A Pleasant Inconvenience

The weekend is finally here. This week has been the longest in quite some time and next week is just as busy. But for 2 days I have the ability to make the next week less stressful by doing a few assignments here and there.

See, my biggest problem is that I hate when things build-up on me. I can’t for the life of me do 5 things for 1 day. I need weeks to write a paper and can’t study for a test the night before no matter how easy it is. So although I have my fun on the weekends I like getting my stuff together for the week.

BUT…

This weekend my friends are coming to visit and so thus I must decide which is more important. And of course I choose my friends. See, it was hard to move away from friends in high school but it was even harder leaving my friends from Marquette. I was so used to being able to go to their room whenever I wanted. I was so used to living with them and then I transferred. So now when my friends come and visit I spend all the time I can with them because, hey, the relationships and friendships you have are what shape your life. And studying is important but people are more so. A diploma can not provide a shoulder to cry on, it can not hug you when you need one. That is the job of your family and friends.

BUT…

It will be one helluva week next week and at least the Packers are sucking this season so I won’t have any distractions on Sunday.

"Hooray for weed!"

Denver Post 11/03/2005:
Marijuana vote sends messagehttp://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_3176074

"Mariam, will you move to Denver with me."
"Sure, why not? How about tomorrow?"
"Okay cool. No, I'm serious. You can have up to an ounce there now!"

It took me by surprise, too. Well, for about the minute until I read a couple of articles, including this one. Although my buddy was right there is a little bit more to the issue which has become an interesting debate over the past years. All opinions set aside; (besides the title of my blog) I read this article and discovered the truth behind the ounce that's "allowed in Denver".

Before I "rhetorically analyze" my article I first was pleased to see the real facts that shined through with this editorial. They point out a lot of things that may not seem apparent with all the hype about Denver. The reality is that although there can be no criminal or civil arrests for up to an ounce in Denver they can issue a ticket by the state. The difference being as they said the box that the officer checks on the ticket. So although it is in some ways a step for Marijuana legalizing advocates... it's not exactly what it seems.

But to the actual analyzing we go. The author (who is not specifically named, it only says that it is the opinion of the Denver Post) is clear-cut and straight to the point. He does not beat around the bush but simply says that "Hey, we don't believe that marijuana will necessarily decrease the domestic violence rate, and hey we don't think that this ballot measure needed approval, BUT we do agree with legalizing marijuana and regulating its sale." PERFECT.

Except...

The hardest part for me to understand was why they supported legalizing the drug when in actuality they said it is an "entry level to harder drugs". If that is the case then why do you want to legalize it?

The best point I think they made was on the basis of the past Prohibition of alcohol. The same worries we have about alcohol we will have about marijuana.

The article itself was a little confusing because they took a couple of different sides which is unusual for an editorial because usually one strong side shines through. However, I guess that is how the human mind works. We are ourselves confused. I almost feel that the article instead of being opinion was mainly informative in the sense that they wanted people to know that if you get caught with pot in Denver you're not free and clear.

All in all, the editorial was not so bad although I didn't think it was quite in editorial. They made some good points but for being printed in a newspaper and being on behalf of the newspaper I feel like it could've been improved a little more. I guess I'm just as confused on my opinion of the article as the writer was on overall issues concerning marijuana.

Anyways...marijuana....illegal--> legal.....the debate goes on!

Content: 7?
Ease of Reading/Rhetoric: 6?
Overall: 6.5?
(Not sure yet....)