Too Much Attention?

I remember when HIV/AIDS was the biggest topic to talk about. I remember when there was no medicine to even control the rate of the disease and that once you received HIV you were don for. With medicine now becoming so advance that it can stop the rate in which AIDS will kill you the topic is becoming more and more in control. I do still see HIV/AIDS as an important and deadly disease but I now think it is time to focus on other uncontrollable disease. In an article in Yahoo the doctor explain that more children are killed by pneumonia than AIDS. The article goes on detail to explain that we are now wasting and prioritizing AIDS funding that we are forgetting other deadly disease and sickness. I believe this is true. Even though I know AIDS is horrible we are now finding ways to control it as I stated before. People are living longer with the disease. Now that we have a foot at the door we should keep moving forward but not with so much force. I think we should have enough research and funding for the disease but not 47 million dollars. Let’s try to cut that in ¾. With other killing machines such as malaria and pneumonia what attention are they going to receive? I have heard this year of so many people dying because they had pneumonia. Something so common is now becoming complex and hard to control and monitor. If we do need to focus on AIDS let focus on help we need in Africa, such as proper cheap medicine and enough medical help. That seems to not be there. Besides that I think we need to back off a little. I know a lot of people will disagree but we need help in other forms of illness and diseases.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_med_challenging_aids

Death in Nigeria

India is not the only place where tragedy has struck. In Nigeria revival religious groups and ethnic groups starts to burn homes and kill anyone in their way. With an estimated of 200 deaths and many more wounded. What caused all of this bloodshed? With the lost election between Christian and Muslim, the killing started Friday. It is said that ANPP party had lost because of the all Christian ticket of the PDP. With corpses lying on the floor containing bodies of women and children people are now running away from their homes. About 7,000 people are stated of leaving their home. There is also a 24 curfew and military strict assistant. People are walking the streets with their hands raised making sure to show the military that they have no type of weapons. The killers are said to have been killing with guns and machetes. With all the violence the PDP candidate is suppose to be sworn in Monday but is now being postponed. Nigeria is known for having its equal amount of Christians and Muslims and leaving peacefully, but one area the “Middle Belt” is disrupting this tranquility. However, this is not the first time this violence occurs between the two different religious groups in 2001 hundreds were killed, and in 2004 hundreds were also killed and made than President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare an emergency. With all these troubles between these two groups would you not think that they have better security or methods to response to the outburst of violence? Yes, the incident in India was awful but we have not have no real media coverage to what is happening in Nigeria. There are more deaths and wounded in Nigeria but we have not gave importance to this incident at all. Nigeria is also in trouble!

Write or Remain Silent: Consquences of Serving our Country

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081129/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/soldier_stress;_ylt=At9c8iCb2QWrsMx40i1kdDuyFz4DWrite or Remain Silent: Consquences of Serving our Country

Consquences of Serving our Country

About time people are noticing that our soldiers are being harmed mentally. 15,000 soldiers are said to be coming back home in January, after many psychologist agreeing that soldiers are being unhealthy. Based on an article in Yahoo it stated that out of every 10 soldiers 4 have been deployed more than once. That is almost 50%. The significance is can we imagine seeing death and being in tension because you feel that someone is going to kill you at any moment. This is what are soldiers are facing, on top of sleep desperations. Psychologists are now trying to seek a time line where our soldiers should come home for their insanity. Some suggestion for help is to have psychologist to come to the bases and talk and interact with the soldiers. Now, we are improving for the first time every soldier that comes back is going to therapy for 90-120 days. Some effects that the soldiers might face when returning in January is headaches sleep disorders, memory loss, irritability, relationship strains, and other forms of stress disorders. I don’t care who you are, but people are not made to be in that stress environment for long. We are human beings and seeing people die in our faces and be in so much tension is detrimental to a person health and insanity. About 85% of soldiers will get better from these problems with help of psychologist help, but those 15% are going to need more help. I hope we can get our soldiers the proper help they deserve and need. My friend just got left to the army and one thing I am afraid of is never seeing him again. However, now that I know about the effects of going to war I am afraid that he will never be the same person I once met.

Attacks on India- Please no more battles!

