In Sociology we learned about what it means to be deviant in a society. We then did a project where we broke into groups and video taped ourselves doing different acts of social deviance and analyzing people's reactions afterwards. Our experiments consisted of going through various drive throughs of fast food restaurants and doing unconventional things to get a reaction such as walking through the drive through and making long drawn out irrelevant conversation with the attendants. Here are our videos:
In this video we go through the drive-thru at Del Taco. Wehn we got to the talk box i carried on a conversation with the attendant there and finally I just simply did not order anything. The worker reacted normally and respected my decision to not buy anything.
In this video we walked through the drive-thru at Jack in the Box instead of driving. When we got to the box, nothing happened. The workers probably were just ignoring us because there was a large camera right above us aimed at us. So, since we weren't recieving any service, we left.
In this video we go through the drive-thru at In N Out. I posed as an ignorant person that had never been to the restaurant before and also carried on a long irrelevant conversation with the attendant. They were very polite about it because I made a convincing ignorant person so they gladly answered my questions.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Drug Project
In Sociology class we studied a certain drug and wrote a short story about it. My drug was ecstasy. This story is about kids who go to Grad Nite and get intoxicated and it is shortened due to a large sequence of obscure and innappropriate content.
Grad Night
I could say that when I got intoxicated at Disneyland on Grad Night, “I didn’t know what I was thinking,” or, “I regret it because of the danger I put myself in,” but I would be lying. I had every intention of getting “fucked up,” if you will, in some way before getting here. And as I lay relaxed, staring at the ceiling in the dark, with her sleeping next to me with her head on my arm, I reminisce about the adventure I just had and how I wouldn’t take it back for anything. Even now, this late into the night, or morning I should say (it’s 4:30), her touch makes me feel a tingle all over as I just start to fall asleep fulfilled and with a stupid dreamy smile on my face.
Earlier that night:
As we picked every one up at their respective households in my friend Ryan’s van we blasted our obnoxious music that reminded us we’re young—which is a good thing of course. I always hated people who look down on contemporary obnoxious music teenagers listen to when they themselves are still teenagers. Act your age. Have some fun. Please. Anyway, before we embarked in the general direction of Disneyland, by my request, we picked up my girlfriend who lives in the opposite direction. Sure it would add on about 30 minutes to our hour and a half journey but I promised Ryan five bucks.
Once every one was accounted for, the van, that’s made to hold eight people (driver included) now held twelve. Four sat in the back, as in the very back, as in where there aren’t seats, Ryan and his girlfriend sat up front, three in the row behind him, and my girlfriend and I took up our own row in the back where we preceded to make out without considering the people around us. That was so us. I love her and our knack for PDA. It didn’t really matter right now though anyway since everyone was so pumped and excited and all having separate conversations. The conversation behind us was about the many illegal substances they were all packing. Jimmy, one of the kids in the back, had filled water bottles to the top with Grey Goose. He had them in a backpack mixed up with regular water bottles to both disguise the vodka-filled ones, and to go with the ecstasy another kid brought for hydration. And of course one of them had some joints already rolled and in a plastic baggy. My plans for the evening weren’t really set. When substances are involved, I never have a plan. I just try whatever is at my disposal or what I’m in the mood for. I would never go out of my way to get anything or ever pay for my own. That’s not me. I mooch.
My plans changed when in the midst of our makeout session in the backseat I ran my hands up my girlfriend’s thighs until I felt something small in her pocket. Just for kicks I reached in to see what it was and I pulled out a little baggy with two blue pills with a butterfly on each one.
“I wanted to surprise you,” she said.
