Final Blog:An 80yr old Graduate w/an Online Marketing Degree Kept His Promise

Robert Titus is an eighty year old that recently earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management online. He graduated from W.G.U Texas, which is an online nonprofit that was created in 2011. He recognizes that he will probably not obtain a job even with his degree. However, all of that is fine because he did not attend school in order to obtain a job. His motivation was the promise he made to his mother several years ago. Robert stated “I promise my mother many, many years ago that I would get my degree.” It is apparent that Robert is a man of his word. This was not his first attempt of pursuing a college degree. He enrolled in college after he graduated from high school, but then enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Korean War. Once his arrival back home he started a long career in sales, occasionally enrolling in a nearby college, but he could never remain focus. Unfortunately, Robert was not able to attend the graduation in Austin, Texas this month. However, this did not affect his positive attitude because he proudly displays his diploma above his fireplace.

This story is very motivating because it shows that age is just a number.  Robert Titus honored his promise he made to his mother several years ago. He did not allow his age or pass attempts at earning a degree determine his decision for trying again. This whole article is about keeping your word, overcoming obstacle, and never giving up. What he did was extremely commendable and courageous at the age of eight years old. He is an example not only senior citizens, but to anyone that desires to pursue their goal.   This article is inspiring because attending college is difficult for a young person. Remaining focused, having good time management, and remaining motivated are all challenges in college. In addition, the fact he went to college with knowing he would not get a job in his field is wise. Its shows his real purpose was to simply keep his promise to his mother. Robert Titus is a role model for me because his story is extremely inspiring and shows that it is never too late to fulfill your aspirations.

Posted at- 2:45AM
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/us/80-year-old-graduate-of-wgu-texas-kept-his-promise.html?ref=education

Last Blog, Sydney St.Pierre, Immigrants lead plunge in U.S. birth rate

The birth rate has been declining because of the recession and people don't want to have children they can't take care of and provide for. The lowest reported year ever for birth rate was in 2011. From the hispanic women who have come here it has dropped 23% because they haven't been having babies here as well as americans. Another reason people don't seem to be having many children is because people are getting married later and later into their lives. The highest year for teen marriage peaked many years ago in 1991. Just in 2010 the birth rates for foreign women was as much as 50% higher that the birth rates for american born women. They said that immigrants are less educated so they are more likely to get married. Teen moms were more likely to be american in 2010 than foreign teen moms. Most new immigrants are a very large amount of nations population increase. In the next couple decades american will look completely different. The plunge in birth rate is a major global and sociological problem. If there are no kids being born to start growing up and taking new jobs when the older people die out there will be no one to replace them. When birth rates are low, that effects many places like day cares, schools which affects the teachers, even grocery stores because the baby section is not getting bought out like it should be, also baby retail store. You see play grounds everywhere that are empty and if affects the entire country. It's a problem everywhere, sometimes the issue is baby-boom and there's too many babies being born, but as of now that's not the case because not enough children are being born.

News Source: http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/29/immigrants-lead-plunge-in-u-s-birth-rate/?hpt=us_c2

Blog 13

Discrimination has been evident for a long time. It has appeared around the earth several times. Believe it or not racism between Blacks and Whites in America was not the first appearance of discrimination.   Long ago during Christ's life on earth the Jews felt only they could be close to God and not the Gentiles ( anyone who was not a Jew). Paul the missionary had to write,any letters and minister to many different churches to make sure that people understood that God was for everyone. Later in history we got to see how Hitler spread discrimination so that it was between the Jews and the Nazis. Again a few years down the road we see in America and still see it. Some places you will see discrimination between Whites and other minorities. For example it states in the Declaration of Independence that all people are equal. However in America, Caucasians are paid more in their salaries than other minorities for working the same job, completing the same tasks.  Is this not discrimination to a degree? In article " Removal of Palestinians from buses in Israel sparks Human Rights Concerns", in the location of Jerusalem, Jewish settlers have made complaints about Palestinian laborers boarding their buses. Israel's transportation ministry is currently considering operating separate buses for Jews and Palestinians in the West Bank. Several Human Rights groups have reacted angrily to this because they are very much aware that Israel's transportation ministry is currently considering operating two different buses based off of discriminatory reasons. We have to ask ourselves, is this fair? I see the issue being fairly deeper than just trying to prevent overcrowding on the buses. It is good that in the end the government made the decision not to separate the two races, but to work on a different solution and less discriminatory solution. Equality should apply to all no matter the race, gender, religion, etc. rather it be transportation, salary, housing, or schooling, no one should be discriminated against and kept away from good opportunities. In article one of Human Rights it states that " all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should ac towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood". If this is true, then there should be no discrimination against any human, at anytime, in any place. No matter the country or nation we all affect one another in some way. Patterns of discrimination is not something we want taught to our growing kids of our future around the world. 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/1130/1224327302822.html

Blog 13: Family waits for news of missing plane

A mom (Trista Meyer), her boyfriend (Matt Ahrens) and her daughter (Shyann Lenz) have gone missing.  They were headed home to Gillette when their airplane they were operating disappeared from the radar Sunday afternoon.  The last place they were seen was in Filmore, Utah.  Myra Fees is the mother of Trista and grandmother of Shyann.  Fees said Wednesday, “This is the hardest I’ve ever lived through” as she waited at her Rozet home for news of her daughter and granddaughter.  She also says “It’s been a nightmare. Nobody’s really sleeping….I don’t remember having this kind of pain for anything.” This all started because Matt, Trista and Shyann had flown to California for Thanksgiving.  The last text the family got was at 11:57am on Sunday when Trista had texted her sister telling her that they had just refueled in Fillmore, and would be back in a few hours.  About that same time, Shyann texted her dad, Mark Lenz.  On Wednesday, they had many planes out searching for the areas where the plane was flown.  The families are hoping they are still somewhere out there, and are alive. 

