The True Meaning of CHRISTmas

Christmas is undoubtedly the most wonderful time of year. All of the lights, trees and decorations make us feel warm and fuzzy even when the weather outside is "frightful". But if we ask ourselves what comes to mind when we hear the word Christmas, most of us won't be thinking about Jesus, the Nativity or even the Bible. These images have been substituted with Santa, reindeer and toys under a lighted tree.

No one can dispute that the origin of the holiday is from the Christian church. Despite the Bible's lack of reserving a day for commemorating the birth of our Lord, December 25 was marked as the official date in the Roman calendar back in the 4th century.

Like any other important holiday, traditions were established. When Christmas was freshly instituted as a holiday, feasts and plays were a huge part of the festivities. These traditions are still upheld today. Decorating a tree was started during the 1600's in Germany. German immigrants brought over the tradition during the 1700's and now this phenomena is primarily practiced in North America and Western Europe. Gift-giving was demonstrated in the New Testament, when the Three Wise Men brought precious gifts to the newborn Savior. This is now the primary custom of Christmas. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, was an ancient Catholic saint who left a legacy of generosity and love. His legacy slowly evolved and eventually he became an all-knowing, jolly, sleigh-riding man named Santa Claus who lives in the North Pole with an army of elves who work tirelessly throughout the year to fulfill the wishes of "good" children around the world.

With so many secular customs distracting the majority from the true meaning of Christmas, it's inevitable that the religious aspects will lose significance. Many Christians, myself included, have become disappointed to see how secularized a once religious holiday can become. With 60% to 76% of Americans identifying themselves as Christians, it's interesting to see how easily influenced the nation can become due to a lack of strong faith.

Cain Cracks Under Pressure

As we all know, Herman Cain has been under fire over the past few weeks for the loads of harassment and adultery allegations that five separate women have brought against him. Amidst all this pressure, Cain has decided to suspend his Presidential Campaign, making the official announcement yesterday.

Personally, this whole ordeal reminded me of the struggle for those accused of witchcraft in The Crucible. From the very start of this scandal, the media sided with the three sketchy, unidentified women who accused Mr. Cain of harassment, sexual assault and sending provocative emails/texts.When two more women came forward (who chose to unveil their identities), only a few news outlets immediately took the time to conduct background checks. The outlets that did found long histories of legal troubles, bankruptcy filings and eviction notices from the two women who have released their identities.

Now, I am in no way defending Mr. Cain because he still suspended his campaign, which strongly suggests that there must have been some monkey business going on between him and at least one of these women. The point that I am trying to make is that the media jumped to conclusions without looking at both sides of the story. This goes to show that Americans haven't progressed much since 1692 Salem. Proctor said: "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God’s fingers?". Instead of referencing Pokemón, maybe Cain should have used some of Proctor's lines to defend himself. 

Counting Our Blessings

This week, the Pakistani government issued letters to all domestic cell phone companies stating that it would start blocking any text messages with "obscene" words. The specific words would be under the discretion of the telecommunication authority, but a list of about 1500 English and Urdu words were additionally listed. Among these banned words (which were mostly sexually explicit terms) were "Jesus Christ", "tampon" and "headlights". Many feel like it must violate some law, but in fact, it is legal under the 1996 act which blocks people from sending data through the telecommunications system that is "false, fabricated or obscene". The law also says that the government has the authority to ban all free speech "in the interest of the glory of Islam".

When I read this story, I felt so grateful to be living in this country. Not only are we well protected from foreign threats, but we have freedom of speech and religion. Our government may be large enough to regulate much of our daily lives, but we the people still have more than enough freedoms to live comfortably.

I feel like this story is published at such an ironic time. In class, we are learning about how our government has limited our liberties in the past and still does to this day. After reading this article, it made me realize that we complain too much. Obviously, our society can improve in so many different ways: socially, economically, morally, etc. On the other hand, we need to be grateful for living in a nation that still values basic human rights such as freedom of speech, religion, the right to a trial and countless others that we as Americans take for granted everyday. It is no surprise that millions upon millions of immigrants have moved into this country throughout its existence to seek refuge from their hostile homelands, my parents included. Even today, we are still the envy of much of the world. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I hope that everyone who lives in this country, legally or illegally, will count their blessings.

