CASHY CAHSEE CASSIE

I recently read Kelly Yocum's Blog and responded to the controversy of High school exit exams. I mostly was against it, just because of my own experience with standardized tests and finding them often unfair for students who are more right-brain oriented. After responding to this post, I decided to do some research on the topic and see what all the talk was about. To my surprise, I found that California was one of the 26 states to have instated this High school exit exam. Not only was this surprise a fact, but so was this- the High school exit exam, administered in tenth grade, is equivalent to a SEVENTH GRADE education. AND if you fail this test in tenth grade, you get to retake it in eleventh and twelfth. Now, it seems obvious that the passing rate would be high then, right? Wrong! The passing rate in the LAUSD school system is 66%! In all of California, the passing rate was even lower, 22%. I was baffled by these numbers and completed dumbfounded as to how this could have happened. I can definitely see why this test is a necessity, because if you cannot pass a seventh grade test, then why should you be able to pass high school?

Where is all the taxpayers’ money going? New parking lots and gym facilities are obviously not raising grades. So, I decided to look even further into this. I found that charter schools are receiving much higher grades on their exams than the average public school. Also, the number of charter schools doubled in the past 4 years. I think that the conversion of public schools into charter schools is proving to be a good solution to children not having enough attention to succeed in school. Charter schools provide a safer, healthier environment for children to work in, and given a more “college prep” or “private school” environment for people who cannot afford private school.

Although this does go against most of my beliefs, I do think that more money should be given to Charter Schools. I believe that taxes for public schooling should be channeled more directly into Charter schools, because often they get scammed out of money because it goes originally through the district and they casually skim some revenue off the top. Public schools are proving to be ineffective and I believe that Charter schools are the best way to educate the general public in hopes of creating a more intellectual society. I am just thankful that I am in a economically secure household in which I can attend private school and receive the best education possible. Oh, and btw the High school entrance exam is called CAHSEE. Its pronounced like Casey but that’s pretty close to Cassie so I though that was pretty cool.

Nous aimons le français ? que ?!

Seriously? A French president who likes George Bush, is talking tough to Iran, and wants quotas on immigrants? Impossible'!

President Nicolas Sarkozy will soon be making his United Nations debut and will show all of us if they French can really step up and make a change. The go-with-the-flow, only-help-if-pushed-around French stereotype may just be shattered by this man. Now for people who don't necessarily like George Bush, the fact that Sarkozy differs with Bush on the issues concerning Global warming may make you happy as well. Our government and many of its people are anxiously waiting to see if this French president can do the walk that he has been talking about. Condoleezza Rice commented on the new French president recently:

"It's an excellent relationship," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday after talks with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. "I think there are many, many things that France and the United States are going to be able to do together."

What also might make many Americans happy is that many of the French are worried that this President may change much of France's politics to assure a healthy relationship with President Bush. Although this may be good for us, Sarkozy is entering dangerous territory where a less US-dominated world is applauded. Although Bush and Sarkozy will not meet one-on-one, they will see each other at the General Assembly, but they have seen each other about two times and have enjoyed each others company greatly. This companionship with America has greatly annoyed the European public, and the fact that Sarkozy's foreign minister is pro-American is also disturbing the peace. This English-speaking pro-American foreign minister, Kouchner, said that deposing Saddam Hussein wasn't a bad idea, and last week he said that the world should prepare for the possibility of war in Iran.

Now don't get carried away because we know that the French talk a little too much, but I think that this is a great opportunity for America. This opportunity for a true and active alliance is not only good for Republicans, but it is very good for all Americans in general. It never hurts to have friends. So the next time your boycotting your BIC razors, Car & Driver magazine, or Dom Perignon, (grey goose is now 100% US owned so that's still okay), `peut-être penser encore.

When Is It Okay?

I feel that before I can go on to any more "recent" issues that may not be related to the War in Iraq, I should first put forth my thoughts, and maybe a few things for everyone else to think about.

