THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN IS MEANINGLESS

In this paper I will attempt to convince the American public on why the war in Afghanistan is meaningless. This war as like any other way causes death, poverty, diseases, and a world of destruction. Personally I believe a lot of the wars involving the United States could have been avoided by methods of sit down meetings, realizing is it worth it, the sacrifice of human life, and etc.

I consider war a time changer whether the victor or the loser of the war. Lot of innocent live are lost on both sides during a war whether it be troops, kids, innocent by standers, or the enemy itself. In the end we are all important to others in life. Unlike life which grants a second chance there are none in war bombs, guns, and nuclear weapons can’t be erased from time or from the survivor’s memory. With this being said the decision to go to war effects an entire country including us the United States of America. According to Robert Scheer writer of Obamas Meaningless War at least 59,000 Americans dead, along with 3.4 million Indochinese, mainly innocent civilians. We have no serious evidence tying the Taliban to the 9/11 attack, and financer Osama bin Laden. Taliban members were not agents of al-Qaida; the only three governments that financed and diplomatically recognized in the Taliban Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan all were targets of bin Laden’s group.

On the other hand we have others that think the war in Afghanistan is for a good cause. Many feel that the existing government needs to be overthrown, that Afghanistan is the Mecca of terrorism and invasion could help stop it. Many also believe the increasing numbers of soldiers in Afghanistan will deter anyone from terroristic acts. The addition of more troops is for the rising violence in the country. However the reconstruction of Afghanistan is going quite well. According, to Freakley by the fall U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan will come under the command and control of NATO’s ISIAF. Another good reason for invasion of Afghanistan is for the spread of our government and civilization. Being that Afghanistan’s government is so evil and corrupted. The aim of training Afghan national security forces is to allow the United States and NATO to transfer lead security responsibilities to Afghan security forces. According to Kruzel in doing so this method should help reverse the Taliban’s momentum, which has been building steadily over the last three or four years; to secure key population centers, especially in the south and the east; to train Afghan forces; and then as quickly as possible, transfer responsibility to a capable Afghan partner.”

WORKS CITED

Kruzel, John. “More Troops to Surge Afghanistan, Drawdown to Begin July 2011.” DefenseLink News Article Dec. 2009, Print.

Scheer, Robert. “Obama’s Meaningless War.” Sep. 2009: n. pag. Web. 1 Dec 2009. http://www.Common Dreams.org.

Room for Improvement

Room for Improvement 

                If nothing else comes from the Obama administration, a greater awareness and need for change in the United States health care system is finally front and center.  As costs in the medical area continue to skyrocket, congress and the president are working to find some kind of realistic and effective solution for giving the healthcare system a makeover.  Amazingly, the United States has brought better health care solutions to Iraq than those that are currently being used in the states (What Canadians Say).  Unfortunately, change has never come easily in the United States; everyone wants to have a say or find fault or just see “what’s in it for me.”  Where can those who are in power, look to find a health care that works both economically and for the betterment of everyone?  Around the world there are a variety of systems that offer a possibility.  The Dutch health care system can be considered the best in Europe and Canada boasts that their system leaves the United States looking like a third world country when it comes to health care.  U. S. health care is in need of a major makeover and the time is definitely now.

                In the past twenty to thirty years, health care is the United States has progressively increased in cost, decreased in accessibility, and reduced the amount that insurance will cover.  In fact, in 2007, in the United States, the cost for a single individual to carry health care was $7,421.00 (U.S. Healthcare).   The recent rapid cost growth, major economic slowdown, and over the top federal deficit is placing humongous strains on the systems used to aid in financing health care; especially, employer sponsored healthcare and public insurance programs like Medicaid (U.S. health care). For example, employer sponsored health care cost have increased 119 percent since 1999 (U.S. healthcare). This increases the cost of the employer and the “out of pocket cost” to the worker and with the workers wages growing at a much slower rate than health care cost (which are sky rocketing), many cannot afford to carry coverage any longer. Although, Medicare and Medicaid have seen a lower and slower increase in the rate of costs with more and more Americans unable to afford private insurance, the pressure on these systems will also continue to rise at unbelievable costs. There are many things that drive the increasing health care costs. One of the biggest is the advancements in technology and the constant discovery of new and improved drugs and treatments for disorders.  Another driving cost raiser is chronic diseases that require long term treatment and advanced high-tech intervention. Finally, and not necessarily negatively, US population is living longer and therefore, needing healthcare longer.  At the rate that all these things are climbing and affecting costs, healthcare can be out of reach for everyone, accept the very rich in a decade’s time.

                So is there a better way?  Many would say yes; especially, after investigating Healthcare systems throughout the world. The Dutch Health care system is rated number one in Europe, according to the Euro Health Consumer Index (The Dutch Health Care System). Although the Netherlands considered tiny compared to the United States, their health care system shows promising solutions for the “now in crisis” system of the US. The Dutch has created a system of universal coverage delivered entirely through private insurers. A key for those who strongly oppose a government run system (The Dutch Health Care System). Americans are bound to like the idea of having a variety of choices instead of being told what to carry for insurance. In the Dutch system, individuals shop an insurance company made easier by a government web site, where consumers can compare all insurers with respect to price, consumer satisfaction, services offered, and supplemental insurance (The Dutch Health Care System). The Dutch made a basic insurance mandatory for everyone, thus everyone’s covered. The tight and strict regulations, mandated by the government, help keeps insurance affordable for everyone, and supplemental insurance to cover dental vision and various other needs are available at very competitive rates. The key to this plan is that insurers must take all applicants regardless of their existing health issues or needs; plus they cannot charge extra. Therefore, in comparison with the individual in the US paying over $7,000 for insurance, the Dutch system is about $1,600 per individual. There are no premiums for children under eighteen years of age, and depending on their income, the government can offer a subsidy to cover premiums.  The Dutch system also empowers the patient, so they have the control over their care. The biggest drawback to this system is trying to enforce the mandate that everyone carry insurance.

