HIV in 2000s: Love, betrayal and a calling

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/05/HIV.AIDS.2000/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Tonya Raspberry has been one of the many victims of the HIV/AIDS virus. But also like many female victims, the disease came from someone she thought she trusted. In the year 2002, Raspberry's husband, Eric, wasn't feeling well. He soon became paralyzed due to a brain infection. Confused by the cause, several tests revealed that he had AIDS. Soon afterward, Tonya got tested, and figured out that she was positive as well. But she didn't have time to be angry or hurt- she now had to raise 3 kids and a dependent dying husband.

Her husband died a few years after the brain infection. Tonya says that she's forgiven him, and instead of being hurt, she is now a HIV/AIDS peer counselor. Tonya has joined BABES Network-YWCA, where she campaigns for awareness of the disease and is very open about her own HIV virus. Moreover, she is surrounded by those who also have the disease, and bare the physical and emotional toll of the HIV/AIDS virus.

The CBT that best fits this article is Sin: Mankind is totally depraved and his sinful nature is seen throughout history. Law and government were established to restrain this depravity in the governors as well as the governed. The HIV/AIDS is a result of sin- sin that has been and is currently affecting all generations. Waiting until marriage can prevent this, but in this case, Tonya's husband lied and she was still a victim of the disease. When dealing with these types of issues, God's words and the way he speaks to us is extremely important.

Japan Tries to Ease Fury of Parents Near Plant

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/world/asia/28japan.html?_r=1&ref=world

On Friday, May 27th, Japan’s education minister said that he would lower the radiation exposure limit for school children whose schools are near the nuclear plants. He also said the government would pay to have schools remove the topsoil that has been affected by the radiation. The education minister has been trying to ease the fury of parents living in Fukushima, where the amount of radiation exposure for the children has been equal to those who work in the actual nuclear power plants. This has been 20 times the previous limit for radiation exposure that the children were revealed to. This issue was further exasperated at Tokyo Electric Power’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was ravaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

This has made it hard for the Japanese government to determine whether they will lower nuclear activity or have to pay expensive clean ups throughout the cities affected by the radiation. This was heightened last Wednesday when parents demanded the government to decontaminate the schools and then formed a group protest outside the Japanese Education Ministry in Tokyo. In April, earlier this year, an adviser Prime Minister Naoto Kan resigned over the government radiation limits. He claimed that he couldn't be a part of a group that exposed children to these dangerous doses of radiation. While there are some efforts being taken by the government, many claim that their needs to be more cleanups throughout the cities.

The CBT that best relates to this article is Sin: Mankind is totally depraved and his sinful nature is seen throughout history. Law and government were established to restrain this depravity in the governors as well as the governed. The government was established to set these kinds of laws to protect the children. Yet, the government can't even seem to follow their own rules and in doing so its severely affected the children in the worst possible ways. It's time for either the government to step up or be replaced or reformed. The lives of the next generation shouldn't be hindered because careless decisions.

Obama calls for Israel's return to pre-1967 borders

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/19/obama.israel.palestinians/index.html?hpt=T1

On Thursday, President Obama stated that the official support for the U.S stands with the Palestinian state borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East War. In the past, the U.S has supported a two-part solution to the Palestinian and Israeli conflict in the middle east. Now, Obama states that their should be negotiations on both sides to formally fit the borders before 1967. At the same time, Obama promises that their is unwavering support for Israeli's security, while stating that their security was "unshakable." The President went on to state that every state has the right to defend itself, by itself, Israeli included. As expected, many initial reactions were negative, as well as Republican and other potential presidential candidates taking stabs at Obama's stance in foreign affairs. Many politicians have stated that Obama has thrown Israeli under the bus, undermining their ability to negotiate.

The CBT that best relates to this article is Revelation: In society, TRUTH is NOT relative to the individual, but rather is absolute and its source is solely god. Tolerance understands others’ ideas, but does not require surrender of your worldview. Obama's stance on the middle east situation is understandable in a secular viewpoint. However, through a Christian's worldview, Christians understand that Israeli was and still is God's chosen people. Anyone who helps them is blessed, and those war against them will suffer God's punishment. Obama is turning America's back on Israeli by trying to give up the land won in 1967. America is going backwards instead of progressing. Just because Obama states this as America's official stance, that doesn't mean everyone has to agree with it. While I don't understand why we are trying to support a nation controlled by terrorists groups at all, its even more terrifying to see a country once founded on the ideals of God, turn completely against him.

School teaches by ability, not grade level

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/14/education.gradeless/index.html?hpt=C1

In Westminster, Colorado, at Hopkins Elementary,children are experiencing a new type of schooling. In this school, children are taught at levels, not grades. Children are grouped together based on ability, instead of age, with a teacher to watch over them. Some of these students may be on level 5 math, but at the same time, one may be at level 6 reading, with another bring level 7. This program, called Standards-based learning, started three years ago throughout the Adams County School District. With the school district being on the academic watch list, they are eager to try something new. This programs is based on the idea that every child learns at their own pace and in different ways. This Standards-based learning accommodates all the various ways a child needs to succeed in their education.

