Everyone deserves a chance...

                Many teenagers dream of the day they finally get to hit the road. The sun shining, windows down, with a slight breeze here and there. But what most teens don’t consider when waiting on their moment, is that accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Recently I have read an article called “Should 16-year olds drive?” by Ted Gregory, (Chicago Tribune reporter). This article gives several opinions on whether or not teens should be able to drive by the age of 16.

                One person's opinion that really stood out to me was, Linnea Greci’s, (age 15), she said “I don’t think it matters what age you are, … as long as you have the practice and experience”. Her opinion stood out to me because I find it interesting that in the article she was on her way to driver’s education class. I think that she was just saying that because she may have been doing well in driver’s education and was just one year away from her driver’s license. Another opinion that stood out to me was Ryan Moore’s (age 16). Although Ryan was 16 years old and eligible for his license, he would rather have waited, but he really needed his license because his parents were always at work, and he had to get himself to and from work and football practice. He said, “I’ve driven with some people who are horrible drivers even though they’ve been driving for a while… and I’ve driven with people who haven’t been driving very long but are pretty good. Some people are ready and some people aren’t.”

                I agree with Ryan Moore, “some people are ready and some people aren’t”. Although thousands of teenagers die each year because of “motor vehicle crashes”, there are still teens out there who deserve a chance, because some are advanced in skill, even if they don’t take driver’s education class. You never know when it’ll be your time to die, as they say, so why not live? I think that all teenagers deserve to feel that wind in their hair, sun shining, with the windows down. I think that we should be eligible for a license at the age of 16. Why? Because, everyone deserves a chance.

Rest Well Rita ...

They say “the good dies young.” Stray bullets take the lives of many every day. But why her, and why was this given no recognition? Recently, I have read an article called, "Babysitter, 19,takes stray bullet to the head in Wynnefield heights" by Chief Inspector Scott Small where he points out how a 19 year old girl was shot by a stray bullet for no reason. She was babysitting seven children, all who lived in the home of her death. They did not include the woman’s name in the article. This young woman was just playing her role as a babysitter, why did she have to die?

The situation occurred on Tuesday, October 30, 2012  when she had opened the door of the house where she was babysitting. She had unknowingly walked into a shootout. Two men were running down Aberdeen Street, chasing and shooting at one man. The man who they were shooting at tried to get away as fast as possible, so when the young woman opened the door of the house, he ran to the door and the men followed. The man who was being shot at, grabbed the 19 year old woman and pushed her aside so that he wouldn’t be shot. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two gunmen got away, while the man who the guns were being fired at was left uninjured. This goes to show that people are killed everyday with no reason behind it.

This affected me majorly because this 19 year old woman was my best friend’s cousin. I never would’ve thought that she would die so young. Also I think that other people who were killed in the city received more recognition than she did. I thought that this story could’ve used a little more recognition and sympathy than it received.There was one news story on the shooting, and they said they would later release her name, and the name of the man who was originally being chased but they never did. It hurts deeply to see my best friend in so much pain. Rest well S. Hamilton.

Reactions May Vary ...

                There have been so many different reactions on the presidential election. The winner of the election was really no surprise to many, but to some it was far from their expectations. Recently, I have read an article called, “Yay! Boo! So? Reactions to Obama win vary” by Peter Mucha, (Breaking News desk, Philadelphia Daily News) that tells about the different reactions to the reelection for the second term of President Barack Obama.

                The reactions on the reelection of President Barack Obama were priceless. “I’m thrilled to death” said Barbara Drucker, 61, a Collingswood flight attendant. “I would never have voted for Romney on women’s issues alone.” Saving the auto industry and killing Osama bin Laden were key factors that helped the president win four more years”, she said.” This reaction stood out to me because, she was focused on women’s issues, and she also thought about the past achievements that Obama made.

                “I’m not happy”, said Chuck Rihl, 51, of Haddon Heights, in his van outside the Wawa. “I haven’t had a job in over a year.” This reaction also stood out to me because it’s not really President Obama’s fault that he’s been unemployed for so long, maybe he just doesn’t have the skills/education that it takes to get the right job.

                “I knew Barack was going to win,” said Jackie Harrison, 45, of Coatesville, in Center city on her way to her job as a case administrator at bankruptcy court. “I think he’s more trustworthy. He seems more of a people person.” I feel as though she has a point. Barack Obama made a change, and while watching the presidential debate, he actually gave the citizens and congress a chance to ask their questions and make statements while Romney was cutting everyone off, just to get his point across.

                I think that Obama deserved to be reelected as President of the United States of America. He worked very hard in his first term. He made a promise that he wouldn’t be perfect, but giving him a chance was worth it. Since Obama was elected in 2008, much as changed, Osama bin Laden is dead, the auto industry has been saved and Obamacare has taken good affect. I believe that Barack Obama needed this second term.

 I’m Mukalah Upshur and I approve this message.

What's Up With The Climate ?

Recently I have read an article called “Will Climate Change Get Some Respect Now?” by Nicholas D. Kristof (columnist, New York times) about how the weather may vary now that there is more frequent climate change.

According to this article there are several reasons that humans should brace themselves for what types of weather they are soon to face. Humans should start to prepare themselves for hurricanes which are caused by the warmth of the ocean, some climate change being natural variation and some being created by humans. Computer models say, hurricanes won’t occur more frequently but they just may be come stronger when they do occur.

Climate change tends to add moisture to the atmosphere. In other words, when storms do occur, chances are they will have more moisture to them such as rain and heavier flooding.

This article also tells about how there has been climate change so frequently lately that there are debates taking place about what we, as humans can do to prevent the climate change from taking place so often. Although there has not been much talk on climate change during the presidential election it is still considered to be a major issue now and days.

Kristof speaks about how the democrats and republicans were silent about climate change throughout the whole entire election of 2012. He says, “The failure is odd, because in other areas of national security Republicans pride themselves on their preparedness. Romney doesn’t want to wait until he sees an Iranian nuclear weapon before acting so why the lack of action on climate change?” In which he states that there is no sense of priding yourself on being prepared for attacks and wars,  if you can’t pride yourself on preparedness for the safety of your country.