Don't Wait Till It's Too Late

After the shooting that occured at our neighbor UT campus Tuesday morning, the entire city of Austin was shocked by the experience it had just encountered and were eager to speak out and express their thoughts on the events. One person in particular who elaborated on their views of the situation was Thomas G. Palaima, a professor at the University of Texas who had personally experienced the tragedy. In his article posted in the Austin American Statesman, Professor Palaima expressed his feelings toward our government and it's very lenient gun laws which allowed such events as this, to happen. Palaima reached out to multiple groups with his article. He reached out to the parents who were concerned about their children's lives, to reassure them there are things that can be done to prevent tragedies such as one like this from happening again. Palaima also reached out to the students who could not believe this had actually happened on their beloved campus, to teach them ways to know how to prevent. It was also a message to the community who watched with wide eyes in anticipation the outcome of this tragedy, but most importantly, Palaima's article reached out to our national government to remind them of how certain laws that benefit others, can turn to a catastrophe in no time. For it to be as easy as it was for someone to buy such a dangerous weapon is leading into nothing but contreversy. If it was done before, and it is continuing to happen, with no change in the laws, indeed, it will happen again. I have no other views but to agree with Professor Palaima on the criticism of our gun laws as of today. We have to start the change that will gravitate towards our national government. If we continue to let it be so easy to obtain a weapon such as the student did on that Tuesday morning, our world is nothing but corrupt. The United States has to make that change to protect our citizens, and in this case, our future.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

         On Friday, September 10, 2010 CNN informed the world on an incredible improvement to our history. That Thursday, September 9th, a federal court in Riverside, California ruled the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy-which limits gay men and lesbians from serving openly, unconstitutional. "It was demonstrated that the dont ask, don't tell act violates the fifth and first amenments,"- Virginia Phillips.
        The act discriminates based on the content of the speech being regulated and distinguishes between speech regarding sexual orientation and inevitably, family relation and daily activities. Gay and lesbian troops and veterans have hailed the announcment of the Pentagon and White House signaling their intention to end the don't ask, don't tell policy, with congressional approval. This is a prodigious step in United States history and should be recognized by others so that they as well can view through their own views and thoughts the changes in our history that are occuring. This includes the sight of segregation and discrimination fading more into the forgotton than it already has. these are the moments that were considered the future, the days that people thought would never come.