There are some major issues going on with our country right now...politics, economy, and much much more.
I would like you to find a story about a current event that will impact us as Americans. After that...do three things:
1. State the title and source.
2: Summarize the story and don't forget to mention the problem/issue.
3. Discuss how you could facilitate a conversation about this topic with someone who has an opposite political view than yours.
Please post by Monday, October 8th @ 8am.
Good luck searching!
11 comments:
1. My article is called "WHY IT MATTERS: Election outcome likely to influence push for and against gay marriage" by the Washington Post
2. A major issue between the two parties is that Barack Obama is now supporting gay marriage and Romney is completely against it. Basically the article that I found said that if Barack Obama gets reelected it will lead to bigger changes and movements towards equality for all. I believe that everyone should be treated equally and be able to marry someone they love.
3. If a resident would happen to talk about this subject to me I would listen to what they have to say because they might feel strongly about this topic. I would respond saying why I feel the way I do and how my environment has shaped me into who I am because I believe everyone has grown up differently and experience have changed people for a reason. While I may not agree with some things they might say, I wouldn't ever try to change someone's opinion to my own.
If I would happen to hear a derogatory comment about this topic, I would confront it right away saying that I don't feel comfortable when you use a word or phrase like that.
1. The article I read was "Obama and Romney: Where they stand on the issues" on FoxNews.com:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/09/10/obama-and-romney-where-stand-on-issues/
2. This article discusses where both candidates stand on various issues surrounding the election, including Debt, Economy, Gay Rights, Education, Health Care, and Abortion and Birth Control. The specific area of the article that I focused on was the stances of Romney and Obama on Abortion and Birth Control. If elected, each candidate would have a big influence on the legality and health care coverage of these issues in America: Obama supports abortion rights and health care law would require contraceptives to be available for free for women employed in workplace health plans (which would include all private or Catholic hospitals' health plans). Romney currently opposes abortion rights, would try to reverse Roe v. Wade and leave that ruling to state law, and end the government funding of Planned Parenthood.
3. I am personally opposed to abortion and the government funding of contraceptives. I am open about my belief, and have hung an informational poster questioning some commonly held beliefs about abortion on my door. I would greatly appreciate if any of my residents would want to talk to me about this topic, and I look for opportunities to clarify why I feel strongly about it. I have told my residents that I am not a judgmental person and that their decisions/views do not impact how I treat them, but if this topic were to come up I would certainly ask questions to fuel further thought. However, if I see that this is an issue that spurs a debate or hard feelings on my floor, I would be sure to go out of my way to re-establish civility and understanding.
1.) My article is on the Views of education from both candidates http://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/election2012/candidates-on-education.html
2.) The article is split into 2 completely different sections explaining each candidates views and plans for education in the United States. It explains what Obama has done for education during his first term and how it would expand if he is given a second term. Obama has given money to lower level schools to try to get them up to par and has revised the no child left behind act. He would continue trying to keep lower level schools thriving and cross out the idea of no child left behind into a plan he created due to the difficult of getting every student in all schools to score oh so well on standardized tests, for special needs students as well. Romney has many ideas of pushing the idea of school of choice to all families, money not being a problem, and setting standardized rules on report cards.
3.)I struggle with politics and atually despise them. I hate the stigmas that people have on who favors who. I am going to be a teacher so it is assumed I side towards Obama but am a conservative christian so then it is assumed I go all for Romney. If a resident with an opinion of either side had questions or ideas about education I would listen and possibly not agree but respect them for their opinion and willingness to share their opinion. If they ask for my thoughts I am kind of all over the board and would be willing to share my thought on both sides, what I agree with and what I do not, since I am not all for either side or politics in general.
1. The article I read was "The 2012 Election by the Numbers: Friday, Oct. 5" by the Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/05/the-2012-election-by-the-numbers-friday-oct-5/
2. This story talks about the 2012 election and both sides views and the numbers from many creditable sources on their views on how the election will turn out. The problems or issues that I see in this article is which side you want to take or believe in.
3. I would be very open in my conversation and listen to what they are saying and not say things like “oh that is wrong” or “that’s stupid”. I would also not share my view points. I would never talk bad or down about a certain view just encourage a view of both sides like I would portray.
1. Romney: Unemployment rate not better (http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=po_c2#/video/politics/2012/10/05/sot-romney-unemployment-rate.cnn)
2. This video discussed the fact that the unemployment rate has not gotten any better since President Obama was elected. It only shows that people have stopped trying to actively seek out jobs, thus it brings them out of the unemployment rate. Presidential Candidate Romney said that when he is president, he will create more jobs.
