WW2 Japanese Internment Camps

The article was interesting. I haven't really ever delved into the subject of the Japanese concentration camps, so my knowledge is slightly limited. It seems as though it isn't really a subject that comes up in conversations often, so I doubt I'm alone in my lack of information. I can only guess as to the reason for it, however. It's not exactly a bright, shining moment of American compassion and understanding. It's something we (as a country, not as an individual) should be ashamed of, so we rarely speak of it as if to cover up the shame.
It is without a doubt that the whole ordeal spawned of a fear that gripped the US population. Fear of the unknown, fearing the absolute worst case scenario, fear of a threat that wasn't ever there at all. In times of war everyone is tense and on their toes, looking for an enemy to direct their hatred towards. In this case, it was the local Japanese Americans. Why? Because we're at war with the country they were descended from. How does that make any sense? It doesn't, seeing as how they were actual citizens, while German POW's were treated better in every sense than the Japanese people actually living and being productive here. It all comes down to an unfounded hatred and fear of what people don't know about. They were all worried about how the harder-working, more efficient Japanese were taking their jobs. It came down to jealousy, and jealousy breeds fear and hatred.
So I did feel a slight tinge of frustration at the American population. Who couldn't see past the haze of their own fear, and have the ability to realize there was nothing to be fearful of. There was no enemy on their land, only fellow citizens of a different background.

Life Without Parole: Juvenile Edition

There is an ongoing debate in the Supreme Court, and the entire justice system for that matter, on whether sentencing juveniles to life without chance of parole is constitutional or not. Some say that LWOP can be considered cruel and unusual punishment, which is forbidden in the 8th amendment of the Constitution. Others say that kids who commit heinous crimes should be treated as adults, and tried as such. In my opinion, juveniles should never be sentenced to LWOP, neither should anyone I believe. LWOP should be abolished completely (except in special circumstances which I will cover later). My reasoning is that kids are very immature, irrational, and have not yet fully developed mentally to understand what exactly their actions constitute. Adults will almost always say that they are not the same person that they were when they were 16. So why should adults in prison who were sentenced while juveniles be kept in prison if they're not even of the same mindset as they were when they committed the crime? It's unjust to expect people never to change, and never give them the chance to reconcile with themselves. Parole is a chance for criminals to redeem themselves, and gives them the chance to assimilate back in to society as a productive, law-abiding citizen.
Kids are even more open to having a change of heart as they still have time to mature and grow mentally. So giving a kid LWOP robs them of that chance to reflect upon themselves and witness the error of their ways. Giving LWOP to anyone robs them of the chance to reconcile their crimes. But let's face it, some people cannot and will not redeem, reflect, or reconcile, and will never be able to join society as a good citizen. It's the job of the parole board to weed those who can't be good citizens out of those who can.
But what happens if someone commits a crime while on parole? In that case, they have committed the worse crime of all, betraying the trust and abusing the chance to live normally again. If this is the scenario, where someone on parole commits an equally terrible crime to the one that got them in jail, there will be no mercy for them. At that point, it's reasonable to sentence them to LWOP. Because after that chance has been spoiled, it should be obvious that they will never reconcile with their crimes, and they should never be given the chance to abuse the trust and responsibility placed on them again.

International Women's Day

One of the women I am appreciating today is my girlfriend Taylor Cook. I met Taylor early this year, and started dating her in December. She is utterly devoted and loyal to me, and I am utterly devoted and loyal to her. She thinks of me like no other person I've met, believing I'm the greatest individual to enter her life, and walk on the face of this earth. Of course she's biased to some degree, but it she gives me that boost of confidence and support that everyone needs at some point or another. She makes every day that much better, and is always there when I need her. Sometimes I myself am surprised by how disgustingly cute and sappy we can be. Out of all the girls I have dated, Taylor is the first I've ever loved, and the one I plan on staying with the longest.

The other women I am appreciating today is Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand's philosophy on society and the economy is thoroughly stimulating and makes several powerful arguments against philosophies such as communism and socialism. Ayn Rand's book, Atlas Shrugged, is a powerful book that really outlines her perspectives on working, government, and life itself. She may have passed away, but her legend lives on, and especially so today.

