Mexico is Evolving (Or at Least is Trying To)

Los Angeles Times
Richard Fausset
April 27, 2013
President Enrique Pena Nieto is setting up a new Pact for Mexico where there will be reforms involving their tax system, telecommunications industry, the state-run oil companies, and any other system that seems too powerful and corrupt. The teachers' union has been having trouble agreeing to the presidents plans of weakening the union and giving the educators evaluations. For years, it was said by critics, that the union has "dragged" down the education system of Mexico, but that did not stop the teachers in Guerrero from rioting on the streets, burning buildings, breaking windows, and blocking freeways. Many of these teachers have worn masks to keep their identities discreet. Recently, much to the president's relief, the union leaders have decided to take a five day break in hopes of settling the deal once and for all with the government instead of continuing the riots.  “For those Mexicans who want a different Mexico, who want to transform the current reality of our country, and make it a place with better opportunities for all, violence should in no way be the instrument for the transformation and attainment of that end,” President Nieto said. Mexico, with the help of its president and the new pact, can move forward and become a better country, if the people will just listen to reason.
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-mexico-teachers-reform-pact-20130426,0,1478512.story

Mexico Breaks Up With America

Los Angeles Times
Shashank Bengali and Tracy Wilkinson
April 28, 2013
America and Mexico are allies that share a common enemy, drug traffickers. America has spent about two billion dollars on assisting Mexico, by providing aircraft drones, intelligence agents, and even police trainers, to help Mexico take down the drug cartels. Actually, American intelligence managed to take down twenty five kingpins, or capos, in six years. Recently, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and his governmental officials believe that it is time for America to take a step beck when it comes to Mexico's security affairs. This is a great act on Mexico's part for wanting to be able to depend on mostly themselves instead of relying on America for something as important as their own security. While beneficial to Mexico, all of the American governmental workers must let go of their jobs, and even though America is not too excited about Mexico's decision, America really has no choice but to fall back. Instead of having America closely knitted in their security affairs, Mexico plans on expanding the economic relationship with America, making this two great decisions on Mexico's part.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-obama-mexico-20130429,0,7444757.story

Legalizing Marijuana

Huffington Post
Gavin Newsom
There is more talk going around about how California should legalize marijuana. Huffington Post's Gavin Newsom suggested "It is time for California to decriminalize, tax and regulate marijuana and decide who sells it, who can buy it legally, and for how much. When California became the first state to approve medical marijuana, we led the nation on progressive drug policies, and now it is time to lead again." This statement is completely wrong and illogical. Just because marijuana will be legalized, it does not mean that California will be able to regulate who can get their hands on a bag of weed. Vendors off the street make most of their money selling illegal marijuana to minors. Even if marijuana was to be legalized, people will still go to find the cheaper and easier provider. The only plus side to legalizing marijuana would be to have less prisoners in our jails, but, which is the more ideal city? One where people are able to grow weed in their backyards where their children are exposed to it, or a city that has a jail full of people who can cause harm to those around them? Marijuana, no matter who argues that it is not addictive or does not cause permanent harm, still affects your perception and your mind. That, in itself, is the most dangerous thing about drugs.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gavin-newsom/time-for-california-to-de_b_3134929.html

Coachella Accident

Huffington Post
Coachella. Three days of nonstop entertainment. A music lovers dream. One man's end. Coachella employee, Monte Gardner, was run over by an intoxicated driver while riding back home on his motorcycle from work. David Brennan, the driver of the Toyota Corolla, did not stop at an intersection, thus causing Gardner's death. Many remember Gardner as a man who always smiled and who had a great heart, but because of one man's irresponsibility and illogical actions, he will not smile again. A man literally died just because another person decided that it would be a good idea to drive while they were drunk. Coachella was not created to be an alcoholic's or a drug user's paradise, but a place where people who love great music gather to hear their favorite bands and artists play their music. Stories like this are fuel to my parent's ongoing fire in refusing and casting away my cries and pleas to be able to attend one night of Coachella.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/motorcyclist-killed-coachella_n_3133607.html?utm_hp_ref=los-angeles#slide=more291827

Stereotypes

2) What factors contribute to prejudice and how?
6) Is it possible to grow to adulthood without harboring at least some prejudice toward certain groups.

