Diversity: Hate Crime Legislation Passed

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/10/620000629/1

This article is about legislation that was recently passed states "After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray or who they are." It talks about how hate crimes have increased recently. In the past ten years there have been 12,000 hate crimes reported against gays alone. This done not count all the crimes that were not reported, or crimes based on race, religion or other things. It also talked about how this legislation stems from two cases in 1998, one where a black male was tied to the back of a truck and dragged until he died. The other case a gay male was severely beaten and then tied to a fence, and left to die.

This is news because of magnitude. This affects everyone across our nation, and not just in big cities, or the south, or any isolated part of our country. Hate crimes can take place anywhere where there is a discriminatory person. I'm sure there have been several cases of hate crimes in the CF/Waterloo area.

I am glad that this legislation has been passed. No deserves to be beaten or teased or killed just because of their sexual orientation, race, or nationality. I don't think this will necessarily stop that many crimes from taking place though. I think this because if someone is going to commit a crime like this, they know they can get in serious trouble, and it hasn't stopped them in the past. However, maybe, people hearing stories about how much prison time these people get could discourage and prevent some cases from occurring. The bottom line though, is even if this prevents just 1 hate crime from being committed, then it was worth passing.

Fort Hood Shooting

1. What are your thoughts, feelings, etc, as you read these articles?
I think many of the feelings about why he did this are misplaced, I think people are looking too much into his race and religion, and not necessarily enough into his personal life.

2. What role do you think terrorism played in this massacre, if any? Why? Do you think that there was an terrorist organization behind the shooting?
I do not believe, as of now terrorism played a role in this shooting.

3. What role did racism or religious persecution play in this incident? Why?
I think racism could have played a little role in this, just because I'm sure he heard many bad stories about people of his race from soldiers. After awhile, hearing people bashing on your own kind could get to anyone. Not to mention, he didn't agree with the war in the first place.

4. Do you think a lot of Muslim Americans have the same feelings as this man? Why or why not?
I think they may because it seems like the are instantly judged, just based on their appearance which is not fair... but it's the sad truth.

5. What do you think the military could have done to prevent this from happening? Why do you believe this? Were there signs that this man had the potential to do something like this? What were they?
I do not think their is too much the military could have done, except maybe they could have granted his discharge a long time ago when he applied for it. I do not think there were signs that he would have done something of this magnitude, yes it was known that he was against the war... but not even his own family had any idea this was coming.

6. Talk about the leadership of Kimberly Munley (the woman who stopped the shooter). What did she do? How would you have reacted in the same situation?
This shows great leadership, even after being shot numerous times she was able to stop the shooter from doing more harm. I would like to think I'd do the same thing, but you can never tell unless your actually in the situation.

7. What does this incident say about race relations in America? Specifically with Arab-Americans and Muslims? Is there a reason that Muslims and people from the Arab world feel a certain way about America?
It says that we are not yet over this stereo type of muslims. If this had been a white person who was against the war, do you think as many people would have instantly assumed this was a terrorist act? I don't think so and they probably would have waited to accuse the man of this until there was actual evidence.

Leadership Article

The article that I read talks about the "7 Traits of Success Superstars." In this article, they

list the seven traits that the author finds most important in order to become a "Success

Superstar." These traits are: 1. Success superstars know exactly what they're after. 2. Success

superstars are highly ambitious, driven and motivated. 3. Success superstars don't let

them selves become sidetracked. 4.. Success superstars have amazing friends and family to

back them up. 5. Success superstars see roadblocks as objects to break and smash through. 6.

Success superstars never, ever give up, and 7. What do you think should go here?"

Leadership is often times, but not always measured by success. Generally, good leaders are

seen as those who are successful, and "Success Superstar" is just another term for great leader.

The author goes into detail about why each of these traits are important and brings up some

very valid points such as a success superstar should never give up on an ambition or goal. His

target audience is anyone who is looking to become a great leader, or "Success Superstar."

