I don't buy shirts.
Amanda Cunningham
English Composition II
Hamelin
When I moved from Colorado to Kentucky I knew I was in for a culture shock. I was leaving behind the big city of Colorado Springs for the tiny “red-neck” town of Springfield. The people were going from military men to farmers and the girls were going from outdoor wonder-women to Southern Bells. I knew I would gain insight into a different world and many new experiences. What I didn't know was the sheer volume of T-shirts I was going to gain. Buying T-shirts in Kentucky is unnecessary. I received free T-shirts at my high school, at my college, outside of school, and the few T-shirts I did purchase, always came at a discounted rate.
For the one year I went to Washington County High School in Springfield Kentucky I have at least nine shirts I received for zero payment. That fact amounts to one free shirt per month I was enrolled in school. My first free shirt was exciting. I had already taken not of every other student having a T-shirt that advertised the school, and I felt a little left out. Somehow I was involved in some club (I still don't know how that happened), and a part of being in the club meant that I had to sell T-shirts at a football game. Since I was selling the shirts, the advisors thought it was a good idea if I had a shirt to wear so they gave me one. I was elated. I finally had my own T-shirt from my school. That excitement would follow me through every free T-shirt I received.
My second high school shirt came from Pep Club. I was in the Pep Club, but I didn't want to purchase the shirt because the cost was too high. I don't know how I managed, bu a stranger gave me their shirt, because they said they “already had another one.” Another time, I should have predicted where my Kentucky T-shirt life was leading because I was introduced to a new Kentucky concept: the T-shirt blanket. This blanket is created when a person has acquired roughly 30 T-shirts that may be sewn together to create a blanket. Apparently many people in Kentucky have these T-shirts and were amazed that I had never even heard of the concept. I continued to go to football games and manage to be the lucky person who either caught the free shirt or was given the shirt by the neighbor who “just didn't want another T-shirt”. Over the next few months I received at least seven more free T-shirts.
I went to high school in Kentucky for my Junior year, but my senior year was spent back in Colorado. Here I received zero Tee shirts over the 10 ½ months, but as soon as I returned to Kentucky the free Tee shirt parade began again. My sister was enrolled at St. Catharine College and she decided to take me on a tour. Because I visited the college, an administrator gave me my first free Tee shirt from St. Catharine College; a long white sleeved shirt with purple lettering. I wasn't planning on applying to that college, but I did have a tee shirt. A month passed by and I decided to enroll at SCC so I returned to apply. This is when I received my second free St. Catharine College tee shirt; gray with “SCC” written across the front in gold and purple lettering. By the time my third free SCC tee shirt came to me I was looking to clarify sizing so I picked out a size smaller than I normally choose. It turns out that medium tee shirts fit me better. When it came time for my 4th free tee shirt I was prepared. I looked the giver right in the eyes, asked for a medium, and walked away. I knew that if I wore certain pants I would be able to change into my new shirt without looking strangely dressed. I now had a system. I knew I liked purple or gray shirts, and that I didn't like white, I knew I needed a medium for it to look proper, and I knew that if free shirts were going to be given out it was crucial that I show up fifteen minutes early. So far, at SCC I have received eight free shirts.
Going to school is not the only way to receive a free shirt in Kentucky. At my church, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to be vacation bible school volunteer until the day it started so I was not able to get a tee shirt. When I inquired about the getting one I was told that there were none left. I went about my business the rest of the week, but on the last day, a woman who had hears I wanted a shirt had washed her own and brought it for me to have. Another time I went out with friends to meet some of their acquaintances. One of their acquaintances brought a trunk full of “Ditch Mitch” tee shirts to give away so, of course, I took one. Also, I went to the Harvest Festical and a band was playing music. When they were through with their second song the band asked if anyone in the audience wanted a chance to catch the single shirt they had with them. I stood in the front row with six other people and when the lead singer threw the shirt, I caught it. Another time, I was walking to raise money for Tanzania and if I sent in your registration early enough I could pick out what size shirt I wanted. I didn't have enough time, so I went to the event expecting to just miss out on the shirt this time. Kentucky had a different plan for me. When I reached the track, the directors had over ordered shirts, and everybody that wanted a shirt was able to get one. There are free shirts all over Kentucky.
When I finally do break down and purchase a tee shirt it had to be for a good cause. In high school, black out tee shirts were being sold, but I don't buy tee shirts at full price in Kentucky so I was going to go without. The tee shirts were for a particular basketball game and I wasn't even going to the game is I didn't worry too much about it. A few weeks after the game I had joined the softball team and I was in charge of selling the remaining shirts. Since it was going to help my team my sister and I both bought shirts. Another time, I purchased a tee shirt in college. Banned books week was occurring and I am a mojor supporter of books. The tee shirts were discounted, from seven dollars to six, for students who were willing to read out loud over a speaker system. I was already planning on reading out loud, I completely supported the cause, so I purchased a shirt. Even though shirts are often free in Kentucky, I will still purchase the shirts if they support a good cause.
Sometimes I buy shirts in Kentucky, but the shirts fly at you in high schools, colleges, and in life outside of school as well. People often ask me, “Why don't you buy tee shirts in Kentucky?”, and I just tell them, “Because in Kentucky, tee shirts will come free to me.” A I write this, I think about two opportunities this week where I have a chance to receive a free tee shirt. The shirts just seem to be attracted to me like a magnet.
Showing posts with label Hamelin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hamelin. Show all posts
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
This is the "fun" paper I am working on for English class. It is the only non argument paper we are going to have to write. also, if any of you have any ideas for a topic I could write an argument paper on I would like some suggestions. This right here in red is going to be very grammatically shaky, because i am in a rush, but don't read to much into it.
