Should Juvenile Offenders Be Tried And Punished As Adults?

Wow, this is a tough one. Or is it? My opinion on this matter is that if you are a juvenile and have been involved in three violent crimes you should be sent to prison.



When I was growing up in the 1960's you heard of that one or two juveniles that were "trouble makers". It may have been skipping school, smoking dope, and or drinking alcohol. Now, we are in the year 2011. I cannot believe the horrible crimes that children are committing. Children are robbing, stealing, and murdering. In my opinion, if a child is charged with robbery or theft more that two times they need to go to juvenile detention until they are 18 years of age. No questions asked.



If a child or young adult under 18 years of age is charged with a violent crime three time, they should go to prison for the number of years applicable to the crime. No questions asked, it's prison!!!!



These young offenders can cry all they want. If you act like an adult you should be treated like an adult. We are pumping out drug using, sex offending, murdering children. We need to stop the madness.



This young man may look innocent or did he murder your grandmother. Well, if a young person murders your grandmother it should be off to prison for a life term. Period!!!!



If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. We need to wake up in America to this situation. It is absolutely out of control and it is absolutely unacceptable to put up with this crap.



Todd Marciniak

Where Should Sex Education Be Conducted?

                                          Where and How, If  At All Should Sex Education Be Conducted?

This is an age old question. When I was growing up, sex education was taught in the classroom. However, there were always a few students whose parents did not want them being taught sex education in the classroom. When we were having our sex education lessons, these students were excused to the library. These students always seemed a little embarrassed that they could not particiapate. It always seemed to be Catholic students that were excused.


It is in my opinion that both parents and schools should teach sex education. I fully understand if a parent does not want their child learning in the classroom if they are willing to teach them at home. My fear is that the parents won't discuss sex with them at home.

It is very important to know about sex. It is not something to fear or be ashamed of. The way the world is now, it seems that sex is a free for all for teens. Hell, even elementary students are having sex now.



Sex education is not about learning what positions to use and the best sex you can have, it is about learning about your sexual identity. Most importantly, it is about learning about the consequences of sex. There is pregnancy, rape, and sexually transmitted diseases. Children need to know these consequences.


Hiv/AIDS is on the rise among young people in America. We need these children to know the consequences of their sexual behavior.




In  my opinion sex education should ultimately be taught in the classroom so that we know that children are getting the message about sex. It is not a bad thing to be sexual, the problem comes in when a child is sexually active at a young age and does not know the consequences. They must be informed. This is one persons opinion.





Todd Marciniak
Dayton, Minnesota

Gays in the Military. Should Homosexuals be permitted to serve in the armed forces?

                                                                              Gays in the Military, Oh My!

This may come as a shock to many people, but gays have been serving in the military since the United States has had a military. I don't understand why many people in America see gays using the military as a dating service. There are many gay men and women that are dedicated to their coutry and choose to serve in the armed forces. Why do we think that every gay man is a limp wristed sissy. Why do we think that every gay woman is butch and manly. The last time I checked the military is a very regimented and strict occupation. I
don't see much time for dating and "fooling around" if you know what I mean. I have heard several stories of heterosexuals having sexual escapades in the armed forces. Yes, men shower and bunk with men and women shower and bunk with women. This does not mean that the military is a placefor gays to get laid.








Since the repeal of don't ask don't tell the straight world has been in a tail spin. This does not mean that afghanistan is going to become one big gay night club or bath house. This does not mean that Iraq is going to become the new gay Mecca. I think that gays that are willing to serve are doing it because of their love of country. Gays are equally qualified to serve in the military as staights.


Why do gays have to chain themselves to the White House gate to get attention? This seems a little extreme but it got people to pay attention. I think that people and soldiers need to settle down. Gays can kill just like straights. Gays can be loyal to America just like straights. Gays love their country just as much as straights.




As a country we need to settle down about this issue. If you are gay you should be able to serve in the military. If a gay person or a straight person is inappropriate the armed forces have courts to deal with these issues.


Todd Marciniak

Should donors or their families be compensated for organ donations? How should people be selected to receice donor organs?

                                                       Organ Donation Should Donors Be Paid?

It is in my opinion that  a person should not be compensated financially for organ donation. I think if we start compensating donors for organs we are going to open a door that we don't want opened. In my opinion this will lead to selling organs on the black market. If you can't make your mortgage payment what are you going to do, sell a kidney. This is a very slippery slope.

                                                     

My fear is that there would be new sections on ebay or craigslist to sell organs. The way the system is set up right now that it is a gift and it is anonymous. If it isn't broken, don't fix it.



The way in which a person receives an organ is set up quite well. You have to go through much testing and be put on the donor list. This should remain as it is. If we go to purchasing organs, only the rich would get organs. This is not fair. The system is set up to be fair and it is fair. Again, if it is not broken, don't fix it.


And please, become a donor. It saves lives.

Todd Marciniak


                                

Republican Political Cartoons

This cartoon is great. The republicans see Ronald Reagan as their Messiah.



If Sarah Palin isn't shooting a moose, she's shooting herself in the foot.



From past to present it seems that "all is well with us". Never a problem in the republican party.


President Bush sure had a lot on that torch when he passed it to President Obama.


Finally, why on earth do the republicans identify with this loud mouthed idiot?


I chose republican cartoons because they seem to always be in hot water. They seem to not care about the little guy. They always seem to set themselves up for a good joke or cartoon.

Todd Marciniak

Adoption Records, Should They Be Open?

