Towards the end of Apartheid one of the major influences of the ending of it and the binding of both black and white people was the Springbok rugby team. I believe this was true both because the legacy of the team followed that of the trials Africa, especially South Africa had gone through. Also, something as simple as the symbol on their jerseys or hats also represented a common ground and understanding between both races. When Mandela wore the Springbok hat it was representative of the black acceptance of the whites and since Mandela represented most of the South American blacks he was able to exemplify that they were willing to accept and share their cultures. I think another main reason rugby helped was because it was the country's team not just a team therefore the entire country was bonded to it and was going to root for them. Having a black player on the team also helped because he helped represent the black community compared to just having all white members. The team was a microcosm of South Africa and the team's acceptance of the black teammate showed that South Africa and Africa as a whole could too.

North Korea warns it will meet war with 'all-out war'

After an anti submarine exercise by South Korea, North Korea responded that it would retaliate with all out war or more confrontation. There has been high tensions since North Korea shot a torpedo at a southern ship and killed over forty people. The KPA or Korean's People Army has been making changes to confront the "all out war."

North and South Korea's tension has been of global importance for many years and technically the Korean War has never ended so it would be a significant event if one side attacked the other which would then affect their reputation or further worsen them from the opposing view. Their are many alliances with both countries and if either fell into war many other countries would follow.

U.S. military: Air strike kills senior Taliban leader

After a precision air strike by the United States one of the two senior Taliban leaders was killed in Kandahar. The U.S. has been tracking Haji Amir until he stopped at a mud hut and the strike was ordered on him and his followers. He escaped from prison in June 2008 and has been organizing attacks since. He returned to Afghanistan to organization strikes amongst them. On a search, the Afghan security force found a surplus of weapons and opium.

This event is globally important because it is very similar to the beginning of World War I. Killing a leader of an opposing country can easily wage war since they have such a large influence amongst their community. By affecting the community they can then avenge their leaders death and strike us back.

Tropical storm leaves more than 115 dead in Central America

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were hit by a tropical storm over the weekend resulting in at least 115 casualties. Guatemala took the brunt force of the storm resulting in the most deaths, missing, and injured. Many people are now looking for shelter and help especially after the aftermath of rising rivers, loss of bridges, and mudslides. In Guatemala city the amount of water was so torrential that it created a sink hole the size of an intersection that swallowed a building. 3,500 people have been evacuated and nearly the same amount have been taken into shelters.

Within recent years we have witnessed many natural disasters that have taken a toll on on many different lives and cultures. We cannot seize to notice the power of mother nature and allow us to recognize it as a insignificant part of the world. We spend more time reviewing our own personal powers while we do not pay attention to what the world is doing around us and the affect it could have on us. If we do not change this soon many more lives can be lost.

Berlin Conference Reflection

One paragraph reflection on your groups performance and historical grab of land of Africa.

I thought we did very well regardless of the differences between our map and the actual Berlin conference. We put a plot of land towards the southern tip of Africa so it was accessible from the eastern side but we would still tap the raw resources and not be landlocked. Our second location was a port on Madagascar facing Africa and two more on the coast of Africa, therefore controlling the water way inbetween which would most likely serve for greater importance to control what went through that area. I thought our decision was more efficient than the actual since it was closer and we also had some tie to Madagascar.


You will identify who won, who lost, who did better or worse than expected.

I think the most prominent groups were France because they were very similar to the actual event and although their land was not important for resources at the time they would now be controlling a large amount of undiscovered oil. They were also very close to their home country which would be more efficient for an empire compared to an interspersed land ownership. I think we could have won as well because we had a good compromise between having the most amount of ports and on the eastern side to the best of its ability which would be having ties to Madagascar and resources.

Translate your in class experience to real life, how did the Berlin Conference effect Africa? Is its impact still being felt today?

The Berlin Conference effected Africa because it basically tore it apart in the most materialistic fashion in history. European nations wanted it merely for its resources and the power it came with. They were not concerned with the citizens or the effect it would have on their future and culture. I think the Conference added to the creation of many of the problems we see today as well as a lot of the flourishing. Obviously many people were torn apart but also, the areas with the closest ties to their home country adapted to be more like them like Morocco and France. This is an example of it still being seen today.

"The Scramble for Africa"

What comes to mind when you see "The Scramble for Africa"?

The quote revolves around the Berlin Conference. Africa was being divided and split regardless of what the Africans wanted. The Conference was a meeting between European nations about Africa but Africa was not present. The quote represents both sides. The Europeans were "scrambling" to carve up and claim Africa. The Africans were also trying to contain their culture and land as it was being swiftly taken from them.

Iranian Navy Plane Flies Near USS Eisenhower in Gulf of Oman

An Iranian navy jet flew nearly three hundred feet over the water adjacent to the USS Eisenhower. Iran was supposedly performing military training while they also wanted to express their power. While in the Gulf of Oman another Iranian aircraft approached the vessel within one thousand years. In the Persian Gulf this would be completely normal. The naval officer on the boat said as long as they are professionals it is international airspace and they were not even carrying weapons.