"Occupy" Protesters Turning Up the Heat

For most of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, protesters have been abiding by the laws of this country and seeking peaceful demonstrations. Lately, it seems that the tension between the protesters and the police has been getting worse and worse. Police in Seattle have pepper-sprayed an 84-year-old woman as well as a pregnant 19-year-old just this past week. Demonstrators are outraged by the recent use of brute force exhibited by police. Because of this, many are seeking revenge. In fact, protesters in New York have threatened to fight back, stating that they will use rocks, bottles and molotov cocktails to retaliate against aggressive cops. One protester even stated that they will "burn New York City to the ground". This very well may be just an empty threat, but authorities take statements like these seriously.

Even though police are kicking it up a few notches, protesters have held their ground. I may not agree with what they're protesting against, but I admire their willingness to stand up for what they believe in. The media has been bashing these demonstrators left and right simply because they won't go away. It's alarming to see how drastically America has devalued the right to assembly. Throughout the Perilous Times unit, we have been discussing how our government has limited this amendment just about every time there is a military conflict. Unfortunately, this right is looked down upon even in modern times. Ultimately, I feel like it is our job as the new generation to continue using our Constitutional right of free speech, and at the same time, not crucify each other for our discrepancies, which is what the media is best at.

Click here to see the full pepper-spray article.

Winnetka's Affordable Housing Dilemma

Winnetka is known for its lush wildlife, beautiful lakeshore beaches and great schools. More notably, Winnetka is notorious for its lack of diversification between races and monetary classes, with 93% of residents listed as white, a median household income of around $200,000 and median property value of about $1 million. Winnetka (along with other North Shore suburbs) is one of the few neighborhoods in the country who hasn't been hit hard by these down economic times.

Because of this, many residents feel like the village has enough money to build houses that are affordable to less fortunate families. Owner-occupied houses will be built to sustain a family who makes at least $75,000 a year and rented houses will sustain families with an income of at least $45,000. Supporters feel like the "social good" of this plan is far more important than the possibility of a rise in taxes or a lowering of surrounding property values. Opposers are scared of the possibility of rising crime rates and feel like the government should not get involved in providing houses in such a high-end area to those who simply can't afford to live there on their own.

American values are definitely at stake here. Our nation is known for always offering a helping hand to those in need. If a natural disaster occurs halfway across the globe, we are always the first to send aid. When citizens of an oppressed country spark up a civil war, we are always joining the fight or sending weapons/ammunition to help support those trying to overthrow the dictator. At the same time, we are always looking out for our best interests above all else. We rarely join a conflict if there isn't some sort of benefit for us.

That being said, should Winnetka follow through with their plans of making affordable housing out of good will and to promote a sense of community? Or should they look out for their best interests and not put themselves in a position where tax and crime rates could potentially be higher than they are now?

America's Addiction

Whenever I go to my grandparents' house, I can't help but notice all the prescription pills they have on their kitchen table and in their fridge. I have gone over way too many times to count, but still the amount of orange bottles they own never ceases to amaze me. This got me into doing some research and what I found really grabbed my attention.

According to a 2010 report by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), almost half of all Americans take at least one prescribed medication. About a third use two or more, and close to one in ten take at least five. Not only that, but one in five children are on pills and a staggering nine out of ten senior citizens are taking prescription drugs. The types of medications that most of these groups are taking is also surprising:
for the older generations, cholesterol-lowering drugs are most common. For children, asthma and amphetamine stimulants are popular. And for the middle-aged, anti-depressants are the drugs of choice.

With obesity at an all-time high, organic foods becoming harder to find and more expensive, and prescription drug use through the roof, Americans need to seriously consider how the future of this country is at risk. With more and more people dying from health-related issues, many feel like pills will save them from the growing health epidemic. Due to modern medicine, doctors are issuing prescriptions like there's no tomorrow because they get royalties from prescription companies based on the number of prescriptions issued and units bought by the patient. Unfortunately, most Americans are too naive and uninformed to know how this drug circle works, so they blindly trust their doctors. Once these drug companies become richer, they have the money to lobby Congress and pressure them to pass drug company-friendly bills such as Obamacare which will further expand their businesses.

I am proud to say that I have only had about one or two prescriptions throughout my entire life due to some serious illnesses back in the day. Today, I rely on natural remedies for treatment during the rare occasion that I may become ill. I highly suggest that everyone else does the same unless, of course, your illness can only be treated properly with modern medicine. Natural and organic alternatives benefit your health, the environment and can help reduce the amount of impact that drug companies have on our daily lives. Everyone wins.

NObama 2012?