She knew I had never tried E before and had been wanting to for a while. It didn’t even occur to me I could have tried it tonight since one of my friends had it but I guess it didn’t cross my mind since I always had this mindset that I wanted to save it for a special occasion. Then I realized, this is a special occasion. I have my girlfriend here, who I would have been hanging around the majority of the time anyway, and here we are going to a place filled with liveliness and trippy rides. And she brought some herself specifically for us too so it would just be shameful to say no now (even though she would understand. I love her and how understanding she is). After a stop at Denny’s on the way we finally arrived at the park. As we walked through the gates I couldn’t help but feel nervous about us somehow getting caught for all the shit we were bringing in but we were fine. Back at school, days earlier, the principal lectured us about how serious it was to not bring shit into the park or show up messed up or whatever, and you think with such hype the park would have better security for it. But I wasn’t complaining. Holla. So we passed through the entrance in a group of what was now made up of more than twenty people having met up some familiar faces out front. The atmosphere was so lively. Our group was growing bigger and bigger as more people we knew came to join us. It was like we were dominating the park and keeping it from the stupid faggots from the other schools. That’s how it felt. We were all just full of ourselves and ready for a good night ahead of us.
As we walked along I held hands with my girlfriend and we looked at each other and I kissed her and told her I loved her. She waited to say it back until after we kissed again. She does that a lot. She teases me. Ugh, I love her! We continued to walk on and from the sound of things the group planned to go on Pirates of the Caribbean where our mass of 30 or so people could take up two full boats of our very own. On the way some of us got sodas to spike with our vodka water bottles. I didn’t just because in back of my mind I didn’t know what the deal was with mixing ecstasy and alcohol and I was worried I would die or get sick or something. It turns out it is bad. Thanks girlfriend. So we got to the area around Pirates of the Caribbean where the river they have there is and my girlfriend grabbed my hand and led me to the area by the water. She took out the pills and put one in my hand and we put them in our mouths at the same time. She drank some water and swallowed, and I followed. We then met our massive group in line.
So Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t really an amazing sensory ecstasy experience or anything. It hadn’t kicked in yet. It was only a ten minute ride and like a 20 minute line so the entertainment for the time being was all of us teenagers being obnoxious and yelling and reenacting a pirate battle with the boat behind us. Towards the end I did kind of feel out of it though. I didn’t want to get my hopes up just because I didn’t want to make myself out and just think it was kicking in already and act stupid and ugh. Know what I mean? Anyway we started to walk off the boat and my girlfriend grabbed my hand. I was kind of caught off guard because it tingled. A lot. It was like our hands were made to fit each others’. It felt warm and nice and wow. I was just reminded about how much I loved her and want her around me all of the time. Then we walked outside into the calm night air. The breeze was slight and relaxing but on my skin it felt so damn good. I was tingling all over. I was just so relaxed and content! The lights that lined the walkway by the river never looked so nice. I did a slow 360 just looking at stuff in every direction. I must have looked like a retard. I was just slowly turning around in a circle with an awe-struck look on my face looking at absolutely nothing. But to me it was a new world. I appreciated everything I saw and found everything so fascinating. My attention was immediately shifted to Tomorrowland in the distance. It was a mass of bright neon lights that called to me. I felt so pumped all of the sudden, just to go over there and see it. I took my girlfriend’s hand again and it felt more intense than before. It actually stopped me in my tracks and I looked her in the eyes and kissed her. My whole body went crazy. It felt like…well…pleasure. I can’t really describe it better. Like it felt good to kiss her before but it was just intensified so much! So I did it again and we held each other as we walked. I was just loving life and I just started running with her towards the lights.
