College Graduates in the Economy

How are college graduates coping with the economy? Well, find out what these 2 college graduates have been up to since graduation.










Thoughts? Are you a recent graduate? What have you been doing?

EUGENICS AND PLASTIC SURGERY

EUGENICS



The United Nations has a wonderful exhibit on Eugenics this month. Eugenics, the study and belief of improving qualities of the human population, was widely influenced during the 1920’s throughout WWII, and Hitler and his Nazi regime supported “desirable traits” of blond hair and blue eyes. The Nazis led a horrible movement by tormenting people who were unfit – in the name of Eugenics. Eugenics also led to the ideal of racial supremacy where many were segregated and murdered- from the poor and the disabled to homosexuals and women reputed to be “ promiscuous”.

Euthanasia was encouraged during the Eugenics movement; children were killed, and women were sterilized if they were named “ defective”. Many women died during this surgery of “ sterilization”. (Women were encouraged to reproduce and have “ fit, healthy, desirable” children. Hitler believed that was a woman’s duty for her country, Germany. )



IMPROVING QUALITIES OF HUMAN TRAITS –TODAY?


During the beginning of the 20th century, scientists, governments and institutions supported the idea of promoting perfect human qualities. Have these ideals of perfection, beauty and desirable physical qualities changed now- in our 21st century?


Plastic surgery is not as brutal or traumatic as the experimentation of Eugenics, however, the same aspirations of obtaining perfect physical traits remain today. Women today are enhancing their face and bodies WILLINGLY through surgical techniques- cosmetic/ plastic surgery crosses racial boundaries- Asians, Blacks and Hispanics are increasingly using cosmetic surgery as well.


Within Asians, eyelid surgery is the most popular plastic surgery-where eyelids are reshaped and a permanent crease is created. Rhinoplasty is also common in Asians and African Americans, where noses are reconstructed and reshaped. Among Caucasians, breast augmentation is most popular- and it is noted and known that while Caucasians are changing their body appearance, African and Asian Americans are reconstructing their faces.


Will the desire for perfect physical traits remain throughout history? More importantly... what are the traits that are defined as“ beautiful”?

Green is the New Black

I thought that I should take advantage and write about the environment since we’re all feeling a little “ green” on St. Patty’s day.

Green has become the new Black! Not only is it righteous to go green, but going green is in style- we see it in fashion today. More importantly, millions of Americans are going green because they realize how our world is changing for the worse; instead of just living on this planet and see the world deteriorate, we need to take action.

I admit I was one of those people who never gave global warming a second thought. I thought to myself (and I may have one time preached to a couple of friends) how there were so many other causes and problems to fix in this world- things that concerned with humanity, poverty, genocide, women, children- abuse. Then I woke up from my illogical view.


GLOBAL WARMING, POVERTY AND HEALTH ARE INTERTWINED

I learned that Global warming, poverty and health are all connected. Without good health- we’re all living in poverty. Without a harmonious environment- there is no food or agriculture to sustain our health or our wealth.

For example- poverty- nearly half of the globe is living in poverty. 3 billion people survive on less than $2.50 a day- and when there is poverty, there continues to be more problems- such as health and violence.

Darfur, the land of genocide is dry and has no agriculture. People die because of hunger, disease or from vicious killings. United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon wrote about Darfur in a Times article and he wrote,“ farmers and herders came into conflict over land and water.”

The 2 basic necessities of every person, Ban Ki Moon says, is economic and social security. So, if people were not meeting their basic needs, then their Darwinism kicked in…survival of the fittest. If things don’t alleviate for the environment, situations can get much worse. We’ve been delaying our stance on the environment, and many are hesitant to do anything with our economy in crisis. However, if we don’t take action on global warming, things will just get worse.

And until we see that all our causes are interlocked in one way or another, we would be walking blindly. But if we joined causes, we can move mountains.


VIDEO: 8 year old girl talks about the environment

Stem Cell Research- Pro and Cons

The controversy of Stem Cell Research lies in the ethics of the method- do scientists have the right to experiment with life? Does victory in science justify the cost of human life?




Well, this is one debate which I do not have a decisive opinion on. I believe that every life is sacred, and to experiment with human embryos does not truly sit still with me. ( In the research, human embryos are taken right after conception – typically within two weeks from a woman’s uterus. ) However, I’d be lying if I were to say that I am not thankful for the victory in stem cell research- since it has affected me personally.


