Category Archives: RS 4

Mercola, Dr. “Marijuana Research Supports Its Safety and Benefits.” Mercola.com. N.p., 16 May 2015. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

The controversy I am discussing for my second essay is the benefits of marijuana. The text I chose, relates to my first source because it gives us a more in dept detail of the long term debate that  our people has been having in the U.S. when it comes to the use marijuana. The comments below the article will let me know what the audience is thinking and how they feel the situation should be addressed.

I believe that this source is credible because it shows a couple of doctors in the text and video who has something to say about their research on the topic of marijuana and the miracle they witnessed along with the research. In the article, the speaker included a lot of statistics and point of views of different doctors who has been using marijuana on their patients. We could say that this article is well respected in certain community as they spent time talking about the topic of marijuana. The article also appears to be respectable/ believable because it has facts and studies to support the idea they are trying to get through in the article. To make this source even more credible Dr. Mercola included other sources like Cancer.gov, PubMed, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and The Journal of Pain to show what she researched on. The text argument has a responsible manner because it include logical appeals evidence in the article instead of outrageous amount of emotional appeals.

According to the article that Dr. Mercola has written,  he states the statistic of the different percentage of American who favored the cannabis medical use and the legalization of marijuana in general. He then mention that this is a major problem in the “federal level,” to show that it is beyond our grasp. Dr. Mercola  also included other authority to back up his idea about the benefit of marijuana as he mention US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy view on how marijuana may be useful for certain medical conditions. In addition to that, he also compared the U.S to Israel in order to show how behind the U.S are in the study of marijuana benefit due to the  “frustrating array of hoops, which are expensive and time consuming” for the majority to support the research. He also mention the compounds that are found in marijuana and how the pot grower manipulate it to fit what they want. This is why we see effects like anxiety and psychosis. Dr. Mercola also made notes on how our body create similar compound founded in the cannabis plant to show how the compound is used to balance our system. Also he included a list of what marijuana can treats to state the good the plant can do. Lastlyhe included another doctor that shared a same interest in the matter of how good marijuana can do for the individual and how a prescription drug is more harmful.

Kyline Stephens

Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. “Filmmaker: Why I Made ‘Blackfish'” CNN. Cable News Network, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

The controversy I am researching is whether or not SeaWorld is a safe environment for its captive animals. This secondary source relates to SeaWorld’s open letter that I used as my first because it is the opinion of Gabriela Cowperthwaite, director of Blackfish, the documentary that began the backlash against SeaWorld.

I believe that this article is credible because CNN is a reliable news source that has been around since 1980. This CNN special features Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s first-hand opinion as to why she chose to create the documentary that stirred up so much controversy. She has been making television documentaries for 15 years, which also makes her credible and knowledgeable in her field. Blackfish was the first of her documentaries to be distributed theatrically. It is apparent that Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the author of this article, is trustworthy and thoroughly researched the topic of killer whales in captivity prior to creating her film. The article is very informative and she presents herself in a way that allows us to understand her motives behind wanting answers to the many questions she had regarding captive marine animals. Cowperthwaite mentions her research through autopsy reports, interviews, and correspondence with SeaWorld. Her argument is formed very responsibly and ties in all her well-developed research.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite begins her article by referring to SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau’s killing. She claims that this is how her questioning began. The information did not add up, in her opinion, and Cowperthwaite did not understand why an animal as intelligent as a killer whale would bite the hand that feeds it. “Why would America’s lovable Shamu turn against us? How could our entire collective childhood memories of this delightful water park be so morbidly wrong?” These were the questions that motivated Cowperthwaites to “set out to understand this incident, not as an animal activist,” she insists, “but as a mother… and of course as a documentary filmmaker who unfortunately can’t let sleeping dogs lie.”

Gabriela Cowperthwaite claims to have wanted SeaWorld’s voice as part of her film all along. After many back-and-forth e-mails, however, they declined. Cowperthwaite explained that “this was [not] an easy film to make. There were nightmares, too many autopsy reports, sobbing interviewees and unhappy animals.” There was also the fear of being squashed by the $2 billion a year entity named SeaWorld, who would do anything in their power to protect their beloved Shamu. “But as I moved forward I knew that in telling this story in an honest and fact-driven way, I was telling the truth,” Cowperthwaite states, “It sounds cliché but it’s really that simple. At some point you’re simply compelled, in spite of yourself, to tell a story that needs to be told no matter how scared…” Because of all her research, she now claims to know that killer whales are not suitable for captivity. The effect producing Blackfish had on herself and on her crew is “impossible to shake.” She is now “dedicated to spreading the word” of what happens behind closed-doors to the animals in captivity at SeaWorld. She hopes that her film can be used as momentum to “help evolve us out of using animals for entertainment.” She urges that the killer whales that are in captivity be retired to “sea sanctuaries” where a large ocean cove is divided with a net. With the whales in these sea sanctuaries, “we could monitor their health, even feed them if need be where they can live out the rest of their lives in a dignified, sustainable manner.” Cowperthwaite closes by saying that her purpose behind Blackfish was simply to tell the real story. “Once audiences are armed with the truth, they will make the best decisions by themselves and their families,” she states.

