Dear 1101 & 1102 Classes:
One of the perks of teaching college is that I have the opportunity to meet new minds and see fresh faces every 4 months. But one of the down sides of teaching college is that it goes by so very quickly.
It has been a hectic semester for you and I both but my hope is that I have equipped you all with the tools that you need in order to continue on with your undergraduate studies and to be strong critical thinkers who are intrigued and enticed to ask question after question after question, because questions lead to research and research leads to solutions and new ideas.
As you have become critical thinkers, you have in turn become stronger writers, and we did a lot of writing. I would like to think that most of you have walked away with a better appreciation for the art of writing and the art of rhetoric. Now that you know the techniques involved in argument, whether it be to persuade, inform or entertain, you now understand the importance of knowing who your audience is, what your purpose is, how to appeal to your audience through the use of logos, ethos and pathos, what kinds of claims can be used, and how not to commit a fallacy.
For this final blog I would like for you to write an entry describing your experience during this semester of ENC 1101 or 1102 as well as your overall experience of the semester with all of your classes. I can recall many of you being enrolled in 5 or more classes, some of you being married or engaged, and some of you working full time jobs while juggling school, just to name a few.
Additionally, I would like for you to write about what you have learned this semester in 1101 or 1102, how you feel as a writer after having taken this course, and what you would recommend that I could do better. Also, write about whether or not the expectations you had of yourself and myself were met or not. Lastly (and most importantly for me) what you wish you would have learned in high school that would have potentially helped your performance and understanding of writing and rhetoric prior to this class.
My final thoughts...if you see me around campus don't be afraid to say hello or think that I would have forgotten you. One of the greatest aspects of teaching college is bumping into a student over the years and witnessing their growth and change. If you ever need to get in touch with me for help or advice or a letter of recommendation, please feel free to ask (but remember that I won't lie, so make sure I'm the right person you want to ask!).
In one way or another you have all touched my life and you will not be forgotten. I wish you all luck with your future endeavors and college experience and that you make the most of it and your potential. (can you tell I'm a mom!? :) )
With love,
Natasha
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Child on Child Violence
It seems that every time we turn on the local news channel we are hearing about yet one more case of violence between children or horrible things happening to children at the hands of adults, or children inflicting violence upon vulnerable adults (like the homeless). But I want to turn my attention specifically to child on child violence for this blog and start a discussion about why this appears to happening with more frequency and the level of degree of violent crimes that has risen, that is, the crimes are much more violent.
Recently, we had the case of Michael Brewer, a 15 year old boy who was doused with alcohol and set on fire by 5 other teens (4 15 year olds and one 13 year old) after he failed to pay $40 for a video game to one of the accused. Three of the teenagers face adult charges of 2nd degree attempted murder, a first degree felony.
Brewer was left with burns on over 65% of his body and to this day remains hospitalized and on a ventilator, of course still at risk for infections and organ failure.
Ok, so what are your gut reactions to this situation. Empathy for 
Brewer? Disgust with the teenagers who committed this torturous act? Are you thinking: those kids deserve life in prison? Better yet: "Heck yeah, send them to adult prison!" (and we all know what goes on there).
Brewer? Disgust with the teenagers who committed this torturous act? Are you thinking: those kids deserve life in prison? Better yet: "Heck yeah, send them to adult prison!" (and we all know what goes on there). So once you get through those first intial, passionate opinions that are based primarily on your values and beliefs, because those of us who are rational beings cannot feel sympathy for someone setting another person on fire, right? The only thing we can think of is that kid, Michael Brewer and how his life is going to be scarred (literally and metaphorically) forever. He will most likely suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a list of other psychological and physical ailments. SO those 5 kids, they deserve everything they have coming to them.
Right?
Well, those initial, passionate opinions are what are considered the 1st stage of development of an arguer. What are we arguing here? Well, the simple question of justice. Do those 5 teens deserve to be tried and prosecuted as adults?
The problem with having a passionate and opinionated argument about this topic or any other topic is that it doesn't provide reasons or evidence why someone else should have the same opinion, it doesn't allow for growth or evolution, it doesn't allow us to see or hear various perspectives/angles of an issue but most importantly it asserts that there is only one right answer. YES these boys should serve time as adults. They were able to set this kid on fire, that's the least they deserve.
The reality though is that all issues have more than one "right" answer...instead let's call them solutions. So now let's pose the argumentative question differently: Is sending these boys to serve time as adults the RIGHT SOLUTION? By asking the question in this manner we are then forced to look at other variables.
For instance, if prison is supposed to be a system designed for rehabilitating criminals (at least that is what they claim) how could placing minors ( no matter how severe the crime they committed is) with adult criminals, going to rehabilitate them? This question can then lead us to question: But what are negative consequences that could result from placing them with other minors? And this in turn can lead us to question: What product (end result) do we want from placing minors in prison? In other words, do we want them to come out ater time served as educated, productive citizens?