I would say this relates to family because it shows that your family means a lot.  This is why everyone should always let their loved ones know they love them every day because you never know when the last time to say that will be.  I know that my family means a lot to me, so I would probably feel the same way if I was Myra Fees and didn’t even know if my loved ones were even alive.  I have seen some stories recently about missing people, and the first thing I think about is how their family feels.  The missing people are probably missing the family a lot also if they are still alive.  I value each and every time I get to see my family because I know how easy things can happen and be taken away from you. 

http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/family-waits-for-news-of-missing-plane/article_28d7a249-c652-51ce-b68b-23e2ec763e3b.html

Blog 13: Woman, 93, left severely dehydrated in hospital despite complaints from daughter

An elderly woman died in a hospital severely dehydrated, even after her daughter had made several complaints. The woman was taking to the hospital after severe vomiting and was in a "copious pain." Her daughter was a nurse lecturer and when she visited she noticed her mother had not been hooked up to a drip bag to make sure she would not become dehydrated. When she addressed a nurse with her concerns she was "dismissed" and three days later her mother died from dehydration. After later returning and realizing the drip had still not been connected she once again complained, with several doctors over hearing her. The drip was not adequately set up until later during the night shift. The NMC council agreed that the daughter was right to be upset with the treatment and it was reported that the daughter was told her mother was fine, and still was not given the intravenous drip. There has been a lot of cases concerning the treatment provided for patients in hospitals. I got to see first hand part of the treatment when I went to pick up my father after his knee surgery, and the nurse pushed him in a wheel chair with one hand as he check his check messages on his phone in his other hand. Mistreatment can occur at any hospital. It is an expectation that when you or a family member is in the hospital that the care received should be the best. More awareness of the problem could easily be the solution.

Final Blog: Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill

I decided to do my blog this week on a situation starting to arise in Uganda concerning their Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The bill was recently placed on the Ugandan parliament’s agenda for discussion and has the support of the speaker, as well as other parliamentarians. They declared that its passage in December would be a “Christmas gift” to the people of Uganda. Human Rights First has opposition to this bill because it will have adverse consequences for the human rights of gay, bisexual, gay, transgender, and intersex people. Currently in Uganda, same-sex relations are already illegal, but this bill proposed tougher penalties not only for the LGBTI community but those who assist them. It can have affect with their health care practitioners, and it establishes a dangerous precedent for the persecution of other minority groups in the country.

This bill was first introduced in 2009, and currently the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is scheduled to be discussed before the parliament as a high priority bill. This means that the lawmakers could pass the legislation before December 15^th, when they will have recess.  

With the bill’s discussion growing very closely, supporters of the LGBTI community have called onto President Obama to stop the passing of the legislation, in hope of killing the piece of legislation. Human Rights First’s Paul LeGendre was quoted by saying, “We call on President Obama and Secretary Clinton to work toward preventing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill from coming to a vote in the Ugandan Parliament,” and continued by adding, “They should also reiterate their serious concerns to Ugandan President Museveni, whose signature would be required for the bill to take effect.”  This group commends Obama and his Administration for their opposition to this bill, since it was introduced in 2009. They have been also very appreciative of President Obama’s efforts to counter laws that criminalize same-sex relations. They believe that this is a key part of Obama’s memorandum on international advances towards the rights of the LGBTI community. They called upon Secretary Clinton for her efforts to speak out against human rights abusers, and those based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  

Human Right First are supporting the efforts made by human rights group and fellow Ugandans who oppose the bill, and are hoping to get assistance from the Obama Administration to help their efforts. A Ugandan civil society leader, Julius Kaggwa was quoted by saying, “Now is the time for the international community to express solidarity with LGBTI Ugandans.”

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/human-rights-group-asks-obama-to-help-stop-ugandas-kill-the-gays-bill/politics/2012/11/27/54714

THE LAST BLOG: Did misunderstanding lead to horrific Nigeria mob killings?

"Four University of Port Harcourt students, Chiadika Biringa, Ugonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku, and Tekena Elkanah left campus for the village of Aluu. According to Biringa's mother Chinwe, Obuzor was owed some money and he asked his three classmates to accompany him to the village to collect on the debt. Within minutes of their arrival, a rumor spread that the students were not there to collect but to steal. An enraged mob stripped them naked while beating them with sticks and rocks then wrapped care tires around their necks -- a form of torture known as "necklacing." As the four men sat on the muddy ground dazed and pleading for their lives, someone doused them with gasoline, lit a match and set them on fire." When this happened it wasn't really investigated as deeply as it was once the video of the killing was posted on the web for the world to see.
According to this article a young man was murdered over a big misunderstanding. He was as innocent as the guys that were with him on that day. there were four guys her were tortured on that day and one was able to get away who was also interview on CNN. That particular guy in the interview said he thought to himself why don't they go ahead and kill him. However, he managed to get away. The mother of this young man that was killed was very hurt. She made it known that the guys who killed her son also killed a piece of her. The crime here in this article is obvious, murder. The fact that the guys harmed were innocent was immoral. Apparently the police officers in Nigeria aren't doing their job, and hasn't been doing their jobs correctly for a while now. This killing has not been the first type of mobbing that has taking place in Nigeria.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/26/world/africa/nigeria-mob-justice-duthiers/index.html?hpt=hp_c1