Civil Disobedience

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that occurs in countries throughout the world and in communities across our Nation.  It is a crime that can take many forms, and one that tears at our social economy and violates what we stand for. An estimated 27 million people are victims of the crime, which involves being forced to perform labor or commercial sex acts. Sex traffickers frequently target vulnerable people with a history of abuse, violence, threats, lies or false promises, and use manipulation to keep the victims involved in the sex industry. Children are made to be soldiers, teenage girls are beaten and forced into prostitution, and migrants are exploited and compelled to work for little or no pay.

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, for the sexual exploitation. ABC News says on April 2nd in Canada, Daegun Chun and Yong Li were arrested for exploiting more than 500 women from China and Korea. 

Human trafficking does not pass Kant's Categorical Imperative test. It is not morally right for kids or adults to be forced to perform commercial sex or labor, it takes away from human dignity by degrading victims of the thirteenth amendment. In terms of the third test of Reciprocity, Human trafficking is wrong for all victims and sex traffickers because it is illegal and unjust to hold someone against their will and treat them as property. 

I think Thoreau would be against human trafficking because this is a form of slavery and it is not morally right. This also goes against his idea that we should live equal and treat individuals with respect as a neighbor. He'd want people to stand up and speak for what's right. He'd say that we need to treat people how we want to be treated and not as property. Thoreau would also say that we are depriving one another from success by holding them hostage and selling their body. I think that Thoreau would first raise awareness about human trafficking to pull slavery out from the shadows and into the public eye. Thoreau would help support and develop new human  trafficking awareness campaigns. Another possible solution would be to vote for more effective laws to help stop human trafficking. 

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue that can't be stopped by one individual but the nation as a whole. I think that protests and awareness can help decrease the percentage rate of human trafficking but it cannot erase the issue completely. Just like Thoreau said there is always going to be a small percentage of evil but we can only hope that the good will balance it away.

Forgiveness

The first orange color ray kissed the sky at the break of dawn with the same loving care as a father. These soft rays brought warmth to the city. But as night came the sun started sinking fast and the time raced. I felt hurt.

It was a hot summers day. The grass was green and the birds were chirping. As evening came the sunset. My cousins and I were playing out back all day. There wasn't much to do out but we always found something. We were playing our favorite game called House. We pretended that the garage was a house. The bikes were used as cars and the front porch was a store. We rode our bikes around in circles because the backyard wasn't so big. I was the mom and my cousin Kadeem played the dad. My two youngest cousins, Brianna and Britney were our kids. We liked the freedom and we liked to pretend we were grownups. When my aunt pulled in the driveway we knew it was getting late. I stopped playing house and went inside for something to drink. But when I came back out my Aunt called me, she said a letter came from my dad. It was the first letter in months. I was excited I couldn't wait to read it. The envelope was thick; I was hoping that he'd sent me one of his drawings with my favorite characters on it. I went on the steps to read the letter. As I read the letter tears slowly streamed down my face. It read the following: 

"Hey pumpkin-head, princess, my love. Daddy loves you! I'm sorry I haven't written you in a while, but I didn't forget about you. I miss you so much. How are mommy and grandma? Is everybody ok? How's school? I hope you're doing well. I have some bad news to tell you. They're trying to send me away because I've been so bad. They want me to go back to Jamaica. The distance will be very very far but at least I'll get to talk to you everyday. Always remember that I love you. Take care of the family and mommy for me, she needs you. -Daddy."

I felt a numbness in the pit of my stomach. My eyes were flooded with tears. I completely shut down. But as I was crying I heard my aunt call my name. I quickly cleaned the mess off my face and cleared my throat before answering, "Yes?" When I went downstairs she asked me if I was okay, so I smiled and said of course.When my dad was denounced to be deported out of the United States I lost a part of myself. I let this emptiness and pain blind me by pushing my father away. Our two hour calls became occasional “Hi” and “Byes."

