Strawberry's and soccer!

Since I have been back at Mesa this semester I have worked out at the gym every day but three days! I am honestly really proud of my self!!! My goal is to feel more mentally and phsyically fit and hey losing a little weight couldnt hurt right? I have always suffered from deep phsyical apperance issues. I always told people I never cared when they made comments about my apperances but thats not true. I don't think theres a single person out there who doesnt care! And if you say you do your lying... I have always wanted to be more fit but never took that next step towards accomplishing my goal. I am finally taking that next step.

This week me and some friends who have been working towards there own fitness goals are doing a cleansing/detox diet. We will only be eating fruits and veggies for a week! Haha wish me luck w/ this! I'll update you! I am also playing my first indoor soccer match! I am really exited but SUPPPPPPERRR nervous! I haven't played in 3 years but before that I played for 12 years so... wish me more luck! I need it! hard core!

Love and rockets,
Drea

Ps. This is the first and possibly only time I have admitted my self image issues!

Videos of the week: The two cutest boys singing the two cutest songs!

Taking The Stage (Season 2) - MTV Shows

Two new songs/ poems I wrote

Story behind the song/poem: In High School Sophomore year I was really close with this kid name Dylan. I met him after he just returned from rehab. He was a very different character from anyone I'd met before. He had blond hair and wore yummy colone. He would put his arm around me and walk through the halls. We wern't dating in fact he had a g.f later on during our friendship. At one point I believed I loved him because he was the only guy to ever call me beautiful...I was sadly mistaken. Anyway he had a pretty bad home life he'd tell me about it sometimes. Eventually he ran away, dropped off the face of this Earth and I never saw or heard from him again. I sometimes wonder if hes dead but then I imagine meeting him on the streets 30 years from now and I smile a little...


If I could paint the world I'd paint it blue
just like the sky expanding ever so high
just like the ocean stretches out before me
but mostly like the color of your eyes
when you told me the first of many lies
1. I'll never do drugs again
2. I'll always be with you
you swore this was true
as I searched your eyes lost in the deep blue
If I could paint the world I'd paint it green
just like the grass on the other side
just like the palm tree above the tide
but mostly like the color of your shirt
that day you told me another lie
3. I'm running away from home it's only temporary
4. I'll be back soon
you swore this was true
as your green shirt wrapped it's arms around me
If I could paint the world I'd paint it pink
just like the flamingos
just like bubble gum
but mostly nothing like you
it hurts to much to paint the world all the colors of you
___________________________________________________
There's better days ahead
when your lying in your bed
the world slows to a crawl
you want to stop it all
but think before you fall
if I knew that you were hurting inside
why wont you confide in me?
I pray that you can make it
through the rain to see the rainbow
I pray for all those struggeling
you are not alone
theres better days ahead
why wont the world slow down
shine light on the lost and make them found
one million every year
a cause that I hold dear
you are not alone
there's better days ahead
when your lying in your bed
the world slows to a crawl
you want to stop it all
but think before you fall

Sweet disposition

Second week of the new semester. It's going pretty good so far! I have mostly English classes. I really enjoy my children's literature class!I however hate my English 112 class that I thought I would love but the teacher is so boring. Were learning stuff I already know and instead of writing an essay once a week like im used to we only write an essay every 3 weeks! ew! It should be an easy A which is good I guess! Its snowing pretty hard core out here in Juction! Lame! XP. Its kind of wierd here ALOT of people I know are transfering from Mesa next year, at this moment I don't plan on transfering but it will def. be like starting over again next year when all my new friends are gone. :(


.....

...

Back to school and new classes! will write more later!

Scum of the Earth Church

So tonight (well tech. yesterday now...) before I head back to college I convinced my mom to visit a church called Scum of the Earth with me. It is located in the Denver art district in a beautiful and very artsy building! It was an awesome experience!!! Now I know what you readers (if there are any) may be thinking "a Church called Scum?" Well yea that's why I wanted to attend one of there services. There goal is to open Church up to the ones who are usually rejected by most conventional churches. I actually went to High School with the Pastors son so I heard about it somewhere along the grapevine.

Heres what there site says about them:
"WHY SCUM?

