Should abortion be legal or not?

Central Argument: Abortion should be legal because it can save a life of misery for the baby and the parent.

Emily Rapp talks about the other side of abortion. She says that abortion should be legal. I completely agree with her. There are many reasons for this, one being the fact that I am a girl, and I strongly believe that every girl should have a right to her own body, and decisions regarding her body shouldn’t be made by the government.

When I heard about the number of teenage girls who were pregnant in United States of America, I was shocked. Going through pregnancy is not an easy thing to accomplish. Teenagers are very gullible, and they get carried away. The next thing they know is that they are pregnant. If they are not allowed to abort their baby, their life will not be normal. They will face a lot of difficulties. Instead of focusing on studies they will be raising a child. There will be more financial problems, which lead to really bad choices. The child will be born into a family which is having financial problems. The environment he is born in will also be bad. This is really unhealthy for the child. The bad environment might just influence him on doing drugs. There is no real benefit for the child even if he is not aborted. In fact it is better. Just like Emily Rapp’s son. It would have been better for her to abort the baby before he was born. He wouldn’t have suffered so much more when he is alive with all sorts of health problems.

Another reason for making abortion legal is population growth. The population just recently became 7 billion. This is not a small number. Population growth has a lot of problems that come along with it. There is a shortage of food, because of over consumption. Shortage of food leads to an increase in food prices. The poor people wouldn’t be able to afford expensive food, therefore there will be extreme poverty and malnutrition problems. Instead of going through all that it is better to just make abortion legal and keep it up to the people to decide if they want a child or not. Abortion directly has to do with the body of the girl or woman who is pregnant. Everyone’s body is their own private property. It is not fair for the government to decide what a person can do with his or her body. Even if the country is catholic they still do not have the right to tell others what they can do with their bodies. USA has a lot of freedom for it’s citizens. If they have had this kind of freedom from the very beginning, be banning abortion they are contradicting themselves. Also, there are many atheists who have absolutely nothing to do with religion, but a lot to do with abortion.

There are many reasons for making abortion legal. The biggest reason is protecting the child itself.  People should be practical about these laws. Religion shouldn’t be playing a huge role in something like this because the outcomes are not religious outcomes, they are social and economic outcomes. Abortion disrupts the life of human beings. It is a very personal issue, therefore the decision of abortion should be a personal decision not a state decision. 

The best song ever!

"Why this Kolaveri di" by Dhanush and Anirudh. This song is really funny, especially when you are from South India!

Analyze:

This song has a lot of Tamil words in it. "Kolaveri di" means mad rage or frustration. "Soup boys" are boys who failed at love. "Soup song" is a song that talks about failed love. These are probably the only words that were really confusing. The song talks about a breakup basically, and how he is unhappy after the breakup while the girl has gets over it pretty fast. My favorite part of the song is when the drums come in very dramatically, loud and bold. I also like the part when Dhanush harmonizes in the background, with a very sad melody. This song makes me feel so sorry for the guy. It really does portray the guys frustration, and confusion. The side talks in the song is very funny and it immediately gets the audience engaged in the song. The other very interesting part of this song is the instruments he uses. The song uses very traditional instruments, which are usually played in wedding in south india. Therefore people in the south related to it. Others liked it because the instruments made it different. The side conversation doesn't have anything to do with the actual meaning of the song, so understanding it is not important. I have no idea what he wanted to say about the cows though. 

News Article

Honor killings?

Summary:

In 2009 an Afghan family was convicted of four counts of first-degree murders of three teenage girls and a middle aged woman. This Afghan family moved to Canada two years before the killings, in June 2007. Mr. Shafia claimed that the girls disgraced the family by dating and wearing revealing clothes. The prosecutors described these killings as honor killings. Mr.Shafia, the father, and his wife, Ms. Yahya, along with their son Hamed killed the three teenage girls and Mr.Shafia’s other wife, Rona Amir Mohammad. One of the girls was so frightened by Mr. Shafia that she actually called the police and asked if she could be placed in foster care along with her sisters. This effort, however, was unsuccessful. Mr.Shafia’s plan was to kill the three teenagers and his wife, and make it look like an auto-accident. Justice Robert L. said that Mr. Shafia’s twisted concept of honor made him kill four innocent people. He also said that Mr. Shafia’s notion of honor is founded upon the domination and control of women.