As I see more and more GOP debates on TV, I realize how badly the public wants Obama out of the White House as soon as possible. With an approval index of -23 (20% of people strongly agree with him, 43% strongly disagree), his days seem to be numbered as long as Republicans can choose a decent candidate. Based on conversations that I've held with people, the general leniency is toward Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Herman Cain or Newt Gingrich as the GOP frontrunner.

Because Obama has not come through with many of his campaign promises, citizens are getting fed up. We (myself included) have had enough of the cluelessness that is driving this country into the ground. Obama's lack of experience in both the private and political sectors are coming back to haunt him. It took America three years to realize that the government can't spend its way out of a financial crisis. I certainly hope this isn't a lesson we'll forget anytime soon.

President Obama is kicking off a three-day trip to Western states to try to earn back some Hispanic support. Recently, polls have shown a drop in approval rating among Latino voters. They have been hit the hardest since this economic downturn started. In states like Nevada, where unemployment tops the nation at 13.4%, voters (Hispanics especially) are looking for a candidate who can stimulate the economy and provide jobs for them. If he plans on keeping up with the Republican field, Obama needs to persuade these key Western states that he in fact is the man who can help put the country back on track.

As Americans, we all realize the importance of voting. With the 2012 election just a year away, we now need to realize the importance of choosing the right candidate. Some of us will be old enough to vote when the election comes around. Therefore, I urge everyone who reads this post to continuously ponder who they would want running the country if the election would be held tomorrow. Our nation can't afford another unproductive and inexperienced leader.

New Sidewalk Converts Steps to Electricity

British engineers have developed a sidewalk that converts footsteps into electricity. The invention, set to debut at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, is causing quite the stir in the tech world. Engineers have formulated a way to transfer the kinetic energy from the impact of footsteps into small bursts of electricity to power nearby appliances such as street lamps and traffic lights. According to Laurence Kemball-Cook, the 25-year-old engineering graduate who developed the prototype during his final year of university in 2009, said that these slabs can store electricity for three days in its internal battery. Despite that each step only powers a regular street lamp for 30 seconds, this will certainly add up with crowds estimated to be in the millions during the summer games.

It seems like America is falling farther and farther behind in the manufacturing industry. With countries like Great Britain, China, Japan and Germany consistently leading the rest of the world in production of great new technologies, it's no wonder why America keeps falling deeper into debt. Not only are we not producing jobs to stimulate the economy, we simply aren't creating anything revolutionarily useful for the world (besides iPhones). If America were to return to the manufacturing powerhouse we used to be back in the days of the Industrial Revolution, we wouldn't have to worry about a collapsing economy and decreasing consumer confidence. Besides having other nations start taking us seriously again, we would bring jobs back to the American people and we wouldn't have to rely on other countries making our goods.

For the full story, click here

Apple: The Definition of the American Dream

Looking back on Steve Jobs' life and the many accomplishments he achieved, I'm taken aback by how much it resembles the American Dream. This man started his business from ground zero and worked hard enough so it can become the single most valuable company in the world, worth around $343 billion.

Jobs, a college dropout, started Apple Computer, Inc. in 1976 along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne out of Jobs' garage in Silicon Valley, CA. Fast forward a few years and Apple's Macintosh  is a best-selling computer. Then in the '90s, Jobs was ousted as CEO and was unemployed for several months before starting a string of new companies including PIXAR Animation Studios, most notable for its productions of the Toy Story series, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles and many other hit animated movies. After Apple took a plummet from its relevance in the technology world, Jobs was rehired and took the company to new heights with his involvement in inventions like the iPod, iPhone, iPad and MacBook projects. He now has his name on over 300 patents and his personal fortune is estimated at around $7 billion.

After starting a company out of a buddy's garage, Steve's persistence, dedication and stubborn attitude lead him to be one of the most iconic entrepreneurs of our time. The growth of his empire practically mirrors the American Dream. Although living the American Dream doesn't have to be creating a multi-national corporation, it does involve overcoming obstacles and being successful in the field that you have a passion for. For Steve Jobs, it was technology.

                                                      Steve Jobs with the iPhone 4 in 2010

CPS Still Fails Expectations (for the most part)

As many of us know, the Chicago Public School system has gone through a vast array of reforms. Ranging from teacher layoffs to a 90 minute extension of the school day, CPS has changed many aspects of their already failing system. A report published by the University of Chicago states that all these changes aren't improving the student performance in math and reading comprehension (at elementary and middle school levels) very much. Despite all this, high school performance is improving. Dropout rates have decreased and ACT scores/graduation rates have both improved. With murder rates on the rise, it doesn't surprise many that high school students have started to stay in school more. And with an extension of the school day, many CPS board members state that crime rates are likely to decrease. Only time will tell if the extra hour and a half will do much.

