PlanetUSF

The student calendar used to have quite a lot more off-days then it does now. I am very perturbed at the recent changes made by Hillsborough County, which eliminate most of the time off allotted for religious occasions. Hillsborough County officials have deemed that in order for our public schools to be religiously neutral all religious holidays must be celebrated after school hours. The constitutional idea of separation of church and state has been distorted by biased government officials who are now taking extreme measures: rather than recognizing all religions none shall be recognized. Instead of taking the opportunity to examine the backgrounds of the many cultures which exist in the United States, official have decided to ignore them all, thus encouraging cultural ignorance among the younger generations. Our country does not need to be secular; it needs to be informed, so that we may make our own decisions about religion. The settlers did not come to the New World so that they and their offspring would have to practice their religions behind closed doors; they came here to escape religious persecution. It seems that this controversy was inflated last summer when a leader in the Muslim community requested the recognition of Islamic holidays on the student calendar, specifically Eid Al-Fitr. This was a simple request which was viewed as a threat by Christian officials, who decided that they would not allow a few Islamic holidays on the student calendar. Instead they ran amuck, secularizing the calendar and discarding the predominant Judeo-Christian holidays at the same time. No more time off for Rosh Hashanah, or Good Friday, or Yom Kippur, and good luck trying to celebrate Christmas or Kwanza or Hanukah with your family.

Link for more info: http://www.hyscience.com/archives/2005/10/cowered_by_musl.php

The Rhetorical Triangle is used to plan, draft, and revise an argument. There are three points on the triangle: the message, the audience, and the writer or speaker. Each point on the triangle correlates; if one is changed, they all must be changed. In addition, each point on the Rhetorical Triangle corresponds to one of the persuasive appeals of logos, ethos, and pathos. The ‘message’ point of the triangle pertains to the logos appeal, and it demonstrates clarity and reason, or logical appeal, in the message. The second point, the ‘writer’ or speaker, demonstrates the ethos appeal; more specifically the writer’s reputation, tone, style, and the credibility of the writer. The third point of the rhetorical triangle is the ‘audience’, or the appeal of pathos. Pathos correlates directly with the emotion and specifically, the reader’s ability to sympathize with the writer.
The basis of an argument is the issue. An issue is a controversial topic with two or more alternative points of view. The legality of abortion, for example, would be considered a complex issue. Issues can be divided into two categories: explication and argumentation. Explication issues argue a point using specific factual answers using answers based on statistics. The main purpose of explication issues is to inform. The relationship between writer and audience is that of teacher and learner in an explication issue. On the other hand, Argumentation issues generally persuade the readers or try to change their minds regarding the issue. Answers given are generally based on the moral or ethical perspective of the writer. The argumentation issue weighs different points of view, advocating a decision-maker or jury relationship. For example, an informative question would be: ‘How does a steam engine work?’ because the answer would be informative. An issue question would ask ‘Should taxes be increased?’ because the response is based on personal feelings.
Source: Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Reading. 6th ed.
Picture Link:http://www.english.uga.edu/writingcenter/writing/triangle.html

Forty years ago a group of American missionaries brought a religious movement to the primitive tribes living in the rainforests of Ecuador. The missionaries discovered the rainforests were an abundant ecological system with vast amounts of natural resources, including oil. Soon after the missionaries came the oil companies. Because this part of the world was so desolate, and in order to save a few bucks Texaco ignored some of the major regulations that should have been taken to ensure the safety and promote the health of the locals. Improper waste disposal of the crude oil has led to unsanitary living conditions, destruction of the rainforest, and a heightened instance of diseases, specifically cancer.
The major problem with Texaco’s actions is that they are doing very little to fix the problem. They offer the people free health care but are doing nothing to clean up the waters and roads, which are covered in oil. The companies offer material objects, like tin, as a settlement, rather than even chance the current practices. This is an injustice to humanity. The “Gold Rush” sight brought attention to the issue using the emotional appeal of pathos. The article saddens readers, while enraging them. In addition, the reader feels compelled to help the situation. A suit, Jota v. Texaco was filed in 1994 and, unfortunately, it is still pending. The tight grip that oil companies have on the governments is slowly strangling the people of Ecuador and destroying the precious rainforest and all living things that reside in it.
Link for more Info: http://www.texacorainforest.org/

Riots in France began over a month ago over the accidental deaths of two students who lived in the projects on the outskirts of Paris. Supposedly, they were electrocuted as a result of being perused by French police. The French government is blaming the internet for the quick spread of the news, which has led to riots. In one day over five hundred cars were burned by the youths of several cities in France. Although the extent of the damage during the disturbances has begun to decrease, the disturbances have continued for several weeks.
It seems to me that the French will find anything to cause a commotion around the world or amongst themselves, because that’s what they do the best; whether it be rioting or opposing the war in Iraq. It is likely that the issues behind the destruction of thousands of automobiles had various meanings to the various people that took part in the actions. However, it seems unlikely to me that the deaths of the two youths in the slums of Paris was really what instigated the riots.
On the other hand, it could be argued that the French government is trying to lead a major cover up of some sort. The French government’s reluctance to admit that the incident with the two boys occurred could possibly be interpreted as an inhumane act performed by French officials. The second scenario seems a bit too far-fetched, however, Therefore, I implore the people of France: stop the rioting.
Links for info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4432724.stm

A BBC article brought to my attention the severity of sexual trafficking or forced prostitution in Europe, and especially in England. The topic itself was not unfamiliar. As trafficking has developed into something of an epidemic in recent years and most of the women forced into it are around my age- some even younger- I decided to pass on the information. Lots of girls who are wrangled into sexual trafficking are naïve, desperate girls who are trying to escape troubled homes. Still, more girls are sold or kidnapped and forced into the prostitution. Unfortunately, there would be no market for trafficking if it were not deemed acceptable by males as a means to satisfy their ‘needs’ in that part of the world. The article also showed steps that are being taken to end trafficking.

