Political News (7)!

Paris 

A man weeping over a lost loved one in Paris
after the bombings. 

          We all know about the horrible happenings in Paris that happened weekends ago. It is a scary thought people we trust in our own country to be the ones who destroy it. Paris authorities seem to have two men who were involved with the shooting. 129 people (at least) were left dead. A man by the name of Salim Benghalem, was a french national and joined ISIS several years ago. He along with the ISIS deputy are the ones responsible for this attack. They attacked 6 places in Paris (stadium, theater, several restaurants). The prime minister announced that "France is at war." He said, "France will move an air craft carrier to the Middle East as part of an effort to intensify its bombing campaign in Syria" (npr.org). He did announce that the French will go about capturing all who are involved in a merciless way. They have detained 23 suspects and have 100 under house arrest. I have heard on the news that it is unsafe to fly into Rome, Russia, and Germany for fear that they are next and because they are all closely connected to Paris. All of these cities and countries fly directly into Greece, that is the only way to get there (and cruise ports), but Greece is bankrupt and they rely heavily on tourism, so this is not a good situation for Europe as a whole, or America. My father thinks we are going to be next.

His Response

President Obama's face when he was addressing
the Paris situation. 

     When I heard about everything in Paris the first thing that came to mind was what Obama said about it. It is becoming evident that Obama is not taking action against ISIS killers, because if he was this attack in Paris would have never happened. He got questioned by Jim Acosta, "Why can't we take out these bastards?" And the press continued to ask questions just like this and Obama replied, "These questions are getting a little repetitive." Which only means that he was not answering their questions, which leads me to believe that he knows he's not doing anything and he is not sure how to answer their questions. This man told everyone when he was campaigning that he would end the Iraq war and is now telling people that he refuses to send our men on the ground over there. So, the question is and still is what are we going to do about it? My father thinks like Donald Trump, bomb the whole city and wipe them out. My grandmother thinks the complete opposite, that we should not bomb them because there are innocent lives, but she doesn't think we need to put troops on the ground because if our guys get captured then there is no hope for them, and we shouldn't draw out because I would rather us be fighting a war over there than a war over here. It is a tough situation to say the least. I was asked by family members what I would do and I honestly do not know. Either way you loose. I just want there to be a solution and a way to end all of this madness.

Russia and ISIS

President Obama shaking hands with Russian
Prime Minister. 

     President Obama did announce last Sunday that America will not relent in helping our foreign countries and the best thing now is to have no fear. ISIS was accused of bringing down a Russian plane which killed 224 people. ISIS is just awful. I mean who in their right mind would want to kill anyone? I am just so flabbergasted that this type of organization exists. I just cannot fathom it. Countries around the world are terrified of them. It is one thing to be a world away, when stuff is happening in Paris, and it doesn't even seem like anything bad is happening. But, the thought of it coming here seems so unrealistic at first, but when you really think about it, it is completely realistic. This organization has killed 250,000 people, displaced over a million, and now they are sparking refugee camps in Europe. Around 20 nations across the world, have decided to start to make peace or treaties with the Assad government by january 1st. Obama wants America to change their view of terrorism and that not everyone from Syria, and Iraq are terrorists. He knelt down beside a child from one of those countries and said "This is not terrorism." He says, if we as politicians are afraid of this, and we are fearful of children then we are not being as good as we can be. And what he is saying is the truth! We cannot view these children as terrorists, but they are a product of their fathers and mothers and if they are members of ISIS, then these children will be the ones to continue the ISIS organization.

Women in ISIS?

This is Hasan Aitboulahcen throwing
up some peace signs. 

     ISIS members are obviously taking a lot on, bombing big cities in Europe, so they began to think about the role that women play in their attacks. Hasan Aitboulahcen was the first female suicide bomber. She died in the Paris suburb of St. Denis. She was described as a french morrocan national who was 26 years old. Hasan was hit by a suicide vest bomb that hit police cars and got too close to the place she was hiding out with 2 other islamic terrorists. She was intact wearing a suicide vest but she did not detonate it, someone else detonated it. It was not actually confirmed that she volunteeringly wore the vest, but if she did she would be the first suicide bomber that Western Europe has ever seen for any organization, including ISIS. She was crying for help which drew the police to her and then she detonated her bomb, and it was so powerful that it caved in the whole apartment floor. It is just absolutely so amazing that a 26 year-old woman, someone who has barely even begun her life, is a suicide bomber. What is wrong with this world?

