Los Angeles Times
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Egypt’s Political Fault Lines Shaken by Rival Protests in Cairo
Los Angeles Times
Article: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/11/world/la-fg-wn-egypt-rival-protests-20121211
In the article, “Egypt’s Political Fault Lines Shaken by Rival Protests in Cairo” from Los Angeles Times, Jeffrey Fleishman and Reem Abdellatif reports about the chaotic political situation of Cairo, Egypt, in regarding the adaptation of the new constitution. Nearly two years after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak’s autocratic regime, Islamic supporters of the new President Mohamed Morsi drafted an Islam based constitution to rebuild the politics of the country. In reaction, many opposition groups that have different religions than that of Islam and believe that the country is not ready for a constitution yet, have formed. Thus, the politics of Egypt have been divided into Islamists who side with the president, advocating the new constitution, against liberals and secularists who fear for its harm on the civil rights and development of the Islamic Law. Due to the difference in their beliefs, there have been clashes during protests that resulted in death of eight people and injuries of hundreds of both Islamic side and the oppositionist side.
Egypt should not adopt the new Islam based constitution because they need experts and lawyers to inform people and interpret the laws, not the religious people. Due to the Islamic beliefs, laws will be biased and will benefit Muslims more. Pedestrians may not be aware of Islamic ideas, which will lead them to not to fully understand the laws. The November 22 decree has been passed by Morsi and his Islamic supporters, expanding Morsi’s power. If Morsi does not consider the oppositions regarding the constitution currently, he may abuse his power even more in the future. Morsi needs to make a compromise with the opposition side to prove that he is a fair ruler. This constitution is just another strategy to recalibrate the region’s politics and revive the long-suppressed debate over the balance between democracy and political Islam. Its main goal has nothing to do with civil rights and civil developments.
Does Obama’s Gun Control Plan Have a Chance?
CBS News
Article: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57564380/does-obamas-gun-control-plan-have-a-chance/
In the article “Does Obama’s Gun Control Plan Have a Chance?” from CBS news, Brian Montopoli analyzes both sides of the argument over whether President Obama’s new gun control laws, if passed, will be effective enough to significantly make a difference regarding gun violence. His proposition includes banning all forms of assault fully automatic military style weapons from the general public, requiring background checks for gun owners, and limiting ammunition magazines to ten rounds along with many other actions. A very controversial topic following the Sandy Hook Connecticut shooting, advocates for stricter gun control laws feel it is necessary to prevent further mass killings while those against President Obama’s proposition feel the president’s proposition is an encroachment to their rights upheld by the Constitution’s second amendment.
Stricter gun control laws should be passed because when considered we must look at all the tragic accidents that have occurred in just 2012 and 2013 alone. Many people were harmed and killed in the Batman shooting in Aurora, even more people were killed in the Sandy Hook shooting recently, and this must stop. We must come together as a nation and do whatever is necessary to prevent this from happening in the future. The right and most logical thing to do in this situation would be to pass stricter gun control laws. It is unnecessary for any law-abiding citizen to have to have a fully automatic weapon in their home. The second amendment was written at a time where problems such as the one our country is facing today were not foreseen and could not have been imagined therefore it is not an injustice to touch upon this constitutional right. In order to feel the full effect of all that has happened in less than the past six months we must place ourselves in the shoes of the victims of these tragic accidents. In doing so we would see clearly that a change regarding our nation’s gun policies are more than necessary.
India Cram Schools Offer a Chance at Upward Mobility
Los Angeles Times
Article: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-india-cram-schools-20120911,0,4972705.story?page=2
In the article, India Cram Schools Offer a Chance at Upward Mobility, in the Los Times’ New Delhi, Tanvi Sharma reports the students in Kota, India being all forced to cram into small classes in order to earn their spots in one of India’s 15 elite Institutes of Technology. There are about 140 students crammed into each classroom and they are all fighting for the same goal, to attend an elite Institution and become a successful engineer. Students at these schools study up to 19 hours a day, seven days a week. It is difficult to concentrate in the classes because the students are literally shoulder to shoulder throughout the entire school day in their classes. The studying is taken extremely seriously in Kota and the program is run strictly on a daily basis. Only 2% of all the students pass the final test to become an engineer and go to one of the prestigious schools. The other 98% of the students are considered failures and have to pursue another career and start their education all over again.