It doesn’t sound like a church name … on purpose. We really want to connect with people who have no interest in “church” by society’s definition. There are plenty of churches for “normal people” and we think we have a unique calling to reach out to our otherwise unreached friends. Our name is integral to that process. Whether outcast by society (e.g., punks, skaters, ravers, homeless people…) or by the church itself, many who come can identify with the name “Scum of the Earth” since they have been previously treated as such.

More important to us, however, the name implies that being people of faith does not mean we are better than anyone else. We know many non-Christians who think Christians are out to cast judgment on them. Our name makes it clear that we aren’t about that. We are just aware of our need for God, as Scum of the Earth. Fortunately, God never sees us like that! But the name is humble and we like that."


The service started with a few , a prayer and then they served dinner to everyone! I thought this was great! Dinner seems much more personal than just giving a speech and singing a few songs. After dinner they announced all the happenings a scum and introduced Pastor Sares. The Pastor spoke about something that I personally really connected with! He said, "God calls you to him and then he sends you out."He talked about how God wants you to be with him and once he has that he sends you out to work for him. He uses your talent to help make the world a better place. He talked about the horrible atrocities in Haiti and said what are you going to do to help them? He spoke about how God gives everyone a calling and a purpose. He said his was Scum. Then he asked us all to write ours down and we put them in a big bucket! I wrote a very ambitous statement...End world hunger! I have always felt that I have a purpose and a calling and I have often preched these same teachings to friends and family. I always felt it was connected to a higher power I am just now beleving this is true!

Scum Site:http://www.scumoftheearth.net/

-D
“To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.” (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)

Alyssa Lies....

please comment on here and tell me what you think...

-D

This is an assignment I had for my English 111 college course. The assignment was to write a "This I believe" essay and submit it to NPR. A This I believe essay was started by NPR in the 60's they had famous people submit statements of belief and they eventually opened it to the public. You are supposed to write about a statement of belief you posses and ground it in a story. If yours gets picked they will record you playing it and play live on NPR. I submitted mine a mo. ago and have yet to hear back about it. Fingers crossed!It would mean a lot to me if it was on NPR. Here's the essay...


I believe in eating everything you put on your pate. I remember growing up my family ate dinner around a table together every night. I remember the smell of my mom’s famous chicken noodle soup and her lectures afterwards telling my family, “Somewhere there’s someone less fortunate.” Her words finally hit home last Thanksgiving when I traveled to Africa. In Africa I met people who were emotionally and spiritually thriving but physically starving.

At home I would often get reprimanded by my mother for throwing away left over’s or scraps from my last meal. In Ethiopia I was told not eating all the food you put on your plate was a sign of disrespect. During meals there I made sure to only take what I could handle. I have applied this same theory to other aspects of my life making sure not to over indulge in anything. I was very food conscious during the days I spent in Ethiopia.

One day I was asked by the leader of our group to help serve breakfast to the students at Project Mercy where we were staying. All the kids received was a cup of soup. As I stood there ladling soup into the cups, the line of hungry kids seemed ever expanding. I looked down the pot that was once full was empty. I un-assumingly turned to the chef and stated, “I need more soup I am out.” She shook her head disappointed and explained to me that with school attendance increasing fewer kids were able to eat then before.

Suddenly all those times I had thrown away food without thinking flashed before my eyes. Several of the kids that day would go hungry and most students wouldn’t be privileged enough to have dinner that night. My sadness was soon replaced with anger. I wondered how one country could live in excess and at the same time another could starve. The anger and sadness that I felt eventually became my motivation to ensure that no child would go hungry or suffer from Mal nutrition.

Upon returning to America the values I learned in Ethiopia such as, eating all the food you put on your plate stuck with me. I hate to admit it but, yes mom you were right again, “somewhere there’s someone less fortunate.” It is because of this, that I believe it is humanities responsibility to care for one another. There are some 29 million people who faithfully listen to NPR. My challenge starts with you the NPR listener. I challenge you to think before you throw away food and to look into your heart and give. For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years. I believe every dollar helps and every person regardless of age, race or gender has a duty to end starvation. It all begins with one person, one dollar and one caring heart. Visit Cunninghamfoundation.org for more information on how to help.

"Theres things you need to hear so please turn off your tears and listen..."

So I recently found out that a 7Th grader at the middle school I attended back in the day committed suicide. I really didn't know how to respond to this very sad and unfortunate news. My first thought was a 7Th grader? That seems so young! I couldn't believe that had happened at such a young age but, once I thought about it more I began to reflect on my middle school experience. Lets just say it was the worst 3 years of my life. That doesn't mean that I ever considered suicide as an option but it made me think about the way we treat others. I mean if a 7Th grader thinks there world is so bad that suicide is the best option how telling of our world is that?

