Hero: Kony 2012

 

 

I am 100% heroing the efforts of the Kony 2012 administration and foundation. This is not about Uganda and the government of Uganda; this is something much larger. Kony and his troops are abducting young children in the middle of the night, forcing them to join his army. Upon induction, the children are forced to kill their parents; the boys are then further trained to kill while the young girls are made into sex slaves. For more than a decade, Jason Russel has been making countless trips from America to Africa, speaking to the natives and learning their stories about how they have been affected by Joseph Kony. Russel has tried numerous times over the past decade to get goverment involvement to try and stop Kony, but the governement could not be convinced that it was enough of a worthy case to pursue. Currently, Joseph Kony is the #1 most wanted criminal in the entire world. Russel believes that the only way that Americans could see the importance of Kony was by spreading awareness via posters, videos, websites, etc. Clearly, it has gotten the attention of all Americans, and the US government. Recently, 100 troops were sent to Uganda to work with the Ugandan army to rebuild schools and health centers, along with trying to find Joseph Kony. I am a Kony activist, and I believe that the only way he can be caught is if this much attention is brought to him. In America, there are so many distractions that many people don't pay attention to world news, but this is news that needs to be heard and acted on. I also want to clarify: yes, all profits do not go straight to Africa. Some is going to salaries for the people running the foundation; it is their career, and they are working tirelessly around the clock to make sure Kony is stopped.   

Here is the legitimate Kony 2012 Website with the legitimate video.

http://www.kony2012.com/

 

 

HERO: Rush Limbaugh (ya right)....His sponsors

I'm heroing Limbaugh's sponsors for pulling their ads from his radio show. They are doing so in backlash to Limbaughs comments about a Georgetown student Sandra Fluke. She was testifying before Congress about including contraception in the healthcare plan. Rush Limbaugh said we were paying for her to have sex and that made her a "slut". He also said we should get something since were paying so he said that we should at least get something let's see the "video". This is disgraceful for someone of his stature to say that and his sponsors are making him pay the price. He has lost over 100 sponsors and more may follow. I think its great they are sending him a message that he can't say whatever he wants and get away with it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/rush-limbaugh-losing-more-advertisers/2012/03/12/gIQAUNRm7R_blog.html

Michael Fiore

 

 

HACK: Newt Ginrich

J.M. Conway

I'm hacking GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich for letting "Bad Newt" come out in full force this week. He is returning to the "big ideas" that were an early part of his campaign and for which he received a great deal of criticism. Gingrich is reviving talks of his plans for a moon colony and ideas for brain science and research, things that have cost him support and made him the subject of a lot of ridicule. But what's worse is that he thinks it's smart to go back to making these things the focus of his campaign, and he's mouthing off while he's at it. He has said that America needs a "visionary conservative" with "big and bold ideas," but has said that these ideas failed before only because the media cannot portray it properly and that the other GOP candidates simply cannot understand them. He's hurting himself, his campaign, and the Republican party by retaining his smug arrogance and not stepping out of the race when it will be virtually impossible for him to take the nomination from either Romney or Santorum. Then again, as a Democrat and someone who greatly enjoys some political humor, I wouldn't mind if Gingrich stuck around.

 

HACK: Kony 2012

     I am--to the disgust of some fellow classmates--hacking Kony 2012. I was discussing this phenomena with a friend in my Psychology class on Monday and decided this is the perfect hack. I do not want to seem cold hearted or apathetic. I just believe that this Kony 2012 foundation is not a legitimate foundation. There is no background for the information, which the man is providing. How can we trust a youtube video? I understand Africa has gone through a lot and the rise of Kony is not a surprise with Africa's history. However, I do not trust the youtube video. I feel it was just a publicity stunt for the director. A majority of the people supporting Kony 2012 probably do not even know where Uganda was until this video was made. Another facet of the Kony 2012 foundation, which I found to be hack worthy was the majority of the money raised goes to the African government. The corrupt African government distributes it how ever it wants. The Kony foundation is like Bono--a waste of money. We are not helping the Africans by giving money to their government. In fact we are just hurting them, which really frustrates about this Kony 2012 foundation and its followers. In all reality, the Ugandan people were disappointed in the youtube video. They found the video disheartening because the video featured a white man with his son and events, which happened years ago. The events in the video are not even recent, which adds to my dislike and frustration with Kony 2012. If Americans want to be political activists then look at those around you. There are people in American who could use your help. This whole Kony 2012 foundation is just Rudyard Kipling's the White Man Burden all over again. I should stop ranting now...sorry. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/kony-2012-disappoints-ugandan-audience-public-screening-lira-article-1.1039291Maddie Clifford  Maddie Clifford 

