I agree with Derek Bok when he describes what should be considered as free speech and what shouldn’t be. There are so many different views of what free speech is just because many people have different personal convictions. Who is to say what constitutes freedom of speech and what doesn’t. Like Bok states, our country has set up some limitations such as laws against defacing property, or indicting those who commit slander or libel, but in the case of the Harvard kids, there is no law that states you can’t express your pride in something because it offends other people.
If this were to happen on IPFW’s campus, I don’t think that the campus officials would be able to do anything about it. Freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment, even if it does offend them. As long as it isn’t defacing private or public property then it should be allowed. It is the same thing as if I were to display a huge cross in the front of my yard displaying my belief in Jesus Christ. Some people don’t believe in Him and it contradicts their religion. I wouldn’t want the city to come and tell me that I have to take it down just because my neighbors are offended. You have to take something you are passionate for and put it in place of that to understand what the boys MAY have possibly felt about the Confederate Flag or the swastika.
Of course I have run into something like this before. My senior year in high school, someone was suspended in the junior grade for something controversial, it escapes me at the moment, but I remember that the girl’s “sentencing” was debatable. Students who were her friends wore shirts one day that said “Free ____” and then the girl’s name. They were told to change or they would be suspended as well. Freedom of speech in high school is something that is trampled on in almost all schools, I presume.
In conclusion, freedom of speech should be protected within the limits that have been set for us by our elected government officials. Of course, it is never right to yell fire when there is no fire, but you can’t legally stop one from doing it.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Exportation of Elephants
This poster was designed to stop persuade the halting of the exportation of Haitian elephants. Once you understand what the poster is saying, the poster does a good job of making it memorable. The text has a little ring to it to make it stick in your head, “here, there, or everywhere.” It is a simple Dr. Seuss phrase that is used to focus attention the animal. It shows the elephant changed and doing tricks for here and there, and shows the elephant free for everywhere.
The poster is effective once read, but I don’t believe it is eye-catching enough to catch any extra attention. The colors aren’t bright enough and the pictures are really that riveting. They require some text in order to increase its success. So overall it is effective with the text, but initially it doesn’t accomplish its goal.
The poster is effective once read, but I don’t believe it is eye-catching enough to catch any extra attention. The colors aren’t bright enough and the pictures are really that riveting. They require some text in order to increase its success. So overall it is effective with the text, but initially it doesn’t accomplish its goal.
More Sources
Destefano, Frank, Robert T. Chen, and Gina Mootrey. "Safety of Routine Childhood Vaccinations." Pediatric Drugs 2 (2000): 273-291. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 24 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
Immunizations are one of the most cost-effective inventions in human history, but paradoxically, even though they demolish the chance of the recipient receiving the disease, lately they have been causing mortality in some. While most of the effects of vaccines are adverse, some vaccines have been associated with very rare effects and sometimes death. Because of these things, ongoing vaccine surveillance is necessary and will be necessary to increase confidence in new vaccines that may emerge. Effectively communicating the uncertainty and improving understanding of rare risks are essential to maintain public confidence in vaccines.
Manning, Anita. "Vaccine Debate Simmers." USA Today 10 Feb. 2004, sec. Life: 09d. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 28 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
The long-running debate over whether the preservative thimerosal, found in vaccines, is linked to autism in children had continued with a new series of studies that didn’t do well to settle the question. A 14-member panel reviewed a great deal of information linked to the studies and is generating a report on the information. Some organization’s representing parents of autistic children are worried that the information is being skewed because researchers are afraid to lose funding if the vaccines are found to be dangerous since the government and drug company scientists are so interested in vaccine safety.
"The Vaccine Debate Goes On." TIME 15 Oct. 2007: 19. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 28 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
This article also discusses the link between autism and vaccines due to the preservative, thimerosal, used in some vaccines. According to the 2007 research be the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the substance does not cause neurological diseases. The National Autism Association believes the studies are too narrow and focus on too few of subjects. Overall, whether it is true or not, it is frightening parents and causing them to doubt immunizations.