Cramming of the students in the classroom should be allowed because these students put all of their minds into this and want to be successful in the engineering field. They are motivated to do their best on a daily basis. It should be necessary for these students to go through rigorous competition with other students like this to earn a spot into the top institutions. Also, if a spot into one of the institutions is earned then that person’s life would be set and they would start earning top money with their jobs.
On the other hand, cramming students should not be allowed because 140 students crammed into small classrooms is unreasonable for the student to learn in and be able to concentrate properly in. Engaging in this class is a gamble because of its 98% failure rate, but if conditions were improved this rate would go up with proper attention given to each student. The failure rate is so high also because it is difficult to go to school seven days a week. This causes mental stress and there is no time to relax or enjoy your time.
Man Arrested in Anaheim after Women Found Dead
Orange County Register
Article: http://www.ocregister.com/news/woman-495636-dunn-arrested.html
In the article, “Man Arrested in Anaheim after Women Found Dead” written by Sean Emery is about a man who is suspected of murdering a women in a hotel room in Anaheim. The women was found dead in the hotel room at 1:45 pm today by officers that were called to the scene. At the scene the women was dead and the man had a significant abdominal injury. The man’s injury is not life threatening is he is expected to survive. He however is the suspect of the murder the person who most likely killed the women. The man is currently at the hospital being evaluated for the abdominal injuries he suffered in the hotel room. He is arrested on suspicion of murder but is not yet booked, and he will not be booked until he is released from the hospital. As of now the man remains under the guard and watch of the hospital.
The man should still be free because he still has the to be free until there is significant proof that he indeed did kill the women and that it was is intention to do so. Also, he is significantly injured and had the right to have proper medical attention. He is severely injured and needs medical attention or he will also die. Lastly, there could have someone else involved that tried to kill both of them. It is not guaranteed that that man is the killer; he has to be given a fair shot to explain what took place at that time.
On the other hand, the man should be in custody because he killed a woman in a hotel room and it is obvious because he has significant wounds to show probably of which occurred while trying to murder the women. Also, it is just logical to put a suspected killer into custody. Even though he is under the hospitals watch you never know what a killer may have on their mind.
City must turn over evidence to family of man shot by officer
Orange County Register
Article: http://www.ocregister.com/news/anaheim-382682-family-officer.html
In the article, “City must turn over evidence to family of man shot by officer” in the Orange County Register, Vik Jolly and Claudia Koerner, report on Monday, January 7, 2013, that a man shot by police need the city to give them evidence of the shootings action. Genevieve and John Huizar’s son was fatally shot in Anaheim last year by a cop and they want all the reasons of why the shooting occurred and if it was absolutely necessary for this action to be taken. The city however does not want to hand the shooting information over to the family yet because it can have a negative impact on the criminal probe for the city. The family and their attorney think that the shooting did not have to necessarily happen and that there could have been a better way to deal with the situation. But the family has no information at all about why the shooting happened and what caused the officer to take the action of pulling the trigger. The debate is whether it is right for the city to keep the important information regarding the shooting or if they should hand it over to the family so they can have a chance to look over the situation at hand and then decide on their next move from then.
The city should give the information to the family because the family should have the right to view the information of why their son was fatally shot by an officer. As the victims parents they should have the right to know what happened in that situation to their son. Also it may put the family at ease if they realize that the shooting was necessary. They might understand that their son got shot for the safety of others and what he did was more then deserving to be shot down.
The city should keep the information because they have a higher chance to be successful during the criminal probe. They will have a longer amount of time to look over the situation and protect the officer that took the shot. Also, if they keep the information it protects the officer that took the shots. It doesn’t put him under pressure to tell everyone what he did and why he made that critical decision at that time.
Friend says she asked Rockefeller impostor about dug-up backyard
Los Angeles Times
Article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0320-fake-rockefeller-20130320,0,5591173.story
In the article, “Friend says she asked Rockefeller impostor about dug-up backyard” in the Los Angeles Times, Hailey Branson-Potts and Jack Leonard report on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, about an incident were a man was accused of burying his landlady’s son in San Marino in 1985. Christian Gerharsreiter is the man accused of burying the boy in a backyard of a house in San Marino. He was first accused when the women found bones in the backyard and notices that the dirt was turned over. The dirt was fresh and she thought Christian did it because she realized that he was spending a lot of time at the house in San Marino. Christian claimed it was like that because he was having plumbing problems but with further research no such problems occurred. After this the women really thought that Christian killed her son and that he should be charged of murder but she still had no evidence that it was him. Even though all the signs say the he killed the child evidence is lacking therefore the trial is still ongoing to this day.
