When I first heard that the class consisted of blogging.. I was thinking, which I also think the rest of the class was thinking, was what the hell is a blog? I’d briefly heard of blogging but never knew exactly what it was or how you did them. The class as a whole seemed pretty clueless and confused when were learning how to blog. When we began writing our own blogs I would constantly forget to do them on thursday nights and would have to do extra posts to make up for them. Once I got into the flow of the semester I was able to remember to do my blog ever thursday before midnight.

There are three blogs which I completed which I feel showed my best blogging work. As I made quite clear with the class, I very much dislike Geroge Bush and all of the war issues. I am very much against the war, the post i did entitled,Behind the Wall of Ward 54, shows reasons as to why I am against the war. Issues as in mistreating the soldiers in hospitals really got my blood flowing and I was able to really set my feelings and express my opinion in this blog.

A second blog that I thought was one of my best works was Don’t be Black on my Account. This was an article on biracial children and their identity struggle. I particularly took to this article because Id created a term paper on biracial students in the school classroom. Since I myself am going to be a future educator I am ecspecially interested in the well being of all students. Ecspecially of thos who may coudl potentially struggle with self identity. I was able to clearly explain the article as well as state my own opinion.

A third blog that I was proud of was entitled Christians Crusade Against Cancer Vaccine . I voiced my opinion to the extreme in regards to this article, but I feel I was able to get it across in an appropriate no offensive way, using examples to support my claim. I feel like this blog ecspecially was important to me because HPV and cervical cancer is a subject ecspecially significant to females my age.

The blog that I didn’t particularly like this semester was Run Elizabeth Run. I didn’t think that I really understood the concept of the article and I wasn’t able to make the best supporting arguement. The blog response seemed rushed and not thought out.

Overall, the blogosphere was a good learning experience, but probably something I won’t get involved in again. Blogging seems very tedious. Unless I have all the time in the world, I really don’t have the time to read articles or react to things by creating a blog. For people who like to write and share their views and opinions, blogging is perfect for them, but its just not for me.

I felt that since this blogging was just for a class that some of the comments I made on a few of my classmates sites where that thoughtout and didn’t require a lot of effort. Whenever we had to comment twice on classmates blogs I would rush through them and just try to get them done ASAP. Like I mentioned before, it was all very tedious, ecspecially when we had all other sorts of papers due for the same class.

Overall, Salon.com was the best outside source that help me with my blogging experience. I pulled articles and blog reactions every week for my own blogs.

But, I bid my farewells. I hope everyone was able to get something out of my blog posts. Blogging was a good experience it was a great way for us all to communicate.

I found an article about a man who is outraged by all of the attention that is being paid towards Cho Seung-Hui and his mental illness. He fears that all people with some sort of mental illness are going to be lumped into the same category as Seung-hui and be assumed that they will become murderers.

The man in the article remains anonoymous but refers to himself as Unbalanced But Trying when he signs his leter. This man suffers from a mental illness called schizoaffective disorder. With this disorder he has schizophrenia and a mood disorder. He fears that because of his mental illness he will be grouped with mentally ill monsters such as Seung-hui.

He has done a few of the same things that Seung-hi has been accused of doing. He has written outrageous stories, spent time in mental institutions and has been accused of stalking females before. He fears that people will take all of this into consideration and will fear that he will react the same way Seung-hi did.

It seems that once again, after the Virginia Tech massacre, people feel they will be stereotyped, just like asians because Seung-hui happens to also be asian. Why do we keep stereotyping people? It drives me insane!

Other people have the same reaction.

You all saw how I reacted in class during the discussion about the incident that occured at VT, so I figured I should continue that discussion.

When it was revealed that the shooter of the VT shootings was of asian descent it made me worry. We seem to always blame a specific race as a whole (outside of caucasion) when devestations like this occur. When 9/11 occured so many Americans feared, disliked and were threatened by Arabs. We must not show hatred towards a whole race just because someone from that particular race did somethign so awful. When it is a white man who commits crimes like this, we dont go up in arms about white people. It just doesnt’ seem fair.