Political Parties in Canada!

2. What type of government does this country have?
"Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary type of government wherein the Crown is the foundation of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government. Canada is also a federation in the sense that the provincial governments and the federal government have separate jurisdictions of political authority. There are three territorial governments, but the territories are not sovereign divisions and are part of the federal realm" (canadafaq.ca). 

How is power organized?
"The federal or national government is the central level of government in Canada, and is involved in many aspects of Canadians’ lives. The federal government plays a role in such things as the provision of social services, the economy, national defence and security, criminal law, foreign affairs and First Nations policy" (mapleleafweb.com). 

Is there a head of state?
"The Monarch is the national head-of-state and has significant, albeit mainly ceremonial, powers" (mapleleafweb.com). 

A legislative brach?
"The legislative branch of government is responsible for debating and passing legislation and, in Canada, holding the executive accountable" (mapleleafweb.com). 

Is it a unitary or federal system?
It is a federal system!

3. Find out how many parties there are- provide an estimate or exact count:
There are 5 different parties: The Conservative Party, The Liberal Party, The Green Party, The New Democratic Party (NDP) and Le Bloc Quebecois.
23 different parties
19 are legit
(wikipedia)

4. Find out which parties, if any are considered "major" or "ruling":
Major or ruling is the:
   conservative party
   liberal party
   NDP
(wikipedia)

5. How are parties categorized?
Are there some that are "authorized" while others are not officially recognized?

   Conservative Party- " The Conservative Party of Canada generally favours a larger degree of decentralization, with more powers delegated to the provinces. The party supports smaller government, lower taxes, and traditional cultural and religious values" (canadafaq.ca). 
   The Liberal Party- "Liberals favour the introduction of a nationwide food policy in support of Canadian farmers, the production of renewable energy, including biomass, solar, and wind energy, balanced budgets, and deficit reduction. The Liberal Party also favours the introduction of a family care plan, direct financial aid and investment in higher education, and spending restraint, with less money spent on advertising and consulting" (canadafaq.ca). 
   The Green Party- "reflects the core values of grass root democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom, and non-violence. The Green Party advocates a green economy that relies on non-polluting energy resources and systems" (canadafaq.ca). 
  The NDP (The New Democratic Party)- "favours better environmental protection, poverty reduction, equal rights and gender equality, aggressive human rights protection, and higher corporate taxes. New Democrats focus on making life more affordable, rewarding companies that create jobs, strengthening pensions, and improving health services" (canadafaq.ca).
   Le Bloc Quebecois- "is a federal-level political party committed to the promotion of Quebec’s sovereignty and the protection of Quebec’s interests. The party campaigns actively and seeks to create conditions that will facilitate the secession of Quebec" (canadafaq.ca).  

6. What are the issues around which the parties are organized?
Are their ideological, economic, social issues?
        The Conservative Party focuses on a small government, lower taxes, and traditional cultural and religious values. The Liberal Party focuses on the food policy, farmers, production of renewable energy (biomass, solar, wind energy, balanced budgets, deficit reduction) also focuses on family care plan, direct financial aid, higher education, less money spent on advertising and consulting. The Green Party focuses on having a green economy (no polluting energy resources and systems). The New Democratic Party focuses on poverty reduction, equal rights, gender equality, protection of the human rights and making life more affordable, new jobs, improving health services. Le Bloc Quebecois is interested in focusing on the protection of Quebec's interests.

7. Write about what you learned on your blog, include at least one image to illustrate, and link to your sources.

    I learned that Canada has a very different way of going about their political parties. They have 5 different political parties and some of those are very very small, so I would say about three important, and main ones. They do not call them democratic and republican, rather conservative and liberal which I find interesting and then each of these parties focus on a different thing. It is very different from America where you have two different parties and each one has its opinion on everything like health care, and rights of the people, and keeping our country green, etc. It was very interesting to research a different country and see how things operate versus our country.

Canada's main four political parties. 

America's political parties. 