Response:

This news is really shocking. I never thought that a father or a mother would gie death as a punishment to their children. Honor killing? Really? I always though that honor killing are only conducted when both parties agree, and in this case the girls didn’t want to die. This is no honor killing, it is murder. Things like this makes the world look down on Muslims. Muslims are making their own faces black. When they are in Canada, or any other country which has a totally different culture they need to respect that. I am not suggesting that they change completely, I am simply saying that some of the things that are okay in maybe Iran, are definitely not okay in countries like Canada. Mr. Shafia deserves to die. He violated every law of Canada. What he did should actually not be allowed anywhere, let it be India, Iran or Afghanistan. It is irritating to read news like this, because this news is uncivilized, and unacceptable. Everybody knows that, but still we have to debate it. Why? It is about time we stop talking and take some really serious action, because talking is clearly just wasting time.  

Vocab:

1. Heinous

• “It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous, more despicable, more honorless crime.”
• Definition/Origin: Utterly odious or wicked. Originated from Old French word Haineous.
• Sentence: Fortunately there was no heinous crime ever reported in Woodstock school.

 2. Parole

• “Under Canadian law, first-degree murder carries a compulsory sentence of life in prison, with no chance of parole for the first 25 years.”
• Definition/Origin: The temporary or permanent release of a prisoner before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behavior. Originated from originated from the French parole meaning “voice”, “spoken word”.
• Sentence: Wonder if Woodstock would appoint anybody out on parole as staff!

3. Affluent

• “The victims belonged to a family of Afghans who had moved to Canada two years before the crime, in June 2007, under a program for affluent immigrants.”
• Definition/Origin: wealthy. Originated from Latin word affluentem, meaning flow towards.
• Sentence: Most of the students in Woodstock come from affluent backgrounds. 

Personal essay

218. What super power you would choose

I always wondered what it would be like to read people’s minds, hence if I had to choose a superpower I would choose to control people’s minds. Ever since I watched twilight I always wondered how Edward felt when he was reading other people’s minds. Is he reading some sort of a script or does he just know, somehow, what the person is going to do next. It is really fascinating to me. There are so many other superpowers that people can choose from, however, this one seemed the most beneficial to me. A person with this super power can do almost anything. My super power can do more than Edward’s. My super power gives me the control of any human being or any other animal’s brain. I can change their memories, I can erase their memories, I can create new memories. I can do anything with their brains. I have full control of anyone’s brain. This is gives me a lot of power.

With this super power I can do anything I want. I can make myself the most successful person in the world. I can be richer than Bill Gates if I wanted. This is the ultimate super power. I love having the control. I am a total control freak. I hate surprises. With this super power no one will ever be able to surprise me. Surprises are stupid because it is really risky. What if I don’t like the surprise? All the efforts the other person put into the surprise will be of a waste. Everyone hates bad surprises. I am never mentally prepared for a bad surprise which is another reason why I hate surprises. This super power is perfect for my personality. It is above all the other super powers. Everyone will be under threat if I had this super power

News Article

Pakistani citizens enraged by TV show

Summary:

Pakistan is a fairly free and secular country compared to other Islamic countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. This is proven by the recent incident that took place in Islamabad where a television show crossed the line and enraged the citizens of Pakistan. A group of 15 women were searching a park in Karachi for dating couples who were engaged in immoral behavior. They were literally running after them in the park along with the camera man hurrying behind them. They asked couples questions which they had prepared before hand. Some of these questions were like “What were they doing”, “did their parents know”, “Were they engaged”. Many couples were shocked and tried to avoid answering any questions. One of the couples was married, but Maya Khan, the host, harshly asked them where their marriage certificate was. Four local Non-governmental organizations are filing a civil suit against Samaa TV in Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Response:

My reaction to this then and now still is: Who the hell do these women thing they are? They have absolutely no right to intrude in other people’s business like that. The media cannot abuse their power and interfere in other people’s private life. That is against all law. This really crossed the line, and I completely understand the fury of the citizens of Pakistan. If I was with my boyfriend in that park, and if someone came up to me and asked me these funny questions I would insult them completely in their own show. I would be really pissed off. I probably would have thrown a shoe at them or something if they asked me a really personal question. Everyone is equal under the law. The media shouldn’t get special treatment. Why is it so hard for some people to accept change? I was angry to hear about this, but I was happy to hear that the people in Pakistan felt the same way about this as me. People should start accepting change because change can be good. I always wanted to see all the muslim countries slowly become a little secular but when people who don’t like change come in between, I get mad. 

Vocab:

1. Vigilantes:

• “Images of moral vigilantes prowling the streets have an ominous resonance in Pakistan, where many still recall the dark days of the Islamist dictator Gen.”
• Definition/Origin: One who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one's own hands. Originated from Latin vigilārem meaning to keep watch

• Sentence:  The teachers at Woodstock School also are the social vigilantes keeping watch on the student community.

