Picking Letters, 10 a day, That Reach Obama

Tens of thousands of letters, e-mails and faxes arrive at the White House everday. A few hundred of them end up on the office table of Mr. Kelleher, director of White House Office of Correspondence, every afternoon. He chooses letters that are very compelling and puts them in a purple envelope which will be put in a daily briefing book that is delivered to Mr. Obama. Occassionally, Mr. Obama answers them by hand. Letters range from issues from struggling families, complaints, even tips on best treats for the first dog, Bo. Mr. Obama likes to read these letters because he wants to keep up with what Americans are dealing with. He also received a letter urging him to stop smoking. President Obama thoroughly enjoys keeping up with Americans thoughts, ideas and concerns.

I think this goes to show President Obama is human. He doesn't just sit behind his desk and foget about the American people and the issues facing us. He is very much in tune with the problems we're facing and does what is within his power to help.

Education Standards Likely to See Toughening

President Obama and his administration have been tweaking the "No Child Left Behind" act George Bush created but are keeping their plans hush-hush. Obama's administration is going to toughen requirements on teacher quality, standards on academics and focus on helping failing schools. It also says the laws on testing will change but not disappear. They seem to be working on what many see as defects in the laws. In February Obama signed a stimulus which directed billions of dollars towards public education. The stimulus has guidelines governors must sign to receive the money. The "assurances", as they're called, include: pledge to improve quality of standardized tests, raise standards and promise to enforce a requirement that most effective teachers be assigned to all students, rich and poor. The reward money is in the hands of ecucation secretary Arne Duncan and goes to states who make good on their pleges, better known as "Race to the Top Fund". Obama is also concentrating on failing schools. Currently 6,000 of the nations 95,000 schools are labeled as needing corrective action plans or restructuring because they've fallen below test standards. The stimulus also states high schools must prepare those students who are not going to college or the military how to succeed in life.

I think our schools have gotten so overwhelmed with test scores and how much money they can earn that they've forgotten to actually "teach". I see so many kids who cannot read or write, or both, in the schools I wonder how they keep getting passed on grade to grade. I like the idea of schools teaching our kids how to prepare themselves to survive after graduating high school because not everyone will attend college, trade school or the military. Educators need to do exactly that...EDUCATE...and stop focusing so much if our kids meet proficiency on tests. Honestly, what employer is going to ask if they ranked novice, proficient or distinguished.

Questions posed to Obama: Legalizing Marijuana

One of President Obama's most popular online questions was whether he thought legalizing marijuana would create jobs and help the economy. His remark was, "No, I don't think this would be a good strategy." It goes on to talk about the negative impact drugs have put on communities and how law enforcement should direct their focus on white suburbs and middle class areas where most drugs are consumed. They target areas where drug sales are most conspicuous. One in 99 adults are behind bars. Generations are spending their life behind bars rather than getting an education, working or raising their families. Americas has become the most incarcerated nations with imprisonment five times higher than the rest of the world. The article talks about what a bad shape Mexico is in due to their drug problem, meeting America's demand. Over 1,000 people have been killed in Mexico due to American firearms. Obama will face opposition if he tries to ban assault weapons although Americans weapons have killed many in Mexico.

Basically, what the article is saying is this...legalize marijuana and the killings for drugs will stop. So far, it has been introduced to California's state assembly to legalize marijuana and tax the $14 billion annual crop. Prisons are also overcrowded with drug users. I believe this is a waste of space when it could be used for incarcerating child molesters, murderers, etc. Drug users and sellers should be put on house arrest, therefore if they want to use they will be at home hurting themselves and no one else. I believe legalizing marijuana would create problems but then again free up the police force to hunt down the hard criminals of our society.

A Thank You Note from WRRAP

This post is basically short and sweet but one I am passionate about. I had never heard of WRRAP until now. This is an organization who financially supports women to have abortions. They do not discriminate against age, race, financial background, etc. They assist in giving a woman the right to choose. For example, the following are a few they have helped:

* A 29 year-old low-income woman who works but her insurance will not cover abortion services.
* A 17 year-old who cannot tell her mother she's pregnant.
* A 20 year-old living with her sister and three other children. She works part time at McDonald's and the man will not help.

If some women are in a financial crisis and living in conditions that do not warrant for another child then why put themselves in a position where they can get pregnant. I am completely voicing my opinion on this...if you are not capable of having a child and supporting it then don't have unprotected sex or sex period. It's not a hard concept to understand. On the other hand they have helped women in situations, such as a 34 year-old who has the mental capacity of a 6 year-old and was raped, fund an abortion. In this situation, yes, I do believe in abortion. People need to wake up and realize they have to take responsibility for their actions. When I read this article, which is actually an e-mail sent to WRRAP, it struck something in me that I felt I needed to write about. This world has enough issues to worry about! People need to be more responsible in their life and what they choose to do with it. Link.

