What is the Value of Saving Lives?

     The article "U.S. has already spent nearly $1 billion fighting ISIS" talks about the expected costs to continue the fight of the ISIS terrorist group.  Currently this money has just been put towards air strikes, but the cost could increase if the US decides to deploy ground troops.  If air strikes continue and ground troops are inserted,  the war against ISIS could cost roughly $4 billion.
     This article helps show people that even though it is extremely important to combat terrorism, they must still look at the costs.  There is the cost of bombing, but there would also be the cost of human lives if troops are deployed, but currently the president does not plan on deploying troops.
     In my opinion, there is no cost that can be placed on the lives of innocent humans.  The US should look into asking the UN to assist in the costly bombing raids.  If we do not spend money to stop the terrorists now, we could end up paying even more for damages to property and people.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/30/news/economy/isis-cost/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Scott Moore is Captive no More

In the article titled "American journalist freed from Somali pirates," the release of journalist, Michael Scott Moore, is discussed.  Moore was in captive for over two years in Somalia after he was captured while researching Somalia pirates.  Moore's family was extremely happy to have him back, but they declined to comment if a ransom had been paid for Moore.  Moore said that he was mentally and physically exhausted from being held by the pirates, but he will soon make a full recovery. Interestingly, Moore's stories of his time in Somalia lead us to believe that illegal fishing by European countries off the coast of Somalia might be a driving factor for Somalians who resort to piracy.

This article could have two possible effects.  First of all, it is a powerful reminder of the dangers of traveling in third-world countries.  When Moore was captured, a no travel advisory to Somalia had been issued by the US.  Second, if Moore's stories are true, it may lead to an investigation of European fishing practices that are hurting the fishing industry in Somalia.  In my opinion, piracy is not a good option to resort to in order to compensate for stolen fish.  I thought that the most important part of this article was that the Somalians captured a reporter. Maybe they did this on purpose so that someone influential with a wide audience would be able to spread their complaints of illegal European fishing.

Article link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/world/africa/somalia-american-journalist-released/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

The Purpose of the Media

After reading the article, "C-SPAN bus rolls into town, but students still skeptical of political process," I felt that an injustice had been done to my classmates and the student body of St. Thomas More.  The article told a one-sided story about teens who are not interested in government and politics.  Although this may be true or partially true for many, it was an inaccurate account of the AP Government class.

The purpose of news is to tell an unbiased account of an event.  It seems to me that the reporter had a biased view of teenagers' interest in politics before she even came to STM.  Had she not been biased, she would not have picked out the few negative quotes about our government that was shared in the long process of the interviews.  Unfortunately, she probably assumed that sharing a negative view of our political interests would provide a more exciting story for the readers of the Rapid City Journal.  This is why the media cannot be trusted to provide accurate accounts; they benefit more from interesting articles that more people will read.