I researched bullying prevention and read this article which discussed that bullying is important to be stopped, because it often leads to school shootings, such as Columbine. Research shows that Klebold and Harris (shooters in the Columbine massacre) were often subjected to harassment and bullying from other students. Some wondered if the ridicule from other students had prompted Harris and Klebold to seek revenge. I also learend that critics of increased surveillance in schools contend that bullying, stalking, and harassment present the real risk to students and believe that stronger counseling and early intervention programs are urgently needed. Surveillance may stop bullying, but it is also important to educate students about why bullying is bad. If students do not learn at a young age about it's consequences, then they are more likely in the future to bully others or not know what actions to take when they are being bullied. Bullying was a particular problem in middle schools; 37% of sixth graders, 28% of ninth graders, and 20% of 12th graders reported that they had been bullied at school. This shows that bullying begins at a young age, which could cause stress and lead to pyschological problems in the future.
Studies divide bullying behaviors into two categories: direct and indirect. Direct bullying behaviors include physical and verbal attacks and harassment. Indirect bullying behaviors include subtle actions that might be hard for those not directly involved to recognize. These would include psychological activities, such as those listed earlier, as well as obscene gestures, hurtful facial expressions, and turning friends against each other. Researchers also find that students who had been bullied were more likely than other students to carry weapons to school (4% and 1%, respectively). And an even more shocking statistic is that most of the victims of school shootings are not the bullies who have harassed the shooters, but average students caught in the cross fire of angry classmates. This truly demonstrates how serious the issue of bullying is; it turns the victim into the killer and it puts innocent lives at risk.
I also read about the effects of being bullied. Researchers find that bullied students were more likely to engage in a variety of behaviors than students who had not been bullied, including fearing attack, truancy from school or skipping classes, not participating in afterschool activities, carrying weapons, and engaging in physical fights. Being victimized by a bully may also lead to aggressive and/or antisocial behavior. Many students may even attempt suicide.
However, bullying can be stopped. There are prevention programs, but these antibullying efforts are not only geared toward bullies but also at the students and teachers who do not do enough to stop such aggression from occurring. Some victims claim there are teachers who allow bullying to occur, even encourage it. Others say they are afraid to tell teachers because the educators just ignore it and tell the victims to toughen up. Still other victims are ashamed that they cannot stop the bullies so they retreat into themselves and internalize it. This shows that even the bystanders are to blame. If one sees bullying happening they need to stand up for the bully, rather than stand back in silence, because if they do, they are just encouraging the bullying and it will continue to happen.
Source: http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3020750109&mode=view
Friday, May 6, 2011
Final Project Day 6:
Last night I worked on putting together my poster for the market. I decided to do a tri-fold poster than illustrated the important parts of bullying. For one of the sides I am showing the consequences of bullying. It lists depression, suicide, and school violence. I know a lot about the consequences of school violence, since I read Nineteen Minutes, which was focused on a school shooting. The research I have done has also shown how bullying leads to psychological disorders, which ultimately leads to depression and even suicide. I have stories such as Columbine and Phoebe Prince's suicide story to help demonstrate the seriousness of bullying. Side two of the poster lists many statistics about bullying that I found very interesting. My focus for this project is to educate people about the issue of bullying, and by showing people these shocking statistics, I hope that they will understand why bullying is so relevant and serious today in high schools. The final side of the tri-fold poster is my plea for people to take action now in order to stop bullying. I encourage people to sign the pledge I made as an action item and show that bullying can be stopped as long as we make an effort to prevent it. In addition to the poster I decided to show a short youtube video that shows how even non-physical bullying can be dangerous. It's titled "Words Hurt" and demonstrates how verbal bullying also has serious consequences.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Final Project Day 5 Part 2:
School Violence Timeline:
2009 - In Winnenden, Germany, 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer opens fire at his former secondary school, killing nine students and three teachers. While attempting to flee, he kills three more people before shooting himself.
2008 - A gunman opens fire at a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on February 14, leaving five students dead and 16 others wounded before killing himself. The shooter is identified as 27-year-old Steven P. Kazmierczak, a former student at the university.
*2007 - On November 7, 18-year-old Pekka-Eric Auvinen shoots and kills eight people at Jokela High School in Tuusula, Finland, and then turns the gun on himself. The shooting was planned in a YouTube video entitled "Jokela High School Massacre - 11/7/2007," which depicted a photo of the school and revealed Auvinen pointing a gun at the screen.
*2007 - On April 16th, 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech University, shoots 32 students on campus before fatally turning the gun on himself.
*2006 - On April 20, five teenage boys are arrested hours before they planned to shoot fellow students at a local high school in Riverton, Kansas. An individual alerted the police after viewing a MySpace.com message hinting at the upcoming shooting.
*2005 - In late March, Jeffrey Weise, a student at Red Lake High School in Minnesota, enters the high school killing seven people and then himself.
2004 - In response to a $50 debt, 16-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania student Desmond Keels shoots four students, killing one.
2003 - On April 24th, James Sheets, a 14-year-old student at a junior high school in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, shoots and kills the principal in the cafeteria before turning the gun on himself.
2000 - In Lake Worth, Florida, on May 26, 13-year-old Nathaniel Brazill murders his English teacher after the teacher asks him to stop talking to two girls in the classroom. Brazill is later convicted of murder.
*1999 - On April 20, students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris attack fellow students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Killing 15 people including themselves, their attack is the deadliest school shooting to date.
1998 - On March 24, an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy open fire near their middle school in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where they injure fifteen people; four girls and a teacher are fatally shot.
1997 - On October 1st, Luke Woodham, a 16-year-old from Pearl, Mississippi, shoots seven students, and kills two after fatally stabbing his mother.
1996 - A federal government report on school-related deaths shows that between 1992 and 1994, 105 people died at school or during a school-related event from either homicide or suicide.
*1994 - Congress passes the Gun-Free Schools Act requiring every state to enact a law requiring schools to expel students for bringing guns to school.
*1993 - The American Psychological Association estimates that children watch over 8,000 murders on television before leaving elementary school.
1993 - A paper by the National Education Association reports that an estimated 100,000 guns are brought to school every day in the United States.
1993 - President Bill Clinton begins his term with a strong emphasis upon school violence prevention.
1977 - The National Alliance for Safe Schools is founded to provide technical assistance to school districts with rising school violence.
Source: http://issues.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/913445?cid=85&terms=school+violence
2009 - In Winnenden, Germany, 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer opens fire at his former secondary school, killing nine students and three teachers. While attempting to flee, he kills three more people before shooting himself.
2008 - A gunman opens fire at a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on February 14, leaving five students dead and 16 others wounded before killing himself. The shooter is identified as 27-year-old Steven P. Kazmierczak, a former student at the university.
*2007 - On November 7, 18-year-old Pekka-Eric Auvinen shoots and kills eight people at Jokela High School in Tuusula, Finland, and then turns the gun on himself. The shooting was planned in a YouTube video entitled "Jokela High School Massacre - 11/7/2007," which depicted a photo of the school and revealed Auvinen pointing a gun at the screen.
*2007 - On April 16th, 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech University, shoots 32 students on campus before fatally turning the gun on himself.
*2006 - On April 20, five teenage boys are arrested hours before they planned to shoot fellow students at a local high school in Riverton, Kansas. An individual alerted the police after viewing a MySpace.com message hinting at the upcoming shooting.
*2005 - In late March, Jeffrey Weise, a student at Red Lake High School in Minnesota, enters the high school killing seven people and then himself.
2004 - In response to a $50 debt, 16-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania student Desmond Keels shoots four students, killing one.
2003 - On April 24th, James Sheets, a 14-year-old student at a junior high school in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, shoots and kills the principal in the cafeteria before turning the gun on himself.
2000 - In Lake Worth, Florida, on May 26, 13-year-old Nathaniel Brazill murders his English teacher after the teacher asks him to stop talking to two girls in the classroom. Brazill is later convicted of murder.
