Early in morning she is
Not ecstatic but rather tired
Where’s coffee?
How will she survive?
A mockingbird quietly flies intently
Towards the window
Determined to fulfill destiny
Will it succeed?
What purpose compels flight?
Mockingbirds have no intentions
But to do morning awakenings
She still sleeps soundly
With anger said mockingbird,
Refuse failure continue mocking
Woman does not awaken
Spray with hose…retreat
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Part B: Groups 6 and 7
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317548,00.html
In December of 2007 the Lakota Indians successfully succeeded from the United States, and went almost completely unnoticed within the realms of the United States. No U.S. press devoted their time or effort to reporting this cause, yet three different nations recognized the Lakota as independent from the U.S. They declared themselves to not be citizens of the U.S. and laid claims to the land which they owned in parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. They had been drafting this declaration stating their independence from the U.S. since 1974, and just now released it. This just shows how the media controls what the public hears.
Response 1: The Lakota people are completely justified in their actions. They were not satisfied with the actions of the United States government, and according Lockean philosophy, if a government is not protecting the rights of its constituency, then they have every right to rebel. In fact, he even claims that it is their duty to rebel in order to protect their rights. Now, in the United States Government, there are 2 checks that the people have on the government in order to assure that their individual rights are protected. These checks are: 1; the people are the ones who elect the officials into their offices. Thus the people can choose to not reelect an official if he or she fails to fully represent the voice of their constituency. 2: if the government fails to do their job properly, the people can rebel, and succeed from the nation. The rights of the Lakota people have been trampled on ever since the killing of Sitting Bull, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee. They have the obligation to ensure that their rights are protected, and if that means leaving the U.S. and creating their own country then so be it.
Response 2: The main purpose behind this notion, in relationship to our English 104 course is most obviously the power of the media expressed in this passage. This passage expresses that these Lakota Native American's have been drafting their succession from the United States for over 30 years and the press just gave word. This is a dangerous lesson for our citizen's because, if the media is able to keep things under wraps for that long a period of time, what else are we unaware of that is occuring in our country? or even, what else are we unaware of that's occuring overseas? The war in Iraq is one that has been held in a negative light from day one, but still, the media doesn't provide the citizens of this country with full information. Many people of this country are still unaware of what we are even "fighting" for, which provides us with the scary realization that there could be far more corrupt actions going on in.
Response 3: The Lakota Indians succeeding from the United States and being un-noticed by the media and general public shows two things; 1, the government must have not been taking care of its’ people must if the Indians were happy in the United States and how they were being treated then they would not have succeeded, and 2, either the media was told not to blow this story out of proportion because other Native Americans might follow suit, or they are not doing their job. The Lakota succeeding gives the feeling that the government has ignored them and has not treated them the way they wanted. The lack of Americans knowing of this succession shows how the news either reports on wars happening in far away lands or on local stories about a dog finding its owners. As Americans we need to know real news about what is happening within our country and the first way to do that is to tell the media what we want to hear.
Response 4: It is interesting how the Indians often get forgotten. Americans like to think of the United States as a virtuous country built on pure ideals, but no one ever remembers how we acquired this 'pure' land. Old treaties made, even if forgotten, still exist. If the Lakota community feels that the United States has not upheld their end of the contract, then they have every right to break away. Wouldn't it be strange if they did though? Can you imagine only 45 stars on the American flag? I think it is hard to imagine the US growing any more, and even harder to think of it getting smaller. I also wonder if there are similar treaties with other Indian tribes, and do those Native Americans also feel that the United States has not fulfilled its part of the agreement?
In December of 2007 the Lakota Indians successfully succeeded from the United States, and went almost completely unnoticed within the realms of the United States. No U.S. press devoted their time or effort to reporting this cause, yet three different nations recognized the Lakota as independent from the U.S. They declared themselves to not be citizens of the U.S. and laid claims to the land which they owned in parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. They had been drafting this declaration stating their independence from the U.S. since 1974, and just now released it. This just shows how the media controls what the public hears.
Response 1: The Lakota people are completely justified in their actions. They were not satisfied with the actions of the United States government, and according Lockean philosophy, if a government is not protecting the rights of its constituency, then they have every right to rebel. In fact, he even claims that it is their duty to rebel in order to protect their rights. Now, in the United States Government, there are 2 checks that the people have on the government in order to assure that their individual rights are protected. These checks are: 1; the people are the ones who elect the officials into their offices. Thus the people can choose to not reelect an official if he or she fails to fully represent the voice of their constituency. 2: if the government fails to do their job properly, the people can rebel, and succeed from the nation. The rights of the Lakota people have been trampled on ever since the killing of Sitting Bull, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee. They have the obligation to ensure that their rights are protected, and if that means leaving the U.S. and creating their own country then so be it.
