Eliminate the Hate

      Recently, Facebook has come up with new plans to eliminate the amount of hateful remarks on Facebook, especially regarding sexism. They targeted pages that made light of rape, domestic violence and sexual degradation of women. Facebook has said that there has been much more hate speech on their social media site than they can imagine. Now its time for them to start cracking down on the sources of these hatefully remarks. Facebook has asked "Women Action & the Media" to be a part of an ongoing conversation about improving the social network. It has become so easy for Facebook users to announce whatever they want, without any regulation.
      This has caused a rise in cyber bullying and suicide rates because nobody is stopping users from saying whatever they want to say. I feel that it is neccessary to step in and start heavily monitering statuses of users. Author Soraya Chemaly said: "It is because Facebook has committed to having policies to address these issues that we felt it was necessary to take these actions and press for that commitment to fully recognize how the real world safety gap experienced by women globally is dynamically related to our online lives". It is important that we as Facebook users start eliminating the amount of hurtful language that we post. Not only is it inappropriote in the first place, but it also leads to serious cases of depression for many innocent kids. http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/29/tech/social-media/facebook-hate-speech-women/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Just a Pitch

      What is happening to baseball? Specifically, what is happening to the opening pitch? Baseball is a game filled with tradition and superstition. Even the Cubs can not seem to shake the curse of the billy goat, and continue to blame every losing season on something that happened in 1945. We religiously sing the National Anthem and "Take me out to the Ball Park", eat hot dogs, peanuts, and popcorn, and even get completely crazed when anyone talks about making a change to any one of our historic ball parks. The first pitch of the game has historically been reserved for U.S. presidents and dignitaries. In recent years, the honor has shifted toward celebrities, and is now sliding deeper into simple publicity stunts. Justin Bieber and Snoop Dog have thrown out the first pitch. Shockingly, someone in a Hello Kitty costume has even stepped onto the mound.
     People win the opportunity to throw the first ball at charity auctions. “We strategically will rotate between season-ticket holders, sponsors, and someone from the community,” said Lou DePaoli, the chief marketing officer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. “Every now and then we’ll say: ‘We know we have a first pitch available, this key account is coming up for renewal and the C.E.O. is coming into town. Let’s offer them the first pitch to make them feel good.’” Throwing the first pitch has stooped to the same level as placing an ad in the outfield. Catching these random pitches can be humiliating for the catcher too. Apparently, Regis Philbin was given multiple tries at the plate. While I understand that baseball is a business, and there is no crying in baseball, it still makes me sad to see how commercialized the first pitch has become. To read more on this article visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/sports/baseball/baseballs-first-pitch-loses-its-exclusivity.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Subtle Interruptions

Yesterday, President Obama was giving a speech at The National Defense University. The topic was focused on how America is going to redefine our approach to terrorism. Mr. Obama was addressing the U.S. use of drones and the potential closing of the Guantanamo prison. Repeatedly throughout his talk, the president was interrupted by a heckler named Medea Benjamin who works for Code Pink. Code Pink is an organization that opposes U.S. military action. At times during the president's speech, it almost felt like more of a debate. Mr. Obama was respectful and engaged the woman in a brief dialog where he acknowledged the validity of some of what she had to say. I can not think of too many world leaders who would have done that. That, to me, is one of the beautiful things about living in a democracy where freedom of speech is guaranteed. While Ms. Benjamin became too disruptive, and was ultimately removed, her point was made. Ms. Benjamin stated: "People around the world are tired of nice words from President Obama, and they want some concrete action. Some say that it is rude to interrupt the president, but it's rude to kill innocent people with drones." After Ms. Benjamin was removed, Mr. Obama responded to what she said by adding: "The voice of that woman is worth paying attention to. Obviously I do not agree with much of what she said, and obviously she wasn't listening to me in much of what I said. But these are tough issues, and the suggestion that we can gloss over them is wrong." I admire the president for leaving his prepared remarks to comment on what Ms. Benjamin had to say. He could have easily dismissed the interruption as a distraction and continued on with his prepared remarks. To read more about this article visit:   http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/us/politics/obama-spars-with-activist-during-terrorism-speech.html--

Preventative Measures

          In the Steven Speilberg film, Minority Report, that was release nine months after 9/11/2001, homicide detectives in the year 2054 focus their attention on "crime prevention" rather than crime investigations. Their job is to fight "pre-crimes', or crimes before they are committed. Does this futuristic approach to crime fighting have any basis in today's reality? Following 9/11, the U.S. anti-terrorist agencies and technology have grown in size and scope. 

