Hey guys! How are all of you doing today?
Have another quick question for y'all...

What innovation has most transformed the world? Why?

I personally think that the idea of helping others is the biggest innovation. It isn't exactly a product, or even a certain invention or thing, but it is an idea that has been transformed over the ages. And it has made one of the biggest impacts. Charities, organizations, benefit events and parties, financial aid, and everything along those lines have been aiming to help those who cannot help themselves. And I think that makes the biggest impact. How can we build our world up when some people are unwilling to help those with less then them? Fortunately, people put time and effort into helping others, into giving people opportunities and aid. That, to me, has transformed the world the most. 

Hey guys! Haven't talked in a while...
Anyways, have another quick question for you...

Out of all the issues that muckrakers focused on during this time period, (Farming monopolies, oil monopolies, election/political reform, factory worker's rights, FDA regulations, child labor protections, women's rights, African-American Rights, environmental protection, philanthropy, education reform.) which 3 do you feel are the most pressing issues today and why?

I think that nowadays, the biggest issues would be African-American rights, environmental protection, and education reform. Even to this day, there are still issues with unequal rights for people of color, immigrant or citizen. Also, people tend to ignore the rising threat of global warming and other environmental issues like the loss of water and more radiation from the sun slipping through our atmosphere. Education is still an issue as well, judging by the fact that there are still kids in other countries that can't pay for school, or doesn't even have one in their town. I say this because these three issues are growing bigger ever year - especially the issue of uneual rights for immigrants with the growing situation with ISIS and muslim immigrants. So I think that these three are the three that need the most attention and most thought to solve them. 

Hey guys!

What is it you hope to transform in the world? Why? 

   For me personally, the main change I wish to see made in the world is the quality of living and working for those stuggling with poverty. There are still millions of families in our world - our contry alone - that struggle for dinner every night. This needs to change. How is equality valid if we are still not allowing equal pay for women or immigrants in our country, if we still dont allow finacial aid for those who cannot pay for the insurance. How is this equality? 
   I don't personally know exactly how to make this change, but I know that the first step would be to create organizations that reach out to families that struggle and offer them help with no cost. Many of the organizations out there already do this, but they withhold information to try and wiggle their way into earning some cash for themselves. These families cannot pay for help - thats why they need it. So helping them and then expecting them to pay you back? How is that going to change anything?

Hey guys!
I have another quick question for y'all...

Who is the most courageous person you know? Why?

To me, one of the most courageous people I know is my mom. Actually, she is the most courageous person I know. She is always ready to take chances, and face her fears to accomplish her goals. She doesn't let other's opinions get in her way, and she never ever gives up. To me, these are all things that can make someone courageous. Willingness to do what you set out for yourself and never giving up are key to taking chances and having this notion of 'bravery'. Also, when you forget about what others might think of you, it takes the weight and worry of judgment off your shoulders. My mom doesn't have this weight - I don't know if she ever did. She is strong, brave, and will not give up on her hopes to bow to someone or something else. Also, she is always willing to help others and reach out where others might not. This is what makes her, undoubtedly, the most courageous person I know. 

Hey guys?
What two factors do you think aid justice? What about impede it?

For me, I think that the two main factors that aid justice are morality and the idea of redemption or forgiveness. The whole idea of justice is built off of what is right / wrong, and without the idea of redemption or forgiveness, most people wouldn't've be given 'just' trials. Two factors that I think impede justice are inequality and being bias. When people aren't treated equally, their basic rights are ignored just because of their race, economic standing, culture, religion, etc. This creates an unsafe environment for others because they see that their basic rights are thrown out the window. Also, biased judges and rules break down justice because they focus only on one category, whether it be skin tone, religion, or riches.
 

Don't do war

Hey guys!
This is a poem about A Confederate Soldier's Boot writing to Future Generations about Lessons Learned from the War


All I see is mud
And blood
There's a corpse
And look
I can see a dead horse

I am a boot
Leather and soft
Splattered with my comrades blood
Spilled by the Union

My owner runs fast
I pound against the ground
Thump, Thump, Thump
I jumped over another dead soldier

Kids, don't do war
Don't fight your brother
Or your mother
Or any of your family
It's just not right

I wish we didn't have to fight
To paint with blood
To stain the earth
I just wanted to live a sweet boot life

We didn't want much
Us Confederates
Just to keep our businesses running
And yes
I guess
We did need our slaves

But now I know
And kids, trust me
Stay in school
Be nice to your brother
And don't hold slaves

- An old boot

   Hey guys! How are all of you guys doing? I have a quick question for you...

What do you think being a "witness" means?

   For me, "witness" is a word with many definitions. Most people associate the word "witness" with the act of being present when something happens; either watching or glancing or stumbling upon accidentally, etc. However, I feel like there is more depth to the word than just that. 
   You see, witnesses can range from just people who saw or experienced the event directly, to people who have seen, heard, watched, or learned of the event through the direct witness(s), social media, the news, or anything like that. Just because someone wasn't there at the moment doesn't mean they aren't a "witness". However, they could have heard twisted stories or untrue facts, thus compromising their role as "witness". Therefore, it is difficult to fully sift out a true definition of "witness". 
   Personally, I think that both of these scenarios apply to witnesses. However, I do think that people who are directly involved with the event are more direct witnesses, rather than a secondary witness like someone who learned about the event through a different outlet. 

   During our trip to LA, many things changed about my look on the Holocaust and the Japanese internment. First of all, I had barely known about the Japanese internment at all, so I was very thankful I was able to learn about that. Second, I had learned about the holocaust in the past, but never in such depth as the museums tour explained. The unbelievable events of the holocaust were actually very interesting to learn about, despite the fact that they were one of the lowest points for mankind and truly inhuman and devastating to the Jewish religion. So I do feel like I transformed, at least, a bit, from not knowing much about either event, to knowing more than I ever expected and hoping that we can prevent anything like those events from happing ever again.