Other questions that seem logical to ask is: What were these kids thinking when they set this kid on fire? Are they that sick in the head? Could they not comprehend the consequences? DId they not care? And if they don't care, how is that possible? What kind of living conditions are they being raised in? Is looking at the crime the only evidence that we should be analyzing in order to come to a conclusion? Or does it not matter? Because, after all, there is a 15 year old laying in Jackson Memorial's Burn unit with over 60% of his body burned, fighting for his life.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Media Children; Products of Narcissistic Parents?
In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer the Heene family was being questioned over the now infamous "balloon boy" incident. The young boy, who hads presumably floated away in the gas balloon and was later found in the attic, was asked why he had not come out from hiding when they called him. His answer would give way to the now occurring investigation: "You guys said we did it for the show."
The Heene family had previously made their television debut on Wife Swap and the parents regularly take the children, ages 6, 8 ad 10, to chase storms. (Dad is a self professed meterologist/scientist/inventor high school graduate.) But the Heene family is just one of many American families using their children to catapult their own professional careers or exploit their own children for financial gain.
And it is an interesting pattern to see how parents around the world are trying to make money off their kids. Check out Cory who was videotaped at 20 months old dancing to Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies"
SUPER CUTE!!! And guess what, he has his own official website where you can donate to his "college fund". It raises the question of how are these children or babies being protected by their parents? Who is handling the money? Why are tv shows condoning parents living vicariously through their children like the hit show Toddlers and Tiaras? (Check out some clips of these moms and daughters.) And recently the whole controversy around Jon and Kate has brought into question the welfare of the children, the money issues, labor laws, etc, etc. (The Pennsylvania Department of Labor is investigating a possible breach in child labor laws.) But aside from exploiting the kids, TLC claims they have done nothing illegal.
This all raises a lot of good questions regarding parenting, media, child labor laws, the exploitation of children, etc. etc. What are your thoughts? Questions? Knowledge? Were you exploited as a child??
The Heene family had previously made their television debut on Wife Swap and the parents regularly take the children, ages 6, 8 ad 10, to chase storms. (Dad is a self professed meterologist/scientist/inventor high school graduate.) But the Heene family is just one of many American families using their children to catapult their own professional careers or exploit their own children for financial gain.
And it is an interesting pattern to see how parents around the world are trying to make money off their kids. Check out Cory who was videotaped at 20 months old dancing to Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies"
SUPER CUTE!!! And guess what, he has his own official website where you can donate to his "college fund". It raises the question of how are these children or babies being protected by their parents? Who is handling the money? Why are tv shows condoning parents living vicariously through their children like the hit show Toddlers and Tiaras? (Check out some clips of these moms and daughters.) And recently the whole controversy around Jon and Kate has brought into question the welfare of the children, the money issues, labor laws, etc, etc. (The Pennsylvania Department of Labor is investigating a possible breach in child labor laws.) But aside from exploiting the kids, TLC claims they have done nothing illegal.
This all raises a lot of good questions regarding parenting, media, child labor laws, the exploitation of children, etc. etc. What are your thoughts? Questions? Knowledge? Were you exploited as a child??
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
ENC 1101 Blog #5
For this blog you are to visit: http://natashasenc1102.wordpress.com/ This is the class site for my 1102 classes. Click on the page "Class Blogs". Here you will find a list of all of my 1102 students hyperlinked to their blogs. Visit 2-3 blogs and read their latest entry discussing Skid Row. You do not have to know anything about Skid Row. One of the goals of this assignment is for you to practice peer review by pointing out writer errors based on what you have learned thus far, and for 1102 students to learn whether or not they are fulfilling reader expectations.
Therefore, your job is to read their entry and leave a comment about their entry. Your comments should be insightful and demonstrate critical thinking skills in addition to critiquing the manner in which the writer is discussing their topic. For example, think of what you have learned so far, is the writer taking his reader/audience into consideration, does the writer give background information, old information before new, does the writer have an interesting tone/style that keeps the reader engaged, does the writer sound fair and objective or the complete opposite.
You should comment on at least 2 bloggers pages, print your comments out and bring the printout to class. Keep in mind that some students have their privacy settings set up so that it is unavailable to the public, therefore you will not be able to acces some blogs. Also, if you come across a blog and there is no entry on Skid Row then find another student because that means that the student did not enter an entry.
Have fun.
Therefore, your job is to read their entry and leave a comment about their entry. Your comments should be insightful and demonstrate critical thinking skills in addition to critiquing the manner in which the writer is discussing their topic. For example, think of what you have learned so far, is the writer taking his reader/audience into consideration, does the writer give background information, old information before new, does the writer have an interesting tone/style that keeps the reader engaged, does the writer sound fair and objective or the complete opposite.
You should comment on at least 2 bloggers pages, print your comments out and bring the printout to class. Keep in mind that some students have their privacy settings set up so that it is unavailable to the public, therefore you will not be able to acces some blogs. Also, if you come across a blog and there is no entry on Skid Row then find another student because that means that the student did not enter an entry.
