To Drug Test or Not To Drug Test?

Is it a violation of one's civil rights to randomly drug test students? Has New Jersey gone too far by allowing random drug testing at the Middle school level? Is this the wave of the future? Can this be an effective preventative measure to stop drug use among young teens?

Copy and paste the link below and write a thoughtful response.
http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/13/new-jersey-school-district-to-drug-test-middle-schoolers/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl5%7Csec3_lnk1%7C195211

Gun Violence

Copy and paste link below and write a thoughtful response.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/13/arizona.shooting.loughner.university/index.html?hpt=T1

In the wake of the recent Arizona shooting, are gun control laws strict enough? Can incidences like these be prevented (ie. stricter gun laws, warning signs missed by others, parental intervention, etc.)? Should the gunman face life without the chance of parole or the death penalty for his part in the multiple murder rampage?

Armageddon

Read the ( 3 ) stories below and offer a thoughtful reflection.

Recently, numerous "signs" have been appearing in the US and abroad that seem to point to Armageddon/the end of the world. Can these events be explained, or should we look closer at these "signs" as a warning of things to come? Should we heed the predictions of Nostradamus's 2012 and The Bible's- Revelations Seven Signs of Armageddon? Or has Hollywood exploited these predictions and fueled our fears?

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/03/falling-birds-likely-died-from-massive-trauma/?iref=obinsite

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/03/what-made-thousands-of-birds-fall-from-the-sky/?iref=obnetwork

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/02/arkansas.fish.kill/index.html?iref=allsearch

Politically Correct?

More and more we hear greetings this time of year expressed as "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." Because of that, we hear more and more dissatisfaction in private conversation over the use of this politically correct, generic greeting.

Are we becoming too polically correct in today's society?

Read the following article and write a thoughtful response.
http://theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/539318/Can-we-be-politically-correct-an---.html

L.I.Serial Killer?

Recently, four bodies have been found murdered and dumped on Long Island. Could we have a serial killer in our midst?

Read and reflect on the following article.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40656155/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Money Changes Everything

When every dollar counts, parents are having to say no…when all they've ever said is yes. Has your outlook/habits with regards to money changed in this country's economic decline?
In this troubling economic time, is it important for parents to discuss their finances with their children? Should children know how much money their parents make?
How has the recent decline in the economy affected your outlook on your future?
job prospects?

Free Speech or Espionage?

WikiLeaks has published thousands of pages of classified U.S. intelligence. This non-profit website publishes and comments on leaked documents that allege government and corporate misconduct. Some defend it saying that it protects whistle-blowers, journalists and activists. Critics have charged that it recklessly endangers national security. The online organization's actions have ignited fierce debate over whether the First Amendment's free speech rights will keep its members and its founder, Julian Assange, safe from prosecution. Is this free speech or simply espionage?

Read all (3) articles and write a thoughtful response.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/12/01/sweden.interpol.assange/index.html?hpt=T2

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/01/wikileaks.toobin/index.html?hpt=T2

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/12/01/sweden.interpol.assange/index.html?hpt=T2