Immunizations are one of the most cost-effective inventions in human history, but paradoxically, even though they demolish the chance of the recipient receiving the disease, lately they have been causing mortality in some. While most of the effects of vaccines are adverse, some vaccines have been associated with very rare effects and sometimes death. Because of these things, ongoing vaccine surveillance is necessary and will be necessary to increase confidence in new vaccines that may emerge. Effectively communicating the uncertainty and improving understanding of rare risks are essential to maintain public confidence in vaccines.
Manning, Anita. "Vaccine Debate Simmers." USA Today 10 Feb. 2004, sec. Life: 09d. Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 28 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
The long-running debate over whether the preservative thimerosal, found in vaccines, is linked to autism in children had continued with a new series of studies that didn’t do well to settle the question. A 14-member panel reviewed a great deal of information linked to the studies and is generating a report on the information. Some organization’s representing parents of autistic children are worried that the information is being skewed because researchers are afraid to lose funding if the vaccines are found to be dangerous since the government and drug company scientists are so interested in vaccine safety.
"The Vaccine Debate Goes On." TIME 15 Oct. 2007: 19. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 28 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
This article also discusses the link between autism and vaccines due to the preservative, thimerosal, used in some vaccines. According to the 2007 research be the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the substance does not cause neurological diseases. The National Autism Association believes the studies are too narrow and focus on too few of subjects. Overall, whether it is true or not, it is frightening parents and causing them to doubt immunizations.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The first image shows a child who is happy and some text promoting vaccines. Using this photo will cause the viewer to link a happy child with a vaccinated child, which is promoting vaccines. It will also appeal to the pathos side of the viewers. The second image shows a doctor, parent, and child all happy while the child is receiving the vaccine. This does the same as the first photo: linking happiness and vaccines together. The third image is an image of a dog with tetanus. I can use this to show what a disease can do to someone if they don't receive the vaccine. I would have used a person/child with tetanus, but it was just too disturbing. I may have to overcome that feeling for future pictures.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Gore Image Used as Anti-War Shock Ad....Does it Work?
The picture to the left uses only one powerful image to convey an anti-war shock message. The ad uses an oil barrel spilling blood on an American flag to draw, yet disgust its viewers. The picture is very emotional and captivating because of the degree of gruesomeness it displays. It appeals pathos by using blood on the American flag next to a soldier’s helmet and gun in order to make the connection between the blood spilt and our troops. The ad also appeals to the ethical side of people, making them question whether it is really right to be at war. This ad does a very good job at attracting people and tugging at their emotions, showing that it is successfully conveying its message to most people.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Three Sources
Harding, Anne. "Easing Vaccine Fears." Baby Talk os 69 (2004): 19. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 17 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
Immunization rates in the United States are growing rapidly every year, but so is fear parents have who wish their kids to get vaccinations. A major concern parents have is that their child’s immune system will be overloaded with too many vaccines, but the amount of components of capable of triggering a reaction to the vaccine is a drip in the bucket compared the components in the average ear infection. It is ok if a child has a few side effects from the vaccine; they are not uncommon, so parents should not be worried about that. Also, it is very important that children receive their vaccines. It not only helps to keep the child safe, but all children safe by keeping immunization rates up and the disease scarce.
Heil, Emily. "Terror Concerns Shelve Some Health Efforts." CongressDaily 21 Sept. 2003, AM ed.: 13. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 17 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
The terror attacks on September 11, 2001 and the anthrax scare not long after have shelved some important health efforts. Before the attacks, legislative officials were clamoring for lots of issues to be resolved relating health such as more nutritious school lunches or even lowering diabetes rates. Now health initiatives have focused mostly on preparing for bioterrorism. These initiatives have been mainly security-related, including a bill to compensate workers who experience side effects from the small pox vaccine, a vaccine given to healthcare workers because it is feared to be a possible disease used in bioterrorism.