 

Jason Amado

HACK

My hack of this week is former Alabama Supreme Court Justice, Roy Moore. I decided to make him my hack when I read that he might gain back his old seat as a Supreme Court Justice. This bothers me because he is the man who put the 2.6 ton statue of the 10 Commandments in front of the Court House. Why he thought that would be a good idea is something the world may never know. The 10 Commandments are a very clearly religious symbol. To uphold the tradition of the separation of church and state, no federal building should have any type of religious symbol. Sure our basic morals are essentially based on them, but that does not give him the right to flaunt his religious beliefs in the form of a huge statue. He has no right. There are people in this country who dont believe the same things he does so they should not be subject to such a clear symbol of religion. I just thought that he shouldn't be reelected as well because if he thought that was a good idea then he can't be too smart.

 

HACK KONY 2012

 

 

MY HACK is Kony 2012 and everyone who joined/donated to the cause when they didn't do any research about it.

After the video was leaked everyone thought they were political activsts by reblogging this video. The organization is somewhat of a hoax though. The money is going to be used to fight violence with violence. Yes, I think that the video was good SIMPLY TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE but otherwise I think it was a scam and I think that people should further research such a thing before they go preaching about something they dont really know about.

-EMILY GUMPPER

 

HACK: Senator Orrin Hatch

For this week, I’d like to hack Republican Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah. I’m hacking Hatch for being a hypocrite. I believe that it is important for one to practice what they preach. Hatch claims to be “one of the greatest conservatives in the history of this country.” Yet, when it comes to sticking to his word, Hatch’s actions don’t seem to match up with these claims. Okay, so he says he’s conservative Republican, but goes and votes for “increases in the national debt,” “Wall Street bailouts” and “supports an individual health care mandate.” Conservatives are finding it harder and harder to relate to Hatch. The article’s author, Matt Kibbe, sums the story up by saying that “Hatch has lost touch with the conservative values he claims to champion.” And so he has.

 http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74062.html

~ Chelsea Ann Rovnan

 

 

 

 

 

My hack for the week is Wells Fargo bank (WFC) for paying their CEO, John Stumpf, about 18 million dollars, more than twice than that of Bank of America’s CEO, and high among others. Stumpf was in charge as CEO in 2009 when Wells Fargo took the government bailout of 25 million tax dollars. Also, the popular at first, yet later rescinded idea of a debit card charge also repealed by the bank proves to be another stab at the average customer. I just don’t think that a person in such high power that has caused so many problems in the past few years has the right to earn sums of money that many will never see in a lifetime, let alone one year.

-Mary Radziszewski Source: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/03/15/wells-fargo-18-million-john-stump/?iid=HP_LN)

 

 

Hero and Hack: Hillary Rodham Clinton

My hero for the week is Hillary Clinton. In her term as Secretary of State, Clinton has represented the Obama administration well and this week has been no exception. On the Ides of March, a day that is infamous for its betrayal of mankind, Clinton stood up for the rights of people, particularly in regards to human trafficking. Clinton stated that in light of the upcoming 150^th anniversary of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, it is only right that America stands up for the protection of civilians from this crime. I think it’s noble that a woman who lives in a country of opportunity and protection stands up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.

~Marygrace Urmson  

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Clinton-Reaffirms-US-Commitment-to-Fighting-Human-Trafficking-----142812905.html

 

Hero: Justice De[artment of Texas

     I am hacking the Justice Department of Texas because they put a hold on a reccently passed a bill that requires all residents to provide a photo ID before voting. This bill would prohibit many citizens from voting, particularly blacks, Hispanics, and the poor, because statistics show that they many do not have a photo ID. The Justice Department realized that this bill was giving unfair treatment and being prejudice against those who may not be able to get a photo ID because of a lack of birth certificate or inability to drive, etc. Even though this would give the Republicans and edge, I do not think it is fair for the government to limit who is able to vote based on something that not everyone has access too. I admire that the Justice Department for taking a stand against a law which they saw as being unfair.

