Topic for first Issue of the Navigator Fall 2006

Today's AJC (July 25, 2006) says $3 a gallon gas is here to stay. How do you feel about that? Have you made any changes in your life to cope with the price of gas? Do you plan to? Globalize your answer by discussing how world events are affecting gas prices in the U.S. What, if anything, do you think the United States should do to manage gas prices and our dependence on oil?

Drop That Uranium or Else!

President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants the world to treat his country as a nuclear power. In spite of of U.S. investigation Ahmadinejad will not give up his country’s right to enrich uranium. The official Islamic Republic News Agency quotes Ahmadinejad’s answer to those who are bothered about Iran's nuclear program, "Be angry at us and die of this anger." With Iran’s hostile attitude the U.S. government fears an attack. Despite these threats experts familiar with the program say that Iran is still a long way away from producing any weapon grade material needed for weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "The Iranians are deliberately trying to hype this up," said David Albright, president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security. Iran has stated no plans of attack and is continuing to expand their program with the intention to produce electrical energy for peaceful purposes. The question here is are they telling the truth. With such a sensitive situation the U.S. must play this carefully. Already in a world of mess the country cannot afford another war, financially or mentally. Regardless of what American’s might think we cannot go in and tell another country that it is wrong for them to enrich uranium when we ourselves do the same thing. Since when is America God? I agree national security is important, but jump the gun on this one and it could jeopardize everything.

Due Monday April 17th

Do research to learn about Iran's nuclear program and the reaction from the United States government and the United Nations. What do you think will happen if Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons? What do you think should happen?

I died for my country and all I got was this stupid movie!

On April 28th, the country will have a chance to relive the tragic events of September 11th, which happen nearly five years ago. It is hard to grasp that it has been that long, but as the five-year anniversary approaches movie studios are begging to smell a profit. With the release of UNITED 93 this month, Universal Studios hopes to turn the horrifying event into a box-office smash. “Made with the full support of the families of those on board, UNITED 93 will track in real time the dramatic story of what happened inside the aircraft as well as on the ground, as passengers, crew, Civilian Air Traffic Controllers and Military Command Centers struggle to make sense of an unimagined and unimaginable crisis,” said Director Paul Greengrass. Greengrass and Universal Studios hope that the film will force people to remember 9/11 and the heroes born from it (as if we could forget), but it seems to me that this is simply a sly tactic to reach in to the public’s wallet in the name of patriotism.

In addition, due out in August is Oliver Stone’s take on 9/11, titled simply, “World Trade Center.” The film will star Nick Cage. UNITED 93 decided to use a different method and not use any big name actors or actresses. I admire this decision; it will allow for a more personal viewing experience. Seeing unfamiliar faces on the big screen could remind us that these were just normal people on flight 93, any of us could have been on that plane. Greengrass’s vision will portray those on board flight 93 as American heroes, no wonder the family members are not against the film. Some claim that it is too soon for a movie like this. “With the events set in motion by that say still unresolved, America may not be ready to relive any part of 9/11,” said Joshua Tyler of Cinemablend.com, but others are looking forward to it. Max Shultz, a Piedmont freshman cannot wait to see the movie saying, “Those people were heroes. I think they deserve to have their story told.” Offending some and exciting others is Hollywood’s job I guess. I mean who didn’t see this coming? Every other major tragedy has been made into a movie, the Holocaust, the Titanic, the Civil War, Pearl Harbor and now 9/11.

Due Monday April 10th

Universal Studios has produced a film, United 93, a realistic account of the plane hijacked on 9/11 that crashed in Pennsylvania when passengers foiled the terrorist plot to fly it into the White House. Using the Internet, watch the trailer for this film. Read what the studio has to say about producing this film and read about reaction from journalists, film critics, and the public. Give your own reactions and opinions, making sure to refer to your research, attributing where appropriate.

Due Monday, April 3

Research federal legislation being considered in Congress that concerns immigration and give your opinion.

I want to be a girl

As a man, I was born with two things, a love for women and my penis. Maybe not all men desire women but we all have a penis. That is the beauty of gender, you either one or the other, a man or a woman. It is simple. Usually chromosomes decide gender, but a select few who are unhappy with the hand god has dealt them, take the matter into their own hands getting operations done to change their sex. Not all homosexuals choose to have this operation, but why should they when the media is obligated to let them pick which gender they want to be. I am fine with people undergoing such procedures, not my cup of tea but I get it. Homosexuality is nothing new. It has been around since the ancient Romans. Nevertheless, since when is ok to let lie about your sex? Ever since I was a child, I thought I had to tell the truth about my gender. I was wrong. Political correctness has gone so far now that it has become acceptable to lie in order to avoid offending people. If a newspaper interviews a man who desires to be a woman they must call him and she or vice versa. I do not care about anyone’s sexual preference but do care that the media reports the truth. If that means offending a few gay people in the name of integrity, so be it. American’s have to right to pursue happiness not lie to obtain happiness. As for the media, I understand the importance of tolerance but tolerating lies is not tolerable in my book.