29. April 2010 by student.

One of the most argued about topics of all time is Capital Punishment.This topic is very important to me because I believe this is by far one of our biggest social problems of all time. The main reason why is because if we kill somebody who killed somebody, how does that seperate us from the original crime? There is no clear relation between the death penalty and the crime rate. So if we are using the death penalty to deter others from committing capital crimes, we are clearly failing! What if the individual being sentenced for the death penalty was wrongly convicted? We would’ve killed an innocent man. Besides it is much cheaper to keep a person in confinement than it is to kill him. The chemicals and the media is what makes the execution expensive.

Deepa Kartha - 10 Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment

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29. April 2010 by student.

The common question among many.. “Why should we save endangered species? Their just plant and animals we don’t really care about them..” What many don’t realize is how important they are to our society in many different ways. Plants and animals hold medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and aesthetic/recreational value. Endangered species must be protected and saved so that future generations can experience their presence and value.Plants and animals are responsible for a variety of useful medications. In fact, about forty percent of all prescriptions written today are composed from the natural compounds of different species. These species not only save lives, but they contribute to a prospering pharmaceutical industry worth over $40 billion annually. Unfortunately, only a handful of known plant species have been screened for their medicinal values, although we continue to lose up to 100 species daily. The Pacific yew which is a slow-growing tree , was historically considered a “trash” tree (it was burned after clear cutting). However, a substance in its bark called “taxol” was recently identified as one of the most promising treatments for ovarian and breast cancer. Can you see now? Can you see how important it is to save these different plants and animals? Just like every organ in the human body has a purpose, every plant and every animal has a purpose on this earth as well.

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29. April 2010 by student.

Islamic fundamentalism represses women. Although many ignorant people think that the Islamic women just have to wear clothing that covers their entire body and cannot get any sort of education, it goes much farther than that. Even if some women cooperate with the harsh treatment out of respect for their religion, I believe it is wrong. Men have control over their wives and are allowed to have up to four, whereas women have no choice in the matter and can be married off to a stranger as young as the age of nine. These poor adolescent girls can be forced to marry men as old as sixty, and if they disobey or dishonor their husband, they can be killed. In some countries, there is punishment for these ‘honour killings,’ but the punishment for murdering a women is half of the punishment it is to murder a man.

Bullying has been a part of society since the beginning of time. Reasons why people are bullied today are because of: your skin color, your weight, your apparel, your friends, your boyfriend or girlfriend, and so on. It is a never-ending cycle. I consider this a social problem because deaths of innocent people are on the rise due to suicide. This should not be happening.

I am writing this because I have a little cousin who is the sweetest little girl with a heart of gold, who gets bullied constantly. My cousin is 9 years old, very artistic and loves to be outdoors. She is very smart and does exceptionally well in school. However, she is chunky. She is nowhere close to be ‘fat’ or ‘overweight’. She is constantly bullied at school because she is said to be ‘fat’ and she has ‘no friends’. My little cousin is very shy and has a hard time meeting new people. After getting pushed out of chairs and told she is stupid, she feels like she has nowhere to go. She thinks she will just be bullied more because she will be seen as a ‘tattle tale’ if she tells. She has gone home countless days just running to her room and crying all night. She has even gone home with bruises on her arms and legs. This is a social problem because supposedly there are ‘anti-bullying’ laws protecting innocent kids just like my cousin. The fact that my aunt has even gone into her school demanding to know why this is happening and why they won’t do anything about it angers me.

According to safeyouth.org, “almost 30% of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. In a recent national survey of students in grades 6-10, 13% reported bullying others, 11% reported being the target of bullies, and another 6% said that they bullied others and were bullied themselves.”

A lot of people who are bullied commit suicide. After the suicide of the Massachusetts girl, Phoebe Prince, the state is now making anti-bullying laws. Seems a little too late to me. She moved from Ireland to Massachusetts in 2009. Her family even made a key point to tell the school to keep an eye on her because she was bullied in Ireland. They kept a good eye on her, eh? Her final day consisted of terrible harassment and even a can was thrown at her while she was walking home after school. Even after her death on a memorial facebook page, people still wrote horrible things that were eventually taken down. Who is at fault, the school for letting this happen, or the 6 people involved in the inexcusable bullying that led to Phoebe’s suicide? The 6 people who were involved were arraigned as adults on felony charges. In fact, today, April 29, 2010, the senate approved the anti-bullying laws that will go in effect the beginning of next school year in the state of Massachusetts.

