March 23, 2007
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Freedom: The United States scolded Italy yesterday for arranging the release of three Taliban prisoners in exchange for an abducted Italian journalist, saying the move could embolden the Islamist militants. The journalist on the other hand said the Italian-backed deal for his release was justified. "I think it is right to negotiate if it means showing that we are different from the Taliban, that we know how to forgive and that we respect human life above anything else." What do you think?
Q2 - Parental Rights: A mother whose 7-year-old son weighs more than 250 pounds is concerned that South Carolina social workers will take him away from her because of his size. The woman says she's taken her son to different doctors over the past four years, but no one has been able to pinpoint the cause of his obesity. She told a local television station that the Division of Social Services has threatened to remove her son from their home if he doesn't lose weight. Under these circumstances, do you feel state officials should have the right to take this woman's child away from her?
Q3 - Superhero: If you could play any superhero in real life, who would you be and what are some of the things you'd do with your newfound powers?
Q4 - Protest: If your best friend asked you to participate in a public protest of the Iraq "war," would you? If you would not, what would you be willing to stand up and protest against right now, today?
Posted by Mikal at March 23, 2007 12:15 AM
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Just for you, Mikal, I'll be the first. LOL Since you asked so nicely :)
Q1 - I don't think they should negotiate with terrorists. It doesn't matter whether in theory you're showing them you are above them -- essentially you're just giving them what they want in the end, and they don't respect you or learn from it or care.
Q2 - I remember reading about this. I thought I read there were medical issues involved in his weight issue. However, unless there are valid medical reasons for why the child is that heavy and cannot lose weight, it is paramount to child abuse. I have 2 little kids and know how hard it is. The drive through is sooo much easier than cooking, etc. And they always want the junk. But I make an effort to restrict their diet, and even though they are not over weight, I also worry about their insides, their health. Just because they're not overweight does not mean they aren't at risk for high cholesterol, etc. So I try to feed them healthy.
Q3 - I'd be Wonder Woman because I want the cool costume! LOL Just kidding. I don't know who I would be or what I would do with superhero powers. I'll have to keep thinking about this one.
Q4 - Absolutely not. Regardless of my feelings of the current administration, we are at war and have troops over there and must support them. If you want to change things, get involved. Not that it will necessarily work, but protesting won't and it will potentially hurt those Americans who are putting their lives on the line for us. What would I protest about right now? Ya know, I'll have to sleep on this one too. Sorry. Not trying to cop out. I'll come back later and answer these 2.
1. Islamist militants are going to do whatever they want whenever they want. They don't care about anything but their own agenda. At least the Italian gov't cared enough to save the abducted journalist.
2. No. It's obvious this child has some problem that needs medical attention. Hopefully there is someone who can come to their home and help them through this. The child won't be better off without his mother, unless there is some kind of abuse.
3. Supergirl. I'd fly and save people, lift heavy stuff.
4. I wouldn't protest against war, but I would join in a march for peace. I don't want to put my energy into something negative that focuses on war. Energy towards a peaceful world is something I support.
1. I think diplomacy is in order at all times, but, I do not negotiate with terrorists. If I were in many of those situations depicted in film and literature, I'd die or be killed before I gave in to terrorist demands.
2. I see the obese kid custody issue in 2 ways. First, if the doctors have suggested a course of action (be it surgery, diet, exercise, or ??), then the kid & mother should do it, simply for the health of the kid. Second, I see this as a classic clash between individual responsibility (parents raise their own kids) and social contract obligations (the community defines and protects against child abuse). The real question then becomes, "At what point is obesity, & under what circumstances, to be considered child abuse or child endangerment?" When civil society determines that, either by consensus, government fiat, or court decision, then appropriate action should be taken.
3. If I could be any superhero, I'd be either Robin, the Boy Wonder (aka Batman's sidekick) or an obscure comic book superhero. Primarily, I'd want to be as human as possible (as opposed to Mr. Freeze or someone for whom regular social interaction - including sex - is made more difficult due to their superhero characteristics). Secondarily, I'd want a low or less-stressful role, meaning I'd leave all the heavy work and responsibilty to Batman or another "major" superhero. Am I selfish or what???