                A further option for the United States is to take a look at our “neighbors to the north.”  Canadian boasts about their health care and how it leaves the U.S. living in the “dark ages of healthcare” (What Canadians Say). In the Canadian System, again, it’s a Universal style system where everyone’s covered.  But the Canadians put strong restrictions on hospitals and doctors to control cost and cover care no matter what the individual’s station in life is (What Canadians Say). They also try to control unnecessary diagnostics, treatments, and drugs. Many Canadians criticize the U.S. capitalist system because so many people are going untreated and dying from illnesses.  The Canadian system is based on its constitutional “right to life”, meaning each person man, woman, and child has a right to the best life possible including good, quality, and immediate healthcare. Canadians have a lower death rate in infants and a higher life expectancy than the U.S., so they must be doing something right.  One major drawback, the overwhelming government involvement in healthcare for Canada; in the United States this would be suicide for healthcare, because the politicians would turn it into politics instead of what it should be: a health care system that works for everyone and not just the rich few who can afford it. 

                Yes, healthcare reform in the United State is long overdue.  But it must be made for the people and by the people, or it just becomes politics as usual.  There are many examples of healthcare systems in the world to look at and to choose from, some good with a great deal of potential if developed correctly.  Others would be a definite recipe for disaster; especially if the government is overly involved.  If the right balance can be found and the individuals needs be the main focus of the healthcare system, then true reform can be achieved.

Something Good Can Be Something Bad

Technology has come a long way.  From being just a rock to smash thing, to television, computers, iPod and cell phones.  Technology was made to make life easier, which it has, but there have been some problems with it in the past.  Technology is taking over some people’s lives. It’s now used for entertainment, work, and educational purposes.  Every day you are using some kind of technology.  Most people nowadays couldn’t live without technology. Technology has changed the world in a major way.  People found ways to hack into other people computers and steal identities or even just get online to plant viruses around on other peoples computers.  Now, people can listen to our conversations, find out where we are, and see what we are doing.  What do you think about the technology of today?  Good or bad?  The internet has a lot of ways you can hack in, or find different information on people, places, and things.

According to globalethics.org, “A Swiss data protection agency is threatening to sue Google over its “Street View” function, which photographs streets and allows users to take a virtual tour. The agency’s commissioners say the service is too intrusive, sometimes offering views not available to passersby, according to a report from the Agence France-Presse. Google says it will vigorously defend its service. “As you can see the internet is the, probably, the most common on how technology can invade privacy.

Another way people find information about you is social networking such as; Facebook, MySpace, twitter, blogs, Xanga, and blogster just to name a few.  Social networking online involves using Web sites to share information with others and connect with them by creating a profile that may include a personal Web page and a blog. Social networking sites allow users to add friends, send messages and comment on others’ profile pages.   According to the Pew Internet Project, “MySpace is the most dominant social network among teens, used by 85% of teenagers who use social networks. MySpace allows users almost unlimited flexibility to create and customize their profile pages, and to share their own content or that of others, including music, videos and writing.”

The next most popular social networking site among teenagers is Facebook, which is used by 7% of teens who use social networks. Facebook, once a closed system limited to school and college communities, has recently become more open. Facebook puts out more information on actually knowing the people that you connect with.  With these social networks available, for teens, it leave it open for pedophiles.  It is easy for a, “predators” to pose as a teenager, to get information out of them, and to put them in danger.   There are also some positive ways that technology is used.  Technology is not all harmful to society.

Today, technology is getting more and more advanced.  According to Jonathan Curiel, Chronicle Staff Writer, “Within the next four months, a major Bay Area supermarket chain plans to introduce a payment system that uses biometric fingerprint authentication to verify customers’ identities. Under this system, shoppers in checkout lines won’t need to use cash, checks, debit cards or credit cards. Instead, they can place their fingers on scanners that read fingerprints, and once the device links to their bank or credit card accounts, they can buy groceries, get cash back and do everything else shoppers do.”  Having this kind of technology these days seems “futuristic”.  Is this the future?

Technology today has made some things much easier to hack into and hackers are finding new ways to get information from people through the internet.  From the New York Times, Amy Harmon printed an article called A Trick to Snoop on E-mail, which she states, “For those still harboring the illusion that e-mail exchanges are private, a watchdog group has uncovered a new trick that enables someone to essentially bug an e-mail message so that the spy would be privy to any comments that a recipient might add as the message is forwarded to others or sent back and forth.

