Point of View.

As I was doing my research on the Trayvon Martin case, I came to the realization that not everyone will tell the same story. Some sources you choose will give drastically different information where some will have a lot of perspective that others do not offer. Here, I have two different articles from different sources. One from USA Today and the other from Huffington Post. The first article is discussing how the event could have been avoided. In the article, a statement from a police officer reads: “The encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was ultimately avoidable by Zimmerman, if Zimmerman had remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement, or conversely, if he had identified himself to Martin as a concerned citizen and initiated dialog in an effort to dispel each party’s concern,” which pretty much states that basic steps could have been take to prevent the young man’s death. The second article is discussing how Zimmerman claimed Trayvon attacked him first. In a statement from the article, it reads: “According to what Zimmerman told local officers, he lost sight of the teen and was returning to his SUV when Martin approached him and they exchanged words. He said Martin asked if he had a problem, Zimmerman replied no and reached for his cell phone. He alleged that Martin said ‘well you do now’ and punched him in the nose.” These two articles have different motives and points of view. It is all based on who is writing and whatever motives are behind their reasoning. 

References:

Welch, W.M., Alcindor, Y., & Leger, D.L (2012, May) From Police report: Trayvon Martin shooting was ‘avoidable’ USA Today Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-17/zimmerman-trayvon-shooting-report/55046944/

Cadet, D. (2012, March) Trayvon Martin Case: George Zimmerman Told Police Teen Attacked Him Huffington Post Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/trayvon-martin-case-georg_n_1381322.html

News Articles

Stephanie Ratzlaff

9-25-13

Blog Post 2

 

I critiqued these two news articles about my conflict: Time Business and Money – How the DOMA Ruling Will Affect Gay Couple Finances (White, 2013) and CNN Money – Same-Sex Marriage Ruling: Financial Impact (Ellis, 2013)

The Time article and the CNN Money article are alike due to them both discussing the financial impacts of the overturning of DOMA. Both articles discuss how the overturning of DOMA means that same-sex couples that are legally married are eligible to filling joint federal tax returns. They also discuss Social Security benefits or death benefits, gift tax, and health insurance. The articles are different in the aspect of that the Time article discusses Retirement savings and Estate taxes; which is a big part of DOMA being overturned due to the case of US v Windsor. The articles are also different in the way of who are the sources in the articles. In the Time article the sources are financial advisors from different companies: Dana Levit, principal at Paragon Financial Advisors, .T. Hatfield Charles, an independent financial planner with Raymond James, John Olivieri, a partner at White & Case, Anna Pfaehler, chief compliance officer at Palisades Hudson Financial Group. The CNN article sources are from certain same-sex couples personal experiences: Janet and Janet Emery-Black, Kevin O’Leary and Brian Esser, Joshua Hatfield Charles and Dixon Charles, Joanne Pedersen and Ann Meitzen. Also a source for the CNN article is Kyle Young, a financial advisor and vice president for Wells Fargo Advisors.

The Time article and the CNN article seem to take the same point of view. They point the facts out on how married same-sex couples will benefit from now being able to receive the same federal benefits as legally married opposite sex couples do. Both articles do not seem to be pushing in any one political way. The aricles are news because, they immediacy due to being published the day of and the day after the overturning of DOMA, they are prominence due to being important to married same-sex couples across in the United States, and they are emotional in my option because the overturning of DOMA was a huge win for same-sex couples which can be an emotional.

 

 

 

News Article Critiques

I critiqued these two articles about my conflict:

Scottish independence: David Cameron will not have TV debate with Alex Salmond [Editorial]. (2013, September 27). BBC. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24297286

Scottish independence: Referendum preparation ‘encouraging’ (2013, September 24). BBC. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24223948

