GOOD COP BAD COP

The DEA Once Turned a 14-Year-Old into a Drug Kingpin. Welcome to the War on Drugs

By: Nick Wing

Source: Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/24/dea-war-on-drugs_n_6030920.html?ir=Politics

                All children are raised thinking cops are the ‘good guys’, they protect us and they follow all the rules to enforce the law. However, what they are not being told is that the DEA pays off informants who illegally find information to sell to the DEA. The fact that the DEA is using informants illegally is not the worst part; most of these informants have sold cops false information and have lied in the stand more than once. “The "highest-paid snitch in DEA history" was also found to have lied repeatedly in testimony. Despite his reputation, he recently resumed work with the DEA.” (1)  Some of these informants have made a living off of selling the DEA, the people who are supposed to enforce and project the law, information. Some informants are granted the right to break the law and detectives simply do not log or record any of this information. “The DEA allows informants to break the law, but have no records as to how often it happens.”(1)  After finding out that the DEA lets their informants commit illegal action one would think that there are not many more lines to be crossed, however one would be mistaken, the DEA promises informants citizenship and a happy life here in the U.S., but does not deliver. The DEA continues to use and expose sources given by informants with no intention of returning the favor. “The DEA strung one informant along for 20 years with the promise of citizenship. She still hasn't received it.”(1)  

                This may not be world news or news that concerns the youth, who are not a part of the drug world directly, but this article shows citizens of the United States of America that our ‘justice system’ is corrupt. It goes to show that in today’s society no one is to be trusted, not even those who are supposed to be our protectors. Not all cops and DEA detectives are breaking the law, however is it still difficult to know that there are those who abuse their power and put innocent people to jail in hopes of earning a few dollars raise.    

 

TEACH THE TEACHERS HOW TO TEACH

“A Talk to Teachers”

Subject- The subject of this speech is quite simple. It is about the way African American youth are taught in schools. It pin points the major issues in education segregation.

Occasion- The speech was given in 1963 in New York City to all school teachers, from around Ney York.

Audience- This speech was given to all school teachers from New York City. The teachers attending were teachers from top notch school and also those who teach at schools located in the ghettos.

Purpose- This speech was written with the intention to persuade and to inform school teachers. This speeches purpose was to change the way school teachers taught African American students, and to help teachers understand that being bias towards white rich children was not morally expectable. Also it was meant to persuade teachers that blacks and whites should be taught the same and be given the same opportunities.  

Speaker- The speaker was a man named James Baldwin.

Tone- This speeches tone can be considered argumentative, persuasive, informative, frustrated, and resentful. He is arguing that all children should receive an equal education. He is trying to persuade teachers to change their teaching habits and to no longer be bias. He is informing people of the injustice that is taking place throughout schools. He is speaking in a frustrated and resentful tone because he is offended and angered by the fact that teachers think an African American child is not capable of withholding the same information of a white child.  

          Using a SOAPST to break down this literary piece is helpful because it helps the reader better understand and evaluate the authors intended message. The speech written by Baldwin was informative and used facts to help support his claims. This speech was successful in informing and persuading its intended audience.     

An Ever-Changnig Curriculum

To What Extent Do Our Schools Serve the Goals of a True Education?

Suppose the word education had only one true definition: if that was the case answering this question would be incredibly easy with and yes, or no answer. However, that is clearly not the case, many things are taken into consideration when asked if schools ‘serve the goals of a true education’, and the first would be what ones definition of education is. To a student an education should be what they learn in their adolescence that they will later be required to use in their future to solve problems, get jobs, and live in today’s society. If that is what an education should be, the answer to the stated question would be no. Of course teachers and instructors teach students what is being given to them by the boards who decide what is necessary for teens and children to learn, but it is not information that will be needed in later years. A student will not need to know the area of a circle unless their future job requires them to do so, or how plants go through photosynthesis, unless of course their job requires them to do so. Obviously an overview of all these subjects must be provided but to go into detail about each of the subjects is unnecessary.

Schools should be teaching the youth how to handle taxes, or how to deal with a relentless boss, these are things that are needed to survive in society. Education is what is passed down by the knowledgeable and wise to the upcoming generation to help the next set of leaders and members of society create a better life for themselves and create a better tomorrow. An education should not be a set curriculum that is taught year after year. An education should always be changing along with society and its ever-changing tasks.                 