Have fun.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Blog Prompt #4: It's Up to You
For your 4th Journal entry you are to write about a debatable topic that interests you and that you are familiar with, have knowledge of. Please feel free to include hyperlinks, video, photos or any other formats in your entry. Your audience will be the worldwide internet, therefore that means that anyone and everyone could come across your entry ad may know a lot or may know nothing about your topic. It is up to you to give them the background information that they need in order to understand the topic and your entrance into the conversation. Knowing that you have an audience should shape the tone and style you use as well as the language you choose; specifically you should have authoritative tone, conviction that you know what you are talking about.
Have fun, and remember to think outside the box and bring forth various perspectives about the issue, not just your own. (F.Y.I.: Next week for the entry you will be required to visit one of your peers' blogs, read and respond to their prompt)
I leave you with the advice of one of my favorite English Teachers reciting "Speak with Conviction" on Def Jam Poetry, Taylor Mali.
Have fun, and remember to think outside the box and bring forth various perspectives about the issue, not just your own. (F.Y.I.: Next week for the entry you will be required to visit one of your peers' blogs, read and respond to their prompt)
I leave you with the advice of one of my favorite English Teachers reciting "Speak with Conviction" on Def Jam Poetry, Taylor Mali.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Juvenile System: Who Cares?
How many of you are criminals? I would imagine not too many of you, right? I mean, most of you probably haven't been handcuffed, or spent a night in jail, right? And you probably wouldn't want to be friends with a criminal either. They are after all, for the most part uneducated, low class, unambitious, bottom feeders that milk the social welfare system of our country for all it's worth. And mom and dad always taught you: "Tell me who you hang out with and I'll tell you what kind of person you are". According to the consensus view, crimes are behaviors that are believed to be repugnant to all elements of society and that the majority of society agrees on what behaviors should be outlawed by the criminal law.
But, what if I told you that most of you, if not all of you are criminals? No way right!!?? Well, let's take a look at what the definition of crime is:
"A violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by a criminal legal code created by people holding social and political power. Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status." (Criminology by Larry J. Siegel)
So I ask again, how many of you are criminals? How many of you have violated a law? How many of you have, for example, gone faster than the speed limit or run a red light? Those are laws right? If you broke the law, you are a criminal. But then why, when we think of criminals, do we only think of the labels I listed above? What makes you a "better" criminal than someone else? Is it the type of crime? Running the red light or speeding isn't as "violent" or dangerous as robbing from a store? But what if running that red light or speeding caused a fatal accident? If looked at from this perspective does it not disqualify the notion that the type of crime committed does not necessarily make you a worse criminal? Maybe it's the reason the crime was committed that makes the criminal worse? You were speeding because you needed to get to class on time, so that makes it alright for you to speed, because you are trying to get an education and be a productive human being of this society. And the dude that robbed the convenient store was only trying to get some money so he could feed his addiction...or maybe to feed his family. It doesn't matter what his reasons were, right? Robbing the covenient store is worse than speeding. If his reasons don't matter, why should anyone's right? It doesn't matter why you would violate a law, all that matters is that you did.
Bottom line, crime goes on everyday and everywhere. Some get caught, some don't. Either way crime affects our lives directly and indirectly whether we want it to or not, whether you know someone in jail or who has done time or not, you are affected by it because our society pays for it, financially and behaviorally. The question that has been on the table for a while now, though, is if the system we have in place in this country is really working to help curb the problem of crime or is it helping to perpetuate a neverending cycle? Some jails have incorporated different types of rehab programs recognizing that it does matter why people commit crimes and if there is an understanding of the individuals psyche then they can possibly be rehabilitated and the individual can go back into society a more productive member of it. But career criminals begin as juveniles and routinely shuffle in and out of the juvenile system until they are no longer juvies or commit a crime that could end them up in the adult system even if they are a minor.
So if we know this, and understand it logically, and the domino effect it has, wouldn't it make sense to try to do all that can possibly be done to prevent it? Or is this just another one of those cases, that if it isn't happening in front of you, then who cares? Children, unlike adults, do not have the ability to remove themselves from situations that are potentially harmful to them physically or mentally. If your mommy is an alcoholic that beats you everyday, you can't just say at 7 years of age, "I'm outta here." Or even begin to understand the psychological damage that her behaviors are having on you for the long run. Wouldn't it make sense then that the juvenile system should work harder at helping to rehabilitate juvie criminals? Well, then again that would cost us money and we don't want to spend any more money than we already have to even if it means it is going to cost us more money in the long run and possibly lives. And, I don't care what they have been through, if you really want to get out of the rut you are in (a.k.a the ghetto) you can, I mean this is America after all, the land of opportunities; everything is right at your disposal, right at your fingertips.
Well, the state of Missouri doesn't think so. They have taken on a radical approach to the juvenile system and "by taking some of the hard edges out of juvenile corrections, the state of Missouri has chalked up results that have corrections experts across the country taking notice."
