Dear Congressman Thomas Coburn,
We are requesting a letter of commendation for Mercy School. We are a private school in Edmond, Oklahoma. We have been around for about 12 years now. Starting with just fewer than 15 students, we are now offering classes from PreK3 to 11th grade. Our school is committed to teaching us to be balanced, contributing American citizens.
We believe that you should grant us a letter of commendation because we have impacted the community in many ways. Every year, we have a huge project to help the community. For example, we have helped the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, participated in enviornmental programs, and are currently establishing a green team. We have participated in and won awards for many programs including student council, which helps raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness; Lego Robotics, a world- wide competition where students program and build robots and conduct in-depth research on a current medical issue; Newsroom 101, and Respect Diversity.
We hope you take this into consideration and show your support for all the hard work that is being done here.
Sincerely,
Maryam Salus
Monday, November 28, 2011
Barack Obama
Barack Obama is or president right now, and he is a Democrat.
My opinon on Affirmative Action!
In the beginning I had no idea what affirmative action really was. After researching about it, I have finally made my decision. I am for affirmative action because I am a minority in America, and I want to be guaranteed equal representation for myself, my family, and the rest of the community. Without affirmative action, I believe that affirmative action programs and minority representation would become high even more. Statistics show that blacks, Hispanics, and women are treated different in some ways, such as women in some jobs say that they get lower pay.
Impact on Affirmative Action on College Applications
Colleges, as I believe that they do not look at the race, religion, sex or age. They are mostly equal and do not discriminate against others. However the schools here in Oklahoma that I am planning on going to are UCO or OU. OU provides equal education opportunity, and that they do not discriminate sex, sexual orientation, disability or genetic information. UCO has no discrimination what’s so ever, including race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, and handicap. So I feel like I could relate to these colleges and whenever I apply, there will be no problem; I don’t think affirmative action will play any part.
Medias affect on Affirmative Action
Media involving news affects affirmative action by many ways, regarding blacks, Hispanics and other races. Woman in general of all races impact affirmative action is missing from stories and that they are not represented. Media is mainly reporting, and looking more at racist and sexist practices. However things may not be true on the news, and everywhere media is in because they are known for changing up the story and making it sounds like the bad guy. People do not know much about affirmative action, the public does not support it, but what they know is that Affirmative action has not succeeded in increasing female and minority representation, Affirmative action tends to undermine the self-esteem of women and racial minorities. Support for affirmative action means support for preferential selection procedures that favor unqualified candidates over qualified candidates, and more that is not true.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
City Hall
City Hall:
On November 20, my government class and Muneer Awad, they director of CAIR-Oklahoma took a visit to the Capital, to learn more about the government in Oklahoma. The first thing we did, was go to a city council meeting. Our teacher Lobna Hewedi, took the opportunity to give us the chance to explore outside of school.
There have been many people in such an early morning that day, that even the councilman was suprised.I now know why there were a lot of people because the issue is very important to people.The issue was about if homosexuals should be fired because of them being harrassed, and discriminated against others. Kelly, another councilman, looked at slavery to say that homosexuals were not being targeted. He said that the city did not need to have this issue because their wasnt enough proof based on sexual orentation and enough evidence of them being harrassed.
Larry McAfee, was clarifying the question by asking questions, and answered all the questions that were not answered. He feels that Oklahoma does not have a problem yet, so that the issue does not have to be brung up in meetings. Peter was for gay rights. He said that people have "homophobia" which means that the gays were most discriminated for everything.
After that discussion, citizens have spoken and Muneer defended the Muslim community, and was talking about Mercy school. After one more speech, which was very understanding and emotional, we had left.
State Capitol:
We have met up with Jeannie McDaniel, reporters from the press room, and Mary Fallins secretary.
Jeannie McDaniel honestly inspired me, not only of what she said, but of how she talked to us. I paid more attention to her, because I felt that I could relate to her, and that I could ask her a lot of questions, without being scared. The questions that we have asked her, and the answers that she has answered were very interesting. We talked about education, Foster homes, immigration, and affirmative action. We asked her about these topics, because we are learning them, and also because we wanted to know what she has thought of the issues. Her answers were very understanding, and clear to understand. I also liked how she made her answers long, and interesting. However, she does not support education systems in countries, such as China, India because "it harms the creativity of children". She feels that everyone deserves to have an equal oppurtunity. She believes that the immigrants arent breaking any law, and also not hurting anyone, because they do jobs that Americans normally wouldnt do. So they are helping out the country in a way. I would meet her again, and also talk about more issues with her, because of her, i understood it very clearly.
We also went to the press room, where they write newspapers! They told us about their jobs, and one of the reported asked us "are you guys from the US?" Which was really funny, but overall, I like what they do, and they know what is going on all over Oklahoma, which is amazing. Our last meeting is with Mary Fallins secretary, she I think has a very hard job, to read all over the emails that she gets everyday, over 200. Also, she gave our class advice, and how she made it to where she is now. You never know, I might try it!