*1999 - On April 20, students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris attack fellow students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Killing 15 people including themselves, their attack is the deadliest school shooting to date.
1998 - On March 24, an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy open fire near their middle school in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where they injure fifteen people; four girls and a teacher are fatally shot.
1997 - On October 1st, Luke Woodham, a 16-year-old from Pearl, Mississippi, shoots seven students, and kills two after fatally stabbing his mother.
1996 - A federal government report on school-related deaths shows that between 1992 and 1994, 105 people died at school or during a school-related event from either homicide or suicide.
*1994 - Congress passes the Gun-Free Schools Act requiring every state to enact a law requiring schools to expel students for bringing guns to school.
*1993 - The American Psychological Association estimates that children watch over 8,000 murders on television before leaving elementary school.
1993 - A paper by the National Education Association reports that an estimated 100,000 guns are brought to school every day in the United States.
1993 - President Bill Clinton begins his term with a strong emphasis upon school violence prevention.
1977 - The National Alliance for Safe Schools is founded to provide technical assistance to school districts with rising school violence.
Source: http://issues.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/913445?cid=85&terms=school+violence
Final Project Day 5:
Today I researched how bullying is relevent in society today. Columbine may have happened over ten years ago, but these serious effects of bullying are still taking place in schools now. Within the past few years there have been many deaths that were a result of bullying. Fiveteen-year-old Phoebe Prince hanged herself after being bullied. Six of her classmates were charged with criminal harassment and civil rights violations. These people were responsible for her suicide, which most likely could have been prevented if she had not been bullied. Tyler Clementi is another teenager who committed suicide after he was secretly taped during a gay dorm-room incident. Just a 13 year old killed herself after she was made fun of by other students over a picture.
Research has shown that bullying victims are far more likely to try suicide that non-bullying victims are. According to this article, around 50 percent of high school students say that they have been bullied in ways that seriously upset that. That means that these 50 percent of students are at high risk for suicide. This is just a single fact that screams that bullying is a serious issue that must be stopped.
Some other interesting statistics are that 61% of people believe that bullying is more of a problem right now that it has been in the past. 12% of boys and 9% of girls have said that they bully other students at least 2-3 times a month. 17% of boys and 16% of girls have said that they are bullied 2-3 times a month or more. These are significantly high numbers, especially because these people committing the bullying acts may not realize how serious their actions are. It is important for them to be educated about stories like Phoebe Prince and Tyler Clementi so they can recognize that their words and actions strongly affect other students.
I also found it very interesting and surprising to hear that fewer than half of bullied students have told a parent. I believe that that is part of the problem. Like I learned from reading Nineteen Minutes, victims who don't ask for help are likely to become depressed and result to severe consequences. At the same time, parents and school officials must be on the look out for bullying, because as the facts show, they will not necessarily be told about it. A survey shows that 50% of people believe it is the parent's responsibility to deal with bullying and 39% believe it is the school's responsibility. Recently, to help stop bullying, there have been stricter laws especially on internet harassment.
Source: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010121000&type=hitlist&num=1
Research has shown that bullying victims are far more likely to try suicide that non-bullying victims are. According to this article, around 50 percent of high school students say that they have been bullied in ways that seriously upset that. That means that these 50 percent of students are at high risk for suicide. This is just a single fact that screams that bullying is a serious issue that must be stopped.
Some other interesting statistics are that 61% of people believe that bullying is more of a problem right now that it has been in the past. 12% of boys and 9% of girls have said that they bully other students at least 2-3 times a month. 17% of boys and 16% of girls have said that they are bullied 2-3 times a month or more. These are significantly high numbers, especially because these people committing the bullying acts may not realize how serious their actions are. It is important for them to be educated about stories like Phoebe Prince and Tyler Clementi so they can recognize that their words and actions strongly affect other students.
I also found it very interesting and surprising to hear that fewer than half of bullied students have told a parent. I believe that that is part of the problem. Like I learned from reading Nineteen Minutes, victims who don't ask for help are likely to become depressed and result to severe consequences. At the same time, parents and school officials must be on the look out for bullying, because as the facts show, they will not necessarily be told about it. A survey shows that 50% of people believe it is the parent's responsibility to deal with bullying and 39% believe it is the school's responsibility. Recently, to help stop bullying, there have been stricter laws especially on internet harassment.
Source: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010121000&type=hitlist&num=1
Monday, May 2, 2011
Final Project Day 4 Part 2:
Bullying Statistics/Facts:
- 30% of U.S. students in grades six through ten are involved in moderate or frequent bullying — as bullies, as victims, or as both — according to the results of the first national survey on this subject.
- Bullying is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents.
- 1 out of 4 kids is bullied.
- Surveys show that 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally, & physically.
- 8% of students miss 1 day of class per month for fear of bullies.
- Teenagers say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings:
- 87% said shootings are motivated by a desire to "get back at those who have hurt them."
- 86% said, "other kids picking on them, making fun of them or bullying them" causes teenagers to turn to lethal violence in the schools.
- Bullying generally begins in the elementary grades, peaks in the sixth through eight grades, and persists into high school.
- Bullying was reported as more prevalent among males than females and occurred with greater frequency among middle school-aged youth than high school-aged youth. For males, both physical and verbal bullying was common, while for females, verbal bullying and rumors were more common.
- Research shows that those who bully and are bullied appear to be at greatest risk of experiencing the following: loneliness; trouble making friends; lack of success in school; and involvement in problem behaviors such as smoking and drinking.
- 74% of 8 to 11-year-old students said teasing and bullying occur at their schools.
- 39% of middle schoolers and thirty-six of high schoolers say they don’t feel safe at schools.
Final Project Day 4:
Today in class I decided to research about the Columbine school shooting. I learned that it was the deadliest school shooting in America that occured on April 20, 1999. During the mass-murder, Eric Harris and Dylan Kleebold killed eleven people, wounded twenty-three, and then committed suicide. Research shows that both boys were social outcasts and faced bullying for being different. Harris was labeled as a clinical psychopath and Kleebold was a depressive. It has caused much controversy wondering if this tragedy could have been prevented by recognizing the boys' plans before they put them into full effect.
After the tragic incident, people blamed many things for allowing this to happen. They said that media was to blame because bomb-making directions were available online and violent themes came across in music and on the television. The school was also blamed for not have stronger security. Schools have since responded to the violence by installing metal detectors at entrances and putting video cameras in the hallways.
It has been Columbine that has awakened the nation to the seriousness and pervasiveness of bullying. It was bullying that causes Harris' and Kleebold's depression to escalate into something as violent as this. Columbine has demonstrated the dangers of bullying and how it has a strong connection to school violence.
Sources: http://issues.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/950858?terms=columbine
http://issues.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/971107?terms=columbine
After the tragic incident, people blamed many things for allowing this to happen. They said that media was to blame because bomb-making directions were available online and violent themes came across in music and on the television. The school was also blamed for not have stronger security. Schools have since responded to the violence by installing metal detectors at entrances and putting video cameras in the hallways.
It has been Columbine that has awakened the nation to the seriousness and pervasiveness of bullying. It was bullying that causes Harris' and Kleebold's depression to escalate into something as violent as this. Columbine has demonstrated the dangers of bullying and how it has a strong connection to school violence.
Sources: http://issues.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/950858?terms=columbine
http://issues.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/971107?terms=columbine
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Nineteen Minutes Entry 6: Final Reflection
I've always loved Jodi Picoult books, but this one is easily my favorite. The interesting storyline, tied along with an important and relevant message, caught my attention after just the first few pages. Picoult is such a strong writer because she makes fiction seem like reality. Her characters are so real, that I felt as if they went to school with me every day. I recognize qualities of my friends and other students within her characters, making Nineteen Minutes a very captivating and powerful novel.