Besides the United States facing terrorist problems so is India. Terrorist attacked two well known and famous hotels (Taj Mahal palace and Tower Hotel). With many Britons and Americans staying in the hotel people are wondering if there is a connection to Al Qaeda. They attack on Wednesday taking over the hotels with grenades, guns, and explosives. They first started to attack 10 specific sites and went on to the hotels. With about 119 people dead and 288 wounded it is becoming a battle that is unpredictable. Witness state that they are still plenty of people stuck in the hotel. President George Bush is being asked to help in the situation. I do not think that is a good idea. The U.S. is already facing problems and attacks from terrorist to become involved in something that is out of our hand. People are finding ways to escape without the help of the police officials, so this shows me the officials are not doing their job if people are finding ways to escape without being hurt or capture. The U.S. does not need to be another hero. We need to learn how to let other countries face their own battles. Yes, there are Americans and Britons in the hotels but here are Italian, Japanese, Australian and German. So why do the other countries not go and help. However, this is not the first time Mumbai is attacked. In 2006 a group of terrorist also attack people and killed 187 people. My condolence goes out to the people of India who are in danger but I am tired of hearing that the U.S. is involved in another countries business. I think our country should have learned the lesson that we need to mind our own business. Sometimes that is the only real help people can give.

Hand and Hand

We are always supposed to have church and government separate from each other. However, that has not been happening, with McCain recruiting church goers to help his campaign for the last 72 hours. Also protestants churches in 14 states have been giving brochures with issues of important meaning to the church such as gay marriages, and abortions and where each candidates stand in each issues. The flier also had information that Obama wanted to give sex education to children in kindergarten. This was a very controversial statement earlier on in the campaign when Obama stated he wanted little kindergarteners to know what a good touch bad touch was. I think this is actually a good idea because children should know that not every adult should touch children especially in certain ways. Now, the consequences of mixing church and government can be detrimental. With consequence of losing their tax exempt churches are still putting that aside and making their belief come together with our system of government. The U.S. conference of Bishop stated that catholic churches should not be encouraged to distribute a type of information towards a candidate and their beliefs in church. Church should not be mixed with politics even though obviously it is. With Republicans usually being Christian or Catholic and letting it know, we can see the clear line of connection.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081102/ap_on_el_pr/rel_campaign_churches;_ylt=As_oeWlSLDhCPOIrcRiN_9.yFz4D

48 Hours

Forty-eight hours left till we find out who our president. Let the nail biting and the leg twitching begin. With two days left the two candidates are making sure they are doing anything they can to get votes. With both candidates having voice recording messages stating that people should go and vote they are making their final push for the win. With Obama feeling more confident about winning he is still underlying the similarities between McCain and bush. McCain in the other hand feels that the polls will not have any indication of who will win the election on Tuesday. McCain has stated that the polls have been wrong before and can be wrong again this Tuesday. I hope this statement is false. Based on polls Obama has a significant lead and it will be a complete 180 if McCain wins. However, Obama is doing everything best in his power for that result not happen. He reached out to Oklahoma with his wife and two kids portraying a very happy American family. I think it is a very smart move that at the end of this battle he wants to introduce his girls. He wants to make sure that the image everyone sees at the end is one with him will see his normal, happy and American family.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081102/ts_afp/usvote_081102223818;_ylt=AlRJ1baU5LJwefc72FAS625h24cA

Obama 08'

With Election Day only six days away both candidates are doing anything in their power to make sure they get the number of votes needed to win the states. With Pennsylvania on the fence both candidates are seen targeting for their support. If you saw Obama’s documentary tonight and speech, you would see the hope and determination he has to make the United States a better place. Based on some polls Obama is winning four states that was once George Bush’s. This is such a big moment where a democrat has actually transformed red states to blue. The reason because they see that he wants change for the better. Based on an article written by Ron Fournier, and Trevor Thompson if Obama win he might actually win with a big lead. The run for presidency is not as tight as it was in the beginning and during the Republican convention. In the speech Obama targeted one particular state for his support and that was Florida. He kept on repeating Florida’s name and support in order to win this race. I think this is such a smart move; he is making people in Florida pay more attention and know that they have a power among other states.

Sounds a little to Good

As many people now know Ted Stevens was convicted of seven felony charges. With re-election happening on Tuesday the only way for Republican to stay in control of senate in Alaska is if Stevens win the election and then resigns. I find this very amusing. I understand that the republicans want the control of senate in Alaska but with seven felony charges should he even still be in the ballot. Even though he is still has not gone to trial I cannot think how our hard (stay in the right path) government is not taking him out of the ballot. Instead they are asking him to stay in the race and win in order to put another republican member in the GOP position. If we look back at 2008 and John Edwards and his affair many people made it such a big story and headline. The immediate thought that approaches my head is Republicans made a huge deal to this story, another democrat sleeping around. However, an affair is not such so big as being charge with seven felonies for lying about receiving gifts and getting hundreds and thousands of dollars in home renovations. That to me is called stealing and lying, and as an official of a state how can we let something like that slip. Every official is sworn in so obliviously he lied, but yet is still a candidate. Sounds a little too good if you ask me. John Edwards on the other hand, was in front of every news paper and he had to admit that he had an affair when his wife was sick. I have not heard Ted Stevens state anything on his behalf except that he is continuing on his campaign. His fellow peers however are proving to us that Stevens is guilty by asking him to resign. I cannot wait for the final result.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081028/ap_on_go_co/stevens_senate_race;_ylt=At9HK610PhCIkVrmYhIOU7KyFz4D
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/10/sunday/main4336030.shtml

