cyber bullying also know as serious ignorance

Cyber bullying is not a joke.
"Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you."
False.
It's all fun and games till someone gets hurt.
No one can understand what it is like to be very seriously bullied, and very emotionally damaged; Otherwise them themselves have been bullied.
Though suicide is not the answer, during many cases of cyber bullying its shows that these kids must have felt that there was no alternative.  There have been so many cases appearing in the news about misuse of the internet, that people are now letting it slip through their ears.
Currently, especially after the Clemetie case, this has been a major issue. Not only do these cyber bullies has nothing good to say, but are too scared to say it to the person 'face to face.' So how do we stop them, how can we make more people aware of this issue?
Though many organizations are doing their best to spread awareness of this social issue, it doesn't seem to stop kids. We see cases in the head lines of the news paper more and more often.
Scary statistics: according to http://isafe.org/channels/sub.php?ch=op&sub_id=media_cyber_bullying

Cyber Bullying Statistics
• 42% of kids have been bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once.
• 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mail or other messages.

This just shows what a serious issue cyber bullying has become.

Many organizations such as thesocialsheild have been trying to enforce a law against cyber bullying. 

This is a good thing, but in my head it is also a scary thing. Because, if we didn't have laws against killing one another, would we go around killing one another? I think WE have to put an end to cyber bullying, not a law. 

But, I am not implying a law against cyber bullying wouldn't be smart, if it would stop this problem I am all for it.

In the end, we hope these bullies will understand: If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything. especially not online.

• Nothing more can be said.

extra credit
Song lyrics: http://www.lyrics007.com/R.E.M.%20Lyrics/Losing%20My%20Religion%20Lyrics.html
song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if-UzXIQ5vw&ob=av3e

This song has 1 thousand meanings, and here are two I thought of, and responded to.
   
  I first heard this song, (most likely in fourth grade), I did not understand it, at all.  But, I listened carefully to the song this year, (eighth grade), then I heard the lyric: "The distance between you and me". This line caught my attention, it helped me understand the song as a whole.
 Many people understand that line, whether it is the relationship between a child and their parent, or the relationship between two very close friends, many people can relate to it.
I have listened to the song many times. But, just three days ago I realized what it may actually be about.
With the title "Losing my religion", religion must be part of the song somehow. Many of Michael Stipe's songs are about relationships, and I am sure this one is no exception.
   The lines:


The distance in your eyes 
Oh no I've said too much 
I set it up 

That's me in the corner 
That's me in the spotlight 
Losing my religion 

   I unscrambled this chorus to mean;

There is a guy in a relationship which he is not comfortable in. He feels as though he is "Losing his Religion." Through the song you are able to tell that the speaker is not comfortable with what is going on. The speaker feels as though he is "In the spotlight". 

I can relate to feeling in the spotlight, as much as all my piers. Middle school is not as easy as many of the adults make it out to be. There is a line that says: "Every whisper, every waking hour I'm choosing my confessions."

"Choosing my confessions", is not something you hear about everyday. This sounds like something Brittany Spears, or any other celebrity may say. But it also sounds like something we may do everyday, just not as drastically. What I mean by this, is that every single day, people make decisions. Everyday we chose to do something, that might not be right. We are always taking a risk.
I thought back to the meaning of this song, and how it ties to the line ("Losing my confessions") 
the meaning of the song being: Someone LOSING his/her religion, to be in (GAIN) a relationship.


The lyric: Oh, life is bigger 
It's bigger than you

I think responds to not being alone in life. Sometimes, I may think that 'I am the only person who actually exists'. Which give this song a lonely mood.
In the song he seems to be blaming himself for a mistaken love. He thinks he thought he saw "You try", try to love back. The lyrics that show that he is blaming himself:
 "That is me in the corner, that is me in the spotlight"


"I have said too much." "I have set it up." "The length that I will go to". 
I watched an interview with the artist of this song, and he said
"Though this song can be interpreted in a thousand different ways, I didn't mean it about religion." 
Immediately, I was confused, 'then what was it about?' I listened to this song a couple hundred more times today, and realized it was also about mistaken love.
The lyric:  "THE LENTH THAT I WILL GO TO", shows that it is obvious that he loves the girl. He tells the girl he loves her "I haven't said enough". He thinks he thought he "Saw her try", to love him back, "But that was just a dream." That never happened.
"Just a dream." 

SOCAIL ISSUE autism response/reflection and researching (In Q&A form) assignment.1

Autism. What is Autism?


     Autism is a disease which effects brain development.  A kid with autism does not relate to the world the same way you and I do. But, there are many different types autism. Autism with different advantages, and disadvantages. It makes it difficult for these people to live normal lives. The type of autism I will focus on is Asperger's syndrome. I choose this type of autism to focus on because this is a less severe, and unheard of type of autism.


How does autism effect me?


       You may know someone who is autistic, you maybe their friend or neighbor, You may not even know someone who is autistic; nevertheless, from experience I can tell you they are no different than me or you in many ways. 
This is why I will comment when someone uses the word 'retard' as a joke. I understand it is used light heartedly, but Unless you know someone who has mental retardation, you honestly don't understand how hurtful this term is.  I feel that this term discriminates against them, and makes mental retardation sound like a terrible thing which we should be afraid of.


 Are autistic people the same as you and me? 
      
This brings me to my next point. Just like your race, autism becomes part of your identity. Staring funny at people with autism can be compared with staring at someone with a different skin color. Autism should be looked at as just another characteristic in a person. Autistic people aren't exactly like us, but should be treated equally. They may have incredible qualities which you can learn from. Many autistic people are very caring, and fair-natured, and very kind with animals. We can learn from them, just how they can learn from us. We may not be exactly alike, but are equal.


 MY research brought me to.. 


