Re: Government is telling us what to eat now? Whaaattt?!

Government is telling us what to eat now? Whaaattt?!
I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing for the lawmakers to pass a bill to ban these artificial trans fats from restaurants. I think that they are just trying to help their citizens be healthier and make better choices. I don't think they're TELLING them what to eat, I just think that they are petitioning to take the bad stuff out of what they already eat. Not everybody necessarily KNOW that its not good. I think it's just a way to educate and keep people knowledgeable of what they are putting in their body and let them go for there. If they don't like the idea then they don't have to go to restaurants, its healthier to cook your own meals at home anyways (and cheaper!) I know there's more important things to deal with but Americans' health should be amongst those important things.

RIP Osama Bin Laden

As we all have heard by now, the U.S. Navy Seals led a raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. After hearing this bit of news I honestly couldn't put my feelings into words. Although this may seem like a triumphant thing for the United States of America, I really don't agree with all the obnoxious celebration that's been going on. I understand that people are excited and that they feel like it's long overdue but he's still a human being and I believe that killing ANYONE isn't right.

What threat was he posing to us? This man was old, run down, and hooked up to a dialysis machine. Do you really think that he was plotting something against the U.S. at this stage in his life? I find it hard to believe so. I know alot of people are saying we never know, he could have been planning another attack on the United States, but there's something that's stopping me from believing that. I feel like he's not the one that they should be worried about. I don't think that he's leading any attacks or plans for attacks on the U.S. Bin Laden was more of an iconic figure, someone who represented terrorism and terrorist attacks, but I really don't think he's the brains behind the equation. 

People are celebrating the death of this man, all because of what they THINK he was planning or trying to plan against the U.S. I felt almost embarrassed seeing people on t.v. yelling, chanting, laughing, holding up signs, engaged in a full blown celebration and I think it's total bull. I guess I'm about doing what's right and I don't feel like that is right for my fellow Americans to celebrate something so devastating. I understand their feelings against this man and people like him but when it comes down to it, death/murder isn't something that we should be celebrating. I guess it's okay to feel happy about it or to feel like the United States accomplished something but to celebrate it, is embarrassing to our country. 

I feel like we should just take it as it is, learn from it, and get on with our lives because I'm already tired of hearing about it.

Re: A Louisiana Man on Death Row Found Innocent

 A Louisiana Man on Death Row Found Innocent

"to help make up for.." I honestly believe NOTHING, not even the 14 mil, would be able to make for what this man has lost. Spending that much time behind bars knowing that you're innocent can take a toll on anyone. Sadly, this happens often and it seems like the justice system doesn't even care. No one wants to take the blame for putting a person through something like this and it's good to see that he has opened up a group to help others like him because there isn't many places for these inmates to go to get help. I'm glad you shed light on this issue a little bit because I think that alot of people don't want to believe that innocent people are behind bars. But, they really are and it's sad to say. No one wants to think that our justice system has flaws and that they convict innocent people to DEATH ROW but THEY DO.

The GAS Issue!

 Is it just me or does anyone else get just a TAD bit upset when you go to the gas pump and see the price of unleaded has gone up a significant amount (some cents) since the last time you filled your ride up?? I have been experiencing that for the past month or so now. And I heard that it's way higher in other places than Pflugerville's $3.44 per gallon.

I really don't understand why prices are so high when I've been hearing a buzz about how America has the largest energy resources on the planet, more than Saudi Arabia, China, and Canada combined?? You would think that the president would go with a plan that would create new jobs and decrease our reliance of foreign energy sources but it doesn't seem like he's leaning that way. It's starting to look like Obama is leaning towards the more "greener" side of things, using solar and wind power, which is ok but it's not solving our problems now and I don't think it will anytime soon.

I think we need to take advantage of the resources we have here and become self sufficient. I don't see why we can't?? Maybe I'm missing something here. I don't know. All I know is that the gas prices are going up and it don't seem like they're coming down anytime soon. I've been hearing rumors that gas prices are suppose to be up to $5 bucks by Labor Day. Seriously?? I think I'm gonna look into getting a ten speed.