I saw that the line for Space Mountain was pretty much empty so I led my girlfriend by the hand towards it. I’m such a child even if I’m on drugs. But it’s a good thing I chose to do this because what I experienced on that ride was the coolest shit ever. The ride felt like it moved so much faster and the wind gives you this crazy rush and the stars go by and ugh! It was so cool! When we got off we saw that had these dance floors set up nearby with strobe lights and electronic rave music playing constantly and we just jumped right in. It sounded so intense. I was in this trance from it and I could actually FEEL the music. It felt like it was made for me and I moved to it in this amazingly smooth harmony. I felt like I could actually dance. It was such a blur though I could have looked stupid as hell to other people around me but I felt amazing doing it. The fact that my girlfriend, an already attractive girl, who right now seemed more attractive than ever, was right up against me moving with me. It felt so amazing. Every little thing was a constant sensation—the heat, the sweat starting to form on our bodies, and most of all her touch. I hadn’t felt this close to her since the time we first had sex. We kissed and I felt like I never could have her away from me again. The pleasure I felt was just constant. I wanted to make love to her right there. Right in the middle of the dance. I love her! We danced for a while and finally mutually agreed to take a water break. The cold water felt amazing to drink. This cold sensation went through my body for a few seconds as I drank it. We walked hand in hand and the calm night breeze felt so refreshing on our damp skin. This feeling already felt nice without drugs but now that we were, I got even more from the experience. The breeze tingled my skin all over and I just felt so content with everything. Everything in my life. None of the stupid shit I worry about usually came up once. And I was so in love with this girl next to me. We were already inseparable and knew everything about each other but right now I felt even more connected. And I could tell she felt the same way the way she held my hand and arm and looked at me and said little things to me in this cute little hushed loving voice. The night seemed so much more quiet and calm when we got away from that area and walked through the darker area by the Matterhorn. It didn’t last long because we just happen to run into the mass of friends we came in with. There weren’t as many now probably because they were all off having their own experiences with illegal substances. These ones were just drunk or high from weed with the exception of two guys that had taken acid and went on the Winnie the Pooh a little earlier. They looked terrified out of their minds and wouldn’t talk to any of us no matter how hard we tried. They’d be fine though. In the midst of laughing with them as we made fun of each other my girlfriend grabbed my hand and held it tight. I looked at her and we kissed. We kissed again. So we could continue, we walked away from the group to a dark area by some trees. We made out like we never have before. Or at least it felt that way. She moved her hands all over me while we made out and it felt so intense. It was making me go crazy. Like really crazy. As in, I don’t know if I would have been able to control myself and keep myself from taking my clothes off right there if it wasn’t for a couple of teachers walking by. It was kind of a reality check for us because for a few minutes, we were in our own little horny world.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As we walked on I was really tired now, but a really nice and relaxed tired. The drug was almost completely worn off but I still felt a little tingly and I’m assuming the really good mood I was in was natural. I felt so at peace with everything. Me and my girlfriend walked hand in hand through the hotel plaza and into the lobby to get a room. We talked the whole time and as we did I looked at her with such happiness and love as I thought I couldn’t be happier that she was the person I shared this experience with and that she was my girlfriend. I even told her this even though I pretty much implied it with the stupid look on my face. After talking to the miserable young lady at the desk who gave us a room, we walked across the street from the complex and ate at Denny’s before going back to the hotel and up to our room. We laid on our one bed for a while in the dark with the blinds open overlooking the still lit resort and the tv on until she fell asleep. I turned the tv off and stared at the ceiling and was happier than I have ever been.
Grad Night
I could say that when I got intoxicated at Disneyland on Grad Night, “I didn’t know what I was thinking,” or, “I regret it because of the danger I put myself in,” but I would be lying. I had every intention of getting “fucked up,” if you will, in some way before getting here. And as I lay relaxed, staring at the ceiling in the dark, with her sleeping next to me with her head on my arm, I reminisce about the adventure I just had and how I wouldn’t take it back for anything. Even now, this late into the night, or morning I should say (it’s 4:30), her touch makes me feel a tingle all over as I just start to fall asleep fulfilled and with a stupid dreamy smile on my face.
Earlier that night:
As we picked every one up at their respective households in my friend Ryan’s van we blasted our obnoxious music that reminded us we’re young—which is a good thing of course. I always hated people who look down on contemporary obnoxious music teenagers listen to when they themselves are still teenagers. Act your age. Have some fun. Please. Anyway, before we embarked in the general direction of Disneyland, by my request, we picked up my girlfriend who lives in the opposite direction. Sure it would add on about 30 minutes to our hour and a half journey but I promised Ryan five bucks.
Once every one was accounted for, the van, that’s made to hold eight people (driver included) now held twelve. Four sat in the back, as in the very back, as in where there aren’t seats, Ryan and his girlfriend sat up front, three in the row behind him, and my girlfriend and I took up our own row in the back where we preceded to make out without considering the people around us. That was so us. I love her and our knack for PDA. It didn’t really matter right now though anyway since everyone was so pumped and excited and all having separate conversations. The conversation behind us was about the many illegal substances they were all packing. Jimmy, one of the kids in the back, had filled water bottles to the top with Grey Goose. He had them in a backpack mixed up with regular water bottles to both disguise the vodka-filled ones, and to go with the ecstasy another kid brought for hydration. And of course one of them had some joints already rolled and in a plastic baggy. My plans for the evening weren’t really set. When substances are involved, I never have a plan. I just try whatever is at my disposal or what I’m in the mood for. I would never go out of my way to get anything or ever pay for my own. That’s not me. I mooch.