Although this event is seemingly harmless it had the potential to become much more dangerous. If the United States saw the plane as a threat they could have easily taken it down which could have started controvery between Iran and the US. Also when the article says it is unusual to see an Iranian plane in the Gulf of Oman this could possibly be foreshadowing on new attacks which could incorporate more of the Middle East or other nations by Iran.

Shanghai Rolls Out Record World's Expo

Fifty-eight billion dollars has been put into Shanghai's 2010 Expo (May 1- October 31). Seventy millions people are expected to come throughout the expo's duration and nearly 200 countries are already participating. It said that it is very similar to the Olympics because events like this represent China's rise as a world power. The event is similar to the World's Fair which has been comprised of a multitude of inventions and amazing feats so Shanghai will have to live up to it. A major part of the expo is the environment. They are showcasing electric cars and using recycled water to cool the area. The event has also affected life in the surrounding area. The government has gone so far as to say civilians cannot wear pajamas outside in order to present a clean appearance.

This event is globally important for many reasons. The first being it is representative of China's coming out. Second, a lot of new technology is exhibited during these conventions which have been seen to spread across the world like the television which was introduced at a World's Fair. Thirdly, events like these are a chance for countries to compete with each other in a nonviolent way much like the Cold War. Countries or nations are battling to show who is smarter and more productive. Therefore more competition is stirred which causes a stronger incentive to build upon a country.

Spain Unemployment Tops 20 Percent

4.6 million Spanish citizens are currently unemployed. This unemployment is the second worst among all European nations, just below Latvia. The prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is suspecting that the amount will now begin to decrease. Spain's employment fluctuates with the time of the year due to the standings of construction, tourism, and agriculture. Due to the recent housing busts many of Spain's construction workers have lost their job. Another reason the unemployment has seized to improve is that jobs are centralized meaning that people can not switch occupations as easily.

Although this issue is primarily in Spain it still is globally important and representative of what a country should not be. History has a tendency of always repeating itself and unless we recognize the problems that other countries have and realize how they got into their problem we are bound to follow the same trend. Spain is setting an example for what we should not do. Along with it being a model, if the problem continues to spread in Spain it will affect much more than its construction, tourism, and agriculture. Presumably, it will overflow into its economy which affects its trade which ultimately affects its place on the world stage.

Swahili Coast Folklore

Write a summary of the myth, or story.

The story was about a friendship between a monkey who lives in a tree and a shark that lives in the Indian Ocea. Their relationship grows until the shark invites the monkey to see the Sultan. The monkey follows the shark down but the shark admits that they only want to see him because the healer needed a monkey heart. The monkey said that he left his heart in the tree so he scurried up and never came back down. The shark tried to make him come down but to this day the monkey is cautious around the water. I interpreted this myth as saying keeps your friends close and your enemies closer. The shark was the monkeys friend but he also needed to keep in mind that he was a shark, a natural enemy to him.

Explain how the elements of the African myth, or story were incorporated into the myth.

What was entertaining about the myth, or story?

This story was entertaining because it personified to different animals that would not normally be speaking so it was slightly humorous. It was also entertaining because it was interesting to see the monkey outwit a shark by returning to his tree when his heart was in his chest the entire tim.e

What did the myth, or story teach about African culture?

The story taught me that African culture revolves around their environment and animals because nature, being the tree and the shark and monkey was the main subject of the story. It also taught me about African culture because it explained their lifestyle and how they might also apply the same principles expressed in the story, like keeping your friends close but your enemies closer.

How could you apply the myth, or story to your own life?

Everyone can apply the principle of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. In my life I like to keep my friends, family, and peers close to me but I keep my opponents and people I do not like even closer so I can understand what they are doing and prevent myself from coming into conflict with them.

African Wonders

Pyramids of Giza

I found the Pyramids of Giza to be very interesting and very spectacular that people could have created such a wonder in during their time and to such an accurate degree. The were built over four thousand years ago and the website said that the blocks angle were only within 0.1% of error. When I think of Africa I usually do not think of Egyptians because their culture seems so much more diverse than what I think of the norm African culture. I think that fact made this wonder so much more interesting. "...Great Pyramid can accommodate St Peter's in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St Paul's in London combined." This quote made me realize that Africa might not be so problematic as they are compared to great western powers.

City of Great Zimbabwe

I found this stone settlement to be very interesting as it gave reason to a name that I did not understand before and it also revealed a lot of history that I did not know about Africa. The shrine was one of the most notable among Africa and it stood the test of time since the eleventh century. This is very prominent to me because it still maintained its importance regardless of the new resources that were found. This truly shows its spiritual importance.