Abramson, Jon S. MD, and Larry K. Pickering MD. "US Immunization Policy." Journal of the American Medical Association 287 (2002): 505-509. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 17 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
Immunization is one of public health’s most crowning achievements for the 20 century. Successes of immunization include the elimination of two diseases from the United States and the reduction a number of serious diseases by 95%. Of course there are some side effects to vaccines, like all other preventative modalities in medicine, but fortunately serious adverse effects are very rare. All though vaccines are a great achievement, the immunization program faces challenges that could potentially threaten the use of vaccines, including accusations of harmful effects of the vaccines, the increasing number needed, the cost of them, and the fragility of them.
Immunization rates in the United States are growing rapidly every year, but so is fear parents have who wish their kids to get vaccinations. A major concern parents have is that their child’s immune system will be overloaded with too many vaccines, but the amount of components of capable of triggering a reaction to the vaccine is a drip in the bucket compared the components in the average ear infection. It is ok if a child has a few side effects from the vaccine; they are not uncommon, so parents should not be worried about that. Also, it is very important that children receive their vaccines. It not only helps to keep the child safe, but all children safe by keeping immunization rates up and the disease scarce.
Heil, Emily. "Terror Concerns Shelve Some Health Efforts." CongressDaily 21 Sept. 2003, AM ed.: 13. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 17 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
The terror attacks on September 11, 2001 and the anthrax scare not long after have shelved some important health efforts. Before the attacks, legislative officials were clamoring for lots of issues to be resolved relating health such as more nutritious school lunches or even lowering diabetes rates. Now health initiatives have focused mostly on preparing for bioterrorism. These initiatives have been mainly security-related, including a bill to compensate workers who experience side effects from the small pox vaccine, a vaccine given to healthcare workers because it is feared to be a possible disease used in bioterrorism.
Abramson, Jon S. MD, and Larry K. Pickering MD. "US Immunization Policy." Journal of the American Medical Association 287 (2002): 505-509. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne. 17 Oct. 2007 http://www.inspire.net.
Immunization is one of public health’s most crowning achievements for the 20 century. Successes of immunization include the elimination of two diseases from the United States and the reduction a number of serious diseases by 95%. Of course there are some side effects to vaccines, like all other preventative modalities in medicine, but fortunately serious adverse effects are very rare. All though vaccines are a great achievement, the immunization program faces challenges that could potentially threaten the use of vaccines, including accusations of harmful effects of the vaccines, the increasing number needed, the cost of them, and the fragility of them.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Poll Questions
Possible Poll Questions about Safety of Vaccines:
1.) How many vaccines would you trust doctors to inject into your small child?
2.) Have you allowed your children to recieve all updated vaccines?
3.)Are you familiar with the link between child vaccines and autism?
4.)Do you keep your child healthy by giving them updated vaccines?
5.)Is the healthcare system being to pushy when it comes to giving children needed vaccines?
6.) Should the government continue to mandate vaccines, or allow parents and individuals to decide what vaccines to recieve
7.) If kids don't receive the vaccines needed to keep them healthy, are the parents bad parents?
1.) How many vaccines would you trust doctors to inject into your small child?
2.) Have you allowed your children to recieve all updated vaccines?
3.)Are you familiar with the link between child vaccines and autism?
4.)Do you keep your child healthy by giving them updated vaccines?
5.)Is the healthcare system being to pushy when it comes to giving children needed vaccines?
6.) Should the government continue to mandate vaccines, or allow parents and individuals to decide what vaccines to recieve
7.) If kids don't receive the vaccines needed to keep them healthy, are the parents bad parents?
Possible Claims
*Unfortunately I could not upload the graph, so here is the link:http://usatoday.com/news/snapshot.htm?section=N&label=2007-10-19-oil
It is the seventeenth slide of the news.
Possible Claim #1: The majority of people are not afraid of bridges, therefore, extra safety precautions on bridges that cost extra money are not necessary.