Here intensive therapy is key to rehabing juveniles so that they don't end up becoming career criminals or just another statistic. Tye, a 17 yr old female covicted of several felonies, says that the Rosa Parks Center for girls is unlike other facilities by comparing the juveniles' problems to that of weeds. "Other placements want to cut off the weed," she said. "Here, you get down to the root and they try to pull them out, because you can't kill it unless everything is gone."
So how much is all of this costing us is what you want to know right? (You ask this before you ask what the results of the approach have been.) Here's an excerpt from the Primetime news piece that covered the story:
Surprisingly, all the intensive therapy of the Missouri system actually costs less than other juvenile systems. The cost per child in Missouri, $50,000 a year, is about half the national average.
Twenty-five years ago, Missouri changed the way it looked at juvenile corrections because, officials say, the familiar model -- large prisons and boot camps -- was failing.
"The conditions for young people weren't safe, [they] weren't getting any better and were going out and repeating [the same] behaviors if not worse," said Tim Decker, director of the state's Division of Youth Services (DYS).
The new program has shown success. Only 10 percent of the kids in Missouri's juvenile jails end up in adult prison within three years, according to the DYS. In other states, that number is as high as 40 percent.
Recent reports about excessive violence against juvenile inmates have renewed calls for a national overhaul of the system. Does Missouri's model have the answer to America's broken juvenile justice system? Or are they just coddling children, as some critics say?
I sign off, leaving you with the question that the piece asks and I leave you with a link to the first part (about 5 minutes) of the one hour special that was aired on September 9th (or follow the hyperlink above to read the story). From the website you can access the rest of the one hour show and I encourage you to watch it yourself.
Part 1: A New Model for Juvenile Justice
Shared via AddThis
But, what if I told you that most of you, if not all of you are criminals? No way right!!?? Well, let's take a look at what the definition of crime is:
"A violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by a criminal legal code created by people holding social and political power. Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status." (Criminology by Larry J. Siegel)
So I ask again, how many of you are criminals? How many of you have violated a law? How many of you have, for example, gone faster than the speed limit or run a red light? Those are laws right? If you broke the law, you are a criminal. But then why, when we think of criminals, do we only think of the labels I listed above? What makes you a "better" criminal than someone else? Is it the type of crime? Running the red light or speeding isn't as "violent" or dangerous as robbing from a store? But what if running that red light or speeding caused a fatal accident? If looked at from this perspective does it not disqualify the notion that the type of crime committed does not necessarily make you a worse criminal? Maybe it's the reason the crime was committed that makes the criminal worse? You were speeding because you needed to get to class on time, so that makes it alright for you to speed, because you are trying to get an education and be a productive human being of this society. And the dude that robbed the convenient store was only trying to get some money so he could feed his addiction...or maybe to feed his family. It doesn't matter what his reasons were, right? Robbing the covenient store is worse than speeding. If his reasons don't matter, why should anyone's right? It doesn't matter why you would violate a law, all that matters is that you did.
Bottom line, crime goes on everyday and everywhere. Some get caught, some don't. Either way crime affects our lives directly and indirectly whether we want it to or not, whether you know someone in jail or who has done time or not, you are affected by it because our society pays for it, financially and behaviorally. The question that has been on the table for a while now, though, is if the system we have in place in this country is really working to help curb the problem of crime or is it helping to perpetuate a neverending cycle? Some jails have incorporated different types of rehab programs recognizing that it does matter why people commit crimes and if there is an understanding of the individuals psyche then they can possibly be rehabilitated and the individual can go back into society a more productive member of it. But career criminals begin as juveniles and routinely shuffle in and out of the juvenile system until they are no longer juvies or commit a crime that could end them up in the adult system even if they are a minor.
So if we know this, and understand it logically, and the domino effect it has, wouldn't it make sense to try to do all that can possibly be done to prevent it? Or is this just another one of those cases, that if it isn't happening in front of you, then who cares? Children, unlike adults, do not have the ability to remove themselves from situations that are potentially harmful to them physically or mentally. If your mommy is an alcoholic that beats you everyday, you can't just say at 7 years of age, "I'm outta here." Or even begin to understand the psychological damage that her behaviors are having on you for the long run. Wouldn't it make sense then that the juvenile system should work harder at helping to rehabilitate juvie criminals? Well, then again that would cost us money and we don't want to spend any more money than we already have to even if it means it is going to cost us more money in the long run and possibly lives. And, I don't care what they have been through, if you really want to get out of the rut you are in (a.k.a the ghetto) you can, I mean this is America after all, the land of opportunities; everything is right at your disposal, right at your fingertips.
Well, the state of Missouri doesn't think so. They have taken on a radical approach to the juvenile system and "by taking some of the hard edges out of juvenile corrections, the state of Missouri has chalked up results that have corrections experts across the country taking notice."
