Classmate Blog Commentary

I read Jasmine's blog about Osama Bin Laden and thought i would comment on it.  After carefully reading her blog i can see that Jasmine is pretty passionate about this particular subject.  I think she could have had stronger arguments then just saying i don't think Osama was planning any attacks.  Maybe provide hard facts that people can see because it would be much more persuasive.  I totally understand Jasmine's point of view in this matter and i do agree, to a point,  but i think there are some aspects that she did not bring up in her blog.  The U.S. went after Osama because he was a threat but also for the planned attacks that were already carried out.  9/11 was a day of tragedy for many Americans as well as the world.  I still remember watching it on the news and thought, there's no way that this sort of thing happens in real life.  Jasmine is portraying Osama as an old individual that is not capable of much. Osama changed many lives that day and it can never be forgiven.  Yes it is not fair for people to celebrate someone's death but is it also fair for a murderer to live his life peacefully without any repercussions? I think if Jasmine tried to show both sides a little bit more clearer, her argument could have been better.  I feel like that the U.S. could have maybe not killed Osama but have taken him in alive.  I do think Jasmine has good points in saying we should not celebrate death but for this particular case i can understand why certain people do.  I did not know anyone directly that died from 9/11 but i'm sure people who are feel much more differently then i am. 

Gas Prices

I read an article regarding the government investigating high gas prices.  As everything in this world, people are in the business to make money.  At the end of the day, they do not have much choice in setting the gas prices.  It's unfortunate but the gas prices being high have a reason to it.  It's like a science and many factors contribute to the high price.  Me, like most Americans do not like this answer but i understand it.  The government is just trying to please its citizens by saying we will launch an investigation but it too also knows that they won't find foul play.  Many things in the world attribute to our rising gas prices and honestly it is starting to get outrageous.  I hope that they are working on trying to find another resource that may eventually replace fuel.  Hybrid cars are a good option these days or public transportation are another choice.  I'm not sure how much more I'm going to be able to afford driving.  It's come to the point where it does have an affect on my daily life and what i choose to do.  I hope the government could try and really solve this problem that we have.  Do something to actually fix the problem and not to just say we tried knowing that they aren't really doing anything.  As a government, they should really try to help our citizens out because i know it affects a lot of people.  Many people relay on their cars to get around on a daily basis.  It's sad to see that they can't food on the table because they need to pay for gas.  People can argue that they can get around by other means but for some people they do not have the option.  i am usually not a pessimist but i feel like i should dust my bicycle off for this coming summer and i suggest everyone else does too. 

Blog Criticism

I read Darlyn's nice blog about banning texting by truck and bus drivers.  After reading your blog about banning texting by truck and bus drivers, i am a bit confused.  You make some good points in your blog but it doesn't really support the main argument.  i think i know what you were trying to say but you didn't clearly translate it into paper.  I think one thing you could have added was to try and ban texting by not only truck and bus drivers but by every driver.  Judging by what you wrote, i believe that was the clear message you were trying to get across.  I totally agree with you that texting while driving can be really fatal and it impairs our ability to drive.  No matter how well an individual drives, the road is shared so it doesn't really matter because there are other drivers on the road.  I think the main purpose was to persuade your reader and i think with a bit more organization and more clear support for your argument would have helped.

Airport Scanners violating human rights

Airports have taken new measures to increase security with new body scanners.  How these scanners work is that you stand with your hands up and it takes a digital x-ray image of you.  This is basically a virtual strip search of all the passengers.  As a frequent traveler, i feel violated having to walk through and take a picture.  I am all for taking precautionary measures but is this really the way to go?  I believe the system that was in place was fine.  By the aiport having this new scanner, i do not feel any safer than i was before.  I think the U.S. Government should step in and say this is a violation of human rights.  I am well aware that you can opt out and get a pat down.  Talking from experience, going through the body scanner is the better option.  The pat down takes a bit longer and they really do pat you down everywhere, and i do mean everywhere.  I felt more violated that now i just go through the scanner.  I felt like maybe T.S.A. could have used the money that was used on the scanners and have did other things with it, like better trained employees or put another system in place so passengers don't have to feel like they got violated just to travel.  If i could ride a bus to my house in Philadelphia i would, but the cost efficiency and the time would not be worth it so the only option i have is to take the plane.  I have a problem with it and i think its the U.S. Government needs to take action.  I am sure that i am not the only individual to feel like this and there has to be another way.  What if another incident does occur where a passenger brought a weapon on a plane and something bad went down?  What will T.S.A. do next?  What will their excuse be then?  That is what i am truly scared about. 

