Domestic Violence

During the presentations on Friday, a particular one hit me close to home... domestic violence. Katie's presentation on domestic violence, brought a few new facts that I never knew and found shocking. Where three women are murdered everyday by a boyfriend, or husband. The static is shocking extremely shocking considering that is 1,095 women killed a year! This got me to thinking how many women are really suffering out there, that aren't saying anything. Why do the men abuse the women? To feel superior? 1 in 3 women report to being in (or at one point) an abuse relationship. How much higher is the ratio for women who don't report being in an abusive relationship? The fact that women stay in this relationships I can now understand. They stay in fear of being alone, or financial dependency, or even the fact if they leave their spouse is going to harm them more or possibly kill them. I want to know, what goes through the abusers head? Better yet, what goes through the minds of the women being abused? The presentation didn't change my view much on domestic violence, because (like any sane person should), I am against it but it challenges me to go out and make a difference. To do whatever I can to help women in abusive relationships. Even if that means, just giving them a hand to hold or someone to talk to. I can't and won't promise them that I can make the abuse stop, but I can help them get through it until someone can help.

Murder. Is it justifiable?

As I continue my research on my topic an issue that keeps approaching is; the issue of faith and religious beliefs of the victims family and whether the death penalty is justifiable. A particular article that caught my eye was an article in a newspaper, “Death Penalty Arguments.” Written by an aunt and uncle who's precious nephew was helplessly murdered. The article argues the pros and cons of the death penalty. It also argues that it is justifiable due to the history of the death penalty (playing into faith and religion). Evidence from the article states, “Capital punishment was used in ancient times to punish a variety of offenses. Even the bible advocates death for murder and other crimes...”(more from www.prodeathpenalty.com)This leaves the issue of whether faith and religious beliefs should be considered. Next, was the issue of whether it is changing people or not. An article that was written and published by the New York Times, “Does the Death Penalty Save Lives?” viewed both sides of the opinion(more from www.nytimes.com). This article shows research studies that suggest that the death penalty has stricken fear in the hearts of citizens. Evidence shows that for each inmate put to death, 3 to 18 murders were prevented. However; certain states such as Texas are fast to jump to execution and execute inmates relativity quickly. Leaving the question, is the death penalty being taken advantage of? Personally, I am for the death penalty. My opinion has not really changed much changed, accept for under certain circumstances. I believe that if someone were to murder someone and show remorse that the murderer should get the chance to prove he/she is a changed person. If he/she shows no remorse and murders countless people then I don't feel they should have a right to live. If it was not self defense and they murdered just for a sick thrill and the evidence against them is obvious then they have no right to live.  At some point I think the family should choose. Which leaves us with these questions, Should the death penalty be influenced by faith and religious beliefs? Should the defendant’s life lie in the hands of the victims family? Is murder justifiable?

Murder or Justice?

As I began my research on the death penalty many issues emerged including; the race of the victim and defendant, whether or not to consider it murder, and what type of execution should be allowed if any. An article that stood out to me was an article written by "Death Penalty Information Center." The article written by many experts in the field of law suggests that for several cases the race of the victim and defendant matter. For example, studies in other states have shown that the death sentence were 2.6 times higher for killing a white person than black. Making it 97% higher for blacks to be charged with the death sentence in first degree murder. This suggests that the fact of race still an issue today affects the sentencing of a lot of African American individuals. Also, it suggests that many people would consider this murder. A large percentage of Americans think that killing someone is no justice at all. Posing an issue for the rights of both parties (agreeing and disagreeing.) Last, an argument that some of the methods used for killing people are inhumane. That if any execution should be allowed it should not be of great extremes. The question to ask here is what are we to do with those who murder and not make it a race issue or take it to great extremes? Can something be done to compromise on both parties?

Crossing The Line... One too many times.

       

Crossing The Line... One too many times.

