Unit 4 Blog

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have seen this quote posted by several of my Facebook friends this week about the death of the most wanted terrorist in the world.  I call bull$#!t.  I WILL rejoice in his death. Not because I am a stupid warmonger, but because it should be. I rejoice because he is a mass murderer of thousands of American citizens.  I do so, just as I rejoiced in the death of Timothy McVeigh.  Why not rejoice the death of a monster that destroyed thousands of lives? Forget that he attacked America, think of the kids that perished that day. I know that Gandhi said that an “eye for an eye will make the whole world blind” but what should we have done? Should we have imprisoned him so more acts of terrorism are done for his release? Or should we just pretend awhh, that’s really sad UBL was killed? He helped murder the children in this picture:

So I will rejoice in his death. The only thing I am regretful for or saddened by is that I was not able to see it happen or carry it out myself.  I know that sounds sadistic. In general I am not a big pro-death penalty person. For me there has to be something conclusive, such as multiple eye witnesses or video evidence

“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” A quote reportedly by Mark Twain seems would be a more appropriate sentiment for those who feel so much sympathy for UBL.

Let me get back to the quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  According to the Christian Science Monitor, he never said it. Nor could I produce any results from any search engine. It’s funny what people will choose to grab a hold of and believe to be true. Instead of trying to find a quote that fulfills your emotions, speak with your emotions. Here's my quote on the death of UBL “son of a bitch got off too easy”

            Coincidentally I deleted those who put that quote as their status. (Except one, a lifelong friend always

gets a free pass, or ten.)  You may say that they have the right to feel that way and they do. Excluding my

longtime friend I really don’t want to be associated with someone who has the slightest modicum of sympathy

for UBL’s death.

Organic Food

     In the last few years I have had two family members that were diagnosed with cancer. My mom with breast and my wife cervical cancer. I am pleased to say both are doing well!

     When this happens to those you love it really changes how you view things. Throughout this my wife went to four different oncologists. They all had their own specialties, their own way of handling patients, everything about the four were different.  From the young military doctor to the well seasoned doctor that was considered the leading cervical cancer surgeon in Nevada. Some would spend five minute with my wife while others would not leave the room, driving my wife nuts! No matter how time they would spend in the room they ALL managed to say the same thing. Eat organic.

     So as a husband who cares I was ready to jump on board. Then I went to the grocery store and almost passed out when I saw the prices! I still jumped in though. I bought the things we use the most of, milk and veggies.

     I know this sounds odd but I really had no idea what organic was. Up until this point I  saw the organic “movement” synonymous with hippie culture, a bunch of tie-die wearing, non deodorant using people. Then I looked into it.

     Every doctors office there were American Cancer Society (ACS) pamphlets so I decided o look there first.  I logged onto cancer.org and was shocked to find out the position of this organization. “At this time, no studies in humans exist to show whether organic foods are better than foods made or grown using the usual methods for any of these purposes: 1) Reducing cancer risk, 2) Reducing the risk of cancer coming back, 3) Reducing the risk that cancer will progress [grow, spread, or get worse]” (cancer.org).

     So why then, did every oncologist, and even our primary care doctor, say to eat organic On our next visit I asked them. They told us that yes the ACS’s official stance was that there was no evidence eating organic was beneficial. They also said that in recent years although there was no conclusive link to the toxic chemicals used in non-organic farming but it is believed by many in the field of Oncology that there is a link.

   .I examined the difference between organic and non-organic farming. Here is an example from the Mayo Clinic that gives a brief overview of the differences:

Conventional	Organic
Apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth.	Apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants.
Spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease.	Use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease.
Use chemical herbicides to manage weeds.	Rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.
Give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to prevent disease and spur growth.	Give animals organic feed and allow them access to the outdoors. Use preventive measures — such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing — to help minimize disease

      I decided to take a common sense approach. Even though there is no conclusive link between the chemicals of non-organic farming to the cause or reoccurrence of cancer, why take the risk?