                                                                                               
                                                                           

I want to start by saying that I was adopted in 1964. I was raised by wonderful parents. My adoptive parents are my true parents. My birth parents only created me. They did not nurture me, teach me how to do math or read, discipline me or praise me. My opinion on adoption records being open is a resounding "NO". My adoption was a closed adoption. My adoptive parents told me that they would not be offended if I found my birth parents, however, they also told me that they would not assist in the search. If we open records it is in my opinion that people who do not want to be found will be hunted down. Many birth parents have held there putting a child up for adoption a secret there whole lives. On the other hand, if records were opened, my birth parents might hunt me down. At this point in my life I am not ready to meet them and I don't know if I ever will. My adoptive parents in my mind are my true parents. My siblings were also adopted. My sister found her parents and had a relationship for three years. One day out of the blue my sister recieved a telephone call from her birth mom stating that she never wanted to speak to her again. This threw my sister into a tail spin. She was hurt and confused.

I believe that if you were adopted through a closed adoption, the birth parents and the adoptive child need to go through that agency to contact either side. There are plans in place through a closed adoption and they are to protect both sides.

I feel that some celebrities are plastering their adopted children all over the media. Where is the respect and privacy that I had as an adopted child?


MADDONA

The Man With the Golden Voice

http://www.popeater.com/2011/01/07/ted-williams-reunites-with-mom-julia-video/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk5%7C35134 

                           THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE IS REUNITED WITH MOM
                                                     

This is a wonderful story of rags to riches. A homeless man is discovered for his talents and gets a chance to make his way in the world. In the clip where Ted Williams meets with his mom for the first time in ten years, you can see that a mom never loses her love for a child and a son never loses his love for his mom. What I also see is that a mom never wants her child to disappoint her and a son never wants to disappoint his mom. In this clip I have noticed that Mrs. Williams is a little reserved as he is very jubilant about his future. I think by her statement that she has heard all of his promises before that she is a little reluctant that he will keep clean and make an honest living. I believe that all the media hype could cause some bad situations. Such as when Mr. Williams addressed that when he couldn't get in touch with his mom he thought that she may have been kidnapped. I have some concerns about Mr. Williams future. When the media and the hype is gone, will he sink back into old habits and his old ways. Addiction is a very difficult habit to break. I realize that Mr. Williams has been clean for two years. My concern is that with fame and a lot of money, you have the connections to obtain drugs and alcohol and whatever else. I thought that the reunion was wonderful and touched my heart very much. Mr. Williams was able to see places in New York where his mom had taken him as a child, such as Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. I noticed that Mrs. Williams seemed a little uncomfortable when Mr. Williams began discussing contracts and would tell her of the money offered later. It almost seemed that she was thinking that he would have to prove himself to her. I don't think his track record with her is very good. Trust issues are difficult to mend. I hope that he proves to his mom that he is on the right track. She is 90 years old and I think it is a true blessing that she was able to witness what I believe is a miracle. Some may say that it is just chance that this happened to Mr. Williams. I believe that there is a more grand design and that things happen for a reason. 




                                            Mugshots of Ted Williams
                                        The Man With the Golden Voice


                                                        This is My Fear
                                                                    

 In doing further research on Mr. Williams, I found an article on the smokinggun.com. The article is titled, "Meet The Felon With The Golden Voice". Mr Williams has a lengthy rap sheet that has landed him in jail several times. His crimes range from theft, robbery, escape, forgery, and drug possession. His crimes go back more than two decades. As recently as last July he has had issues with the law. He and a female friend would not remove themselves from the property of a business in Ohio. Williams and the female would beg for money in the parking lot of the business.The police were notified by the business owner. Police arrived and Williams and his female friend were warned that they would be arrested if they returned to the property. I don't mean to be a downer, but it is difficult for a leopard to change his spots. I admire Mr. Williams for offering a little show for the people that give him hand outs. It's not like he did nothing to earn the money. My fear is regression into his past life of crime and addiction. Money and fame do not remove addiction. A person needs to maintain their sobriety on a daily basis. Along with the high paying jobs that Mr. Williams is being offered he should also be offered counseling for drugs and alcohol. Actually, it should be in his contracts that he be in counseling for his issues. I also am a little annoyed that he is able to obtain these positions with his criminal record. You and I would probably not be hired for a postition with these kinds of offenses.

I truly believe that Mr. Williams has a God given gift. My hope is that he stays clean and out of trouble. I do hope that he prospers and succeeds in his fame. Time will tell. I only wish Mr. Williams my best. He must remember however in this day with cameras everywhere that we are all watching.

Todd Marciniak
Dayton, Minnesota

P.S.

What's next? Oprah?









            
I am adding an update on Ted Williams.

Mr. Williams has entered rehab after visiting with Dr. Phil last week. In an article I read that he had been drinking heavily since his recent fame. Dr. Phil also tried to encourage Mr. Williams to get out of a toxic relationship with a drug addict girlfriend. I believe that Mr. Williams is where he needs to be right now. I hope that he can beat this and have a wonderful productive life. I am glad that Dr. Phil stepped in.
 
                                                   Should Pornography Be Restricted By Law?

                                                                                      
Let me start by saying that I am not pro-porn. I don't care to have it my home. The critical question here is should pornography be restricted by law. My answer is a simple no. If we were to have pornography restricted by law we would be basically stomping on the constitution. People have the "right" to own, obtain, and view pornography. The larger issue that I have with pornography is when it gets into the wrong hands. With pornography all over the internet, I am afraid that more and more children are seeing and viewing pornography. My bigger fear is sexual offenders and predators. They should not be able to possess pornography. Unfortunately, this brings us back to the constitution. We cannot just pick and choose who can possess pornography.

Let me know your take on this issue.

Todd Marciniak