Christie McLaughlin 

 

 

Hack: Rick Santorum

I am hacking Rick Santorum this week for saying that English needs to be the primary language in Puerto Rico.  Considering that English is not even the official language of the United States, it's a little ridiculous to ask them to do that even though Puerto Rico does consider both English and Spanish their languages.  The territory's delegate to Congress, Democrat Pedro Pierluisi, said that, "Santorum's view is narrow and a limiting view of what America is all about." Santorum is loosing supporters over this.  I am hacking him for his ignorance because it is not Puerto Ricans that should necessarily learn English but Americans that should learn Spanish.

-Alexandria McNamara

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/15/santorum-stands-by-english-condition-for-puerto-rico-statehood/

 

HACK: Gail Spurlock

 

Gail Spurlock is a political candidate who is running for the State Education Board in a North Texas district.  In a recent questionnaire, she was asked questions concerning children with special educational needs, such as autism, in the classroom.  Her exact remark was, “Our schools should not be used as therapy centers. If special education students can participate without disrupting the rest of the class, or without excessive expense, they should be in regular classrooms. But if the disabilities cause disruption or excessive expense they should be educated separately.”  This is just plain ignorant.  Many parents feel deeply offended by this remark and it is understandable as to why.  Just because a child is autistic doesn't mean they shouldn't get the same education and treatment as any other student.  It's often been shown in studies that autistic children being in the same classroom as other children their age is actually beneficial to them.  It helps them learn by viewing the people around them.  It could also teach the other students who are not autistic to be more understanding and compassionate to people who are different than them.  Her comment was completely offbase and unnecessary.

    - Michelle Deacon

 http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/03/14/state-ed-board-candidate-special-needs-students-should-be-educated-separately/?hpt=po_bn6

 

 

Jessica Phares 

     This week I am hacking the Stop Kony movement. From what I have researched over the past week, almost everything that was in the Kony video, which was one of the fastest spreading videos in history, was misleading and only borderline true. Kony has been out of Uganda for several years now, unlike what the video said, and the people who are part of his army aren’t as naïve as they were made out to be. The video definitely pushed the struggle of the White Man’s Burden, and our destined need to save the world. Another reason why I dislike the movement is because the organization that produced the film, Invisible Children, defends the Ugandan military forces, which are just as brutal as Kony himself. Also, only a very small percentage of money actually goes to the people who need the help, which is only about 30% of donations, while the rest go towards film makers, foreign soldiers, and head figures from the Invisible Children organization. Lastly, I just recently read the term “slactivism” and it was appropriately pinned on the movement itself. As seen in the article I found, though it was one of the fastest spreading videos, the amount of people quickly dropped after that two day period. In today’s society, there’s a belief that if you click a button to share a video or like a group, you are saving people. Everyone wants to be a supporter, but no one wants to be an activist. Contrast to two weeks ago, not many people are talking about the video any more. It seems as though it’s an out of site out of mind issue. Either this, or people are beginning to do their research of the Invisible Children and just don’t think it’s as an amazing organization as they did before.  

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46750486/ns/local_news-los_angeles_ca/t/criticism-anti-kony-video-swells/#.T2J4FhE7WAg

 

Hero: Mitt Romney

This week i chose to hero Mitt Romney for not being as narrow minded as his opponent Rick Santorum, who believes that English should be the principle language of Puerto Rico. Romney's spokeswoman said "Governor Romney believes that English is the language of opportunity and supports efforts to expand English proficiency in Puerto Rico and across America," Romney does not believe that having English as the national language is a prerequisite for statehood. Puerto Rico has both English and Spanish as the principle language of their territory. I think it is very smart of Romney to respect the culture of the people of Puerto Rico.

