A Sign of the "Times"

This week in the New York Times there was a lot of information about the increasing violence in Mexico and right across the border in the United States due to the activity of drug cartels. There were also a lot of other interesting stories that really caught my eye and that I could really relate to.

Monday- Today I read mostly about the violence of Mexican druc cartels. I had read about this a few weeks back (mainly about how there was more crime in areas right across the border in places such as Arizona), and I was very interested to learn more about it. As a student studying Spanish, I am very concerned with the levels of violence in Mexico, as I have learned a lot about the country and would love to visit there. I had even considered studying abroad there, and articles such as the one on today's front page definitely make me want to go to Spain instead. This article highlighted the increase in home invasions and kidnappings and murders going on not only in Mexico, but also in the United States due to the drug cartels. It also discussed and had a map about the different cartels that control Mexico's drugs. The map depicted where each cartel has control and also gave information on which cartels are fighting with each other and which are allies. Reading all about this made me realize just how much control these drug cartels have in Mexico, not only in the world of drugs and crime, but also simply in general. Through violence and fear, they seem to have the upperhand on even the Mexican federal government, which clearly cannot control them. This really worries me, and the fact that their violence is so rapidly spreading to the U.S. really makes me hope that President Obama does something about this very, very soon.

Tuesday- Today I read a story that really interested me and that I also thought could be turned into a local issue story around the UNH campus. This story was on the front page and discussed a 19-year-old girl who when she was 13 was strip-searched at school because it was suspected that she had prescription-stength Ibuprofen on her person. The school claimed that its zero-tolerance policy on drugs gave them the right to do this to the girl, since they had reason to believe she had drugs, however, the girl (who says she was emotionallt traumatized by the experience and had to change schools) is now sueing the school in a case that has gone all the way to the Supreme Court. This could be turned into an issue story on the UNH campus because it is something that is relevent and relatable for all students. The main question is, what are a student's rights when it comes to searches? There have been many cases surrounding this question in the past, and schools have often won, saying that they can randomly search students bags or lockers, etc. But I personally believe this school went way too far by strip-searching this child. I also think it would be really interesting to know what UNH administrators believe are their rights as regards to searching students and then to also see what the students believe their own rights to be. I think they would most likely differ.

Wednesday- Today I read a story about YouTube being blocked in China. This story really made me realize just how lucky we are in America and how many rights we really do have. The article explained that the block occurred soon after a video was posted on the site that showed Chinese police officers brutally beating Tibetan protestors, an event that caused on protestor to die. According to the article, the Chinese government routinely filters Internet content and blocks material that is critical of its policies, so I guess that is why this video was blocked. This really amazed me- that a government would really control what its people was allowed to view on the Internet. I knew that China was nothing like the United States, and that its government was always very concerned that its people only heard and say good things about it, and only spoke well of it, however, this story made me realize just how extreme it is. I think that I quite often forget that not every country is like the United States. We have so many rights and, despite its flaws, a government that really is working for us, and not trying to control us. This article helped me to remember that.

Thursday- Today I read a story about an art investor who basically turned his gallery into a Ponzi scheme, and it really made me wonder who can be trusted in this economy. It seems like more and more we are hearing about people scheming others and coming away with thousands and millions of dollars. This particular man swindled money from investors in his art and gallery, and was arrested in his home this morning. He was charged with 100 counts including grand larceny, falsifying business documents, fraud, forgery, and perjury. This sounds almost like the Madoff of art dealers. While I was reading this article I just couldn't help but think how sad it is that in this terrible economy, people are willing to steal from others, others who need money just as much, if not more, than them.