For full story, click here

US Hikers Held Captive in Iran Finally Home

Two American hikers that were held captive by the Iranian government for two years finally returned to America today after being freed earlier this week. Ironically, they were sentenced to eight years in Iranian prison for espionage and illegally crossing the Iranian border just last month.

Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer were very articulate as to why they were kept in jail for all those months. Their explanation: "From the very start, the only reason we have been held hostage is because we are American". If anyone didn't figure out before today, this should definitely clarify Iran's attitude towards Americans. Despite tensions being rocky ever since the Hostage Crisis of 1979, this is definitely a small step towards patching up relations. Although many people doubt things will get much better from here, we must realize that they can't get much worse (besides a confrontational episode or war).

As Americans, we need to remember that anyone who is against our citizens is against our country. What Iran did was unacceptable, without question. Their lack of leniency goes to show how ruthless they can be. If we don't stand up against their intolerable behavior, they will continue to commit unspeakable acts.

For full story, click here

Inappropriate Stereotype(s)

As my weekend trip to Canada comes to an end, I can't help but think of all those American-made stereotypes of Canadians. The most popular ones describe our northern allies as brainless eskimos, alcoholics, white-trash,        hockey adorers and obsessive syrup consumers. Oh, how can I forget the over-usage of "eh"?

Due to the fact that none of the listed stereotypes are true, it's easy for an avid traveler to Canada such as I to forget. In fact, the vast majority of these stereotypes are false. The only ones that come to mind that might be true are the ones that mention their different pronunciations of certain words. Other than that, I can safely say that all others are not valid. The funny thing is that Canadians are so much like us Americans. We both cherish freedom, value education and Canadians almost always take the same political stance as the general consensus of the US (meaning they are neither right nor left-leaning).

When I tell people that I am going to Canada, I almost always get a funny look. Typical responses include, but are not limited to: "Watch out for polar bears", "Why would you waste your time up there?", "Fail", "Don't forget your parka" and even "Bring me back some beer". Even though I'm very much entertained by these laughably ignorant comments, I don't know if the feeling is mutual with the Canadians themselves. Many of my northern relatives used to highly respect the American population. Thanks to a series of nasty stereotypes becoming more and more accepted in American media (which gets plenty of air-time north of the border), many Canadians have developed stereotypes of us. Now, we have become the butt of the joke. I just hope that tensions don't surmount the great, long-standing relationship we have with the Canadian government.


I thought this video would be a great example of what Americans think of a number of different countries:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZMwKPmsbWE

Brutal Cops Rehired After Being Previously Fired

            Two Denver police officers were rehired after being previously fired for assaulting 24-year-old Michael DeHerrera outside of a nightclub back in 2009 and lying about the incident on the police report. The victim was simply using his cell phone to call his father when one of the officers lunged at him, took the cell phone and relentlessly beat the man with a piece of metal wrapped in leather. DeHerrera happens to be the son of a Pueblo County Sheriff's Deputy, who is utterly outraged by the reinstatement of the two officers. "...[It makes me] sick to my stomach", said Anthony DeHerrera, the victim's father. According to the Denver Civil Service Commission, the Denver Manager of Safety "lacked the authority" to fire the officers. A three-day suspension was the maximum punishment that the Manager of Safety was allowed to give despite there being video evidence of the victim being brutally attacked by one of the officers. By the time the officers were fired, 23 months had gone by. Due to the clear evidence showing DeHerrera's innocence and the officers' brutality, there has been a public uproar about the rehiring of these dishonest assailants. An appeal has been claimed and the issue will most likely be settled in District Court. Hopefully, these "protectors of the public" will once again lose their jobs and be back on unemployment benefits very soon.

Now, I've had my fair share of run-ins with crooked cops, but none even came close to what Michael DeHerrera has had to put up with. It seems that most officers today feel that they are immune to the law they enforce. Although the Denver Manager of Safety lacked the authority to fire the officers, a line must be drawn. Is it ever acceptable to break a rule for the sake of freedom and justice? Aren't those two values the very core of what this nation stands for? America needs to decide if it is okay to allow officers who have broken their Oath of Honor to roam the streets with guns, handcuffs, batons and badges.

To see the video of the arrest and picture of the victim's wounds, click here.