For me this is an issue that personally hits home. One of the closest people in my life since birth has struggled with depression and suicidal tendencies. I just want everybody to know that no matter how bad life gets or what happens to you there are always better days ahead. I think the world needs to slow down and look at the way we treat those around us because you never know if someone you come in contact with is having a bad day or even considering suicide.

I decided to look up so facts on suicide and shockingly here's what I found: Over one million people commit suicide every year, making it the tenth-leading cause of death worldwide. It is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35. There are an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal attempted suicides every year worldwide.

I really couldn't believe that these numbers were correct. Really a million people every year commit suicide? I realized that I have known or been connected to at least 10 people who have committed suicide, some good friends actually. *Note: I am only 18! and I have known dozens more who have struggled with depression or attempted suicide in there life time.

I pray that every can make it through the rain to see the rainbow. I pray for all those who are struggling. You are not alone it's actually likely that someone you know has the same feeling. I promise there are better days ahead! I pray that everyone in the world will stop racing through life and will help to care for those around us. Please treat others with respect! If you need help or know someone who needs help there are tons of resources out there!

Just to name a few I really support:
-To write love on her arms: http://www.twloha.com/
-Suicide hot line: 1800-suicide or http://suicidehotlines.com/
or get in contact with an adult you trust!
-Save More Facts: http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=705d5df4-055b-f1ec-3f66462866fcb4e6
As you go about your days I am urging you to look at the way you treat others and try to treat everyone with respect!

Thanks all! Love you-D

Wake up beside you get bed head beside you sleep in if you'd like to"- S.F

Ok, so after the band Queen Single File is my favorite band.

They are local band from Denver. I have seen them in concert 12 times, won tickets to there concerts 4 times, got a signed skate board from Vans by them 1 time and have met them 12 times and have 4 photos to prove it! Haha! A little obsessed is right!Any way I'm going to tell you that Joe is my favorite member! At my 3rd concert of theres after meeting Joe on my 16Th birthday I yelled "Ow! I just met Joe from f*&^$#@ Single File B!@#%&^"!!!!!

Anyway, you should check out there music.... Recommended Songs: Sky Line, Bed Head, Miss Cherry Lip Gloss and of course Zombies Ate My Neighbors! Oh and check out Joes Breakfast Blog http://breakfastnothearts.posterous.com/day-125-silent-breakfast

Home "sweet" home.

So I have been home from college for quite awhile now and will be thankfully and happily returning on Monday!! As much as I love my family and enjoyed seeing old friends I am ready to get back to my life and start a new semester of classes!

Goal for this Semester: All A's?

Taylor Swift and Things

Even with much teasing from my brothers I have been getting really into Taylor Swift music! I know your juding me....

"I look around, turn the radio down He says, Baby is something wrong?? I say, Nothing I was just thinking How we don't have a song? and he says Our song is the slamming screen door Sneakin' out late, tapping on your window When we're on the phone and you talk real slow 'Cause it's late and your mama don't know?"

As a song writer myself I really enjoy Taylors lyrics. I like how she uses real peoples names, draws from life experiences and relates to the things she loves the most. In this perticular lyric she is realating music to life essentially making them the same. For the reccord if I boy ever said this to me i'd probably faint.

Tomarrow is Christmas Eve. My family had our "Selfish Christmas" present fiesta tonight and we will be driving to New Mexico tomarrow. I am really exited I usually see each set of Grands at least once a year but I have not seen the ones on my Dad's side in almost 2 years bgecause my family saw them when I was in Africa! My Grands are getting older and time with them I have realized is precious.

I am currently: watching freaks and geeks (for the millionth and one time). I am over analyzing it and comparing it to my life! If you have not seen or heard of this show I am not suprised but you should check it out ASAP!


Much love! Happy holidays!
-D

"Dream as if you'll live for ever live as if you'll die tomarrow!"