Fox News Miscue

After reading the blog About Fox News misinforming people about a health care reform, i tried to analyze what the author was trying to point out.  It looks like the author was trying to prove a point by not blatantly bashing Fox News but to show what Fox News reported and then what the truth is.  The message is pretty clear and the author did it in a way to get the point across.  It is very simple yet very effective.  Many people watch Fox News and believe everything that they hear and this author was targeting those people.  It was to say, just because it is on the news does not always mean it is accurate.  Fox News always trys to make a headline and it is shown here that they get something very small and try to make it big.  The author doesn't use many words or even show a bias but just shows the facts because they explain themselves.  After reading the article i came to a conclusion that the author is right, that Fox News is indeed misinformed.  The rule changed about the flex spending account which is money allocated to use for prescription and over the counter items.  It benefits the user because it is tax free.  Unfortunately this year the FSA (flex spending account) card covers only prescriptions and a small number of over the counter products.  To be able to use the FSA card for certain over the counter products, a doctor would now have to write a prescription to get it covered under the FSA card.  For people who don't have FSA cards, are unaffected and can still go to your local pharmacy and buy aspirin or Tylenol without a prescription.  The author did careful research and presented clearly that even i could explain it like i just did.

Politics is Good for You!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/21/avlon.historic.anniversaries/index.html


The author is arguing that politics does have some benefits for citizens and that more people should give it a chance.  I think the author is targeting the general public because i feel like most people have a bad view of politics.  There's a lot of bribery and wrongdoings that happen with politics, and i believe most people are aware of this.  The author is trying to state that modern day politics is not always bad, all the time.  To prove his point, he states past events that happened to show that these events inspired people to become better citizens and to try and live the right way.  He's trying to show past speeches that important people have made during hard times.  With these speeches, our country bound together and tried to move forward for the better of us all.  Also he argues that everything we hear and read should be held with a grain of salt.  Just because politics is getting a bad reputation doesn't mean that it is.  He uses the argument that Martin Luther King was accused and highly controversial during his time but after the dust settled, people realized his true intentions.  Even though politics is getting bad press, it may not be the whole truth.  Then he closes and says that politics is uplifting at times and we should embrace it and make our own good history. 
    I agree with almost everything the author says but he fails to mention times when politics were bad.  If you are going to state the good, you should also state the negatives to further strengthen your argument.  He has really good points and uses specific events to get his message across and i think it did its purpose. 

Arizona vs The U.S.

   As most people are aware, Arizona is causing a big controversy with its' proposed immigration laws.  The article basically says that Arizona is suing the U.S. for failing to keep the illegal immigrants out.  Arizona is alleging that because the U.S. fails to do their job, their state has to pay the repercussions.  Also Arizona is stating that the U.S. Government is basically falsifying numbers to try and show that they are doing a good job.

  I think that this is a very touchy subject and there are always two sides to every argument.  Personally i feel like its very hard to say who is right and who is wrong.  Being an immigrant myself, i can relate and understand the position of the immigrants.  The immigrants are opposed to this idea because most of them are just trying to improve the quality of life.  I'm sure that the conditions and opportunities are far greater here than in there respective countries.  On the other side of the coin, i can also relate to the opposing side because where do you draw the line and say enough is enough.  It is sickening to read stories about illegal immigrants committing murders and other illegal activities and then escaping back to their own countries.  It is really hard to comprehend what the victims go through and we should try our best to not let this happen.  

This is worth reading because this may directly or even indirectly affect someone you know.  Although it is just Arizona, for now, this can cause a domino effect and more states might try to impose this.  When it is blown to a national scale, things might turn a little ugly.


http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/arizona-plans-to-sue-federal-government/?scp=1&sq=us%20government&st=cse