Obama's Nuclear Challenge

This article talks about Obama's move to begin disarming nuclear weapons throughout the world. The basic idea is that the countries who already have nuclear weapons will begin moving towards getting rid of them, and the countries that do not have them will not make the effort to pursue them. Obama gave a speech detailing his idea, and bringing the nuclear weapons back into the eyes of the world. In his speech he says:

So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.

There have only been two other attempts, by American presidents, to abolish nuclear weapons; first by Truman and later by Reagan. Neither was successful. Obama admitted that nuclear weapons may never be abolished in his lifetime; he is currently 47.

How long is it going to take before we realize that these weapons are not the answer to our problems? It is so scary to think about what these nuclear weapons are capable of producing. The only way we are ever going to have peace in the world is to rid ourselves of these fears.

Bush Torture on Trial?

This article, written by David Cole on April 2, discusses the calls claiming that the Bush Administration authorized torture on people suspected in being involved in the "war on terror". The article stated that Obama has continuously ignored the calls in his effort to "look forward not backward", even after Vice President Cheney admitted that "he authorized waterboarding, and Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, has testified that waterboarding is torture."

Waterboarding has been around for centuries, and is used as a method of interrigation. Basically, a person is strapped to a board where they can not move, and someone repeatedly pours water over their face, giving the illusion that they are about to die from drowning.

"The investigation targets six lawyers responsible for devising the legal architecture that allowed torture to become official US policy: former Office of Legal Counsel lawyers John Yoo and Jay Bybee, who wrote the August 1, 2002, memorandum defining torture so narrowly that waterboarding and threats of death were deemed permissible; former White House lawyers Alberto Gonzales and David Addington, who headed the so-called War Council, argued that the Geneva Conventions were "quaint" and "obsolete" and requested the August torture memo; and Defense Department lawyers Douglas Feith and William Haynes, who helped sweep away the Geneva Conventions and authorize torture at Guantánamo."

These are people that are/were helping to run our country. How scary is that? Of course I don't agree with terrorists and the thought of terrorism, but if we are allowing torture in our country, arn't we coming down to their level? How are we any different from them? I have never before thought of the United States being a place where I would have to worry about these things, and the fact that President Obama wasn't more concerned, I think, is a concern for all Americans.

Make up blog -Clinton Speaks on Women's Rights and Foreign Policy

Clinton Speaks on Women's Rights and Foreign Policy

Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, recently spoke about women's rights in foreign policy and security at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) national conference.

Clinton said "A society that denies and demeans women's rights and roles is a society that is more likely to engage in behavior that is negative, anti-democratic and leads to violence and extremism....As we integrate our military and civilian assets with a mission for disrupting and defeating al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, we cannot lose sight that assisting women's development in those countries is part of America's strategy to be successful."

At the conference she received the Planned Parenthood's Margaret Sanger Award. Her response to winning the award was, "It's part of a movement which is about economic and political progress for all women and girls. It's about making sure that every woman and girl everywhere has the opportunity she deserves to fulfill her potential, the potential as a mother, worker and human being."

I think it is great that we have a woman in office that is fighting for womens rights from within. I think that Hillary makes some very good points in her messages and makes me feel comfortable knowing she is in office, and that she cares about the women of the world.

US Plans to Run for UN Human Rights Council

US Plans to Run for UN Human Rights Council

Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice announced this week that the United States is seeking a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. Working from within the council the United States can help to promote human rights not only for the United States, but within other countries as well.

Republicans, and the Bush administration, were opposed to being a part of the Human Rights Council, but Human Rights Council President Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi reacted to in a very well manner saying, "I am very encouraged by the news of the decision of the U.S. to run for a seat in the Human Rights Council. This is further evidence of their commitment to advancing human rights globally, thus building on the work of the Council to promote and protect all human rights universally without distinction of any kind."

The council election will take place on May 12. New Zealand withdrew their nomination making the odds greater for the United States to win the vote and be apart of the Council for the three year term.

I think that this is awesome. The United States should be apart of the Human Rights Council and I am not sure why the Republicans and the Bush Administration were opposed. Why wouldn't they want to promote human rights? It doesn't make sense to me. It makes me feel safe knowing that our country may have a say in Human Rights around the world.

Breast Cancer Prevention Bill

Representative Wasserman Schultz Launches Breast Cancer Prevention Bill

"According to a press release from Wasserman Schultz's office, the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act (EARLY Act) "directs the Centers for Disease Control to develop and implement a national education campaign to increase awareness of the threats posed by breast cancer in young women of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and the particular heightened risks faced by certain groups."

Breast cancer is a continuously growing problem among women not only in the U.S. but all over the world as well. The only way to decrease the amount of women diagnosed with breast cancer is to detect it early. Some may argue that this article may not pertain to government class, however, I think to have a healthy economy and democracy we must first have healthy people running it. Millions are diagnosed and killed every day by breast cancer and anything that can be done to prevent it should be done.

Great Depression II

The Second Great Depression

This article was written in a very sarcastic and straight to the point tone, which I really enjoyed. It is not often that you read an article that doesn't beat around the bush about a topic. This was interesting to me, and gave some insight to things that I have not thought about before.

The article starts out by telling of President Obama's warning, that unless his rescue plan goes through, "our economic crisis could become a national catastrophe." The message he is portraying is simple; "Let's put Americans to work doing the work America needs done." If Obamma's plan falls through what will happen? That's a scary idea for Americans. Many believe that we will be in another Great Depression.