Response 2: The main purpose behind this notion, in relationship to our English 104 course is most obviously the power of the media expressed in this passage. This passage expresses that these Lakota Native American's have been drafting their succession from the United States for over 30 years and the press just gave word. This is a dangerous lesson for our citizen's because, if the media is able to keep things under wraps for that long a period of time, what else are we unaware of that is occuring in our country? or even, what else are we unaware of that's occuring overseas? The war in Iraq is one that has been held in a negative light from day one, but still, the media doesn't provide the citizens of this country with full information. Many people of this country are still unaware of what we are even "fighting" for, which provides us with the scary realization that there could be far more corrupt actions going on in.
Response 3: The Lakota Indians succeeding from the United States and being un-noticed by the media and general public shows two things; 1, the government must have not been taking care of its’ people must if the Indians were happy in the United States and how they were being treated then they would not have succeeded, and 2, either the media was told not to blow this story out of proportion because other Native Americans might follow suit, or they are not doing their job. The Lakota succeeding gives the feeling that the government has ignored them and has not treated them the way they wanted. The lack of Americans knowing of this succession shows how the news either reports on wars happening in far away lands or on local stories about a dog finding its owners. As Americans we need to know real news about what is happening within our country and the first way to do that is to tell the media what we want to hear.
Response 4: It is interesting how the Indians often get forgotten. Americans like to think of the United States as a virtuous country built on pure ideals, but no one ever remembers how we acquired this 'pure' land. Old treaties made, even if forgotten, still exist. If the Lakota community feels that the United States has not upheld their end of the contract, then they have every right to break away. Wouldn't it be strange if they did though? Can you imagine only 45 stars on the American flag? I think it is hard to imagine the US growing any more, and even harder to think of it getting smaller. I also wonder if there are similar treaties with other Indian tribes, and do those Native Americans also feel that the United States has not fulfilled its part of the agreement?
Friday, April 25, 2008
Part A
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/us/12raid.html
“They were reaching out, opening up,” Mark L. Shurtleff, the attorney general in Utah, said of the polygamist communities. “Now they’ve kind of pulled back. Everybody’s going to wait and see how this thing plays out in Texas.”
This article is about how a compound, owned by religious extremists from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was seized in an attempt to free 416 women and children. The police raided the compound after receiving a call from a 16-year old young woman. This polygamist community had been under watch by the police for years, but they feared a large confrontation. Polygamist communities exist in places all over the United States, yet even with the knowledge of such places officials do nothing. They fear the possible outcomes and the potential reactions of the community.
Response 1: I feel that the scariest part about this article is that the police knew about it, but had to wait until they thought it was the right time to raid. The quote at the top of the summery makes it seem like there are many of these compounds and the police are waiting to find out what happens in Texas before they decide to raid them. This situation also made me think about the U.S. foreign polices and how conflicts between us and other countries occur. Do we wait and watch the country for a long time discover what they are doing wrong then go in, or do we until they do something that makes us watch them (like al Quada)? Because we have had problems like this in United States before (Waco massacre) we should be able to act faster in order to help the women and children.
Response 2: I guess that I interpret this article, and others like it a little personally. I always try to keep an open mind, but usually get defensive. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not the Fundamentalist one, but the original. Often people get the two confused, and it makes for a fairly sore spot. As far back as I can remember people have harassed me about how Mormons have polygamist backgrounds, and how terrible they think that is. Then they talk about the modern-day polygamists, and state how they are Mormon too, and automatically place bad connotations on my religion. It bothers me, and there is nothing I can do about it; but some people can do something. The government knows about the polygamist communities, but they are just afraid to take action. Since when have lawbreakers been allowed to continue their actions when the government knows exactly what is going on? Instead the media blames the religion of the people, and very often the public doesn’t listen to all the facts. All they hear is that the Mormons are being polygamists. They don’t hear that it is a Fundamentalist group that doesn’t align themselves with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They blame a religion, one completely different from the actual one at fault for the acts of the people. Why does the government stand aside and let the polygamists rule their communities and allow the blame to fall on an innocent religion? Why is it that I grew up being harassed for my beliefs, all because of something completely unrelated to me? It’s not right. It’s the job of the government to enforce the law, and if they had actually done their job, such as they did in Texas, then maybe some of the harassment would cease.