Personally, I think, technology will continue to progress and get better. It needs to find a way to stop pedophiles, hackers and other predators from getting information from other people and abusing the internet.  I think Technology has done its part in helping the society.  Cell phones, cars, televisions, new discoveries, medicines, all has helped, but for all the technology we have, almost everything has something bad about it.   Cell phones have people finding locations and information from you.  Transportation has gas that is destroying the environment.  Televisions are messing with the knowledge of students.  Medication is helping with peoples’ needs, but the side effects give you more problems that you already have.  I guess that is the risk in having technology.  I can’t choose a side because what is good about technology has something bad about it and what is bad with technology has something good about it.  So, I guess I am 50/50.

Work Cited

INTERNET – http://www.life123.com/parenting/tweens-teens/social-networking/issues-with-teens-and-social-networking.shtml

ARTICLE #1 – The San Francisco Chronicle by Jonathan Curiel

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/25/ING4DJHBDU1.DTL

ARTICLE #2 – New York Times by Amy Harmon

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/05/technology/05JAVA.html

Facebook

Privacy and technology together present an incredible privileged but also can be a disaster in disguise.  Combining the two formed Facebook.  Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in an attempt to connect colleges and before he realized it had become a worldwide social network in itself.  Connecting, countries and continents, friends and families, soldiers, neighbors, businesses, and perfect strangers, Facebook is no longer a class project but a global empire as well.

There are two sides to every story and two points of view.  Critics quickly pointed out that Facebook is bad, because it cannot be censored efficiently, can be easily falsified, and information is never truly deleted.  However, they fail to add the positives of giving people a way to communicate across countries, helping people break out of their shyness and being able to meet others more easily, and sharing more than just words with your friends and family.

                Facebook is far too large of a company for them to individually monitor each users account so things can get through the cracks.  They have set requirement for things in an effort to censor accounts but irresponsible people take advantage and cheat the system.  People have also used false information in accounts, making them seem different then they are in reality.  These dishonest people are to blame for Facebooks bad name and false reputation.

            Although people control some of the negatives connected with Facebook, they are at fault for some things.  Once information is entered, it can never truly be deleted.  Not only is this a flaw for Facebook but also for the internet in itself.  Information such as birthdays, full names, schools attended, etc. can all be traced using information provided on Facebook.  Even if unintentionally given, a person’s life is traceable by the friends they have, comments they write, pictures they add, and information they provide.  There are many other ways to find this information but Facebook is like an easy access guide to gaining all the needed information to become whomever a person wants.

I think Facebook can be good if used wisely and responsibly.  Putting too much information or inappropriate information is the user’s responsibility to monitor his or her own account.  I personally keep in contact with friends who have gone away from college, people I left behind, family members in other states, and even a friend of mine in Australia.  Without an internet communication system I would not be able to contact her, between time change and cost of calls it would not be possible. 

In addition, people who are socially challenged feel that the computer is a place in which their shyness can fade away and they can more easily make friends and interact with others, just not in person.  By having these interactions online, it can further increase their confidence into allowing them to interact better socially and not rely on the internet entirely.  This can pose as a problem also; those who want to take advantage of weaker individuals can use them as prey to make them feel better about themselves.  These acts of bullying can go unnoticed more easily on Facebook.  Thought not untraceable, but sometimes they are noticed to late and unchangeable damage has been made to those involved.

                People are always going to find a way to crack the system and break the rules, the point is to catch them quicker and punish them harder so the problem with, hopefully, decrease over time.  However, with increasing technology, privacy and security have taken a decline in amount and accountability; leaving everyone in the predicament of balancing their technology in privacy and not crossing the fine line between the two.

Works Cited

1. Amy Muise, Emily Christofides, and Serge Desmarais. “More Information than You Ever Wanted: Does Facebook.” CyberPsychology & Behavior 2009: 441-444.Print.
2. Emily Christofides, Amy Muise, and Serge Desmarais. “Information Disclosure and Control on Facebook:.” CyberPsychology & Behavior 2009: 341-345.Print.
3. Facebook. 23 November 2009. 23 November 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook>.Web.

               Why does blood mark the ground of which the soldiers travel?  Will the battle ever end?   What reason constitutes any of this?  Many individuals believe that the soldiers should be pulled out of the war, but how often do individuals ask the soldiers how they feel about the situation.  Some see soldiers as the “bad people,” but others see them as leaders stepping up to their call of duty, fighting for justice, serving by the desires of their heart.  Those men and women represent an American, the American, who wants to serve for the rights and freedom of their country.  They serve, help, and demonstrate all the characteristics of a leader.

               Responding to an event to never be forgotten, September 11, 2009, the United States sent troops of soldiers, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, friends, and heroes, to Afghanistan to defend and protect.  Undoubtedly, fear dwelt among the people, but the heroic individuals stood with high heads, went with humility.  According to the article “Army Trainer From Bay Provides Glimpse Into Conflict: Notes from Afghanistan,” the conditions in Afghanistan could only be endure by the humble.  Daniel Carson interviewed a soldier who spoke of buildings made of mud, no electricity, no plumbing, and a quiet environment did not exist (Carson).  These circumstances, however, do not interfere with the soldier’s goal, their goal of justice.  By fighting the good fight, soldiers serve this country everyday by their dutiful and brave actions.  Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, said, “Our effort is contributing at national and local levels towards establishing a prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan, led by a government that represents and delivers for all Afghans,” (Afghanistan).  Living to serve and loving to serve create this outcome, and those key factors only create such an outcome.

