Is America is Christian country?

Since the second awakening in 1850 the relationship between religion and America had been reshaped. They depended on each other, but they separated, because President Jefferson set a wall of separation between Church and State. I, as an atheist, read a whole entire article on religion in nowadays life; it is very impress and full of opinions and quotations. This article leads up to a question: should we study religion in a different way.

This article named “How Christian Were the Founders?” for me, it focuses on religion and education. Texas is the model of education, the education in Texas can easily affect the other states. Recently Christian argues we should study history basic on religion. They think they should change the education mode in Texas, and then they can change the entire country. They want to transfer the mode of history, which equal to hue and cry in a long-term cultural memory. By showing a lot of details and a lot of history facts, or even related to our today’s history and bible lessons, we already known, religion is a great part of history. As religion and beliefs are referring the one’s morality; therefore, the atheist group has the least possible to become the president. So that people think America is a Christian country. It is true that America has a lot of Christians but when founding fathers were building up this country, they did not think about that.

Have to say, their behaviors may increase the pressure on teachers, because history teacher will not only focus on the history truths but also require telling and praising the religions at the same time. It is very hard to balance academic and religion together. Back to the wall separates religion and states. Now, some Christian think the wall can be pull down! Because, the set up of the wall just an idea, it has never be remarked in any legal document includes the Constitution.

Author thinks that their behaviors were kind of stupid; they are raising the religion level in the society without some very convincing reasons. Also, if they do that, they are actually rewriting the history, which is not necessary. The Author still think the “wall” should be existed, or the American society system will be a mass. Christian and their opinions on current events such as gay marriage, abortion and government spending will be well-spread, if they take charge in students’ lessons and affect them eventually.
“Christian ‘truth’ about America’s founding has long bee taught in Christian schools, but not beyond.”

I feel the same way as author: the Christian now is kind of “too self centered”. For the teacher part, I really wonder what if the teacher was a Muslim and required to teach and praise Christ in front of his students, isn’t it causing uncomfortable on teacher? For student, they have already touch Christian a lot, since the popularity and population of Christian in America; now even in school, in their history lesson? The battle between religions been started long time ago, if this action—view history basic on religion came true, Christ will won a big benefit; they won a lot population in the new generation. But, is that worth to change? Is the change bring benefit to people’s lives? I, we don’t know, yet.

A warning in spring break

Sooooo excited! The trimester is approaching to its end! Soon, I will be able to get my long holiday—Spring Break. Usually, before Spring Break, like today, I will keep thinking travel around U.S.A. Texas is one of the greatest choices without doubt; however, a piece of new posted on CNN. Com makes me give up my idea of spending time on travelling Texas.
Contributed by CNN’s Arthur Brice, “Texas police warn spring breakers: Stay out of Mexico border towns“, the piece of news mentioned above, alarmed students to be careful of Mexico border towns. Indeed, this warning is made by the Texas police, they warned spring breakers: “Stay out of Mexico border towns.” Why? Why was that? The reason told by police is very obvious; the towns are just too dangerous. Recently, the violence increase, and have caused the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to part of Michoacan, Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua, etc.. Since December 2006, more than 16,000 people have died in Mexico, because the war on the drug.

“Two U.S. citizens were abducted and killed in Chihuahua, the State Department said.
“Mexican authorities report that more than 2,600 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez in 2009,” the report states. “Additionally, this city of 1.3 million people experienced more than 16,000 car thefts and 1,900 carjackings in 2009. U.S. citizens should pay close attention to their surroundings while traveling in Ciudad Juarez, avoid isolated locations during late night and early morning hours, and remain alert to news reports.””
The author of this report clearly declaimed his attitude and opinion on this issue through all the way out of the writing. The author thinks the number of killing increase in Texas was too high and too fast, and the drug war is not only affecting the Mexicans and affecting Mexican security services. Even though the government of Mexico has deployed fully with official check points to stop the drug, still, Mexican drug cartels are engaged in its local violent conflict. The fundamental problems have not solved yet.

“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGwDIGY9pBg” here is the link to a youtube video, because of the images showing in the video are full of blood; it is gross and bloody and… anyway, it is not good to post on the blog, it is awful. MAKE SURE YOU CAN SUPPORT, THEN COPY THE LINK AND WATCH!!!!!!!

