Copy Edit the World #2

The current JMC internship application incorrectly capitalizes not and uses you instead of your.

Blog #11 In My Humble Opinion 2 - A Just Death, Osama bin Laden

The world slept sounder last night, Sunday May 1, 2011 after President Barack Obama announced to the world that Osama bin Laden is finally dead. Never have I been joyous to hear the news of someone's death until now.

In my humble opinion this act of justice will help heal old wounds and return patriotism, along with confidence in our nation. Living in a country with such diverse people who hold such opposing beliefs both politically and socially, is a wonderful thing at times, but it also leads to thoughts of uncertainty in regards to our future.

The death of Osama bin Laden restored unity to our country, if just for one night. Last night, I witnessed people from all sides of political, social and religious spectrums rejoicing in the news of this man's death. People who lost loved ones nearly ten years ago on that September morning, will be able to continue their lives now, knowing that if anything, a little bit of justice has been served. For some of these people I would not be surprised to hear that their healing process did not start until last night. I would not be surprised to hear that they slept soundly for the first night since Sept. 11, 2001.

All though the life of one man could never make up for the nearly 3,000 who were killed under his control during the worst terror assault on American soil, it is a good start and a valid one. I would never praise the death of a human being just to prove something, but Osama bin Laden's death is much more than that. Osama bin Laden was a mass-murderer, a supressor of his own people and a symbol of terrorism. This goes beyond, "an eye for an eye..." as he rivaled Hitler in the amount of bloodshed on his hands. Hopefully, a little bit of hatred died in the world last night and a little bit of goodwill and peace was born.

It is scary to think that one man could cause such destruction and pain to the world, but throughout history we have come across a few of these evil masterminds who have managed to gain followers and rise to power. I'm happy to know we have put a stop to one of them last night and I am proud of my country for putting an end to the Taliban regime, defeating Osama bin Laden.

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Blog #10 Japanese Internment Memorial

Following the surprise military attack conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941, the United States government implemented a forced relocation of nearly 110,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps located along the west coast.

The United States to become scared of anyone with a Japanese ancestry. Impelled by the military, the Japanese were taken to various relocation camps for “security reasons.”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized these relocation camps through Executive Order 9066 which allowed local military commanders to designate "military areas" as "exclusion zones," from which "any or all persons may be excluded." It was not until 1988 that President Ronald Regan apologized for the exclusion of Japanese Americans.

I became familiar with Japanese interment camps in my high school history classes. However, I was not aware of the impact the camps had on San Jose solely and that there is a memorial in downtown. So, I was surprised to find the 5 foot high, bronze sculpture at south 2nd and San Carlos Street, a location I frequently pass.

There is so much going on in this commemorative piece of art. I found trouble resting my eyes on one spot. There is a wide variety of people and activities being pictured among the landscape. I assume this depiction of created chaos is appropriate because the internment camps were that of many things, chaotic.

The artist, Ruth Asawa, did a wonderful job at displaying this chaos and the crowdedness of the camps. This is most likely because Asawa is a Japanese-American artist who was held at the Santa Anita racetrack internment camp in 1942 and was also imprisoned at the Rowher War Relocation Center in Arkansas. The experience of internment lead Ruth to create this Japanese American Interment Memorial.

Like Asawa, many citizens from San Jose’s Japan Town were sent to the internment camps. Among those residents that were sent was Norman Mineta, who would eventually go on to become the mayor of San Jose. San Jose State University also played a role in this part of history. In 1942, SJSU's Yoshihiro Uchida Hall, which was a gym at the time, was used to collect and register Japanese Americans in the San Jose area before they were sent to the camps.

The vignettes in the Japanese Memorial are all very beautiful, but give the viewer and underlying feeling of sadness. The vignette paper airplane flying peacefully above the crowds and the barb wire fence. The free flowing object is a symbol of freedom, in my eyes, something that at the time, innocent people had been stripped of, but looked up to. The other vignette that was particularly emotional was that of a family having to burn their possessions. Children are being forced to give up their toys, along with their lives.

I do not see the United States ever resorting to something like Internment Camps ever again. I remember noticing after the September 11, 2001 attacks, hostility towards Middle Eastern immigrants in our country. I like to think that people are more tolerant today than they were a few decades ago, but I think memorials like this one are important to remind people to be accepting of all citizens in the United States of America.

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Copy Edit the World

Happy Hour Menu at McCormick & Schmicks in downtown San Jose wrote "March 24nd" instead of March 24th.

Fish Out of Water Blog Post #9

On April 7 the LGBT held a seminar to celebrate and discuss the spectrum of sexual identities, and the term, "Sexual Fluidity" said Bonnie Sugiyama, the assistant director of LGBT.

The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center) defined the term sexual fluidity as a sexual orientation with the capacity for change or movement.

