In Blistering Burkas: The Limited Women of the Middle East

Being The Difference

Throughout South Africa, there are thousands of disabled children. In most cases, these children are treated unfairly and shoved aside because they are disabled and people believe that they can’t do anything. From this, those kids are forced into a state of mind that they aren’t worth it and they are helpless. A girl named Chaeli Mycroft proved this wrong. From the day she was born, Chaeli was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a disease that makes her wheelchair bound. At the age of seven, Chaeli decided to change her life and achieve independence by raising money to receive a motorized wheelchair. From that point, she had already accomplished fighting for her own equality and started spreading the word that disabled children have rights and they aren’t worthless; thus starting the Chaeli Campaign.   

All around the world, people aren’t being treated as equals, whether their race, religion, culture or anything else that defines “different”. Like these people, Chaeli has struggled through her disability, which separated her from everyone else. Chaeli is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which restricted her to a wheelchair for her life.  “Chaeli understands her impact as a role model and says, ‘I got used to helping and am willing to help. I am an inspiration to other kids. Through what I have done, they see that they must not to be a victim’." (3) Even though she is disabled, Chaeli doesn’t give up and believes that even though she is different to everyone else, she can do whatever she sets her mind to and people won’t bring her down. The Chaeli Campaign, a foundation that Chaeli, her sister, and three of their friends created helps 3,000 kids with disabilities in South Africa every year. “The wheelchair brought Chaeli so much freedom and independence that she also wanted to give this independence to other children with disabilities.” (1) Chaeli makes sure that disabled children have the privilege of going to school, having motorized wheelchairs and more tools that will help them reach their goals like others who aren’t in their position. Chaeli has definitely proved to the world that disabled children can make a difference.

Chaeli is fighting for the belief that disabled children can do as much as people without any disabilities can. Like any person, Chaeli knows that its hard to believe in yourself, but she believed in herself anyways. She was determined and ambitious, and from just selling flower pots and postcards, she is leading a whole campaign which aids people in her condition. “But where others see limitations, she sees possibilities; with her positive attitude, she is an inspiration to many.” (2) She needs to spread the message to children that being disabled does not make you weak, but it makes you want to survive anymore. Chaeli believes that if you strive for being like everyone else, you won’t be you, and being yourself is key. Chaeli travels all around South Africa and not only provides services to disabled children, but to also helps them realize that they aren’t alone and they can do as much as others can. “This can do mentality also characterizes Chaeli in her day to day life she goes to a mainstream school and experiences how challenging this can be. On a daily basis she has to prove that she is as bright as any other student all she requires is just a little more assistance. Chaeli fights against discrimination of disabled people by showing what she can do instead of what she cannot do.She has changed many lives and has encouraged many other children to think beyond their disabilities.” (1) Even people that are abled have the difficulty of believing in themselves, so imagine how hard it might be for disabled children? Chaeli understands and has gone through the same thing. Even knowing that someone that is disabled and has made such a difference in the world can do it, that you are able to do it as well.

For all that work, Chaeli has finally made others realize that disabled children are just normal kids, and that they have the same claims as well. Chaeli has been a total inspiration to disabled children, by taking matters in her own hands to make a difference. She has taught all of us that even if you are disabled, or from whatever race you are from, or just how you look like, you are equal to any other person. You can do anything and that your family and friends will help you complete your goal. That is what Chaeli teaches us, and that is why she is such an inspiration to anyone who feels like disabled children do.

Sources used:

1. "Children's Peace Prize winner Chaeli Mycroft in South ... - YouTube." 2012. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24zQ13hQfKI>
2. "Winners of the International Childrens's Peace Prize - KidsRights." 2011. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://www.kidsrights.org/InternationalChildrensPeacePrize/Winners.aspx>

"SA Career Focus: Chaeli Mycroft." 2011. 1 Nov. 2012 <http://www.sacareerfocus.co.za/displayArticle.php?id=215>