As a daughter of a cancer patient- I see the pain, the fear, the day to day struggles and aches my father has to endure. It’s because of the care of good doctors, his faith in religion and ironically his belief in science and medicine that my father has been ( knock on wood) doing well. When my father learned of his cancer, he was anxious and scared ( to say the least). 2008 was the second time his cancer came back; and he didn’t understand it- he was so cautious with his sickness the first time. He ate well; he was on his macrobiotic diet, and he always meditated- he tried to be stress free ( as much as he can).


After doctors saw the rapid dispersion of cancer in his body, they had to take action fast. He was in a serious and dangerous state, they said- since he also has Hepatitis -which was counteracting his cancer. Doctors proposed that he get a bone marrow transplant- I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad so fragile. The breakthrough of bone marrow transplantation is due to stem cell research. Bone marrow transplants treat a lot of blood inherited diseases- such as leukemia, lymphoma. My father has lymphoma cancer.


Stem Cell Research to me was more than just science- it was beyond politics or religion- it was about family. As appreciative I am for the research, I can’t help but think if scientists are playing the role of God by taking human embryos and slicing, splitting, growing and replacing chemicals or viruses within these embryos.




Pros and Cons – breakthrough for science vs. another nuclear explosion ( CLONING)?

I’ve blatantly stated the pros of Stem Cell Research- we COULD possibly find the roots and the causes of other diseases like, Parkinson, heart disease, etc. However, how are scientists going to use this knowledge? Should we question the methods on the way human embryos are used in the research? Even though this research is ultimately to benefit mankind, many have argued that stem cell research can lead to the cloning of human beings which can be devastating and dangerous.


So...what are your thoughts? Which side do you value?

Rush Limbaugh- playing the role as a watchdog

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Rush Limbaugh is a radio host and a political commentator. He’s known as the “ keeper of conservative views” since the Clinton administration, and Limbaugh has recently gotten attention for his statement on Obama- saying that he does not want Obama to succeed.

As part of the media, Limbaugh is playing the role as a “ watch dog”- criticizing the government and weighing uncertainties and projecting his opinions as the first amendment allows to practice those rights.


Limbaugh’s views are strictly about the economy and Obama’s stimulus plan, but I’ve heard fellow left winged people say that Limbaugh must be racist-, since he’s disagreeing with Obama. That is ridiculous. Although, I am not a fan of Limbaugh, Limbaugh has not stated any racial slurs or has any tones of race within the speech. Limbaugh is serving as a watchdog of the U.S., and I wanted to help clarify Limbaugh’s statement.





What do you think? Is Limbaugh right about disagreeing with Obama? Is Limbaugh racist to disagree with Obama? Does Limbaugh want the country to succeed…or is he covering it up?



( Even if Limbaugh and other conservatives want to disagree with the stimulus, it’s too late…the stimulus has already been signed… so we’re all in it together as a country. )

Republican Ad vs. Democrat Ad

Although I'm an advocate of Obama's stimulus package, I cannot help but be captivated by this Republican ad.





" If you were to spend a million dollars every day.... "
This ad is pretty powerful and this statistic definitely sticks with you...






Despite the controversy, I think it is right of Obama to propose a plan and do something to instill some sort of hope and bring back jobs in the U.S. People are expecting Obama to be some sort of miracle worker and to fix things in such little time- it's going to take a while because getting here- to this plunged economy- took a while!

Racist pictures - unintentionally/ subconsciously?

Los Angeles Mayor, Dean Gross said he will resign, after he was caught for the forwarding of an email with a picture ( below) that states: No Easter Egg Hunt This Year.





In a response, Gross said, “ We laugh at things like this.” As “ gross” and racist as his message may portray, Dean Gross is not the only one in these acts of indirect, targeted racism at Obama.






The New York Post published this picture last month. The police officer says, “ They’ll have to find someone to write the next stimulus bill.”- comparing Obama to a chimp.





Both images, no matter what the defense may be, have significant racial undertones. The first image of the watermelons- brings to light the stereotype of Blacks or does it go deeper than that? Does the first image that Gross emailed, just bring to issue that Blacks like “ watermelon and fried chicken” or does the field of watermelons in front of the White House signify the cotton fields? The New York Post’s picture is a blatant attack on African Americans- comparing the president to a dangerous animal- a raging ape. Not only does this have significant racist tones, this picture also advocates violence.