It never came to me easily. I always received good grades for what I thought was good writing. Never acknowledging what a well written paper had to include. How was I supposed to know, the grade gave me the thought that the paper was outstanding. This is where my instructor takes part in my writing venture. I came to realize that what I once thought was remarkable writing was nothing more but nonsense. Writing 101 really shook my leg. It was difficult to recognize the flaws I had and still have. That was not the hard part though; acknowledging which were the flaws was my struggle. My ability to take criticism in a positive way and making it a learning tool was the key to making a change.
For example, the thesis statement needed to be clear and specific. Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning is going to make the paper dull. Referring back to essay #2, “Sex offenders should be categorized as a mental illness. If sex offenders commit crime due to mental illness and housing is a human right, then sex offenders should be in a mental institute”. I used that as my thesis statement but it was too broad. From the feedback I got from the peer review I was able to notice this flaw. As Kramer commented “But while reading I can't help wondering what is your standpoint on other kinds of sexual offenders? Do men who expose themselves to someone deserve a life sentence? Or what about someone who has consensual sex with an underage partner?” Which I agree it needed to be clear and specific maybe I could have said child molesters instead of sex offenders. This would have helped the reader know whom I was referring to and where my point of view stood.
In addition, making a change to where my introduction had a strong attention getter gave me the opportunity to engage the reader in my writing. In essay #2 I gave a more descriptive introduction allowing the reader to get a “feel” of what I was going to reveal next. “I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare”. Craig McKinney commented to that “The attention getter is SO good, and I am hooked from the opening”. It was such a relief to hear that from him because it was stressful trying to find a way to be more engaging. I truly appreciated the way the instructor graded our writing, this allowed me to focus on my writing rather than on the grade. Not to say that the grade does not matter but rather that I became interested in my own writing.
Writing 101 was in all a challenge for me this quarter. I came in not knowing what to expect but thinking it would be a piece of cake. I truly did not expect to learn a lot from this class. It helped me emphasize my strengths and learn to work on my flaws. Now I know I am not leaving here to become a professional writer but more like an interesting one. My learning does not come to an end with the conclusion of writing 101, I will continue to learn and improve my writing from now on. Taking with me the knowledge I gained in writing 101 to make an effort writing excellent papers for future classes. In addition, I am grateful for the positive feedback from the peer reviews. Especially to my instructor who planted the seed of interest in me. I’ am not trying to suck up to him; I simply want to acknowledge the impact he had on me towards writing. Oh and who can forget the unique sense of humor with the hilarious sound effects.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"Prison: Home, Sweet Home for Child Molestors" (Portfolio:Essay 2)
I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare. From the ages of 4-9 years, I was sexually molested by my stepfather. No one surrounding me knew what he was capable of but me. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone. The silence roared in my mind, until I finally built up the courage to speak out. This man was sentenced to 10 years in prison but released in 6 for “good conduct.” When he was released he was registered as a sex offender. That did not stop him, 5 years went by and he moved to another state where he was not required to register. He raped another two little girls and was sent to prison again, last I knew. If the court of justice knew he was capable of committing another crime, I do not understand why he was released the first time. Strongly enforced laws would have deterred him not to reoffend because he would have not had the chance to do so. Some might say that child molesters also have rights and they cannot be locked up forever. Which I agree, but the public also has the right to a safe environment.
Individuals are debating the delicate balance between individual rights and public safety, when it comes to housing sex offenders. About 27 states have enacted legislation that forces serial sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies upon moving into a community and Washington State is one of them. In this country safe housing can be a privilege but to what extent can that privilege be given to sex predators? Sex offenders should have safe housing but with limits. The only two places these child molesters should be placed in are a prison or mental institute. Depending on where their crime stands and why the crime was committed in the first place. If the sex offender committed the crime due to a mental illness he/she should be placed in a mental institute. If not, the only other place for that offender is prison for life. I definitely consider prison and mental institutes safe housing for these predators. Having these predators released and thrown out to the communities would be risking more children. Laws against sexual offenders should be harshly enforced to the fullest extent to prevent reoffends. Some of these sex cons desperately wait their release just to commit an even more horrific crime.
For instance, a detective named Glenn Quantz of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes sex cons are the most manipulative of criminals and will most likely reoffend. Quantz came across a sex offender named Leroy David Fulton, a guy who was sentenced to three life sentences for raping young boys but only served 10 years in jail. Fulton got his master’s degree in psychology while he was in prison and was extraordinary. Fulton’s therapist had stated “I don’t think of Fulton as a client, I think of him as a co therapist.” “This guy is dangerous, and his reoffend cycle says he should be offending right now.” When Fulton was released he was exposed to the community. He was a registered sex offender but that did not stop him from “hunting his prey.” Detective Quantz soon found out Fulton had joined an astronomy club where he befriended two families with children and had already been giving the kids gifts. To me this is a clear example of why I believe sex offenders should be in prison for life or in a mental institute. I do not think there is any other way for it. Now does this clash with the sex offender’s individual rights? Not so much because they had a choice either to comply with the laws and have his/her rights respected or break the law and loose that right. The choice was theirs to make and they made it by committing the crime. They still have their right to safe housing maybe not in the way these child molesters would like to but better than living under a bridge or roaming in our neighborhoods endangering our children. What is the best solution? A life sentence is a possible preclusion.
Supporters to this idea believe lengthy mandatory prison sentences would deter repeat child sex offenders. But there are those who oppose to such thing. An article in the Houston Chronicle in 2007 stated that some opponents agreed that lengthy sentences would prompt prosecutors to charge offenders with lesser crimes and would dissuade families from reporting child sexual abuse. It also stated that predators might be more likely to kill their victims to silence them. I see the opponents point but I do not agree with this because lengthy sentences might not stop sexual abuse but will deter sexual abuse offenders. As for short sentences, this will also not stop sexual abuse but will allow for offenders to commit a crime again because they know they will be released sooner rather than later. This allows them to plot their next crime. As for if they are incarcerated for life or in a mental institute they will not have the slight chance to commit another crime. An article in the CQ Researcher online talks about a Washington State resident in the late 1980s named Earl Shriner who was a sexual predator.
Earl Shriner had a 24 year history of sexual violence and had spent a decade in prison after kidnapping and raping two 16 –year-old girls. Shortly before he was scheduled to be released from a Washington state prison in 1988, prison officials came across a dilemma. Shriner had drawn pictures and written in his diary about torturing children once he was free. As awful as this looks nothing was done in regards to this because he had already served his time. Shortly after Shriner was released he raped, stabbed, and sexually mutilated a 7 year old boy, who survived the attack and was able to identify his aggressor. It is ridiculous how many children have to go through such a nightmare in order for the law to finally put a sex con in prison. I really believe the only way to decrease sexual crimes and properly place sexual offenders in a safe housing environment for them and our selves is prison or mental institutes. It cannot be said that these sex cons housing rights are being taken away from them, but it can be said that they have been modified. With every right we have a choice and with every choice there is a consequence. To keep our right or lose it is merely up to each individual. These sex offenders made the choice to possibly lose their right to live in freedom and a normal setting. Therefore, they should not be given a second chance and should be incarcerated for life. Victims were not given a second chance when they were living such appalling crime, then why should the offenders?
