Comfort Women

       This essay Women Confronting War, written by Jennifer Turpin talks about the physical, emotional and social pain that most women experience associated with war. War greatly affects peoples lives especially for women in  various ages and this really change their perspectives in life forever.                                                                                      All over the world, women are always the victim in every violence and harassment. In almost every war, they are the one who are being battered, treated like slaves and sex object. Male soldiers take advantages of powerless women, whether they are civilians or prisoners. This happened not just during the past war but also at present time. Sad to say until now the cases of abuse women are still huge. Although we are now in the modern times, gender equality is always an issue. Man is consider to be superior and woman to be inferior. Why does women tend to suffer more during times of war and crisis even though women symbolizes love, peace and happiness? I feel upset how a head of a UN mission in Cambodia reacted about the issue of  some young girls being sexually molested by UN troops as well as the comment of the commander of the United States Pacific command on how he degrade woman ( Turpin 327). These dignified and honourable people should be the first one to support and protect the victims not to condemn them. These women deserve to be treated with respect too.
         This are reality of what is happening to our society until now. I admire the Author for being an advocate for women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse. It is never too late to help these innocent women. This essay will somehow enlighten our mind about the poor condition of women all over the world. This is just the beginning, nothing is been done to save them. I don’t think this abuse will stop until there are still military soldiers and wars. This women’s lives been torned apart and second chance for them is almost next to impossible. Do you think justice been serve for this victim? Is there any future left for them?

Are We Being Controlled by Media Violence?

        There Are No Lessons to Be Learned from Littleton was published in the winter/ spring 1999 issue of Criminal Justice Ethics written by Gary Kleck, an author and professor at Florida State University. In this essay, Kleck wants us to know that after the Littleton mass shooting incident on 1999, the media failed to express the valuable lesson that we need to learn because of too much sensationalizing of the story. This kind of tragedy will possibly happen again if we tend to forget the real lesson from it.        

       There is lots of violence happening inside the school or outside the school premises. Some reasons are bullying, racism, peer pressure, family problem etc. In school, they need to show who is more powerful and tougher in order to survive, it’s a dog-eat- dog world. This emotion of anger and hatred begin to get intense each day and being triggered more by Television and Internet. The result is revenge. That is why I was surprised that the author mention the decreased rate of homicide and violence among teenagers now compare to years ago, as well as declining percentage of crime rate and gun related issue among youth.                                                                                                          

        Although we are entitled to know what’s going on around us by means of media, I still feel disappointed how media heavily publicized the story just to catch the viewer’s attention without considering the big sum of younger audience. These young minds might absorb the news negatively that will provoke them to create a bad idea against others. I remember a news long time ago about a 16 years old girl who killed innocent people in a nearby elementary school. She confesses that she was influence by the song “I don’t like Mondays” and she wanted” to do something big to get on TV.”  Consider also that this girl were misguided by her parents because they allowing her to have her own gun.        

        The author not just wants us to watch these gruesome stories but also to learn from it. He believes that sensationalizing the story will not help hence encourage more young minds to do the same mistakes in the future. For us adults, we are responsible for our own children sake. We are here not just to explain the reality of what is going on around us but also to guide them to avoid such act.                           

         Kleck has a good point of expressing to us that over exposing media violence made a huge impact to pollute the young people minds. I am satisfied of some examples he presented in this essay to justify his message. However, I believe that everything; family, friends, media, society etc. seems to be connected to each other. Everybody influence a potential suspect have an equal share for the blame. Do you believe that crime rate for youth are decreasing or it is not just been written or reported in the statistics?

Finding a reason to be blame

Aggression: The impact of Media Violence is written by Sissela Bok, a well known writer about bioethics, applied ethics, biography and autobiography; and public affairs.

The author talks about the negative impact of media violence to the viewers especially the younger audience. She mention that media glamorizes aggressive conduct, removes inhibitions towards such conduct, arouse viewers and invites imitation. There are instances that viewers been affected by what they see whether it’s TV or Movie, sometimes it change our perspective in life or gives an impact to our point of view but it doesn’t necessarily provoke us to do what is beyond to commit a crime, mostly the ending gives the viewer a good lesson, a feedback to reflect our own lives.

 Media board for TV and Movies are professional critique who controls the flow of a certain movie/show and they decide if a certain movie/show is suitable for public viewing or not. They pose a certain criteria and guidelines whether a show need to be air on screen on what specific time and day. Parents are there to monitor of what is suitable for their kids, sometimes they watch it together so they can explain further the movie/show to their children. Most of the TV nowadays has child lock buttons to block the channels for adult viewing.


 Bok also talks about media coverage of violence. Far from declining has escalated since then (1990’s), devoting more attention to celebrity homicides and copycat crimes. She mentions some personalities such as MacGyver and Stone’s movie as her example of negative effect of media violence. Bok should also consider some factor such as psychological problem, peer group influence, drugs, alcohol, and family pressure. She also mention about the evidence indicates that if hypothetically, television technology had never been developed, there would today be 10,000 fewer homicides each year in the U.S,70,000 fewer rapes ,and 7000,000 fewer injury assault. She added that violent crime would be half of what is now is. I disagree with her; Media is just a piece of a puzzle. You can’t put the blame only on TV for every crime committed everyday. TV is already part of our lives.