Ay dios mio!

'The Shopping Cart Thing'

While browsing the Washington Post website I came across a local opinion article called, For many Muslim Americans, King's hearings add to weight of community's burden, written by Petula Dvorak. In the article Dvorak spoke with several members of the Muslim American community about the impact of the King's hearings on them. One Muslim woman referred to it as 'the shopping cart thing' and when Dvorak asked what exactly she meant the woman responded, "You know, when you're at the grocery store you always make sure to bring the shopping cart back. Never leave it in the parking lot, because someone may think, 'Oh, those Muslims,' if you're wearing your scarf and they see you leave the cart in the parking lot." I found her explanation pretty shocking because I never knew that people thought that way about Muslims. It made me think what people thought about me, other African Americans, or any other race if we didn't bring the shopping cart back because I rarely do! Dvorak shed light on how Muslim Americans, sometimes, don't feel like "regular" Americans (whatever those are). Ashraf Sabrin, who is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, told Dvorak, ""I'm from Ohio. I never thought I would have to point to those things to show I'm just a regular American."

It's sort of weird reading about situations like this because I never knew that the Muslim American community felt this way. I guess I always thought that they fit in because I don't discriminate against them but that's obviously not the case. The article gave a emotional account of how Mohammad Salman Hamdani, a Muslim emergency medical technician died in the Sept., 11, 2011 terrorists attack on the World Trade Center. Hamdani was rumored to be involved in the attacks when in fact, he was among the first responders who risked their lives trying to save others. Reading about Hamdani made me sort of sad because no one wants to be "rumored" to be involve with something that their not even close to being associated with.

I really enjoyed this article because Dvorak shed light on something I knew NOTHING about. She had the facts along with the emotional appeal. I wouldn't want anyone to feel like they don't belong in America because we are a melting pot, there is so many races, ethinicites, religions, that are here. We are all blended together and I think Dvorak reported in a delicate but honesty way about how Muslims don't feel welcomed and it shouldn't be that way. It's not right the way they are being talked about or discriminated against because if it was any other minority, or majority, in their shoes, we wouldn't want to be talked about that way either.

Gay Marriage

I came across an editorial in The Washington Post called "Mike Huckabee, gay marriage defender" written by Ruth Marcus. Marcus is an editorial writer for The Post, specializing in American politics, campaign finance, the federal budget and taxes, and other domestic issues. In this recent editorial Marcus took something that the governor said, even though he didn't mean it that way, and found it to be in support of gay marriages. Huckabee was quoted, referring to, "$300 billion dad deficit in America every year. That's the amount of money that we spend as taxpayers to pick up the pieces because dads are derelict in their duties and they're not raising their kids and supporting them. . . . One of the reasons I came to the conclusion was not for an evangelical reason. It was seeing a lot of money that we spend as a state was spent in picking up the pieces of people whose lives were broken because their families were dysfunctional or shattered."And speaking on Daniel Patrick Moynihan, "He understood the economic reality of out-of-wedlock children," Huckabee said. Marcus took this quote as an argument for same-sex marriage and not against it because unless you believe the absence of the right to get married will prevent gays and lesbians from having children, which it doesn't seem like, Marcus believes that we should be celebrating their desire to form stable unions and subject themselves to clear legal responsibilities. Marcus interprets Obama's decision as simply saying that the federal government will from now on respect a state's definition of marriage-even if it encompasses same-sex marriage.

WAPost

He Resigns.

Okay, so at first I really wasn't following this story but I started to read up on it after I read the article (link below). I really find it interesting that the President of Egypt resigned after it seemed like he was going to hold on to his spot til the death. But he finally did it and the people were overjoyed, like it one of the pictures I seen, there was a man crying because that's how serious the issue was and one person even said "He's finally off our throats". I'm really glad that the majority got what they wanted and I can't wait to see what's in store for Egypt now (I've heard that we will be impressed by what's to come). 

I think this article is worth reading because it just shows us how passionate some people are about their freedom, rights, and just how they want a say. Sometimes these things are taken for granted but after reading this article you will see how much they are dearly appreciated.

NYT