Articles written by Sheila Westfall

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About me - Sheila Westfall

I am 25 years old and a life long resident of West Virginia. I have loved writing since I was in the 3rd grade although my interest has shifted from fiction to social commentary. My goal in life is to be a major force in developing a way for humans to live

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Religion & Spirituality > Thoughts on God Is God relevant in today's world?: 4 of 65
In some ways it seems that advancements in science and technology have made God irrelevant or obsolete. Mankind has been "playing God" for so many years that isn't it time for us to leave our position as understudy and take on the real role. The answer is no, but not because His existence is undeniable. This author does not p... More..
Sciences > Medical Science (Other) Is euthanasia ethical or unethical?: 10 of 66
When I was in high school and my Great-Aunt Mary had to be put in the nursing home, I hated going to visit her. She didn't remember who anyone was and she was incapable of talking anything but nonsense. I would look at her and think, "I would rather be dead than live like that." One of my cousins has recently had her other gr... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Energy Issues Is conservation or increased domestic production the key to reducing foreign oil dependence?: 2 of 11
America's oil addiction and the fact that our drug of choice is rapidly declining is one of the greatest environmental and foreign policy issues of today. In the arena of international relations, it requires us to be deeply involved in a volatile part of the world that is often antagonistic to our country. Increasing domestic... More..
Entertainment > Movie Reviews Movie reviews: WALL-E: 9 of 48
Pixar has always been a master at creating animated movies that appeal to both kids and adults. Since Buzz Lightyear had a tea party with 'Marie Antoinette and her little sister" they have packed their films with adult friendly references. But with "Wall-E" they push into even more adult territory - social commentary.Wall-E i... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Conservation Tree-Nation's efforts to re-forest the planet: 1 of 4
Desertification, or the conversion of once arable land into deserts, is one of the greatest ecological crises of our time. It occurs as a result of over-use of the land, over-use of water, and the collective impacts of global warming. It is especially a threat in Africa, a continent with limited water and the presence of larg... More..
Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama Theater reviews: The Vagina Monologues: 2 of 6
Since its premier in 1996, The Vagina Monologues has been performed thousands of times around the world. It has even appeared in ultra-conservative Afghanistan. I have had the privilege of seeing the play performed three times and performing in it once. Each time it has been an enlightening and empowering experience unlike an... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Climate Change Should we emphasize adaptation to climate change or mitigation of CO2 emissions?: 1 of 3
This is issue is not so much about what we should do as what we can do. There are many simple things that we can do every day to reduce CO2 emissions and more advanced methods are in use with more in development. We can never fully eliminate our emissions but we can greatly reduce them. By contrast, adaptation is simply not p... More..
Sports & Recreation > Sports & Recreation (Other) Wild and wacky town festival ideas: 14 of 32
Summer is the perfect time to get kids off the couch and playing outside. Your town can encourage physical activity by holding a Video Game Festival with a twist. Instead of using only their thumbs to navigate their way through the game, players will take on the roles of video game characters themselves. To win they will have... More..
Autos > Fuel Economy Is flex-fuel the answer to OPEC?: 2 of 4
To answer this question, one must understand that OPEC is neither a question to be answered nor a problem to be solved. It is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a legitimate group of countries with the aim of managing the oil market. There are 13 member countries spanning Asia, Africa, and South America. T... More..
Education > Education (Other) Intelligent design should not be taught in public school: 7 of 12
"Intelligent Design" became the preferred term for those wishing to instill religious studies into public schools in 1987. At that time the Supreme Court ruled that teaching "creation science" is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. The new term was adopted to make the concept more appealing. But it is simp... More..