Zeitoun post 1.......(at long last)

I actually just finished the book a few days ago, but didn't take the time to do the blog posts until now, so here we go.  The posts will be in order of the book's plot by reference and excerpts from the book. 

One of the things that I admire about the way the book is written is the way that differences in ethnicity, religion, and everything else is mentioned casually and without pause which displays a great sense of openness to the differences in people as nothing needing explanation or justification.  He knows the feeling of falling victim to prejudices, which is why he makes a point of never imposing such feelings upon anyone else.  Without any pause in the flow of the writing, Dave Eggers, writing from the recollection of Abdulrahman Zeitoun, notes, "Rob had a similar predicament.  His husband, Walt Thompson, was like Zeitoun-bullheaded," (39).  There is no reference to them anywhere in the book as a 'gay' couple, but merely as a couple, which is the kind of absolute equality and acceptance that would be found in a Utopian society.  It is not recognition of being a gay couple and accepting that, but accepting them as a couple, just a couple, that displays true equality. 

abortion post part 1

For the NARAL website, there seems to be no effort to hide the clear bias present in the provided information.  They make no attempt to show the other side of the argument.  Additionally, the primary tactic seems to be, rather than persuation to side with them, dissuasion for the opposing side.  There is no emphasis on why they are right, but rather why the other side is wrong. 

The opposing side, however, makes sure to focus on their own argument and then has a portion dedicated to direct citations of contrary arguments and rebuttals to them.  They seem to be better organized and, in my personal opinion, would be more persuasive, especially to someone considering an abortion. 

Death Penalty; Clifford Boggess

In terms of whether or not, people can change, I think that people definitely are likely to change especially when threatened with death.  As for whether or not Clifford Boggess had changed, I think that he did, but not in a beneficial way.  He merely found an excuse and justification for what he did.  It bothered me how he was so sure that he was going to heaven and that he knew that god had forgiven him.  His conceited sense of overconfidence irritated me and gave the sense that he felt no remorse for what he did. 
I don't think that the families and friends of the victims got any real sense of releif after Clifford was executed.  It is often the case that the loss of one person's effect on someone is not made any less painful by taking another life.  It obviously cannot bring back the victims.  I would not want to be the one to have to determine whether someone is to live or die, but I think that in this case it ended up that Clifford was rightfully executed seeing as he saw it not as cruel and terrible and he was beyond doubt the killer.  I do appreciate his artistic abilities, but there are many other great artists that didn't have to kill to hone their abilities. 

DHS: Struggling with a bullying problem

I think that there is absolutely a bullying problem for some students at DHS, but at a much smaller scale than most.  Our first class standard has definitely helped, but I personally know two people, two friends of mine, who each claim to be suffering electronic harassment from the other.  I have tried to tell them both to just cut off communication entirely if they cannot communicate in a beneficial way.  The problems are deeply rooted with some people, but I personally think that, in general as a whole, DHS has very good control of the bullying situation. 

An update on the efforts to make schools safer for people like Jamie Nabozny

For so many people, school is not what it is supposed to be.  Rather than a safe place to enjoy a productive learning environment, many people face verbal and physical harrasment at school and without any consequences for those who commit the acts of hatred and intolerance. There is currently a policy waiting for approval from congress called the Student Non-Discrimination Act which is being pushed by the Human Rights Campaign.  If this law were to be passed, it would, in theory, guarantee protection for students against harrasment including that based on gender expression and sexuality.  But, even if this is passed, there would be a lot of work to be done to make sure it is followed and upheld in all schools. 

http://americansfortruth.com/

A great resource for total bigoted bullshit about the 'homosexual agenda'