apartheid activist dies

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/06/04/south.africa.icon.dead/index.html

I have found an article on the CNN website, and wasn’t I shocked when I saw something about apartheid, especially because that is exactly what I am learning in these last few weeks of school.

            After learning about apartheid I feel strongly toward this subject, although I never learned about Albertina Sisulu I can tell that that person is a very important individual. For her to die and have South Africa declare her death as the day for all to mourn shows that the country of South Africa has come a long way from the apartheid era.

            One thing I found interesting about this article was that Albertina’s husband, Walter Sisulu, had been “imprisoned for decades with former South African President Nelson Mandela.” The reason I find this interesting is because I have watched two movies in the past week that were about Nelson Mandela, and he has gained a great respect from me, for conquering, against all odds, the intense racial barrier n South Africa.

            In the article it said that she was banned on several occasions for her political involvement, and that she is proud of everything that has happened to her. Hearing that gives me a great respect for her because I know that the world of apartheid is a cruel harsh one, and that being able to survive it and being able to make a difference in it is a big accomplishment. She deserves this honor one hundred percent, maybe even more. She was called “Mama Sisulu” because of her helping several leaders of the Democratic South Africa become educated. Which, to a country that has just got over apartheid is a big deal and without her South Africa could still be under apartheid ruled Government.

            This last blog goes out to Albertina Sisulu!

why i hate Projects!

In my world history class on Friday we talked about the Rapture for a little bit, and there were things said that I would like to comment on. One is that one of my classmates said that the man who predicted yesterdays rapture also predicted several previous raptures. I am not going to share my religious beliefs, but I do wish to say that I think the rapture will never happen, I just do not believe that judgment day will ever come. The same classmate who said Harold Camping had predicted the end of the world also stated that in the Bible it says that no man can predict judgment day, only God himself can. So after hearing that I was one hundred ten percent sure the world was not going to end.

Another thing we talked about in class was that a group of Atheists were setting up a plan for anyone who believed in the rapture. The Atheists charged people money; in return they would watch people who believed in the rapture’s pets. There were also NO refunds, so when they didn’t get raptured they would not get their money back. To me, although it is a little mean, that plan was genius, make people pay to watch their pets, and then when the rapture didn’t happen give them their pets back and keep the money. Whoever thought of that was a genius.

Now I have to talk about my feelings towards this man, Harold Camping. Although my teacher told me not to just go on a rant and trash him without reason, I think I have to. Not only were his last predictions wrong, but also so was this one, and after thinking about this I think that he is only doing this for attention. Although I have not read the bible it does say that no man can predict the end of the world, and this man has done it several time, all wrong by the way, and continues to back his claims 100%. I am sure this is all just for publicity. 

WE ARE ALL ALIVE!

In my world history class on Friday we talked about the Rapture for a little bit, and there were things said that I would like to comment on. One is that one of my classmates said that the man who predicted yesterdays rapture also predicted several previous raptures. I am not going to share my religious beliefs, but I do wish to say that I think the rapture will never happen, I just do not believe that judgment day will ever come. The same classmate who said Harold Camping had predicted the end of the world also stated that in the Bible it says that no man can predict judgment day, only God himself can. So after hearing that I was one hundred ten percent sure the world was not going to end.

Another thing we talked about in class was that a group of Atheists were setting up a plan for anyone who believed in the rapture. The Atheists charged people money; in return they would watch people who believed in the rapture’s pets. There were also NO refunds, so when they didn’t get raptured they would not get their money back. To me, although it is a little mean, that plan was genius, make people pay to watch their pets, and then when the rapture didn’t happen give them their pets back and keep the money. Whoever thought of that was a genius.

Now I have to talk about my feelings towards this man, Harold Camping. Although my teacher told me not to just go on a rant and trash him without reason, I think I have to. Not only were his last predictions wrong, but also so was this one, and after thinking about this I think that he is only doing this for attention. Although I have not read the bible it does say that no man can predict the end of the world, and this man has done it several time, all wrong by the way, and continues to back his claims 100%. I am sure this is all just for publicity. 

AFRICA in class

Recently I have been learning about Africa in my history class. So far we have only learned about two things, the triangle trade between Europe, the United States, and Africa. In this trade system, Africa was getting cheap goods in return for slaves, which eventually lead to the loss of many able bodied workers in Africa, all of which I already knew from learning about slavery in previous years of school. We also learned about the geography of Africa, such as the lay out of Africa, which includes the capitols and the countries in it. I also learned that AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY!

