Drawing on your analysis of Kennedy's rhetorical strategies, write a speech in which you extort your audience to take action for a cause in which you strongly believe. You need not ask them to lay down their lives, but use language effectively to stir them to some significant action. Enjoy your long weekend and have your posts completed by 3 p.m. on Monday. We will read some aloud on Tuesday during class. Your x-day next week will be on Thursday.
part 1
ReplyDeleteThe Veterans of America and the families which have lost loved ones to the army deserve our help and thanks. The Veterans have fought for their country; putting their lives on hold to go fight and some have even given their lives. The rows upon rows of unknown soldiers in Arlington Cemetery are proof of their and their families’ sacrifices, but America forgets them as time passes by. Once a soldier is back, discharged from service, people forget the trials, violence, and sacrifices the soldier made for his country. The active soldiers witness living nightmares and watch their friends shot down. Coming back home they struggle to find jobs, fit in, find a purpose for living and pick up the threads of an almost dream like life they once had. As time flows by them, they slowly become adjusted to the everyday American life, yet they are haunted in their dreams. There are soldiers who carry the burdens of what they have witnessed and done for the rest of their lives while others are able to move on quickly. Throughout this ordeal where is the support and thanks from the Country they risked their lives for?
More communities which help recently discharged Veterans get back into the flow of a normal life need to be built. Places where they can know they have a support group which will stay with them throughout the journeys ahead. A group that they can turn to in trouble and will always be there much like their company in the army. These communities watch the other’s backs and defend them from being torn down. The people inside these communities care for each other and understand what the Veterans have been through. When the Veterans are able and ready to go out on their own they have a place to come back to when times are hard. Besides support the Veterans need thanks. Veterans, especially elderly Veterans, and their sacrifices are often forgotten. Some receive no recognition during their life time and die without a heartfelt thank you. To Veterans a simple thank you is something extremely special. It means they are not forgotten, they are appreciated, they sacrifices were not in vain, their struggles and hardships will be remembered, and that their country, which they fought for and loved, is loved by others. Do Americans remember what Veterans Day stand for? Do they remember to thank their soldiers or do they simply think of it as a day off?
part 2
ReplyDeleteFamilies which have lost a member vividly remember Veterans Day and the people the Day Celebrates. They can’t not forget the hole in their lives nor the reason the hole is there. These families support other families going through the difficult times they themselves have already gone through. These families need encouragement and support. They need to know that they are not alone and that the cause that took away their beloved who believed in it enough to give his life fighting for is worth it. Only once Americans empathize and understand the loss these families have experienced will they remember to thank those who have fought for their country.
Today, children learn facts and numbers of the war. They learn about some of the hardships the soldiers faced and still face, but they do not learn of the individual people who died. To many Americans the soldiers are simply numbers, ranks, and divisions. America looks at the big overall picture and forgets the details that make it. Until Americans realize what it is like to walk the Vietnam Memorial vainly searching for a specific name, trail fingers across thousands of unmarked headstones thinking that perhaps the person you are searching for is buried there, receive a dreaded visit saying the person you were desperately hoping would come home will not, or experience the heartbreak that happens as soldiers honor a fallen soldier who was important in your life will they ever truly appreciate their country and its Veterans.
Thank the soldiers you see in the airports saying goodbye to their families, the soldiers lying in their graves and across the battlefields and the Veterans building new lives. Support the families through their dark times and the Veterans struggling to become accustomed to a normal life. Love the country the Veterans and soldiers fought and still fight for. Remember the buried and their sacrifices for our country.
Today in America, the poverty is evident no matter which end of the country you may be on. In some states, the poverty is much greater than it is in others but it is definitely everywhere. Although, “we live in the world's wealthiest nation 13 percent of people living in the United States live in poverty.” (bread.org) If American has so much money, why don’t we spend it to the help the less fortunate? Food and water is a human right, which does not make it okay for some people to be starving among us just because they aren’t making a lot of money and/or have lost their job.
ReplyDeleteIn this economy, we need to help those around us and stop being so selfish with non-necessities. The people of America who are well off can afford to buy a couple of nutritious food products to help the people struggling in their very own state.
Poverty is not only about starvation but also the lack of safety and clothing. Clothes, like: pants, t-shirts, socks, sneakers, and under garments are necessities for basic and healthy living. The people who live in colder climates will need: winter coats, hats, boots, and mittens are needed to make it through the freezing cold. Let America donate used or new winter clothes as well as regular clothes even more on a regular basis. As the economy is as it is now, one family donating a pair of boots and a coat is generous but not enough. American’s need to step up their generosity and go through old closets to give them to others in more need. A closet is only being clogged up old winter gear, so why not give it away to other families less fortunate?