         Today, we are now able use high-tech surveillance cameras, satellites, wiretaps, facial-recognition software, drones, computer algorithms, and data collection methods in our attempt to stop terrorism before it starts. In 2010, 3,000 government organizations, and their associated private counterparts were employed in activities that supported Homeland Security, intelligence, and counterterrorism in over 10,000 locations across the U.S. In the fall of 2013, The NationalSecurity Agency will open a billion-dollar facility called the Utah Data Center. Two hundred people will work at the Center investigating intercepted computer files and telecommunications. The amount of information that is expected to pass through this agency is roughly the equivalent of "23 million year's worth of Blu-ray DVD's" according to the Massachusetts based advocacy group, Digital Fourth. The potential for abuse in an organization like the Data Center is huge. On the flip side, the number of people assigned to police privacy issues is minimal. Everything can somehow fall under the "war on terrorism" exception. Did Spielberg have ESP when he attempted to show what life in 2054 might be like? Was Orwell headed in the right direction in 1984? No matter what you think, the number of people watching us is growing every day. To read more about this article visit: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2013/05/20/130520taco_talk_hertzberg

      An new law has been proposed in Illinois that would force Internet providers to hand over user information without a warrant. It is maintained that this information would prevent flash-mobs from forming in the city of Chicago, and would minimize the violence that results from these mass gatherings. While knowing when and where a flash-mob might take place is definitely valuable information, the doors are once again opened to the technical/legal/privacy debate.

      Earlier last month, large groups of people descended on the Mag Mile and assaulted people and looted stores. There were over 30 arrests in one evening. As the summer approaches, the city is growing concerned that a repeat of this activity would definitely impact the tourist industry. Marc Gordon, president of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, ad a supporter of the proposed legislation said that the flash-mob violence would definitely deter people from visiting the city. The bill would propose a $1,000 fine on the Internet Service providers and would also allow a judge to amplify the punishment for people if it was shown that the internet was used to facilitate the criminal captivity. State senator, Kwame Raoul, the sponsor of Bill 1005, said: 'The ability to coordinate a mob action online gives criminals two ket advantages: surprise and large numbers. State law can support police efforts by helping them use one of the criminal's tools-socila media- against them."

It will be interesting to see what happens to this bill and the impact it might have on the city of Chicago.

http://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/News-Extra/2013/04/privacy-4-22.aspx

Easy Access

      It was recently revealed that the United States Justice Department collected two months woth of telephone records from the editors and reporters at The Associated Press, one of the largest news agencies in the world. Today, the AP sent a letter to Attorney General, Eric Holder, expressing their outrage. AP president, Gary Pruitt called the subpoena for the phone records a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into it's reporting. The reason this information is so sensitive is that it will reveal multiple confidential sources and news-gathering operations of the press. The government has not disclosed exactly why they need this information. They have claimed that theu are trying to figure out how details of a foiled bomb plot that targeted a plane bound for the U.S. were leaked in May of 2012.
     The government has collected information from 20 different AP phone numbers that includes personal numbers too. Pruitt also stated that he believes that the "action by the Justice Department (is) a serious interference with AP's constitutional right to gather and report the news." He wants all of the collected records returned and all copies destroyed. The government states that while they value freedom of the press, it must be balanced against the national interest. In this case, the government was concerned that the leaking of state secrets would endanger future U.S. operations. Ben Wizner, the head of the A.C.L.U's Speech, Privacy and Technology Project said: "Freedom of the press is a pillar of our democracy, and that freedom often depends on confidential communications between reporters and their sources." If the government can easily expand their surveillance to include the press as well as ordinary citizens, there is nothing that they aren't watching. http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/13/us/justice-ap-phones/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Google Glass Invades Privacy