The article states that right now we are just in a recession which is a whole lot better than a depression. A depression will bring even harder times than what us Americans are seeing now, and will last a very long time.

It then goes on to ask the question: When will we know if we are in a depression? We will know if we are in a complete depression when the word "depression" is used matter-of-factly. A name has not been selected for the next depression, if we are to go into one. Some of the ideas are the Second Great Depression (SGD) or Great Depression II (GDII).

The article then goes on to talk about Great Depression I to compare what phase we would be in if this is considered a depression. There was no war going on during the first depression which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. The article says, "If government spending is an effective way to stimulate the economy, President Obama can be grateful he has not one but two wars to spend money on. He may soon have a third in Mexico to help stimulate things."

The article ends with a question that really pertains to our class, "But if war really contributes to the economic health of the society--do we really want to count on a longer war?"

I love this article because it asks real pertinent questions that I have never been asked. It makes you think about our economy and the current conditions in which we are living. Are we in a depression? What will it be called? Should we stay in war to help stimulate the economy? All these questions are things that can't be answered at this point, but are really things that people should consider.

Anti- Discrimination Legislation

North Dakota State Senate Passes Anti-Discrimination Legislation

On February 19th, North Dakota Senate approved a bill that would make their Human Rights Act incorporate gays, lesbians, bisexual, and trans gender people. The voting results were 27 to 19.

The bill will prevent employers to discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans gender people. The Human Rights Act already establishes a no discriminating policy according to sex, race, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, and public assistance status. It is clarified, however, that if a person is not doing their job to their potential that they can be fired whether the person be gay, lesbian, or straight. The main point is that employers cannot fire someone simply because they are gay. Also, religious organizations are amended from the bill.

I feel that this is a great step for gays, lesbians, etc. Although I do not agree with their choice of lifestyle, I still feel that everyone should be treated equally. Our nation is built on equality and I do not think that gays should be exempt for this. They are Americans as well and should receive the same treatment as every other American.

We all know that discrimination exists everywhere, but maybe this bill could help decrease the level of discrimination in the workplace. There should be a bill passed like this in every state. No one deserves to be treated badly. You cannot make a person's choices for them, and just because you do not understand their decision, does not mean that you should judge and make assumptions on what type of employee this person would be.

I hope that hen this bill goes through the House, that it will be passed and will go into affect. Everyone deserves a chance, not based on their lifestyle choice.

Obama Gender Balances First Presidential Press Conference

Obama Gender Balances First Presidential Press Conference

Barrack Obama's first prime-time press conference as President, of the United States, was close to being completely gender balanced. Of the reporters who questioned Obama, six were female and seven were male. The first question and the last question asked of Obama were from women.

This is a big step for women reporters in the U.S. The questions normally asked at press conferences are dominated primarily by male reporters.

One of the six females called upon was, 89 year old, Helen Thomas, born in Winchester, KY. She has been apart of the White House press corps since the Kennedy administration in 1961. She has questioned many presidents; Barrack Obama making the tenth.

This article really interested me. It seems to me that having a black president is already creating equality in all branches of society, blacks and whites, males and females. I think that this is a great change. Everyone wants to be treated equally, and I think we are finally on the right path to achieve this. Men, not being picked over women, is a huge accomplishment. Women have been the underdogs in society for so long, that it is most definitely time for a change.

I also found the information about Helen Thomas very interesting as well. I live in Mt. Sterling which is maybe 15 minutes from Winchester, where she was born. Whenever I hear about someone from around where I am from it gives me hope that people anywhere can achieve good things. I think it is awesome that a woman from right here in Kentucky was there asking the president of the U.S. questions.

Senator Boxer to Chair Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women's Issues

I read the article "Senator Boxer to Chair Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Global Women's Issues". In this article it talks about Senator Barbara Boxer's new position in chairing the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women's Issues. The article goes on to talk about how she will be able to focus her efforts on not only local women's issues, but global issues as well.

We want to believe that, in this day and time, women are treated equally to men. However, there are many nations in which women are tortured and remain treated as second class citizens.

I think that it is awsome that they are going to have someone working specifically for women's causes. So many things go overlooked in this world that can be prevented. Bringing the worlds attention to these issues could possibly lead to the elimination of them.

Feminist Daily News Wire
January 30, 2009

South Carolina Bill Would Require 24 Hour Waiting Period Prior to Abortion Procedures

This article talks about the proposed bill that will require a 24 hours waiting period after viewing the ultrasound of the fetus in South Carolina. Currently, there is only a one hour waiting policy in effect.

"Republican Representative Greg Dellaney told NBC that he supports the bill because abortion is 'a monumental decision' that deserves 'at least a 24-hour waiting period.'"

However, Democrat Representative, Todd Rutherford, opposes the bill. He feels that the women, going to have the abortion, already know what exactly they are doing. Other critics continue by calling the 24 hour waiting period costly to the mothers that live in rural areas that have to pay for transportation to and from the hospital.



How can a comparison be made of the cost of transportation, to the cost of a child's life? If this bill is passed, it could make an enormous impact on the mothers that are planning on having an abortion. Having that 24 hours to view their child inside of them, and realizing the reality of what they will be doing, may change their minds. This is not a decision you can make easily, and although some women may have thought that their minds were made up when agreeing to the abortion, the waiting period could make all the difference. One hour is not enough.

This bill should be passed, not just for South Carolina, but for all states. This would significantly decrease the amount of abortions in the United States. Every life deserves a chance at living, and this could give all of the unborn fetus' a chance at their lives.

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