As said before, there are many forms of autism. One type is 
asperger syndrome. Asperger syndrome is a less severe type of autism. It begins at a young age, when a child becomes obsessed with a story, toy, or object, and absolutely nothing else. Which later develops into a disease where people have very poor social skills. These people are usually very straight forward/ literal, and do not usually understand sarcasm. Also many people with asperger syndrome have wide vocabularies, but words/ actions are often poorly coordinated.
My personal experience with asperger syndrome is with one of my best friends little brother. He has asperger syndrome, and I didn't know how to approach him at first. Now, when I look back at that I think about how foolish that was. I ended up approaching him as I would with any other person. We ended up having an interesting conversation about prehistoric mammals. 


 My realization


Then, I realized, what they probably really want is to be treated like you and me. No one wants to be starred at, or made faces to. If autistic people are equal, we should start treating them more equally.      
No more said.

Jude changes the world everyday in a small and-not-so-good way. *With an unlikely twist

Interview with Jude:


Me: Nice to be speaking with you Jude. How are you?


Jude: Good thank you, Hannah. Why again am I here?


Me: Word has spread, and I have seen you drive your car everyday to work.


Jude: Is there an issue with that?


Me: Oh, just Global warming!


Jude: Haha, well how old are you?


Me: 13. why?


Jude: It is your generation's job to clean up the mess we have created.


Me: By 'We' you mean your generation?


Jude: Yes,  I know there is something that will solve 'Global Warming, and let me tell you, it's not politics'!


Me: So,  would you consider yourself educated on 'Global Warming'?


Jude: yes, of course.


Me: Yet you are contributing to it five out of seven days every week? Please explain.


Jude: I don't like the subway. The bus takes one hour to get to work, and my car is extremely convenient. Something called 
creature comfort.


Me: Well, this creature comfort may end the world. Any arguments you would like to impose?


Jude: It's NY, and it's not like we still ride horse and buggy around. I'm not sure why you choose me to do this interview, meanwhile two thousand other New Yorkers are riding their cars everyday, everywhere.


Me: Good point, and I choose you randomly. You seem to be very aware of climate change, yet your not quite 'Doing your share'. 


Jude: I agree. That may have to change...


Me: In the near future?


Jude: Lets not push it,I do my fair share at home. I reuse, reduce, and recycle.


Me: You just answered my next question! I would ask if you recycle, but I know it is a law you have to follow. Do you like with this law?


Jude: (Smiling) Yes. Positive laws should be enforced. You know I am not a heartless global warming monster? Right Shohannah?


Me: Of course you are not.


Jude: I guess there is positives and negatives in everyone.


Me: I am also aware you donate to charities. Would you like to add on to that statement?


Jude: I donate to Doctors without boarders, and organization bringing doctors to places that need them. I donate to museums, even the 'sesame street workshop.'


Me:We all have goods and bads.


Jude: It is important to focus on the good in people, even when I am 'Jude who changes the world everyday in a small and not-so-good way'. but sometimes I am also 'Jude is as generous as santa clause, always supporting a good cause'.


Me: WOW, did you make that up right now?


Jude: No, I had that planned. 


Me: Well, thank you for this interesting interview. Speak to you later. 


Jude: No problem, and please include my rhyme.


Me: It is the title of this interview.

Socail Awareness assignment number 2 (Interveiw- number1)

Bloody Sunday by U2

This is an intense, and serious song by one of my favorite bands, U2.
Here are the lyrics (with my comments in the highlighted light pink), and a response at the end.

   Yes

I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes and make it go away
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long? How long?
'Cause tonight we can be as one, tonight
When he says "How long must we sing this song?" He is referring to this social injustice, that has happened more than once. "This song", refers to the fight between Northern Ireland, and England; And how they are constantly fighting over religion.
"Cause tonight we can be as one." I hear this line, and think that he means that even though religion can unify us, it can also divide us. This song is about the argument over religion, and how it can progress into something as big as 14 people dying.
Broken bottles under children's feetBodies strewn across the dead end streets
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall
"Heed the battle call", I believe means 'Participate in'. Thus, he will not participate in the battle."Broken bottles under children's feet", putsa terrible, but easy to envision, image in your mind.

And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart
Just like war, incidents like this also tear us apart. When someone hears about a murder, or any situation where someone ends up with no pulse, that person loses a little more trust. "Mothers, children, brothers,and sisters torn apart", says to me that everyone is torn apart during situations like this.
Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday "Sunday bloody Sunday", makes agoraphobia seem completely logical. Many people must have been terrified.

How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long? How long?
'Cause tonight we can be as one
Tonight, tonight By using repetition "Tonight, tonight", it shows that U2 is trying to make their point clear. I believe that their point was "Bloody Sunday", was a disgrace to the nation, and can be learned from, in order to not be repeated.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your tears away
Oh, wipe your blood shot eyes

"Oh wipe your blood shoot eyes", in the song "Blood" is put emphasis on. I think the "blood", in "Blood shot eyes", refers to the blood lost in this incident.

Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

And it's true we are immune when fact is fiction and TV reality
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die
The real battle just begun to claim the victory Jesus won on

Eating and drinking are things we do absentmindedly. So, everything may be going normally, and then BANG, "Tomorrow they die." By this, he may also mean that the innocent people that died, may have enjoyed a dinner with their family later that night, but now are unable to.

Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday


This line speaks for itself.


 Short Response


Most was said in my commentary. But, adding on, this song is a clear response to a specific social issue. There are so many things that were wrong with 'Bloody Sunday', I would not know where to begin. But, the thing which strikes me as most unfair is the fact that "Bloody Sunday", was started over religion.
Christianity was originally to bring people together, and look at the result. Now people get together to disagree, and quarrel.
enough said.