Second Chance

The article "Crime and Punishment" by Patricia Smith discusses the controversy of one of the Supreme Court's new ruling. Teens who have been sentenced life without parole due to homicide or other vile acts, will be tried once more. Many scientists and researchers seem to agree with this ruling, due to findings on the growth and development in the brain of a teenager. But many others think that it is a dangerous mistake. Kent Scheidegger, a worker for the Criminal Legal Justice Foundation, says "There are some truly horrible crimes committed by 17-year-olds, and those crimes deserve life without parole." But the other side of the debate says that the mistakes made by kids do not always reflect the personality they will hold as adults.

The author wants the reader to feel that the ruling is fair. Smith does this by filling the article with facts to back up the argument.  For example, psychology professor Laurence Steinberg states the "Ninety percent of teen offenders do not become adult criminals," which is why not all teen cases should be tried as adult ones. Patricia says that the crime rate in teens have gone decreased because those who have committed crime are in jail. This suggests that most teenagers do not commit crime as a daily activity. Most time spent behind bars is a result of small mistakes in their childhood. The author uses an example of Rebecca Falcon, who has been sentenced life without parole.When she was 15, she and her friend who owned a gun, got drunk one night and one or the other shot a taxi cab driver. Although it was unclear the actual events, Falcon is now 30 and still in jail. She wishes and is hopeful that she will be tried again. Smith states that a person's actions at 13 or 14 are a poor sign of the kind of adult he or she will become.

Could the cruelness and hate be of the same level, if a 14 year old murders someone, or a 30 year old murders someone? My point of view on the topic overall is quite mixed. It is clear that adults have to be independent and make their own decisions. But in class, we were discussing that sometimes, children have to make their own decisions too. And in very few cases do the parents allow their child to kill or commit crime. Teenagers always complain that they should be treated as adults, but when in court they beg not to be. Does this mean they should? Yes, kids make the mistake of doing drugs and drinking, but adults can make mistakes also. Why should a murder be let go opposed to another murder?

Then again, I feel like a crime done by a child may most likely be an act done by impulse. Have teenagers fully matured enough to realize the repercussion of their actions? If many struggle to think before they speak, how can one manage to think before they act? I believe that the court's ruling is fair, because they aren't suddenly letting thousands of prisoners free. They are allowing them the privilege of a second chance, to think over their cases from more than one point of view. Why should one mishap rule ones life? All in all, I thought the article was extremely informative, but I can't quite place a firm opinion.

Bibliography:

• Smith, Patricia. "Crime and Punishment." New York Times Upfront 17 Sep. 2012: 8-11.

Click here to read online article

A Modern Form of Racism

Illegal immigration has been a leading factor of discussion in politics since the 1700's. Many see unfairness in illegal immigrants taking their jobs, and maybe even being in higher ranking occupations. In order to fix this problem, states like Arizona have passed laws that allow police officers to randomly search anyone of whom they assume could be an illegal immigrant. There is much controversy on this law, however, because many see it as a racist act.

During the industrialization period, immigrants where mainly of Irish or Chinese descent. Later in the 1900's it was the Italians. Now in the twenty-first century, the majority of immigrants are from Mexico. So, while currently there are a lot of immigrants from other places besides Mexico, Hispanics as a whole are being targeted. New laws expect everyone to carry around their citizenship papers in the possibility that he or she might be questioned. Everyone meaning if you happen to "look" like an immigrant.

Based on the author's questioning on whether or not the government's way solving the issue will improve, she is not for the new immigration  laws. She states that even from the  very beginning of construction of America, most Americans were immigrants. While describing the conflict in Arizona she quotes people who are on either side in the debate."It's a law based on racism. I know a lot of people who are afraid of going out in the street. They just take their children to school and go right home. They feel like their safety is threatened." -- Gamboa, a U.S citizen, son of illegal immigrants. Gaheen is someone who feels very strongly against any illegal immigrant. The author, Patricia Smith, chose two very opposing opinions to show the severity of the issue at its most.

I can understand both point of views, for instance, being angered that someone who is illegally living in the U.S. got the job you wanted--needed. At the same time though, there must be other ways to solve the problem of illegal immigration. I agree completely when Gamboa says it is a law based on racism because it discriminates against Hispanics. I think that instead of deporting people who may or may not be an illegal immigrant, the government should just create a more structured way in preventing more from entering. There is no real ethical way of removing the immigrants who are already in the U.S., seeing that everyone deserves a better life and new beginning. Because there are over 11 million illegal immigrants already in America, I don't see the benefits in making it harder for people like them to succeed. Overall, any law that is passed needs to be fair to all the races and nationalities that make our nation.

Bibliography:

• Smith, Patricia. "The Great Immigration Debate." Upfront New York Times Magazine 6 Sep. 2010. 13 Jan. 2013

• <http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f090610_Immigration>.