The articles are both about the current unraveling events about Scottish independence. They are news articles I found from BBC.com so they take on a third person perspectives since they aren’t directly involved with the conflict. The sources of BBC.com include the people directly involved which would be David Cameron, Alex Salmond, and Josh McCormick. The two articles are similar because they are referring to the debates and arguments currently involving Scotland. For example, the debates currently are about when and what they vote should entail when it’s casted. David Cameron, British Prime Minister, is debating with Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, about whether the vote should be a simple yes or no answer and whether or not they should have a TV debate about the topic. The second article, on the other hand, is about John McCormick, electoral commissioner for Scotland, and his thoughts on the situation. As of right now, he believes that the referendum should be clear for all voters and therefore has stated that the Scottish and UK governments should cover the referendum in full detail for the public. The articles would be described as news because they relate to prominence and immediacy. The news on Scottish independence is very important to the people of Scotland and England because it has been a conflict for over a thousand years. The news articles are also late breaking because they are describing the most recent events of the dispute.

The Division in Egypt: Is it a Coupe or is it a revolution?

Many sources would are argue that it indeed a revolution because most people agreed to the impeachment of Muhammad Morsi, however; according the definition of Coup ’de tat, a swift military takeover better suits the uprising in Egypt. The coupe leaves Egypt divided on one side is Moderate Muslims, Christians, and Liberalist, while the other side consists of Sunni Islamist better known as the Muslim Brotherhood along with former president Morsi. The Muslim Brotherhood acts as an anti-coup alliance whose goal is defend Mohammad Morsi.
According to The New York Times two Canadians were arrested in Cairo and held captive while asking for directions to a nearby hotel. Dr. Tarek Loubani and John Greyson were journeying to Gaza Strip but made a quick stop in Egypt that lasted six weeks. The men were arrested for the seven o’clock curfew law but never charged. These men described the detainment centers as small cells with 36 cell companions, barely any exercise time, no phone calls and roach infested. Many people have been arrested and have been beat in jail due to the ongoing conflict Egypt. Will battle in Egypt every end, two innocent visitors were tortured and still people are dying all because the citizens in Cairo cannot agree fundamental government and politics.
The Ahram, a Weekly newspaper in Egypt doesn’t mention the captives that were held. This paper suggest that the curfew law has taken a toll on those who enforce it instead of those how fall victim to it. The Curfew was put in place protect people during the rioting but the curfew is being ignored, however; the ignoring of the curfew results to being beat and put in jail under harsh conditions. This article portrays the military as heroes, but they are only heroes to those Egyptians who are in agreeing to the coupe. The opposing party along with two innocents Canadians were beaten and thrown in jail.

Mackey, R. (2013, September 28). Canadians Detained in Cairo Describe Beatings in Captivity
The New York Times, Retrieved From http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/
canadians-detained-in-cairo-describe-beatings-in-captivity/
(2013, September 25). They’re-citizens-too. Al-Ahram Weekly, Retrieved From http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/4213/25/They’re-citizens-too.aspx
#Egypt

Dokdo/Takeshima News Articles

I critiqued these two news articles about my conflict:

The Japan Times. (2013). Shimane confirms 1760s maps showing Takeshima as part of Japan. The Japan Times News. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/01/national/shimane-confirms-1760s-maps-showing-takeshima-as-part-of-japan/#.Ukiz9z9JWAc

Korea Herald. (2013). Korea to ask Japan to correct Dokdo claim in textbooks. The Korea Herald. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130614000537

The Korea Herald article discusses the South Korean Ministry of Education’s request to Japan to correct misinformation regarding the Dokdo/Takeshima islets in newly printed textbooks. The textbooks state the islets are a Japanese territory, however Korea says the islets belong to them. The Japan Times article discusses map findings that prove the Dokdo/Takeshima islets belong to Japan. The Shimane Prefectural Government states that the maps that they have found date back to the 18^th century and prove that South Korea seized the islets after war. Both articles discuss who is the rightful owner of the islets, however the main point of each article differs. The Korea Herald article regards a matter between the South Korean and Japanese governments while the Japan Times article reports findings that supposedly prove the Dokdo/Takeshima islets belong to Japan. The Korea Herald favors the South Koreans regarding the Dokdo/Takeshima conflict while the Japan Times article does not choose a side. The Korea Herald’s report is interesting because it signifies the ever-growing tensions between the nations of South Korea and Japan. The Japan Times article is unique because it provides a visual aid to back up the information provided in the article.