My plans changed when in the midst of our makeout session in the backseat I ran my hands up my girlfriend’s thighs until I felt something small in her pocket. Just for kicks I reached in to see what it was and I pulled out a little baggy with two blue pills with a butterfly on each one.
“I wanted to surprise you,” she said.
She knew I had never tried E before and had been wanting to for a while. It didn’t even occur to me I could have tried it tonight since one of my friends had it but I guess it didn’t cross my mind since I always had this mindset that I wanted to save it for a special occasion. Then I realized, this is a special occasion. I have my girlfriend here, who I would have been hanging around the majority of the time anyway, and here we are going to a place filled with liveliness and trippy rides. And she brought some herself specifically for us too so it would just be shameful to say no now (even though she would understand. I love her and how understanding she is). After a stop at Denny’s on the way we finally arrived at the park. As we walked through the gates I couldn’t help but feel nervous about us somehow getting caught for all the shit we were bringing in but we were fine. Back at school, days earlier, the principal lectured us about how serious it was to not bring shit into the park or show up messed up or whatever, and you think with such hype the park would have better security for it. But I wasn’t complaining. Holla. So we passed through the entrance in a group of what was now made up of more than twenty people having met up some familiar faces out front. The atmosphere was so lively. Our group was growing bigger and bigger as more people we knew came to join us. It was like we were dominating the park and keeping it from the stupid faggots from the other schools. That’s how it felt. We were all just full of ourselves and ready for a good night ahead of us.
As we walked along I held hands with my girlfriend and we looked at each other and I kissed her and told her I loved her. She waited to say it back until after we kissed again. She does that a lot. She teases me. Ugh, I love her! We continued to walk on and from the sound of things the group planned to go on Pirates of the Caribbean where our mass of 30 or so people could take up two full boats of our very own. On the way some of us got sodas to spike with our vodka water bottles. I didn’t just because in back of my mind I didn’t know what the deal was with mixing ecstasy and alcohol and I was worried I would die or get sick or something. It turns out it is bad. Thanks girlfriend. So we got to the area around Pirates of the Caribbean where the river they have there is and my girlfriend grabbed my hand and led me to the area by the water. She took out the pills and put one in my hand and we put them in our mouths at the same time. She drank some water and swallowed, and I followed. We then met our massive group in line.
So Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t really an amazing sensory ecstasy experience or anything. It hadn’t kicked in yet. It was only a ten minute ride and like a 20 minute line so the entertainment for the time being was all of us teenagers being obnoxious and yelling and reenacting a pirate battle with the boat behind us. Towards the end I did kind of feel out of it though. I didn’t want to get my hopes up just because I didn’t want to make myself out and just think it was kicking in already and act stupid and ugh. Know what I mean? Anyway we started to walk off the boat and my girlfriend grabbed my hand. I was kind of caught off guard because it tingled. A lot. It was like our hands were made to fit each others’. It felt warm and nice and wow. I was just reminded about how much I loved her and want her around me all of the time. Then we walked outside into the calm night air. The breeze was slight and relaxing but on my skin it felt so damn good. I was tingling all over. I was just so relaxed and content! The lights that lined the walkway by the river never looked so nice. I did a slow 360 just looking at stuff in every direction. I must have looked like a retard. I was just slowly turning around in a circle with an awe-struck look on my face looking at absolutely nothing. But to me it was a new world. I appreciated everything I saw and found everything so fascinating. My attention was immediately shifted to Tomorrowland in the distance. It was a mass of bright neon lights that called to me. I felt so pumped all of the sudden, just to go over there and see it. I took my girlfriend’s hand again and it felt more intense than before. It actually stopped me in my tracks and I looked her in the eyes and kissed her. My whole body went crazy. It felt like…well…pleasure. I can’t really describe it better. Like it felt good to kiss her before but it was just intensified so much! So I did it again and we held each other as we walked. I was just loving life and I just started running with her towards the lights.
