Controversial Issues - Obama vs. McCain

Abortion
Barack Obama is Pro Choice. He strongly supports women's rights and decisions for their own bodies. "A women's ability to decide how many children and when, without interference from the government, is one of the most fundamental rights we possess. It is not just an issue of choice, but equality and opportunity for all women." He is a strong supporter of the Roe v. Wade decision.

John McCain is Pro Life. He is anti-abortion, and believes that they should only be legal when the pregnancy is proven to be from rape, incest, or when the mother's life is endangered. He does not support the Roe v. Wade decision, and believes that it should be overturned. When asked what would happen if his own daughter got pregnant, he states, "The final decision would be made by Meghan with our advice and counsel", but then later states it would be a "family decision, not her decision".

Marijuana
Barack Obama believes has admitted to using marijuana in his past. He is open to marijuana being used in a medicinal way, to relieve pain and suffering. He wants to stop medical marijuana raids in 12 states that allow medical marijuana use. He believes there is no difference between morphine and marijuana, as long as it gives relief from pain.

John McCain opposes to legalizing marijuana. He opposes to the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and supports the federal raids. He believes that marijuana is a "gateway" drug, and leads to use of harder drugs. He also supports the death penalty for drug "kingpins".

Same-sex Marriage
Barack Obama believes in gay equality. He is a supporter of civil unions, but not same-sex marriage. He does believe that the issue should be decided within states.

John McCain supports same sex civil unions, but not marriage. He also believes this issue should be decided within states.

Woman beheads alleged stalker after attack

Woman beheads alleged stalker after attack
Associated Press
October 17, 2008

In Lucknow, India a women, 35, is facing culpable homocide for beheading a mad who allegedly tried to attack her. After beheading the man, she paraded it through a market, police said.

The women told the police that the man had been stalking her for three months, and when she was cutting grass for her cattle at a nearby forest, he came up from behind and attacked her.

She has no regrets for killing the man who had been harassing her, she said, with bite marks on her neck and cheek.

She was arrested late Thursday after the policed received calls from witnesses who reported a woman soaked in blood holding a severed head through Makkapurva village, about 125 miles southeast of Lucknow.
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My thoughts on this story is that it is ridiculous. The amount of unusual violence in other countries is definitely unbelievable. I couldn't imagine this type of act happening in our country, and it's surprising to read about. I couldn't imagine being a witness of someone parading a severed head on the streets of where I live. I think she should definitely be charged, and/or get psychological help for her act. When reading stories like this I am fortunate that I don't live in a place with this extreme of violence.

Piner coach arrested

Piner JV coach held on sex charges

On Wednesday morning, Piner High School JV coach Richard Alexander Vives was arrested sexual acts on a minor. He has been accused for suspension of oral copulation and sexual penetration and is being held in the Sonoma County Jail. His bail is $30,000.

Principal Mary Beth Hasley claimed she had no clue about the acts, and was informed little information just before Vives' arrest. She was not told too much detail, but figures that it happened over the weekend and not at school events or on campus.

A phone message, with no big details, was sent home to all the Piner students saying that Vives has been sent on administrative leave. 

Police give little details about the case, including whether there was more then one victim.

Link:

Piner JV coach held on sex charges

I believe that this has opened eyes of many people, especially involved in any way with Piner High School. I have a best friend who goes to Piner, and he was shocked when hearing about the arrest and what it was for. People don't believe that terrible things will happen in their community, and can be in denial about it sometimes. This type of charge happened about 5 years ago to a girl of Creekside Middle School who was sexually violated by her wrestling coach. That coach was caught and faced charges as well. There isn't much we can do about acts like this, but I believe that telling people and talking to someone about things will get more people caught and put in jail like they should be. 

Teen Pleads Not Guilty In Murder Of Classmate

Teen Pleads Not Guilty In Murder Of Classmate
KTLA News
October 2, 2008

On February 12, 15 year old Larry King was fatally shot in the classroom of E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard.

Brandon McInerney, 14, has been charged as an adult for first degree murder as well as hate crime sentencing enhancement. On Thursday he pleaded not guilty for the murder of his gay classmate. King's parents agree to McInerney being charged as an adult.

