Royal pardon for Saudi journalist sentenced to lashes

Summary: On Monday, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah overturned a criminal court sentence of 60 lashes and a two-year travel ban on female journalist Rosanna al-Yami. She was sentenced for working on a television show which explores social taboos, and aired an episode in which a man bragged about his sex life. Many believe that this pardon is a message from the king to the Saudi justice system that it should stop punishing journalists for excercising freedom of speech, and a sign that he is trying to reform his ultra-conservative country. In Saudi Arabia unrelated men and women aren't allowed to mingle, and pre-marital sex is illegal. This isn't the first time the "king of hearts" has stepped in on the legal system in Saudi Arabia. Last year he pardoned another woman who, although she'd been gang raped, was sentenced to 200 lashes and 2 yrs in prison for being in the prescence of the unrelated men who raped her.

Opinion: The differences between our American culture, and the culture of Saudi Arabia are night and day. Television shows in this country are full of violence, profanity, sex, and more, and hardly anybody bats an eyelash. Meanwhile in the Middle East one show that would hardly be controversial here is the center of an enormous criminal case. I wonder if we had the same sexist, ultra-conservative, anti-freedom of speech, and old-fashioned laws and standards, how many thousands upon thousands of american journalists, tv execs, actors, actresses, and average citizens would be behind bars right now? The social mores and customs in Saudi Arabia are so foreign to me. I am so used to being on an equal plane with males, and having all my freedoms and rights, yet such things are completely unheard of in Saudi Arabia. It seems like they are in a completely different world, or at least a few centuries behind our equal rights, etc. I wonder how long it will be before the Saudi society accepts more 'controversial' ideas, allow complete freedom of speech, and treat men and women as equals. Such time-worn traditions take time to break apart, but this story shows signs of progress. I hope that king Abdullah and others will make even more progress.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/10/27/saudi.king.pardon/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Co-pilot: No sleeping or arguing in cockpit

Summary: On Wednesday night Northwest airlines flight 188 flew past its destination of the Minneapolis/St Paul airport by about 150 miles. While en route from San Diego, California the plane was out of radio contact for 78 minutes, which the National Transportation Safety Board calls unacceptable. By the time contact was restablished, the plane was over Wisconsin. When the co-pilot spoke to CNN on Friday he claimed that neither of the pilots were asleep, and no arguments took place. These have been the two most widely speculated excuses for the mishap. This weekend the voice recorder and flight data recorder in the plane will be analyzed this weekend to determine the real cause. Another statement was released saying that "they were in a heated discussion over airline policy and they lost situational awareness."

Opinion: This story is unbelievable. I don't understand what could ever distract two supposedly competent airplane pilots so much that they would be out of radio contact for over an hour. These people apparantly have no common sense. What is even more disturbing is the fact that these pilots flew so recklessly while responsible for over 150 lives. Of all the professions where responsiblity and awareness are necessary, being an airline pilot is number one. I wonder if these men have forgotten the gravity of their position. One little mistake can cause catastrophe. I feel sorry for the air traffic control tower, the people working there who were trying to get ahold of this plane must have been having heart attacks. I am sure that images of September 11th were going through their minds as this plane flew on obliviously. What else is there to think when a plane overflies its destination, and ignores every plea and order from the control tower? I for one want a detailed explanation for why this happened. The pilots haven't made a legtimate excuse yet. A 'heated discussion' shouldn't make someone forget that they have 150 lives in their hands.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/24/airliner.fly.by/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Runaway teen Christian convert must return to Ohio, Judge rules

Summary: On Tuesday a judge ruled that runaway teenager Rifqa Barry be returned to Ohio. She ran away from her home in Colombus in July after she says her father threatened to kill her for converting from Islam to Christianity. She also claimed that her father was pressured by their mosque to 'deal with the problem.' Rifqa originally saught shelter with a minister in Florida, but then was moved to foster care there. Her parents say that they meant their daugther no harm, and that they have no problem with her religion. Law enforcement found no evidence of criminal activity, and the judge ruled she be moved to Ohio once her immigration status is cleared.

