Tag Archives: USA

Turkish Missiles Fly Into Russian Jet

On Nov. 24, 2015 a Russian plane gets shot down by Turkish F-16 missiles. The Airplane was flying on the border of Syria and into Turkey’s airspace. A law states that, one country may shoot down any unmarked plane in their own airspace. Since the law was enforced Turkey has the right to shoot down the Russian military jet since it was unmarked. Vladimir Putin was very unhappy with the outcome. He states that the event was a terrorist attack and that because of it the relationship between the two countries are poor. Barack Obama’s action on this was to talk to Putin about how Turkey had every right to shoot down the plane.

Image of Russian jet being downed by Turkey

Barack Obama looked at the problem and found the correct solution. Since the Russian jet was unmarked Turkey had no idea what was going to happen or who it was. Turkey took the obvious solution to protect its people probably the only one, which is to shoot the plane down. Vladimir Putin’s (Watch 1st video) statements about their relationship being destroyed is only his fault for sending an unmarked plane near the border of both countries. Turkey’s actions were not actions of terrorism it was the Russians who were striking terror into the Turkish people. Now I ask you, do you think Putin or Turkeys actions were the more reasonable one?

~Matthew

Our Nation Should Be “Under God”

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Ever since 1954, the Pledge of Allegiance has been written with the words “under God”. For the past several years, people have been trying to take these words out of our nation’s pledge. In the year 2002, “A federal appeals court here declared today that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because the phrase ‘one nation under God’ violates the separation of church and state” (Nieves). A country used to be a Christian nation, but now that more people have immigrated here, it has changed. Multiple schools have banned their students from saying our patriotic pledge. For example, one principal,  Pat Jones, banned the students of Alliance High School in Nebraska from reciting the pledge without the school board knowing about it. Many parents were amazed and outraged that the principal would do this, especially without the school board knowing. This debate has been going on for the past ten years and, still, has not been resolved.

I believe that the full pledge should still be recited in schools and at other public events. ”’We will soon find ourselves prohibited from using our album of patriotic songs in many public settings,’ wrote Judge Fernandez, 63, who was appointed in 1980 by President Bush’s father” (Nieves). Once the pledge is taken away, so will everything patriotic and having to do with God the country has to offer. America used to be a country built on it’s faith in Christ Jesus. Now that more immigrants are coming into America that are not Christian,  they expect the country to change it’s ways because of their religion. They are welcomed into the country and have much more freedom than in other countries. I don’t believe they should respond to this by asking the country to change it’s national pledge. I know that other people who are not immigrants want to change the pledge, but that is usually because they know others don’t believe in God. Our nation was built on the foundation of the bible and I don’t think that our nation’s history and artifacts should be altered. In conclusion, I believe the Pledge of Allegiance should not be banned from schools and should remain exactly the same.

~Calli

 

OBAMA READY FOR ACTION IN SYRIA!

Only a few short weeks ago on August 21 the Syrian Government used a lethal chemical weapon on it’s own people with hopes to take out a rebellious group protesting against the government. Not only was this achieved but thousands of other innocent people were intoxicated and killed because of this gas. Millions of people fled the country to get themselves and their families out of harms way. The evil action performed by the Syrian government was a crime against all of humanity and the debate is going on now of who should be the one to go to the country and inflict the discipline that they deserve. President Obama believes that the United States should be the one to do so because they be the only one country capable of doing something impactful. He has sent the decision down to congress where it will be voted on whether or not any military actions will take place.

I think that no actions should be taken because it is not the United States responsibility to monitor what goes on around the world. The government’s main focus should be on protecting the US civilians and creating jobs for a struggling economy. I would like to believe that those things are the majority of the talk going on in the White House, not the corrupt country of Syria. Also, I think that the value of American Soldiers lives could be more wisely used on affairs directly affecting America. It would make the USA a lot happier if they knew that their soldiers were not being dumped into a foreign and unwelcoming land trying to settle an affair that has no bearing on the USA. In the end, soldiers lives would be saved by not taking any actions in Syria and and no Americans would die because of the evilness of Syria.

~Harry

USA Qualifies for World Cup 2014!!!

On September 10th, 2013 the US men’s national soccer team played against the Mexican men’s national soccer team for a chance to clinch a spot in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Mexican team dominated the first 25 minutes of the game keeping the ball, but couldn’t score. The Americans began to wake up in the second half scoring early. After the early goal of Eddie Johnson the Mexican team broke down. They would mess up simple passes and their first touches. Then late in the second half Donovan scored which made it 2-0 USA, the traditional score of these two teams in Columbus.

I had high doubts Mexico was going to win this game as the USA had momentum going into this game losing only one World Cup qualifier. When the USA team came out sleeping I thought we’d have to make a comeback, but we got lucky, Mexico was unable to score a goal. Mexico seemed shy and a little intimidated, knowing their history playing USA in that certain stadium. Once the US scored their first goal I knew they won, Mexico breaks down under pressure which was made by the roaring Americans in the stands and now having to come back a goal down. Then when Donovan scored the second goal in the late second half everyone knew the game was over. After the game all the Americans changed their TV’s to the channel which had the Honduras-Panama game which decided whether they went to the World Cup and with that game ending 1-1 the US has a spot in the World Cup.

~Toby

A New Deadly Virus has been Discovered

As of May 30th, this SARS-like virus has caused the deaths of 49 people. It first started in Saudi Arabia, but now has been spotted in other areas as well. It spread when individuals started visiting affected areas and later flying back to their native place, unaware that they were infected. It is related to SARS because it acts like a cold virus and attacks the respiratory system, but scientists have decided to name it Middle East Respiratory Symptom Coronavirus, or MERS-CoV. Symptoms include things such as a fever and a cough, but can take up to 9 to 12 days to show. This disease is more serious than the bird flu, and is spreading rapidly. The number of deaths has almost doubled in only one day.