        Sometime in our near future, Google is going to release the most technologically advanced glasses of all time. They are called Google Glass and they able to project directions, take pictures, record videos, share what you see in real time, and send messages. Although these advances are incredibly resourceful, they are also highly controversial and potentially an invasion of privacy. The biggest issue with these glasses is that they can be used as personal surveillance devices. This means that people can be recorded without their permission and without their knowledge.
       A group called: "Stop the Cyborgs" wants to limit where and when these headsets can be used. While they are not calling for a complete ban, they want to set social and physical boundaries around the use of this new technology. This group is trying to be proactive and help protect the rights and privacy of individuals before this product hits the market. Some people feel that while this "new gadget" is amazing, it might also be the most controversial device in history. "Stop the Cyborgs" states on their webpage: "It's important for society and democracy that people can chat and live without fear that they might end up being published or prosecuted". After watching this video, I am excited about this new technology but I also recognize the potential privacy concerns. Also, I feel that they can be distractions to both drivers and regular people walking on the street. Some states are already preparing legislation in advanced of the 2014 release of these glasses. For example, West Virginia is preparing a law that will make it illegal to use these glasses while driving. I think it is good that these states are recognizing the potential hazards before the product reaches the public. To read more about this article visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21937145

Not Spring Quiet Yet

       Although technically it was pronounced Spring just a couple of days ago, the weather does not seem to agree. About a foot of snow was dumped into part of New England on the first day of spring. Just the other day, 500 flights were cancelled throughout the US of course the main reason being snow storms. Its strange to think that all of this bad weather is still occurring when on St. Patricks day last year, it was about 70 degrees outside! I guess the global warming affect is no longer taking action. While there are people who argue that climate change doesn't exist, all they need to do is take a look at the severe weather that affects our country in more extreme ways every day.

    Not only is this weather an inconvenience to citizens of America because it is cold, it is also preventing sports teams from practicing outside and taxing the people because of the need for more plowing. For example, my teammates and I have been practicing lacrosse indoors for many weeks now. This is giving us a huge disadvantage especially because our first game over Spring break, not to mention our first game earlier this week was cancelled due to weather. The only thing we can do about this issue is pray for better weather sooner. To find out more about the problems being caused by this nasty weather, visit this video link: http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/19/march-weather-madness/?iref=allsearch

No More Fun

      The things that I loved most about pre-school and grade school, other than recess, were the parties. Who didn't look forward to getting dressed up for Halloween, parading around the school in a costume, and eating tons of candy with lunch? Valentines Day was a lot of fun too. We would decorate a shoe box and bring valentines for the whole class. Birthdays were also a great excuse for more cookies and more cupcakes. Someone's mom or dad would always come to school at snack time, bring us a treat and read us a story. While there were rules about when to hand out birthday invitations, everyone seemed comfortable with the rest of it. All of those nice reminders that we were just little kids have changed for some Maryland school children. 

      After the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, a county in Maryland has implemented some strange new security measures. In an effort to make schools physically and emotionally a "Safer" place, St. Mary's county has banned birthday party invitations, hugs, and a push on the swings from someone other than your own parent. Cupcakes are out too. Parents who visit their own children within the 17 public schools in this county must be registered as volunteers, and can not have any physical contact with anyone other that their own child. Within the school district, there are approximately 8,000 children. Their motto is "work hard and be nice", but apparently now it is "but not too nice".

      While I feel that it is very important to be sensitive to safety issues, it really feels like these restrictions do little more than potentially suck the joy out of childhood. To view to article click on the link: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/19/17373726-maryland-school-district-restricts-hugs-party-invitations-and-cupcakes?lite--

Racist Mascots

       For many years now, the Atlanta Braves have avoided using the stereotypical "screaming Indian" mascot because it was seen as racist in the eyes of many Native Americans. Although recently, they have decided to bring back this controversial logo into their new design for batting practice caps. The logo includes a Native American wearing a mohawk with a feather and belting out a tribal yell. Many Native Americans today believe that this is unacceptable and that their race should not be viewed as this stereotypical mascot. This mascot was a part of the 1966 Atlanta Braves team and was hen retired in 1989.