4. Sure, I'd protest the war in Iraq. There are lots of things I'd protest, but, unlike my younger academic and post-collegiate days, I don't have the time and energy to protest everything that I'd like to protest. I have to pick and choose my battles. My first big protest was with Rory Kennedy at Brown, during my 1st year, in which we boycotted the now-defunct Star Market because it refused to discontinue selling California table-gra pes. We protested in support of Cesar Chavez and the campaign for rights and working conditions for migrant farm workers.
1. Man thatís a tough situation. On the one hand, I think you have to do everything you can to save one of your own; on the other hand, how many more innocent people might those freed Taliban prisoners kill? I think I would just call in Sydney Bristow and her partner Marcus Dixon from TVís Alias to go rescue the journalist so I wouldnít have to exchange prisoners.
2. Wow Mikal, youíre really putting out some tough ones today. I hate to judge someone with such limited information. With what I know, Iím going to have to say that yes, state officials should have the right on this one, but only because doctors havenít been able to determine any medical cause for his obesityówhich, to me, means that it must just be the mother letting him eat whatever he wants. Thereís actually a little girl in my extended family who is extremely obese and itís the saddest thing because the only reason sheís like that is that her parents let her eat whatever she wants whenever she wants. When I was a kid, not only did my parents limit the amount of junk food I could eat, I also remember sitting at the kitchen table for hours because my mom wouldnít let me leave until I ate my vegetables. Parents need discipline like that.
3. Superman is not my favorite superhero, but when it comes to super powers heís always the obvious choice to me. I mean what doesnít this guy have? He can fly, heís got super strength, x-ray vision, heat vision, icy breath, super hearing, pretty much invincible to harm (except from kryptonite and where can you find that if youíre not Lex Luther), and he can even travel through time by flying around the world backwards really fast. I think thatís why I never like his story that much ñ heís too powerful. Oh and what would I do?... More like what wouldnít I do! Muwahahahaha!
4. I wouldnít participate in a public protest against the war. I agree with the person who said it's really disrespectful to our troops who are over there.
I donít know if I ever would participate in a public protest. I just donít really think that most of those protests ever really accomplish anything. I would be much more likely to do something else to express my view. Like I might make a documentary or write a article or something... not that those things are any more effective than public protest, they're just more me.
Q1 - Freedom: No negotiating. The U.S. is right. When you bargain with terrorists, you just embolden them. Something else somewhat related--The trouble with the Taliban and other Muslim extremists is that they value nothing and so have nothing to lose. We value life and possessions. We have huge targets. They have none. I see only two ways to fight someone who has nothing to lose--either you wipe them off the planet or you pass along your values and encompass them, so they do have something to lose. And I don't think "encompass them" means negotiating. To me, it means offering them the opportunity to lay down their arms and join the world community.
Q2 - Parental Rights: I don't know enough to have an opinion on this. Some medical conditions are beyond our control, so I would hesitate to see the state intervene. On the other hand, if the mom isn't taking the proper action, then the state may need to step in.
Q3 - Superhero: I'd have to go with Superman on this one. I don't really care about the strength part, but being able to fly and then land without breaking any bones would be pretty cool.
Q4 - Protest: Now? No way. We're there, we contributed to making the mess, and now it's time to work with the Iraqis to help stabilize their country. I think protests would undermine our ability to achieve that goal, put soldiers at risk, and destroy whatever remnants of credibility we have left. I do think, however, that our "friends" at the UN ought to be assisting us. I think the UN's inaction leading up to war is as much at fault as the US's overreaction.
1. Freedom: Bad idea. Now anytime the Taliban want to "negotiate" with Italy, they know how to get their attention.
2. Parental Rights: This is a very fine line, but I generally am against the idea of the state getting involved with my kids. If they can do it to her, then they can do it to me for whatever reason they choose. That idea makes me shudder. My family is more important to me than anything else in this world.
3. Superhero: I'm with Clark. Superman is the do-it-all superhero. What would I do? Probably get in lots of bar fights, or bet people $100 I can weld two pieces of metal together just by looking at them.
4. Protest: I'm too laid back to protest (read: lazy). That and the fact that I'm a self-proclaimed war monger means I wouldn't protest this "war" or any other. But would I ever actually participate in any protest? Hmm... Anytime to gov tries to take my rights away, I'm pretty upset about it. But it would have to be a pretty big deal for me to actually get off my butt and go protest. Generally my thinking is that there are plenty of others out there willing to protest for me. I got things to do like work and play with my kids.
