Speak Out 3/7: Persuasive Debate
Posted by Mr. Reed on March 5, 2008
This week you prepared for your debate by coming up with a focused proposition, logical reasons, and specific supporting details. Put it all together by writing a powerfully persuasive essay, convincing readers of your proposition.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Scirpt on Abortion
Bianca: I believe that abortion is ok to get in some circumstances.
Frank: Are you serious? So you are ok with killing babies?
Bianca: I do not believe that it’s right to have an abortion just because you got pregnant on accident with your boyfriend
Frank: Then you should’ve said that earlier, befgore I got all mad at you
Bianca: I tried but you wouldn’t let me finish. Well as I was saying, I would accept people to have abortions when they were raped, and when the mother’s life is endangered.
Frank: Even if you are raped, you are still killing a baby. It’s just like a baby dog or a baby cat. Would you kill one of those?
Bianca: No, I wouldn’t.
Frank: Then why would you kill another kind of infant no less?
Bianca: Because I don’t want anyone to suffer during pregnancy or when raising it. What if the mother had no money to be able to raise the child?
Frank: There is always the option of adoption.
Bianca:But what if the child will one day kill itself when they find out they were adopted? What would be the point of wanting to cause them pain during that time period?
Frank: Because there is still a chance they might not do it. And there is always the option of not telling them.
Bianca: But they will one day find out, there is no stopping it. Also, would you want to have an abortion if your life was endangered with the pregnancy?
Frank: I wouldn’t know, I’m not a woman.
Bianca: Right… then would you want your girlfriend/wife to die with your child, while pregnant with it?
Frank: No, but what if she did live?
Bianca: Then you would be very happy, but the point is that what if you had a choice to have your wife/ girlfriend to have an abortion and live, or have her die with the baby?
Frank: Then I wouldn’t know what to do.
Bianca: What if your 11 year old daughter was raped and became pregnant, what would you do?
Frank: I would let her give birth then give it up for adoption.
Bianca: But it would causing your daughter pain
Frank: …….. OK fine. Then I would be up for abortion, just for that matter.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Abortion
Nimer: Hey Jack I really like that Obama is for abortion.
Jack: WHAT!!! How can you be for abortion? It is murder.
Nimer: Not really. Professor Dr Philips and other medical professionals say a baby isn’t a baby until it’s at least 3 months in the mother’s womb.
Jack: Well that’s one or even couple of people said that. Other people’s opinion says right when the sperm fertilize the egg then it’s a human being. Plus you are kind of saying any murder should be legal.
Nimer: What if the baby will affect the mother’s health? What is she suppose to do then? For example maybe the Dr says that the mother will die if she goes along with having the baby. Wouldn’t that be murdering the mother because she has no choice but to have the baby?
Jack: Well that’s a good point.
Nimer: Thank you
Jack: Wait what about the baby’s right to live?
Nimer: Well the woman has the right to decide what they should do with their body. The Supreme Court ruled making abortion illegal is unconstitutional.
Jack: So if people don’t want to have a baby, they should use birth control. Having abortion be legal makes people not bother. If the girl gets pregnant, she could just go get an abortion and the problem is gone.
Nimer: Well most birth control isn’t that good. I mean like they only protect like 90% of the sperm. Besides if it becomes illegal women will still do it but it won’t be a professional doctor doing it. It will be an inexperienced person doing it and the woman can get hurt real bad or die.
Jack: Ok but then people wont really care if someone gets pregnant. Then the population will decrease instead of increase. Then there will be less jobs and then the world will end in 2012 like people predicted.
Nimer: No because some people actually want babies so the population will stay the same. One other reason abortion should be legal is that a little girl gets raped and gets pregnant what is she suppose to do with the baby. For example a 10 year-old girl got raped and had the baby when she was 11 years old. See if abortion was legal her life would be normal instead of a baby right by your side. Crying all day and when she go to school (if she goes to school) her baby will be at home by its self and there goes another 2 screwed up people just because abortion is illegal.
Jack: Well what about the father’s opinion. Everyone forgot about his opinion. What if he is willing to take full responsible of the baby? But the woman goes out and kills the baby by getting an abortion. What can he do then?
Nimer: Well then I think the mother and the father should both chose the abortion. How’s that?