               Aid, assist, and facilitate all do not describe the help the U.S. soldiers provide.  They have contributed to aspects not only related to Afghanistan’s stabilization, but they have gone over and beyond the expectations of the outsider.  The interviewee of Carson’s article, Master Sgt. Jeffrey “Jeff” Bullard said that “the troops have provided medical and humanitarian assistance to the Afghans, including the distribution of jackets, shoes, beans, small stoves, cooking oil and coal,” (Carson).  Not only do soldiers fight, but they provide the Afghans with the warmth of a jacket, the supply of food, and the will to continue each day providing to the best of their abilities.  On the other hand, some argue the negative aspects of their presence in Afghanistan.  According to the article “Armed Forces and the invisible wounds of war,” their presence causes pain for families due to casualties and psychological damage to the soldiers, like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, etc. (Armed).   The effect of the war on children surrounds the issue of the war.  According to Frean Alexandra’s article “Youth stifled by toll of war,” children lack social networks, freedom, and even psychological freedom (Alexandra).  Others, like Douglas Alexander, say that the soldiers’ actions are increasing the life expectancy for children (Afghanistan).   Although many cannot fathom why individuals would put themselves in these predicaments or who would allow such profound outcomes, the soldiers accepted everything and sacrificed everything in order to help the people, all humankind. 

               Soldiers resemble all the characteristics of a superhero, like strength, fearless, and the ability to lead.  They made a choice, because of their own desires, to help their country, our country.  Private Michael Wayne Hooper, Jr. said, “I’m so ready to go, and us being there is helping a lot, and we aren’t in that much danger,” (Hooper).  Those statements are brave, strong, and sure.  It takes a hero to look at the subject of war in this perspective.  Soldiers want to serve with desire and dedication.  Another soldier, in Joseph L. Galloway’s article “From Iraq, A Soldier/Father’s Perspective On the War,” a quote by Sgt. Zachary Scott-Singley read, “Sitting there listening to the briefing I let my mind wander and said a prayer. ’Just one more day, God, let me live one more day and we will go from there,’ It was the same prayer I said every day,” (Galloway).  Strong faith brings forth strong leaders, like Sgt. Singley, and children should follow in the soldiers’ steps, not necessarily for the same career path but by the passion they have acquired to accomplish each task thrown at them.  Qualities of such greatness should not only represent a soldier, but also, an American.

               Soldiers sacrifice their lives to serve, help, and lead.  Serving defines their job.  Helping embodies their goal.  Leading symbolizes their character.  Without the soldiers’ aid, in the war in Afghanistan and others, America would not have such peace and freedom of which all know.  Many question their presence in Afghanistan; however, many individuals question everything.  People cannot understand why the war continues, and this alone shows the typical person’s pessimistic thoughts.  If we, as a people, think more optimistically, in terms of humanity, the vision of a soldier would clear the fogginess our perception. The soldiers have a purpose to serve, and that purpose provides the strength the keep going when times get tough, the will to aid in every way known, the desire to lead, and the hopes of a better present and a better future.  They chose to stand for their country, but who will stand for them?  WE must stand for them.  We must stand when some have fallen, either due to death or the extreme weight placed upon their lives.  We must stand to support because negativity never goes far.  We must stand as they do, to create more leaders in this world.  We must stand to aid in assisting the world because Americans help.  Whether individuals choose to serve as a soldier, aid as a nurse, or lead on the battlefield, all Americans have the right of freedom, so we must protect it like the soldiers, with our all.

To Risk It or Not to Risk It

You’re surfing on the internet and oh wow look at those amazing red high heels! You start to think about how many outfits those red high heels will match with. Online shopping is probably the easiest way to shop nowadays. With technology being so advanced you can get almost anything online. However, you stop to think, are these shoes really worth charging to my credit card?

Using a credit or debit card online is one of the easiest ways to become accessible to identity theft. Once you decide to buy those shoes and place your card numbers into the boxes it could be all over for you. Some sick person could be hacking into your computer and thinking they won the jackpot by receiving your card number. Now do you really think those amazing red high heels are worth it? Also is it really worth spending one hundred dollars on a pair of shoes when someone else may possibly use your card for lord knows what or how much.

Now what really is identity theft? Identity theft is when someone, in a sense, wants to become you, or basically have your credit score or money. There are many reasons why a person will steal someone’s identity. In addition to that there are numerous ways a thief can steal your identity. The most common ways identity theft occurs is when someone gets a hold of your banking account information, credit cards, social security number, and driver license number.

Identity theft occurs daily. You hear in the news about someone losing everything because someone stole their identity. According to the CBS early show back in June 1999, they estimated that 400,000 Americans will become victims of identity theft in the year of 1999. Now think about how much that number has increased with the growing technology.

Back in 1994 Stacy Tisdale was a victim of identity theft. Stacy’s identity wasn’t stolen over the internet though. Her purse was stolen with all of the important belongs, such as IDs, checks, credit cards, and more.  Whoever stole her identity ruined her credit; no stores would except checks from her or even let her open a credit card (“Stolen Identity.”  CBS The Early Show).

No one wants to end up like Stacy, but this same story still happens to many other people around the world. Now think about how much time it took for the person to corrupt Stacy’s credit. It probably took them a few days to destroy everything. Just think about how easy it would be for someone to ruin someone else’s credit online. Being online could demolish someone’s credit in a matter of a few hours.

