Education: A privilege or a right?

 I walk to class every day without thinking about it as a right, most days I do not want to be in class and the second the lesson begins I check out. I hear none of the lecture and go from one class to the next only being physically present, not absorbing even half the material. Every day when I attend class it's a privilege, but some days I only see it as a chore. Malala Yousafzai just last year was shot for trying to attend school, women are not allowed to attend school, but she did not care she just wanted an education. Education is being denied to nearly seventy million children around the world and 65 million of them are women. These children are not given the chance to tap into their potential without an education. Without an education the world is missing out on all the potential that these children have.  Mentioned in this article, "In 2012, there were 3,600 documented attacks on education, including violence, torture and intimidation against children and teachers, resulting in death or serious injuries, the shelling and bombing of schools and the recruitment of school-age children by armed groups." These children did not cause any trouble, all they want is to receive a quality education and make a living in life. The denial of an education makes their chances of making a living in life, less and less as another lesson is never taught. Honestly with all the new technology rapidly advancing in this world I do not understand why these children cannot receive the education that they deserve. I can open up my Internet browser and by simply just typing in a topic I can receive all sorts of information on the topic, but these children do not even books to learn from let alone the Internet. Thinking about how there are so many children around the world denied a  quality education, makes me more impelled to take advantage of the education that I have the privilege of receiving daily. 

Democratic cartoon

http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/7903284

Say "NO" to abortion

Abortion is an issue very dear and near to my heart because I do not think that it's right to kill babies who do not have a say in the matter. Abortion is a coward's way out of parenthood, they made a mistake one night, but refuse to own up to the consequences of their mistake. Instead of respecting the life of their child, they choose to kill them, which is an awful choice in my mind. But, all the blame in the matter cannot fall on the couples, our society is becoming more and more technologically advanced, providing couples with a simple procedure to kill a innocent life.   I have debated for hours with people about abortion, granted both sides have their reasons, killing a baby just should not be justified. Many argue that abortion is right if the parents cannot support the child, but their is foster homes, adoption, so many people who would be honored to raise the child that is not wanted by the parents. Abortion should never be an option when it comes to a human being created in God's image, they deserve to live just like everyone else does. While reading articles about the abortion rate decreasing I came across this one article in particular that had the calculation of abortion's today, and the number was unbelievable, honestly I wish that the number was zero, but that's not the reality of today's world. It saddens me that 86 babies have been already aborted today just in the United States and it's only one a.m., by the end of the day that number will be unbelievable. The worldwide statistic is outrageous, 3,600 have been killed all over the world today, it disgusts me to think that 3,600 mothers chose their freedom over their children's lives today. I will honestly never believe that abortion is okay because it is not, you cannot just kill someone and get away with it, abortion is murder if the law recognizes it or not. It stresses me out so much to know that our government does not care about the lives of these babies, the government lets mother after mother murder a life. I am glad that the government concerns themselves with murders of a person, but It saddens me that unborn babies are not given the same justice as a victim whom is murdered in broad daylight. Because of my strong  point a view, i attend the march for life after January in Washington D.C., just praying for an end to this awful crime that mother's willing commit daily without punishment. One day I hope that abortion will become a thing of the past, that all babies will be given their chance in this world, but unfortunately I may never experience that in my lifetime with the climbing number of abortions daily. Within the time that I have taken to write this blog the worldwide statistic has gone from 3,600 abortions to 5,600; 2000 babies have been aborted in less than a hour. My prayer for the whole world is that one day everyone will get that the killing of unborn babies is wrong and every aborted baby deserves justice. My heart will never seize to break for the babies aborted every minute of every day because it's not fair to them at all. My biggest question is 'why isn't more being done to preserve the life's of these innocent children?' At this moment in time 28,992,920 babies have been aborted worldwide this year, I am scared to know what the number will be in a week from today, considering it increases by the second. 
http://www.numberofabortions.com/

Iranians Imprisoned By Surveillance.

Fascinated by the surveillance of emails, Facebook accounts, phone calls, and conversations by the American government and companies, prompted me to look at surveillance in foreign countries who do not have a democracy. I found one article in particular about the surveillance in Iran that takes it much more serious than the United States. In the United States we live in a democracy, which gives individuals a lot of say in our government, a government in which one person doe not possess all the power, but rather shared among different levels. In Iran people are denied the right to speak up and voice their own individual opinions, the regime wants to control not only the country,but what and how their people say things. Because of their need for control they take surveillance a step further than just monitoring what is sent and to whom, they are getting rid of the threat by jailing the offender when a message that threatens their power is sent. In my opinion regardless of the fact that Iranians do not possess freedom of speech, it is not right to imprison someone based on one's opinions or ideas, I do understand the threat that the people against the Iranian regime poses, but in some cases people are being jailed for no other reason than just to be jailed. "A group who posted what appeared to be a relatively innocuous video of them lip-syncing to Pharrel’s hit song ‘Happy’ found themselves hauled to jail " (Doug Bernard). The video was innocent, just people having a good time singing together, but yet the government found it necessary to have them arrested. The regime was not threatened therefore the supposed suspects, just become innocent victims of the regime.  The purpose of the surveillance may seem necessary in particular situations, but in other situations it is just being abused by the regime's need to have complete control. Despite the regime's multiple threats and arrests, people still choose to speak and let their voices be heard. I think those who still speak out are courageous because they are not blind to the actions that the regime has taken against those who oppose to them, but they do not let that stop them. Personally I do not know how to stop the regime from abusing their power, but I do know that the intensity of their surveillance is overwhelming. I realize that freedom of speech is not a human right, but the regime's actions to arrest the innocent is not justified. This article reminds me of how blessed we are to have a democracy in the United States in which we have a say in who is in power and how they govern our country. If our current president abuses his power, he can be impeached and then we elect a new leader for our country, but the regime is not replaced unless it is overthrown, one can be in power for life which imprisons the citizens of Iran for many years to come. 
http://www.payvand.com/news/14/aug/1157.html

Class survey

My name is Samantha Caruso-Taylor, but you can call me Sami Taylor. I am from Cleveland, Ohio. My email where I can be reached at is scarusotaylor18@jcu.edu. One thing that i consider unique about me is I have a helix device in the wall of my heart for closure of Atrial Septal Defect. I am also a distance runner, I run track and cross country. One thing that I really enjoy doing is having Disney marathons on rainy days. In order for me to take intellectual and creative risks in a course mutual respect needs to be present, so that I know that everyone's ideas and opinions are respected fully. Personally I believe that the GPS was the most important technological invention in history because I am not directionally talented, I like visuals a lot so telling me the directions to a specific location will not help me, but having the GPS to guide me and give me a visual of my route is very useful to me. Also without the GPS I would not be able to find an alternate route in case of construction or closures; the GPS quickly evaluates the situation and gives me other routes that are helpful or quicker than others. Social justice means that all people are treated equally no matter what; a person's race, gender, sexual orientation, social status or religion does not make them superior to others; all people are to be respected and acknowledged as human beings. Social justice is something that is very dear to my heart because of the focus it was given in my last theology class; that class gave me a new insight into the issues that i had been ignorant towards for so many years because of my lack of knowledge of them. Some issues that i find important are abortion, countries stuck in poverty, and religion. In accordance with abortion I have attended the march for life in  Washington D.C. every January for the past four years, a march that strives to put an end to abortions because killing an unborn child kills a future doctor, scientist, or our next president. This has been a cause very dear to my heart that i want to make illegal, so that more babies are given a chance in our world just like you and me.

What specifically fascinates you about social justice?

Which social justice issue do you hold near to your heart?