Participation in politics project

1. My name is James Godbey and I am working on a computer science associates degree. I
am in the process of switching from a career in Auto Mechanics to computer science
because of an overall skill that is needed for both. A good developed technical problem
solving skill which is basically taken something broken or inoperative and restoring it to
its original working condition.

2. Something that is very appealing from a political standpoint to me would not
only be that we are free to vote, but also we are free to try convince as many
others to agree with us as we want. This would be called being a political activist
and if these views were rooted with causes that are appealing to the public (the
American voters) and get them to rally behind you then your views could very
well end up in the law books!

3. The thing that surprised me the most is also the thing I least
expected to learn. How our Congress operates and more or
less oversees the lawmaking was a surprise to me. More
specifically when a bill gets written and makes it as far as
congress and gets passed, it can be vetoed by the president.
This veto is not final though because congress can over-rule
the veto and pass the law anyway in the best interest of the
people. To me that makes Congress as a whole the final say
so.

4. When this country was founded there was an underlying root that everything was based on that is still present today
but under acknowledged. Our money says it on every piece of it no matter which type of money. When we bury
soldiers there is a cross headstone. When our president was sworn into office he, at the end of the oath, says so help
me God! If our country was founded on His basis, our money has Him written on every piece, and our President
makes promises to Him; then why can’t our children acknowledge Him in school. Yes the kids get a “moment of
silence”, but that’s just exactly what it is. Silence doesn’t acknowledge anything but silence. I also don’t feel that a
Muslim, Hinduist, or any person other than Christian be expected to participate in prayer to God. God himself even
gives all people the right to choose their own way. The argument I have is do not strip away any chance for any child
to acknowledge the religion they choose. Telling teachers, principals, and other school staff that they cannot talk
about God, which is the very basic basis of this country, to me it is kind of like saying that we are American but we
can’t tell anyone that we are. I know this is a controversial issue, but all I am saying is that it is plainly black and white
for me. Bring God back to school and back to our country.

5. I guess I am in the mood to hit all the controversial issues on this assignment. Good ole # 1 amendment that
states our rights and freedom of speech, press, and religion are protected. More specifically the separation, or lack
of, church and state. With everything I have read about it to try to fully understand it pointed to one thing. There
is no specific detailed law for it or against it. The establishment clause is said to iron out the wrinkles ( the grey
areas ) but to me it just dances around it. It is almost like it is purposely kept in the grey area for fear of having to
take a stand on the issue for one side or the other from a written law standpoint. I will close with a simple
question, If Congress can start their proceedings with prayers from a Minister of Christianity, ask our President to
swear an oath and say so help me God, and write In God We Trust on all of our money, then should there be a
separation of church and state?

6. My favorite assignments were the Presidential Inauguration Reflection and the discussion topic over the
death penalty. The Inauguration of President Trump was the first one I have seen. I like how they give the
ceremony somewhat of a Judicial feel to it the way they announce everyone’s full name from the
President to the Narrator. The tradition that was stated by the Narrator giving praise and credit to our
founders made you feel proud to be an American. The discussion on the death penalty was a subject I
could relate to. Being that close to the ones that could have pushed for the death penalty it was not
sought. “All” lives matter and everyone deserves a choice for life no matter the age. Years or minutes
should not make a difference on a person’s individual choice to choose to live!