Another example of an easy way to have your identity stolen is someone just taking a picture of your credit/debit card. A man was ordering a pizza one day and when he went to pay with his card the man behind the counter took a picture with his cell phone. Luckily the card owner realized what happened. Therefore he mentioned that as soon as he left the pizza parlor he canceled his card (Fehlman, Tim. “Stories of Identity Theft”).

Even though the man ordering the pizza was able to stop his identity from being stolen, you may be wondering how to stop identity theft from happening to you. Hackers will always continue to find some way to steal a person’s identity. However, there are many ways you can protect yourself from having identity theft happen to you.

While online make sure all passwords are very hard for someone to guess. Plus only you should know your passwords. Another way to reduce having your identity stolen over the internet is by not shopping online. Once you enter in your account number for your card it automatically becomes stuck into cyber space. Someone could easily hack into your computer and find out your account number. The same goes for using your pin number on the internet. There are many cruel people in the world that would love to get their hands on your money.

Using personal information online can corrupt your life. Even putting your information about your birthday onto facebook, myspace, twitter, and many other places make you an easy target for identity theft. My advice to you is to not even enter this information online.

However, having your identity stolen doesn’t always occur just with the internet. Leaving your purse or wallet unattended gives a person an opportunity to steal everything away from you. So while you’re in public places or even have company over make sure your valuable items are secured away or right next to you.

Within today’s society people even go to extreme lengths to steal someone’s identity. For example someone will go through your trash to find out your information. A person digging through your trash feels as though they are digging for gold. The saying always goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Therefore always make sure you tear up all important documents with personal information before you throw them away. A really good investment to have would be a paper shredder. It’s impossible for someone to piece all those tiny pieces together to get your information.

Now an unexpected place for someone to steal your information would be your glove box within your vehicle. If you leave important information like your car insurance, title, and registration make sure your glove box has a key. You never know who might happen to just look into your glove box and help themselves to your information.

After giving you many details about identity theft where do you think you stand? Do you think you are an easy target for someone to get? Is your credit good or bad, because if it’s good you are mostly definitely a perfect target for someone? So now do you really think those amazing red high heels are really worth buying over the internet?

Documentation

“Stolen Identity.”  CBS The Early Show. 25 June 1999. Web.  23 November 2009

                While researching for articles about identity theft this article became appealing to me. From this article I used their story about how Stacy Tisdale’s identity was stolen from her. Along with this website this article was broadcasted on the television air on CBS The Early Show.

Fehlman, Tim. “Stories of Identity Theft.” The Daily Cup of Tech. 27 April 2007. Web.  23 November 2009

                During my reading throughout the web, I came across this website about four different stories of identity theft. However, the third story became most appealing to me. It was about a man who almost had his identity stolen. I felt as though this article would help let readers know a way to protect them self from identity theft.

“Information For Consumers – Protecting Your Identity In The Real World.” BBBOnline. 2003. Web. 23 November 2009

                Using the information from this website seems to be very helpful. It explains many ways what a person is looking for when they want to steal your identity. It continues on to explain about ways to protect yourself from having your identity stolen. I used this website within my article to help explain to readers how they should protect themselves. Everyone has the right to know how to protect their identity from other cruel people in the world.

Positive Outcomes in Afghanistan

Over the course of history in the United States, women made great strides.  Inspirational leaders like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, made us strong and independent women.  In today’s society, I think women take for granted their right to vote, marry who they want, speak freely, wear what they want, further their education, and earn an income. 

In Afghanistan, men consider women below them and treat them with little or no respect.  The history of Afghanistan mentions mostly men and their accomplishments while in actuality the Afghan women shaped their country’s history in a bigger way than the men.  In one battle against the British, a woman named Malalai, risked her life to insure that the Afghans would win.  Afghans named schools and hospitals after her and called her the Joan of Arc of Afghanistan. (Quazi)  This one instance, where a woman did something positive and also acknowledged for it, didn’t happen often. 

A group called the Taliban came into power in 1996 further worsening the ways women were treated.  Statistics display that only 12.6% of women were literate compared to 32.4% of men and not expected to live past age 42 and they hold the highest maternal mortality in the world.  (Morgan) Not only were women deprived of education and proper health care, they were also abused.  One in every three Afghan women encounters physical, psychological, or sexual violence. Most of the men force the women into marriages as children and later abused by their husbands.  In the United States, violence towards women results in a heavy punishment involving jail time, but in Afghanistan, the high level of discrimination towards women denies them of any fair justice.  I can’t imagine the feeling of not having a reliable legal system, especially as a woman in an abusive relationship.  Who would you go to for help?

After the September 11, 2001 attack in New York, the harsh treatment of Afghan women forced itself into the mainstream media as a topic of conversation among Americans.  After the invasion of Afghanistan began, the Taliban and Al Qaeda became less powerful and we forced them out of certain parts of the country. In those areas free of Taliban control, the restrictions on the women were lifted, allowing them to return to work, attend school, and no longer bullied to wear burkas covering their faces.