In conclusion, one of the great ways to help the people in poverty is through food/clothing banks, and donating a little money to nationwide websites. Direct food or clothes or a small amount of money will most definitely go a long for the people in need. More people should know that, yes they can help others with the click of a button. Let American rebuild itself, and become a healthier and more flourishing country that it already is.
I agree with Bethany, that children are no longer learning about the horrific hardships of war but the facts and the figures of war. It's all about statistics, and not about appreciation anymore.
It’s time for the people to begin reaching out. We can’t rely on government to collect and give money to starving countries. The money could wind up in the wrong hands. Corrupt governments of the under privileged countries could take control of the money and use it for abuse or their own needs, rather than the needs of the people. As a country we must band together to raise money for countries in need. We must create programs and organizations in which we trust to get our money to the right people.
ReplyDeleteStarting at a known to be struggling country: Africa. According to a New York Times blog Madagascar’s trade with the US was closed off by Obama when he discovered they had a nondemocratic government. The trade from Madagascar to the US has given the people of Madagascar a source of income. By punishing the government for not being democratic, the US has punished the people as well. The blog states how Madagascar’s “Factories are closing, increased competition among street workers is pushing down wages, and the effects are spilling over into neighboring countries that made inputs to Madagascar’s factories” (aidwatchers.com). Not trading with Madagascar isn’t just affecting Madagascar’s economy but now it’s hitting the neighboring countries. Our government has failed at punishing Madagascar’s government and instead is punishing Africa as a whole. As a nation we have to come together to bring the trade from Madagascar back to the US. Our government may not agree to trade with certain parts of Africa, but that doesn’t mean the citizens of the US can’t.
Right now our government has a set “China receiving $27.2m, India $126.6m, Brazil $25m, and Russia $71.5m” (dailymail.co.uk/news), but, what about those other countries in desperate need of our assistance? Right now our government gives Israel “about $3 billion in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's entire foreign aid budget” (.ifamericaknew.org). We are dumping our money onto these selected countries and forgetting about the others who are in great need as well. Directing back to Africa, in Kenya there are “2 million orphaned children (13% of all children under 18); 900,000 orphaned by AIDS,” in Rawanda there are “ 850,000 orphaned children (19% of all children); 200,000 orphaned by AIDS,” and in South Africa there are “2.5 million orphaned children (14% of all children); 1.3 million orphaned by AIDS” (chrf.org). These are all countries that only a little bit of the financial aid from the US go to. Probably only a very small portion of the money, if any, actually goes to the starving orphans in these countries.
Once again, it is our turn to stand together and create the money to aid and relieve these countries. It is our job as a nation to make sure the money gets to the people who need it most. It is our job as country to stop waiting for government to help these deprived countries; it’s our turn to help them ourselves. As the people of the United States, it’s our turn to reach out.
in response to claudia: you make a good point that we should also focus on ourselves as a country before reaching out to others. We need to make sure we don't have starving people before we give our money to other countries starving people!
ReplyDeleteWe are in what one could call a period of turmoil. Our economy has been struck violently by the harsh fists of the modern world. Our troops are battered by the threats and assaults of terrorism. Our own spirits dampened in light of what has occurred in these past few years. Fellow Americans, it is time that we start to fix what has already been damaged. But, in order to mend what has been lost, America will require all the hands of the citizens, the residents, and the newly immigrated. America will also require the hands of the politicians, and the hands of the military to renew our spirits. In order to fully heal, we must call back all those serving in foreign countries to help with the recovery here in America.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely necessary that we call back the brave soldiers that have fought for so long overseas. They will no longer be needed there because our war on terror will finally come to an end. As a nation that is conceived in liberty and the freedom of the people, we must trust the other countries of the world to work out their own problems. By doing so, we regain many helping hands in the United States. We can call upon the veterans to help rebuild a once prosperous and well off society that goes by the name of America.
Though politics will no doubt go out of America and into foreign affairs, this country and its politicians should realize that foreign affairs at this time are less of an issue than the crisis here in domestic territory. There are already many politicians on the job of fixing this crisis, but we need more. The formation of only one jobs committee is not enough to put the jobless back to work. Multiple task forces are needed. This doesn’t just go for politicians, but for people who are already working as well. We need to band together in order to retrain and regroup the jobless. The only way that this can happen is if politicians get off on debating issues in foreign policy and start dealing with what’s more at stake right now: the people and their jobs.
