Text Response 6

Should Humans Use Animals to Conduct Tests?

The answer depends on who you ask. You have some people on one side who are completely for testing on animals because they believe it will lead to improvements in medicine, hygiene products, etc. But on the other side you have people who are completely against animal testing because it is morally wrong in their opinions. Today i will be sharing my opinion on the subject.

I was looking through my English book, Argument! earlier today until i came across a photo on page 358 of two people holding up a sign that said, "SAVE HUMAN LIVES TEST ON ANIMALS". These two people were obviously protesting in favor of animal testing, but i'm writing this blog today because i think animal testing is wrong and unnecessary. I understand that animal testing can be useful when conducting research, but i don't think it is absolutely necessary.

I believe there are other ways for scientists to conduct research that don't involve harming animals for testing purposes. For example, a human would make a great test subject when conducting a test for human products. When i say a human, i mean a volunteer who is alive and perfectly happy donating their body to scientists. Why should we use innocent animals when we have volunteers? Most people don't see it the way i do, and they continue to use these animals as testing subjects for their own selfish purposes. 

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but before you pick a side make sure you're picking the side you actually share the belief with and not just the side that is more socially acceptable. 

References:

Messenger, Erica, John Gooch and Dorothy U. Seyler. Argument! United States of America: Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2011. Print.

Blog 6

Should Teachers Make More Money?

Teachers play an important role for the future generations. They are the ones who teach students how to read, write, add, subtract, critically think, and etc. On average elementary teachers in Illinois only make about $59,270 annually, and high school teachers typically make about 66,020 annually ("How Much Do Teachers Make?"). According to Sierra Black, $75,000 is enough to live happily and comfortably ("How Much is Enough? On Average, About $75,000 Per Year"). This gap shows that teachers don't make enough money to live comfortably without worrying about money all of the time.

In order for them to live comfortably they need a BIG raise.

I believe teachers should make more money because of all the work they do for kids and young adults. Teaching a student takes quite a bit of patience that many people lack or don't have. I know i don't have the patience required to teach children because i would get frustrated with them and most likely just give up and find something fun for us to do instead of teaching them what needs to be taught. Thank goodness there are people (teachers) out there who can handle children and young adults.

Unlike Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher

Some people might disagree with me and say teachers don't deserve more money because of all the breaks they get during the school year. I understand why someone might disagree with me because teachers do get certain holidays off as well as seasonal breaks; however, don't forget that they are teaching the future generations. They are responsible with filling the future generations minds with knowledge that will help better themselves and possibly the world.

Text Response 5

Male Mothers

"My Daughters Have No Mother" is an article i read today. Max Mutchnick, the author, discusses how gay men need surrogates in order to have children. He then proceeds with saying heterosexuals have it easier than homosexuals because they don't necessarily need surrogates to carry their unborn children (Mutchnick). I will agree with him on the fact that heterosexual couples have a much easier way to produce and carry a child because a heterosexual couple consists of a woman and a man. The man is able to impregnate the woman by delivering his sperm to her egg producing a zygote. For a homosexual couple pregnancy becomes impossible, at least between the two. Pregnancy is impossible for the female couples because they both have eggs, but no sperm to fertilize them and produce the zygote; while the males both have sperm, but no eggs to fertilize. This is why homosexual couples turn to surrogates. The surrogates can sometimes use the egg or sperm of the female or male to inseminate themselves and produce a zygote, which will later develop into a fetus. Max Mutchnick seems quite frustrated that his daughters will never really have a mom since he is with another man, but he realizes that he will love the child regardless of whether or not a surrogate carried it. This is an important way for him to look at things. It means he has a good attitude about things that he can't necessarily control. If more people were like Max, the world would consist of happier and more grateful people.


References:
Mutchnick, Max. "My Daughters Have No Mother." TheHuffingtonPost.com. The Huffington Post, 27 Feb. 2009. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.

Blog 5

AIDS: It is still an issue!

Earlier today I watched the movie, Dallas Buyer's Club. It got me thinking about AIDS, and how deadly it is for us. I believe it is important for all of you to understand what HIV and AIDS is so that you can minimize your risks of developing or spreading the virus.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) occurs after one has become infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (Alcantara). Over time the virus develops into a deadly disease known as AIDS (Alcantara).

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the United States had more than 1.1 million people that were infected with HIV ("HIV in the United States: At A Glance"). 1 out of 6 of those people had no idea that they were infected ("HIV in the United States: At A Glance").

 

HIV is a virus that can be spread through a couple of different ways. One of the more common ways it is spread is through sexual intercourse or any other type of activity that exchanges bodily fluids (Alcantara). The virus attacks your immune system and makes your body more susceptible to developing diseases and eventually leading to the fatal disease we call AIDS (Alcantara).

In order to reduce the chances of developing HIV, you must start taking precautions. For starters, if you're going to be sexually active then be smart about it and wear protection. This doesn't prevent the virus from infecting you, but it does help lower your chances of infection.

 

If you are worried you might be infected with HIV or AIDS, then consult your doctor. He or she will test your blood and give you the diagnosis. If you test positive for HIV or AIDS, there are ways of prolonging your life with the proper medicine, but nothing can necessarily cure it.

 

It is important to contact your previous sexual partners or anybody that you might have exchanged body fluids with so that they are aware of the possibility that they also might have HIV or Aids. This communication is key to keep the virus from spreading and it is also key to survival.

 

 

 

 

 

References

"HIV in the United States: At A Glance." Cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 03 Dec. 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.

Alcantara, Sava Tang. "What Does HIV and AIDS Stand For?" EHow.com. EHow, 27 Nov. 2008. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.