Suicide Bombing in Nigeria

When Will the Violence Stop?  

         Eight people were killed and eight others were injured on Sunday in a suicide bombing in Nigeria. The bomb blew up among people displaced by Boko Haram violence in the city of Maiduguri in northeaster Nigeria. The victims were mostly women and children undergoing security screening at a military checkpoint. The people who did this pledged themselves to ISIS. I am not sure when the violence will ever end. 

Racial Issues on College Campus

"One Mizzou" 

        At the University of Missouri, recently there was several racially charged events that went unaddressed. Racist graffiti, open racial slurs and more were met with no response from the school's administration. Out of frustration, many students protested. The football team refused to play the game until their school President resigned, and one student went on a hunger strike. The pressure by students forced the President to step down. I am all for people sticking up for themselves, but I feel bad for the high standards the next President will be held to. Honestly, people cannot fix every problem there is in the wold, but racism needs to come to an end. 

Syrian Refugee Backlash

Obama vs. Republicans 

        Recently, the US House of Representatives voted to pause the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Program. People are irritated this is occurring because the war in Syria has led to millions of refugees looking for safe haven in Turkey, Europe and the U.S. After the attacks in Paris, Republican lawmakers are afraid that terrorists will enter the US in disguise. The current plan is to settle 10,000 Syrians using a thorough process including screenings, background checks done by the FBI, and Homeland Security that takes between a year and a half to two years to complete. Republicans say it is not enough and that it is better safe than sorry. While, most Democrats would disagree, according to this article. The President is opposed to pausing the program, and it is unclear when the Senate will consider the bill. This story aired before the House passed the bill to pause the program, I found that shocking. Technology has taken over the world. 

Largest Diamond in More Than a Century Found in Botswana

A Girl's Best Friend 

        On November 19, at about 9 in the morning, a 1,111 carat diamond has been discovered at a mine in Botswana. It is said to be of high quality and is the biggest diamond to be found in more than a century, according to the mine company. The gem is only the second largest diamond in the world. It is second in size to the Cullinan diamond that was discovered in South Africa in 1905, an was mined by Lucara Diamond Corp. Personally, I would love to see this diamond in person. The picture does not even do the justice for me. It is beautiful! A little too big for an engagement ring though :). 

Paris Attack

Isis Strikes Again 

        I know this is what a lot of people's current events and gossip has been about lately, but I am still so shocked how many people were killed and injured. I am so shocked that people are so brain washed to the point that they think killing is their way to serve their God. Six areas of Paris, France were attacked. 129 people were killed and 200 people were injured. The large terrorist attack has been claimed by ISIS. The terrorists used suicide belts and automatic weapons to attack people at the concert, the soccer game, restaurants, and cafes. Paris plans to prevent future attacks. Their immediate reaction was to bomb Syria. 

Tunisia

Parties

Mexico	Grant	Walker
Kenya	Battle	Hannah Page
China	Gabi	Marina
Israel	Cole	Libby
Nigeria	Sarah Grace	Mary Grace
South Africa	Victoria	Windham
France	Drew	Claudia
Germany	Samuel	Gabe
Sweden	Julia	Logan
Russia	Alexa	Boe
Iran	Saahil	Hollie
Tunisia	Jordan	Marissa
Canada	Oliver	Meredith
India	Annie
Argentina	Jackson
Japan	Griffin

1.    Research political parties in your country.

2.    What type of government does the country have?  How is power organized?  Is there a head of state?  A legislative branch?  Is it a unitary or federal system?

3.    Find out how many parties there are – provide an estimate or exact count

4.    Find out which parties, if any are considered “major” or “ruling”

5.    How are parties categorized?  Are there some that are “authorized” while others are not officially recognized?

6.    What are the issues around which the parties are organized?  Are their ideological, economic, social issues?

7.    Write about what you learn on your blog, include at least one image to illustrate, and link to your sources. 

There are about 81 Political Parties in Tunisia. And there are only 18 recognized by the republic government that are considered “major” or “ruling”. Tunisia’s government is ran by a Chief Executive, or what we would call a president. The Chief Executive has a term of five years. Tunisia’s government has 477 seats, and the last legislative election was in 2012. The Political Parties are categorized by which ones were legalized before the Tunisian revolution, after the Tunisian revolution, and past parties. The top party, Nidda Tounes, wants to be modern while the next top party, Ennahda Movement, wants to be religious. Nidda Tounes gathers almost 38% of the votes which leads to 40% of the 477 seats within the government. Ennahda Movement gathers almost 28% of the votes which leads to 32% of the 477 seats within the government. 

Child Brides in India

Good Grades Matter 

        In northern India, arranged marriages are normal. Some girls are marries as young as 10 years old. But they are not sent to live with their husbands until they turn 15. A charity started a school for child brides. The school these girls attend is called the Veerni Institute. The school often deals to rural families: if they delay the married life for these young girls then the girls can get a free education. At the school, these girls may not be practicing married life but they are practicing college life. The girls stay in dorms and attend many classes throughout the day. If they do not pass a tough test at the end of their schooling, they have to return to their husbands and be housewives. Does that seem fair? I never have learned to fully appreciate how different our lives in the United States a s young girls is from young girls in India. 

