Reading Journal #2

The New York Times and various other sources have covered a story about a Pakistani scientist who was just sentenced to 86 years in jail for the conviction of trying to kill American soldiers and FBI agents in Afghanistan. I find this story very interesting because of all the protests and controversy surrounding it. On Friday protesters in Pakistan filled the streets in hopes that their government would step in. Campaigning for her release Islamist parties have been campaigning for her release pushing on the United States government. It is going to be very interesting to see where this case goes and how it unfolds and continues to develop, between the protesters and the trials it will make for a top story for a while.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/protests-in-pakistan-at-long-jail-term-for-scientist-in-u-s/?hp

People are often influenced by what they see on TV or in movies, through video games, and music but this story is particularly disturbing. Andrew Conley, a teen in Indiana, killed his 10-year old brother because he "had to satisfy the urge to kill". Conley related strangling his brother and dumping the body in a near by park as a person being hungry and eating a hamburger, giving in to a craving. While Conley was in custody and being questioned in the county jail, his parents were mourning the loss of their 5Th grader. Friends and family came from all over to pay their respects in a service with an open casket. The whole town is shaken up and confused as to why this outgoing, artistic, and intelligent boy would have to urge to do such a thing but friends that know him said he "idolized" Dexter, the popular character of a TV show. Making sense of this crime is unimaginable, i find it to be so disturbing but it also really frightening that a fictional show could have such an immense impact on someone. This story is still continuing to develop and the trial for Conley has not been set.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5672949-504083.html