Last Current Event For The Quarter

Shaywitz describes in his editorial, “When Science is a Siren Song” the outlook the people have on different scientific findings, even if those findings are found to be wrong. University research has been found to be more lofty, considering the fact the researchers from universities are always competing for recognition and all the rewards that come along with success. Luckily, despite selfishness in the field, science is usually self -correcting and the ideas that were said to be right and usually found out later to be wrong. Good research does truly come forward while incorrect hypothesis are shot down by correct evidence. Shaywitz believes that Obama needs to “not reach for the other extreme and embrace politically attractive but preliminary reports because they happen to be wrapped in garlands of knowledge.” It up to all of us to know what findings are true or false.


When one hears about findings from places like John Hopkins University or UCLA, they really seem to be true. Shaywitz definitely brings forward the inner motives of these researchers, but I don’t believe all researchers are this way. Everyone wants success in life, but a lot people want to help others as well. Still, just because research pleases us, doesn’t mean it’s actually true. People truly need to research for themselves to find fallacies, and sometimes not leave everything to science. Even though the Bush administration by have disregarded the best research, that doesn’t mean Obama has to.

Blog Post-Current Event

President Obama faces many obstacles right now including the opinions of the public. Dionne wonders when the nation will begin to blame him for a sick economy and when he will finally deal with this mess. If the economic situation gets worse, more moderate voters will blame Obama for not being able to fix it. When compared to other presidents, no other one besides FDR has faced such a difficult situation. Many criticisms made toward Obama have been not well thought out. Wall Street conservatives argue that the fall of the stock market is due to the fact that Obama wants to institute tax increases on the wealthy in 2011, even though these people have always supported low taxes. Dionne also states that Obama needs to copy FDR by using the “fireside chat” technique to let Americans know the truth of what exactly is going on. Obama also needs to mobilize other countries, so that we can all work together through this mess.

I do believe that people will soon be blaming President Obama for his decisions, but not for a long time. No president is ever approved by everyone, and Obama has some tough choices on his hands. Because his campaign speeches were so appealing, people may give him more time to make the right decisions. Even though presidents like Wilson and Lincoln have dealt with war, President Obama is dealing with war, a bad economy, environmental issues, and other issues that are apart of a never ending list of problems. He definitely has his work cut out for him. Our nation truly does need to work with other nations. Maybe past actions have brought us apart, but the economy may be what brings us together.

Current Event 3

In the final days of the Bush administration, the Interior Department passed a measure to allow visitors to national parks to carry concealed weapons. According to the author, this policy is not a good idea. The policy went into effect on January 9th, though many organizations including the National Parks Conservation Association have asked a federal judge from Washington D.C. to wait on the rule. By doing so, they hope to have the measure reconsidered, especially considering the fact that although federal law requires it, the administration did not perform an environmental assessment. Next month, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia will hear the case. If her ruling is that proper procedures were not taken, the rule will be thrown out. The author also believes that she should create a formal reevaluation of the concealed-weapons policy.

I agree with the author that this rule is not necessary, and is rather a bad idea that can bring more harm than good. With all the chaos going on in the world now, the parks are some of the most safest places to be. The Bush administration was much too hasty in ruling on this decision, especially with not following federal regulations. The author also wrote about how the Reagan-era regulations on concealed weapons in national parks should be come back into effect, and this new rule should just be thrown out.