Tacos? Really?

The section 1 of the 14th Amendment to our Constitution, added in 1868, reads:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

For almost 150 years, this law has stood.  You would think that by 2012, people would no longer violate this law.  Unfortunately, discrimination and bigotry still run rampant.  People's lives and liberties are being affected even today.

I recently read this article, telling of the racist remarks of Joseph Maturo, Jr., mayor of East Haven, Connecticut.  The mayor, when asked how he would respond to the discrimination against the Latino community in East Haven, said "I might have tacos when I go home, I'm not quite sure yet."  THIS MAN IS IN CHARGE OF AN ENTIRE CITY.  Will Latino people in East Haven receive "equal protection under the law" (14th Amendment) when a politician--who votes on law-- is so clearly insensitive?  I cannot imagine it possible.

The Huffigton Post says that Hispanic (I am not using the terms Hispanic and Latino interchangeably, but they relate) people, moreso than any other group, are discriminated against in America.  61% of people surveyed believed that Hispanic people faced "significant discrimination."  Racism is alive and growing, it seems.

I am saddened that racism still exists, and that people's liberties are being denied.  I do believe that racism restricts liberties, and that violates the Constitution.  With laws against it already in place, what more can our nation do to stop discrimination?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I feel thankful for my amazing friends, my close-knit family, and Panera (let's be honest, it's outstanding).  What are you thankful for this year?  Here's wishing you and yours a happy and not-too-healthy (enjoy that pie!) Thanksgiving.

Enjoy this ode to Turkey Day from SNL:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/update-sandler-thanksgiving-song/1261476

Abuse is Abuse

I was online today and was deeply disturbed by a video that has been circulating the web and landed on the front page of CNN.com and other news sites.  It shows a father and mother beating their disabled daughter with a belt, and later shows the father defending his actions.  He uses a belt to whip her, and he thinks he did nothing wrong.  A cherry on top: he is a judge that resides over family issues.  Watch the news story, at your own discretion, HERE. 

An informal poll, also located on CNN.com, asked readers their opinion on corporal punishment in the home.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but hitting a child and hitting an adult are both examples of hitting.  Hitting an adult is illegal.  Why is it legal to hit a child, and more importantly, why are people OK with it being legal?  Look at the poll results: I think it is ridiculous!

I do not see a difference between corporal punishment and domestic violence, call me crazy.  I believe violence is violence.  If you don't agree, I urge you to look at THIS MEMORIAL and rethink your views of violence-- and corporal punishment is violent-- in the home.

I apologize for coming on so strongly here, but I feel compelled to share this story.  Even those of us not impacted by domestic violence or this type of "discipline" from parents can fight against it by spreading awareness.  I urge you to do so, too.

Glass Half Full

DISCLAIMER:  THIS POST GETS VERY CHEESEY.  PLEASE READ IT ANYWAY.

I bet he's tired becuase he just tried
to change the world...
it's no easy job, but it's still worth doing. 
Bonus: It ups your cute factor.

If I may use a cliche, I like to see the world in a "glass half-full" kind of way.  From a very young age, I have struggled to watch the news because it so strongly disputes my view.  Given, not knowing the news does not change it, but I can do more to help the world when I think optimistically.  I do not need to see the starving children of third world countries to be called to action.  As world citizens, we are born called to action.  I applaud those able to put tragedies in perspective and be able to face the cruel world; I have not mastered this skill yet, and so I still stick to editorials and comics when reading news paper.  Don't get me wrong- I am an informed citizen.  You do not need to seek out news, though.  We are surrounded by it.

This afternoon, when I did chose to seek out news, I looked for what would light a fire under me, not scare me.  Here is what I found, I hope it has the same impact on you.

"Centenarian completes marathon, sets record":  I struggle to do a push up in gym class, and yet am at the prime age of 17 and totally able bodied.  Fauja Singh runs marathons.  With 100 years and 26.2 miles under his belt, this man inspires me to try a little harder in the Fit Female tomorrow.

