Zach Attack

A touching story caught my attention today, reminding me of the the hidden heart of society. Feeling a mutual bond of motherhood, Wincent emails Palin encouraging her to "get that little guy on skates when he's a couple years old, and enjoy those snowmobile rides." Wincent from St. Charles, Illinios and Palin both have sons with down syndrome. As advice to her possible election vote, she urges Palin to embrace her son's disability without hesitation.

 "Zach Attack" goes to the community college nearby, works at Target greeting and helping customers, and appreciates the little things in life like a picnic in the TV room. He hopes to continue assistant coaching hockey and someday be in a musical- also keeping in mind that its not about winning or losing, but having fun! His classmates even voted him Prom Queen for his extremely friendly and caring personality! This article gave great news to America, one of many courageous stories untold, or seemingly unimportant enough as Britney Spears' court case. 

Its nice to hear of the compassion society still has, as well as a better understanding of others. We have undergone great strides to be where we are- just decades ago people with disabilities were shunned and deemed useless. Although the media primarily covers the bad, I am actually proud of the compassion I see in my everyday life and in stories like these. A key concept I believe everyone should take out of my post is to try to gain as much understanding of others as possible, because without that, we have discrimination, stereotypes and other misjudgments and hatred. Families can help do this, as Wincent has done in her neighborhood and now to any of the article readers. She stresses the importance "that families play in society: helping everybody else understand that everyone has feelings; everyone has a right to belong; everyone has to be accepted." I challenge you to get to know someone else you have any preconceptions of and see if your wrong. Step out of your box,you might be surprised!

Check it out!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/09/30/adult.down.syndrome/index.html

Undercover Worker Unveils Horrible Abuse at Chicken Farm

Animal Rights groups have been digging deeper into the farming industry’s immoral treatment of the animals. The abuse I researched on chickens at a major egg farm has greatly impacted my view on the farming industry. Maybe I’m being too sensitive about an animal made for our use, but couldn’t we take certain measures to be humane about it? An investigator, posed as repairman, kept a hidden camera for more than 2 months uncovering horrible sites of abuse such as squished cages containing chickens with rotting sores and decomposing bodies. “It also shows a worker stomping on a sick hen as it flaps its wings to avoid being kicked into a manure pit.”

This particular instance has impacted me greatly enough to change my attitudes as a consumer and should with you too. In fact, I’m horrified with what level our large corporations have stooped to! A corporation's goal is to produce a good faster, bringing in more profit. The last thing on their mind is the animal's well-being, therefore, there should be stricter laws or standards regulating the treatment of animals in the farming industry. Thinking that if the consumers knew the immoral way their getting products, then they would change their buying habits. One way consumers can fight for the cause, but still eat eggs is to buy ones labeled "uncaged eggs." By doing this, "you can rest assured that the chickens that laid the eggs are as free to frolic as you are."

Check these sites out!

Animal Rights Group Claims Abuse at Chicken Farm

http://www.ktvu.com/news/16177636/detail.html

Uncaged Eggs

http://www.granvilleonline.ca/gr/living/2008/02/26/uncaged-eggs