Blogging Mollys

What are simpler ways that an individual or a small organization can say thank-you to veterans or active military personnel?

Two small words of appreciation, thank-you, is lavishly shown to veterans by Sheldon Adelson, owner of The Venetian in Las Vegas. A simple concept to thank the men and women that fought for our country Adelson goes about saying thank-you in a big way, creating an all-expense weeklong trip at his resort/casino for the veterans. Seth Doane interviewing the veterans on struck upon a problem that I believe is an action that is deteriorating in society, the simple act of saying thank-you. One of the veterans was quoted as exclaiming that it uplifts his mood when an American walks up to him shakes his hand, saying ‘thank-you for serving our country’. This isn’t an extravagant action but whether it be veterans or those who have given us other gifts the tendency of sending the thank-you note is declining (for more information about this trend follow this link).

In the case of saying thanks to veterans it can be as simple as the handshake and sincere thank-you. For active military personnel a classroom could create a simple care package following the guidelines outlined by the military for the items and sizes of the package allowed and have it shipped off to Iraq. A group could organize a meal of fellowship for veterans in an area and serve them dinner while they enjoy the camaraderie of their friends and community. A thank-you does not have to be extravagant but I believe it is simply too often overlooked. Whether or not we agree with the mission of the war it is still imperative to show our appreciation for those who served our country.

Image courtsey of lisalou66 on www.flickr.com

Do you think that only having one day, Veterans Day, is enough to show our gratitude towards the soldiers that have served our nation?

I personally feel that we should thank our troops everyday. I have a lot of family in the military and they tell me how much they appreciate when someone tells them thank you on the street. I think what the Adelsons did for the injured veterans was incredible and set a good example of how we should treat our troops. I felt proud that someone was repaying the troops. Though the Adelsons may have done what most can't I think just the little thank you would do the trick, just like the injured troop said "A simple thank you, it means the world it doesn't have to be extravagant, no matter whats going on that day in your life, no matter how bad your day may be, when someone turns around shakes you hand and looks you in the eye. It has such a profound effect on me." That is why i think we should increase the length of Veterans Day to at least a Veterans Week.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/

Julie

Animal Testing

I thought that the best support of why animal testing should be stopped was the point of harmful things being done to the animals such as burning, blinding, and poisoning. I thought that the most contradicting argument in the commentary was the pricing of the replacements instead of animals, such as the fake skin or humans.

With the expensive pricing of alternatives, what would be the best replacement of animals in the testing area?

CBS 11/9

This week on CBS we learned about a couple who gave some veterans the ultimate thanks. Sheldon and Miriam Adelson gave veterans a 5 day all-expense paid trip to their Sands hotel in Las Vegas. All through the segment we saw the expensive jets, hotel rooms, and accommodations that the veterans got to experience. And I'm sure some of the veterans had never received treatment like that ever and it was a great experience for them. What I really think hit the veterans hard was the overwhelming gratitude shown by everyone they met on their trip. There were clips of the veterans walking through crowds with numerous people, all waving signs and cheering. Lance Armstrong was a guest speaker and addressed the veterans with his gratitude and Mr. Adelson shook every veteran's hand and thanked them personally. CBS interviewed a couple veterans and they all seemed to be overwhelmed and impressed with all that they saw. One couple was interviewed and asked why they were so emotional. The response was: "The support and patriotism, overwhelming support, everywhere you go". I think the big picture that comes from this segment was said by Mr. Adelson himself, "What we wanna do is say to other people, 'Why don't you do something, too?'". Adelson brings up a good point that we could all do something for the veterans. They don't need big fancy hotels, they were just amazed by all they people cheering for them . . . and I think we’re all capable of cheering.

Here's a link to the Armed Forces Foundation which coordinated the trip with the Adelsons.

Image courtesy of killrbeez from flickr.com.

The new James Bond

Would Ian Fleming be proud of the current Bond that his original character has become? How do you think he would change it?

James Bond is over the hill this year, celebrating his 56th birthday. This secret agents is no secret to the lime light grossing millions of dollars and selling over 100 million copies of his novels. Bond is the most successful franchise in history. The creator of James Bond has a lot to do with the development and progression of his character throughout the books and films. Ian Fleming wanted to be just like James Bond, but was too shy and meek to be able to live up to Bond's status. A few of the scenes that take place in the bond films are related back to the real life of Ian Fleming, such as the gambling scene in Casino Royale. Fleming wanted the agent's name to be flat and unromantic; this way people would not associate him with such things. Fleming found the name on the cover of a bird watcher's guide and decided that James Bond would be perfect.

I think that Ian Fleming would be very happy with the current Bond; James Bond is a pretty amazing character that so many people have fallen in love with. Even with the new Bond not having dark hair and not from England, he is still dashing and can sweep women off their feet. He also knows how to handle a weapon and be sly under any type of pressure. James Bond will live on for many more years to come.

keeping up with 007

Photo courtesy of titlap from flickr.com

Troops aren't being thanked at all, they are forgotten, they are out of sight, out of mind.

Since the beginning of the War on Terrorism in 2001, over one and a half million Americans have served their country over seas. Four thousand, seven hundred and eighty American soldiers have been killed in the line of duty, and thirty thousand have been wounded. Has anyone said thank you to our soldiers and veterans for fighting for our freedom? Has anyone said thank you to those who have been wounded fighting for our freedom? Has anyone said thank you to the families who have lost loved ones who were killed fighting for our freedom? Some probably have, but many are still too focused on the fact that we are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and still protesting against the war, that many probably haven't. We have become so focused on President Bush, and on the election of Barack Obama, and on protesting the war, and on the treatment of captured insurgents, that we have forgotten that our people, our friends, our family, are over there right now, fighting for our freedom, and we have forgotten our vets, those who have already seen war, in both the Vietnam War and in the War on Terrorism. We need to stop focusing on the things that have already happened and start focusing on our troops, and on our vets.

We don't have to support the war, but we need to support our troops, we need to give them a heros welcome when they come home, and we need to say thanks.If not, what does that say about our country? Are we too full of ourselves to say thank you for fighting for our freedom, even though some of us don't support the war, or past wars? We don't have to do what Sheldon Adleson did, but we do need to say thank you.

I would like to share with you all a poem that was sent to me by a friend. I believe that it was written for all of those who have forgotten what our troops and our vets faced on a daily basis, and why we should support them, and never ever forget them.

You stay up for 16 hours
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower th help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a 'headache', and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti- war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with you friends.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.

You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed with down pillows and get comfortable.
He tries to sleep but gets woken up mortars and helicopters all night long.

REMEMBER our Troops, and do not forget them LATER

-author unknown

Thanks Grandpa, for doing your part in World War 2.
Thanks Dad, for doing your part in the Vietnam War.
Thanks Uncle John, and Uncle Bill, for doing your part in the Vietnam War.
Thanks James, my brother, for serving right now in the Iraq War.

and to everyone else in the Armed Forces and to the Vets, THANK YOU!

Photo courtesy of Kliko 100 from flickr.com

Our expansion in the field of science has not been an evolution without ethical issues as Julie shed light upon possibly the most prevalent research technique that has been in question, animal testing. The facts presented in the opening of her argument formed a base that spoke to the widespread usage of animal testing as Julie stated 115 million animals (not including rats) are subject to testing each year. The facts that Julie presented about the cosmetic industry were the strongest in supporting her claim about the malevolence of animal testing. She spoke about the skin maladies that the animals were subject to then supported the fact that the testing is unethical and unnecessary by stating that the European Union and prevalent cosmetic companies such as Revlon and Estee Lauder have outlawed animal testing. This strong argument I believe was weakened when upon Julie’s point that the lab rat was equivalent to the other animals used in animal testing. The lack precise of information about possible specific breeding and potential value of the rat to be beneficial to medicine made her point less persuasive. My question for Julie is Do you think that animal testing should be government regulated or do you think the change must come from within the people who use and produce products that are tested on animals? Why?

Image Courtesy of yeimaya on www.flickr.com

I found Laith's commentary very easy to relate to. I think it was a great topic because soccer in the US is very different from soccer in the rest of the world. His argument about soccer having a stereotype of being boring was right on point. Soccer is a complex game that is difficult to follow if you have never played. Laith also talked about how professional soccer in the US is at a much lower level than professional leagues in Europe. The one point that I thought didn't really support his argument was the fact that David Beckham is now playing in the MLS. Beckham has been a great thing for US soccer and he has generated a lot of interest. Altogether, I think the topic was very interesting and it was a good thing to look deeper into. One thing that I would ask Laith would be: Do you think that women's soccer has the same problem with popularity that men's soccer has?

I thought Liz's commentary on stem cell research was very intriguing. I thought that her best point she argued for stem cell research, was the information of people actually growing back some limbs. I thought her most contradicting argument was the part were she started talking about how you have to destroy a life to get the stem cells.

Do you feel like it is worth destroying a life to save another, in the terms of stem cell research?

I was very intrigued by Zach's cemmentary on technology. I felt the point that supported his argument the most was that, when you talk on the phone, or text, or e-mail you lose that face-to-face connection, which in psychology, is vital for human development. I also argreed with him when he said that we are becoming technologically dependent. I agree with Emily, about the multi tasking point, being his less effective point in the argument. If I were to ask Zach a question, I would ask, what steps should we, as a nation, start taking to become less technologically dependent?