Africa First Thoughts

The first thing that came to mind when I thought of Africa was the song Africa by Toto:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCca5mPMp9A
It makes me think that Africa is an enchanting place that someone can't be dragged away from because they love it so much.

It also made me think of this book I just read in AP Lit:

In this book, a man travels into the Congo and sees the atrocities that go on there in the name of progress. I thought of this book because of the injustice Africa experienced starting in the 1880's when Europe treated the continent as land for the taking.

Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world at 3.77 million sq ft. A couple big features of this mall are a five star hotel, an ice rink, the biggest candy store in the world (Candylicious), a replica of London's Regent Street, and one of the largest aquariums in the world. It has more than 1,200 stores and an indoor theme park called Sega Republic. In 2011, more than 54 million people visited Dubai Mall which is more than visited New York City.  More information: http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-the-dubail-mall-2012-9?op=1

Dubai Mall at night



Indoor theme park called Sega Republic

Arial shot of mall and fountain

Aquarium inside the mall

 

Biggest candy store in the world! yum.

 

 

Ice Rink inside the Dubai mall
 

Big Al Blog

Big Al's blog is amazing! He's very brave for being willing to keep posting his thoughts. I can't believe how few comments it has though. I think more people should be reading this! It gives insight into the situation in Syria so much more deeply than any emotion-lacking news story ever could. I don't think I'd be brave enough to stay in Homs like Big Al did. I don't even know if I'd be brave enough to go out and protest. Probably I'd join in the first ones, but once things started getting violent I would try and leave! That is such a terrifying situation to live in and I don't think I'd be able to handle it. If I could write to Big Al or another Syrian freedom fighter I would say how sorry I am that this world is so based on politics that it's the driving force behind our decisions instead of what's best for the Syrian people. I'd want to tell Big Al how amazing it is that he's willing to share his experiences and that I hope their situation gets resolved as soon as possible. Reading this blog has made me understand the Syrian situation more fully especially as to why the protests started in the first place. It has also made me take a second look at my life. I would remember what I was doing on certain dates that Al posted about and it made me really appreciate my situation.

Peace and Coexistance

At this moment, I don't think peace is possible. There is too much fire and fuel behind both sides for either one to give up. At this time, I think the only way the conflict would stop is if one side completely demolished the other. Hopefully that won't happen! Ideally they would find a way to coexist but I don't think that will happen anytime soon. I think the only way coexistance will be possible is in a few generations when both sides have exhausted power and resources. Even if that did happen, true peace between the two groups will be something that may never happen. Using America as an example, there is still a lot of animosity between that North and the South even though the Civil War happen back in the 1860s. When this much passion is put behind a conflict, an easy resovle is near to impossible. I hope that coexistance will happen but realistically I don't think it will happen anytime soon. I do think the international community should start encouraging peace and do this by stopping sending so much aid. I don't think the US should be sending a third of the aid budget just to Israel in military weapons. This only aids the conflict.

Nuclear Technology in Iran

I do think Iran has the right to pursue nuclear energy. I think every country does. However I think this right should only be there if they comply to the regulations such as allowing random inspections. Iran has not been doing that and therefore there should be some kind of consequence for that. I believe that's where the diplomatic talks, sanctions, and sabotage come in. I feel like there should be some kind of set consequence for breaking the rules because otherwise it is just an empty promise. I don't think any country should have the right to create nuclear weapons. They are just too dangerous that no one should actually use them. Ideally  no one would have that but that's only in an unrealistic world. If I was the President, (which will never happen ever) firstly I would already have set consequences for breaking the treaty. So I guess breaking the treaty would be one red line. My red line for further action would be concrete knowledge that Iran has nuclear weapons. Until then I would use the techniques we are using right now.

Internet in Iran

I think there is no way for Iran to stop youth from finding ways to get on the Internet as long as it is still up and as was said in the Newshour special, Iran would never shut down the Internet completely. There are just too many different routes and avenues used to explore the Internet for the Iran government to block it. I think a huge role the Internet plays is to allow the youth in Iran to see a world outside of Iran. They don't want to be confined to the oppressive regime they live in. The Internet has given them a greater view of how others live and I think that has strenghtened their will to be freed. Also, I think it gives others on the Internet a chance to see a different side of Iran. The Newshour special said some youth recieve help from people in other countries to get access to the Internet. The Internet has given Iranians a chance to express their situation and therefore they have recieved more worldwide sympathy. It's easy to see why the oppressive government would want to stop this technelogical influence, yet there is no way they can stop it. I think the more the government tries to crack down, the harder the Iranians will fight to keep this precious world of freedom. It's really humbling to compare their Internet use to ours. People in both Iran and the US would be upset if bans were put on the Internet, but the reasons would be completely differnt. For Iranian youth, this is their one connection to the outside world. They used it to put protests together and get the word out about rallys and happening. People in the US would be upset that they can't update their Facebook relationship status. Comparing our lives makes me really grateful for what I have but also guilty. Iranian youth are so involved in their government and use the Internet to enhance that. I am not very involved in politics and take for granted all the freedoms I have. It really makes you reconsider your priorites.

A Walk in Their (Punk) Shoes

It's hard to say what I would do if I were put in that situation but I know I would be very confused. Children are so impressionable, it must be so confusing to have your teacher and government leaders telling you one thing and your parents telling you another, as was shown in Persepolis. I think as I got older this confusion would turn to resentment toward the lies I was being fed. I would most likely follow my family and other youth and not just blindly follow the government. I would feel so left out from the world if I was cut off as they are in Children of Jihad. I think I would react similarly to them in craving connection to the outside world. I hate restrictions on my dress so I would definitely be sporting a fashionable hejab that makes a statement. Majority of the people we've met in Children of Jihad have loved America but I don't know if I would if I was in their shoes. Most Americans have a horribly skewed and stereotypical view of Middle Easterners yet the youth in Iran love us and are able to separate us from our government. If I was a youth, I'm not sure if I would be able to make that distinction if I was used to an oppressive government making all the rules. I'm also not sure if I would be able to look past all the stereotypes America would place on me and still love that country.

My Definiton of the Middle East

          My definition of the Middle East is not very defined. All I hear about the Middle East is about terrorists and Muslims and war. I have the common sense to know this doesn't define the whole region but I don't have any other concrete knowledge of the region to replace these sterotypes. I'm very excited for this class because I know it will change that!