For me, a student, having fun and travelling to the states are very nice things to think of and to do; however, I and the others should care more on the security. Also, it is very weird that the police warned students not to go to Mexico now, because the spring break plan has already happened. Another thing, which may make people upset is that the violence increase when Mr. Obama was on duty; the crimes are supposed decrease if everything is following Mr. Obama’s plan.
It is awful, I know. But anyway, have a nice spring break everybody.

So new, so confusing–iPad

What is the item that almost every one owns in America? I will say it is iPod. Apple company is doing a great job in the past year; iPod, iTouch, iPhone. And recently, a new item iPad, which has been described as the newest way to explore website, is launched. And soon it on sell in every iPod store.
I don’t like to try the very new thing until the other says it is good, no different as this time. This morning, I read an article on CNN.com, Apple’s iPad — Will it improve the Web? By Peter Cashmore, who is special to CNN. The article described the biggest disadvantage of iPad: “iPad doesn’t display the whole Web: It fails to support Adobe’s Flash player”. In the case, that means iPad cannot visit website for video, like Youtube.com which is the most popular video website in America. The users of iPad will most visit a blank website if they try to reach some video website. Continually, the author of the article described the explanation of Apple.Inc, they said this is a way to improve the Web. By changing Video website in to HTML5, which does not require user to download and install flash player, users can go to video site. But, That just a poor excuse! Like author wrote in his article “Whatever Apple’s reasoning, lack of Flash on iPhones and iPads ultimately confuses users, while YouTube and other video sharing sites look set to popularize HTML5 without Apple’s assistance. It’s a squabble among tech titans that will create a poorer Web experience on the iPad”.
Author doesn’t like the way Apple treats its users, it is like Apple is the king of closed system, it tries to control its users and never fellow the trend.

I totally agree with this author. iPad is ridiculous! It should be the “BEST way to experience the Web” as Apple.Ink said earlier. However, the “BEST way to experience the Web” cannot even visit some famous website? So how can this possible to be the BEST? It just confusing, and useless. No matter iMac, or any of Apple’s product is about to control its users! It is not fair!!!
I think some day, some other Inc may replaces Apple. However, I am talking about some day.

No more Google.cn?!

Google is the most popular search engine in the world that has 40 different languages versions. Nevertheless, in China Google.com, whose address is changed into Google.cn, is the second popular search engine. Maybe you’ve never heard about this engine, but Baidu.com is the number one search engine in China. Yet, Baidu.com is a company controlled by Chinese government; it never shows up the words, which are considered as sensitivity. For example, Baidu.com never mentions any bad event about Chinese government. This Chinese search engine lies to people.

(The video probably asks you to go to youtube. Then go.)
Recently, Google Inc announced that they were quitting China. The Article “Google’s Threat Echoed Everywhere, Except China” by Andrew Jacobs on New York Times surprised everyone! As article described “Google linked its decision to sophisticated cyber attacks on its computer systems that it suspected originated in China and that were aimed, at least in part, at the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.” Google is leaving China not only because its serious concerns on the cyber attacks, but also Google Inc doesn’t like the way China treats the Internet information.
“‘The government should give people the right to see what they want online,’ said the woman, Bing, who withheld her full name for fear that it might cause her problems at school. ‘The government can’t always tell lies to the people.’” An interview, which translated from Chinese to English, truly tells us how local people think about Baidu.com. A lot of Chinese don’t like the departure; they think it will be a big loss to both Google and China. The author of the article agrees that Google’s departure will be make Chinese internet information into a big mass. If China accepts the openness of information, the author may support Google come back to China.

The way that information was treated in China is ridiculous: the government blocks every “bad” news, which sometimes described truths on the government, in order to fools the people in China. Even a lot of civilians who live in city realize this country’s fake side, and sick of it, they can do nothing, because there are millions of people lived in village, and those live in countryside consider China as a perfect country. That was very sad. Google and Baidu are like two eyes of Chinese; search in Baidu, you can know most of things in China, unless the news includes those so called sensitive words; search in Google; you will know the international events. Now Google’s departure is like the lost of Chinese eyes. Also, I hope someday China can open the floor to its civilians to speak, to know what is going on around the world; therefore, Google and China can be in the win-win situation.