Bullying is an epidemic that is just going to get worse and worse if state lawmakers don’t do anything about it. However, because of countless suicides in recent years, states are taking better steps to make sure it doesn’t happen. These anti-bullying laws include that teachers must report any incidents to the principle and from then the principle investigate the problem. “The bill prohibits bullying on school property, on school buses or at school-sponsored activities. It outlaws so-called cyber-bullying by e-mail or through social media networks such as Twitter or Facebook.” (http://wbztv.com/local/bullying.bill.massachusetts.2.1663443.html)

This is a social problem that I feel that can be treated effectively in the future. Bullying will occur no matter what, but with these anti-bullying laws I think there will be more people aware who can stop such things like suicide and school violence to stop. We need to lower the statistics of people being bullied. Each state needs anti-bullying laws protecting people from these horrible acts of harassment and violence. School is supposed to be a learning environment that from time to time can be fun for a kid or a teenager. It should never be a place of fear. No person should go to school in fear that they are going to be made fun or beat up for being different. Teachers need to be more aware so they can do something about it if it happens. If you see someone being bullied, no matter how little it may be, you are liable and should report it immediately. The childhood and teenage years are supposed to be the best years of a person’s life…not the ending.

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29. April 2010 by student.

So I’m just going to say it… I don’t like cheerleaders. I said it! Yes, I don’t like cheerleaders. I don’t like what they wear; I don’t like how in some schools they think they are prettier or better than everyone else and want to hog all the cute guys for themselves. Okay fine, so I have given into the dislike of the stereotypical idea of a cheerleader. I caved to the influence of the media. But, my view on this stereotype has another side to it; another side that has to do with a major social issue, in mine and probably many other’s opinions.

Can anyone tell me why we have girls in silly, sometimes inappropriate outfits, cheering on the guys BUT we don’t have guys wearing Speedos or something equally inappropriate, cheering on the girls? What the hell!

Guys get a lot of satisfaction from seeing women, in hot outfits, cheering them on. It gets them going, maybe gets them looking forward to flirting or hooking up with one of these beautiful women after the game. Well from my point of view, why should we cheer a guys team on looking the way some of these cheerleaders do when guys won’t get up and do little cheers for us in equally inappropriate or hot outfits? Aren’t women allowed the same satisfaction? Well ladies and gentlemen, this is sexism, this is gender inequality, this is anti-feminism, and this is America.

This is the result of the media. Women cheer on the men. Men are men. That’s it. Men are there to look manly etc…well I think a guy could look pretty manly in a Speedo cheering on a girls team, don’t you think so?

Yes I will admit, I might be thinking too much about this blah blah blah. But honestly, if you think about it, when do you ever see guys in provocative clothing cheering on the women? Or anything of this sort of situation?

Personally, I wanna see men in Speedos cheering on the girls! Or at least something like that! This does not make you less manly boys! This might even boost your status up a bit, because you are “man enough” to cheer on the girls!

I am tired of the media influencing and encouraging gender inequality. We really don’t know any different from what we have learned and understood to be the boundaries between the genders. Now don’t get me wrong, there are some boundaries, that are appropriate, between the opposing sexes. But I am tired of certain parts of my body being stared at instead of my face. I am tired of hearing someone whistle at me provocatively! Boys, to be blunt, would you like it if women looked at certain parts of your body, or stared intently at your pants? Or whistled at you? Or slapped your ass when you walked by? This happens to women all the time! It’s actually very insulting and inappropriate! And I will bet money, that a lot of you guys out there would say you would like these things to happen to you on a regular basis. It means something completely different to guys! But after a while boys, you will see that it gets quite annoying.

Guys answer me this, are women there to visually please you? Are we here so you can just look at us or watch us cheer you on?

NO WAY!

So people, say no to gender inequality. View the opposite sex in a different, more equal way. Women, make sure you are treated right. Cheerleaders out there that I might have offended, I apologize, but stand up and be a woman! Not just cheering on the guys, but maybe think about how cool it would be to have the guys cheering for you as well!

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29. April 2010 by student.