Works Cited

Cancer.org

Mayoclinic.com

    

Unit Two Blog

 Profiling at Airports

     This past weekend I took my parents to the airport after they came to visit. Since I live in Las Vegas and it is a fairly large airport (a little bit bigger than Will Rogers!) you have to be there at least two hours before your flight. I know all airports require this but in larger airports it’s a necessity. My family is fine with it in fact most people I know are fine with it.  My family is also okay when we are pulled to the side and screened, even though I am active duty, and my stepdad and brother-in-law are both retired military. But is this necessary? What if there was a way to screen people on the likelihood of a terrorist act being committed. There is, it’s called profiling.  Gasp! Yes the white guy just said that.

     In Israel people can board an aircraft with tubes and bottles brought from home and the reason is profiling (HAARETZ.com). As I stated earlier most people don’t mind the security measures. However I am always amazed when TSA pulls aside the little old lady or crippled man wearing his WWII veteran hat just to keep things fair. Why does everything have to be fair? Why can’t it just be right? I suppose the word “right” is subjective.

     I hate that there is a need for profiling but there is. No, not all Muslims are terrorists. Should people pay for the sins of their brothers? I say yes. However I understand the ramifications that come with profiling and it could never been done as it should be, with tact and taste.

     I hope I didn’t offend anyone that is not my intention. I hate that I feel this way. I was not raised that way. I feel that it is our duty to protect people if possible. I know Richard Reid was a white Muslim and profiling likely would not have caught him, it is true some will slip through the cracks. Because some may slip through should we not try?

     A funny thing happened after writing this. Before I posted it I decided to talk to some co-workers about profiling. I changed my opinion about profiling. Well kind of. The only way I would be for it is if there was an effective non-intrusive way. There never will be an effective way to do that so TSA will just have to keep pulling little old ladies over to the side and hope that deters anyone who might attempt a heinous act.

Works Cited

      Pfeffer, Anshel.  “In Israel, Racial Profiling Doesn't Warrant Debate, or Apologies”  HAARETZ 01 Aug. 2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2010

      “Terrorist attacks in the U.S. or against Americans.”  Inforplease.com. Information Please Database, n.d.  Web. 31 Mar. 2011

Unit One Blog

Serving in the U.S. Air Force for nineteen years and being raised in Oklahoma people often find my stance on homosexuals in the military unusual.  I can say with all honesty that how I feel today IS NOT how I felt in the past. However today, I am absolutely in support if the repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell (DADT). I know that there are military members in this class that may not agree, (but likely will not voice their opposition due to concerns of not supporting military policy) although if you do not agree with the repeal it that is understandable considering the culture we inhabit.

     In my opinion there is nothing good about telling men and women that want to serve their country that they are not worthy because of their sexual orientation.  As we know in the past African-American’s were not allowed to serve with whites simply because of the color of their skin. Obviously the struggle is not the same. Ivan Ware a retired Lt. Col and a retired Howard University Aeronautics Professor stated in an article for JET magazine.  “Segregation was the law of the land everywhere against Black people. Not so for gays, who could eat at a lunch counter, use restroom facilities and sleep in hotels in the South.” (Nelson 14-15).  However the main comparison is there, there is still hatred for who they are and that is bigotry. To not allow someone to serve because of who they are is simply wrong.

      Any argument that one may have that they don’t want to serve with gays, too late we already are.   Many of you may remember the rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch in 2003. What you may not know is that one of her rescuers was a Yale educated Army Sergeant that joined the military out of a sense of duty and left the military because he couldn’t serve openly because of DADT (Kesler  285).  Who wouldn’t want to serve with someone that had such a sense of duty?

Works Cited

Kesler, Laura “Serving with Integrity: The Rationale for the Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and Its Ban on Acknowledged Homosexuals in the Armed Forces” Military Law Review Volume 203 (2010) : 285 LexisNexis Acedemic. Web. 29 Mar. 2011.

Nelson, Sophia. “The Repeal Of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: Black Vets Compare Struggles” JET Vol. 119 Issue3/4 24 Jan. 2011: 14-15. Jet Online. Web. 29 March 2011.