I found an article which discusses how several of the asian students that go to VT are fearful that there will be some sort of backlash towards them. They feel that they should flee the campus, because many of the students are going to be in an uproar.  These students feel that they will be treated the same as Arabs were after 9/11.

I feel like this really shouldn’t be an issue. When I heard that it was an Asian student who commited this massive crime, I didn’t discriminate against all Asians. However, I do understand the fear. People sometimes can be hasty and act unrashional. Some people will unfortunatnly react badly towards Asian people and may do things that could harm them.

I think its important for us to all remember that 32 innocent people are dead. 33 families are in morning. Its important to not turn this into an issue of race, as many things usually do. We should continue to pray for these families and hope they can feel some sort of peace.

Other blog reactions

As some of you may have heard, Don Imus, a radio DJ made several comments over the radio about the Rutgers Woman’s Basketball team which some people took offensive. He called the females, “nappy, headed hos.” I honestly dont understand why this was so offensive. 8 out of the 10 girls on the team were african american. He didnt make any racially degrading comments in my opinion.  Its not like we dont hear comments like this all the time.

What else bothers me is that all we hear in the music industry is, ho this, ho that. Music videos do nothing but talk about hos and celebrity rappers always have their “hos.”

All though I dont think its ok for someone to voice thier opinions in a negative way, I dont think that waht he said should have effected as many people as it obviously has. We dont penalize the rappers for the songs and videos they put out which completely degrade african american women. Why do we hold one man responsible for the comments that are also being made by lots of other celebrities?

The only reason Imus is recieving scrutiny is because of the fact that he is a white male. People are very defensive. I feel that if it was an African American/Black DJ that made these comments that there would be no issue.

The article talks about how Imus shows little remorse for what he has said. And they fear he will just do it again. Many people think his job should be terminated.

Blog Reactions

I found an article written by a nurse in a real hospital, who compares telivision hospital drama shows such as House , ER, Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs to and actual hospital. She talks abotu how HOUSE glamorizes the hospital and makes it so almost every patient survives and diagnosis is so easy. In reality she argues that sometimes simply diagnosis takes a long time or one can’t even be discovred at all. When someone is having a medical emergency, doctors dont always come rushing into the room to save the day. Sometimes, patients are left to die. She argues abotu hwo the hopsital telivision shows show how big and spatious the hospital rooms are. This is not the case in most hospitals. In most hospitals people are doubled up in rooms. There is no privacy. You can hear whats going on with the other patients next door, be in throwing up or some medical emergency. She says all of the shows except for Scrubs, seem to make everythig so perfect and tie personal character dramas into the atmosphere of the hospital. You would never see this at a real hospital.

She argues that she likes Scrubs because its very real. THe doctors in this show sometimes make mistakes. The show is full of chaos and depicts hosptials as a crazy place, not the place where others show as being perfect. The doctor and nurse characters in television shows are meant to make us think they live an extrodinary life. The author argues that there are so many real life doctors and/or nurses that live even more extrodinary lives, but these lives are not showcased on the show. The characters on the shows central extrodinary lives only include the drama. SHe slept with him, and he slept with her and boo hoo hes so sad.

 I thought that this was a good article because the author makes a very good, very valid point. The hospital dramas we see on telivision are a joke. No hospital runs as smoothly and without chaos. We watch these shows because of thieir entertainment value and because of the suspence. Those of us who do not work in hospitals dont see the fakeness of it all. We see it for what it is, a television drama. Many of us who watch it dont pick out the points of it which woudltn’ be true to life in a real hospital.  THe author made a valid point, but my favorite show will always be “Grey’s Anatomy.” I love the crazy situations the doctors get themselves into but I also realize real hospitals deal with soem severe cases.