SAVE THE WORLD

Liberian Leader Warns Ebola Risks Causing A 'Lost Generation'

By: Reuters

Source:  Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/19/liberian-leader-ebola

It is not new news that Ebola is a deadly disease; however it is tragic that people are almost numb to hearing the word Ebola and reacting to it with no concern. In the infancy of this disease the world was flustered and had no idea what extreme measures had to be taken to control this disease from spreading. After the disease spread to the U.S. and Spain peoples’ attention automatically reared from Africa, where the disease was first established, and began to aid only those who lived outside of Africa.  Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is worried that the new generation of Liberians will become a ‘lost generation’, because they receive no care when infected.   

            Johnson Sirleaf called the international reaction to the outbreak in Liberia "Inconsistent and lacking in clear direction or urgency."(1) She later stated in an open letter to BBC World Services that, "We all have a stake in the battle against Ebola" (1)  She believes that it is immensely important for the world to take into consideration, at the least, the poor and helpless people of Liberia, whose lives are being taken by this deadly disease.   

           She hopes that the world will not only help those outside of Liberia but also the infected citizens in Liberia. It is wrong to leave these people defenseless against a murderer such as Ebola, only because they are not wealthy and live in a third world country. They are also people whom we share this planet with. "It is the duty of all of us, as global citizens, to send a message that we will not leave millions of West Africans to fend for themselves against an enemy that they do not know, and against whom they have little defense."(1) The world must take down this disease together and no country or person should be left out of this fight, for health and survival.

            I believe everyone should read this article because it is incredible informative of the situation in Liberia. It also shows people that they must help the people living in those unfortunate circumstances. I believe as a civilized and caring people of this world we must help and cure those in need no matter where they live.     

Truks Watch While Others Fall

 

    Kurds Face Massacre in Syrian Border Town

               as Turkey Just Watches

Source: The Huffington Post
By: Mollie Reilly, Sophia Jones
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/05/turkey-kurds-kobani

The Turkish military believes that the lives being lost are not worth their times to help and fight back against the oppressors, the Islamic State Forces. Kurdish fighters, small in number and short of supplies, have been fighting and protecting their land and people for twenty days. As of now 160,000 people have fled their homes and crossed the border into Turkey. The United States- led coalition airstrikes may have killed a little over 35 militants they have not been able to help the Kurdish people in the way they need to be helped. These attacks on the militants have done minimal to none for the Kobani defenders.  "We wouldn't want Kobani to fall. We welcomed our brothers who came from Kobani. We'll do whatever we can to prevent this from happening." (1) The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu expressed the thoughts presented above; however has done nothing to show that he along with the rest of Turkey wants to help the Kobani defenders.

   BBC had reported that Turkish tanks stand at the border and have yet to fire back to stop the militant attacks. While the Turks say they want to help their so called “brothers”, people have begun to find comfort in the idea that the Turkish government is not only letting the Islamic Group attack Kobani, but also supporting them. It has been assumed that Turkey refuses to take any action because they are worried about the well being of their people and nation, because they feel if they were to fight against the Islamic Group Turkey will also become a target.

It is greatly important for people to read and educate themselves about world issues like the one presented. Reading an article like the one above will help people understand how the world works and understanding that each nation has their own agenda. Some nations more than others are more interested in their agendas rather than saving the lives of innocent people. Also, reading a news article like this one will help people around the world analyze past conflicts that have taken place.    

Give Hours, Gain Character

Community service is now used to “pad” college applications, and help high school students find their way into distinguished and prestigious universities. However, that may not always be true; of course there is always the possibility that today’s youth is helping their community only for their own personal gain. Universities are aware of the reasoning behind these students’ actions; they are well-known schools and cannot be fooled by these students. The reason community service is so important is because while these kids are volunteering to help themselves get into colleges they learn to deal with responsibility, and while they may not realize it at the time they are forming character.

            “One implication of the study, which has yet to be proven, is that when civic engagement and volunteerism are used to achieve a short-term goal, the long-term effect of that activity may decline” (Chaptman, 157). This quote introduces the idea that students only volunteer for school hours and gain nothing from doing so, however as it was stated before students will learn many important duties from volunteering. The qualities they will gain from completing civic duties will become qualities that will stay with the students for many years to come. Therefore, community service should be a requirement, because while students may start doing these hours for padding for university applications they will learn that helping their communities is not only for their communities but for themselves as well. Using application padding as an excuse is pointless because colleges and universities know why the students complete the required hours, and they also know that after completing the hours the youth would have gained a sense of responsibility and would have built glowing character.