      Kevin Gover, the director of the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of the American Indian said that he was: "deeply disappointed that the Braves may be choosing to go backwards". He also stated that he grew up having to live with all sorts of stereotypes but he was hoping that his grandchildren wouldn't have to do the same. This screaming Indian is not portraying Native Americans for what they truly are. But then again, you have to wonder: are the complaining Native Americans just taking it too far? Perhaps the mascot was created to look like Native Indians from the past, and are not supposed to be a portrayal of current day Native Americans. In addition, even the NFL team "Redskins" still exists and I find that to be much more racist than a simple mascot on the teams batting helmet. Do you think that it is right for the Atlanta Braves to follow through with the adding of the logo? To read more about this article visit: http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/28/report-atlanta-braves-may-bring-back-screaming-indian-logo/

Hazardous Waste

      The dumping of electronic waste has become a huge problem for the United States. Because technology changes so quickly, old cell phones, televisions and computers are disposed of in huge numbers. While the price of some of the components within these electronics make them desirable on the recycling market, most are not. Recently, two inspectors in California were doing a routine check on some warehouse paperwork. What they discovered was shocking. They found a football sized room filled with tens of thousands of old computer monitors and televisions piled up in rows that were 9 feet high and 14 feet deep. Glass and dust covered the floor presenting a toxic situation. The owner of the recycling company disappeared leaving this hazardous situation for the warehouse owner to remove. What was once a profitable recycling business is now worthless waste. In 2004, recyclers were being paid $200 a ton for the glass that they found in computer monitors and internal tubes. Now, the same companies have to pay $200 a ton in order to have the glass hauled away. It is estimated that the amount of electronic waste in the US has doubled in the last 5 years. 10 years ago there were 12 plants in the US that took old TVs and computer monitors. Now there are only 2 plants in India who want these products. Sadly, thousands of pounds of old electronics fill landfill sites across the country. Some of the components contain highly toxic mercury. 660 million pounds of glass are being stored in warehouses across the country costing between $85 and $360 million dollars to responsibly recycle these materials.
       I found it so surprising that this kind of electronic waste has not been dealt with more efficiently. How is there no sensible solution to this growing problem? Should electronics be designed with a longer lifespan in mind? Can there be a creative way to reuse old computers and TVs? Our generation is going to have to deal with this growing problem unless something is done soon.

A Little Late

        Several years ago, The Federal Bureau of Investigation decided to reopen over 112 "cold cases" from the 1960's. These cases all involved blacks who were killed by whites in the south during the civil rights movement. Only 20 of these cases have resulted in anything more than a hand delivered, long overdue, letter of condolence to the surviving family members of the dead. In 1965, J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI, received a letter asking for justice in the killing of a well respected black merchant. Frank Morris owned a shoe repair store in Louisiana. When he went to work one day, he was met by two white men. One pointed a gun at Frank while the other poured gas out of a canister and lit a match. Mr. Morris lived for four days after the attack, but never gave up the names of the men who committed the crime against him. He feared for the safety of his family. The letter sent to Mr. Hoover stated: "Your office is our only hope so don't fail us." It was signed: The Colored People of Concordia Parish (Louisiana). This crime, along with many others, was never solved. Oftentimes, the police either looked the other way or were somehow involved themselves. Fifty years later, the FBI has decided to look into the violent crimes that consumed the south during the 1960's. While some people have had their hopes raised that justice might be served, others believe that the letters they received have just added more of an insult to their loss. The letters basically say: the case has been officially closed and that there is nothing more that can be done. "Please accept our condolences." Is this just a dignified way for the government to recognize their mishandling of these cases and issue and apology? Some people think that it is.
      Part of the problem with reopening a 50 year old case is that there is very little new evidence that can be authenticated. Most of the people involved in these cases are in the seventies and eighties, and some of the parties are dead. Peoples memories of the details of the cases are no longer very reliable. Opening up the painful past has not resolved very much for the families of the victims. In only a couple of cases has justice been served. What is the purpose of the Cold Case Initiative? Some government officials claim that they are trying to find justice for the families who never saw anyone tried for these murders. Other government officials say that it is more about just finding the truth. While I am not sure if I would want that kind of painful memory reopened, I think that the government acknowledgment and apology can only help heal those wounds.