Additionally, I have looked around the others’ blogs, and I found Abby and Yulu have the same topic as I do.
So, If you want to view some different ideas on this topic feel free to click their names blow.
Abby’s Blog
Yulu’s Blog

I am Cute, and I am toxic–Zhu Zhu toys are unsafe

Christmas is coming. Parents are all busy on buying gifts, especially their children’s gifts. To buy kid’s gifts, Toys R US is good place, and Zhu Zhu pets are the hottest toys in this holiday there. However, currently a piece of news pours cold water on this hotness of toy selling that Zhu Zhu pets are toxic.

After I saw the news on the T.V., I went online and found the news on it. The news “Consumer group claims Zhu Zhu hamsters unsafe” written by Martha Dalton, CNN describes the situation. “The light-brown version of the Zhu Zhu hamsters, “Mister Squiggles,” has unsafe levels of antimony, according to Dara O’Rourke, co-founder of the California-based GoodGuide.” GoodGuide, who is a new consumer group tested the Zhu Zhu pets and found there are too much antimony involved. When there are too much antimony can cause lung cancer and heart problems. However, the manufacturer of Zhu Zhu pets ignored the findings on the toys and kept saying that the toy is safe. Maybe there really has been an argument point on how the consumer group tested the toy in different way, which is neither the U.S nor Europe Union standard; however, this finding still be seized by most of the people especially those working on their Christmas’ shopping list.
There are some so called business men, who want to get benefits in an unconscious path by ignoring the consumers’ safety. In this case, even the problem has been pointed out, the manufacturer just despite it, which is not expecting. The Zhu Zhu pets are dangerous, and even more dangerous to a 3-year old child, who may put the toy into his or her mouth, and get toxic directly. Children are the future of a country. This is the common sense that people all knew; however, this man, he made the toxic toys only for making benefits without thinking the long-term economic, to shape a kid. After all, this article is alarming us to seize the Zhu Zhu pets, and criticizing the unconscious business men.
After reading the news, I found I am so glad that this article judge the event but not following the sentence, which were said by the manufacturer. The author stands on the common side, and wrote for the common goods. I am appreciated about the writing, but the event itself made me upset. How can such thing happen? The business men today always want to do business on the others, no matter what age their consumers are. In China, Sep, 2008, something even horrible happened. The milk company used a poisoned materials to make the milk for babies, and it causes thousands of babies had heavy healthy issue when they were still 1 or 2 years old. I hope the situation of Zhu Zhu pets won’t be as serious as the Chinese one last year. And I wish the company can recycled all their toxic gifts and produce the new one without excess chemicals.

War and Price–Mr. Obama’s speech

The war in Afghans is a big issue since it first came out; therefore, the countries all over the world seized this war and cared about how it went on. This war, which was declared by Gorge W. Bush, was not seen as a just war at all. And Mr. President Obama took charge of now; as he always said in his speech when he was running for the election “it’s the time for change.” Americans were waiting for his decision on the war, and some days before his speech on this problem finally addressed.
December 1st, 2009, Mr. President Obama held a speech in West Point. This speech was watched by millions of people, because it’s so important, and people were all carious about it. In the speech, Obama addressed his Afghans War plan, and he announced he was going to send 30,000 more soldiers to the warfare. However, he announced a very weird thing after the dispatch of soldiers in Afghans; he also talked about the departure date of all troops. This part of speech was really confusing people; why Obama announced the departure date right after he had tripled the number of troops fighting in Afghanistan? Mr. Obama answered this question as well later in his speech, to send 30,000 soldiers was a action to insure the security in Afghans and made sure the al Qaeda would no more exist in that area. Nonetheless, this is his second time to send soldiers to Afghans since he had become the president of United States of America. The speech which he held at West Point impressed, and made the students there wanted to fight for their country and burn up the passion of fighting.