Health Insurance

As we pass through these difficult times in our economy we cannot do anything but see people face hard times. Our health care is getting harder and harder to manage and pay. Many families are finding themselves striving to make sure their kids have health insurance. Based on an article written by Amanda Gardner families are filing bankruptcy because of health care. Some families are either trying to get favorable health insurance or trying to find a way to pay the premium. Based on the article about 71 million people are having problems paying their medical bills or are in debt in their medical bills. As the article states many people find themselves doing okay with paying their bills and credit cards, until some kind of unexpected event happens, and I completely agree. It is already hard for many middle class families to pay their bills, that when an unwelcomed surprise happens it throws them off guard. My family went through this situation and it was one of the most difficult things to experience. Most of these unexpected surprises are health related and many people lose their job or have to take time off in order to get better and as a major consequence the bills are seen bigger and impossible to pay. In the article they give the readers an example from a couple Donna and Larry Smith. They both were diagnosed with a disease or medical complications and as a consequence their medical bills started to pile up. She found herself asking her family for money to pay the doctor bills, to later pay her family back. The story does not end with a happy ending the Smith’s later filed bankruptcy and are now renting. Health coverage is becoming a big issue, with people not receiving health insurance and having to pay the doctors for their services, to people’s premium and health insurance raising.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081028/hl_hsn/medicaldebtsendingmanyoverfinancialbrink;_ylt=Atv3vD9JwNHhqFovW2GuV5Nv24cA

Bias?

People are now suggesting that we are picking on McCain, and that the media is being bias. Based on a yahoo article written by Jim Vandehei, and john F. Harris there has been many people complaining about the negative media coverage McCain has been receiving. Research has shown that since the Republican Convention John McCain has received four times the negative stories than positive, and Barack Obama has received twice the amount of positive stories. I don’t see this as being bias I see this as being smart. News reporters want people to read or see their information. The more the media displays what the people want the more ratings they receive. Based on the polls such in real Politics we see that Barack Obama has a decent lead. So obviously people are leaning towards him more and the more “bad” media McCain gets the more the people in Obama’s side tune in. In the end of the article they start to explain the different type of bias, and the one called “bend over backward” is very appealing to me. The reason is because they explain that in the vice presidential debate many news media graced Sarah Palin’s performance. While in reality she did not do a good job, her defense mechanism was too spilt out everything she knew about policies. I knew that I was not the only person that thought that. When I saw the vice presidential debate I was expecting for Sarah Palin to make a fool out of herself. The truth is she did but she did it in such a sneaky way that many people did not here the answers she was giving to the specific questions. I do not think I am bias on my comments, I just find it funny that people are now worry about the negative media attention McCain is receiving, however when Hillary Clinton was running she got it worse and the media basically told her to suck it up.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home

Tight Race

As the election approaches the polls are getting closer and closer. With one week left the only way we can get a hunch on who might be wining is by looking at poll ratings in Real Clear politics. In the beginning Obama had a clear stretch over McCain. Now, however McCain is coming back. With many states still up for grabs the election is going to be just as tight as it was in the past with Bush. Based on Real Clear Politics McCain has gotten up with a 43.1 percent compared to the 42.5 percent he had last Thursday. Even though Obama is in the lead McCain is not too far behind to win. Based on the poll Obama had a twelve point lead that has drop to a 10 point lead and has given McCain a five point gain. Based on a yahoo news article some polls however might put McCain closer to the race to make it more interesting and appealing. I do not find misleading people amusing or interesting. With this election being so important many people want to have enough knowledge to know which candidate the election is leading to. Also so many people are interested in this election and by misinforming the “new bees”, we will just get discourage and not really want to put our input to the next election. However, just because McCain got some points in the poll that does not mean that he is getting more people to his side. Based on the article the only way to actually tell who the state is leaning towards is by looking at poll rating for a long period of time. All I can say is I hope this election is not fill with surprises at the last second because we all know the consequences we will then have to face. (Ex: Florida and Bush)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl111