Can anyone tell me about the "war" in Bosnia? If you are someone who can answer this question, your response may be similar to this:

The war in Bosnia was a struggle between two ethnic group, the Serbs and the Croatians. The ethnic group of Croatians made up 79% of the population while the Serbs made up only 19%. During the summer of 1995 the Croatians launched a genocide on the Serbs, forcing more than 200,000 of them into exile. These Muslims were being slaughtered inhumanely, and their right to life was being violated in all ways. When words and documents and NATO's first attempts did nothing to stop this injustice, the UNITED STATES, the U.N., and France all went in to help these helpless refugees- and succeeded.

Where were the Protesters then? Where was the large crowds of people telling us not to go into Bosnia? Our soldiers still got killed, so why was it okay then? What circumstances and what horrible, disgusting, brutal, and inhumane injustice must go on for it to be okay? Is that not what Saddam Hussein was doing to his people? He was committing Genocide on his own people.

The United States was a driving force in the world for peace and the fight against injustice. Isn't that what everyone wants? World Peace? How can we achieve this if we don't have military action? It's just not possible. If it was possible, the people in Darfur would not need us to come in and help them. Oh wait, we want our soldiers to go into Darfur? Are they not going to die there? Why are there protesters telling us to go into Darfur, and yet protesters who tell us to get out of Iraq. If we went into Darfur, would the structure of their government and society immediately rebuild without no help from the U.S.? I highly doubt it, but it could be possible I suppose. I just think that we need to look at all these angels, and compare this "war" in Iraq to other conflicts, rather than a Vietnam war?

I honestly believe that no one is truly pro-war. Soldiers and service men will be the first to say they are against war, but they know as many of us do, that war is a necessary evil to survive and to protect. So when you label someone as pro-war or anti-war, try to think about it in a new perspective. The United States is doing a good thing by helping these people, and the War in Iraq is ensuring our safety. Now, this is a whole other topic to discuss, but basically, it is not the generals direct job to protect our safety, the American citizen sitting in front of their TV. It is their direct job to protect those service men's lives and get them home safely, which will in turn protect the American citizens back home.


So, the next time you tell someone you are anti-war, or that you don't like President Bush or that you don't agree with him, think about this:

Isn't it wonderful to be living in a country where you have the freedom to say what you want against the president or government, and not having to worry about having your head cut off or your family murdered? Who do you thank for that? God Bless America.

Troop Cut in Iraq

As was promised by President Bush, General David H. Petraeus went before Congress to talk about the War in Iraq. After Petraeus had proposed his views on the United State's progress, President Bush announced that he will reduce the American troop presence in Iraq (30,000 troops will be sent home by next summer). I was very pleased to see that the needed "surge" of troops had accomplished its goal, and thus the soldiers could return home to their families. Do not be confused though; this is not a withdrawal of American presence from Iraq, but a victory for America's troops in making significant progress. Whatever their mission was, these troops served their country and continued the fight against terror and oppression. This, I believe, is a very promising situation for those who agree that we should continue our presence in Iraq and will certainly help the Republican candidates in the polls. This is a milestone for the war against terror because the public can now see that this war is not necessarily being run by the politicians in suits, but that Generals and war officials in uniform are now commanding the progress of the war.

"An Iraq that falls into chaos or civil war will mean massive human suffering — well beyond what has already occurred within Iraq's borders," - Ryan Crocker.

Hopefully General Petraeus' report will help people remember why we went into Iraq and what we are doing. In reference to what Crocker said, many people have forgotten that we put Iraq into this situation, and it would be morally unjust for us to leave now and allow them to suffer because of our interference. As the hand of justice throughout the world, it is our duty to use our resources and knowledge to help others to the best of our abilities. It has fallen upon us as our duty to make the world a safer place. If anything, it is our duty as an American people to rally behind our President and support his decisions as the elected leader of our people.