Feeney, Matthew. “DuBose Killing Highlights Importance of Police Body Cameras” www.cato.org. Cato Institute, 29 July 2015. Web. 3 August 2015.

The controversy I am discussing is the use of body cameras on police uniforms. This article relates to my first primary source because it enhances a premium recent example of camera use on officers. The first article I used explains reasons why police officers should wear cameras. This article follows the discussion, but focuses on a very specific incident that further glorifies the push for all police officer’s to wear body cameras. This article teaches me that the speaker is very informative about the event and the overall controversy. The source also effectively explains in detail the reasoning behind the advantage of the use of cameras to an audience that cares for overall safety, security, and justice. The article wants to truly make the audience understand the importance of camera use on officers.

Author of this article, Matthew Feeney, is credible due to his writing which references recent and relevant information such as statements from local authority figures in Hamilton County, in which the incident occurred. Feeney is a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, but worked at Reason magazine as assistant editor before coming to Cato. He has also worked for The American Conservative, the Liberal Democrats, and the Institute of Economic Affairs. The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace. Cato is believed to be a trusted source due to its scholars and analysts conducting independent nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues for the public. This article also presents element’s that indicate careful research such as the placed evidence of a NBC NEWS video that shows the officer involved in the incident body cam footage.

Feeney begins the article with the backstory of the University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing shooting and killing 43-year-old Samuel DuBose on July 19^th during a traffic stop. Stating that Tensing will face murder and manslaughter charges, Feeney provides statements from Hamilton County prosecutor Joe Deters. Deters calls the killing “senseless” and openly states “the body camera footage of the killing was invaluable. Without it, many would probably have believed Tensing’s erroneous account of the incident.” Referring to the knowledge of Tensing creating lies that he was dragged by DuBose’s vehicle.

Feeney then states “DuBose’s death demonstrates once again that body camera are not police misconduct stoppers.” Further explaining this statement, Feeney reinstates the fact the Tensing knew his body camera was on, but ultimately continued to shoot the unarmed man in the head over a simple missing license plate dispute. Nonetheless, the incident does provide how body camera footage can be useful to officials investigating allegations of police misconduct.

Statements from Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffery Blackwell are then introduced by Feeney. Blackwell states that technology that highlights incidents of police misconduct must be welcomed by advocates of accountability and transparency in law enforcement. Deters then adds, “the body camera led to Tensing’s murder indictment” as his conclusion.

Overall, Feeney results to statements from Blackwell and Deters to set motion his claim that police officers should wear body cameras. Because, as Feeney states, “if it weren’t for the body cam footage, Tensing will still be employed as a Cincinnati police officer rather than being behind bars.” Concluding that in the case of Dubose’s killing, a camera can be instrumental in investigating police misconduct and getting dangerous officers off the streets.

Grisafe, Michael. “Can Culture Create Mental Disease? The Rise of “Hikikomori” in the Wake of Economic Downturn in Japan – Mind the Science Gap.” Mind the Science Gap RSS. N.p., 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

As some might think that the effects of Hikikomori only effect the people around them, it could actually effect the surrounding citizens of japan. Michael Grisafe is the author of this article that I am presenting you today. He brings up the argument that Hikikomori can affect the future of japans economy a lot more than expected.

This articles seems very credible for what it is worth. The author may not be a reporter, but is actually a student in grad-school at the University of Michigan. Which in turn, we know he will give us some credible evidence and several works cited to try and drive his argument to the people that are reading his weekly blog. Which brings me to who exactly is he trying to tell this message towards. I personally believe his audience are the people who worry about hikikomori and understand the functions of the economy and how in turn when one economy falls, there can be effects to the other. Some of the sources seem to be a bit outdated by a couple of years, but he still is able to drive his point across with plenty of reliable evidence.

Mr. Grisafe starts his article by asking “What happens when a society’s cultural demands can no longer keep pace with the economy reality of the world? Who bares the strain and what happens when the burden becomes too much?” Which is saying what will happen to the country once the next generation of adults have been pushed so hard by societies standards, just give up. As much as 80% of these individuals are males, and many come from middle-class homes which are able to support as they barricade themselves in their rooms, however many hikikomori seem to lead lives of isolated desperation; Mr. Grisafe expresses. Traditionally, Japanese institutions have favored a very structured transition of youth from high school, to secondary school (College), to long term employment. However, those rare individuals who failed to follow this path and immediately obtain a job after graduation from secondary school were considered failures and rarely able to re-enter the labor market at the same level in the future. This is relevant to the fact when Mr. Grisafe explains that 50% of high school graduates go on to complete 4-year universities, up to 20% of them can only find low-paying jobs after graduation.

