Our Crumbling Environment

One of the most outstanding issues in this country, in my opinion, is the fragility and importance of our environment. Our citizens do not understand the severity and significance of the horrible state our environment is currently in. Following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico , the stability of the environment has severely plummeted. We have a true environmental problem in this country.

The average temperature levels across the country rising every year. We are indeed experiencing a very rapid “global warming”. We are quickly using up all of our natural resources, which forces us to burn fossil fuels, and other un-natural gasses into our atmosphere. Our environmental issues are completely man made, with the increasing gallons of trash being dumped into water ways every year; we will soon be facing a detrimental change in our environment. Most people believe that this issue will be faced by future generations, when in reality we are facing this very real problem today.

We under every circumstance need more interest and support groups that will take greater measures to protect our environment and stop pollution at the source. However, above all we need government intervention into our environmental issues. We need more money and funds available for leaders and law makers to make a difference in our environmental issues. We most surely need more action into this issue.

In order to stop this imminent destruction of our environment, we must stop the pollution of the earth and of our atmosphere at the source. There are hundreds of ways that citizens can help. Recycling, conserving water, conserving electricity and joining local support groups are only a few examples that will make a difference. We must treat our environment as a very fragile thing, in need of great care and attention. If we do not take actions now to mend our environment, we will be dealing with this issue for hundreds of years to come.

WE NEED OIL EDUCATION

On MSNBC's blog NEWS VINE I found a very interesting blog post...

The post asks us as readers if BP should be allowed to teach children in schools about the oil spill. There are many threads that have lengthy and sophisticated replies, but I see no need for. My answer to that question? Yes- are you kidding me?

BP is responsible for the most detrimental environmental disaster of our time. I think it is important that the younger generations learn and grow from this disaster. In one middle school in Louisiana, 8th grade students are learning about the oil spill by making their own. Students are stimulating oil clean-up in the Gulf of Mexico, using a 10 gallon aquarium and an eye-dropped filled with cooking oil and Hershey’s cocoa powder. The exercise is meant to answer any question the kids may have about the science behind that cleanup, and how it affects their lives. WHY AREN'T MORE SCHOOL LEARNING ABOUT THIS OIL SPILL THIS WAY? That is my question.

First off, it is pure genius to stimulate the young mind with hand on activities such as building and interacting with models in order to understand a situation. This oil spill reenactment done by 8TH GRADERS is a perfect way to help younger generations learn about environmental issues today. I am one of those crazy people who believe in global warming, and feel that there are measures we as a nation can do to stop it. I am some what of an environmentalist, I truly believe that our environment is extremely fragile, and needs to be nursed back to health after this oil disaster. Kids should be learning and growing from our mistakes, they are our future right? If they cannot learn what not to do, how will they ever learn what to do? These are our future leaders people, c'mon!

I think that funding should be invested in teacher younger generations about the Gulf of Mexico cleanup, and quite possibly involve them! It would be a great learning opportunity for these kids. Maybe they would even have some ideas about how to prevent such accidents from happening, nobody seems to have any lately. 

                                      

                                                            What a disaster.

It's the American Way Folks...

In an editorial column in the New York Times, op/ed writer David Brooks makes some very absurd accusations. His belief? In the political world, money does not equal power. Although, it is honorable that he is trying to keep the "respect the country" morale alive, and the "our country is not corrupt" idea in our heads, it is simply not the case. In this day and age, money can buy you just about everything, its a sad sad truth.

Brooks believes that there is "no real evidence" to support the fact that the amount spent on a campaign equals the amount of benefit said campaign enjoys. I however largely disagree. For example, the Obama campaign. Obama's nation-wide success was largely due to his outreach to the community, and his ability to utilize every communication device possible. He found ways to raise lots of money very fast through the internet, text/email, and television ads, and he made millions and millions and millions and millions... The more money and support the Obama campaign received, the more communities they were able to reach out to. Money is HUGE factor in the political system. However this is the clean version as to why money is important...


Honestly, our nation is built around the wealthy. Although it is a sad truth to admit, we live in an age where the wealthy and upper-middle class get special treatment. You can see it everywhere. America is mainly built on money and power, winding your way through the political system gets easier and easier the more people you know that have substantial resources. Although, Brooks presents many exceptions to this "money governs all" rule, and supports his claims very effectively, these are merely exceptions. The majority of political campaigns are MUCH easier won with money, resources and power.