Christian should be convicted because a child was buried and the mother must feel great grief even until this day. She deserves to know who committed the crime and finally get justice towards the situation. Also, all the facts that are put together point at Christian being the killer of the child. Especially after he lied about the pluming situation.
Christian should not be convicted because he has the right to remain free until there is substantial evidence that he is the killer and that there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the actions token came for him. Also, there are no pictures or videos of him committing such an action. Without proof he cannot be charged of murder. There is no absolute answer to who killed the child.
Security in Libiya
Los Angeles Times
Article: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-security-20121011,0,1929430.story
In the article, “U.S. declined requests to boost security in Libya, Congress told” in the Los Angeles Times, Ken Dilanian and Kathleen Hennessey report on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, that the United States declined the option to send extra security to Libya. The U. S. wanted to look out for the security of the American citizens especially after four Americans were killed in Libya on September 11, 2012. America felt the pressure to keep their citizens safe and out of harms way. On the other hand, former, State Department’s regional security officer in Libya, Eric Nordstrom, was enraged by the fact that more security was not sent to Libya. He thought more security could have protected the lives of the four Americans that were murdered. Also, Lt. Col. Andrew Wood, head of the 16-member U.S. military team assigned to protect the embassy in Libya, was shocked by the decision no to send extra security to Libya. Wood was almost expecting an attack to come and was in need of more security. This terror attack is an ongoing concern throughout America and the safety of the American citizens.
The security should be boosted in Libya because when four Americans are killed in an attack on diplomatic facilities it is not an acceptable outcome. The US government should have done more to make sure this did not happen, as in bring in more security. Also, Lt. Col. Andrew Woods said, “I almost expected the attack to come.” If the attack was certain the security should have been boosted in Libya to keep Americans out of harms way.
On the other hand security should not have been boosted in Libya because four Americans were murdered in Libya during an attack and it would not be safe to send more Americans to Libya and its dangerous environment. Also, It was a terrorist attack. If there were more Americans in Libya at that time there would have been more deaths of American citizens, because terrorist attacks are reckless.
Warming climate may starve bamboo-eating pandas
Los Angeles Times
Article: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-giant-panda-20121112,0,1607423.story?track=rss
In the article, “Warning climate may starve bamboo-eating pandas” in the Los Angeles Times, Monte Morin, report on Monday, November 12, 2012, that pandas are quickly running out of food in the warming climate. As the temperature increases, bamboo the main food for pandas starts to dry out and can no longer be eaten by pandas. These pandas are starving for a lack of food and are on the border of death. As the temperature increases the bamboo dies off rapidly and there is nothing left for the pandas to gain vital nutrients and protein off of. Pandas consume anywhere form “26 to 48 pounds of bamboo each day”. There is a possible solution though; moving these pandas to areas with more concentration of valuable bamboo. While this solution seems ideal it might cause even more problems for the pandas. It could me more detrimental to the pandas because moving to a completely different environment could be harsh on pandas and it could just be better to live in their current conditions and battle against the lack of baboon. Evolutionary biologist, Mao-Ning Tuanmu said, “We will need proactive actions to protect the current giant panda habitats.”
Pandas should be moved to areas with more good because 60% to 100% of the bamboo is going to vanish within the next 100 years. That is why it is important to relocate the pandas and keep them in good conditions, so they can survive. Also pandas eat. Pandas need to eat 26 to 48 pounds of bamboo a day. The pandas must be moved if this is a necessity or else they won’t survive. With limited bamboo and an abundance of pandas they have to be relocated to order to find food find food.
On the other hand pandas should not be relocated because if they are relocated they would have to get used to their new environment and that could be worse then having a lack of food. The change in scene could cause great harm to pandas. Also, if pandas are moved to new locations they are more then likely to be split from their families. This could seriously devastate the young pandas and they would have a less chance at survival by themselves.
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