Sankore Mosque

When I looked at the picture of the mosque I had trouble visualizing what it was. It was like nothing I had ever seen especially in comparison with Middle Eastern mosques we saw in the previous chapter. I thought it was just an interesting piece of architecture until I discovered that it was the center for the academics of Timbuktu. I also read that it was partially destroyed in the 1500's by the Moroccans which I can only assume that will foreshadow on a large portion of African history.

Africa

When I think of Africa I think of several things that are all extremely different and diverse. The first thing that comes to mind is its geography. I picture flat desert land, lush forests, humidity, warmth, rainy, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, the equator and many other geographical features. The second thing that comes to mind is the people. I think of many different groups of people from small African tribes, corrupt African leaders, slaves/workers, and regular citizens. This shows that Africa is a very diverse continent due to its geography and the fact that it is the second largest. I also think about the problems within Africa. There is a lot of poverty, corruption, death, disease, working limitations, child soldiers, guerrilla warfare, and also a lack of water. Thinking of the problems I link my thoughts back to my home country, the United States of America, and I think about the focus we have on Africa and the events that have taken place in order to better their situations such as Live Aid/8 and the homing developments that many people travel to Africa to work on. When I think of Africa a lot of questions come to my mind as well like why is their so much poverty, why are the underdeveloped, what makes them a third world country, why is their a war in the country, who was Africa influenced by?

Obsession

Culture of Terror

Although the Middle East is the hub of many terrorists there are many middle easterners and Muslims that are not terrorists. They feel betrayed by their culture and the one billion people that support Jihad. They spread around the world so terror can strike at any moment. This makes it more difficult to eliminate the terrorists compared to if they were stationed within one solitary area.

Culture of Jihad

Citizens are brainwashed to support Jihad. Its pushed through media and the major power figures. You can definitely see the results when the children that were no older than eight years old and they were reciting Jihad poetry. It is very scary to see that the people who support Jihad are publicly broadcasting and especially targeting America. The example of Mein Kampf is very prominent because if that nazi power grew powerful and started a world war then what is stopping the Jihadists form doing the same thing.

Culture of Hatred

I found it very disturbing that they were depicting the United States as a nation of satan. It was not so much that we might be depicted as an evil country which I can understand but it is more disturbing that we are living ignorant to what other people think of us. To the Jihadists we are evil but to us we are just living life without thinking of our role in other cultures. It was also very disturbing that they had a music video like we would see on VH1 but it was interrogating american politcal leaders and their motives for the twin towers. Its is difficult to believe or concieve that they would play that on television because we do not/it does not seem like we do that to other countries.

Media and Terrorism

It is hard to concieve that a seemingly western person could lead an unseen life of supporting Jihad and supporting the attacks on the west. The word Kuffa is very impactful because we think of categorizing other people by stereotypes but we rarely think of how we are categorized. It is like a discriminatory word generated from stereotypes that many people completely resent so basically we are being called this without even knowing about it.

Jihad in the West

The word Kuffa is very impactful because we think of categorizing other people by stereotypes but we rarely think of how we are categorized. It is like a discriminatory word generated from stereotypes that many people completely resent so basically we are being called this without even knowing about it.

Culture of Denial

I do not understand why Fahrenheit 9/11 Michael Moore was not thinking of terrorist attacks as a threat yet he was anticipating more struggles against them. Do you think this is just to convince the Americans they are safe so they can live in denial regardless of the outside troubles?

Common Denominators

It is scary that we the lady being interviewed said that they were doing what the preacher in the mosque told them to do. It is hard to imagine that a depicted peaceful place of worship could arise such a violent event. Hitler attacked children but never to the extent that the the jihadist do. By connecting the propaganda to nazism it makes me question the reasons for invading the Middle East.

Hitler & Mufti

The german empire and the middle east seem worlds apart today so it is surprising to see that they actually fought together at one time.

What they Want?

They categorize all of us as Kuffar and that we all have the same ideas. This means that even if their was an American muslim they would categorize them as one as well and might even be driven enough to kill their own kind. This video makes it more difficult to assume that the war will ever end because their duty of killing all the americans or ruling them is a promise with god, something that will not end anytime soon.

We've Been Here Before

The only way to achieve peace is to dismantle the violence from within by having Muslims to teach the importance of life for Allah instead of death for Allah. The quote it started and ended with is a very strong motivator but also a good summarization of what the video depicted a lot of people doing. It motivates us to help solve the problem and for the muslims to teach the importance of life instead of killing. But it also says that the United States is not doing enough or the right thing, and the people that have the power to stop it are not. The quote is aplicable to the Jihadists and their choice of being good or evil.

Do You Believe the U.S. can win its war in Afghanistan?