3. If I were to facilitate a conversation with a person who had opposite views than myself, I would simply listen to his or her side and not share my opinions. I believe that Politics, along with other topic areas should not be discussed. By listening to what someone has to say, I would show that I am an open individual. By not expressing my point of view, I would not be seen as someone who is trying to change the point of view of anyone else. In summary, It is very unlikely that I would get into a political debate with another individual.
'Trickle-Down Government' and Internet Freedom
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443768804578038563129760082.html
This article gave Romney's supposed speech about digital technology from the debate on 10/3. Whether it is actually Romney's speech or not doesn't matter, because the issue of net neutrality and freedom of speech on the internet is important to all of us. Since the article was Romney's speech, it is very biased against Obama, and includes accusations of Obama not supporting internet freedom. The most import parts to take into account are the importance of internet freedom to the future of this country and different regulations and actions being made today to suffocate those freedoms.
If I was to talk to a resident who held a different belief on this issue, I would explain the importance of internet freedom to me, and why I think that it is vital to the future of the United States. I would listen to their sides and attempt to supply facts and other data while discussing their own. I believe for an issue like this, sharing facts and information is important to understanding one's own view on the topic. The resident may show me some information that I may have otherwise missed that could sway me to agree on certain issues, or the resident may learn more from facts that I provide. The point of these conversations is to learn more about the issue from the opposing side, and maybe work towards the "correct" solution. I wouldn't be upset if a resident still disagreed with me after a conversation, I would just be happy that we could have a civil discussion about important issues.
Thank you Tiffany, Alex, Macy, Shaun, Kyle H & Kyle P for posting your articles and thoughts.
1. My article is called "Experts: Food Prices Will Soar Leading To Political, Civil Unrest" by Keith Johnson of americanfreepress.net
2. This article is not so much about what the two main presidential candidates believe on a topic as much as it is a warning of something being looked over. Its main concern is the recent drought that has hit American farms hard. The drought is thought to be the worst one since the 1930's and it is causing alot of problems. Crops are dying, and beef cattle farmers have had to kill off their herds to reduce their own feed costs, and it is predicted there will be an extreme shortage as food demands stay the same and food supply runs very low. This also opens the door for GMO's (genetically modified organisms) to be introduced, such as drought-resistant corn.
3.My view on this is something would have to be done, because GMO's aren't necessarily good for us to be consuming all the time. If a student were to come up to me and we got onto this topic, I would be very open to hearing their thoughts. I do like science a lot and would enjoy hearing new developments with foods. I wouldn't force feed them that the foods are bad, but rather just state what I think if they asked and leave it at that. Listening is the most important thing to do if your thoughts conflict with someone else's.
1. The Article I read was "Obama's Immigration Changes Kick In" by Fox News Latino
2. The article discussed Obama's new immigration program that could allow thousands of undocumented immigrats to gain citizenship. This law effects young immigrants who can hope to avoid being deported and obtain temporary work permits. The issue presented is that with the poor economy and many legal U.S. citizens out of work, the addition of the undocumented immigrants will take away possibilities for unemployed U.S. citizens.
3. To facilitate this discussion I would make sure to fully understand what the other individual was trying to say whether it was supporting my view or opposing it. To avoid misunderstanding I would rephrase and repeat what was said to fully understand where they are coming from. I personally don't feel comfortable sharing my political views with residents so when topics such as these come up I listen and try to get the resident to see the topic from both sides.
1) "Gun Control"
Site: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/gun_control/index.html
2)The article talks about a majority of gun possession across the U.S and percentage of people in states who do and don't think the gun laws should be altered. These altering are typically based off of tragic events, mainly mass shootings, and other hunter oriented laws as well. The problem is currently weather or not gun laws should change, and if an amendment could ever be made to the constitution. Gun Control is a serious issue that also sways a lot of voters. The National Rifle Association is 4.3 million people who are all openly expressive of how they feel towards the matter.
3) I am pro-gun ownership. So a conversation with a resident about the matter could possibly be a touchy subject. The goal of the conversation is not to "win" but to show both sides of the argument equally. I would let said person start their half, talk more about why they felt that way, and then brake into why I feel the way I do, and vice-verse.
Thanks Jordan, Nolan & Joe.
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