Lessons From Lincoln in the Probable Government Shutdown

As the time deadline for Congress’s annual budget approaches, it seems more likely that disagreements in Congress will lead to another government shutdown, only two years after the government shutdown of 2013. This year, after videos releasing information of Planned Parenthood selling fetus parts, Congress has been arguing over refunding them. While this issue is one that is important to discuss, many citizens and politicians feel that it is not important enough to keep the government from functioning. If another government shutdown takes place, especially for such a small issue, the citizens, especially those working for the government or that benefit on a daily-basis from the federal government, will be very upset. It is the government’s job to take care of their people, and if they cannot agree and get things done, the people are left unhappy, frustrated, and out of order.

Abraham Lincoln speaks about a similar issue in an 1830 speech. He discusses the reasoning for the citizens becoming frustrated with an ineffective government; one that cannot compromise. Although today we do not have a clear solution to settle the arguments and behavior of an ineffective Congress, Lincoln had ideas about how to create peace and freedom in his day. In his speech, he spoke about how the people need to have a more mature look on the situation and compromise. He stated that humans “were either made to lie dormant, or to become the active agents in the advancement of the noblest cause--that of establishing and maintaining civil and religious liberty.” Perhaps we can take this lesson from Lincoln, and instead of arguing, which will lead to unhappy and uncontrollable citizens, Congress can compromise and get things done.

Blog 4: iLife

https://youtu.be/DZSBWbnmGrE?t=30s

Apple, in their ad entitled, “iLife (2006),” claims that owning a Mac computer increases the consumer’s options in terms of programs, and that using these programs creates a more enjoyable and organized computer experience. Apple supports this by using conversation to point out that opposed to using an iPod with just a PC, Macs deliver a number of other applications, including iMovie, iPhoto, and iWeb, and also uses logical arguments to contrast a Mac with a PC, including the fact that the PC’s only thrilling feature is a calculator. Apple’s purpose is to excite consumers about the options a Mac offers, in order to persuade them to buy a Mac. Apple speaks to all consumers across the spectrum, including both prospective Mac owners and current PC owners, to get all sides to switch to a Mac.

Nicholas Kristof "Refugees Who Could Be Us"

Nicholas Kristof, in “Refugees Who Could Be Us” (2015), blames the global community for not taking earlier actions to solve the problems in Syria. Kristof brings up examples of the suffering that Syrians have gone through, the fact that they have no safe zone, and the fact that these issues have not been fixed by leading countries, such as the United States and European countries, despite the fact that the Syrian Civil War has been taking place for four years. The author brings attention to the vulnerability Aylan Kurdi and other Syrian refugees in order to gain sympathy and help for those wanting to live peaceful lives. Kristof instills a sense of guilt into the reader for not have noticing the issues going on in Syria and encourages them to recognize the issue of not assisting the refugees.

Throughout Kristof’s article, I admired the fact that he decided to take lessons from the past to help persuade his audience to want to help the Syrian refugees. The main issue that Kristof brings up, in regards to the Syrian refugees,  is the fact that people are not helping and are being unsympathetic to refugees who are not being given easy access to European countries. He began his article by bringing up the past of his family and suggesting that readers research their ancestor’s lives as refugees. He also brings up the history of the Jews in the Holocaust that tried to flee to America, another time in history where refugees were ignored and suffered greatly because of it. World leaders, especially the United States which is a country founded as a place where all humankind can live equally, should step up to help the refugees. If nations of the world do not provide homes and care for these people, they are helpless and have no choice but to return to their dangerous home, like the Jews during the Holocaust. I think that it is a great idea for people to reflect on the past to see that these refugees cannot be sent away or ignored, because their lives will be lost if they are not taken in by other countries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-refugees-who-could-be-us.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fnicholas-kristof

Lessons from the Virginia Shooting

Nicholas Kristof in “Lessons From the Virginia Shooting” (2015), implies that the recent Virginia shooting was able to happen because of the lax gun regulations in the United States. Kristof uses the example of what happened in Virginia and other data showing gun violence in the country to prove that having stricter gun laws in America is crucial to the safety and survival of the citizens. Kristof states that there are more regulations towards toys, ladders, and swimming pools than there are towards guns to prove that gun violence is being ignored. Kristof is telling all Americans how crucial it is that we push for stricter gun laws for the safety of everyone in the country.

I agree with Kristoff. Guns are weapons that are made to kill and it is often that they end up in the hands of those that are dangerous. It is understandable that some may want a gun for protection, safety, or hunting, but there need to be strict regulations to make sure they do not get into the wrong hands. There are many solutions to this issue of too many dangerous people with guns. One solution is stricter background checks, especially at flea markets that travel through towns and do not do background checks. There can also be safes or passcode locks on guns, which is an idea Kristoff discussed. I still remember the details of the incident in Sandy Hook Elementary School, that occurred a few years ago. This is also an incident where guns fell into the hands of the wrong person, but this time it was not just a gun, but assault rifles. I can understand that people should have the right to a gun, but I do not understand why it is that peopel are allowed to own assault rifles. It is unnecessary and extremely dangerous and should not have costed the lives of twenty-six people in an elementary school.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/27/opinion/lessons-from-the-murders-of-tv-journalists-in-the-virginia-shooting.html?_r=1

Cecil the Lion

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/30/us/walter-palmer-whereabouts/

After reading the article about Cecil the lion, I was very disturbed by both the actions of Dr. Palmer and the reactions of the people. The fact that Dr. Palmer would do such a thing upsets me and makes me question whether or not hunting for sport should be legal, due to the fact that it is just unnecessary and inhumane. Hunting for deer is one thing, because people may use it for meat and food, but to kill a lion for no reason upsets me. What also bothered me was the reaction of the people. I understood that people were upset and should have spoken up about it, but the people got so aggressive and violent after hearing this news.

Dr. Palmer, whether or not he did know he was on a preserve and it was an accident, took many actions that disturbed me in this incident. First of all, when hunting or holding a weapon, one should be very aware of his surroundings. The fact that he was not careful enough while holding a weapon and hunting worries me. If an “accident” like this can happen, maybe hunting for a sport is too dangerous and should not be allowed. It also bothered me that he used a weapon that would make the lion suffer for days before dying. It is unnecessary and I do not understand why someone would need to hunt a lion in the first place and I especially do not understand why someone would cause it to suffer.

Although I am very upset by this news, I was also upset by the reaction of the public. Martin Luther King once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” I think that this quote explains why the people should not have become so aggressive when hearing this news. If a person is so disappointed and upset about this act of violence, they should not react in harmful ways to bring justice. Instead, the public could have responded in a way that was more peaceful and helpful. They could have responded through protests and kind letters to authoritative figures, rather than threatening Dr. Palmer and his office. Overall, I was shocked by the acts of everyone involved. The fact that someone would murder an animal for no reason, especially one that was on a preserve, and the fact that people react in such a hateful way disturbs me.