Invisible Children not so INVISIBLE anymore...

I feel as if there always has been some type of issue in Africa. Either crime and war, or famine, or education. Invisible Children highlights the child army of Joseph Kony and the many lives that have been lost. In total, there have been 966 civilian deaths and 1814 abductions. It's so hard to see those large numbers because we know that this would never happen in America. This year, at DHS, we have been introduced to Invisible Children and have chosen to support and raise money to help the cause, ending Joseph Kony's child army. After watching both videos, hearing Jed Jenkins speak, and exploring the site, I have come to a whole new understanding regarding Invisible Children.

The first video we saw at the School Chest presentation was informative and very motivating. To see that this organization has only grown because of teens and young adults is an insane idea. It was three college boys that shared their story to their friends and family. And it was they who spread it around the world, all now helping Uganda and the invisible Children. Now it is Deerfield's turn to spread the word.

The movie in class was also very informative, for it showed us what it was really like in Uganda. It began with the three boys fooling around, but then shifted to the incredibly powerful story of the invisible children. The name "Invisible Children" struck me because these children do seem invisible because no one was listening to Uganada's cries for help to stop Joseph Kony. The childrens' stories were very powerful. They described how they were afraid to stay in their home, afraid of being abducted, afraid of everything. Yet, they were so strong and made new families with other invisible children. And together they fought, and together they ran, and together they cried.

The site was very helpful and advocates what their mission is. It clearly informs readers of the history behind this cruelty, what is happening today, and how the audience can help. On the home page, near the bottom, different events happening are available. I saw that there were several events per month, showing that this organization is active and always striving to be heard and raise more awareness. I noticed while browsing that there was a link to donate and one of the choices was to donate to the legacy fund which helps send children to school and/or college and rebuild schools and curriculum. I found this really interesting and heart-warming because they took it a step further. Not only is this organization helping save the children from the Joseph Kony army, but they are also trying to re-create their lives and send them to school to be educated. Their protection plan also seems well planned, but a little like wishful thinking. Yes, it would be great to accomplish all of the goals, but it definitely won't happen too quickly unless the number of supporters increases immensely. The protection plan included: protection of communities with the LRA tracker, encouragement of LRA defection with the FM radio soon to be built, the providing of rehabilitation and family reunification, post-conflict recovery, and the promotion of the arrest of Joseph Kony and other LRA leaders. These are high goals that can be achieved some day if the support is still there, but without it nothing can be achieved. I find the LRA tracker to be very effective because it lowers the amount of abductions if people are able to flee from them in time, saving lives. The FM radio also seems very effective because they will be sending out "come home" messages directly to LRA members. This is ultimately what DHS is raising money for and it excites me that we can directly save these childrens' lives. The $15 I donated saved a life. That is so powerful, also contributing to the protection plan. The rehabilitation is necessary because many children have mentally, emotionally, and physically suffered. Rehabilitation is necessary to help them reunite with the community and family. The post-conflict recovery deals with educational purposes, which ensures that these children will have a bright future. Lastly, they promote the arrest of Kony and LRA leaders. If this plan is executed, the children will be protected and saved from the cruelty they should never have to endure.

Invisible Children has inspired and has caused me to reflect. I want to go out into the world just like the three teenage boys who founded this organization. I want to make a difference in the world and help those who need help. And by having School Chest support Invisible Children, I can easily start here in Deerfield by donating my money. I hope to some day explore the world and make an impact on others' lives.
http://invisiblechildren.com/

It is up to our generation to help end the war and build hope for these forgotten children. 
We make a difference.

Money and College

Lately I feel as if my life has revolved around college, and I'm not even in college! During my free time I am always pushed to write that college essay for that last college application, when I know it won't be the last. Or I check every schools' application status. Or I explore each college's site for extra scholarships. Or even look for days to visit. It never ends... Now that I have finished all my applications, I am waiting for responses. But in the mean time, I am looking to apply for scholarships and honors progams. And for many, a specific essay is required. So there I go, writing essays again. And once that is done, housing and financial aid begins. Again, it never ends...

So far, I have heard from half of my schools and narrowing down where I want to go has been very stressful. Money has become a large factor in my college choice and I find it very sad that students are unable to go to dream colleges because of money restrictions. I have applied to schools that I know will get into and recieve money, but what about that $40,000 prestigious school I have always dreamed about? What about dorming? And what about that great out-of-state school? I feel as if I have been limited with my college search, but there is nothing I can do. Almost all of the universities I have applied to are in-state, due to money. Most are private, putting more stress on me and my family. Both of my parents, my brother, and I all have jobs. We try to work as much as we can to help each other.

I hope to recieve as much money possible, in order for me to easily choose which university will fit me best. I will stay focused and determined in school, as well as at work. I wish college was free...

Abortion

Both websites are very ineffective and not very organized. They both provide facts, but not in an effective way. The Naral website, the pro-choice website, spends most of the time trying to prove why pro-life isn't the best decision. Instead of focusing on their own argument, the site is just attacking the other side of the debate. This makes the site seem unreliable and childish. It is very opinionated and emotional, rather than factual. But  the pro-life site is even more disappointing to me because they focus largely on the emotional aspect. They do not prove that abortion is not the right path well. They can easily use pictures and scientific research to prove their points, especially regarding how one may see a fetus as an unborn child, but they do not do so. Instead, the focus of  the site is on the laws to restrict abortions. I have browsed many different sites, and these two sites do not seem to promote their beliefs well.

As a teen, we feel the need to be independent and make our own decisions. We are entering college soon and making life-long decisions. Often, parents are right along beside the teen helping with these decisions. Regarding abortion, I believe a parental consent should be required. An abortion is too emotional for the minor to make a decision upon and will use their emotions to act. An adult however, will look at the situation differently and logically choose what is best for the minor. It is a parent's duty to look after the minor, no matter the circumstance. Abortion is such a serious issue and can be a life-changing decision. The operation is very dangerous and can hurt the minor both before and after emotionally, mentally, and physically. Thus, the right decision needs to be made carefully after weighing all the advantages and disadvantages, and the parent is there to do so. It is a proven fact that adults do make the better decisions than adolescents because their brain is fully developed. They can use logic, taken from the frontal lobe of the brain, where the adolescents will make decisions more abruptly from their gut and emotions. Adults will make a more responsible decision than the minor, and the parental consent should be required.

I do not support that the father of the child should be a part of the decision making regarding abortion. It is the female's body and he should not have to consent. It would be more respectful to let the father know what the decision is, but it is not required. A father consent is also impossible if the female was raped. If the father is in the picture or life of the mother of the child, they should discuss it and come to a decision together, but an agreement should not be necessary to follow through with an abortion.

Illinois is a very liberal state regarding abortion. The state law does not require parent notification or consent for an abortion operation. NARAL also has identified specific laws that have not been enforced. There are not a vast of specific restrictions on abortion in Illinois. I believe health insurance should pay for all abortions because if one is paying for coverage, operations or services related to abortion shouldn't be denied. It is their money and it should not be wasted.

Abolition of Capital Punishment in IL

I do support the death penalty, but after studying and research I have learned that it is not always fair in practice.  I wish that reforms could be made to keep the death penalty, but the justice system is so intricate that it would be very difficult. In Illinois, the concern is whether justice is being upheld with capital punishment. After re-evaluating several times, Governor Ryan believed that abolishing the death penalty would benefit the state and help uphold justice in the court. The execution of innocent people was reaching new heights and the sentences were becoming disproportionate.

