Illegal Immigration Does Not Threaten America by: Richard Raynor

In Richard Raynor's essay, "Illegal Immigration Does Not Threaten America" he speaks about immigration and all the disadvantages they face. First, Raynor shares the story of a mother of five children who is an immigrant. The mother struggles to live in California everyday, with no job and little help from the government all she can do is have hope in America. Raynor mentions that just like Maria, many illegal immigrants share the same nightmare as her. The author then continues with another story where he states that America is filled with different nationalities and cultures. Those illegal immigrants suffer very much here in America, they have to face many hardships but they stay here because they only wish to prosper. Illegal Immigrants have to work low paid jobs because they have no choice, as well as having to pay higher rent. Richard Raynor doesn't think that immigrants make or break America but instead are a contribution to our country since many of them create small businesses. Immigrants deserve to get a break after having to endure such harsh treatment.

I agree with Richard Raynor, i don't think that Immigrants are as bad as the government make it seem. I think that they need to be cut some slack because I think that the only reason they come to America is because they want to work and live a better life then they did in their countries. They are not trying to take any one's jobs, just make some money to support their families. It's sad that Illegal immigrants are so limited in life here and have very few opportunities. Everyone should be given the chance to work and try to live a better life.  I think people should really think about the remarks they make and how it makes people feel because when i read that all Latinos are lazy i felt bad because i myself was born here but I'm considered a Latino. Just like every person in this world, immigrants are in search for prosperity and a better life.

I'm not willing to settle for the crumbs by Kim Severson

In the essay "I'm not willing to settle for the crumbs" by Kim Severson, she expresses her view on gay marriage  and equal rights as well as shares her personal experience with the situation. Severson wishes to marry her girlfriend and going through the beautiful experience of a wedding and everything else that comes with a marriage. However, unfortunately gay marriages are only permitted in several states like in Massachusetts. Though that was one of the few options she had to marry her girlfriend she refused because it would've been an unfair wedding. Severson wanted everything a straight couple would receive and all the advantages, she didn't want to pay higher taxes or collecting legal files, etc. Severson believes everyone should receive equal treatment and not be limited in life. Last, Kim Severson and her girlfriend decided to wait on their marriage because it's not fair to get little recognition simply for being gay. As Severson states, "It's my wedding damn it. I don't want the crumbs. I want the whole cake" (508).

I truly enjoyed this essay because i think it's a very interesting topic. I as well believe in equality for everyone it does not matter what sexual orientation we come from. No one should feel like they are less or like they cannot do certain things simply because they are gay. It is completely ridiculous and unfair that in order to get married you would have to travel to different places and not have that beautiful experience like everyone should. Getting married is more then just a paper but simply having all your loved one's celebrating your happiness with you means a lot and the fact that gay people aren't given this opportunity is very unfair.  Last, having to pay even a dollar more than a normal straight person would is very harsh. People and the government should think about how much harm and pain it causes gay people to know that there are certain things in life that they can't do.

We Are Training Our Kids to Kill by: Dave Grossman

In Dave Grossman's essay "We are training our kids to kill," he speaks about the effects of the media. According to Grossman violent movies and video games impact kids a lot and trains them to learn to kill. Dave Grossman expert in the field of killology explores his beliefs and shares his experiences. He informs us about how the military works and the tactics they use to train the soldiers to kill. Grossman makes a comparison between the training used there and the media because the media is also training kid to kill though at the moment kids do not know it. He explains how in several wars many of the soldiers did not want to kill and many times didn't because it is not natural to kill humans but instead that's why they are trained. Over the years the rates of deaths and crimes have risen not only in the wars but in several countries as well due to the media. It was proven that media is a cause for violence because there was a study where two countries were observed and compared the crime rates, both had the same ethnicity and stuff except one didn't have TVs which was the one that had less crime rates. Moreover Grossman explains the three tactics used for training to kill which is extremely similar to what the media prepares young kids do to. Hence, media highly plays a major role in kids life and if the kids continue to have access to the violent media there won't be a solution to fixing this problem.

At first i thought that this essay was boring because i didn't understand how it would relate to kids and video games but then i realized the big similarity they share. It was interesting to seed what the soldiers have to go trough in the military and the way they are trained to do such a terrible thing "kill". I don't understand if some soldiers don't want to kill then why do they joined or if they are forced to join then i think that is absolutely unfair. I do think video games and all other media train kids to kill and it's sad to think of how big this problem is and nothing is being done instead more and more violent video games are being released for kids to play with. Something should definitely be done about this situation to prevent crime rates and deaths to increase. It's scary to walk out and not know if you might be the next victim of a shooting just like the example of the man in the store. Violent media should be banned or somehow kids should not be allowed to watch it until a certain older age but I'd rather it be banned for good.

How Bingeing Became the New College Sport by Barrett Seaman

In Seaman's essay "How Bingeing Became the New College Sport," the author addresses the problem of pregaming and the major effects of the legal limit for alcohol.  Pregaming is when college students gather in door rooms or apartments and drink as much alcohol before heading to parties (491). According to Barrett Seaman this is frequently seen in young 18, 19, and 20 year old possibly for the reason that they're not allowed to legally drink and feel the temptation and need to do it secretly. Seaman shares some of his experiences with drinking in college and mentions how through some of his visits he saw undergraduate students who had done severe heavy drinking which lead to many alcohol poisning, and even some deaths. For instance, he states he saw a freshman "who had consumed 22 shots of vodka" in a dorm (491). However, the author believes that the actual alcohol isn't the problem but instead the problem is the law of 21 being the legal age for drinking. Seaman thinks that because the underaged kids are prohibited to drink leagally they are more tempted to do it but if the drinking limit where to be lowerd to 18 then yes at first they would drink a lot but eventually they would get bored of it and they'd settle down to get their other priorities straight. Hence, Barrett Seaman hopes that pregamers are allowed to come out so they can begin to learn to have control over alcohol like any adult.

