Mr. Rowley
Advanced World Studies
Abigail Colpitts
China Statement Essay
The statement: U.S. Relations with China is a Necessary evil.
In most stores someone goes to they will find that many products are made from China. We would not have these products if we did not have relations with China. A child’s toy, look at the bottom or on the tag, “MADE IN CHiNA” it may read and most likely will read. A lot of clothing, shirts especially, “Made in China”. Random odds and ends someone may find around the house, “Made in China”. We get so much from China and at what expense? We are very much in debt to China and it’s government, eight percent of our debt is to China. Some of China’s culture will be found in America. Imagine if we did not have these ties with China, imagine what we would not have, but imagine what jobs there would to make up for that loss. Yes we need jobs, but could we survive without their culture? I do not think so.
In America many people are not happy with our government some of which say that China owns us, if they wanted to they could take our country in a heart beat. But then go to China. So many College students in China are protesting, wanting more of OUR culture and even some dare to say democracy. In the movie that we watched “Tiananmen Square” it talked all about the protests and how The government responded to it. They did give them some freedom and so to say, “a longer leash”. The students noticed that they were able to speak up more then in the past and they used this new founded freedom to make a stand and ask for more freedom.
But right when they asked for Democracy the Chinese government instantly said no. They were open for more freedom but if it was out of the government’s control they would not allow it.
America is known for our debts. China is known for their money and well, smart people. But America has freedoms and rights, the Constitution. Many of China’s people are not treated right or fairly, at least not by our standards. America is so used to life of freedoms and rights that the way the Chinese people are treated make American’s angry and upset.
Why is that? Because of Moral. Their morals and our morals are much different. What they think is right and necessary we may think is cruel and has not reason. That is a big reason why American’s find our ties with China evil. But then many of thsoe who find it evil use products from China, wear clothing from China, eat food from China, decorate their homes with things that came from Chinese culture.
So yes, the U.S. relations with China is a necessary evil.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Caste system in terms of it's justification by the Brahmins and the impact on the Dalits.
Discuss the caste system in terms of it's justification by the Brahmins and the impact on the Dalits.
The Caste system would never be accepted in America, as it is in India. In India they have a Caste system, there are seperate groups that have higher statuses. The lowest status is the Dalits, otherwise known as The Untouchables.
The Untouchables are given the "Crap" jobs, literally. People are afraid to go near a person with the status "Dalit" because they are afraid that they will become "polluted". Friends turn on friends because they find out the status, teachers only teach the upper castes or will make the "Dalits" sit in the back of the class. Most people don't question it because that's how "it has always been."
The Brahmins justify the caste system by saying that is it how it's been and how it needs to be. They say that the Dalits have no right to do what the upper caste's do. "Do I have right to fly a plane? No, because I am not a pilot." Then he went on to say the Dalits have no right to do upper jobs or get an education. A different man said that they needed the castes because they worked and it is how India was successful and how India survived.
I, as an American High schooler who knows basically nothing of other countries politics, do not think that Castes are right as it is discriminating and unfair.
The Caste system would never be accepted in America, as it is in India. In India they have a Caste system, there are seperate groups that have higher statuses. The lowest status is the Dalits, otherwise known as The Untouchables.
The Untouchables are given the "Crap" jobs, literally. People are afraid to go near a person with the status "Dalit" because they are afraid that they will become "polluted". Friends turn on friends because they find out the status, teachers only teach the upper castes or will make the "Dalits" sit in the back of the class. Most people don't question it because that's how "it has always been."
The Brahmins justify the caste system by saying that is it how it's been and how it needs to be. They say that the Dalits have no right to do what the upper caste's do. "Do I have right to fly a plane? No, because I am not a pilot." Then he went on to say the Dalits have no right to do upper jobs or get an education. A different man said that they needed the castes because they worked and it is how India was successful and how India survived.
I, as an American High schooler who knows basically nothing of other countries politics, do not think that Castes are right as it is discriminating and unfair.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Sources of Tension! (Part Two, film two)
Movie Notes (Yet again): Part Two
What sources of tension, new or old, are revealed by this film?