Links: R.G. Ratcliffe (Houston Chronicle 2007)
Congressional Quarterly 16 (2006) (Sex offenders)
Congressional Quarterly 6 (1996) (Punishing sex offenders)
Individuals are debating the delicate balance between individual rights and public safety, when it comes to housing sex offenders. About 27 states have enacted legislation that forces serial sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies upon moving into a community and Washington State is one of them. In this country safe housing can be a privilege but to what extent can that privilege be given to sex predators? Sex offenders should have safe housing but with limits. The only two places these child molesters should be placed in are a prison or mental institute. Depending on where their crime stands and why the crime was committed in the first place. If the sex offender committed the crime due to a mental illness he/she should be placed in a mental institute. If not, the only other place for that offender is prison for life. I definitely consider prison and mental institutes safe housing for these predators. Having these predators released and thrown out to the communities would be risking more children. Laws against sexual offenders should be harshly enforced to the fullest extent to prevent reoffends. Some of these sex cons desperately wait their release just to commit an even more horrific crime.
For instance, a detective named Glenn Quantz of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes sex cons are the most manipulative of criminals and will most likely reoffend. Quantz came across a sex offender named Leroy David Fulton, a guy who was sentenced to three life sentences for raping young boys but only served 10 years in jail. Fulton got his master’s degree in psychology while he was in prison and was extraordinary. Fulton’s therapist had stated “I don’t think of Fulton as a client, I think of him as a co therapist.” “This guy is dangerous, and his reoffend cycle says he should be offending right now.” When Fulton was released he was exposed to the community. He was a registered sex offender but that did not stop him from “hunting his prey.” Detective Quantz soon found out Fulton had joined an astronomy club where he befriended two families with children and had already been giving the kids gifts. To me this is a clear example of why I believe sex offenders should be in prison for life or in a mental institute. I do not think there is any other way for it. Now does this clash with the sex offender’s individual rights? Not so much because they had a choice either to comply with the laws and have his/her rights respected or break the law and loose that right. The choice was theirs to make and they made it by committing the crime. They still have their right to safe housing maybe not in the way these child molesters would like to but better than living under a bridge or roaming in our neighborhoods endangering our children. What is the best solution? A life sentence is a possible preclusion.
Supporters to this idea believe lengthy mandatory prison sentences would deter repeat child sex offenders. But there are those who oppose to such thing. An article in the Houston Chronicle in 2007 stated that some opponents agreed that lengthy sentences would prompt prosecutors to charge offenders with lesser crimes and would dissuade families from reporting child sexual abuse. It also stated that predators might be more likely to kill their victims to silence them. I see the opponents point but I do not agree with this because lengthy sentences might not stop sexual abuse but will deter sexual abuse offenders. As for short sentences, this will also not stop sexual abuse but will allow for offenders to commit a crime again because they know they will be released sooner rather than later. This allows them to plot their next crime. As for if they are incarcerated for life or in a mental institute they will not have the slight chance to commit another crime. An article in the CQ Researcher online talks about a Washington State resident in the late 1980s named Earl Shriner who was a sexual predator.
Earl Shriner had a 24 year history of sexual violence and had spent a decade in prison after kidnapping and raping two 16 –year-old girls. Shortly before he was scheduled to be released from a Washington state prison in 1988, prison officials came across a dilemma. Shriner had drawn pictures and written in his diary about torturing children once he was free. As awful as this looks nothing was done in regards to this because he had already served his time. Shortly after Shriner was released he raped, stabbed, and sexually mutilated a 7 year old boy, who survived the attack and was able to identify his aggressor. It is ridiculous how many children have to go through such a nightmare in order for the law to finally put a sex con in prison. I really believe the only way to decrease sexual crimes and properly place sexual offenders in a safe housing environment for them and our selves is prison or mental institutes. It cannot be said that these sex cons housing rights are being taken away from them, but it can be said that they have been modified. With every right we have a choice and with every choice there is a consequence. To keep our right or lose it is merely up to each individual. These sex offenders made the choice to possibly lose their right to live in freedom and a normal setting. Therefore, they should not be given a second chance and should be incarcerated for life. Victims were not given a second chance when they were living such appalling crime, then why should the offenders?
Links: R.G. Ratcliffe (Houston Chronicle 2007)
Congressional Quarterly 16 (2006) (Sex offenders)
Congressional Quarterly 6 (1996) (Punishing sex offenders)
My spot (Portfolio:Essay 3)
Racial discrimination has always been an issue in the U.S. Being born a Mexican-American is no exception. I have always struggled to “fit in”. Growing up I had to face the cruelty most minorities struggle with everyday. Such as; feeling like an outcast because of what people said, teachers underestimating our ability to do well in school because of our ethnic background. Even though I always had A’s and B’s and made it to the National Honor Society. In addition, the belief that Latinos could not achieve much in life. I really never let all of that mess get to my head but at times I did feel bad. So I thought well if I do not belong here then where would I go? Mexico was the first place that came into mind; after all, my parents are from Mexico. Finally in the year 2000 the opportunity to travel to Mexico came. My parents decided to take a family vacation. “We are off to Mexico”! My mother said. Happiness invaded my mind and nervousness bubbled inside my body. I was ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to meet the long lost family I had in Mexico and be in touch with my roots. The only two things I knew of that place was the language and the warm handmade tortillas my mother made. I did not know what to expect but I imagined love, happiness, and sun from what I was told. My mother always talked about the palm trees, the beaches and the beautiful hot sunny days all year long. I was excited to see all of that. Living in Washington banned me from that sun mostly all year so I was eager to have it shine on me. As we departed, I was emotionally distraught because I was leaving my American life behind until further notice, but excited to see a new world. As a minority in this country it is not easy to blend into society as an “American” because there are still people out there who see minorities as an outcast. With this in mind I thought well maybe Mexico is the place for me to be. I couldn’t be seen as an outcast there I mean come on it would be like kicking the fish out of the water, where else are they to go? So off I went with my family on this journey.
As I arrived into México it felt odd being in a new place where everyone spoke a different language, Spanish. The way of life was not exactly what I was accustomed to. In a sense it felt more liberal than what I was used to back in the states. People walking down the street would greet me, which was a shock. I thought to myself, “Why are they saying hi to me, they don’t even know who I am”. Everything was so different. For example, the local businesses where closed from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they closed up at 2 p.m. until the following day. The life style in México was much more relaxed and stress free. People there were not as worried about life as we Americans tend to do so. They take life with ease. No difference in the rich or poor folks besides their economic status and the way each lives. Even though poverty is abundant in Mexico most poor people seemed to live happy as well. I would see folks living in shacks with not much to eat and they always had a smile on their faces. Overall, it was such a culture shock to me but I liked the “new world” I was trying to conquer. It did feel a little odd but I began to get the hang of things there. At this point I was in love with Mexico and wishing this journey had been done a long time ago. I even asked my parents if it was ok for me to stay in Mexico and attend school there. I was 19 years old and still lived with my parents, so I still had to have their approval. It was a debate that lasted for days but they finally gave in. I ended up staying in Mexico with my extended family for about 2 years. Little did I know what my mouth and my way of life in the states were going to get me in to.