Jack: Yea ok that’s probably the only thing we agree on in this hole conversation.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Iraq War
The Iraq War is a tragic event that happened in our country and is still happening to this day which shows it probably won’t end without the help of other people. To get people to be against the Iraq War I think that we need to show them how brutal and dangerous in Iraq since the War started. Bush the president of the United States is the one who sent our troops to war with Iraq and because of that many people died, not only did many Iraqis die but also many of our troops died all because of Bush. The war has put our country in a great deal of debt because Bush keeps on spending money on weapons and war expenses. The war has made Iraq a dangerous place to go. The war I think is one of the big reasons our economy is declining and the housing market isn’t very good. The Iraq War has put or country in a trillion dollars in debt which is a ton of money. We went to Iraq for oil but ended up in a war with them. The next president of the United States I think will have a big handful having to deal with the war and the weakening economy. The way that we should stop this war is to retreat or troops from Iraq slowly but surely so our troops will get home and the war will end. So you should be against the Iraq war and help end it.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
DRIVING LAWS
Roses are red violets are blue
Driving is for kids like me too
Adults can drive any one they want
At age 16 I want that privilege handed to me
I don’t care how old you have to be
I want to be able to drive my friends to Lake Bee
Not only that
I want to drive my brother as a matter of fact
My parents wouldn’t have that big pain in their back
Especially in the morning when we have to go to school
My parents wouldn’t have to be late for work too
I can drop off my brother and head for the hills
I’ll be on time for school I know I will.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Wall of Shame
Whether it is on the news, in a store, or just down the street, everyday, you see or hear a person who only knows how to speak their home country’s language and nothing else. Between the 1990s and 2000s, the number of illegal immigrants that have come to the United States, has increased by fifty-eight percent. The United States’ government plan to put a wall on the Mexican American border to try to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States. But is it absolutely necessary to build a wall to keep them out, just look at some of the things we have and will never have had if it were not for some of these illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants do the jobs that require hard labor but are necessary to our country, they make it easier for businesses to make money, and they are not as big of a threat to the modern life of United States citizens as many believe they are.
Many Americans constantly complain about how illegal immigrants are taking away their jobs, when in reality illegal immigrants will do the jobs that most United States’ citizens won’t do. They keep the economy moving by filling low-wage jobs. Illegal immigrants are willing to put in long hours of hard labor. Most of hotel and restaurant workers are hard-working Hispanic immigrants, most of them here illegally.
Illegal immigrants make it easier for United States’ businesses to make money. Business gets cheap work. They do not have to pay for the illegal immigrants health care. Businesses that require hard-labor, would hire mostly illegal immigrants who would work for long hours, get the work done, and for low pay.
Many Americans exaggerate the threat that illegal immigrants have on modern day United States’ citizens’ lives. We have all heard at some point, that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes like the rest of us, which is not entirely true. Yes, they do it the way actual citizens do, but illegal immigrants do pay taxes in income, property, sales, and other. Many people thing that the United States will be over populated by them, when actually sixty-four point seven illegal immigrants return to their country after a year or less of working in the United States. There are constant complaints about all the illegal criminals who happen to be illegal immigrants, and while there have no doubt been crimes committed by them, when you compare by age groups, the crime for illegal immigrants are around the same to the general population.
Even though there are negatives to having illegal immigrants in the United States, good things come out of it as well. The United States wouldn’t be this great country that it is today if it were not for immigration. Just about every person who lives in the United States, except for Native Americans, either immigrated or is a descendent of someone who immigrated to the United States from another country. I do believe that there is something that the government could do to ensure that the illegal immigrants have the same responsibilities as American citizens, but I also think that some of these people who have no idea what they’re talking about, can give them less of a hassle and actually help start a better life here.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:17 am
When did you get your drivers license? 16? What if someone had told you that you had to wait two more years? There may be an unfair law that will raise the driving age to 18. What would you think?
A beginner is a beginner at any age. Just being older won’t make someone a better driver, experience will. The driving age should not be changed because kids need experience before they are sent off to college. If kids start at an earlier age, they will have more time to practice, and therefore, more experience. When someone is 18, they will only be more anxious to drive. This means that if they don’t get their license, they will want to drive anyway. There will be more people 16-18 that are driving without a license.
