Osama Bin Laden...Can we feel safer?

Osama Bin Laden dead..Can we feel safer? 

Terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, who masterminded the 9/11/01, killing 3000 people and bringing down the twin towers, was caught by the US Navy Seals and killed as per order of  President Obama on 5/1/11 because Osama was a war criminal after committing such a horrific act. As a result, we are left with many questions that remain unanswered, for instance, is the world a safer place now that he is gone and are we really sure that a 9/11/01 will not happen again? 

             When President Obama ordered the murder of Osama people felt his murder was justified especially those who lost someone in the 9/11. However, some also stated that it will not bring their loved ones back home. Osama may be dead but the fear of terrorism has now grown even more and it has spread a mistrust about every day living. As we try to go on our every day lives we are worried about our safety and security. Airports now literally pat you down like they do criminals.  There is no more trust. This is not going to go away it is here to stay. Osama may be dead, but he has left future generations in fear. 

               President Obama who has received two Nobel Peace Prize can surely find a better way to lead us into the future. It is not an easy mission for our leader's to keep us safe from harm, but I don't believe it will come in a manner which means putting young people in arms way by sending them to fight wars. How can we have peace if we continue to kill each other. The whole idea doesn't make clear sense to me and I don't support it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/02osama-bin-laden-obituary.html?_r=1&scp=9&sq=osama%20bin%20laden&st=cse

Memento

 

What is your purpose in life? Many existentialists believe that you should live your life with a purpose and meaning. The movie Memento portrayed exactly what an existentialist would think. Leonard lived his life purposly to try and find, as well as kill, the man who murdered and raped his wife. 

The main character, Leonard, was on a search for the man who raped and murdered his wife but on top of that he suffered an accident that caused him to not be able to make new memories. This was caused by a man who was thought to have helped out on the killing of his wife. Leonard may have lost his ability to remember new memories but he has the help of Polaroid pictures that he writes notes on as well as notes and tattoos that he uses to pick up on where he left off before he forgets what he was doing. Everyday he wakes up to try and continue the search to find the killer and that was his meaning of life. To not be able to make memories sort of puts a hold on what your purpose of really living is when your limited to what you can remember without your control. Leonard may not have understood completely as to what happened after the murder of his wife but he wakes up uses the clues he leaves himself to try and figure it out on his own.

I personally didn't like the movie at first because it started with the ending. I thought to myself the ending of movies are always what you anticipate for and when you find them out before the movie is over it's technically ruined for you. As I continued to watch the movie little by little I began to pick up on the pieces that were missing and I wanted to know what happened right before. This movie you anticipate to learn what actually happened in the beginning. To understand the movie completely one must watch it for them self.

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest; Existentialism.

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey was originally a book that was made into a movie in 1975. This movie (and also book) is about patients who rebel against the rules and regulations of the ward they live on. Existentialism is about the meaning of ones life and this movie shows exactly that. The patients on the ward are there because of psychological disorders. This ward is like their own society in which they try to find meaning in themselves. It challenged what society originally would have thought of them as "insane" or "crazy" but they dug deeper in trying to find out their purpose in life and to not just listen to a nurse who belittles them. McMurphy, one of the main characters, helped all the patients see that there was more to them then just what the nurse says they are. He tries to make them see that there is a meaning behind their lives and existence in the world. He didn't think they should just sit around listening to the nurses rules that he found absurd and to just live life in the moment.

The book and the movie were completely different. I didn't like the movie at all. I liked the book and it was upsetting seeing that the movie wasn't as god. I like the existentialist topic and how it was shown better in the book then the movie. Even though I am not an existentialist I do feel they have a point and it makes me view things differently.

Harmful Effects on Electronic Devices

Technology... Who doesn't love it? It is what's related to our electronic devices like cellphones, computer and laptops. Almost everyone owns some form of electronic device or is surrounded by it day by day. Many of us treat our cellphones like they are our babies. Most of us can't live without our cellphones. I agree with this because I love my cellphone and I don't go anywhere without it. Electronic devices and like most pieces of technology are just plain forms of entertainment for us. But is that the only thing we get out of them? Most electronic devices are educational and helpful. Now studies are showing that cellphone radiation may alter your brain. Dr. Nora Volkow lead investigator of the study and director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health said that she advises users to use cellphones at a distance because the intensity of radiation diminishes sharply with distance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/technology/personaltech/31basics.html?scp=8&sq=effect%20of%20technology%20on%20kids&st=cse

You like music? What about listening to it loud.. especially with headphones on? I know I do. This also can be very harmful to your ears. Loud noise whether it is music or machinery can cause damage to ones ears. Many people get tinnitus which causes frequent ringing in your ears because of loud noises as stated on kidshealth.org It also states here that loud noises can causes temporary or permanent hearing loss. 