Cracking Down on Fake IDs

          For many years, the fake ID industry has thrived both in the US and overseas. People under the age of 21 have acquired fake IDs in order to buy alcohol and to get into bars with their friends. Fake Ids have also been used by people who want to change their identity and potentially commit terrorist acts. The State of New York and North Carolina have recently come up with new technology that will make forging a license almost impossible. According to an article that appeared in the New York Times: Black and White and Wallet-size, unfit for Faking, the new licenses will be issued on hard polycarbonate cards that are closer to a CD than the flexible plastic licenses that we have today. It is claimed that while the new license technology might look old school with it's black and white photograph, the production method is almost impossible to forge. These license are engraved and contain multiple features that a re both seen and unseen. These licenses will also be a little more expensive to produce. In 2012, the Department of Motor Vehicles collected over 1,450 counterfeit drivers licenses in underage drinking stings alone. Overseas forgers have smuggled in false IDs in the soles of imported shoes.

       While I was aware that underage people purchase false IDs in order  to buy alcohol, I was surprised to learn that fake IDs are being used for even more dangerous criminal behavior. I think that the new licensing techniques will make it harder to produce "fakes" and will keep this country safer as a whole. An entire criminal industry will also be shut down once licenses can no longer be reproduced. I will be very interested to see how many more states will follow New York and North Carolina's lead.

Are We All Equal?

        Anyone who has ever watched a crime scene on tv has probably heard the Miranda rights that were established in the 1963 Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona. The Miranda rights are: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."
       In a New York Times article called: Right to Lawyer Can Be Empty Promise for Poor, I was very surprised to learn that this law only applies to criminal cases. The article states that 80 % of the legal needs of the poor are not met. Three examples were given in the article. In one case, a poor man could no longer afford his child support payments. He ended up serving 17 months in a Georgia jail because there was no lawyer to advise him that he could come up with a payment plan. He was brought back to court in shackles on a monthly basis until he was able to contact a legal aid group for help. In another case, an 89 year old man living in a rent-controlled apartment for 43 years got into an argument with his landlord. He was almost evicted because he represented himself and could not afford a lawyer. 

    The article also quotes a judge who says that he believes that the right to a lawyer should be extended to procedures where a person faces the potential loss of liberty even if it isn't a criminal case. I completely agree. It does not make sense that parents can lose their children and that people can lose their homes just because they do not have someone representing them that knows the law and the court system. The United States ranks 66th out of 98 country when it comes to providing legs services to the poor. That is a pretty sad commentary on how little progress we have made since the Miranda rights became law 50 years ago.

Final Exam: Unchained

         The artifact that I chose, a poster from the new Quentin Tarantino film, Django Unchained, shows a dark red sky with huge descending black chain that ends in a broken link. Right below that chain, there is a silhouette of 2 figures walking toward the viewer. I believe that the chain represents both mental and physical slavery, similar to what we studied this semester. The red background conveys a feeling of passion, blood, and danger. The chain also links a violent past to a future where being armed is clearly a necessity. As we have seen throughout history, chains are usually used to imprison someone who is accused of wrongdoing, or for holding a person captive. Django (left) is pictured with wrist cuffs and loose broken chains illustrating his emancipation. This contemporary artifact that I have chosen is important because the imagery connects the Crucible, Virginia Slave Code, and Mr. O’Connor’s blog entitles “Proclaiming emancipation”. 