I believe the driving force in the abolition of the death penalty was that the execution of innocent people was becoming an enormous flaw in the nation, even in Illinois. Steve Mill pointed out that each time a death row inmate was exonerated, the police and prosecution insisted that it was a rare occurrence. However, the facts show that these wrongful convictions weren't just isolated incidents. Michigan State University and the Death Penalty Information center shared that for every seven people executed, one is innocent and still executed. This is unbelievable! This shows that the flaw in the justice system is too large to fix with reforms. And until the flaw is fixed, innocent lives would be taken away. Northwestern professors and students were able to prove with DNA testing that seventeen death row inmates were innocent. The fact that the justice system didn't catch their mistake and Northwestern did is disturbing. People outside of the case and state courts were able to prove seventeen peoples' innocence. Governor Ryan was appalled and asked for explanations, but no one was able to give him any. The lives of innocent persons in Illinois has been threatened by the justice system, therefore I do support Governor Ryan's choice in abolishing the death penalty.

Further supporting the abolishment of capital punishment is the proportionality and distribution of it. There are many outside factors that show that the system is flawed. First, multiple sources have hared that a person is more likely to recieve the death penalty if the victim is white. Race still permeates through the justice system today, which is not professional or fair.  Governor Ryan also shared how there are geographical disparities within Illinois; "you are five times more likely to get a death sentence for first degree murder in the rural area of Illinois than you are in Cook County." Proportionality is an important problem in the system. Aside from geographical proportionality, there is disproportional sentences. For example, there may be two cases with the same circumstances and one person might get forty years in prison in one county, while the other is sentenced to death in another county. Also, Illinois has had cases of co-defendants that are equally or even more culpable and are sentenced to a term of years, while another that is less culpable defendant is put on death row. This situation was evident in the Juan Garza case that I presented to the class. Manuel Flores was found guilty for murdering two persons, while the court only had proof of one murder by Garza. Flores was sentenced to life imprisonment, while Garza was put to death. Why? The court had evidence that Flores killed two people, and that Garza killed one. Here, along with many other cases, the death penalty is not applied justly or evenly. To prevent further cases like that of Garza's Governor Ryan made a good decision in abolishing the death penalty.

I guess all states should follow Governor Ryan's decision to save lives and uphold justice within the nation. He stated, "Our capital system is haunted by the demon of error - error in determining guilt, and error in determining who among the guilty deserves to die. Because of all of these reasons today I am commuting the sentences of all death row inmates." He couldn't have put it any better. The error is too big for it to be fixed. Yet, there are always those that believe Governor Ryan made a mistake because it deters crime, gives closure to families, and is a fair punishment. All of these arguments are wrong. According to the American Civil Liberties Union 2011,  a survey showed that the death penalty was ranked lowest nationally among all ways to reduce violent crime. The death penalty in a way also just provides families with revenge. Capital punishment can be seen as the most premeditated of murders. I completely support Governor Ryan's decision regarding the death penalty, for lives will be saved and justice will be renewed.

Marquette Visit

This past week I finished all my applications. It was the best feeling. It felt as if a huge load was lifted off my shoulders, I felt stress free. I felt so accomplished and confident. As a reward, I visited Marquette University for the second time. My first time I attended a campus tour and presentation, but this time was more for fun. I shadowed my best friend and stayed over two nights. It felt like I was truly a college student.

Friday morning I attended all of Molly's classes: theology, biology, chemistry lecture and lab. I was glad to have come this day because chemistry and biology are my favorite subjects. I loved the small class size and felt like a true student at Marquette. I took notes, answered questions with Molly on her clicker and even was able to participate in a lab. Knowing that I easily survived these classes reassured me that I will do fine in college, no matter where I decide to attend. The fact that I understood what was going on in classes, sometimes even more than the actual students, scared off all my fears of college. My older friends and cousins made college seem so hard, like it was impossible. But getting this experience only readied me for the college experience. I am not saying her classes weren't challenging, but they weren't super easy. I found Marquette to be a great fit for me. Can't wait to see other colleges up close.

Not only did the classes seem right, but the Marquette environment felt perfect. Everyone was so friendly and offered me a helping hand. Molly's friends became my friends quickly and were sad to hear that Marquette wasn't my top choice. However, the more time I spent at Marquette, the more I loved it. I was even able to attend the first Marquette basketball game of the season. I loved the school spirit and the intensity. Everything seemed perfect. If  I do choose Marquette, I know that I will succeed and have an amazing four years!

Thank you to my best friend Molly and her friends for making me love Marquette so much!

Reflection on the Debate

Public speaking never was a problem for me until recently. At a young age, I was able to easily recite poems by heart and memorize many lines in a short period. I also have a freaky good memory with numbers. I know so many peoples' cell and home phone numbers by heart that I don't even need my phone contacts. Even presenting information to a classroom. I was always a natural. However, the past few years I feel as if this hasn't been the case. I don't get stage fright, but I'm not as good as I used to be. I'm not as good as memorizing and thinking on the spot anymore, especially relating to school topics.

Going into the debate I personally did not feel ready. I needed one more day to review the case in order to feel more comfortable. By doing so,  I would be more fluid and in control when speaking. Yet, this was not the case. I do not have any complaints with my presentation because I believe Danny and I did a great job for pulling it together in a short amount of time. Hearing Danny speak amazed me though. He was so confident and natural. It was as if he can talk for hours without an once of nervousness. This intimidated me in a way because he was so good. I hope to become better at public speaking, especially in front of a class. Hopefully my job as a teacher's aid will help me improve these skills. I hope to learn to naturally speak in front of people.

Deadline

Topics relating to the death penalty: Race and income, percent of nation that supports death penalty, Stephen Bright's quote

I am for the death penalty, but after watching snippets of Deadline (due to my absence) I began to question my own opinion. Why are people against the death penalty? Is it because of the flaws in the justice system? I realized that this was the reason; the justice system is far from perfect.  I realized that race and income play a very important role in capital punishment. Although most of the death row inmates are white, many colored and low-income people are convicted. Therefore two main factors that contribute to the flaws in the justice system are that police use racial profiling and the jury make mistakes in the trials. The police are under a lot of pressure to convict someone and find them guilty when a high-profile crime is committed. The police become too eager, taking over their judgement and making them less efficient; a confession might be forced out of someone and false evidence can be used to incriminate a suspect. And many times, police even profile others, taking into account one's race or income. According to studies, those that are most sentenced to death are those in the fringes of society. In California, 252 blacks were executed. In Texas, 129 were executed and 139 in Florida. When someone of lower class is before a jury, the jury will find it difficult to relate to the person, ultimately finding them guilty more quickly due to the lack of empathy and understanding. Racism also lingers in the court and juries discriminate against those on trial. Although people are trying to eliminate racism by keeping an open-mind, it is still evident in society today. In Deerfield, I believe we are very accepting and not racist. Yet, almost our whole school and community population is white. I feel as if society is split into different niches. And Deerfield is an example of a niche, mainly consisting of white people. People always say how society is integrated and accepting despite race and ethnicities, but in reality it visibly is somewhat segregated. This segregation also carries into Court; a white jury is more likely to punish the murder of a white person. To overcome this racism and flaw, the justice system needs to gather juries with different backgrounds, making it diverse just like the rest of society.

Of the states that allow the death penalty, about 65% of Americans are in favor of it. In class we have studied the different factors of the death penalty, but I believe the strongest idea is "the idea of an eye for an eye." This assures that someone will always be punished. When a crime is committed, people's gut reaction is to punish he or she according to the magnitude of the crime. Some people believe one should suffer as much as its victim did. So if someone took someone else's life, the murderer should also die. However, Americans still believe that if one is sentenced to death that they are guilty of the crime. This is incorrect; many death row inmates are found innocent with thorough investigation and new evidence. Studies show that 187 clemencies were granted and 20 people were freed from death row. Stephen Bright stated, "This was the third person released by journalism students at Northwestern, and of course it doesn't say much for our legal system when people spend sixteen years on death row for a crime they. . . didn't commit. And that ultimately comes to light not because of the police of the prosecution, or the defense lawyers or the judicial system, but because a journalism class at Northwestern took it on as a class project to see whether or not these people were guilty or not. You know, if those students had taken chemistry that semester, these folks would have been executed." This shows how the U.S. justice system is far from perfect because several of inmates are proven innocent and released. Yet, many that are never proven innocent are still executed. People question if practicing the death penalty is worth those innocent lives or that the death of the innocent does not nearly compare to the good they are doing by executing the guilty. I find upsetting that Northwestern students proved someone innocent, not the justice system. This shows that the justice system does not always correct its own mistakes. I hope the justice system is improved to efficiently save lives.