I saw that the line for Space Mountain was pretty much empty so I led my girlfriend by the hand towards it. I’m such a child even if I’m on drugs. But it’s a good thing I chose to do this because what I experienced on that ride was the coolest shit ever. The ride felt like it moved so much faster and the wind gives you this crazy rush and the stars go by and ugh! It was so cool! When we got off we saw that had these dance floors set up nearby with strobe lights and electronic rave music playing constantly and we just jumped right in. It sounded so intense. I was in this trance from it and I could actually FEEL the music. It felt like it was made for me and I moved to it in this amazingly smooth harmony. I felt like I could actually dance. It was such a blur though I could have looked stupid as hell to other people around me but I felt amazing doing it. The fact that my girlfriend, an already attractive girl, who right now seemed more attractive than ever, was right up against me moving with me. It felt so amazing. Every little thing was a constant sensation—the heat, the sweat starting to form on our bodies, and most of all her touch. I hadn’t felt this close to her since the time we first had sex. We kissed and I felt like I never could have her away from me again. The pleasure I felt was just constant. I wanted to make love to her right there. Right in the middle of the dance. I love her! We danced for a while and finally mutually agreed to take a water break. The cold water felt amazing to drink. This cold sensation went through my body for a few seconds as I drank it. We walked hand in hand and the calm night breeze felt so refreshing on our damp skin. This feeling already felt nice without drugs but now that we were, I got even more from the experience. The breeze tingled my skin all over and I just felt so content with everything. Everything in my life. None of the stupid shit I worry about usually came up once. And I was so in love with this girl next to me. We were already inseparable and knew everything about each other but right now I felt even more connected. And I could tell she felt the same way the way she held my hand and arm and looked at me and said little things to me in this cute little hushed loving voice. The night seemed so much more quiet and calm when we got away from that area and walked through the darker area by the Matterhorn. It didn’t last long because we just happen to run into the mass of friends we came in with. There weren’t as many now probably because they were all off having their own experiences with illegal substances. These ones were just drunk or high from weed with the exception of two guys that had taken acid and went on the Winnie the Pooh a little earlier. They looked terrified out of their minds and wouldn’t talk to any of us no matter how hard we tried. They’d be fine though. In the midst of laughing with them as we made fun of each other my girlfriend grabbed my hand and held it tight. I looked at her and we kissed. We kissed again. So we could continue, we walked away from the group to a dark area by some trees. We made out like we never have before. Or at least it felt that way. She moved her hands all over me while we made out and it felt so intense. It was making me go crazy. Like really crazy. As in, I don’t know if I would have been able to control myself and keep myself from taking my clothes off right there if it wasn’t for a couple of teachers walking by. It was kind of a reality check for us because for a few minutes, we were in our own little horny world.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As we walked on I was really tired now, but a really nice and relaxed tired. The drug was almost completely worn off but I still felt a little tingly and I’m assuming the really good mood I was in was natural. I felt so at peace with everything. Me and my girlfriend walked hand in hand through the hotel plaza and into the lobby to get a room. We talked the whole time and as we did I looked at her with such happiness and love as I thought I couldn’t be happier that she was the person I shared this experience with and that she was my girlfriend. I even told her this even though I pretty much implied it with the stupid look on my face. After talking to the miserable young lady at the desk who gave us a room, we walked across the street from the complex and ate at Denny’s before going back to the hotel and up to our room. We laid on our one bed for a while in the dark with the blinds open overlooking the still lit resort and the tv on until she fell asleep. I turned the tv off and stared at the ceiling and was happier than I have ever been.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Resource Management Project
In Government class we chose a resource that is mismanaged in the world such as water or energy. I chose the Federal Emergency Management Agency. After researching we wrote an abstract and other things we got to choose. I chose an OpEd and a lesson plan.