"Seeing Value in Ignorance, College Expects Its Physicists to Teach Poetry":  A refreshing change of pace.  Says St. Johns President Chris Nelson in the NY Times article, “Every member of the faculty who comes here gets thrown in the deep end. I think the faculty members, if they were cubbyholed into a specialization, they’d think that they know more than they do. That usually is an impediment to learning. Learning is born of ignorance.”

"Malaria May Be Emilminated From a Quarter of Nations in 10 Years":  Malaria will not stop spreading without a conscious effort.  Rather than dwelling on hardship (and it abounds) this article focuses on forward strides and uses positive examples to call readers to action, not scare them into it.  Although eradicating a disease seems daunting, Bill and Melinda Gates feel confident enough to put forth millions of dollars toward achieving that goal.  A babysitter's salary does not allow for such donations, but still, this article encourages fighting worth while fights... even those that seem impossible.

Clearly there's a lot of good stuff out there-- now go out and make more!!

330 words

Is it bad to begin with a rhetorical question?  Maybe making a metaphor will ease the knot in your back that is an introductory paragraph.  A hyperbole will catch the attention of colleges I'm not even applying to!  Personal style: no longer only attainable at Nordstrom Rack.  Never say never to the cliché topic route.

College essays require eloquent language and developed thoughts.  I have spent a very long time on college essays and I am eloquented-out.  Please bear with me as I speak incorrectly (and rant) for the rest of this post...

I like to write, I really do.  But I don't like having to explain every aspect of my being.  "When did you first realize you were growing up?"  There are a lot of moments I realized I was growing up, but my memory fails to inform me of their chronological order.  Am I cheating if I tell the admissions people about the 2nd time?  There goes my future, I guess.

Another favorite: "Why do you want to go here?"  Following the guidelines of trusty College Board, I know not to list the extra-curricular opportunities or how many students are my potential bridesmaids.  Readers: any ideas as to how to go about this without creating a laundry list?  I went with an "explorer on an expedition to find my passion" concept but am not confident with it yet.

I must say, though, the fact I am struggling and cannot decide what to write about proves the validity of these questions.  I'm not condoning making high scholars stress, but these colleges know what they're doing.  College is about thinking in different ways, so you have a large repertoire of ways to think when you enter the big, bad world.  They're just starting early with the admissions process.

So to College Essay Readers out there: you have made my life complicated but are making me think, and for that I thank you.  Also, please admit me!!! (I will send you a muffin basket.)

If Elle can get into college then gosh darn it, so can I! 

A promise is a promise!

At the beginning of the summer, I promised that I would blog and I did not follow through as I'd hoped I would.  It seems that I should at least post ONCE... so here it is!

Mr. New Oxford English Dictionary should loosen his belt; he just got thicker.  This year's additions to the dictionary reflect the technological age.  Words like "sexting" and "cyberbully" are among the 400 new comers, says THIS CNN ARTICLE.

Not only did words make their way to the prestigious pages of the dictionary, but established words got makeovers.  These words also reflect today's values and concerns:  "woman" and "environment," for example.

Other words, though, have nothing to do with much of anything.  These are some of the random words and phrases that I found entertaining and Scrabble contenders.  (Click HERE for complete list of revisions from June 2011)

• laugh-o-meter, n.
• urb, n.
• brain machine, n.
• Baba Yaga, n.
• Aqr, n.

The list goes on and will be extended this September, as it is four times annually.  Stay posted!

SUMMER



Yay for summer!


I'm sitting in front of my computer and reverting to routines established throughout this year: Gmail, Facebook, Blog, Google image search "Zac Efron."  The order sometimes changed, but for the most part that was my Monday through Thursday afternoons during the school year.  One would think that a recent Junior would want to leave her past far behind her, but blogging calls me back.  To satisfy this urge to write, my promise to myself and to you, my virtual buddies, is that I will continue blogging during the summer.  Stay posted for more!



PS- For reading this, you get a present: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmts3jhp8Gk