Here intensive therapy is key to rehabing juveniles so that they don't end up becoming career criminals or just another statistic. Tye, a 17 yr old female covicted of several felonies, says that the Rosa Parks Center for girls is unlike other facilities by comparing the juveniles' problems to that of weeds. "Other placements want to cut off the weed," she said. "Here, you get down to the root and they try to pull them out, because you can't kill it unless everything is gone."
So how much is all of this costing us is what you want to know right? (You ask this before you ask what the results of the approach have been.) Here's an excerpt from the Primetime news piece that covered the story:
Surprisingly, all the intensive therapy of the Missouri system actually costs less than other juvenile systems. The cost per child in Missouri, $50,000 a year, is about half the national average.
Twenty-five years ago, Missouri changed the way it looked at juvenile corrections because, officials say, the familiar model -- large prisons and boot camps -- was failing.
"The conditions for young people weren't safe, [they] weren't getting any better and were going out and repeating [the same] behaviors if not worse," said Tim Decker, director of the state's Division of Youth Services (DYS).
The new program has shown success. Only 10 percent of the kids in Missouri's juvenile jails end up in adult prison within three years, according to the DYS. In other states, that number is as high as 40 percent.
Recent reports about excessive violence against juvenile inmates have renewed calls for a national overhaul of the system. Does Missouri's model have the answer to America's broken juvenile justice system? Or are they just coddling children, as some critics say?
I sign off, leaving you with the question that the piece asks and I leave you with a link to the first part (about 5 minutes) of the one hour special that was aired on September 9th (or follow the hyperlink above to read the story). From the website you can access the rest of the one hour show and I encourage you to watch it yourself.
Part 1: A New Model for Juvenile Justice
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Blog Prompt #2: A different kind of Marginalized Community
As I told you on the first day of class, a lot of the issues we will discuss and read about revolve around the issue of Marginalization. Many of you already belong to a marginalized community, whether it is because you are a minority or a female, or disabled (just to name a few); marginalized communities of individuals are pushed to the outskirts of the rest of the community for being "different". When we think of marginalized communities we think it's not right for a group of people to marginalized because of their skin color or their gender or because they are disabled. But are there groups of people who should be marginalized? That should be kept far away from everyone else? I'm sure you can think of a few groups of people that should be right? Maybe murderers or rapists for example? What about sexual offenders? Should they be marginalized? What's the first thing you think of when you think of a sexual offender? Do you think of a 45 year old man molesting a 13 year old? A priest molesting altar boys? Or do you think of a 19 year old guy who was dating a 16 year old girl and her parents didn't want her to have a boyfriend so they called the cops on him?
Recently, over the summer, a huge news story broke out that spread all over the United States regarding sexual offenders being housed under the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Sex offenders are being escorted by officials, after they come out of jail and told that their new home is under the bridge. Why? Because of a law of course:
"Two years ago, Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer successfully pushed an ordinance that prohibited sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of any school in his city — two and a half times farther than the state law's distance, which already prohibited offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, and playgrounds.
The ordinance came at a time when states across the nation were cracking down on sex offenders in the wake of the horrific rape and murder of nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford in Homosassa, Florida, by John Couey, a 47-year-old drifter with a criminal history of child molestation. Mayor Dermer intended his ordinance to set the high water mark, and it did. In a city surrounded by water and barely a mile wide at its thickest, the 2,500-foot ordinance effectively made Miami Beach the first city in America to exile sex offenders — a fact Dermer has acknowledged proudly." (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-12-13/news/sex-offenders-set-up-camp/)
Of course no one wants a sex offender within range of children, but like everything else, unintended consequences arise, some of which would seem, officials and politicians were very eager to turn a blind eye to. Today there are over 70 sex offenders living under the bridge in tents and shacks and in squalid conditions with no running water, no toilets, or any sanitary conditions. This has many concerned about the effect it could have on tourism in Miami, but others are more concerned with the human rights aspect of exiling humans into these types of conditions. Another aspect to this whole situation has to do with definitions. This law applies to all sexual offenders of minors ( which could be described by any of the above examples I gave in the beginning), however there is no distinction being made between sexual offenders and sexual predators (who are accused of violent sexual acts against children). Is there a difference whether it is violent or not? As of today, residency laws do not distinguish between sexual offenders and sexual predators, they are clumped together as being one in the same.
Check out this interview with a couple of the guys living under the bridge:
Here are a few comments of what some others have to say about this situation:
Ultima Weapon 2009-05-21
This is a sad situation. This sad situation is featured on the front page of www.oncefallen.com. Ron Book, powerful Florida lobbyist, who lobbied to put these people under the bridge, is also the head of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. He's allowing these people to starve, denying them any kind of assistance. Ron Book is a crooked politician! Its time to abolish residency laws!
Luduvico 2009-05-07
The "Peadegeddon" episode of Brass Eye was comedy gold. Nonce Sense. Ha ha ha ha ha. The 18 y.o. who had sex with his 15 y.o. girlfriend and is now a registered sex offender, that's fucked up. This tent city bullshit is a bizarre freak show and does not deal with the sexual abuse of children at all. It is a warped political response to tabloid media hype which feeds of the suffering of victims. Guilty along with the sexual predators are the politicians and corporate media filth that support this shit and live off their crimes.