According to the author, some sociologist have suggested that these individuals are not rebels in the sense that they are rejecting one ideology and accepting another, but rather individuals defining themselves by rejecting the core values of the Japanese work and social ethic itself. They assert that the hikikomori are the result of these youth comparing themselves to the increasingly unattainable success of their parents. This topic has grown increasingly urgent in japan as the so called “First generation” of hikikomori who have been living with their parents for the past 20 years are approaching 40. Many worry not only for the fate of these aging hikikomori, but the social and economic consequences for japan as the hikikomori’s parents retire and pass away. As their parents die off, japan will be faced with the very real problem of integrating a large population of socially disengaged and unskilled individuals into society. This makes hikikomori both a personal and a potential economic problem.

Oh, Inae. “Amy Schumer Announces Plan To Tackle Gun Control” www.motherjones.com, Mother Jones, 03 Aug. 2015. Web. 03 Aug. 2015

The controversy amongst what to do about gun control has been argued for many years now. I would like to focus on the video provided by the article where Amy Schumer discusses gun control. She talks about several shooting incidents and how there should be a new initiative to regulating gun control.

Amy Schumer seems to be a credible source because she is accompanied by her cousin, Chuck Schumer, Senator of New York. Assuming she is familiar with politics and legislative laws. Schumer is a respected stand-up comedian, writer, actress, and producer.  She mentions some recent incidents involving gun shootings, especially the one that occurred in Louisiana at a movie theater. Schumer shares that she took it personally due to the fact that it happened while her film was being shown. She also informs her audience about the two people who were murdered. This making her credible by showing that she did her background research and implying how they were just innocent lives taken away.

In the video, Schumer argues how there should be better gun control laws being passed. She starts off by saying, “Enough is enough” declaring that the shootings need to be stopped. She tells reporters, ” Unless something is done and done soon, dangerous people will continue to get their hands on guns,” addressing specifically to criminals and the mentally ill. She offers two solutions to limiting the access of guns to these people. First she states, “we can toughen background checks and stop the sell of firearms to folks who have a violent history or history of mental illness.” Another strategy she mentions is to, “invest more in treating mental illness instead of slashing funding.” Schumer affirms these solutions as “common-sense solutions” to reducing the amount of shootings and who possesses these guns.

Suebsaeng, Ben JacobsAsawin. “2 Chainz for Mayor?” The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 04 Aug. 2015.

2chainz mayor

Sullum, Jacob. “The ‘Constitutional Conservative’ Who Wants to Legalize Pot-and Anything That’s Peaceful.” Reason.com. Hit and Run, 04 Mar. 2015. Web. 04 Aug. 2015.

conservative point of view

“Nancy Grace.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.

Grace

The world perceives Taueed Epps or more widely known as 2Chainz to be the typical rapper who boasts about his money and girls. However Epps is a loving father, former division one athlete, salutatorian of his high school class, and obtained a 4.0 in college. Social media highlights none of these things and his career has shaped his image. Recently Epps had debated Nancy Grace on her show about the legalization of marijuana. She had specifically debated 2Chainz because she knows his credentials and he is one of the biggest advocates of the legalization of marijuana. Further she knows he is one of the iconic figures in pop culture and the significant amount of influence he has on the youth.

Throughout the debate 2Chainz is conveying to the audience that marijuana legalization shouldn’t be the biggest problem in our country. Also many people believe Grace to be conservative as well as her audience, which makes it more difficult for 2Chainz to explain his message. Conservatives conceive marijuana as ”evil” because its action “harms other men” (Sullum). Marijuana causes significant hazards to people’s lives and that is the reason Grace seemed exasperated by 2Chainz support of marijuana. In her personal life Grace wanted to become an English professor, however this plan was altered when her fiancé was murdered. This ignited Grace’s career shift to a felony prosecutor. Throughout the debate Grace’s emotions are conspicuous when she discusses about people dying from marijuana or alcohol. She cannot stand the disgust that people suffer from marijuana because people get killed, abused, and sexually harassed. In the debate Grace’s embeds her arguments with videos regarding parents abusing their children with marijuana. She emphasizes how these incidents are “caused by marijuana”, but Epps disagrees and says its “mental illness and alcohol” that are to blame.

Additionally 2chainz discussed in the debate that he had to sell marijuana to provide for his family. He states, “It was a means, a way of living”. “I did it for them [his kids]. I sacrificed that for them so they wouldn’t have to do it.” Growing up from a small city in Georgia, Epps went from rags to riches. He was living in poverty in Georgia and he did everything for his family. The reason Epps’ is so successful is because of the power of capitalism. He is trying to inspire others to become prosperous. Also to extend his influence 2chainz is going to run as mayor for College Park. He adds, “I’m supposed to be running for mayor in College Park”(Jacobs). Epps wants to represent the marijuana community and how they are not the stereotypical community that does absurd things. Epps believes that it’s unfair how people with marijuana possession are treated. They are restricted to vote and ignored from society because it’s on their record.

Overall it’s ironic how people categorize celebrities and rappers because people judge them through their image and music. 2chainz may seem to be the typical rapper, but he is not because he is trying to make an impact on a community. Although he is flamboyant through his music, his music does not personify him.