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Thursday, December 6, 2007
HW 30: Scott Ritter
First of all, I left before the guy even started the question and answering portion. The first half hour the man spewed arrogance and self-righteous garbage. He opened with how he wanted it to be a dialogue; and exchange of ideas, because that's how things get accomplished. However, the man seemed ot like the sound of his own voice, more so than the potential for students to grow and learn form his experiences.
He was all about constitution, and assumed that no one in the building knew it as well as he did, or its importance.
"If you call yourselves citizens, the only legitimate hold is knowing this document".
Yeah, we know dude. The last ten years of schooling hammered that idea into our heads relentlessly.
Then he detailed the hierarchy and duties of citizens to soldiers.
"[Soldiers] defends citizens. Takes an oath to defend the constitution [from enemies] foreign and domestic".
Domestic enemies? Yes, they walk among us! As in violating the fourth amendment, "illegal search and seizure". I know this, and I know what the fourth amendment entails. However, since I am merely a college student, with no life experience, I couldn't possibly understand that. It's the next comment that pretty pushed me to split the scene:
"I'll give you a hint: open up the piece of paper and go to the fourth Amendment".
Already ahead of you, buddy!
He went on some tangent about wire-tapping and conspiracy theories, and that's when I ever so politely gave him a salute and marched out like a good citizen-soldier ought to.
Maybe I didn't give this guy enough of a chance, but I can't take someone's word seriously if they can't even fathom the idea of giving my intelligence some credit.
He was all about constitution, and assumed that no one in the building knew it as well as he did, or its importance.
"If you call yourselves citizens, the only legitimate hold is knowing this document".
Yeah, we know dude. The last ten years of schooling hammered that idea into our heads relentlessly.
Then he detailed the hierarchy and duties of citizens to soldiers.
"[Soldiers] defends citizens. Takes an oath to defend the constitution [from enemies] foreign and domestic".
Domestic enemies? Yes, they walk among us! As in violating the fourth amendment, "illegal search and seizure". I know this, and I know what the fourth amendment entails. However, since I am merely a college student, with no life experience, I couldn't possibly understand that. It's the next comment that pretty pushed me to split the scene:
"I'll give you a hint: open up the piece of paper and go to the fourth Amendment".
Already ahead of you, buddy!
He went on some tangent about wire-tapping and conspiracy theories, and that's when I ever so politely gave him a salute and marched out like a good citizen-soldier ought to.
Maybe I didn't give this guy enough of a chance, but I can't take someone's word seriously if they can't even fathom the idea of giving my intelligence some credit.
HW 30: Secret Daughter
In June Cross's documentary, "Secret Daughter", she speaks about being her mother's shame. Her mother, a white woman, had June with a black comedian Larry Cross. Even though her mother was openly friends with a lot of black people, she knew that actually having a child with one would only lead to a life of hardship for the both of them. She ended up leaving June with two of her black friends, having June come out during summer break to visit her and her new husband in LA.
The first moment June felt her mother's rejection was over a dinner.
"It began with a plate of string beans that tasted different than what I was used to".
Being so young, and unable to really understand or verbalize what she felt, she took it out on those string beans and tossed them across the room.
To this day, some of her mother's friends don't know that they are mother and daughter. Her mother always made the division between her and June very clear. One time, June tried to style her hair and different way. Her mother's response: "Why do blacks try so hard to imitate white people?".
Apparently she was oblivious to the fact that maybe this was just a common case of daughter emulating mother, not a race thing.
The documentary was very interesting, and to me eye-opening. And couldn't believe the racial division that people to this day still hold in their hearts. Hopefully a change will come and work like this of Cross will in a catalyst for that change.
The first moment June felt her mother's rejection was over a dinner.
"It began with a plate of string beans that tasted different than what I was used to".
Being so young, and unable to really understand or verbalize what she felt, she took it out on those string beans and tossed them across the room.