But then we have another situation regarding criminals of sex acts. Last week 29 year old Jaycee Lee Duggard was reunited with her family after having been held captive by a convicted sex offender for 19 years in his backyard. Jaycee was 11 years old when Phillip Garrido and his wife kidnapped her at the school bus stop. The Costa County Police Depatment are now apologizing for not having done more to rescue the girl sooner. Four years ago a neighbor called 911 to complain that people and children were living in the back yard in tents and that Garrido was psychotic and had a sexual addiction. But when the cops showed up they didn't even enter the house. They didn't even run a background check on him so they had no clue that he was even a registered offender.
This case with Duggard and the situation with the offenders living under the Julia Tuttle causeway raises a lot of questions regarding the manner in which criminal sex offenders are dealt with in this country as it points to all the "temporary" bandaid laws that have come about and perhaps have not been thought out thoroghly enough only to bring about more unintended consequences to have to deal with.
So what do you think of all this? Any ideas of what should be done?
Recently, over the summer, a huge news story broke out that spread all over the United States regarding sexual offenders being housed under the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Sex offenders are being escorted by officials, after they come out of jail and told that their new home is under the bridge. Why? Because of a law of course:
"Two years ago, Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer successfully pushed an ordinance that prohibited sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of any school in his city — two and a half times farther than the state law's distance, which already prohibited offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, and playgrounds.
The ordinance came at a time when states across the nation were cracking down on sex offenders in the wake of the horrific rape and murder of nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford in Homosassa, Florida, by John Couey, a 47-year-old drifter with a criminal history of child molestation. Mayor Dermer intended his ordinance to set the high water mark, and it did. In a city surrounded by water and barely a mile wide at its thickest, the 2,500-foot ordinance effectively made Miami Beach the first city in America to exile sex offenders — a fact Dermer has acknowledged proudly." (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-12-13/news/sex-offenders-set-up-camp/)
Of course no one wants a sex offender within range of children, but like everything else, unintended consequences arise, some of which would seem, officials and politicians were very eager to turn a blind eye to. Today there are over 70 sex offenders living under the bridge in tents and shacks and in squalid conditions with no running water, no toilets, or any sanitary conditions. This has many concerned about the effect it could have on tourism in Miami, but others are more concerned with the human rights aspect of exiling humans into these types of conditions. Another aspect to this whole situation has to do with definitions. This law applies to all sexual offenders of minors ( which could be described by any of the above examples I gave in the beginning), however there is no distinction being made between sexual offenders and sexual predators (who are accused of violent sexual acts against children). Is there a difference whether it is violent or not? As of today, residency laws do not distinguish between sexual offenders and sexual predators, they are clumped together as being one in the same.
Check out this interview with a couple of the guys living under the bridge:
Here are a few comments of what some others have to say about this situation:
Ultima Weapon 2009-05-21
This is a sad situation. This sad situation is featured on the front page of www.oncefallen.com. Ron Book, powerful Florida lobbyist, who lobbied to put these people under the bridge, is also the head of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust. He's allowing these people to starve, denying them any kind of assistance. Ron Book is a crooked politician! Its time to abolish residency laws!
Luduvico 2009-05-07
The "Peadegeddon" episode of Brass Eye was comedy gold. Nonce Sense. Ha ha ha ha ha. The 18 y.o. who had sex with his 15 y.o. girlfriend and is now a registered sex offender, that's fucked up. This tent city bullshit is a bizarre freak show and does not deal with the sexual abuse of children at all. It is a warped political response to tabloid media hype which feeds of the suffering of victims. Guilty along with the sexual predators are the politicians and corporate media filth that support this shit and live off their crimes.
But then we have another situation regarding criminals of sex acts. Last week 29 year old Jaycee Lee Duggard was reunited with her family after having been held captive by a convicted sex offender for 19 years in his backyard. Jaycee was 11 years old when Phillip Garrido and his wife kidnapped her at the school bus stop. The Costa County Police Depatment are now apologizing for not having done more to rescue the girl sooner. Four years ago a neighbor called 911 to complain that people and children were living in the back yard in tents and that Garrido was psychotic and had a sexual addiction. But when the cops showed up they didn't even enter the house. They didn't even run a background check on him so they had no clue that he was even a registered offender.
This case with Duggard and the situation with the offenders living under the Julia Tuttle causeway raises a lot of questions regarding the manner in which criminal sex offenders are dealt with in this country as it points to all the "temporary" bandaid laws that have come about and perhaps have not been thought out thoroghly enough only to bring about more unintended consequences to have to deal with.
So what do you think of all this? Any ideas of what should be done?