TEE shirt ESSAY
When I moved from Colorado to Kentucky I knew I was in for a culture shock. I was leaving behind the big city of Colorado Springs for the tiny “red-neck” town of Springfield. The people were going from military men to farmers and the girls were going from outdoor wonder-women to Southern Bells. I knew I would gain insight into a different world and many new experiences. What I didn't know was the sheer volume of T-shirts I was going to gain. Buying T-shirts in Kentucky is unnecessary. I received free T-shirts at my high school, at my college, outside of school, and the few T-shirts I did purchase, always came at a discounted rate. For the one year I went to Washington County High School in Springfield Kentucky I have at least nine shirts I received for zero payment. That fact amounts to one free shirt per month I was enrolled in school. My first free shirt was exciting. I had already taken not of every other student having a T-shirt that advertised the school, and I felt a little left out. Somehow I was involved in some club (I still don't know how that happened), and a part of being in the club meant that I had to sell T-shirts at a football game. Since I was selling the shirts, the advisers thought it was a good idea if I had a shirt to wear so they gave me one. I was elated. I finally had my own T-shirt from my school. That excitement would follow me through every free T-shirt I received. My second high school shirt came from Pep Club. I was in the Pep Club, but I didn't want to purchase the shirt because the cost was too high. I don't know how I managed, bu a stranger gave me their shirt, because they said they “already had another one.” Another time, I should have predicted where my Kentucky T-shirt life was leading because I was introduced to a new Kentucky concept: the T-shirt blanket. This blanket is created when a person has acquired roughly 30 T-shirts that may be sewn together to create a blanket. Apparently many people in Kentucky have these T-shirts and were amazed that I had never even heard of the concept. I continued to go to football games and manage to be the lucky person who either caught the free shirt or was given the shirt by the neighbor who “just didn't want another T-shirt”. Over the next few months I received at least seven more free T-shirts.
TEE shirt ESSAY
When I moved from Colorado to Kentucky I knew I was in for a culture shock. I was leaving behind the big city of Colorado Springs for the tiny “red-neck” town of Springfield. The people were going from military men to farmers and the girls were going from outdoor wonder-women to Southern Bells. I knew I would gain insight into a different world and many new experiences. What I didn't know was the sheer volume of T-shirts I was going to gain. Buying T-shirts in Kentucky is unnecessary. I received free T-shirts at my high school, at my college, outside of school, and the few T-shirts I did purchase, always came at a discounted rate. For the one year I went to Washington County High School in Springfield Kentucky I have at least nine shirts I received for zero payment. That fact amounts to one free shirt per month I was enrolled in school. My first free shirt was exciting. I had already taken not of every other student having a T-shirt that advertised the school, and I felt a little left out. Somehow I was involved in some club (I still don't know how that happened), and a part of being in the club meant that I had to sell T-shirts at a football game. Since I was selling the shirts, the advisers thought it was a good idea if I had a shirt to wear so they gave me one. I was elated. I finally had my own T-shirt from my school. That excitement would follow me through every free T-shirt I received. My second high school shirt came from Pep Club. I was in the Pep Club, but I didn't want to purchase the shirt because the cost was too high. I don't know how I managed, bu a stranger gave me their shirt, because they said they “already had another one.” Another time, I should have predicted where my Kentucky T-shirt life was leading because I was introduced to a new Kentucky concept: the T-shirt blanket. This blanket is created when a person has acquired roughly 30 T-shirts that may be sewn together to create a blanket. Apparently many people in Kentucky have these T-shirts and were amazed that I had never even heard of the concept. I continued to go to football games and manage to be the lucky person who either caught the free shirt or was given the shirt by the neighbor who “just didn't want another T-shirt”. Over the next few months I received at least seven more free T-shirts.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Transexual Papier (Rough Draft.)
This is what i have so far. It doensn't have a good conclusion yet, and I need to work on my argument a little more, but for bones I like it. It isn't due until next Friday though, so I think I am happy with it.
A recent article in Times magazine gave me some incite on a topic I hadn't previously heard much about. In 2004 a retired Army Colonel applied and interviewed for the open position of terrorism research analyst for the Library of Congress. The initial interview went well, and soon everything seemed to be falling into place. A job offer was made and accepted. Soon though, the library found out that David John Schorer who had applied for the job was going to become Diane Jacquelyn Schorer who would do the work for the job and the offer was taken back. This was American discrimination at its finest. Just who was this man and what qualified her for the job? For an act to qualify as discrimination the pieces to a three part puzzle must all come together. Discrimination is the unfair biased judgment and treatment of a person based on one aspect of the person, and Diane should easily win the Civil liberties case.
Schroer was highly qualified for the position she interviewed for. Relation to terrorism and thus military knowledge, she was in the military for twenty-five years, and retired as a Colonel. He had over four hundred fifty parachute jumps and came highly decorated. He also was awarded the Defense Superior Medal. His personal know-how came from his personal home library which has over 16000 volumes relating to military history. For the library, this was a perfect application, so his advisors told him he had the job. Schroer had all the credentials to become the
Library of Congress' terrorism analyst; discrimination just moved in the way.
The first piece of the discrimination puzzle comes with the acceptance that Schroer is a person, even though he is a transsexual. A transsexual is a person who was born physically into the body of one gender, but they know in their hearts that they were meant to be the other gender. David was born a male, but he knows that he was meant to be a female. He spent his entire life knowing this fact, even to the point of cross dressing and taking hormones in private for many years. His life was kept secret for his military career, but soon enough the heart will always show its true colors. In 2005 he finally decided to take the steps to let his inside match his outside. Men are people, and women are people, therefore a man who becomes a woman would still be a person. The first piece of the discrimination puzzle has been solved: David, or Diane, is a person, and therefore can be discriminated against.
The second puzzle piece has to do with the unfair judgment of a person. When David had received the job offer he felt it only right to inform the library of his plans to live his life, inside and outside of work, as a female. Especially since there were many surgeries he may be having in the future to change his genitalia. To do this he took Charlotte Preece (who was in charge of hiring) to lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. When Schroer informed Preece of his plans to transfer his sex she exclaimed “Why would you want to do that?” (Cloud. 2008.) Preece thought that the transition would negatively affect Schroer's work. Saying that a man who becomes a woman isn't capable of doing a particular job is that same thing as saying a woman couldn't perform a particular job. Within twenty-four hours of their meeting, Schroer had been told that he was no longer wanted as a staff member for the library of Congress. The second piece of the discrimination puzzle is in hand because an unfair judgment has been made.
The third piece of the discrimination puzzle is the easiest to explore. After Charlotte adjusted her emotions and had a cigarette she, along with some of her co-workers, created a dialog then called Schroer to let him know that the job was no longer going to be offered. “She told him that the Library worried his transition would impair his top-secret security clearance.” He was no longer given his job opportunities based solely on his “sex”. The action has been taken against Schroer, therefore the third piece of the puzzle.
The court system has had the job of working with this case since 2005. The decision the courts had to make was if Schroer's case qualified under the Civil liberties as Sex-discrimination. On September 20, 2008, it was decided that this was indeed “sex” discrimination. The judge had this to say, “Schroer's case indeed rests on direct evidence, and compelling evidence, that the Library's hiring decision was infected by sex stereotypes.... She was well qualified for the job''(JD Unyon. 2008).The penalties for the library still have to be decided, but the right decision was made as to guilt in this case.
Works Cited.