I completely 100% agree with each of these traits. I think a "success superstar" is the

same thing as a good leader. Great leaders must have all the traits that this authored

mentioned in order to be successful. However, I do not like the term "Success Superstar"

because great leaders can be measured by more than just success. I could think this way

because that is one of the main messages in the John Wooden book I am reading. For example,

a basketball team may go 0-15, but perhaps the coach changed many of the kids lives, and kept

them out of trouble... from an outsiders perspective that was a bad season, but to the kids and

the coach, i'm sure it would be a success.

1. The kid should not have done what he did, and should be charged. I was unsure until I saw the video, but the video cemented in my mind that he should get criminal charges. Headbutting someone without a helmet is not a part of football. He should be charged because this is no different then punching someone in the face... the fact it was on a football field should not change anything.

2. There should be an expectation of violence to a certain extent, within the rules of the game. This case was obviously way outside of the rules of the game. An assault of this magnitude should not be considered a part of the game, it was way away from the play and unnecessary.

3.
Headbutting Player:
1. I would feel awful about the decision I made, and I would be very remorseful.
2. I don't want charges to be pressed.
3. I would apologize to the player, and tell him what I did was very wrong and hope that was enough.
Victim:
1. I would be very mad, and really really want to hurt this kid.
2. I would want charges to be pressed because it was completely outside of the game.
3. I would press charges.
Headbutting Parents:
1. I can't believe my kid made such a dumb decision, I feel bad for the other kid and his parents.
2. I want my kid to apologize and hope that is enough that charges won't be pressed.
3. I would make my kid apologize, and try to explain why he did it.
Victim's Parents:
1. I am outraged that that kid did that. I hope my kid will be alright.
2. I want charges to be pressed and the kid to apologize, and be suspended for the rest of the season.
3. I would press charges.
Police
1. I am surprised the kid would do this.
2. I want an investigation into if what this kid did was indeed assault.
3. I would press charges
Headbutting Teammates:
1. Wow, that was dumb.. why would he do that? I'm unsure on whether or not charges should be pressed.
2. I would probably not bring it up, I'm sure he feels bad enough.
3. I wouldn't say much or anything about this to him.
Victim's Teammates:
1. I am mad that he would do something like that to my teammate and friend.
2. I want that kid to be suspended for the rest of the season and charges to be pressed
3. I would try to lay that kid out the next player.
Headbutting Coach:
1. I am saddened and upset that an athlete would do such a dumb thing.
2. I would most likely suspend him the rest of the season, he obviously can't handle competition.
3. I would make him run a lot, and leave it up to the athletic director/principal.
Headbutting Athletic Director:
1. I would be upset with this kid, and wonder why he made such a dumb choice.
2. I would hear his side of the story, see if he is truly remorseful, make him apologize then consider letting him play later in the season.
3. I would suspend him indefinitely

Educational Leadership Article Summary

America's Future Lies in Its Teachers: They need more than an apple nurture and inspire the next generation of leaders

U.S. News & World Report

November 1st, 2009

3.2 million, that is the number of teachers that could very likely retire in the next four years. That is nearly 1/3 of our nation’s teachers today. This is a harsh reality. Nearly 1.2 of our nation’s teachers are baby-boomers and nearing retirement. This article discusses how our nation needs new, passionate teachers to step up and teach our kids. The Department of Education expects nearly 1 million new teachers to be hired within the next five years. It says how many times, teachers can be the some of the most influential in a student’s life whether it’s because they don’t give up on them or they spark a life long curiosity. It discusses different ways that we can try to train teachers to be better leaders, and entice more people into the teaching profession.

This article covers leadership in the classroom. As mentioned before, the author feels that we need to train more teachers, so we have more leaders in our school in the next few years when many teachers are expected to retire. These teachers retiring will affect every student in America, as well as our nation's future because who teaches out students now, will decide how our students will turn out

I agree that often teachers can be the most influential people in a students life. I have had many different teachers who have influenced me and who I have become thus far. We do need to have a great generation of teaches coming up, especially with America falling behind globally in education. The future lies with my generation of students.