Afterthoughts on White Supremacy

In the US, 87% of the top 5% of household incomes are white. By comparison, African Americans make up only 1.04%. However, blacks make up 10% of the US population, so how is it that only 1% is represented in the top 5%? The answer is not clear, and may be one of many things. Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Perhaps it is the product of a particular genetic anomaly that makes blacks not as smart as whites. It could be anything. But while the concept of "white supremacy" was done away with long ago, its shadow can still be found looming over the USA. It is not actively acting against blacks, instead, this white supremacist movement is more of a passive front sweeping the nation. Perhaps there is some underlying cosmic force that simply denies blacks the proportional representation in our government. We don't think about it, but maybe an underlying subconscious impulse influences our (whites that is) attitude and acceptance towards blacks. I would ask you to not confuse this with racism, as a majority of Americans are not malicious nor angry towards the African American race. Instead, perhaps a part of our brain convinces us without our knowledge that we are somehow better then the black community in some way. This maybe prevents blacks an equal chance in our country that we whites enjoy. So no, I do not believe in an overlying white supremacist mindset that we still partake in. I instead prefer to believe that hard coded into our brains is the thought that we are somehow better then blacks. We do not actively act on these impulses, but these thoughts influence our decisions and change the way we behave towards African Americans.

Found Poem

I cried aloud
In my anguish I cried for my mother
But no one came
I had suffered extreme indignities
People stared at me
I had been tossed about
And now my hair had been shingled as a cowards!
Then
I lost my spirit

Crossers, Coyotes, and Corruption

The US-Mexican border is a battleground of political, ethical, and financial viewpoints. It is continuously the subject of heated debates and controversy. Lately, the number of deaths among illegal immigrants attempting to cross the desert in order to get into America has been on the rise. However, the ones who are to blame is not entirely set in stone. I believe that the fault lies with the Mexican government who fails to provide for their people, the smugglers who take the illegals over the border, and the immigrants themselves who take risk it all to come over to the US.
The Mexican government has been under the control of corrupt government officials and incompetent legislators for a number of years. Their government simply does not have the structure nor the leadership needed in order to provide a safe, productive nation for it's people. Most of Mexico is in extreme poverty, with families of 12 living in homes built for 2 people. You would believe that with its beautiful beaches, abundant resources, and rich culture that Mexico would be a leading power in Latin America. The sad truth is that the government is so corrupt and incapable of using those resources to their full potential that the future looks bleak for the people of Mexico. In their desperation, the people of Mexico decide to attempt the dangerous trek from wherever they are into the United States. With the lack of water and scorching heat from the desert sun, many immigrants die due to dehydration and heatstroke.
In order to increase their chances of making it through the harsh terrain into the US safely, many immigrants choose to hire a smuggler, or “coyote”, to take them safely across the border. As it turns out, most of these so called smugglers tend to be con artists looking for a quick buck. Smugglers will not hesitate to leave anyone behind who cannot continue the journey, leaving the person out in the sun to eventually die. Immigrants who find themselves sick or injured will likely be abandoned. Felicitas Martinez was one of these abandoned immigrants. When she had fallen ill, her guide abandoned her in the middle of the desert and ran off with her money. She soon died due to heatstroke and dehydration. Her family was left distraught at the news of their beloved daughters death.
In the end, it comes down to the individuals choice as to whether or not they will attempt a near suicide run through the hell that is the desert. Whether or not they feel it is their only option, or if they just want economic gain is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is they are the ones that take that journey into the belly of the beast. The Sonoran desert is one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America, a barely hospitable landscape. If they find that they are on the verge of death and will have to turn back in order to survive, many succumb to illusions of grandeur or salvation, only to continue and die shortly thereafter. It is hard to sympathize with those that would willing break the law at their own expense.
Illegal immigration (mostly from the south) is a very controversial and much talked about topic. It stands among those other grand issues such as the economy, gay marriage, etc. It is important to know the facts, and weed out the lies ones would try to tell you to sway your opinion. It is equally important to know who or what factors into the problem. The smugglers, immigrants, and Mexican government itself all equally contribute to the problem. If we as a people know the source of a problem, we can rally and stop it. This, however, is an issue that will not be solved immediately. Only through diligence, the passage of time, and the power of the people can we stop deaths on the border.

IAT

For the age test, I was definitely surprised by the results. The things is, I prefer talking to and being around older people then younger people. I just think that my results were based around my ability (or lack thereof) to respond quickly to the questions. And they also switched it up on me.

On the weapons test, I was found to be neutral in choosing between the associations. That doesn't surprise me in the least. Most of the test is just based on getting the right answers, and not so much your opinions on either party. I feel neutral on just about everything, so that result matched me perfectly.