Current Connection #4

In an article posted February 22, 2013 entitled "Arkansas House approves bill banning abortions at 20 weeks" Author Suzie Parker informs readers about the recent vote to ban abortions after a woman is 20 weeks pregnant. This bill only allows exception in the case of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life.

Parker explains that this new bill has shortened the already exisiting limit of 25 weeks for abortions. She states, "Seven U.S. states have laws that restrict or ban abortion after the 20-week mark and similar laws approved in Arizona and Georgia are facing legal challenges." This new bill is based on the fact that medical researchers suggest that a fetus starts feeling pain at 20 weeks of gestation.

Abortion right activists are outraged by this bill. Murry Newbern, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, defended abortion by saying, "Any bill that restricts access to safe abortion is bad for women in Arkansas." She also said, "Every woman's health care needs are different, and it's vital that a woman be able to make her own personal, private decisions about her health and medical care with the consultation of her doctor, her faith and her family." Although a woman should make decisions about her own personal health, this case is different because now it involves the life of the baby also.

Parker reports, "...if it becomes law, would be the stiffest abortion restriction in the country." However, there are still some exceptions to the new law. Lawmakers voted that there will be exceptions in certain cases of rape, incest, or if carrying the baby threatens the mother's own personal safety. These special cases should always be considered carefully because with this being the only exception to the law, many women will start crying "rape!" everytime they want an abortion.

 I fully support this law because innocent unborn baies should not have to die simply for the fact that the mother was not responsible enough to be on birth control before having sex. It is not the government's job to fix a woman's personal mistakes, otherwise there would be a clinic that erases the memory of someone after someone says something they regret. However, when rape is involved then it is obviously not the woman's fault and it was not her choice to risk getting pregnant, do this law is fair to everyone, which is what a law should be!

Teen Pregnancy

http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-teen-pregnancy

 

 

 

Over the years teen pregnancy has become more popular and is being seen more and more in High School girls. It's no longer rare to see a teenager in 8th grade or up walking through the halls with a bigger than usual belly. In fact, at least 3 in 10 teen American girls will get pregnant at least once before age 20. That’s nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies every year.

Despite the media's efforts to decrease the numbers, there is still a growing rate. We hear about teen pregnancy and the negative consequences almost everywhere - from parents, to the media, and even at school - so some might wonder why so many teens are still becoming pregnant. The fact is that no matter what you say to some teenagers it does not hinder their natural desire to create something of their own, something that (in their mind) will always be there to love them. The problem with this theory is that what they are creating is not always going to be the perfect bundle of joy that is expected. With this in mind, not all teen pregnancies are planned. About 80% of pregnancies are unintentional. However, even though pregnancy is unintended, if there are no steps take to prevent it, then it almost inevitable.

Although I believe there are more steps that could be taken to prevent unplanned pregnancy, a teenager that has to become a mother should be respected and not degraded or looked down upon. Babies are the most needy and selfish beings on the planet. They do not care whether mom is exhausted, starving, or ready to pull her hair out. Teen mothers have to give up their teenage life and give all their time to the baby. They take on more responsibility than most teenagers would readily accept. To society, a girl who chooses to become a mother so early may seem crazy, stupid, or just immature, but that is not always the case. Some girl actually can handle the responsibility of being a mother and I believe that if one is capable of that kind of responsibility then they should deffinitely get more respect.

Teenage girls who are pregnant deserve all the support they can get, and there is deffinitley more that can be done in society to show the support that they need. This is a time in a girls life when she is most vulnerable, her emotions are a roaller coaster, her senses are extremely high, and her body is rapidly changing before she has time to process any of it. All these physical and emotional changes can really stress a girl out, and it is no help when schools, workplaces, and family members are not offering any support. Often times, teachers and principals try to turn a blind eye to the fact that a student is pregnant. Ignoring the fact does not help the teenager and can actually put more stress on her because no one is recognizing that she needs different things than other students, such as getting more restroom passes, or being allowed to eat small snacks in class. Also, many workplaces seem to believe that since a person is pregnant, she is obviously handi-capable and just can not do anything that the job requires. Therefore, it is very difficult for a pregnant lady to find a job, but when a teenager is the one pregnant chances are that she is not rolling in money and needs the job to support the baby. Pregnant teenagers should have more opportunities to show their support for their growing child.

This subject can be very touchy to some people because there are so many different opinions about it. I am not against teen pregnancy at all, considering I'm one of the 3 in 10, but I also do not support every teenager going out and getting pregnant. Some girls are simply not responsible enough and then decide to go get abortions, which I am completely against. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and should be taken very seriously when girls decide to start having sex. Then number of teen pregnancies could be significantly reduced with proper contraception. However, creating another life is an amazing feeling, and once what is done is done, it should not be considered a disgrace.