Monday, August 24, 2009
Blog Prompt #1: Welcome to the World of Blogging
Note: If you have taken a course with me in the past you will notice that this prompt sounds very familiar. Skim through it and go to the bottom that refers to those who have had a blog in the past.
It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.
Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?
This isn't your first time blogging??
If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?
So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!
It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.
And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.
If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?
This isn't your first time blogging??
If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?
So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. Aristotle said that in order to successfully persuade one must utilize the appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos. As you finish off this semester you will be presenting to your class a persuasive argument that requires your audience to take some action. This is a common place argument that you see being made regularly as you are recruited to join in on different causes. The key however, is to convince you by appealing to your logic and your emotions in just enough doses so that you are persuaded enough to care and believe that by you caring, a difference can be made.
As many of you are perfectly aware, homelessness, is a serious issue in the United States, but what most of you probably are not aware of is just how serious the problem really is. Many of you would agree that it is a problem that will always exist, so why even bother. I would like to share with you a short documentary that is divided into "topics" that all address the issue of homelessness on Skid Row in California. Analyze the rhetorical strategies used in the film as you have been taught by identifying the use of ethos, logos and pathos. Let me know what you think overall, about the issue, the information provided, were you surprised, what new information you learned, if it persuaded you of anything, etc.
Click on the link, scroll down and you'll see the first video ready to press play. Underneath it you'll see a list of the remaining 4 parts. Watch the whole thing it won't take you more than 35 minutes or so. ON SKID ROW.
As many of you are perfectly aware, homelessness, is a serious issue in the United States, but what most of you probably are not aware of is just how serious the problem really is. Many of you would agree that it is a problem that will always exist, so why even bother. I would like to share with you a short documentary that is divided into "topics" that all address the issue of homelessness on Skid Row in California. Analyze the rhetorical strategies used in the film as you have been taught by identifying the use of ethos, logos and pathos. Let me know what you think overall, about the issue, the information provided, were you surprised, what new information you learned, if it persuaded you of anything, etc.
Click on the link, scroll down and you'll see the first video ready to press play. Underneath it you'll see a list of the remaining 4 parts. Watch the whole thing it won't take you more than 35 minutes or so. ON SKID ROW.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
So this past week was full of some exciting events and controversial topics and I figured I would just throw a few of those out there for you to gnaw over.
Early in the week I saw a clip concerning a man drinking his daughters breast milk. (click on the link for article and video) Later on in the week I decided to check out Toms Shoes after having seen the commercial over and over again that it made me wonder if it was portraying a real company. After checking out the website it made me wonder why more businesses weren't like Tom's. Oh, and then there was the infamous announcement of President Obama's choice for Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor along with the handful of questionable remarks and decisions made by her. The one that really peaked my interest though, was the situation with the Firefighters, being that we are discussing marginzalized communities. Quite the reverse situation here with white men claiming to be the marginalized ones. (listen to NPR link)
Moving on, some of you may or may not be aware of some of the major cuts our very own FIU is experiencing, dance, music and religious studies. Interestingly the Dalai Lama himself decided to come to FIU's rescue and help support the religious studies department by donating $100K. I wonder if we can get someone to do the same for the marching band?
Lastly, I thought I would share with you another blog, that of my husbands, Roger Mendoza, where he posts his paintings. Thursday morning (4am) he finished his latest painting, check him out. :)
Have a great weekend!
Early in the week I saw a clip concerning a man drinking his daughters breast milk. (click on the link for article and video) Later on in the week I decided to check out Toms Shoes after having seen the commercial over and over again that it made me wonder if it was portraying a real company. After checking out the website it made me wonder why more businesses weren't like Tom's. Oh, and then there was the infamous announcement of President Obama's choice for Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor along with the handful of questionable remarks and decisions made by her. The one that really peaked my interest though, was the situation with the Firefighters, being that we are discussing marginzalized communities. Quite the reverse situation here with white men claiming to be the marginalized ones. (listen to NPR link)
Moving on, some of you may or may not be aware of some of the major cuts our very own FIU is experiencing, dance, music and religious studies. Interestingly the Dalai Lama himself decided to come to FIU's rescue and help support the religious studies department by donating $100K. I wonder if we can get someone to do the same for the marching band?
Lastly, I thought I would share with you another blog, that of my husbands, Roger Mendoza, where he posts his paintings. Thursday morning (4am) he finished his latest painting, check him out. :)
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Think for Yourself
This weekend I give you the opportunity to blog about whatever you want to blog about. It could be about a particular issue or about yourself. The only thing I ask, as usual, it that you think and write, think and write, think and write.
Some of you might actually find this difficult to do without a prompt, sooooo if that is the case, then I encourage you to write about your essay topic as a brainstorming exercise. Or, I recommend that you visit Ted.com where you can find "Riveting Talks by Remarkable People" about everything and anything.
So think....for yourself, cuz I wanna hear from you:
Some of you might actually find this difficult to do without a prompt, sooooo if that is the case, then I encourage you to write about your essay topic as a brainstorming exercise. Or, I recommend that you visit Ted.com where you can find "Riveting Talks by Remarkable People" about everything and anything.