Now, if the gov tried to take my kids away, yes I'd stand up and protest that right now today... maybe. I'd have to decide first if that was the best expenditure of my time though. I might, instead, be making plans to sneak my family out of the country or pour over legal documents to try and find a way to stop it from happening.
Q1 - Freedom: Here comes the typical Fezzik dissension. I would negotiate. I believe in being the bigger person in all situations, maybe that's just because I'm 6'8" and it's hard for me not to be, and I also believe that playing hardball with these terrorists could extremely stupid. I do not believe that members of the Taliban value nothing, as Joba states, it's just that their values are irreconcilable with ours. They value many of the same, or similar things, as the kamikaze pilots that flew against us at Pearl Harbor. I agree with the reporter. Negotiating shows that we in Western Civilization are different from the Taliban in that we value human life over anything else. If we somehow get through to them someday, it may be worth the more lax stance on negotiation. As Willy Wonka said in the 1971 Motion Picture, "So shines a good deed in a weary world."
Q2 - Parental Rights: There has to be more at play here than what we're seeing. Perhaps the mother feels obligated to please the child because he was a 'miracle baby' or something of the like. I think there's probably some psychological issue involved in this situation, not just a lack of discipline or good parenting.
Q3 - Superhero: In the words of Stephen Lynch and his song 'Superhero' "If I could be a Superhero, I would be Awesome Man! I'd fly around the world fighting crime according to my Awesome Plan. And if I saw criminals trying to lie, hurting other people, and making them cry, I'd haul them off to jail in my Awesome Van, 'cause I would be Awesome Man!" Superman? I agree with Clark, he's too powerful. Joba, you Seinfeld wannabe!
Q4 - Protest: I try not to protest things that I don't know a whole lot about, maybe if I learned more about the situation I would participate in a protest of the "war." Then again, maybe if some amazing speaker tried to explain our reasons for going over there and staying there for so long, they'd actually convince me we're in the right, but I doubt it.
1) I agree with the journalist in that we should be different than the Taliban and we should respect human life, but when dealing with militants, they often don't care about human life and they will quickly exploit any weakness or leverage we show them. They really don't care if we are nice people.
2) I don't think the state officials should take the kid away. In these cases, I think we have to keep the kid's best interests in mind. I think the kid is best served by staying with mother as long as he is in a safe environment. His mom is trying to get him help, but the doctors can't tell what is wrong. I don't think social services could magically figure it out.
3) I have to go with Superman due to the large arsenal of powers. And with those powers I would do just what Superman does, enforce my own justice.
4) I would not protest. I have to agree with Clark in that protesting doesn't do much at all. I prefer taking action to solve a problem instead of whining about it.
Q1 - I feel we are missing the whole story. What we probably didn't hear is that Italy injected tracking devices into the Taliban members while they where unconscious. This way they could track their every move by satellite and locate strategic locations of the Taliban. Very smart I think.
Q2 - If the mother can show that she has gone to medical officials and stopped feeding him 2 boxes of Twinkies everyday. Then I donít see why the state would have the right to take him away. I really am confused as to why the Social workers are involved in that kidís case when they failed with Rosanne Barr. I mean, seriously, did the state do anything for her, no they actually asked her to sing the anthem. I thought being overweight was a part of the American dream.
Q3 ñ Well If I was the silver surfer it would be cool to surf through space with Joe Satriani blazing in the background. BUT I have always wanted to be Wolverine! Because he is one the only super hero that has fought thousands of Ninjas (straight from Japan none of these artificial South Dakota Ninjas) and eliminated all of them with hundreds of Arrows sticking out of his body. I mean who else can do that.? What would I do with my new found powers? I would go to Japan and fight thousands of Ninjas with hundreds of Arrows sticking out of me. Because that screams that I am a Bad A.
Q4 ñ I feel the common method of parading around town with pickets and loud voices is ineffective. I feel peopleís IQs drop tremendous amounts when they get in groups. I feel most of the people there are starving to belong to something so they find the protesting group to belong to it. Most of them arenít there because they really know the real issues, or they really donít believe in anything other then the fact they need attention. If youíre going to protest I feel you should use weapons, manipulation, and contraband, and make the protest into a revolt. Then I know your talking business. Berlin tore down a wall that is what I call a protest. Fight war with declaration of war. Itís like putting a fire out in the field with another fire on the other end. Burn it all out if you feel that intense about it. The only thing I would protest is if someone was forcing me to do anything or putting my family in direct harms way. If that happened then they would see a picket sign clubbed up the side of their head.
