U.S. Foriegn Policy - Personal Opinion

I read an article off of Reuters.com about the United States' foreign policy in South American regions in terms of countering the drug trade.

Read Article

The top 3 countries on the list of drug-trade activity are Bolivia, Venezuela, and Myanmar. In the article, it is stated that in an annual report, all three of these countries had landed far from the mark when it came to anti-drug trafficking progress. It is also stated that due to the countries landing top 3 on the list last year as well, the President can cut off U.S. aid other than than counter-narcotics and humanitarian funds.

Yet, instead of doing so, the annual statement announced that:

"In Venezuela, funds will continue to support civil society programs and small community development programs. In Bolivia, the waiver will permit continued support for agricultural development, exchange programs, small enterprise development, and police training programs,"

In addition, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton expressed concern about Venezuela's growing purchases of arms. Also, the statement about the countries on the list noted that "...being on the list does not necessarily reflect a country's counter-narcotics efforts or cooperation with the United States, saying in some cases a country may suffer from geographic, commercial, or economic factors that allow drugs to be produced or trafficked "despite its own best efforts."

My Opinion

Personally, I do not know all that much about the drug trading situation. I know that the United States is concerned because the trade has the power to directly effect the drug activity in our country, so naturally I understand why we help the countries in funding counter-narcotics programs.

I might not know what I am talking about, which I apologize for ahead of time, but if the top 3 countries have made the list two years (perhaps more) in a row, I don't understand why the U.S. should continue to help fund many of their other programs. The exact dollar amounts being paid out and how that works is unknown to me, but presently, states within the U.S. aren't doing well either. A few of my friends and family members have wondered why the country we live in is helping other countries rather than itself.

I sometimes wonder the same thing. I do know it is important, especially to the image of the U.S. and relationships with other countries, to lend helping hands to countries in need. I personally believe that we should help out those in need to benefit relations and those who are worse off than we are. BUT, I'm not sure we should be giving lots of money to fund programs that one might say aren't working, such as the counter-narcotics programs in Bolivia, Venezuela, and Myanmar.

I apologize ahead of time if I am missing an important event or bit of information which makes this opinion rude and controversial, but as I see it, the crisis inside our country should be conquered in order to completely conquer crisis outside of it.

The Tale of Barder - Short Story 15 Minute Prompt

Barder was hunting in the fields. It was dark, cold, and silent. Perfect conditions to acquire some supper, preferable gopher.

His ears perked up at the sound of a large rodent scurrying through the leaves, he imagined, as the rustles and faint squeaks were not those of a small field mouse. It occurred to him that it was a tad bit loud for a rodent to make that much noise. Barder focused in on the rustling, curious, - it was yards away. He silently crept through the tall grass and, as he was about to spring he heard not squeaking, but -

"And the Amazing Jeremy finds yet another rare beast to add to his fantastic menagerie!"
Barder cocked his large head and moved closer to the voice. Peeking out of the grass, he saw a little boy, speaking into nothing and holding up a large rock as if displaying it to an audience.

The boy had what looked like a jacket tied around his head, as well as typical clothing children wore.

Barder loved children. His heart picked up and he joyfully forgot about gophers and ran up to the boy, who screeched "WOLF!" as he was tackled to the floor by a very happy dog.
The screech alarmed him, and he sprang off the child. He sat down, appearing more like the household dog he used to be. The boy recognized that Barder was no harm, and after a few seconds of silent staring, he let out another screech, but with pleasure this time.

"The Amazing Jeremy has really done it this time. 7 years old and single-handedly capturing a NIGHT WOLF?!"

Jeremy, who had had his back turned as he spoke to his invisible audience, turned around, ran at Barder, and hopped on his back. The shepherd felt pride at the fast friend he had made.

"Hello Night Wolf!" said the boy, "My name is Jeremy. I'm an Amazing animal catcher!" He hugged Barder's muscular neck and put his small, boyish hands over his eyes.

When he removed them, Barder saw a world unknown to dogs. The starts were bright white, the sky was deep blue, the grass was an infinite multitude of greens and browns, and the boy's head wrap was a bright orange.

Barder, a dog, had never seen color before.

Suddenly, Jeremy exclaimed, "And now audience, observe and be amazed as the Night Wolf performs on of its most fantastic powers! Flight!"

From out of nowhere came sounds of clapping and howls of excitement. But from where?
Pulled out of his thoughts of the whereabouts of the audience, Barder found himself hovering. Instead of continuing to question the unusual phenomena of the night, he began to gallop midair, and soon found himself amongst the stars.

He and Jeremy had a fantastic time.

When he at last touched the ground again, Jeremy removed his head wrap and yawned.
The color disappeared from Barder's eyes, as did the enchantment of the world around him.

"Dog, I have to go home now," said Jeremy sadly, "but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Barder internally agreed.

He couldn't wait.

Writing in Reverse - Frank the Intelligent

Frank Ottaviani was having a terrible Friday evening. Scratch that, a terrible Friday. All week he had had to deal with an idiotic, unceasingly disobedient class of freshmen. Having taught at one of the more impoverished high schools in New York for 15 years, Frank oddly found himself continually surprised at the ever-present immaturity of 14 and 15 year old teenagers.

The subject that Frank felt he was chosen to teach is English, yet to his dismay, he often found at least 4 other languages spoken in his room, which flew this-a-way and that-a-way with the paper balls and planes. Although Frank found himself above the crude method of discipline, today he had no choice but to threaten the imbeciles he taught with Fs if they didn’t “Shut up and learn the art of words!”

This threat did not go well with a few of the rowdier boys in his morning class, and having 5 hours to let the displeasure boil over, the boys decided to take his nice leather coat after school. Stricken by grief at the loss of his jacket, the grief deepened when Frank could not call the police to return it to him. Frank lacked a cell phone, but to him they were a waste of money, what with the incessant blipping and booping that he heard when students used them in class.
Frank was angered even more by the fact that he would have to wait till Monday to attempt to get the boys expelled. What Frank did not realize is that this probably would not work, as the younger principal thought he was an angry middle aged man with superiority issues.

It had begun to drizzle.

With no car, and now no jacket, Frank had to walk as fast as his large belly would allow to the refuge that was the underground subway station. One might think Frank would have owned a car. But, his pay made no room for a car in his apartment complex’s minuscule garage. To Frank, there was no need for a car. He was too smart to contribute to global warming, a model citizen.

When he arrived at the subway station, he went through the turnstile and immediately sat on an uncomfortable bench. Under the fluorescent lighting, his skin appeared sallow, his expression was one of frustration, and now he smelled somewhat like a wet dog.

When the train finally showed up, he boarded and mentally prepared himself to sit next to the insane Baxter Cunningham, who rode the subway at the same time he did every day. Baxter went on for 15 slow minutes about all the trash he collected for his house and the recycling center that day, pulling out a few pieces of tacky, unidentifiable plastic. Frank compensated for the blabber with patient nods.

He has really desired to read his book on the subway home. But, “No matter,” he thought, “I can just read at home.”

Reading and watching re-runs of the show Pet Star on Animal Planet all weekend was all Frank had to look forward to, but he would rather have done that than attempt to be social with human beings he thought lesser than him. That would come Monday.