So think....for yourself, cuz I wanna hear from you:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
And the age old argument is reignited on the sandy beaches of Miami!!!
Dun...dun..dun...!!!
Without a doubt you have all heard the latest scandal regarding Father Alberto Cutie (I find his last name to be pretty cute myself). But in case you haven't, allow me to fill you in on the juicy gossip, otherwise known as background information.
Padre Alberto, as he is referred to by the Latino community, is a well known, popular, and loved catholic priest. He is known as father "Oprah" for his relationship advice, has hosted shows on Telemundo and is a syndicated spanish language columnist and author.
So he seems important right? If he has something to say people must be listening to him if he has these shows and columns. Seems credible right? I mean, just look at him!
So if this guy, this "Father", is caught cavorting with a female on the beach, a female he has reportedly admitted to having a sexua relationship with for over a year (although they have known each other for 10), even though he has taken a vow of celibacy and obedience as all Diocesan priests must do when they commit to God, ITS OK, because he is popular, and we love him and he has credibility. RIGHT???
So all priests have to do is get on tv and write a book or a column, and their good to go....messing around. So yes, we must support him unconditionally. (I wonder if the same would be said if he was cavorting with a man?)
Well it's better than him messing with little boys! Hmmm...now that's logical, right? Of course I would rather have the priests fooling around with women than little boys. And while we're on that line, it's better that they fool around with the altar girls instead of the altar boys too.
Well they need to change that stupid rule anyways! We're in the 21st century! Men have only recently begun to get in touch with their sexual needs. Why would they have ever desired a woman in the past?
And he's so handsome anyways...what a waste that would be if he wasn't with a woman.
Ahhhhh.....the arguments people make. You think I'm making up these arguments? See for yourself:
All have sinned and come short of God’s glory,he is no exception.We all need to pray for this man, a natural man with sexual feelings.The catholic church should be happy that this time they aren’t paying out money to some little boy and his family.
I admire Father Alberto for all of the good that he has done for our community and I will support him unconditionaly. El que sea libre de pecado que tire la primera piedra.
If Father Alberto had done this with another man, nothing would have been done….The USA is not a DICTATORSHIP-unlike the Vatican. Father Alberto did nothing wrong….the vows are wrong!
This last remark (all of which I copied and pasted from Bitten and Bound) leaves me wondering....Didn't the famous Padre Alberto read the vows before he took his oath of celibacy? Maybe not...maybe he thought he was above them....or maybe he's just like every other man....hmmm, but.......well, I'll let you work it out a bit more. Can you make a strong argument for Padre Alberto's risque behavior????
Dun...Dun...Dun....
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Blog Prompt #1: New Semester and Blogging
Note: If you have taken a course with me in the past you will notice that this prompt sounds very familiar. Skim through it and go to the bottom that refers to those who have had a blog in the past.
It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.
Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?
This isn't your first time blogging??
If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?
So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!
It's the beginning of a new semester and with that comes the stress of delegating classes, studying, tests, maybe work, family, friends, personal and fun time along with trying to be successful in all areas. Have you ever really thought about how you manage everything in your life? Really thought about it; broken it down sort of thing? Maybe you don't have time to really think about how you manage your everyday life, and maybe it isn't that important to you to think about it. But if you're not thinking about how you manage your life and just going with the flow, chances are you probably don't really think about other issues.
And it's more than just thinking about issues, it's about challenging, questioning, analyzing and exploring issues. Breaking them down into pieces and examining each piece and how they work together to make a whole. Just like a business person or accountant would do with numbers, or how a biologist/chemist would do with cells/atoms and elements.
If this is your first time writing in a blog I challenge you to examine, question and analyze this idea of writing your thoughts or opinions on an internet blog as a journal. How does this make you feel? Uneasy, excited? Consider the fact that you have security settings that you can manipulate and that you are being required to do this for a class rather than a decision you have made on your own. Consider its purpose and who your audience is. Do you want for the whole world, or just for your teacher? What kind of style should you write in depending on that audience? Will you write in first or 3rd person, will you speak directly to an audience or not?Will you put up a picture of yourself? Your interests? Your email address? How much information do you want people to have access to about you? What did you name your own URL? How does it make you feel to have a URL?
This isn't your first time blogging??
If you have had a blog in the past, your own, for my class or for another class, then I challenge you to examine, question and analyze your experience with having a blog. Consider why you had one, how it made you feel, and how you manipulated the security settings for your own sense of security. Consider changes you may make now that you have grown and developed as a writer/blogger. Consider how writing a blog may have helped or hindered your writing ability. Will you continue writing in the same style, tone and voice or are you going to change? Who will be your audience?
So, this is your very first blog prompt/journal entry for the semester!! Are you excited? LOL! Probably not, but that's ok. Maybe, hopefully, eventually, you will begin to actually enjoy this process. Just remember: Always think outside the box!
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