What is happiness?

Happiness, spelled with an "i," is seen anywhere and everywhere in the world: in the media, on the streets, at school, and at home. In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, Will Smith questioned Thomas Jefferson as to why he added the world "pursuit" to happiness in the unalienable rights guaranteed to a citizen. How did he know that it is something that we can only pursue, and maybe not even attain in a lifetime? This got me thinking, questioning if I was on a pursuit of happiness. I understand that once you attain happiness it is an enriching and lively moment, but when do you and I find this happiness? And have we ever attained it before?

I believe you find true happiness few times in your life, and all those other memorable moments that made you smile are just cheerful or enjoying. Someone might argue that the moments of pride, achievement, freedom, belonging, and love are all considered moments of true happiness, and that every moment that makes you smile is considered as such. I disagree. Why cherish and try to pursue true happiness if it is so easy to attain, if it happens so often? True happiness happens once in a while, bringing all those small happy moments together, lifting your spirit to a height never experienced before. Thatis true happiness and you forever will remember it.

All the awards and achievements I earn make me happy along all the laughs I have had with family and friends. These are few of the many examples in my life that I know make me feel happy. So pursuing this true happiness is easy. But I always reach a point of uncertainty, causing me to question if these moments mean something more. In the moment, each moment feels to be something true and brilliant, but they never really lifted my spirit. I believe that when you have reached true happiness and completed a pursuit, you will know and cherish that moment while it lasts.

I can pinpoint one specific moment in which I experienced true happiness. It was the end of a full packed, busy weekend and I was coming home from the Christian retreat KAIROS. It felt as if Cabrini Retreat Center was my home; I had friends to catch, to support me, and to guide me. I felt as if I could tell any participant anything and everything. Together we were strong. Knowing and feeling this, I shared some of my deepest emotions without fearing what others thought of me; I was crying constantly whether it was because I was happy, or sad, or felt a connection with another member, or even God. We all wept together, our tears soaked up in each others' shirts. I thought, this was my home; this was where I belonged; these people are the people that care; these people will support and guide me; these people make me happy.

So coming home was dreadful. . . I wasn't looking forward to all the questions I would get and I dreaded the idea of being independent again, not having my new friends, my new family by my side. But I walked into the family room and there was my mom, dad, and brother all waiting for me with anticipation. They didn't even ask how the retreat was, they were all just so happy to see me, to hug me, to kiss my cheeks. At that moment, I don't know what came over me, but I cried. I cried of happiness as  I embraced each of them. I was SO happy. I realized that Cabrini wasn't my home, but that this was. This is where I belonged; this is where I had the people I love most close to me. In this moment I understood what love is and that they would do anything for me. They cared for me so much and I didn't even know it.

I believe God gave me this moment, this experience, this happiness. He prepared me with KAIROS, ultimately leading me to see that I had a family waiting at home for me that loved me. This is where I belonged and my KAIROS family helped me grasp this idea. I now know that I have a circle of people who care about me, who I can be myself with and share deep emotions. These are the people I can share my happiness with, true happiness. So yes, I believe true happiness comes, but not often. You need to pursue it. In this case a pursuit ended and another began. I believe God will guide me to this next moment of true happiness and it will again be uplifting and enlightening.

What do I want to be?

Everyone has a dream as a child, whether it is to be an astronaut or a veternarian. Some follow that dream their whole life, while others chase a different dream. My dream was to be a professional figure skater, but after 7 years I decided it wasn't for me. Clueless as to what to do, I kept an open mind, ultimately realizing that I had a secret passion for science. Every day in science class a new discovery was made.

I felt stuck. Most science lovers were doctors, but I didn't want to be one. However, sophomore year in high school I realized I had a passion for teaching. For three years I volunteered at my Greek School's summer day camp and the last two summers I worked as an employee. I loved it. I loved interacting with the kids. They looked up to me and listened to me, I was their role model. And every year that I came back, my bonds with the campers strengthened.

This year though I took a big leap towards my dream by accepting the position of a teacher's aid for kindergarten at my Greek School. Although science is not involved, it has made me realize that teaching is for me. Some days I lead lessons, teaching them the letters of the alphabet slong with other phrases. And each and every time they get it, that light bulb goes off. It feels so rewarding; I help that light bulb shine; I lead them to success. It is one of the best feelings.

In ten years from now I see myself being a successful high school science teacher that wakes up every morning looking forward to seeing her students. It's my turn to lead students to that "aha" feeling, ultimately to new discoveries and success that will go down in history.

The older generations. . .

Out of all people I didn't see that my dad would be so cruel and opinionated about the death penalty. I was discussing with his after dinner whether or not the death penalty should exist. I decided to play devil's advocate and challenge my father's belief that the death penalty should be used. I personally agree with him, but decided to question him in order to get a better understanding of why he believes this. I asked him which methods seem appropriate for execution and he pretty much responded with "I don't care, as long as the person dies and suffers." I mentioned that Delaware and Washington still use hanging today and he didn't seem bothered by this. I told him that the popular way to execute was with lethal injection. He had no opinion on this, or just chose not to say much. I mentioned that many people are found innocent or granted clemency and he became bothered. He responded, "Whoever gets put in jail, is found guilty, and tried for death penalty, obviously did something wrong. They should die." I argued that it might have been a flaw in the justice system and he disagreed. The juries and judges aren't idiots he said. Not just anyone is taken in for the case. He seemed very opinionated throughout this conversation, but not too defensive. However, I had to keep reminding him that I agreed that there should be penalty and that I was only playing devil's advocate. At one point he blurted out, "Why should I pay for all these prisoners to rot? Kill them!" At that moment I knew this is where the conversation would intensify and heighten. I brought up that many prisoners ask to die and that we would be doing them a favor instead of letting them suffer. And some people are at peace with what they have done and don't even suffer. How do we differentiate between those who should die and those who should rot and suffer? This is almost impossible to do because there is no clear distinction. He mentioned again to kill them all and I fought back saying that that would just put them out of misery. This is where he got really defensive saying, "Well then punish them and make them suffer! If they killed with their right hand, cut their right hand off. Make them feel the pain he caused to others." I was very surprised to hear this coming from my dad. I was playing devil's advocate, I didn't mean to upset him or cause him to get so angry. It kind of made me laugh to see my dad so riled up about a topic, especially because I agreed that there should be a death penalty. I guess he just kept forgetting that I was playing devil's advocate and just trying to challenge him.

I realized that day that the older generations had a stronger opinion on the death penalty, most believing that there should be one. My generation though is mixed; many people are very against the death penalty, while some are still for it, but don't believe in some methods of executions. Those that are for it find lethal injection to be sufficient and the most humane way to do it. The other methods are more cruel. So my generation is different than my father's, but what will the next generation believe? I believe that by then even more states will abolish the death penalty because as years have passed more and more states and countries have abolished it. I am curious to see what will happen in forty years.

Death Penalty? or NO Death Penalty?

Different aspects of the stages in a capital case function to protect the rights of the accused. In a way, they are searching for reasons to declare you innocent. In the Pre-Trial (phase I) evidence is gathered from both sides of the case and if they are proven guilty, the case continues onto the Guilt Phase Trail where prospective jurors examine and question if the case is "death qualified" by considering aggravating and mitigating evidence. During the case, the defendant tries to rebut the prosecution's evidence to help establish innocence. A Direct Appeal is possible if the defendant can show that a "critical mistake was made in the process that convicted him." The review does not revisit factual issues decided at trial, and only new evidence is taken into account. In the Federal Habeas Corpus phase, the a writ can be brought to ensure that the imprisonment is legal. However, an evidentiary hearing can be held to try to prove or disprove a statement in the habeas corpus petition and an appeal can be heard by a panel of three judges. Last, one can plead for clemency to reduce the punishment declared by the courts.