Abstract
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is just as much of a mismanaged resource in the U.S. as water or energy. The agency’s purpose is to coordinate a response to a declared disaster in order to provide aid. However, the agency is known for having slow inefficient responses during more than one emergency. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, FEMA was criticized for their slow response caused mainly by lack of experience and preparation from the head and staff alike. There was confusion among FEMA workers as to what the plan to take care of the people of New Orleans was, which resulted in them doing almost nothing for days and leaving people lost, starving, trapped, and even victims of violence. In response to the poor reaction, in 2006 Congress created a law that would set minimum qualifications for future heads of FEMA since the one at the time, Michael Brown, who George W. Bush selected, had no prior emergency management experience. The law called for “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management" and “not less than five years of executive leadership." However, Bush decided this law would try to limit his authority. Despite this though he still did sign the bill and decided it was an important part of the legislation, which was to protect the American people. Hopefully this step will prove to be part of the solution that is changing FEMA’s emergency response system in order to make it more efficient. FEMA needs to revamp their system further by instead of focusing on waiting for a plan, focus on what is truly the most valuable—human life and take such measures as deploying rescue teams to save as many as possible first.
Letter to Official
Dear Senator:
No matter what state a country is in, disasters can strike at any time. Some countries will be worse off than others but the U.S. has the resources to avoid this. This is a country blessed with many resources but in many cases it has been made obvious we do not manage them correctly. In this case, the mismanaged resource at hand is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA started in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter merged all emergency-related government agencies into one. So, we now have an agency built around reacting to disasters that happen in our country but they are not doing a good enough job and what happened in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is prime evidence. Instead of quickly reacting and sending much needed help such as food, water, rescue teams, communication assistance, all of which the agency could provide, they did nothing and waited around confused. This was mostly caused by the lack of experience among the head of FEMA and staff alike. To avoid a problem like this first the agency must set requirements for how experienced members need to be (which has already been done through a law George W. Bush passed in 2006) and make human life the priority in a disaster situation by taking such measures as deploying rescue teams to save as many as possible first. During a catastrophe like Katrina, there is no time to wait around for a plan or someone to take charge. This country is far too strong to have its citizens fall victim to disasters we can easily be prepared for. So, I implore you to take this into consideration.
Sincerely, Matt LaPage – Student at High Tech High
FEMA Lesson Plan
Lesson Objective
The objective of this lesson is to teach students to learn what their government is (or is not) doing to protect them during emergency situations. They will then take the information they gather and use it to develop their own opinions on how FEMA should act, if they even see fit to improve it.
Materials Needed
Computers with access to internet
Lesson Setup
Give the students background on what FEMA is and is supposed to do to prepare them for their research on different disaster situations in which FEMA took action or failed to take proper action. Break students into groups.
Lesson Opening
After the students are in groups, have them get on computers to research past disaster situations that have happened in the United States in which FEMA responded and have them choose which they would like to research. Up to two groups may have the same disaster to research if each group has a different opinion on FEMA’s response (or lack thereof).
Lesson Body
Have students take notes in the form of answers to the following questions:
1. What happened during the disaster itself? Give a brief summary.
2. How did FEMA respond?
Closing
After the students have gathered some information have them discuss among themselves about their opinions.
Lesson Practice
Have the students write rough outlines organizing their thoughts for a small essay that is explained in the next section.
Assignment/Evaluation
The students will then write mini-essays answering one of the following questions:
What should FEMA have done in the situation you researched?
Did FEMA respond the way they should have? Why?
Plans for Future Lessons Based on Assessment
To get deeper into the subject have the students write essays on what the government should and should not be doing for the people. Where is there a line, if any?
