Top 10 Proposals

Hector Rodriguez http://www.weeklyhistorynews.blogspot.com/
It is a good idea that at a certain age they have to cancel senior citizen's licenses, because they are more prone to causing more accidents. The elderly might not agree that they cause a great number of road accidents, but this is just for safety reasons.


Hector Porrata http://sayhellogoodbyeoutloud.blogspot.com/
I agree with Hector's proposal about teenagers being able to vote. Its the teenagers' future, so a lot of them should be able to know what the right or best choice is that will be a benefit in their future.


Jan Paul Perez http://jpah11.blogspot.com/
Veterans getting a bonus and the right to a scholarship is a good proposal. Veterans should get a benefit for having served many years in war.


Albert Matos http://www.jujomonkey.blogspot.com/
I agree with Albert's proposal about how you can't change the mind of those who don't want to change their perspective on African Americans. I also agree that those who are young whould be educated about the racial problems and discrimination with African Americans.


Nelsharry Baerga http://sharryknowsit.blogspot.com/
I agree that we never think about the disabled, and that we should do more in order to facilitate and help those who are not as capable as us. Also, about disabled children being able to be encouraged to go to school with children that have no disabilities should be encouraged more so that the children don't feel segregated, different, or as if there's something wrong with them.


Stephanie Ruiz http://www.tefiruiz01.blogspot.com/
Women should be able to speak up about being abused because no women deserves to be physically or emotionally abused. Women should have the right to defend themselves with the law and should be protected by the law as well.


Celimar Torres http://www.howceliknowsit.blogspot.com/
Immigrants should have the right to enter the US and make a better life for themselves. Immigrants can be a huge benefit for the US and can provide a lot of services.


Elsa Obando http://www.japaneseimmigrationtotheus.blogspot.com/
Every citizens, no matter their race or nationality, should be treated equally, no matter what country they are in. It is prohibited to discriminate against a minority, especially when that person works harder than you do. There is really no point in discriminating someone who works hader than you just because they are from a different race.


Cristian Virella http://www.cristianhistoryblog.blogspot.com/
Every person born in the US should be considered citizens no matter they're race because they were born in that country. This will help citizens bring their families that are struggling in other coutries to the US and help theym prosper and find jobs.


Arshad Khalil http://arshad-ah11a.blogspot.com/
Muslims should have equal rights and be treated just the same as US citizens. Muslims are still being discriminated in airports for the 9/11 incident, and it is not right for all the Muslims that didn't even have to do anything with that have to discriminated and not have equal rights.

Senior Citizens: Ideas for change

While I agree with most of the rights senior citizens are currently entitled to, there’s always room for change. One of the changes I propose is the senior citizens’ driving law. I believe there should be a cautionary driving law regarding senior citizens. Senior citizens over the age of 75 (with no disabilities making them more prone to cause an accident) should not be allowed to handle a motor vehicle without supervision on the passenger seat by a person over the age of 21 with a driver’s license.  Drivers over the age of 70 with eye-sight disabilities, arthritis, or any other disability that can cause them to have an accident should not be allowed to handle a motor-vehicle since they are more prone to cause accidents on the road. 

Senior citizens have the right to chose whether they should be cared for or not in a senior citizen retirement home. I believe senior citizens should be cared for if it puts their health at stake regardless if they don’t agree with the situation. If a senior citizen loses their life in a senior citizen home due to lack of care for their health state, it is frowned upon the retirement home, not concerning whether or not the elderly wanted to be taken care of. Retirement homes should always take care of the senior citizens living in the home and be able to maintain them at their healthiest.

Senior citizens shouldn’t have to go through mandatory retirement as long as they have the health state, and requirements to qualify them for the job. Older employees require less training and supervision, are as productive, and are more likely to stay in the job longer. Older employees usually acquire more knowledge and training throughout the years, making them highly qualified and sometimes even more qualified than someone just starting out in a job. As long as the person is highly fit and qualified for a job, I don’t think mandatory requirement is necessary. 