Taylor Howard

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/15/romney-stakes-opposition-to-santorum-over-language-issue/

 

HERO: Senator Blumenthal and Representative Jones

This week I chose to HERO Congress, especially Senator Blumenthal and Representative Jones who are pushing legislation to ensure that military working dogs are provided with good care and a safe living environment after they retire. This bill will classify these hardworking dogs as “canine members of the armed services” instead of just referring to them as “equipment.” It also would provide medical assistance which would allow soldiers to keep their friendly working dogs safe and healthy even after they come home. Under the current bill, many of these dogs are left to fend for themselves overseas after the troops leave. However with the newly proposed bill, many dogs would be able to come home and would be able to be placed in an adoption program. These dogs save many soldiers’ lives at the risk of their own and should be rewarded for doing their job so well. I believe that this is a great bill that would protect the overall well-being of these brave and courageous military dogs.

--Hayley Hanuscin

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74033.html 

 

HACK: Newt Gingrich

 

This week I am hacking Newt Gingrich for not backing out of the race. It's pretty obvious Newt isn't going to win the nomination and with him choosing to stay in the race, he is hurting the Republican party. Most conservatives, like myself, want Newt to back out of the race so Rick Santorum can more easily gain ground on the Liberal Mitt Romney. Most Republicans will agree that Gingrich backing out will boost Santorum and hopefully allow him to catch up to Romney and put a true conservative into office. With Newt opting not to back out I believe he is hurting not only his own reputation, but also the true conservatives out there who believe Romney is too liberal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/will-newt-gingrich-drop-out/2012/03/14/gIQA5MYtBS_blog.html 

- DAN NUCERO

 

HACK: New York State Legislature

 

New York needed a plan to lower their budget which follows a decision that was made by the New York State Legislature on Thursday morning to limit future public employees’ pensions.  Due to our already low economy, workers in New York are receiving less than $10,000 liquid assets.  How are people suppose to support themselves after retirement when the average budget could barely cover the cost of the bare living essentials? I think it’s ridiculous that they would even consider cutting back on something that is so vital. 

-Diana

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/opinion/pension-funds-for-the-public.html

 

Hack: Rick Santorum

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/15/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

     I am hacking Rick Santorum for his comment about how Puerto Rico needs to declared English it's official language to become a state. It's outrageous that Santorum would ask Puerto Rico to do this when English isn't even the official language of the United States. Also Puerto Rico actually recognizes both English and Spanish as their languages. The commonwealth's delegate on Capitol Hill, Pedro Pierluisi, called “Santorum's view narrow and a limiting view of what America is all about.” Santorum is going to lose supporters, because his running mate, Mitt Romney, stated “that they should not have to declared English as their official language, as a prerequisite for statehood. But he believes, “that English is the language of opportunity and supports efforts to expand English proficiency in Puerto Rico and America.”

-Anthony Nicolo

 

Hero: Rick Santorum

(^ yes that says hero)

 

 

I'm heroing Rick Santorum for winning the states of Alabama and Mississipi in the recent primary elections. Its good to see a familliar face from a few years ago making progress toward the White House. He just needs to keep working at it, getting more funds and better organization, and hopefully, he'll win the nomination. That way, once he goes up against Obama, Obama can win in a landslide. =D

 

Also

 

Hero: Ron Paul

 

 

 

for sticking in there.

 

~Charles Unruh

p.s. All about sarcasm this week, because Kony 2012 seems to be the winner of the hack, but in all seriousness, I'm rooting for an Obama easy victory.

p.p.s.:

RON PAUL 2012! REVOLUTION!

 

HERO: Sponsors Who Left Rush Limbaugh

 

 

As a woman, I found Rush Limbaugh's attitude toward Georgetown college student Sandra Fluke personally insulting.  He called her a "slut" for advocating a health care program that includes birth control before Congress and even commented that they should at least get to see a "video" of her putting it into use.  Although I do not necessairily agree with Fluke's stance, nobody should be treated in that disrespectful way.  Rush Limbaugh has, to date, over one-hundred lost sponsors for his radio show, something that is well deserved.  That money can go to other news programs that respect people.  Some, including Bill Maher, believe it is "intimidation" that his sponsors are pulling out, but I believe it is just that they do not want their names attached to what Rush Limbaugh said and obviously believes; they want their products represented by someone who respects others and gives them a good image.

-Deirdre O'Leary

 

 http://news.yahoo.com/rush-limbaugh-loses-another-sponsor-over-sandra-fluke-010121747.html