What Obama's Election Really Means to Black America

The article “What Obama’s Election Really Means to Black America”, by Steven Gray, explains that Obama’s election was a breakthrough of African Americans into higher-level politics. This is a breakthrough because of America’s past. Even ten years ago, for example, many people could not even think of an African American winning “a national party’s ticket and then compete[ing] effectively” (Argument! 311). America’s past of slavery, segregation, and judgment made it easy for the white population to doubt that it would ever happen. The article is summed up with its quote saying: “Our country is showing its forward evolution, that the color of one’s skin cannot inhibit one’s ability, and that’s worthy of celebration” (Argument! 312).

Obama’s color is worthy of celebration, I agree, but are we really ready to embrace so many negative impacts in exchange for the color of a person’s skin?

I understand that there are pros and cons to every debate. Every law that is passed will benefit 

someone, but it is sacrificing another area. For example, ObamaCare has many pros and cons.                    

ObamaCare allows tens of millions of uninsured people to get access to affordable health insurance. However, new taxes must be passed to pay for these. Most of the people taxed are not the uninsured; thus, they are paying for someone else’s health insurance.

“Small businesses can get tax credits for up to 50% of theiremployees health insurance premium costs.” However, many businesses have cut employee hours because in 2015, businesses with over 50 full time employees must provide health coverage. This results in the loss of many jobs.

82% of uninsured adults will qualify for free or low cost insurance. This is great, but young people tend to not need coverage as often as older Americans. Also, if they actually do need it, it is encouraging people to not pay for their own insurance so that they qualify for free insurance.

These are a few pros and cons. It benefits some people, but is negative to many others.

Obama also failed to regulate big banks, such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigorup, and Wells Fargo. They are now bigger than they were before the financial crisis of 2007-2008. People working for banks make incredible profits, while ordinary Americans (the majority of Americans) continue to struggle. 

These are just a few things that President Obama has done. His actions have allowed certain people to flourish, while dooming the average American person.

Isn’t this what it means to Black America, too? Yes, it is a huge breakthrough that a Black American has won the presidency. But is that really important if the same Black Americans are the average citizens that continue to struggle?

Obama’s election for Black America was nothing more than a symbol that failed to carry through with actions.

That is not worthy of celebration.

Diet Soda

Dear Reader,

Stop drinking diet soda.

There, I said it.

It is a commonly known fact that diet soda is not good for you. However, one fifth of the American population continues to consume diet drinks every day. Most people could tell you that diet soda isn’t the best for you, but they couldn’t tell you why.

I am here to tell you why.

Kidney problems. Harvard Medical School conducted an 11 yearlongstudy. They followed over 3,000 women and their kidneys. They found that diet soda is “associated with a two fold increased risk for kidney decline.”

Ruined metabolism and increased weight. It does not add more calories to your diet, but it does add more sugar. This sugar slows down a person’s metabolism. When metabolism slows down, less fat is burned. Also, artificial sweeteners, while having a more intense flavor then real sugar, can disrupt the body’s regulation of calorie intake. They trigger insulin, which sends body fat into storage. In addition, it is easier to eat more after drinking diet soda, because this sugar causes you to continue to crave more. The University of Texas conducted a 10 year research in which they found that diet soda drinkers had a 70% greater increase in inches around the waist than non soda drinkers.

Cell damage. Almost all diet sodas contain sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate. These chemicals can “cause sever damage to DNA in themitochnodria to the point that they totally inactivate it”.

Rotting teeth. Soda has a pH of 3.2. This acid dissolves enamel and can decrease dental health.

Because other dieting habits have a big influence on healthiness and weight, it is not 100% clear if diet soda is the reason for all of these negative effects. However, research has been consistent. Thus, it is not unrealistic to infer that diet soda had a major impact on all of the health issues stated.

Also, remember that all of the studies were long term. This doesn’t happen overnight. In other words, if you don’t see these problems yet, it doesn’t mean you won’t get them.

So, if you want kidney problems, weight gain, cell damage, and rotting teeth, diet soda is a perfect fit for you!

But, dear reader, I doubt that is what you want.

Stop drinking diet soda.

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sources:

http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/7-side-effects-of-drinking-diet-soda

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db109.htm

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20739512_3,00.html

Week 11 Text Response

“A Little Civility, Please” written by Mark Davis discusses how far freedom of speech can go. Davis agrees that schools have the right to ban certain clothing that is disruptive in their language. For example, a Tshirt that has a picture of Bush with the words “international terrorist” on it can be banned. He also makes the point, however, that in the outside world, there are places and times that these matters can be discussed. (Argument! 343-344)

I agree with Mark Davis. Davis did not give much evidence from the government in why this should be the case, though. In other words, there was no formal document addressed that lists what makes these practices right or wrong. Why does a school have that right? Why does a person have the right to have those opinions outside of school? He did touch on the Tinker v. Des Moines case, but not in extreme detail.

I will explain the Supreme Court cases that ultimately decided the school’s right to monitor clothing and speech.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District is the first case. In this case, a student wore a black armband to school to express their opposition to the Vietnam War. The student was sent home because of a recent rule banning armbands. This case was brought to court; it was ultimately decided that the school violated Tinker’s First Amendment rights. This is because the armband did not disrupt learning and did not interfere with school activities. This case does not show that the school has the authority to send them home, but it was the first school dress code rule established the Supreme Court.

