"A million people can't be wrong".. or can they?

I've followed the news about the strict immigration laws in Arizona, ever since the first one passed. It was a shocking realization that we really haven't come all that far along since segregation. It's unbelievable, and yet not, that such a law could be passed. When I read the LA Times opinion article about this latest development, it only further cemented my views that America (Arizona leading the way) may possibly be going straight to hell in a hand-basket. Hopefully we're not considered illegal aliens when we get there. Though I did enjoy the informative article, I had hoped that I was going to read an article a bit more opinionated. The author does acknowledge that this win will come at a loss to American citizen's and our nation. In stating so, the author presents their view that they do not agree with the stringent law or with Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn's decision to find that no parts of the law were in conflict with federal immigration laws. Effective immediately, officials will be required to detain anyone they believe to be of illegal status and schools will be required to report students they know or believe to be illegal. Though the author does use passionate words, referring to the law as "cruel and unusual", I would have like to have seen more conviction in the article. I perfectly agree with the author's stance and appreciate the use of accurate facts that aren't muddled by biased opinion, I don't feel they quite encompassed all that the situation involves. I've was raised and born in Texas and having traveled to many of the states in this nation, I can say that I've seen an overall acceptance of my ethnicity. Or at least, people are nice to my face if nothing else. I can't imagine what it must be like to be in Arizona and have racial assumptions made on my appearance and having to endure the embarrassment of such a scandal. Reading the article at least gave me hope that not everyone out there shares these views, in fact most don't, and I'm thankful that people are still decent enough to speak up for others and argue what is unconstitutional.

Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!

Okay, let me first start off by saying that I don't think teachers and students being friends on Facebook should be an offense punishable by jail time. I do, however, have to wonder if some type of restriction, regulation or rule of some sort needs to be set in place. The article I read was written by the AP and published on NPR.org. It is in regards to Missouri Law makers rejecting a law that would restrict teachers and students communicating on internet sites such as Facebook. I do understand that this is a society of rapidly advancing technology. There is no doubt in my mind that there are going to be many instances, like this one, that will arise as our society continues to try and keep up the pace. Though I'm surprised this law was automatically rejected without some type of down-scaled suggestion. I remember being in elementary school and having the most foreign feeling when I'd see a teacher outside of school. I wasn't able to comprehend the idea of them having any other life than that of a teacher. I mean, didn't all the teachers live together at the school? Of course, I know better now. I can't help but think though, that the illusion created some type of mystery about the teacher that was to be "respected" or at least acknowledged. I feel like most people who have Facebook accounts freely express themselves. Sometimes too much! I can only imagine what it'd be like to be in school and see pictures of your female teacher boozing it up at the local bar breaking 14 out of your school's 15 dress code violations. Or your male teacher with this friends at spring break surrounded by bikini bearing bar bunnies. Do all teachers do this? No. But I feel as though it's highly probable that a grown, educated adult befriending their student on a social networking site, is likely to be a person whose actions reflect little thought and consideration. Should something like this have strict rules and consequences if those rules are broken? I'm not exactly sure. I do think that properly educating the teachers on this matter, as well as the students, could help in the discovery to what solution would be best. Not much surprises me, but even I was a little flabbergasted that the situation has gotten so apparent it merits an actual law be set in place. Why are teachers friends with students?! They're the educators, THEY should know better. I'm not saying it will be easy but many universities and colleges, including ACC, has set in place mandatory communication rules restricting professors to replying to students via emails from accounts other than the designated school account. I understand that in 5-10 years, every child in high school will have grown up completely engulfed in technology but it's still up to the people entrusted to educate these children, to know the differences between proper methods of communication and those such as Facebook and Myspace. These changes in society question situations we've never had to consider before. It's going to be a process of trial and error but hopefully we're not so diluted with a love for technology that we don't foresee the problems it can cause.