In order for politicians to end their interest for foreign policy, us people must also end our concern for other countries as well. There is a saying that two heads are better than one. Well, think about if there were more than two heads working together. Wouldn’t we get much more accomplished? We shouldn’t hand the job of getting America back together to just the politicians. This country was made so that the people had a say in what goes on. Let us take that power and help in America’s recovery.
This country cannot heal unless we all help. As an American citizen, it is the incumbent duty of all Americans to help with the recovery of this country. This includes the working, the soldiers, the politicians, and even some of the non-working people. Let us bring our troops back. Let the politicians know that their own country is suffering and that they need to help. Let us all take a vow to help our own country to its feet and teach it to walk again, no, let us teach it to run again.
Bethany’s speech gave me a great amount of insight. When she said if people think of Veterans Day as a day off, I started to think. It’s true I’ve never lost a loved one in action, but I know many people have. It is with great regret that the world ever has to come to such violence. I agree in that children no longer learn about the horrors of war. I’ve had friends who wanted to be in the army or the Marine Corps just because their parents served. Yet, when I see their faces, I see no look of anxiety or even excitement. This has gotten me to believe that people have become ignorant of what war really means. I believe that people should treat the issue of war seriously and not just rant about one’s “awesome” knowledge of military weapons.
Our country has been at war in the Middle East for over a decade and it is time we got our troops out of there. Our troops have been there so long I don’t even know what we are fighting for any more. I know why we went in the first place, but what are we still doing there? It states in the bill of rights that citizens have the right to petition the government and that is what needs to be done here. We, as involved citizens, need to pressure our government to bring our troops home.
ReplyDeleteWhat are we even fighting for in the Middle East now that the person responsibly behind the 9/11 attacks is supposedly dead? We need to let the government know how we feel about this and pressure them to make a change. We are losing lives of citizens just like us and for what? I don’t understand how can be fighting a war that many of the citizens don’t understand why. So many people have loved ones over there putting their lives on the line for us, but why? Thousands of people die over there and for what? The only way to make a difference is to do something about it. We need to let the government know that we want something done about it and maybe something will get done.
Now I told you what I want do, but how are we going to get it done? We need to protest, form masses outside the white, and encourage others to take up the cause along side us. The only way to get the word out is to let people know what we are trying to do and see if more help can be acquired me. We must make signs, stand out in the cold, and spread the word. To make a difference politicians also need to back our cause and that is why petitioning in Washington is something’s that is vital to our cause. When I say we need to get our troops out of there, that doesn’t mean we have to cut all ties in the Middle East. There are countries that still need out protection over there and we can’t abandon them.
We know what needs to be done and now we have to go out there and get it done. This takes time and hard work, but if you are as committed to getting it down as much as I am, we can help our troops. We can do this and we can make a difference in the lives of our troops.
I totally agree with what Sammy said about how we need to help countries ourselves. The government has some much else to worry about that they don’t have time to do it their selves. We need to step up and make a difference in the lives of poor countries. It is our responsibility to help those who need instead of constantly worry about ourselves as we often do.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is known for their selfishness and egotistical way of living, it is time to change this. Poverty is one of the most pressing problems in America today. “In 2010,15.1 percent of all persons lived in Poverty”(npc.umich.edu). Most average Americans are unaware of the poverty problem of today. For all these years people have been trying to make every U.S. citizen equal. Is it called equal when a U.S. citizen is not receiving the same amount of food and other resources then other U.S. citizens?
ReplyDeleteIn the economy that so many of us live in, money needs to stop being spent on irrational, useless products and help the less fortunate. There are many organizations out there for instance in the supermarket there are boxes made by organizations to drop of non-perishable foods for the less fortunate. We need to stop walking past those boxes every time we are in the supermarket and put even on can of food in, for every little bit makes a difference.
Thousands of families are living in abject poverty. Poverty is not only the lack of food and water it is the state of being poor. Families are living without shelter and clothes. These people are living without pants, shirts, every necessity that a human being needs on a daily basis. This is without acknowledging the differences within communities, different cultures and changing climates. These people need our help to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This can change by simple solutions. Before throwing out clothes, coats, shoes think of who needs them. Go to your local thrift store and donate your clothes for the less fortunate. Instead of saving them for hammy downs or a cluttered mess in your basement give them away to people who need them more then you.
