Redskins Fighting to Not Have to Change Name

         In June of 2014, the NFL team, the Redskins, were called out for their name by the US Patent and Trademark Office. They said their name is offensive to Native Americans. The Redskins believe their name is should not be offensive to anyone. However, certain Native American groups have begged a differ. They say the name is immoral and wrong.
         It looked like the Redskins were going to have to change their team name, until December of 2014 when an Asian-American rock group by the name of The Slants, went to court to be able to trademark their name, and the court ruled in their favor. The Redskins believed the case involving The Slants was not any different than their case.
         Due to this, the government is admitting that it is the same situation and asking the Supreme Court to overturn their decision. President Obama is on board.
         It is looking like the Redskins may be able to keep the trademark on their name after all. If they are not, they will be able to keep their name, but will not be protected against people selling merchandise with the Redskin's logo on it.
         I think the Redskins should be able to keep their name trademarked. They have had it for this long. Why take it from them now? If it was really an issue, someone should have spoken up a lot sooner.

Do you think the Redskins should be able to keep their name?
Do you find their name offensive?
Is President Obama making the right decision being in favor of having the Redskins change their name?

http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/25/news/washington-redskins-nfl-supreme-court/index.html

Within these last 3 weeks alone ISIS has been responsible for 200 combined deaths. Out of these 200 deaths about 60 percent of them have been woman and children. It seems that they are targeting European countries and some middle eastern countries. With the attacks getting more severe with time should we intervene and try to stop ISIS?Should we send troops or should we just send supplies?   Personally I believe it is time for us to take a stand and send support to the European forces. It is time for an all out war , it is better to be safe than sorry and we cannot take a chance of an attack happening on our turf. With tensions rising and a threat that seems unpreventable, it is time that we take a stand and end this cancer that is happening.






 http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/03/europe/tracking-isis-ambitions-in-europe/index.html

Electricity for Millions More Africans Becomes Law

news article link

A new bill has been unanimously passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and President Obama to electrify Sub-Saharan Africa.  Currently, about 30% of Sub-Sahran Africa's population has access to electricity.  This bill is going to give 20,000 megawatts of energy by 2020 and create greener energy along with this project.  In order to electrify the Sub-Saharan area there is going to be a system of loan guarantees. For the creating greener energy project,  the US Inport-Export Bank is going to give about $7 billion.  With gaining more electricity, citizens of the Sub-Saharan area have safer and easier access to education, businesses can stay open when it is dark out, create more job opportunities, promote greener energy and economic growth.

Do you think it is smart of the US to promote this new bill?
What are some troubles which may arise from loaning so much money to the Sub-Saharan area?
After this project picks up, do you think Sub-Saharan Africa will bring in profit for the US?

Republican candidate Lindsey Graham drops out of race

Lindsey Graham is the latest GOP contender to drop out of the race. Graham is a 60 year old senator from South Carolina.Graham has never had success attracting any attention to his campaign like other republican candidates such a Donald Trump. He has been included in some under card debates. He got some attention from democratic candidates regarding his policies towards immigration reform. Many democratic and republican candidates have congratulated Graham on a solid run. Jeb Bush has even called him the most "clear eyed" towards ISIS. Since his campaign never took off such as other candidates his dropping out will probably not affect the republican race. However Graham has not yet announced which candidate he will be backing. This is important because his followers will likely support the candidate he supports.

How much do you think his support will effect the rest of the candidates? Alot or little?

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lindsey-graham-drops-2016-republican-presidential-race/story?id=35886305

Man charged in threat at University of Chicago linked to Laquan McDonald shooting