Sleepless but not in Seattle

I am sleepless but not in Seattle and sadly there is no perfect boy waiting for me atop a high building to declare his undenying love
ha! as if that could be my reality.
__________________________________________________________________
Tonight like most college nights is one of restlessness and rememberance
I am thinking how proud I am of you.
You over came adiction, depression and self hate.
You however did not overcome Bioplar disorder
as that will be with you the rest of your life.
You must learn to live and love youself.
You won't have it easy,
You must fight every day.
I want you to know above all else that
I love you and you should love you too!
_____________________________________________________________

I am remembering and reliving the pain of adolecense. The pain of first loves. The pain of trying to fit in to a world where you don't belong. The pain of fnding out who you are. The pain of parents. The pain of fake friendships and the times when music is the only source you can trust. People say all the pain, heartache and struggle is worth it in the end. Why can't it be worth something now? I believe it can! You struggle so that you can conquor and over come. You hurt so that you know true love when you find it. You lose so you know to be thankful for what you have. You win and you learn to smile. You fall and you get back up. You let go so you can learn to live. You dance and the whole world is watching. You sing loud enough that the whole world can hear. You make mistakes so you can learn to sing and dance and you help others learn along the way. I believe each stuggle, each pain is worth something NOW! Live for this moment now! Carpe diem!

-Drea
I know this is really just a rant/ramble but I really needed this now off into a deep slumber!

live and breath with the wind

I don't think that anybody even reads this. Do my thoughts really even matter? Is this pointless? Maybe, but I enjoy it.

Life is crazy as usual! Finals are next week and I can't believe that my first semester of college is pretty much over. Last week was Thanksgiving break. I went back to Denver and then to Nebraska. In Denver it was great seeing my friends from high school. We picked up right where we left off as if not a single day had passed. We laughed about old times and told stories of new experiences about our seprate lives in different corners of the world. I saw a few of my best friends but sadly did not get the opportunity to visit all of them as part of my break was spent in Nebraska visiting family. My mom is from a small town-North platte, Nebraska. It just so happens to be the largest train hub in the world. I honestly loved seeing my family but I missed my Great Grandma Abbott who died in April of 2008. Shes my insperation for everything I do in life.

I am now back at Mesa but I go back home to Denver Next Thursday for a month and a half (ish). I have a feeling this will be wierd!! The Sunday after I get back I am going to see Spring Awakening with my mom at the DCPA (Denver center of performing arts). I am SUPER exited for that and it should be some good mother daughter time!

Currently I am...
Stressing, destressing, forgiving an old friend, overcomming my flaws, planning a trip with my brother and Lisa to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, writing a blog when I should be sleeping, procrastinating, wishing for the cute boy at 11:11, cleaning and learning to live and breath with the wind!

"Once in awhile you get shown in the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right" Grateful Dead
-Drea

James 1:27

Its def. been a long time since I have posted on here. College seems to be flying by. Each day I am learning more about God and myself. I am having new experiences and meeting new people. I am living each day as it comes and truly enjoying life.

Yesterday I woke up really early and went to the homeless shelter with some friends. I helped make pancakes and serve food. Although it was early it was def. worth it. It was a very rewarding experience. The people at the shelter were so polite and thankful. It reminded me how much I love community service. Yesterday was also veterns day so for dinner we went out to celebrate with one of my friends who is an Iraq vetern. I could tell as he prayed for all the other soliders how special and important that day was to him. I was given a much needed dose of humility yesterday and I am very thankful for that!

“Everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you’ll eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”
-Drea <3

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

College is Crazy with a capital "C"

I know its been too long since I posted on here but I have been crazy busy with school, class, friends and just hanging out. I am still enjoying college alot. This comming weekend I will be heading back home to Denver for a few days during my fall break! I am really exited to see my family and hang out with my brothers and some friends back home. Some of the fun activities I have done up here include: Hiking, Tye dye, football games, bon fire, RHC stuff and paint ball. Some of these activities have been through my friends Christian group on campus. In my heart I feel a strong pulling towards Christ. It seems around every corner God is calling to me. I really don't know what I believe. I wish I could just believe in Christianity but my mind tells me to think otherwise. This speaker was talking about how eventually we will all stand before God on judgement day and he will ask us one question: "why should you get into Heaven?" The speaker emphisized that the only acceptable answer is to say that you have lived through Christ and lived with God in your heart. I don't undersrand why we have to accept Christ in order to live in eternity if it exists. I dont understand that basically if your a good person all your life that doesnt matter unless you have Christ in your heart. I have to wonder if most people in my age group think about these things like I do. I have heard powerful testamonies about how accepting Jesus has changed peoples lives and I have to wonder if that change will ever happen to me or will I resist it? They tell you to just do it to let God into your life but I am scared of what might happen. Among other things I have on my mind I feel guilty so far up here I have done zero community service and I thrive on that stuff but next week we are going to a homeless shelter to help out. I am really exited and hopefully we will be able to continue going back to help out! :) Alright more later....