New versions of technology come out monthly such as google, apple products, skpe, and the iphone. Because of this, some researches are saying that a mini gap develop in generations that are only two to three years apart will begin to develope. Technology is accelerating at an extraordinary pace, for many are having significantly diverse experiences with technology. Therefore, technology has increased the rate of generational gaps.

According to Pew Research Center, 20- something’s are less likely to send a text message and play online games than teenagers. The younger generation is going to expect an instantaneous response when they communicate according to Dr. Rosen. Also, children will have trouble distinguishing between their online gaming friends and real friends.

In addition, children now have mastered multitasking. For example, Dr Rosen stated that teenagers are able to carry out 7 tasks on an average at one time, while 20 year old are only able to do 6. This could be why so many students state that they are “bored in school,” for they are usually multitasking outside of the school environment.

Vicky Rideout, vice president of Kaiser Family Foundation, is concerned that young people will not but have to focus and concentrate when they need to. Kids have not had problems dictating their lives online, and they are connected with their friends and family at all times. Less than 10 years ago, you had to wait to connect to the Internet for several minutes, and sometimes, you were not even able to connect at all. But now, Internet connecting and surfing is instantaneous. Whether or not the intrageneration gap will have an effect is not yet know, for they might just fade away as time go by. Also, the more the older groups embrace the changes in technology will have a big impact on this matter.

Reference:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/weekinreview/10stone.html?pagewanted=2

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29. April 2010 by student.

I absolutely LOVE when people blame obesity on fast food. For the last few years, the percentage of obesity in America has skyrocketed, and instead of people taking responsibility for their own decisions, they do what something that America is great at. They blame someone else….the fast food industry. Sure the fast food chains are somewhat to blame for offering meals which contain almost an entire days worth of calories, but are they supposed to be taking the full responsibility for us consuming it. I say hell no. As an American we brag about all the “rights” we have, correct? Well nobody is shoving these, what I like to call Big n Nasty burgers and fries down everybody’s throats. These people who are living off of fast food, choose to do so. Because of all the blame, these fast food restaurants are being told to offer healthier alternatives on their menus. Is it their fault that the fat guy who comes in every Friday for lunch still buys the quarter pounder with cheese, a large fry, and a diet coke? Do you honestly think that the same guy is going to come in and see a salad on the menu and say, Gee…maybe I should try the salad, a side of fruit, and a bottled water? Yeahhh right!

*** Not so Fun Fact *** Burger King’s Double Whopper with cheese contains 923 calories. A man would need to walk for about nine miles to burn it off. Adding french fries and a large cola brings the total calories to an amazing 1,500 calories (2/3 of an adult man’s recommended daily caloric intake). Calorie King for Food Awareness. 2008. Accessed: May 29, 2009.

Ok, so we know that one of the main reasons that people consume so much fast food is because of the convenience factor. It’s quick and easy, and who doesn’t like it quick and easy? The next reason is because it’s cheap. What people don’t realize that they’re not really getting the deal of a lifetime when it comes to the dollar menu. What they don’t get is that what the cheap food saves them in their pocket, the body ends up paying for. The most likely reason that you would blame obesity on these fast food chains is because you are probably consuming it and don’t want to blame yourself. Its time that people realize that its consumer’s choice, put down the cheeseburger and step onto a treadmill people.

Fast food chains are a business, and all businesses want to do is make money. Now it’s not their fault that you are deciding to spend your money on them.

*** Another not so fun fact *** In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food. In 2006, the spending rose to nearly $142 billion.
Smith, Andrew F. 2006. Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
This money is not just climbing out of our pockets and walking its way over to the nearest fast food joint. We have choices we can make. And the point is that Americans need to wake up and stop consuming all this fast food.

Fast food restaurants may be pointing the gun at us, but we sure as hell are the ones pulling the trigger. (You know you like that)

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29. April 2010 by student.

Some people question if the pursuing careers by women benefits the family and marriage or if it is simply viewed as a “intimidating” to her mate.

According to the Pew Research Center, the wife is more educated than the husband in one third of marriages. In 1970, seven percent of women had a greater income than their husband, but now, although, men still hold the largest source of income, women now are the major source of income in 22 percent of marriages today. Surprisingly, statistics show that this can have a positive affect on relationships, for it contributed to more content marriages and a decrease in divorce rates. In addition, statics are now showing that the more education and financial independence a woman has, the less likely it is for a divorce to occur; furthermore, according to the Center For American Progress, divorce rates are higher in states where wives didn’t have paid jobs.