Oil, always a factor, is basically the prize of this “big betting game” with contractors and investors. We need the oil for the functioning of our economy and therefor the idea of stopping buying it was ridiculed. Citizenship is another issue, as is democracy and the fact that the US has yet to intervene when they should. The new wave of revolt, “the Arab Spring” as it is called, is a factor, it is protesting in Bahrain.
Protesters have had open fire placed upon them, it’s hostile and against law. They want a strong military backdrop in Bahrain, they want to know why the US hasn’t done more to help them. If the Us likes the dictator then we tend to not want to get involved with a revolt but if we don’t like them then we get right into it and try to help and give democracy. This angers some people who WANT democracy and are not getting the help they need. And apparently we like the dictator of Bahrain. Though the US says that we can’t be expected to jump in and save everyone, we aren’t superman.
Many are afraid to talk to Aljazeera because people in the past have been beaten, killed, or gone missing. It seems dangerous to get word out and safe to keep silent so that’s what people do.
Another contributing factor is the fifth fleet, which is the US’s most important naval base. The family that controls Bahrain is right next to SAudi Arabia the US’s biggest Middle Eastern Ally and no one wants to see Iran prophet from these changes.
Some people think things should stay as they are, poor as poor, rich as rich, those people that think as such are the rich of course. Mosques are being destroyed and ruined by the Sunni based government v.s. Shia Shiite. People are being taken by police, people with families and the families can’t do anything without disappearing too.
Protests in Saudi Arabia, the US will not help because we like their oil and the government wouldn’t give us any if we went against them. Saudi Arabia want’s a democracy, the government disagrees, America isn’t helping because America needs oil.
So, you see, there are sources of tension, but they are complex and of many. Though I could only list some, it’s a bit of an insight to the tension.
What sources of tension, new or old, are revealed by this film?
Oil, always a factor, is basically the prize of this “big betting game” with contractors and investors. We need the oil for the functioning of our economy and therefor the idea of stopping buying it was ridiculed. Citizenship is another issue, as is democracy and the fact that the US has yet to intervene when they should. The new wave of revolt, “the Arab Spring” as it is called, is a factor, it is protesting in Bahrain.
Protesters have had open fire placed upon them, it’s hostile and against law. They want a strong military backdrop in Bahrain, they want to know why the US hasn’t done more to help them. If the Us likes the dictator then we tend to not want to get involved with a revolt but if we don’t like them then we get right into it and try to help and give democracy. This angers some people who WANT democracy and are not getting the help they need. And apparently we like the dictator of Bahrain. Though the US says that we can’t be expected to jump in and save everyone, we aren’t superman.
Many are afraid to talk to Aljazeera because people in the past have been beaten, killed, or gone missing. It seems dangerous to get word out and safe to keep silent so that’s what people do.
Another contributing factor is the fifth fleet, which is the US’s most important naval base. The family that controls Bahrain is right next to SAudi Arabia the US’s biggest Middle Eastern Ally and no one wants to see Iran prophet from these changes.
Some people think things should stay as they are, poor as poor, rich as rich, those people that think as such are the rich of course. Mosques are being destroyed and ruined by the Sunni based government v.s. Shia Shiite. People are being taken by police, people with families and the families can’t do anything without disappearing too.
Protests in Saudi Arabia, the US will not help because we like their oil and the government wouldn’t give us any if we went against them. Saudi Arabia want’s a democracy, the government disagrees, America isn’t helping because America needs oil.
So, you see, there are sources of tension, but they are complex and of many. Though I could only list some, it’s a bit of an insight to the tension.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sources of Tension!
What sources of tension, new and old, in the Middle East are revealed by the film?
Fault lines are partnership between BBC and Aljazeera. Many signs of war along the road, dead people and wreckage. There are many signs of tension, one of them being that the UN and US are very intervening, and example of which is the Quadafi situation. The US leaders say that we stopped a massacre but other say we were just sticking our nose into other people’s business and making things worse. The plan was to build up rebel forces and many people have volunteered but most of them are just civilians and as I said, simply volunteers, though they want to help, how much will they really?
The price of oil, which the price has been going up on rapidly, is a major factor of the tension. Many places import oil from the middle east, including the US, which is one of the many reasons why the US was so eager to help Libya. Rumors, not solid facts, that oil is being secretly pumped have popped up and is being spread. Those are up even though oil officials were saying that nothing was being produced. The economy minister says that they HAVE indeed been pumping oil. So yeah, there are many different sources of tension, these are just a few of them.