If the driving age is 18, there are going to be kids that will need rides to and from college. For others, it will be their first time driving alone when they are in college. Do you think that their parents will be comfortable with them driving alone with not enough experience? Also, most kids will get jobs at 16, and they wouldn’t be able to drive there. This will be a hassle for parents and a pain for kids.
An 18 year old driving age will also be closer to the drinking the age. This will give teens these two rights at almost the same time. That means that there will be more inexperienced drivers drinking and driving.
Finally, all the people that will vote on this law can already drive, so it won’t affect them. It is just unfair to punish all kids because of the actions of a few. Two years of waiting will not make kids stop taking risks. If they had more experience, they would be more aware of dangerous situations. I believe that instead of raising the driving age, people should focus more on drivers Ed and give more training. That would give the teens more experience, and make them better drivers.
March 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
A True Experience with Private and Public Schools
It is easier to focus in private schools than in public schools for a couple of reasons. In private schools they have more strict rules than in public schools, resulting that it is easier to focus. The reasons it is easier to focus are because the students have to wear uniforms, they can spend more time studying. They also have one classroom for each grade level, so there is less little drama. These two little details in their school rules, results in better a grade point average overall.
Since private schools have a specific dress codes, it is easier for students to focus better in school. This is because with uniforms students are able to focus more spending less time getting ready and having more time to study. Most kids say, “uniforms take away our individuality,” when really it doesn’t. Actually it brings out our individuality a lot more by the way that students makes it theirs, whether it is with their hair, make-up or shoes. It is also a big money saver. They only have about four or five different choices and they only have to buy one or two outfits for a week. Unlike them, public school kids can wear what ever they choose, within a limit, and that is a lot more money. Also by wearing uniforms, it saves a lot of time instead of
spending ten minutes just figuring out what to wear. That could lead to better grades as well.
Since there is one classroom for every grade level, students are not exposed to the great amount of drama like at the public schools. Even though the average students in one classroom in private schools is 37 students, they are constantly with the same people and less drama will build up between them. And since there is just one classroom and the teachers go to the different classrooms, all of the teachers know what each of there homework is resulting in a lot less stress. At public schools, students go class to class with different students in every subject making it harder to focus on one thing and the teachers have no idea how much homework other teachers are giving them, resulting in a lot of stress.
Because of the more focus students have in private schools, they are capable of getting better grades, having more friends, and less drama. There is not as much transition between subjects, more likely to keep great friends, and overall have a really good academic life. All of these things help students live there life to the fullest.
I actually went to a private schools for six years and two years in pre-school, which is a total of eight years, and all of these things are true for me. I still have friends that go there and these things are true for them as well. I truly think that it is a lot easier to focus a private school than in a public school.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Iraq War Debate
The United States was right in supporting the war in Iraq. The Iraqi leader was a dictator who was ruling his people as a despot. It was important to ensure stability in the Middle East as too many nations were harboring anti US feelings. Another reason was to secure oil trade with Iraq, especially for European nations. The United States supported the War for the greater good of the Iraqi people.
Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, at the time of the beginning of the War, was a dictator who had ruled his country for years. He poisoned the Kurds, a tribe of Iraqis in the Northern region, who were unlike most of the Iraqis. They had resisted his rule, so he simply tried to eliminate them. Hussein also tortured his people when they did not cooperate and set up a police force that was famous for their scare tactics.
The stability of the Middle East was also a main reason for the US support of the War. The US is an ally of Israel, who has been a target in that region since its creation as a nation. Iran has always been a threat to the US and the West, and having so many countries, and Al Qaeda in the region would allow radical extremists’ ideas to grow, endangering the West.
One of the riches Iraq has is vast oil fields. A small percentage of the oil went to the US, but most of it went to Europe. If Europe were not able to obtain that oil from hostile Iraq, its economy would have suffered and the US would lose the support of its Allies if there were a conflict.
War is not an ideal way to solve matters, but when negotiations have broken down and a nation does not participate in the well being of all nations, some nations must step forward and defend the globe. The US and its allies did just that.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Teen Driving
Teenage driving has become an increasingly controversial issue over the past ten years. Many politicians and adults fight for tougher driver’s license laws and a higher legal driving age. Other adults and soon-to-be divers argue that things are fine the way they are. However, when the nation’s leading cause of death for teens from ages 15 to 20 are traffic accidents, things are hardly fine. The need for change is obvious. Something must be done to save the lives of teenagers in California. The California legislature should impose tougher laws and regulations on teenage drivers under 18.