Q1. If I were in the reporter's shoes, I'd be pretty happy with my government, but we all know reporters often put themselves in harm's way to get a good story. While I generally am in favor of prisoner exchange, I'd bet Italy spent a lot more time and effort to collect one prisoner than the Taliban requires to capture 20 journalists, so this isn't really a good trade.
Q2. If social services wants to remove the kid, then the burden of proof should be on them. They should get a doctor and a psychologist to check this kid out, and if they can determine what's going on, the mother should have a chance to act on the medical advice before the state takes over.
Q3. Assuming that by superhero, you mean that we have to act the way traditional superheroes do (in the interest of the greater good), I'd want to be Wolverine. Nearly immortal and no overpowering sense of unpunished acts of evil. He gets to do a good deed without feeling like he has to save the whole world.
Q4. More props to Marjorie. I support the troops even if we have a barely literate monkey commanding them. I think I'm with Stu on protesting... unless something is going to directly impact my personal way of life, I'm probably not going to move, and something more practical than protesting is going to be more in order.
1. I don't agree with negotiating with terrorists, but if that's going to be the policy, it should be across the board for anyone who takes a hostage, anywhere. Negotiating with someone who takes a hostage domestically (say in a bank robbery or something) is doing essentially the same thing and we DO negotiate with them. If we negotiate with those people, aren't we encouraging those people as well?
2. Need so much more information on this one. For example, whats the home like? Unlimited access to crap food? Is the kid's only physical activity walking to the bathroom or the kitchen? Personally I think that taking the kid away is just wrong and will probably cause more issues than it would resolve. They should work with the family instead but that's not usually an option for government employees who wish to be seen "taking action."
3. I never was a big comic book fan so I don't know much about superheros, but given what I do know, I'd probably have to go with Wolverine as well.
4. I probably would because I believe that the invasion was a mistake of gargantuan proportions, but wouldn't have any illusions about it's effectiveness. This war doesn't have the immediateness of Vietnam to most people in the states. That war was fought using conscripted troops and the college age protesters actually had a dog in the fight and, in my view at least, more of a personal stake in the outcome unlike the current situation. Personally I spend my energies more locally, such as fighting Indiana's abomimation of a marriage amendment.
#1 What's this three for one deal? I think it should at least be an even trade. Wait till they have three Italian journalists and then talk. Not till then. Stay tough.
Seriously though - I do not believe the Taliban learns anything about forgiving or the value of human life from this or any "deal". If they get their three people back, might we see them again in the future risking their lives in combat or even serving as a human bomb?
#2 Maybe if we get the Italians involved, we could arrange to take the big kid and trade him for three undernourished kids from another part of the world, possibly Afganistan.
Problem solved.
#3 I think I'd be the Invisible Woman (specifically played by Jessica Alba). I have no real interest in superpowers or being invisible. But if I were the Invisible Woman (as portrayed by Jessica Alba) I would spend most of my time watching myself get: undressed, shower, dress, repeat.
The Taliban would NEVER put up with that. So when they were around, I'd use my invisible powers.
#4 I feel the Italians have got a real thing going with the "forgiving and letting them know we're human" ploy - very clever.
To follow their lead, I think we should probably protest against overweight children. It shows we care (human) and that we're willing to look inward at our own society. Very caring in my opinion.
Lets face it, that kid is just trying to avoid serving in the military. He probably won't be able to work, which means he'll pay virtually no taxes.
This will ultimately draw funding and manpower away from the military hindering their efforts to fight terrorism.
The result? We'll have the Taliban and Al Quaeda pounding on our door - and you know they are not gonna put up with fast food. So we trade the fat kids for tyranny. (The Italians are MUCH smarter trading a journalist for tyranny.)
Overweight children will be the downfall of this country.
If you care enough, you'll go down to the Wendy's or McDonalds right now and support the troops by intimitating the big people.