Fault lines are partnership between BBC and Aljazeera. Many signs of war along the road, dead people and wreckage. There are many signs of tension, one of them being that the UN and US are very intervening, and example of which is the Quadafi situation. The US leaders say that we stopped a massacre but other say we were just sticking our nose into other people’s business and making things worse. The plan was to build up rebel forces and many people have volunteered but most of them are just civilians and as I said, simply volunteers, though they want to help, how much will they really?
The price of oil, which the price has been going up on rapidly, is a major factor of the tension. Many places import oil from the middle east, including the US, which is one of the many reasons why the US was so eager to help Libya. Rumors, not solid facts, that oil is being secretly pumped have popped up and is being spread. Those are up even though oil officials were saying that nothing was being produced. The economy minister says that they HAVE indeed been pumping oil. So yeah, there are many different sources of tension, these are just a few of them.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
HOMEWORK! Comparing Three Major Religions
Who should really have the possession of the city of Jerusalem, the Jews or the Palestinians?
Who doesn't ask that question (that knows of the issue, of course). I personally, this is through a fourteen year old's perspective and I'm sure I don't have all the facts, but I believe they should both have free rights to the land as long as they are respectful to the others religion. Now I know then that this won't happen (for many reasons) but I'll be talking about the Arab-Israeli Conflict. where after the 1948 war Israel and Arab fought again in 1956, 67, and 73.
These fights show me that the sides weren't ready at the time to share the area or respect each other, but what about now? Are they ready now? How do we know? By trying to answer the original question I seem to be drudging up more question, and maybe those ones can be answered...Experts might read this and think 'wow this girl's crazy to think that they could share with all these issues' and you know, I might be. But there is always a chance for it. During the Cold War people even made steps for peace, but they still weren't quite ready. Maybe not soon, probably not soon, probably not for a long time, but in order to get closer we should look at the causes for the conflict.
Well, they just don't agree. It mostly has to do with their religions, different religions but they both involve the same place, Jerusalem. They both want it because it is holy to them and their religion. It's like one big tug-of-war. They also don't respect each other. They don't respect the others religion or ideas, basically they are close minded to each other.
None of which are at fault, or maybe they're both at fault. But they have yet to see it that way. Perhaps, maybe, in the future, with help of others, they'll make a treaty, find peace, solve their issues.
So, in answer to the question, they shouldn't have 'possession' of the land. They should have mutual respect and use it together.
Who doesn't ask that question (that knows of the issue, of course). I personally, this is through a fourteen year old's perspective and I'm sure I don't have all the facts, but I believe they should both have free rights to the land as long as they are respectful to the others religion. Now I know then that this won't happen (for many reasons) but I'll be talking about the Arab-Israeli Conflict. where after the 1948 war Israel and Arab fought again in 1956, 67, and 73.
These fights show me that the sides weren't ready at the time to share the area or respect each other, but what about now? Are they ready now? How do we know? By trying to answer the original question I seem to be drudging up more question, and maybe those ones can be answered...Experts might read this and think 'wow this girl's crazy to think that they could share with all these issues' and you know, I might be. But there is always a chance for it. During the Cold War people even made steps for peace, but they still weren't quite ready. Maybe not soon, probably not soon, probably not for a long time, but in order to get closer we should look at the causes for the conflict.
Well, they just don't agree. It mostly has to do with their religions, different religions but they both involve the same place, Jerusalem. They both want it because it is holy to them and their religion. It's like one big tug-of-war. They also don't respect each other. They don't respect the others religion or ideas, basically they are close minded to each other.
None of which are at fault, or maybe they're both at fault. But they have yet to see it that way. Perhaps, maybe, in the future, with help of others, they'll make a treaty, find peace, solve their issues.
So, in answer to the question, they shouldn't have 'possession' of the land. They should have mutual respect and use it together.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Homework..yet again...part 3
For discussion
1. What questions do you have about the reading? How might they be answered?
What polices do the muslims specifically hate so much? Is there anyway we could possibly fix it?We could find out by asking them specifically.
