Invisible Children

"We are storytellers. We are visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it."


The Invisible Children is a non-profit group of people who share a common goal: to help end the war in Africa. It is made up of thousands of volunteers, supporters, students, and staff that use the media to assist them in spreading their story across. It all started in 2003, when three eager filmmakers were yearning for a story; and traveled to Uganda to find it.

Children as young as these have been
forced to fight in this pointless war.

The war in Africa has been known as the "most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today". For the past 23 years or so, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been waging a war that has left nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle. Who are those civilians you may ask? Children. Children have been abducted and forced to fight, leaving their mothers and their family, maybe for the last time. Homes have been taken away from the innocent families whose lives have been torn apart. Peace has disappeared, and Invisible Children is helping to restore it. 


Through media presentations around the world, Invisible Children has been spreading their story that exposes the tragic realities of northern Uganda's night commuters and child soldiers. My school had the honor to sit down and listen, as well as watch what their mission is all about, and we found out how people, like myself can help. The Invisible Children are currently working on a "Early Warning Radio Network," a series of radio towers among different villages to help raise awareness as to when the LRA Rebels are approaching. Did you know that just $1.00 can help cover 7.5 football fields of coverage for these radio connections? Think about it right now. What do you need $1.00 for? A cookie in the lunch line? A couple of drops of gas to help you get home? Or maybe a drink of water to help quench your thirst? Next time you pull George Washington out of your wallet, think about the 9 year old boy that is holding a gun instead of playing ball outside; or the mother that is restless through the night, scared that in the morning, her sons won't be with her. 

The Radio system will help signal villages
when the LRA is near.

Please take time to visit their website! :) 
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/homepage  




"We believe that the problems of central Africa need to be tackled comprehensively, from peace to education. Solving them is no easy task, and it will take all of us doing all that we can to ensure it. Join us in the race for peace, click here to find out what you can do to get involved" 

Westboro Baptist Church...

The Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, Kansas, is a small anti-Semitic group that protests homosexuality and state it is against God's law. The group pickets around the country and demonstrate their beliefs in public. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church believe that God hates those who are homosexual and he will not save them after they pass away. They also believe that God is sending messages through events such as September 11, 2011, the war, and soldiers that are losing their lives due to it to signal that homosexuality is wrong, and we, his people are disappointing him.

The Members of the Westboro Baptist Church  show how they feel.

It just does not make sense to me. How could someone live their life immoral like that? With those kinds of thoughts, those beliefs, those opinions on people? I cannot find a motive for this kind of behavior. Why focus in on the homosexuals? They have never done anything wrong. Haven't the members of this organization ever heard that God is all seeing and all forgiving? He made us in his own image and will love us no matter what. What ever happened to morals and living the life of Christianity?


The Westboro Baptist Church members need a reality check, as well as an evaluation of their human dignity. Their values and ideas are just plan wrong. What happened to ideas of charity, respect, understanding?


I just do not understand their motive and their reason is to behave like this, if there is one. I'm speechless.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/

beware of the link above. it causes some hard feelings! 

Cyb3r Bullying: Read it & Weep

Every minute of everyday, technology is used,  and not just for work related tasks. Computers are logged on to Facebook or Twitter, emails are being sent, video chats are in session. Cell Phones are constantly sending text and picture messages, and even being used for telephone conversations. Yes, these things are generally used in an appropriate manner, but they also help fuel the flame of Cyber Bullying.

Cyber Bullying causes victims to feel helpless, trapped, alone.

Why do people feel the need to use technology to bully others and make them feel uncomfortable and embarrassed? It's because they feel they have the freedom and courage to say something humiliating and just plain rude to people without saying it to their face, and they believe that's okay. Cyber Bullying allows people to act in a cowardly manner and put others down, only to bring themselves up. Over the past years, Cyber Bullying has become one of the top ways to hurt someone, zeroing in on the younger generations. Statistics show that about half of the young people have experienced some form of cyberbullying, and 10-20% experience it regularly. They also show that girls are at least as likely as boys to be cyber bullies or their victims, and boys are more likely to be threatened by cyber bullies than girls. In most cases, it was found that the cyberbullying victims are more likely to have low self-esteem and consider suicide.

Cyber Bullying has a major effect on the mind and body.

In  most cases, victims of Cyber Bullying often ignore and keep what is going on to themselves, in fear of something worse happening or aggravating the Bully even more. Others choose to talk about it, which usually helps. Some may even think there is nothing else to do besides to stop giving the Bully a target...themselves.  

Cyber Bully does nothing but show people's true colors and who they truly are. In order to stop Cyber Bullying, one must take the first step: imagine themselves in the victims shoes. Really makes you think, right?

Think of this as a message about to pop up on your cell phone screen....

Links about Cyber Bullying:

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying

http://www.cyberbullying.us/

Bullying: A True Heartbreaker

Bully: (noun)
a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people. Synonyms: antagonizer, persecutor. Antonym: A good friend.