Enrolling into college was not easy. First off, the director did not like the fact that I was Chicana also known as a female Mexican –American, trying to go to school there. He thought I was not at their college level. Even though I had scored an 8.7 which is approximately a 3.5 college GPA score in the assessment test. According to the director, the U.S education expectations are lower than the ones in Mexico. My grandmother had to pull some strings and talk to people at the school board in order for me to attend college. Then came the worse, I had no friends. I was a “loner”. Not by choice but because of the circumstances. No one would talk to me because I was not a native. As dumb and weird as this may sound I was being discriminated harsher than what I had experienced at school in the states. I knew how to speak Spanish well but that did not seem to matter, the fact that I was an “American”, was the native’s dislike. Everywhere I went people gave me a look. No matter how hard I tried to fit in I couldn’t hide my origin. I was laughed at, look down on and expected to be dumb and crazy. Not that there isn’t any people that act dumb and crazy in Mexico, but the fact that I am a Chicana made it worse seemed like. It is not that every American is treated this way. Only the Mexican-Americans do not fit according to Mexican citizens. Just as there are labels for Latinos in the U.S there are labels for Chicanos in Mexico. A Chicano is a drug addict, liberal, trash, has neither morals nor self respect. Chicanos are up to no good and will always be losers because according to natives this is part of the American culture. I couldn’t believe what I was going through. What happened to the world I wanted to conquer? It was there but not the one I expected. Where else was I to go if the two cultures I grew up to love and call my own rejected my origins?
I could not think of any other place so I decided to leave what I thought was the place to be and came back to what I knew best and loved, Washington. Even though I may be looked at as an outcast or as someone that does not belong here I know how to handle the ugly wave that discrimination raises. Who has the power to say where one is to go? No one but ourselves. I do not think one has to be where society pushes one to be. Washington is my home. This is where I was born, this is where my memories lie and this is where my roots will continue to sprout permissible. Mexico will always be in my heart because that is where some of the most important people in my life are from but I cannot say that is a place I can call my own.
As I arrived into México it felt odd being in a new place where everyone spoke a different language, Spanish. The way of life was not exactly what I was accustomed to. In a sense it felt more liberal than what I was used to back in the states. People walking down the street would greet me, which was a shock. I thought to myself, “Why are they saying hi to me, they don’t even know who I am”. Everything was so different. For example, the local businesses where closed from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they closed up at 2 p.m. until the following day. The life style in México was much more relaxed and stress free. People there were not as worried about life as we Americans tend to do so. They take life with ease. No difference in the rich or poor folks besides their economic status and the way each lives. Even though poverty is abundant in Mexico most poor people seemed to live happy as well. I would see folks living in shacks with not much to eat and they always had a smile on their faces. Overall, it was such a culture shock to me but I liked the “new world” I was trying to conquer. It did feel a little odd but I began to get the hang of things there. At this point I was in love with Mexico and wishing this journey had been done a long time ago. I even asked my parents if it was ok for me to stay in Mexico and attend school there. I was 19 years old and still lived with my parents, so I still had to have their approval. It was a debate that lasted for days but they finally gave in. I ended up staying in Mexico with my extended family for about 2 years. Little did I know what my mouth and my way of life in the states were going to get me in to.
Enrolling into college was not easy. First off, the director did not like the fact that I was Chicana also known as a female Mexican –American, trying to go to school there. He thought I was not at their college level. Even though I had scored an 8.7 which is approximately a 3.5 college GPA score in the assessment test. According to the director, the U.S education expectations are lower than the ones in Mexico. My grandmother had to pull some strings and talk to people at the school board in order for me to attend college. Then came the worse, I had no friends. I was a “loner”. Not by choice but because of the circumstances. No one would talk to me because I was not a native. As dumb and weird as this may sound I was being discriminated harsher than what I had experienced at school in the states. I knew how to speak Spanish well but that did not seem to matter, the fact that I was an “American”, was the native’s dislike. Everywhere I went people gave me a look. No matter how hard I tried to fit in I couldn’t hide my origin. I was laughed at, look down on and expected to be dumb and crazy. Not that there isn’t any people that act dumb and crazy in Mexico, but the fact that I am a Chicana made it worse seemed like. It is not that every American is treated this way. Only the Mexican-Americans do not fit according to Mexican citizens. Just as there are labels for Latinos in the U.S there are labels for Chicanos in Mexico. A Chicano is a drug addict, liberal, trash, has neither morals nor self respect. Chicanos are up to no good and will always be losers because according to natives this is part of the American culture. I couldn’t believe what I was going through. What happened to the world I wanted to conquer? It was there but not the one I expected. Where else was I to go if the two cultures I grew up to love and call my own rejected my origins?
I could not think of any other place so I decided to leave what I thought was the place to be and came back to what I knew best and loved, Washington. Even though I may be looked at as an outcast or as someone that does not belong here I know how to handle the ugly wave that discrimination raises. Who has the power to say where one is to go? No one but ourselves. I do not think one has to be where society pushes one to be. Washington is my home. This is where I was born, this is where my memories lie and this is where my roots will continue to sprout permissible. Mexico will always be in my heart because that is where some of the most important people in my life are from but I cannot say that is a place I can call my own.
Portfolio: Final Exam
Writing can be a complicated task. There is so much to writing than just words combined, grammar and punctuation. A well written paper needs a life of its own. In order to give it life, revision must go hand in hand with the writing. Revision is a key part in an excellent paper. Revision is what helps the writer notice all the details, and flaws the paper might have. This way, the writer can make the needed changes to have an interesting and engaging piece of art. It is quite difficult to get it just right the first time. According to the writer Nora Ephron, she states in her article called Revision and Life: Take it From the Top—Again, “When I was in college, I revised nothing. I wrote out my papers in longhand, typed them up and turned them in. It would never have crossed my mind that what I had produced was only a first draft and that I had more work to do; the idea was to get to the end, and once you had got to the end you were finished” I can relate to what she says, I did the same.
I was never really interested in writing. I mean I did write here and there, for example, in school, journals, diaries and a few poems but nothing extraordinary. In school I remember I always got good grades for my writing. Revision was out of the question. I did not want to spend extra time looking through my paper which was not of my interest to begin with. I did check for spelling and punctuation that was all I needed. If it needed more ideas or information oh well I knew I was going to get a good grade anyways so why bother? With this in mind little did I know what I was in for when I took writing 101.
Writing 101 really shook my leg. I came in not knowing what to expect but certain I was going to get a good grade and nothing less. I was so wrong. I learned there was much more to writing than just combining words. An excellent paper must be argumentative because not every reader might agree with what we are trying to say. Keeping in mind that the “I say” is relevant but acknowledging the “they say” as well. I have to say this was pretty difficult for me to accomplish because in the past I never really cared what others thought all I wanted was to get my point across. I am glad I managed to incorporate both sides in my writing. Now I know I still need some more work added more of my voice in my writing but I take it day by day.
Acknowledging the flaws I had in writing was not easy but enforcing my strengths was an accomplishment. One of those strengths is my willingness to learn more about writing and making an effort to use that knowledge. Without the eagerness to learn anything that one needs improvement in will never change. I know I am not a good writer yet but practice makes perfect. Next time I write I will make an effort to revise and show interest in my paper not only for my sake but for the reader’s sake as well.
I was never really interested in writing. I mean I did write here and there, for example, in school, journals, diaries and a few poems but nothing extraordinary. In school I remember I always got good grades for my writing. Revision was out of the question. I did not want to spend extra time looking through my paper which was not of my interest to begin with. I did check for spelling and punctuation that was all I needed. If it needed more ideas or information oh well I knew I was going to get a good grade anyways so why bother? With this in mind little did I know what I was in for when I took writing 101.