Although this is not always the case, I do believe that there are still trustworthy politicians out there, they are just certainly very few and far between. So what does this mean for America as a Nation? I mean, come on. Everybody knows that life in America gets SO much easier with a heavier wallet. Are we doomed? Can we ever pull ourselves out of this money hungry Wallstreet state we are currently immersed in? My prediction is no, absolutely not.

The Death of CREATIVITY

"That’s O.K. It’s not their job to value the humanities or even to understand them. But it is the job of presidents and chancellors to proclaim the value of liberal arts education loudly and often and at least try to make the powers that be understand what is being lost when traditions of culture and art that have been vital for hundreds and even thousands of years disappear from the academic scene. "


In a hard-hitting editorial in the New York Times, Stanley Fish firmly defends the importance of the Humanities within modern-day education, and questions the actions of the government and officials to keep such education afloat. Fish believes that the Humanities are a substantial part of education, he believes that education in the arts is extremely vital. I on all counts AGREE!


The American System seems to manufacture the same type of person over and over again, a rich white male with a degree in business advertising. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a corporate business man, AS LONG AS THERE ARE CREATIVE MINDS TO BALANCE IT ALL. This world needs artists, historians, musicians and everything in-between to be able to dwell and prosper, creativity if absolutely necessary to life. In the 1950's, American society was mainly Suzy Q suburbia, with perfect house wives and "Leave it to Beaver" families. That worked for a while, America's corporate success shot through the roof, highways were being built, we were making it at a nation. Then came the uprising of the hippie-chique 60's. It was inevitable, there has to be rebellion and creativity that inspires people. The 60's were filled with music, art, and expression. The 60's greatly influenced our modern day culture, that era let us know loud and clean that it is ok to be different! IT'S OK TO EXPRESS YOURSELF!


Fish makes some extremely good points within his editorial, he firmly believes that "the humanities enhance our culture; the humanities make our society better", the fact that corporate America is trying to push out the essence of creativity is just sickening. America has to learn about other cultures, we have to be able to respond and understand other languages and customs. America does not make up the entirety of the world, and I think we forget that sometimes! 


If every American sat behind a desk and worked a corporate job nothing would ever get accomplished. If we cannot be active within the world we will quickly and rapidly fall as a world power while other more adaptable nations will take over trade and manufacturing. Art is the way of the world.

What EVER Happened to the Golden Rule?

After reading a rather disturbing article in the New York Times, I feel that is imperative that I share it with all of you. Being a supposed "liberal" (who even knows what that entails in this day and age) I have a lot of compassion and acceptance of people and groups that are struggling to be accepted into society (CIVIL RIGHTS). I especially have a lot of compassion for gay and lesbian groups, although I cannot understand exactly where they are coming from in their views and actions- I do understand that it is required by our Founding Fathers that all citizens of this Nation are treated fairly and equally. Discrimination in this form goes against everything our Nation was founded upon. Although I can accept the opinions of Conservatives that feel that being homosexual goes against the word of God, I do not agree. Me, being a white, female, and straight American, am under the demographic of possibly not being able to understand the hardships and struggles homosexual Americans go through, I sympathize and respect every person, no matter their sexual preference.

In this article, you will read about the increase in teen suicides due to discrimination and taunting. It is very surprising to begin to understand how prevalent this type of situation in our Nation. To my dismay, and according to the article"nearly 9 of 10 gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual middle and high school students suffered physical or verbal harassment in 2009, ranging from taunts to outright beatings." Although I can highly respect those who disagree with me, there is nothing about that type of taunting that is either constitutional or just. There is no law against disagreeing with a person's views (I believe that indeed is completely just) but intentionally trying to eliminate or offend a entire demographic of people is not the answer.


I believe that there is a grand difference between disagreeing with a man or woman's lifestyle, and actively trying to put down or chastise said lifestyle, in the article there are many references to "hate groups" both in our communities and on the internet. I hope that local lawmakers will take action steps in eliminating such discrimination.