2. What U.S. policies do most Muslims hate and why? If you need more information, how might you find it?
The policy that they hate the most is that they are for Isreal and against the Paletine's right.
3. Why might acknowledging that U.S. policies have anything to do with jihadist attacks be seen as "politically incorrect" and "blaming the victim"?
The jihadist hate the U.S policies so they show they anger by attacking. They are blaming the victim by saying the U.S allied policy has stuff to do with there attacks.
4. Despite a year of effort by Obama's special envoy George Mitchell to move the Israelis and Palestinians toward a negotiated two-state solution, there's been no visible progress. Why not? If you need more information, how might you find it?
5. How and why are the people of Gaza suffering? If you need more information, how might you find it?
I'm confused....
1. What questions do you have about the reading? How might they be answered?
What polices do the muslims specifically hate so much? Is there anyway we could possibly fix it?We could find out by asking them specifically.
2. What U.S. policies do most Muslims hate and why? If you need more information, how might you find it?
The policy that they hate the most is that they are for Isreal and against the Paletine's right.
3. Why might acknowledging that U.S. policies have anything to do with jihadist attacks be seen as "politically incorrect" and "blaming the victim"?
The jihadist hate the U.S policies so they show they anger by attacking. They are blaming the victim by saying the U.S allied policy has stuff to do with there attacks.
4. Despite a year of effort by Obama's special envoy George Mitchell to move the Israelis and Palestinians toward a negotiated two-state solution, there's been no visible progress. Why not? If you need more information, how might you find it?
There hasn’t been any (Well, not visible anyway) progress because they don’t see the same way as others do..on my ikeepbokmarks account.
5. How and why are the people of Gaza suffering? If you need more information, how might you find it?
I'm confused....
Thursday, September 15, 2011
My Homework! (Reading Two)
For discussion
1. What questions do you have about the reading? How might they be answered?
Why is still the question, though it has been furthered answered. Why does Bin Laden lie?
He says we planned on 'continuing the massacre' when we mostly went to protect and prevent that very thing. What else, if he were still alive, would he say to get people to follow him? It is near impossible for the answer, seeing as he is dead..
2. Years have passed since President Bush's comments. What knowledge and evidence do you have to support, add to, amend, or oppose his explanation for terrorist acts? Why might jihadists want to overthrow certain Muslim governments? Drive Israel out of the Middle East? If you don't know how might you find out?
Bush says that they hate us because we stand in the way of what they want. And this is kinda true, but, nothing we've done with our government has really interfered with them, just those they don't like. Jihadists might want to overthrow certain Muslim governments because they are not with them with their idea of the world. And they'd want to drive Israel out of the Middle East for much of the same thing...
My Ikeepbookmarks..
3. Even more years have passed since Bin Laden's harsh critique of the United States. What knowledge and evidence do you have to support, add to, amend, or oppose that critique.
Bin Laden says that we have hate them them, tried to help the Jews, and killed them, he actually used Massacre as the word. Now, from their point of view, I could see how they would think that, however we live in a time where two wrongs don't make it right (neither do two lefts). They may think we caused them harm, but does that make it okay to kill people who haven't done anything.
4. According to Wright, what has led young men in Arab countries to find martyrdom attractive?
Sadly he says that it's because their bored, well more than that. Young men need something to do, some sort of entertainment but there isn't any for them. Anger, humiliation, and resentment led them to do violent things to fill in the lack of entertainment.
5. According to polling in Muslim countries, how popular is Al Qaeda? Why?
A lot of them , or a least a big majority, don't support it or agree with it. They don't because one they don't care for the injuring or killing innocent people.
1. What questions do you have about the reading? How might they be answered?
Why is still the question, though it has been furthered answered. Why does Bin Laden lie?
He says we planned on 'continuing the massacre' when we mostly went to protect and prevent that very thing. What else, if he were still alive, would he say to get people to follow him? It is near impossible for the answer, seeing as he is dead..
2. Years have passed since President Bush's comments. What knowledge and evidence do you have to support, add to, amend, or oppose his explanation for terrorist acts? Why might jihadists want to overthrow certain Muslim governments? Drive Israel out of the Middle East? If you don't know how might you find out?
