Conflict Ensues After Macedonian Construction of a Border Fence

Source: WorldNow
Article: http://meredith.worldnow.com/story/30619811/the-latest-tensions-at-greek-border-subside
Author: Demetris Nellas

Source (Relevant Background Information): New York Times
Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/20/world/europe/macedonia-serbia-croatia-refugees-limit.html?ref=topics&_r=0
Author: Nick Cumming-Bruce

Who/What?
Refugees stranded along the Greece-Macedonia border resorted to violence recently following the construction of a border fence by the Macedonian army; Macedonia, as well as Croatia and Serbia, are currently screening individuals by nationality and granting border passage only to those from Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan. On November 28, 2015, conflict arose on the Greek side of the Greece-Macedonian border following an event in which a Moroccan man, banned from entering Macedonia, was severely burned by a high-voltage cable while atop a stationary train cart. Energized by the event and angered by the construction of the fence, approximately 250 refugees threw stones at the Macedonian police from across the border, sparking tension between the two forces. Greece police intervention was kept to a minimum; in response to the rocks, members of the Macedonian police force returned fire with stun grenades and tear gas. Eighteen officers were injured within the skirmish, two of which were hospitalized due to injuries associated with the conflict. The injured officers were taken to the border town of Gevgelija. The conflict can be attributed to a formal attempt by the Macedonian government to prevent what officials consider to be "illegal border crossings." A government spokesman of Macedonia expressed the nation's interest in channeling migrants through a specific checkpoint.

When? The construction of the fence occurred on November 28, 2015; conflict shortly followed. Relative to the background of the issue, Macedonia, Croatia, and Serbia expressed their desires to screen individuals by nationality around the third week of November.

Where? The clash occurred along the southern border of Macedonia; the fence was constructed near the Greek village of Idomeni on Saturday.

Why? Refugees and asylum seekers who do not belong to Afghanistan, Serbia, or Iran are not being allowed across the border and are being referred to as "economic migrants." Approximately 1,500 migrants are stranded along the border as a result of the government decision. Numerous migrants have been left exposed without proper sustenance. The Red Cross is attempting to aid some of those denied border access, yet tension continues to rise among the body of individuals who wish to cross. Certain migrants are allowed through while others are restricted behind a border, a border which recently acquired a fence. Refugees and migrants are angered by the refusal of acceptance.

Democratic Values:

Equality - the government is discriminating against refugees allowed to enter their country based on their country of origin

Justice - what action should be taken in response to the fence put up by the Macedonian government or the violent actions of the refugees/who is in the wrong?

Bias: The articles do not appear to be relatively biased; however, it appears as though the conflict is being viewed from a humanitarian perspective, thus establishing a certain degree of wrongdoing by the government body of Macedonia. Some slight bias may exist within the articles; the articles succeed in reporting the details of the conflict, though.

Image:

Construction of the Macedonia-Greece border fence.

S. Carolina case lesson: Police shouldn't be doing school discipline

Janel George, CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/28/opinions/george-school-discipline-police-south-carolina/index.html 

Who? What? Where? When? Why?

• African-American female student
• Columbia, South Carolina - Spring Valley High School
• Ben Fields, a white police officer working in Spring Valley High School assaulted an African American girl Monday
• He came into a classroom this past Monday because a girl wouldn’t give up her cellphone to her teacher. He asked her to stand up and come with him, she said no, then he grabbed her by the neck, flipping her backward as she sat at her desk, then dragging and throwing her across the floor. No one was hurt, but excessive force was exhibited.
• Officer is now on administrative leave
• Richland county sheriff has asked US justice department for an FBI investigation, justice department hasn’t decided if they will take this case
• growing number of incidents involving aggressive tactics, unnecessary charging, and excessive use of force by school police against students of ethnicities other than white
• Such incidents reflect the broader epidemic of police brutality against blacks

Democratic Values:

Liberty : The ability to live, behave, and believe as one pleases without harsh restrictions, limitations, or the liberties of other individuals.

Although the student did not follow the cop’s instruction, they way he handled the situation put her in a place where her ability to live and behave had harsh restrictions. The girl did not physically threaten the cop in any way, yet he threatened her safety.

Equality: “12% of all African-American female pre-K through 12 students were suspended from school, six times the rate of white girls and more than any other group of girls and several groups of boys -- despite research showing that African-American children do not misbehave more frequently than their peers” - This shows inequality towards African American females.

Another example: “Data clearly show that the majority of incidents for which students of color are penalized are infractions that are very subjective, including "disruption," "willful defiance," or "disobedience" — where stereotyping and bias have the opportunity to influence decision-makers. But reforms are underway.” The color of your skin should not determine whether you have done something wrong, but vague words used by decision makers are allowing them to seemingly accuse African American students for offenses that they might not also accuse white students for.

Biases:
• Teachers need ongoing support and services, not sanctions, to help maintain classroom order and promote student success
• Parents should be involved in formulating school discipline codes and practices
• If police are present in schools, they must be trained on youth development, and de-escalation techniques
• Removing police from schools
• We must stop combining school discipline with school safety
• Students must feel safe and supported in schools by authority figures whom they can trust
• Bias towards the girl and that she did not deserve the violence. The author assumes that the girl doesn’t do anything accept disobey orders, but new information might come out later since the story is so recent.
• The author leaves out some context as to what happened before the police officer assaulted the girl.

Visual:

Attribution: http://mmc-news.com/news-sheriff-says-third-video-shows-south-carolina-student-punching-officer-in-classroom-291209.dbv

Sophie B, Cory L