Who chooses that pink is associated with women? Who decided ties are to be worn by men? Who said women need to be homemakers? Who gave men the okay to control and dominate women? I guess if we knew who ‘they’ were, we wouldn’t call them ‘they.’ But, really, I think it is everyone. Anyone who has witnessed the inequalities and stereotypical situations throughout their life and did nothing. Didn’t voice thier disgust, didn’t plea with justice, just set on the sidelines of a slowly losing game. We are the ones responsible for maintining and not gaining. To undo this reactive chain of events, we need to break the links that weaken equalty and replace them with respect and oppurtunity.
Election 2008….Who to vote for? November 26, 2007
Democrats
Clinton Obama Edwards
Republicans
Giuliani Thompson Romney
| Poll Averages – Democrats | |
| Hillary Clinton | 42.7% |
| Barack Obama | 23.0% |
| John Edwards | 12.2% |
| Poll Averages – Republicans | |
| Rudy Giuliani | 28.0% |
| Fred Thompson | 14.8% |
| Mitt Romney | 12.7% |
| John McCain | 12.2% |
| Mike Huckabee | 9.2% |
| Ron Paul | 4.7% |
So, who to vote for this 2008 election???
Since Hilary and Guiliani are at the top of the polls for the democrats and republicans, here are their platforms on the top issues:
Hilary’s Platform:
She favors abortion, gay marriage, and immigrant’s rights. She supports solving global warming, health care reform, Iraq troop withdrawal, and stem cell research. She favors Iraq negotiations.
Guiliani’s Platform:
Supports abortion. Opposes gay marriage, but doesn’t want to ban the practice. Not sure about human involvement in global warming, expand research. Health care driven by market expansion, not universal coverage. Open to conferring legal status to immigrants. Doubts Iraq negotiations. Supports troop increase and stem cell research.
It’s hard to choose, these issues are controversial and who says they will follow through with their promises?
English as the Official Language? November 26, 2007
America, as a nation, hasn’t chosen an official language, as most people know. In Oak Point, Texas, they recently declared English as thier official language. They claim it is to decrease the expenses incurred when translating documents, such as permits and contracts. I think that is rediculous! They have enough money to afford the top-of-the-line police task force, but they can’t afford a few documents? This subject is under great debate, the city is divided. My first thought was ‘discrimination.’ I just can’t reason why this was necessary. If the rest of the nation can afford it, then Oak Point should be able to. Oak Point it the definition of descrimination. They have concrete roads in the ritzy part of town and gravel roads in the trailer park. I think that everyone should be treated the same, no matter what.
Is Your Money Going Down the Toilet? November 26, 2007
Throughout the country there have been water shortages. Companies are now trying to conserve water by manufacturing toilets in a different way, “Sometimes it’s like a hybrid car — you have to drive one first to appreciate it.” Toilets use to use 5 gallons a flush, but in the 90’s it changed to about 2 gallons. In ‘94, Congress mandated that toilets use 1.5 gallons, but it didn’t work out so well. Al Gore has been on a campaign emphasizing global warming for sometime now. He is the reason the toilets were created. I have one in my guest bath, sometimes it flushes once, but usually it clogs. Meaning, I use up at least 3 gallons per restroom visit. Not a huge help for the fight for water preservation. Also, why would the millions of people with old toilets want to get new ones that don’t work and cost money. These ‘hybrid’ toilets are costly and inconsistent. I joke around and call my toilet ‘the Al Gore commode.’ Good times 
To Be Or Not To Be Poor……. November 26, 2007
So, I just found out that the poor threshold, for a family of four in America, is just over $19,000. That means that you would have a $500 rent each month and about $800 for everything else each month. I don’t know how someone could support a family on so little. It is amazing how many people fit this mold….heck, I do. I make about $10,000 a year, $9,000 is the threshold for individuals in America. Basically, I’m poor. I think that if someone really wants to make money, they can do it (legally); just follow these simple rules while working:
- Always work.
- No cell phones.
- Be pleasant.