Americans are unaware of the small changes that we can make to help U.S. citizens in need. Donating food to organizations and clothes to the local thrift store are only a few ways to help people in Poverty. There are many ways to contribute to the cause for example donating money to organizations for the impoverished. America needs to realize that it can be bigger and better then it ever has been before, all we need to do is to extend our helping hands with small donations for the impoverished.
I agree with Sammy when she says that its our turn to create money to aid and relieve these countries that are in need of money. I am sure that if the states were ever in a situation and needed help there would be other countries that would come together and aid us.
The United States was built on liberty and justice; a democracy where men and women could lead any life they choose. Believe any belief, live anywhere, vote for anybody, work any job or become any kind of entrepreneur. But in the last decade Americans have chosen to ignore their latter freedom. Americans have seen the last decade bring a swift decline in American jobs and in American products. Made in China has overtaken the all-powerful made in America. Americans may not need a strong economy to enjoy the unique freedoms of a democracy; give the American citizens liberty or death. But we know our values as a nation. We know the kind of nation we want to live in; as a democracy we can choose again to be the most powerful economic powerhouse in the world. We only have to rebuild ourselves.
ReplyDeleteRebuilding the economy will take more than Congress and the White House embracing real action; the power of real action lies in the hands of the American people. Moving factories and jobs back onto American soil is a beginning. But leaping past this beginning will take a greater effort. The spirit of entrepreneurialism that drove citizens like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Ford to create the powerful economy of ‘20s America can drive the men and women of today’s America to take a desperate course of action; to take a risk; to start a business.
For a business in America can succeed. It has been proven over and over again. One only needs a dream; one only needs to take action. Only then can we look forward into a future where the mantric “Made in China” again becomes the proud “American Made.” American Made is what will be stamped into all our products. American made will be the new made in China, and American Made will bring back the old American economy.
I think Bethany did a great job explaining the importance of Veterans day in her speech. It's true that I have thought of the day as just a break from school, but it really is a lot more than that. I also agree with Bethany that society describes war too much as just statistics and numbers. Thinking of a war as a number detracts from the meaning of the sacrifices our veterans gave for the country.
America strives for democracy around the world, and when our country began democracy was the main ideal. The United States was also founded on the idea that everyone had an equal chance, no Nobles or Kings would give extra power to anybody. We still do not have Kings and Nobles, but how democratic are we really?
ReplyDeleteIn order to even be an option for President of the United States, one would need to have huge funding or have plenty of their own money. If one did not have money and ran for President, they would never be heard of. Does this provide an equal opportunity to everybody? Would a person from one of the most prominent families in the country have the same chance as a destitute city dweller? The person from the prominent family has inherited massive amounts of money and has many trust funds, contacts in high places that his parents garnered. The poor person has ideas and his clothes. The person from the prominent family would have huge corporations begging to sponsor his or her campaign to get on the good side of the family. The poor person would not even be given a stage to voice his or her ideas. Is it a democracy when one can win an election because of money?
One could make the argument that money does not change a persons ideas and so voters will just vote for whoever’s ideas they like best and so the money aspect does not matter. False, people are influenced by what they see and if a campaigner with lots of money can put up far more ads than their competitor, it gives them an unfair edge.
If only the rich can be elected, who will look out for the poor? Sure the rich will be taken care of with an understanding President, but who’s to protect the poor. It becomes a clear scenario of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
The big corporations who sponsored the President during his or her campaign will also have huge returns. Another example of the rich getting richer. This also gives the corporation an unfair edge in the political arena. A President who was supported by a company is predisposed to stand by them when they need it, and would be disinclined to go against them.
You might ask yourself, “well what can I do about this problem, it does not seem like there is anything that can be done”. Wrong again, the general populace is the voice of this country and if you make a stand you will be heard. Make it be known that you will not stand for this unfairness and things will change. Just persevere.
I liked Bethany's speech because she called out kids for taking Veterans day as just a day off from school and not as appreciating what our Veterans have done. Our Veterans sacrificed their lives for our country and deserve appreciation so that was good of Bethany.