         Throughout the first semester, we have discussed examples of both mental and physical forms of imprisonment. Starting with the Crucible, we see the people of Salem mentally trapped in their irrational ideology, and in a world of paranoia. No one in the play is willing to take a stand against the hysteria because they think that they too will be accused of witchcraft and hanged. In Act II, the witchcraft investigations have taken on momentum and Hale states: “I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!” (Act II). As in my artifact, the people of Salem in the 1600s were not free (and therefore enchained) to exercise their own judgment and opinions for fear that they would be accused of siding with the devil. The chains of religious fanaticism bound the people of Salem as a community to keep silent and to obey the laws of the church. Unfortunately in the Crucible, the only way to break free from the mental chains resulted in public execution. 
        Another example of unjust treatment came in the form of the Virginia Slave code in the late 1600’s. These laws set limitations for both slaves living in Virginia, and southern white slave-owners. The code establishes laws regarding what is and is not acceptable behavior in terms of slave ownership and interaction. From my perspective, the word “slave” is interchangeable with the word livestock because these people were treaded no differently than farm animals. They were bound to their owners and had no basic civil liberties. They were not free, could not marry, could not be educated and were not aloud to practice religion. In this poster, Django is depicted with a gun in his right hand. Number two of the Virginia Slave Code specifically states: “slaves are not allowed to carry arms of any kind which they might use in either attack or defense” (1680). Based on the picture, the gun is another example of Django walking into the future as a free man. 
        This movie poster also connects to Mr. O’Connor’s “Proclaiming Emancipation” blog in that he discusses President Lincolns shift in policy that lead to the Emancipation Proclamation and freedom for all slaves. Like my artifact, Lincoln had been chained to an ideology that he needed to get beyond in order to bring the country together and end the war. Doc Oc states: “Here, Foner suggests, Lincoln frees his past self from his own earlier position on slavery. And on January 1st, he proclaimed the freedom of the vast majority of the nation’s slaves” (1). Very similar to the broken chain in the poster, Lincoln’s ideals were set free which allowed the country to come together and do what’s right. 

Lions Roaming the Streets?

       Just the other day, 911 recieved many calls referring to a baby lion walking around the streets of Norfolk, Virginia. People were shocked to see this and said that it could have possibly escaped from the nearest zoo. In fact, the creature was not a lion at all, rather an innocent dog. This labrador-poodle mix was shaved and spray painted to look exactly like a lion, which scared many people living in the city of Norfolk. The owner, Daniel Painter stated that he wanted his dog to represent the mascot of Old Demoin University. Why the dog was roaming the streets alone like a wild animal, I don't know. I think that Painters claim that it represents a University mascot is false and that he probably just wants to rile up the people of Norfolk, perhaps to gain publicity.
      Well... his planned worked! Charles has turned into a "celebrity" since the sighting a couple days ago. The dog even has its own facebook page which already has over 30,000 followers. I personally believe that it is wrong to shave and spray paint your dog to make it out as another animal. Not only do people want to see what looks very much like a lion walking down their street, but it is also cruel to the animal. How do you feel about this man turning his labrador into a lion look-alike? To read more about this article visit: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/10/us/virginia-baby-lion/index.html?hpt=us_c2

NHL is Back!

     This past week, the Owners and players of the NHL have reached a compromise, allowing all fans to enjoy the constant excitement that is the National Hockey League. Although you may think that the fans are the happiest because of this negotiation, the business's that rely on the NHL are especially excited. Restuarants, bars, and sporting-good stores, have been hit hard economically due to the lockout. For example, resturants such as Cobo Joes have lost almost $350,000 because of the fact that no one is eating at the resturant. Since it is located right next to Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings play, everyone that would have stopped by for a quick meal before or after the game were no longer visiting.
      It's amazing how much the shutting down of a sports league can affect so many business's. These places rely on fans to both eat and shop to watch and support their favorite hockey teams. Businesses throughout detriot have collectively lost roughly 1.9 million dollars for each individual game cancelled. Do you think that these businesses rely too much solely on the loyalty of the fans or are they just simply doing their job? To read more about the NHL lockout, visit:     http://business.time.com/2013/01/08/nhl-lockout-is-over-guess-whos-happier-than-fans-or-players/