Bok also talks about TV program affect a person more than the effect of tobacco smoking to cancer or drinking and driving to automobile accident. This is actually a different scenario. It is always a case to case basis. Whether Bok will accept it or not modernization comes with media coverage expansion and we can’t control it.

Younger viewers nowadays are more mature and smart to reply their drastic decisions on what they seen on TV. Although not all of them, they are more aware of the consequences for every action that they will do. Banning television technology will not help the present situation about violence. It is the society that needs our help.

 Do you think you can imagine yourself to live without any media coverage or television technology just to lessen the violence in the society? 

Africa:” Crying for Help” An AIDS Awareness story

Africa:” Crying for Help” An AIDS Awareness story

Based on the story “Pandemic: My Country is on its knees” by Stephen Lewis. Lewis has been a political broadcaster, Canadian ambassador and advisor to the U.N. A foundation was name after him, the Stephen Lewis Foundation which the main goal is to battle the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.

On the first two pages of the story, Lewis tells us on how his simple life as university student changed when he decided to work as a researcher .He received a letter of invitation to attend the World Assembly of Youth in Africa. This is how his wonderful yet bitter experience in Africa begun. It is suppose to be a 7 days conference but Lewis was mesmerizes by Africa’s culture, music, hospitality and tradition that is very unique and incomparable to people living in North America. He fell in love with this country so he chose to stay longer. Because of that he needs to sacrifice and adapt himself to what are just available resources. He travel far, teaching numerous student in different remote area but this never stop him from loving them more. In fact this imperfection makes him feel closer to them. Writer described this bond as “not just durable, they were unbreakable” a strong connection that makes him stay and love Africa more.

Then AIDS, a communicable disease swept Africa into pieces. This virus affects people’s lives. Lewis also described the horrible scenarios in the adult male wards, and the pediatric ward. This is very upsetting for me for a fact that I am working in a hospital and I can’t do anything about it to help them. Lewis also emphasizes the lack of professionals, especially healthcare workers in Africa. We both agreed that we can’t blame this people for their decision to migrate and find “greener pasture”. They dream of better future in exchange of leaving their country behind in times of crisis. Lewis suggest if only local government make a better offer for them, at least they might think of staying and working for their fellowmen. He also stated that the situation gets worst because of famine, drought, insufficient funding, etc. People’s everyday life is focus on making coffin for their love ones and getting use to sooner or later somebody you know will die. The people you are with today will not be the same person you will see tomorrow. Writer wants us so see the miserable scenario, feel the pain of death in the family, and hear the moaning of dying because this is the real life, the real story in Africa.

In the last part of the story, the author said that “Africa will one day rejoice in time when families are whole and funerals are rare”. He still believes that there is still hope. If only all nations will be united to support Africa, we can make a huge difference. Together, we can surpass this dilemma in Africa for the sake of many who had lost their lives and for the children who lost their parents because of AIDS. We will soon find a cure and find a way to eradicate this pandemic disease not just for Africa but also for the future generation all over the world. I admire Mr. Lewis dedication to serve those less fortunate Africans, if you were in Mr Lewis shoes, are you going to do the same deeds? defend you answer.

Voice From Up Here, North of the 49th Parallel

Letter to America, April 14,2003, by Margaret Atwood, well known Canadian Writer.
   In the beginning of this letter, Margaret Atwood explains all the wonderful things that America introduces to all Canadians and to the rest of the world. In her 55 years of life, she clearly discussed that America left a huge impact to her starting from her early childhood to her early teens. Mickey mouse and Donald duck comic books for example,and Huckleberry Finn, Hawkeye and Beth and Jo in the Little Women, to name  few characters that left a remarkable impact in her life. As time goes by, American continues to produce more finest people and excellent masterpieces, enough for the world to adore and cherish them more.  Margaret also talks about the relationship between Canada and the U.S. She compares this closeness to be not just base on demographic land mass but the bond that connects can never be divided easily. She also perceives America to be the most powerful country in the world, the epitome of every nation.                             Then after a long while, after decades of admiration, the author realizes that there is something wrong. She felt disappointed that American government got involved in this Iraq war and bulldozing of environmental protection that affects all the citizen of America. She also emphasized  the growing debt of America and some negative political issue. The author wrote this letter not to judge them but to remind them about the consequences of each wrong decisions that they need to face right now. Sooner, U.S will suffer economic crisis or downfall. It is not too late to change and Canada will always be there to lend a helping hand and to support them. Now is the right time for America to redeem their honor and as one of the finest country again. At the end of the letter the author is still very optimistic that U.S will realize their lost so they can surpass this challenges that they are facing right now.
     For me, U.S serve as Canada's inspiration to achieve our goal and dreams.This pursue us  more to to bring out the best in us. We believe that someday,we can be as powerful as America. I just hope that this will serve as a good learning example for us, to avoid the same mistakes that they did. If this crisis happened to America, it is not impossible that it can also happen to us and to other country.Now my biggest challenge to every Canadian, if you are giving a chance to write a letter to America, what will be your message? is it going to be almost the same message as Margaret Atwood's letter?