Respect For Our Veterans

I don't think many people really comprehend everything our service men and women put into this country. As if the time, and work they put in wasn't enough, they also risk their lives and experience the horrors of war that many citizens can't even stand to see on the news reports. The things they witness I hope never to see in my life. It truly takes a special kind of person to live the lives these men and women live.

Unfortunately, sometimes the pressures of their duty can overwhelm even these remarkable people, as was the case on November 5th on an army base in Texas when Major Nidal Hassan open fired without warning. 13 were killed and 30 were injured in this shooting.

Hassan was a psychiatrist for soldiers who had often lost limbs or had other physical wounds. Hassan was born a Muslim in the United States. As many of you can imagine being Muslim caused some difficulty for Hassan. He often mentioned to his cousin that he had been harassed for being Muslim. Hassan also told his cousin that his worst fear was being deporte to the front in either Iraq or Afaganistan. He was scheduled to be deprted soon when the shooting happened.

I personally can find little contempt in my heart for Nidal Hassan. He did so much for our country before the incident and that shouldn't be forgotten; we should also not forget all the hardships and pressure he was going through.

I can not even begin to explain all the respect and admiration I feel for our men and women in uniform. My heart goes out to not only the victims and their families, but Nidal and his family as well. I would just like to say veterans please take care of yourselves as best you can; we hope to have you home safe.

Justice At Last

Many women who are raped never tell their story even to report it, so shouldn't we Americans support the women who go through these horrific experiences by allowing them to press chargers against their abusers? Well, that did not happen in the case of the employee of KBR Construction Company. She was working at Camp Hope, Baghdad, Iraq, in July of 2005 when she was gang raped by coworkers. When she went to complain, she was captured and locked in a shipping crate for approximately 24 hours, being threatened with her career. I don't know about this woman's particular situation but for me, no job is worth that.
After she was released from the crate she immediately went to the doctors to be examined and to take photos of the marks that were obtained by the assault; though KBR security confiscated these photos, leaving her with no physical evidence of the attack. Her contract prevented her from suing the company, and since the crime was committed in Iraq the individuals responsible could not be convicted under U.S. law.
I am relieved to say after much too long, fighting the injustice (four years!) major progress is finally being made on this case, thanks to quite a bit of support from senator Al Franken, the victim, Ms. Jones is finally able to sue KBR for what happened to her, Although the law was passed allowing her to sue, 30 members of senate voted against Ms. Jones's rights.
Okay, so someone has to say it; what on Earth would ever posses someone to vote against this? Unless you are a heartless CEO of KBR yourself then there is absolutely no excuse. I just don't understand it; it's completely immoral and ridiculous to not vote for someone's right to sue a company who not only didn't protect them on the job, but abused them more as well. Is greed and cruelty a contagious disease? I sure hope not.

Early Legacy

Early Legacy
by: Emma Smith

Everyone knows it is not a good idea for teenagers to have children, but in one specific case things managed to turn out right.

Jerome Smith is a 16-year-old junior at Roosevelt High School in Portland, tailback on the varsity football team, and the father of a beautiful two-year-old girl named Anajah.

Jerome is a true rarity with a saint-like personality. As soon as Anajah's mother, Emilia, told Jerome she was pregnant, he had no doubts that he wanted to keep Anajah and be a key aspect in her life. Just about everything Jerome does now is for the benefit of Anajah. He attends school regularly and works on graduating (as Anahaj's Early Head Start program depends on it.) Jerome attends every parenting class offered to him, even if it means having to miss football practice.

Durring the rest of football season Anajah is usually looked after by her mother and grandmother, Erika. Football is about the only thing Jerome gets to do for himself. He was forced to grow up faster than most teenagers and football is that piece of youth that he hangs onto.

Jerome and Anajah are now living in one of the two bedrooms in Jerome's gandmother's two bedroom apartment. Jerome wishes to attend college, very possibly to extend his talent as a fashion designer, but Jerome says he will not go without Anajah because his life is no longer about himself, it's about her.

Is it a good idea to get pregnant at 14? No, but it needs to be said that if such a thing does occur, I wish that more people could take on the responsibility as Jerome took on Anajah.