Cyber Insecurities

Concerns about the federal government's lack of effort to improve cyber-security are expressed in this article in The Washington Post. It has been a year since Obama called network protection a "priority" during a White House speech. The fact is, it should be a priority because strong security is necessary to prevent cyber attacks that the article says could easily "cripple the U.S. computer networks."  Unfortunately, the article goes further to describe efforts made by both the President and congress in the last year, most of which are preliminary, and few of which have yet to actually affect security levels. Although we are more secure electronically than we were a year ago, the government's unenthusiastic attitude towards the situation thus far hardly mirrors that of a priority. The security of our nation's computer networks has always been important but it is becoming an even bigger issue with the electronically inclined future of our government.

Today's LGBT Social Climate Forecast Calls for Clear Skies

The word 'family' is defined in the dictionary as “a group of individuals living under one roof.”  According to the findings of a survey described in this New York Times article, the social definition of 'family' is slowly becoming as inclusive as the dictionary definition. Currently, many Americans recognize gay couples with children as a family, alongside the traditional heterosexual family. In comparison to past views, this is a generally more accepting take on the issue. The article goes further to explain that this "more open social environment" of late isn't due to an increased number of gay people, but rather because of society's growing acceptance of same-sex relationships.  In this new environment, people are less afraid of recognizing their differences in sexuality and addressing the issues that arise because of them. Of the 830 people surveyed, half were still opposed to same-sex marriage. Thus, we still have a long way to go before everyone's right to pursue happiness is acknowledged, but acceptance is a step in the right direction towards embracing the idea of same-sex marriage completely.  The article ends with a quote from David Blankenhorn, the president of the Institute for American Values, which I feel is important when considering the need for continued improvements in the social climate for LGBT individuals in the U.S. : 

"We live in groups, and we need each other. So it's always a good thing, isn't it, when any of us truly loves and is loved by another."