Article on Racism

Jan. 6, 2007, Heather Ellis was found cutting in front of waiting customers at Walmart located in Kennett. According to other people, she shoved items already placed on the conveyor belt out of the way so she could get her items checked out first. She claims that she was just joining her cousin but she also said that after she placed her items on the conveyor belt she was pushed by a white customer, called racial slurs and mistreated physically by police officers. Ellis refused to calm herself down in court, kicking someones shin and splitting another persons lip while resisting arrest. She also claims that an officer and a manager was called over and even though she said she wanted to pay for her items, the manager yelled at her, telling her to leave the store. The police officers were called and they followed her to the parking lot using racial slurs and telling Ellis to go back to the ghetto. She eventually pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.

This is a big issue because it has racial overtones since Ellis is black and the police officers, manager, and the customer she argued with were white.

www.leadershiparticles.net

1. What aspect of leadership does it cover?

This article covers motivation. It is talking about how a quote about success can motivate you since people like hearing about successful people. According to this article, there is an aura around successful people that attracts other people.

2. What does the author say about leadership? What kind of audience is the author trying to reach.

The author is telling us that successful people can be great leaders with them not knowing it. A simple quote coming out of a persons mouth "can ignite a spark within you and fuel the passion that will help you achieve the goal that you've been wanting to for so long." The author is trying to reach people seeking for motivation towards their goal.

3. Who is it going to affect? How is it going to affect a large population of the world and possibly you?

It really depends on the person, A sentence can mean a lot of things to different people so some may not receive the message of motivation as others do. It will probably affect a large population if a famous person quotes something inspirational and motivating.

4. What is it that makes this an important article about leadership? (5 points)

It tells us a way that we can seek leadership. A sentence or a quote can do just as good for you as talking to a person you know or don't know.

5. You Opinion

I never really thought about looking at quotes for motivation. I know people like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and other famous athletes quote motivational quotes but I never tried to seek them. This article is very true since a lot of dreamers look for motivation in pursuing their dream.

Fort Hood

1. What are your thoughts, feelings, etc, as you read these articles?

I thought that this was an unreasonable way of responding to all the criticism he got from the people around him. He didn't have many friends and he was criticized but it's no excuse for killing 13 people and possibly wounding others. Many people around the world deal with the same issues Hasan did but you don't see them going around killing people.

2. What role do you think terrorism played in this massacre, if any? Why? Do you think that there was an terrorist organization behind the shooting?

I don't think terrorism played in this massacre, I think it was an act of frustration. Even though the posts on his blog about his thoughts on the Iraq war sounds like he was defending Iraq, it doesn't prove that it was an act of terrorism.

3. What role did racism or religious persecution play in this incident? Why?

Racism did play a role in this massacre, I'm guessing Hasan got sick and tired of people making fun of his race and was stressed out, resulting in the shooting in Fort Hood.

4. Do you think a lot of Muslim Americans have the same feelings as this man? Why or why not?

Yes, I think many people just like Hasan is facing racism and other criticism because of the war, but I don't think they would go out and shoot people like Hasan did, they would be able to control their emotions.

5. What do you think the military could have done to prevent this from happening? Why do you believe this? Were there signs that this man had the potential to do something like this? What were they?

The military could have prevented this kind of harassment by letting everyone know that racism and racial discrimination would not be tolerated at Fort Hood. By preventing racism, he wouldn't have gotten frustrated and it probably wouldn't lead to his act of violence.

6. Talk about the leadership of Kimberly Munley (the woman who stopped the shooter). What did she do? How would you have reacted in the same situation?

She was the one that was able to go to him and stop him, but even though she got shot 3 times she was somehow able to stop him. I wouldn't be brave enough to stop the shooter, I wouldn't want to get shot, I would try to get out of there as fast as I can.


7. What does this incident say about race relations in America? Specifically with Arab-Americans and Muslims? Is there a reason that Muslims and people from the Arab world feel a certain way about
America?

This incident says a lot about the relations between Hasan's country and America, because of the war most people think Muslims/Arab-Americans are bad, based of what happened in the past. There probably is a reason they dislike America, mostly because of racism and certain discrimination against Arabic people.

Headbutt article

1. What are your thoughts about this case? How did the video make you feel or think? Should the athlete be charged criminally for this act? Why/Why not?

a. I thought that everyone was overreacting about a simple headbutt. A headbutt should not lead to criminal charges even if it was intentional. LeGarrette Blount punched a Boise State Player but wasn't faced with criminal charges, why should the person who headbutted get charged with criminal charges?


2. When competing in contact sports, should you have the same rights and protections as you would as an ordinary citizen regarding assault or should there be an expectation of violence? Why/Why not?

I think there should be an expectation of violence. Sports such as football or hockey involves hitting other players and that is why violence should be expected, certain type of violence such as starting a fight in basketball, etc. should not be allowed but it shouldn't lead to criminal charges as well.

3.
Both Players:
How would this make you feel?
It would make me mad, there is no reason a player should headbutt another player out of anger.
What would you want done about this situation?
The person who headbutted should be suspended for a few games.
What would you do about this situation?
I wouldn't do much about this situation, I think that he should be suspended for a few games but I wouldn't complain about it so that he would be charged with criminal assault.

Parents:
How would this make you feel?
It would make me feel unsafe for my sons/daughters who play sports.
What would you want done about this situation?
If I was a parent I would want some sort of rule that protects players from non-sport related violence.
What would you do about this situation?
I would tell my kids about this situation and then let them decide whether if they want to continue playing sports.

Teammate:
How would this make you feel?
It would make me feel mad about a player headbutting my teammate, it's unnecessary and an act of unsportsmanlike conduct.
What would you want done about this situation?
The player who headbutted should be suspended for the rest of the season.
What would you do about this situation?
The headbutt would probably lead to a huge fight so I would try to stop the 2 before it starts a big fight between the 2 teams.