Possible Claim #2: A whopping 40% of people are afraid of bridges, most likely due to devestating collapses, therefore, bridge inspections should be more frequent and more thorough
Possible Claim #3: The majority of people are not afraid of bridges, therefore, those who are in the minority have an irrational fear of bridges.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
IPFW's OVRC
I got a chance to search the OVRC on IPFW’s website in the library database. I researched the topic of vaccines because I am very interested in them and the medical field. I learned that there is a lot more controversy surrounding vaccines then I thought. I was surprised to see all the different articles surrounding vaccines; there were a lot more than I thought there would be. I think seeing the variety of the articles and the amount of them will help me to use this as my topic for my argument of fact research paper.
What's up with Surveillance?
Our society is very insistent on having their privacy when it comes to almost everything. Privacy is a great privilege to have and should be cherished every second it is experienced, however, sometimes having something be made public is better than remaining private. Having a lot of different types of surveillance in public places only enhances our society and helps to catch crime on tape as well as prevent crime from happening.
Having surveillance in public places is very important to the public. It helps to catch on tape something that may be unlawful that happens. Just like the example from the police brutality video on YouTube. A cashier was accused of robbing the police of his change and was yelled at, told she was being arrested, and eventually pepper sprayed by the police. The evidence from the surveillance tape shows the cashier was right and the police officer was wrong. Without having the tape it would have been the cop’s word against a teenage girl’s word, which could have very easily played out differently.
Having camera’s in public places could also help to identify a criminal if it catches them actually committing the crime. These cameras’ tapes are used in court cases as evidence all the time and can usually help bring the culprit to justice. The tapes are beneficial to everyone and help to enhance our society’s safety.
The surveillance tapes also help to prevent crime. When a person walks into a drugstore with the thought in their head that they want to lift a couple of things from the store and they see all kinds of cameras all around the store, they may think twice about taking anything. Seeing the cameras would probably spook them and cause them to not want to possibly get caught by the police
A lot of people think that having cameras like that are an invasion of privacy, but how could a camera out in a public place be an invasion of privacy and unlawful? Only good can come of surveillance cameras in public places. This is why all this surveillance is profitable for our society.
Having surveillance in public places is very important to the public. It helps to catch on tape something that may be unlawful that happens. Just like the example from the police brutality video on YouTube. A cashier was accused of robbing the police of his change and was yelled at, told she was being arrested, and eventually pepper sprayed by the police. The evidence from the surveillance tape shows the cashier was right and the police officer was wrong. Without having the tape it would have been the cop’s word against a teenage girl’s word, which could have very easily played out differently.
Having camera’s in public places could also help to identify a criminal if it catches them actually committing the crime. These cameras’ tapes are used in court cases as evidence all the time and can usually help bring the culprit to justice. The tapes are beneficial to everyone and help to enhance our society’s safety.
The surveillance tapes also help to prevent crime. When a person walks into a drugstore with the thought in their head that they want to lift a couple of things from the store and they see all kinds of cameras all around the store, they may think twice about taking anything. Seeing the cameras would probably spook them and cause them to not want to possibly get caught by the police
A lot of people think that having cameras like that are an invasion of privacy, but how could a camera out in a public place be an invasion of privacy and unlawful? Only good can come of surveillance cameras in public places. This is why all this surveillance is profitable for our society.
Arguable Topics for College Students
Are the topics listed below worth arguing to college students?
Hurricanes are increasing in number and ferocity: No, because it is related to natural disasters which are interesting to watch on television, but when arguing a topic that is supported by evidence that is widely known, a college student is not going to want to sit a listen to someone argue a fact that cannot be changed.
Many people die annually of cancer: Yes, because it would appeal to the Biology and Chemistry majors who are looking into medical and medicinal research. This topic is one that can also be driven with an ending discussing what can be done about it.
Japan might have come to terms more readily in 1945 if the Allies hadn’t demanded unconditional surrender: No, because I don't think this would interest any college students; most of them see the past as the past and nothing can be done about it, so why dwell on it?
Boys would do better in school if there were more men teaching in elementary and secondary classrooms: Yes, because this is a pretty arguable statement and can attract men studying to be a teacher as well as women who are interested to hear the speaker’s angle.