I do not believe that we can ever win a war in Afghanistan for several reasons. First, we are fighting against an ideology. We are not just versing a group of people we are fighting against an indestructible idea that will remain part of the culture and continually regain new followers. The only way it can be stopped is if no one exists, therefore no believers. Secondly, we are fighting against our own weapons that we supplied. Although we may have the ability to beat them via stronger weapons that we did not supply to them they still have an edge of homeland and stronger weapons than many of the United State's weaker opponents. Russia which had a similar amount of power during the time it attacked lost a battle against the Taliban that had a fifth the amount of soldiers. Thirdly, Osama bin Laden is one of the strongest leaders and his is being protected by another group and he has been virtually untraceable and unreachable. Thirdly, it is an internal issue that only the Afghans can solve. The video said that many countries have attempted to implement their ideas and settle disputes within Afghanistan but they have all failed. Fourthly, Afghanistan shares a border with Pakistan which also serves as a suitable safe haven for Taliban members to flee. Bin Laden did this while he was living inside the White mountains and he easily escaped the United States military that was right below him. This means that the ideas of the Taliban can be preserved by taking refuge and then returning for as long as they like. The United States will never truely know if they have sucessfully completed their mission because it is impossible to track who exactly is part of the Taliban. Fifthly, even if we do capture Osama bin Laden a new leader will rise and it is a never ending chain because they have hundreds of followers that would be suitable for leadership.

Why Bush Went To War?

Do you agree with the ideas proposed by Doherty? If so, which of the three reasons do you believe is the main reason for going into Iraq?

I agree with a large portion of what Doherty says. I think if the reason for attacking Iraq was for oil it would not be logical because that would just purposely make the oil prices rise and if we wanted to make a larger impact on the oil in the Middle East we would have attacked Saudi Arabia because it has more oil. If we did attack the Iran for oil I think we would make greater strides in attempting to monopolize the oil instead of making baby steps and influencing OPEC's pricing. Secondly, I do agree with the fact that Israel is being strengthened. As we occupy Iraq we are implementing western ideas whether anyone likes it or not. As Iraq becomes more accustomed to this they are more like Israel and Iraq is obviously being weakened since it is in a war therefore will lack the availability to supply Hezbollah in Lebanon that will attack Israel. This will allow Israel to live with less terrorist attacks. I think this would be a strong incentive to move into the Middle East because it would lessen the attacks on a westernized area therefore giving more chance of spreading western ideas in the Middle East. I also believe the military transformation was a reason to invade because stationing the military in foreign areas will strengthen the possibility of spreading western ideas as well as protecting them.

I think the main reason for going into Iraq was to further protect Israel because as we have learned many of the world's problems or causing of problems are related to the conflict. By emphasizing the strengthening of Israel and lessening of power of the rest of the Middle East many problems will be averted because many of the problems in the Middle East are linked to the Holy Land dispute. If we take the dispute away so will the problems that affect us. As we help Israel, oil prices go up. If we make Israel sufficient the price of oil will no longer be a problem and we will not need to invade due to the reason Doherty provided. The second most important was the military transformation because it goes hand in hand with protecting Israel because if further spreads westernization in the Middle East therefore more representation of the ideas of Israel.

America's Dependency on Oil & Oil and Water in the Middle East

What do you believe the US should do about energy and their dependency
on oil?- The answer is very complicated because either decision you make, continue to use oil or switch to more conservative efforts, are both lose lose situations. If we continue to depend on the oil coming from the Middle East we will be blockading from completing and ending the War in Iraq because as we go further into situations OPEC increases the price of oil. If we depend on our own oil we will need to rely on our untapped Alaskan resources that we are saving for a final reserve. The most environmental decision is to switch over to more conservative electric cars but that does not mean that it is the most economical. The amount of electricity will increase therefore putting more strain on ourselves and the way we create it and their will be a lot of money lost due to the switch from gas to electric power. Many citizens will not be willing to switch due to the money. Personally I think that is the most adaptable decision as long as it is not done last minute. Many companies are creating a line of hybrid cars and people are very interested in them. This is a push in the right direction and very cautious of what may happen in the future. If the prices suddenly rise and you do not have a hybrid or electric car you will be very unhappy but if the country changes slowly everyone will gradually adapt to the new lifestyle therefore lessening the reliance on the Middle East.

Why the world , specifically the United States, should be greatly
concerned about water resources in the Middle East?- The world should be worried about the shortage of water supply because it is probably the most vital resource we have besides air and our life revolves around it, whether we drink it or our work uses it. Oil fields use it to power their drilling therefore if there is no water there is no oil. If there is no oil there is no circulation for the United States as a consumer of 25% of the oil supply. If we do not have oil we cannot drive, our houses are not warmed, and our country will fall apart. This is why we need to make the change to more environmentally stable cars and transportation. This issue is also good for the United States because if the world is short on water it will rely on the countries that have the water or the ability to clean it, one of which will be the United States who in return will receive what they want, money or oil.