Our Ironic World

In the dystopian short story, the author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. leaves behind some traces of irony, hinting a commentary about our present world. Some may believe that this is utopia,  but really it's neither utopia or dystopia. There are great things and terrible things in the world, and all those shades of grey. But really, we can't label anything without knowing the full picture. One example would be quite obvious, in the beginning of the story. This is when two of the characters, Hazel and George discuss about the old world (the story takes place in 2081). "“You been so tired lately--kind of wore out,” said Hazel. “If there was just some way we could make a little hole in the bottom of the bag, and just take out a few of them lead balls. just a few.” “Two years in prison and two thousand dollars fine for every ball I took out,” said George. “I don’t call that a bargain.” “If you could just take a few out when you came home from work,” said Hazel. “1 mean you don’t compete with anybody around here. You just sIt around.” . “If I tried to get away with it,"’ said George, “then other people’d get away  it-and pretty soon We’d be right back to the dark ages I again, with everybody  against everybody else. You Wouldn't like that, would you?” “I’d hate it,” said Hazel. “There you are,” said George. “The minute people start cheating on laws, what do you think happens to society?” If Hazel hadn’t been able to come up with an answer to this question, George couldn't  have supplied one. A siren was going off in his head.“Reckon it’d fall all apart,” said Hazel. " (Page 132-133). Vonnegut was explaining clearly what he thought of the world. It's true though; everyone's competing. We all compete with exams, sports, music, etc. It's just life right now is all about who can do it better and faster and who is left in the dust. Vonnegut shows that like there are bad things about the world, and that might lead to our downfall. However, what George doesn't mention is the wonderful things in the world. Making a comparison, I have concluded that what George says about the world and the handicaps are both the same. The handicaps limit people to their least level of potential, hiding their talents, and the quote shows that George is only limiting to the negatives, and nothing of the positives. In that way, both are similar, and what I believe Vonnegut was trying to get across was showcase your talents, never let they dry out or be hidden. You would realize everything you could have had if they were taken away. It's definetely worth fighting for. 

Fighting for Who I Am

Where I'm From

I am from the roly-poly’s down the hills
I am from the rock game that was never played.
From the “Go tell it over the mountain” and “Hey can you get me the...?”
I am from ginger ale, and swirly stairs that never ended.
From riding my bike in the basement to the five minutes to midnight.

I am from baguettes, high waisted jeans, and stolen carrots.
From the new snow and the mouse-y game.
I am from the ice cream in the town square.
From the never ending Britney Spears’ songs.

From Aang, Rose Tyler, Thalia, and Fred Weasley.
I am from Ash and Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern.
I am from the scalene triangle and sideburns guy.
From “peasant” and from “choti”
I am from those never ending autumn days that are slightly remembered

For I am but just a branch
Still growing towards the sky
The mighty tree that once held the memories of the past
Next to it another tree bloom of the next generation
Is where I’ll be
With only the glimmer of the past
And a future that is sure to come

List Poem

Black, newly cut and layered hair pulled back by a brown headband.
A reminder messily written on the right hand.
Right hand nails plain and left hand nails polished but disfigured.
Tiny part of a side fringe overtaking the thin headband.
Two, very used hair ties on the right arm, one blue, one brown.
Tired eyes from staying up late at night, reading.
A purple watch with a part sticking out.
Loose, one size too big, faded shirt hanging around.
Comfortable, legal, dark blue shorts with a weird panther face snarling.
Slightly dirty, dark, moss green converse.
Socks loosely unattached to the feet.
iPod with earphones stuffed into the left pocket.
The face is make-upless, as usual.
Large, brown eyes and long eyelashes behind red glasses for horrifying vision.

Just one look at Radhi.
 

      A person's identity is definitely worth fighting for. But why? It's because the identity is what makes  a person different.  People everyday keep on changing and changing, but they are still their own person. If anyone loses their personal identity, they are just forced to be either empty or a copy of someone else. An identity is just the way of telling people apart, and if you lose it, you will never be different, it's what sets everyone apart. 

-Radhi 

You've Got The Power

To maintain control, you must have power. Whether it's in the Middle Ages, modern day or during WWII, a leader must be able to have power over his/her people to maintain a sort of balance. If a leader does not have power, everything will dissolve into chaos and people will obviously lose respect for their leader. Though WWII was more than a terrible time, Adolf Hitler is a good example of a leader keeping strong for his country and maintaining control. Even though it was tyranny, Hitler gained respect from bringing Germany out of it's ashes to rebuild the country. King William the Conquerer was also a good example, even though he was a tad bit paranoid with keeping Motte and Bailey Castles everywhere. King William did contribute to England with the Domesday book, and much more. Though King William spread fear, he maintained control through his reign. In a conclusion, even though rulers had to terrify the citizens of their country, they still had power and forces to control and restrain in order to rule. 

Who's Claim Was It?