Prosecutors say charges and the hate crime enhancement have been justified. When searching the room of the 14 year old boy, investigators find white supremacist materials including Nazi swastikas. His attorney argued that these items were for a school assignment and has much interest in the German military.

The charges he faces are as extreme as 51 years to life without possibility of parole, if convicted. The chages may amount to a death sentence. McInerney has been arrested and held at a county juvenile hall.

"He went into a classroom in front of other students and shot my son in the back of the head twice," father Greg King said about McInerney.

Quest said his client is remorseful, and doesn't grasp the gravity of his situation.

Link:
Teen Pleads Not Guilty In Murder Of Classmate

High school and junior high are together one of the most difficult times in our lives when growing up. This story proves that kids can not only be nice to one other, but moreso can be just the opposite. Preteens and teens are not always open to differences in their peers especially when they do not share common interests or views with others. This story proves that kids this age have not fully matured or understood that it is okay for people to be different, and that there is nothing wrong with people who may not agree with someone you think is right or wrong.

I, thankfully, am happy that I haven't seen anything to this extreme level as cruelty, someone as extreme as murder. I believe that everyone can make changes in how they act towards different people, even if they are known as the "bully" at their school. Doing something nice for someone, no matter how small it is, will be appreciated and may make someone's day.

U.S. Soldier Receives Prison Term

U.S. Soldier Receives Prison Term For His Role in Killing of Four Iraqis
Associated Press

A United States soldier was sentenced eight months in prison on Thursday for the killing of four Iraqi prisoners in Iraq. He pleaded guilty to charges accessory to murder for his role in these killings. The prisoners were found bound, blindfolded, shot, and dumped into a canal.

The prosecutor, Capt. John Merriam, pressed for the maximum of five years in prison.

Spc. Ribordy testified that he had helped stand guard as the killings happened by other members of his patrol in 2007. He approached the scene after, seeing the four bodies in pools of blood. He told the court he saw three other members of his patrol at the scene; Sgt. John E. Hatley, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph P. Mayo, and Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr.

He claims that "they all seemed very calm" after and he helped move the bodies into the canal.

"I wasn't ordered or asked in any way, shape or form to move the body," Spc. Ribordy told the court. "I wanted to get it done and get out of there -- I didn't want anybody getting in trouble."

He told Judge Grammel he was sorry for his actions.

"The execution of prisoners is arguably the greatest crime," Merriam said at Spc. Ribordy's court martial. "It betrays everything soldiers stand for."

**When I read this article I was taken back by the small amount of time these soldiers have to spend in prison for their actions. I believe that being charged for eight months in prison is not very legitimate for these murders. I can see that them being U.S. soldiers definitely makes the case different, but I don't believe that eight months is long enough for someone to face consequences for such an extreme act. The prosecutor pressed for maximum of five years, and they only got charged with eight months. Those Iraqi prisoners weren't just shot, but they were bounded, blindfolded, shot, and just dumped into a ditch. This article really proves that there are other things going on in Iraq within the war.

Link: U.S. Soldier Receives Prison Term

College Applicants Beware

"College Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page Is Showing"
John Hechinger

College student applicants' Myspace and Facebook pages are being looked at by the admission offices at colleges whom look at their applications. These pages can be viewed by just typing in any name and if they are public, they can find out different information about that specific person. Colleges are now making a lot of use at looking how the applicant is outside of school studies by searching for their Myspace and Facebook links. They use the information they get, or pictures the may see from these pages and use that against them when picking out who will get into their school. Thirty-eight percent of the colleges which do this say that seeing the pages was a negative affect towards the applicant.

In Mr. Bowers' government class we read this article and had to answer the question: Do you think it's fair for colleges to look at these pages of applicants? My answer is yes, it is totally fair, and legal for that matter. If you are applying for a school, and they feel the need to get some sort of "background" check on you, don't be putting up negative and/or personal pictures or information on your social networking pages. I don't think it's necessarily fair for them to judge your position on getting accepted on these pages, but it's not their fault that you decided to put them on a public page.

So take those bad pictures from that party, or personal information off your Myspace page before you apply to that college you've been working so hard to get into for all these years. And maybe make your page "private". Who knows who will be searching you on Google next.


link:
"College Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page Is Showing" by John Hechinger