I could've just told him how I felt. I refused to give him a chance because I wanted to protect my pride. So instead I let the distance eat away our relationship. I didn't realize I was only hurting myself. I missed out on our father daughter talks. I missed Father's Day and birthdays- and I desperately missed my best friend. I lost my strength, support and guidance all in one day. Now there's a gap between my father and I that we'll never get back. Forgiveness means you are given another chance to make a new beginning. The day I forgave my father was the day I learned gratitude.

Close Call

As a child my dad and I were closer than ever. He was more than just my dad he was my bestfriend, hero, and diary. I could tell him anything! He knows me more than I know myself. When I tripped or fell my dad was there to save me. He taught me how to color in the lines. He taught me how to pick myself back up when I got knocked down. Whenever I got in trouble by mom he had my back. He taught me math. When I was 8 he taught me to be humble. He gave me my courage and my strength; he taught me how to handle large amounts of pain.  My dad was the best because he brought sunshine to every rain. He spoiled me rotten with candy and pretty pink things. But when my dad moved far away I hated him. My best friend was gone and I would never get to see him again. I felt incomplete. Our household was now broken. When he told me he started a family I let jealousy and animosity empower me. I tried to erase my dad completely. 2 hour phone calls turned into 1 minute “Hi” and “Bye”. Before he left he told me the distance would never change us, but our bond was rusting away. 

He reached out to me but it was too late. I refused to let my dad back in. I failed to forgive and reconnect. I failed to realize that I was hurting myself. I missed out on getting to know my new family. I missed out on our father daughter talks. I missed Father’s Day and birthdays. And the worst part was that I desperately missed him. Failing to reconnect with my dad was one of my biggest failures because I wasted precious time. Now there’s a gap between my father and I that I’ll never get back. I regret my mistakes but it taught me not to let my emotions become a permanent thing. Some day I hope to make things right with my dad so we can catch back up on things.

Ed, Edd & Eddy

                Growing up as a child I use to be glued stuck to the TV. I knew every cartoon show and could name over a ton in less than a minute but I never looked at the deeper context.
                 Ed, Edd & Eddy captures the lives of three childhood friends with different personalities. Ed is tall, strong, often dirty, sensitive and stupid. Edd also known as Double Dee is smart, average height, skinny, nerdy, fragile, polite, and a little short tempered. In contrast to the two Eddy on the other hand is very self-centered, short, a con-artist, cool, and dumb.  They all live in the same neighborhood with a bunch of other kids, except for the Kanker Sisters who live in a small trailer home near a junk yard.
                Just like any other typical boy Ed likes Monsters, Double Dee is into science and Eddy loves jawbreakers. The Kanker Girls are big bullies who like Ed, Edd & Eddy. Sarah and Jimmy like playing dolls. Johnny plays with his imaginary friend Plank. Rolf works on a farm. And Nazz and Kevin are the popular kids.
                Now let’s look at things from outside the box. The Kanker Sisters are similar to Ed, Edd & Eddy. There’s three of them with three different personalities. Lee is self – centered, tall and short tempered. May is the dumb blonde who’s nice and Marie is the dark goth. Unlike most cartoons where there’s usually a guy bully, in this show girls are. Because the Kanker Sisters are  evil and mean all the other kids are afraid of them. Just like the Kanker Sisters, Ed’s little sister Sarah is also evil, mean and bossy. Unlike Sarah and the Kanker Sisters Nazz is hot, a tom-boy, sweet, cool & hip, very laid back and attractive. In this show there are two kinds of girls the less favored  ones who are mean and controlling and then there’s the popular ones who are pretty and cool. Girls have more power than the boys and get to make their own decisions. Boys want what they can’t have; Ed, Edd & Eddy, Johnny, Rolf and Kevin have a crush on Nazz but Nazz isn’t interested in them.
                 And Last but not least, let’s take a look at is gayness and straightness. Sarah’s bestfriend Jimmy is a boy who is a coward, accident prone, insecure, girly and weak. Although it’s not directly said in the show, we can interpret that Jimmy is gay. This show is also sending out the message that opposites attract because Jimmy and Sarah are complete opposites but they’re still bestfriends