On October 20, 2014, Laqaun McDonald, a student of the University of Chicago, was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer. This past week, during Thanksgiving break, Jabari R. Dean, a fellow student from U. of C. put out a threat on social media. He threatened to kill 16 students and staff and said this was going to be done for McDonald. He appeared in federal court this afternoon and will be held in custody until Tuesday. He will then be released to the custody of his mother. The FBI say Dean did not have the resources to carry out what he claimed he would do and was not considered a threat. If convicted, he will face a maximum of 5 years in prison. The post claimed Dean would kill 16 students and staff because that is the number of times McDonald was shot. He then would kill himself. It was said that Dean apparently deleted his post of the threat not long after he put it up, because the police could not find it. The way they did locate the post and find out about the threat was by a New York citizen who took a screenshot. I think the police did their job fine. I do not think Dean was a threat in this instance. I think he was an angry citizen and fellow student who acted from impulse. I don't think he ever meant to carry out his threat, even if he had the resources. However, I also believe he is not okay. I think with everything that has been going on lately with police brutality has been getting to him. When a fellow student that goes to his own school was shot and killed by none other than an officer, he was pushed of the edge. I think he needs to be watched, and more importantly, helped. 

1. Do you think the police did what should have been done?

2. Do you feel Dean was a threat?

3. If so, what actions should be taken against him? Should he face the 5 years in jail? Maybe worse?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-university-of-chicago-gun-threat-met-20151130-story.html

Oakland police fatally shoot person after sideshow

Oakland police officers fatally shot a person in East Oakland early Sunday evening.The officers were towing vehicles involved in a sideshow — which involved hundreds of vehicles spinning and performing “donuts” — when they were approached by someone pointing a what appeared to be firearm in their direction, according to police. The officers fatally shot the individual.

The shooting took place at 5:34 p.m. Sunday, according to police, in the area of 90th Ave. and Bancroft Ave.The sideshow that preceded the shooting occurred around 12:45 a.m. Sunday on Interstate Highway 880 in Oakland, according to Bay City News Service. About 200 vehicles entered the highway's southbound lanes driving in the wrong direction.

That sideshow was followed by another, around 1:30 a.m., near International Boulevard and 55th Ave., BCN said, quoting California Highway Patrol officials. The police department later tweeted a photo of the firearm used and said it was a replica.Oakland police provided no details on the person shot hours later. They said no officers were injured.  What do you guys think? Do you think it was fair or not? Why or Why not? 

Northern Arizona University shooting

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At the  Northern Arizona University a disagreement led to four student getting shot and 1 did pass away. The shooter was a 18 year old freshman. Which I think is really disturbing because thats so close to our age that makes the idea that this can happen anywhere more real. Shooting have seemed like they have been taking over the news lately. Personally I feel as though the college shooting lately have been really hitting home. This one is just a little over a week after the Oregon shooting and that is what is really makes this sad. What do you think about these shooting being so close in timing? In the article it seems as though this student was just carrying the gun with him. In Arizona specifically you have to be 21 and older to carry a gun WITHOUT a permit. Do you think this event will cause them to change the laws/get stricter on gun laws?  

Senate's release of torture reports

NY times
huffington post

Recently, the Senate has released private information regarding the CIA's post 9/11 interrogation detention program and their methods on "torture," an international crime. Although the people detained were only suspected of having affiliations with the events that took place on 9/11, all of them were tortured in inhumane ways that were not only physically disturbing, but psychologically, as well. Of the 119 known detainees, it has been confirmed that at least 26 of the 119 were innocent. In the fight for slavery, Nat Turner fought for the freedom of the black slaves; however, in the process, he killed many white people even if they did not do harm to the slaves. Although some whites did not directly harm black slaves, they suffered for the mere reason of being white. Just because someone may be suspected of being involved in the events which have harmed another, is it right to immediately take action? Nat Turner and the CIA's post 9/11 detention program both were not 100% sure that the people they tortured were guilty, yet they took initiative into torturing and even killing the opposing side. Is that justified? Should the 9/11 detention program have confirmed whether the person was guilty before taking course of action?

India's "solution" to solving rape

India is known for having a lot of issues when it comes to people of the female gender in the social ladder, and the government has been trying to crack down on this controversy by doing something about it by banning certain things in India. However, the way that they are going about this is ridiculous, to the point where it's comedic. I do like how India is trying their best to solve their issues when it comes to females, but it's as though they are taking one step forward and about thirty steps back. What do you think that India should do to solve the problems that females face in the country?

