Sunday, January 27, 2013

IIlegal Immigration Reforms


On January 27, 2013, in an article called “Immigration Reform: Lawmakers See Overhaul of Immigration System Clearing Congress This Year” from The Huffington Post, Michele Salcedo reported that Republican and Democratic lawmakers are ready to reform the nation’s immigration system. The reform will include a citizenship pathway for eleven illegal immigrants. The path will be an earned citizenship, which will include several principles that are not yet presented. Richard Durbin, the No. two Democrat in the Senate said, “We have virtually been going maybe 25 years without a clear statement about immigration policy. That’s unacceptable in this nation of immigrants” (The Huffington Post). Durbin clearly stated that the nation would not continue to develop without a clear agreement with illegal immigrants. He and two other senators said that current politics prescribe that a way for citizenship must be included in the framework of the reform. Senator Robert Menendez also said that the entire package will have the enhancement of border security, which agrees with the Republicans’ priority to tighten borders to prevent future illegal immigration. President Barrack Obama wants to press his changes, which include paying fines and back taxes, mandatory penalties for businesses that employ unauthorized immigrants, and some other changes. However, this will not highly benefit him because he won seventy percent of the Latino vote, in part because of the reactionary positions that Republican nominee Mitt Romney had put on illegal immigration. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Nature Observations


As I stepped out into the blinding sunlight, I found myself to be standing in the middle of my quiet neighborhood. There was a sudden sound of a helicopter gradually coming closer. When I lifted my head I squinted to see a news helicopter fly right on top of me. As it passed over all the houses, ruining the peace, the sound faded away and I was left with silence and nature. The short-lasting silence was ruined when a car roared towards the top of the street. The wind was blowing extremely softly because even the lightest trees were barely moving. The air was cold, yet the sun was shining the entire neighborhood. Again, I heard a helicopter coming near, but this time the sound subsided and I never saw it on top of me. As I took a few steps up my street, I saw two owners with two dogs each walking in opposite directions. As they came closer, there was an unexpected and loud bark from one of the dogs, which scared me. The owners were forced to halt and pull their animals away in order to prevent attacks and chaos. As soon as they passed each other, the one walking in the opposite direction came closer to pass me as well. I shifted a little to the right, hoping that the dog does not suddenly bark at me as well. As the owner came closer, I could hear the sound of loud music coming from his headphones. The dog was peaceful this time. I walked, zoned out, and thoughtless, not realizing that I was standing in front of my grandparents’ house. I opened the gate door and stepped in the front yard. The delicious aroma of food became stronger as I stepped closer to their door. Then, the noise of little children, who I correctly assumed were my cousins, became louder. They all stepped outside, greeted, and welcomed me inside. I gave my temporary farewell to nature and followed them in.

Flu Shots for Hospital Staff


On January 18,2013 in an article called, “Getting a Flu Shot Can be Sticking Point with Healthcare Workers” from the Los Angeles Times, Anna Gorman reported that hospital administrators are struggling with whether to compel doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to get vaccinated, since flu cases are increasing in California. According to a report by the California Department of Public Health, each year only about sixty percent of hospital workers receive vaccination. The federal government has set a goal of ninety percent by 2020. Under state law, hospitals must offer the shot to their workers free of charge and have them sign a declaration if they do not want it. However, there is no law that requires hospital staff to receive vaccination. Some administrators have made it a condition of employment at some facilities, but others only instruct them to wear a mask for the entire flu season. Sherlyn Ocampo, a nurse who works on the medical/surgical unit at a hospital and receives vaccination every year, stated, “I don’t want to get sick. I don’t want to get my patients sick” (Los Angeles Times). It is extremely important for the entire hospital staff to receive vaccination because their jobs put them in a position of spreading the virus to a large group of patients. The federal government is working on making new laws about this issue because it is unfair that people walk into a hospital for treatment, but end up catching a deadly flu instead. 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Independent Reading Book Preferences


In the past semester each student read a memoir or autobiography of various writers and learned about each of their lives.  We all understood how each event affected each author’s entire life. After we all presented our projects on the context of every book, I understood that I could enjoy reading some but not all of the books. One book I would really enjoy reading would be Lucky by Alice Sebold. A book about rape, one of the most dehumanizing crimes imaginable, the story is about how Sebold was emotionally affected.  Lucky is an important book because it exposes the terrible aftermath of rape and other sexually violent actions. I would enjoy reading this book because I am interested in learning about the perception of a person who ahs been forced into an act like this. There is no question that I would never blame her for what happened because I understand that in a situation like that, girls are not physically strong enough to fight back. Knowing myself, I would enjoy listening to the victim’s story and how her life changed because of it.  Moreover, if I ever had the chance I would support her to forget about the incident.
            A book I will not be likely to read is Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin. This book is about a person who spent his entire life with animals. Even though it is interesting how a person has the bravery to confront the most dangerous animals, I do not believe that understanding the nature of animals will shape a person’s life. This man did what he loved to do, but he did not make a huge change in the world. He will only be remembered as the person who died from doing what he loved to do. Another reason for my disinterest in this book will be that I am not a huge fan of the animals he usually observes and talks about, especially crocodiles. However, I respect his job and the fact that he loved animals. 

Shooting Trainings


On January 11,2013, in an article called, “Oakland County Teachers Will Receive Active Shooter Training” from The Huffington Post, Kristin Bull reported that teachers and the school staff in Rochester and Oakland will receive training for active shooter situations. In the next two months, the entire training will teach them on how to react if such an event was to happen. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Homeland Security Division will conduct five training sessions in the next two weeks. Sheriff Michael Bouchard will give active shooter presentations in addition to the training because he believes that it will further prepare the schools. He stated, “Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly, which requires people on the scene to be prepared both mentally and physically while waiting for law enforcement to arrive” (The Huffington Post). Moreover, in Rochester, the schools have implemented a locked-door policy, which means that all school doors, including the main entrance doors, are to be locked during school day.
This important training is in response to the shooting tragedy last month at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, which took away the lives of about a couple dozen innocent younglings.  It is exceedingly important to be prepared in such a situation because no one will ever know if there is a person with that intention out there. All schools, in all states have to receive training for not only situation like this, but also for any form of crimes and emergencies.