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Amoeba - My Blog
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Marriage vs. Civil Union
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Last Thursday, the news reports were abuzz with the news of the legalization of gay marriage in the state of California. As it should be. California, ever in a state of vacillation, has reversed its decision again. In any case, gay marriage is always and infinitely better than civil unions. Why would I say that? Isn't a civil union progress?
No. No, it is not. I argue my case through analogy to the black community, who learned this lesson the hard way. The name of this lesson is Plessy vs. Ferguson. This US Supreme Court case, as you may recall, legalized a “separate but equal” policy, which was of course, always separate but rarely equal. This is the same case with marriage vs. civil unions. Civil unions do not guarantee federal marriage rights because they are issued on at the state-specific level and cannot be guaranteed rights wherever they travel. Some states have decided even if you go to the extent of marrying elsewhere you cannot return to that state and declare your marriage (or even civil union in some cases) legal. This discernment breaks our established codes of conduct between states. Our constitution says that rights apply the same state to state. It is obvious, however, that this is not the actual case, with some states allowing marriage licenses to gay couples and other not recognizing their marriage at all.

But do we have the authority to federalize the marriage to regulate it? No. We don't need that much authority in our personal lives. So what can we do? Federal action is generally considered too invasive and no action puts discrepancies between the states and their laws.

May 19, 2008 | 8:59 AM Comments  0 comments



Human Rights vs. National Security
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Tongue tearers. Breast rippers. The pear of anguish. For many centuries it almost seemed as if humanity enjoyed various displays of torture. From the lions of Rome tearing Christian heathens limb from limb to the Spanish inquisition skewering and smashing heretics, torture has seemed to be an ever present and enjoyable experience for humanity. Usually going hand in hand with war, many POWs (Prisoners of War) know that once you've been caught by the enemy you might not be in for a good time.
But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, our most successful interrogation of POWs was in WWII with Marine Major Sherwood Moran. Moran lead the efforts of interrogation with the Japanese POWs caught on the Pacific front. It was the most successful campaign in military history and it involved no torture. As a practice, the interrogaters were trained for at least a year before they could even talk to a POW, and had intense series of lessons on Japanese culture and idioms, beyond needing to already be fluent in Japanese. Their job was to talk with and befriend the POWs. It worked magically. More military secrets were divulged through the coersion of friendship that through the antipathy of antagonism.
Today, we face numerous counts of suspension of habeus corpus and unnecessary torture at Guantanamo Bay and previously, Abu Graib. There have been reports (with pictures) of prisoners being forced to strip naked and pose at gunpoint, verbal and physical abuse, even of a woman smearing her menstrual blood on prisoners' faces. Almost all interrogation is done by outsourced linguists or completely untrained military personnel. It is also, of course, competely ineffective, as noted by our failure to pin down Osama Bin Laden or any related underling henchmen.
Waterboarding will do nothing torture hasn't already. It is also commonly accepted that in the "ticking bomb" situation, torture becomes less effective as time decreases, and usually yields no results.
Torture is antagonism and the worst kind of coersion. Threats put people on guard. Kind gestures bring down people's guards and surprise them. They open up and cooperate if you show them kindness. The use of torture for extraction of information is backwards. Let's move forward from barbarianism and accomplish something.

May 2, 2008 | 9:21 AM Comments  0 comments

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Stopping Violence before it starts
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

This blog we will discuss something closer to home. Last time I blogged we had just had a lockdown. I also promised to discuss it and what could be done to prevent future issues.

A freshman at our school was arrested a while ago on suspicion of bringing guns to school, in combination with ominous and threatening writings he had around his room. He was a foster child and wasn't known for being incredibly social. People also took note he played violent video games and listened to violent music. I would like to point out the fallacy of causeand effect here. Some are under the suspicion that violent music causes violence. This is not the case. Violent music is the effect, not the cause. Kids who are already violent/depressed/mentally afflicted find that the violence appeals to them and listen to that music. Someone who isn't violent wouldn't listen to that music cause they wouldn't see the appeal in it. Violent music doesn't instill anything in the listener that wasn't already there.

What to me, however, is of even more concern, is that people don't take the warning signs as incriminating evidence and send the kids away. These kids just need to be redirected. Writing is such a great way to express yourself and when teachers see writing that is violent or disturbing, many are required by district policy to withhold the papers and send the kid to a psychologist. This could only frustrate this already frustrated youth more. What should be done is a redirection of expression. When a teacher or other responsible adult sees this coming out, they should actually encourage the writing and see, personally and responsibly see, that the kid DOES express his frustrations. Maybe the kid should even be placed in an extra english hour designed for kids to express their adolescence. It wouldn't be geared to be analytic or diagnostic, just therapeutic. It would be of utmost importance the kids aren't anymore alienated than they feel already.

I believe this could head off the problem before it starts, which is so much easier than de-arming a kid walking around a highschool with a gun.

I guess the problem is I don't know how to suggest such an idea or to who?

April 25, 2008 | 9:09 AM Comments  0 comments



Killer too obese to go to jail?
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I saw on CNN.com today the case of an aunt who, according to autopsy, seems to be responsible for the murder of a 2 year old boy, most likely by bludgeoning him over the head. She said at different times that she either fell on him and crushed him, or he got stuck under the bed or fell off a chair. But I'mnot here to debate the innocence or guilt of the woman, she at least was neglective of the child, but not nearly as neglective as the mother who was NOT 1,000 pounds and bedridden.

Yes. 1,000 pounds. The mother repeatedly left her child in the care of her sister who was incapable of even taking care of herself, despite being warned by Child Protection Services 5 times not to. Ayyy.

So who is more criminal? The aunt, the mother, or the CPS? And is it okay to leave this woman under "house arrest" when she never left her house anyway so she can continue to be fed and do nothing?

March 28, 2008 | 9:30 AM Comments  0 comments



Partisan gridlock
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I'm sort of annoyed by how some people take you rpolitical alignment personally. Honestly, I don't think I couldn't along with anymore because of their politics. Now, their social skills and politeness are something different. You don't have to tell someone everytime you disagree with them for the fact that you disagree.

And as far as America goes, compared to most countries, both of our parties are incredibly centrist. To say you're Democrat or Republican doesn't have the same amount of difference between the socialist and fascist and communist and capitalist parties that split many European votes. SO why do we make such a big deal about it?

I believe it's bcause we only have two parties in the US, so all the minute differences are visible and pointed out over and over, making the antagonism like chasms of separation. I wish this wasn't the case so people could collaborate on ideas that don't know partisanism.

March 21, 2008 | 9:17 AM Comments  1 comments



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