I believe that the system and stages of a Capital Case do give plenty of opportunities to appeal and prove an individual innocent. I find this effective to a certain point. If the individual was declared guilty in the first case, I don't believe the Court made a mistake if all the evidence shows he was guilty. In those cases in which one later tries to prove himself innocent seems like a waste of time. The justice system does have flaws, but not so many that anyone should be able to appeal and prove themselves guilty; there must have been a reason one was declared guilty. . . And only if there is new legitimate evidence should the Court hold a hearing for review. If people keep pleading for clemency and try to fight for their innocence, the justice system will become more flawed. I believe the government needs to have some type of requirement or limit that the prisoner needs to pass in order to appeal. And if they pass, then one should be able to appeal and fight for their life.


There have been many different methods to execute those found guilty and on death row. I believe the most humane way to kill someone is to lethally inject someone because it is quick, but still allows the individual to suffer. The most inhumane ways would be hanging, electrocution, or gas chambers because it kills an individual slowly, causing them to feel the pain. When someone is hanged, if he or she is not heavy enough, the fracture-dislocation of the neck will not occur and the individual will suffocate, due to the lack of oxygen. This method is very painful and cruel. People may argue that it is as if they are going back in time when hanging blacks was okay. That was found wrong, so why should they bring this method back into play? The electrocution method was seen to be a "more humane method of execution than hanging," but I believe it is still cruel and unusual punishment. Volts are sent through the body for thirty seconds, then a break follows after; if the individual is still alive, the process is repeated, until he is pronounced dead. According to the passage, "the prisoner's eyeballs sometimes pop out and rest on [his] cheeks. The prisoner often defecates, urinates, and vomits blood and drool. The body turns bright red as its temperature rises, and the prisoner's flesh swells and his skin stretches to the point of breaking. Sometimes the prisoner catches fire.... Witnesses hear a loud and sustained sound like bacon frying, and the sickly sweet smell of burning flesh permeates the chamber" (Ecenbarger, 1994). This description is so detailed that it makes me sick. How can one withstand watching someone suffer and be in this much pain, no matter the circumstance? I would not be able to withstand watching such a process, for it is brutal and causes a lot of suffering. The gas chamber and firing squad seem to be not as inhumane as hanging, but not as "humane" as lethal injection. They are found somewhere in the middle of this scale. Firing squad is a quick death, unless a shooter chooses or accidentally misses the heart. The gas chamber is more cruel than the firing squad  for it cuts off all source of oxygen, causing a slow, painful death. Slowly the heart and brain shuts down because of the lack of oxygen, but their death is only a matter of time. I believe all methods are "cruel and unusual" according to the Eighth Amendment, except that of lethal injection and firing squad. From statistics, lethal injection is the most common way to execute if the state allows the death penalty. I was not surprised for this is the most humane way to "put someone down," as they always phrase it. But some argue that this does not allow enough pain and suffer becuase the chemicals are injected, and it is over. So how much should someone suffer? What seems reasonable?

Illinois at some point had the death penalty and had an average rate of 6.0 homicides per 100,000 people. The lowest rate was 0 with New Hampshire who doesn't have the death penalty and 18.8 in Puerto Rico; the average rate which I see around the nation is around 4.5. The death row by ethnicity and gender reallly surprised me. Blacks had the highest rates, up to 252 people in California and as low as zero for thsoe states that do not have the death penalty. The next ethnicity i clicked on was Asian and it was a huge difference. almost every number dropped to zero on the map, except a few. California with 22 really caught my attention. Why does California always have such high numbers? I understand it is a large state, but so is Texas that only has four Asians and had 129 blacks; Florida even had 139 blacks. The numbers for whites was also pretty high. I was not surprised to see California and Texas with high numbers, but it did when I saw Florida with 221 whites. These differences in race really struck me becuase many people stereotype and associate blacks with crime. Now I can say that they truly are correct, but it this doesn't defeat the fact that it is wrong to follow stereotypes and base beliefs off them. For example, the numbers for whites and blacks were similar. But how come Asians weren't? Are they just more humble as they meditate (another stereotype? These statistics based on race really casued me to take a step back to try to make sense of the results. But I guess there isn't no real answer. Gender also really plays a big role, being that the numbers for males are significantly higher. Why is this? Because males are known to let their anger out more regularly? Because they have more strength and could carry out a murder? It really puzzled me to see such a large difference, but in a way I am glad that the females had lower numbers. Next I compared the total number of people on death row to executions. Generally, the numbers of executions was lower than the number of those on death row. Texas was the only state that really struck me, having 333 on death row and 466 executions. But what do these numbers mean? What can we conclude? Why do these differences create such a big gap between numbers within the nation, within states? I sadly can't answer these questions and only was able to provide theories.

Seeing all the different criminal offenses in Illinois really surprised me. I didn't realize that there can be so many different cases and situations regarding murder. The document on homicide goes into such detail that it in a way frightened me. Some of the crimes  I hadn't even considered. It went into such detail about murder, death penalty, and exceptions. I understood that the process was long with all the trials, but this document really laid out the details and how they determine who gets the death penalty. I believe Illinois doesn't have the death penalty anymore because the process is so long. I looked at the statistics and when they did have the death penalty, many were acquitted, granted clemency, or got a lesser punishment. It is as if they tried to find reasons to keep them innocent. For example, 187 clemencies were granted and 20 people were freed from the death row.

The majority vote to choose a punishment other than the death penalty for murder was 61% in a study in 2010. So most people are against the death penalty, but so many states still have it. This seems contradicting, as if the government does not listen to its citizens. How can the government have support, if the majority is against what the justice system declares? Also the death penalty shows that many executions are not dependent on race. The leading race of executions is white with 56%, while the leading race of the victim is also white with 76%. Many believe that blacks would have the highest execution rate, but they are wrong. They are the second largest race, but still not as big as the white race. I was surprised by the study showing that a total of 138 people on death row were released due to evidence of innocence. Illinois was one of the top states with 20 releases. There obviously must have been a flaw in the justice system if so many people were released for innocence.

Drug Testing and Student Rights

Imagine a drug test policy at Deerfield High School. . . I can't. Everyone would act immature, creating chaos and disruption towards the learning environment. And because our school's main goal, just like any other school,  is to educate students, many would argue that drug testing would not only violate one's privacy, but would violate one's right to education due to the disturbance.  However, a school also tries to prevent illegal drug use, and if the community has been abusing drugs, the court and school should allow and encourage drug testing for extracurricular activities and athletics.

I agree that upon "reasonable suspicion" a urinalysis test can be used on a student (1). However, what is considered reasonable suspicion? One may argue that this is too broad, but I believe that the vagueness should not matter. If student seems out of it one day due to lack of sleep and is asked to take a drug test, he or she should have no reason to argue against it because they have not consumed drugs. Also, if the behavior is caused from prescribed drugs, and the urinalysis by chance picks up the drug, the student has no reason to worry because it was prescribed. The urinalysis tests only detect the use of illegal drugs including "amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and barbiturates, not medical conditions or the presence of authorized prescription medications" (1). No student has the reason to argue against taking a drug test because if they are consuming drugs, they should not be.

Many students and parents in opposition of the drug test may argue that it invades one's right to privacy. I disagree because the faculty monitor does not act any differently than another student using the bathroom would. For example, one would stand outside a stall and "listen for normal sounds of urination in order to guard against tampered specimens and to insure an accurate chain of custody" (2). Therefore, these monitors are not closer to the student than any other student would be when using the rest room. The procedure is more than reasonable and people should understand that they are only taking precautions to lower drug use among students. And the information gathered from each test is kept in a file. However, there have been cases where teachers leave private information like this open to other students. This should be fixed because every student has a right to privacy and this is a violation of  that right. These results should be stored in a place where only the principal and the head of the drug test policy can access them, that way no one's privacy will be violated.