Plotting Deaths Already

Now that the election is closing in all I can think of is the safety of Barack Obama. Everyone knows that there are still violent racist people. Based on an article in Yahoo written by Lara Jakes Jordan the plot for Obama’s assassination has already started. Based on the article, the federal government (ATF) has stopped a plot, which was to kill 102 black people and finally end their killing spree with the assassination of Obama. I am terrified to think that if Obama wins presidency he will not be able to step foot in the white house without first getting killed. The scary part about this is that I have had this conversation with my fellow peers and we have all agreed that the assassination of Obama is realistic and the reason is even more hurtful which is because he is black. As a minority I cannot believe that the United States is still not able to put racism behind us and live in a civil society. Instead Obama is going to have to worry about getting killed because he is trying to make our country a better place. The “neo-Nazis”, skin heads stated that they did not think it would be possible to kill him but that they were going to try to fulfill their goal. I do hope that our federal government is protecting Obama as best as they can. I also think that if Barack Obama is killed our country will be in big problem. Like many people, I believe that if Obama is killed society will be ready to revolt back towards government causing a civil discrepancy. The only last thing to state is the United States needs to stop its racist ways and accept the positive movement forward, and not try to plot deaths.

"You can see Russia on the hills of Alaska"

As the big election approaches the big problem McCain is now facing is Sarah Palin. With recent polls taken, Domenico Montanaro states that 55% of people think that Sarah Palin is unqualified. The cause of the unexpected reaction towards Sarah Palin is the belief that McCain is too old to complete the four years of presidency. My biggest fear if McCain becomes president is his death and Sarah Palin taking his spot. Obviously I am not the only person feeling like this. Palin’s unquestionable lack of experience can bring the United States in a deeper hole than what we are already in; “since you can see Russia on the hills of Alaska”. Moontanaro makes a comment that I find interesting which is who would have ever thought that Palin would be the biggest problem instead of George Bush. Even though Obama also lacks experience people are feeling more comfortable in giving him the responsibility of running our country. Something very interesting also is that our country is in great debt, yet we can spend 150,000 on Sarah Palin’s clothes. Also Sarah Palin’s makeup artist has the highest paying job in McCain campaign. The makeup artist was paid 22,800 for only two weeks, which is more than McCain foreign policy advisor and his senior communication staffer. So message is our government stating: is it that we need to spend more money in making a person fit the criteria and look the part, than worry about how we could use that money. Everyone in the beginning was so amused and happy about the Sarah Palin pick, but as time continues everyone is questioning her experience. We are now at the tip of picking our new president and even though Sarah Palin would not be the immediate president if something does happen to McCain our future is looking great right next to Russia.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/5056436/palin-power-fails-whip-magic-mccain/
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/us-election/sarah-palins-makeup-artist-is-mccain-campaigns-highest-paid-staffer-14017176.html

We Need An End

It’s is time for war to end. Kirk von Ackermann has marked his fifth year of his disappearance as a hostage of Iraq and he is the first man to get kidnapped in the war in Iraq. With now 39 kidnaps, the terrorist have found a new tactics in harming the US. With numbers of 342 foreign hostages including American troops the war has gone up to another level. I believe it is time for the United States to take another approach in the war. With new forms of torturing we can just pray that these soldiers can once again be with their family. Going back to the presidential election McCain wants to continue the war. He needs to notice that we have no business continuing this war and we don’t need to risk having more of our soldiers captured and tortured.

“Iraq has been most dangerous for Americans, who have a better than even chance of being murdered by their captors there — an 80 percent chance if the nine still missing are factored in. Foreigners, kidnapped in much higher numbers, have had a 20 percent chance of execution. Thirty-nine Americans have been taken hostage since 2003 in Iraq, and 22 are known to have been executed”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081013/ap_on_go_ot/terrorist_hostages;_ylt=AnH4Bi.gitQqV1Cl5ZQ8A3myFz4D“Iraq

Going back to Kirk von Ackermann the American Criminal Investigators has stated that the person responsible for Ackermann kidnapped is nowhere to be found “disappeared”. How can a person disappear, does the investigators mean that they cannot track or capture the terrorist. It is scary to think that people risk their lives to defend our country, but yet we cannot find the leading cause of this war (Osama Bin Laden) or even terrorist. However, we can kill Sadam Hussein, bomb hundreds of homes of innocent people, and keep losing soldiers, for the war (oil). We were supposed to be looking/ killing Osama Bin Laden and the terrorist group of Al Qaeda instead we have dug ourselves in a bigger hole. As Barack Obama stated in the debate this war has caused many of the alliances from the United States to lose their respect and trust. The United States is getting more and more unsecure. How can we continue a war, when we don’t even know where to start or who to find?