The End:
This trip overall was amazing, finding out new things, meeting new people, and seeing what really is out there. I have always wanted to do something like this, and I did! I would like to thank my awesome governent teacher Lobna Hewadi and Muneer Awad.
On November 20, my government class and Muneer Awad, they director of CAIR-Oklahoma took a visit to the Capital, to learn more about the government in Oklahoma. The first thing we did, was go to a city council meeting. Our teacher Lobna Hewedi, took the opportunity to give us the chance to explore outside of school.
There have been many people in such an early morning that day, that even the councilman was suprised.I now know why there were a lot of people because the issue is very important to people.The issue was about if homosexuals should be fired because of them being harrassed, and discriminated against others. Kelly, another councilman, looked at slavery to say that homosexuals were not being targeted. He said that the city did not need to have this issue because their wasnt enough proof based on sexual orentation and enough evidence of them being harrassed.
Larry McAfee, was clarifying the question by asking questions, and answered all the questions that were not answered. He feels that Oklahoma does not have a problem yet, so that the issue does not have to be brung up in meetings. Peter was for gay rights. He said that people have "homophobia" which means that the gays were most discriminated for everything.
After that discussion, citizens have spoken and Muneer defended the Muslim community, and was talking about Mercy school. After one more speech, which was very understanding and emotional, we had left.
State Capitol:
We have met up with Jeannie McDaniel, reporters from the press room, and Mary Fallins secretary.
Jeannie McDaniel honestly inspired me, not only of what she said, but of how she talked to us. I paid more attention to her, because I felt that I could relate to her, and that I could ask her a lot of questions, without being scared. The questions that we have asked her, and the answers that she has answered were very interesting. We talked about education, Foster homes, immigration, and affirmative action. We asked her about these topics, because we are learning them, and also because we wanted to know what she has thought of the issues. Her answers were very understanding, and clear to understand. I also liked how she made her answers long, and interesting. However, she does not support education systems in countries, such as China, India because "it harms the creativity of children". She feels that everyone deserves to have an equal oppurtunity. She believes that the immigrants arent breaking any law, and also not hurting anyone, because they do jobs that Americans normally wouldnt do. So they are helping out the country in a way. I would meet her again, and also talk about more issues with her, because of her, i understood it very clearly.
We also went to the press room, where they write newspapers! They told us about their jobs, and one of the reported asked us "are you guys from the US?" Which was really funny, but overall, I like what they do, and they know what is going on all over Oklahoma, which is amazing. Our last meeting is with Mary Fallins secretary, she I think has a very hard job, to read all over the emails that she gets everyday, over 200. Also, she gave our class advice, and how she made it to where she is now. You never know, I might try it!
The End:
This trip overall was amazing, finding out new things, meeting new people, and seeing what really is out there. I have always wanted to do something like this, and I did! I would like to thank my awesome governent teacher Lobna Hewadi and Muneer Awad.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
As Americans
Challenges that STILL Exist for Minorities:
America has many problems, including racism and discrimination. Honestly, where is the "Melting Pot" in America? As a Muslim American i have seen discrimination all over the world, it is pathetic because these challenges between minorities are hurtful and just plan ridiculous. For example, many people in America see Mexicans as immigrants. Black people as slaves. Muslims as terrorists, etc. America is never going to be a perfect country, just because people in America are racist and do not get along with others. I know a American Muslim girl that applied for either Hollister or Abrecrombie, but the point is she wears hijab, and applied. Whenever the manager was telling her about the uniform, she said you cannot wear the hijab. This is a right to freedom of religion, so this is still a challenge that still goes on in America, not only for Muslims, but also for other religions and gender. Another huge example that happens everyday is that people still threaten Muslims for being terrorists. I feel that women still have struggles because of men might say to them. One day i was looking through pictures, or even conversations, and I saw men making fun of women because they "should stay in the kitchen" or "make me a sandwich" these kinds of talks still get to women in general because women are strong, and they do not only stay in the kitchen, but also fight for their rights.
America has many problems, including racism and discrimination. Honestly, where is the "Melting Pot" in America? As a Muslim American i have seen discrimination all over the world, it is pathetic because these challenges between minorities are hurtful and just plan ridiculous. For example, many people in America see Mexicans as immigrants. Black people as slaves. Muslims as terrorists, etc. America is never going to be a perfect country, just because people in America are racist and do not get along with others. I know a American Muslim girl that applied for either Hollister or Abrecrombie, but the point is she wears hijab, and applied. Whenever the manager was telling her about the uniform, she said you cannot wear the hijab. This is a right to freedom of religion, so this is still a challenge that still goes on in America, not only for Muslims, but also for other religions and gender. Another huge example that happens everyday is that people still threaten Muslims for being terrorists. I feel that women still have struggles because of men might say to them. One day i was looking through pictures, or even conversations, and I saw men making fun of women because they "should stay in the kitchen" or "make me a sandwich" these kinds of talks still get to women in general because women are strong, and they do not only stay in the kitchen, but also fight for their rights.
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