-Kat Platt

The London Victoria & Albert museum’s interesting acquisition.

               The London V&A museum has made a great many recent acquisitions, but there is one that has drawn my topic back into the spotlight. The V&A just acquired two prototype’s of the Liberator handgun. Now, the articles have a fairly blatant similarities; both address the acquisition, both are written from a fairly neutral standpoint, and both give a quick view of the items history. However, this is where both articles take an interesting, but unsurprising twist.  

                   In the article written by CNN, the writer focuses more so on Cody Wilson’s view of the topic and does not address the acquisition, as well as views it with a bit more of a negative tone. On the other hand, BBC addresses this with a sense of fascination. The articles from the BBC addresses this more as to clarify that this is completely legal and to focus on how excited people (Mainly curators and the Museum’s director) are to have this item as well as multiple other 3D printed items on display. Unfortunately, the event that hosted these items at the V&A has since ended. 

                  Now, in terms of the sources, both articles talk to the Curators and Wilson to get opinions and both got practically the same answers. In terms of why this is news, that is quiet obvious; almost nothing like this has been placed in a museum. Never has a firearm been so readily available, so the idea that the first functioning prototype model has been downloaded and installed in a major, reputable museum is unfathomable. The bottom line is; nothing like this has happened before, and until the next true evolution in distribution and firearms comes about, nothing will live up to the nature of this display.

Sources:

(2013, September 15) V&A museum to display printed gun, BBC World News, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24099293

 McNicoll, A.(2013, September 16) Download, print, fire: London Museum acquires world’s first 3D-printed gun. CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/tech/innovation/museum-acquires-3d-printed-gun/index.html

 

 

Battle of Working Moms

I have been researching the battle that working moms in the United States are currently facing. The first article I read talked about how children benefit much more from having their moms in the home and that the government should be doing more to help support working moms. Things they can do to help is to provide paid leave so that mothers can bond with their children from birth which can help babies develop better long term health and help them to develop skills and qualities that are instilled in children with a strong family foundation. According to Time Magazine mothers in 40 percent of homes are the ones bringing in income .And 74 percent of adults say that the increase of moms working make it hard for them to raise children. Though the second article from Time Magazine agreed that the government should be doing more to support working moms they believe that since many moms can`t afford top notch daycare services many children under the age of 5 education may be at risk if the split in congress to support working moms doesn’t come to an end.

I believe that since circumstances are changing and more moms are becoming the ones to bring income into the home then it is government`s job to help ease the burden to those citizens by providing working moms with more time to interact with their children without being negatively affected. They can do this by offering paid maternity leave, better daycares for middle aged families, and offering more paid vacation and emergency leave time.

The first article includes studies from various sources some examples are Harvard University,Census,and The Family and Work Institute. And quotes from Jody Heysman the Director of the institute of Good Health and Public Policy and Bob Drago, research director of the institute for Women’s Policy Research in Washington. The Article from Time Magazine also includes information from various sources including studies from Heather Boshey and Sarah Gynn members of the center of American Progress.

These articles were important because of proximity. It tells the battle that working moms in the United States is currently facing and what moms in the United States are doing to get the attention of congress.

Warner, J. (2013, May 31). Judith Warner: What Americans Really Think About Working Moms | TIME.com. Ideas | Essential Insights. Great Debates. Informed Opinions. | TIME.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013, from http://ideas.time.com/2013/05/31/what-people-really-think-about-working-moms/

Petition for Maternity Leave in the United States | Working Mother. (n.d.). Tips and Advice for Balancing Work, Family & Life | Working Mother. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from http://www.workingmother.com/best-companies/everyone-us-state-maternity-leave

Moms Fighting Back

Better benefits for working moms is a current battle that has been occurring right here in the United States. Paid maternity leave is offered to 178 nations worldwide. “The United States is the only high income nation that doesn’t offer paid maternity leave” says . According to the 2009 Census only half of all moms in the United States were able to receive leave with pay and only 16 percent of companies in the United States offered payed leave.