1 John Cloud. Time. A Transsexual Vs. the Government. Retrieved October 1, 2008 http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1840754,00.html
2. JD Unyon. Last Word. Diane Schroer wins case against Library of Congress' blatant transgender discrimination. Retrieved 1 October 2008. http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/last_word/2008/09/diane-schroer-wins-case-agains.html
A recent article in Times magazine gave me some incite on a topic I hadn't previously heard much about. In 2004 a retired Army Colonel applied and interviewed for the open position of terrorism research analyst for the Library of Congress. The initial interview went well, and soon everything seemed to be falling into place. A job offer was made and accepted. Soon though, the library found out that David John Schorer who had applied for the job was going to become Diane Jacquelyn Schorer who would do the work for the job and the offer was taken back. This was American discrimination at its finest. Just who was this man and what qualified her for the job? For an act to qualify as discrimination the pieces to a three part puzzle must all come together. Discrimination is the unfair biased judgment and treatment of a person based on one aspect of the person, and Diane should easily win the Civil liberties case.
Schroer was highly qualified for the position she interviewed for. Relation to terrorism and thus military knowledge, she was in the military for twenty-five years, and retired as a Colonel. He had over four hundred fifty parachute jumps and came highly decorated. He also was awarded the Defense Superior Medal. His personal know-how came from his personal home library which has over 16000 volumes relating to military history. For the library, this was a perfect application, so his advisors told him he had the job. Schroer had all the credentials to become the
Library of Congress' terrorism analyst; discrimination just moved in the way.
The first piece of the discrimination puzzle comes with the acceptance that Schroer is a person, even though he is a transsexual. A transsexual is a person who was born physically into the body of one gender, but they know in their hearts that they were meant to be the other gender. David was born a male, but he knows that he was meant to be a female. He spent his entire life knowing this fact, even to the point of cross dressing and taking hormones in private for many years. His life was kept secret for his military career, but soon enough the heart will always show its true colors. In 2005 he finally decided to take the steps to let his inside match his outside. Men are people, and women are people, therefore a man who becomes a woman would still be a person. The first piece of the discrimination puzzle has been solved: David, or Diane, is a person, and therefore can be discriminated against.
The second puzzle piece has to do with the unfair judgment of a person. When David had received the job offer he felt it only right to inform the library of his plans to live his life, inside and outside of work, as a female. Especially since there were many surgeries he may be having in the future to change his genitalia. To do this he took Charlotte Preece (who was in charge of hiring) to lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. When Schroer informed Preece of his plans to transfer his sex she exclaimed “Why would you want to do that?” (Cloud. 2008.) Preece thought that the transition would negatively affect Schroer's work. Saying that a man who becomes a woman isn't capable of doing a particular job is that same thing as saying a woman couldn't perform a particular job. Within twenty-four hours of their meeting, Schroer had been told that he was no longer wanted as a staff member for the library of Congress. The second piece of the discrimination puzzle is in hand because an unfair judgment has been made.
The third piece of the discrimination puzzle is the easiest to explore. After Charlotte adjusted her emotions and had a cigarette she, along with some of her co-workers, created a dialog then called Schroer to let him know that the job was no longer going to be offered. “She told him that the Library worried his transition would impair his top-secret security clearance.” He was no longer given his job opportunities based solely on his “sex”. The action has been taken against Schroer, therefore the third piece of the puzzle.
The court system has had the job of working with this case since 2005. The decision the courts had to make was if Schroer's case qualified under the Civil liberties as Sex-discrimination. On September 20, 2008, it was decided that this was indeed “sex” discrimination. The judge had this to say, “Schroer's case indeed rests on direct evidence, and compelling evidence, that the Library's hiring decision was infected by sex stereotypes.... She was well qualified for the job''(JD Unyon. 2008).The penalties for the library still have to be decided, but the right decision was made as to guilt in this case.
Works Cited.
1 John Cloud. Time. A Transsexual Vs. the Government. Retrieved October 1, 2008 http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1840754,00.html
2. JD Unyon. Last Word. Diane Schroer wins case against Library of Congress' blatant transgender discrimination. Retrieved 1 October 2008. http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/last_word/2008/09/diane-schroer-wins-case-agains.html
Friday, September 26, 2008
English Argument Paper Transexual LOC {Research}
Just to note: On my English Caesarean Section Paper I recieved a 93%.
I have my topic for my next Argument Paper in English Composition II. The Paper, I think, is due October 3, but it could very well be a week later. I am going to have to make this one really good. The actual paper I mean. The topic will have something to do with this article
Transexual Wins Lawsuit
I haven't decided if I am going to go the Transexual way or the Library of Congress way.
Who Knows. Which do you think is better?
I have my topic for my next Argument Paper in English Composition II. The Paper, I think, is due October 3, but it could very well be a week later. I am going to have to make this one really good. The actual paper I mean. The topic will have something to do with this article
Transexual Wins Lawsuit
I haven't decided if I am going to go the Transexual way or the Library of Congress way.
Who Knows. Which do you think is better?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
25 september 2008
What I am working on right now.
College Algebra:
Professor: Don JohnsonOn Friday, 26 September 2008 I have a test. The second of the year. I have made my notecard, and I am confident. It is over absolute value, complex numbers, radicals, and quadratics. I think I will do well.
English Composition II:
Professor: HamelinI turned in my Caesarean section Argument Paper. I guess I am in the process of thinking of a new argument topic. I think I am going to try to think of a topic that is related to the work I want to get into. I also need to think of topics for my final, which is a ten page research argument paper. I think I want that topic to have something to do with Libraries. If I can I want to mix it in with my History Research paper, adn do an argument about one of the Librarians for the Library of Congress.
Yoga: We are still doing yoga. We have advanced to tree pose.
Psychology:
Professor: Krista RumageI have test, but it isn't for a while. I need to transfer my notes from yesterdays class sometime before Monday. We are studying learning and memory.
U.S. History:
Professor: The guy I absolutly adore, Dr. Wallace, he makes my day.I have an Exam on 2 October 2008. Well, it's actualy a "mid-term". I will beed to study for that while I do my laundry. This may be a class I want note cards for. My favorite. I am also working in my research paper for the final. It is a ten page research paper and I chose to write about teh Library of Congress. I will post the outline I have soon. I had Dr. Wallace read over my outline and explain to me what was good and what needed work or to just be eliminated. I am so excited for this.
Mysticism:
Professor: Matt BranstetterI have to present my paper today and turn it in to Branstetter. I also have to edit it one final time. I am going over to the computer lab this morning to do it. As soon as the lab opens. Which is any time now. I may eat first though. Then... print print print.