Senior Citizens: How they obtained rights over time

Today, many senior citizens are entitled to rights, whether its Medicare and Social Security benefits, or retirement home rights. No matter where they are, it is important for a senior citizen to recognize their rights and those rights that are violated. Senior citizens civil rights have changed throughout the years, even with their entitlement to civil rights, there will always be discrimination regarding that group. Rights violated should be reported to proper officials and this should be handled in a timely manner. Social Security is a major source of income for the elderly. They receive Social Security benefits based on their income when they were employed.

Senior citizens rights don’t stop when they enter a retirement home. A senior citizen should recognize their rights and those that are violated when entering and living in a retirement home. One of those rights is the right to courtesy and dignity. Caregivers should remember that a retirement home is the ELDERLY’S home, and they should be treated as individuals, such as not degrading them during activities or names, serving food in a timely manner, etc. Residents have the right to complain whether they are being treated fairly as individuals. Residents should be notified when that complaint is addressed by proper officials. The elderly also have the right to privacy. Caregivers should not share personal information unless necessary to provide proper care, resident record must also be stored securely and disposed properly. When giving personal care, doors and curtains must be closed and visitors must be asked to leave. They also have rights to personal belongings and married couples have the right to privacy. The residents have the right in the decision-making process for their care. They may choose to refuse care and see their financial and medical records. They may also choose to change caregivers and not attend certain activities. If a resident or family member feels their rights have been violated, they should report the issue. In a serious matter, call the police or local agency, charges or a lawsuit may be filed. In a less serious case, contact the retirement home staff and administration.

Many federal state laws gave been set up to protect job discrimination rights for senior citizens. Many states have their own age discrimination policies. In March 2005, the Supreme Court set up a law that employers could not discriminate against an employee based on their age. However, if an employer can prove and has tangible evidence that discrimination was based upon other factors, then the discrimination can be upheld. According to the Association for the Advanced Retired Persons, some state laws protect employees in different age ranges, some younger than 40. The ADEA, or Age Discrimination in Employment Act passed in 1967 and it protects senior citizens in the work and job area as long as position requirements are met. The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sets up the federal laws for the discrimination of a prospective employee based on their age and other factors. The Family Employment Practices Agency makes sure senior citizens workers are protected under state and federal laws.  

References:
http://library.findlaw.com/1999/Apr/1/128510.html
http://www.cardi.ie/userfiles/Human%20Rights%20of%20the%20Elderly.pdf

Senior Citizens: The Struggle to Obtain Benefits

While senior citizens aren't really they type of people to be out protesting for Medicare or Social Security benefits, they literally have to pull their own weight for some of those benefits. Some of those benefits are already provided by the government, while others require to pay for part of the benefits. Senior citizens are the main recipients of many governmental provided benefits because they are generally the social group with the least amount of resources or ability to produce income. Another reason, is that when they are around the age of 60, age that is considered about to retire, many companies prefer hiring young workers instead of elderly or aging people. That's why senior citizens generally receive a lot of attention and benefits from the government.


In recent years, the Social Security checks millions of senior citizens rely on will not increase as customer prices have gone down, better known as "The Social Security Freeze". It is a frightening thought for many senior citizens who have a pension to rely on. Though there are some ways for senior citizens to maximize their Social Security benefits. One of them is to retire, and retire again. This means that if the retiree finds another well-paying job, the elderly can withdraw benefits application and repay in one sum what they've received. Later, they can reapply for a larger Social Security benefit, even 30% larger; then the money they received prior to having that job can be added into an account go gain interest. Another way is to file and suspend. Suspend your benefits until age 70, your benefits will increase an additional 8% for every year you delay, collecting beyond your normal retiring age. The final way is to wait to retire. Now, this is not the answer many senior citizens want to hear, but there is not reduction in benefit if you work until full-retirement age.


The Obama administration plans to spend $250 stimulus payments to about 57 million seniors and veterans, and this would amount to a roughly 2% amount raise for the average senior citizen. If approved, the checks for the senior citizens will cost about $13 billion, yet there is no plan on how to finance them. Senior citizens are willing to wait this out on the government, relating to the recession and federal deficit. Some senior citizens feel as if they could use a little more, and have shown hostile behavior towards the government and have spoken out about the issue in MSNBC news, but with the recession and federal deficit, a big increase in their social security checks is not promising.

References:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33341802/ns/business-your_retirement/
http://www.ehow.com/info_7924111_information-senior-citizens-medicare.html
http://seniors-site.com/finances/ss.html
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Laws.shtml

Senior Citizens: Employees Under a Negative Light

The problem of discrimination against the elderly, or senior citizens is a broad social problem that needs to be better analyzed and worked on. Discrimination against the elderly is typically based on trends that are set up by the younger generation, and ultimately, puts the aging group under a negative light. As a result of discrimination, the elderly may be denied access to health care, voting, employment, education, etc. based on their aging. Discrimination in a workplace is not acceptable when employers rely on elderly age stereotypes to deny hiring them. Mandatory requirement is presented as a way to make employment available for the young, which is often seen as discrimination. The reason that is often put out is that work is scarce and that retirement will sooner or later free up work positions. Some elderly may be very happy with their mandatory retirement, and see it as a way of freeing themselves from a never-ending life of work, and the benefits of mandatory pensions. Though retirement, is also sometimes linked to a feeling of uselessness and loss of control among the ageing population.


The Age Discrimination Act makes it illegal to discriminate when hiring workers based on age. This act covers the aging from from 40 to 70. As an employer, you cannot refuse to hire someone based on age, or indicate a preference, limitation or discrimination based on age. For an older applicant, or employee, it is almost impossible to prove age discrimination. If you decide to file a complaint against discrimination, you must be sure to document everything (how many older employees there are, was age mentioned in the interview or hiring process, was younger person hired, was that person qualified for the job). To file a complaint against age discrimination, The Equal Employee Opportunities, or EEOC should be contacted, which will help guide you through the process.


Employers not hiring based on age discrimination is not listed in the Constitution/Bill of Rights, but there are Federal laws against age discrimination, such as the Age Discrimination Act explained above. Under this law, age discrimination is only allowed if the employer can prove that age is an essential component in the job. This might apply to a situation where teenage clothing companies would only want to hire teens to model their clothes. What you may want to do as a senior applying for a job is to address the age issue up front. Show your interest in the job by providing accurate information that older workers are just as productive as younger workers, will require less training and supervision, are likely to stay in the job longer, and are technologically up to date. 


Reference:
http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/tag/adea/
http://www.cardi.ie/userfiles/Human%20Rights%20of%20the%20Elderly.pdf

Protecting the Rights of Senior Citizens: The Senior Citizens League

Senior citizens' lives are affected by many federal, state and local laws and regulations. Senior citizens are often discriminated, excluded, abused and segregated by younger citizens. Senior citizens are often put under a negative light by the younger generation, but senior citizens are proven to often be wiser than the younger generation, having acquired more knowledge and understanding throughout the years.  The elderly help us understand the past, teach us timeless lessons about life, and serve as role models for younger generations through their legacy of endurance, courage, patriotism, and love.  Many senior citizens depend on the government for such things as housing, basic income and health care. There is help available, at little or no cost, to people 60 years of age and over who need legal assistance.

The elderly are the fastest growing population worldwide, and one that raises major social and political changes. Even though they remain a small minority (7% of the population globally), it is a very significantly growing one that is expected to be bigger than children under 5 years of age within a decade. According to the Census Bureau for Older American Month, there are 36.3 million people living in the United States above the age of 65, considered to be senior citizens, or the elderly. There is a projected population increase to 86.7 million senior citizens living in the United States by the year 2050, compromising 21% of the population by that time.  

Many groups have been formed worldwide to defend the civil rights of senior citizens. One very notable group is the The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). Established in 1992, the TSCL consists of active senior citizens concerned about the protection of their Medicare, veteran of military retiree benefits, and social security.  There are over 1,300,000 active members/supporters. Approximately three-quarters of the membership are between the ages of 76 and 85. Nearly all are over the age of 60. Most members either served in the Armed Forces during World War II or played a part in the war effort. To try and pursue its goals of defending senior citizens' civil rights, TSCL distributes a newsletter (The Social Security & Medicare Advisor) ten times a year to approximately 150,000 of the most active supporters and to all Members of Congress, and has sent out more than one and a half million books and pamphlets. Senior citizens and retirees have also participated in a number of public education campaigns on behalf of TSCL. 