Stereotypes are all around us; while driving a car, taking a test, walking down the street, watching a movie. Many of us are so instilled by these lies that we do not realize that what we are saying is racist or sexist or just wrong. The reason we say these things is because of the outside influences that play a huge role in our lives. Family can be one these factors. If a father has had bad relations with a Hispanic man, and always speaks of the interaction with disdain, then it is natural that the son or daughter may harbor feelings against this specific race. The same is evident in friendship. If a friend constantly talks about how much they hate jocks and continually exposes their flaws, then the person will start believing it too. I believe that there is a way to avoid these stereotypes. It is not easy to stop judging people, but it is possible. I find that every time my parents judge a person walking down the street or get angry at an Asian driver or assume that all drivers of a BMW or a Mercedes is Armenian, I find myself getting more and more angry with them. Almost everything that my parents hate or are against, I love or am content with. This is because I do not want to be anything like them in the sense that  I do not want to be another judgmental Armenian who assumes that they are right about everything. It is wrong to think that Armenians are the most superior race. It is wrong to think that all Asian drivers are terrible. It is wrong to assume that all blond girls and sport playing guys are not intelligent. Therefore it is wrong to judge and is wrong to believe in stereotypes.

What's Rape?

Los Angeles Times
Tina Susman
March 17, 2013
Two teenage boys, Trent Mays(17) and Ma'lik Richmond (16), in the small town of Steubenville, Ohio, thought it would be a good idea to take an extremely intoxicated girl to their house and rape her. They also thought it would be a good idea to take videos and pictures of the rape in progress. What they did not think was where their actions would take them. The next day, the sixteen year old girl was exposed to the videos and pictures that were being sent to everyone in school. She asked her friends, "Oh my God, please tell me this isn’t true." She had no recollection of that night. She had no idea who had done that to her. Immediately her and her family contacted the police. It was said that if it was not for the media coverage of the entire case, there would not be a verdict and the two boys would go free. The town did a wonderful job at trying to save their two star football players and undermine the innocent girl. The coach had actually tried to end all allegations against the boys. The two teens thought that coach "took care of it" and that they had nothing to be worried about, but they were wrong. There were actually witnesses that saw the girl get raped. They received immunity in return for their testimonies, but they should have been tried also. They claimed that they did not think what their friends were doing was rape. “It wasn’t violent,” he said. “I didn’t know exactly what rape was.” How do you not know what rape is? How can a person stand there and watch (and most probably record) a girl, a sixteen year old girl, get violated. They said she was not moving. She was limp, passed out. She was defenseless. A sentence of juvenile jail until twenty-one was not nearly the justice that poor girl deserved to see from the boys that took away everything from her.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-ohio-teens-sentenced-in-rape-20130317,0,7974442.story

Riots in Egypt

Los Angeles Times
Jeffrey Fleishman
March 9, 2013

A police officer is carried away from the burning police club in Zamalek, an upscale area.

After a soccer game in Cairo, twenty-one soccer fans are sentenced to death, accused of starting the riot. Now, Egyptians are taking the streets and making sure their government knows how they feel about convicting twenty-one of their innocent, fellow fans. Seven police officers were acquitted, or freed from their sentence, while the rest, the civilians, still faced death row. Seventy-four fans were trampled and killed at the game in March of last year. Civilians are outraged that the actual guilty party, all of the convicted police, were found not guilty while the rest of the Egyptians were still sentenced to die. Egyptians blocked the Suez Canal by dropping big vessels into the water, causing the boats being unable to sail through. The military quickly took care of that problem, but they had another issue on their hands. The Ultras, the hardcore soccer fans, had set fire to a local police social club and blocking the firetrucks' path to the club. This stunt by the Port Said court caused a greater divide between the police and the people. Now, the civilians are even more suspicious of the corrupted police. It seems as though the unrest will continue in Egypt and will take a while for Egypt to rebuild itself as a unified country.
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-fiery-protests-follow-upholding-of-death-sentences-in-eyptian-soccer-riots-20130309,0,909657.story