Writing 101 really shook my leg. I came in not knowing what to expect but certain I was going to get a good grade and nothing less. I was so wrong. I learned there was much more to writing than just combining words. An excellent paper must be argumentative because not every reader might agree with what we are trying to say. Keeping in mind that the “I say” is relevant but acknowledging the “they say” as well. I have to say this was pretty difficult for me to accomplish because in the past I never really cared what others thought all I wanted was to get my point across. I am glad I managed to incorporate both sides in my writing. Now I know I still need some more work added more of my voice in my writing but I take it day by day.
Acknowledging the flaws I had in writing was not easy but enforcing my strengths was an accomplishment. One of those strengths is my willingness to learn more about writing and making an effort to use that knowledge. Without the eagerness to learn anything that one needs improvement in will never change. I know I am not a good writer yet but practice makes perfect. Next time I write I will make an effort to revise and show interest in my paper not only for my sake but for the reader’s sake as well.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Reflecton letter
It never came to me easily. I always received good grades for what I thought was good writing. Never acknowledging what a well written paper had to include. How was I supposed to know, the grade gave me the thought that the paper was outstanding. This is where my instructor takes part in my writing venture. I came to realize that what I once thought was remarkable writing was nothing more but nonsense. Writing 101 really shook my leg. It was difficult to recognize the flaws I had and still have. That was not the hard part though; acknowledging which were the flaws was my struggle. My ability to take criticism in a positive way and making it a learning tool was the key to making a change.
For example, the thesis statement needed to be clear and specific. Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning is going to make the paper dull. Referring back to essay #2, “Sex offenders should be categorized as a mental illness. If sex offenders commit crime due to mental illness and housing is a human right, then sex offenders should be in a mental institute”. I used that as my thesis statement but it was too broad. From the feedback I got from the peer review I was able to notice this flaw. As Kramer commented “But while reading I can't help wondering what is your standpoint on other kinds of sexual offenders? Do men who expose themselves to someone deserve a life sentence? Or what about someone who has consensual sex with an underage partner?” Which I agree it needed to be clear and specific maybe I could have said child molesters instead of sex offenders. This would have helped the reader know whom I was referring to and where my point of view stood.
In addition, making a change to where my introduction had a strong attention getter gave me the opportunity to engage the reader in my writing. In essay #2 I gave a more descriptive introduction allowing the reader to get a “feel” of what I was going to reveal next. “I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare”. Craig McKinney commented to that “The attention getter is SO good, and I am hooked from the opening”. It was such a relief to hear that from him because it was stressful trying to find a way to be more engaging. I truly appreciated the way the instructor graded our writing, this allowed me to focus on my writing rather than on the grade. Not to say that the grade does not matter but rather that I became interested in my own writing.
Writing 101 was in all a challenge for me this quarter. I came in not knowing what to expect but thinking it would be a piece of cake. I truly did not expect to learn a lot from this class. It helped me emphasize my strengths and learn to work on my flaws. Now I know I am not leaving here to become a professional writer but more like an interesting one. My learning does not come to an end with the conclusion of writing 101, I will continue to learn and improve my writing from now on. Taking with me the knowledge I gained in writing 101 to make an effort writing excellent papers for future classes. In addition, I am grateful for the positive feedback from the peer reviews. Especially to my instructor who planted the seed of interest in me. I’ am not trying to suck up to him; I simply want to acknowledge the impact he had on me towards writing. Oh and who can forget the unique sense of humor with the hilarious sound effects.
For example, the thesis statement needed to be clear and specific. Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning is going to make the paper dull. Referring back to essay #2, “Sex offenders should be categorized as a mental illness. If sex offenders commit crime due to mental illness and housing is a human right, then sex offenders should be in a mental institute”. I used that as my thesis statement but it was too broad. From the feedback I got from the peer review I was able to notice this flaw. As Kramer commented “But while reading I can't help wondering what is your standpoint on other kinds of sexual offenders? Do men who expose themselves to someone deserve a life sentence? Or what about someone who has consensual sex with an underage partner?” Which I agree it needed to be clear and specific maybe I could have said child molesters instead of sex offenders. This would have helped the reader know whom I was referring to and where my point of view stood.
In addition, making a change to where my introduction had a strong attention getter gave me the opportunity to engage the reader in my writing. In essay #2 I gave a more descriptive introduction allowing the reader to get a “feel” of what I was going to reveal next. “I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare”. Craig McKinney commented to that “The attention getter is SO good, and I am hooked from the opening”. It was such a relief to hear that from him because it was stressful trying to find a way to be more engaging. I truly appreciated the way the instructor graded our writing, this allowed me to focus on my writing rather than on the grade. Not to say that the grade does not matter but rather that I became interested in my own writing.
Writing 101 was in all a challenge for me this quarter. I came in not knowing what to expect but thinking it would be a piece of cake. I truly did not expect to learn a lot from this class. It helped me emphasize my strengths and learn to work on my flaws. Now I know I am not leaving here to become a professional writer but more like an interesting one. My learning does not come to an end with the conclusion of writing 101, I will continue to learn and improve my writing from now on. Taking with me the knowledge I gained in writing 101 to make an effort writing excellent papers for future classes. In addition, I am grateful for the positive feedback from the peer reviews. Especially to my instructor who planted the seed of interest in me. I’ am not trying to suck up to him; I simply want to acknowledge the impact he had on me towards writing. Oh and who can forget the unique sense of humor with the hilarious sound effects.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Reflection letter
It never came to me easily. I always received good grades for what I thought was good writing. Never acknowledging what a well written paper had to include. How was I supposed to know, the grade gave me the thought that the paper was outstanding. This is where my instructor takes part in my writing venture. I came to realize that what I once thought was remarkable writing was nothing more but nonsense. Writing 101 really shook my leg. It was difficult to recognize the flaws I had and still have. That was not the hard part though; acknowledging which were the flaws was my struggle. My ability to take criticism in a positive way and making it a learning tool was the key to making a change.
For example, the thesis statement needed to be clear and specific. Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning is going to make the paper dull. Referring back to essay #2, “Sex offenders should be categorized as a mental illness. If sex offenders commit crime due to mental illness and housing is a human right, then sex offenders should be in a mental institute”. I used that as my thesis statement but it was too broad. From the feedback I got from the peer review I was able to notice this flaw. As Kramer commented “But while reading I can't help wondering what is your standpoint on other kinds of sexual offenders? Do men who expose themselves to someone deserve a life sentence? Or what about someone who has consensual sex with an underage partner?” Which I agree it needed to be clear and specific maybe I could have said child molesters instead of sex offenders. This would have helped the reader know whom I was referring to and where my point of view stood.
In addition, making a change to where my introduction had a strong attention getter gave me the opportunity to engage the reader in my writing. In essay #2 I gave a more descriptive introduction allowing the reader to get a “feel” of what I was going to reveal next. “I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare”. Craig McKinney commented to that “The attention getter is SO good, and I am hooked from the opening”. It was such a relief to hear that from him because it was stressful trying to find a way to be more engaging. Which might have helped me get a better grade on this essay compared to essay #1? I truly appreciate the way the instructor grades our writing, this allows me to focus on my writing rather than the grade I will get. Not to say that the grade does not matter but rather that I became interested in my own writing.