        From the best selling author Clinton McKenzie is his novel of suspense, Crossing The Line. This book has changed my perspective and option on the subject of drugs immensely. Nothing in this book has had a positive effect on the characters and the tone is not meant to make people feel good about this subject. It's a touchy subject and this hits the reader right where it hurts. This has changed my perspective, because it shows that drug operations are a lot more complicated then they seem. I never understood why all the authorities did was complain about the drug lords, and drug cartels, and this book makes me understand that they don't complain about the drug cartel and drug lords, they are just stuck in a really hard place. My perspective before  reading this book was, for the authorities to just go out their and catch the drug lords, it can't be that hard to do. Quit complaining and do something. As much as I wanted it to be that easy, it wasn't. There is so much more the authorities have to take into consideration. Going undercover to bust these drug lords is a difficult and confusing task to say the least. When the authorities put someone undercover they are putting a lot of lives at risk. If someone in the cartel were to suspect the slightest of disloyalty to the drug lord, they will kill the suspected snitch and his whole family and close friends. There is also the obstacle of getting solid evidence that any drug activity is taking place, so the evidence can be presented before a judge and a search warrant can be issued. There is also a problem with this as well, because of the drug lords power, and loyalty people have for him, some of the authorities especially in Mexico are crocked. The fact of having several loyalties including cops in some cases, the drug lords and cartels are always protected, as Mary the head detective was explaining to Antonio,”... even if we were to find a way in there Jesus has so many people on the inside it wouldn't matter someone would eventually turn us in.” The authorities can never be 100% sure on who is on their side and who is not, even when dealing with other cops outside of their jurisdiction. The judges are also a problem, afraid of signing a warrant or sentencing anyone of high ranking power (in the drug world) to prison, because loyal employees will find and kill the sentience and his/her whole family. All of this is just part of a procedure and needs to be done with delicacy and without making a peep.
            There are some quotes and evidence in the text that strike me as interesting, on what makes a drug operation so complex. A lot of the quotes and text is evidence of the fear and disturbing influences the drug world has on America and what makes the job of the authorities difficult. As the Mexican Cartel uses many things to persuade people into their business fear is one of their top choices of persuasion, "... Plata o plomo- "Silver or lead"- as in “You can take my money or you can eat a bullet." As another method and also a signature of their power and intimidation over all people, the Mexican Cartel preforms this on their victims, "... La corbata. It was the name for a Mexican drug tie. They take their snitches cut a slit in their throat and pull the victims tongue out the slit in there throat, a symbol of fear and a sick, sick, signature." This puts fear in the hearts of civilians, saying if you roll over on us, this is going to happen to you. The civilians are not going to roll over cartels that can take everything from them to the authorities who only have money to offer. The Mexican Cartel also has prostitutes "shipped" to them and if the prostitutes not do the sexual favor when asked the men basically rape them and the beat them to show the women who the absolute power is as one of the cartel members did to a young minor, “Tears were running down her cheeks and her mouth was opened wide in pain. I thought that it was a fine line to walk. Give the men what they want, but try to stay in control.” The meaning behind this is significant because, this again is providing evidence that these men are going to do what they want and that's it. The power over women and young girls. This makes the operation difficult cause these women could be killed if someone were to say something to someone.  Authorities, are the people who do the things we as a a society are to afraid to do. With so many lives and eyes are on them the must make every move count and every adrenaline of fear to catch the bad guy in a complicated situation, even some of the most powerful ones...

PLN 2

       Hidden in the suspenseful novel of Crossing The Line by Clinton McKinzie is the argument of good people doing bad things, and people being flat out evil.The main characters Roberto and his brother Antonio are stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Roberto is/was involved in one of the biggest Cartels in Mexico.. the Juarez Cartel which works for the Mexican Mafia. His brother Antonio is a cop working with the FBI to try to catch the drug lord, Jesus Hidalgo, whom his brother, Roberto works for. As a plea bargain to get out of prison, the FBI agents use Roberto as bait to try and catch the drug lord. The major question is what makes good people do bad things? Roberto described by his brother sounds like a good person, he grew up in a well family, with good parents, and pretty much able to do whatever he wanted. Then he got into shooting up and drugs and then took it a step further and started selling them. Being a good kid and raised right, why spiral into a world of drugs, murder, hate, and traders? Maybe because he struggles with himself, or with others outside his life and his escape root is drugs.
           Can people just be flat out evil? Looking at Jesus Hidalgo a murderous drug lord who uses kids to smuggle drugs into schools, and ruins lives of innocent children make him evil? Smuggling drugs into the states and ruining lives of families and people. Does this make him a pure evil person? Or does he do these things because he was born into it, and drugs is all he knows? Or does he do it to support a family that is incapable of supporting themselves? Or is he a murderer, drug user, and seller.. for his own selfish greed and habit? In the store so far it sounds like he does these things just for his own selfish geed and habit... but here is always more to the story then what it seems.