Links:
http://www.canadafaq.ca/what+type+of+government+does+canada+have/
http://mapleleafweb.com/features/federal-government-canada-organization-institutions-issues
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_political_parties_in_Canada

Picture of american political parties http://www.catholicamericanthinker.com/no-Party-America.html
Picture of Canadian political parties https://sadli5478.commons.hwdsb.on.ca/2015/06/09/governance-in-canada-the-world-canada-vs-united-states-of-america-civics-culminating/

Political News (6)

Security Gaps and Airport Security 

This is an airport worker, checking a woman's bag.

          Everyone knows that since 9/11 there has been a HUGE increase in the security at airports across the nation. But, recently, it has come to attention that this security has gaps. Gaps that people can easily get around and are able to bring a bomb on the plane. There are concerns that the British and Russian governments need to send officials to the Egypt airport, and it was announced on Friday that there will be stricter security on the flights back to the US. There was a sampling of airport workers and found that 73 background-checked workers that got through the security vetting should have been flagged for terrorism- related categories. "Part of this problem is that TSA is not allowed to decide what criteria counts as disqualifying when vetting airport workers" (CNN). All in all the consensus was that there needs to be better security for flights back to America.  

Ben Carson and the "Political Hit List"

This is Ben Carson telling the media that they are a "Political Hit List"

          Ben Carson, Republican candidate for Presidency, claims that the media is a "'political hit list job'" (ABC). He found himself in a bit of an awkward situation when he claimed that he was offered a full scholarship at West Point Military Academy, when in fact he did not even apply to this college, he was just told by an ROTC officer to apply his senior year. His campaign later clarified this. Carson now claims that he never said this and claims that he never said he received a "full ride scholarship" because it was discovered that you cannot have a "full ride" to a taxpayer-funded academy. I think that Carson is now trying to cover up what he said because he was totally caught in a lie. My recommendation to him would be to never lie, especially when you are running for President of the United States. 

"Let's Boycott Starbucks!" -Trump 

Donald Trump making his statement about Starbucks. 

          Trump said that we should all boycott Starbucks because they are no longer giving out their Christmas-themed cups. He also claims that he, "Really doesn't care" (CNN), but he does announce that he has a Starbucks in his building and it is very successful. He said that when he is President, "We are all going to say Merry Christmas again, that I can promise you" (CNN). Trump is interesting, he is using his time to talk on the TV about Starbucks, but it is just like Clinton said, if I am not on the TV, someone else is and taking up my time to say something! Maybe Trump has the same idea, or maybe he just wants to be liked by everyone because who does not like Starbucks? And who doesn't love their Christmas-themed cups? I was actually sad when I learned that there will no longer be these cups :( But I do give credit to Trump for continuing to get on TV, no matter the subject of his matters. 

Trying to Mend Relationships

President Obama meeting with Netanyahu at the White House.

          Obama met with the Isreali Prime Minister, Ben Netanyahu to discuss the nuclear bombs in Iran, and the Iranian- Palestinian violence. There has been tension between Obama and Netanyahu, because Netanyahu's assistant is a conservative and has talked bad about Obama and the secretary of state! All of this aside, they both agree that they are highly important to each other and should not break any bonds. Obama wants to end the violence between the Palestinians and the Israelis or, as he says, "Lower the temperature and back on a path towards peace" (FOX) and Netanyahu does not want to. He replies. "We have not given up our hope for peace." The reason that all of this violence has come about is because Israel has accused "Palestinian political and religious leaders of inciting the violence, while they (Palestinians) say that the violence is due to a lack of hope for gaining independence after years of failed peace efforts" (FOX). They also disagree on the nuclear situation because if Iran agrees to not do anything with their bombs, then Tehran will take them and this would post a threat to Iran. But, this meeting is a step in the right direction because this relationship has always been dicy and I am glad they are meeting for the sake of our country and for the sake of Iran. 

Strike!

Picture taken during the strike. 

          Fast food workers have now decided they want $15 and hour for minimum wage. People from all over did this and 64 million low-waged Americans are demanding they get paid more by the next Presidential campaign. The Service Employees International Union is backing this group of people and it has been the largest movement in three years. New York has approved a law to bump up their wages to $15. This is absolutely crazy and I think their wages should not be bumped up at all. It was their fault they did not go to college to get a degree so they could have a better job. Getting paid $15 to flip burgers or take someone's order is ridiculous! That is a lot of money and normally they get my order wrong anyways! Our country is already in debt enough, I think we should cut back on their wages so we can have more money for our country, in my opinion. 

