Commentary on WhatAmericaNeedsToRealize

http://brianamcclellan.blogspot.com/2013/12/balancing-pop-culture-and-governing.html

Above is the link to the blog I commented on. For some reason my computer would not let me submit my comment to her actual post so I have provided the link to the post so you can put my comment into context.

This is an incredibly valid post with an issue that I've spent a lot of time thinking about as well. You did a very good job of providing examples of how he speaks a lot about celebrities. I think President Obama is trying to appeal to younger voters by referencing pop culture but it sometimes crosses the line into seeming like he spends too much time keeping up with pop culture news. He once referenced Snooki, from Jersey Shore, and her tanning habits. Why in the world should Obama even know who that person is? I think it is important that he discusses things that people can relate to but instead of talking about celebrities that everyone already knows about, he should be informing America's youth about people they have never heard of who have had great success in math and science or in soccer or in art. Young people need to know that there is more to success than tabloids. His heart is in the right place because I know he is thinking about his own daughters' futures but he should be bringing unknown heroes to the public eye instead of talking about celebrities who are always talked about anyways. I think that he should stand behind more programs like Teach For America, Peace Core, and other programs that really make a difference in the world.

Foster System

                America needs to do something to improve the foster care system. There are so many kids that are homeless or orphaned or who have been treated so poorly by their biological parents that they were surrendered to the government’s child care system. Most foster children generally do not stay in one foster home for very long. So many American citizens that want to adopt children look to other countries to try and save a child who would otherwise grow up in a 3^rd world country. But there are so many parent-less children of all ages in the United States who just want someone to love them.

                The foster care system needs to do very thorough background checks on the families that they choose for the program. And have frequent, equally thorough, check ins to make sure that each child is being treated well and is socially, mentally, and physically healthy. There should be a maximum number of children that each foster family can house at any given time. If too many children end up in one foster home they don’t get as much individual attention and encouragement.  Each child should feel like they are actually cared for instead of feeling like an ID number that is just trying to survive the shuffle. The youth are our future but it seems as though people forget that the youth who are in government foster systems are just as important.

                Our current system does not need to be shut down it just needs to be revamped. Honestly, the youth should be the countries main focus because nothing really matters if our nation’s future is not being taken care of properly.

Commentary on We The People's Equal Opportunity.

The Post That I Commented On

I think this is an incredible idea. It would be so much easier for all involved parties if the U.S. government would stop trying to fight so hard against immigrants when they're just going to keep coming to our country and joining the work force. Allowing them citizenship after a certain number of years as long as they fulfill specific requirements would solve so many problems. The only question I have is about all of the illegal immigrants that have been here for years working steady jobs. If this program were to come into effect would they be required to attend all the seminars to learn english or could they test out? And would they have to start the program from the beginning or would they get move ahead faster depending on how many years they have already been living in the U.S.? If all of those scenarios are worked out then I think this program would be really beneficial.

Education System Makeover

            America should implement a new education program that offers more than the core reading, writing, math, science, and history. There is a quote that goes, “Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will spend its whole life believe that it is stupid.” So many kids in elementary, middle, and high schools get discouraged because of how specific all of the standardized testing is and they think that if they aren’t good at at least one of the five subjects they’re taught then they must be stupid. Only when a person makes it college, assuming their previous schooling didn’t scar them enough to opt out, are they told that the options of what you can study and excel in are endless.

            They should teach kids early on that academia isn’t their only option. They should offer programs in schools nation wide that teach kids more about the arts, and hands on jobs like welding and constructing or cooking. Why should a kid be made to feel like he’s dumb when he can’t memorize a thousand useless facts, but can build a house with his own two hands? Kids have such unbelievable imaginations so they should be inspired and encouraged instead of having packets of required curriculum drilled into their brains day after day.

            The most effective way to do this would be for the government to change their required core curriculum that gets sent out in bulk across the country. The government needs to be more concerned with the quality of education and less concerned with standardized test scores that don’t accurately portray the intelligence level of our nation’s youth.

Practice What You Preach

ACLU vs. Civil Liberties

I initially started looking through the conservative blogs because I thought it would be easier to write if it were about something I disagreed with. But that is beside the point. I think that the author of this article brings up a lot of good points. He talks about how the left wing people have already gotten their way by having people that don't support abortion subsidize it. But now the ACLU is trying to force Catholic hospitals to perform them. I'm completely pro choice, but I'm also against people forcing their beliefs on me.            

So if a Catholic hospital doesn't believe in performing abortions, who has the right to ask them to do so? If someone who is pro choice and is looking to get an abortion I'm certain that they could find a clinic with no religious affiliation where they could find help. The author does a good job of stating his beliefs and acknowledging the ACLU’s beliefs but also maintains a neutral mindset when discussing how the ACLU crossed the line. We all have our own beliefs and should all practice tolerance but it’s not fair to ask anyone to do something that directly conflicts with their beliefs. He brings up a very strong, graphic point about having “blood on his hands”. He says that any doctor who performs abortions knows exactly what their getting themselves into, so if it’s something they believe in supporting they are well aware of what it entails. But to ask someone who believes that abortion is murder to perform one is obscene and cruel.

I think his strongest point is when he says the Left’s go to argument for issues such as gay marriage is, “how will my gay marriage affect you?” And the answer to that is that is doesn’t so that’s settled and people can go on to be intolerant but they have no direct connection to a gay marriage they don’t support. But with this situation with the Catholic church “how will performing an abortion affect you?” The answer is that it directly contradicts their beliefs and they are being asked to personally take part in something they don’t believe in, which no one should have to do.            

Birth Control and a Boss's Religious Views

The Editorial Board for the New York Times recently published an editorial about the fact that some companies are refusing to cover birth control in their employees benefits because of their own personal religious views. While there is a rule that religious non profit houses of worship such as hospitals, universities, and charities don't have to cover birth control in their benefits for their employees. While I don't see how hospitals and universities fit into that group, I do understand allowing charities the right to deny birth control coverage. Anyone that goes to work for a charity must really be on board with everything the charity supports, while people that work at hospitals and universities don't necessarily share the same religious views as the people who run them. I think this article is directed at everyone, but mainly the Supreme Court because at the end of the article they say how they hope the Supreme Court will handle this situation. They claim that if this rule is not handled properly that business owners could use their religious beliefs to discriminate against women. While I think that statement is a little drastic I do believe that people could be using their religious views to withhold benefits from employees in an attempt to impart their own ideals on the people that work for them.

A Heartbreaking Reminder Of Our Fellow Americans' Ignorance

Education: Our Best Defense Against Ignorance

In the article linked above Michael Rohrer talks about the fact that homosexuality is still so widely unaddressed in school systems today. It's either left out or presented in a negative light. It sickens me when I'm reminded that there are places around the country and the world that aren't as forward thinking as the people in this wonderful city that I was raised in. One of the points that Rohrer brings up is that maybe the people who condemn homosexuality just aren't well enough educated on the matter and are too afraid to learn something new that could potentially change the way the view things. If schools taught children that homosexuality is just as much of a choice as being born a girl or being born with a severe peanut allergy then maybe kids struggling with their feelings wouldn't be so afraid to ask questions and accept themselves. I urge you to read this article because even though we all might be totally accepting of homosexuality and baffled by the fact that there are people out there who aren't, it really opens your eyes to how much still needs to be done to educate others and save them from their own ignorance.