Bronwen Vogel

National:
Christopher Scott Emmett is one of many criminals who are filing appeals to the death sentence on basis of constitutionality. In 2001 Emmett beat his s co-worker to death for drug money and then stole the man's car. Now courts delayed the death of Emmett (who was scheduled to die Wednesday at 9pm) to review if it is cruel and unusual. Many more appeals are expected to be filed, especially if Emmett escapes death. Thus far in 2007 only 42 people have been executed, and it could be the year with the least executions since 1996 when only 45 people were punished with death.

Beating someone to death like Emmett did is not very constitutional either. I've had my teeth pulled and was put under anesthesia and couldn't feel a thing, so it wouldn't be hard to make death painless either. The death penalty is justice and the most corrupt countries in the world today are the countries that don't have it. This reminds me of a verse in Proverbs: "evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.... A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him." I agree with the death penalty and believe it should be carried out when the courts have convicted a person of murder.

International:
Children playing in an Australian water park opened a suitcase they found floating in a pond and discovered a dead body of a child. Police have not been able to identify the body because it was in the water so long, but they believe it is a boy between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. A forensic examination of the body is going to start Thursday The spot is a common place for picnics, walking, and cycling.

Well, I bet this develops an unhealthy fear of suitcases or water parks. But I do not understand how it could go unnoticed for a long period of time in a public place. Especially considering the fact that it would have had to have been a fairly large suit case. It's amazing what kid's curiosity will find for them.

National:
In the democratic party Hilary Clinton has a 57 percent to 33 percent lead over Oboma. Her popularity among African Americans has recently increases- at least among African American women. Black women don't just vote their black identity, they also vote their identity as women." Bill Schneider says. Among white democrats Clinton is not the majority choice. "The 'sistah' vote is paying off handsomely for Hillary Clinton, It's not only getting her the women's vote. It's also getting her the black vote." democratic political strategist Donna Brazile said.

People should not vote for a candidate because they identify with the person based on race or gender. Vote for a person based on what he or she stands for and is capable and likely of doing! The reason I am not going to vote for Clinton or Oboma (whichever wins the democratic nomination) is not because of sex or ethnicity- it's because I believe they are incompetent and their moral standards are skewed and ever changing. I would also like to say that Oboma is half white.

International:
The debt in Africa is estimated to be about $18 billion a year. That money is enough to could cover the cost of solving the HIV and AIDS crisis in Africa, or provide education, water and prevention and treatment for tuberculosis and malaria. Compared to peaceful nations, Africa has "50 percent more infant deaths, 15 percent more undernourished people, life expectancy reduced by five years, 20 percent more adult illiteracy, 2.5 times fewer doctors per patient and 12.4 percent less food per person," according to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The countries around Africa are suffering as well from floods of refugees. Because it is in a state of anarchy, no statistics are available for Somalia and it was not included in the report. About 95% of the arms used in African warfare come from outside the continent.

I didn't know Africa had $18 billion dollars to loose. It seems like Africans should already have destroyed themselves- how are they even still existing? I don't believe the war in Africa will ever stop, but they can be stopped from being funded- right? I would still make an effort to help innocent victims, like our chapel speaker from several weeks ago talked about, but I do not think the war will ever stop. Africa has been a place of dissention all throughout history and very likely always will be. When children are raised in a torn, fighting, and diseased country they will not know how to make it anything better.