REHUGO+International\National

=__//**International Topic Choice: Mexican Drug Cartels**//__=

//REHUGO ENTRY #1// =Mexico drug war a nightmare scenario= Category: Opinion Citation: Frum, David. "Mexico Drug War a Nightmare Scenario - CNN.com." //CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News//. Web. 07 Feb. 2011. .

In this informative article, David Frum states that a solution to the Mexican drug business, such as legalization of marijuana, must be created in order for the chaos and violence in Mexico to diminish.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: I agree with David to some extent. Legalizing marijuana would have a lot of pros. Many people would not be arrested for carrying it with them, and the Mexican violence would decrease as the drug selling would become a huge economic power. However, pros always have their cons. Its legalization could get out of hand, as marijuana is the "gateway" to the more extremes.

//REHUGO ENTRY #2// =** Obama mustn't neglect Mexico's drug war **= Category: Opinion Citation:"Obama Mustn't Neglect Mexico's Drug War - USATODAY.com." //News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com//. Web. 07 Feb. 2011. .

In this objective editorial, Ruben Navarrette Jr. asserts that Obama must authoritatively confront the Mexican drug issues by helping the Mexican government and military in order to cease the influence of the Mexican drug cartels that have already spread through several states.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: I agree with Ruben. I believe that our government has been too timid in dealing with this situation. The drug violence is worsening, and we are finding huge tunnels that the cartels use to transport their products. It is harmful to the States because it already influenced a several states. We are keeping them running because we are buying their drugs. This issue must be confronted with more authority and certainty.

//REHUGO ENTRY #3// =The Perilous State of Mexico= Category: Opinion Citation: Luhnow, David, and José De Cordoba. "Mexico's Drug Cartels May Have Become Too Powerful to Control - WSJ.com." //Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com//. Web. 07 Feb. 2011. .

In this truthful article, Luhnow and Cordoba indicates that the power of the Mexican drug cartels cannot be completely removed because the violence has risen to the extent where innocent people are being killed for no reason.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: This article once again showed me the rising influence of the drug cartels in Mexico. In the previous articles I have read it stated that their influence had already spread through several states. It gives me the goosebumps thinking about whether or not this violence will slowly start to occur in the States as well.

//REHUGO ENTRY #4// =What Are They Waiting For?= Category: Opinion Citation: "What Are They Waiting For? - NYTimes.com." //The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2011. .

In this surprising editorial, the author criticizes the White House's opinions on the Mexican drug wars being a continuous problem rather than an urgent emergency by informing that 30,000 people have died since 2006 and that more serious issues are being raised through the massacre in Tuscon.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: As I continue to read about the Mexican drug cartels, I learn more about how severe the issue has become. I am not so sure why the government is not placing the Mexican drug wars as one of their top priorities. There have been Americans involved in this, not just the people in Mexico. This situation should be taken care of as fast as it can, if it can. Who knows what will happen if this issue is kept

//REHUGO ENTRY #5// =In Mexico, Massacres and Claims of Progress= Category: Opinion Citation: Archibold, Randal C. "In Mexico, Massacres and Claims of Progress." The New York Times. 01 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. [].

In this disturbing article, Randal Archibold states that the dangers of Mexico due to the drug wars have been increasing since 2009 to the extent where tourist locations must be secured by the police force, by using statistics of what the Mexican people think and a prior violent event which occurred outside of a mall.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: It is unbelievable how out of control the situation in Mexico has become -to the extent where tourist locations must be patrolled by police forces- is pretty disturbing. If I was a tourist, I would definitely stay away from Mexico. The government must execute more thoroughly in order to get rid of the drug cartel problems that have haunted Mexico for years.

=__//**National Topic Choice: Education Reform**//__=

//REHUGO ENTRY #1// =Obama has long way to go on education reform= Category: Opinion Citation: Noguera, Pedro. "Obama Has Long Way to Go on Education Reform - CNN.com." //CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News//. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. .

In this descriptive editorial, Pedro Noguera expresses that Obama should increase the assistance given to students rather than raising American schools' standards, by learning from the South Korean education system and hiring well-trained teachers.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: Pedro speaks the truth. I have had many bad teachers throughout my student career, which have made my grades plummet in recent days. So I strongly believe that highly-trained teachers are a necessity in America's chance to compete with China as well as the other dominating educational systems around the world.

//REHUGO ENTRY #2// =China’s Winning Schools?= Category: Opinion Citation: Kristof, Nicholas. "China's Winning Schools." NY Times, 15 Jan. 2011. Web. 6 Feb. 2011. .

In this opinionated article, Nicholas Kristof states that America has to move education to its top priorities in order to compete with the dominating Asian countries by providing results to an international test, in which the United States got placed 15th.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: I agree with Mr. Kristof's opinion. The American people have so many other concerns. This can range from working part time jobs to watching sports or hanging out with friends. I am not saying that people should stop doing these things, but I think they should reduce the time in which they spend doing nothing productive. If education is a higher priority for the kids, and even the teachers, then I am sure America will flourish educationally.

//REHUGO ENTRY #3// =Congress Should Take Its Time Reforming Education in 2011= Category: Opinion Citation: "Congress Should Take Its Time on Education Reform in 2011 - By Douglas Holtz-Eakin - The Corner." //National Review Online//. Web. 30 Jan. 2011. .

In this resolute opinion article, Douglas Holtz-Eakin emphasizes that the Congress should take its time in reforming the education in order to make sure they reform in the right categories and balance the authorization between federal and state roles.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: It is true that we have to reform in ways that will help the country, and I never thought about it like that because the solutions to the flaws in our system seemed to stand out. However, there are more in-depth issues that need to be resolved. It would always be better if there was a quick solution, though, as we are slowly drifting away as one of the "super nations."

//REHUGO ENTRY #4// =The “Big Three” of Education Reform= Category: Opinion Citation: Freakonomics. "The "Big Three" of Education Reform - NYTimes.com." //Opinion - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2011. .

In this candid editorial, Freakonomics bluntly states that the attempts at educational reform have not been working and clarifies that the majority of charter schools perform as poorly as public schools.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: This article made me think about our educational reform. I think these attempts are pointless because they aren't changing enough. Teachers need to be more capable, so I think they should hire new teachers, even if the bad ones have to be fired.. :(

//REHUGO ENTRY #5// =** On education reform, safe is for losers **= Category: Opinion Citation: Whitmire, Richard. "On Education Reform, Safe Is for Losers - USATODAY.com." //News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com//. 25 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Feb. 2011. [].

In this blunt editorial, Richard Whitmire asserts that the American education system has many flaws and is therefore failing in terms of success by providing statistics comparing the knowledge of American children with children overseas in Asia.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: This article continues to emphasize that the Asian countries have more success with their kids in education. America needs a stricter education policy if the country wants to become the "smartest nation in the world."