Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Essay #2 topic
I am going to write my paper on the topic of torture. I will cover both the pros and cons, and the main reasons that people support it and/or do not support it. I am aware that it is a very controversial topic, but I will not censor it in an effort not to offend people. I think that it will be a better paper if it does not censor certain subtopics of torture.
Colbert Report Blog
On 27 September 2010, Steven Colbert talked about the blocking of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell bill that was in Congress and Christine O'Donnell in one of her interviews.
I like the way Steven Colbert puts the news in a funny light, while still reporting the same news as the 24 hour news channels. While I do not think he is trying to report the news in the same way, I believe that he wants to bring out the funny parts of the news.
The first things he makes of fun of in this episode is Christine O'Donnell's interview in 1998 in which she says that evolution is a myth. He was able to make fun of it even more laughable when he related it to babies turning into adults.
He then goes on to the DADT policy. He spitballs new policies such as making gays stay in the closet about being soldiers, instead of being gay.
I think Colbert is very successful about his delivery of the news, and making it laughable at the same time that also displays the news, but it doesn't feel like the news, instead it sounds like a funny time at a comedy show.
I like the way Steven Colbert puts the news in a funny light, while still reporting the same news as the 24 hour news channels. While I do not think he is trying to report the news in the same way, I believe that he wants to bring out the funny parts of the news.
The first things he makes of fun of in this episode is Christine O'Donnell's interview in 1998 in which she says that evolution is a myth. He was able to make fun of it even more laughable when he related it to babies turning into adults.
He then goes on to the DADT policy. He spitballs new policies such as making gays stay in the closet about being soldiers, instead of being gay.
I think Colbert is very successful about his delivery of the news, and making it laughable at the same time that also displays the news, but it doesn't feel like the news, instead it sounds like a funny time at a comedy show.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Torture Op-Ed
Torture Op-Ed
Torture is as old as humanity itself. Humans are can be both very passionate and violent, its just our nature. Torture is mainly used as a tool to extract information from enemy combatants. Those who use it for sport are obviously doing it for the wrong reasons. There are good reasons to torture. I'm not saying that there are good reasons to torture innocent people, but to enemy combatants that hold information that can save lives. I am, of course, talking about terrorists. More specifically Islamic Extremists because they are the latest group that has been tortured and a controversy has surfaced.
This Op-Ed entitled "My Tortured Decision", talks about how torture was used on captured terrorists such as Khalid Sheik Mohammad, who is the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. It mentions that regular interrogation techniques work just as well as enhanced ones. Personally I disagree. It might be because I am a military brat. Every male in my family history that I know of has served the American military, my dad did honorably for 21 years, and now I am signed away to the Army.
I see torture as a way to quickly extract information from the enemy. Regular interrogation methods can take weeks or months to work effectively. Torture is a quick and effective method. Opponents of torture say that the person being tortured can say false information. This is true, but it is also a good way to have the torture continue. The US, when it engages in torture, has a vast network that can either confirm or deny information from prisoners, so this is hardly an issue.
There are many other aspects to torture, but this blog is beginning to rival an essay. In conclusion, I do not agree with this Op-Ed. While I am no expert, I am a person who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Especially when it involves American safety.
Torture is as old as humanity itself. Humans are can be both very passionate and violent, its just our nature. Torture is mainly used as a tool to extract information from enemy combatants. Those who use it for sport are obviously doing it for the wrong reasons. There are good reasons to torture. I'm not saying that there are good reasons to torture innocent people, but to enemy combatants that hold information that can save lives. I am, of course, talking about terrorists. More specifically Islamic Extremists because they are the latest group that has been tortured and a controversy has surfaced.
This Op-Ed entitled "My Tortured Decision", talks about how torture was used on captured terrorists such as Khalid Sheik Mohammad, who is the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. It mentions that regular interrogation techniques work just as well as enhanced ones. Personally I disagree. It might be because I am a military brat. Every male in my family history that I know of has served the American military, my dad did honorably for 21 years, and now I am signed away to the Army.
I see torture as a way to quickly extract information from the enemy. Regular interrogation methods can take weeks or months to work effectively. Torture is a quick and effective method. Opponents of torture say that the person being tortured can say false information. This is true, but it is also a good way to have the torture continue. The US, when it engages in torture, has a vast network that can either confirm or deny information from prisoners, so this is hardly an issue.
There are many other aspects to torture, but this blog is beginning to rival an essay. In conclusion, I do not agree with this Op-Ed. While I am no expert, I am a person who is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Especially when it involves American safety.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Paper Topic
My paper topic will be about the first time I read a book by my favorite author, Vince Flynn. His books helped me make a decision about making a commitment to the military after college. Vince Flynn has a series of books that feature a main character called Mitch Rapp. This guy is an ass kicking anti terrorism operative and isn't afraid to piss off the establishment and doesn't care for political correctness.
What makes these books so good is that the author doesn't concentrate on just his main character. Many times military characters will also be fleshed out. Since the author does his research, and since I have been an military brat all my life, I can tell that the writing in the book is very accurate about what it means to be in the military.
