This Guest Post Essay

1. The nation is at war, and your number in the recently reinstated military draft has just come up. The problem is that, after serious reflection, you have concluded that the war is unjust. What advice might Socrates give you? Would you agree? What might you decide to do? Read the Introduction, Chapter 2 Crito and the Conclusion Chapter 40 Phaedo by Plato.

“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” -Kofi Annan. As citizens of the United States of America, we have all witnessed the vast diversity of our nation. From sea to shining sea, there are magnitudes of different people, from different backgrounds, spanning across the United States. Our community here is no exception. In the city of Garden Grove, there are residents who are Vietnamese, Mexican, Caucasian, African American, and more. Yet, despite being different from one another, we manage to coexist peacefully, and maintain a healthy community, cooperating and helping each other in times of need. We all find a common ground, and we stand and defend it. Based off of

Matt Lamkin’s “A Ban On Brain-Boosting Drugs is Not the Answer” first appeared in Chronicle of Higher Education in 2011. In this essay Lamkin aims to convince his reader not to deter improper conduct with threats, but to encourage students to engage in the practice of education. Lamkin tells us “If colleges believe that enhancing cognition with drugs deprives students of the true value of education, they must encourage students to adapt that value as their own” (642). Appeal to logic, consistency, and compare/contrast are techniques Lamkin skillfully uses to create a strong effective essay.

Dissolved oxygen is oxygen that is trapped in a fluid, such as water. Since many living organism requires oxygen to survive, it is a necessary component of water systems such as streams, lakes and rivers in order to support aquatic life. The dissolved oxygen is measured in units of parts per million (ppm). Examine the data in Table 4 showing the amount of dissolved oxygen present and the number of fish observed in the body of water the sample was taken from; finally, answer the questions below.

For the past couple years, it seems as if the spotlight on American politics has only gotten brighter. This makes sense - as I've grown and matured I pay more attention to the occurrences around me. Activism has only increased as a higher percentage of population finds their voice and support from more and more allies.

Writing has many tools and devices that can be used to influence the purpose and meaning of the a piece of work. In the two pieces of work, "Private License Plate Scanners Amassing Vast Databases Open to Highest Bidders-which is written in a way that it is anti-license plate tracking- and "Who Has the Right to Track You?'-which is written to be for license plate tracking- many different tools and devices are used by the authors. These pieces of work describe the benefits and drawbacks of collecting data and tracking fellow citizens, but use different forms of pathos, ethos, and logos to portray what they are trying to say. Also, both articles state how many are opposed to this tracking, arguing that it is against the First Amendment,

America’s political polarization is doing more than simply dividing political parties, it’s spreading throughout our society as well. Our political leaders have much to do with this ongoing problem. Constantly contributing with fear mongering, endless war, questionable trade deals, higher taxes, bought elections, and rigged economy. But let’s be honest, our dubious government is only the cherry on top. We, including myself, are the problem. We’ve allowed this to grow and multiply throughout our very land, by simply listening to biased information and conversation, blantly ignoring other’s plea for help, and rejecting to converse with the opposing view. Yet, our historic victories show how our unity can move mountains. Together we can take on

“Attention, soldiers of the Continental army, the patriots of our colonies!” George Washington shouted, drawing attention to himself as he stood. The whispers along with mumbles stopped, every person bringing their attention to the general as he stood from top to bottom as well as proud. “I will explain quickly what the plan of action is before I separate you. One through five-thousand, you will be going with Lafayette, blocking their escape from Yorktown, waiting in the Chesapeake Bay! Alexander, I believe you had something to say to our people of the colonies?”

With hate burning in everyone’s heart, fueled by political and social tensions, it is important that the fire is extinguished. Their hearts must open to allow new ideas and viewpoints to flow in, extinguishing the fire. In the prelude chapter titled “The Politics of the Brokenhearted,” Parker Palmer addresses the reason why our nation is in constant fear of each other, and the social divide that grows larger by the day. In this chapter, Palmer’s purpose is to encourage the nation to view the opposition with an open heart in order to put out that fire that burns inside. Through personal accounts, historical references, and present day examples, Palmer shows how our nation controls the fate of democracy, and what they need to do to keep it standing.

As a result, leftists, liberals and progressives would be wise to pick up the phone, send an email or otherwise reach out to each other. It's not that hard. I'm tired of hearing people say, "Well, that's the sort of work you do, not me. I'm a radical activist therefore I don't work with those capitulating liberals!" Or, from the other angle, "I'm a liberal activist, hence I'm not willing to work with those silly radicals!" This sort of self-righteous nonsense needs to stop. Again, I'm guilty of it, but I'm also willing to make changes, and have. If we hope to win, we all need to make some changes.

There was a quiet buzz in the college's premier coffee spot, the rather pretentious faux-boutique StellarGrounds Coffee. The college grounds themselves were alive with activity as always, and it was simmering under the surface with young activists on both sides of the political debate engaged and energized by the process taking place around them. You couldn't walk around a single corner on campus without coming face to face with a blue or red poster emblazoned with the faces of the political leviathans on the big ticket. Not everyone had an opinion, but a small minority on either side seemed to make up for the rest, they shared their thoughts rather vociferously with anyone who would listen, especially those who didn't agree with them. Thankfully there was not too much disagreement in the air at StellarGrounds, the college coffee place only tended to lean in one direction, and that was unwaveringly left!

"Fighting for Our Lives" offers great insight into the current state of public dialogue. Deborah Tannen describes how our public interactions have increasingly become "warlike", in the way we discuss ideas, the way we cover the news, and the way we settle disputes. She observes that an adversarial approach has become the standard as much in public dialogue as it has in "just about anything we need to accomplish". Although she concedes that "conflict and opposition are as necessary as cooperation and agreement", she believes that the balance has been tipped in recent years. An "argument culture" has pervaded American culture, and the consequences are real.

“There are no rules for revolution any more than there are rules for love or rules for happiness, but there are rules for radicals who want to change their world”………… Saul D. Alinsky, 1971.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

two paths in front of him. One leads to the jail and the village, the