True Life Reflection: Julia

The person that stood out to me out of the six True Life people that were documented was Julia. Julia moved form Russia to Israel to escape discrimination that she felt when she was one of the only Jews in her school. When she came to Israel she was part of the larger Jewish community and she was no longer an outcast but she also faced many of the inescapable dangers of living in Israel. It was extremely impacting when a bus filled with a majority of her friends was bombed by a suicide bomber and the aftermath was just as impacting because she always felt scared to go on a bus or sit next to someone who looked suspicious. Although she felt many hardships she also overcame the norm society of not representing one side, the Israelis over the other, the Palestinians. She volunteered in a center that united both side's children and they collaborated despite the segregation of their outside community. Julia's life fluctuated from being happy to sad and probably the most significant thing that stood out to me through her entire documentary was that she was going to go into the army next year and she would have to fight against something that she believes in, unity.

The most significant thing that I corresponded to my life was that Julia was going to be picked up by the army in her next year of life. She is only a year older than me which means I would be drafted in two years. I could not imagine assuming the responsibilities of her from my current standpoint and my current responsibilities that I have to do. Although we have many of the same opportunities, privileges, and responsibilities it is a constant struggle for her to assume those duties that she has to and wants to. In my life I do not feel obligated and am not influenced and as close to problems and segregation the same as Julia. I could never imagine trying to unite on of the most divided cultures in the world.

Bad weather halts South Korean search for sailors

South Koreans are suspending the search for missing sailors due to bad weather. They were searching for 46 sailors from a sunk ship, Cheonan. 57 of the sailors have been found and one of the rescuers was killed during. The cause of the sinking was due to an unknown explosion that is suspected to have been caused by a mine from the Korean War. South Korea has not yet revealed the incident to its people. The navy is planning on salvaging the ship which was carrying missiles.

This event is globally important because it could ultimately cause cultural diffusion. Many years ago cultures were spread by means of sailing to new places. If the sailors end up on a small island they could implement their ideas into that culture. Also since the cause may have been due to the Korean War, the north may be accused of the incident. Also, the materials on the boat could be salvaged by another country therefore possibly capturing undiscovered technology and further diffusing.

Ruling means Kenyan leaders could face charges

Investigators have been set out after Kenya's brutal pre-election violence. The judge, Hans-Peter Kaul said that the crimes were not crimes against humanity. The election between Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga caused 1,000 deaths after political tensions. Kibaki ultimately won but it was believed to be rigged. Human rights watch was also incorporated into the elections to prevent violence. A coalition government is being created while the persecutors are being researched. The coalition government missed deadlines while preventing violence so the ICC stepped in. Many people continue to worry if the ICC will resolve the issues before the 2012 elections.

This event is globally important because the president or ruler of a country has a great impact on the world and the area around him via his viewpoint and actions. Kim Jung Il for example prevents the world from interfering with his country and judging by the leader of any country it could easily happen the same way. Also, the violence within the country could expand to neighboring countries and ultimately create more problems.

China agrees to discuss sanctions against Iran

China agreed to negotiate over Tehran's nuclear program with Iran. China has showed evolvement as they agree to negotiate with United Nations and other world powers unlike the past. The United nations believe Iran is creating nuclear weaponry but they say they are using it for harmless nuclear power. Obama is pushing for greater sanctions within the U.N. to prevent dangers such as these. There are several treaties between countries to reduce nuclear arsenals.

This is globally important because for one it involves the United Nations which encompasses the entire globe and dictates a major portion of every country's welfare. The idea of preventing such a powerful object like nuclear power is extremely important because it is one of the many aspects that dictates a country's superiority. If a country has nuclear power it has the power to wage war with other countries on an entirely different level. It is globally important that China is now helping prevent nuclear arsenals because it is one of the most populace regions and encompasses a large amount of people.

Beheading planned in Saudi sorcery case

Peace Proposal Questions- Jewish Perspective

I think chosing to adapt to a one-state solution without forcing the other groups to leave is the best option. By doing so the Jews will have a place to reside and immigrate and also worship. It will also eliminate border tensions like when Palestine and Israel was interspersed and holy sites will be more accessible. This is important because Israel is the basis of all three major religions and if the Jews took over the country just for themselves more problems would arise if they completely abandoned the idea of allowing other religions inside. Also by establishing Israel as its own state and maintaining the same western aspects many Arabs that are residing their would leave under their own will therefore keeping Israel's strong Jewish population. The citizens who want to leave can move to surrounding countries like Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon and if so inclined further into the Middle East or anywhere they want.

The Palestinian refugees along the border will not be heavily affected because they are closer to a more similar culture with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon but they are also under Israel's government which might motivate them to move further away from the border if they do not support the West.

The land will not belong to any specific group but it will be under the Israeli form of government and the western aspects that it had originally adopted like democracy will remain to maintain the backing of western powers and prevent future wars. Since the Israel/Palestine area will be transformed into one state holy sites such as Jerusalem will be more acccessible because their will not be tension between the Israeli and Palestine border especially where Jerusalem used to be.