California needs to make tougher licensing laws for young drivers. Graduated driver’s license programs are making a difference. Fatal crashes involving 15 to 20 years-olds in 2005 were down 6.5 percent from 7,979 in 1995, to the lowest in ten years. This is a start, but more must be done. Studies show that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers across America. Considering this, what ages to you think the majority of those drivers were? The answer is that they were generally around the ages of 16 and 17. We need to prevent this from happening, for teens are not the only ones dying. Crash data, surveys, and fatality statistics all point out the dangers that driving not only imposes on young teens, but on other drivers and passengers as well.
There are many major killers on the roads today. However, drunk driving is one of the biggest killers. In the state of California alone, over 277 teens were killed in drunk driver accidents. Research shows that 31 percent of the teen drivers killed in 2006 had been drinking. And 25 percent of those drivers had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.8 or higher (0.5 is considered bad).
There are many arguments against this issue. For example, you might ask: “If teenagers cannot drive until 16, how will they get to work and other places?” However, there is a simple answer: public transit. Even in the smallest of towns like Benicia, there are buses. They can take you all over town for a reasonable price. You might also argue: “Having the freedom to roam around and drive where you wish is important to a teenager.” The only thing to ask yourself is if it is the risk to set your child loose on the road with bad influences, drunk drivers, and other dangerous people. Here are some other disturbing statistics for your benefit:
• Every 22 minutes, someone dies in an alcohol related motor vehicle accident
• On any given weekend, 1 out of 10 drivers on the road have been drinking
• According to the latest statistic, the prospect of you or someone in your family being involved in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident it very certain- almost guaranteed. At a 200 percent chance, it is pretty scary.
These facts should help convince you that the driving age should be increased to 18. A lot of young people are, in fact, dying before they get old… dying tragic, meaningless deaths that could have been saved.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Marijuana, Good or Bad?
Should marijuana be used for medical illness or should we get rid of it entirely? Marijuana side effects can be as seemingly as an addiction, to as life threatening as lung cancer. Studies show that 6 to 11 percent of fatal accidents are contributed to by marijuana side effects. Over 11 million people smoked marijuana last month. Marijuana is illegal and is known to have brutal side effects. Hallucinations, delusions and a loss of self-identification are just some of the least dangerous effects. Marijuana also increases the risk of lung cancer, strokes, and heart attacks. Marijuana increases the heart, blood, and breathing rate. Taking Marijuana is like throwing away a few extra years of your life. Why don’t people just stop? Marijuana is a strong addiction and has been described as unbearable. One man quoted marijuana is like a disease that has taken over and the only way to slow it is by taking more.
Though marijuana sounds like instant death, doctors think that it has good uses. Cannabis sativa also known as cannabinoids (which is in marijuana) is known as an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cannabinoids also have been known as pain relievers and helps lots in fighting cancer. Smoking marijuana is also said to reduce the pressure on the eyeball associated with glaucoma but has yet to be proven. Tremors, muscle spasms and pain secondary to multiple sclerosis have also been found to be reduced with the use of cannabinoids.
There are many minor bad sides and very major good sides. If you had cancer, what would you choose?
March 10th, 2008 at 2:30 am
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This is part one of the 14th amendment.
Why then is the government going against this and trying to make abortions illegal? What of the parts that says the states “shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens” or that they will not “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”? If you out law abortion you go against what the amendment says. Whether or not the baby is aborted is a personal choice and one that should not be controlled or made by the government.
Yes there are people who believe that abortion is murder but how is it? I mean yes the fetus is alive, it grows and it has it’s own set of DNA but so do single cell amebas the only difference is that the ameba won’t become a human. I believe that there should be a limit to abortions thought. If the baby could live outside the womb it is too late to kill it.
Outlawing abortions won’t necessarily stop them either. There will always be people who do it in back alleys were there is a possibility of killing both the baby and the mother.