In 2004, Afghanistan adopted a new constitution that read “The citizens of Afghanistan-whether man or woman-have equal rights and duties before the law.”(Qauzi)  The War in Afghanistan greatly improved and still improves the lives of young girls and women.  Since the war began, a first for everything also began.  Azra Jafari became the country’s first female mayor, a first political party arose dedicated to women’s rights and issues, a female boxing federation was established, and many more things to come in the future.  Educationally, in 2008 5.4 million children were enrolled in school and 35% were girls. (Quazi)  Without the war and our brave troops, the Afghan women and girls would still live an unbearable life of arranged marriages, violence, poor health care, and illiteracy.

Keeping Al Qaeda on the run continues the successful advances in the war on terror.  Preventing Al Qaeda and the Taliban from operating freely in Afghanistan slows their attacks on the rest of the world and keeps their radical Islamic beliefs contained.  Even though the national news documents the daily toll of American lives lost in the War in Afghanistan, the fact remains that America and their allies destroyed the terror camps that played a role in training high ranking members, resulting in another positive outcome of the war. 

On the other hand, Americans say that the newly gained freedoms and rights to the Afghan women cost our nation too much.  As evidenced in the October 28, 2009 article in the Messenger-Inquirer, “Roadside bombs-the biggest killer of U.S. soldiers-claimed eight more American lives Tuesday, drive the U.S. death toll to a record level for the third time in four months.”  (Pitman) No doubt, the cost of human lives and war cause our nation grief, however, not fighting for our continued freedoms, education, and the advancement of women’s rights would allow tyranny and anarchy to rein across the world.

In conclusion, this war in Afghanistan continues to take the lives of innocent victims, from the Afghan civilian population to the opium drug users in other countries to our own DEA agents.  An article dated October 27, 2009 in the Messenger-Inquirer discussed the loss of life of three of our DEA agents.  The agents bravely worked with our troops to eradicate the illegal opium farms that support many of the Taliban in this third world country. (Vogt) Without constant pressure on the opium trade and the Taliban, Afghanistan will slip back to Taliban control, thereby increasing the chances of safe havens for Al-Qaeda terrorists.  Sadly, risking lives in war sometimes becomes necessary to ensure our right to live our lives in freedom.

Works Cited

Quazi, Abdullah. “The Plight of the Afghan Women.” Afghanistan Online.30 Aug. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.

This website gave me good information on the history of Afghan women and the changes they are making today.

Morgan, Clara. “Afghanistan: The Status of Women.” Library of Parliament. 10 Jan. 2008. Web. 20 Nov. 2009.

This website gave me some good statistics about the life expectancy, health care, literacy rates, and the Afghan women’s access to education.

Pitman, Todd. “October becomes Afghan war’s deadliest month for Americans.” Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro) 28 Oct. 2009, A1+. Print.

This newspaper article had a lot of good information on the present state of Afghanistan and how there are more causalities due to road side bombs.

Vogt, Heidi. “Helicopter crashes kill 14 Americans.” Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro) 27 Oct. 2009. A7. Print.

This newspaper article informed me about the DEA agents and Afghan security troops getting injured in a crash. It also mentioned that the Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium.

Universal Health Care: The Policy That Covers Everyone!

                “For 35 years Dr. Joseph Manley enjoyed the lifestyle of the rich and famous as a successful distinguished gynecologist.  He had a thriving health clinic in Kansas. He lived in the most affluent neighborhood and treated himself to a new Porsche every year,” (Pilkington).  However, as his age progressed his health regressed.   He began to experience difficulty swallowing and involuntary muscle movement, and soon was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.  This disease devoured his entire body and forced him out of his own medical practice.   So, “instantly, he fell victim to a catch 22 that entrapped many of his own patients: No Work, No Health Insurance, and No Treatment.” (Pilkington)

                Unlike our Health Care System, disease and sickness don’t discriminate against people.  They don’t care about how many years you’ve worked.  They don’t care about your distinguished titles. They don’t care about your homes or businesses you’ve established.  They don’t care if you end up in poverty.  They don’t care if you’re a doctor, family member, millionaire, veteran, or average Joe.  These foul ailments seek individuals to kill, destroy, and suffer their fate.  No one escapes the raft disease and sickness bestow.  We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world– No work, No Health Insurance, No treatment—should not exist!  Therefore, I adamantly argue, United States government provide Universal Health Care to ensure all citizens have access to medical treatment, set minimum standards for medical field, and to maintain a healthy constituent population.

            Universal Health Care must provide all eligible Americans access to medical, dental, and mental health care coverage.  Let’s face it, many people don’t go to the doctor because they

simply do not have insurance and can’t afford a doctor’s bill. So, every year millions of people cost the American government and tax payers trillions of dollars in hospital bills, medications, and therapeutic contraptions for preventable diseases.  For example, “…the United States now spends $2.4 trillion a year on medical care — vastly more per capita than comparable countries — …on premature deaths caused by illnesses such as diabetes, epilepsy, stroke, influenza, ulcers and pneumonia, according to research by the nonpartisan Commonwealth Fund published in the journal Health affairs.  The U.S. ranks at the bottom of 19 industrialized nations in the number of preventable deaths by these conditions,” (Connolly).  We are a nation sworn to protect and serve the people.  There will be no one dying to avoid a doctor’s bill if we make health care accessible to everyone.