Q1-freedom: Terrism has no rules or regulations. It is all who can make the bigger statement. Now the Italians choose to end it with each side getting what they wanted. What would have had they said no. We would have a couple of terrorists in a cell living it up under the Geneva conventions and a couple of Italians smeared...literally...on the news. Then when that didn't seem enough to get back their buddies they move on to blowing up a bus on the streets of beloved Rome. Killing several school children and Americans visiting there. 300 dead. All for what? Pride? Releasing the prisoners puts them where? Back with there buddies and not increasing or decreasing anything versed keeping them and potentially greatly increasing terrorism. And we save the lives of the Italians. I'm missing why they shouldn't release them?
Q2-Parental Rights--Why was the division of Social Services notified in the first place? There is definately, getting into childhood education I learning more and more about kids and their rights... Who notified them and why? With out this information there isn't even a case.
Q3- Superhero--I would want to be the Halle Barry mix. A lot of Storm mixed with Catwomen. Can't me beat. First of all the feline persona is pretty much the hottest thing ever and then add on the long flowing white hair. Contol the weather and still have the flexibility and mobility of a cat. Oh ya... Then I would have the good and bad as each have major attitude... So I would fight those who oppose me in my plans and ideas. I would influence the world to bring it to my ideal utopia. With Eric as King.
Q4-Protest--I am a supporter of the war. I have many friends and family members over there and I would give m life for each and every one of them as I know they would for each and every one of you. Looking back at other wars...let us say vietnam...why did we loose? We lost support and so the soldiers lost hope. What good is it to come home to the country you missed to find everyone hates you? It can be so damaging to everyone and most importantly our Country. You stay a super power by showing your super power and helping those in need. Those requesting your help. I have a brother-in-law who was over in Iraq in the brunt of it all, recieving his own Forest Gump mark, and he would tell the stories of the joy and appriation the Iraqis had for the soldiers. Now, my cousin, Tony, is over there and is away from his family and New born son. This is his 4th time over there. Do you think that he would keep doing that if he did not see the benefit? Who better to learn what is happening from those there? Why would you want to take that away?
1. I disagree. I think that terror's particular brand of evil deserves the harshest, swiftest, most excruciating punishment possible. Showing them any kind of mercy, forgiveness, etc. will only embolden them. They're a scourge, and they need to be eradicated by any and all means necessary.
2. It depends on how the son got that obese. If he's obese for some strange, bilogical and/or chromosome reason, Social Services shouldn't have any right to him. But if he got that way because his mom is stuffing Krispy Cremes in his face and locking him in the TV room, they should get that kid away from his sick-o mother.
3. Duck Dodgers (in the 24th and a Half Century), and I'd use my secret weapon to blow up any and all space creatures possessing the Iludium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator.
4. Not in a million years. I don't agree with all of our reasons for being over there, but I don't think that demoralizing our troops with public outcry against the war does anything but make the situation worse. If I were to actually get out and picket for any reason, I'd fight for stronger legislation protecting the family, harsher punishment of Internet predators, and tighter governance of the smut industry.
1) All I have to say is, when I hear the word Taliban, I think: "too much MSG".
2) If the woman is doing her due diligence and seeing to his his problem and not actively propagating it, then no way can they take him... If she were ignoring it and feeding him nothing but fatback, then I'd say they should intervene.
3) I'd play batman, because who could resist that car?
4) I would and have publicly protested the war. Since my congress person doesn't really listen to me anyway, what other choice to I have?
Q2's been bugging me. I keep thinking, 7-year-old kid, 250 pounds. If I took a baby and consciously tried to make that baby 250 pounds by the age of 7 years, I don't think I could do it. Something else must be going on. Seems as though almost every condition is a combination of nature and nurture. Maybe the kid has some weird genetic thing going on. Would social services take the kid away if he were born with an extra arm? Why are we so apt to assume some parental shortcoming when it comes to obesity?
As to not offend you... although I'm a couple of days behind.
#1 - I think that negotiation when it comes to hostages is generally a bad move. Making concessions just shows the hostage takers that the ploy is effective and encourages future action. Just say no to hostage taking.
#2 - 250 lbs is a lot of weight. I can imagine that she's taken him to lots of doctors but the answer is probably the stuff that is in her kitchen or in the kid's mouth. Having said that-- separating a mother and child is usually a receipe for disaster. Parents fail their kids in many more ways than just obesity.
#3 - Superhero, eh? I'd pick the Flash and help folks become super efficient with some help from my speed!
#4 - War protests aren't generally my bag but I can see myself protesting for lots of different causes (immigrant rights, academic programs/cutbacks, etc.)
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