-D

raman noodles are the staple of my diet.

I made it through my first week of classes and I am actually starting to love it here! My parents and older brother left last Saturday after moving me in. As soon as they were gone I had a mini panick attack. I worried that I wouldn't be able to make any friends, that I would fail all my classes. I wondered if I had made the wrong choice, I wondered if there was no escape. When Monday classes rolled around I was already feeling better but after making friends in some of my classes I felt on top of the world and I have yet to fall off.... I don't feel like sharing everything some of the better moments are best kept to myself. Theres a few cute boys who I hope like me back ;) !!! I tell lots of people here about my trip to Africa; some don't really care other seems interested. I will write later...

I know it's a little late Obama V. McCain Gov't essay

The 2008 presidential election is sure to be interesting with nominees like Obama and McCain who express very different ideologies. Obama who is running for the Democratic nominee is a senator from Illinois. Originally born in Hawaii Obama lived there with his mom even after his father left them to move back to his home of Kenya. Barack Obama attended law school but put his career on hold to help improve the living condition in poor areas. He later received his law degree from Harvard in 1991. In Chicago he became a civil rights lawyer and taught constitutional law. He eventually served as Illinois state senator for eight years. He was then elected into the United States senate. He draws from his many experiences that help in creating his unique views on politics (Obama). McCain is a republican from Arizona who is running against Obama for presidency. He was inducted into The United States House of Representatives and then into the United States senate in 1986. McCain attended the United States Navel academy. He was a navel aviator for 22 years. Fighting in Vietnam McCain escaped a fire that killed 134 men but during another mission he was caught and held as a prisoner of war. His time in the war and his time in politics have greatly influenced his views and decisions (McCain). Based on Obama's stance on Darfur and the environment Obama should be elected president in 2008.

Known as "the greatest humanitarian crisis" the Darfur genocide -one of the most important issues today- is largely unknown by the public. The military conflict in Darfur, Sudan a remote part of Africa began in early 2003 and has still not ended. The Darfur conflict seems to be more about ethnicity then religion. One side of the armed conflict is made of the Sudanese Military and the military backed Janjaweed. These two groups are mostly of Arab descent. These groups have created the first genocide of the twenty-first century by burning villages and killing innocent civilians. The other side of the armed conflict is composed of rebel groups like the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice Equality Movement composed of non- Arabs. Although the Sudanese government claims they do not support the Janjaweed they have constantly provided them money and even assisted them on some of there attacks. It is estimated by the U.N that these attacks have left 400,000 people dead. It also estimates that some 2.5 million people in Darfur have been removed from their homes and displaced. The Sudanese government's death toll reports are grossly underestimated and they claim that only 9,000 civilians have been killed. The Sudanese government has jailed and even killed witness to their crimes to keep their operations secretive. The fact that no one is permitted to enter Darfur because the war is so horrible alludes to one reason why Darfur receives minimal media coverage. Although some steps to end the conflict have been taken like the 1706 UN Resolution which sent 17,300 UN peace keeping forces to Darfur little can happen unless we elect a leader who will make bigger strides to end the Darfur conflict(Q&A: Sudan's darfur).

As Obama and Brownback said about Dafur in the introduction to the book Not On Our watch "... we have been heartened, during what can feel like dark times, to hear loud, persistent, and inspirational voices from all corners of our nation calling for action to end the massacres in Darfur...we are committed to moving forward to help halt this genocide." Obama has been a major voice speaking on behalf of the Darfurie refugees. One of his greatest accomplishments to help end the genocide was the Darfur peace accountability act that he worked on with Senator Sam Brownback. He also helped secure $20 million dollars for the African peace keeping mission. He wants to have a no-fly zone over Darfur and wants to make bigger strides for foreign policy. He wants the UN to help in stopping the genocide. Obama believes the world needs to stand up to there promise of "never again"(Obama).