            Some other things that I already knew about Africa is that there are many languages spoken throughout the continent of Africa, and that there is a lot of corruption throughout the countries in Africa. An example of corruption in Africa is the diamond mining in places such as Sierra Leone, The Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. I only learned about that because of my thesis on blood diamonds.  Other then that, I don’t know very much about Africa, but I am excited to learn about it.

            Some things I hope to learn about Africa are what made this continent so diverse and corrupt? Did slavery have anything to do with corruption, or was the corruption in Africa already there before slavery?

            In my opinion, even though I don’t know much about Africa yet, if they become industrialized and started obtaining better technology they would be able to solve some of their differences. I think this because it will allow them to have more access to each other and allow them to communicate and eventually to come to an agreement other then just attacking eachother.

Osama bin laden killed!

In recent news, Osama Bin Laden has been killed. He was found in the capitol of Pakistan, which is Islamabad, who is supposed to be our allies. However Pakistan was holding one of our greatest enemies right in the capitol. I think that Pakistan knew that Bin Laden was within its boarders and did not tell us, and in return Bin Laden offered Pakistan money or protection. But what do I know? This is just a theory with absolutely no proof other then what I have heard on CNN, which I find is a biased news station.

            Another even more recent update is that there was a diary found in the compound where they killed Osama Bin Laden, and that diary was Bin Laden’s. Although I am not quite sure what is in the diary, I am sure there are plenty of secrets that will give the United States a new edge against terrorists.

            Ever since I can remember I have wanted wars to stop, almost the entire time I have been alive the United States have been at war with someone, and even now I am hoping that because we killed Al Qaeda’s leader it will crumble and we will no longer have to keep troops in the Middle East.  That is what I hope, my actual response to Osama being killed is that it will do absolutely nothing to end the war on terror, it might even make it worse. Now that we have made another move, the terrorist groups will start their move, getting ready for the next 9/11. Eventually it will lead nowhere, just constant fighting in an eternal loop, unless something is done to halt the violence.

            Since my class discussed this topic I have had this question on my mind, it is, now that Bin Laden is dead, what will happen to America? Will it be attacked once again, or will Al Qaeda finally give up?

The Tiananmen Square Massacre

Recently in my history class we were learning about China. That includes ancient China, like in the 1400’s, the civil war between the Communists and the Nationalists, as well as Mao Zedong, and The Tiananmen Square Massacre. What I found most interesting was The Tiananmen Square Massacre, also known as The Tiananmen Square Incident, but I will be calling it The Tiananmen Square Massacre. Any way, I found it amazing how the one man stood up to a tank all by himself, and told it to leave China. I am also surprised that the tank did not just run the man over and continue on its way.

We also discussed in class how no one knew who the man was, what his name was, or anything about him. I think that several people do know who he was and decided not to give out his information to ensure his protection and the he does not get killed. It is probably the same reason why he has never spoken up and told the world it was he who walked in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square.

If it were I in his situation I would have done the same thing, I would have walked right in front of that tank and would even try to invite others, hoping to start a rebellion against the oppressive and communistic government. I would try to be the difference I wanted to see.

            One thing I found shocking while talking about The Tiananmen Square Massacre was that many children today have no idea what The Tiananmen Square Massacre was, they have also never seen the famous photo of the man standing up against the tanks. I think that is ridiculous, how is it possible to censor one of the most famous pictures in the world, just because it is a minor speed bump in the countries history. There is really no reason to censor that particular memory.

http://www.creativeroots.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/tiananmen-square-protesto-001.jpg

my reactions to Daoism/Taoism

Today in my world history class I learned about Daoism, which is also referred to as Taoism. Which also includes the Yin and Yang symbol. Which represents in a sense opposites, however I think it is supposed to mean that there are two sides and that one cannot live without the other. The reason I can’t say opposite is because it is not what Taoists believe it stands for. However, the actual symbol of the Yin and Yang stands for light and dark, earth and the heavens, male and female, and life and death.

            When I think about Taoism and what the Yin and Yang means I can’t help but think of opposites, because light and dark are opposites, as well as males and females. But I also think that seeing the two, as opposites, will prevent you from seeing them as anything else. It will hinder your ability to recognize that without one the other cannot exist and will only make you concentrate on the differences in the world. Which would cause you to become less accepting and more narrow minded.

            Another part of Taoism is the practice of Wu-Wei, which means without action, or action without action. However it dose not mean to sit around and do nothing, instead it means to go with the flow and not to exert unnecessary energy. Which is something I completely agree with, I have always believed to relax and go with the flow, in fact a few days ago I adopted the motto “If you don’t stop to look around once in a wile, you could miss it.” Which basically means to relax once in a wile and allow yourself to go with what nature wanted you to do instead of stressing yourself out by trying to go against “the flow.”