Obama's Actions Over the Weekend

Over the weekend President Obama took initiative to cover three important topics over this past weekend.  These include:

1. January 8, 2011; President Obama spoke out from the White House on the shootings that took place in Tuscan, Arizona.  He assured everyone, that even though they had no real lead on who may have been behind the shootings, they were going to definitely get to the bottom of it.

2. January 8, 2011; President Obama addressed the Tax Cuts and clarified that they do benefit small and large businesses and also tens of millions of families and workers, along with the economy.

3.January 9, 2011; President Obama honored the victims of the Arizona shootings by issuing an order that the American Flag be waved at half-staff at the White House, and upon all public buildings and grounds.   Also at all military posts, naval stations and on all naval vessels of Federal Government in District of Columbia until sunset on January 14, 2011.

Tom Labonge's Big Regret

    In the article "Now He Tells Us!  Tom Labonge's Second Thoughts", it reveals how councilman Tom Labonge, now regrets raising the price on parking meters.  It has stated that both L.A. Times and L.A. Daily News have had 5 reports from businesses about their lost of customers. Unfortunately it has been due too their lack of wanting to spend money on parking meters all night. This also has a negative outlook for theaters and  restaurants since these our two main places you stay at for hours at a time.  You could only imagine how high the price of meters can be by the end of the night.This now gives Tom Labonge a sense of regret, especially after realizing how this is not helping our economy since your asking citizens to spend more money.

    I agree that it was wrong for Tom Labonge to raise the price for parking meters regarding the fact that our country is going through a rough time money wise. By increasing the cost on meters, it will only cause citizens to go out less. Thus allowing businesses such as restaurants and theaters to make a small amount of money.This can even lead to them going out of business. I feel that something should be done to lower the price of parking meters to help businesses, especially since Tom Labonge is starting to second guess the whole change all together.

My 1st Blog: Freedom of Religion

In the article, 14 year-old Ariana Lacono who attends Clayton High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, was suspended for having a nose piercing. The school explained that it somehow violated Johnston County school system's dress code. However, Ariana argued that the piercing was an "exercise of her religion" and that it was her First Amendment Right to express freedom of religion.  Her mother, Nikki, who is an attendant of the Church of Body Modification agreed with her daughter on the issue.  She also added, after her daughter was suspended for ten more days after attempting to attend school during her suspension, that the dress code allows exemptions on religious grounds.  Meaning that technically, Ariana was not violating the dress code whatsoever with her piercing.

I agree that a nose piercing is a simple expression that can be classified as freedom of religion. The First Amendment supports this right one-hundred percent.  Meaning there should have been no reason for Ariana Lacono to be given any form of punishment.  The school's dress code basically stated itself that she had a right to have the nose piercing since it's for religious purposes. Therefore, the school was at fault for their accusations.