The CBT that best fits this article is Growth: God’s people are stewards of His blessings, and with those blessings come great responsibility to further God’s ministry of redemption. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to educate the next generation. In order to do so, they have to be stewards in their blessings and resources in order to achieve success.

Alleged rape, killing of gay rights campaigner sparks call for action

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/05/south.africa.gay.activist.killed/index.html?hpt=T2

On May 5th, officials in South Africa found the body of a 24 year old women who was raped and stabbed to death. The woman was identified as Noxolo Nogwaza, a lesbian soccer player, who was a victim of "corrective rape"- a term used to identify the actions of men who rape women in order to reverse their sexual orientation. After dropping off her girlfriend, Nogwaza was rapped, stabbed with broken glass, and her face was bruised by rocks. As a result gay rights activists are petitioning to the South African government to halt the attacks on individuals who are gay, lesbian, or trans-gender. However, officials and other governmental leaders claim that the crime was not connected to hate crime whatsoever. In a country where homosexuality was originally deemed as crime, the gay rights movement is suffering for their cause.

This article is journalism. The reporter who wrote this article accurately included facts about the event, while simultaneously informing the community. Also, the author wrote both sides of the story in order to keep minimal bias from revealing itself. This information could help the South African government to be more aware of the hateful crimes that are happening and thus could create more independence and justice for the rest of society.

The CBT that best relates to this article is Sin: "Mankind is totally depraved and his sinful nature is seen throughout history. Law and government were established to restrain this depravity in the governors as well as the governed." Despite how a community may feel about gay or lesbians, that does not justify "corrective rape" or any violence toward them. The government of South Africa is stalling and is purposely doing nothing to protect their citizens against these awful crimes. It their responsibility to protect and to serve justice to those who deserve it. Therefore, this policy extends to all citizens, including those with differing sexual orientation. A clear indication of man's depraved nature is being displayed, and consequently the government needs to step up and restrain this activity.

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/04/andy-coghlanforty-two-laureate.html

The Louisiana law that would allow creation to be taught in public schools has been repealed by 42 Nobel laureates. Allowing the widening of the science horizon isn't acceptable by public school standards. 17-year-old Louisiana schoolboy, Zack Kopplin, from Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, in attempts to repeal the act has gained the support of the Nobel laureates. Claiming that the law has made science a "laughing stock," Kopplin has gained support students, clergy, and businesses. While it is assumed that there will be opposition to the repeal, it is starting to look like Kopplin may get his wish.

This article, while controversial and interesting to some, is not journalism. The second paragraph of the article states,"The Louisiana saga is the latest attempt by creationists to challenge the teaching of evolution in schools. In previous high-profile cases, creationists have attempted to disguise creationism as other concepts such as "intelligent design", a ploy that was successfully demolished at a trial in Dover, Pennsylvania, in 2005." This passage is filled with the author's obvious bias toward supporting the repeal. The author isn't objective at all. These snide comments are seen clearly throughout the rest of the article, where any mention of a creationist point of view is seen as ridiculous. This article is only informing the public of one side of a controversial argument. The author, therefore, is giving a tainted journalistic view of a local event that is currently happening. A real journalistic pieced isn't tainted with bias or opinion; it is objective and just writes the facts that the public needs to know, so that they can form their own opinion and become more independent.

The CBT for sin (Language Arts) states, "A Godless society, blinded by sin, rebels against God and arrives at false conclusions." This society is obviously coming from a secular perspective, and is blinded by their sin. Consequently, this means they have come to the conclusion that not only is creationism not "science," but that also is completely inaccurate, and isn't appropriate to be taught in schools. This, being a false conclusion, is a product of a community blinded by sin and influenced by a Godless society.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/04/14/new.york.mother.river/index.html?hpt=T2

Lashonda Armstong, when suspecting of being cheated on, took drastic measures for her grief. Holding her three children while driving, she intentionally drove her minivan into the Hudson river to drown herself and her children. However, Ryan Armstrong, her 10 year old son, escaped through the window and swam out of the river to try and flag down help. Once he got help, the woman couldn't find the vehicle or other survivors. Later, the police reported the body of the mother, an 11 month old girl, and two boys, the ages of 2 and 5. There was also a hint of domestic abuse reported in the family before, which may have contributed to the irrational decision of the mother to kill herself and the family. However, Ryan Armstrong claims that his mother regretted the decision at the last minute and tried to put the car in reverse, but it was too late. Ryan Armstrong is stated that he was wracked with guilt for not being able to save his younger siblings.

This article is journalism because it is reporting the facts of an event in order to inform society. By knowing this information society can become more self-governing and independent, as well as requiring knowledge that they can use to help improve the community.

The CBT for this is Growth: God’s people are stewards of His blessings, and with those blessings come great responsibility to further God’s ministry of redemption. God's gives blessings to his people, some come in all different shapes and sizes. Now, whether the Armstrong was abundant with blessings or not, Lashonda Armstrong didn't take responsibility of the blessings she had. Instead she decided to literally drown out of her fears of being cheated on by going to the extreme measures of attempting to kill her whole family. Her children, her home, and her family should have been blessing she should have taken care of, instead of putting all in danger and through grief.