Sunday, June 22, 2014

Prompt No. 3 Openly carrying guns: Smart or Stupid?

Listen to the abour National Public Radio piece on the Open-Carry Gun movement in Texas. Do you think people should be allowed to openly carry their guns in public? The Second Amendment and the Supreme Court say that citizens do have the right to own a gun for protection, but does this right, in your opinion, mean people can carry their guns on them at all times, out in the open, everywhere?

Prompt No. 2 "Redskins" Racist or Free Speech?

So the "Redskins" football team has lost its Federal Trademark. In other words, the US Government will no longer protect the title "Redskins" as it relates to this football team. Why? Because the US Patent and Trademark Office, which is an office created by Congress with power granted to it to do so by the US Constitution, has decided that the term is RACIST. Most agree. But is it illegal to be racist? Is using this name for their team "free speech" and therefore protected under the first amendment? Read the attached editorial/opinion piece. Feel free to read more if you like. But in the end, do you agree with the US Patent and Trademark Office to rescind the trademark or do you think that this is a free speech issue, as discussed in the editorial? Happy WRiting!!!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Prompt No. 1 Religious Freedom

Religious Freedom: The First Amendment grants us the right to "freely practice" our religious views (and NOT to practice any as the case may be) and guarantees that the government will not establish an official religion. So, these two components pretty much establish what we call a "wall of separation" between the government and we the people and our religious or non-religious beliefs. Now, do you think the government should protect a person's religious freedom, if part of that religious freedom means potentially discriminating against another person because that person somehow is against their relgion? So for example, like referenced in the article, should a business owner have the right to refuse service to a black or gay person because for some reason their "blackness" or homosexuality is in direct to their religious beliefs? It's a tough one. Remember, rule NO. 1 is respect. Any and all opinions are welcome, but express them respectfully and logically. Happy Writing! ALSO , please make sure to identify yourself. If I don't know who you are, I can't give you credit. Rebelo

WELCOME CLASS OF 2015

Hey there Class of 2015. Welcome to your summer assignment. This is pretty simple. All you have to do is read whatever it is I want you to read, respond to the prompt thoroughly and critically and be thoughtful and respectful of the opinions of others. Some of these topics we will revisit again in class, some we won't. Pay attention to the news too. We deal a lot with the media and the news is pretty much one of our textbooks. Respond thoroughly. Read each others' comments and give your opinion. One sentence won't cut it but a well developed, thoughtful paragraph or two will be ok. Blog Topic NO. 1: COMING UP! Remember: You must identify yourself in the blog. If I don't know who you are, I can't give you credit. Thanks!