John Hope Franklin, Scholar, dies at 94

John Hope Franklin, a scholar of African-American history and an advocate on slavery issues, passed away on Wednesday, March 24 at the age of 94. Dr. Franklin died of congestive heart failure. Dr. Franklin was very involved with debates that helped shape America's racial identity. He worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall and other civil rights activist. Dr. Franklin's first book, From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African-Americans" was published in 1947and sold over three million copies. Dr. Franklin taught at Harvard, University of Chicago and Duke. He worked with the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case which outlawed the "separate but equal" doctrine. Dr. Franklin also participated in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama with Dr. King. In 1995 he was awarded the Medal of Freedom by former President Bill Clinton. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest Civilian honor. Mr. Clinton also selected him to head the Advisory Board to the President's Initiative on Race in 1997.

Some of Dr. Franklin's accomplishments are: first African-American president of the American Historical Association, first black department chairman at a white institution (Brooklyn College), first black professor to hold a chair at Duke, first black chairman at the University of Chicago's history department and first African-American to present a paper at the Segragated Historical Association. Dr. Franklin received more than one hundred honorary degrees in his profession.

Dr. Franklin was born on January 2, 1915 in Oklahoma. He was forced with racism as a youth which prompted him to live his life dedicated to being an activist against racism. Dr. Franklin was a very influential man in our country in the fact he served his life dedicated to spreading his word on slavery and other very important issues.

Gray Wolf Will Lose Protection

The Obama administration announced Friday, March 6, 2009, it will take the gray wolf off the endangered species list in Montana and Idaho. It was left a predator under federal protection in Wyoming. Taking it off the list in these two states will allow there to be a hunting season for the animal. The Bush administration announded this in January but put off the adoption of the law so the Obama administration could use it.

Jenny Harbine, a lawyer with EarthJustice in Montana, has sued to keep the protection of the gray wolf. She is against the killing of these animals. Idaho's govenor stated in 2007 he favored the wolf population being cut from 800 to 100 and he would be the first to buy a wolf hunting license. Idaho has agreed to keep its wolf population of 500, Montana to keep its to 400. If the population drops below 150 the wolf will be relisted as endangered. Environmentalist sued last year to stop the law that wolves be removed from the list. They said without the protection the number of wolves was not abundant enough for different regions, which is necessary for survival. A judge agreed and stopped the delisting. The Fish and Wildlife Service then dropped the argument for more study on this. Environmentalist say they will take the issue back to court.

Wolf management plans in Idaho and Wyoming assume protection; whereas the one in Montana falls short, so the wolf will remain on the list. In Wyoming the wolf is seen as a predator and can be shot on sight if it were delisted. The controversy began last year when people chased down wolves on their snowmobiles and shot them from plans.

If I lived out west where there were wolves I would want there to be a hunting season for them. The question I would like to propose is, what if your child was in the backyard playing and a wolf came and attacked the child. Or, if your beloved pet you've had for years was killed by a wolf, would they still be in favor of saving the wolves. Yes, these are beautiful creatures but there has to be control over the population of them.

Family of Afghan Girl perform abortion

This article I read really does not have much to do with politics in the U.S. but I found it repulsing and something I wanted to speak out on. A five month pregnant girl in Afghanistan was held down by her mother while her older brother performed an abortion on her with a razor blade. They told her it was shameful for the family that she was pregnant, although she had been raped. I don't understand that at all. What is wrong with those people (sorry if that was politically incorrect) but that infuriates me. Our animals here in the U.S. are treated better than the women there. Our country has spent millions of dollars overseas trying to better their country and they still do inhuman acts such as performing an abortion on a family member for the sake of them not looking bad. Where is the humanity there? Rape victims in Afghanistan face imprisonment, abandonment or murder by their own families for the sake of honor. In our country we stand by our family members in times of crisis, not murder them! The rape victim stayed at home for four to five days until her father finally took her to the hospital where he told them she had been bitten by a dog rather than the truth to, again, save the family from shame. I think they are unbelievable people and would rather live in a hole in the ground than in their country. If I've offended anyone with this I am sorry, it just makes me furious such shallow people walk this earth. Link

The Economic Cost of War

President Obama announced Friday the troops will soon be coming home from war. His speech announcing the possible removal of troops from Iraq was seen from an economic standpoint. The war has cost $860 billion so far. President Obama has repeatedly criticized spending overseas. The war has made many people question if it has really made our country safer, not only from terror attacks but for the economy, as well. History suggests that with the possibility of an end to the war spirits may lift and help boost consumers, which in turn helps the economy. There are problems, though, with ending the war in the way of thinking of prosperity. The cost of the war is sensitive to the amount of troops serving in Iraq and President Obama has said he will stay aware of the changing conditions in Iraq as he carries out his plan. Analysts say even if the war were to end now the savings that would occur would be so small they would not make a dent in the debt we are in and it would come too late to help the economic crisis. The President's defense budget calls for $144 billion in 2009, $130 billion in 2010 and $50 billion for 2011 and beyond. His budget is not getting high scores across the political spectrum in pertaining to the true cost of the war. Bob Work, vice president at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, says the budget is wrong but it is very upfront. Winslow Wheeler of the Center for Defense Information says that although President Obama pledge our troops will be home by 2010 the U.S. will still be carrying out missions in Afghanistan so the dropoff in cost will be unsurprising the first two years. Studies have shown by Congress how much the cost depends on the timing for withdrawal. The Congressional research services estimated in 2006 it is costing $390,000 a year to keep each American soldier overseas. In other words, delaying sending our troops home only sends our deficit further in the hole. I think although our country seems to be heading for a depression the safety of our country should be our first priority. We had to go to war to show that our country will not stand for terrorists to attack on our soil but I also believe there does have to be a stopping point. It aggravates me because we have been overseas for so long trying to help a country that seems they could care less if we're blown off the map only to put ourselves in a major economic crisis. Something has to give.

