Education Question

The controversial question has been spurring around the United States. To what extent do our schools serve the goals of a true education? Most perceive the meaning of a true education as learning the school material, studying at home, and taking a test afterward. I think otherwise. The true definition of to educate is to give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to someone. Studying current school material does not give you the knowledge of how to pay taxes or apply for a job. As of now, schools teach the same material giving students a narrow minded way to think. Student's education should allow them to think outside the box, teaching them the social aspect of life on how to communicate with others and on time decision making. School should not be a place where you take tests and depending on the result that is the kind of person it makes you. School should be about preparation for the obstacles in life, ready to conquer what is awaiting in your destiny. In the aspect of the teachers, schools should not hire the strict teachers that make class into a dictatorship only talking about the subject. They should be teachers that allow students to open their minds, think about how in the future this may come in handy. Everyone has their own vision of a true education, and the kind that allows students to think outside the box is the most adequate for this generation.

Stalking Much?

"US bugged Merkel's phone from 2002 until 2013, report claims"
By: Damien McGuinness
Source: BBC World News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24690055
German publications release that German chancellor Angela Merkel's phone number is in the National Security Agency's secret document. How long has the NSA had Merkel's phone bugged? Since 2002. This continued until recently in 2013. Germany and other countries are not the only ones aggravated by the spying of the US, but so are the citizens of the ones spying themselves. About a thousand protesters approached the US Capitol demanding leverage and privacy with the surveillance. Many praised Edward Snowden for revealing most of the NSA's secrets resulting to others coming about such as the recent event of stalking Merkel's phone. Germany is outraged by the occurrence and have the right to be. They will be sending their top intelligence chiefs to Washington in the upcoming week to further investigate the spying allegations. On Friday, both Germany and France reported that they want the United States to sign a no-spy deal with a deadline of the end of 2013. Rumors have come about that not only is the NSA spying on Merkel's actions on her phone but as well as listening to millions of telephone calls made by German and French citizens. With the government shut down leaving the United States in despair and the spy leaks on Merkel's phone embarrassing them, the world wonders what other secrets may the US be hiding?

Close Call for LAX

"LAX dry-ice bombs: Second suspect was supervisor of first suspect"
By: Richard Winton
Source: The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lax-dry-ice-bombs-second-suspect-20131018,0,7085886.story
Forty-one year old Miguel Angel Iniguez was arrested Friday at LAX on suspicion for possession of a destructive device. Miguel Iniguez was the supervisor of Dicarlo Bennet, who was arrested earlier in the week for being involved with two dry-ice bombs detonating one in Terminal 2 and a tarmac area at Tom Bradley International Terminal. Both Iniguez and Bennet are both employed by Servisair, an aviation ground services company. Iniguez is currently in jail and being held on a $500,000 bail. Bennet recognized that he is responsible for the dry ice-bombs, and admitted that there was a third that had not detonated. Fortunately, there were no injuries involved during the explosion. Police reported that this was not an act of terrorism, and was simply for Bennet's amusement. Deputy Chief Michael Downing said, "He was a prankster, he thought it was funny." Later adding, "There is nothing funny about what he did." Police Chief Charlie Beck stated before Bennet's arrest, "Whether you think this is a harmless prank or a way to disrupt operations at the airport, it won't matter, you will go to jail."

Malala Wins Sakharov Award

"Malala Wins Sakharov Award, EU's Top Human Rights Award"
By: Raf Casert
Source: Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/malala-sakharov-award_n_4077185.html?utm_hp_ref=malala-yousufzai
Over the past year the name Malala has been mentioned around the world. She has been an inspiration to nearly the whole female population encouraging women's rights by raising her voice and attempting to enforce education for girls. On October 10th, European lawmakers themselves have awarded their top human rights award to Malala Yousafzai, having survived an assasination attempt by the Taliban because of her courage to stand up for women's education. The top human rights prize is the Sakharov Award, given to those who dedicate their lives to defend human rights and freedom of thought. She is also being nominated as a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, being the youngest ever to be considered to be given this honorable award. The entire world is supporting her and is aware of the threats she has received, including Militants threatening to kill her if she returns home. This brave sixteen year old has gone into drastic measures to stand up for what is right, with the mentality of having everything to gain and nothing to lose. She has outspoken to the world about the injustice of the Taliban, one of the most feared terrorist groups in the world. Keep an eye on this young, courageous girl, for she will become a significant figure in the future, which she already has become.

Classmate Speech Analysis

"The Perils of Indifference"

The speech project that is being analyzed is the speech "The Perils of Indifference" by Ellie Wiesel and the project made by Rita Blikian and Karnie Babikian. The main aspect of the speech given is to demonstrate the the magnitude of the impact the Holocaust had in the world and how indifferently the United States reacted to this situation. The author Wiesel knew that the Germans were most at fault for committing the horrific genocide, but is aggravated because of the fact that the United States knew about the situation during the twelve years of the Holocaust and could have easily ended the inhumane tortures that were occurring to all the Jews in the concentration camps including himself.
During Rita's and Karnie's presentation, they did an exceptional job in taking into consideration all the aspects of the speech of those being induction, deduction, classical oration, and the toulmin model. One of the main reasons that drew me toward this specific presentation was the fact that I had read the book Night by Ellie Wiesel before, giving me background information to both the book and the presentation. Overall on the presentation, outstanding job from both Karnie and Rita.

Kenyan Mall Shooting Suspects Identified

"Kenya military names Westgate mall attack suspects"
By: Gabriel Gatehouse
Source: BBC World News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24412315
On September 21st, a mass shooting occurred at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, resulting with at least sixty seven people dead. It was believed that a group of about ten to fifteen took part in the assault, although after investigating into the dilemma the police chief says that it was around four or six. The four men predicted to be the ones involved are Abu Baara al-Sudani, Omar Nabhan, Khattab al-Kene, and Umayr, are all believed to have died in the raid. The Al-Qaeda linked group said to have been part of the attack for Kenya's military involvement in Somalia.
One may argue that the releasing of the believed suspect's names is too early, having seen in aired footage that there were four attackers calmly searching the mall with machine guns in their hand. Kenya Defense Forces spokesman Maj Emmanuel stated, "I confirm these were the terrorists: they all died in the raid." Also, a Kenyan security analyst told BBC that at least two of the names should be recognized by the Kenyan intelligence services. Kenyan police chief David Kimaiyo told Kenya's KTN television that: "None of them managed to escape from the building after the attack," This conflict would be difficult to solve without any of the suspects being available to question.