Writing Workshop

Why Not Peace

War can be defined as a conflict carried by armed forces between nations or parties within a nation.  The United States is fighting a loosing war against terrorism.  Regardless of the number of soldiers the United States places in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorists will continue to find ways to destroy innocent people.  President George W. Bush sent troops to Iraq in order to eliminate the spread of weapons of mass destruction, but thus far, no weapons have been confiscated.  Soldiers continue to risk their lives and destroy their families for a lost cause.

            In order for the United States government to provide Americans with a safer environment free from terrorist, the government needs to continue to improve border control, airport security.  Continuing to send more US soldiers to Afghanistan and Iraq is a waste of time, money, and resources.  While the US government is currently in a recession, politicians continue to debate on sending more soldiers overseas to improve the Iraqi government.  US troops need to be on US soil helping protect Americans by heightening airport security and border control.  Understandably, since the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, airport security has increased dramatically, but it is still not enough.  Every person, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or religion should be searched as if they are a potential terrorist.  The strengthening of security within the United States could possibly stimulate the economy by offering more jobs to Americans.

            According to Daniel Dombey’s article “US suffers deadliest month in Afghanistan,” he addresses the continuing increase of death and casualties the US is suffering.  October 2009 has been the deadliest, thus far, of any month for the loss of American soldiers overseas.  With causalities reaching 53 for the month of October, the US government needs to reconsider the continuance of troops being stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan (9).  What are US troops fighting for?  Securing a safer nation for their children and grandchildren?  That is not possible without first securing United State’s soil.  Terrorism is like the swine flu, people try so hard to prevent it, but when it is time, there is nothing anyone can do and no way to stop it.  Terrorist will find ways to punish innocent people regardless of how many US troops are stationed around them. 

            In Thomas PM Barnett’s article “The Man between War and Peace” Admiral Fallon is quoted saying that America needs a “combination of strength and willingness to engage” (144).  America does need strength, the strength to walk away from a war that will never be won.  Terrorism is something that will never go away, regardless of how many troops are stationed in Afghanistan, terrorist will continue to plot and scheme against the United Sates.  American politicians also need the willingness to confront the conflicts created on US soil and resolve problems Americans and the American government have created. 

            Many Americans continue to believe in the good of the US government and its responsibility of providing a safe home for Americans.  The attack on 9-11-01 was horrific and damaging to many people in many different perspectives. Thousands of innocent people lost their lives and even more children lost their parents, grandparents, and loved ones.  Regardless of age, every American was affected by 9-11.  With a large number of military forces stationed overseas, how does the US government plan to keep Americans safe?  Increasing security at airlines has lowered the chance of another terrorist attack, but has not completely eliminated the possibility for terrorist attacks.    

            According to Anthony Gregory in his article “Antiwar Arguments for War,” antiwar activist are saying other “countries have real connections to the terrorists, unlike Iraq, against which we should never have gone to war, but where we must win the peace, now that we’re there” (1).  The United States government needs to focus more attention on actually terrorist organization that could possibly be located in the United States and create peace among fellow nations.

            War is not the answer to life problems.  Parents try to teach their children to walk away from a bully.  “Treat other as you would want to be treated,” the Golden Rule.  Why should The Golden Rule apply to Americans in everyday life but not to the US government when problems occur with other nations?  The US should rise above terrorism by creating peace and love instead of causing more conflicts.  Rising above the bad and changing a situation into good shows the rest of the world how much the United States has grown and matured as a nation.

Work Cited

Dombey, Daniel. “US suffers deadliest month in Afghanistan.” Financial Times. London (UK): 28 October 2009. Pg.9. Print

I believe this was a good source.  It is amazing that US troops have been stationed overseas for so long and more soldiers are continuing to die each month.

Barnett, Thomas PM. “The Man between War and Peace.” Esquire. New York: April 2008. Vol. 149, Iss. 4; pg. 144.  Print

This source was very helpful in aiding me to which direction I wanted to turn my paper to.   

Gregory, Anthony. “Antiwar Arguments for War.” Antiwar.com. 12 October 2004

I liked this source because it had many arguments for and against war.  This source allowed me to view arguments from people who supported the current war, allowing me to have a stronger paper.

Gay Marriage

Should same sex couples be allowed to marry?  Why is there a major controversy over same sex marriage?  Marriage is often referred to as the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments.  In today’s society, abortion is legal, but many states have made it illegal for same sex couples to get married.  Denying gay marriage has taken away their equal rights and security.

             Many Americans, in today’s society, are considered “homosexual”.  Their desire to have relations with persons’ of the same sex has turned many heads.  Opposite sex marriages have the ability to draw social security if their partner passes away, visit and decided medical approaches for a spouse in critical health, and obtain security for themselves and their children.  However, same sex marriage has become such a controversy that some states have made it illegal.  These couples are denied the right to draw social security, make critical decision for their spouse, or have security for themselves and their children.  Many Americans worry about the children raised in same sex homes, but these children have the ability to open up to their sexuality without worrying about parents’ disapproval or abandonment from their parents.

            It wasn’t but a few years ago that interracial marriages were frowned upon.  Today, interracial marriages are accepted as a part of life.  Same sex couples should not have to walk on eggshells to be with the person they love.  A couple that loves one another and is willing to spend the rest of their lives together, no matter the sex, should have the option of marriage.  Taking away the ability for a couple, in love, to marry is wrong and immoral.  Love comes in many shapes, sizes, and sexes; no one should be denied the right to love.

Losing Battle

            What is war?  Who is affected by war?  War can be defined as a conflict carried on by force of arms, as between nations or between parties within a nation; warfare, as by land, sea, or air.  Everyone is affected by war, not just the two sides fighting one another.  Allied countries are forced to choose sides.  Other countries are drug into the middle by the opposing side.  Instead of war, everyone should respect other countries and cultures for what they believe, and stop trying to persuade others to convert religions or governments. 

United States soldiers put their life on the line every day, fighting a losing battle.  President George Bush sent troops to Iraq in 2003 to fight terrorism.  Today, soldiers are still risking their lives and have yet to find any proof of Afghanistan or Iraq in possession of nuclear weapons.

Upon returning home from war, soldiers are never the same.  The emotional, physical, and mental damage has already sunk in and is imbedded in these soldiers.  According to Tim O’Brien in his short story Things They Carried, “When the dust-off arrived, they carried Lavender aboard.  Afterward they burned Than Khe.  They marched until dusk, then dug their holes, and that night Kiowa kept explaining how you had to be there, how fast it was, how the poor guy just dropped like so much concrete.  Boom-down, he said.  Like cement,” (358).

Work Cited

O’ Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried, From: The Seagull Reader Stories. Second Edition. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2008. 358. Print.

Graduation and Attribution

According to Maya Angelou’s short story “Graduation”, young children were to act in a “play about buttercups, daisies, and bunny rabbits at the graduation.  They could be heard practicing their hops and their songs sounded like silver bells.”  Angelou continues to say that the older, non-graduating, children, helped prepare refreshments for the nights festivities (7).

According to New York Times article “Good in the Paint”,” Alonzo Adams’s evocative genre paintings of urban black life have long had a following among African-American cultural figures like Maya Angelou, Eddie Murphy and Bill Cosby (who helped start Mr. Adams’s career by offering him a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and putting his work on the walls of the Huxtable home in ”The Cosby Show”).” New York Times goes on to say that “recently he has become popular with another group: the budding collectors of the professional sports world, especially the National Basketball Association” (26).

Work Citied 

 Angelou, Maya ”Graduation” Seagull: Essays book, page 7.

“Good in the Paint” found in the New York Times

, March 13, 2005, page 26.