Picoult's novel brings up a lot of important questions. Who has the right to judge someone else? How can we stop bullying? Why does bullying even take place? What does it mean to be different? Can the shooter in a school shooting also be the victim? As high school students, are we ever acting truly as ourselves? I think all of these questions are so important because they connect to me and are relevant in every high school student's life. Although I believe that DHS does not face a lot of bullying, we're still not a perfect school. There's plenty of name-calling, side snickers, and people that make fun of others behind their backs. What these students may not realize is how much hurt they are causing another. Nineteen Minutes was an extremely powerful story because it educated me on why bullying has such severe consequences. It is wrong, hurtful, and must be stopped.
Peter was one of the main characters in this book and I both sympathized with his problems, and also hated him for hurting so many innocent people. Josie, however, was a character that I really enjoyed reading about. She was a complex girl-she was constantly faced with the decision of whether popularity or doing the right thing was more important. For a long time, she took the popularity route. As a girl in high school I know how much pressure there is to do the right thing in order to be accepted. Josie is just like any teenage girl; she knew what she was doing was wrong, but was too selfish to stand up for Peter. It was only in the end of the novel, with the final twist, when she admitted to the court room the truth. She shared that she was the one who shot Matt, not Peter.
I think part of the reason Josie shot her boyfriend was because in the moment she was overwhelmed and scared, and she partly believed that both her and Matt were responsible for leading Peter to this place. She was tired of being a coward and not standing up for what she believed in. She knew that how Matt and her other friends treated Peter was wrong, and in the moment, she felt that she needed to cause Matt the pain he caused Peter. That was her way of standing up for herself, as well as Peter. Similarly to Peter, it was clear that Josie was hurting from keeping the truth to herself for so long.
Josie demonstrates that even though it is difficult, it is very important to stay true to yourself and stand up for what you believe it. The students who stand by knowing that bullying is wrong, but never try to stop it, are just as much to blame. Peter felt alone, when all along Josie cared for him and wanted him to stop feeling the pain he felt. But because she never stood up for him or told him that, he never knew.
Nineteen Minutes was a very powerful and deep story that educated me a lot about bullying and it's repercussions. It has taught me how to be a better person and why it is important to stand up for what you know is right, even if it is not the socially acceptable thing to do. I loved reading this novel, and I think it is very important for other high school students to read it as well so that they can be educated about the issue of bullying.
Picoult's novel brings up a lot of important questions. Who has the right to judge someone else? How can we stop bullying? Why does bullying even take place? What does it mean to be different? Can the shooter in a school shooting also be the victim? As high school students, are we ever acting truly as ourselves? I think all of these questions are so important because they connect to me and are relevant in every high school student's life. Although I believe that DHS does not face a lot of bullying, we're still not a perfect school. There's plenty of name-calling, side snickers, and people that make fun of others behind their backs. What these students may not realize is how much hurt they are causing another. Nineteen Minutes was an extremely powerful story because it educated me on why bullying has such severe consequences. It is wrong, hurtful, and must be stopped.
Peter was one of the main characters in this book and I both sympathized with his problems, and also hated him for hurting so many innocent people. Josie, however, was a character that I really enjoyed reading about. She was a complex girl-she was constantly faced with the decision of whether popularity or doing the right thing was more important. For a long time, she took the popularity route. As a girl in high school I know how much pressure there is to do the right thing in order to be accepted. Josie is just like any teenage girl; she knew what she was doing was wrong, but was too selfish to stand up for Peter. It was only in the end of the novel, with the final twist, when she admitted to the court room the truth. She shared that she was the one who shot Matt, not Peter.
I think part of the reason Josie shot her boyfriend was because in the moment she was overwhelmed and scared, and she partly believed that both her and Matt were responsible for leading Peter to this place. She was tired of being a coward and not standing up for what she believed in. She knew that how Matt and her other friends treated Peter was wrong, and in the moment, she felt that she needed to cause Matt the pain he caused Peter. That was her way of standing up for herself, as well as Peter. Similarly to Peter, it was clear that Josie was hurting from keeping the truth to herself for so long.
Josie demonstrates that even though it is difficult, it is very important to stay true to yourself and stand up for what you believe it. The students who stand by knowing that bullying is wrong, but never try to stop it, are just as much to blame. Peter felt alone, when all along Josie cared for him and wanted him to stop feeling the pain he felt. But because she never stood up for him or told him that, he never knew.
Nineteen Minutes was a very powerful and deep story that educated me a lot about bullying and it's repercussions. It has taught me how to be a better person and why it is important to stand up for what you know is right, even if it is not the socially acceptable thing to do. I loved reading this novel, and I think it is very important for other high school students to read it as well so that they can be educated about the issue of bullying.
Nineteen Minutes Entry 5: "You don't need water to feel like you're drowning, do you?"
Another reason I really enjoyed Nineteen Minutes was because throughout the interesting storyline, it was also very informative about the issue of bullying. Jodi Picoult used her fictional writing to show why people bully, why people get bullied, and also shared how bullying can be stopped. Picoult doesn't have the solution to stopping bullying in high schools--I don't think anyone does--but she suggests that asking for help is the first step.
Peter was strongly affected by the bullying he faced daily. He was both physically and mentally abused, but it was the mental abuse from the name calling and humiliating jokes that led him to attack his schoolmates. Peter was depressed and felt as if he was alone and had no where to turn to. Rather than asking for help, he drowned in his sorrows, believing that the bullying could never be stopped. However, that was his downfall. It makes sense as to why he would be afraid to go to anyone explaining his situation; he had tried that before and it had backfired, causing the bullying to only get worse. But during the trial when the prosecutor was questioning the witness-the principal of the school-why he had never intervened, he asked, "But Peter didn't ask for help, did he?" (379). And, of course, the principal answered "no."
In order to prevent tragedies like Peter's school shooting from happening in the future, both the victim of the bullying and the victim's family, as well as the school must take action. Students like Peter who are bullied all the time must ask for help. If they are too afraid to talk to a school official, then they can always turn to their parents or go to a counselor for help. Peter took such drastic actions by entering his school with guns because he truly believed that he was in constant danger due to the threats from his bullies. Peter had a mental disorder and needed to be taken care of, but because his parents did not pay much attention to his life and school officials turned a blind eye to what was happening in their school hallways, Peter never go the help he needed.
Even though this novel was fictional, I found it very interesting how Picoult chose to have the defense make a large portion of the case based off the fact that Peter committed these violent acts because he was dealing with PTSD and felt that the only way to stand up for himself was by threatening the other kids, just like how they threatened him. Peter was depressed and felt as if his life was in a constant danger. It would not surprise me if the other students in real life who committed acts similar to Peter were also facing similar mental problems. They most likely needed to receive help, just like Peter. Although we can never truly control another person's actions, getting the students who face bullying the help and therapy they need is the first step in preventing school shooting tragedies like these.
Peter was strongly affected by the bullying he faced daily. He was both physically and mentally abused, but it was the mental abuse from the name calling and humiliating jokes that led him to attack his schoolmates. Peter was depressed and felt as if he was alone and had no where to turn to. Rather than asking for help, he drowned in his sorrows, believing that the bullying could never be stopped. However, that was his downfall. It makes sense as to why he would be afraid to go to anyone explaining his situation; he had tried that before and it had backfired, causing the bullying to only get worse. But during the trial when the prosecutor was questioning the witness-the principal of the school-why he had never intervened, he asked, "But Peter didn't ask for help, did he?" (379). And, of course, the principal answered "no."
In order to prevent tragedies like Peter's school shooting from happening in the future, both the victim of the bullying and the victim's family, as well as the school must take action. Students like Peter who are bullied all the time must ask for help. If they are too afraid to talk to a school official, then they can always turn to their parents or go to a counselor for help. Peter took such drastic actions by entering his school with guns because he truly believed that he was in constant danger due to the threats from his bullies. Peter had a mental disorder and needed to be taken care of, but because his parents did not pay much attention to his life and school officials turned a blind eye to what was happening in their school hallways, Peter never go the help he needed.