Kobe Bryant and Teammates Wear 'I Can't Breathe' Shirts Before Lakers-Kings

A few NBA players took the initiative and wore a shirt saying " I cant breathe". These were the last words of Eric Garner, the man who was choked to death. The death of Eric Garner has struck a lot of controversy, because the officer who choked pleaded innocent. A question I have for everyone though is: Is this incident blown out of proportion because a white man is killing a black man? Would this topic be controversial if a black officer killed a white man? Is this more of a race problem or is it more of an officer abusing his powers?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2295116-kobe-bryant-and-teammates-wear-i-cant-breathe-shirts-before-lakers-kings?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2

The Unreconstructed North

article link

The word that sums up this article is duality. As we simplify, we regularly misremember and therefore misunderstand. Although many of you have not grown up in the northeast, I did, a product of Boston, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. The truth is much messier than the myth, and if we are to overcome the unfinished revolution from the era of Reconstruction in the 1860s and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, then I think we need a movement. An organized, led, massive movement needs to form to bring this country forward. How do you think progress will be achieved? Gradually forward with intermittent setbacks? Or massive, organized protests?

Protesters Over Eric Garner Decision

http://abcnews.go.com/US/protesters-police-clash-york-city-eric-garner-decision/story?id=27383303

There have been many protests all over the country due to many conflicting controversies that have occurred over the years. For example, from the Trayvon Martin case, to the Mike Brown case, and now to the Eric Garner case. All of these cases have something similar and that is the fact that these three African American boys have been killed by White police officers. Many protesters have been acting on this card of a racial issue in all of these cases, while on the other hand many argue that if these men were white there would be no protests. I, however, do believe racism does exist in this country to this day, but however I believe that if our officers were better trained on how to handle situations like these, some of these cases could have been avoided. We can tie this back to the civil rights movement and how African American marched through towns fighting for equality. Many of these protesters protesting throughout this country due to these cases have the same intentions,mindset and goals that they want to reach. We can also see their determination for change which is a parallel comparison to the African Americans way back when the civil rights movement was taking place. My question is do you believe that these acts of homicide, by the white officers, were carried out due to the fact that these men were African American? Is this really a racial issue or is this issue really due to the fact that our law enforcers (police men) lack the proper knowledge and skills it takes to handle situations like these?

University of California Is Set to Raise Tuition

University of California has exclaimed that they will be raising the tuition by 27.6 percent over the next 5 years.  The universities panel said that this is needed because they aren't getting enough money from the state government. Governor Jerry Brown argued by saying that if they raise the tuition they will just keep giving them less money. But the universities keeps fighting by saying that this is what needs to happen for them to maintain there stature.This raise in tuition has outraged many students which has resulted in numerous protests on campus. Under this new plan the current tuition for in state students would rise from $12,192 a year to as much as $15,560 in 2019-2020. Out of state students who now pay upwards of $35,000 would have to pay around $45,000.  Do you think that it is right  that the governor to stop giving sufficient funds to the university? Will the university still remain elite if it cant be accessible to middle and lower class families as student loans are already an increasing issue in today's world?



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/us/university-of-california-tuition-is-set-to-increase.html?_r=0

Orion, NASA's New Spacecraft

     This past Friday, NASA's Orion capsule landed in the Pacific Ocean after orbiting the earth twice in an unmanned test flight. This new capsule has been designed as part of NASA's effort to take crews past low-earth orbit, marking their first attempt since the Apollo missions in the 1960's. This new spacecraft would take crews not only to the moon, but far beyond. A NASA announcer has stated that "America has driven a golden spike as it crosses a bridge into the future." What do you think of this new project? Is this a significant scientific goal? Is this an appropriate way to spend money?

Article Link

Possible reprieve for Louisiana family's beloved pit bull

Discrimination has obviously been a big issue throughout our countries history. Yet in my personal opinion I believe one of the ideas you should never discriminate against is Mans Best Friend. Unfortunately this is the case for lots of breed most commonly Pit Bulls. An ordinance was set forth in a village in Louisiana banning Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. This has not been the first time a town has put laws against specific breeds. It is also stated that the laws against specific breeds are a waste of public resources. Do you agree? If a ban were to put on (dogs) should it be put on a specific dog breed or all dogs in general? Would you apply that idea to groups of people? Such as if one group does something should everyone get punished?

