War and Conflict Artifact

This picture is Albert Einstein’s point of view on war. He states “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones”. What Einstein is trying to get across is the idea of humans repeating the past and starting from the beginning again. He believes that war is repetitive and decreases human intelligence because of the fact that they are repeating war over and over again than finding a solution. In addition, by war taking place it involves several amounts of resources and causes a lot of destruction. Einstein is saying that if the process of destruction continues, it will eventually demolish all the resources resulting humans to start back from the beginning.  People will stop trying to look for other alternatives than war and keep resulting to the same actions to consult with the issues that they come across. Furthermore, by war occurring all around many people won’t be able to focus and ponder on other things. This picture better helps me to understand war and conflict because it shows me a point of view which states that war is repetitive. I also believe that by repeating the same actions that don’t result with more positive solutions but negative is completely wrong. It made me think more broadly, and helped me to realize many possible reasons why some countries/nations might result in war. Some may take part in war to show how much power and great technology they have, others may do it to please their ego. Overall, this picture made me think more about the consequences of war and how it begins to happen or why it happens. 

The Boy in The Striped Pajamas

Retell:

The movie, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is about a boy named Bruno at the time of World War II in Nazi, Germany. The story starts off by Bruno and his family moving from Berlin to a new unfamiliar home. Bruno is tempted to explore the area around the new house and is told that he is not allowed to explore certain areas. Bruno still decides to discover the area behind his house and comes across a Jewish boy at a fence around his age at a concentration camp. Bruno and his new friend, Shmuel bond together and discuss about their family background. Just as the boys start to bond Bruno’s family is planning to move away not allowing Bruno to speak to any Jewish person. They also restrain Bruno from knowing what his Fathers work actually is and what happens to the Jews. Bruno goes against his Fathers orders Bruno still visits Shmuel and brings him food and entertainment which aren't provided at the camp. Shmuel confides to Bruno that his father goes missing and he is worried. Bruno promises to help him find his father at the concentration camp and Shmuel promises to bring him pajamas to blind in with the people on the other side of the fence. Towards the end, Bruno goes missing. His clothes were found at the side of the fence in front of the concentration camp. As the boys search for Shmuels father at concentration camp they suddenly get trapped in a gas chamber. Sadly, it was too late when Bruno’s father finally realizes where he had disappeared to.

Reflect:

            This movie was about a start of new friendship. The desire of friendship is universal and important part of every child’s childhood. Bruno and Shmeul exist in completely different worlds and seem to meet due to Bruno’s desire to explore. Despite their circumstances they began to start a great friendship. Though they had conflict throughout the movie when Shmeul went to Bruno’s house the boys still developed to come across their problems. They both knew that they would get in trouble if anyone else knew about their friendship. I admired their friendship and the fact that despite their differences they still became great friends. Overall the movie was great and fascinating. It was unique to see life in the perspective of World War II.       

Relate:

            Bruno and Shmeul became great friends despite their differences in culture. It didn't matter to them about their differences even though they knew they would be in trouble if someone knew about their friendship. I can relate to this because several of my friends have different cultural backgrounds then me. I don’t care about their background but like them as my friend do to their personality. This is similar to Bruno and Shmeuls friendship because they also don’t care about their difference in background and still became great friends. 

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.