If employees did this, they would make their bosses happy; they would increase company profit and enhance their salary. It’s the ‘slippery slope theory;’ it can help you or hurt you, it’s a delicate decision.
O’Connor: Young Love vs. Old Love November 24, 2007
I was reading an article (in the Dallas Morning News 11/22) about former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor….interesting. Her husband, John O’Connor, has Alzheimer’s. It has progressed so much, he doesn’t have a memory of his life with Sandra at all. She said she wants him to be happy and if his new girlfriend makes him happy, then she is happy. Wow, don’t know if I could do that…that would be sooo hard. A psychiartrist said, young love is when you are happy, old love is when you want someone else to be happy.
Prevent Rape: Be Safe! November 9, 2007
I’m a….surivivor, I guess, of rape. It’s been two years now and I think I’m doing pretty good, emotionally. I have dated a few people, but nothing serious. The thing I wanted to say, is be careful.
I thought he was my best friend. I trusted him. Trust can be blind and stupid, I didn’t realize I was making myself vulnerable. I was at his apartment with a bunch of friends playing poker and drinking a little. Next thing I knew I was naked and sore. I stumbled around to find my things and put some clothes on, the room was spinning, my body hurt and I couldn’t think. I got into my car and drove home. No matter how many times I bathed, I still felt dirty. I tried to keep it a secret, because I felt stupid, dirty, and ashamed. How could I let this happen, what was I thinking, it’s my fault, I must have said it was okay, me! me! me! I spent the next year thinking that I asked him to drug and rape me, and since I didn’t fight back, I was saying yes.
Fight back. Don’t forget that men have urges, so stay out of harms way. Also, it might be hard to talk about it, but it’s a good thing. Talking to the police will keep it from happening to someone else, you can still fight back. Just be aware of your surroundings……
Gender, Folklore, and Changing Military November 9, 2007
Wow!!! I had no idea these types of events occured in our American military system. I was shocked to read the detailed stories of accepted and encouraged abusive behavior in the military. If you haven’t read this story, it’s quite the eye opener. There was discussion about the strange activities a soldier would complete to be fully accepted into thier company. I didn’t know that after a soldier gets thier wings, they have a seperate ceremony among thier soldier buddies. They place the wing pendant on the soldiers chest, unclasped, and take turns punching the pin. With each punch, the pendant sinks farther and father into the soldiers skin. Also, the sailors practice a kind of hazing as well. Their initiation includes crawling through a giant tube, filled with rotting food, to replicate a wales poop shoot. Talk about crass and disgusting!!!
I can’t believe that the commanding officers allow this type of behavior. Its no wonder people change when they join the military, even the ones that don’t go to war.
Domestic Violence: The Silent Destroyer November 9, 2007
Referring to the class discussion about domestic violence…..what the heck?! Why is this behavior not taken more seriously? Sometimes I think it is encouraged….boys are taught to be tough and masculine, how else can a boy prove his manly-hood, but to belittle someone else? Right? Isn’t that what boys are being taught today in America?
I have witnessed domestic violence first hand and I can only remember one time when there was legal action taken. I think the MAIN reasons that keep these silent predators safe from legality, is fear and acceptance. Fear, the reason why these abused women won’t turn in their abusers. They fear for their lives and their children’s lives. They fear further abuse and financial depravation. Acceptance; the media, fathers, coaches, and others pervert the view of true masculinity.
The boys in America are being trained via the internet, video games, television and comic books to become strong, controlling, demeaning and abusive partners in their future relationships. America needs to reverse this abusive downward cycle, by taking proactive steps towards harmony and respect; in the schools, the media and in the homes of these abusers. The current male predators need to be dealt with accordingly, so these boys understand the ramifications of their actions and this influence will no longer be present.
Eating Disorders September 30, 2007
Writing the magazine paper got me thinking about the media and how it pretty much dictates how women should act, talk and think. As a woman, sometimes I feel like this is a dictatorship and not democracy. We live in a world where women are fed this unachievable goal of perfection since the day they are born and given a Barbie doll. This video hits this message out of the ballpark!
