Comparing and Contrasting Senator Barack Obama's speech on Universal Healthcare

I am a Health Sciences major, so I have decided to write this blog on one of Senator Barack Obama's speeches concerning a Universal Healthcare plan. One quote at the beginning of his speech, Obama states, “In the 2008 campaign, affordable, universal health care for every single American must not be a question of whether, it must be a question of how. We have the ideas, we have the resources, and we must find the will to pass a plan by the end of the next president’s first term.” He is appealing to logos in the way that he is suggesting a definite plan must be made to solve the health crisis in America. Marting Luther King also appealed to logos in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, in that he tried to explain the social injustice of segregation. He explained why the argument should be fought in courts. However, he also explained in logical terms why that was insufficient.
One of the quotes from Obama's paragraph that stood out to me was, “Well we can’t afford another disappointing charade in 2008. It’s not only tiresome, it’s wrong. Wrong when businesses have to layoff one employee because they can’t afford the health care of another. Wrong when a parent cannot take a sick child to the doctor because they cannot afford the bill that comes with it. Wrong when 46 million Americans have no health care at all. In a country that spends more on health care than any other nation on Earth, it’s just wrong.” This paragraph does more to pull at the heart strings of those listening to the speech because it is easy to relate to. It appeals to our emotions when this particular subject is brought up. Also, the repetition of the word "wrong" causes listeners to pay close attention to this point.
Obama also offers the solution of preventative care in our country to reduce costs and increase the health of the population. Once again, he uses logic to explain the benefits of preventative healthcare.
Overall, I believe that Senator Barack Obama presents his speech through the use of logic while appealing to emotion. Although, I do not believe Senator Obama's rhetorical skills match those of Martin Luther King Jr.'s, he delivers a well spoken speech that causes listeners/readers to think twice about the controversial issue of health care reform in the United States.

My life in 10 Years

Hi everyone! Well.... I actually have no idea where I will be in 10 years. This is surprisingly a tough blog because I am somewhat of a day to day person. I have a few ideas and goals that I would like to see myself accomplishing in the next 10 years, but who knows.
One of the most important things that I would like to accomplish would be to have graduated from Physicians Assistant school (for those who have never heard about PA's - they are basically a step below a Doctor- have their own patients, etc. ) I have always wanted to work in the the medical field. I am fascinated at the idea of helping people who are sick get better. I am especially interested in working in the neonatal unit of the hospital, dealing with premature and distressed infants. I have always loved children and babies, and hopefully in 10 years I will be working to help them.
I'm not really sure where I see myself living in 10 years. I really like city life, so New York or DC would really interest me. However, I have always wanted to live in Boulder, Colorado. Basically, I would like to live in an exciting place where I can work as a PA.
I do see myself eventually settling down and having a family. I would love to be a mother one day. However, will I have a family in 10 years? hmmm ... not sure yet. I eventually would love to have a large family. I love the movie "Cheaper by the Dozen" and the chaos of their hectic, but fun lifestyle. I never want to have a dull moment in my house, no sir. Whether or not I have a family in 10 years, I will have a dog. I am sure of that.
One of the most important things I would like to do in the next 10 years is to go to Africa and take part in medical mission trips. This is a big one for me. I have been wanting to do this for years. Hopefully, this dream will happen soon.
Who knows where I will be in 10 years. It is a tough one, but it's fun to think about.

The Machine is Us/ing Us

I believe the title of this video is illustrating the idea that computer technology has become so advanced in recent years. We depend on computers for everything. One part of the video stated that the "machine" learns how to do new tasks each time a mistake is made. Today, the internet grants us access to everything, and we can search for practically any information we want. Web 2.0 affects someone ready to enter the workforce because it helps potential applicants to get their information out to companies. There are many websites that allow people to post resumes and apply for jobs. It can also affect people ready to enter the workforce negatively because companies can see any information about yourself that is posted on the web. For example, pictures and information posted on sites like Facebook or MySpace have become common ways for companies to seek information concerning their applicants. Web 2.0 affects workers already in the workforce because it allows them to research, etc. However, some workers may abuse the web while at work, thus causing them to be less productive. When the video stated, "We will have to rethink everything," I believe it was referring to the idea that the internet is changing everyday. New technology is allowing the internet's capabilities to expand. This can create problems with privacy, etc. We may be getting ahead of ourselves in terms of expanding what we can do and find on the internet. This could potentially lead to negative effects if we do not figure out how to handle the new technology.

Heyward Cruce

Hi! My name is Heyward Cruce. I am from Charleston, SC. I am a Junior at Clemson majoring in Health Sciences. I hope to eventually attend Physicians Assistant school and work in Pediatrics. I have one sister, Mackenzie. She is my best friend and one of my roommates. She is currently a sophomore at Clemson. I like to paint when I can find time, and I have always wanted to be a drummer like Meg White from the White Stripes. Also, I would like to be involved with medical missions in Africa when I graduate. I am very blessed with a great family and friends and so happy to be attending Clemson!