorship). A principle they followed was arresting people based on thoughtcrime. Basically, if a person even hinted at being against the government, even if it was a twitch of an eye, they'd arrest the person and they'd probably end up being killed. This is wrong. I think it's wrong if a government accuses people and then arrests them just off of a hunch. This also clearly violates freedom of speech. A person should be allowed to voice their own opinions on something without being killed. I believe there should be diversity in a country, not have everyone blindly follow and agree what one ruler says.

Thankful on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was this past Thursday and one of the things I am grateful for is the five day weekend we were given. :) I was supposed to go to my grandfather's house in Indiana for Thanksgiving day with the rest of my family, but those plans got cancelled when my sister came home a day late from college. It wasn't until I found out we weren't going tht I realized how excited I had been to go. I hadn't seen my grandpa in years and I was so looking forward to seeing him. I missed his house and the inside jokes we shared with each other. It was then when I realized how truly important family is and how much we should be grateful for them. Thankfully, my sister did come home from college this weekend and it felt really good to see her-her, too, I haven't seen in a while. Sometimes, I think, you can't appreciate someone until they've left you for a while.
What does family mean to you? What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?

"I Want to Do Well"...No You Don't, Your Parents Do

I was at the Girls State Meet yesterday. It is the meet that concludes the swim season-all the teams from Illinois came together to compete at the natatorium in Evanston. As I was watching the girls compete, I noticed the parents' reactions to their child swim. One set of parents stuck out to me-they cried from joy after their daughter swam. Which made me think of the complete opposite reaction in some parents. Since I'm a swimmer, I've been to many swim meets in my day, and with that, I've seen a number of parents who have gotten made at their child for swimming poorly.

And my question is, why? It doesn't make sense, and it doesn't seem right, for parents to yell and punish if they're child doesn't do as well as they want. And this includes all sports, not just swimming. I think it comes down to competitiveness. Parents want their child to succeed so much, to be the best, that some I think will do anything to "motivate" their child. They want their child to be better than other children. I've seen people crack under the pressure of their parents: they'd rather do well for the sake of their parents than for themselves. And this just seems unfair. So my other question is, what is your take on over-competitive parents? Why do you think they act like this?

Being Part of History

Our 44th president of the United States was finally decided this past Tuesday and with it came a huge historical moment. Barack Obama is now our first African-American president; and I'm happy to say that he won by a large amount in electoral votes. I think it's so cool that I was able to witness this election...if only I was able to vote in it. When I'm older and have children and grand-children, I can share this historic event with them. To just think back to when slavery and segregation was around, it's amazing to see how much our country has grown and changed. I still think, though, that it will take time for our country to unite as a whole and accept that he's our president-obviously there were people that were against him.
Now it's just time to see what change Obama can bring. Starting in January, he'll start his presidency. My mom told me today that he's thought to be one of the most intelligent presidents we've ever had. It will be interesting to see how he deals with the crisis laid out in front of him.

Prayer in School

Earlier this week, I came upon an article about religion in public schools. It stated that religious ritual in public schools would be the only way to teach "values" and ethics. This article also said that the banning of practice of bible and prayer recitation is the blame of rising teen pregnancy rates, crime, drug use, and violence. I realize that everyone has their own opinion and some people are more heavily into religion than others, but I think this went too far. Putting the blame for all these terrible things on no practice of religion is just crazy.

I feel that public schools should be a "religion free zone." It wouldn't be right for teachers to promote their religious beliefs to students; especially when there are so many families who have no religious ideology at all. What is your opinion on religion in public schools?