Also consider the people who cannot support a child. If abortions are outlawed those people who cannot afford to raise a child will be stuck with one. Yes they can give it up for adoption but that will mean one more unwanted child. If they keep the child they may not be able to afford to put it through school or even full feed and clothe it properly.
Abortion being legal is not forcing people to abort their children. It is simply giving women the choice to get rid of a child that they may not want or cannot afford.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
The War in Iraq
The war in Iraq is an issue that affects many of the citizens of the United States today. I think that the American soldiers that are stationed in Iraq should be sent home. I also think that the war should be ended because it does more harm than good. The war produces many hardships, the iraqi people do not want the solders there and the war cost too much money. There are many other reasons why the troops should be pulled out of Iraq but I will focus in these three.
It produces many hardships for the families of soldiers. Most people today have at least one family member stationed in Iraq. Many of them go each day worrying if at any moment they will get a visit from an army official telling them that their brother, sister, son, or even husband has died while in Iraq. In fact 2,362 families have lost someone in their immediate family die in the war in Iraq. Their have been 3,896 people killed in the war and 28,773 people have been wounded. Solders do not get paid for the time that they are in services so if they die their families might suffer because they might not have someone to provide for the family.
Also, many people in Iraq do not want the United States in Iraq. There have been over 500 suicide bombings in Iraq since 2003 when the war started. In those suicide bombing there have been more than 89,103 Iraqi citizens that have died since the war started. In the war today we are trying to do the same thing that we did in the war in Vietnam. We are trying to make to groups of people who have hated each other for hundreds of years try to co-operate with each other and both times we have failed. Anyways the war started because Pres. Bush said that Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons but the U.N. didn’t find anything when they went and searched for the weapons. If we pull our troops in Iraq we can focus on finding Osama Bin Laden who is a threat to the people of America.
Another argument that people make to justify keeping the troops in Iraq is that if wall cost too much money to take all of the troops out of the country but statistics show that the war costs 275 million dollars a day. It would cost America maybe half of what we are paying each day. The economy will be improved by ending the war because the government could use that money for education or research on diseases that have no cure.
The war in Iraq has done way more harm than it has done good. It has created hardships for the families of many solders by laving many families without there husbands, wives, and sons. The people that live in Iraq do not want us to be interfering with their problems. They also don’t want us trying to make them live in a way that they do not want to. Finally, by pulling out our troops the economy will be strengthened, the government will be able to spend the money the get from taxes on things that are important like education or health care.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
The Better 18
Yes! It’s your sixteenth birthday! You’ve been waiting for this moment all your life…. You’re a junior, you can get a job, you can even learn how to drive in a little bit! Wait, you suddenly think, should I really be driving right now, at sixteen? Of course you would never abuse your ability to drive; you would never do that. But just think of everyone else your age. I’m sure that you know at least a handful of people that you’d never want to be anywhere near when they’re behind the wheel! How much longer would it really be to wait 1 ½ to 2 more years to get your license? In that time you could really gain a lot of experience so when you do get your license, you will feel confident and secure within yourself when you drive. For the safety of all drivers, young and old, on and off the road, we should raise the driving age to eighteen.
Look, I know everyone wants to be able to drive on their own at age sixteen; I do too. However, I would feel more comfortable driving on the roads if there weren’t a bunch of inexperienced sixteen year olds who don’t know how to really drive just yet. According to the DMV of California, sixteen year olds are 3.7 times more likely to be in an accident than drivers of any other age. That’s a pretty significant margin over other drivers! In fact, the first accident that I had ever been in happened last year at the traffic light on Southampton and Military West. While my carpool was waiting for the light to change on our way to school, the car behind us didn’t stop and slammed into our car’s back bumper, really damaging the person’s car (but it didn’t damage ours very much.) And who was driving the car? A sixteen year old girl. She was probably distracted by something and stopped too late, because we were hit pretty good; it wasn’t like a little tap or anything. To add to this, USA Today says that 1 in 5 sixteen year old drivers reports a crash within their first year on the road. Plus, the DMV also claims that the younger you are, the more likely it is that you’ll get into an accident.