Women no longer are pressured to marry for status and money. Rather, they are marrying based on what the man is like underneath all of the money such as personality and character. Although not many couples “plan” for this role change, it is becoming more prevalent due to financial pressures.

But, there are many struggles that come along with role changes. Women find if hard to give up some of their power at home such as dressing the children, taking the kids to doctor appointments, or loading the dishwasher appropriately. Also, men have a hard time adjusting to a woman’s equivalent or larger power when dealing with money. But, unfortunately in today’s economy, families are not able to solely live off of the husband income.

 Reference: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/fashion/24marriage.html?pagewanted=2

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29. April 2010 by student.

Every couple of months or so, there is some new report about how terrible childhood is today and and how it is all the fault of single mothers.

The latest one was a in report last week entitled the Good Childhood Inquiry conducted by the Children’s Society, who are closely allied to the Church of England. This was misrepresented in the press as a doom and gloom report advocating traditional family values. It’s actually not nearly so bad, they looked a wide range of issues and made a great number of recommendations to government, but it did produce the following statistic which was repeated in every news story about it

Children, whose parents separate are 50% more likely to fail at school, suffer behavioural difficulties, anxiety or depression.

Although this wasn’t said in the report, this statistic was used elsewhere, as statistics like it always are, to argue that.

1. A masculine parent is so important that without one living in the same house, a child is doomed.
2. The marriage of one’s parents is vital for a happy and healthy childhood or
3. We should readopt traditional family values – whatever the heck they are - for the good of the nation’s children.

It goes without saying that few people choose single parenthood – although it is a risk that everyone takes when they become a parent. Raising children is hard work and expensive, so two people are better than one (three would be better than two, come to mention it). Meanwhile, most single-parents didn’t plan on being so. Most of them started parenthood in a long-term relationship, and most of the small number who did not probably didn’t plan to be parents at all.

So it is not ideal, but it happens and always has. And the reasons that it is a problem in our society at this moment in time are not to do with the morality of divorce, premarital sex or anything like that. This is mostly to do with poverty.

So single-mothers in poverty are more likely to have messy relationships if they have any romantic relationships at all – and I’m sure it is good for one’s parents to have romantic relationships, just like other grown-ups. Money makes all the difference. If a single-mother has a good independent income, romance can progress at a natural pace. In poverty, she must either recognise the disincentives to committed relationships or leave herself vulnerable to exploitation.

The disadvantages experienced by children in single-parent households have nothing to do with any traditional family structure having been an ideal. We have always had odd-shaped families, relationships have always broken down and people have always died prematurely, but for most of human history, we have not placed the entire responsibility for a child’s upbringing on two biological parents. We have also accepted that looking after the wee buggers is a valuable contribution to the group as a whole.

We need to improve education so that both men and women take their reproductive responsibilities very seriously from the start. We need to make sure that already poor young women have more appealing options than having babies straight out of school – not to reignite the hypocritical stigma of the unmarried mother. Gender equality makes relationships happier and longer lasting and makes things far more manageable when they don’t work out.

But we also need more flexible working conditions for men and women, better public transport and a more imaginative wellfare state (not necessarily a more generous one) – disabled adults could use all this too, by the way, we all do, but the kids are kind of important.

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29. April 2010 by student.

I don’t even know why Congress is still debating on whether they should ban guns or not! It’s an easy answer we should be able to obtain firearms at our choosing. Don’t blame the average U.S. citizen who owns a gun compared to the insane people who actually kill somebody with a gun. Guns don’t kill people, stupid people with guns kill people. If they do ban guns then people are going to illegal traffic and sell guns just like drugs in the U.S.! Like the old saying goes ”it’s a lot better to have a gun and not need it then to not have a gun and need it”. Yeah I believe in that saying because I own a couple firearms myself, mostly rifles but yes I do own a handgun but it’s only for protection. If an intruder breaks into my house you better bet I’m going to use it to protect my family at any means neccessary. Hunters will be affected by this outcome and will be devastated if guns are banned even thought they had nothing to do with it. Too many people think and go about this the wrong way. Banning guns is not going to be the solution of the crime rate. Guns are not the problem it’s people in our society who are the problem!

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