The Abraham Lincoln Analogy

President Lincoln's 200Th birthday was celebrated today, February 12, around the country. President Obama spoke about Lincoln at the Capital Rotunda. President Obama is a great admirer of President Lincoln and his work done as our 16Th president. He said he felt a gratitude toward Lincoln in making his own story possible. President Obama began his presidential campaign, two years ago, at Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois on Lincoln's birthday. Obama even had the same inaugural lunch served at his luncheon as Lincoln did served on china replica of what Mary Todd Lincoln picked out.

Many people wonder if Obama is trying too hard to keep Lincoln (and his beliefs) to close at hand. Harold Holzer, a Lincoln scholar and co-chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, made the comment that Obama believes he is going to finish Lincoln's unfinished work. Lincoln is remembered for freeing some slaves and this may have been good for Obama to be accepted as a black candidate for president. Obama's message to our country has been, "one nation, one people," which he quoted during a speech at Ford's Theatre about Lincoln, that "he had an unyielding belief that were at heart, one nation, one people."

Some argue our financial crisis cannot be compared to the bloody battle Lincoln was faced with during his presidency, that Obama cannot be successful at mending it. Ross Baker, a political scientist, says "if you portray a Lincoln-esque style your actions should accompany it". He says, "as bad as the financial crisis, it's not the succession of half the union."

I think it's wonderful for people to have role models they admire and look up to, including our president. i really don't see why the media has such a time with making President Obama's admiration for Lincoln a big deal. President Lincoln was a great president and for President Obama wanting to mimic some of his strategies, well I think it says a lot for him.

www.newyorktimes.com

Obama signs Equal Pay Legislation

On Thursday January 29, 2009 President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This law was named for Ms. Ledbetter, an Alabama resident who at the end of a nineteen year career at a tire factory found out she had been paid less than her men colleagues. President Obama said we are upholding one of our countries principles that we are created equal and should have our own chance at achieving our happiness by signing this bill, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html.

When Ms. Ledbetter was entering her retirement after nineteen years she found out her male colleagues were being paid more than her. A jury found her employer, Good Year Tire and Rubber Company, guilty of pay discrimination but the Supreme Court threw the case out saying she should have filed within 180 days of her last pay when she found out she was being paid less. Ms. Ledbetter will never be repaid what she is owed from Good Year but she has conquered victory for all the women in the U.S. today who are being under paid for the same labor put in as men.

This just shows how far our country has come in regards to women's rights. Compared to other countries the U.S. is a great democracy in that women have the right to stand before their bosses, a judge, even the president for that matter, and speak her voice and not stand for injustices. The guilty verdict for Good Year shows that there are companies out there that have a respected name but you don't know for sure what goes on inside the closed office doors. Everyone needs to keep their eyes and ears open and stand their ground when they think they are being treated unfairly in the workplace.

President Barack Obama's Inauguration Speech

http://www.alternet.org/

President Barack Obama spoke to America his promising words on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. He Spoke on the crisis America is facing in this day and time and the hardships we are all enduring in some fashion. Some of the struggles he focused on were, health care costs, failing schools, jobs and homes lossed. He explained that changes are in the making but for us to not expect them in a short period of time. He also said they would not be easily made but that they will be met. He let America know that although we are in a crisis era we are a strong nation, not only because of the strengths of our countries founders but because we are a hard working society and with the help of all our nation will prevail.

This article is of utmost importance, not only because it's an inauguration speech, but because it's our countries new president's words, words we all depend upon. Also, this speech will be a historical event that will never be forgotten being that President Obama is the United States first African-American president. President Obama's words are not to be taken lightly but to base the next four years, possibly eight, on. Our nation is in need of hope and change. We need to hear encouraging words from our new commander in chief.

Yes, we live in a healthy representative democracy. We, as all Americans, should relish in the fact that we all have a voice and can make that voice be heard. Although what we believe may be different from the next person, our opinions can be voiced. Our country just swore in the first African-American president without any hesitation. This was a history making event and one that will never be forgotten. We have the right to freedom of speech and freedom to vote, both men and women, which has to be two of the most important rights we have as Americans. All Americans should be estatic we live in this great nation!

Hi. My name is Meg C. Cole. I work as secretary for Special Education/Exceptional Children at McNabb Middle School. I am working on my bachelors in Social Work.