I believe the drug test will really benefit the school and community and has fair consequences. I believe students will start to stop using drugs illegally, thus helping the community as a whole. The consequence of a first positive test is that the school contacts the student's parent or guardian for a meeting and the student may continue to participate in the activity if within five days of the meeting, the student goes for drug counseling and submits a second drug test. And the most severe consequence of a third positive test is the student will be suspended from participating in any activity for the "rest of the year, or 88 school days, whichever is longer" (2). I believe these will help the community diminish the drug problem in school because if a student is passionate about a sport or activity, he or she will stop using drugs. And if they continue to use drugs, they will suffer from the consequences.

I believe the sooner one acts, the better. Although many cannot imagine their school with this type of policy, I believe it will be beneficial to the school, the students and their families, and the community. If Deerfield High School adopted this policy I believe our evident drug problem would decrease immensely because so much of the student body participates in athletics and/or extracurricular activities.

Recently, Obama passed the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act which allows one to share personal student information with state officials that are not working directly on education; these records can be placed in a state database with non-education records and private entities would be able to access the school records. Many families and schools worry that if the expansion continues, information will be shared between states without student of parent consent. I believe this is going to an extreme. Files should be open, but the documents being shared should not have be identified with a student name. I believe it is reasonable only if the student's name is not revealed. If names are not used, it would act more as a survey which would benefit school districts, the state, and the nation.

After reading the Safford Unified School District v. Redding case, I was appalled and surprised. I myself felt just as violated as the middle-schooler who was strip searched due to a suspicion of having ibuprofen. The strip search was conducted and she was down to her undergarments and at some point had to lift her bra and underwear out for the nurse to check. She was so embarrassed that she kept her head down so the nurse was unable to tell that she was crying. Redding filed against the school district and the strip search was found unconstitutional. The school had no right to conduct a strip search for a suspicion of possession of ibuprofen. It is very irresponsible of the school and illustrates how some schools violate one's right to privacy. It has been stated that once a student enters school that privacy is taken away to an extent because the school has to protect the rest of the student body. But in this case, a strip search was not necessary and found unconstitutional.

Grab a tissue for every issue. . .

Everyone has issues, no matter how large or small they seem on a world scale. Some people, like myself, can blow up an issue and make it seem like the center of the world. One bad day, can be the focus of a whole week, or month, or year.

I lost my pencil case, my prized possession. Now that, that is a problem for me that ruins my whole day, maybe even week. Because everytime I sit down in class and reach for my pencil case, I remember that it is gone. I sigh, then I pout, then I whine to my fellow student and I take out my only pen. Now that is rough. In a school setting, my pencil case truly is my life. I have my highlighters, my three expensive mechanical pencils that I have had for the past two years, my glue stick, my pretty color sharpies, my chapstick, my long and colorful eraser, my favorite pens, and my crappy pencils and pens that are only used for those who ask to borrow a writing tool. I think it is the fact that my dark green looney tune pencil case is gone that makes me upset. And as the day passes, if I encounter an additional problem, then its truly a crappy day. But then I take a deep breath and reflect. . .

My day is not at all shitty compared to others' days. I just tend to magnify my problems, no matter how small they are, because all human beings are selfish and like to be the center of attention. Especially me. When I have a shitty day, everyone has to know that it's my shitty day. I have to make sure all my friends and my whole family know. But when I take a step back, I notice my selfishness. I notice that others wish to have my problems. Some peoples' shitty day may be everyday, because they don't have food and starve, or live on the street becuase they don't have money. Some might even be having a perfect day, until a natural disaster ruins their home. Someone sick with a disease has crappy days everyday. Someone who is fighting cancer, or depression, or AIDS, or alcoholism, or any addiction is having a crappier day than me. A best friend or family member may have died the same day I lost my pencil case. The point is, that my crappy day is nothing compared to someone else's shitty day. It makes me feel as if I take my life for granted. I need to realize that my life is something that I should cherish and never give up. I love my life.

I can say that I am lucky to be able to go to school and get a great education; to have friends I can trust and share my life with; to come home everyday to a family that loves me; to have food ready on the table; to have my own room, bed, and bathroom; I am lucky to be happy and laugh everyday. So the small issues I have mean nothing when I look at the larger picture. Instead of magnifying my small problems, I should try to help others with bigger, more important problems. I could donate to research teams, cook a meal for a homeless man, or send flowers to someone in pain. My little actions can make someone's shitty day, not so shitty. By being unselfish and not self-centered, I can make someone else smile or laugh when they haven't in a long time. I need to cherish the life I have because my issues aren't so shitty when I think about it. Everyone has issues. The world has issues.

Freedom

Freedom--a word of diversity.

America is a symbol of freedom to other countries. We cherish our freedom and speak of it with pride. When people first began immigrating to America, they came for the freedoms the United States offered. There were, and still are, many more opportunities available. The nation emphasizes its freedom in different ways; we wave the red, white, and blue flag with pride, we sing the "Star Spangled Banner" and emphasize the words "the land of the free, and the home of the brave," and the government tries to maintain justice regarding the freedoms given to its citizens.
Freedom can refer to the specific rights for citizens, or the codes restricting certain actions. Some freedoms are not protected, while some are and it is the Government's job to interpret fairly what should be protected. Therefore, freedom can be associated with law and the rights we are guaranteed. In class, the freedom of speech is currently being analyzed. We have discussed different cases of students and have created our own opinions regarding if their behavior is protected by the freedom of speech. The Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution declares, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." As a class, we have been trying to find a way to differentiate between what actions are protected by this freedom and which aren't.

Freedom though can also be referred to as a state of being or feeling; one can be and feel free. We often associate birds with freedom, especiall the bald eagle because they are free to soar the sky and world.  Anything can feel free. Freedom doesn't only refer to the law. I can feel free. . .

Every Wednesday night in May, at 7 o' clock, my phone vibrated and I read the weekly text, "Hey girls!! Vball tonite at 8! Dont be late nd get pumped! woooo lets kick some ass!!" For the past seven years I have participated in the G.O.Y.A. (Greek Orthodox Youth Association) sponsored Junior Olympics event. It was the time of the year that every church began practicing to be prepared for Junior Olympics, and Wednesday nights were for volleyball. So being it was Wednesday night, I had my bag packed, and I was ready to go. I got in the car and drove away. I zoomed off onto the highway, in the farthest lane to the left. I pressed on the gas, and raised the music. This was my time, this was my freedom, this was my high. Feeling very aware as I drove, I felt very alive. I swerved in and out of cars, making lane changes left and right. My brain working as a factory with workers going at hyper-speed. No one was going as fast as me, and no one dared to challenge me. I felt invincible, powerful, but most importantly free. The windows were down, and the wind tossed my hair, making it feel as if I was a bird. I was flying down the highway, singing as loud as I could. My Jesus music played that I had gotten after attending KAIROS XIII, a Catholic retreat. I knew every word of every song and was not ashamed. I was Jesus high. I felt his presence there with me and I knew he was protecting me. It was as if he was singing along with me, smiling. But of course, I approached the exit NAGLE, and I was soon arriving to my destination. But every Wednesday, I looked forward to this drive, to this experience. It was when I escaped from the world, from responsibilities, from expectations, and all pressures. It was when I felt most alive and free. I can't wait for this upcoming May to drive in my batmobile with the music blasting. I can't wait to feel free again.

