Speaking of Downloading..

After one of the groups presentations on downloading music, I've been thinking more about it. In high school I would download and also a little in college, but now I use itunes. One of my friends just had her whole computer crash, so she took it to get fixed and they had to change the whole hard drive. In doing this they had to delete all her music, pictures, and other downloaded things. When something like this happens it makes me understand more why you would want to download illegally. Who would want to pay for music all over again. I think she has most of her music backed up, so it's ok, but what if you didn't? Also I think that paying for music is good, but there are some artists who have plenty of money, and spend it on cars and mansions. Should we really have to pay them?

Buying Locally

So this is going to be kind of a random post, but I still think it's important. This is one of my favorite times of the year because things are blooming. It's so beautiful to drive around the hills of Salinas and into Carmel Valley. I know strawberries and other fruits are available at grocery stores all year long, but right now is when the season is starting. I recommend checking out local farmers, little stands on the side of the roads always have great produce and you're helping out local farmers. You gotta love the smell of strawberries in your car.

SlingShot!

Lately at work we've been getting the slingshot newspaper, and if you're interested in events that are making a change I definitely recommend it. Slingshot is a totally nonprofit all volunteer ran newspaper that has been coming from Berkeley for many many years. All kinds of really interesting activists write for it, and it lets you know what you can do. It has a calendar of events of different protests that are going on in the area. I'm sure lots of you have heard about it. One thing that I thought was really neat about it is that it delivers all the papers totally free, and the deliveries also go to different jails as well, it seems like a good thing for inmates to be able to read. A lot of great writers working towards social justice.

A Word About Recruitment

I really enjoyed listening and taking part in the last class discussion. Like most people, I believe it is absolutely ridiculous to recruit only certain area's, but at the same time I see why they do it. My friend just signed up for the Navy, because it will pay for his school, and right now it seems like an only option. I'm proud of him for making a decision like that, but I think it's sad that that's the easiest way to get an education. 

The Government needs to put more money in a cheaper education. The cycle is so sad. The more money you have the more of an education you get, so the more likely you are to get a successful job. The less money you have, the less likely you'll get a good education and a successful job. Where does it end? I realize that there are a lot of good scholarship opportunities, but there should be more.

The other thing that stood out to me in class was that one student brought up the point that if there isn't recruitment, than who will go? If not enough people join the army then would there have to be a draft? So if recruitment has to happen, it should be fair, and not just with more poor individuals. Wouldn't it be cool if everywhere an army recruiter was there was also a college recruiter?

I really could not see a draft happening now. I believe any kind of War is horrible. It's one thing for a draft to happen if we're being attacked and war is the very last option, but it is a whole other thing if we're going somewhere else to do the attacking.

Hollywood bringing some awareness..

About a week ago I went to see the new movie Stop-Loss. It's about the military and their right to call back soldiers to war even though their time is served. I was pretty surprised that they put out a movie about the War in Iraq, even when it is still going on. Normally that takes a while, although, it's got a really powerful point. I guess I'm sort of torn when it comes to movies like that. Part of me is like yeah! see how messed up that is? they just got sent back, even though their time is done! The other part of me realizes that it is a "Hollywood" movie, so it's played up quite a bit. And then the last past of me feels like a movie like this really shouldn't be used for entertainment value. This is a real thing going on.

So I researched what a stop loss really is, and HERE is a pretty good article about it.

The article states, "In military terms, "STOP LOSS" means not letting a military member separate or retire, once their required term of service is complete." I really wonder how this is legal? But I think it is all different once it comes to military law.

The next part of the article explains how it works:

"STOP LOSS, on the other hand, means extending a military person in the Guard or Reserves, or on active duty, beyond what their normal separation date would be. Those who join the military agree to this provision under paragraph 9c of the enlistment contract states:

In the event of war, my enlistment in the Armed Forces continues until six (6) months after the war ends, unless my enlistment is ended sooner by the President of the United States.

That, is the basis of STOP LOSS. The Department of Defense maintains that the term "war" means anytime America's Armed Forces are engaged in hostile conflict, and not just "war declared by Congress." Would that stand up in court? We don't know yet, as STOP LOSS has never been challenged in court. However, there are eight Guard and Reserve troops who have banded together to file a class-action lawsuit against the Department of Defense for calling them to active duty, and then keeping them on active duty past their separation date, under the authority of STOP LOSS, so perhaps we'll soon find out."

I'm really interested to see what happens in these new stop loss cases! I feel like if a soldier did their duty, than we should honor them, and not be able to call them back.

Rights and Roommates

For this post I was thinking of telling a personal story that's kind of funny. 

So my freshman year of college I lived with my best friend from high school. For most the year it was really fun, we had a few tiffs here and there, but all roommates go through that from time to time. The town that we are from is super conservative and Republican. So as a Democrat I was so excited to get to be in a new atmosphere. I love that people have different beliefs and different views, I just hate when they won't listen to the other side. I think it's  interesting to hear about all different political sides, and each have strong points.

My roommate was very Republican, and I think missed being in a conservative town. She is one of those people who didn't like listening to opposing views (no cooperative argumentation). Don't get me wrong.. she's very nice and still a good friend; we just don't talk politics. By the end of the second semester we would get in a few more tiffs (it's tough living with two people in a small box room). So one day I came home from class and there was a very large poster of President George Bush on her side of the wall. It was so strategically placed so that it was the first thing I saw when I woke up in the morning.

I know she has the right to free speech, and should be able to put up what she wants on her side of the room, but that was pretty much just lame. It was quite the learning experience, we're still friends, but probably won't live together anytime soon.

Hating on the Internet

The internet can be one of  the most helpful tools and resources people have, but what happens when that tool gets taken advantage of in a negative way? You can find almost anything on the internet, and I mean anything! On one side, it's so great to be able to type in what you're looking for, and find a plethora of information on it. But, on the other side it can be extremely dangerous.

I can remember reading stories in magazines about times the internet was used for hate speech. I read something on a young girl who posted blogs (on myspace or something like that). She used it to talk to her friends, like most people. Then some students who didn't like her started threatening her on the page. They would call her horrible names and make her afraid to go to class. Even when she closed her account they were able to find her normal e-mail address and send letters. I couldn't imagine how scary it would be to find such things in your inbox.

That's just a sample of one girls experience with hate speech, but there are also sites that are filled with a whole group portraying their hate against something.

Click Here: to read an article on how the web can fuel hate speech.

The article discusses groups that can show their intolerance to minorities. One of the biggest online hate threats is to the Jewish community, and other minorities alike. It really scares me that there are actually websites and chatrooms where people can release all their hate. The article says there are even games one can play that are filled with violence and hate to a minority.

I know that even hate groups have a right to free speech, but when hate speech turns into hate crimes, where can we draw the line?