Thanksgiving (Journal 12)

This is my first thanksgiving in the U.S, and I it will be a wonderful experience. As long as I know this holiday is celebrated every year during the four Thursday of the month of November. in Mexico, we do not have this tradition, and I think it is Cleve to say your thanks for the year one's has had. But not only during this day is important to say thanks I believe we must to be grateful for all the possessions, goals and achieves reached every day. This year I would like to say thanks specially for the good health I have had, for the great opportunity to come to the U.S, for all the extraordinary people I have met during this year.

I want to say thanks to God for the good health I have had during this year. Although the changes of weather and the natural phenomenon, I have not had any health problem. There are many people suffering from terrible diseases, and they do not want money or material stuff they only want be healthy therefore I feel I'm very fortunate for have good health condition so far. Also I want to say thanks for the excellent opportunity I had to come to the U.S and studying English. I always wanted to learn English because my goal is to study international law and English is a requirement for this major. Specially I want to say thanks to Robert who has helped me with my studies, and my parents who have given me all the support in order to reach my goals.

Finally I want to say thanks to God for all my friends I have met during this year. To me friendship is very important, and I consider my friends as a treasure. During this year I met Pearly who is from Vietnam and she has shared with me good moments. I had learn from Pearly her culture which is amazing. Also I met Justin who is from Korea, and he has been kind with me. Indeed I'm quite grateful to life for all the positive things I have had in my life.

Another Lawsuit Against Victoria's Secret (Journal 11)

In the United States, it is common to hear that people present lawsuit against companies. The lawsuit are for different reasons. In this case the famous lingerie company Victoria's Secret is facing a new lawsuit. The lawsuit is based in the possibility of risk health problems involving the famous company. Roberta Ritter, a Victoria's Secrete costumer presented this lawsuit against the company. This woman said that every time she wore a Victoria Secret bra got burn skin underneath her breast.

Roberta Ritter filed the lawsuit against the company after she bought from the company two bras named the Angeles Secret Embrace Bra and the Very Sexy Extreme Push-Up Bra which caused her a strange effect on her skin. Roberta Ritter said that she had several symptoms such as itches, inflammation, red skin, and others. Roberta Ritter's lawyer said that Ritter is not the only woman who presented these symptoms there are more than ten women affected for this problem, and they possibly will join a potential action lawsuit against the company. The Ritter's lawyer was very astute and he sent to a lab several Victoria's Secret bras, and the bras he sent to a lab tasted positive for formaldehyde.

Roberta Ritter's doctor said that this chemical could have caused the allergic reaction on Ritter's skin. According to the web-page http://www.checnet.org/, formaldehyde is a chemical having a strong smelling, volatile organic compound (VOC) and common indoor air pollutant. Formaldehyde is used to make products of wood, and plastics and chemicals. The chemical formaldehyde is ranked as Red for Danger! However the company responded that they have high control of quality in their products, and they do not used formaldehyde in the elaboration of lingerie. A judge will decided next year if the lawsuit is possible to bring an action.

Proposition 8 (Journal 10)

Tomorrow, November 4th, citizens of The United States of America will vote to elect their new president who will guide the country for the next four years. At the same time, people will vote in favor or against of different propositions in order to make amendments to the Constitution of California. Proposition 8 is an initiative which eliminates right of same sex couples to marry in California. If the proposition pass, a new section will be added ruling the marriage in the state of California. The new section would contain this stipulation "only marriage between a man and woman is valid or recognized in California."
In March 2000, California voters passed proposition 22 to specify in state law that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court decided that proposition 22 and other statutes that limit the marriage between a man and a woman violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution of California. As a result, on June 17, 2008 California recognized the right of individuals of the same sex to marry under the California Constitution. According to Los Angeles Times, 16,000 same-sex couples have married since June 17th. Many experts in law have said that proposition 8 will fix some mistakes by reaffirming traditional marriage, but this new amendment won't be applied retroactively which means that it won't take away rights of the marriages rule by the Constitution in force.
In my point of view, proposition 8 is unfair. It is not possible take away rights of people with different characteristics. The Constitution of California must to protect all the individuals in equal conditions. Preposition 8 not only is unfair, but also is unnecessary because its effects will hit the economy of the state of California. This would result a decrease in revenue, primarily sales tax revenue, in the state of California.