 ---->I reconsider putting up the definition of a bully, because nowadays, everyone knows what it means. Whether they witness bullying, are bullied themselves, or perhaps they are the bully...its everywhere: school, neighborhoods, clubs, sports and of course, the internet and media.

Jamey Rodemeyer

      Why do people bully others? Is there really a need for it? Of course there is, people need to put others down to feel good about themselves, its just human nature. But isn't bullying a tad extreme? I sure do think so. People do not realize the consequences and extremes of bullying, especially with the younger generation...like teenagers, like me. 

       Jamey Rodemeyer was a 14 year old boy from Williamsville, NY, who was a victim of bullying that eventually made him decide to commit suicide. The questioning of his sexual orientation and his  love for Lady Gaga (She actually paid tribute to Jamey by dedicating a song to him after his thank you to her for getting him this far in his life, before he took it) are just some characteristics that fueled the flame of Jamey's feelings. Jamey turned to blogging about his mood and how he truly felt, just as I am now. He experienced cyberbullying that no one ever should. In my opinion, bullies that use the internet or texting or "Facebook" are just plain cowards. I wonder if they would have any problems saying those hurtful things to Jamey's or any other victim's face. Jamey was just 14 when he thought there was nothing else to do except taking his life. 14 year olds should never be thinking about that, let alone anyone else in that matter. There's so  much to look forward to in life, and bullying can take over those positives and make it seem like they do not exist. But they seriously do! 

Cyberbullying is becoming the
 easiest way
to antagonize someone. 

     Also, please do not think that just because news about bullying is not constantly in the media "spotlight", that it does not occur. It is often the case when victims of bullying keep in bottled up inside of them, in fear something will happen if they "tattle-tale." Bullying easily escalates once parents or teachers get involved.

      I can guarantee if you "Google" bullying stories, hundreds of stories will pop up, and they'll have general similarities: young people, the need for attention, jealousy, being scared, making fun of people's differences, the list goes on and on. People should never be embarrassed of who they truly are. Everyone is special in their own way. God made you the way you are for a reason. If people do not understand that, they need a reality check. 

     Bullying is a major topic discussed in high school. Everyone has different views and it creates an interesting perspective to this sad and disappointing action. When it comes to bullying, my classmate Courtney W says "Bullying comes in many forms. If it makes you uncomfortable, it's bullying. BE A BETTER PERSON!". My friend Francesca O agrees, stating "Bullying is BAD." Franky D believes "Bullying is not necessary since there aren't any positives in it." My High School even has an "Anti-Bullying Policy," stating that harassment and bullying are prohibited, and there will be consequences for actions.

Please, Bullying is nothing but trouble. Stop it. 

My heart goes out to those who are or have been bullied. Always remember, you are not alone. There are people here for you <3 

Links about Jamey: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aER4KfBvpwA&feature=player_embedded

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/schools/article563538.ece

    

     

     

         

Cheating on a Quiz? Please that's not bad at all....or is it?

Its pretty obvious that a quiz does not call for as much work, studying, or time as a test does. The quiz is not that hard, does not take a lot of time, and does not effect our grades as much. So cheating on a quiz wouldn't worse or equal to cheating on a test right? no.wrong. Cheating is cheating. Plain and simple as that. You could cheat on a vocab quiz, or you could cheat on an AP final, but its still cheating. Sure the consequences might differ and not be as bad, but doesn't cheating effect your conscience? It just wouldn't feel right to me. I know I'm going to sound like such a teacher's pet, but aren't grades supposed to be earned? You study the material and use your judgement to decide what the right answer is.
Imagine yourself 5-10 years from now. How are you going to cheat on the real world? In your job? Perhaps something involving your family? Sports even? Sure there are some possibilities, but then again, life doesn't come with an answer key. And how could you learn from your mistakes....if you haven't made any to begin with?

Lying to Parents Worse than Lying to Strangers?

            Would you rather lie to your parents, or to complete strangers? Most of you probably would say strangers, and I would have to agree. Strangers come and go, with a rare possibility that you'll ever see them again. Your parents, well that is pretty self explanatory, they're your parents...they've raised you, taught you right from wrong, and pretty much have always been there for you. Telling a lie is already trouble, but telling one to your parents, who have the most trust and love for you, that can hurt. Wouldn't you feel guilty? You're parents expect nothing from the best from you, and believe me, I know it can be rough at times, but does the best of you involve lying? I understand that there are personal stuff you would rather not share with you're parents, I'm a teenage girl, believe me I know. But there's a major difference between keeping something to yourself, or making something up and lying about it. Just think of a situation like that....See what I  mean?
              Saying something that isn't true to a stranger you encounter one day is still not good, but they don't know a thing about you, and they'll never honestly want to know or pursue the truth. There's this saying: "What someone does not know, will not kill them." Does this count with regards to lying to strangers/parents?