In order to resolve the problems of settlement in the Gaza Strip and West Bank I suggest that the Gaza strip be adopted by Egypt and the West Bank be adopted by Jordan therefore adding an incentive for peace and a compromise. As the West Bank is adopted by Jordan I suggest that the Israel territory going into the West Bank where Jerusalem is should be expanded to incorporate Bethlehem so that the Holy sites are under control by one state.

Since Palestine is being adopted by surrounding countries it will be up the surrounding countries if they can equipt themselves with weapons which is not our business unless they attempt to attack us. It would be unrealistic to confiscate weapons from another country without being involved in the event.

Since the United Nations helped coordinate the creation of Israel and is responsible for a lot of the population the new region should be backed by the United Nations and remain treated as a sort of mandate because that is what it has been treated as except without the physically owning. By having the United Nations back the regions the world's superpowers will be able to protect them since the region is small in comparison with the entire Middle East. If someone tries to abandon the peace treaty we will respond with more forceful actions to threaten them that we have the advantage of more powerful western technology and a large portion of the world backing us. The current government would stay because we want to maintain the current connection with the U.N.

I do not think this plan will work becuase we cannot completely take Palestine off the face of the map, they need to have a reasonable territory to suffice as their homeland. I do think that Israel should maintain control of the holy sites and continue doing what they are doing currently but i think the positioning of the territories needs to be reassembled to compromise each countries resources, size, accessibility, and connections.

Westernism, Imperialism, Nationalism and Zionism in the Middle East

Westernism, Imperialism, Nationalism, and Zionism led to Arab Nationalism because westerners tried to imperialize the Middle East. Egypt for example, was invaded by France and then overrun by the British due to the importance of the Suez Canal. World War I is one of the most recent causes of imperialism. The Ottoman empire assisted Germany and was therefore responsible for losing the war along with the debt. Their land was divided into mandates for western powers by the League of Nations. Since a country does not want to be under control of another country especially one so far away like colonial America and Britain they worked to create their independence. In order to succeed and gain independence many countries created several reforms to become more alike western powers to better their chances and also reforms to modernize and industrialize to better their own country. One of the many reforms ultimately led to Zionism. By doing this many secular ideas rose which caused many nationalist to rise who were strict followers of Islam being the official religion and straying away from western ideas. I believe this led to animosity towards the west today because during the time when they were being mandated they were very weak and could not rebel to superior western countries but now that they have reclaimed themselves they have the power to stand up for what they believe in and do it physically. Also many of the new problems that popularized after they were gaining their independence such as more controversy of the holy land could be blamed on western nations.

I believe the most impacting issue was Imperialism because it was the cause of further westernization and also Zionism. Imperialism caused the mandates to be created and then western ideas to be adopted. From the western ideas being adopted many reforms were created which included Zionism.

How I Came to Love the Veil

To start, I thought it was very honorable that Yvonne Ridley continued to study Islam as she promised even after being treated harshly in Afghanistan. If I was in her place, being beaten would scare me away from the religion I was trying to investigate, not intrigue me. I also applaud her because she still remained true to her opinions regardless of the people that were stereotyping her. She knew her alternate norm way of life and had the option to escape the ridicule but she chose not to. I also thought it was very interesting that she said the veil was a "religous obligation" which means to me that she was honestly part of the Islam religion. I also think that the reasons she chose to wear the hinjab were very respectable. She compares beauty and piety and choses piety which is a very difficult thing to do especially in a western society which the hinjab is believed to combat by some people. It is very notable to me that she analyzed the Koran and disproved what our western stereotyping has suspected of it. After reading this article I am more intrigued about the religion and I am also more weary to rely on our biased media. I also thought it was very important that she looked on feminist rights and problems on a world scale rather than a specific religion which proves that it is not specifically pertaining to the Islam religion or any others. Overal I think Ridley is a very strong women especially for convincing many people, including myself, that certain stereotypes do not pertain to Muslims and have just the same amount of reason and or more to pertain to the entire world.

Do you believe the journalist is right in his claim?

I think that his claim is false because if Osama bin Laden hated us for not being Christian enough he would not accusing us of being "helpers of Satan." He would think that we were "helpers of Satan" regardless of how Christian our country is. Also if you were in another religion, I do not think it would matter how religious another country would be. Why would bin Laden hate us for not being Christian enough? That would benefit him as if the religion of Islam was more powerful. The article also said that bin Laden compared September 11 to Muhammad destroying the idols inside the Kaaba. Muhammad destroyed the idols to prove his religion against the other religions, not to prove himself against a country. If bin Laden was acting based upon that comparison that would mean that he was attacking our religion like Muhammad not our country.

Do you think Osama Bin Laden is justified, based on the claims in this article?

I do not believe Osama Bin Laden is justified in his opinions because I believe that a secular system is more efficient compared to a designated religion. With a secular religion there is more religious freedom, there would be less tension among religions, and it limits controversy on what the correct religion is. Although both systems have their advantages and disadvantages it is impossible to claim without having been exposed to both.