McCain believes the only way in ending the genocide in Darfur is through China. He says the one reason the United Nations Security council has not acted on the issue is because of China. China supports Darfur because of Sudan's energy resources. McCain hopes that calling upon other nations to pressure China will help the situation in Darfur and hopefully get China on our side. He mentions working with Americas allies like Germany and France. McCain however does not want to send troops to Darfur. He says he is much to practical to do that (Kristof 13-14). McCain does not want to resort to force to help save Dafur. Even though McCain has an idealistic side it is often out weighted by his practical side. Many call him the "practical idealist" ("John McCain").

Another major issue affecting the world today is global warming. The major debate between scientist is not weather global warming is happening its weather it is man made or just a natural environmental cycle- like the ice age. For example the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated "Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations". This is one group that like many believes that humans use of coal and other non-renewable resources are the cause of global warming. The effects of global warming are not all necessarily immediate but they are very significant. Some immediate effects include: shrinking of glaciers, thawing of permafrost, break up of ice and seasons are getting longer and longer ("What we know"). The fact that the polar ice caps are melting is causing high numbers of polar bear deaths. In 1987 there were an estimated 1,194 polar bears but after a 22% decrease by the year 2004 we only had 935 polar bears left. Scientist estimates that polar bears will be extinct with in the next 100 years. The melting ice caps causes the bears food to drift away they swim up to 50 miles to reach the food but often end up drowning or starving. In recent years polar bears have been found moving closer inland (Weart). Media attention on the issue of global warming has greatly increased in recent years with the new hybrid cars and the reusable grocery bags but none of this will be enough unless we act now. We need a strong leader who will help reduce our green house gases and work on new solutions for using renewable energy sources like wind, solar and nuclear.

"I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels." Said Obama on the environment. Obama wants to enforce a cap and trade system to help reduce carbon emissions. The cap and trade system requires pollution credits to be auctioned so those who pollute pay money for harming the environment. This money will be used to work on getting cleaner energy. He also plans to make incentives for farmers, forest owners and ranchers who plant trees, restore grasslands and help capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By investing over $150 billion in 10 years he hopes to help the next generation with biofuels and fuel infrastructure. Obama hopes to improve efficiency by 20% by the year 2030. He also wants to double researcher in clean energy too. This is what Obama will do if elected president in 2008 (Obama).

McCain hopes to improve the environment by ensuring clean air and water. He also wants to keep our national parks in good condition. He believes economics and the environment are greatly intertwined. His plan is not really coherent but he does express a great yearning to help the environment. McCain has not expressed interest in a cap and trade system or incentives for people who help the environment. McCain says he hopes to follow in the foot steps of the republican president Theodore Roosevelt who was dedicated to conserving our natural environment. In 2003 McCain co sponsored a bill to reduce carbon emissions and was opposed to the Chany energy bill (McCain).

Obama's stance on Darfur is preferable to McCain's because he has a plan and knows how to make change. He understands the issue and has spoken out about it several times McCain on the other hand argues that "the reason we are not doing more is because no one has come up with a coherent plan." It is obvious that McCain also has no plan to end the genocide. On McCain's campaign site he does not once mention Darfur which greatly contradicts his statement of hoping America will say "never again, ever again". How are we expected to stand up if there is no media attention on the issue? Yet on McCain's site he has a whole page dedicated to Human dignity talking about censoring children from pornography. This is not a major issue affecting our world today and Darfur is. I personally think Darfur is a human dignity and moral issue. I am glad that at least one candidate- Obama has brought media attention to this genocide.

Obama's stance on the environment is far better then McCain's. I agree with Obama's plans for a cap and trade system. I think this will greatly help reduce our carbon emissions. I also agree with providing incentives to farmers and ranchers who help the environment. Obama seems to have a clear plan of what policies he will enact and what he will do for the environment when he becomes president. McCain again seems unclear in his plans and decisions only talking about what he would like to do or what he thinks is a good idea never quite saying heres what I will do. I think we do need to do research on clean energy and invest money into helping our environment.

The different ideologies expressed by the candidates have made for a unique campaign race between senators Obama and McCain. Although each candidate has some good ideas I agree with most all of Obama's stances for Darfur and the environment. I think we need a leader who will enact change and step up to the plate. We need a strong leader who sticks to there word and is never contradictory. In conclusion Obama should be elected president in 2008.