Speech Codes on Campus

Many universities create speech codes to combat the evident discrimination and harassment on campus, especially those that are directed towards a specific minority group. Many believe these speech codes limit peoples' rights to free speech, but I believe some rules and boundaries are necessary in order to maintain a respectful and safe environment for students and visitors. The pictures shown at fraternity parties are very inappropriate and disrespectful. I believe this behavior should be outlawed because it is offensive, inappropriate, deragotary, and may cause violence. This behavior is not an appropriate way to show school spirit and support for a specific fraternity. Passion and support can be expressed in different ways that are more respectful and appropriate. For example, one might wear a shirt of their fraternity's or sell shirts or wrist bands; one can try to recruit others into their fraternity. One needs to be respectful towards themselves, their peers, their mentors, and their community.

Many argue that speech codes restrain them from expressing themselves, but many also oppose this idea and believe they are necessary to keep some sort of order on campus. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) tries to defend and sustain individual rights at colleges and universities. FIRE's core mission is to "protect the unprotected and to educate the public and communities of concerned Americans about the threats to these rights on our campuses," and by doing so one will also learn how to preserve these rights and maintain peace. FIRE therefore, opposes speech codes and the current censorship at campuses. It defends one's rights and freedom of expression. FIRE challenges speech codes, which I find necessary in a school. A school always needs some sort of boundaries because if there are none, many students will take advantage of this and act in uncivil and disrespectful manners. One may use fighting words, express their racist and close-minded views, offend someone and their beleifs, and may express themselves with hatred. FIRE is giving students a type of freedom that is dangerous; they are allowing students to say or do whatever they want because it is their right to do so. FIRE protects this and I believe they shouldn't. There needs to be codes to prevent violence, especially in universities because it is then that students find the need to explore and find the sense of belonging. Restrictions are needed to protect other students and the community.

From the FIRE website, I looked up Illinois State University to see if there are any speech codes or restrictions on expressive rights. There are policies regarding harassment, stating that it is not tolerated, whether it is verbal or physical harassment. I believe this policy is needed because it shows the seriousness of such a crime and will protect students. If students openly express that the values the school believes in are unnecessary and ridiculous, it will not be tolerated. All students must put an effort to follow these values: character, civility, conscience, citizenship, an appreciation of diversity, and individual and social responsibility. I believe the value that is not followed often is the appreciation of diversity. Many fail to do this and focus on harassing those that look different or practice a different culture. Everyone should be accepted for who they are and what culture they believe in. There is also a policy at ISU stating that one must inform the university before hosting an vent where they will be expressing themselves. I find this to be a very reasonable policy becuase it does not restrict students from expressing themselves, but encourages them to do so in a respectful and organized manner. I believe these policies are necessary.

The policies of ISU make me feel more secure. It does not feel as if they are stripping away my right to freedom of speech and expression. I am still able to express myself in an orderly manner, just shouldn't direct it towards a specific person or group of persons. To know that this university cares for their student's safety, makes me want to apply. I know I will not be targeted at the university. I feel as if students respect these codes and try to follow, but there will always be the few that express that they are limiting their freedoms. There will always be the crazy parties with disrespectful behavior, but I just need to make the right decision and leave to show that I do not support the behavior and beliefs they are trying to relay to others. I would not create a scene or uproar regarding the difference between views, but would simply not support them. Although these codes will not be followed 100 percent of the time, they will still provide some protection for other students.

Always Remember 9/11

Nine and eleven were just two numbers to me. They never meant anything special. They only meant that it was my cousin's birthday the next day and my brother's birthday in eleven more days. These numbers didn't mean anything to anyone until 9/11/2001, when terrorists bombed the World Trade Center and the Twin Towers collapsed. People with cameras turned towards the attack and recorded what was happening. With this documentary, I truly learned what this event was and understood its impact on others. It was so powerful because the video recorder was in the towers and outside. I was able to see what was truly going on inside, and how the community was reacting outside the towers. We saw the frustration, confusion, and fear in the firefighters' and pedestrians' eyes. I felt as if I was looking through this lense of the camera. It felt as if I was running from the collapsing towers. As if I was digging and searching for bodies. Walking out of the classroom each day, my happiness was not brilliant. Instead, I felt priveleged to be alive, lucky that  I was not in New York. I respected those who put their own life at risk to save others. I was shocked that such an event occured in America, that people have so much hatred to kill thousands of innocent people. This film opened my eyes and helped me understand what truly occured at ground zero and what 9/11 was and why we take the time to remember those that passed, those that survived, and those that became heroes that day.

After reading the articles, I again got another perspective of 9/11. I got a new meaning of what it truly means to be a survivor and a victim. An article stated, "All Americans are peripheral survivors, in that we were all traumatized by the events of that day and had our lives impacted and changed by their fallout." I had never thought of myself as a survivor. I always thought that those at the site were survivors, but after reading this article I do agree to some extent. We were all taken by surprise by the event and impacted in some way, no matter how far we lived from the actual Twin Towers. All of America was affected; security tightened, paranoia was more evident among people, fear replaced the sense of safety, peace turned into slight chaos, saddness replaced the happiness, tears replaced smiles, families tore apart, friends went missing, 9/11 was the mark of a sad day with more to follow. Therefore, we are all considered survivors. Even to this day people are struggling, especially from sicknesses due to the toxins that were exposed. Many families struggle financially to help their loved ones that have been affected by the toxins. They wonder why they were punished for helping the country and risking their own life. People believe it is the rest of America's "moral obligation to provide our 9/11 heroes with all the care they need." We only owe it to them. . .

I was in first grade the day this occured. I was innocent and too young to understand or care. I never really grasped what had happened until recently. I knew what happened that day, but it never occured to me that it did in a way impact me, I just never noticed. I'm not one to rethink entering a plane; I don't question a loud airplane; I don't question the amount of security we have today; I don't discriminate and judge others because they are Muslim, black, Asian, or gay, etc. I feel as if I grew up with this security. I don't remember any change. In a way, it saddens me that I don't remember this day, but at the same time I am glad my parents kept didn't go in depth while explaining. It saddens me to not feel something personal or remember the day because I want to honor those that saved lives,  I want to give my respect and remember. Remembering is what I struggle with. But when I saw the film, I lived through 9/11. It gave me a new and better understanding of what this day was. It opened my eyes to the world. It showed me that I am not always safe. From now on, every year, I will remember this day and  I will pray.

Students' Right to Free Speech

The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." I reitterate, shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. . .

The justice system in America tries to maintain justice and equality to keep the existing peace. It is their duty to interpret the Constitution, enforce laws, and punish those who disobey the laws. A common topic of interest in law is one's freedom of speech. People question how much freedom they have and what they are and aren't allowed to say. There have been many disputes regarding this, starting with the Tinker v. Des Moines case. In this case, Mary Beth Tinker chose to disobey a rule the school had enforced stating that they were not allowed to wear armbands showing any sort of affiliation. Tinker, beleiving this was unfair, chose to continue wearing the armband to show her opposition towards the Vietnam War. When the dispute was brought to court the judge concluded that there was no clear disruption or danger to other students, therefore she should not have been punished because it was her free right to speech.

The Tinker case was one of the first cases to deal with freedom of speech and as the years passed, the court concluded that people lose this right when they impose danger or disrupt the surrounding peace. Tinker was not doing either of those, but simply trying to show her opposition with a wristband. She was not verbally expressing herself in a manner that was immature or inappropriate. She was using symbolic speech by wearing this armband. She was not using "fighting words" or causing "distress or violence." Tinker had the right to express herself freely.

Once again, the question comes up: what is covered under one's right to free speech? I believe individuals have every right to express themselves, but that they do so in a mature and appropriate way. People can make a point and send a message without using vulgar language and violence, or disrupting peace. But when one does not follow these guidelines, it is the court's duty to punish him or her. In America, people have been raised to respect one another and themselves, yet people still fail to express themselves in a respectful manner.

Parliament of the Youth - Βουλή τών Εφήβων 2011

The last day at the Parliament-all 300 members

On Wednesday, September 7th, 2011, I had my first day of school as a senior at Deerfield High School. I missed school to be in Greece and participate in the Parliament of Youth Program. To enter into this program, I entered into an optional, world-wide, Greek essay competition through the Greek school I attend on Saturdays. Of the 12,000 students who entered into this competition, 300 students were selected: 260 from Greece, 20 from Cyprus, and 20 from the Hellenic diaspora. I was one of the two representatives from the USA. Being chosen, the Hellenic Parliament sponsored my trip to Greece to participate in their Parliament of Youth Program where I presented my opinion and voted on the government's bills.