Even though this novel was fictional, I found it very interesting how Picoult chose to have the defense make a large portion of the case based off the fact that Peter committed these violent acts because he was dealing with PTSD and felt that the only way to stand up for himself was by threatening the other kids, just like how they threatened him. Peter was depressed and felt as if his life was in a constant danger. It would not surprise me if the other students in real life who committed acts similar to Peter were also facing similar mental problems. They most likely needed to receive help, just like Peter. Although we can never truly control another person's actions, getting the students who face bullying the help and therapy they need is the first step in preventing school shooting tragedies like these.
Nineteen Minutes Entry 4: "In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it."
Peter's town blames him for the deaths of innocent students and for tearing their town apart. And without the knowledge behind Peter's attack, it would make sense as to why they would believe that. However, there is a story behind Peter's violent attack, further proving why it is so incredibly important for people to be educated about bullying and what takes place in schools. Because after being educated and informed about Peter's side of the story, we should also be blaming other students--even some dead ones--for causing this destuction.
In nineteen minutes, Peter may have shot eighteen people at his school and killed ten of them. But at the same time, it may have only took nineteen minutes for the 'popular kids' to bully Peter and cause him to face the mental problems that led him to the shooting. It may have only taken nineteen minutes to leave him feeling humiliated, unloved, and unwanted. It may have only taken nineteen minutes of bullying to cause Peter to believe that if he did not stand up for himself by fighting back and killing his bullies, he would die.
One point of view this story is told from is Josie's. She was a childhood friend of Peter's, but as they grew up she began to follow along with the popular crowd. Although she secretly cared about Peter and wanted to be friends with him, she recognized that doing so would jepordize her position with the popular crowd. The world of popularity is a vicious one. As Josie's boyfriend Matt tells her, "Because if there isn't a them, there can't be an us" (219). These students that have bullied Peter throughout his life don't bully him because he has ever caused any pain to them. They do it because they need to bring other people down to feel better about themselves. They bully others so that they can be placed on a higher social standing.
What will we do to stay on top? What I found most upsetting about this situation, was that Josie knew that what she was doing was wrong. She had such a strong desire to stand by Peter and stop the bullying that her friends were causing. But she was so focused on staying 'popular' that she was willing to stay friends with people that she didn't even like and people who didn't truly care about her, like Peter did. Josie turned into a person she wasn't in order to be popular. She no longer acted as herself and placed popularity above her true feelings and real friendships. At one point she is talking to Peter in private and he asks her why she acts the way she does towards him, if she doesn't hate him. Josie responds, "I have to act the way people expect me to act. It's part of the whole...thing" (239). Josie feels a pressure to be someone she isn't in order to remain on top of the social circle. In turn, it causes her to turn her back on someone who means a lot to her.
This story shows us that popularity is often a major cause of bullying. Students feel as if they need to have some sort of power in order to be popular. They bring others down so that they can bring themselves up. And the bystanders are just as bad. Students, even the unpopular ones, are afraid to stand up and say "stop, that's wrong," out of fear that then they will become someone like Peter. As humans, we have a constant desire to feel accepted, even by people we don't know or care about. Nineteen Minutes demonstrates that students feel that in order to feel accepted, they must become a person they aren't.
In nineteen minutes, Peter may have shot eighteen people at his school and killed ten of them. But at the same time, it may have only took nineteen minutes for the 'popular kids' to bully Peter and cause him to face the mental problems that led him to the shooting. It may have only taken nineteen minutes to leave him feeling humiliated, unloved, and unwanted. It may have only taken nineteen minutes of bullying to cause Peter to believe that if he did not stand up for himself by fighting back and killing his bullies, he would die.
One point of view this story is told from is Josie's. She was a childhood friend of Peter's, but as they grew up she began to follow along with the popular crowd. Although she secretly cared about Peter and wanted to be friends with him, she recognized that doing so would jepordize her position with the popular crowd. The world of popularity is a vicious one. As Josie's boyfriend Matt tells her, "Because if there isn't a them, there can't be an us" (219). These students that have bullied Peter throughout his life don't bully him because he has ever caused any pain to them. They do it because they need to bring other people down to feel better about themselves. They bully others so that they can be placed on a higher social standing.
What will we do to stay on top? What I found most upsetting about this situation, was that Josie knew that what she was doing was wrong. She had such a strong desire to stand by Peter and stop the bullying that her friends were causing. But she was so focused on staying 'popular' that she was willing to stay friends with people that she didn't even like and people who didn't truly care about her, like Peter did. Josie turned into a person she wasn't in order to be popular. She no longer acted as herself and placed popularity above her true feelings and real friendships. At one point she is talking to Peter in private and he asks her why she acts the way she does towards him, if she doesn't hate him. Josie responds, "I have to act the way people expect me to act. It's part of the whole...thing" (239). Josie feels a pressure to be someone she isn't in order to remain on top of the social circle. In turn, it causes her to turn her back on someone who means a lot to her.
This story shows us that popularity is often a major cause of bullying. Students feel as if they need to have some sort of power in order to be popular. They bring others down so that they can bring themselves up. And the bystanders are just as bad. Students, even the unpopular ones, are afraid to stand up and say "stop, that's wrong," out of fear that then they will become someone like Peter. As humans, we have a constant desire to feel accepted, even by people we don't know or care about. Nineteen Minutes demonstrates that students feel that in order to feel accepted, they must become a person they aren't.
Nineteen Minutes Entry 3: "Something still exists as long as there's someone around to remember it, right?"
This entire novel was incredibly captivating and interesting, mainly due to the way Picoult chose to write it. As the story was narrated through many different points of view, I was able to hear what everyone had to say about each situation. On the back of the book, there was a quote from a critic that really stood out to me and changed my mindset towards school violence. People magazine wrote, "A brilliantly told tale, one that dares to remind us that someone loved the killer too." And it's true; in this novel was see how Peter's parents loved him even after he committed his tragic crimes. Even Peter's friend Josie was willing to sacrifice her life by admitting that she was the one who first shot Matt, her boyfriend. She wanted the truth to be told so that Peter was not blamed for a death that she was a part of causing. Even though Peter was willing to keep her secret, Josie cared too much for Peter to let that happen.
Nineteen Minutes teaches us that every killer is someone's son. Even though Peter felt bullied and unloved throughout his life, there actually were people he could turn to. Even though his parents had trouble showing their love for Peter, deep down they cared deeply for him. After the school shooting tradgedy, Peter's parents may have had trouble loving the man he became, but they still loved the man he used to be. By choosing to remember and honor his past, his parents' love shined throughh.
When Peter's mom Lacy was struggling with how to express her love to her son after he had been put on trial, her friend Alex reminded her of the sweet and special boy Peter used to be. She told Lacy, "He used to like the peanut butter on the top half of the bread and the marshmallow fluff on the bottom. And he could find anything I'd dropped-an earring, a contact lens-before it got lost permanently" (386). This was a powerful moment for Lacy, and a moving one for me as well. In this moment, it is clear that although one may feel uncared about, there is always someone who loves them. Even though Peter had just killed ten innocent people, his mother still loved him and did all she could to protect him. It sends out an important message to those who are being bullied; you are never alone.
Nineteen Minutes teaches us that every killer is someone's son. Even though Peter felt bullied and unloved throughout his life, there actually were people he could turn to. Even though his parents had trouble showing their love for Peter, deep down they cared deeply for him. After the school shooting tradgedy, Peter's parents may have had trouble loving the man he became, but they still loved the man he used to be. By choosing to remember and honor his past, his parents' love shined throughh.
