Should English Be Declared the Official Language of the United States?

I'm probably going to get some flack on my opinion on this topic. How many times do I need to hear "push two for Spanish"? This is America where we speak English. Our government makes it way too easy for immigrants to function in their native languages through bilingual education, multilingual ballots and driver's license exams not to mention government-funded translators in schools and hospitals.



In my travels to Europe and other countries most people in those countries know English. Why can't our citizens be required to know English. My father and his family were Polish immigrants and my grandparents made them speak English outside of the home as they were no longer in Poland they were in America. It was fine for them to speak Polish inside the home.


I think it is a respect issue if you live in America you should speak English. As an American if I am traveling to a different country perhaps France I purchase a travel dictionary. I do this so I atleast try to speak that language. Again, it is out of respect.



After all English is an international language why shouldn't we speak it in America?

Todd Marciniak

Should Bartenders Be Held Responsible for the Behavior of Their Patrons?

                                                 Who's Monitoring the Local Watering Hole?

                                                                                    

We have all been to the local bar where their has been a drunk unruly customer. Who is at fault for this behavior? Now, I understand that the bartender is not a babysitter on the flip side the bartender should be aware as to how much booze a customer has consumed.
 The customer may not be drinking directly at the bar. If they are being waited on by a waiter or waitress they should report any over drinking and bad behavior.




This is not good behavior!



This is not great behavior to have in a bar. If someone becomes so intoxicated it is this writers opinion that the bar owner, the bartender, and or the waitstaff should be held responsible if their is a bar fight or even worse a drunk driving accident. The establishment should be in charge if someone has been over served and take the patrons car keys away and offer for a cab ride home. The alternative could be fatal.


This is the alternative. We should all be responsible human beings. If we over drink in an establishment that establishment should cut you off and make sure you leave safely and do not operate a motor vehicle.

Todd Marciniak

Should Tobacco Companies Be Held Responsible For Smoking Related Illnesses and Deaths?

                               Are Tobacco Companies On the Hook For Medical Bills and Funerals?
As a smoker myself I do not think that tobacco companies should be held responsible for my habit. I know the harm that smoking can do and yet I choose to smoke.



                                                                                

Where I have a problem is if a person is not informed or lied to about the dangers of smoking. Let me make it clear, this is not our parents generation of the 1920's, 30's 40's, and 50's where issues like this were covered up. It is 2011 and if you don't know that smoking is bad for you, you must be living under a rock.



Tobacco companies are in the business of making money just like any other business in America. If you are against smoking than don't smoke. There are so many frivilous lawsuits these days. You can sue if someone looks at you the wrong way.




Smokers are treated like second class citizens. They have been pushed out the door of restaurants, bars, and country clubs. If someone wants to smoke that is their right. Please if you are a smoker don't become spineless when you get a smoking related disease and sue the tobacco companies. You knew the risks. Buck Up!!!!




Todd Marciniak





                                                                                

Child Molestation and Child Abuse-What's The Penalty?

It seems that whenever I sit down to watch television there is another case of child molestation. Let's be clear child molestation is child abuse. Yes, a child getting hit, kicked, a black eye is bad enough. Child molestation does not necessarily leave a scratch or a bruise. The pain of child molestation kills the heart and soul of the child being abused.

                            

If an adult molests a child they should be imprisoned for life. This is not a normal human being. I know that you cannot just throw someone in prison for life without a trial. We need to implement a one strike your out rule in this country for child molesters. You molest once you go to prison for the rest of your life.



When I was in junior high and high school there were two girls that were neighbors who became pregnant. They were looked down upon, ridiculed, disliked, laughed at and even spit on. People in school thought they had gotten pregnant by a classmate. Well, guess again it was Daddy, yes you heard it. There own father was the father of their children. These girls kept this a secret until he died. What a burden to carry. If their had been tougher laws and a place to turn to they would probably had turned him into the police. So, here you go in my opinion and I will repeat it again, if you molest a child just once, you should go to prison for life.
                                         

                                    The offender should be in prison for life not the victim!

Todd Marciniak

Should Sex and Violence On Television Or In the Movies Be Restricted?

It is in this writers opinion that it is up to parents to monitor what their children are viewing.


What message does it send a youngster to see sex and violence in movies and on television? I'll tell you, it sends the wrong message. It tells our children that sex and violence is acceptable in our American society.



In the early movies sex was restricted. If a man and woman were lying on a bed the man had to keep one foot on the ground. This shows limits. Today there are no limits. This tells our children that there are no limits. WRONG MESSAGE GUYS!!!!


The days of innocence are lost. However, It is not up to producers, directors, writers and the law to restrict what is seen in movies and on television. That is the job of a parent. Remember, a Mom and a Dad. The television has become a baby sitter for kids. On computers kids can view rawnchy sex until the cows come home. Parents need to restrict what children view. Parents need to monitor what children do on the computer. We have all heard of parental blocks for television and computers. It would be wise if you have children to  invest in this product. Kids grow up fast enough the way it is. Let's stop sending the wrong messages to our children!



Todd Marciniak

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