In Bethel School District v. Fraser, a student gave a speech that contained graphic and sexual metaphors there were directed towards another student. The student was suspended because he violated a school disciplinary rule. The Court held that the school was constitutional in suspending the student because “vulgar speech” and “lewd conduct” goes against the fundamental values of public school education. Because public school education is part of the state, the state holds authority, and suspending the student is constitutional.

In Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, the power of the public school was expanded. The Court concluded that educators were not infringing on the student’s First Amendment rights by monitoring style and content of student speech as long as it related to actual teaching concerns. Although the students still had freedom of choice in what they wore, wrote, or said, the school had the final say. This case expanded the authority of the school by allowing the regulation of any “school sponsored” activity. This could be used in a dress code instance.

                                                                  

Poster-D13c.jpg

Mark Davis says that “T-shirts can be nixed if they are-here’s the tough word-disruptive…an atmosphere that fails to preserve a sense of order and decorum sends the message that various other behavioral extremes might also be tolerated. That is bad. An armband is one thing. Hate speech, even under the guise of political discourse, is quite another” (Argument! 343). This concept is seen throughout the Tinker vs Des Moines, Bethel School District v. Fraser, and Hazelwoods v Kuhlmeier cases. It is most directly seen by in the Kuhlmeier case as it allows the regulation at any school sponsored activity. I would say regulating hate speech on Tshirts at school falls under that category.

True Love - For the Ladies

Reader’s Digest’s article “10 Tips for Finding True Love and Happiness” implies that true love is happiness. This article is for the ladies – how to find the man of your dreams. A few of the tips include: leaving the past in the past, getting out there (“ALWAYS go to parties”), go against the hype, take your time, etc. It okays moving in together before marriage and “passionate, amazing sex”.

For the ladies – Here is my response to Reader’s Digest (get ready):

Love. It captures hearts. It steals thoughts. It causes butterflies in your stomach and a smile on your face. I am intrigued by love. I ache for love. I want it.

Let me say it again: I WANT MY TRUE LOVE.

And I can have it.

But not it the way that Reader’s Digest suggests.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

I am amazed by God’s love – particularly that it is just. We are taught that love is based on feelings, that it doesn’t have to be logical, that it can go against authority if it is strong enough. We are taught, quite honestly, that love means sex, and you don’t really love him if you aren’t willing to give yourself away. (Remember that statement.) We want our hearts to be captured; we want our thoughts to linger on someone; we ache for those butterflies … We want to love, and we want to be loved.

But here’s the thing, ladies. We’re going about it all the wrong way. What if I told you that you already ARE loved? “Ya, ya, ya.. I know, I know. God loves me.” But that knowledge doesn’t satisfy anything, does it. Nope. That knowledge alone doesn’t satisfy anything.

DON’T STOP READING.

For all of you who don’t know Christ, that statement was true. For all of you who do, that statement probably caused a little bit of an angry feeling in your stomach. But listen -

YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE. 

Let me make sure we understand what God’s love means.

God’s love = the Gospel message.

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” There is NOTHING we can do to deserve His love. Only when we are perfect do we deserve it.

But I said His love is just. How could His love be just if we don’t deserve it? If He loves us despite us not deserving it … well that is not justice at all.

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Romans 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

There is nothing we can do to be able to get to Heaven or to deserve His love. But when we accept (believe He is risen and confess Him as Lord of our life) the ONLY WAY to Heaven and to His love -the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross-, we are saved. We are justified by it. His love is just because Jesus paid for all of our sin. Just like someone behind you in the grocery store could pay for your groceries. God paid for your sin. And you never have to pay it again!

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is the ultimate way that God show’s His love. He gives us freedom from sin! He gives us hope of a future in heaven with Him!

Okay, so remember what I said at the beginning? You don’t really love Him if you don’t give yourself away. That is true. But WAIT. I changed it here. The “H” is capital. Our greatest love isn’t another earthly man who sins as much as you. It is with the One who IS the Authority, who isn’t based on feelings, but gives them as a blessing. Who defies human logic, but is really the most logical answer of them all. This love is astounding to me. We show our love by first asking for forgiveness. We show our love by giving ourselves to Him. For forever.

And after we are saved by believing and confessing: He gives peace. He gives joy. He carries us. His grace is sufficient for us. He is constant. He never leaves us. He changes us to look more like him. He satisfies us.

Don’t get me wrong. Circumstances in life may still be hard. But He gives peace and joy and grace in the middle of that. He satisfies us despite what happens.

How amazing that this huge God can remain perfect and still rescue and care for little ol’ me! How amazing that I can be satisfied no matter what this life brings! This is greater than any man.

HERE’S THE THING, THOUGH. GOD DID GIVE US MEN. 

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam[f] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LordGod made a woman from the rib[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Gen 2:4 – 3:24

Actually, He gave us to men. He gave us a desire to love them. He gave us the butterfly feeling. He created the smile. He wants us to find a suitable partner. But He also says:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

So ladies. I have that ache for a man, too. But I know that God has a perfect plan. One that will glorify Him and prosper me. Let’s say thank you to God’s just love by giving ourselves to Him. Let’s remain pure. There will be so much less hurt. There will be so much less pain. Because He gives us peace even in the hardest times. Let’s say thank you to God by loving a man that desires the same as us! A man who God, because He loves us, brings together with you by your love for Him. God models the love that is truest of all.