The event was led by Elaine Davis, a senior health science major, along with a panel of SJSU students to assist in leading the conversation.

The panel members were there to share their personal experiences coming out to their friends and family, as well as being bisexual members of the community said Davis.

"Sexual orientation varies and is not dependent on gender identity," Davis said.

The seminar provided a powerpoint presentation to define different terms regarding sexual orientations that can be easily misunderstood or misused.

Eddie Parker, a senior psychology major said he identifies as bisexual.

"I think of it as, would you date a blonde or brunette?," Parker said. "To me I see gender almost as hair color."

MacKenzie Lorenzato, a senior occupational therapy major said that she identifies as pansexual, which she said she, "would like to clarify is strictly between consenting adults of the human variety," as well as femme, polygamorous, therefore not monogamous.

Pansexual is an example of a sexuality without gender constrictions, said Lorenzato.

Staci Gunner, the interim director of student conduct and ethical development said she also identifies as a pansexual.

"I live a very queer, fluid, open life," Gunner said of her bisexuality. "I like my cake and eating it too!"

Gunner said that she holds the same respect for those who identify as heterosexuals.

"If you are in a heterosexual and monogamous relationship, I do not discriminate against you," Gunner said. "That is a healthy, family building lifestyle that works for you, but this is the healthy lifestyle choice that works for me."

Senior Psychology major, Nikole Moffett said she found the seminar to be very informative.

"I am a bisexual so it was nice to hear that other people go through the same things that I go through as well," Moffett said. "It was just very informative, seeing how different people have their different relationships and how you don't have to stick with one structure and if you go outside the box it is not weird."

Moffett said, she learned a lot about communication in relationships, with your family and friends and just your community and just be proud of who you are and not having to hide it

"We just hoped this event could be a chance to explore all of the different gender and sexual identities that are out there and that people could come and learn about different therapies here on this campus," said Davis "It is about having and creating fluidity and being able to have a conversation about it."

Blog 8 In My Humble Opinion

The always controversial Westboro Baptist Church took their protests too far last fall, when they picketed a military funeral, displaying signs with phrases like, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers".

The case, first brought to the Supreme Court on Oct 6 was thought to be a potentially groundbreaking First Amendment case.

However on March 2, the Supreme Court ruled a sweeping 8-1 victory for Westboro Baptist's right in the case Snyder v. Phelps.

I am normally a strong believer in the freedom of speech, but I am more than dissatisfied with this outcome.

I feel that the Westboro Baptist Church has time and time again, abused this right, this time causing harm and danger to others.

If they would like to stand on my corner with their hateful signs or shout their beliefs at me while I am grabbing my morning coffee, so be it.

However, anyone who has lost a loved one would agree that protesting is awful as well as disrupting a private and personal procession.

Everything about the "congregation" is offensive, including their website's URL, godhatesfags.com.

On the homepage of their website, there is a video in which they are burning the Quran, as well, what in their opinion is the doomed American flag on September 11, 2006.

Homosexuals and Muslims are not the congregations only targets of discrimination and hate crimes.

In fact, they seem to distribute hate equally to everyone in this world.

According to the church, God also hates Lady Gaga, Haiti, Gerald Ford, Sweden, Nebraska and pretty much anyone besides the members of their congregation.

The website also includes a numbers section, where one can view their "statistics" such as how many people whom God has cast to hell since you have loaded the page.

Westboro stopped in my hometown, Long Beach, Calif. early in 2010 to protest.

When they arrived, my diverse community protested back with signs revealing ridiculous statements such as, "God Hates Mondays" or "God Hates Fig Newtons". I think it was a pretty decent way of showing the congregation just how absurd they truly are.

I have yet to find one decent thing Westboro Baptist Church has done to help anyone in this world, besides providing comic relief for the rest of us sinners.

Unfortunately the Supreme Court did not rule in favor of Synder, but in my humble opinion since the congregation hates America so much and most of the rest of the world, I suggest they move to a remote island where there are no homosexuals, Nebraskans or soldiers to discriminate against.

Although I am sure they would be found condemning coconuts and sea turtles to hell to cure their boredom.

NPR Blog Post

I listened to "All Things Considered", on the fire at the nuclear plant in Japan.

Richard Harrison

The interviewer appeared to know the previous state of Japan, and that at this plant there had been a fire in one area and an explosion in the other.

The interviewer asked questions about the recent updates at the plant.

The interviewer asked fairly straightforward questions at first and then followed up with "What if?" questions.

It seemed that Richard Harrison answered all questions adequately, to the best of his knowledge.

The interviewer made sure to let Harrison explain what caused the fire and explosion so that listeners could better understand.

The interviewer and interviewee clearly both understand the seriousness of the situation in Japan.

I learned how to handle myself as when asking questions about a serious international crisis.