Writing 101 was in all a challenge for me this quarter. I came in not knowing what to expect but thinking it would be a piece of cake. I truly did not expect to learn a lot from this class. It helped me emphasize my strengths and learn to work on my flaws. Now I know I am not leaving here to become a professional writer but more like an interesting one. My learning does not come to a stop with the end of writing 101, I will continue to learn and improve my writing from now on. Taking with me the knowledge I gained in writing 101 to make an effort writing excellent papers for future classes. In addition, I am grateful for the positive feedback from the peer reviews. Especially to my instructor who planted the seed of interest in me. Iam not trying to suck up to him; I simply want to acknowledge the impact he had on me towards writing.
For example, the thesis statement needed to be clear and specific. Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning is going to make the paper dull. Referring back to essay #2, “Sex offenders should be categorized as a mental illness. If sex offenders commit crime due to mental illness and housing is a human right, then sex offenders should be in a mental institute”. I used that as my thesis statement but it was too broad. From the feedback I got from the peer review I was able to notice this flaw. As Kramer commented “But while reading I can't help wondering what is your standpoint on other kinds of sexual offenders? Do men who expose themselves to someone deserve a life sentence? Or what about someone who has consensual sex with an underage partner?” Which I agree it needed to be clear and specific maybe I could have said child molesters instead of sex offenders. This would have helped the reader know whom I was referring to and where my point of view stood.
In addition, making a change to where my introduction had a strong attention getter gave me the opportunity to engage the reader in my writing. In essay #2 I gave a more descriptive introduction allowing the reader to get a “feel” of what I was going to reveal next. “I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare”. Craig McKinney commented to that “The attention getter is SO good, and I am hooked from the opening”. It was such a relief to hear that from him because it was stressful trying to find a way to be more engaging. Which might have helped me get a better grade on this essay compared to essay #1? I truly appreciate the way the instructor grades our writing, this allows me to focus on my writing rather than the grade I will get. Not to say that the grade does not matter but rather that I became interested in my own writing.
Writing 101 was in all a challenge for me this quarter. I came in not knowing what to expect but thinking it would be a piece of cake. I truly did not expect to learn a lot from this class. It helped me emphasize my strengths and learn to work on my flaws. Now I know I am not leaving here to become a professional writer but more like an interesting one. My learning does not come to a stop with the end of writing 101, I will continue to learn and improve my writing from now on. Taking with me the knowledge I gained in writing 101 to make an effort writing excellent papers for future classes. In addition, I am grateful for the positive feedback from the peer reviews. Especially to my instructor who planted the seed of interest in me. Iam not trying to suck up to him; I simply want to acknowledge the impact he had on me towards writing.
reflection letter( rough draft)
It never came to me easily. I always received good grades for what I thought was good writing. Never acknowledging what a well written paper had to include. I do know that I have good ideas once the topic becomes of my interest. At times it is difficult for me to integrate those ideas into one ideal point. I knew I had to get my point across but I thought that if I included “I say” then the paper lost its interest. I mean who would want to know what I had to say because I did not care much about others opinion either. Never really bothered to try because the only thing I cared about was the good grade I knew I would get. Now I do not know why I got the good grade if my writing at times made no sense. My sentence structures make no sense. I jump from one idea to another. This makes it difficult for the reader to engage into my writing focusing on one thing only.
Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning made matters worse. An example would be the first few sentences in my essay #2. It reads “Adjusting to the American life after the military is a daunting challenge for the troops. Some troops returning home face the harsh reality of becoming homeless”. It gives the idea that I want to talk about homeless veterans but this statement seems too vague. Now in the past I would have thought this was an excellent approach into the topic and would have longed for my A. By taking writing 101 I am able to recognize this flaw. Something I am good at is taking criticism from the readers in a positive way. I am eager to learn more so the feedback gives me a possible idea of what the reader may want to see. This way I can please both myself and the reader.
Without an interesting thesis statement to capture my reader from the very beginning made matters worse. An example would be the first few sentences in my essay #2. It reads “Adjusting to the American life after the military is a daunting challenge for the troops. Some troops returning home face the harsh reality of becoming homeless”. It gives the idea that I want to talk about homeless veterans but this statement seems too vague. Now in the past I would have thought this was an excellent approach into the topic and would have longed for my A. By taking writing 101 I am able to recognize this flaw. Something I am good at is taking criticism from the readers in a positive way. I am eager to learn more so the feedback gives me a possible idea of what the reader may want to see. This way I can please both myself and the reader.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Not from here nor from there ( essay 3 rough draft)
Racial discrimination has always been an issue in the U.S. Being born a Mexican-American is no exception. I have always struggled to “fit in”. Growing up I had to face the cruelty most minorities struggle with everyday. Such as; feeling like an outcast because of what people said, teachers underestimating our ability to do well in school because of our ethnic background. Even though I always had A’s and B’s and made it to the National Honor Society. In addition, the belief that Latinos could not achieve much in life. I really never let all of that mess get to my head but at times I did feel bad. So I thought well if I do not belong here then where would I go? Mexico was the first place that came into mind; after all, my parents are from Mexico. Finally in the year 2000 the opportunity to travel to Mexico came. My parents decided to take a family vacation. “We are off to Mexico”! My mother said. Happiness invaded my mind and nervousness bubbled inside my body. I was ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to meet the long lost family I had in Mexico and be in touch with my roots. The only two things I knew of that place was the language and the warm handmade tortillas my mother made. I did not know what to expect but I imagined love, happiness, and sun from what I was told. My mother always talked about the palm trees, the beaches and the beautiful hot sunny days all year long. I was excited to see all of that. Living in Washington banned me from that sun mostly all year so I was eager to have it shine on me. As we departed, I was emotionally distraught because I was leaving my American life behind until further notice, but excited to see a new world. As a minority in this country it is not easy to blend into society as an “American” because there are still people out there who see minorities as an outcast. With this in mind I thought well maybe Mexico is the place for me to be. I couldn’t be seen as an outcast there I mean come on it would be like kicking the fish out of the water, where else are they to go? So off I went with my family on this journey.
As I arrived into México it felt odd being in a new place where everyone spoke a different language, Spanish. The way of life was not exactly what I was accustomed to. In a sense it felt more liberal than what I was used to back in the states. People walking down the street would greet me, which was a shock. I thought to myself, “Why are they saying hi to me, they don’t even know who I am”. Everything was so different. For example, the local businesses where closed from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they closed up at 2 p.m. until the following day. The life style in México was much more relaxed and stress free. People there were not as worried about life as we Americans tend to do so. They take life with ease. No difference in the rich or poor folks besides their economic status and the way each lives. Even though poverty is abundant in Mexico most poor people seemed to live happy as well. I would see folks living in shacks with not much to eat and they always had a smile on their faces. Overall, it was such a culture shock to me but I liked the “new world” I was trying to conquer. It did feel a little odd but I began to get the hang of things there. At this point I was in love with Mexico and wishing this journey had been done a long time ago. I even asked my parents if it was ok for me to stay in Mexico and attend school there. I was 19 years old and still lived with my parents, so I still had to have their approval. It was a debate that lasted for days but they finally gave in. I ended up staying in Mexico with my extended family for about 2 years. Little did I know what my mouth and my way of life in the states were going to get me in to.
