Evolution

Evolution is probably one of the most controversial topics out there today. Granted that it is a concept that has become widely accepted, but after Wednesday's class I realize that it is still a big problem.

I was taught evolution in school and I am a non-practicing catholic so I think that has really influenced my beliefs. I find it hard to accept that God created the world in seven days and it makes me want to role my eyes when I hear these deeply religious individuals who wont open their minds to different theories (a scientific theory that has been proven) and that they completely ignore other religions.

I'm sure that what I am saying will offend someone somewhere and I might even be offending someone in the class. But this is a free speech class and I am saying things that I wouldn't necessarily say in class. I don't like the fact that there are people in the world who practically shove their beliefs down our throats because they feel it's their duty. There is the law of after all separating church and state, if you want to learn about creationism then you should go to a religious class.

It also bugs me that this new theory "intelligent design" is really creationism take out intelligent being and replace it with God and you got the bible. And I'm glad that the judge in the Kitzmiller vs Dover saw it for what it really was and that there was proof showing how early drafts of the alternative science book (I can't remember the exact title) was really about creationism.

Military

When reading the book and the story of Kwame Mensah who was a marine who didn't want to fight in the gulf war, one of the things that I kept thinking was why did you join the military? You had to have known that there would be a small chance that you would have to go and fight.

I know that there are several different circumstances that make people sign up, for some they think this is the only option, it's a way to pay for school, and sometimes you might not get all of the facts. But still how could you not know you might have to go to war? I don't want to seem that I don't respect these soldiers opinions, because I do and part of me is not all surprised that some of these men changed there minds once they were in the army or navy or whatever.

I'm also not surprised that the government does all they can to stop soldiers from speaking against the military. After all it's pretty much a slap in the face, these men are representing our country and now they want out, doesn't send out a good message. So they make the process to get discharged as difficult as possible and damn near impossible.

Media

When thinking about what to talk about today one of the things that kept coming to mind was how news station don't always report anything important. I normally stay away from the news mainly because I hate to watch it but when I'm home it's pretty much the only thing my parents watch and I have no say in the matter.

So with the news on all the time I feel like I'm getting the same story over and over and over again. I watch the news and they report what's happening in Iraq for a few minutes but the number one story is Britney Spears or Paris Hilton going to jail. That is the number one story? And you hear about it 24/7 till you just can't take it any more and want to scream who cares about these spoiled rich brats who yes have problems but there are bigger things out there.

I know the news isn't like this all of the time but it really feels like they find one story and they just report it to death, for example when Hilary Clinton got all misty eyed when some woman asked her a question. And that's one of the reasons why I hate watching the news.

past and present

When talking about free speech in class I sometimes felt that we take our freedom for speech for granted. Back in the 1600's you couldn't speak bad about anyone or really publicly express your opinions. Women couldn't stand up for herself to her husband or say anything negative about him. Newspapers weren't a common thing and you certainly couldn't hold protests like you can today.

A lot of people complain about despite the fact that we have the freedom of speech it's still regulated by the government. And sure I have wondered why the government controls certain aspects of the first amendment. But if we all just took a step back and look at our history I think we can all realize how far we have come and that we have a great deal of freedom already.

Election

When coming up with something to blog about I thought why not about the primary election, that's pretty big in the news right now.

I'm a democrat and I was really supportive of John Edwards I felt he had some really good ideas and it just felt like he was in this race because he really cared. I don't hate Clinton or Obama I just thought that part of their reason for running was because of all the media speculation that happened a year before the primaries had even started.

I was really hoping that he would go all the way and then I found out that he was dropping out on wednesday to say the least I was disappointed, I had already voted for him filling out my absentee ballot while I was still on break. It also seemed unfair that the media constantly ignored the fact that he was in the race. From the start it was always Clinton v Obama and who will make history the first female president or the first black president never mind the possibility that one of the republican's running could become president.

Before he dropped out I saw a clip on MSNBC of a news reporter asking a group of people do you think Edwards won the debate? Everyone raised their hands yet only two or three voted for him, where is the logic in that? And just think if Clinton wins it will go Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton, anyone else think that's weird?

And in case anyone who reads this is wondering I am now supporting Obama.