Bush says that they hate us because we stand in the way of what they want. And this is kinda true, but, nothing we've done with our government has really interfered with them, just those they don't like. Jihadists might want to overthrow certain Muslim governments because they are not with them with their idea of the world. And they'd want to drive Israel out of the Middle East for much of the same thing...
My Ikeepbookmarks..
3. Even more years have passed since Bin Laden's harsh critique of the United States. What knowledge and evidence do you have to support, add to, amend, or oppose that critique.
Bin Laden says that we have hate them them, tried to help the Jews, and killed them, he actually used Massacre as the word. Now, from their point of view, I could see how they would think that, however we live in a time where two wrongs don't make it right (neither do two lefts). They may think we caused them harm, but does that make it okay to kill people who haven't done anything.
4. According to Wright, what has led young men in Arab countries to find martyrdom attractive?
Sadly he says that it's because their bored, well more than that. Young men need something to do, some sort of entertainment but there isn't any for them. Anger, humiliation, and resentment led them to do violent things to fill in the lack of entertainment.
5. According to polling in Muslim countries, how popular is Al Qaeda? Why?
A lot of them , or a least a big majority, don't support it or agree with it. They don't because one they don't care for the injuring or killing innocent people.
My Homework!
For discussion
What questions do you have about the reading? How might they be answered?
Why? Can anyone really answer that? Can they even answer that? Perhaps if we put together both information from both sides we can get the answer.
What is President Obama's answer? Brennan's?
In the reading President Obama Doesn’t really answer the question of why. He says how the terrorists are increasingly recruiting people to do their bidding. And Brennan avoided her question, or so it seemed to me. He kept trying to give it a different act, but when confronted as to why, he quickly side-stepped to another question.
Thomas was clearly dissatisfied with Brennan's answer. Why? Would she have been satisfied with the president's? Why or why not?
She was dissatisfied because he DIDN’T answer her. It was probably just because he didn’t have an answer for her. How was he supposed to know why crazy terrorist’s do what they do? I do not think she would have been. No one can really answer the answer as to why, except maybe the terrorists them selves, if even then.
Why does Glenn Greenwald think it important to consider terrorist motivations? Do you agree? Why or why not?
He’s saying that a in order to stop (possibly) terrorism, you need to understand why they are doing it. If you can get a glimpse of understanding into the motive then you might be able to figure out a way to stop them. I do agree because it makes sense what he says.
How would you answer Thomas' question, "Why?" Why do Hasan, Abdulmutallab, and others commit such acts?? If you need more reliable information, where might you find it?
If I were to answer it I would have to respond truthfully. We have not learned more on the Why. It might be because of some revenge or maybe some deeper messed up mind set but until we figure it out, I can’t answer much more. More information on my ikeepbookmarks account!
My Ikeepbookmarks
What questions do you have about the reading? How might they be answered?
Why? Can anyone really answer that? Can they even answer that? Perhaps if we put together both information from both sides we can get the answer.
What is President Obama's answer? Brennan's?
In the reading President Obama Doesn’t really answer the question of why. He says how the terrorists are increasingly recruiting people to do their bidding. And Brennan avoided her question, or so it seemed to me. He kept trying to give it a different act, but when confronted as to why, he quickly side-stepped to another question.
Thomas was clearly dissatisfied with Brennan's answer. Why? Would she have been satisfied with the president's? Why or why not?
She was dissatisfied because he DIDN’T answer her. It was probably just because he didn’t have an answer for her. How was he supposed to know why crazy terrorist’s do what they do? I do not think she would have been. No one can really answer the answer as to why, except maybe the terrorists them selves, if even then.
Why does Glenn Greenwald think it important to consider terrorist motivations? Do you agree? Why or why not?
He’s saying that a in order to stop (possibly) terrorism, you need to understand why they are doing it. If you can get a glimpse of understanding into the motive then you might be able to figure out a way to stop them. I do agree because it makes sense what he says.
How would you answer Thomas' question, "Why?" Why do Hasan, Abdulmutallab, and others commit such acts?? If you need more reliable information, where might you find it?
If I were to answer it I would have to respond truthfully. We have not learned more on the Why. It might be because of some revenge or maybe some deeper messed up mind set but until we figure it out, I can’t answer much more. More information on my ikeepbookmarks account!
My Ikeepbookmarks
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