Above is the part one of the speech, find the other parts by using the youtube link on the video at the end.
Later, I read an article in Slate Magazine, written by Fred Kaplan. The title is Obama’s war begins. After somewhat went over the speech that Obama addressed on December 1st, the author expressed his strong opinion to it. It’s hard to judge if his view is positive or negative. In the article, the author somewhat got confessed about the opposing idea on dispatch and departure like me. And wonder where and when this war can really end. After all, he doubts if Mr. Obama view on war is similar to Bush or not; judging the addiction of 50,000 men to fight entirely; “There is also good reason to doubt Obama’s assurances that this is an international war and that the NATO allies, as well as some of the other nations supporting this effort, will be adding 5,000 more troops as well.” (Obama’s war begins)
Anyway, as a great speaker, Mr. Obama included detailed and true U.S fact in his speech. In the very beginning of his speech, when he went over the beginning of this war, he said “we did not ask for it.” And brought all audiences to September 11th, 2001, when four planes crush in America and killed almost 3,000 innocent people. The war happened when Gorge W. Bush was in charge; to declare the war, Bush needed the votes for it. And the result was like 98 to 0 in the Senate and 420 to 1 in the House of Representative, which obvious over two thirds of the number, so it’s legal to declare the war.
After I went through the speech and the strong article on it, I came up with some ideas. The dispatch of soldiers made Americans remain Gorge W. Bush and his idea on this war—unjust. When Mr. Obama announced to send 30,000 more soldiers to Afghans after the first 21,000; it made me wonder if that necessary as he said in his speech; that was a required cost. 9 days after his speech, which is yesterday Mr. Obama got his Nobel Price. For me, it seems ironic, because he got the Price right after he dispatched more men to Afghans to fight. Or, if that’s what exact thing they wanted to play on Mr. Obama, to make it ironic?

Obama in Japan.

Last year Mr. Maguire forced us to write an essay, which was “a letter to President Obama” in that essay I wrote about the relationship between Asian countries and America. And today, I read the newspaper and found out he is in Asia right now! He is in Tokyo and tries to mend the relationship. (Obama Arrives in Tokyo to try to mend the relationship http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/world/asia/14prexy.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print)
The author wrote about Mr. Obama went around some place in Japan, and got some new information, like the American Marine. Later Mr. Obama had a conversation with the high level Japanese governs, the Japanese new government judged that Mr. Obama’s government was pushing Japanese government so hard and bring up some problems “Mr. Fujiwara and others said part of the problem was the Obama administration was pushing Japan’s new government too hard, too early, and not giving it time to work out its policy stances”.
It seemed like American government brought a hard time to the Japanese government, for examples, the American marines and the importing of American cars. Also, the Japanese government somewhat got confuse by the American new government; they yet know what were the new government wanted. “‘There are too many places where we don’t know what the new government really wants,’ said Yasunori Sone, a professor of political and policy analysis at Keio University in Tokyo. ‘Their public relations has been poor.’” Indeed, the purpose of the travel to Japan, president Obama was tending to fix their poor public relations. Also Japanese government wanted to make a big change in their alliance. When those problems took place in the communication they kind of having argument, so somehow they changed their topic to greenhouse effects that kinds of stuffs.

In my opinion, it’s good that both of Japanese government and American government know what each other needs, and facing the problems between their relationships is better than ignoring them. Obama will have a dinner with Mr. Hatoyama, I hope at that time they can figure out the solutions.
It’s hard to say who bring a hard time to whom. The relationship between countries just about using and being used, in the other word, get benefits from or get benefits by, that’s all. America, as a the strongest and the most powerful country in the world today really need to go over the relation with Japen.

Abortion Rights? !

What if a teenager girl has a baby by accident?” I and my friends once talked about this sensitive issue. As I know, only a few states support the abortion rights. However, none of us think the girl should have the bearing, that’s too early for her, and her family must kill her for this.

Currently, I read the New York Times “For Abortion Foes, a Victory in Health Care Vote” (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/us/politics/09abortion.html?_r=1&hp) which is about President Obama worked on the health care. And he worked on abortion rights as well. However, the bishops will not support him if the “abortion rights” is in the health care project, and to the opposite bill. Yet, the project really needs the bishops’ support in many ways. The author of the article supports the abortion rights, too. As he wrote in his article “restriction on abortion coverage, added late Saturday to the health care bill passed by the House, has energized abortion opponents with their biggest victory in years — emboldening them for a pitched battle in the Senate”
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Abortion should be legalized, and it should be the personal choice for a pregnant woman as well. Even some say it is not only illegal but also immoral, because having an abortion equals killing an innocent baby, there are too many “what ifs” for pregnant women.