Children who have time to bond with their parents early in life receive better long term health .A study shows that a mother that has leave is more likely to breastfeed which lowers the risk of illness and death in babies in their first year. According to Harvard University behavior and skills are built on aspects that were developed during childhood starting from. So the world depends on the qualities that are instilled in children that are built on strong family foundation.

There have been some efforts in the United States to help moms receive get off time when needed for the kids however the success of these programs seem to vary. The well-known Family Medical Leave Act that was established in 1993 but wasn’t proven effective because it has to be paid, only certain jobs offer it and you must be employed for a year or more to use it. Which are all various reasons to automatically disqualify some moms.

However California and New Jersey both have successful programs where moms and dads can take up to 6 weeks off and receive up to a percentage of their weekly pay. California found that leave had little to no impact on work productivity. Employers also found that they save money because employees use state leave which they pay very little for each month instead of using company leave which the company has to pay for.

Campaigns are being put in action to provide paid leave to all workers by 2015.The mission is to create a leave plan that is good for the employee and the employer.

Warner, J. (2013, May 31). Judith Warner: What Americans Really Think About Working Moms | TIME.com. Ideas | Essential Insights. Great Debates. Informed Opinions. | TIME.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013, from http://ideas.time.com/2013/05/31/what-people-really-think-about-working-moms/

Petition for Maternity Leave in the United States | Working Mother. (n.d.). Tips and Advice for Balancing Work, Family & Life | Working Mother. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from http://www.workingmother.com/best-companies/everyone-us-state-maternity-leave

Two Articles about Mexican Government vs. the Drug Cartels

Both articles, “Drug war apparently has Mexican’s president attention” and “Mexican drug cartel activity in U.S. said to be exaggerated in widely cited federal report,” include the Mexican drug cartels as a major issue. The difference is that the issue in the first article stated occurs in Mexico, while the second one occurs in the United States. Damien Cave discusses the Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and how he is trying to put a stop to the drug trafficking. The Mexican government and the United States are working together on this matter in order to defeat the endless and reckless acts of the drug cartels. In the second article, several authors, discuss how the cartels are now operating in the U.S. and there are many criminal cases in the United States concerning the Mexican drug cartels. The article quotes, “The cartels, the Arizona Republican said, now maintain a presence in over 1,000 cities” (Higham, Horwitz & Rich, 2013). In both articles, they maintain the same point of view, which is that the Mexican drug cartels are polluting their cities and are impacting their communities in a negative way. In addition, these articles are prominent. They show a great deal of importance because it is a growing issue that is no longer affecting only Mexico but it is affecting the United States.                        

 

 

References

Cave, D. (2013). Drug war apparently has Mexican’s president attention. NY Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/19/world/americas/drug-war-apparently-has-mexican-presidents-attention.html?ref=drugtrafficking&_r=0

Higham, S., Horwitz, S. & Rich, S. (2013). Mexican drug cartel activity in U.S. said to be exaggerated in widely cited federal report. The Washington Post. Received from http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-08-25/news/41446484_1_cartels-dea-drug-trafficking

 

Fisher V. University of Texas

 

Conflict summary: Fisher V. University of Texas

Abigail Fisher applied to the University of Texas in 2008 and was denied admission. She claimed it was because of her skin color, so she filed a law suit “alleging that the university had discriminated against her because of her race”.  Fisher disagreed with the university of Texas new policy. The policy stated once the university has admitted all students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class “for the remainder of the in-state freshman class the university would consider race as a factor in admission” stated by The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Fisher claimed that the use of race as consideration in admission decisions violated the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment and a violation of 42 U.S.C sections 1983. The university then argued that the use of race in their admission decisions was created to promote a greater diversity in their school system. In a 7-1 decision the court held that using race as an admission factor was made in good faith, so they vacated and remanded the fifth circuit ruling.

 

Fisher v. university of Texas. (n.d.). retrieved from http://www.oyez.org

Richey, Warren (February 21, 2012). “Affirmative action in college admissions goes back before Supreme Court”. The Christian Science Monitor.