Reference:
http://www.seniorsleague.org/
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/olderstats.htm
http://www.cardi.ie/userfiles/Human%20Rights%20of%20the%20Elderly.pdf

Classmates' Blog

Héctor Porrata-Doria http://sayhellogoodbyeoutloud.blogspot.com/
Héctor's essay had information about how the whites tried to control the Native Americans. It talked about how the Whites used violence in order to try and gain control of the Native American's, and how the Native Americans were suffering under the situation. I liked it because I think Héctor did a really good job with explaining the events by using a lot of details. Héctor talked about how whites wanted to assimilate the Native Americans and have them under their control, but they tried to do it in an immoral way by using violence.

Cristian Virella http://www.cristianhistoryblog.blogspot.com/
Cristian's essay explained the events in the movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and events in the movie like "The Wounded Knee Massacre" and the whites trying to assimilate the Native Americans by changing their Sioux name to a Christian name. Cristian was very detailed with the events and the situations that occurred while the whites tried to gain control of the Sioux.

Jan Paul Perez http://jpah11.blogspot.com/
Jan Paul's essay had to do with how the whites wanted to control the Native American's religion and beliefs. One of the examples he used was "The Ghost Dance", which was a religious tradition of the Sioux tribe, and the whites wanted to get rid of it. He explained very well the situation on how the Native Americans' best option was to conform to the whites' ways, even if it meant losing their identity, because then the whites possibly wouldn't use violence towards them.

Stephanie Ruiz http://www.tefiruiz01.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Ruiz's essay talked about the Native Americans struggle to try and overcome everything the whites did in order to try and control them, and their struggles still today.
The essay explained how the whites promised a lot of things to the Native Americans, but then broke their promises. The Native Americans could not have their own beliefs or independent opinion. After the government realized their mistakes, it was already too late, the Native Americans still live with struggles. Stephanie did very well explaining the situation.

Carlos Collazo http://qeehai.blogspot.com/
Carlos Collazo's essay explained how the Native Americans were forced to move into camps so the whites could have control over them. The whites would take away their Sioux identity by giving them a Christian name. The Native Americans had to follow the whites' orders and basically do everything the whites said, the Native Americans ended up having a lot of struggles because of this. Basically, he talked about the whites' control over the Native Americans.

NO to Assimilation

The Sioux had their own identity and a group and as individuals. By choosing assimilation, the Sioux lost all their pride, self-respect and individual identity by conforming to the ways of the whites. The whites used violence in order to try and control the identity of the Sioux by using violence towards them. With this, assimilation was definitely not the best option for the Sioux.


The Native Americans had a distinct belief and identity that the whites wanted to change or end. One of these beliefs was "The Ghost Dance". "The Ghost Dance" was a traditional ritual which involved Native Americans doing a "circle dance" as a religious manifestation. When the whites found out about this, they wanted to get rid of it immediately. This led to the "Wounded Knee Massacre".


The whites used violence and physical contact in a very disrespectful and immoral manner against the Sioux in order to have control over them. An unnecessary act of violence was the Wounded Knee Massacre due to the practice of "The Ghost Dance". The Massacre took place on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The whites forced the Sioux to give up their weapons. The whites then attacked the unarmed Sioux. By the time it was over, 15 women, children and men of the Sioux had been killed, and 51 wounded, some of whom later died. 


The Sioux should have enough pride and dignity to be able to keep their own identity. By changing their Sioux name to a "Christian name", the Sioux would be losing their identity, and just becoming like the whites. An example of this was a Sioux tribe member by the name of "Ohiyesa" in the movie, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". This Sioux boy by the name of Ohiyesa was forced by the whites to change his name to a Christian name, he later became Charles, and lost his Sioux identity. 


The Sioux should be able to keep their identity, pride and beliefs as the Sioux, and not have to conform to the white ways. This is especially true considering the fact that the whites are using violence to try and control their identity and beliefs. The Sioux have so much pride and belief in their race and as themselves as Native Americans that they should be able to keep that pride, dignity and identity.