That's it, all my classes
In the Works.Argument paper (No topic yet)10 Page Research Paper (Topic: Library of Congress)10 Page Research paper (Topic: Something about books and learning)Book review for "Don't Know Much About History"
College Algebra:
Professor: Don JohnsonOn Friday, 26 September 2008 I have a test. The second of the year. I have made my notecard, and I am confident. It is over absolute value, complex numbers, radicals, and quadratics. I think I will do well.
English Composition II:
Professor: HamelinI turned in my Caesarean section Argument Paper. I guess I am in the process of thinking of a new argument topic. I think I am going to try to think of a topic that is related to the work I want to get into. I also need to think of topics for my final, which is a ten page research argument paper. I think I want that topic to have something to do with Libraries. If I can I want to mix it in with my History Research paper, adn do an argument about one of the Librarians for the Library of Congress.
Yoga: We are still doing yoga. We have advanced to tree pose.
Psychology:
Professor: Krista RumageI have test, but it isn't for a while. I need to transfer my notes from yesterdays class sometime before Monday. We are studying learning and memory.
U.S. History:
Professor: The guy I absolutly adore, Dr. Wallace, he makes my day.I have an Exam on 2 October 2008. Well, it's actualy a "mid-term". I will beed to study for that while I do my laundry. This may be a class I want note cards for. My favorite. I am also working in my research paper for the final. It is a ten page research paper and I chose to write about teh Library of Congress. I will post the outline I have soon. I had Dr. Wallace read over my outline and explain to me what was good and what needed work or to just be eliminated. I am so excited for this.
Mysticism:
Professor: Matt BranstetterI have to present my paper today and turn it in to Branstetter. I also have to edit it one final time. I am going over to the computer lab this morning to do it. As soon as the lab opens. Which is any time now. I may eat first though. Then... print print print.
That's it, all my classes
In the Works.Argument paper (No topic yet)10 Page Research Paper (Topic: Library of Congress)10 Page Research paper (Topic: Something about books and learning)Book review for "Don't Know Much About History"
Friday, September 19, 2008
Caesaerean section paper final draft
Mother Nature Knows Best
By: Amanda Cunningham
For: Englih Compoition II
Professor: Mr. Hamelin
A woman runs into her pregnant friend, she asks : "How are the future mom and her baby ?" The friend answers : "I have no idea, I won't see my gynecologist before next week." More and More women are giving their natural human biology over to technology, including the rising number of women choosing to have caesarean sections. A Caesarean Section is supposed to be a last chance effort used to get a baby out of a mother if a situation has become an emergency. An emergency caesarean section situation should only arise if continuing labor would harm the baby and/or the mother. The World Health Organization states that an acceptable average for Caesarean sections is 4.5% of all births, but averages are rising. Today the caesarean section rate is 33% of all births, a steep incline from the 4.5% in 1965. Obstetrician Dr. Savage believes, "…as the developed world becomes more and more dependent on technology, there is a danger that people will cease to believe that women can give birth naturally." These rising statistics need to drop. Women having elective caesarean sections are to blame for the increases. Women believe caesareans are a safe option, but they are not aware of the risks for themselves or for their unborn child. (Savage W 1992).( Heike Emery. September 2008.)
Caesarean section is a risky way out, but the women opting for these surgeries believe it is a simple and harmless alternative to the natural way of life. Before she even met her husband and became pregnant, Euna Chung decided that all of her children were going to be delivered via caesarean section. Quoted here, “I had a fear of going through labor and ending up with an emergency C-section anyway. I know that’s rare, but I didn’t want to deal with it.” People of today think that anything in life can be sped up with technology, even birth. There are some outlandish reasons for having requested caesarean sections: unwanted pregnancies, the idea that vaginal birth is “archaic, painful, disfiguring and [a cause for] diminished sexual performance”, a caesarean is an “easy way” to deliver a baby, and even that vaginal birth isn’t natural. Women are told that the procedure won’t hurt, and they like the instant gratification of caesarean sections. Also, with the rising number of midwives and celebrities opting for Caesarean sections, the procedure is coming across as simpler and safer. One woman believed she was going in for a routine simple surgery. Her testimony proves the situation was drastically different,
“When you get into the operating room it is like you have been abducted by aliens. Everything is silver. There are bright lights everywhere. Everyone has their faces covered so all you see are these little eyes. You can't recognize anyone who you have been talking to the past few days. It's very cold. So your sort of half naked, freezing, by yourself without your husband, worried about your baby and yourself. And it was really scary for me. Definitely in comparison to vaginal birth. Much scarier.”
Another woman was forced to have a Caesarean section, and feels that her “birth rape” led her to postpartum depression. The doctors overestimated the size of the baby. She did not need to deliver. She wasn’t able to deliver naturally, and she wasn’t even allowed to hold her baby because “her insides may fall out”. Her body’s inability to function naturally caused this woman to believe she was a failure as a mother. Caesarean sections are not the in and out, safe and sound, procedure that they appear to be. (Alice Park April 2008). (Sara McAleese, 2000) (Doula Pam, 2008.)(Safe Birth, 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006).
A Caesarean section comes with many unnecessary risks for the mother. One of the biggest risk factors for the mother is Post Pardon Depression. Dr. James Swain conducted research at Yale University that found hormones (specifically oxytoxin), which are released through the natural pain of labor, help form maternal instincts. Women who had caesarean sections showed signs in brain scans of postpartum depression within two to four weeks after delivery. Dr. Swain concluded, "Our results support the theory that variations in delivery conditions such as with caesarean section, which alters the neuro-hormonal experiences of childbirth, might decrease the responsiveness of the human maternal brain in the early postpartum.” Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression are less capable of caring for their newborns and themselves. Some other risk factors mothers who opt for natural child birth do not have to worry about include, wound infection, Intestinal Obstruction, increased bleeding resulting in the need for blood transfusion (6% of women who have a c-section will need a blood transfusion),extended hospital stay (women who have caesarean sections average 4 extra hospital days), emergency hysterectomy due to complications with initial surgery, extended time away from the infant, pain due to surgery which keeps the mother from breast feeding (many women report still having pain at the incision site six months after the surgery), and the extra cost associated with surgery. Death is also a huge concern for any surgery and an average of 140 women will die every year in America due to complications with Caesarean sections. There are many dangers for mother’s who opt to have unnatural births via caesarean section. (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The unborn infant in these situations are also put in jeapordy. The biggest threat for a baby is respiratory problems. When a baby comes out of the natural birth canal pressure removes contents from the lungs, and there is a natural transfer of care from the mother’s body to the infant; with caesarean section this process never occurs. Respiratory problems at birth often lead to RSV and asthma in the child's future. Other problems include premature birth (if the gestation was not measured correctly), increased need for assistance with breathing and immediate care after birth, and accidental cutting or nicking of the baby during the caesarean process (2% of babies will be cut during a caesarean). Caesarean babies are also 50% more likely to have low APGR rates when compared to vaginal deliveries (These test measure responsiveness of the child one minute and five minutes after birth). Infants are not left unharmed because the mother chose to have a Caesarean section. (APA. September 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006). (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The infants aren’t safe, the mothers aren’t safe, and this surgery is not the “easy way out” people tend to assume it is. If women are going to have these elective surgeries they should at least inform themselves of the possible outcomes. One slip of the knife and a baby or mother could die. Women’s bodies were designed to handle the birthing process. It is time we put technology aside and use the best computer at our disposal, the brain. Caesarean sections were designed for emergencies, and that is where their place needs to return.