Compare and contrast

Imagine growing up a Jewish boy in Nazi Germany during the holocaust where 1.5 million children were deliberately killed. You would have probably lost your family and ended up in one of the ghettos or even worse a concentration camp. After the Holocaust the world came together and proclaimed that “never again” would they allow genocide to occur. Yet from 2003 -2005 –although it’s debated if the genocide has actually ended- in Darfur Sudan it’s estimated that some 400,000 people mostly children were systematically killed because of their ethnicity. Genocide is defined as “the systematic and deliberate destruction of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, social class or economic status.”

Although many would argue that the conflict in Darfur is not similar to the Holocaust that happened over 60 years ago in Germany I would have to disagree. Much like the Nazi’s during World War Two the Janjaweed in Sudan is military backed and is the main group doing the attacks. They have focused their attacks on people who are non-Arab. During the holocaust the Nazi’s singled out Jews, Gypsies, the mentally handicapped, and those who they felt were inferior and not a part of the ”perfect race”. In Germany the Nazis took over as the main political force with Adolf Hitler as their leader. They used this political leverage to commit what is widely known as the worst genocide in history. Between 1933 and 1939 six million Jews, gypsies and handicapped people were killed. 78% of Jews that lived there died at the hands of this genocide. They removed these people from their homes and forced them to live in ghettos housed with thousands of others. Many simply died from diesis in the Ghettos. Others were sent to concentration camps where they were either burned alive, worked to death or experimented on. Similarly in Darfur the Janjaweed is a military and government backed force allowing them to commit wide spread violence. Although the government denies any allegations of working with the Janjaweed they have provided them money on several occasions and often send the military to assist them. The President of Darfur and the man allowing the attacks to occur is Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Death toll reports are largely unknown due to the fact that no one is permitted to enter Darfur because of how bad the atrocities are. It’s estimated that 2.7 million Darfurians have been displaced from their homes and are now living in refugee camps. Much like the Ghettos in Germany hundreds of civilians die each day because of poor sanitation.

Although I do believe that these two situations are closely related one major difference is the global response to these atrocities. Ask almost anyone today if they think it was wrong of us to enter World War Two and they will most likely tell you that the United States needed to help end there holocaust. On the other hand ask someone if they think we should enter Darfur and they will have one of two responses. Response number one they have never heard of the genocide -yes it has been declared genocide- in Darfur or they will say that we don’t need to be the world police and save everyone. That is the biggest difference between these two genocides.Clearly the similarities between the 1930’s holocaust and today’s holocaust are undeniable and out weight any differences. Only time will tell if the Darfur genocide invokes a public outcry to truly say “Never again, ever again!”

Description

Last year I was enrolled in an English class called "expository writing". Each week we wrote essays and I actually thought some of mine were pretty cool so I decided to post them up here enjoy!

Description Essay:
I sit there legs crossed “I want to hold your hand” blaring out of the speakers. I watch hypnotized. It spins in circles around and around. I am not talking about eight tracks or CD’s no these are classic vinyl records. Each of the tiny lines feels bumpy across my finger tips. The more indented lines indicating a new song on the record. Each one is round and black except for each has a unique inner circle with a picture or writing on it. I set down the needle on my phonograph and suddenly all my troubles float away as each note hangs in the air slowly escaping from the speakers. I let go of everything and listen as the melodic pop sound of the Beatles echoes through my bedroom.

On my walls and ceiling half hung posters represent my favorite bands and artist. My grandpa’s old guitar sits to the left of my bed. Pictures of my recent trip to Africa cover what once was a mirror. Every time I look into those pictures I see my reflection. My CD’s are hidden amongst books in my closet sitting next to my stereo. Laying alphabetically on the floor in crisp neat rows are the 153 vinyl records I own. I have been collecting them since my freshmen year- begging aunts and uncles to pass down there un-used treasures to me. I love looking through all of my album covers. Each album cover feels flat and smooth with different art work on it. You can see how the styles have changed. Some of the art work beginning to fade away with the years. Next to my music collection is my phonograph that I received for Christmas two years ago. It is modern yet, appears old because of the rustic brown covering. It not only plays my classic indulgences but it has radio and CD functions too. The most modern part however; is that it records my vinyls into CD’s to listen to during those long car rides.

Suddenly, the needle picks up off the record. The album is over. It is dead silent. I flip the record over and start again, the vibrations in the music moving all around me.