My Possible Topics

My first possible topic is whether pet companions affect people’s behavior? (i.e. Research on the affects of abusing animals at a younger age can lead to criminal activity and violent behavior when they grow older; Research on pets relieving stress, such as in the workplace or home environment) It would be interesting to know if cats and dogs can affect one's behavior throughout life, and the difference between their responses during a situation when with or without a pet.

My second possible topic would be about the argument from the people whom think that visit zoo’s is supporting that it is okay to watch animals in jail, and that it is wrong for them to be incarcerated like such. I believe that this helps save animals from becoming endangered or extinct, and provides shelter and food, while giving education on their behaviors, and to younger children, but I also understand that there is another side to the argument.

My third topic choice is whether animals should be given greater rights to being treated fairly, and also increase punishments given to those who abuse or torture animals. (i.e. Michael Vick case and Steven’s v. Supreme Court case). What could be done to give animals rights, and how their rights would affect society.

Against Michael Vick

http://www.footballfansagainstvick.com/index.html

Please sign the letter at this website if you are against Michael Vick being eligible to play for NFL! thank you =)

M.V. let off easy for a serious crime?!

If I were to choose someone to get kicked off the island, or out of the public eye in other words, I would choose Michael Vick. He is an image of how famous individuals who commit serious crimes get let off easy. He was a leader of a big dog fighting ring, where he would raise and fight innocent dogs, mainly pit-bulls. Who can seriously enjoy such a depressing scene of dogs fighting, and what are the dogs even fighting for? A real meal if they win? A beating by a tougher dog and an angry owner if they lose? Pit-bulls already have such a bad reputation for being aggressive, and he is just giving more proof of this. In reality though pit-bulls only want to please their owner, and most have very sweet, loving temperaments when raised in a good environment. Even after his dogs were abused, almost all of them, after some work, ended up being good family dogs. I believe there were only two who were too aggressive to be adopted.

Michael Vick on the other hand is a loser, and a sore sight for an athlete and public image. He only served 18 months of his 23 month sentence. He was just recently released and has already signed up as Nike's spokesman, as well as getting his on television show on BET?! How can they let this criminal off so easy? This slap on the wrists, I believe, has not changed him one bit. Who knows, he could just end up right back where he was before, doing the same acts of animal cruelty. On his side of the argument, he is apparently enlisted with the Humane Society to help end dogfighting, and prevent youths from engaging in it. Where's the evidence is what I, and any animal lover, wants to know. He is probably just fooling the media, being a sly fox and using his publicity to benefit him in any way. It is a disgrace that he is being allowed in the media after what he did, a criminal who has not changed, and most likely will not. How can media people look past what he did with such ease, and basically give him rewards for his crimes?

What led me to my decision on this warrant is for one he is a bad role model for children and teenagers, since he is a criminal now. It shows that the famous athletes can get away with what they want. Another aspect of my decision is if we let one famous individual off easy for such a terrible crime, then other famous individuals, who commit illegal activities, will most likely be let off easy as well. This is an excellent example of how lawsuits that include the famous are usually viewed as above the law in some aspects. No one is above the law, especially not Michael Vick, and this just goes to show that courts are swayed by the famous. He needs to be kicked out of the public's view, because it is a privilege, not a right, and he committed a serious crime and should pay some serious consequences!

Ruffian.."Champions Live Forever"

Ruffian. A movie based on the true story of a famous racehorse, who changed the world of racing by doing what she loved. She touched the hearts of everyone who ever saw her run, and those who watch her movie. She raced during the time in which the racing business was going downhill, and it was because of her that fans began to come back to the track in order to watch her powerful performances. She ran each race with such a powerful stride, pride, and put her entire heart into ever step. She was a fighter, and would never let another horse come near the lead until her last race. With each race she broke a record with such ease, it looked as if she was floating over the track. She became the greatest racehorse to ever set hoof on the track.

Her trainer, Frank Whitely, was one of the greatest trainers during this time period. He was a gentle gentleman, who usually kept to himself and around his horses. He knew his horses better than most people know their children, and gave them the best care they could receive. He didn't become a trainer for the fame or money, but because of the love for the horses. He never pushed Ruffian, and that is why he only raced her against fillies. Her last race, which was the match race, was forced upon him by the owner in order to revive interest in racing from the public. This match race, colt vs. filly, became the race of the century and started a battle against the sexes. Frank Whitely knew that this race would push her, since she would be forced to run head to head with a colt, something she had never done before. He was right.

In the beginning of the race it is thought that Ruffian may have clipped the starting gate, and this is what lead to what happened. The two horses ran, head to head, the first half of the race, putting all they had into each step. After about the half marker Ruffian started to pull away from Foolish Pleasure, first by a head, then by a neck, and finally by a furlong. It was just as she started to pull away that her front right ankle snapped completely. Even with her hook hanging on by only threads of tendons and skin, she kept trying to run, trying to gain her lead back. It took the jockey a few strides to finally get her to stop running and see the damage to her hoof. He had to have her lean on him in order to keep her standing. She was then taken to the animal hospital right off the track for emergency surgery.