Furthermore, a Universal Health Care system sets minimum standards those in the medical field to practice and obey.  Today’s physicians are distracted, overly cautious, and hesitant to provide health care to their patients due to the over abundance of laws that now protect the patients, basically, they’re afraid of getting sued. However, a Universal Health Care system would force doctors to concentrate on healing the patient rather than focus on insurance procedures, malpractice liability, etc. and improve quality service a patient receives, stop costly medical procedures, and regulate medication prices.   “Doctors must practice defensive medicine to avoid getting sued. They’re often restricted by insurance practices, such as what tests can be ordered. Some physicians are even leaving the profession rather than deal with all these non-medical headaches. A simplified universal health system would allow doctors, nurses, and other medical professions to simply focus on doing what’s best for the patient. Medicine is a complex enough subject as it is. Our current system just adds to an already mentally-draining profession,” (http://www.balancedpolitics.org/universal_health_care.htm)

Last, we must maintain a healthy constituent population to ensure our country thrives in the 21st century. Each year, about 2.5 million people die nationwide.  Why? Because our government waits until our citizens reach retirement age before providing decent health care benefits and coverage. Usually, people are physically and mentally worn out during this state in life.  They’re in rest mode and may never live to reap the health benefits and coverage our county so nicely stores.  So, why put off providing health care coverage until you reach retirement age when able bodied constituents need it now?  “Tough health care policy decisions revolve around cost-benefit trade-offs.  If the country shifted the emphasis from care for the elderly to policies that favor earlier preventive and lifestyle choices then a shift in policy could lead to more people reaching age 65 …,” (Carnegie Mellon University).  United States is one of the leading industrialize nation’s in the world.  We are leaders among many nations and want to remain that way. We dominate games at the Olympics. We send many soldiers to war. We invent cutting edge technological gadgets.  We discover cures for diseases. We must invest and support the idea of having Universal Health Care now to ensure the health of our young citizens who keep will keep this country functioning at top rank status.

Some might argue that Universal Health Care is less beneficial to the public and would do more harm than good because Universal Health Care would  increase taxes, decrease the quality service due to increased amounts of patients, lower pay for doctors or anyone involved in the medical field,  and limit patients health care choices.  However, I argue that we already face these dilemmas now.  We have poor health care services due to the abundance of over worked physicians that see excessive patients. We already pay increase taxes into to a system that may not exist in the near future (better known as Social Security).  We have limited health care choices due to the high outrageous cost for medical services and medications.  However, what we don’t have is a system that provides health care to everyone in need.  No one should die in this wealthy country because they can’t pay the doctor—no one!  Therefore, the government must provide Universal Health Care to ensure all citizens have access to medical treatment, set minimum standards for medical field, and to maintain a healthy constituent population.

Bibliography

Connolly, Ceci. “U.S. Losing Ground on Preventable Deaths.” 6 October 2009. The Washington  

Post. Web. 23 November 2009 <www.washingtonpost.com>.

Pilkington, Ed. Dying for affordable healthcare — the uninsured speak.Web. 21 august 2009. 23

November 2009 <www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/aug/…/healthcare-provision-us-uk >.

Carnegie Mellon University. “Health-Care Debate Linked to Risk of Dying in US and Europe.”

ScienceDaily Web. 22 November 2009. 23 November 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­

/releases/2009/11/091106145256.htm>.

.

When Will They Come Home?

            Imagine being the mother of a child who every night asks you when his or her daddy will come home from war.  You, a mother wanting to protect your child, naturally tell them that their dad will come home soon.  In all honesty, no one knows when or if your husband will come home.  This scenario becomes increasingly common as the decade progresses.  This scenario could occur vice-versa; the mother may go to war.  Why, when discussing the war, do people say we need to leave primarily because of the money spent by our nation?  I’ll tell you why.  Inflation affects everyone nationwide, while not everyone knows someone fighting in the war.  I definitely do not support the war in Afghanistan.  The withdrawal of soldiers from Afghanistan needs to occur soon; we don’t need to send more overseas. 

            This war in Afghanistan continues even after a little over 8 years.  In that time, think of the countless soldiers already sent to Afghanistan and how many of them died.  According to an article published by Sharon Cohen in the Messenger-Inquirer on November 22, 2009 titled “Bad month in Afghanistan ripples across U.S.”, a record of 62 Americans lost their lives in October alone.  The deaths of these 62 Americans “would expand to 28 states” (A3).  With an increasing monthly death toll, one of two events will occur.  Either the soldiers will withdraw, or several thousand more will travel to Afghanistan. 

            Some people may argue that the United States simply wants to help rebuild the Afghanistan nation which we helped destroy.  A little bit ironic don’t you think?  The Iraqis bomb the Twin Towers, we respond by assaulting their country, and now we hope to better their lifestyle?  At what cost?  We risk lives of numerous soldiers in an attempt to better life for people living overseas.  For those people who support this war in Afghanistan, consider this.  Aren’t there problems which citizens of the United States face that require some more attention?  Job employment rates declining, people going hungry and without shelter in the United States, a rapid economic decline, and still no cure for cancer.  According to a report on www.nationalpriorities.org, the war already cost the United States $915.1 billion dollars!  And to worsen matters, the report discusses a “130 billion dollar request for more war spending.”  This would bring the total cost to nearly 1 trillion dollars (National Priorities 1).  I know of several other places to invest that much money.