This program acted as a simulation of the Greek Parliament and allowed us to discuss the challenges that encompass us in front of other youth representatives, committee members, and government officials. The Greek Parliament is split into five committees, just as we were: 1) cultural affairs,  2) defense and foreign affairs, 3) economic affairs, production, and trade, 4) social affairs, and 5) public administration, public order, and justice. I was in the cultural affairs committee and discussed the combat against violence at athletic events in Greece, while other committees discussed the modern provisions of Greek citizenship, the acceleration of growth of renewable sources of energy, the application of equal treatment of men and women on issues regarding work and employment, and the penal provisions, therapeutic, and safety measures regarding narcotic substances.

The President of the Parliament in Greece

The second day of the program, my committee went to the Parliament of Greece where we expressed ourselves regarding the combat against violence at athletic events. Many members of the program took the opportunity to speak in front of the Prime Minister of Greece, the President of the Parliament, Committee members, a famous author, and our fellow youth parliament members and friends. Upon entering the Parliament, I had decided I would not speak due to my fear of public speaking, especially in Greek. However, as people were called up to speak, my viewpoint slowly changed and I quickly prepared a speech in Greek. I went up to the podium, before all the present important figures and friends, and expressed that the bill should be enforced to improve the safety and save lives. While speaking, I represented Chicago, most importantly America, and shared how different life is here and in Greece; there are no major issues regarding violence at athletic games in America because of how we are raised. We are raised to be responsible and respectful towards ourselves, our peers, adults, the community, the government, and our nation. We are hard-working and determined, which helps us pursue anything we believe. My insight varied from almost all of my friends and fellow youth members because I live outside of Greece. I helped open other peoples' eyes and mind to the world and I thank other Greeks for enlightening me.

Half the members of my committee

On the last day of the program, all 300 members went to the Parliament to share their opinions on each issue that each committee was assigned. Fourteen members spoke, four being international. After everyone spoke, we voted on each bill that was made. The President of the Parliament thanked us for our insight on each bill and we thanked him for giving us this opportunity to express ourselves and participate in the Parliament of the Youth Program. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget. I learned how the Greek Government works and how bills become laws.

Participating in this program reminded me how important it is to keep my Greek heritage close to me. I met 19 other members that live outside of Greece, just like me. There were members from Canada, New York, South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Alexandria, Scotland, Australia, Germany, Congo, and Belgium. This showed me that despite all our differences and distance from eachother, we all have one similarity: our Hellenic descent. We are all proud to be Greek and find it vital to spread our Greek culture to future generations so it will never die off. Greece had the first famous philosophers and the first functional democracy. Greece can be considered the roots of other countries' growth. Therefore I feel that it is necessary that I continue to keep my Greek heritage.

To the new friends I made at the Parliament of the Youth: I could not have shared this experience with anyone better. The four days we spent together were some of the most memorable days of my life. I hope you have a successful year in school--stay determined and hard-working, but most importantly have fun. Good luck in college, I hope to be re-united with you next summer.

Dear Mr. Kramer,

The post I would like you to grade from third quarter would be my first post, "American Dreams: Lost and Found." Although this post is my first, it represents a great start to my blog. It shows how I was willing to put forth the effort to create a meaningful post. I shared my initial reactions of  C.P. Ellis and Vine Deloria's stories and analyzed quotes that I thought were important. I also brought in some of my personality and shared something personal about my family. I drew a parallel between C.P. Ellis and my grandfather because they were both searching for place that felt like home. Both were determined, but one naturally struggled more than the other. C.P. Ellis' story questioned the worth of one's life and values, as well as their determination. Vine Deloria's story also relates to these questions because she acknowledged the difficulty of mixing with one another. She believed that it was hard to leave one's customs and traditions to create or follow new ones. Deloria's family chose to not conform and mix in the United States melting pot to preserve their traditions. I believe Deloria's family was smart in not conforming because today I follow Greek Orthodox customs with my family and am proud that I do so. In conclusion, I am proud of this post and it layed out a good start for my blog.

My second post I would like you to grade from fourth quarter is "Working: Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings." This is one of my last posts and shows how much I have progressed over the semester. This post as well shares my initial reactions on each story, but goes more in depth and shares more quotes with analysis. I believe this post demonstrates my understanding of the stories because I even contrasted the two and shared my own opinions on what each figure should do. I argued that Dante should not feel guilt for being good at her job and that Stallings should have quit his job to enjoy life, be happier, and reach his full potential. These two stories also impacted me and my future plans; I have learned that I do not want to work everyday and not enjoy my job. I am someone who needs to interact with others and be excited every morning to work. So is the money worth your happiness? The answer is no, it is not worth it.

Race: Diane Romano and Lloyd King

Racism has been a national problem for many years and many people even today are prejudice towards blacks. I thought it would be interesting to read about this section because I was very fascinated with the Civil Rights Movement. I think it is very heroic to fight for values and rights. In the movement, children participated in the demonstrations to allow adults to continue their job and support their family; it made the whites seem even more wrong for arresting innocent children. Though the movements were successful and the Jim Crow Laws were proven unconstitutional, racism is still evident in the nation today and associate blacks with danger.

Just like my mother, Diane Romano, a mother of six children, chose to raise her children to respect and accept blacks. She did not conform to society and tried to show others that blacks are just like whites. She said, "These people are no different from any other people, that they talk and they have manners and they eat like we eat, and they think and they have feelings and they're sensitive and they're artistic, and some of them are strange and some of them are dumb--they are just like we are" (460). Sadly, the society did not understand this and only acknowledged their wrong doings. Diane though soon got a new job as a police-like figure, causing her to grow less sympathetic and avert from her initial, strong beliefs about black Americans. She converted into a citizen that saw "only the bad" and felt guilty (461). Her morals and actions shifted. She stopped correcting her children when they used derogatory terms and she herself began to "classify them all," a sin she wished she had never committed (463). She shared how she was weaker and ashamed when she reverted to her parents' beliefs and began to live in the past, rather than creating a better future for the nation. I feel as if Diane became two-faced and hypocritical because she stopped standing up for her beliefs to conform to society, but at the same time she chose to stay with her church because she believed they were different, they were "exceptions" (464). Those that worked with her were also exceptions. But those on the streets and in town were not, they were dangerous. This shows Diane's confusion, for she no longer knew where she stood and what she believed in. She tried practicing her values she once strongly supported, but with the pressures of society she conformed and did not stand up for her beliefs. This saddens me because she did understood that blacks were the same as whites and she could have been part of the minority that helped fight for black rights. She could have helped benefit and change the nation, but instead she ignored her inner conflict with racism.

Diane exemplifies the confusion that is apparent throughout the nation. Her story demonstrates the large influence society has on an individual. In Diane's case, the society negatively influenced her and urged her to not fight for black rights. This story reminded me that I have the freedom of speech, to stick up for my beliefs, no matter what. I am not racist or prejudice towards any group of people and I inform people when their comments bother me. I believe that everyone is equal and should be treated equally.
Lloyd King, a biracial man, shared his feelings toward integration, believing that society acts like a tragic biracial marriage because "the tragedy lies in the complex folds of this love and admiration, which is somehow twisted into intolerance" (467). A huge tension coexists with the strong love between two. For King, being biracial created insecurity and a lack of identity; he named himself a "Jewbro" (468). People considered anyone with even one once of black blood in them as a colored person. Growing up in the sixties, King joined the Black Panthers while at the same time realizing that he was interested in white culture. Having this interest in whites, and being biracial, he married a white woman. He believed that it is natural for blacks to love the white culture and whites to love the black culture, but many failed to openly express this due to their shame and conformity. With these strong beliefs, King began denying that he was black by escaping his parents and seeking out music. But music did not completely solve everything because in the clubs blacks and whites mixed; King was unable to escape his tension point of being biracial. At the clubs, the KKK felt threatened and King stated, "The good ol' boys didnt' like the idea of a salt-and-pepper group and threatened to wreck the place" (471). He was not able to fill the void in a white man with his music, causing him to grow more insecure. In 1986 he began teaching at a white college, despite his biracial status. King stayed optimistic and soon realized that with his contribution, he was helping the nation change; the more black teachers at a white school, the more the rules changed. Sadly, his efforts did not come too far in changing the society because of the lack of support. Racism stayed apparent in the nation, but King offered hope that "we can mature" and move forward in life and live together, as one united nation (475).