These books changed the way I view the world. There are many things that go into the efforts that are made to keep this country safe, and I hope that these books can also reveal that to other readers. Being in the military will help me serve my country and if it wasn't for these books, I might be in a very different situation right now.
What makes these books so good is that the author doesn't concentrate on just his main character. Many times military characters will also be fleshed out. Since the author does his research, and since I have been an military brat all my life, I can tell that the writing in the book is very accurate about what it means to be in the military.
These books changed the way I view the world. There are many things that go into the efforts that are made to keep this country safe, and I hope that these books can also reveal that to other readers. Being in the military will help me serve my country and if it wasn't for these books, I might be in a very different situation right now.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Essay Ideas Memory Dump
1. First Book I Read
- The first book I read was by Dr. Seuss. It was called The Foot Book. I remember reading it, word by word without any help from my parents.
- This was a important moment in my life because it first showed me that I didn't need my parents to help with small things, like reading a book. While I didn't necessarily understand it at the time, but I later realized that I would have to do everything on my own, without my parents there to help me.
2. High School Graduation
- At my high school graduation I was one of nearly 400 people graduating that day. It took forever, but at least I was one of the early ones to graduate.
- During the hours that I was sitting there waiting for the ceremony to end, I was able to think about how this was my last summer living my life the way I was accustomed to living it. It was going to radically change my everyday schedule, even more then going back to school at high school in the Fall.
3. First Vince Flynn Book That I Read
- I didn't always know that I was going to serve in the military after high school. It had crossed my mind when my sister got into ROTC, I thought about doing the same, but soon brushed it off thinking it wasn't the right path.
- I later began reading one of my favorite authors, Vince Flynn, a couple years ago. His books are mainly about counter terrorism operations. When I read these books, I really thought about serving in the military. I ended up doing what my sister did, which is joining ROTC and get free college.
- The first book I read was by Dr. Seuss. It was called The Foot Book. I remember reading it, word by word without any help from my parents.
- This was a important moment in my life because it first showed me that I didn't need my parents to help with small things, like reading a book. While I didn't necessarily understand it at the time, but I later realized that I would have to do everything on my own, without my parents there to help me.
2. High School Graduation
- At my high school graduation I was one of nearly 400 people graduating that day. It took forever, but at least I was one of the early ones to graduate.
- During the hours that I was sitting there waiting for the ceremony to end, I was able to think about how this was my last summer living my life the way I was accustomed to living it. It was going to radically change my everyday schedule, even more then going back to school at high school in the Fall.
3. First Vince Flynn Book That I Read
- I didn't always know that I was going to serve in the military after high school. It had crossed my mind when my sister got into ROTC, I thought about doing the same, but soon brushed it off thinking it wasn't the right path.
- I later began reading one of my favorite authors, Vince Flynn, a couple years ago. His books are mainly about counter terrorism operations. When I read these books, I really thought about serving in the military. I ended up doing what my sister did, which is joining ROTC and get free college.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
What Defines Me?
If I was to say what defines me, I could not give an exact answer, or an answer at all, because I do not yet know what defines me. Is it my parents? The house I live in or the car I drive? The clothes I wear? Or is it the classes I am taking, and not taking, at school? Is it my siblings and their accomplishments? I would hope that my parents do not define me because I am not my parents, I am now an adult, and can no longer rely on my parents to help me out in sticky situations. The house I live in or the car I drive could define me, as it would give a hint at how much money I earn, or how much my parents give to me, but I would hope that those two things are beyond what makes me who I am. I would also hope that my sibling does not define me. My sister is only two years older, goes to the same school, and is in the same organization, which just happens to be Army ROTC, and many people say we have the same face. With so many things about us that are the same, how would anyone ever not compare me to her? Will I be always be defined as my sister's brother, or will I be my own person, even when we are together? I think that you already get the idea that "I would hope not:" so I will not say it again.
While that paragraph more than likely will seem run on forever, it helped me come to the point I want to make, which I guess all boils down to these simple words. You might have already guessed them. I want my own actions to define who I am. I am my own person now, with my own choices and mistakes to make. Whether I succeed or fail in my endeavors will be up to me, not anybody else.
Wrapping up, I suppose I didn't answer the question exactly right, but I did warn you in the beginning that you weren't going to get a straight answer. I said what I said because I do not know what yet defines me. Yes my actions will, but I have not done enough to be solely based on those acts alone. I will have to wait awhile before I know what I think wholly defines me and who I am.
While that paragraph more than likely will seem run on forever, it helped me come to the point I want to make, which I guess all boils down to these simple words. You might have already guessed them. I want my own actions to define who I am. I am my own person now, with my own choices and mistakes to make. Whether I succeed or fail in my endeavors will be up to me, not anybody else.
Wrapping up, I suppose I didn't answer the question exactly right, but I did warn you in the beginning that you weren't going to get a straight answer. I said what I said because I do not know what yet defines me. Yes my actions will, but I have not done enough to be solely based on those acts alone. I will have to wait awhile before I know what I think wholly defines me and who I am.
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