Links for Info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4356138.stm

Writer Bill McKibben tries his best to make the SUV responsible for the end of the world. His reasoning: burning fossil fuel produces carbon dioxide; SUVs burn more fossil fuels; carbon dioxide causes global warming; global warming kills the ecosystem. Though vastly over simplified, this deduction seems semi-logical. Unfortunately, McKibben’s supporting evidence is quite far fetched and his not entirely pertinent.
Owning an SUV is not a moral issue. McKibben, repeatedly alludes to the evil and sacrilegious actions which SUV owners commit by driving their vehicles. The suggestion that owning an SUV and racial segregation in country clubs are equal evils is absurd. Also, the fuel efficiency in SUVs has increased by more than twenty-five percent in less time than anticipated by McKibben in the 2001 article. The dying off of coral reefs was also attributed to global warming. Funnily enough, this theory did not even take into account other ecological problems with the Earth’s waters, like pollution, which SUVs do not contribute to.
Quotations and allusions to the bible as well as God’s plan are also attempts to make owning an SUV evil. Picketing and petitioning against SUV owners and automobiles makers were suggested. One question I have is how do scientists know how long it is really supposed to take for the waters to increase or decrease in temperature? In addition, how do scientists know what the temperature and tide levels of the oceans were one hundred thousand years ago? Frequent natural disasters and temperature increases could be Mother Nature’s way of regulating species’ populations.
Source: Writing Arguments 6th ed.

There are certain guidelines which a writer should follow in order to help his or her reader understand the work. Most readers want the main character to be the subject of a verb. Also, readers want real characters as the main subject, so writers should avoid using lots of abstract nominalizations. Main characters can be abstract nominalizations, such as “free speech” if the subject is continually repeated, so as not to confuse the reader. However, the passage is clearer if the subject is a real ‘flesh-and-blood’ character.
For example, I, we, his, one, etc. are all real characters. Characters and passive verbs are recognizable in that “a form of be precedes a verb in its past participle form.” For example, “The money was lost [by me].” The active form of that sentence would be: “I lost the money.” In general, using the passive voice is often the better choice, especially if the character performing the action is irrelevant.

Cited from Style Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams

A fallacy is an inconclusive argument; it is not legitimate, but it is also not false. A perfectly conclusive argument would yield a non-controversial truth- a statement that no one would dispute. For example, the argument ‘smoking causes cancer’ is inconclusive because we can only create more or less persuasive arguments- not conclusive ones. Knowledge of informal fallacies is most useful with arguments that we ‘know’ are wrong, even though we are not sure why.
Three categories of fallacies were derived from the classical rhetoric of pathos, ethos, and logos. Fallacies in pathos deal with flaws in the relationship between what is argued and the audience for the argument. Ethos fallacies deal with the flaws between the argument and the characters. Flaws in relationships among statements of an argument are logos fallacies. There are several types of subcategories, such as name-calling, appeal to prejudice, and guilt by association, or linking one to an unpopular group.

I found this article which discusses the new developments in physical education at a New York high school. One idea that I have always supported is that physical education should have as great an emphesis as english or science. Studies have shown that exercise helps to improve brain function. In addition, the obesity rate among youths and adults alike would be dramatically lower if the correct way to eat and exercise were implimented into their education.
For more info: http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/diet.fitness/11/28/new.physed.ap/index.html

“In a June article in the British Catholic magazine The Tablet, Coyne reaffirmed God’s role in creation, but said science explains the history of the universe.

‘If they respect the results of modern science, and indeed the best of modern biblical research, religious believers must move away from the notion of a dictator God or a designer God, a Newtonian God who made the universe as a watch that ticks along regularly.’“

So lately I have been thinking about the whole evolution versus intelligent design debate (mostly because I’ve been writing a paper on this topic) and I have to say it has been quite interesting seeing how deep this argument goes, and it is especially shocking that through my research I have discovered how compatible religion and science actually are. Most people assume that if you believe in evolution then you are automatically labeled an atheist. Or if you believe in God then scientific evidence holds no value. Many religious authorities are now supporting the idea that evolution may very well be a means in which God has chosen for the process of life.

I recently came across thisarticle submitted by the Associated Press that describes the impact of the theory of “Intelligent Design” in modern religious institutions (see excerpt above). I was extremely surprised to find that even Pope Benedict XVI supported intelligent design.

I think it is safe to say that although there are vast contradictions in religion and modern science, there can be reconciliation of the two. In my opinion I think that religion proves science, and although the theory that all life evolved from a single cell is a bit extreme, I believe that God has used evolution as a process of creation to a certain extent so that life is as we know it today.