Right, here is the serious post I promised all of you a few entries ago. I was going to wait a few more days, but after watching the Vice Presidential Debates last night, I decided that the sooner I post this the better. So here it goes.

On November 4th, 2008 I will be voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden for President and Vice President respectively. Below I will list a few reasons why I will be voting for him, based off of information I have collected over the past few weeks, as well as 5 reasons why I will in no way vote for John McCain.



Obama for President:

(Information gathered off of his official website, progressive radio stations (KTLA & KMPC), and from my Dad (a member of the Los Angeles Democratic Party as well as several Veterans committees).


1. He and Biden have a plan for ending the war in Iraq 
 
It would consist of a gradual withdrawal, pulling troops out within 16 months. This (to quote his website) "will encourage Iraqis to take the lead in securing their own country...." 

I knew the war wouldn't be a good thing from the start- well, with all the relative wisdom of an 11 year-old. I'm 18 now, and I know this war is most definitely not a good thing. The US went into Iraq for the wrong reasons. The Bush administration lied about there being weapons of mass destruction. It's been proven that they lied! So why are we still there? *whispers* Oil. But I'm getting off the subject. So many people have died. This has to stop.

2. Obama's health plan makes more sense than McCain's!

I'm still more inclined towards the health care system found in the UK and Canada, but his plan is better than nothing, and makes way more sense than McCain's.

3. Would take steps to end the genocide taking place in Darfur

4. Would make college more affordable

As someone attending community college (over $400 for textbooks for one semester! *shudders*) and planning on attending a University next year, this is especially important. It has gotten to the point that to succeed you have to have a college degree. Yet for many people this is just not possible, because of how much it costs to get said degree.

5. Supports increase of arts in schools

Always a good thing! The art/muisc/drama and other such programs have been cut left, right, and centre all over the nation. The emphasis is always on sports. I'm not an athlete. Perhaps I'd have gotten more involved in school if the one I had attended had a decent arts program, rather than focusing on its football team. Which I believe lost every year I attended Covina.

6. Supports a woman's right to choose

7. Would allow all veterans back into the VA and would improve care for Veterans.

This is a big issue for me. My Dad is a Disabled American Veteran. And while I am in no way militarily inclined, I deeply respect those who stand up to defend their country. I would never voluntarily join the military because a) I abhor violence and b) the way veterans are treated is disgraceful. So many end up homeless or don't receive proper medical care. Nearly every day my Dad goes out and attends meetings and speaks with representatives, trying to help veterans. The stories he has brought home with him, of conditions in so many of the VA hospitals, sickens me. Why should we stand up for a country that doesn't in turn stand up for us?

8. Supports stem cell research

I have a close family friend, he's practically my cousin, who has diabetes. Watching how strong he has had to be, hearing about what he's had to go through, what other people with diabetes and other diseases have to go through, has convinced me that we need to step up and find cures. Stem cell research is the best bet. 

9. I like his pick for Vice President

Joe Biden has experience. He has been in the Senate for (approx) 36 years and is known for his diplomatic skills. Considering the lack of foreign policy this administration has become known for, those skills are exactly what this country needs.

10. He supports the Matthew Shepherd Act

*punches fist in air* Right on! 



5 Reasons Why I don't support John McCain (besides any listed above)


1. He has voted against veterans far more often than he has voted in their interests.

I believe it is something like 80-90% of the time, but I don't know completely for sure. How someone who is a veteran himself can vote against his fellow veterans mystifies me. But he has and that is unforgivable.

2. Is against Gay Marriage

In fact, from what I have heard, he doesn't support gay rights at all. Has he not heard of the Constitution?! Obama has at least expressed the fact that he respects the CA supreme court ruling concerning gay marriage. While it's not the outright declaration of support I would care to hear. it's better than completely opposing it. I won't vote for someone who opposes gay marriage.  Love is love. Or lust. Gender doesn't, nor should it, matter.

3. Is not Pro-Choice

Regardless of your personal opinion concerning abortion; at the very least it should be acknowledged that the choice should rest with the women. It’s their bodies, their lives at risk. To deny them that choice is morally wrong. If you don't approve of abortion, then you shouldn't have one! But no one should be denied the right to choose what to do in concerns to their own life.

4. I don't like Sarah Palin

The fact that she is adamantly Pro-Life is one reason. Her lack of diplomatic skills (she was mayor of a very small town, and while she may be a governor, compare the population of her state to the population of this entire nation. Note the major numbers difference) is another. However, it is her tendency to blur the line between separation of church and state that really gets to me. That separation is a vitally necessary thing! 

5. His health plan makes no sense

For further details on this; I suggest you look up an article in The Wall Street Journal called "Why Obama's Health Plan Is Better." I stumbled across it about a week ago and it explains the differences in the two candidate’s plans far better than I ever could.




Those are the fundamental reasons why I have chosen to vote for Obama and Biden in the upcoming election. Everyone who is of age to vote and is a US citizen, please go out and vote in this election. Preferably for Obama. It is of extreme importance. The middle class of America cannot afford more of the last 8 years. 

Oh, and if you're a resident of California, I suggest voting NO on Prop 8. The California supreme court has already ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny someone the right to get married because of their sexual orientation. Supporting Prop 8 is a step in the wrong direction. 


~Cen

Just thought I'd post a quick entry now. Nothing real serious, that'll come later, either this week or next.

Finally got to watch this movie:




I first heard of this movie on Stephenie Meyer's website ages ago. Initially, I only wanted to watch it for the Twilight preview. Then 'cause James McAvoy was in it. Got my hands on a copy and my Mom, Sister, and I watched it tonight.

Lol, not quite sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. It was so much better! A real feel-good empowerment message (not something I normally go for but it made for a nice change) contained within, excellent cast, and amusing script.

It was a bit weird at parts, vaguely predictable (then again, most movies/tv shows are...) at others, but sweet. I laughed aloud at bits, rolled my eyes frequently, but couldn't help but be touched by the end of this film. Also, James McAvoy (think I'll have to add him to my Fave Actors list at this rate) was really good.





*happy sigh*

Another lovely surprise- Burn Gorman was in the film! Not a whole lot, but still. I didn't know he was in it, and then the camera cuts to him and Ronnie and I both sit up in our seats and squee. It was refreshing to see him on screen, even if it wasn't as Owen. *sighs* Before that thought depresses me, I should wrap this up. I really liked this movie. Even if it was a bit odd. Definitely worth watching at least once. I'm certainly going to be buying myself a copy.

Toodles!
~Cen
 

Hello everybody,

This is not a normal update. I just had a question about something, and thought perhaps this was the best place to ask it.

I've been researching the school system in the UK for most of this past week (thank goodness for Wikipedia) and I was wondering: In America we have this thing called the Gate Program, or Advanced classes. It's supposed to be for the kids with higher GPAs or who seem to be smarter than other kids in their grade. I'd just like to know if this program or something like it exists in the UK. I need to know for my story, and can't find the info myself off of Wikipedia. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks!

Thursday, July 24:

 

That's pretty much everything that happened. I'll post my review of JB's The Making Of Me, which Ceic and I watched on Friday night, tomorrow.

It's official! This past Wednesday/Thursday, Ceiceli and I finally met John Barrowman! SQUEE! I'm still reeling from it all... *explosive sigh* Right, my report of the book signing is below, under an LJ cut as it's really quite long. If I can manage it, I'll post a few pics I took as well. Enjoy!

I'll post my report on ComicCon tomorrow.