Small Plane Crashes in Akron, Ohio

Akron Plane Crash 

       A small jet plane crashed Tuesday into a residential building while trying to approach an airport in Akron, Ohio. The Hawker jet had the capacity to carry 10 people, and this crash killed everyone on board. The plane became swallowed in flames, which caused fire on the apartment it struck. The plane struck a four-family apartment complex, but no one was inside during the incident and no one was injured other than the passengers. According to the FAA, the plan crashed as it approached Akron Fulton International Airport. It was flying in from the Dayton area. The cause of the crash was not clear. Video from the scene showed there was cloudy skies and wet streets. This breaks my heart for the families involved and their loved ones. I have never been too afraid to board planes but hearing stories like this makes me never want to travel.  

China's One Child Policy Ends

China's One Child Policy 

       For 35 years, the Chinese government limited families to having one child. Recently, this week that policy changed and most families have the option of having two children. Population control was part of a political plan to reduce the number of people and raise the per capita income. Families who want to have more children, welcomed this announcement. Others, were wondering if the government was going to force them to have more children. I am happy for those who want to have more children, and I hope for those who do not want to have more children that they are not forced. 

Israel: Woman Pulls Knife at Checkpoint

Shot By Security  

        A woman with a knife tried to attack a security checkpoint in the West Bank was shot by guards. The Israel Defense Ministry said that the woman was a terrorist. She arrived at a checkpoint located on Route 55 next to Alfei Menashe, Alfei Menashe is an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank, west of Nablus. Security guards at the checkpoint called her to stop a few times, and when she didn't, they fired at her and neutralized the threat. In my opinion, it is like the girl was asking to be killed.  

Fox Lake Officer Staged His Death

Man Nearly Wrongly Arrested  

       On September 1st, Gliniewicz, a veteran police officer staged his death. He made it look as if he had been fatally shot by two men in a wooded area. He radioed over that he was chasing suspects into the wooded area and then a few minutes later requested back up. His radio connection then dropped off and that was the last time anyone heard from officer Gliniewicz. Back up arrived minutes later and found him dead. The three suspects of his "murder" consisted of two white men and one black man. One had dreadlocks and one was hispanic. After all three pleaded they were not guilty, no one believed them. For weeks, the community mourned over the death of an innocent officer. But about two weeks ago, bank statements and text messages revealed the extent of his embezzlement. He had stolen tens of thousands of dollars from the Explorers Post, an organization for youths interest in law enforcement. The police department sponsored the group, and he was the leader. Investigators said he used to money to pay his mortgage and other expenses. The investigators spent weeks recovering 6,500 incriminating text messages that Giliniewicz had deleted. More people may be arrested as the investigation continues. And before he was busted in the acts alive, he killed himself. 

Follow Up On Man Behind The Mosque

1.     Assume that the documentary, The Man Behind the Mosque, provided an accurate and research-based perspective on how the “Ground Zero Mosque” became a story. Based on what you saw there, what steps can you remember the cable-news media covering the story taking to investigate who was actually behind the Mosque in terms of mission, goals, and funding?

2.     Who brought the story of the “Ground Zero Mosque” to Fox News, the station that broke the story and led coverage of the story?

3.     It can be argued that much of the cable news coverage of the story was just that – coverage of a “story,” and how people felt about this “story,” rather than actual reporting.  Explain how we can see this at work

4.     The journalists of Frontline included coverage of and interviews with the staff of Park 51 (the NYU grad and a couple other part-timers).  Do these individuals appear ever to have been interviewed on cable-news?

5.     What sources did Cable news appear to rely on for knowledge and expertise about Islam?  How credible did you find these sources?  Why?

6.     How relevant is the ownership of a media source for understanding its goals and how its goals may shape bias in its coverage? 

7.     Who was, at the time of the Ground Zero Mosque story, the second largest shareholder in the News Corp?

8.     If you bring up the topic of the Ground Zero mosque today, many people might say something like, “Oh yeah . . . What ever happened to that?”  Think about it:  Given the level of urgency that was attached to the story, why did cable news just stop covering the story of the Mosque at Ground Zero?

9.     Read about what polls reveal about Americans and their views on Islam.

http://www.pewforum.org/2009/09/09/publicationpage-aspxid1398-3/

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-7jsJa5YaWrZ0hmRHVtUmtlbkk&usp=sharing

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/10/americans-islam-poll_n_7036574.html

1.     There were no steps to the process. It was very poorly handled.

2.     Pamela Gellar, she was totally opposed to this idea.

3.     It was more of an opinionated and emotional coverage of the story than legitimately saying what was going on. No one seemed to want to know the process or facts.

4.     No, they were never interviewed on cable news. This answer goes back to the people not really wanting to be knowledgeable of the facts or process.

5.     I do not think they were credible sources, they seemed to avoid the credible sources such as people who practiced the religion and just listened to opinionated people on this matter.

6.     Very relevant, because media is in a business and they have certain goals for a profit.

7.     Saudi Prince Al- Waleed bin Talal, a nephew of the Saudi King

8.     Fox News most likely stopped covering the topic because they got bored of it.