Works Sited
1. Alice Park (April 28, 2008).Womb Service. Why More Women are making caesareans their delivery of Choice. Time, 171, 65-66.
2. APA. September 2008. American Pregnancy Association. Risk of Cesarean Procedure. Retrieved 11 Se
ptember 2008. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/cesareanrisks.html
3. Heike Emery. September 2008. Caesarean Section. Home Page. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://caesareansection.net/
4. Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008. The med Guru. Normal Delivery =better Mother Child Bonding. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://www.themedguru.com/articles/normal_delivery_better_mother_child_bonding-8619092.html
5. Larissa Hirsch, MD. (June 2006). Caesarean Sections. Kids Health. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/c_sections.html =
6. 'The rise in caesarean section - anxiety or science?' in: Chard T and Richards M P (eds) Obstetrics in the 1990s: Current Controversies, Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd, Oxford.
7. Safe Birth. (15 May 2008.) “Prevent Caesarean Section.” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZy0JPtubiQ
8. Doula Pam. (10 February 2008) “Our First Childs Birth” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-b0JkruFY
By: Amanda Cunningham
For: Englih Compoition II
Professor: Mr. Hamelin
A woman runs into her pregnant friend, she asks : "How are the future mom and her baby ?" The friend answers : "I have no idea, I won't see my gynecologist before next week." More and More women are giving their natural human biology over to technology, including the rising number of women choosing to have caesarean sections. A Caesarean Section is supposed to be a last chance effort used to get a baby out of a mother if a situation has become an emergency. An emergency caesarean section situation should only arise if continuing labor would harm the baby and/or the mother. The World Health Organization states that an acceptable average for Caesarean sections is 4.5% of all births, but averages are rising. Today the caesarean section rate is 33% of all births, a steep incline from the 4.5% in 1965. Obstetrician Dr. Savage believes, "…as the developed world becomes more and more dependent on technology, there is a danger that people will cease to believe that women can give birth naturally." These rising statistics need to drop. Women having elective caesarean sections are to blame for the increases. Women believe caesareans are a safe option, but they are not aware of the risks for themselves or for their unborn child. (Savage W 1992).( Heike Emery. September 2008.)
Caesarean section is a risky way out, but the women opting for these surgeries believe it is a simple and harmless alternative to the natural way of life. Before she even met her husband and became pregnant, Euna Chung decided that all of her children were going to be delivered via caesarean section. Quoted here, “I had a fear of going through labor and ending up with an emergency C-section anyway. I know that’s rare, but I didn’t want to deal with it.” People of today think that anything in life can be sped up with technology, even birth. There are some outlandish reasons for having requested caesarean sections: unwanted pregnancies, the idea that vaginal birth is “archaic, painful, disfiguring and [a cause for] diminished sexual performance”, a caesarean is an “easy way” to deliver a baby, and even that vaginal birth isn’t natural. Women are told that the procedure won’t hurt, and they like the instant gratification of caesarean sections. Also, with the rising number of midwives and celebrities opting for Caesarean sections, the procedure is coming across as simpler and safer. One woman believed she was going in for a routine simple surgery. Her testimony proves the situation was drastically different,
“When you get into the operating room it is like you have been abducted by aliens. Everything is silver. There are bright lights everywhere. Everyone has their faces covered so all you see are these little eyes. You can't recognize anyone who you have been talking to the past few days. It's very cold. So your sort of half naked, freezing, by yourself without your husband, worried about your baby and yourself. And it was really scary for me. Definitely in comparison to vaginal birth. Much scarier.”
Another woman was forced to have a Caesarean section, and feels that her “birth rape” led her to postpartum depression. The doctors overestimated the size of the baby. She did not need to deliver. She wasn’t able to deliver naturally, and she wasn’t even allowed to hold her baby because “her insides may fall out”. Her body’s inability to function naturally caused this woman to believe she was a failure as a mother. Caesarean sections are not the in and out, safe and sound, procedure that they appear to be. (Alice Park April 2008). (Sara McAleese, 2000) (Doula Pam, 2008.)(Safe Birth, 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006).
A Caesarean section comes with many unnecessary risks for the mother. One of the biggest risk factors for the mother is Post Pardon Depression. Dr. James Swain conducted research at Yale University that found hormones (specifically oxytoxin), which are released through the natural pain of labor, help form maternal instincts. Women who had caesarean sections showed signs in brain scans of postpartum depression within two to four weeks after delivery. Dr. Swain concluded, "Our results support the theory that variations in delivery conditions such as with caesarean section, which alters the neuro-hormonal experiences of childbirth, might decrease the responsiveness of the human maternal brain in the early postpartum.” Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression are less capable of caring for their newborns and themselves. Some other risk factors mothers who opt for natural child birth do not have to worry about include, wound infection, Intestinal Obstruction, increased bleeding resulting in the need for blood transfusion (6% of women who have a c-section will need a blood transfusion),extended hospital stay (women who have caesarean sections average 4 extra hospital days), emergency hysterectomy due to complications with initial surgery, extended time away from the infant, pain due to surgery which keeps the mother from breast feeding (many women report still having pain at the incision site six months after the surgery), and the extra cost associated with surgery. Death is also a huge concern for any surgery and an average of 140 women will die every year in America due to complications with Caesarean sections. There are many dangers for mother’s who opt to have unnatural births via caesarean section. (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The unborn infant in these situations are also put in jeapordy. The biggest threat for a baby is respiratory problems. When a baby comes out of the natural birth canal pressure removes contents from the lungs, and there is a natural transfer of care from the mother’s body to the infant; with caesarean section this process never occurs. Respiratory problems at birth often lead to RSV and asthma in the child's future. Other problems include premature birth (if the gestation was not measured correctly), increased need for assistance with breathing and immediate care after birth, and accidental cutting or nicking of the baby during the caesarean process (2% of babies will be cut during a caesarean). Caesarean babies are also 50% more likely to have low APGR rates when compared to vaginal deliveries (These test measure responsiveness of the child one minute and five minutes after birth). Infants are not left unharmed because the mother chose to have a Caesarean section. (APA. September 2008.) (Larissa Hirsch, MD June 2006). (Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008.) (Sara McAleese 2000)
The infants aren’t safe, the mothers aren’t safe, and this surgery is not the “easy way out” people tend to assume it is. If women are going to have these elective surgeries they should at least inform themselves of the possible outcomes. One slip of the knife and a baby or mother could die. Women’s bodies were designed to handle the birthing process. It is time we put technology aside and use the best computer at our disposal, the brain. Caesarean sections were designed for emergencies, and that is where their place needs to return.