Not only are sixteen year olds more irresponsible than eighteen year olds are, but they are also more immature. At age sixteen, the part of your brain that weighs risks, makes judgments, and controls impulse, is much more primitive than it is at age eighteen. (Based on research at sciencenews.org.) A sixteen year old, for example, would be far more likely to go drive somewhere all night the day after he gets his license to celebrate with his friends. This could be really dangerous since he probably isn’t used to being sleepy while he drives on the freeway in the middle of the night. An eighteen year old, on the other hand, would more likely decide not to in the end because he would actually think of the risks. Aside from that, a report from the DMV of California also concluded that beginning sixteen year old drivers got into much more accidents than beginning seventeen and eighteen year olds did. So, after reading all of this, what would another 2 years be to wait? You need to think of your own risks.
Many people claim that they would need to drive in order to get to their jobs. However, you really don’t need to drive to get to jobs. For starters, there’s this thing called public transit. The reason why they have public transit is so people without a car or any sort of ride can get places. My brother, for example, worked in high school at a car shop in Pleasant Hill during the summer and part of the fall. He got to work each day by riding the bus over the bridge. Is the bus fare expensive? Not really, unless you’d rather pump some gas into your car at $3.65 or more per gallon, which not very many people particularly like to do. To get to a job that’s around here, you could ride a bike, walk, take the local buses, or have someone drop you off. If you have a job really far away, than do the ethical thing and get one that’s a little bit closer.
I believe that the driving age should be moved up to eighteen. As I’ve explained before, sixteen year old drivers in general are too irresponsible to be trusted with driving, they are immature compared to older teens with a lesser ability to make the right decisions. Besides, think of your own risks; do you really want to put everything on the line just because you got too impatient to another two years to really understand how to drive? There’s always a chance that a disaster could come your way. Also, although you may not know it, you can still get places without a car; it’s not the only method of transportation available. I mean, is driving when you’re eighteen really all that bad?
March 13th, 2008 at 1:50 am
The downfall of cosmetic surgery
Why someone risk their lives for a simple imperfection? I have no idea. Over 11 million people got cosmetic surgery in America in 2006 alone. This is ridiculous. To change the way you look because you are unhappy about it isn’t the way to go. It promotes an unhealthy lifestyle and an insecure America. What does this mean for the future generations? I am afraid of what the answer is to this question but I can sure tell you it doesn’t mean anything good for this generation. What’s next? A baby going straight from labor to surgery because its mom was unhappy about how big it’s nose is? Cosmetic plastic surgery is a material thing that shouldn’t be used for a change in appearance.
One major factor about plastic surgery is the cost. A simple face lift can cost from 6000 dollars to15000 dollars. Are you serious? That amount is almost three times as much as my sister’s first car. I’m sure she got way more use out of that old thing than anyone could get out of a face lift. That money could have been used for food, charity, and many other things that can make it more helpful. Usually the people who get plastic surgery are the ones who can afford it; the rich. This just enhances the stereo type that rich people are better than us and perfectly beautiful.
This leads me to my next topic. Having famous people and celebrities getting plastic surgery promotes a bad message to the people who see them. It makes especially teenagers think to themselves, why don’t I look like that? Some cases just go to a crazy extreme. People will change every feature on their body and face to look exactly like someone; someone like Arlnald Swartchineger. I don’t know about you but this is crazy to me.
The numbers of surgeries keep increasing every year. Since 1997 surgical procedures went up by 123 percent and non-surgical procedures went up by 749 percent. That is way too much. Plus kids are starting too young. A procedure for pinning back your ears is often used on 5 year olds. 5 year olds are not old enough to be self conscious unless the parents raise them that way. This is not a lesson that our children of America should be taught.
Plus many people get plastic surgery to make them look younger but studies show that it can affect the underlying tissues in your skin, speeding up the aging process.
In conclusion, cosmetic surgery is the wrong way to go. It makes people insecure, promotes an unhealthy lifestyle, and costs way too much money. I urge you, don’t get cosmetic surgery.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Halloween vs. BMS
At school we celebrate Valentine’s Day, March Madness, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays, but not Halloween. Why is that? Well I am not completely sure, but I am here to tell you why we should celebrate Halloween. There are three main topics that I would like to discuss to you about. First is Costumes and what is appropriate. Also Halloween dance, and last, people against Halloween.
Costumes and candy are like the main thing about Halloween. So, what is the point about celebrating Halloween if you can’t dress up? It is optional and your costumes must be appropriate. They must follow the dress code, and if anyone breaks the rules they will dress in their P.E clothes.
After school there should be a Halloween dance, where everyone dresses up. It will be a fun way to have fun on Halloween and also, it will be a fundraiser in way, where you have to pay to get in. So in a way we are earning money and having fun. Also at lunch there will be easy games, for those in elaborate costumes, and leadership would be passing candy for those who dress up in costumes.
My favorite topic is people against Halloween. The funny thing is there is barely anyone that is against it. The great thing about having Halloween at school is the kids who can’t go trick or treating, will still get candy if they dress up at school, since leadership will be passing out candy during lunch, for those who dress up. Another thing is some people say that people may be against Halloween, well we celebrate Christmas and there are Jewish people who don’t get Hanukkah off.
I would just like to say that Halloween is a fun way to have fun on a boring day. And there really isn’t a bad reason why we shouldn’t celebrate Halloween. If you real reason why we shouldn’t have Halloween then tell me, because I can’t think of one. So, join me and say, I WANT HALLOWEEN AT BMS!!!!!!!!
March 13th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
What Happened to
“All Men Are Created Equal”?
Maddy Dean
America is a free country where everyone is accepted, isn’t it? The answer is no. we claim to be the country that is a free and accepting place that everyone wants to be a part of. Well if that was true then I wouldn’t be writing this essay. Sure we accept different religions but what about sexual preferences?
It is illegal for a gay couple to get married in the United States. This is just pure discrimination. Gay people are people too. It is not ones place to go around saying that being gay is a sin and that you will rot in hell if you are gay. The constitution says that government shouldn’t be based on religion, nor should it favor any certain religion. So this law against gay marriage is against the constitution which should be the supreme law of the land.
Just because gay people have different views on certain things that are really no ones business doesn’t mean that that is a reason to discriminate against them. Homosexual people should have every right that heterosexual people have. This includes being treated fairly by everyone not just those who support homosexuality. They should be able to walk out on the streets without being harassed.
Homosexuals are very accepting people. When interviewed many said that they had no problem with heterosexuals and they wanted to be a part of society instead of being shunned. They wanted everyone to be allowed to have the rights of a “normal” citizen.
Fairness needs to happen in this country. If we really were this perfect and fair country that we claim to be then we would have at least that. Everyone has feelings and those need to be respected. We need to make a stand against discrimination. We have done it before with first slaves, then women, and now… homosexuals. These minorities deserve respect and the same rights that we get. Then, and only then, will we be the country we claim to be.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Grandpa- Danny Skau
Per. 2
At the end of my grandpas life
He would lay in bed but would not sleep
In fear of those around him
On those days his brain could not keep
A gentle hand on the bible
As he rehearsed his favorite lines
Those old dusty blankets
Wrapped around him like vines
The memories of the strenuous journey
Over the Pacific by ship
Not one or two but three days
Without a single sip
His ears filled with the ringing sound
Of his days in the war
He was his my own amazing legend
He was truly hard core
In those final hours he began to no
After all those years it was his time to go
March 16th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Abortion is it good or bad? Didnt it say in the
Consitution all men are created equal. With abortion
you are stopping the creation of beautiful life. Y0u
caNt d0 wHat u waNt itz g0dz bAybY! Get an adoption.
It has been said the baby is a life form in the third
trimester. It may be the womens choice, but it is
still a murder crime. So people can get abortions but
they will go to jail and serve the time for a pre
meditated murder.
Some people say ” their conception was an accident”and thus they give the excuse to kill. I say that itis the their fault that they conceived the baby. Andthey do not have the right to kill something just toclean up the mess that they’ve created. This is pathetic.
I know it says in the constitution that we have rights and that women should have the rights to murder a baby. Well what about the babies rights huh. Well we all forgot about that part. Don’t give me garbage saying its their decision, cause if we let people kill their babies, what next, were gonna let people kill other people.
In conclusion, Abortion is acceptable…if the woman wants 5 years in san Quentin waiting with the other 5,000 in line to be executed. Killing things is wrong no matter whose body or mind or life sucking soul. Murder is wrong people. Life was created to…. wait rewind that, if people are stopping the life being created then now what. I would rather live in poverty than not to live at all. Abortion is now “aborted”.