I really liked this essay, I feel like i understand it better because of the discussion we had in class. This topic is always great to talk about because many can relate to it and it's a problem in our daily life's. I agree with Seaman because I think that the age does not matter at all at either age people are going to have the same experience. First, they are going to go all out on drinking but eventually they will learn to control it and not abuse it so much. Like he said "it's a forbiden fruit" and i feel since teens know they can't have it then they are that much more tempted to drink. I think people should be allowed to drink at 18 because all they are trying to do is have a good time and it's only a matter of time till one starts to learn to control their drinking and it won't be a problem anymore. Seaman addressed a really great point and i completely agree with him.

"Our Unhealthy Obsession with Sickness" by Frank Furedi

In the essay "Our Obsession with Sickness" by Frank Furedi, we see several problems involving health all around the world and how it is affecting our nation. The author points out several issues in which many can relate to. First, Furedi mentions "medicalisation" which he refers to as the problems that people face on a daily basis and are reinterpreted as medical ones (484).  He provides example of situations like this, for instance now when people are described as shy the term changes and becomes social phobia. It seems as if by one simple term or condition too many extremes are taken that aren't necessarily needed. Furedi's next point is "a presupposition that illness is as normal as health" which he states that now a days it's completely normal to be ill and everyone is viewed as potentially ill. Moreover, he addresses that health is used to make sense of the human experience and last the issues of politicisation of health. The government takes advantage of the global problem and since illness is increasing they are benefiting more with profits. Frank Furedi presents a lot of interesting points that people need to take into consideration more to prevent each other form getting ill and living a healthy and happy life.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this essay. It was informative and i thought that the issues addressed are a wake up call to many because in the end we are the one's who get affected by the issue. I felt like i could relate to the part where he mentions that government benefits from people being ill because I recently had surgery and luckily i had insurance to pay for it other wise it would have been a lot of money needed. I think it's sad they they take advantage of people because their are some people that truly need help and it's sad that the little money earned has to be used for their medical needs. One should be precocious and do anything we can to maintain our selves healthy.

"Homeplace" by Scott Rusell Sanders

In the essay "Homeplace" the author Scott Rusell Sanders points out the issue about how often times people in our culture tend do a lot of moving and exploring rather than remaining in one place and finding the precious value of that land. First, Sanders speaks about the Millers, a family who lived in Ohio and truly saw their home as more then just a house; their home was their life, memories, it was everything to them. Though the family home suffered from three harsh tornadoes they refused to move out and kept rebuilding it every time. He couldn't comprehend why they remained there and didn't flee and later realized why stating, "... it was a particular place, intimately known, worked on, dreamed over, cherished" (339). The determination of the family to stay there shows that people can really learn to appreciate everything about their home and be more familiarized then those who move a lot. He believes that those who stay put in a single location will be more knowledgeable of the world . Though many might argue his point of view he rebuttals by exclaiming," ...to understand your life as woven into the local life does not prevent you from recognizing and honoring the diversity of other places, cultures, ways" (341). Hence, Sanders believe that those who move frequently are harming our world even more because by their leaving their homes, the government takes over to create shopping centers and what not creating bigger problems for people. People should stop seeing their home as just a house but more of a place where they build thousands of memories. Homes are to be cherished.

This essay really captivated my attention. I thought that the points the author addresses are great. It made me think about one of the homes i used to live in when i was small. I remember it was my favorite place to be as a kid, so many memories in that place and sadly we had to leave that place which made me really sad because i loved that home and i was really adapted to it. I think he's right when he says that if you stay in one place for a longer period of time you will be more knowledgeable of it and learn to cherish it more. However, i didn't really like that he included other author's and parts of their pieces and views because it kind of threw me of  bit. Other then that I really liked reading this essay!

"Multi- Colored Families" Tamala Edwards

In the essay "Multi- Colored Families" the author Tamala Edwards introduces the international topic on multi racial families. Edwards shares several stories about families that have adopted kids from different race and she shows the struggles that both the parents but most importantly the children have to deal with everyday. Tamala Edwards provides examples of how the attitudes and rude remarks made from people have a big affect on their lives because it causes their kids insecurity and only creates a big world of wonder for these children. Furthermore, through the great amount of research and statistics provided, some families explain some sacrifices they made in order for their children to feel like they fit it rather then isolated. They mention how some move to certain communities, and go to particular churches simply for their children to feel involved. Also, parent's say that though sometimes they feel like yelling at people for asking absurd questions they learn to respond calmly because they know their children might see this and act the same way. (272) In addition, we see how the issue of bi- racial families is present in many places and how people have tried to change and address the issue because they want everyone to feel equally. Multi-colored families face struggles in their everyday lives, and shouldn't have too, therefore everyone should mind their own business and treat each other equally with no judgement.

This essay was really informative. Until I read this essay, I had really never given much thought to the topic but now I realized how much a person's actions and attitude can affect others. Like mentioned in the article, it is enough that these parents have to explain to their kids why they are a certain color and other people's remarks are really unnecessary. Everyone should mind their business and only worry about their life's because they don't know how it might hurt others. Also, I think it is sad what these families have to endure, I can only imagine how hard it must be. I also liked how the author included many facts like how she mentions all the actors that have adopted children. I think it's great the process for adopting so long and asks a lot of questions to the adopters because it shows that they're really considerate and they want the best for the kids. They want to make sure the children not only receive love but that the parent's are involved in their lives and try to teach them about their cultures, ethnicity, and so on. This was a great essay and really informative. The topic was good because it is widely seen.