Although this disease might never reach the U.S., it is still very alarming to me. It is killing people rapidly, and only taking less than 24 hours to kill them. I believe people should have stricter rules when allowing possible infected travellers to travel. They can’t take any chances when other countries might get infected as well. I think that this new disease is horrible, and that scientists should start finding a cure right away. At this rate, how many people do you think will be gone in a month? Too many, that’s for sure.

-Catie Schaffer

“Red, White, Blue and Gold”

As you may know the U.S national women’s soccer team won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.  Lead by coach Pia Sundhage and captain Christi Rampone, the U.S team beat Japan 2-1 in the final match. After winning, the U.S women went on a fan-tribute tour. During this event they played against various team, traveled all over the United States, and visited fans across the country. Flashing their new white and red candy cane jerseys, the girl’s soccer team showcased their fancy foot skill for supporting fans and celebrated winning gold. These events occurred  from September 1st to October 23rd.  Events were well attended as fans were excited to see some of their favorite players – Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and Alex Morgan play.

During the fan-tribute tour, I was lucky enough to attend the October 23rd event in East Hartford, Connecticut. I saw my favorite player, Megan Rapinoe play. Along with many of my soccer friends, we saw the women play against Germany where they tied the game 2-2. The highlight of the game was seeing Abby Wambach do a diving header to score. I believe the U.S women soccer fan-tribute tour was a great success.  It let many fans, especially young soccer players see a once in a lifetime game. I saw many other soccer teams gathered together in the stands like my team. Thru my own eyes, I witnessed the excitement of many screaming happy fans cheering on the team.  Congrats on the team for winning gold!

~Alexa Fiala

Has Softball Struck Out?

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing was the last time softball was played in the Olympics. It was cut from the Olympic program because there weren’t enough countries that had good softball organizations and it’s popularity was primarily people in America, Asia, and Canada. Also, they needed to make room for sports such as golf, rugby, squash, karate and roller sports. According to Vicki Michaelis from USA TODAY, “Baseball and softball are the first sports cut from the Olympics since polo in 1936.” In 2005, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) took a vote and softball and baseball were removed from the Olympics for the 2012 and 2016 games (although they were still allowed to play in the 2008 games). Upon hearing this, people all around the world were disappointed. On the other hand, some countries were happy that softball was taken out of the Olympics because they believed that the USA was too dominant, since they medaled every year.

In my opinion, softball should definitely be an Olympic sport. It is fun to watch and to play. By having an Olympic softball team, it gives girls a goal to try to achieve. For many girls who play in college, they dream of playing at “the next level,” but they can’t if there isn’t an Olympic team. Some people think that only people in America are interested in softball, but that is not true. Teams from Asia such as Japan, were also devastated when softball was removed. Many softball leagues and organizations are working to help promote softball world-wide, so that hopefully, it can be played in the 2016 Olympics. Softball deserves to be in the Olympics, and I hope that in the near future it will be.

~Abby Abramson

Rogue State Armed With Increasingly Dangerous Ballistic Missiles

North Korea’s interest in a nuclear weapons program reaches as far back in time as the end of World War II. Since then, Pyongyang has mastered the nuclear fuel cycle and has both plutonium and enriched uranium programs capable of producing missile material. North Korea declared that it had roughly 38.5kg of weapons-grade plutonium extracted from spent fuel rods in May 2008 , however other estimates have varied. North Korea has conducted two nuclear weapons tests, in 2006 and 2009. The Six-Party Talks between North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, and the United States began in 2003 with the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. However, these talks have been suspended since April 2009. On trips to China in 2010 and 2011, Kim Jong-Il indicated his desire to resume the Six Party Talks, but South Korea insisted on an apology from North Korea for the 2010 shelling of Yeonpyeong Island and the inclusion of enrichment activities in the discussion before agreeing to resume the negotiations. More recently, initial uncertainties about North Korea’s nuclear program after the death of Kim Jong Il were tempered when Pyongyang agreed to suspend nuclear tests, uranium enrichment, and long-range missile tests in exchange for food aid from the U.S. on 29 February 2012 . While this was a step in the right direction, previous agreements had been made before only to be broken at a later date.

To celebrate the birth of the founding leader, Kim Il Sung, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched a new Earth-observing satellite into space atop a long-range rocket, despite open condemnation from countries such as the United States and South Korea; whom believe it was a disguised ballistic missile test. Regardless, the launch failed; obviously an incredible embarrassment for the prideful North. But, the United Nations has now suspended the much needed food aid. This is a prime example of a dictatorial power causing sufferance and oppression among their people. The desperate people of North Korea are deprived of the basic necessities of life; after the government food distribution program failed shortly after the death of Kim Il Sung, they had to fend for themselves. The tons of food aid that was to be given to North Korea in exchange for the ceasing of research related to ballistic missiles would have gone a long way in a country of such mass poverty. The people do not deserve to suffer any more than they do in their ordinary lives, things we as Americans take for granite are only given to the highest of officials; such as running water and fluctuating electricity.

Our first president, George Washington, warned the American people to be neutral and remain without permanent allies. Yet this conflicts with a recently released statement by the White House, “The US remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations, and is fully committed to the security our allies in the region,” Carney said in a statement. General Washington’s warnings should be heeded, for this rogue state has the potential to threaten the very security of mainland United States. This should be our most important objective, not preparing for invasion by having around 40,000 US troops of the demilitarized zone; which splits the peninsula in two. This will only complicate the already severed and estranged diplomatic relationship with the North. Let us allow the Koreans to handle the Korean situation.

~Jake Rinaldi