Fort Hood was a terrorist attack taken place on American Soil at Fort Hood in Texas November 2009.  Obama gave a speech concerning it (because that is what Presidents do).  I was taken aback when his first priority of the speech was to thank the Department of Interior Staff, Cabinet Members and Senate officials. I mean, it was a nice gesture to thank people and all but he has to get his priorities straight. There was a terrorist attack and innocent people died.  Thank the people about the “extraordinary conference” after you address the paranoid nation.

Noelle

Most Americans gravitate towards eating processed foods because of its convenience.  In the long run, eating quantities of processed foods leads to a more bloated, fat and saggy stature while contributing to sluggish behavior and increasing risks of depression, diseases and in a few extreme cases – death.  In addition, the produce sold at super markets across the nation lack freshness, being picked weeks and sometimes months prior then shipped to the store from the industrial food storage from as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Chile.  (“Why Eat Local”).  However, when buying from local farmers, a person may find fresh produce not only abundant in flavor but also in freshness from being picked within the past twenty four hours (“Why Eat Local”).  The differences in taste and nutrition between store bought and locally grown food is remarkably noticeable.

A buyer shopping at a super-market has little access to knowledge about the process of growing and harvesting of the food that he buys.  A buyer at a super market would be unable to gather information regarding pesticides, whether or not it was genetically modified, or free range or restricted meat.  Those who buy locally cam get answers from the grower in face-to-face conversations. .  The buyer can find out where the food comes from and who grows it, while having a greater chance of collecting information about the details regarding pesticides or if the food was genetically modified or restricted.  The methods used to treat the food can drastically vary the quality and taste.

Most of the super markets do not directly buy the produce from the grower.  Generally, they go through a middleman, which can alter pricing and freshness.  The likelihood of spreading plague and disease increases when food has been between multiple shipments and personnel.  The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, was a massive epidemic that killed hundreds of thousands of people in the late medieval period.  “Usually, diffusion of the Black Death followed commercial trade routes”  (Spielvogel 275).  People often forget that most epidemics spread through trade systems.  Typically, when one buys local, the produce has only passed from the farmer directly to the buyer.  Acquiring produce from farmers could decrease threats of epidemics.  Preventing chaos from situations like the Swine Flue can decrease a lot of stress in both the political and personal world.

Most of the places that our country imports food from are third-world countries that have lower standards for growing healthy and substantial food. Not to mention, they keep the best they produce for themselves.  “We import foods from countries where we would rather not drink their water” (“Agriculture”).  However, in America certain laws and restrictions are placed in to maintain higher quality food.  According to the New York Times, China is becoming a large producer and exporter of seafood for America.  “Acute water shortages and water supplies contaminated by sewage, industrial waste and agricultural runoff that includes pesticides. The fish farms, in turn, are discharging wastewater that further pollutes the water supply” (“In China”).  The Chinese farmers are coaxed to add chemicals into the water to help the produce “quality” fish, but it can leave toxic residues harmful to consumers.  Moreover, in many third-world countries, specifically in Mexico “farms are often fertilized by human excrement” (“Food”).  In the past decade, outbroken cases such as Cyclospora, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome from E Coli reactions have ensued from the consumption of imported foods, mostly from South America, due to bad hygiene and water contaminated with sewage (“Testimony”). Produce not fertilized by human excrement sounds more appealing.

Not only is importing a mass amount of food from other countries a bad idea for health and quality sake, but also a bad idea to rely on other countries, especially when America is on the verge of an economic crisis.  Allowing other countries to have control over America’s food gives those countries opportunities to control America.  This could decrease peace within countries; increase threats against national security and add further complications from countries that thrive to take America down.  If America relies on itself for food and other necessities, its defenses would be stronger, threats weaker, and in better control of itself.  America’s economy is doing poorly as it is, and already has debt to countries like China.  Relying further on countries would bring our countries few remaining freedoms to a bare minimum.  Why allow America to captivate itself when it could fully support itself by its own agriculture?

Most farmers have their business set up where people can come and buy fresh produce and goods on the farmer’s property.  Another way to conveniently buy products from farmers is at a local framer’s market.  Going to local farmer’s markets on a regular basis can give a person a chance to meet new people within their community that share the same interest as he does (“Why Eat Local”).

When food is bought locally, a person eats a different selection of food depending on the season.  “You’ll remember that cherries are the taste of summer.  Even in winter, comfort foods like squash soup and pancakes just make sense – a lot more sense than flavorless cherries from the other side of the world” (“Why Eat Local”).  Not only does it provide a variety of different flavors per season, but it makes traveling more interesting.  One might be interested in tasting a fresh and succulent food uncommon to his town.  Would not food from its source be better than from the super market?  Food sparks interest in travelers around the world.

It is a common misnomer that super markets offer more variety.  In many cases that is a falsehood.  Most super-markets do not sell tayberries or quail eggs like a booth at a farmers market (“Why Eat Local”).  Farmers markets may be unable to provide cherries in the summer, but they can provide a big variety of foods unable to conveniently acquire in a store.