The ever-increasing number of minorities in higher education is evidence that racial problems have just about ended in the United States: Yes, because this is also a good arguable topic because it can be counter-argued easily by a school that contains minorities or doesn’t.
There aren’t enough high-paying jobs for college graduates these days: Yes, because it is talking about the audience in the very near future.
Hydrogen may never be a viable alternative to fossil fuels because it takes too much energy to change hydrogen into a useable form: Yes, because it is a controversial topic in the news these days and most college students are interested in what’s going on in the world today.
Only one of the first forty-three presidents of the United States was Catholic: No, because college students would definitely not find this topic interesting.
Political activists have grossly exaggerated the effects of the USA Patriot Act on free expression: Yes, because this is also a very controversial topic in the news these days.
Hurricanes are increasing in number and ferocity: No, because it is related to natural disasters which are interesting to watch on television, but when arguing a topic that is supported by evidence that is widely known, a college student is not going to want to sit a listen to someone argue a fact that cannot be changed.
Many people die annually of cancer: Yes, because it would appeal to the Biology and Chemistry majors who are looking into medical and medicinal research. This topic is one that can also be driven with an ending discussing what can be done about it.
Japan might have come to terms more readily in 1945 if the Allies hadn’t demanded unconditional surrender: No, because I don't think this would interest any college students; most of them see the past as the past and nothing can be done about it, so why dwell on it?
Boys would do better in school if there were more men teaching in elementary and secondary classrooms: Yes, because this is a pretty arguable statement and can attract men studying to be a teacher as well as women who are interested to hear the speaker’s angle.
The ever-increasing number of minorities in higher education is evidence that racial problems have just about ended in the United States: Yes, because this is also a good arguable topic because it can be counter-argued easily by a school that contains minorities or doesn’t.
There aren’t enough high-paying jobs for college graduates these days: Yes, because it is talking about the audience in the very near future.
Hydrogen may never be a viable alternative to fossil fuels because it takes too much energy to change hydrogen into a useable form: Yes, because it is a controversial topic in the news these days and most college students are interested in what’s going on in the world today.
Only one of the first forty-three presidents of the United States was Catholic: No, because college students would definitely not find this topic interesting.
Political activists have grossly exaggerated the effects of the USA Patriot Act on free expression: Yes, because this is also a very controversial topic in the news these days.
Friday, October 12, 2007
When browsing the op-ed pieces of The Washington Post, I decided that one article really stood out to me. It was entitled, "On Vaccines, Immune to Reason," by Paul Howard. This article contains information that would be something that I would really like to use as my research topic. It discusses vaccines and how parents have lost faith in childhood vaccines and must regain that faith.
This topic is a big deal for me, because I wrote a medical research paper my senior year of high school about the vaccine called Gardisil, that it meant to prevent most cases of cervical cancer in women. The research was so interesting and vaccines are made to help people. Plus, I am majoring in Biology now, and while my interests in the field vary greatly, I am looking at the possibility of medicinal research as a career.
The topic is important because the mortality of children has greatly decreased in the United States since the 1950's because of the new vaccines and medicines and our country has to keep it that way. Also, there are so many children in third world countries that need these vaccines.
People should understand that vaccines are good and that if education were to increase on the functions and pros of vaccines, the acceptance level would greatly increase.
This topic is a big deal for me, because I wrote a medical research paper my senior year of high school about the vaccine called Gardisil, that it meant to prevent most cases of cervical cancer in women. The research was so interesting and vaccines are made to help people. Plus, I am majoring in Biology now, and while my interests in the field vary greatly, I am looking at the possibility of medicinal research as a career.
The topic is important because the mortality of children has greatly decreased in the United States since the 1950's because of the new vaccines and medicines and our country has to keep it that way. Also, there are so many children in third world countries that need these vaccines.
People should understand that vaccines are good and that if education were to increase on the functions and pros of vaccines, the acceptance level would greatly increase.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)