Current Event 9: Oklahoma's botched lethal injection starts new front in battle over executions

CACorrections. "Lethal Injection Room." Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. MediaWiki, 3 Aug 2010. Web. 30 Apr 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SQ_Lethal_Injection_Room.jpg> 

Lethal injections are in the spotlight after an Oklahoma man's death sentence took a grave turn. Clayton Lockett was supposed to executed by lethal injection Tuesday in Oklahoma but something went terribly wrong. The first drug used to make inmates unconscious in a matter of minutes was not working after about fifteen minutes. Prison officials say they stopped the injection and Lockett lived for about another hour be forte he died of a massive heart attack according to the prison. Lockett's lawyers are outraged by the process and want a full investigation to why Lockett's injection was botched.




In the POL 120 class juniors take. we have to write a paper on a big political issue in the United States, I chose to do lethal injection. Through my research, I found many different cases where injections were botched and the inmate suffered serious pain. The only way lethal injections are still legal in the U.S. is because of the first drug used to knock the inmate out. If this drug does not work correctly the death penalty is rendered cruel and unusual, a violation of the 8th amendment.




I think the way the way this inmate died was very sad and traumatic for the staff, press, and family of the victim. I support the death penalty but only in extreme cases. The inmate was convicted of murder and rape; grounds for the death penalty in my eyes. I do, however, realize this man died in such agony that the country needs to look at a better way of administering the injection so botched injections like these do not happen again.





What is the impact of using [statistics/quotations/headings/bullets/personal experience] (choose one of the options and write only on it.) If you have another element that you would like to discuss on this question, get the okay from me before proceeding. Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The author uses several eyewitness quotes from not only Lockett's execution but another man named Dennis McGuire in Ohio. Startling evidence that the drugs do not work sometimes are used within the quotes. McGuire was said to have"'repeated cycles of snorting, gurgling and arching his back, appearing to writhe in pain"' during his execution; his family filed a lawsuit against the prison for cruel an unusual punishment. The botched injection has opened up the new, stronger barrage to abolish the death penalty in Oklahoma. Adam Leathers, the co-chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, has jumped into action over Lockett's injection. Oklahoma "'tortured a human being in an unconstitutional experimental act of evil,"' said Leathers after word of the botched execution got out. This and the many other cases of botched injections just might win the fight to end all death penalty rulings forever.

Works Cited

Levs, Josh, et al. "Oklahoma's botched lethal injection starts new front in the battle over executions." CNN U.S.. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., 30 Apr 2014. Web. 30 Apr 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/30/us/oklahoma-botched-execution/index.html?hpt=hp_t1> 

Current Event 8: In Nigeria, the mass abduction of schoolgirls isn't shocking

Over  200 young girls were kidnapped a week ago from a school in Nigeria. No one seems to know any whereabouts of the girls. An Islamist military group is said to have abducted the girls; the village people are mourning but they point out it is not uncommon. 190 girls are still missing and will likely never be reunited with their families.

In English 10 and 11 we've looked at how people's rights aren't all the same. Nigeria has a weak government and in the region the girls were taken from has little governmental influence. We read about  children being taken in Africa on accusations of witchcraft this year; even though these kids aren't accused, they are still taken. The president and the military are stepping back and not doing anything to help find the girls or to alive worry from the parents.

What is happening in Nigeria is sickening. No one should be captured ever. The fact that the government and military are not even thinking of getting involved is vilely repulsive. This effects me as a student because people younger than me are being taken for no reason and that's scary.

"Nigeria." Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. MediaWiki, 19 Sep 2005. Web. 21 Apr 2014. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Nigeria_carte.gif> 

• What is the purpose for using [statistics/quotations/headings/bullets/personal experience] (choose one of the options and write only on it.) If you have another element that you would like to discuss on this question, get the okay from me before proceeding. Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The author uses specific quotes from a parent of an abducted girl. The people see the as "using 'blatant propaganda' to [make] a 'blatant lie'" (Yhan). Using direct quotes from a girls father shows exactly what the Nigerian people of the region think of the government and military. They also use quotes describing how the native village people felt about the capture. "The people in the village are not surprised," the principal of the school reported. These quotes show how the people in the region feel about the incident and the horrible lack of governmental and military aid.



Works Cited

Yhan, Holly and Duthiers, Vladimir. "In Nigeria, the mass abduction of schoolgirls isn't shocking." CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc, 21 Apr 2014. Web. 21 Apr 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/21/world/africa/nigeria-abducted-girls/index.html?hpt=hp_t3>

Current Event #7: Charlotte mayor resigns; accused of taking bribes

The former mayor of Charlotte has resigned after being arrested on the 25th of March. He resigned the day after he was released from jail on bond. The former mayor was arrested for taking and distributing bribes to officials of the FBI. Patrick Cannon, if convicted, could face 50 years in jail and up to one million dollars worth of charges.

Lately in Sociology, we have been studying about white collar crimes. This recent arrest is a perfect example of a white collar crime. We, as a class, will probably be following the trial in class and discuss more as the story develops.

I think former Mayor Cannon should definitely have been arrested and go to jail. The amount of money he gave away and received is ridiculous. The city of Charlotte needs a strong, corrupt leader to lead not be there for his or her own reasons. I hope he goes to jail for the longest time the law allows and has to pay the biggest fine he can.

Kimura, Yumi. "Crime Scene." Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. MedidaWiki, 25 Mar 2009. Web. 6 Apr 2014. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Do_Not_Cross,_Crime_Scene.jpg>

How does the structure of the text refine and support author's claim? use evidence to support your answer.

I think the author is appalled at this white collar crime. The authors add how many political ties Cannon had. After all the hardships Cannon had growing up, "McCory was saddened and angered by the charges" (Weiss). McCory and his family has know Cannon for 30 years. They also uses an example of getting "12,500 dollars from an undercover agent to help him develop a feminine hygiene product" (Weiss).


Works Cited
Weiss, Mitch and Foreman JR, Tom. "Charlotte mayor resigns; accused of taking bribes" WBTV. Worldnow, 26 Mar 2014. Web. 6 Apr 2014. <http://www.wbtv.com/story/25084282/charlotte-mayor-resigns-accused-of-taking-bribes>