Works Sited
1. Alice Park (April 28, 2008).Womb Service. Why More Women are making caesareans their delivery of Choice. Time, 171, 65-66.
2. APA. September 2008. American Pregnancy Association. Risk of Cesarean Procedure. Retrieved 11 Se
ptember 2008. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/cesareanrisks.html
3. Heike Emery. September 2008. Caesarean Section. Home Page. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://caesareansection.net/
4. Ishpreet Bindra. September 4, 2008. The med Guru. Normal Delivery =better Mother Child Bonding. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://www.themedguru.com/articles/normal_delivery_better_mother_child_bonding-8619092.html
5. Larissa Hirsch, MD. (June 2006). Caesarean Sections. Kids Health. Retrieved 10 September 2008. http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/c_sections.html =
6. 'The rise in caesarean section - anxiety or science?' in: Chard T and Richards M P (eds) Obstetrics in the 1990s: Current Controversies, Blackwell Scientific Publications Ltd, Oxford.
7. Safe Birth. (15 May 2008.) “Prevent Caesarean Section.” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZy0JPtubiQ
8. Doula Pam. (10 February 2008) “Our First Childs Birth” You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-b0JkruFY
Just to note
I have to sign in more, because people are reading and leaving comments and I am just not paying any attention. I have offers for editors... well editor. My cousin, and she is pretty freakin smart, so I should have tapped into that, because my editors here are just to nice ot me about my papers. I am turning the caesarean section one in today, but i will get something up for the mysticism paper soon. It's due next Thursday, and I haven't really put pen to paper.
Mysticism- It is all about letting go of things of this Earth to reach enlightenment with God. There is a lot in there about everyone being God. Also, the mystics don't have attachments to anything. They live day to day, moment to moment. They have no emotion because they aren't attached. It is strange. I understand it, but I don't get it. They also think they have many experiences with oneness with God while they are still on this Earth.
Mysticism- It is all about letting go of things of this Earth to reach enlightenment with God. There is a lot in there about everyone being God. Also, the mystics don't have attachments to anything. They live day to day, moment to moment. They have no emotion because they aren't attached. It is strange. I understand it, but I don't get it. They also think they have many experiences with oneness with God while they are still on this Earth.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Caesarean Section II (discussion)
English Composition II
Professor: Hamelin
Assignment: Essay on a somewhat controversial topic.
As of today i have 3.25 pages written for this essay. Most likely it is in its final state. I am happy with the way it turned out. The way I wrote it was different from my norm, but I think it is the way I am going to continue.
I created a word document. At the beginning of the document I listed each source as I used it, and typed the research under each source {I want to be sure I site ALL my sources}. Then, in the middle of the document I created an outline. Proper paragraph headings were listed, and under each heading was a subheading which included which exact information I was going to use written in my own words. When it came time for me to build the essay, most of it wound up being cut and paste since I used my own words along the way. I added some filler to create a flow from one sentence to the next. When it came time to edit my paper to be sure it all made sense together I simply had to remove some unnecessary fluff, and be sure i sited every source. I have never been so pleased with a paper. Lettuce hope I get an acceptable grade!
Professor: Hamelin
Assignment: Essay on a somewhat controversial topic.
As of today i have 3.25 pages written for this essay. Most likely it is in its final state. I am happy with the way it turned out. The way I wrote it was different from my norm, but I think it is the way I am going to continue.
I created a word document. At the beginning of the document I listed each source as I used it, and typed the research under each source {I want to be sure I site ALL my sources}. Then, in the middle of the document I created an outline. Proper paragraph headings were listed, and under each heading was a subheading which included which exact information I was going to use written in my own words. When it came time for me to build the essay, most of it wound up being cut and paste since I used my own words along the way. I added some filler to create a flow from one sentence to the next. When it came time to edit my paper to be sure it all made sense together I simply had to remove some unnecessary fluff, and be sure i sited every source. I have never been so pleased with a paper. Lettuce hope I get an acceptable grade!
Thus Far in school
College Algebra
Professor: Don Johnson
Thus far: Seven or so quizzes worth 10 points a piece, and one exam worth 100 points. My grade was an 81%; there will be a 10 point curve. I have two purple things. Last class I earned one, but I forgot to get it.
English Composition II
Professor: Mr. Hamlin
Thus far: Five or so quizzes worth 50 points. (At the End of Semester the ten best quiz grades will be chosen.) One Paper. My paper (The one about the Mexican Border Wall) grade was 87%. That's all right. My biggest mistakes were logic and argumentation. I accept that. My next paper (The one about cesarean sections) will be better.
Yoga: I have done yoga. Also there was a pretest I didn't do amazingly on.
Psychology
Professor: Krista Rumage
Thus Far: I don't think we have turned in anything. Monday is my first exam. I am going to study with Brittany Sunday. I am confidant. I have read all the chapters.
United States History I
Professor: Wallace
Thus Far: We have had notes, and one exam. On that Exam I got an 88%. Hopefully next time I get a better grade. It may be my favorite class. I have done some research for the 10 page Research paper final. I also have read, I believe, three of the four chapters in the first book. I had better get one that paper though if I want it to turn out well.
Mysticism
Professor: Matt Branstetter
Thus Far: Possibly my most talked about class socially. We have had one exam which I received a 90% on. I think that is all we have actually turned in. Most of our grade thus far depends on participation. Which I participate in. I also have a paper due in two weeks on the Mystic Julian of Norwich.
Professor: Don Johnson
Thus far: Seven or so quizzes worth 10 points a piece, and one exam worth 100 points. My grade was an 81%; there will be a 10 point curve. I have two purple things. Last class I earned one, but I forgot to get it.