            Next, let’s look at what the United States accomplished so far in the war in Afghanistan.  Nothing sums this up better than a transcript of a Capitol Conference edited by Thomas R. Mattair, Lawrence J. Korb, Barry R. Posen, and Gareth Porter entitled “Is There A Responsible Exit From The Strategic Ambush In Iraq?”  In this article, Chas. W. Freeman Jr. sums up what the United States managed to accomplish so far in Iraq.  He states that “It’s clear that we did succeed in removing Saddam Hussein and bringing him to trial. We verified that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. That’s a major achievement for our political-military strategy.”  “However, we also destroyed the Iraqi state, dismembered Iraqi politics, destabilized intercommunal relations, desecularized political life and attracted, created, and are now in the process of training an entire new generation of terrorists” (1).  Oops.

            Other supporters of the war may argue that we need to exact “revenge” on terrorists for killing so many citizens during the attack on the Twin Towers.  I agree that action needs to occur in response to the 9/11 attack, but an eight year war?  Isn’t that a little excessive?  And it’s not even over yet; in fact, there isn’t any real sign regarding the end.  Besides, everyone knows that responding in a negative way such as a war only leads to negative consequences.  And, correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t parents always tell their children that violence doesn’t solve problems?  I guess that gets thrown out at the international level though.  The overly aggressive United States does not fully think through decisions such as whether or not to send more troops overseas.  According to an article entitled “Obama Eyes More Troops for Afghan War”, posted by Anne Gearan and Jennifer Loven on news.aol.com, President Obama could possibly send another 32,000-35,000 U.S. troops over to Afghanistan (Gearan, Loven 3).

            This endless war in Afghanistan negatively affects everyone in the United States in some way.  Soon people won’t wonder whether or not an individual knows anyone in the war, but how many people that individual knows who died in the war.  With all the money that the war will require should it continue, who knows what will happen to our economy.  If people think things are bad now, imagine if the war continues for another five years.  How many more soldiers would lose their lives, families, and everything they hold dear?  How many families torn apart by the death of a loved one?  Troops already stationed in Afghanistan should withdraw instead of sending more soldiers to war.  Would you willingly risk your life to fight? 

Works Cited

“About the Cost of War”. National Priorities Project. November 23, 2009             <http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home.>

            The article states the cost of the war as well as the potential cost of war.

Cohen, Sharon. “Bad month in Afghanistan ripples across U.S.”. Messenger-Inquirer         November 22, 2009: A3-A3.

            Cohen’s article reflects on the losses suffered by the United States during the war             in Afghanistan in October of 2009.

Gearan, Anne.  Loven, Jennifer. “Obama Eyes More Troops for Afghan War”. AOL

            News.  Published November 23, 2009.  Edited 2 hrs and 17 minutes ago.

        November 23, 2009.       <http://news.aol.com/article/military-officials-president-obama/764251.>         

            This article discusses the possibility of sending thousands more troops overseas to Afghanistan.

Mattair, Thomas R., et al. “Is There a Responsible Exit from the Strategic Ambush in         Iraq?.” Middle East Policy 13.2 (2006): 1-22. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO.        Web. 23 Nov. 2009.

This edited transcript gives an in-depth look into the withdrawal of the U.S.   troops out of Afghanistan.  One part of the transcript also states the accomplishments of the United States in the war so far.

As We Advance Technologically are We Losing Privacy?

            Modern age has brought about a wide range of technological advances, from new advances in automobiles to cell phones and computers. My generation has to have an ipod, cell phone, and a laptop to fit in. Cell phones that were once meant for placing and taking calls are now playing music, taking pictures and videos, texting, playing games, and even surfing the internet. The modern teenager is also on a social network at all times, like facebook, myspace, and twitter. Hackers love to use these social networks of ours to gain access to our personal information. Identity theft happens to millions of people every year. Hackers use this personal information they gained from social networks to gains access to e-mails accounts bank accounts. Most of us must have brand new cars with all kinds of gadgets in them like voice activated calling, music, and OnStar. The Question is now how much privacy do we actually have? According to an article from CNET news, the U.S. Commerce Department’s security office warns that “a cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone.”(CNET news) The Government can listen in on any phone conversation, and they can also activate your phone’s microphone and listen to nearby conversations. There is little if any privacy left for you and me if the Government is listening to every phone call we make.

            Social networking is ever increasing in popularity among teens and younger. We all use some sort of SN, weather its facebook, myspace, or twitter. We are always chatting or sharing status updates. Teens spend multiple hours on these sites everyday, even I do! Most teens will post information about them on these sites like hometown, zip code, phone number, home address and ect. Most identity theft can be prevented by not posting personal information on these sites. Hackers love to use you’re personnel information to gain access to e-mail and bank accounts. “As the technology becomes ever more penetrating and intrusive, it becomes possible to gather information with laser-like specificity and with sponge-like absorbency. If we think about the information gathering net as being parallel to a fishing net, then the mesh of the net has become finer and the net wider.”(Privacy and Technology)

Works Cited

McCullagh, Declan, and Anne Broache. “FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool.”

             CNET New, 1 Dec. 2006. Web. 24 Nov. 2009.

Marx, Gary T. “Privacy and Technology”. Homepage of Professor Gary T. Marx.                                                   

1 Nov. 1999. Web 24 Nov. 2009.