Django Unchained

           This past week, I had the opportunity to see Quentin Tarantino film, Django Unchained. While it was extremely long, Tarantino did not fail to provide another powerful plot. Django is the story of a black slave in search of his and his wife's freedom. In doing so, he must kill he two slave owners that are holding his wife captive. While there are many twists and turns that I cannot get into, I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a thrilling storyline. Among the many controversial aspects of this movie is Tarantino's use of the "N" word. Many film critics disagree with the 110 mentions of this word, saying that it is excessive. What they fail to realize is that Tarantino tried to stay true to the historic context of the movie. As we all know from reading the book, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, that word was widely used and accepted throughout America during the 1800's.
         As film critic, David Litner, says: "We forget that the origin of the word was meant to be used in order to describe an inferior being. Someone who did not deserve the royalties of the average human. It is a vile, disgusting, horrific word that describes centuries of agony and injustice. And Tarantino uses it right. 110 times, and it still felt the same every time I heard it. Shock, pain, and a lack of comfort came to me with each use". I agree with him in regard to the use of this word throughout the movie. We have become desensitized to the true meaning of this word. Throughout the day, I hear this word multiple times in the music I listen to, and occasionally in conversation. It has become everyday slang.  The word has lost all of the meaning that existed during times of slavery. The difference here though, is that Tarantino uses it seriously in its true original form. Hopefully people will come away from this film with a deeper meaning for this word and will use it less in everyday speech. 

Bears Lose their Leader

     After 9 years with the Chicago Bears, head coach Lovie Smith was fired in late December. The reason was mostly due to his inability to lead a somewhat successful offense. There has been a lot of talk about this decision over this past week and I believe that the owner of the Bears made the right decision letting Coach Smith go after 9 seasons. I guess you just never know. Is it worth it to stick with a coach that has lead mostly unsuccessful seasons, or is it time to open up your options and see who else is out there?
       Even Jay Cutler said: "change isn't always a bad thing" in a recent interview. For the past 8 years, the Bears offense has yet to rank higher than 23rd in the league and they even ranked 28th or lower four times. Lovies approach was to hire different offensive coordinators every time he saw the offense was at its lowest point. Unfortunately, that did not work out for the Bears. Since the Bears defense has usually been among the best in the NFL, this makes for a very inconsistent football team. Having a great defense and terrible offense was just throwing off the players, coaches, and especially the fans. The people of Chicago have been unsatisfied with the outcome of each season and they are directly pointing at the offense and who is standing behind it, Lovie Smith. To me, it was just a matter of time before the fans complaints were able to reach the Bears staff. I guess we will have to wait until next season to see just how successful this move is going to be. To read more about this topic, visit: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-31/sports/chi-chicago-bears-fire-coach-lovie-smith-2012_1_bears-offensive-coordinator-offensive-identity-mike-martz

Limiting Gun Violence

            As President Obama addressed the country on the day of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut he even shed a tear, showing his inner emotion that the people of America usually do not get to witness. This shooting has shocked the world and it is time that we step up and limit the accessibility to these deadly weapons in our country. There are more places in America where a person can buy a rifle than there are Starbucks throughout the whole world. It has become far too easy for almost anyone to walk into their nearest store and purchase a gun. In this article, President Obama addresses the issue and states that he “had long supported a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition clips as well as expanded background checks as a way to ease gun violence in America” (1).

           I agree with President Obama and think that even if we are not able to limit the amount of gun production/selling we should definitely make sure that the background check process is much more thorough. This should include a one-on-one interview with the future gun owner, asking his or her intentions, potential health problems, and past run ins with the law. The access to these weapons has become a serious issue and has put innocent civilian lives in danger. There should be no reason for elementary kids to be worried for their life while attending school. When parents send their children to school, they expect complete safety and protection of their children. Now that all of these children have heard about a stranger walking right into a school with a couple of semi automatic weapons, they now have to anticipate this unexpected danger which is taking away from their education in school. Gun violence has been a constant problem in our country and it is time for a change in legislation regarding gun control laws.