2. Resonance:

• “Images of moral vigilantes prowling the streets have an ominous resonance in Pakistan, where many still recall the dark days of the Islamist dictator Gen.”
• Definition/Origin: Having the character of a loud deep sound. Originated from Latin resonāre, meaning to resound.

• Sentence: The resonance of joy and cheer of Woodstock students is felt in every nook and corner even during vacation.

3. Voyeuristic:

• “But others have veered into territory that could be described as Pakistan’s answer to Jerry Springer — voyeuristic, mawkish and intrusive.”
• Definition/Origin: of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a voyeur  or of voyeurism. Originated from Latin vidre, meaning to see.

• Sentence: The girls of Woodstock know how to deal with voyeurs sometimes roaming in the buzzar. 

Personal essay

229. Three wishes

I have a lot of wishes, hence it is hard for me to pick only three. My first wish would be to have another five wishes. If that is not allowed then my first wish is to eat as much as I can without ever getting fat. I love food. I live to eat all kinds of yummy and tasty food. The kind of food that is extremely fatty is my favorite; therefore it is really hard for me to be in shape. I am also very lazy, which makes this even more difficult for me. I am not very sporty because of the same reason.

My second wish would be to be really smart. If I am smart then I wouldn’t have to work that hard, because I can always think of the easy way out and still get the job done. When you have the brains one can do anything. I always wished that I would some day become a really successful and rich lawyer. My second wish fulfills my other two wishes. It is a good wish according to me. This way if I become really rich, I can donate a lot of money to poor and needy people in India.

My last wish would be to make sure that my loved ones are always safe and happy. It is reassuring to me when I know that everyone I love is happy and safe at all times. It gives me support, especially when I am away from home. I feel quite homesick when I am away from home and so knowing that everyone is happy back home makes me feel better. Although I still really wish that I have three more wishes, because I am never satisfied with what I have. I have almost always wanted more.

News Article

Tibet - china tension

Summary

The most recent news about Tibet is not very pleasant. On Monday security forces open fired on Tibetans in western china. According to Tibetan rights group and the Tibetan exile government thirty were wounded and at least one was killed. This is also said to be the largest violent clash in the ethnic Tibetan areas of China since 2008. Internet access in that area was cut off to slow down the spread of the information. This was the second firing at Tibetans; the previous one was on January 14 in Aba, also located in the Sichuan province. Seventeen Tibetans have set themselves on fire since last March 16. Tibetans with gunshot wounds are scared to go the hospitals because they might have to face questioning or retaliation by the authorities. The cause of the protest may have been that the Tibetans demanding the release of detainees who were distributing leaflets which called for Tibet’s freedom. Or the protest could also be part of the local boycott against the Chinese celebrations of the lunar New Year. The Chinese have stopped all visitors from entering the country during the Tibetan New Year as they suspect that the scenario might get violent.

Response

This issue has been carrying on since forever. Why can’t the rest of the world do something about it? This was my first response. After research I realized that if any other country with power, like USA especially, will have economic trouble later with china. This economic trouble will be a big one. In Ken Keseys novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the same thing happens to McMurphy as the Tibetans. If someone tries to stand up and challenge the system they are put down. The Tibetans have been challenging the Chinese government for a long time now, and the result is this. The protestors were put down for going against the system. Even though it is hard for other countries to do anything about this situation I still feel that they can make a few agreements. The Chinese refused to listen to the Tibetans and any agreement they have made has been broken. Hopefully this issue is resolved fast. 

Vocab

1. Aggrieved:

• “The Tibetan Parliament is deeply aggrieved by the incidents and condemns the Chinese authorities for resorting to such drastic acts of force and repression.”
• Definition/Origin: feeling resentment at having been treated unjustly. Originated from Middle English word agreven meaning to make heavy or worsen. 
• Sentence: Woodstock students are deeply aggrieved by the management’s callous attitude in not taking interest about the quality of our food.

2. Dissemination:

• “Internet access to the area was cut off by the authorities, apparently to slow the dissemination of information.”
• Definition/Origin: To spread abroad; promulgate. Originated from latin word dissminre

• Sentence: In Woodstock, especially amongst the girls, dissemination of information is very fast.

 3. Leery:

• “People in China wounded by gunshots are often leery of going to hospitals, fearing that they will face questioning and possibly retaliation by the authorities”
• Definition/Origin: Suspicious or distrustful. Originated from Middle English leor.

• Sentence: Woodstock school students are really leery of what the school does with all the money the students pay as fees.