Opinion: I haven't been aware of much religious tension, much less religious persecution in this country. On the other hand, I've been living in an area of the country with very little religious diversity, as nearly everybody I know comes from a christian upbringing. Still, I've assumed that even in areas with lots of religious diversity there is plenty of tolerance and acceptance between each sect. This story sounds like something that would come from the Middle East, where some dedicated followers of Islam resort to jihad for warfare. I would hope that a family would never hurt their child simply because they have different beliefs, but stranger things have happened. I hope that through this ordeal people, especially the people directly involved, will become more tolerant and more loving for all religions. Hopefully this ordeal won't tear the family apart, or cause any religious tensions to grow.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/14/florida.muslim.convert/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Social Security

Social Security is an entitlement program which was set up in 1935 to combat poverty in the United States. The majority of the people who benefit from Social Security are retired senior citizens, but one third of the recipients are disabled workers, families and spouses of deceased workers, and children. The Social Security system is paid for from income taxes of current workers. Through their working years, people contribute to the fund, and once they retire they recieve a percentage of that income back in the form of Social Security checks. The amount of money coming in through taxes has been more than enough needed to pay all the Social Security benefits, since 1983. However, in the coming decade the number of retirees will sky-rocket as the baby-boomer generation leaves the workforce. There will not be enough younger Americans replacing them in the workforce to fund the Social Security program. The government will be spending more on benefits than it will recieve in payroll taxes by 2017. The only way that this system can provide full benefits to everyone eligible through 2041 is if all the money the government has previously borrowed from the Social Security trust fund is repayed. In this case the system will work, but only 60-80% of promised benefits will be available due to decreased income tax revenue. President Bush saw this upcoming crisis, and proposed that Americans be allowed to put their payroll contributions that would normally go to the Social Security fund into private investment accounts instead. Many rejected this idea, but those who support a major overhaul of the system, like this, believe that big changes are necessary because the government has promised retirees more than it can realistically give them without cutting programs and raising taxes. They say that to save the program either private investment funds, or cutting benefits to only those who desperately need them are necessary. Other people argue that the system can stay strong with just a few small changes, like raising the retirement age, and raising the cap on incomes that can be taxed for Social Security. These advocates point out that this system has brought financial stability to millions, and citizens get out of it what they put into it.
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I believe that the Social Security System is a very good program, which has helped millions of people out of difficult financial times in their lives. The principles that this system is based on, that people both contribute to it, and later benefit from it, are solid. I think that whatever can be done to preserve this system so that it can continue to help more people should be done, which is why I agree with making less drastic changes to this program such as raising the cap on incomes to be taxed by Social Security. I hate to think of my hard-earned money going into the Social Security fund, never to benefit me when I reach retirement age, but if people put their taxes in private investment funds whatever is left of the system will definately fall apart. Either everyone should agree to contribute to the S.S. fund, or everyone should agree not to. If there isn't complete agreement, people are going to lose money. I think that if the cap on taxable incomes is raised, much more money will go into the fund, and if the retirement age is risen, less benefits will have to be paid. The richest people in America can afford to chip in the fund, I think. At the moment these wealthy people are an untapped resource. With their help the system will not run out of money. Our government has the duty of providing a quality of life for its citizens, and if we want to remain as a world leader in standard of living, the Social Security program is a necessary part. Without it millions of people would become subject to poverty. This can't happen.
New York Times Editorial: How to Save Social Security
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Issue #1: War Dollars - Jon Schwegel's blog
Issue #2: Spending What We Can Afford - Olivia Rice's blog

Obama awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

Summary: On Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama. This honor comes just 8 months into his presidency, and was a big suprise to many people, including the presidents administration. The committee honors him for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." They reject the idea that Obama is being recognized prematurely. He has initiated peace missions to many parts of the globe recently, advocating peace between Isreal and Palestine, and negotiating with Iran and North Korea to end their nuclear programs. This award has many people hoping the conflicts of Afghanistan, and Iraq will be resolved over this. Obama is the fourth U.S. president to recieve this honor, and only the third to do so while in office.

Opinion: I am as suprised as anyone to hear that our President has won this prestidious honor. I had not heard a single rumor that he was even nominated, much less a front runner. I hope that with the confidence, and respect that this award brings him, Obama can be even more successful in his quest to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and bring peace to the Middle East. I somewhat agree with the committee, that this award is not premature. Obama has already overcome so much adversity, and has already made so much progress in world politics, however I think that his best accomplishments still lie in the future. I wonder how this peace award will affect Obama's decisions on the war in Afghanistan. Sending more troops there isn't exactly an action that defines a Nobel peace laureate. Whether or not people support Obama or agree with his beliefs and actions, or whether he deserves this award or not, we should be proud that our president was chosen for this honor. This award is for the American people as much as it is for Obama, because we are the ones who elected him. I hope that petty accusations and bickering will halt enough for everyone to appreciate the good this says about our country. America has finally regained the world's respect.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html?eref=rss_politics