Enrolling into college was not easy. First off, the director did not like the fact that I was Chicana also known as a female Mexican –American, trying to go to school there. He thought I was not at their college level. Even though I had scored an 8.7 which is approximately a 3.5 college GPA score in the assessment test. According to the director, the U.S education expectations are lower than the ones in Mexico. My grandmother had to pull some strings and talk to people at the school board in order for me to attend college. Then came the worse, I had no friends. I was a “loner”. Not by choice but because of the circumstances. No one would talk to me because I was not a native. As dumb and weird as this may sound I was being discriminated harsher than what I had experienced at school in the states. I knew how to speak Spanish well but that did not seem to matter, the fact that I was an “American”, was the native’s dislike. Everywhere I went people gave me a look. No matter how hard I tried to fit in I couldn’t hide my origin. I was laughed at, look down on and expected to be dumb and crazy. Not that there isn’t any people that act dumb and crazy in Mexico, but the fact that I am a Chicana made it worse seemed like. It is not that every American is treated this way. Only the Mexican-Americans do not fit according to Mexican citizens. Just as there are labels for Latinos in the U.S there are labels for Chicanos in Mexico. A Chicano is a drug addict, liberal, trash, has neither morals nor self respect. Chicanos are up to no good and will always be losers because according to natives this is part of the American culture. I couldn’t believe what I was going through. What happened to the world I wanted to conquer? It was there but not the one I expected. Where else was I to go if the two cultures I grew up to love and call my own rejected my origins?
I could not think of any other place so I decided to leave what I thought was the place to be and came back to what I knew best and loved, Washington. Even though I may be looked at as an outcast or as someone that does not belong here I know how to handle the ugly wave that discrimination raises. Who has the power to say where one is to go? No one but ourselves. I do not think one has to be where society pushes one to be. Washington is my home. This is where I was born, this is where my memories lie and this is where my roots will continue to sprout permissible. Mexico will always be in my heart because that is where some of the most important people in my life are from but I cannot say that is a place I can call my own.
As I arrived into México it felt odd being in a new place where everyone spoke a different language, Spanish. The way of life was not exactly what I was accustomed to. In a sense it felt more liberal than what I was used to back in the states. People walking down the street would greet me, which was a shock. I thought to myself, “Why are they saying hi to me, they don’t even know who I am”. Everything was so different. For example, the local businesses where closed from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they closed up at 2 p.m. until the following day. The life style in México was much more relaxed and stress free. People there were not as worried about life as we Americans tend to do so. They take life with ease. No difference in the rich or poor folks besides their economic status and the way each lives. Even though poverty is abundant in Mexico most poor people seemed to live happy as well. I would see folks living in shacks with not much to eat and they always had a smile on their faces. Overall, it was such a culture shock to me but I liked the “new world” I was trying to conquer. It did feel a little odd but I began to get the hang of things there. At this point I was in love with Mexico and wishing this journey had been done a long time ago. I even asked my parents if it was ok for me to stay in Mexico and attend school there. I was 19 years old and still lived with my parents, so I still had to have their approval. It was a debate that lasted for days but they finally gave in. I ended up staying in Mexico with my extended family for about 2 years. Little did I know what my mouth and my way of life in the states were going to get me in to.
Enrolling into college was not easy. First off, the director did not like the fact that I was Chicana also known as a female Mexican –American, trying to go to school there. He thought I was not at their college level. Even though I had scored an 8.7 which is approximately a 3.5 college GPA score in the assessment test. According to the director, the U.S education expectations are lower than the ones in Mexico. My grandmother had to pull some strings and talk to people at the school board in order for me to attend college. Then came the worse, I had no friends. I was a “loner”. Not by choice but because of the circumstances. No one would talk to me because I was not a native. As dumb and weird as this may sound I was being discriminated harsher than what I had experienced at school in the states. I knew how to speak Spanish well but that did not seem to matter, the fact that I was an “American”, was the native’s dislike. Everywhere I went people gave me a look. No matter how hard I tried to fit in I couldn’t hide my origin. I was laughed at, look down on and expected to be dumb and crazy. Not that there isn’t any people that act dumb and crazy in Mexico, but the fact that I am a Chicana made it worse seemed like. It is not that every American is treated this way. Only the Mexican-Americans do not fit according to Mexican citizens. Just as there are labels for Latinos in the U.S there are labels for Chicanos in Mexico. A Chicano is a drug addict, liberal, trash, has neither morals nor self respect. Chicanos are up to no good and will always be losers because according to natives this is part of the American culture. I couldn’t believe what I was going through. What happened to the world I wanted to conquer? It was there but not the one I expected. Where else was I to go if the two cultures I grew up to love and call my own rejected my origins?
I could not think of any other place so I decided to leave what I thought was the place to be and came back to what I knew best and loved, Washington. Even though I may be looked at as an outcast or as someone that does not belong here I know how to handle the ugly wave that discrimination raises. Who has the power to say where one is to go? No one but ourselves. I do not think one has to be where society pushes one to be. Washington is my home. This is where I was born, this is where my memories lie and this is where my roots will continue to sprout permissible. Mexico will always be in my heart because that is where some of the most important people in my life are from but I cannot say that is a place I can call my own.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Hot or Cold? (essay #3)
“We are off to Mexico”! My mother said. Happiness invaded my mind and nervousness bubbled inside my body. I was ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to meet the long lost family I had in Mexico and be in touch with my roots. The only two things I knew of that place was the language and the warm handmade tortillas my mother made. I did not know what to expect but I imagined love, happiness, and church from what I was told. What else was a 10 year old to expect? I believed everything I was told. At that age I thought everything was “pretty in pink”. As we departed, I was emotionally distraught because I was leaving my American life behind until further notice, but excited to see a new world. As a minority in this country it is not easy to blend into society as an “American” because there are still people out there who see minorities as an outcast. With this in mind I thought well maybe Mexico is the place for me to be. I couldn’t be seen as an outcast there I mean come on it would be like kicking the fish out of the water, where else are they to go? And off I went with my family on this journey.
As I arrived into México it felt odd being in a new place where everyone spoke a different language, Spanish. The way of life was not exactly what I was accustomed to. In a sense it felt more liberal than what I was used to back in the states. People walking down the street would greet me, which was a shock. I thought to myself, “Why are they saying hi to me, they don’t even know who I am”. Everything was so different. For example, the local businesses where closed from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they closed up at 2 p.m. until the following day. The life style in México was much more relaxed and stress free. People there were not as worried about life as we Americans tend to do so. Most Mexicans live day by day. It did feel a little awkward but I began to get the hang of things there. At this point I was in love with Mexico and wishing this journey had been done a long time ago. Little did I know what my mouth was going to get me in to.
As I arrived into México it felt odd being in a new place where everyone spoke a different language, Spanish. The way of life was not exactly what I was accustomed to. In a sense it felt more liberal than what I was used to back in the states. People walking down the street would greet me, which was a shock. I thought to myself, “Why are they saying hi to me, they don’t even know who I am”. Everything was so different. For example, the local businesses where closed from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they closed up at 2 p.m. until the following day. The life style in México was much more relaxed and stress free. People there were not as worried about life as we Americans tend to do so. Most Mexicans live day by day. It did feel a little awkward but I began to get the hang of things there. At this point I was in love with Mexico and wishing this journey had been done a long time ago. Little did I know what my mouth was going to get me in to.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
My weaknesses and strengths in writing
Weaknesses:
- Organization ( I have the idea of what I want to incorporate in my writing but I cannot organize it to where it flows).