ReplyDeleteAs some of my peers have argued before me, it is extremely important to honor and thank our veterans, parents, and everyone who has come before us. They all have brought us to where we are today. Without them, we would be nowhere in life. There is one group of people I feel as though we have not honored, our grandparents. I don’t know where I would be without my grandparents. Other than I probably would not have been born, I just can’t imagine life without them. I feel for those who unfortunately never got to meet their grandparents. They don’t realize how special a gift they are missing out on. Even so, isn’t this even more the reason to honor them? Just like our veteran’s, we may never know our grandparents. But, they have, like our veterans, done good deeds and protected their families in order to eventually make our lives better.
ReplyDeleteGrandparents are very special. There are so many “what ifs” that could have occurred if my grandparents were any different than who they really are. If my grandparents had not treated my parents with care or hadn’t worked hard in order to live a healthy life style, my dad and mom might not have ever been so fortunate became doctors. If they hadn’t become doctors, they may have never met and they might have never moved to Hanover to work at DHMC. My grandparents also chose the school they went to and got them interested in certain topics such as science. My grandparents also raised them to believe and cherish certain values in life. These values went into the choice of who to become and who to marry, eventually bringing my mom and dad together. If my grandparents had imposed a different set of moral values on my parents, they might have abhorred each other and would never have married. Obviously, I wouldn’t exist if they hadn’t married. Because my grandparents ultimately led my dad to become a doctor, I would not be here in such a wonderful school system, I wouldn’t live in Hanover, by gosh I wouldn’t even be writing this right now. I could go on and on about how every little thing my grandparents have done has brought me here today.
Away from how they have brought me here, they also are the most caring, loving, and supportive people in my life. My grandparents are always there for me. We had a soccer game in the pouring rain a few weeks ago and my 80 year old grandpa stood there, probably freezing, and watched me. That kind of support says a lot. Here is what my grandma emailed me after we lost in soccer in the quarterfinals: “We're thinking of you tonight, and feeling your disappointment in the game, but know you're strong. You played beautifully, fleet of foot as ever. And your team fought as hard as you did. Pops and I were proud to be there with you!
Now wake up tomorrow and enjoy the sunny fall day. Hugs to you, and pats to your pups. Nana Kate.” She is not only helping me to feel better but everything she says is so supportive. This email was a lifesaver from the depressing feeling that had plagued my mind ever since the loss.
Overall, I love my grandparents. There is no question in my mind that there should be a Grandparent’s day. In a way, our grandparents are really our parents after all. Our parents used our grandparents as models to become who they are today. We use our parents as models to form our own personality and lives. From the transitive property if x=y and y=z, then x=z. This means that really our grandparents are really the people who our generation is modeling ourselves after. This trend could even continue to our great, great ancestors. Maybe we should even call it ancestor day? Anyway, I believe we must honor our grandparents. Let them know you love them too.
I really like Bethany’s essay. I thought that she was spot on with how people should take time to actually thank the veterans instead of just seeing it as a day off. Our veterans have fought for us, not for themselves. Not only this, but they risked their lives for us. We are forever grateful to them. We should make veteran’s day a way bigger deal than it is.
Do not ask what your grandparents can do for you, ask what you can do for your grandparents.
ReplyDeleteThis planet has existed in space for about four billion years, and life has only been around for about three and half billion years. The earth has made it through multiple ice ages, meteor impacts, and dozens and dozens of nuclear bombs. The earth is in no way fragile, but as a species we are. We need to stop campaigning to “save the planet” and instead focus on “saving the people”.
ReplyDeleteAs John F. Kennedy acutely pointed out in his inaugural speech, “man holds in his hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” With the nuclear arsenal humanity has accumulated throughout the years this still very much holds true. Our wars have destroyed whole cultures and nations as in the case with the Aztec and the Inca peoples. The peoples of this earth have been fighting since we were able to fight, and that is what we must work towards changing. We must work toward resolving past and present conflicts, healing old wounds, and forging new alliances and pacts.
As we draw further away from Armistice day, the memories of fallen soldiers and battles long gone will be pushed into the back of our heads until next eleventh day of the eleventh month. This a day on which we pause for a moment or two, and reflect on the enormous sacrifice of the soldiers who have served or are serving in wars or conflicts. Surely, the cost of their lives would be incentive enough for world peace? Surely we will not continue to fight, forgetting the billions who have died in wars.
The amount of money spent by countries at war nowadays is almost astronomical. The money spent by the US in 2010 on wars was approximately 680 billion dollars, which doesn’t include the National Defense Budget. Think of how far that money could have gone if I had been allocated to more cooperative efforts with other countries. Forging a better, more peaceful world for tomorrow should be humanity’s focus, and with all the money tied up in conflict, progress is in sight.