Other blog responses

I recently attended the slam poetry reading of Patricia Smith on Thursday, March 29th. Allthough I had to go and see it as a part of my class period that I was in, I was glad I had the opprotunity. It started a bit late because their were some technical (microphone) difficulties but then it moved along smoothly.

Smith speaks with such expression and passion. She is very easy to understand.  She emphasized that we can move to a safe place through poems. Words are very strong.

The first poem emphasizes this point about how words can be so strong. It sent a very strong message about chlidren and their thoughts on death. Many of the children she spoke to witness some sort of death. She wrote this poem based on the stories she heard from the children.

Her second poem was a bit more humerous, while her third was once again depressing. The third poem was the voice of an undertaker and the pain and sorrow he experiences through the parents that have to bury their young children.

My favorite poem was the one where she was the voice of a horny barber. She had me in stiches. The barber talked about all of the woman that hes slept with and how easy it is for him to get action if he wants. He tells all of his clients in the shop abotu how he’s been with their sisters, other family members or their wives. This was by far my favorite one.

Overall, I really enjoyed the performance. I’d never heard slam poetry before but it was definently worth while and I woudl reccomend it to anyone to see.

I found an article about John Edwards’ and his wife Elizabeth’s battle with breast cancer. They recently sat down with Katie Couric for a 60 minutes interview. Couric bluntly asks the question to John as to why still run if your wife is battleing breast cancer? Some fear that he may not be a worthy candidate for president if he is dealing with this cancer battle with his wife. The writer of this article feels that this may be a distraction to a president. Also, the article brings up the Edwards’ two children. They argue that it is ecspecially important to spend a large amount of time with the children. This is a time for the family to stick together. Its tough enough on all of them and it is important for the family to remain close. Whats even worse is that many people think he should withdrawl his candidacy for presidency. I think that this would just be another depressing burden to himself and his family.

The article also notes that if Elizabeth’s health suddenly plumits drastically, even leading to death that this may cause some sort of mental breakdown for John Edwards. I dont think this is true. Edwards still has a job to fufill. Of course he would need his time to grieve, all though it woudl have to be brief, and he will continue to do his job. Certain events in our lives only make us stronger.

I disagree with the article.  I think Edwards would make a fine candidate regardless of his situation with his wife’s battle with cancer. Many presdients, past and present, have gone through issues or struggles in their personal lives that they’ve had to deal with. These “issues” didn’t make them any less of a president. These “issues” are a part of our lives. I dont think that the issue of Edwards’ wife having breast cancer again will effect the way he campaigns and if elected the way he performs as a president. Lets face it, we had BUSH for 8 years! All we can do is go up!

The article also states how for the first time the presidency candidates have somethign significant tied to their candidacy: “Race (Barack Obama), gender (Hillary Clinton), Hispanic heritage (Bill Richardson) and now cancer (the Edwardses).” Each candidate has their own quark which may positively or negatively effect their run for presidency and if elected, their term as president.

Overall, I think its important that we remember to seperate a person’s personal life from his proffesional life.  Why is it up to us to form an opinion as to whether or not he backs down from his candidacy for president or if continues campaigning, stronger than before?

Other reactions

I found an article that went really well with what we discussed in class today during kyle’s discussion starter about a man torturing his girlfriend’s daughter. This led to a discussion about how as americans actually torture our prisoners from Iraq. Yet it is done out of the U.S. so its not talked about.  The article I came across was about an Iraqi prisoner who was recently released and told to keep his mouth shut. He voices all of the torture he went through.

Now that he is released from prison he feels that he has to constantly watch his back. He is constantly worried he is going to be hurt if he shares his story. He was kidnapped by the CIA in the middle of street in Italy after spending many years preaching many messages of hate against the united States. Anyone preaching messages of hate about the United States was seen to be as a threat to our country. The CIA wanted to get as much informatoin out of him as possible. They thought he has information; Terrorist information.