To this day, some of her mother's friends don't know that they are mother and daughter. Her mother always made the division between her and June very clear. One time, June tried to style her hair and different way. Her mother's response: "Why do blacks try so hard to imitate white people?".
Apparently she was oblivious to the fact that maybe this was just a common case of daughter emulating mother, not a race thing.
The documentary was very interesting, and to me eye-opening. And couldn't believe the racial division that people to this day still hold in their hearts. Hopefully a change will come and work like this of Cross will in a catalyst for that change.
HW 27: Letter to Riverbend.
Dear Riverbend,
I'm taking a writing class at Keene State College in New Hampshire, and we just started reading your published blog, "Baghdad Burning". I'm really excited about it so far. It was very brave of you to put this out there, because of the criticism you may receive, and certain groups of people trying to stop you from having your voice heard.
You're style of writing is very stimulating and keeps readers intrigued. Normally any information we receive on the war in Iraq are just cold statistics or biased views from people who don't even know what their talking about it. What I like the most about your blog is that it's not involved with politics, it's your life. That's something people can relate to and take seriously. I think it's phenomenal that you're giving people this opportunity to have a first-hand account of the devastation through you.
Also, as horrible as this seems, most Americans have the wrong idea about Iraq. They think that everyone over there are heartless, uneducated monsters of some sort. Your blog proves them all wrong. It's something that I strongly believe: we're all people, we're all the same, we're all one.
Thank you so much, sister! And I can't wait to read the rest!
xoxo
Amy G!
I'm taking a writing class at Keene State College in New Hampshire, and we just started reading your published blog, "Baghdad Burning". I'm really excited about it so far. It was very brave of you to put this out there, because of the criticism you may receive, and certain groups of people trying to stop you from having your voice heard.
You're style of writing is very stimulating and keeps readers intrigued. Normally any information we receive on the war in Iraq are just cold statistics or biased views from people who don't even know what their talking about it. What I like the most about your blog is that it's not involved with politics, it's your life. That's something people can relate to and take seriously. I think it's phenomenal that you're giving people this opportunity to have a first-hand account of the devastation through you.
Also, as horrible as this seems, most Americans have the wrong idea about Iraq. They think that everyone over there are heartless, uneducated monsters of some sort. Your blog proves them all wrong. It's something that I strongly believe: we're all people, we're all the same, we're all one.
Thank you so much, sister! And I can't wait to read the rest!
xoxo
Amy G!
HW 25: Intro to Baghdad Burning
In the introduction, blogger Riverbend talks about her day to day life in Iraq after 9-11. Her entire existence is turned upside down, and her and her family need to pick up the pieces and attempt to try to live a relatively normal life. Soueif translates her blogs, so people world-wide are able to hear this middle-class Iraqi girl's perspective.
She writes a blog of the destruction that is revolving around her daily. Riverbend is a clever girl, and it shows even in her blog's title, "Baghdad Burning". This already sets up the reader for the kind of struggle that is her life. She gives us detail by detail of what it is like to live her life. Ridgeway provides background of what has been going on in Iraq over the last four years,which has lead Riverbend to this turmoil. Ridgeway explains that events like the Gulf War are what lead to the mess that is the Middle East today.
After glossing over the book, I'm actually really excited to get into it. It seems like this girl has a lot to say, and it'll be interesting to read from the perspective of someone who is living it, rather than a biased view that you tend to get from main-stream media.
She writes a blog of the destruction that is revolving around her daily. Riverbend is a clever girl, and it shows even in her blog's title, "Baghdad Burning". This already sets up the reader for the kind of struggle that is her life. She gives us detail by detail of what it is like to live her life. Ridgeway provides background of what has been going on in Iraq over the last four years,which has lead Riverbend to this turmoil. Ridgeway explains that events like the Gulf War are what lead to the mess that is the Middle East today.
After glossing over the book, I'm actually really excited to get into it. It seems like this girl has a lot to say, and it'll be interesting to read from the perspective of someone who is living it, rather than a biased view that you tend to get from main-stream media.
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