Opinion Editorial
For those of you who do not know, the U.S. government has an agency that specializes in organizing a response to disaster situations to provide aid and it is known as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. In theory, an agency like this is quite an asset. Unfortunately on more than one occasion, FEMA has proved to be less than efficient. The failure they are most well known for is their response to Hurricane Katrina. People in New Orleans were left homeless, injured, starving, stranded, and even victims of violence for days after the category 5 storm hit. The bigger problem was that FEMA was in fact on the scene, they just didn’t do anything. Some cases reported that members of the agency turned trucks filled with resources away from the disaster area. The reasoning behind it apparently was that FEMA was acting the way they were trained to. The agency is based around organizing specific plans before acting, such as waiting for an official call from the mayor of the city where the disaster is happening to actually classify it as a disaster before doing anything. Somewhere in waiting for plans and commands, confusion ensued among staff and the head of FEMA at the time, Michael Brown, alike. There was confusion on what to do, who was in charge, who was authorized for what, when to do certain things and so on and so forth. In response to this, in 2006 George W. Bush passed a law that has minimum requirements regarding experience for the head position of FEMA. Still though, the agency has continued to be subject to criticism, with good reason of course. More recently, in the midst of the 2007 California wild fires FEMA called a press conference to “ease the minds” of the people questioning what they really are doing to help. It turned out however they staged the conference and FEMA members posed as members of the press and preceded to ask softball questions. All real press was contacted only fifteen minutes beforehand in order to avoid the agency having to be put on the spot. This country has many resources and is quite capable of taking care of its people in these situations so there is no reason the well funded, trained agency that is built for the sole purpose of providing aid during a disaster can’t do its job properly. What needs to happen is that “higher-ups” in the U.S. government need to pay more attention to how FEMA gets things done, because Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the agency that houses FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security even is reported saying how “dumb” and “inappropriate” the fake conference was. Besides more superior involvement, FEMA’s emergency management system needs to change. An agency based on providing aid during disasters should not make specific plans and orders priority when something much more valuable is at stake—human life. FEMA has different specialized teams that are trained and therefore quite capable of saving lives as proved by their quite efficient response to the attacks on 9/11 where 25 of the 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams were dispersed at the WTC site and Pentagon just minutes after the first plane hit the first tower. They just need to not be held back by all of the so-called organization. What needs to happen is that teams should be sent out at the first sign of a threat and when disaster strikes the teams should focus first on saving as many human lives as possible whether that means safely evacuating them or providing resources like water, food, and shelter. Hopefully someday we will no longer have to worry as much about these disasters if FEMA does what they were meant to do because if we can’t trust our own wealth and capable government who can we trust?
Abstract
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is just as much of a mismanaged resource in the U.S. as water or energy. The agency’s purpose is to coordinate a response to a declared disaster in order to provide aid. However, the agency is known for having slow inefficient responses during more than one emergency. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, FEMA was criticized for their slow response caused mainly by lack of experience and preparation from the head and staff alike. There was confusion among FEMA workers as to what the plan to take care of the people of New Orleans was, which resulted in them doing almost nothing for days and leaving people lost, starving, trapped, and even victims of violence. In response to the poor reaction, in 2006 Congress created a law that would set minimum qualifications for future heads of FEMA since the one at the time, Michael Brown, who George W. Bush selected, had no prior emergency management experience. The law called for “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management" and “not less than five years of executive leadership." However, Bush decided this law would try to limit his authority. Despite this though he still did sign the bill and decided it was an important part of the legislation, which was to protect the American people. Hopefully this step will prove to be part of the solution that is changing FEMA’s emergency response system in order to make it more efficient. FEMA needs to revamp their system further by instead of focusing on waiting for a plan, focus on what is truly the most valuable—human life and take such measures as deploying rescue teams to save as many as possible first.
Letter to Official
Dear Senator:
No matter what state a country is in, disasters can strike at any time. Some countries will be worse off than others but the U.S. has the resources to avoid this. This is a country blessed with many resources but in many cases it has been made obvious we do not manage them correctly. In this case, the mismanaged resource at hand is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA started in 1979 when President Jimmy Carter merged all emergency-related government agencies into one. So, we now have an agency built around reacting to disasters that happen in our country but they are not doing a good enough job and what happened in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is prime evidence. Instead of quickly reacting and sending much needed help such as food, water, rescue teams, communication assistance, all of which the agency could provide, they did nothing and waited around confused. This was mostly caused by the lack of experience among the head of FEMA and staff alike. To avoid a problem like this first the agency must set requirements for how experienced members need to be (which has already been done through a law George W. Bush passed in 2006) and make human life the priority in a disaster situation by taking such measures as deploying rescue teams to save as many as possible first. During a catastrophe like Katrina, there is no time to wait around for a plan or someone to take charge. This country is far too strong to have its citizens fall victim to disasters we can easily be prepared for. So, I implore you to take this into consideration.