English Composition II
Professor: Mr. Hamlin
Thus far: Five or so quizzes worth 50 points. (At the End of Semester the ten best quiz grades will be chosen.) One Paper. My paper (The one about the Mexican Border Wall) grade was 87%. That's all right. My biggest mistakes were logic and argumentation. I accept that. My next paper (The one about cesarean sections) will be better.
Yoga: I have done yoga. Also there was a pretest I didn't do amazingly on.
Psychology
Professor: Krista Rumage
Thus Far: I don't think we have turned in anything. Monday is my first exam. I am going to study with Brittany Sunday. I am confidant. I have read all the chapters.
United States History I
Professor: Wallace
Thus Far: We have had notes, and one exam. On that Exam I got an 88%. Hopefully next time I get a better grade. It may be my favorite class. I have done some research for the 10 page Research paper final. I also have read, I believe, three of the four chapters in the first book. I had better get one that paper though if I want it to turn out well.
Mysticism
Professor: Matt Branstetter
Thus Far: Possibly my most talked about class socially. We have had one exam which I received a 90% on. I think that is all we have actually turned in. Most of our grade thus far depends on participation. Which I participate in. I also have a paper due in two weeks on the Mystic Julian of Norwich.
Friday, September 12, 2008
What I'm working on now
Right now I have a few projects in the works.
I have an essay for English Composition II for Mr. Hamelin again.
.... I have to write another persuasive paper on a controversial issue. 2-3 pages
..... I am going to write about the growing number of women having elective caesarean sections.
.... I have begun research.
I have a paper for Mysticism for Matt Branstetter.
.....that'll be on a Mystic. Julian of Norwhich. 5-7 pages.
I have my final for History for Mr. Wallace.
..... it is a 10 page research paper on something historical that happened before 1877.
..... I am going ot write about the start of the library of congress.
.....I have begun research.
I have an essay for English Composition II for Mr. Hamelin again.
.... I have to write another persuasive paper on a controversial issue. 2-3 pages
..... I am going to write about the growing number of women having elective caesarean sections.
.... I have begun research.
I have a paper for Mysticism for Matt Branstetter.
.....that'll be on a Mystic. Julian of Norwhich. 5-7 pages.
I have my final for History for Mr. Wallace.
..... it is a 10 page research paper on something historical that happened before 1877.
..... I am going ot write about the start of the library of congress.
.....I have begun research.
The Iron Guard between Two Worlds.
This is going to have to be a back log post. Since it is the only paper I have turned in this year, it should be the only one I have to backlog. I wrote this paper for Mr. Hamelin's English Composition II Class. It was to be a 2-3 page persuasive paper one a somewhat controversial topic. I chose to write about the border fence being built between America and mexico. I decided apon this topic after I read an article in Times magezine. I researched mainly online. There were a few videos.
Here is my paper. My works sited are at the end.
The Iron Guard Between Two Worlds
“We don't need no border walls”. The chants of angry Mexicans and Americans can be heard along the new fence being constructed across the Mexican and American border. On October 26, 2006, Congress approved the construction of a 700 mile fence stretching between the Mexico-America international border. The new fence is currently in the construction phase. This fence will cost a sum total of $49 billion, and will cover approximately 670 miles of the 2000 mile border. Some of the fence will be built in double layer form, with heights of 12-20 feet. In the gaps along the fence the government is using a process called “virtual fence”, which uses motion detectors and cameras to alert border patrol of fence hoppers. The purpose of the fence is to keep the nearly 400,000 illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America each year from entering American territory. The mass numbers of illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America everyday should be a huge concern for American citizens, even so, many Americans feel that the fence is the wrong way to go about solving the immigration problems, nevertheless, in the end we need to find a humane way to deal with the problem that works with the foundations of our country.
One future-American-hopeful, may spend three-to-four days, crossing twenty-to-thirty miles of dessert, in hundred degree weather, all the while leaving eight pounds of trash; just to enter an American city, where they can fade into the shadows of the land. Once these illegal immigrants reach the cities, they take many different routs to many of the same destinations: bussed back to Mexico, living a life of secrets and lies, and/or causing American citizens billions of dollars. Since these people are illegal residents, they can not find legal jobs that require fair pay, health benefits, and paying taxes. Much of the money, an estimated 12 billion untaxed dollars each year, is sent back to families to be poured into the Mexican economy. Many of the immigrants decide to have children, because any child born on American soil is an official American citizen. These, sort of, pawn children, are used as anchors to keep their families in America. The American education and health systems are too being hurt by the illegal immigration from Mexico. It is estimated that $28,607,800,000 of taxpayers money is spent every year educating illegal immigrants and children whose parents are illegal immigrants; many of whom will never pay taxes in their lives. Illegal immigrants are the cause for $190 million {25%) of southwest border county hospitals uncompensated emergency cost. The cost of housing illegal immigrants is putting a huge strain on the American economy.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence proving that illegal immigrants are economically destroying the America, many Americans believe that the fence is a horrible “solution”. For starters, the wall not only puts a twenty-foot barrier between The United States and Mexico, the fence also puts a twenty-foot barrier between the United States and some Americans. Since, in some areas, the fence cannot be built directly on the border (building in the natural Rio Grande river may change the natural flow of the river and therefore would change the natural boundaries) the fence is being built some two miles inward the American boundary. This federal government plan calls for cutting many properties in half, putting residents on the “Mexican” side of the fence, and putting a wall in the middle of farms and University golf courses. The University of Texas: Brownsville feels that the wall in sending the wrong message to many of their Mexican students, whom legitimatly cross the border daily to take classes. The school has stood by a mission of uniting both the US and Mexico, and they feel the fence goes against their unity ideals. “UTB is trying to portray an image of bringing everybody together, but we would have this wall between us.” stated UTB student Allison Valles. The residents who are now forced to be on the “other” side of the fence fear for their property values. They believe that nobody is going to want to purchase a house “on the South side of the border wall the United States built”. The fence isn't even working as the quick fix the government wants it to work as. Residents in the areas where the fence has already been put up say that the cross bar effect of the fences construction work perfectly as a ladder when illegal immigrants want to hop the fence. Clearly the fence is not the answer to our problem.
With all this talk of “illegal immigrants”, and the “ones on the other side”, we are almost forcing ourselves to not think humanly. Illegal immigrants crossing into our borders are a “problem”, but maybe we need to work on why they are coming here in the first place. The human will to live would not send hundreds of thousands of people into the dessert to die every year, if there weren't something better in front, and worse behind them. If we were to stop placing blame on others and were to look inward at ourselves, we may find out what we are doing wrong. Some people say that the illegal job placement large American companies, like Wal-Mart and Swift Co., provide are the “money magnet” ushering Mexicans to America. We also need to look at what they are leaving behind. If we took the billions of dollars we pump into a metal fence and used it to aid the country of Mexico, possibly the amount of illegals border hopping would diminish. If their economy had some financial aid, possibly that would be the jump start their country needed. We are all humans, and sometimes, it seems, we need to put ourselves in another's shoes.