I chose this story because in English, we are currently reading Light in August and the protagonist, Joe Christmas, struggles with his biracial status and lacks a sense of identity. This novel closely relates to King's story because he is confused with his biracial status, just as Joe Christmas. Having previously been interested in the Civil Rights Movement and reading Light in August,

Working: Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings

Every effort makes a difference in the world. Every job is important, no matter the authority or rank. Everyone in the work force is responsible and hold an important role. Their job impacts society, some people more than others. This important aspect leads each individual to be responsible and take their job seriously, no matter the field, and take pride in their role in society.

Dolores Dante worked as a waitress to get fast cash, and she was not ashamed of it. She loved her job and shared her pride with the community. This job helped her get by at home, the tips helped her pay off bills and make a living, to mend her broken home. But she was not ashamed to face the truth that she was a waitress, but was proud. Terkel shares Dante's story, "When somebody says to me, 'You're great, how come you're just a waitress?' Just a waitress. I'd say, 'Why, don't you think you deserve to be served by me?' It's implying that he's not worthy, not that i'm not worthy. It makes me irate. I don't feel lowly at all. I myself feel sure. I don't want to change the job. I love it" (331). Dante not only was proud to work as a waitress but loved her job and was good at it.  She made every little extra effort to make the difference. She was personable and spoke to the community, sharing her opinions on certain news or topics. She was political and free, speaking her mind. She was not plain, but energetic, careful, and concise. She made sure she did not spill, she tried pleasing the society with the extra efforts; she complimented people, she rearranged food a specific way to help with its appeal, she presented herself. However, she became so well-liked that she brought business in, all the business. She was the center of attention and everyone asked for her. Dante then began to feel guilty and stated, "People would ask for me and i didn't have enough tables. Some of the girls are standing and don't have customers. There is resentment. I feel self-conscious. I feel a sense of guilt" (333). Jealousy was brought upon other employees and guilt upon Dante. Dante should not have felt guilt. It does not make complete sense to feel resentment because she was just trying to please the community and do her job well to get payed and earn a living. She should not be punished or feel this way because she is good at her job, she should only feel pride and satisfaction. She not only served her community, but she worked hard and enjoyed it.

Phil Stallings job was quite different from Dolores Dante's and had a total different mood with values. Stallings worked as a welder at the Ford assembly plant for many hours at different units. This job was brutal and had no social aspect. Everyone kept to themselves, making their job easier. They were all intimidated by the foremen and scared if they disobeyed because the foremen had no sympathy or emotions, they were cold. To overcome the intimidation, repetition, and brutality everyone kept to themselves because no one cared. Stallings stated, "They'll have more respect, give more attention to that machine. And you know this. Somehow you get the feeling that the machine is better than you are" (356). This job lowered peoples' self worth and morale. They sunk lower for they were being treated as animals. They were not allowed to use the bathroom, no one ate on the job, and the sick continued working in order to keep their job. The workers felt like a nobody; no one spoke, there was no unity, there was no determination. The only motive to keep working was the $4.32 that was received per hour. Everyone hated their job and had a right to. Those working were degraded and inhumane. They did not have goals, or if they had any they were not allowed to pursue them. No one at the work force was able to reach their full potential. Stallings said, "But I'm against this thing where I'm being held back. I'll work like a dog until I get what I want. The job I really want is utility" (358). Stallings should not have endured the harsh rules at the workforce and should have quit to reach his full potential and be more humane. He worked robotically, withstanding any sickness or injustice. He stated, "A job should be a job, not a death sentence" (359).

Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings both had different experiences when working. Dante loved her job, while Stallings did not. He disliked it for it degraded him and held him back in life. These two stories contrast and show how difficult life was and how different people chose to earn a living. Some had a choice, while others did not. And some enjoyed their job, while others did not. I want to be able to get a job like Dante and be joyful everyday for I would love what I was doing. I want to be able to wake up every morning and be excited to go to work. I never want to feel guilt for being too good at my job, but I also don't want to have too much pride where it would transform into hubris. However, I applaud Stallings for continuing to work everyday, for many hours because he was not fortunate to have a job that both payed well and he enjoyed.

Division Street: Tom Kearney and Chester Kolar

Every war America has become involved in brought forth the themes of justice, freedom, democracy, passion, faith, protection, and duty. Many soldiers, civilians, and leaders struggle with war and come to a tension point dealing with the themes above. Is America being just? Is it right for America to intervene? Why are we fighting? What are we fighting for? How can we fight for freedom or democracy when they are such broad ideas? Why is the United States always intervening to provide protection first? How do I help in the war? All these questions encompass the minds of Americans during periods of war, and many questions are left unanswered.

Tom Kearney, one of the many policemen of his family, believes that the society became corrupt with the many wars America partook in. Kearney's father and grandfather both served as policemen, as well as fought for others' rights. They both advocated that they should still get payed even with the economy. This was very brave of them to do because even though this situation did not directly effect them, they still spoke their opinion and fought for those who could not. Looking up to them as role models, Kearney tries to better the society and nation. He observes people and their role in society, realizing it has become corrupt. Despite all the diversity in America, he noticed that people of certain ethnicities tend to stick together, resisting integration. To support integration people participate in street demonstrations, like those that took place during the civil rights movement. With integration, the society will become more close-knit. He states, "The neighborhood is sterile. It's not a neighborhood at all" (267). No one knows each other anymore, even he does not know his own son well enough. The society grew apart due to this fear of involvement; many are afraid to speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in or are scared to integrate and help one another. With this mentality everyone of Kearney's generation distances themselves from others. Yet, the proceeding generation does not follow them. The generation today is more sophisticated and care for the world. They avert from the strict traditions and culture and know how to accept others. They are not scared to become involved and rather are more involved than their own parents. This generation will change the world someday. However, Chester Kolar disagrees and believes that this involvement leads to nervousness, uncertainty, and worrying. He believes people will fail if they become too involved because they are not focusing on their life and are not living in the moment. He states, "These people are worried about something they shouldn't be worried about. They should be worried about painting their rooms and fixing something up where they could become industrious" (273). He believes that this new involvement negatively effects the nation and society, due to the stress it creates.

Reflecting on American life and society today, I believe that the nation has improved with integration and involvement, but I disagree that the involvement has created worrying and nervousness. The generations that live today have learned to accept others and integrate. Although it is natural to stick to those who share the same beliefs, people today keep and open mind and are very accepting towards others and ideas. I believe Americans are standing up and speaking out when they find injustice. We do not fear involvement, but rather thrive on it. Society today is more close-knit and connected than what it was earlier. This involvement though does not create extra immense amounts of worrying. However, I do not state that the generations today are not worrying because we are, but for different reasons. We worry today for ourselves, for our family. We worry that the economy will not improve, that the house is not kept up, that our children are not trying, that the education provided is not sufficient, etc. We worry for the right things, for that that affects us. Our worry is necessary or else no one would care in the world and society would yet again be distant. The wars and hardships that the America faced brought us to where we stand today provide us with  lessons to learn from. And with these lessons, society and the nation clearly demonstrate "UNITED WE STAND."