If a mother doesn’t have any physical or emotional health problems which are related to the mother and her baby’s future, then bearing a child is safe. What if she has a serious issue? If a woman is too weak to support the pregnancy, she should have abortion instead of having to bear the child. Again if a mother has a disease like HIV, she probably should consider giving up her child. The child with HIV would have more health problems and the child cannot live as long as the others. That is such a sad sorrow. Baby’s health is important, too. Taking care of a baby with disability can be a big challenge. So far the technology of type B-ultrasonic is develop enough to check out whether a baby has a disability or not before they are born. It gives a good choice to the baby’s parents for thinking about whether they should have their baby at this time or not. After, the mother can make her own choice: bearing or abortion.

The integrity of family is also needed. Includes economy, happiness, love, etc. for the children’s future; parents should have a strong relationship, to ensure baby can grow up with family but not single parent. Everyone likes to be with the family which is filled with love and happiness. If a family cannot support those things to the child, they should not let the baby be born. Because it is unreasonable, that makes an innocent life having distress with the family.

Also economy is a very important point of this issue. As a hard working couple, they can only get enough money for their own, should they have a baby, which will bring them an extra financial burden? Mothers can easily spend between $9,000 to $11,000 for diapers, baby furniture, clothing, baby gear, etc. In the other words, unless they have more than enough for supporting their child, or the baby’s birth can be annoyance. As a single parent, a woman who has a low income is more likely to do abortion than the rich one. True, even a poor woman can have her own child, but unfortunately the economic situation really takes an important place in mother’s choice.

In some cases, a baby is un-expectant and unwanted. Think about a woman who has been raped. In this case, the baby is without love, and baby’s mother is certainly not prepared. This time, abortion can be a solution to the problem. Also, as teenagers, sometimes they will have sex with the one they love. They are as green as gooseberry, they just know a little about sexual issues. Once teenage girls have their baby, they cannot properly parent the child. I don’t think their parents will support her baby, even if the baby is their grandchild. That is too early for a teenager to have dependant.
Now, go over the whole world. The population is really large. People should control birth rate3, or the earth will finally be destroyed by the huge population. In Africa, many countries do not have abortion system, or the condition for having an abortion. This makes the population in Africa become very large. And its large population not only affects Africa, but the whole world. People with a kind-heart give a lot of money and stuffs to Africa. Since its a large population, over 50% of people still in the “hell”. In the case, abortion could show its powerful and obvious effect.
After all, it should still be a personal choice than anything else.

by the way~~happy Birthday to me~ yeah~~ 17!!!

Google Library

I use computer every day, and every time, when a tough question or something I really want to know come to me, instead of finding answer in books and tomes, I prefer searching the answer online. Since the computer and technology revolution took place in America, millions of information was uploading and downing every single day. At this point, google.com as the biggest search engine in America is known by the people all over the world.

Google is awesome; you can get almost everything you want by just typing a few words. However, when students like us doing research paper, which required APA format, even using Google is not that helpful. Read through the Time(http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1933055,00.htm), it’s good to know “Google announced plans in 2004 to scan millions of tomes tucked into library stacks across the country.” Once this project comes true, those words which are hidden in tomes will be put on Internet and all free to use within copyright. (They pay the authors for copyright.)Also, this plan will lead people and their knowledge into a new domain. Nevertheless, in the article, the author wondered Google Inc. is really helping the spreading of knowledge or just doing the business.
Maybe you will wonder why Google is doing this. It doesn’t see any good to Google Company. But the truth is yes, there are some benefits for Google, Indeed, the company is planning to be a digital book seller, and tries to put Google in a very special position in the digital book market. Anyway, this is a new revolution between books and Internet.
Since Google is the pioneer of this revolution, there are still some problems in their way to success. The number of books they need to deal with is large, neither you nor me can image. So, there must be many authors who are difficult or impossible to find. In this case, Google Expert suggests the using of registry. But even they do so, they won’t be able to find all the authors, it may cause Google has some information without copyright. Also, because it is in America, where people seize and regard copyrights so much if a great company like Google gets benefits without copyrights that will be a big issue. So once their way to solve copyrights is not good enough, a “battle” takes place currently. Authors Guild et al. vs. Google Inc. They have had a debate, yet they didn’t get a result that suits both sides. Very soon, their debate becomes a “dizzying array of criticisms”.
After all, I think it is good for both Google Inc. and its users. No matter whether Google is merely doing a business or not, this project will bring lots of benefits to us, and also it helps spread knowledge, and creates a new time of e-book.