You Don't Know Jack!

This weekend, I watched the HBO movie, “You Don’t Know Jack” starting Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Dr. Kevorkian or “Dr. Death” as he is sometimes called in the media claims to have assisted 130 terminally ill patients with ending their life. In each case, the terminally ill individual took the final action resulting in death. Dr. Kevorkian assisted them by attaching them to intravenous drips or devices that once pushed, released drugs that would end the patient’s life. Dr. Kevorkian’s crusade to legalize physician-assisted suicide caused a massive controversy with some calling him a killer, and others calling him the most empathic physician they had ever known.

In November 1998, Dr. Kevorkian allowed 60 Minutes to air a videotape of a voluntary euthanasia. In the video, the patient voluntarily gives his consent at which time Dr. Kevorkian administers a lethal injection. This video was significant, because it was the first time Dr. Kevorkian administered the lethal dose himself. He was subsequently charged and convicted on second-degree murder and served eight years in prison.

I have to admit, I felt conflicted watching this movie. All four of my grandparents suffered for years with terminal illness. I know first-hand what it is like to watch someone you love suffer, with no hope for a cure. Had there been a way to end their suffering, I know for sure I would’ve thought about it. As Dr. Kevorkian said “We don’t let our animals suffer, why do we let our fellow human beings”? That being said, as I watched the movie, I kept coming back to my faith. In the end, I just can’t justify taking someone’s life or assisting someone in taking their own. For me, it feels too much like “playing God”.

So my question to you this week is “What do you think of physician-assisted suicide? Should it be allowed? If so, in what cases?” Answers are due no later than Tuesday, May 4th, 2010. Please note the change in the deadline because I will be out of town. There will be no new blog post the week that I am gone. The blog will resume with a new post on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010.

What Makes Punishment "Cruel and Unusual"?

Today marks the fifteenth anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City.  Motivated by his hatred of the United States government, Timothy McVeigh detonated an explosive filled truck parked beside the building, killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring 600 more.  324 buildings in the area were also damaged by the blast, resulting in $652 million worth of property damage.  Prior to September 11th, 2001, this was the most destructive terrorist attack on U.S. soil. To those affected personally by the Oklahoma City bombing, my thoughts and prayers go out to you today.

Timothy McVeigh was sentenced to die by lethal injection.  He was executed in 2001 in a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.  His co-conspirator, Terry Nichols is serving multiple life sentences.  In a few weeks, we will discuss the 8th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the concept of "cruel and unusual punishment" and how it relates to the death penalty. So, my question to you this week is "Do you think the death penalty is an appropriate form of punishment?  Why or why not?  When should the death penalty be used?"  Answers are due no later than Sunday, April 25th, 2010.  Don't forget to sign your name to receive full credit.  Happy Earth Day - April 22nd, 2010!!

All You Need is Love?

In this class we will discuss same sex marriage, and whether or not gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights when it comes to marriage as everyone else. For this week’s blog, I would like to expand on that issue and discuss same sex adoptions.
Efforts to ban gay and lesbian couples from adoption are heating up all across America. Florida has banned same sex adoptions since 1977. In Mississippi, gay singles can adopt but gay couples can not. In Utah, all un-married couples are banned from adoption. Currently, sixteen additional states are considering bans of same sex adoptions, including Indiana.
Opponents of same sex adoptions, often say that children being raised with same-sex parents will have psychological issues, be bullied or teased at school, have unclear gender role models and perhaps even become gay or lesbian themselves.
Supporters of same sex adoptions include the National Adoption Center, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Pediatrics, all of which state that adoptions by gay or lesbian couples do not negatively affect children.
The issue of same sex adoption is one that inspires debate across America and will probably be left up to the courts to decide, however one thing is clear: we all want what is best for our children. So my question to you this week is, “What do you think of same sex adoptions? Why do you feel the way you do?” Answers are due by Sunday, April 18th. If you haven't already done so, don't forget to file your taxes!

Live Free or Die!

This week in class we will begin our study of the Constitution. The United States Constitution is widely recognized and studied as one of the most democratic documents ever written. Most of the freedoms that make us uniquely American can be found in the United States Constitution.