Bibliography: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" Movie

Classmates: Think out loud!

http://www.sayhellogoodbyeoutloud.blogspot.com/

Héctor’s last name’s history is interesting to learn about. How the last name “Porrata” was purchased, by the wealthy, and added “Doria” to distinguish themselves from the slaves. I agree with his opinion about the Arizona Immigration Law. Laws that are set in the US should be both respected and followed, so I agree with his opinion of deporting illegal immigrants back to their countries. His Italian Immigration history was interesting to learn about as well. It was interesting how the Italiand didn’t plan to stay long, but at the end, they stayed in the US.

http://jpah11.blogspot.com/

Jan Paul’s opinion about illegal immigrants was different from mine, so I found it interesting to learn about someone elses different point of view on illegal immigration, and learn why they think that way. I like the way Jan Paul wrote his journal entry, it was very detailed and showed what German immigrants went through be fore and after arriving to the US. In the history of German immigration, I don’t think immigrants should be discriminated agains because of the religion they practicad, because everyone has the right to practice their beliefs and religion.

http://www.ssrivera.blogspot.com/

Stephanie’s family history was interesting to learn about, and how she found out a lot of information about how her family goes way back. Stephanie’s opinion about illegal immigration was slightly different from mine. I know that illegal immigrants are treated unfairly, but they are only treated unfairly because they came to the US illegaly, and I relieve that if a country has a set of laws, they should be followed and respected. If an immigrant doesn’t want to be treated unfairly, they should get their UZ citizenship papers in order to be treated fairly and with the respect they deserve; because if they don’t respect laws, why should they expect the same respect back? On Italian immigration history, it was good to learn about how the Italians started with low-paying jobs and in filthy living conditions, and progressed to getting jobs with higher pay, and they’re homestyle.

http://www.japaneseimmigrationtotheus.blogspot.com/

Elsa’s family store is interesting. I like how she has different heritage that came from different countries. Her father coming from Ecuador is very interesting, and also how she is mixed with Italian heritage and from Norway, how she is ethnically diverse. I agree with her immigration blog post. I think that the US government is doing well in giving the DMV tests in many different languages, because not all immigrants know how to speak English. I also like the way Elsa writes in her journal entry, it was very detailed and you could imagine what the Japanese immigrants had to go through. Also, how the Japanese were very discriminated and didn’t have much success when they first arrived to Hawaii, but were able stu surpass that and make a better life for themselves in the US.

Arquer Haddock: Past and Present

   My paternal side (Arquer) emigrated from  Cataluña Island, Valencia and La Isla Mallorca in Spain and came to the US, though I still have family members living in Cataluña Island, Spain. From my maternal side (Haddock), my ancestors emigrated from England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Most of my paternal side family is living in Cataluña, Spain, Puerto Rico and the United States. Most of my maternal family is living in the United Kingdom, USA and Puerto Rico.  

   Most of my family members are currently living in Cataluña Island, Spain, England, Puerto Rico and the US. My family members living in Puerto Rico have no problem with the US immigration law system because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Those living in foreign countries in Europe have no problems coming in to the US that I’m aware of. 

   Working hard and risking your life does not make it right to enter a country illegally. As a Hispanic myself, I do understand that these illegal immigrants are crossing the border in order to have a better life and future, but at the same time, the United States HAS a set laws, and those laws should be respected and followed, no matter how unfair it seems to others. Arizona is just enforcing a law that already exists, which is that illegal immigrants should be deported. What I don't agree on is stopping just any Hispanic looking person to ask for their papers, and having them either put in jail or deported. No person should be stopped unless there is a good enough reason to do so.  No one should be discriminated against just because they look Hispanic, and not stopping someone that might be guilty of suspicious activity just because he or she looks American. I do believe that any immigrant should be granted passage into the Unites States, because all they want is to have a better future, but they have to do it LEGALLY, and be able to get their US citizenship first, which no one, no matter their home country, should be denied the right.

