A ROYAL AFFAIR

If anyone picks up the latest US or People magazine a reader can read all about the upcoming marriage between Prince William and Kate Middleton. The tabloids are raving about anything and everything from what designer Middleton for her dress to the tiniest details of the ceremony. Even though the pair’s engagement has become one of the biggest news stories of the year it might be overshadowed by another story centered around Prince William. There was recent speculation the Prince William would become the next king instead of his father, but the young prince commented back and said, “he had no desire to climb the ladder of kingship before his time.” This whole debacle spiraled out of control even more when the public stated that they rather have William as a king then Charles.

To me, this whole situation seems very silly. I do not know understand why the public is so anxious to know who their next king will be especially since their Queen is still alive. The royal titles are inherited so they do not even have control over who receives the crown. It seems a bit ridiculous to be so worried about this issue whenever there is nothing they can do about it anyways. Another reason, I don’t get why this situation was blown up to reach the tabloids is because in England the monarch does not even hold very much power anymore so it is not like they are having to worry about who is going to rule and oversee their country when the Queen passes. This piece of news caught my eye because it just seems so insignificant for it too take up such a large part of the news. There are bigger problems going on in the world that should be focused on more instead of publishing an article about how a few people suspect that Prince William wants to receive the royal throne before his father. 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Within my generation the problem of academic dishonesty is growing more and more. I don’t know if it is because we have gotten lazy as students or we just have the means to cheat more then previous generations have. To me, this is a big problem because if people choose to cheat then they are not really learning anything. Getting too much help, copying another persons homework, or making a cheat sheet for a test do not help us grow intellectually. Because of these things people are learning to not think or do their own work for themselves. 

People need to realize that it is not ok for them to not study and coast along on the coattail of another. The students who choose to take part in academic dishonest such as cheating and plagiarism really need to think about the consequences. At the moment, cheating might be the easy way out to save their GPA, but in the long run it could be one of the worst decisions they ever make. For example, no one wants a doctor to operate on them who cheated their way through college and medical school. If my life were in the hands of another I would want them to have been paying attention in class and studying whenever they are going to perform a surgery or even diagnose me with something. Also, because they cheated they might not know all the information they need to become a successful practicing MD. In an emergency situation that doctor might not know the best action to save a life because he or she didn’t take the time to learn what he or she needed too.

I realize someone dying because a doctor cheated in medical school is an extreme situation, but if academic dishonest continues to occur this example could become a reality if it hasn’t already. At times cheating seems to be the best solution we as students might have but in the overall scheme of things it could really hurt someone. Now is the time to put an end to the problem and start finding a solution. 

Is Trick or Treating Safe?

Every year when October rolls around every person can see the signs that Halloween is approaching. Some people love this holiday and go all out by decorating their house with the scariest decorations and dressing up in the most elaborate costumes. A lot of others just blow it off like it is just any other day. No matter if Halloween is your most favorite or least favorite holiday everybody knows about the tradition of trick or treating. In the olden days people would be given “soul cakes” whenever you knocked on the door instead of candy. These cakes were distributed as a way of saying a prayer for the family and their deceased loved ones who received. As time has gone along candy has replaced the distribution of cakes. After years and years of children receiving all kinds of candy parents now have to worry about their children receiving poisonous treats. It is so sad to think that some people in this world have ruined one of the greatest traditions the children get to experience. Every year children look forward to the free candy, and parents can’t wait to see their kids all excited and dressed up. It is such a disappointment that it might all come to an end because of a few sick people who would want to hurt innocent strange children just because they think they can get away with it. Even if this is not very common for children to receive poisoned candy it has happened enough for it to be a worry in the back of parents’ minds. It is ridiculous that something so fun has to be spoiled because of some people’s actions. I’d rather be safe than sorry when it comes to children or my own, life but the frustration that the holiday will never be the same will always bother me. 

Political Attack Ads

Over the recent months there has been tons of political campaign commercials all over television telling why you should vote for this candidate and why would shouldn’t vote for another one. As Election Day creeps closer and closer I have noticed more and more slam ads talk about how awful a candidate opposition is instead of advertising about the wonderful ideas he or she has for their state. Over time, I began to realize this form of advertising for politicians took place more than any other tactic. The fact that politicians were trying to bash their opposing candidates like this really bothered me. If they want to tell the public about the awful things or events the other person has participated in they should do it for themselves and not hide behind the front of the commercial. If their desire to damage the other person’s credibility is so great they should have the nerve to stay it directly to the people.  The recording of the politicians voice saying, “I am whoever, and I approve this message” is not enough. To me, it makes who ever is endorsing the commercial seem like a coward because he or she does not want to take the risk to say it for his or her self. Most politicians do not want to be seen as a jerk or a hateful person so making direct accusations like the commercials do would not be good for their image. Because they want to have this squeaky clean image for the campaign contradicts the whole reason for having commercials of this sort.  Personally, I lose respect for those men and women who choose to do broadcast commercials slamming their opponents especially when they want to be thought of as a the best person to represent the people. 

Brett Favre - Should He Give Up Football?