When Peter's mom Lacy was struggling with how to express her love to her son after he had been put on trial, her friend Alex reminded her of the sweet and special boy Peter used to be. She told Lacy, "He used to like the peanut butter on the top half of the bread and the marshmallow fluff on the bottom. And he could find anything I'd dropped-an earring, a contact lens-before it got lost permanently" (386). This was a powerful moment for Lacy, and a moving one for me as well. In this moment, it is clear that although one may feel uncared about, there is always someone who loves them. Even though Peter had just killed ten innocent people, his mother still loved him and did all she could to protect him. It sends out an important message to those who are being bullied; you are never alone.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Final Project Day 3:
In addition to reading Nineteen Minutes, I decided to do some more research to see what facts I could get. I wanted to mainly focus on the connection between school violence and bullying. In order to help people recognize how serious the consequences are of bullying, they need to see the facts. The first source I found stated directly that after 40 school shootings that took place between 1974 and 2001, the United States Secret Service had discovered that "approximately two-thirds of the shooters had been victims of bullying." One example would be the students from Columbine who were often picked on and bullied for being different. It is clear that bullying can cause students to feel unsafe, and in turn, causes them to take drastic actions.
There were many other interesting statistics throughout the article, making shocking and upsetting. One fact stated, "a conservative estimate, is that on any given day, at least 5% to 10% of children aged 7-16 are victims or offenders." That means out of 100 kids, every day, ten students may be picking on others and hurting them both physically and mentally. If that isn't a major red flag, I don't know what is. These facts show that bullying is an issue that must be taken very seriously and students, parents, and school officials should be educated about the issue. The strong connection between school violence and bullying is a major concern for schools.
source: http://issues.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/913445?cid=70&terms=bullying
There were many other interesting statistics throughout the article, making shocking and upsetting. One fact stated, "a conservative estimate, is that on any given day, at least 5% to 10% of children aged 7-16 are victims or offenders." That means out of 100 kids, every day, ten students may be picking on others and hurting them both physically and mentally. If that isn't a major red flag, I don't know what is. These facts show that bullying is an issue that must be taken very seriously and students, parents, and school officials should be educated about the issue. The strong connection between school violence and bullying is a major concern for schools.
source: http://issues.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/913445?cid=70&terms=bullying
Nineteen Minutes Entry 2: "Fighting? Or fighting back?"
In Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult offers the perspectives of many characters. We are able to see Peter's feelings, as well as the others involved both directly and indirectly with the shooting. One would expect to view Peter as the antagonist. After all, he went into his school and killed ten innocent students. But were they all truly innocent? By allowing us to learn about Peter's background as well as the other students, we are presented with all the facts, and deciding who is truly responsible for the violent attacks is now up to the readers.
Picoult demonstrates in her novel that there are two sides to everything. In this story, we begin to learn that often, the shooter is also the victim. As a reader, it was difficult for me to realize that I was sympathizing with the killer. But after hearing his story about how he was bullied both physically and mentally from elementary school all the way until high school, I felt just as bad for him as I did for the people hurt in the shooting. Picoult brings up the question, who has the right to judge someone else? Peter was threatened by others just like the students were by him the day of the shooting. He tells Josie, "everyone's saying I ruined their lives, but no one seemed to care when my life was the one being ruined" (134). Throughout his life, the bullying took a large toll on Peter and he felt unwanted and unsafe in his surroundings. Although he had no right to kill the people who were hurting him, after hearing his side of the story, one could also begin to understand why Peter went through with his violent actions.
This novel begins to shed light on why school shootings take place. Bullying is almost always one of the main causes. In the trial, Peter's lawyer explained to the jury the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is the main reason that Peter was led to believe that he needed to kill his bullies in order to protect himself. Peter, although he is a fictional character, helps us recognize how kids who are bullied feel. They don't feel safe in their schools since they are surrounded by students who threaten them and hurt them on a daily basis. I'm not saying that I think that students who commit the terrible act of a school shooting should not be blamed. Of course they should. But at the same time, so should the bullies that have led them to that place.
Picoult demonstrates in her novel that there are two sides to everything. In this story, we begin to learn that often, the shooter is also the victim. As a reader, it was difficult for me to realize that I was sympathizing with the killer. But after hearing his story about how he was bullied both physically and mentally from elementary school all the way until high school, I felt just as bad for him as I did for the people hurt in the shooting. Picoult brings up the question, who has the right to judge someone else? Peter was threatened by others just like the students were by him the day of the shooting. He tells Josie, "everyone's saying I ruined their lives, but no one seemed to care when my life was the one being ruined" (134). Throughout his life, the bullying took a large toll on Peter and he felt unwanted and unsafe in his surroundings. Although he had no right to kill the people who were hurting him, after hearing his side of the story, one could also begin to understand why Peter went through with his violent actions.
This novel begins to shed light on why school shootings take place. Bullying is almost always one of the main causes. In the trial, Peter's lawyer explained to the jury the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is the main reason that Peter was led to believe that he needed to kill his bullies in order to protect himself. Peter, although he is a fictional character, helps us recognize how kids who are bullied feel. They don't feel safe in their schools since they are surrounded by students who threaten them and hurt them on a daily basis. I'm not saying that I think that students who commit the terrible act of a school shooting should not be blamed. Of course they should. But at the same time, so should the bullies that have led them to that place.
Nineteen Minutes Entry 1: "Who has the right to judge someone else?"
For this semester, I decided to read Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. I have always been interested in the issue of bullying, because I believe that it is a issue that can easily be prevented. It isn't something like world poverty or pollution that could take years and years to figure out how to fix. Bullying could be stopped today, this very minute, as long as people are educated on how serious the effects of bullying are. Reading this novel gave me a much better sense of how those who are bullied feel, and also it touched on the idea of why people bully. It allowed me to get inside the head of someone who had been bullied their whole life, but I also was able to see the other side--those who committed the vicious acts of bullying.
One question that was brought up in Nineteen Minutes was who is to blame for the school shooting that took place? Should we blame Peter, the shooter, for causing this tragedy? What about his parents for not paying more attention to their clearly depressed son? Or the popular kids who bullied Peter every day of his life? The administration and school officials for not being more involved in what was taking place in their school? One scene of the novel that remains clear in my mind was a flashback to when Peter was in elementary school. Even at that age he was being bullied. However, when his mother went into the school to talk with the teacher about making sure things like this were not to happen again, the teacher responded by saying, "I'm showing Peter how to stand up for himself. If someone cuts him in the lunch line, or if he's teased, to say something in return instead of just accepting it" (72). It's shocking to me that teachers believe the solution to prevent bullying is to have those being bullied to act in the same way as the bullies. It is wrong to tell students that they can only be protected if they fight back. It is 100% the school's responsibility to handle the bullying that takes place on school campus and they need to handle it by getting involved and punishing the kids, not telling those being bullied to fight back.
It's hard for me to sympathize with Peter--after all, in this novel, he was a killer. But at the same time, I put a large part of the blame on others in his life. Parents have the responsibility to be involved with their children. If I had guns in my room and was constantly depressed, I would only hope that my parents would be able to recognize my change in behavior. I think that parents need to be educated just as much as students do about this issue. Obviously the parents of those being bullied need to make sure that they are getting the help and protection they need, so they do not result to such drastic measures like Peter did. At the same time, the parents of the students who do the bullying should be able to teach their children that no one has the right to hurt or judge someone else.
Nineteen Minutes helps to demonstrate that when school shootings take place, maybe people should stop pointing their finger just at the shooter, and should take a good look at themselves. Clearly Peter had some mental issues, but at the same time, someone caused him to feel the need to walk into his school and kill the people he spent seven hours with every day. Others besides Peter needed to take the blame for the tragedy that took place in this novel. He might have destroyed their lives, but they also destroyed his.
One question that was brought up in Nineteen Minutes was who is to blame for the school shooting that took place? Should we blame Peter, the shooter, for causing this tragedy? What about his parents for not paying more attention to their clearly depressed son? Or the popular kids who bullied Peter every day of his life? The administration and school officials for not being more involved in what was taking place in their school? One scene of the novel that remains clear in my mind was a flashback to when Peter was in elementary school. Even at that age he was being bullied. However, when his mother went into the school to talk with the teacher about making sure things like this were not to happen again, the teacher responded by saying, "I'm showing Peter how to stand up for himself. If someone cuts him in the lunch line, or if he's teased, to say something in return instead of just accepting it" (72). It's shocking to me that teachers believe the solution to prevent bullying is to have those being bullied to act in the same way as the bullies. It is wrong to tell students that they can only be protected if they fight back. It is 100% the school's responsibility to handle the bullying that takes place on school campus and they need to handle it by getting involved and punishing the kids, not telling those being bullied to fight back.
