Back in Action

        A couple days ago, the original refs of the NFL returned from their protest to proceed with their jobs. While they were on strike, the NFL had to hire high school football referees to judge professional football games which ended up as mostly disastrous. A key highlight of their terrible call making was in the Green Bay Packers vs. the Seattle Seahawks when the refs miscalled an interseption by GB with a touchdown catch by Seattle. It was obvious to the crowd after the call was made that it was an interception so the Green Bay fans were completely outraged (to read more on this game visit this link: http://www.eonline.com/news/348654/monday-night-football-controversy-celebs-react-to-replacement-refs-blown-call-green-bay-packers-loss).
        As a matter of fact, most of America had been angry with the NFL for the past couple of weeks because of the unprofessional refs that have been doing a terrible job replacing the guys that can actually make the right calls at the right time. As it turns out, the NFL cannot operate properly without the help of these referees, so the league has approved a new 8 year contract. It is quiet often that we see forms of protest and strike in America as a way of getting what you believe you deserve. This is a great example in that the refs proved to the league that without them, the American people will not be satisfied, and       therefore they deserve a more rewarding contract.      ^^ http://www.theonion.com/articles/the-looming-nfl-referee-strike,28470/. Do you think the original referees did the right thing by protesting? Or was it just an obnoxious way of getting what they wanted? Feel free to comment below.

Still No School

        For the past week, students in public schools in Chicago have been out of school due to the skrite that the teachers are holding. While many families throughout the city were expecting and hoping that school would be back in session by this Tuesday, a Cook County judge holds off on ending the strike. The judge decided to schedule a court hearing on Wednesday morning instead of immediately hearing arguments from Chicago school officials today. Many school officials are concerned about the strike and are calling this dispute illegal and dangerous.
          Tomorrow will be the 6th day of school that these children have missed throughout the past week. Not only is this delaying the learning schedule, but these children are being denied a safe environment to attend on day to day basis that also provides food throughout the day. In addition, the parents of these children have had to either take off work or hire people to look over  their children while they are gone. Not only is this unacceptable for the parents to be forced to do this, but it is also taking money out of their wallets for something that is beyond their control.
          Last Friday, both sides reached a somewhat agreement, although the teachers union stated that in order to end this strike, it would require the House of Delegates' approval. In my opinion, this dispute has gone on long enough and these children should be back in school receiving the education that the Chicago public schools should be offering. What do you think should be done about the strike, and when do you think it is going to be resolved? To read more about this read the article:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/17/us/illinois-chicago-teachers-strike/index.html?hpt=us_c1

Clinton Nominates Obama

     On September 5th, 2012, former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Democratic National Convention. His job was to nominate President Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States. After watching both the Republican convention and the Democratic convention, Clinton's speech was easily the most interesting and motivational. After he entered the stadium and took the stage, it only took a couple of words for him to rile up the crown and connect to all of the people who were watching the convention.
     What struck me most about President Clinton's speech was his confidence, credibility, and the simplicity of what he said. Clinton stressed several themes that he believes will make our country a better place with Barack Obama as President. Within the first five minutes of Clinton's speech, he discussed: cooperation, education, and the growth of American industry. He also stated that "we are all in it together, is better than you are on your own". I also believe that this approach creates real opportunity and will put this country in the right direction. Clinton explained that there is no quick solution to our economic problems and that Obama's policies will take time, given the depth of the issues that he faced when he became president.
      To see Bill Clinton, a very successful former president speak on behalf on President Obama made his endorsement that much more powerful and impressive. During Clintons term, he was able to turn an economic deficit into a surplus. He stressed in very simple terms that all it took was "arithmetic". Anyone can understand that simple math equals success rather than explaining complicated policies. To view some of Clinton's speech, watch the video below (referenced highlights are located within the first 5 mins).

Remembering 9-11

          11 years ago, on September 11th, 2001, I was only 5 years old and had just started kindergarten at South School in Glencoe. As I got ready for school that day, I remember watching the news with my family as we ate our breakfast. The planes had just hit the world trade center and I watched my parents react in shock to what they were seeing unfold on the television. My father's family lives in Manhattan, and my uncle worked on Wall Street at the time. Knowing that our relatives lives could be in danger added a more personal dimension to this national disaster. My parents started making phone calls trying to reach our family. No one could find my uncle for most of the morning. Fortunately, he managed to get out of the area safely. While I didn't understand the full impact of what had happened at the time, 9/11 has affected my life in a way that no one had experienced since the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. My parents had grown up in a time where they believed that our country was safe from attack. Even my grandparents were children in 1941, and Hawaii was not New York City.
     Earlier this week, I watched a clip of Laura Bush on the Smithsonian Network, regarding what happened to her on 9/11. As a former teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush's thoughts were about the families and the children who were also seeing the horror of the towers collapsing. Indirectly, her concerns were for children like myself all over the country. She told the American people to turn off their tv's while their kids were in the room. Small children would see the footage and believe that the attacks on America were still in progress. Watching this video made me realize how much my thoughts about this country were shaped by that day. My parents view of America was that we were a strong superpower that was not vulnerable to attack. The US of their childhood was always on the offense. I, on the other hand, have grown up with the perspective that we are searched in airports. Personal freedom is not an absolute when it comes to "national security". As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches, my thoughts on America remain strong knowing that the values we represent enable us move forward and learn from this experience.

To view the clip of Laura Bush discussing her thoughts during 9-11, click on this video: