Supdude’s Weblog

The essay American Dream Boat is about a family that fled form Vietnam and headed to America. It is a story from the author K. Oanh Ha and her family. This tells us about how bad they had it in Vietnam and wanted to get out of the communist ruled country. They were on a boat and landed in Orange County California. They were known as the “Boat people”. There were about 13 of them staying in a 3 bedroom apartment. They go one talking about her marriage to a white-American. Her family has different beliefs about the marriage. They think that it will end up in a divorce, since most Vietnamese and white-Americans marriages do. They are just worried about her safety and children. They want her children to grow up knowing both sides of its heritage. I feel that if you are in a mixed racial relationship and have a child then you should bring them up knowing both sides of the heritage. This will help the child out in the long run, of knowing what their background is.

Why Americans Exaggerate the Terrorist Threat, by Jeffrey Rosen. In this essay Rosen talks about how Americans are more afraid of crimes that are least likely to happen to them then ones that are more likely to happen to them. I agree with what Rosen says through out his essay. I do believe that Americans worry more about crimes and accidents that are less likely to happen to them. Also since 9/11 I think that that percent has highly increased. I feel that television has a lot to do with the way we think and worry about violence. Like with all the new movies and television shows that are coming out I think that it worry’s people. Especially women, no offence to women, but I think that they worry a little too much sometimes. For example my mother, so worry’s about everything so a little too much. She won’t ride on an airplane and she is always worried about getting in to a car accident. And my grandmother is locks every door in the house no matter what time of day it is. We leave in a town of about 30 people, and we know everyone. Those two watch a lot of shows like CSI, Criminal Content, and lifetime movies.

The Obligation to Endure is an essay written by Rachel Carson. This is an essay about harmful chemicals that we spread in the air, ground, and water. Rachel talks about the harmful chemicals that we put on our crop to keep insects away. She says that the pesticides that we keep putting on these crops are harmful to us in the future and now. They are going into the ground and ruining the soil. Then the crops and other things that we are growing are contaminated with these pesticides. Also they are going into the air and can hurt us when we breathe them in. Some of these chemicals are very harmful and can even cause cancer. I think that some of the stuff she talks about is true. Like she talks about us cutting down to many tress and the new ones we plant aren’t growing fast enough. I think that we need to calm down on destroying our forest. I also think that some of the pesticides that are extremely harmful to us should not be used on food that we eat. But until we can find another way to keep insects off our crops then I guess keep using them because I don’t want to find a bug in my salad. Also the weed killer and suppose to be harmful to the ground. No shit that’s why we buy to kill the weeds so we don’t have to pick them every other day.

Mais the speaker for Jordan I thought did a very god job explaining the similarities and differences between Jordan and the other countries. From what she has told us in her little presentation I heave learned the Jordan is not like all other middle-eastern countries. Jordan is a very peaceful country. Also I learned that not all women have to wear the head thing, I forget what it’s called. From what she was told us I have learned much more then what I have even known about Jordan and also about some of the middle-east. She explained everything so we could understand what she was talking about. I didn’t see the Iraq speaker so I can’t compare the two. I liked how she just didn’t stand p there and show pictures and talk without giving us a chance to ask questions. I still have some questions that I would like to know, but I’m sure I can just go online and look them up. But there is still questions that I have and would like to ask her. The main point is that she made me think different about some middle-eastern countries. I hope the other speakers are just as good as she was. Also I couldn’t believe how well she spoke English and how well she was with the culture here.

1. What is the night life there like?
2. What do you do for entertainment such as music, games, etc.?
3. What is a typical meal?
4. What are the different types of religions in Africa?

1. Are there a lot or any American restaurants such as McDonald’s, Pizza Huts, etc.?

2. What is the most played/popular sport(s) in Jordan?

3. Is Jordan’s culture more influenced by American or the British culture?

4. What type of music is most listened to?

Right now my vote would have to go towards Barack Obama. I think he makes the best out of what he says. The one big issue that I had and wanted the president to do something about is the war in Iraq. I think we have been there to long and it’s just costing us more and more money every day. Also we are losing more troops every day. Obama says he has a plan to get our troops out of Iraq by the end of 2009.I think that this is a very good plan, and will help us out in the long run. He doesn’t oppose war but dumb wars he does. The qualities that I would like to have in a president I think Obama has those. I believe that he will stand-up and do what he believes in. I think that his messages are very powerful and gets a lot of peoples attentions. Also I would like to see a very intelligent president. I believe that Obama has the intelligence that we need for a good president. Then one of the qualities that I think is very important would be that you have to be able to interact with the people. And from what I can see so far I think that he has done a good job of making sure to talk to the people about issues and such. But like what I said at the beginning about the war in Iraq I thnk that is the biggest issue in the U.S. right now, and what most people want to hear about. The other issue that I think is a big deal is gasoline prices I think this a issue that needs to be sloved quick. Obamas way of solution is to raise the CAFÉ(that’s the fuel-efficiency standards on cars). I think that is the best idea

A few qualities that I would like to see in a president, the first would have to be someone that is powerful and willing to stand up for what he/she is believes in. Another quality would have to be intelligence. They would have to be intelligent, because no one wants a dumb president. Then I think also you would have to be able to interact with the people. You don’t want to be a dick and no one likes you , but also you don’t want to be to nice then have people walk all over you.

            Now for some issues I would like to see the president talk or do something about. The first would have to be the marijuana law, not that I’m all for it, but I think that drinking alcohol is the same thing as smoking some pot. If you are drinking and driving you get arrested I just think they should have the same laws for both. Another big issue would be the war in Iraq. I think that we should be out of there already, we just keep losing innocent soldiers. When they can be home with there families. Then another would be the gas price. I just think that there is no reason for the price per barrel should be over $100. 10-20 years ago it wasn’t even close to that. Heck 5 years ago it wasn’t.

Out of the two articles that I read the first one by Jennifer Clark “Technology, busy lifestyles to passive students; some think apathy is dangerous to society.” Also the second on by Derek Buck, “ Where’s Our Outrage.” I article by Clark has a lot of information and talks about how the youth is apathetic to politics and problems happening around the world. She uses the word apathy a lot through out the article. Clark basically explains the meaning of the word apathy. Her article wasn’t very interesting and didn’t catch my attention, but she makes a lot of good points. Unlike Buck that uses examples that we students can comprehend with. He goes about going to the students to get his information, instead of just putting a bunch of information together. That’s a reason why I think the youth is not interested in what’s going on in the world. We don’t want to hear a bunch of information that we don’t care about. When Buck goes out and takes the time to ask the students to get his information that catches our attention and then we get into it more. Then just reading an article on something that we don’t care about. This is basically what he is talking about being apathetic, not caring because we have no interest in it.