It's hard for me to sympathize with Peter--after all, in this novel, he was a killer. But at the same time, I put a large part of the blame on others in his life. Parents have the responsibility to be involved with their children. If I had guns in my room and was constantly depressed, I would only hope that my parents would be able to recognize my change in behavior. I think that parents need to be educated just as much as students do about this issue. Obviously the parents of those being bullied need to make sure that they are getting the help and protection they need, so they do not result to such drastic measures like Peter did. At the same time, the parents of the students who do the bullying should be able to teach their children that no one has the right to hurt or judge someone else.
Nineteen Minutes helps to demonstrate that when school shootings take place, maybe people should stop pointing their finger just at the shooter, and should take a good look at themselves. Clearly Peter had some mental issues, but at the same time, someone caused him to feel the need to walk into his school and kill the people he spent seven hours with every day. Others besides Peter needed to take the blame for the tragedy that took place in this novel. He might have destroyed their lives, but they also destroyed his.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Final Project Days 1 & 2
I have decided for my final project that I am going to focus on the topic of bullying. Along with that, I am planning on comparing physical bullying to cyberbullying, as well as making the connections and studying how school shootings and teen suicide corresponds to bullied teenagers. I plan to study about why people get bullied, but more importantly, why the people who do the bullying do what they do. I also want to research the straight-foward facts and statistics about bullying, because I believe that will give other people a sense about how serious this issue is.
To help me with this project I have been reading the novel Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. It is a fictional story about a boy who was constantly bullied, and as a result, he entered his school and shot and killed multiple kids. Although the story is fictional, it seems incredibly realistic and truly shows how teenager feels these days and why they choose to act the way they do. I have also watched Elephant, which relates well with this topic. I also hope to study a lot about the Columbine school shooting, because it will be a crucial element in my research.
My main goal from researching this issue is to make myself, as well as others, more educated about this issue. Bullying is very serious, but if people are not educated about what is happening at their schools, then it can't be stopped. Hopefully when presented with the facts, people will recognize the level of importance this issue has at our school, and hopefully, this will inspire people to make a change in how they treat other individuals.
To help me with this project I have been reading the novel Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. It is a fictional story about a boy who was constantly bullied, and as a result, he entered his school and shot and killed multiple kids. Although the story is fictional, it seems incredibly realistic and truly shows how teenager feels these days and why they choose to act the way they do. I have also watched Elephant, which relates well with this topic. I also hope to study a lot about the Columbine school shooting, because it will be a crucial element in my research.
My main goal from researching this issue is to make myself, as well as others, more educated about this issue. Bullying is very serious, but if people are not educated about what is happening at their schools, then it can't be stopped. Hopefully when presented with the facts, people will recognize the level of importance this issue has at our school, and hopefully, this will inspire people to make a change in how they treat other individuals.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mock Trial Response
In the trial of United States v. David Jones, I think that it could go either way. The facts support both sides, so it is hard to determine whether or not David Jones was guilty or not. I found it hard to believe that Susan Williams was raped, especially since she had been dating David for awhile and it took her a few days to even recognize that she was raped. However, at the same time, abuse happens all the time between couples so it is very possible that he could have raped her, even though they were dating at the time. "No" means no, and if Susan made it clear that she didn't want to have sex, then David should have been found guilty. I think that it would have been easier to have found David Jones guilty of this crime if he had stronger witnesses. The detective was pretty useless, since there was very little evidence besides the ripped shirt that Susan had been forced into having sex. In addition, the rape counselor did not seem to have his facts straight. It was hard to believe him, since a lot of the things he said contradicted one another. Given the facts and testimonies of the witnesses in this case, I found most of the evidence to point towards a non-guilty verdict. However, I also believe that this type of rape is fully possible. Men always need to be aware of respecting other women and not forcing them into doing anything they do not want, especially if it is one's girlfriend.
In the second case regarding sexual harassment, I believe that all the facts strongly point to the fact that Elise Roberts was sexually harassed. She had to deal with inappropriate comments and actions that had sexual undertones directed towards her by her coworker. Most importantly, even when she asked him to stop and complained to her bosses, no one did anything about it. The harassment continued to come, and it even caused Elise to feel uncomfortable coming to work. I think that it would have been better to have moved Kevin Murphey to another office, rather than punishing Elise and moving her. Elise was the victim in this case, and she needed to be protected by having him be punished for his inappropriate actions. Also, Elise made it clear from the start that she did not condone this type of behavior. Therefore, Kevin Murphey was clearly wrong for continuing with his comments and actions. Sexual harassment in a working environment is a very serious issue, and Murphey and the firm should have been found guilty for letting it continue on for so long.
In cases regarding both sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, people must be aware that both are very serious crimes. People must be aware of others' feelings and respect them. I think that some people find sexual harassment to be sometimes funny or unimportant. While watching the trial with Elise Roberts, many boys in class would laugh at many of the comments that Kevin Murphey made towards Elise. Even though this was obviously a fake trial, I think that many people have that same mindset towards real life sexual harassment. What people, especially students, must realize is that sexual harassment is a crime and can seriously hurt a person mentally and emotionally. I don't think that there are any problems similar to these cases at DHS. Students here seem to be aware of others' feelings. I find our school to have a very safe environment, and I trust that if there was ever an incident regarding sexual harassment, the deans would get involved. Most importantly, we can prevent sexual assult and harassment by just being aware of other peoples' boundaries. We must respect others, just as we want to be treated, and I believe that this can help to put an end to these serious crimes.
In the second case regarding sexual harassment, I believe that all the facts strongly point to the fact that Elise Roberts was sexually harassed. She had to deal with inappropriate comments and actions that had sexual undertones directed towards her by her coworker. Most importantly, even when she asked him to stop and complained to her bosses, no one did anything about it. The harassment continued to come, and it even caused Elise to feel uncomfortable coming to work. I think that it would have been better to have moved Kevin Murphey to another office, rather than punishing Elise and moving her. Elise was the victim in this case, and she needed to be protected by having him be punished for his inappropriate actions. Also, Elise made it clear from the start that she did not condone this type of behavior. Therefore, Kevin Murphey was clearly wrong for continuing with his comments and actions. Sexual harassment in a working environment is a very serious issue, and Murphey and the firm should have been found guilty for letting it continue on for so long.
In cases regarding both sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, people must be aware that both are very serious crimes. People must be aware of others' feelings and respect them. I think that some people find sexual harassment to be sometimes funny or unimportant. While watching the trial with Elise Roberts, many boys in class would laugh at many of the comments that Kevin Murphey made towards Elise. Even though this was obviously a fake trial, I think that many people have that same mindset towards real life sexual harassment. What people, especially students, must realize is that sexual harassment is a crime and can seriously hurt a person mentally and emotionally. I don't think that there are any problems similar to these cases at DHS. Students here seem to be aware of others' feelings. I find our school to have a very safe environment, and I trust that if there was ever an incident regarding sexual harassment, the deans would get involved. Most importantly, we can prevent sexual assult and harassment by just being aware of other peoples' boundaries. We must respect others, just as we want to be treated, and I believe that this can help to put an end to these serious crimes.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
What's Going On in the World? Egypt's Current Status.
There has been a lot of news surrounding Egypt lately. Starting near the end of January, thousands of protesters took the streets of Egypt in order to protest poverty, unemployment, government corruption and more. They were protesting against President Hosni Mubarak, and the control of the government. There was also the Muslim Brotherhood, which is the country's largest opposition movement. They asked for Mubarak to step down and allow for a more transitional government to take over. Over time, the protests began to grow out of hand and required Egypt's armed forces to get involved. The government went so far to even block all internet connections in the country. Protesters and journalists needed to find a way to get out information about what was happening in Egypt, since the country was preventing them from doing so. In February after many days of protests, Mubarak finally made the decision to step down, ending his 30 year reign. Since his resignation, the Egyptian military has taken control and many believe that Egypt is making a democratic transition.