- Sentence structure ( run-ons).
- Incorporating more "I say".
- Difficulty finding a thesis statement.
Strengths:
- Accepting input (criticism).
- Ideas ( I have great ideas but difficulty integrating them)
- Willingness to learn ( major strength).
- Incorporating the "They say".
Monday, August 4, 2008
Prison, "home sweet home" for child molesters (final draft)
I was drowning in fear, waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare. From the ages of 4-9 years, I was sexually molested by my stepfather. No one surrounding me knew what he was capable of but me. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone. The silence roared in my mind, until I finally built up the courage to speak out. This man was sentenced to 10 years in prison but released in 6 for “good conduct.” When he was released he was registered as a sex offender. That did not stop him, 5 years went by and he moved to another state where he was not required to register. He raped another two little girls and was sent to prison again, last I knew. If the court of justice knew he was capable of committing another crime, I do not understand why he was released the first time. Strongly enforced laws would have deterred him not to reoffend because he would have not had the chance to do so. Some might say that child molesters also have rights and they cannot be locked up forever. Which I agree, but the public also has the right to a safe environment.
Individuals are debating the delicate balance between individual rights and public safety, when it comes to housing sex offenders. About 27 states have enacted legislation that forces serial sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies upon moving into a community and Washington State is one of them. In this country safe housing can be a privilege but to what extent can that privilege be given to sex predators? Sex offenders should have safe housing but with limits. The only two places these child molesters should be placed in are a prison or mental institute. Depending on where their crime stands and why the crime was committed in the first place. If the sex offender committed the crime due to a mental illness he/she should be placed in a mental institute. If not, the only other place for that offender is prison for life. I definitely consider prison and mental institutes safe housing for these predators. Having these predators released and thrown out to the communities would be risking more children. Laws against sexual offenders should be harshly enforced to the fullest extent to prevent reoffends. Some of these sex cons desperately wait their release just to commit an even more horrific crime.
For instance, a detective named Glenn Quantz of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes sex cons are the most manipulative of criminals and will most likely reoffend. Quantz came across a sex offender named Leroy David Fulton, a guy who was sentenced to three life sentences for raping young boys but only served 10 years in jail. Fulton got his master’s degree in psychology while he was in prison and was extraordinary. Fulton’s therapist had stated “I don’t think of Fulton as a client, I think of him as a co therapist.” “This guy is dangerous, and his reoffend cycle says he should be offending right now.” When Fulton was released he was exposed to the community. He was a registered sex offender but that did not stop him from “hunting his prey.” Detective Quantz soon found out Fulton had joined an astronomy club where he befriended two families with children and had already been giving the kids gifts. To me this is a clear example of why I believe sex offenders should be in prison for life or in a mental institute. I do not think there is any other way for it. Now does this clash with the sex offender’s individual rights? Not so much because they had a choice either to comply with the laws and have his/her rights respected or break the law and loose that right. The choice was theirs to make and they made it by committing the crime. They still have their right to safe housing maybe not in the way these child molesters would like to but better than living under a bridge or roaming in our neighborhoods endangering our children. What is the best solution? A life sentence is a possible preclusion.
Supporters to this idea believe lengthy mandatory prison sentences would deter repeat child sex offenders. But there are those who oppose to such thing. An article in the Houston Chronicle in 2007 stated that some opponents agreed that lengthy sentences would prompt prosecutors to charge offenders with lesser crimes and would dissuade families from reporting child sexual abuse. It also stated that predators might be more likely to kill their victims to silence them. I see the opponents point but I do not agree with this because lengthy sentences might not stop sexual abuse but will deter sexual abuse offenders. As for short sentences, this will also not stop sexual abuse but will allow for offenders to commit a crime again because they know they will be released sooner rather than later. This allows them to plot their next crime. As for if they are incarcerated for life or in a mental institute they will not have the slight chance to commit another crime. An article in the CQ Researcher online talks about a Washington State resident in the late 1980s named Earl Shriner who was a sexual predator.
Earl Shriner had a 24 year history of sexual violence and had spent a decade in prison after kidnapping and raping two 16 –year-old girls. Shortly before he was scheduled to be released from a Washington state prison in 1988, prison officials came across a dilemma. Shriner had drawn pictures and written in his diary about torturing children once he was free. As awful as this looks nothing was done in regards to this because he had already served his time. Shortly after Shriner was released he raped, stabbed, and sexually mutilated a 7 year old boy, who survived the attack and was able to identify his aggressor. It is ridiculous how many children have to go through such a nightmare in order for the law to finally put a sex con in prison. I really believe the only way to decrease sexual crimes and properly place sexual offenders in a safe housing environment for them and our selves is prison or mental institutes. It cannot be said that these sex cons housing rights are being taken away from them, but it can be said that they have been modified. With every right we have a choice and with every choice there is a consequence. To keep our right or lose it is merely up to each individual. These sex offenders made the choice to possibly lose their right to live in freedom and a normal setting. Therefore, they should not be given a second chance and should be incarcerated for life. Victims were not given a second chance when they were living such appalling crime, then why should the offenders?
Links: R.G. Ratcliffe (Houston Chronicle 2007)
Congressional Quarterly 16 (2006) (Sex offenders)
Congressional Quarterly 6 (1996) (Punishing sex offenders)
Individuals are debating the delicate balance between individual rights and public safety, when it comes to housing sex offenders. About 27 states have enacted legislation that forces serial sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies upon moving into a community and Washington State is one of them. In this country safe housing can be a privilege but to what extent can that privilege be given to sex predators? Sex offenders should have safe housing but with limits. The only two places these child molesters should be placed in are a prison or mental institute. Depending on where their crime stands and why the crime was committed in the first place. If the sex offender committed the crime due to a mental illness he/she should be placed in a mental institute. If not, the only other place for that offender is prison for life. I definitely consider prison and mental institutes safe housing for these predators. Having these predators released and thrown out to the communities would be risking more children. Laws against sexual offenders should be harshly enforced to the fullest extent to prevent reoffends. Some of these sex cons desperately wait their release just to commit an even more horrific crime.
For instance, a detective named Glenn Quantz of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes sex cons are the most manipulative of criminals and will most likely reoffend. Quantz came across a sex offender named Leroy David Fulton, a guy who was sentenced to three life sentences for raping young boys but only served 10 years in jail. Fulton got his master’s degree in psychology while he was in prison and was extraordinary. Fulton’s therapist had stated “I don’t think of Fulton as a client, I think of him as a co therapist.” “This guy is dangerous, and his reoffend cycle says he should be offending right now.” When Fulton was released he was exposed to the community. He was a registered sex offender but that did not stop him from “hunting his prey.” Detective Quantz soon found out Fulton had joined an astronomy club where he befriended two families with children and had already been giving the kids gifts. To me this is a clear example of why I believe sex offenders should be in prison for life or in a mental institute. I do not think there is any other way for it. Now does this clash with the sex offender’s individual rights? Not so much because they had a choice either to comply with the laws and have his/her rights respected or break the law and loose that right. The choice was theirs to make and they made it by committing the crime. They still have their right to safe housing maybe not in the way these child molesters would like to but better than living under a bridge or roaming in our neighborhoods endangering our children. What is the best solution? A life sentence is a possible preclusion.