Purchasing whole foods can help many a person become well acquainted with preparing his own meals within his kitchen.  When he buys from the store, he is more likely to buy boxed food that requires little preparation or imported produce.  One who cooks meals for himself, rather than eating out would spend less money.  A person could make a similar hamburger to a restaurant’s by accumulating fresh meat and produce from a farmer’s market.  He could know the information of the ingredients and cooks and eats how he likes it.  Also, most restaurants have hidden calories and chemicals within their food.  Eating home can control the budget and waistlines.  For those who might not know how to use ingredients like tayberries, farmers are more than happy to share personal recipes and cooking tips.

A study done in Iowa provided accurate information comparing the amount of used energy resources between a diet based on foods from the super market versus a diet based on foods locally grown and produced products.  According to the study, the diet that consumed locally grown and produced products used 17 times less oil and gasoline compared to the industrial grown and produced diet from the super market.  Eating local can make a drastic cut in gasoline use and harvesting and shipping costs.  Using fewer resources can allow America to be “green” without making a radical change to the average citizen’s lifestyle.  This could aid the frequent political disputes regarding the environment and energy resources while improving spending.  Furthermore, reducing the use of natural energy resources allows America to import less foreign fuels.  This can lower security threats from importing and the wealth we pass to other countries.

Buying local products keeps the dollars spent within its community.  “When you buy direct from local farmers, your dollars stay within your community, and strengthen the local economy.  More than $0.90 of every dollar you spend goes to the farmer, thus preserving farming as a livelihood and farmland” (“Why Eat Locally”). In addition, a revival of family farming is better than a job at Wal-Mart, outlets, and fast-food chains that work within the global economy.  Farming supports a culture unique to America.  Countries with revived trades and a unique culture has a stronger community base with better value school and jobs while a stronghold in agriculture and economic health.

An agriculture that can support its country has a far better economic stronghold.  As previously touched upon, in the long run, it betters jobs, communities, schools, health and the housing market.  Benefiting those can create a wave of prosperity within America.  Prosperity can turn America into a super-power nation of the world.  Better jobs supports wealth and thriving businesses, homes and communities.  Better communities have less crime and support unity.  Better schools increase the number of well-educated masses, which can support a heap of advantage in a nation.  Better health allows a happier, productive and longer lifestyle. Imagine reducing that hassles of epidemics like the Swine Flu to a minimum.  A better housing market allows more citizens to have suitable homes for a fraction of the cost.

Buying locally grown foods could greatly improve America’s increasing health problems.  It could also benefit fracturing communities by allowed the buyer to familiarize themselves with farmers and fellow farmers market shoppers.  Supporting local farmers keeps the money within the community instead if handing it over to other countries.  Wealth within America’s agriculture can decrease government spending, while providing a fortress for a supply of required necessities.  It can also improve the wealth that maintained respectable schools, jobs, and the housing market.   What do the citizens of America have to lose?

Noelle

Works Cited

“Agriculture.” 2009. 28 October 2009. <www.benniethompson.gov>

Barboza, David.“In China, Farming Fish in Toxic Waters.” The New York Times. 15 December. 2007. 12 November 2009. < www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/world/asia/15fish.html?_r=1>

“Fair Trade vs Eat Local.” 2009. 28 October 2009. <www.eatlocalchallenge.com>

Smith, Caroline.“Testimony of Caroline Smith DeWaal – Director of Food Safety Center for Science in the Public Interest before the United States Senate, Committee on Appropriations, Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.” Nutrition Action Healthletter. 12 March. 2007. 12 November 2009. <www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/senatertestimonywisc.pdf>

Spielvogel, Jackson. Western Civilization: Comprehensive Volume. Belmont, CA., Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2003.

Fraser, Laura. “Street Food Do’s and Don’ts.”June. 27. 12 November 2009

<http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/should-you-or-shount-you-eat-streat-food>.

“Why Eat Local.” 2009. 28 October 2009. <www.100miledite.org>

“Why Eat Locally Grown Foods?” 2005. 28 October 2009. <www.eatlocal.net>.

Awesome Video

My family did not continue with school that day. We were glued to our tv. I remember feeling shocked, devastated, confused, sad, angry… not to mention scared out of my mind. It was a lot for me to totally comprehend the matter. Like I said, I was only 8. My heart went out to those people, thumping with grief each time I watched a replay of the towers crashing to the ground. I was not personally related to any of the people died or got injured.

I was extremely thankful that my dad did not work in a skyscaper.

I can vivdly remember details of that day. It will always stand out in my mind. I could share pages upon pages of my feelings towards September 11th, but I’m pretty sure you know the same exact feelings.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! It is a day of remembrance, not serving Obama.

Let us show the world, that there are many sensible teens out there. Hence our brilliant title “Functional Minds of the Next Generation” (Thanks to Mr. R. for helping us in that department!). The Multi-Media often portrays teens as lazy, drug addicted, unintelligent, (etc, etc) who don’t give a rat’s behind about authority (the list could continue for miles). Can we use your help to debunk those myths and become resposible teens? Don’t waste your life on frivolous things. Now is our time to shine! (Sorry if this sounds cheesy, but we should). But you know what? The only way we can do that, is to prove our intelligence by our actions.

FYI– Most teens are going to be old enough to vote in the 2012 Presedential election. Shouldn’t we use our spair time to learn about politics? Yes.

Thank  you

Disclaimer: We do not hate Liberals. However, we despise people who don’t do their own research to get to their opinions.  Such as getting your opinions from the Multi-Media without looking at the nitty gritty.