My thoughts on your thoughts: 9/11

I'm starting to feel slightly disgruntled at the way some people are approaching the subject of the ten year anniversary of 9/11.

I see so many people referring to it as the "worst act of terrorism ever committed", or the "greatest tragedy" - a lot of superlatives being thrown around, when it should have been a moment that opened our eyes to the fact that the United States is just as vulnerable and just as flawed as the rest of the world.
September 11, 2001 was a tragedy, but to call it the greatest tragedy just because it happened to us and not someone else for once, is selfish and ignorant.
On September 11, 2001, there were 2982 deaths due to terrorist attacks - the largest death toll to ever befall our country due to a single incident, which is something completely true.

One of the widely agreed-upon definitions of terrorism is premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets, which also includes another act: genocide. State sponsored terrorism. So, what other tragedies now constitute terrorism.

The first and most obvious is the Jewish Holocaust, which lasted four years. The lowest estimated death toll is about 4.2 million. That means there was an average of at least about 2,900 deaths per day for four years.
In the Rwandan genocide of 1994, there is an estimated death toll of about 800,000 over the course of 100 days. That's an average of about 8,000 deaths per day for over three months.

And finally, something I've read a lot about and talk alot about, though it is a daily average which doesn't seem like much in comparison to the numbers above: during the Philippines' fight for independence from the United States, which lasted about 13 years in reality, though the official war only lasted for three, there was a total of about 1,520,000 Filipinos killed by Americans, an average of about 300 deaths per day. American General Jacob H. Smith ordered his men to "kill everyone over the age of ten" and turn the island into a "howling wilderness".

This is not meant to belittle what people must feel about the events of 9/11, but the date should be one to also recognize that in order to live in a safer more peaceful world means not turning a blind eye to what happens in the rest of the world.

A DREAM Act Rooted in Reality

Most readers of my blog are aware of the fact that I was a vocal critic of the DREAM Act. However, out of Christmas spirit, I wanted to write a blog that would help the DREAM movement rather than say only what I think is wrong with the legislation they are supporting.

Locally, there is still a great deal of rattle about the DREAM Act's failure to pass in Senate, and what the movement's next move should be. In particular, a great deal of online communities have been trying to strategize how to continue pressuring legislators and keep the DREAM Act fresh in their minds.

However, the harsh reality is that leaving the DREAM Act as is would make it highly unlikely to be seen again for a vote anytime soon. That being said, an immigration bill that puts aside demographic pinpointing and votegrabbing and takes a pragmatic approach is more likely to be able to garner support from both sides of the aisle. Just an example, I've written a sample of what a pragmatic, nonsensationalized DREAM Act would look like - I do not necessarily like the requirements or think they are the ones which would gain the most public support, but I do think that the changes would help the DREAM Act pass.

The Dating Epidemic: Why Our Culture's Dating Standards May Harm Your Health

This is not a blog to tell you that being promiscuous and not settling down will give you an STD and kill you. This is a blog to tell you that your dating habits may be detrimental to your health in more ways than you've probably thought about.

In our current culture, casual dating and short-term relationships are normal and perfectly acceptable. You're young, you're in high school or college, you date someone for a little while, grow apart, and split up. When most start a new relationship, they're rarely thinking that they've found "The One." In fact, "The One" is so elusive that nowadays not many people aspire to find them at all. Instead, people are happy with what they have for as long as they have it, relish in being in a "just talking" phase with a not-quite-significant-other, and not necessarily expecting to have found someone to spend their lives with.
Dating isn't about finding someone that we want to marry, have a bunch of kids with, and stay with until our hair turns grey -- dating is about good company, feeling good, and enjoying ourselves while we're young - and nowadays, dating starts younger and younger. Moreover, we as a culture seem to like our casual dating scene - it's freeing, it's empowering, and it makes us feel good about ourselves.

Doesn't it?

Strength, Feminism, and the Housewife

In our current culture lexicon, there are several images that are equated with the strong modern woman.

There is the butch woman, who supposedly rejects society's definition of what is feminine - but isn't she really just validating it by doing the polar opposite, still allowing it to define her by her need to contradict it?

There is the bombastic woman, who is willing to ride out any day as naked as Lady Godiva and do whatever she damn well pleases, forget being ladylike or conscientious of others' opinions. She is proud of the fact that she is loud and boisterous, and can outdrink or outcuss any man.

There is the liberated woman, who is unabashedly single and touts the fact that she can be with who she wants, when she wants. Her motto is 'I don't need a man', and she prides herself on her extensive wardrobe and nightlife. She constantly advises her friends that every choice is alright, as long as you're having fun. After all, they're only young once.

Lessons Learned: Where the DREAM Act Movement Went Wrong

For those among us who did not watch the C-SPan coverage of the DREAM Act cloture vote this morning, especially those of us on the West Coast who may have had a hard time being up early on a Saturday, the results were a 55-41 vote, with the DREAM Act falling five votes short of success.

Those of you who follow my blog will know that I have been a staunch critic of the DREAM Act, though not of immigration in general. I do believe that maintaining the influx and efflux of people is part of what will pull the United States out of its slump. However, should the DREAM Act come up for a vote again any time soon, there have been some important lessons in this failure: