Sean+Smith+Journals

 Three Issues Journal As homosexuality has become more accepted, questions arise on whether or not homosexual’s rights are being denied. In certain established organizations, such as the military, a don’t ask don’t tell policy has been created that denies gays the right to openly discuss their homosexuality. This restraining notion creates a feeling of hiding that can be emotionally crippling to some people. Another right that homosexuals have been refused is the right of marriage. The separation between religion and state is a debate that will continue on for years.

Abortion is the removal of an unborn fetus from a womb. This subject arises questions of when life begins. If the fetus is living, do we, human kind, have the right to take the life of an unborn child? This debate also introduces whether women being raped should be an exception to the pro-life viewpoint. The question is pro-life or pro-choice? Is not giving pregnant women the choice to decide to abort their child refusing them rights? You decide.

The war in Afghanistan is an extremely controversial issue. Should we send 40,000 troops into Afghanistan to follow Mc Chrystal’s plan? Should we send trainers to train the Afghanistan army? Should we pull out completely? These are the questions encircling hundreds Americans as we look for the best way to obtain victory in Afghanistan. The real question is counter insurgency or counter terrorism?

I chose this particular journal in order to connect with major debates occuring in the world today. Though I don't give an opinion, simply looking up the problems was intreguing to me.

Addiction Journal Addiction, as described in the article, “allows the participant to blot out the real world and enter into a pleasurable and passive mental state.” My free time is mostly spent on a computer game named Counter-Strike Source. It is a shooter game which allows me to escape into another reality and let go of stress. I would classify this game as no other than a massive addiction.

While addictions are known for their negative aspects, they also have positive ones. Counter-Strike Source allows me to relieve my stress which could be detrimental to my health. It also cures my boredom that plagues me during the late afternoons. After work and school it is an entertaining rush that raises my spirits and allows me to escape the pressure of everyday life.

Time is precious; every second I waste on a computer game I lose in life. I lose time with my friends, with my school work, and most importantly, with my family. Counter-Strike Source is a serious issue in my life. I find myself unable to stop playing once I start. Entranced in the amazing graphics and diversity of weapons I lose out on activities that could help me develop as a person. When I look back in fifty years I won’t have the same amazing events that my peers will, and it is because of my addiction. I blame myself because I’m not physically addicted. I mentally feel as if I need to escape from my problems instead of deal with them.

Free time is a time when people can do whatever they please. It is the choice of what to do in this time that matters. Whether it is going to an amusement park with friends or going to the movies with your family, you will remember the entertainment you share with them for a lifetime. Addictions steal these moments away and absorb the chances of getting them back. A simple computer game can destroy a life as easily as heroine can.

I decided to pick this journal because addiction is a strong influence in my life. I wanted to share how this seemingly innocent game has changed my life, and even though it may not be herroine, it is deadly.

“Sex, Lies, and Conversation” Journal In “Sex, Lies, and Conversation,” Deborah Tannen addresses the key issues of communication that plague marriages. In conversations, for example, when most women talk to each other they assume a conversationalist’s job is to express agreement and support while men see their conversational duty is to point out the other side of an argument. She continues to show the differences between men and women in body language, including listener noises, location of conversation, and cultural differences in the growth of young men and women. She concludes her article by stating how the world desperately needs cross-cultural understanding and without it, couples decisions won’t be on realistic expectations. Organization in this article is based on a trait by trait method. Tannen effectively discusses primarily differences in each category of a conversation. She begins each difference by showing one view point, and then leads into a misunderstanding that may take place while understanding the other. Also, in the article, Tannen has man subtitles that organize her ideas. These include: Linguistic Battle of the Sexes, Listening to Body Language, and The Sounds of Silence. All of these organizational structures allow readers to flow smoothly through the article. Deborah Tannen brilliantly explains and clarifies the relationship of conversation between a man and a woman. Her strong topic sentences and added details inform readers how differences lead to misunderstanding.

I chose this journal to post because it was an interesting article to read about. It explained the differences between men and women and how these differences lead to many problems. I posted it in order to share my reflections.