Convince a teenage boy to read Alexie's book.

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a tunnel, and that the only light you could see was the one within you? Well this boy Arnold, about your age Richie, is living a life that not many could survive. Just like you he can make light of any situation and find the hope and strength to keep moving on in life. He's just like any other teen age boy in this society trying to make it and fit in with the rest. He's athletic and loves to draw and guess what he also likes to masturbate, weird right. He's funny, caring and strong minded Arnold like you has experienced death, not being able to understand it completely, but being able to keep progressing through the darkness that had filled his life. Arnold handles many of these hard situations by using irony to explain what his feelings are. Richie you as well use irony when having to explain your feelings to others or just so you can be able to understand your own emotions. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian", is the name of the book I am telling you about. Richie this book would be a great investment on your life, it can show you many things and aspire hope and strength in you.

The longest journey begins with one step, so take this step and read this book. I know boys your age do not like reading and think it is weird for teenagers to read, but do not let that fool you, reading is a gift to us, it helps us be able to handle our own problems and helps us gain knowledge. Arnold is a great role model for boys your age, he's smart, funny, and athletic, but beyond that he an aspiring young man who takes the world on his own to hands and makes use of the desire he has inside of him to make someone of himself. Arnold comes from a big family, just like us, he comes from a community where being different is looked down on, where if you do not follow society norms and expectations you are shunned; even through all this Arnold is stilling willing to fight for what he thinks he deserves and manages to still keep the light of his dreams alive. Richie I know you are going through the toughest years of growing up, and I know that at times you may feel like you do not fit in anywhere or that you will never make someone of yourself, but always remember where there is a will there is a way. Never let the problems you face or the hardships in life derail you from the potential you have, Arnold a great example of perseverance, he never gave up on his dreams, so neither so should. Read this is book and I promise it will enlighten new thoughts, and help you make it through your teenage years.

Current State of Affairs with Native Americans in the US

The current state with Native American tribes in the United States is  that only those tribes that are federally recognized have the right to tribal sovereignty, self-government, but have certain responsibilities, powers, limitations and obligations to follow. Indian treaty rights are known to be the supreme law of the land and is the foundation of the Indian law and the federal Indian trust relationship is based on. The Indian trust relationship is the legal obligation under which the United States has promised to protect the Indian treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources, as well to hold itself to a moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust towards Indian tribes.

http://www.bia.gov/FAQs/

http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/02/14/02-014.pdf

http://www.calindian.org/

Response to Obama's State of Union Speech

Obama in his state of union speech spoke on many different topics ranging from strengthening the middle class to reaching diplomacy with Iran. The war on terrorism has been going on for many years and seems that it will never truly come to an end if we do not choose to handle these situations differently from how we have done in the past. Obama wanting to diplomatically handle the situation with Iran is a new stepping stone to handling such matters. Obama stated "we don't only counter terrorism not just through intelligence and military action, but by remaining true our constitutional ideals." Obama here is stating that terrorism can be counter through remaining true to our constitutional ideals meaning that we must treat all those with justice and fairly. That even though they might be terrorist they still deserve to be treated with respect and that we must stand and remain true to our constitution. President Obama is talking about closing the prison Guantanamo Bay which is where many of the terrorist are held. President Obama feels that diplomacy is the way to handle such threats, that if agreement can be made between such countries threats will be reduced for example the agreement between the US and Syria. American diplomacy is why Syria is eliminating their chemical weapons. In addition to supporting Israelis fight with Palestine. American diplomacy backed with military force can reach agreement of peace and reduce terrorist threats.