For more information on this topic please visit http://www.stayteen.org/teen-pregnancy

Current Connection #3

An article on Msnnews.com by Lisa Flam entitled, "Dad's word of warning: Adderall 'changed' my son", posted on February, 7, 2013, explains the details of a 24 year old, Richard Fee, who died from a drug overdose of Adderall prescribed to him by a doctor. This acticle is an expository writing which gives insight into the harmful, sometimes deadly, effects of taking prescription drugs.

Flam reports that Richard Fee was very intelligent and seemed to be on the path to success but after college had become addicted to prescription medication. His addiction included Adderall and Vyvanse, two drugs used to treat patients with ADHD. His addiction resulted in a mental breakdown and he eventually hung himself in a bedroom closet. Rick Fee, father of Richard Fee, stated, “I believe the doctors share in the responsibility.” The Fees claimed that they had tried to talk to their son’s doctors to get the prescriptions stopped, but Richard apparently persuaded doctors otherwise.

Ryan Fee, Richards sister, commented about they situation, saying, “When he told me, I said, ‘You don’t have ADHD. Why are you taking it?,” Richard replied with,  "It helps me study." Psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Weiner, told TODAY that many kids want the ability to be able to study for long periods of time. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that Richard’s suicide was an extreme, rare reaction to the drug, and that with proper diagnosing it can be a great drug. Richard's case is an example of the changing face of drug addiction and shows just how easy it is for kids to get their hands on, even right out from under the Doctor's nose.

New York Times reporter, Alan Schwarz, told TODAY: “It wasn’t the medication that did the harm here; it was the people in charge of the medication." Richard Fee's parents knew that Richard was not suffering from ADHD and pleaded with Doctors to stop prescribing him the medication. Despites their attempts to get the prescription stopped, Rick Fee said one doctor refused to talk to the couple, saying that he had been sued for discussing a case with another family, Rick stated “We just could not get any help from the doctors,” he said. “As much as we pleaded with them and told them what was going on.” Dr. Charles Parker responded to this statement by saying, “He was pitching me very well. I was asking him very specific questions, and he was very good at telling me the answers in a very specific way.”

This article proves that Doctors need to be more aware of the patients they are prescribing drugs to. Many people who get prescription medication, even when they do actually need it, never even take it for their own use, they sell the pills and get money for them! Also, the number of kids who can get these types of drug is increasing everyday. A few months ago my little cousin in 7th grade came home and told me that a boy in her grade got suspended for handing out prescription drugs in class. To me, the fact that even one kid can come into contact with medication so easily should be enough to get doctors to actually use their head when giving prescriptions. It would probably be much harder for anyone to recieve medication if there was a law that anytime a kid got in trouble with a prescription or died from the effects, the Doctor who provided them would be put on probation or pay some sort of consequence. However, until that happens the number of kids who do come into contact with them will probably keep rising, becuase Doctors are facing no punishment for their lack of responsibility.

Book Review - Private

Private, book 1 of 15 in the Private series written by Kate Brian, revolves around the drama of the inner circles of high school. However, this book not only portrays drama, but it illustrates mystery, romance, and thrill all jam packed into one fabulous book. The themes though out the book are loyalty, deceitfulness, and how far one will go to fit in somewhere she doesn't belong.

The main lesson in this book is that not everything that glitters is gold. Although things may seem beautiful on the outside, it's not always the same once you're in. Reed Brennan, the main character, soon discovers this after she moves from the slums of Pennsylvania to the high-class lifestyle of Easton Academy Private School. What she thought would be a school filled with perfect students, turns out to drag her through the realities of murder, drug dealers, stealing, sneaking off campus, and all night parties, all while she is still fighting to be socially accepted in her new surroundings.

Kate Brian wrote this book giving careful consideration to every detail. Her writing style kept me guessing the whole way through about the mysteries and secrets of Easton Academy. She perfectly describes what it's like to be on the outside looking in, just trying to figure out what goes on behind closed doors. Also, there is always a new twist or turn around every corner. Once I started, I couldn't put the book down and now Im on the 5th book in the series.

I can really relate to what the main character in the book is feeling because I've been the girl on the outside, looking in. When I moved here from Cave City I only knew a few people and although Batesville is only a few miles from Cave City, there are a lot of things that are different. Reed moved to a whole different state and she has to live in the school, so I can't imagine how she was feeling! I would deffinitely reccomend this book to anyone who has ever desired to be on the inside, otherwise known as any teenage girl in highschool.

Current Connection #2

A recent article, written by Jill Reilly from mailonline.com entitled "Man Tattoos his Name Across his Girlfriend's Face - And They Only Met 24 Hours Earlier" published on February 4, 2013, describes a girl from Russia named Lesya that lets her boyfriend of only 24 hours tattoo his name across her face. This article gives details of what she was thinking at the time and how the couple met.

Reilly reports that this couple met in an online chat room and shortly later met in Moscow, Russia where they got married. Lesya has commented about the tattoo, saying "It's a symbol of our eternal devotion. I'd like him to tattoo every inch of my body." She has also now taken his last name and is learning to tattoo from him.