Supporters to this idea believe lengthy mandatory prison sentences would deter repeat child sex offenders. But there are those who oppose to such thing. An article in the Houston Chronicle in 2007 stated that some opponents agreed that lengthy sentences would prompt prosecutors to charge offenders with lesser crimes and would dissuade families from reporting child sexual abuse. It also stated that predators might be more likely to kill their victims to silence them. I see the opponents point but I do not agree with this because lengthy sentences might not stop sexual abuse but will deter sexual abuse offenders. As for short sentences, this will also not stop sexual abuse but will allow for offenders to commit a crime again because they know they will be released sooner rather than later. This allows them to plot their next crime. As for if they are incarcerated for life or in a mental institute they will not have the slight chance to commit another crime. An article in the CQ Researcher online talks about a Washington State resident in the late 1980s named Earl Shriner who was a sexual predator.
Earl Shriner had a 24 year history of sexual violence and had spent a decade in prison after kidnapping and raping two 16 –year-old girls. Shortly before he was scheduled to be released from a Washington state prison in 1988, prison officials came across a dilemma. Shriner had drawn pictures and written in his diary about torturing children once he was free. As awful as this looks nothing was done in regards to this because he had already served his time. Shortly after Shriner was released he raped, stabbed, and sexually mutilated a 7 year old boy, who survived the attack and was able to identify his aggressor. It is ridiculous how many children have to go through such a nightmare in order for the law to finally put a sex con in prison. I really believe the only way to decrease sexual crimes and properly place sexual offenders in a safe housing environment for them and our selves is prison or mental institutes. It cannot be said that these sex cons housing rights are being taken away from them, but it can be said that they have been modified. With every right we have a choice and with every choice there is a consequence. To keep our right or lose it is merely up to each individual. These sex offenders made the choice to possibly lose their right to live in freedom and a normal setting. Therefore, they should not be given a second chance and should be incarcerated for life. Victims were not given a second chance when they were living such appalling crime, then why should the offenders?
Links: R.G. Ratcliffe (Houston Chronicle 2007)
Congressional Quarterly 16 (2006) (Sex offenders)
Congressional Quarterly 6 (1996) (Punishing sex offenders)
Prison, a "home sweet home" for child molesters.
I was drowning in fear,waiting for someone to see the anxiety in my eyes. I was walking through a dark tunnel with no end to this nightmare. From the ages of 4-9 years, I was sexually molested by my stepfather. No one surrounding me knew what he was capable of but me. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone. The silence roared in my mind, until I finally built up the courage to speak out. This man was sentenced to 10 years in prison but released in 6 for “good conduct.” When he was released he was registered as a sex offender. That did not stop him, 5 years went by and he moved to another state where he was not required to register. He raped another two little girls and was sent to prison again, last I knew. If the court of justice knew he was capable of committing another crime, I do not understand why he was relaesed the first time. Strongly enforced laws would have deter him not to reoffend because he would of not had the chance to do so. Some might say that child molesters also have rights and they cannot be locked up forever. Which I agree but the public also has the right to a safety environment. Individuals are debating the delicate balance between individual rights and public safety, when it comes to housing sex offenders. About 27 states have enacted legislation that forces serial sex offenders to register with local law enforcement agencies upon moving into a community and Washington State is one of them. In this country safe housing can be a privilege but to what extent can that privilege be given to sex predators? Sex offenders should have safe housing but with limits. The only two places these child molesters should be placed in are a prison or mental institute. Depending on where their crime stands and why the crime was committed in the first place. If the sex offender committed the crime due to a mental illness he/she should be placed in a mental institute. If not, the only other place for that offender is prison for life. I definitely consider prison and mental institutes safe housing for these predators. Having these predators released and thrown out to the communities would be risking more children. Laws against sexual offenders should be harshly enforced to the fullest extent to prevent reoffends.Some of these sex cons desperately wait their release just to commit an even more horrific crime. For instance, a detective named Glenn Quantz of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office believes sex cons are the most manipulative of criminals and will most likely reoffend. Quantz came across a sex offender named Leroy David Fulton, a guy who was sentenced to three life sentences for raping young boys but only served 10 years in jail. Fulton got his master’s degree in psychology while he was in prison and was extraordinary. Fulton’s therapist had stated “I don’t think of Fulton as a client, I think of him as a co therapist.” “This guy is dangerous, and his reoffend cycle says he should be offending right now.” When Fulton was released he was exposed to the community. He was a registered sex offender but that did not stop him from “hunting his prey.” Detective Quantz soon found out Fulton had joined an astronomy club where he befriended two families with children and had already been giving the kids gifts. To me this is a clear example of why I believe sex offenders should be in prison for life or in a mental institute. I do not think there is any other way for it. Now does this clash with the sex offender’s individual rights? Not so much because they had a choice either to comply with the laws and have his/her rights respected or break the law and loose that right. The choice was theirs to make and they made it by committing the crime. They still have their right to safe housing maybe not in the way these child molesters would like to but better than living under a bridge or roaming in our neighborhoods endangering our children. What is the best solution? A life sentence is a possible preclusion. Supporters to this idea believe lengthy mandatory prison sentences would deter repeat child sex offenders. But there are those who oppose to such thing. An article in the Houston Chronicle in 2007 stated that some opponents agreed that lengthy sentences would prompt prosecutors to charge offenders with lesser crimes and would dissuade families from reporting child sexual abuse. It also stated that predators might be more likely to kill their victims to silence them. I see the opponents point but I do not agree with this because lengthy sentences might not stop sexual abuse but will deter sexual abuse offenders. As for short sentences, this will also not stop sexual abuse but will allow for offenders to commit a crime again because they know they will be released sooner rather than later. This allows them to plot their next crime. As for if they are incarcerated for life or in a mental institute they will not have the slight chance to commit another crime. An article in the CQ Researcher online talks about a Washington State resident in the late 1980s named Earl Shriner who was a sexual predator. Earl Shriner had a 24 year history of sexual violence and had spent a decade in prison after kidnapping and raping two 16 –year-old girls. Shortly before he was scheduled to be released from a Washington state prison in 1988, prison officials came across a dilemma. Shriner had drawn pictures and written in his diary about torturing children once he was free. As awful as this looks nothing was done in regards to this because he had already served his time. Shortly after Shriner was released he raped, stabbed, and sexually mutilated a 7 year old boy, who survived the attack and was able to identify his aggressor. It is ridiculous how many children have to go through such a nightmare in order for the law to finally put a sex con in prison. I really believe the only way to decrease sexual crimes and properly place sexual offenders in a safe housing environment for them and ourselves is prison or mental institutes. It cannot be said that these sex cons housing rights are being taken away from them, but it can be said that they have been modified. With every right we have a choice and with every choice there is a consequence. To keep our right or lose it is merely up to each individual. These sex offenders made the choice to possibly lose their right to live in freedom and a normal setting. Therefore, they should not be given a second chance and should be incarcerated for life. Victims where not given a second chance when they were living such appalling crime, then why should the offenders? links: R.G. Ratcliffe (Houston Chronicle 2007)Congressional Quarterly 16 (2006) (Sex offenders)Congressional Quarterly 6 (1996) (Punishing sex offenders)
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