slam post #2

Sniper Newsarticle

                                                                                           June 16, 1920

Republican sniper kills three victims

Written by: Gurleen Sandhu                                                                                                            

Yesterday night, in Dublin, Ireland three people had been killed in gunfire by 19-year-old, Republican Sniper. This occurred on the rooftops in the Four Courts area near O’Connell Bridge. The deaths were the results of gunfire between the Republicans and Free Staters who were engaged into a civil war.

The civil war was started to fight for Ireland's struggle for independence. Due to the tension and conflict between the Republicans and Free Staters, war had begun. The war involved several weapons and machinery used by many people within the city. Republican Sniper killed anyone who had come in his way. A statement was released that, an unidentified woman who lived in the area, was shot by Sniper. The driver of an armed car was also killed in the fight.

                A woman at the scene, described hearing many gunshots. She stated, “I saw a man dressed in casual clothes armed with a rifle over the body before fleeing in the direction of the park. When he looked at the body he was shocked and started to cry like he had known the man who he killed”. At the end of the shooting, a sniper who was shot was found dead on the street where he was estimated to have fallen from the roof of one if the buildings.

                When the police searched the surrounding area, another roof turned up signs of habitation. The head of the investigation, Officer Brown, declared, “There was a lot of blood found at the scene on another roof, the 19-year-old Republican Sniper may have been wounded. His riffle was also found in the street”.  Dublin had become the scene of several sniper attacks in recent weeks, as the civil war continues to put pressure on the new government.

                The authorities have been working on to find the man in charge of killing three victims. There is still an investigation going on, with a little evidence given they doubt they’ll find out who is behind this. If you have any information related to this contact Dublin Metropolitan Police at DMPlaw.org or call 1-800-887-0000. 

The Sniper

“The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty Summary

 

            The short story “The Sniper” is about Republicans and Free Staters who are  engaged in civil war in the city of Dublin near O’Connell Bridge . A young boy, Republican sniper, lays on the roof top waiting and searching for the enemy.

 

It’s the evening of June and sniper hasn’t eaten anything and desperately wants to light a cigarette and finally risks the chance of being seen and lights the cigarette .Instantly ,a bullet hits the wall near him. He then put out the cigarette and looked over the parapet, where another bullet flashed over his head and he flattens himself against the roof.   

An armed car stops near O’Connell Bridge just close and below to snipers position. Sniper wanted to fire at the enemy car but knew that his bullet would not penetrate its strong exterior. An old women points towards snipers way and he realizes that she is an informer. When a man came out of the turret, sniper shoots, the man falls on the turret wall. He then shoots the woman who attempted to escape and fell into the gutter. Suddenly from the opposite side of the roof bullet hits sniper.

 

Sniper quickly rips open his sleeve with a knife and applies a bottle of iodine on top of the wound. Sniper knows he need to do something quickly in order to kill the enemy on the opposite side of the roof and thinks of a plan .Taking his rifle which he now can’t use because of his wounded arm, he places his cap on top of the muzzle and places it on top of the parapet. A shot knocks down his hat to the ground and sniper places his arm lifelessly over the parapet holding his riffle.

 

The enemy now thinks that sniper is dead, relaxes and stands over the roof. The Republican Sniper aims at the enemy with his revolver and shoots. The enemy stumbles over the parapet and falls to his death. Sniper began to curse the war, himself, and everyone else. He drains his whiskey flask all at once.

 

Sniper leaves the roof and out of curiosity wants to see the enemy who he shot. He goes beside the dead body of his enemy and turns him over, he finds himself staring at his brother’s face.

 

Authors Message

 

In the short story, “The Sniper”,  the author indicated the idea of cruelty and irrational behavior of war. When Sniper is killing his enemies, he seems to find joy through the process. This kind of behavior is irrational and brought out by the civil war happening at the current time. The reason he joined the war also shows the cruelty of war because of his youth and “the cold gleam of the fanatic on his eyes.” As a young man being a part of such irrational behavior also proves that war is cruel. War also has brought out his irrational behavior and changed his perspective on certain people who he now claims are his enemies. This story goes on and the moods of sniper also change from feeling strong lust for war to remorseful. It shows the cruelty of war itself and irrational behavior.   

Slam poem- Racism ISU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ_8Ib2lCHg

ISU post #1

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/22/after-winnipeg-called-worst-place-in-canada-for-racism-city-leaders-admit-there-is-a-problem/

I.S.U 

In the article "After Winnipeg called worst place in Canada for racism, city leaders admit there is a problem", it talks about racism still existing in Winnipeg, Canada. The mayor of Winnipeg acknowledged that one of the problems the city dealt with was racism against Aboriginal people.

The article states how there is discrimination within local restaurants and on the streets of Winnipeg. Furthermore, it mentions how Aboriginal people are not getting the respect they deserve. Society portrays them as alcoholics, drug addicts and uneducated people.In fact, in the article Mr. Kinew as a Canadian broadcaster, musician, and university administrator in Winnipeg feels that this issue needs more attention and needs to be dealt with immediately. Mr.Kinew exclaimed, "I'm a professional, but people assume I'm some entry level or custodial worker....people will be talking to me about how everyone in your community's got issues with alcohol or problems with the government dependence"(Boesveld). The quote shows how many  Winnipeg citizens prejudice against  Aboriginals. Additionally, the perception of the lifestyle of Aboriginals is seen in a negative way. 

Through my personal experiences in Winnipeg without knowing,  I even judged many Aboriginals. Due to the things I heard about them I discriminated the group of people and distinguished them as uneducated people who only committed crimes. Even though, I only went to the "bad" side of Winnipeg, I later got to be aware that there are many educated Aboriginals and that I should not judge them right away.   

In the book, The Help, it talks about the racism between African Americans and white people in the 1960s. The book is written in the perspective of Aibileen, a black caregiver. It shows how the African Americans are also oppressed by the white people. In the book Aibileen described how black people are thought as disgusting, uneducated people who bring diseases into white peoples houses.This presumption is wrong and makes the society at the time think that all black people are horrible. "He even start writing his own book, bout being a coloured man living in and working in Mississippi"(pg.9, Stockett). This quote describes how Aibileens son was writing a book. As a black person at the time many didn't express their knowledge or weren't educated at all. They wouldn't even write books but he did, he was well educated enough to write a book. Thus showing that not all black people are uneducated, therefore should not be perceived in that one type of way. 

The book and article relate to each other because they both talk about how society discriminated and labeled people without knowing the entire truth. They also both dealt with racism against two completely different races such as the Aboriginals and African Americans. Both of these races were seen and treated poorly. In conclusion, both the Aboriginals and African Americans dealt with racism that impacted their lives and the way society pursued them.