Sincerely, Matt LaPage – Student at High Tech High
FEMA Lesson Plan
Lesson Objective
The objective of this lesson is to teach students to learn what their government is (or is not) doing to protect them during emergency situations. They will then take the information they gather and use it to develop their own opinions on how FEMA should act, if they even see fit to improve it.
Materials Needed
Computers with access to internet
Lesson Setup
Give the students background on what FEMA is and is supposed to do to prepare them for their research on different disaster situations in which FEMA took action or failed to take proper action. Break students into groups.
Lesson Opening
After the students are in groups, have them get on computers to research past disaster situations that have happened in the United States in which FEMA responded and have them choose which they would like to research. Up to two groups may have the same disaster to research if each group has a different opinion on FEMA’s response (or lack thereof).
Lesson Body
Have students take notes in the form of answers to the following questions:
1. What happened during the disaster itself? Give a brief summary.
2. How did FEMA respond?
Closing
After the students have gathered some information have them discuss among themselves about their opinions.
Lesson Practice
Have the students write rough outlines organizing their thoughts for a small essay that is explained in the next section.
Assignment/Evaluation
The students will then write mini-essays answering one of the following questions:
What should FEMA have done in the situation you researched?
Did FEMA respond the way they should have? Why?
Plans for Future Lessons Based on Assessment
To get deeper into the subject have the students write essays on what the government should and should not be doing for the people. Where is there a line, if any?
Opinion Editorial
For those of you who do not know, the U.S. government has an agency that specializes in organizing a response to disaster situations to provide aid and it is known as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. In theory, an agency like this is quite an asset. Unfortunately on more than one occasion, FEMA has proved to be less than efficient. The failure they are most well known for is their response to Hurricane Katrina. People in New Orleans were left homeless, injured, starving, stranded, and even victims of violence for days after the category 5 storm hit. The bigger problem was that FEMA was in fact on the scene, they just didn’t do anything. Some cases reported that members of the agency turned trucks filled with resources away from the disaster area. The reasoning behind it apparently was that FEMA was acting the way they were trained to. The agency is based around organizing specific plans before acting, such as waiting for an official call from the mayor of the city where the disaster is happening to actually classify it as a disaster before doing anything. Somewhere in waiting for plans and commands, confusion ensued among staff and the head of FEMA at the time, Michael Brown, alike. There was confusion on what to do, who was in charge, who was authorized for what, when to do certain things and so on and so forth. In response to this, in 2006 George W. Bush passed a law that has minimum requirements regarding experience for the head position of FEMA. Still though, the agency has continued to be subject to criticism, with good reason of course. More recently, in the midst of the 2007 California wild fires FEMA called a press conference to “ease the minds” of the people questioning what they really are doing to help. It turned out however they staged the conference and FEMA members posed as members of the press and preceded to ask softball questions. All real press was contacted only fifteen minutes beforehand in order to avoid the agency having to be put on the spot. This country has many resources and is quite capable of taking care of its people in these situations so there is no reason the well funded, trained agency that is built for the sole purpose of providing aid during a disaster can’t do its job properly. What needs to happen is that “higher-ups” in the U.S. government need to pay more attention to how FEMA gets things done, because Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the agency that houses FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security even is reported saying how “dumb” and “inappropriate” the fake conference was. Besides more superior involvement, FEMA’s emergency management system needs to change. An agency based on providing aid during disasters should not make specific plans and orders priority when something much more valuable is at stake—human life. FEMA has different specialized teams that are trained and therefore quite capable of saving lives as proved by their quite efficient response to the attacks on 9/11 where 25 of the 28 Urban Search and Rescue teams were dispersed at the WTC site and Pentagon just minutes after the first plane hit the first tower. They just need to not be held back by all of the so-called organization. What needs to happen is that teams should be sent out at the first sign of a threat and when disaster strikes the teams should focus first on saving as many human lives as possible whether that means safely evacuating them or providing resources like water, food, and shelter. Hopefully someday we will no longer have to worry as much about these disasters if FEMA does what they were meant to do because if we can’t trust our own wealth and capable government who can we trust?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)