So stop waving around your posters sporting a big blue earth and bright pink letters, which spell out “save the planet.” Instead, wave around posters with big hippie peace signs, or banners that say “save the earth’s people”, because the planet isn’t in dire straights, we are.
I really like what Carolyn said about America being bigger and better than it has ever before, and I think that she phrases what we can do to help in realistic terms.
As societies and cultures develope, they grow in certain directions, follow different paths and new routes, and eventually isolate themselves , often completely, from other societies and cultures. Having developed now for several millennia since the dawn of civilization, and only recently, in the past few centuries, with the chance and technology to intermingle and explore each other, societies have spread and diversified into many ever varied and diverse entities, some still relatively untouched by the current globalization of culture and homogenization of society. Living in these isolated units of culture and society, there is a limit to what one can learn about people and life from within their own unit. Therefore, to understand humanity, to discover alien traditions and ways of life, and to sympathies with ones fellow inhabitants of earth, one must venture beyond his or her nest, and travel to different places, different societies, and different people, learning what is to be had from the diversity of humane existence. In doing so one will be able to recognize differences and breed empathy for all people, motivating global sympathy and an end to warring, hatred, and ignorance.
ReplyDeleteTravelling enables us to experience different cultures, and from these experiences recognizing the presence and value of differences. An essential provision to recognizing difference is being faced with and immersed in them. If we can travel to South America and climb into the Andes, venture through the jungle, or paddle out to pacific and Atlantic islands alike, if we can travel to Africa, Asia, and Europe, and see the places there where humane kind has had the audacity to settle, in isolation from everyone else, than we will know the people of these lands. If we could know these people, eat their food, sleep under their roves, and live their lives, we could know the people of these lands. And if we could know the people of these lands, travel to their societies and cultures, free from the preconceptions, leashes, and imperial views we Europeans are so fond of, then perhaps we would not hate, would not fear, and would not kill those who are no longer strangers to us, but rather humans living different lives. Recognizing the differences in the way people live their lives is essential to empathy on the part of all, and thus, peace and support.
By travelling and experiencing other cultures we enable ourselves to empathize with different people, an essential ability for the survival of the human race, and its perseverance against its own self-destruction. We must empathize with our neighbors and also with our distant strangers because it is all to easy to hate and to kill those we do not know, and more importantly, those we do not understand. If we travel, we can recognize that, as we face trials and tribulations in our small societies, every human being faces trials and tribulations in theirs. We can recognize that, as we value honesty, kindness, life, and love, so does every human being. Most importantly, we can recognize that the differences within each society, though intriguing, and lending wisdom and perspective, are not so isolating after all.
To travel and experience life in the middle east, in the south pacific, and in the northern arctic, is to discover that “they” are also “us”, that our enemies are the same as our friends and that the inhabitants of every corner of this earth are as worthy of attention and sympathy as our own families. These realizations are essential to human survival, and to peace, global unity, and recognizing the value of every person, foreign or close. By traveling, we can forever link our selves, to one another.
I agree with bethany that often we do not recognize why we have what we have and why we are so fortunate. it is important to pause and think, and to recognize that our possessions, our rights, and our freedom in every aspect of our lives, is not an accident, but rather, a privilege, won by the brave, who often did not survive to enjoy it
ReplyDeleteThere is a twelve-year old girl I know who no longer remembers anything more than a glimpse of the life she used to live. Her friends, her town, and her schoolwork, are just a few of the many things of which she has no recollection. Her mother and pony, Snowflake, are the only solid facts that seem to have remained; even her ability to speak has completely vanished.
ReplyDeleteThis all began three years ago, when she ate some uncooked chicken while out to dinner with her family. The next day she was sick to her stomach with a violent flu, after arriving at the hospital she had a stroke and went into a coma for several long days. When she woke up everything was gone.
I am lucky enough to have known Annabel before all of this happened. I used to give her horseback riding lessons every Wednesday for nearly a year. She was, without a doubt, the shyest girl that I ever met, but also incredibly caring. Despite the long amount of time we spent together, I can’t honestly say that I really got to know her very well. But I do know that Snowflake the pony was second in importance only to Annabel’s mother (there is no father in the picture). They have some of the closest bonds I have ever seen, and were some of the nicest people I ever met.