Who Deserves the Holy Land?

I believe that no specific religion deserves the Holy Land. I do not believe that a piece of land should belong to only one religion especially if it means so much to multiple religions. The Jews should not deserve the Holy Land for themselves because Moses led them back to their home, Canaan, but ended up in Palestine. Therefore, the Jews/ Hebrews were not deserving of the Holy Land even though they were respected during the time. The Palestinians, who were residing there during the time were more rightfully deserving of the land. The Christians do not deserve the Holy Land for themselves because their messiah, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem which is inside the Holy Land but does not incorporate all of it. I think it would be fair to call Bethlehem a Christian capital like Mecca is to the Muslims but they should not own the whole area. The Muslims do not deserve the Holy Land for themselves because their prophet, Muhammad was born in Medina or Mecca which represents their religious capital. The only reason they are rooted to the Holy Land is because Muhammad went there to promote the Islam religious. Just because he died there does not mean they deserve the land, most importantly because it is not the root of the religion. Another reason I believe the Holy Land should be shared among everyone is because the basis of religion especially these are not based upon tangible things, its based upon belief therefore a religion should not revolve around a plot of land and therefore it should not matter who deserves the land.

3 Killed in Egyption Luxury Cruise Ship Accident

After a cruise ship crashed into a pier in Sharm el-Sheikh, an Egyptian Red Sea resort, three people on board were killed. The crash occured during a windy storm, common along the coast. The ship, the Costa Europa entered the Sinai resort in Safaga. Two Indians and a Brazilian died and four others were injured. Due to the storm many ports were closed along with several road. The direct cause of the accident was not determined.

This event is globally important, especially because the cause is not determined, because a country can either create a bad reputation if the event is their fault or other countries can blame them if their nationality died or was injured in the event. Because this event does not have a confirmed cause it is not a very important national event. If more people had died in the event the global importance would increase as well as the focus on the cause of the accident and especially who caused it.

Al Qaeda video rails against Turkey

Al Qaeda's number two man, Ayman al- Zawahiri attacked the Turkish government for its role in Afghanistan. The video message was not confirmed but in comparison with past videos they are nearly identically. Turkey's Muslim population was accused of attacking Islamic values in the past. NATO's International Security Assistance Force has 1,755 Turkish troops in Afghanistan. They also led egional Command Capital in Kabul. The video was categorized as Al Qaeda's propaganda. The video cuts to a man, apparently a martyr, named al- Turki. He is said to have praised September 11 and have helped commit the murder of eight Jordanian officials.

This article is globally important because it has an underlying threat to both Turkey and the United States. Al- Qaeda is a villain to many people but when they send a video to Turkey about their plans it can be taken as a threat and when they introduce a man that clearly liked September 11 and the death of their villains, the United State's it can be taken into consideration for future attacks. This article is important because it makes the entire world on edge, knowing that a martyr, unwilling to die can attack anywhere at anytime, with the power of one of the strongest terrorist groups in the world.

Australia Warns Israel over Dubai Killing

Australia warned Israel of a possible democratic rift after the suspected use of fake Australian passports in the killing of a Hamas leader. Three Australian passports were found during the hotel room murder of the leader in Dubai. Australia's foreign minister defended themselves with strong remarks due to the democratic tiffs after the death of Mahmoud al- Mabhouh, a founder of the Hamas military wing. Al Mabhouh was found dead January 20 with the Israeli secret police as the suspected murders. Twenty-six assumed suspects fled to foreign countries with an array of passports.

The death of the Hamas leader is globally important because the death of anyone known or unknown can start a violent eruption much the shot heard around the world or the killing of Franz Ferdinand and the beginning of World War I. It is globally important that there is tension between Australia and the Middle East because Australia is notoriously an innocent and neutral country and if their actions inflict on them that could sway their decisions to remain a neutral nation or go into war. And with every war there is a cascade of alliances and enemies which could ultimately pull the United States or any country into the same problem.

Middle Eastern Problem & Issue

The biggest problem that I first think of when I hear the Middle East is the tension between all the territories and countries. All of the problems in the Middle East and even the world can be rooted towards this controversy territory because it is the capital of religion. Who claims the holy land and what people due to it is a very serious subject especially because of its religious stature. Along with the Holy Land being close to other neighboring countries, that bear their own opinions and want to perform their own actions creates tension. There are a series of alliances within the Middle East and foreign nations therefore incorporated the whole world if there ever was a war or a problem. This is the most important problem because it encompasses everything, why the oil prices increase, who gets the Holy Land, and what people fight.

What is the Middle East?