“They were reaching out, opening up,” Mark L. Shurtleff, the attorney general in Utah, said of the polygamist communities. “Now they’ve kind of pulled back. Everybody’s going to wait and see how this thing plays out in Texas.”
This article is about how a compound, owned by religious extremists from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was seized in an attempt to free 416 women and children. The police raided the compound after receiving a call from a 16-year old young woman. This polygamist community had been under watch by the police for years, but they feared a large confrontation. Polygamist communities exist in places all over the United States, yet even with the knowledge of such places officials do nothing. They fear the possible outcomes and the potential reactions of the community.
Response 1: I feel that the scariest part about this article is that the police knew about it, but had to wait until they thought it was the right time to raid. The quote at the top of the summery makes it seem like there are many of these compounds and the police are waiting to find out what happens in Texas before they decide to raid them. This situation also made me think about the U.S. foreign polices and how conflicts between us and other countries occur. Do we wait and watch the country for a long time discover what they are doing wrong then go in, or do we until they do something that makes us watch them (like al Quada)? Because we have had problems like this in United States before (Waco massacre) we should be able to act faster in order to help the women and children.
Response 2: I guess that I interpret this article, and others like it a little personally. I always try to keep an open mind, but usually get defensive. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not the Fundamentalist one, but the original. Often people get the two confused, and it makes for a fairly sore spot. As far back as I can remember people have harassed me about how Mormons have polygamist backgrounds, and how terrible they think that is. Then they talk about the modern-day polygamists, and state how they are Mormon too, and automatically place bad connotations on my religion. It bothers me, and there is nothing I can do about it; but some people can do something. The government knows about the polygamist communities, but they are just afraid to take action. Since when have lawbreakers been allowed to continue their actions when the government knows exactly what is going on? Instead the media blames the religion of the people, and very often the public doesn’t listen to all the facts. All they hear is that the Mormons are being polygamists. They don’t hear that it is a Fundamentalist group that doesn’t align themselves with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They blame a religion, one completely different from the actual one at fault for the acts of the people. Why does the government stand aside and let the polygamists rule their communities and allow the blame to fall on an innocent religion? Why is it that I grew up being harassed for my beliefs, all because of something completely unrelated to me? It’s not right. It’s the job of the government to enforce the law, and if they had actually done their job, such as they did in Texas, then maybe some of the harassment would cease.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Reflection on "Where the real focus should be"
Beginning a war, I feel, is always the easiest part. It seems that the hardest is finding a way to end it and pull out the United States troops. This is seen in Korea where we still have masses of troops there protecting the border inbetween South and North Korea. These soldiers experience the same problems as emotional issues as soldiers that are still considered to be in a "war", but are over looked by the media because the confrontation seems to be over. According the Laurel's post though, there still is a confrontation there, its no longer between the South and the North though, but is between the soldiers and their emotional issues caused by the stress of the environment. The soldier beheading the prostitute is just horrifying, but the fact that stories such as this are never found reported by the media is even scarier. It gives the feeling that occurances like this might/ have the potential to be happening on a semi frequent basis and therefore is nolonger being seen as "news". It makes you think about how often atrocities like this occur and how often they really get reported. If a soldier is no longer able to see a human as human then is the outcome of war really worth it?
http://www.happytowniswhereiam.blogspot.com/
http://www.happytowniswhereiam.blogspot.com/
"A Challenge of Peace"
This is a short film that I had to make for one of my classes in 2006. It is an anti-war film that promotes spending the money we spend on war on helping the poor and homeless. The movie shares a lot of shocking statistics that were current as of 2006 (they are probably a lot more shocking today). The movie’s goal was to show the public how much we spend on war versus how much we are spending on helping poor citizens in our country. It also shows that viewer that the United States has built a job making empire off of war and abandoning funding warfare to start funding education and help poor Americans would put millions of Americans out of jobs rendering them homeless and exacerbating the issue. While the United States should spend less on warfare and more on helping the citizens within its borders, it should also try to help people in departments that would be downsized in the military to find stable jobs so that it is not creating homeless while trying to address the current poor and homeless. Basically we need to start training teachers and social service workers now so that more jobs are being created than taken away.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Youth and War
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
War Photography
First off I would just to make a blanket remark that this picture by Yakov Khalip called Nocturne in the ruins is amazing. The image is framed on three sides by people and rocks. When the viewer first looks at the image they start on the left side (reading it like a book). There they find a young man that appears to be clapping. Next, their eye moves to a monolithic feature that appears to be what is left of a bombed building; this establishes the site of the photo, showing the viewer that the landscape is a war zone. As the viewer continues to sweep across the photo they will find a large group of armed men in the background all staring at one common point. Finally, the viewer looks at the left side of the image finding the main focus of the image which is a soldier in the fore-ground playing a fiddle.