Article Link

Eric Garner chokehold death: No indictment for NYPD cop

Articel Link :

In July of 2014 a man named Eric Garner died after being put into a choke hold by officer Daniel Pantaleo. Garner was stopped for the suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. After months of investigation, the grand jury decided not to indict officer Pantaleo. Many citizens of New York and from around the country are outraged by the jury's decision because of the numerous amounts of evidence. A cell phone captured video of the whole conflict and you can hear Garner repeatedly say, "I can't breathe." Also, NYPD says that officers are not allowed to use choke holds, proving the officer had done something wrong. Adding on to the evidence, a medical examiner had ruled Eric's death a homicide. Many people are upset because they feel like this is discrimination, being that we also just recently had outrage over the Michael brown case. What do you guys think? Is there still inequality in our society that is becoming more prevalent? Or do you feel it was right to not indict the officer?

Obama’s potential immigration plan could enter uncharted territory

Article Link

Basically what the article is saying is that President Obama is trying to take action not to provide amnesty for undocumented immigrants, but make it so that they are not being targeted for deportation. That means that they are not legal citizens but Obama certainly is pushing the limits of his power. The last time something like this happened was with resident Ronald Reagan 28 years ago. Clearly, Obama seems to be pro-immigration, but it's always seemed to be a controversial issue. I found it really interesting how we as a country went from being totally anti-immigration with the Chinese exclusion act of 1882 to being this accepting (some of us are, anyway) of immigrants. What would the pros and cons of a action like the one President Obama is making be? Do you agree or disagree with his policy regarding immigration? Is he overstepping his powers as president by trying to remove the threat of deportation from undocumented residents (even if temporarily)?

Teaching Civilized Dissent: All Backgrounds Welcome

This past week, 100 middle school students from 10 schools around New York meet together at Tarrytown, N.Y. for a monthly tournament in order to be taught about civilized dissent.  Together they from the New York Debate League which is composed of students from elite institutions and a large amount of poor students.  This league accepts any child of ethnic background and involves a distinct mix of students.  The tournaments involve students being given a topic in which they have 20 minutes to study and then participate in a debate based on their given topic. Some of the students that have been involved in this league believe that it helps them prepare for the real world.  Another influence that these tournaments have on the students is that it allows the students to grow an appreciation of research, debate skills, and other skills which they will need for real world situations weather it be for political or presentation purposes.  Finally, these tournaments provide  middle school students of a more diverse ethnic background and who's families are not as financially stable as others to pay for more elite schools, the chance to learn about civil dissent and acquire real world skills...  So What?  Do you think that these tournaments will have a good influence on the youth of America?  What kind of outcome will these tournaments have on those who participate in them?

New court decision could end California's restrictions on conceal-carry permits

 
 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/11/12/new-court-decision-likely-ends-california-restrictions-on-conceal-carry-permits/

In california Law-abiding Californians may not need to justify their need to carry concealed weapons, after the same three-judge panel that struck down restrictions on the permits earlier this year ruled Wednesday that it is too late for new opponents to join the fight against the ruling. The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would bar other law enforcement officials, including state Attorney General Kamala Harris, from gaining "intervener status" to join in further challenges of its ruling in a case originally brought by an independent journalist who sued the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department over its policy of requiring a specific reason for being allowed to carry a concealed weapon in public. Do you think its right for them to do this why or why not?

For Super Bowl 50, NFL courts LGBT businesses

article

For the first time ever, the NFL is outreaching to businesses owned by lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders for the year of 2016.  Robb Fleischer, president of the Golden Gate Business Association, claims San Francisco is going to be the best place to create history for the LGBT community.  The NFL tries to target small businesses owned by minorities, women, and disabled veterans for their Business Connection program; the LGBT community is thrilled to be included in their organization.  The Business Connection program helps get businesses become incorporated in presentations from representatives of the NFL and the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee staff and corporate sponsors.  Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the NFL, claims these outreach programs are not exclusively beneficial to the NFL, but the entire business world.  Do you believe there will be backlash against the NFL for associating with LGBT?  Does this make a progressive step towards equality?  Do you think more companies should corporate with the LGBT community?