Protect Our Kids Not Guns!

How many kids do we need to loss before we put an end to gun control.  Gun regulation has been a contentious subject in recent years, provoking heated arguments across the political spectrum. The debate over gun control includes a range of viewpoints, from those highlighting the need for stricter regulations rules to staunch defenders of Second Amendment rights. This blog seeks to give a comprehensive examination of the gun control issue, taking into account the many points of view and pushing for a balanced strategy that emphasizes public safety.

We understand that the right to carry arms is protected under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. However, determining the purpose of the amendment has been a matter of controversy. Examining historical background and legal precedents can give light on the objectives of the founders as well as the evolution of gun rights.

In comparison to many other advanced nations, the United States has a higher rate of fatalities caused by guns. Gun control advocates say that stricter gun control measures can help reduce total gun violence, including killings, suicides, and unintentional shootings.

It is now nearly impossible to complete a year without a school shooting in the United States. A school shooting–a place that should be reserved for education and knowledge–yet we are now required to go through drills and be taught what to do if a gunman entered our school. Why should we be concerned about getting killed when we travel there to study and expand our education? What is the government’s reaction? Even after the March4OurLives rally and yearly massacres, they have made few changes to gun control laws. Instead, the Trump Administration proposed arming teachers with weapons so that they could protect themselves in this situation.

This would not prevent school shootings; instead, it would make them more prevalent and result in more deaths. Instead than making it more difficult for anybody to obtain a gun, it is becoming simpler by the day. Hopefully, our next government will see a positive improvement in gun control.

Let’s look at some data before we get into whether guns should be prohibited. In 2018, weapons were used in 74% of killings. Consider the possibility of banning guns; while there may be illegal trade as there is with other prohibited items, the number of persons having guns would be significantly reduced, as would murders. 74% of persons killed in America may be saved if we banned guns, because guns are among the easiest weapons to get, use, and mass murder with.

The concept of banning guns has been proposed previously, but opponents argue that our police would be unable to protect themselves or others, and we will be unable to protect ourselves if there is an invader. In addition, they argue that everyone has the right to keep and bear guns, as guaranteed by the second amendment.

One of the most terrifying aspects about school shootings is that they feel completely out of our hands. How can we keep our children safe from random strangers who open fire in their classrooms? However, it is vital to remember that more than 99 percent of children killed by gun violence in the United States are not killed in random school shootings. And there are steps we can do to protect our children from all sorts of gun violence. Here’s what the research says.

•  Keep guns out of your home.
• Advocate for laws that protect kids 
• Child Access Protection (CAP) laws
•  If guns are in the homes, lock them away unloaded, with the ammunition locked separately.

Gym Insecurities

Lately on social media whether it’s FaceBook or TikTok, you see a lot of people post about their workouts on social media and posting about others at the gym. This is highly disrespectful and an invasion of other people privacy. I recently came across a gym post and it was a picture of the social media person and behind her was a naked lady changing in the locker room.

How highly offensive and invasion of privacy. The locker room is a very private area for people to change but it’s because of people like this that others feel unsecured at the gym. Besides this, you also see a lot of people that post about others feeling entitled at the gym.

This social media person post about how annoyed she was just because another person is trying to workout. What is with the entitlement people have thinking other people should just pause on their workout because you are filming about yourself? This is a public gym for everyone, if you are trying to film yourself, others do not have to stop what they’re doing just for you. This man did nothing wrong when he is trying to get a set of weights to get his workout in for the day.

More and more people are posting online and being very disrespectful to others at the gym. And because of this, more and more people feel insecure about going to the gym. The gym is no longer a judgement free zone. It is now a place to make fun of other people looks and how they workout. It is now a place to feel entitled to get your way and disrespect other people workout. What has this world come to these days?

Redlining… Does it still exist?

Redlining is defined as discriminatory practice in which services are withheld from potential customers who reside in neighborhoods classified as “hazardous” to investment , these neighborhoods have significant numbers of racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income residents. This discriminatory practice systematic denial of services such as mortgages, insurance loans, and other financial services to residents of certain areas. Redlining is unethical and violates the Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity. Yes redlining still exist. Just last year a realtor group apologized for it’s role racially segregating twin cities housing. But it’s not just housing. Insurance companies also use this practice when quoting rates for automobile coverage. For example, they use your zip code to determine your rate. When asked why the rate was so high the agent actually said? ” You live in a high risk area”. Insurance companies charge a higher rate for drivers living in a zip code with a high rate of accidents or high crime rate because of the possibility of having to pay out on a claim. What can we do to prevent these type of practices/policies from continuing to happen? We must speak up and not just push it under rug and pretend it doesn’t exist. If we don’t speak up for ourselves who else will?