After watching a few videos on the protesters' reactions once President Mubarak stepped down, it is evident that the people of Egypt felt very strongly about changing the way the government ran. The most interesting article I read about Egypt was that this whole revolution began with the internet. People knew for the past years under Mubarak's rule that their country was going downhill, but fear kept them from doing anything about it. However, with the internet, people were able to see that they weren't the only ones who wanted freedom. They also used sites like Facebook and Twitter to organize protests. The government slowly began to lose its power, as the people of Egypt used the internet to ban together.
I admire all of these people who are standing up for themselves and fighting for the freedom that they want. I think that almost everyone in the world hopes that Egypt will receive democracy. Right now, since Egypt's military is running the country, it is up to them to allow a democracy to take place. Despite the fact that Egypt still has to fight and work more towards getting what they want, I think that people can learn a lot from Egypt's revolution. It shows that people do have the power, and when we want something, we must fight for it. It's amazing that thousands of people living in Egypt organized protests all on their own and worked together to make the dictator step down. Seeing that this fight for freedom was successful, it shows other countries that they have the power to stand up for what they believe in, as well.
After watching a few videos on the protesters' reactions once President Mubarak stepped down, it is evident that the people of Egypt felt very strongly about changing the way the government ran. The most interesting article I read about Egypt was that this whole revolution began with the internet. People knew for the past years under Mubarak's rule that their country was going downhill, but fear kept them from doing anything about it. However, with the internet, people were able to see that they weren't the only ones who wanted freedom. They also used sites like Facebook and Twitter to organize protests. The government slowly began to lose its power, as the people of Egypt used the internet to ban together.
I admire all of these people who are standing up for themselves and fighting for the freedom that they want. I think that almost everyone in the world hopes that Egypt will receive democracy. Right now, since Egypt's military is running the country, it is up to them to allow a democracy to take place. Despite the fact that Egypt still has to fight and work more towards getting what they want, I think that people can learn a lot from Egypt's revolution. It shows that people do have the power, and when we want something, we must fight for it. It's amazing that thousands of people living in Egypt organized protests all on their own and worked together to make the dictator step down. Seeing that this fight for freedom was successful, it shows other countries that they have the power to stand up for what they believe in, as well.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
State of the Union Address
I do not find politics to be very interesting, although I do know that it is important to stay updated on what is happening in my country. I found President Obama's speech to be very captivating and interesting, but I was also disappointed that I didn't learn much about our country's current situation. Obama seemed to focus a lot about "the future" of America, but didn't do much in addressing the problems that we currently face. It was nice that a sense of hope was shown throughout his entire speech, except I felt like it would have been better to show how and why we are doing these things for the future, rather than just saying he is going to have them happen.
The one part I enjoyed most about Obama's speech was when he talked about the topic of education. He explained the importance of focusing on a student's education, because there is nothing more important than learning. I completely agree with him; our future is in the hands of the students. We must put all our effort in allowing students to learn and gain knowledge that will help our country grow. Since I plan on being a teacher when I'm older, I really appreciated when Obama showed his respect for the teachers in our country. He made a comment that each and every teacher makes a difference not only in the life of a child, but a difference in the nation as well. This really made me feel even better about my decision to study secondary education in college. I also thought it was really smart when he told the country that we should learn to praise the winners of the science fair, just as much as we cheer for the winners of the Superbowl. Education is an incredibly important part of life that too many people don't care about. Obama made himself perfectly clear that he would spend a lot of time and money fixing up our education system in the United States.
There were a lot of other topics that Obama talked about, such as the importance of innovation and clean energy sources. Overall, all aspects of his speech focused on the positive. For example, even though our economy still needs a lot of work, Obama chose his words carefully and said "our economy is growing." The main thing I gained from listening to the State of the Union Address was that our country needs to focus on our future, and that we need to have hope and motivation to make a change for the better.
The one part I enjoyed most about Obama's speech was when he talked about the topic of education. He explained the importance of focusing on a student's education, because there is nothing more important than learning. I completely agree with him; our future is in the hands of the students. We must put all our effort in allowing students to learn and gain knowledge that will help our country grow. Since I plan on being a teacher when I'm older, I really appreciated when Obama showed his respect for the teachers in our country. He made a comment that each and every teacher makes a difference not only in the life of a child, but a difference in the nation as well. This really made me feel even better about my decision to study secondary education in college. I also thought it was really smart when he told the country that we should learn to praise the winners of the science fair, just as much as we cheer for the winners of the Superbowl. Education is an incredibly important part of life that too many people don't care about. Obama made himself perfectly clear that he would spend a lot of time and money fixing up our education system in the United States.
There were a lot of other topics that Obama talked about, such as the importance of innovation and clean energy sources. Overall, all aspects of his speech focused on the positive. For example, even though our economy still needs a lot of work, Obama chose his words carefully and said "our economy is growing." The main thing I gained from listening to the State of the Union Address was that our country needs to focus on our future, and that we need to have hope and motivation to make a change for the better.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Abortion-What Rights Do Women Have?
The pro-choice organization argues that anti-choice people use violent actions and dangerous laws in order to get their point across. More importantly, by banning abortion, pro-choice advocates argue that it may jepordize the woman's health and safety. It was interesting that the site also pointed out that they believe even though abortion should be allowed, the need for it should be reduced. They support abortion, but also strongly support improving access to birth control and teaching young students sex education. I believe that it very smart to put on their site because it demonstrates how even though abortion should be allowed, if people make smart decisions, it will not be needed as often. The pro-choice organization also argued a lot against anti-choice supporters. They explained what choice is and how it is unconstitutional to ban women from making the decision to have an abortion.
The National Right to Life site used a lot of emotions to try and sway individuals. They used facts to explain how abortion may not be very safe. The website also showed a link of "A Diary of an Unborn Baby" to make me relate to the fetus. However, there was not much substantial information that made me want to support this side. I found the pro-choice organization to have much stronger evidence to back up their arguement. It seems to me that the pro-choice movement is winning the debate, because they have the stronger arguement and women have the constitutional right to make their own decisions.
As both a student and a woman, I am one hundred percent pro-choice. However, I believe that a parent has the right to know if their child under the age of 18 is having an abortion. I do not believe that they need to consent to it, but they should be notified by the abortion clinic. It would be unfair to make a parent consent to the abortion, because the baby is a part of the woman's body and therefore belongs to her. The parent has no control over the situation, but for safety reasons, should be notified that the abortion is happening. If something dangerous happened, the parent has the right to know, and since the child under 18 is still technically not a legal adult, the parent needs to have full information on what is happening to them.
I also believe that if the identity of the father of the baby is known, than they have the right to be notified of the woman's decision to have an abortion. I think that this notification is important because the baby belongs to him, and it would be unfair for him to not have knowledge of what is happening to his child. However, since the baby is a part of the woman's body, she deserves to be able to make the choice to have an abortion all on her own. It may be unfair for the father to not have the right to consent to the abortion, but it is also not right to make a woman carry around a baby for nine months if she does not feel comfortable having the baby. At least if the father is notified about the woman's choice then he can talk to the woman beforehand. However, the woman must be allowed to have complete control over her the decision about whether or not to have the baby.
Both the Illinois House and Senate are mixed-choice. For example, Illinois allows abortion before 12 weeks, but the state also restricts insurance coverage of abortion for some indivduals. I agree with both of these laws because as I have stated before, women have the right to make their own choices, and therefore should be allowed to have an abortion if they believe it is the best decision for themselves. However, it is wrong to make some people believe in something that they do not support, so it would make sense for abortion to not be covered by insurance. It doesn't make sense to have anti-choice supporters pay money to help fund people have abortions. By not allowing insurance coverage, each individual is able to support the side they want. Those who do not believe in abortion can choose not to have one and do not have to pay for another person to have one. I also agree with the time limit on the abortion ban. Twelve weeks gives women a substantial amount of time to make their decision, and some facts show that at the three month mark a fetus begins to feel pain. Therefore, it makes sense that an abortion must take place only before twelve weeks after conceiving. Overall, I agree with Illinois' position and I think that it is important for them to be mixed-choice in order to keep in mind both sides of the arguement.