The fiddler is very intriguing because it is not what one would except would be happening in a war zone. It is almost like the soldiers have transformed their surroundings into a concert hall and have forgotten where they are. Their focused expressions show that they are currently lost in the moment and are enjoying the escape of the music. The entire image is very well balanced; there is something on both the right and left side of the photograph. The image is high contrast; it is light near the top and dark near the bottom. This contrast could represent the darkness of the war contrasted by the lightness of the moment of the fiddler playing.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Addressing the United States About War
To the Citizens of the United States of America:
It has come to my attention that as a country we have done a very poor job communicating what our current wars are about and what are goals in those wars are. As of now, the war in Iraq has changed purposes a minimum of 3 times. Originally we went to war because Saddam was harboring “weapons of mass destruction”, then it changed to harboring terrorists, then to ridding a country of a tyrannical leader who oppressed its citizens. Now we are bringing democracy to a country that did not want it in the first place and that has three groups of citizens (Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiite) that all hate each other and will not get along until they have a civil war. The U.S. did do a great job towards the beginning of the War on Terror, where the public knew why we were at war, who we were fighting (Al Quada), and where the war was going on. The media keeping the citizens updated about the war status on the War on Terror changed however, when the U.S. could not find Bin Landin. This is a problem because as Citizens of the U.S. we should be part of the decision making process of what actions to take in a war and by not receiving current information it hinders us from doing our job.
While the eventual outcome of a war is good in the way that a country must rebuild its government in a way that appeases its citizens, war is not something that should be rushed into. General MacArthur once said “You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense”. While he was saying this about soldiers, this is also true about its citizens; we bind together the country. As citizens of the U.S. it is our duty to talk about war, the problems of it and its outcomes and to receive truthful information about current decisions so that we can be part of the decision making processes in our government and about war.
It has come to my attention that as a country we have done a very poor job communicating what our current wars are about and what are goals in those wars are. As of now, the war in Iraq has changed purposes a minimum of 3 times. Originally we went to war because Saddam was harboring “weapons of mass destruction”, then it changed to harboring terrorists, then to ridding a country of a tyrannical leader who oppressed its citizens. Now we are bringing democracy to a country that did not want it in the first place and that has three groups of citizens (Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiite) that all hate each other and will not get along until they have a civil war. The U.S. did do a great job towards the beginning of the War on Terror, where the public knew why we were at war, who we were fighting (Al Quada), and where the war was going on. The media keeping the citizens updated about the war status on the War on Terror changed however, when the U.S. could not find Bin Landin. This is a problem because as Citizens of the U.S. we should be part of the decision making process of what actions to take in a war and by not receiving current information it hinders us from doing our job.
While the eventual outcome of a war is good in the way that a country must rebuild its government in a way that appeases its citizens, war is not something that should be rushed into. General MacArthur once said “You are the leaven which binds together the entire fabric of our national system of defense”. While he was saying this about soldiers, this is also true about its citizens; we bind together the country. As citizens of the U.S. it is our duty to talk about war, the problems of it and its outcomes and to receive truthful information about current decisions so that we can be part of the decision making processes in our government and about war.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
104 Article Assignment
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24007825/#storyContinued
The head commander in Iraq, Army General David Petraeus, told the press on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, that it is impossible to promise any troop pullouts after this summer due to the delicately of the situation in the war zone. This testimony by Petraeus was coerced by questions from major presidential candidates and senators. While the security in Iraq is getting better and Iraq’s forces are gaining strength, Iraq is still unstable and cannot support itself, according to Petraeus, because of the threat of resurgence by Sunni/ Shiite extremist violence. After many senators questioned why so many American troops were still in Iraq and that Iraq will not stabilize until American troops withdraw and the Iraq’s can settle their differences, Petraeus did not answer their question, but retorted that he had recommended to President Bush that he should withdraw the 20,000 extra troops by July, and then start a 45-day period of “consolidation and evaluation” of Iraq before any other measures are taken in Iraq.