One instance of torture that he claims the US put against him was when they attached electrodes to his genitalia to get him to talk. They would also play loud music, pounding music. That is also a form of torture. He couldn’t sleep for days because of the music. ”They stood me on my feet, cut my clothes off and put a diaper on me,” he says. “I saw eight men in beige military uniforms and face masks.” Still today he has a hard time controlling his bladder and there are little black marks from where the electrodes were attached. He claims he was kicked often and constrained.The CIA wasn’t able to get any useful information out of him and the charges were dropped and he was released.

It seems like we took an innocent man he was just voicing his opinions and torturing him. We, a country who belives in freedom of speech, were torturing a man who voiced his on thoughts. We just couldn’t take the criticism. We had when any power weaker than us makes us feel stupid. Why is this sort of torture ok? It sickens me to know that this type of torture is being peformed by the UNITED STATES. We are suppose to be the country who is peacful and looking out for the welfare of other countries.

Other people seem to think the same. Blog responses

I recently came across an article which really made me think. I came across an article entitled, Solider of Conscience. This article discusses army solider, Augustin Aguayo and his decision to abandoned his army when he was abotu to me sent back to Iraq for a second term. He’d already served his first time in Iraq and during this term he realized he was very against the war. He wouldn’t even carry a gun  with him while on duty. When his unit was about to be deported for the second time he didn’t show up for duty. He was taken to court and was sentenced to 8 months in military prison and will be discharged from the military and stripped of all of his benefits. All in all he is ok with this. Upon completing his eight months in prison he will be able to return to his family and will be out of any danger since he wont be going to Iraq ever again.

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that military forces have such power over people. It makes me sick. Its almost as if these people are prisoners. Oh you dont want to go to Iraq and risk being killed? TOO BAD- you signed up for this. That just seems so awful. Whats worse is that they have to fight and risk their lives under the order of a president like George Bush! Dont even get me started on him.

Why should men have to serve more than one term over in Iraq? Isn’t once enough? What makes it ok to have to risk their lives twice. They go once and they make it back alive. Its not a gaurentee that they are going to make it back the second time! I hate the whole, “they signed up for this” defense. No one shoudl be forced into fighting a war! I think more soldiers should follow in the footsteps of Aguayo. He could have potentially saved his own life! And that is awesome. 8 months in jail or death? I think I’d chose jail. SOLDIERS- GET OF IRAQ FOR FREE …. DONT SHOW UP!!

I recently came across an article about Gardisil on Salon.com , the new vaccine for some strains of the HPV virus, and peoples reactions to it. This article talks about some Christians beliefs that this will just promote premarital sex.  The article disagrees with the Christians viewpoint stating that the vaccine will not promote premarital sex or unprotected sex. It compares the Gardasil vaccine to other vaccines such as the tetnus shot.  It says you dont see children running out and stepping on a rusty nail just becasue they got their tetnus shot. I thought that was a very good comparison yet very humorous at the same time. Its true though. There are so many shots that prevent us from getting certain viruses. Sometimes these shots can save our lives. Why wouldn’t parents want to prevent their children from getting HPV which could lead to cervical cancer, which could lead to death.

The article also argues that children don’t get the desire to have sex from getting a vaccine, they get their interests and desires to explore their sexuality through the media and the world around them. Regardless of having the child get the vaccine or not they are still going to be surrounded by the pressures of premarital/unsafe sex.

HPV has become an epidemic almost. I can’t stress enough how important I feel that it is for children to get this vaccine. Lets face, sex is all around us. A rather large percentage of girls are going to have premartial or unprotected sex. And I’m sure a large percentage of girls have already had sex. You can’t stop them from doing it now, but we can protect them. We should be protecting the female race from a preventable cancer. Its CANCER we’re talkign about. Possibly even death! I sometimes feel like one of the people from the gardasil commercial… TELL SOMEONE! I have. I have reccomeneded to my parents that all of my sisters recieve the shot. I firmly believe that a shot preventing CANCER is not one that promotes sex.

There were also several blog reactions to this article.