Mock Trial Recap and Response

The first trial that we did as a class involved a young girl who accused her boyfriend of raping her. I think that the result of this trial was very accurate and it was the correct outcome. Even though I argued that he did not rape her, I do not think that the opposing side could have possibly believed that she was actually raped. Since our argument was much stronger we ultimately won the case. I think that the most important fact to consider in this case was the fact that there was no definite sign of a struggle. The fact that her shirt ripped was not conclusive enough to show that there was in fact a struggle. There were no bruises on the victim. I think that this was the most important fact because without a struggle there is no proof that he did any harm to her. It made it seem like she was falsely accusing him of something when she knew he did not do it. In order for the jury to reach an opposite outcome, the opposing side would have had to present stronger arguments that proved he actually raped her and caused her harm.

The second trial involved a young woman who accused her employee of sexually harassing her. I think that the result of this trial was correct even though there were clear examples of sexual harassment. The most compelling facts in this case were the examples of when he sexually harassed her and the jokes that he made. I personally believe that the jokes were not meant to harm her and were simply said to provoke laughter. The jokes were in poor taste but Murphy was a comedian and an established lawyer. I did not think that his actions were bad enough to cause him to be found guilty of sexual harassment and ruin his reputation as a lawyer. I think that this woman was very sensitive and overreacted to his attempts to be friendly. I think that in order to reach an opposite outcome the opposing side should have provided stronger arguments to show how Murphy’s comments directly affected her work performance.

 I think that the issues of rape and sexual harassment are very significant problems in the United States but are not problems here at DHS. There are no students who sexually harass and rape each other because people know that it is wrong and that they can get in a lot of trouble for it. Since people who attend DHS are taught to act properly and follow the law, the culture creates an atmosphere at DHS where people are able to feel safe. I think that these are topics that students at DHS should be informed about but I do not think they are problems here at DHS.

What’s Going on in the World?

After browsing through many stories on the New York Times, I noticed that it was very informative and it had a lot of interesting topics. I liked that at the top of the website there were many different subjects to chose from such as Business, Technology, and Sports. These were the main subjects that I chose to look through and I read some interesting articles. Under the business category I read an article that discussed how YouTube wanted to buy Next New networks. The purchase of Next New Networks, which produces original programming and helps video creators distribute their films and make money, would be YouTube’s biggest attempt into creating its own programming. By doing this they will only have professionally created videos and will make money off of them. There will be more advertising and revenue generated by this purchase. Under the Technology Section, I read an article about how people who have iPhone’s spend more time using apps than talking to people or browsing the Internet. This means that people are spending more time on their phones playing games and using applications than using a phone for a phone. Phones are becoming new sources of entertainment and a new way to play games. I thought that this was interesting because this article made me realize how much time people spend on their phones. Under sports I read an article about the Miami Heat. This article discussed the trio of Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne wade and whether or not it was a good idea. The author states “Is there something in James’s makeup — or more likely, his skill set — that in end-game situations reduces him to less than the sum of his wondrously athletic parts”? I thought this author was very interesting and I read more articles that he wrote. Overall I think that the New York Times is a great website and source of information.

State of the Union

After watching the State of the Union speech made by President Obama, I thought it was very interesting how the two parties were not separated. I think that this made the speech and the overall presentation much better because it allowed the focus to be more on the issues rather than what the party believed. It caused people to be individuals rather than following a group. I liked how President Obama urged Congress members, no matter their party, to seek a common ground so they could meet challenges facing the United States. President Obama argued that by supporting innovation, the government would actually help create jobs, and would help to decrease the American unemployment rate by nearly ten percent. With new technology, it allows for new industries to develop and for new jobs to be created. I also found it very interesting how President Obama stressed the importance of parenting. His main focus was the future, and the kids are the future of the country. The president pointed out, though, that Congress can only do so much about the kids, and he urged parents to continue stressing the importance of education. "That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities.  It’s family that first instills the love of learning in a child," he said. "Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done”. Overall, I think that the President made a good speech and it did not need to be critiqued. 

Bikeman: Closure

            I truly enjoyed reading Bikeman, which has opened my eyes to a new perspective of the September 11^th attacks. At first, I was skeptical about reading another detailed explanation about the World Trade Center disaster, but I am thankful that I chose to read this book. The art of storytelling is something that is very difficult to do well, but the author, Tom Flynn, uses poetry to his advantage. Although, I have never read a story in the form of a poem, I think that it was very effective and allowed me to feel what he was feeling at the time of the attack. Tom Flynn tells an amazing story and ventures into a new lane of storytelling through poetry. I think that the issue of September 11^th is one that will never cease to exist and will forever remain a topic for debate and discussion. The information available on the topic of September 11^th is so vast and my thoughts about Bikeman are so detailed, that I do not have enough space on this blog, so due to this realization I will end on that note. 