So, the illegal immigrants we have right now are hurting America and her citizens, the solution we are trying to use isn't working, and we are to self centered to find a less invasive way to solve our problems. What are we going to do? What can we do. It seems that he only thing we can ask for right now is that American citizens make themselves more aware. The problems we have are being solved by a government that wants a quick fix to band aid our problems. The people of this country need to know what is going on and do their part to be sure the world can live each day as peacefully and humane as possible.
Bibliography
Drehele, David V. (2008, June 19). The Great Wall of America. Time,
Texas Border Coalition. (2008). Our Border, Our Future. Retrieved 27 August 2008. http://www.texasbordercoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=41
“The Border Fence; The Wall”. Wayne Ewing. Now. PBS. 15 August 2008. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/432/video-webex.html
USA TODAY. 25 August 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-27-texas-university- fence_n.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. (2005). Illegal Immigration to the United States. Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the World Wide Web:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States
Here is my paper. My works sited are at the end.
The Iron Guard Between Two Worlds
“We don't need no border walls”. The chants of angry Mexicans and Americans can be heard along the new fence being constructed across the Mexican and American border. On October 26, 2006, Congress approved the construction of a 700 mile fence stretching between the Mexico-America international border. The new fence is currently in the construction phase. This fence will cost a sum total of $49 billion, and will cover approximately 670 miles of the 2000 mile border. Some of the fence will be built in double layer form, with heights of 12-20 feet. In the gaps along the fence the government is using a process called “virtual fence”, which uses motion detectors and cameras to alert border patrol of fence hoppers. The purpose of the fence is to keep the nearly 400,000 illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America each year from entering American territory. The mass numbers of illegal Mexican immigrants that cross into America everyday should be a huge concern for American citizens, even so, many Americans feel that the fence is the wrong way to go about solving the immigration problems, nevertheless, in the end we need to find a humane way to deal with the problem that works with the foundations of our country.
One future-American-hopeful, may spend three-to-four days, crossing twenty-to-thirty miles of dessert, in hundred degree weather, all the while leaving eight pounds of trash; just to enter an American city, where they can fade into the shadows of the land. Once these illegal immigrants reach the cities, they take many different routs to many of the same destinations: bussed back to Mexico, living a life of secrets and lies, and/or causing American citizens billions of dollars. Since these people are illegal residents, they can not find legal jobs that require fair pay, health benefits, and paying taxes. Much of the money, an estimated 12 billion untaxed dollars each year, is sent back to families to be poured into the Mexican economy. Many of the immigrants decide to have children, because any child born on American soil is an official American citizen. These, sort of, pawn children, are used as anchors to keep their families in America. The American education and health systems are too being hurt by the illegal immigration from Mexico. It is estimated that $28,607,800,000 of taxpayers money is spent every year educating illegal immigrants and children whose parents are illegal immigrants; many of whom will never pay taxes in their lives. Illegal immigrants are the cause for $190 million {25%) of southwest border county hospitals uncompensated emergency cost. The cost of housing illegal immigrants is putting a huge strain on the American economy.
In spite of the overwhelming evidence proving that illegal immigrants are economically destroying the America, many Americans believe that the fence is a horrible “solution”. For starters, the wall not only puts a twenty-foot barrier between The United States and Mexico, the fence also puts a twenty-foot barrier between the United States and some Americans. Since, in some areas, the fence cannot be built directly on the border (building in the natural Rio Grande river may change the natural flow of the river and therefore would change the natural boundaries) the fence is being built some two miles inward the American boundary. This federal government plan calls for cutting many properties in half, putting residents on the “Mexican” side of the fence, and putting a wall in the middle of farms and University golf courses. The University of Texas: Brownsville feels that the wall in sending the wrong message to many of their Mexican students, whom legitimatly cross the border daily to take classes. The school has stood by a mission of uniting both the US and Mexico, and they feel the fence goes against their unity ideals. “UTB is trying to portray an image of bringing everybody together, but we would have this wall between us.” stated UTB student Allison Valles. The residents who are now forced to be on the “other” side of the fence fear for their property values. They believe that nobody is going to want to purchase a house “on the South side of the border wall the United States built”. The fence isn't even working as the quick fix the government wants it to work as. Residents in the areas where the fence has already been put up say that the cross bar effect of the fences construction work perfectly as a ladder when illegal immigrants want to hop the fence. Clearly the fence is not the answer to our problem.
With all this talk of “illegal immigrants”, and the “ones on the other side”, we are almost forcing ourselves to not think humanly. Illegal immigrants crossing into our borders are a “problem”, but maybe we need to work on why they are coming here in the first place. The human will to live would not send hundreds of thousands of people into the dessert to die every year, if there weren't something better in front, and worse behind them. If we were to stop placing blame on others and were to look inward at ourselves, we may find out what we are doing wrong. Some people say that the illegal job placement large American companies, like Wal-Mart and Swift Co., provide are the “money magnet” ushering Mexicans to America. We also need to look at what they are leaving behind. If we took the billions of dollars we pump into a metal fence and used it to aid the country of Mexico, possibly the amount of illegals border hopping would diminish. If their economy had some financial aid, possibly that would be the jump start their country needed. We are all humans, and sometimes, it seems, we need to put ourselves in another's shoes.
So, the illegal immigrants we have right now are hurting America and her citizens, the solution we are trying to use isn't working, and we are to self centered to find a less invasive way to solve our problems. What are we going to do? What can we do. It seems that he only thing we can ask for right now is that American citizens make themselves more aware. The problems we have are being solved by a government that wants a quick fix to band aid our problems. The people of this country need to know what is going on and do their part to be sure the world can live each day as peacefully and humane as possible.
Bibliography
Drehele, David V. (2008, June 19). The Great Wall of America. Time,
Texas Border Coalition. (2008). Our Border, Our Future. Retrieved 27 August 2008. http://www.texasbordercoalition.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=41
“The Border Fence; The Wall”. Wayne Ewing. Now. PBS. 15 August 2008. http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/432/video-webex.html
USA TODAY. 25 August 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-27-texas-university- fence_n.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. (2005). Illegal Immigration to the United States. Retrieved August 20, 2008, from the World Wide Web:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States
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