Through the eyes of dreamer

March 12, 1926

   Papa came to us during dinner time, to announce that we will be living for America in a few days. I felt very excited, America is a country filled with many opportunities and jobs, and I wanted nothing more than to live “The American Dream”. Papa does not have a very stable job here in our village of Imaicho, and we are worried that we will have to starve and live on the streets, because we don’t have much to eat to begin with. I, Aki Hoshino, am just 11 years old, my little brother Aoki, who is just 7 years old, my mama Kiyoko, and papa Hansuke, want nothing more but to prosper and live in a stable household. Papa’s restaurant is going to come to a close, so we must leave our village and head to Hawaii.

March 15, 1926

   On our way to America, we were on board with a lot of other immigrants, mostly children my age and younger. None of us wanted to leave our village in Japan, and leave everything behind, but we were all hoping for that “American Dream”, we all wanted better lives. I could see the sadness in their eyes from leaving their life in Japan, but also the excitement that was also within me to explore America, and help our families prosper and live a more stable life.

April 29, 1926

   It’s been some time since I’ve arrived here, in a small Japanese village in Maui County, Hawaii. Papa took a job as a day laborer to put food on the table, and mama was working as a piano teacher, while Aoki and me went to Japanese-American school during the day. When we came home from school, we had to help mama clean the house, and set the table before our tired papa came home from work. Papa’s dream was to once again open up our family business, a Japanese restaurant, but he had to earn enough money as a day laborer first in order to make that happen.

August 17, 1926

   It’s been some time now that my family and I have arrived in America. Papa finally earned enough money as a day laborer to open up a small restaurant, and we all help out in the family business, and business is doing very well. Aoki turned 8 years old last week, and we have worked hard enough in the restaurant to have been able to have enough money to have a birthday party with all of our friends from school! I still dearly miss my family and friends that I left behind in Japan, but even with all that was lost, I am proud of my family and I to have been able to work hard enough to be living the “American Dream”. 

The Search for "The American Dream"

   There are a number of reasons why the Japanese first started to immigrate to the US. One of those reasons was unemployment and bankruptcy due to their difficulty of transitioning into a modern economy. By the 1900s, almost half of all Japanese immigrants migrated to Hawaii due to an increase in the economy because of the sugar industry. The majority of these immigrants were farmers and laborers, but a small amount of these immigrants later returned to Japan. After making money in the sugar industry in Hawaii, they would return to Japan. Another reason they immigrated to the US was due to safety reasons. The economic downfall caused civil riots.

   During their journey, the Japanese faced laws before they could enter the US. The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the amount of individuals that could enter the country, making it difficult for individuals to move from Japan to the US. The Act stated that only two percent of the population from that country could immigrate to the US. After the Immigration Act removed these bans in 1965, individuals from Japan could immigrate to the US.

    When the Japanese first arrived, they worked as agricultural laborers for lower wages than whites, and the only way to get land was by paying more than the whites. Then, the Japanese earned more though hard work and long hours. As they’re reputation spread, the Japanese overtook that of the whites. The Japanese practiced a wide range of religion; they were not limited to only one practice. They practiced different types of Shinto, Christianity, and Buddhism. Most Japanese practiced Mahayana Buddhism. Some other practices were Zen, Jodo Shu, and Jodo Shinshu. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Japanese Americans were regarded as untrustworthy and dangerous, they were also very discriminated against. Some even thought that these immigrants were spies living in the US. The US sent the Japanese Americans to “internment camps”. There were a total of eleven internment camps throughout the US and approximately one hundred and twenty thousand Japanese Americans were sent to these camps.  These camps were authorized by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Since World War II, the United States have realized that these camps were a mistake. In 1988, the Congress passed an apology for these internment camps. President Ronald Regan then signed this as a law. Over one billion dollars were disbursed through Japanese Americans that suffered in these internment camps, or were heirs of individuals that went to these camps.  The Japanese in the mainland, who historically dealt with more discrimination, achieved higher income and occupational levels than those in Hawaii.

   Having been sent to internment camps due to the attack on Pearl Harbor was obviously an unfair act. The Japanese immigrated to America so they could find paying jobs, and have a better life for themselves and their families, not because they were spies. The Americans felt that all the Japanese had to take the blame and be discriminated against or punished because of the Pearl Harbor attack, which not all Japanese had to do with. The apology was well deserved, because they did not have to be sent to internment camps in the first place.