Bikeman: #5

Tom Flynn’s journey slowly ends as the second tower is crumbling down. Before this moment, Tom Flynn feels as though it cannot get any worse, but to his amazement, more lives are taken. He explains, “The pain will come later for all who are here. The pain will come later for all” (68). His surroundings do not feel real and as time progresses, more events occur that create a feeling of shock. Mr. Flynn is unable to fully experience the emotions that he should be feeling because he is shocked at what has happened. Most people who were informed about the terrorist attacks were extremely shocked, but as time elapsed people began to realize the enormity of what had occurred and the pain set in. The feelings that Americans shared forced us to become united as a nation and become stronger than ever. This tragedy allowed conversation for some and a chance to help for others. Tom noticed that “we are one now, we must look out for each other, care for each other. We are one now, fellow citizens in a city crushed by anguish and agony. We are one now” (73). The attacks caused the United States to unite with the common interest of helping others and seeking revenge against the terrorists.  Many people in America were supportive of the war because people felt as though we needed to fight the terrorists back in order for everything to be okay. This overall feeling of revenge may not be the best option because it can cause more harm than good. The war in Iraq has proven this because we have lost innocent lives and we have lost an endless amount of money funding the war. Many conspirators believe that the United States Government orchestrated the September 11th attacks in order to have a reason to go to war. This clearly gave the United States a reason to go to war and definitely caused more American citizens to support the idea of war. The general public will never know the underlying intentions of the United States government. The impact that the attacks have on people will not change and the effects on Tom Flynn will be eternal. 

Bikeman: #4

As Tom Flynn continues his ride, he is faced with the aftermath of the towers falling and the struggles of human survival. Along with many other people, he feels as though his previous life is over and that a new chapter lies ahead of him. At times he believes he is going to die, and at others, he wonders how this experience will affect him in the future. He explains, “What will I feel? Who will I be, when I regain my life? Or will the great doors of life having closed once, not a slow creaking closing but the sudden slam shutting ever reopen” (56)? This feeling of not knowing what lies ahead is something that he feels throughout the story and is something that he is very afraid of. He does not understand what his future will be and he does not know how he will feel. He is unable to understand that he is a witness to the biggest terrorist attack in United States history.  At that time, he is unable to realize the effects that this incident will have on himself and on the country as a whole. The September 11^th attacks caused a nation who felt secure to suddenly feel as though anywhere they walked, they could potentially be in danger. The fear that this attack caused on the people of America overpowered their ability to think and operate normally. Through this book, I am able to understand the feelings that someone had while experiencing the incident with their own eyes. I can only imagine the effect that the attack had on a person because just by hearing about it through other sources I find myself greatly affected by the tragedy. As Tom attempts to escape death, he senses death in the air and everywhere he goes. He explains walking through the streets like being “on a blanket of death in mortal silence” (66). 

Bikeman: #3

The story continues, as the first tower collapses. Tom Flynn explains, “I am momentarily struck deaf. I do not hear the awful final roar of the tower in death. My mind blocks out the last sounds of the powerful collapse, the ripping, renting, relentless break up raining down. But with all the growling and gnashing of its dentilations, I do not recall the cruel noise. I am deaf, as deaf as I was, to those voices crying vainly for help” (38). The author uses the literary device, imagery, as a tool to create a scene for the reader and as a method to portray the images of the attacks through words. Not only does this story create an image or picture for the reader, but also creates a feeling in the minds of the reader.  This book has impacted my understanding of the attacks much more than actual pictures or videos. This form of journalism provides a picture for the reader along with words that explain the feelings that surrounded people in New York City. I found it to be very interesting how he compared the sound of the tower crashing to the screams and cries for help. As deaf as he was to the towers crashing, he was just as deaf to the pleas for help. He could hear the cries for help but he could not do anything about it. That feeling alone is something that an outside viewer cannot understand but can only be told. He watched the lives of so many vanish within moments and as a witness could not do anything about it. As he was running from the dark cloud of debris that was coming his way he explains, “an ambulance man runs with me. He is there to assist the hurt, the wounded, but finds none. They are not hurt this September morning. They die or they live. The ambulance man has no job to do” (40). Even people, whose job it was to help, could not do anything about it because there was nothing that anyone could do to help these people. The mere fact that these people were helpless affected Tom Flynn and others very strongly. The idea of help for others was no longer an idea because people were forced to be focused on helping themselves and protecting their own lives. He describes the black cloud approaching him as “thousands of horses and millions of soldiers are stampeding across a desert, threatening clouds rise at their hooves and heels, pushing the frightened air ahead” (42). This image is stuck in my head as I continue to read the story.