While the article’s basic purpose is to inform the reader of what is happening in the war in Iraq, the author’s overtone seems to be supportive of the General’s decision, and anti-democratic (the party). This feeling is expressed when the author using the phrase “impatient Democrats” and “parade of Democrats” when referring to who was questioning Petraesus’ decisions. There are plenty of republicans (at least now) that want our troops to be pulled out of Iraq and by saying it in only the Democrats makes the author seem biased and ignorant. While there could have been an actual “parade of democrats” this is a rather sarcastic way of saying that democratic senators were questioning him and gives democrats a kind of forceful overtone.
The head commander in Iraq, Army General David Petraeus, told the press on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, that it is impossible to promise any troop pullouts after this summer due to the delicately of the situation in the war zone. This testimony by Petraeus was coerced by questions from major presidential candidates and senators. While the security in Iraq is getting better and Iraq’s forces are gaining strength, Iraq is still unstable and cannot support itself, according to Petraeus, because of the threat of resurgence by Sunni/ Shiite extremist violence. After many senators questioned why so many American troops were still in Iraq and that Iraq will not stabilize until American troops withdraw and the Iraq’s can settle their differences, Petraeus did not answer their question, but retorted that he had recommended to President Bush that he should withdraw the 20,000 extra troops by July, and then start a 45-day period of “consolidation and evaluation” of Iraq before any other measures are taken in Iraq.
While the article’s basic purpose is to inform the reader of what is happening in the war in Iraq, the author’s overtone seems to be supportive of the General’s decision, and anti-democratic (the party). This feeling is expressed when the author using the phrase “impatient Democrats” and “parade of Democrats” when referring to who was questioning Petraesus’ decisions. There are plenty of republicans (at least now) that want our troops to be pulled out of Iraq and by saying it in only the Democrats makes the author seem biased and ignorant. While there could have been an actual “parade of democrats” this is a rather sarcastic way of saying that democratic senators were questioning him and gives democrats a kind of forceful overtone.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Homophonic Translation
Limb All
Tan this keyless crack hats rouges day lamb might rail
Silent layer pair symphony due seal blue;
Key a car later inverts, pre-due rook key less rail,
Crew lent less battalions in mass dance lay few;
Tan this key one folly advantage bro
At fate decent millers duh hommies un-task ferment;
Paw verse mort! Dance late, dance later be, dance the juice,
Nature! Oh toil queue fish yes hommies settlement!
Illest under, queue right axe naps dumb asses
This aren’t tell all incense, axe grand’s calluses door;
Key Dan’s labor cement this hose Anna’s send short,
At say reveal, grand this mirrors, ram assesses
Dan slain gross, at plea rant sorcerer buy axe bonnet nor,
Low dominant in gross sow lie dance labor much choir!
Tan this keyless crack hats rouges day lamb might rail
Silent layer pair symphony due seal blue;
Key a car later inverts, pre-due rook key less rail,
Crew lent less battalions in mass dance lay few;
Tan this key one folly advantage bro
At fate decent millers duh hommies un-task ferment;
Paw verse mort! Dance late, dance later be, dance the juice,
Nature! Oh toil queue fish yes hommies settlement!
Illest under, queue right axe naps dumb asses
This aren’t tell all incense, axe grand’s calluses door;
Key Dan’s labor cement this hose Anna’s send short,
At say reveal, grand this mirrors, ram assesses
Dan slain gross, at plea rant sorcerer buy axe bonnet nor,
Low dominant in gross sow lie dance labor much choir!
I don't remember...
i don't remember someone hitting my parked car a week after I repaired the body and sunk what money i had left into it. i don't remember my second night in Seattle, where i thought i DID remember only to have pictures on my phone and calls that i didn't remember happening. AND after seeing them i still didn't remember. i don't remember the second school i went to in elementary school, let alone, the first and fourth schools. i don't remember most of my time at home, until some point in high school when i changed my mind set. i don't remember my birthday this year, but DO remember waking up on a Swordfish poster. i don't remember the worst thing that i have ever ate in my life, unless it was octopus, which was really chewy. there is many things that i don't remember and choose not to remember and in a way that's a good thing. these things did not make me a better person, or show me which food i hate.
Monrings
I remember this morning when I figure that my alarm clock would go off twice and it only went off once. This seems to happen these days when I assume that it is like my old phone and that like it will go off every ten minutes, but old technology is never as good as new technology and therefore my “new” old cell phone has an alarm with only one setting; on or off.
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