The National Right to Life site used a lot of emotions to try and sway individuals. They used facts to explain how abortion may not be very safe. The website also showed a link of "A Diary of an Unborn Baby" to make me relate to the fetus. However, there was not much substantial information that made me want to support this side. I found the pro-choice organization to have much stronger evidence to back up their arguement. It seems to me that the pro-choice movement is winning the debate, because they have the stronger arguement and women have the constitutional right to make their own decisions.
As both a student and a woman, I am one hundred percent pro-choice. However, I believe that a parent has the right to know if their child under the age of 18 is having an abortion. I do not believe that they need to consent to it, but they should be notified by the abortion clinic. It would be unfair to make a parent consent to the abortion, because the baby is a part of the woman's body and therefore belongs to her. The parent has no control over the situation, but for safety reasons, should be notified that the abortion is happening. If something dangerous happened, the parent has the right to know, and since the child under 18 is still technically not a legal adult, the parent needs to have full information on what is happening to them.
I also believe that if the identity of the father of the baby is known, than they have the right to be notified of the woman's decision to have an abortion. I think that this notification is important because the baby belongs to him, and it would be unfair for him to not have knowledge of what is happening to his child. However, since the baby is a part of the woman's body, she deserves to be able to make the choice to have an abortion all on her own. It may be unfair for the father to not have the right to consent to the abortion, but it is also not right to make a woman carry around a baby for nine months if she does not feel comfortable having the baby. At least if the father is notified about the woman's choice then he can talk to the woman beforehand. However, the woman must be allowed to have complete control over her the decision about whether or not to have the baby.
Both the Illinois House and Senate are mixed-choice. For example, Illinois allows abortion before 12 weeks, but the state also restricts insurance coverage of abortion for some indivduals. I agree with both of these laws because as I have stated before, women have the right to make their own choices, and therefore should be allowed to have an abortion if they believe it is the best decision for themselves. However, it is wrong to make some people believe in something that they do not support, so it would make sense for abortion to not be covered by insurance. It doesn't make sense to have anti-choice supporters pay money to help fund people have abortions. By not allowing insurance coverage, each individual is able to support the side they want. Those who do not believe in abortion can choose not to have one and do not have to pay for another person to have one. I also agree with the time limit on the abortion ban. Twelve weeks gives women a substantial amount of time to make their decision, and some facts show that at the three month mark a fetus begins to feel pain. Therefore, it makes sense that an abortion must take place only before twelve weeks after conceiving. Overall, I agree with Illinois' position and I think that it is important for them to be mixed-choice in order to keep in mind both sides of the arguement.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Help: Final Entry
I truly enjoyed reading The Help and found it to be a really worthwhile experience. The storyline was fiction, which allowed me to become easily captured into the story, plot, and characters. However, it still contained many facts and the history that was behind the novel allowed be to learn a lot about the time period and what living with discrimination was like. In the last few pages of the novel, I found a quote that I believe fully explains what this novel was about. Miss. Skeeter wonders to herself, "Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought" (418). That is what the story of The Help teaches us. It reminds us that people are people no matter their hair color, eye color, height, weight, or skin color. Blacks are equal to whites, and therefore they should be treated equally and fairly. This book showed me how important it is to remember that we must be aware of how we treat people. Even the smallest things can make a big difference. This story reminded me that the similarities outweigh the differences; even though someone's skin color may be different, each person is a human with a heart and a mind, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their individual rights.
Facing the truth and standing up for what you believe in takes enormous amounts of courage. It makes me wonder what the world would be like if there were more people like Aibileen and Skeeter. The story shared the idea that a difference can only be made if people try to make that difference. Thinking and acting are two very different things. The conditions in Mississippi regarding the unfair treatment of the African American maids was only able to be fixed when someone stood up and said, "This is wrong. Things need to change." We cannot let ourselves become influenced by others, when we know what they are doing is wrong. Miss. Skeeter was strong enough to go against her friends in order to change the lives of many maids.
Overall, I found The Help to be a really moving story. I was affected by the characters and it allowed me to place this fictional story in a real-life scenario. The story was not exactly the same, but things that happened in the story also happened in Mississippi during the 1960s. At times it was difficult to read what the maids had to go through, but in the end, they prevailed. I believe that the purpose of this novel was to teach and remind readers that it is important to treat everyone equally, but more importantly, we must stand up for what we believe in. Miss. Skeeter knew it was wrong to abuse the black maids, and therefore, she devised a plan to find a way to end this discrimination. I learned a lot about the history during this time period throughout this book, but I was also able to apply the knowledge to my life now. The message Kathryn Stockett taught me, is that despite the outward differences, I must be mindful of others' feelings and remember that all of us are connected in some way or another.
Facing the truth and standing up for what you believe in takes enormous amounts of courage. It makes me wonder what the world would be like if there were more people like Aibileen and Skeeter. The story shared the idea that a difference can only be made if people try to make that difference. Thinking and acting are two very different things. The conditions in Mississippi regarding the unfair treatment of the African American maids was only able to be fixed when someone stood up and said, "This is wrong. Things need to change." We cannot let ourselves become influenced by others, when we know what they are doing is wrong. Miss. Skeeter was strong enough to go against her friends in order to change the lives of many maids.
Overall, I found The Help to be a really moving story. I was affected by the characters and it allowed me to place this fictional story in a real-life scenario. The story was not exactly the same, but things that happened in the story also happened in Mississippi during the 1960s. At times it was difficult to read what the maids had to go through, but in the end, they prevailed. I believe that the purpose of this novel was to teach and remind readers that it is important to treat everyone equally, but more importantly, we must stand up for what we believe in. Miss. Skeeter knew it was wrong to abuse the black maids, and therefore, she devised a plan to find a way to end this discrimination. I learned a lot about the history during this time period throughout this book, but I was also able to apply the knowledge to my life now. The message Kathryn Stockett taught me, is that despite the outward differences, I must be mindful of others' feelings and remember that all of us are connected in some way or another.
The Help Entry 5: Speak Your Mind
As I have continued to read more in the book, I have recognized that the main problem is that people are too afraid to stand up for what they believe in. Sure, there are a few individuals who believe that whites are superior to blacks and have the right to treat the maids unfairly. However, there is also a good amount of people who know that what they are doing is wrong, but they are too afraid to do anything about it. At one point, Skeeter's father is talking to an important politician and explains how he is ashamed that in Mississippi so many people hurt their Negro workers. The people in that scene are shocked that he would voice is opinion to this well-known and powerful senator. However, by saying these words, he caused the politician to questions about whether it was the truth. If more people were just willing to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe is moral, then this unfair treatment of the black maids could have been easily prevented.
I find myself admiring the characters who are able to do what is right, despite the consequences. The maids who contribute to Skeeter's interviews are in constant danger, but they continue to help because they know that they have the power to make a difference. I think it is important to stay true to your own beliefs, which is what Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny, and many others do throughout the book. The more I read, the more I hope that these characters can influence others to do the right thing. By putting their voices and opinions together and not backing down, these interviews have the ability to make a huge difference in Mississippi.
I find myself admiring the characters who are able to do what is right, despite the consequences. The maids who contribute to Skeeter's interviews are in constant danger, but they continue to help because they know that they have the power to make a difference. I think it is important to stay true to your own beliefs, which is what Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny, and many others do throughout the book. The more I read, the more I hope that these characters can influence others to do the right thing. By putting their voices and opinions together and not backing down, these interviews have the ability to make a huge difference in Mississippi.
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