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/10/13/minnepolis-realtors-group-apologizes-racial-segregation-housing?gclid=CjwKCAjwpuajBhBpEiwA_ZtfhYNefFEp6jTczGy_ENhttps://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/supmanual/cch/fair_lend_fhact.pdf

Blog 4

https://nypost.com/2018/02/04/doritos-to-make-lady-friendly-chips-that-dont-crunch-for-women/

The New York Post released an article that depict the subject of Doritos plans on making “lady-friendly” chips that won’t crunch. Apparently, women dislike the sound of crunch and something less messy. Also stating that “women” dislike the idea of having to like their fingers after consuming chips. The idea of Doritos generalizing “women” and their likes and dislikes is infuriating. The global chief, Indra Nooyi is implying that “although women would love to crunch [chips] loudly, lick their fingers and pour crumbs from the bag into their mouth afterwards, they prefer not to do this in public,” (2018, para. 2.) I’m assuming that the Doritos team and/or the New Your Post is targeting a specific age group of women because, I know multiple women who loves chips for their crunch, taste, and most of all, licking the flavors off their fingers. Though the idea of licking your fingers in public may disturbing or looked down upon (especially for girls, because we all know the double standards society has for women,) it is one of the best part about eating chips. Also, I think that the intentions behind this “invention” is probably well intended but, in it’s own ways, it has pushed it even further towards gender stereotypes. It’ll be even more ironic if the team who decided all this is a group of women who is trying to include women as a whole but, in response to that, it’s the opposite. I would argue that the author of this post is pretty neutral. If anything, they’re just trying to throw the news out there through this article, it is not bias nor favoring one side of a story. Something that the author left out was the input of men. Though, I would understand why. This article as a whole is already about discriminating women and/or targeting them, there’s no need to hear the inputs of male. Who, in the article, opinion’s does not matter because this isn’t chips for them. Men’s opinion has always been added to news outlet, I think that the fact that they left out men’s input in general, makes sense.

Choose your Halloween costume wisely

Halloween is the one time where you can dress up as anything that you want and you wont get judged for being “slutty” or really cheesy because everyone is doing it. But listen, there has to be a line.

I work in a coffee shop, in a small town with a lot of pretty wealthy people that have a chip on their shoulder, so it’s not that foreign for me to see some ignorance here and then. I was working this evening and all of the sudden, I see a white male dressed up as a terrorist walking right by our window, just taking a stroll, smoking a cigarette. Me and my other coworkers were in complete awe. How, especially with all of the ignorance that is going on in the world, would you ever dress up as a terrorist? It is simply just not appropriate and I have no patience for anyone who has even an ounce of racism. Thankfully he didn’t come in because I honestly would not have served him.

So my position is this, you can’t dress up as something for halloween that makes fun of anyone, especially not a specific culture/race. 

There are a lot of racist people in the world, hell our country is being run by a misogynist racist. So how have people not caught up and realized that dressing up as someone of another culture IS NOT OKAY? Even dressing up in a sombrero and a poncho and dressing up as a “Mexican” (in quotes because people from Mexico don’t dress like that) is offensive. When has cultural appropriation ever been okay? As a person from a different country, I would never dress up as someone from another culture and think that it was funny.

I just had to write about this because it completely angered me that someone would do something like that and think that it was okay. I guess with a president (not my president, sorry not sorry) like this one, people can think they can do whatever the hell without any consequences because he does the same thing.

So please, choose your halloween costume wisely.

On a lighter note and in the spirit of halloween, here’s a picture from my class instagram of some of me and my friends with the pumpkins that we carved.

 

Breast is Best

Breastfeeding has benefits for the child, mother, environment, and the economy. The benefits include physical health and nutrition, positive emotional effects, and fostering a deep bond between the mother and child. As stated in the advocacy strategy Breastfeeding Advocacy Initiative, developed by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, “Optimal breastfeeding practices consist of (1) early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life; (2) exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and (3) continued breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond.” The best option for feeding infants is natural breastfeeding.

Obstacles to Breastfeeding

Standard prenatal medical visits in the United States include education and instruction that emphasize the importance of breastfeeding and give basic support to expecting mothers. There may be medical reasons why breastfeeding is challenging or even unattainable. An infants’ medical conditions may include but are not limited to tongue-tie, lip-tie, glandular tissue deficiency, excessive reflux, cleft pallet, and cleft lip. Some of these conditions can be treated before the infant leaves to hospital while others require more investigation and occasionally symptoms are missed all together. Mothers may also have medical conditions that cause them to be unable to breastfeed easily or at all. Mothers may suffer from sore nipples, blocked ducts, thrush, and postpartum depression. The La Leche League explains that “Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply.” If breastfeeding is not initiated immediately or the mother and child experience another delays in productive breastfeeding the easy solution is often for mothers to give up trying to breastfeed and moving to formula exclusively.

Working mothers need adequate time in their work day to pump, a suitable space to pump as well as safely store the expressed milk. Although there are laws in place requiring employers to provide private space for breastfeeding; they are still so new there are evolving interpretations. The World Health Organization, states mothers should breastfeed for at least six months, preferably a year. However, in the United States the Family Medical Leave Act only guarantees 12 weeks of job protection an unpaid leave. Modifying breastfeeding schedules and pumping routines to fit the constraints of working mothers can be taxing and deter the continuation of breastfeeding.