Ever since I was a child, Brett Farve has been my all time favorite football player. I have followed him from the time he was a cheese head, to New York with the Jets, and now as a Viking. Even though I haven’t been around long enough to see him play all twenty seasons, I have watched him for as long as I can remember. A few years ago word got around that he was retiring from the Green Bay Packer. Obviously, I was devastated because I no longer had someone to support on Sundays when the football games were on. To my relief, he never when through with it and moved to a new team. Many during this time did not support Farve’s returning to the game even some of his most dedicated fans. Many wanted him to retire and walk away from the game he loves so much. I do not understand why so many had such a strong opinion about whether he continued to be a quarterback for the NFL. Why don’t those people try to quit the one thing that they love the most and have done for their entire life? Farve’s life has always centered on this sport, and it is not fair for people to try and take that from him. I think people should leave him alone and not scrutinize his decision to keep playing even as he enters in to his forties. He has amazing leadership skills and will always be classified as one of the greatest players of all time. If Brett continues to play as well as he did before there is no reason for him to pack up his locker and return home to Mississippi.  He has had made accomplishments in his career that others only hope to achieve so why are people so desperate to see this legendary player jog of the field for the last time? 

Stealing Your Way to the Top

  

About a week ago, I received an email from my hall director informing the students of my hall about several acts of theft that have taken recently place. When I first heard about the situation I was completely shocked. I do not understand these people who would take something that is obviously not theirs. I realize it is normal to become envious of those who have items that you desperately desire, but actually taking it to the next level to steal is a bit too much. As time passed the situation seemed to go away until when my suite-mate became the latest victim when someone took her backpack. She turned around just for a minute, and the next thing she knew her bag was gone. That made the situation so much more real to me and made me think that this is a problem that needs to be addressed soon.

Personally, I find this to be a serious issue especially for those students living on campus. Those of us who will make the dorms our home for the next year do not want to have to constantly worry about people breaking in and taking our valuables. While living at home we could leave all of our stuff lying around wherever and know that it will be there when we get back. I know that it is unrealistic to treat a dorm like we would our parent’s home, but it would be nice to know that someone wouldn’t swipe our belongings even if we turn around for a second or if we accidently leave it behind.

Also, it is unfair for people to get away with this. It is a crime, and for no reason is someone entitled to wrongly take from us. Not only is it against the law, but also it is morally wrong. Regardless, stealing isn’t an uncommon thing, and it takes place pretty much everyday all over the world. Because of this, I do not expect stealing to go away. I just think that in certain situations we shouldn’t have to be as cautious as other times especially in places where we are living. I don’t think it is unfair to want a sense of security or want to have a peace of mind that our possessions won’t be stolen, do you?

Transfer of Blame

As I sat in front of my TV last night, Lindsay Lohan made the top story in E! News.  The interview progressed more and more, but something seemed very wrong about what she was saying. She stated that after the recent encounters with jail sentences and drug accusations she was now a changed person. Personally, I give her tons of respect if she turns her life around under the pressure of Hollywood. The thing that bothered me though was that she never took responsibility for her actions. In Vanity Fair, Lindsay blames her problems on her father and “the Britney’s and whatever.”  She never confessed that all her problems were her fault because they were her decisions. She constantly transfers the blame to those people she chose to surround herself with. I think if she is strong enough to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars she should be strong enough to say no to drugs and excessive alcohol.

Another thing is I do not understand how she can make productive changes in her life if she cannot accept what she did was wrong.  Without acknowledging her wrongdoings is like ignoring she ever had a problem and nothing can ever be fixed. This situation where people transfer the blame, I believe, happens way too often in our current society. How can people move forward without accepting their mistakes?? Too many people push the guilt on to others. Some may do this because they are afraid of looking stupid or being embarrassed in front of the people they look up to.  Although, most humans have more respect for those who take on their issues instead of hiding from them.  Making excuses might seem like the easy way to escape criticism, but in the long run it will hurt you. All humans fall victim to doing what Lindsay Lohan has done in smaller ways and in bigger ways, but to actually solve a problem more people including myself should step up to the plate realize the magnitude of our actions.

Who's afraid of a little hard work?

"Wasn’t it more absurd to give up? Wasn’t it more absurd to fail, to turn back, then to continue?”

For Zeitoun, failure was not an option. From the second he lays his eyes on these irresistible rocks he is dead set on touching them. He states that the idea of not touching the rocks is crazier than succumbing to failure. Zeitoun does not understand why anyone would want to give up and turn his or her back on a task waiting to be completed. If you look at American society today, we are lacking citizens who possess this same kind of drive. Most do not mind turning around when the going gets tough. This enormously sets Zeitoun a part from the average American who has become lazier with each generation.

Zeitoun would not be able to stomach the idea of leaving his path once an adventure begins. His innate determination drives him to achieve all his goals. He takes great pride in finishing what seems to be impossible and doing what others would shy away from. Dignity is everything to Zeitoun so whatever that task may he attacks it at full force to do the best job he possibly can. Losing an ounce of dignity because he did not give one hundred percent would hurt him more than anything else in the world.

As Americans, who come from the land of the free and have millions of oppurtunities open to us, we should take on values such as Zeitoun’s to build a society that is better then we could have ever expected. Zeitoun’s personality would never hide from a challenge, but more often then not we see fellow citizens cringing at the idea of hard work. Overall, if Americans took on Zeitoun's work ethic and determination our society might flourish in ways many never thought possible. If more people thought giving up was foolish it would be extraordinary to see what our generation could accomplish, and we might actually like the results we get from giving it our all.