Intro to Media Questions (late!)

            1. List as many types (example:  TV) of media as you can think of. 
- social media

      - radio 

      - internet

      - newspaper/ magazine

      

      2. Investigate ownership of the media in the US.  Find an article or chart that will allow you to identify the corporations that actually own mainstream media outlets like ESPN, Disney, FoxNews, CNN, NBC, Etc.,  Write down what you find.

      

          This interesting graphic organizer is showing what TV companies have the most money and therefore own the most media and the top three are Disney, CBS, and then NBC. 

      3.  Find a list that identifies universities with what are considered the top programs for journalism.  Pick anyone you like, and then go to the website to investigate that school’s journalism program, as if you were a prospective student.  What can you learn about the professional values, standards, and practices associated with professional journalism?  (Write it down)

                I picked UNC at Chapel Hill and it said that 80% of the 2012 graduating class said that they had a job within 4 years of graduating from their school, and the school has an office specifically for finding a job after college. There are different majors and specializations like, advertising, broadcast and electronic journalism, business journalism, editing and graphic design etc. It explained that the student will receive real world experiences, nurturing faculty members, and a cultural excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship. 

4. Historically, the media in the United States has often been viewed as playing the role of “watchdog.”  Do research to understand the watchdog role of the media so that you can answer these questions:  Who is being watched?  Who is being protected?  And from what?

     The press has the "watchdog role" and they are watching the conduct of government officials. This is assumed to be vital to democracy, so the people are being protected and what we are being protected of is the awful things the government could do if it was not being watched so closely.     

5. What have you heard about “liberal bias”?  (Don’t do research for this one – just write down what you have heard about this phrase.  If you have never heard this phrase before, say so, and then explain what you think it might mean.)

                I have heard of this phrase before but I am not sure what it means. I am guessing that it means you are liberal and most of the things that you have an opinion on are going to be the more liberal side. 

Ap Gov- Classwork (The Man Behind the Mosque)

1. Assume that the documentary, The Man Behind The Mosque, provided an accurate and research-based perspective on how the "Ground Zero Mosque" became a story. Based on what you saw there, what steps can you remember the cable-news media covering the story taking to investigate who was actually behind the Mosque in terms of mission, goals, and funding?
      The cable news media took the step of investigation by interviewing the real estate agent on where the mosque was going to be located, the Islamic people, Christians (all whom had mixed feelings on Islamic people) and the families who had lost loved ones in 9/11.

2. Who brought the story of the "Ground Zero Mosque" to Fox News, the station that broke the story and led coverage of the story?
      The woman who brought the story to Fox News was, Pamela Gellar. She is the executive director of Stop Islamization of America.

3. It can be argued that much of the cable news coverage of the story was just that- coverage of a "story" and how people felt about this "story", rather than actual reporting. Explain how we can see this at work.
      There is more of a story here than just actual reporting because you get an inside look at peoples real emotions like the 9/11 victims, or the man who was behind building the mosque. You got real expressions of the people angry at the idea of building a mosque on Ground Zero, and the expressions of the man who wanted it there. It was nice to get two sides.

4. The journalists of Frontline included coverage of and interviews with the staff of Park 51 (the NYU Grad and a couple other part-timers). Do these individuals appear ever to have been interviewed on cable-news?
      Sharif El-Gamal did not want to be interviewed by Fox news, and none of the other staff members were interviewed on cable-news. A female and Sharif El-Gamal were interviewed by Frontline.

5. What sources did Cable news appear to rely on for knowledge and expertise about Islam? How credible did you find these sources? Why?
      Cable- News appeared to rely on knowledge from historians who were not Islamic and this was not credible at all because if they are not Islamic, how will they have knowledge on this subject at all?

6. How relevant is the ownership of a media source for understanding its goals and how its goals may shape bias in its coverage?
      Ownership is relevant because the owners influence the path of the companies and they want to spread their ideas. Its goals shape bias because they could only promote their viewpoint, not others.

7. Who was, at the time of the Ground Zero Mosque story, the second largest shareholder in the News Corp?
      The Saudi Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, the nephew of a Saudi King.

8. Why did Fox News stop covering the story of the Mosque at Ground Zero?
      Fox News stopped covering this story because the people had lost attention and it became to controversial. It is all about keeping the ratings up!