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/rock_music.html

I'm constantly on my cellphone as well as listening to loud music. Technology like electric devices have become main focuses throughout our daily lifestyles. I believe that we all should still take precaution about this though because there has been shown problems that are a cause of modern day technology that is used very often. Some ways is by keeping our phone away from us when we don't need to be using it or while on the phone use blue tooth or keep it on speaker. As for loud noises we should give our ears a break from loud noises like listening to music through headphones or watching TV with the volume to high.

Religion

Religion throughout the world has been a main part of most peoples lives. It goes back in time where religion was just your way of life. It was your way of surviving and if you were excommunicated then you were pretty much just left to die. There are so many various religions in which people have different views and beliefs. Some people are judged upon based on religion and I don't think that's right; you believe what you want and ill believe what I want. Everyone's entitled to freedom of  religion.

All around the world religion is debated. In Italy there was an issue of an Italian law requiring crucifixes in public classrooms and whether or not it would violate a clause of the European Convention On Human Rights. This was answered no because it is said that the crucifix is not a religious symbol.  

Religion can be violent as well because religion is one of the best ways to show differences in peoples opinions and view as well as portions of their lives. In MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan 3 angry mullahs sought avenge because there was a burning of a Koran at a Florida church. They sought avenge by gathering thousands of protesters to overrun the compound of the UN in the north Afghan city in which cost the lives of 12 people. Some people would die for their religion but others such as 4 guards who were killed in this protest because they were there just in case there were to be any fights.

*For full article on the issue in Italy click here.

*For full article on the Afghan protest click here.

I believe everyone should do what they want because they're happy about it. There has been many judgmental, violent, and crucial moments because of religion. For example the Holocaust in which caused the death of thousands of Jews. The first amendment specifically states there is freedom of religion and I don't think that anyone should be judged based on their religion because just like you, you have your own opinion and choice as to which religion you want to be apart of or the choice of not having one.

Music Therapy

Music is apart of everyone's life some way or another. Music has been around for centuries and has been used for many different reasons. It is used for entertainment, to pass time, and even for therapeutic reasons. Music helps people cope with their feelings. Everyone has their own taste in music and is a way to express who you are. Some people listen to music as a therapeutic way but some people write music as their own form of therapy. Music speaks what the mind can not.

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." - Ancient Greek Philosopher, Plato

There is many different view on music. I agree with what Plato once said.  It does make your imagination fly higher and bring joy to everything.

Music is therapeutic also in a way that it helps with depression. Music therapy helps ease symptoms of depression and that four studies found that participants receiving music therapy  reduced depression symptoms as compared to those who did not as stated in Science Daily.

 Click here for the link to the article on music therapy as a hope for people with depression.

As well as people music has been a form of "healing" for animals as well.

“The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instruments next to human voice” was once said by Alianna Boone who is a musician who plays for pets that are ill. She did a study while performing for hospitalized canines that the hour-long sessions she did helped to lower heart rate, anxiety, and respiration.

Not only did harp music help with canines it helped for a cow's anxiety problem in which she was stomping around scaring her owner and within 20 minutes of listening to a CD of the harp it calmed her down. Along with the cow it was enjoyed by a gorilla at a zoo and before going to sleep blew the harpist a kiss!

For the full article click here.

 

I believe that music can help people AND animals in all different ways. I personally love music and is apart of my everyday life. I think its a perfect way for people to express their feelings and show off who they are.

Global Warming

Global warming has been a concerning issue for years. There is great changes in the weather that is effects us greatly because it causes disasters in areas where we live. It also threatens animal species as well causing many to become endangered because of this. Greenhouse gases which produce fossil fuels are a main cause of global warming. 

In Colombia rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall has caused a drop in coffee production. Coffee specialist Peter Baker said ''Coffee production is under threat from global warming, and the outlook for Arabica in particular is not good." Shortage of coffee beans especially Arabica beans have been effecting us New Yorkers as well because not. only is there a shortage but because of it coffee prices have been going up. I am a big fan of coffee and half of New York depends on coffee to get through their day. 

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E6DC163EF933A25750C0A9679D8B63&ref=globalwarming  

Global warming is also effecting our Naval Forces. It is going to start causing problems in the sea service as said in the New York Times. It was also said that frequent severe storms and droughts that could lead to famine, mass migration and political instability. Climate change is unpredictable and I think that people should do more about it because in reality we are partially a cause in global warming. Pollution is one way in which global warming is increasing. A simple step like not using hair spray that sprays straight can do some good to the environment because it was said that that is a way in which global warming increases because it pollutes the air. 

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/study-says-navy-must-adapt-to-climate-change/?ref=globalwarming

We the people are the cause of global warming. We cause all the pollution and I think that we owe it to our environment to try and help. Reduce, reuse, recycle is a way in which we can all help. What we do effects everything. A simple thing like throwing a can into the ocean can kill many animals in the ocean. Global warming also is the cause for many animals to become endangered like the Polar Bear. If we all contribute to the environment we can try and reduce global warming.

http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/tp/globalwarmtips.htm