You can order your own free copy of the United States Constitution from: http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=bookstore&page=freeCopy.cfm

So, this week I started thinking about what freedoms I value most. Celebrating Easter this past weekend with my family, made me realize how grateful I am for freedom of religion. We are very blessed to live in a country where we are free to practice or not practice our religion as we see fit.

So, my question to you this week is, “What freedoms do you value the most? Why are they important to you?” In addition, I would like you to take a short quiz on the Constitution and include your score and results in your answer. Your score on the quiz will not affect your grade.

The quiz can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?page=quiz.cfm

Answers are due by Sunday, April 11th, 2010

Your Thoughts and Feedback are Appreciated!

Whenever I sit down to write these final blog posts, I can never believe that another quarter has already gone by. You all make me realize why I love my job! I have enjoyed getting to know all of you, and I hope you can say you learned something from this class.


So for our last blog post, I would like to get your thoughts and feedback on the class. What did you like or dislike? What could I do to make the class better? Answers are due no later than Thursday, March 25th, 2010. After that, the blog will be down until the next quarter resumes. I wish you all much success and happiness in the future. Perhaps I will have you again in another course, if so, I look forward to it. Please stay in touch, enjoy the break and have a Happy Easter!

Are We Really One Nation Under God?

This week we will begin a discussion on First Amendment freedoms, which of course, includes freedom of religion. I make no secret of my faith. That being said, I believe strongly in the concept of everyone being free to practice their faith how they choose. I recognize that what I believe may not be what every other American believes. Having the freedom to practice our religion is one of the things that makes us uniquely American, and something that we often take for granted.

Last week the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the use of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency, rejecting arguments the words violate the separation of church and state doctrine in the First Amendment. Writing for the majority, Judge Carlos Bea stated, "The Pledge of Allegiance serves to unite our vast nation, through proud recitation of some of the ideals upon which our Republic was founded". In a separate ruling, the appeals court upheld the inscription of the national motto "In God We Trust" on coins and currency, saying that the phrase is ceremonial and patriotic, not religious.

Locally, the valedictorian at Greenwood High School is asking a federal judge to stop a graduation prayer that the senior class voted to approve. His lawsuit argues that both the prayer and the vote unconstitutionally subject religious practice to majority rules.

So my question to you this week is, "Do you think commencement prayers violate the First Amendment? Why or why not? Would you have a problem being exposed to a prayer from another religion in school?" Answers are due no later than Thursday, March 18th, 2010. Being an Irish girl myself, I would like to wish all of you a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day! Erin Go Bragh!

Can abortions be called genocide?

Next week in class we will discuss abortion, as well as equal rights under the law. So this week, when I heard a popular radio show discussing abortion in the African-American community, I knew I wanted to blog about the issue. To be honest, I’ve never really thought about abortion in terms of race. Abortion is controversial enough on its own. However, consider these staggering statistics:

• More African-Americans have died from abortion than have died from AIDS, accidents, violent crimes, cancer and heart disease combined.
• African-Americans comprise 13% of the population, yet African-American women have 35% of abortions in this country.
• The African-American abortion rate is three times higher than the national average and four times higher than the rate for Caucasian women.
• Since Roe V. Wade 17 million African-American babies have been aborted, reducing the potential African-American population by a third.
• Almost as many African-American babies are aborted as born.

Called modern-day genocide by some, many say African-American abortions are higher because organizations that offer abortions are mainly located in African-American neighborhoods. For example, Planned Parenthood has 80% of its facilities in minority neighborhoods, making it easier for some to access abortion doctors. Others say these young men and women need to take responsibility for their own actions. Just because abortions are available, shouldn’t make the need for one increase.

So my question to you this week is “Why do you think abortions are so much higher in the African-American community? Do these abortion clinics provide a needed service, or do they encourage stunted African-American population growth?” Answers are due no later than Thursday, March 11th, 2010.

P.S. Recently, I was asked to make the blog questions more controversial. I won’t call you out by name, but you know who you are. This one’s for you!