They have now moved to New York for rehabilitation, but doctors say that Annabel will never make a full recovery. Just think, one small, insignificant meal and an ignorant cook is all it took to utterly ruin this little family’s life.
Food-borne illnesses affect about 1 in every 6 Americans each year, out of those, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 of them will die. The worst part is that most of the time it could have been avoided; improper hygiene is the number one cause for this abomination.
If everyone took some simple precautions, the number of these illnesses could be greatly reduced. Most importantly, stay clean! Wash your hands and wash any utensils between each different food you prepare, especially if you’re using more than one type of meat. Secondly, be sure you are cooking your meat completely. If it is not a hot enough temperature, the bacteria in the meat will not all be killed. As an example, ground beef should be cooked to 160°F. After a meal has been prepared, if it will not be eaten in the next four hours, it should be refrigerated due to the fact that bacteria grow very quickly at room temperature. Lastly, if you have gotten sick from eating at a certain restaurant, or even if you just feel that a place would not pass a health inspection, do not hesitate to contact your local public health department.
Annabel’s life was taken away from her by the ignorance of just one person, and it could have been avoided. Since those first few traumatizing weeks, Annabel has suffered another stroke and various other setbacks, life for her will never go back to normal. Don’t be careless; just one small act of disregard could change someone’s life forever.
http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsFoodborneEstimates/
I think it is really interesting that Claudia and Sammy both took similar issues, but had different focus points. Both of them made very strong arguments and neither of them were wrong. It just made me think how it's sad that hardship is applicable to so many situations in the world today and also how unfair the spread of wealth is. It is such a large issue that I doubt it could be sufficiently covered in just one speech.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe how much one type of animal can change an entire planet. But as humans, this is what we do. We have kept plots of land fertile and healthy for years, by calculating the use of the land, and at the same time we have build cities that emit so much harmfulness that they are covered in smog for days on end. Considering ourselves the most advanced animals on Earth we should be able to strive to sustain the environment so that the environment can sustain us.
ReplyDeleteWe must be careful in every step we take. Where we walk, and what we leave behind. We must make sure not to throw paper in the trash or trash onto the ground. We must take on the view that every single thing we do makes a mark on the environment. Every car trip we take, every breath we breath becomes part of the Earths environment for better or for worse. We are coming to a point in the history of the earth where we need to worry more about the resources we seek from it. We must be guarded in what we use and how much of it we use. For instance, wood is used in so many different ways, whether it is to feed our fire, or cover our floors we are taking trees away from where they are need.
People have begun to talk about global climate change and how we, humans, as a species are cause our earth's snow and ice to melt away, and our Earth's oceans to swallow the land. Whether this is true or not does not make a difference. We need to preserve our environment to preserve our lives. We have depleted the earth to such a point where we have to re-grow what we have taken on purpose. There is a need for our trees to grow more abundantly and our mines to restock in what has been taken from them. We as humans need to slow ourselves down, and take a step back through pure selfishness. Perhaps some can say that they love our Earth and want it to live forever, but must come to understand that it will not take forever for this luscious blue and green planet to become and smoldering desert rock instead.
We must all work together, as humans, to preserve what we have in order to keep living as we have been living for the past thousands of years. Whether we feel this is necessary for the salvation of the planet or the salvation of ourselves we still must tiptoe carefully to avoid more destruction of the world's beauty.
I thought that Bethany's post really pulled the reader into what she was saying, even if it wasn't something that they had been thinking about previously. She gave the reader a good point of view about the vetrans and what happens to them, and by doing this she was able to make the reader aware of not only what was going on, but also make the reader think more about the subject.
Many of the world's poorer countries struggle to feed the other nations of the world. Countries such as Haiti, for example, are unable to put food in the bellies of its people. Meanwhile, fat, lazy Americans are sitting around watching television, ignoring the starving people from around the world. Around the world, people suffer from malnutrition, because they don’t have enough to eat.
ReplyDeleteIn the modern world this is unacceptable. America alone throws away enough food to feed the entire planet. If we produce so much food, why don’t we give it to other countries? Instead of giving away this excess food, nearly all of it is dumped in the trash bin at restaurants or in households. As Americans, it is our duty to stand up against it. Our country was founded with the philosophy that every human deserved the rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Well if we believe that all people have the right to live, we need to stand up against starvation.
Most modern Americans have the luxury of being able to live in a large, comfortable house, with access to plenty of food, which shields them from what life is like in other places of the world. Americans don’t fully appreciate the reality of the hunger that takes place in the world, and even if they do appreciate it, they ignore it. Instead of indulging in such ignorance, Americans must become aware of the rest of the world. Facing such an issue is difficult, but it is our duty to stand against it.