Whether at work, in public, or at home, social stigma can be a hurdle for new mothers. Phrases and questions such as good mothers choose breastfeeding, will my colleagues treat me differently, how do I breastfeed at the mall, breasts are not appropriate for public viewing, can run through the minds of new mothers. Often mothers who breastfed have their child in sleep with them for ease of feeding and increased bonding; the benefit is not always recognized by persons outside the immediate family and may instead come across as odd practice. There may be pressure to wean between 6 and 8 months. Any longer may be seen as stunting the child’s development or in extreme cases as sexually inappropriate; when in reality studies show that breastfeeding is developmentally appropriate through age 2. This added stress can make breastfeeding seem unrealistic or not worth the worry.

Benefits to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding within the first hour of birth has been proven to reduce the risk of neonatal mortality. The first liquid expressed from the breast is colostrum which meets the immediate needs of the infant. Murkoff & Mazel’s, What to Expect: When you’re expecting, explains that a newborn’s stomach can hold only 6ml, or 0.20oz, on the first day. Around day three, when the newborn’s stomach is ready for it, the milk develops into copious production.  According to La Leche League, the only food necessary until the baby shows signs of needing solids is breast milk. The liquid the baby receives is more than milk; it contains various components that assist in the child’s development from birth to age 2 and beyond; helping to ward off disease, stimulate growth, and provide high quality nutrition.

Mothers who breastfeed often have strong feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction as a parent. A mother’s body naturally produces Oxycontin in correlation to breast feeding. Oxytocin is a natural mood enhancer and can help combat post-partum depression, anxiety, and stress. The strong bond developed during breastfeeding helps to increase attachment and build a relationship between the mother and child. Additionally the mother will experience positive physical benefits including hormone balance, healthy weight loss, and even reduced risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, heart disease, and breast cancer.

There are economic benefits to increased rates in breastfeeding. Breastfed babies have better overall health and require less medical intervention. “In the US, $13 billion could be saved in pediatric health care and other costs if exclusive breastfeeding rates increased. Another $17 million could be saved related to maternal health care and other costs” UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Increased rates of exclusively breastfed babies would decrease landfill use, greenhouse gas emissions, as well as water and energy resources. If more women were willing and able to breastfeed, world-wide there would be a decrease in medical and environmental costs.

Conclusion

Breastfed babies have better overall health and require less medical intervention. Breastfeeding was once the only option, it was normal and necessary for the majority of human existence. Based on this research the only downside to breastfeeding is the complications it may create in social and work place settings. Changing the perception and stigma surrounding breastfeeding is an up-hill battle. Fortunately, there are numerous, influential organizations currently advocating for breastfeeding.

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A post shared by Ashley (@hk8045qe)

 

Vaccinations are good for you and the community

The vaccination debate continues in the presidential campaign. And, many medical experts believe Trump’s fear-based comment about the link between autism and vaccinations is dangerous for families and the community at large. There are rare exceptions where vaccines caused severe reactions; however, studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccinations and developing autism. Vaccinations save millions of live. The benefits of vaccinations outweighs their risk.

I believe in advocating for our own families; however, when your actions affect the greater health of the community you need to accept the consequences. When government guidelines require specific vaccinations before a child enters kindergarten, then I think families who make the choice not to vaccinate their children (for personal reasons, not medical reasons) ought to home-school their children—that’s how strongly I feel about vaccinations. Because of the 1990s deadly measles outbreak in Minnesota, one of our daughters had to get an additional measles vaccination due to our exposure to community mostly affected.

From thirteen to sixteen years-old, I volunteered as candy striper at a local hospital. My assignments were simple tasks that supported the patients’ need such as, filling their water, delivering their food trays, or bringing them an extra blanket—but I took the job seriously. It felt good knowing that I was helping others.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGIhsIBmuG6/?taken-by=salvatore.betsy

At the same time, my volunteer experience exposed me to some of the consequences of infectious diseases. The patient who impacted me the most, to quit fussing about getting vaccinations, was the young women in the iron lung. She had polio. She was only in her mid-twenties and was confined to a large machine to help keep her alive. Because only her head was exposed from the machine, she learned to paint holding the paintbrush in her mouth. My job was to hold the paint pallet so she could enjoy painting.

Watch a video clip to learn more about the iron lung

As a carefree teen, it was alarming to see the damaging effects caused by polio—a vaccine-preventable disease. Since 1979, the U.S. has been polio free, thanks to the polio vaccine. However, the crippling and potentially deadly polio virus is still a threat in some countries. It only takes one case of an infectious disease to cause concern, because it can quickly cause an outbreak. The range of symptoms can be from mild to severe and life-threatening. With the ease of access to travel around the world it’s important that you and your family have up-to-date vaccinations.

The infographic below (compiled by designer Leon Farrant) shows the dramatic impact of vaccinations.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGKYKs3GuLTNZAUtRf97jOCU9dPv0e1Wxbr8l80/?taken-by=salvatore.betsy

 

Your vaccinations also help people who cannot receive them for health reasons. For example, people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses when exposed to diseases. Our friend Steve, who has been sick since childhood, had a double-lung transplant in 2014. He relies on the people around him to be up-to-date on their vaccinations to help protect him—it’s a matter of life and death.

Are your vaccinations up-to-date? Educate yourself on the positive impact of vaccinations. Visit the Public Health Organization to gain a better understanding of vaccines.