The middle east is a land bridge between Europe and Africa. It consists of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Oman,Egypt, Turkey, and Afghanistan. The main ethnicity is Arabian and the main religion is Islam. A majoirty This area is the main center of conflict for many reasons. It is home to many religion's holy land, where the religion originated. It is an also a source of conflict because of its geographic placement. It is between Africa and Europe, basically alternate universes. Being in between two countries has many advantages of updating ideas but it also have negative aspects like a clash of ideas. The region due to its religious diversity has many extremist groups to promote their religion or their duties. Today it is a major world conflicts partially just due to its reputation as being a "bad" country in the past. Many problems originate from alliances between foreign countries and a countries goals. For instance Iran wants to destroy Israel but that would been the destruction of many religions. If any one waged war with each other and broke the growing tension then we would be obligated to fight in a war. This is true for many other countries as well. The Middle East is also a center of trading which includes a product that the entire world needs, oil. Holding oil gives you the right to change prices that clearly, as we have seen in our own community gas stations, affects everyone.

Gandhi was able to gain independence by dismantling small aspects of the government by non violent means. For instance he brunt small bus passes that signified a large difference between the British and Indians. He also resisted arrest like the third option on the do now in order to prove his point. During the bus pass scene in Africa he called on both Muslims and Hindus which made his followers much larger and also unified India behind him. Along with unification he had studied the law so he knew that he was able to do nonviolent actions within the circumstances. He accepting of the fact that some people would not follow his words at first but he would still persevere to gain more followers. It also helped that Gandhi was willing to accept punishment as well as demote himself to act like a lower class and follow strict Hindu virtues. He was able to find something that the British provided and the Indians needed, that being salt. It signified the economic relation between the countries and what Gandhi dismantled simply by making the salt during the Salt March. While Gandhi was imprisoned after the salt march many people continued to follow his words even a Muslim like Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is significant that a person from another religion continued to follow because it signifies that Gandhi was able to unite India for a common cause. Gandhi was able to get the attention of American journalist after the salt protests and they then relayed the information world wide which desecrated Britain's reputation and made them retreat therefore giving them independence.

I think he was able to briefly enjoy India's independence because he was able to boast in a way to the Britsh that he was able to overcome them. I think Gandhi was able to enjoy some parts of India's downfall because he saw some of the remaining followers like the students stand up for what they believed in and he also was able to stand up for what he believed in, stay in a Hindu house and fast. He was not able to enjoy it to its fullest because the only thing he wanted was the fighting to stop, an unfathomable wish during the time and event. When his followers convinced him that there was no longer fighting he was able to briefly enjoy a perfect India but it ended when he was shot by the extremist.

I do think that their would still be violence in India if Gandhi lived longer because the civil war was already starting when he was still alive and even when it started he said that there was nothing he could do. Even if he was able to do something he is only one man and he would not be able to be everywhere the civil war was. He could possibly hinder or slow down the process but ultimately he would still die withing the next twenty or so years so the war coming is inevitable.

Overcoming Social Injustice

One shall endeavor to amend them, and obey them until they have succeeded. One should not be content to obey laws unless they are just and one shall not transgress them at once. One should not be content to obey the unjust laws because that would inflict on your god given life. Also you should not be content because you should speak your mind and be brave enough to make a difference in someway if you do not believe in it. In the case of religion, if someone told you to praise a certain god, you would not because that would inflict on your own religion. One should not transgress them at once because that would not promote your point. If an unjust law was placed on an entire country and a majority of the citizens chose to transgress it, chances are the law would only become more strict. One should endeavor to amend them because it shows that you do not accept the laws but it also shows your willingness to change the law. It is a compromise of the two laws without complete rebellion and no change and complete acceptance. Also if you choose to disobey the law you are risking punishment which would stunt ever making a difference.

President Barrack Obama's 2010 State of the Union

After watching the State of the Union and looking at the Wordle of President Obama's speech I believe that we do have an optimistic future. He uses many words that describe time like year, time, last, took, and decades which represents looking at the past, learning from it, and putting our our ideas into plan. A majority if not all of the words can be used in a positive tone, which he did, meaning that he has plans to correct the past and implement his new actions into the future. Throughout his speech he called on the Americans to help him achieve not only his, but also our goals. He decided to create a bill to pump millions of dollars into small businesses. President Obama would not do that unless he was optimistic that their would be a positive recoil. I also see many adjectives like "difficult" and I also see actions like steps which I inferred were describing his future actions to "better" the United States of America.

Compared to Obama's State of the Union Wordle and former President Bush's I can clearly see that Bush's contains a majority of negative terms. He focuses on terrorism, Iraq, fighting, and troops. Although a completely different tone the still talk about the "future" but President Bush is more pessimistic. Just by looking at the Wordle I can see that we have either come a long way or the two presidents have a completely different mindset and promote different subjects. The main idea of Bush's was to designate what we were going to do in Iraq and Obama's was what we plan to do for our country. The main thing that stands out to me is that one year has elapsed between the two statements and the goals of the country has drastically changed. We went from trying to win a war to trying to bring soldiers out and we went from having the war as the most significant event to the future of our economy.