The man responsible for the tattoo's name is Ruslan Toumaniantz. Jill Reilly adds that,
"Mr. Toumaniantz's handiwork hit the headlines in 2009 after he tattooed 56 stars across an 18-year-old's face who then lied and accused him of inking her when she was asleep." The 18-year-old later confessed that she had lied because she was afraid of what her father would think.

Friends of Lesya's seem to fully support her decision of getting the tattoo. Many have praised her and commented on how beautiful she now looks. Ralf Bieler send his praises by saying, "You must be so happy that you can wear that tattoo. Enjoy it. It looks great." Another friend also told reporters, "Their plans for a life together include her learning to tattoo while she also gets the full-body ink that she’s always dreamed of and of course a family." Lesya has posted on her facebook page "All for Ruslan" next to a big pink heart.

This article blows my mind. Not only was her decision irrational, but also just plain immature and stupid. I cannot even fathom how a woman can seriously believe that she has fallen in love with this man 24 HOURS after they've met. How can she love someone she does not even know yet? Also, the fact that she let this man brand her, which would imply that he somehow owns her, like a piece of property! Marriage should be a symbol of devotion and should be sacred, this couple completely trampled that idea into the ground because they will most likely not last and she will regret her decisions when she actually grows up. The fact that they want to bring children into the world makes me wonder what kind of crazy brands they will want to put on them.

Current Connection #1

A recent article by reporters from Foxnews.com entitled "Texas inmate convicted of killing neighbor will be 1st woman put to death in US since 2010" published on January 29, 2013, informs readers about a woman named Kimberly Mccarthy, 51, who will be the first female inmate in three years to be put to death in the U.S. This article gives insight into McCarthy's crime, the reasons for her execution, and former female executions.

Fox reports that McCarthy was sentenced to death in 2002 for the robbery, beating, and fatal stabbing of retired college professor Dorothy Booth in 1997. The lethal injection is planned for Tuesday, January 30th, making Mccarthy the 13th woman executed in the U.S and the fourth in Texas. The article states that, "According to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, 3,146 people were on the nation's death rows as of last Oct. 1, and only 63 — 2 percent — were women."

Evidence shows that at the time of the event Ms. McCarthy was suffering from severe drug addiction.
In an attempt to spare Mccarthy's life, her lead attorney, Doug Parks, argues that drug use was McCarthy's downfall. "I think when she's off dope she's probably a pretty good person," he said. "I believe now, as I did then, that in the penitentiary, Kim would be absolutely no danger to anyone." However, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review her case. McCarthy has been tried twice for Booth's slaying, most recently in 2002 when she was finally sentenced to death.

DNA evidence also ties McCarthy to 2 other slayings which occured in December 1988. The first victim, 81-year-old Maggie Harding, was stabbed and beaten with a meat tenderizer, while the second victim 85-year-old Jettie Lucas was beaten with both sides of a claw hammer and stabbed.
Former Dallas County assistant district attorney Greg Davis says, "She took the most defenseless, the most helpless people, people that trusted her, that she chose to attack" McCarthy has denied involvement in these attacks and refuses to to speak with reporters as her execution date nears.

I find this article sad and insightful because it depicts the true nature of some people and how heartless they can be. I believe that Kimberly McCarthy is a cold blooded killer and if she were to be released from prison she would most likely kill again. It is obvious that something more needs to be done about criminals in today's society, something more than a weak 5 year sentence and probation for committing a crime as haneous as murder. If one person thinks they are fit enough to take another person's life, then that person should have their life snatched away from them also. In my opinion, McCarthy is getting a punishment fit for her.

My "American Dream"

Most people's "American dream" is becoming the wealthiest they can be and is all about money, money, money. I, on the other hand, do not just have dollar signs in my eyes. My American dream is to be happy, live life to the fullest extent everyday, and never waste a second regretting not doing something.
         What would make me happy would be finding someone to share my dream with. I do not want someone just to fill the space or keep me from becoming lonely. My dream is to find someone who wants to live life the same way I do, not fearing life but embracing it. Also, I want someone who would one day drop everything and travel the world with me, because to him nothing is more important than spending every second with me.
        I also dream of having many children. My children will have free spirits because they know that I will support them in anything they want to do or be. Not only will I strive to be the best mother I can be, I will be someone who my kids are not afraid to come talk with and share their own dreams with me.
       As for a job, I do not want one. To me a job is defined as something that I must do. Rather, I desire to work for something that I am passionate about. Nursing is my passion, I love learning about medicine and helping people. The paycheck is not a worry of mine because I am doing it just the pass the time because I enjoy being a nurse.
       I dream of doing something with my life everyday. Never wasting my life by just staying at home being bored. Experiencing everything just once is important to me. Maybe one day if the idea pops into my head to go hang gliding, or skydiving I want to be the kind of person who will make things happen, not just wish for them.
       Above everything, My American dream is to live a journey and create the footprints that hopefully inspire someone else to follow. After all, what is the point of living life if you're never remembered for anything?