One way Americans can take a stand is by conserving extra food. Instead of buying tons of food and then throwing it away, we can avoid buying food that we don’t need. The less wasteful Americans are with their food, the more food there will be for other people. Also, at restaurants, Americans must order no more food than they will eat. Restaurants throw away enough food to feed the world each year, so making them throw less food away is critical. Finally, Americans can donate money to charities that feed people. If we hope to solve this crisis, we must be willing to dedicate the necessary resources to solve it.
My favorite response was Bethany’s. Her message was very strong, and it is important that we honor the sacrifices of veterans. I believe that my topic and hers are actually rather similar. We both suggested topics that are easy to accomplish, but we fail to accomplish due to our ignorance of other people. I also liked Rita’s. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I am very concerned about the environment.
The most abhorrent of crimes are those committed against victims who cannot defend themselves. Children who are young and not fully developed are not mentally or physically capable to defend themselves against physically abuse. Abuse of children is one of the most despicable that can be committed and should be stopped throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to stop child beatings would be for the people doing the beating to stop altogether. But seeing as these people cannot respect the lives of children or the laws prohibiting abuse they cannot be expected to respect my wishes. So the responsibility of preventing abuse falls the the everyday man. To help stop abuse we must try to identify situations that are harmful and remove the child from them. We must remember that a childs life is something that is vulnerable and that they are not equipped with the tools to help themselves. If we have knowledge of abuse we are given the choice to report it or to stand by idly. I know that as good citizens of the world we would choose to end this horrible phenomena.
I think that no person who is mentally sane could argue that child abuse is not wrong. As such, I think that while it requires vigilance on the part of all of us fighting child abuse will not be a difficult task. All I ask is that if you are made aware of a situation that you make it known. Reporting it to the police could save a child's life and there is no greater reward than that. Also, I implore those who are hearing this and are being abused, you are not alone. People want to help you. All you have to do is ask.
I agree with Daniel that malnutrition and lack of crops are a global issue. However I think that saving our own food would do very little to help the foreigners who have no way of recieving it. Perhaps instead if we dropped seeds and tractors to allow them to farm or instead dropped rice and grains. Giving them canned soup will only feed them once while giving them a farm or a cow will them them for years
ReplyDeleteAs many can all see today in society, employment is a commodity that we Americans cherish deeply. The unemployed fight an ongoing battle to eschew from poverty, yet millions disregard that plight and rid people of their work. A citizen or not, one may see that we Americans tend to take sides, we tend to go for the bigger and better thing rather than looking at the one that needs it the most. In order to unite all people and shape this country into a society where opportunity lingers and ability is masked, we the people need to start somewhere by helping fellow beings achieve and support themselves.
ReplyDeleteCountless jobs have been taken away causing the jobless to look for other ways to support themselves and family, yet rarely is somebody opening doors because they are too busy letting people go. Open those doors, lead others to endure with what they have and give up to let people get. We Americans need to join ourselves to each other because if we aren't united as one, then we will separate no matter if we share the same title of being an American. Shouldn't every person be allowed to work for a living and be able to strive in this world? Don't just think about yourselves, but think about your fellow people who share the same country as you.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is true that a colossal 9.1 percent of our population are lacking jobs. We can't look to other neighboring countries to help fight our battle because we have created this trouble ourselves and shall not drag others into it. It is every one of our duties to find a way out, though the solution may not come quickly.
Since I have prolonged in front of you, I must conclude my appeal to you. Know that people all around you may lack the job that keeps you on your feet, keeps your children under a roof, or puts food on your table. Yet, don't just watch them, encourage others to limit the amount one earns so that others may get a share as well. Abstain from thinking that it's acceptable to be okay while others are clearly not. Our recovery depends on the action of not one person in this country, but countless others who are just as important to the cleansing of our troubled economy.
I agree with Bethany regarding the thanking of our troops that sacrifice for this country. It is often seen that there is little knowledge about the gruesomeness of war these days and that not many people of this generation are being educated about it. I also agree with the fact that we should grieve for our fellow Americans who have put their lives on the line and that we should give thanks to those more often.
Like I said earlier, I realized I hadn't posted my response before three o'clock. Just was able to connect to wi-fi. Though I did complete my response before today. Thanks!
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