Hundreds of fans and news reporters waited outside the clinic waiting for news of the beloved filly. It was an all night procedure, but it looked to be successful. As she was laying in recovery and waking up from anesthesia, she began to move her legs as if she was still running in the race. They had about twenty people trying to hold her down, but it was not enough for this powerful horse and she ended up breaking her good front leg with the cast on her broken leg. It was then that Frank Whitely called the owner and asked for permission to put her out of her misery. She was then buried in the infield at her home racetrack, Belmont Park, and is still the only horse to be buried there.

It is this ending that touches me the most, and will touch almost anyone who sees her story. It is amazing how this rare horse touched the hearts of the entire country by just doing what she loved. She was so full of heart and pride, she never gave up, and became a true role model for anyone. She proved that females can be just as good, and even better, than males, and she revived the sport of racing by doing so. She was a horse of pure heart and power, with such grace and beauty that anyone who hears her story will be amazed. She is a true champion, and the greatest racehorse to ever set foot on a racetrack.

"What she left in her passing was a memory far sharper, and a vision of surpassing grace and beauty, of a soaring poetry in motion that was written in hoof beats that ring as clearly today, as they did then." -Bill Nack, Racing Journalist

Animal Abuse

Animal abuse. This is what has lead me to my career goal, to become an Animal Lawyer. I want to be able to protect animals from the people who torture and abuse animals for fun, such as those who do pitbull fighting. There are all sorts of animal abuse, ranging from abuse of house hold pets, abuse of animals in slaughterhouses, and to animals being used for research. Animals are not able to speak for themselves, and it seems that some people take this to their advantage.

It seems that governments and law force agencies aren't doing enough to stop the abuse of animals, as there are still so many cases everyday. One thing that really upsets me is the punishment given to people who were found guilty of animal abuse. Their sentencing usually is only a fine, and with some severe cases a couple months to two years in jail. Even when they have murdered an innocent creature, they seem to get off easy, but if found guilty of murdering a human they are incarcerated for life. How is murdering a human being much different from murdering an animal? They have the same feelings as humans, most have given to our community in some way or another, or at least their ancestors have.

Eating meat is a part of our American culture, but the way animals are treated in slaughterhouses before being lead to their death is unethical. You can see video's of chickens being jammed packed in wire cages, horses and cattle being beaten, swine being crammed in cages unable to turn around and be comfortable. How can humans treat anything with a living soul this way, is it good to feel in control of something?

Animals deserve the same rights as any human. Obviously they cannot do some of the same things as us, but that is no excuse for any of them to be treated badly. They deserve respect, and if someone cannot give that, then they have no right to even be near an animal. I hope to one day be able to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves, give them a voice in this world that seems to be letting them down.

Internet Predators and Internet safety

The internet is what I believe to be a second, diverse universe, with millions of databases filled with information. Everyone uses the internet someway or another, practically everyday. It seems that our world, especially America, rely on the internet to do everyday things, such as keeping in contact with friends or researching information. Since everyone is able to use internet resources, such as social networking sites, it is always possible that you can come across a criminal or predator. With all this freedom, it is hard to know when you are actually safe from predators on certain websites.

Social networking is a major part of today's culture, especially on teenagers and young adults. Myspace and Facebook are the two main social network sites that you will find with the most people. They are used to connect with old friends, as well as to find and make new ones. When creating account you have to give your information, such as your name and age, as well as signing an agreement. Since there is no real security on who is signing up on these websites, it is easy for predators to use fake information allowing them onto the site. It also allows for young teens to be able to use these websites as well, who may not know all of the risks that come with using the internet.

These networking sites have such a huge impact on young teens, it almost seems as if everyone has one that they use frequently. With so many people on these sites, it is hard to monitor the people on it, and some people may fall for schemes. For example a young teenage girl met a young adult male on Myspace, whom she eventually met with face to face. After they met he ended up raping her, through no fault of her own for meeting a stranger whom she met on the internet. These are the types of predators that all people using social networking sites need to be aware of, especially parents of teenagers who use one of those types of sites.

Social networking sites are fun, and are a good way to communicate with friends, but it also can be dangerous if you are not careful with the people you come in contact with. It is good in keeping in touch with old friends from high school and college, especially when you don't live near them. When having young teenagers using it, it is always good if the parent's keep an eye on the people that their children are becoming friends with, and if they talk to them about predators. I also believe that social networking sites should try and secure their sites more from predators with my security precautions, such as what myspace is working on with finding sexual predators and deleting them off the site. Besides that, I believe it is safe to use these sites with caution.

You cannot see what you are not looking for! -Kristen

If I was to create a bumber sticker that modeled my philosphy on life, it would be this lyric I got from a song, "You cannot see what you are not looking for." When I heard this lyric during the song, it really caught my attention. I had never put much thought into what it had meant before, not until I heard it on that one day that was not going right.
What this lyric means to me is that life is so full of new experiences, most that you cannot see if you are not looking for it. If you are not open to going out with friends and having a good time, then you are not looking for what fun might come out of it. I realize now things that I missed out on because I was only looking for one certain thing, and since I could not find it I moped around instead of truly doing something about it.
Everyone is looking for something or another throughout life, whether it be happiness, romance, thrills, or something. Some people get so focused on looking for that one thing in only one way. They need to learn to open up and see that being open to new experiences and people could eventually bring along exactly what they are looking for. This was true for me before, but now I have realized to let things just happen, and that what I am looking for will come around in it's own time. I am no longer looking, I am living my life.