Connecticut School Shooting

This past Friday there was a shooting massacre in an elementary school. This tragic event led to the deaths of 26 people. This is an incredibly sad, unfathomable event. I believe it is extremely important for everyone to take a moment to think about the lives lost, so we can remember the victims. To receive more information on this very sad day, click here for the Chicago Tribune's coverage.



An event such as this was because of the insanity of one individual and guns. Although I believe people should think about the victims and their families in a time such as this, I also think it is important to think about the laws we have in place regarding the second amendment. This amendment, giving citizens the right to bear arms, was passed over 200 years ago. In this day and age, certain types of guns are available that could have never been imagined back in the 1790's. Yes, guns provide protection to some people, but guns also provide a means for tragedies, such as the Connecticut shooting. Guns need to be restricted on a national level, and the second amendment needs to be reconsidered. What do you think? How should the debate over guns be handled? For more information on this debate and the shooting, click here.

Football Icons

There is an ongoing conversation in Mr. Bolos' post "Sunday Suckers" that I would like to add onto. It seems obvious that Football is a fairly violent sport, that has led to many injuries at the professional level. Whether you believe the NFL should create more strict rules to reduce these injuries or not, is completely your opinion. But what about the children? Many kids, even up to the high school level, have icons in the NFL that they look up to. These icons can provide motivation for a kid who wants to be great in football. But is that bad? According to a 2001 study, kids playing football have many more injuries compared to all other sports...

According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program:

• In 2001, the number of sport-related injuries for each sport are as follows:
  • Gymnastics — 99,722
  • Baseball — 170,902
  • Softball — 118,354
  • Football — 413,620
  • Soccer — 163,003
  • Volleyball — 55,860
  • Track & Field — 15,113
  • Hockey — 63,945

Do professional football players play a role in this statistic by influencing the minds of young children to get involved in football? I would argue yes. When someone sees a role model do something, they want to do that. For that reason, many more children get involved in this brutal sport, and injuries rise. It is possible that if NFL football became safer, then children's football would also become safer because the influence these athletes have on America's youth. Therefore, there could be several benefits to making football safer.  What influence do you think NFL players have on children? 

Entertainment or Propaganda?

This past weekend I watched a movie released a while ago called "Act of Valor". It was a very inspirational movie about Navy SEALs and their heroic deeds.



Despite being amazed by some of the things these men did, this movie also got me thinking about the American movie industry. Is there ever a time where a movie depicts the wrongdoings of Americans? Although there is a bias because most producers are from America, it seems like most movies are selected specifically to make our country out to be "the good guys". Do you believe there is a secret motivation for movie producers to make our country seem great? And if so, why do you think that is?