In the year of 1066, King Edward had died. Although leaving the throne to Harold Godwinston, Earl of Wessex, the new king had competition against his title. The two opposition were King Hadrada of Norway and Duke William of Normandy. My personal opinion is that Duke William of Nomandy had the rightful claim to the throne. Duke William of Normandy insisted that when King Edward had visited Normandy in 1051, he had promised the throne to William. It is said that in 1064, the Duke had captured Harold Godwinston and made him take an oath to promise help William become King. When Harold Godwinstion didn't fall through the plan of helping William, the Duke called him an "oath-breaker", which was a serious statement in the period of time. Even the Pope supported William, and had the approval of the Pope to conquer England. That was exactly what the Duke did in 1066, October.  

The Feudal System

Father Francois, you are my honored guest. Please allow me to explain the feudal system to you before you ask any questions of me. I am but a simple farmer. The feudal system is when the king lends land to a noble and they swear an oath to pass the land over in return for support. The King then becomes the lord over the noble, who becomes a vassal. The vassal can also pass off the land to another person, which would make the vassal a lord, and the other a vassal, the land still belongs to the King though. 

Values and Choices

Everyday, there will aways be a case of bullying, exclusion, peer pressure, etc. Everyone has seen it, and everyone does have a story of their own. I took a while thinking of a time where one of these has affected me, or affected someone I know or I have seen. I didn't want anything too personal, but I wanted something that would fulfill the requirements for a good blogpost, but not very targeting. I have decided to go for something that is like discrimination, but not as intense. One of my classes is a joint class (7th graders and 8th graders). It's one of my favorite classes and I do like the people in it, though it can get annoying some times. What usually happens is that when my friends and I sing, dance around, or do anything crazy, some 8th graders give us this look which makes us feel like we're doing something wrong. It makes me feel like ripping my hair out of my head. Every time it happens, I really wish I would say something, speak out for what I want to do. I would usually say something like: "It's not any of your business, and if you don't like it, you can just leave. There isn't any reason that you should give us that look, so just keep out of our way, and we'll keep out of yours." What makes me stop is the level of intimidation. It makes me feel small when they give the look, and that small amount of fear separates me from being a bystander to an upstander. Now, that I have thought this through, I know what makes me feel smaller. The look that they give us is the type saying, "Are you seriously doing that? It's really weird so stop it." The thoughts that I have in that moment are telling me that I shouldn't say anything, or else they wouldn't like me. I now know that it's stupid to think that way. I don't really care anymore what they think of me. They aren't my friends, and they have no right to judge what goes on between my friends and I. I have decided that I am going to do what ever it takes to keep on doing whatever I want, and I won't do what they want me to be. They aren't me, so who are they to care?


Where have we seen examples of bullying/ostracism/exclusion occurring in texts studied so far this year- factual as well as fictional?

Well, there are a lot of examples, but I'm going to stick with The Hunger Games. I saw two examples of what the characters thought of being excluded. First, with Katniss in the beginning she felt as if Peeta and Haymitch we're budding up and had made up a plan, whereas Katniss had none. This was when Peeta had asked for separated coaching and throughout a little bit of the Games. Nearer to the end of the Hunger Games, Peeta felt as if he wasn't let in on the plan, since Katniss knew what Haymitch was expecting of her to play along with the act of "The Star-Crossed Lovers From District 12". It wasn't an act at all to Peeta, who really did love Katniss, and felt betrayed that she pretended and didn't even tell him. 

The In-Group:

Select one line/phrase/group of sentences that are significant to you. Explain why.

"In most cases where children get picked on, it is because they aren't good at sports, or they read too much, or they wear the wrong clothes, or they are of a different race. But in my class, we all read too much, and didn't know how to play sports. We had also been carefully been brought up to respect each other's races. "

I found this quote compelling, because it makes me ask why. Why would they have a reason to bully other wise? Why did they feel the need to, when they have grown up together and know each other so well? Why did they need to hurt the people they had known for so long? Maybe they felt the need to feel higher than someone, to feel superior. They have this negative sense of dedication to make their flaws invisible while they pick out someone else's who doesn't have a line of defense. Some people just like the position of power and like to manipulate anyone who has a low self-esteem and can't stand up for them-selves. These people are set in the cliche'd direction of popular. Some are okay, while others want to bring down anyone who stands in their way, or just for fun. Being popular and in the position for wanting harm to come to someone is a great beneficial way to make someone's life miserable. Once a popular starts it, it spreads like wild-fire.

-Radasaurus. Because I'm a dinosaur. Roar.

You Don't Need To Be Superman To Be A Hero

The definition of  heroic/hero (according to dictionary.com) is "a man of distinguished courage or ability admired by his great deeds and noble qualities". To me, the definition is partially true, however I believe that being a hero does not necessarily mean that you have to have special abilities, like flight, or super strength like Marvel has the world believing (no offence Marvel). To be a hero in my book, you just have to muster enough courage to save people, animals, anything that you believe, even though there are cruel things that will bring you down. You need to be a savior. People will look up to you, but at the same time, you won't let other people get to you at all. You will do whatever it takes to take part in what you believe. This sums it up to being an up-stander. Average people do have dreams of saving the innocent and that can be thrashed by fear, deception and lies. These three meaningful words had wounded and killed millions of people, and not only in the Holocaust. Deception, lies and fear are everywhere; politics, relationships, work, etc. It's happening all around us. Actions are key in being a hero. Your decisions map out everything you do from now and the future, there are no wrong or right decisions though. They just have either a positive or negative impact of path you are leading and if you were a hero, you will have to make the decisions that will not only benefit you, but everyone else who is worth benefiting and everything just matters in the end. I strongly and whole-heatedly believe that Schindler was a true hero, by saving innocent people from horrific death just because of their religion. Many say that Schindler was just a bystander, he didn't have any impact on the Holocaust. Did those people realize that he had a major impact of hundreds of people's lives? He saved 1,100 men, women and children in the period of a few years. I believe that he was an extraordinary man. Though some of his decisions made his life go down into a sinkhole, his humanity was restored completely by standing up for what he wanted and believed was right.     

-R 

Sonia's Victory

Victory: By Sonia Weitz

"I danced with you that time only.

How sad you were, how tired, lonely...

You knew that they would "take" you soon...

So when your bunk-mate played a tune

You whispered: "little one, let us dance,

We may not have another chance."

To grasp this moment...sense the mood;

Your arms around me felt so good...

The ugly barracks disappeared

There was no hunger...and no fear.

Oh what a sight, just you and I,

My lovely father (once big and strong)

And me, a child...condemned to die.

I thought: how long

before the song

must end

There are no tools

to measure love

and only fools

Would fail

to scale

your victory."

Sonia Weitz, would be called lucky. She took 5 concentration camps; Auschwitz, Plaszow, Bergen-Belsen, Venusburg, Mauthausen, and the Warsaw ghetto, while she was still a young girl, and was standing until her passing on June of 2010. She was and always will be a survivor. When she was sent off to Mauthausen, a concentration camp in upper Austria, she sneaked off to see her father, who was sent there when she was in Auschwitz. Before the Nazi's "took" him, she did sneak off to the men side of the camp, and found her father. This poem was about the moment when she found him, and their final moment. Throughout the poem, the theme turned from desperation, to what the poem was really about; VICTORY! The poem itself was talking about how she shared the moment dancing with her father, and how she was truly happy for the first time when she was in the camps. There was one metaphor that I had found was in the second stanza: "The ugly barracks disappeared. There was no hunger... and no fear." It was saying that Sonia was living in the moment, that nothing could take her from her father right then and there. But really, barracks can't disappear out of thin air, and she was very hungry and fearful of when the Nazi's would take him away from her. In the second stanza, there was another quote: "My lovely father (once big and strong)". This shows that even though the camps made him weak and powerless, they could never take away his strength inside and his love for his daughters. Sonia Weitz, at the time, believed that she was destined to die, when she said: "And me, a child... condemned to die." But she didn't! She didn't have hope at the time, but when she danced with her father, she got hope, and thought that everything would be okay. My favorite part out of the whole poem, was at the end: "and only fools would fail to scale your victory. " The poem was about sharing this moment with her father, even though it was breaking the rules. Through her words, it was easy to see that this was something that the Nazi's, or anyone couldn't take away, and will last her forever.   

-R

Well, It Certainly Didn't Rain On Hitler's Parade

Adolf Hitler, you would say, was a very, very lucky man throughout his reign as leader of Nazi Germany. There were various conditions that benefited Hitler to his success from 1918-1933, but the the two that stood out to me were when Germany reached Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and the Reichstag fire in 1933. On the date of June 28th, 1919, the treaty of Versailles (named after the building it was signed at) was signed. Years later, people lost their jobs and needed to spend millions of reichsmarks for just one loaf of bread. The economy faced a crisis and Hitler took this as an advantage. There were so many parts of the treaty that the people of Germany faced and hated with passion. They couldn't live life as they used to, and couldn't do anything about it. The Reichstag fire took place in 1933. It was originally the Nazi's who set the building on fire. In Hitler's elections, his motion was to go against the treaty, as well as blaming the communists and other parties. This heightened his fame by a huge increase. Lucky guy, huh?

Nuremburg laws

1. Who could now be defined as a "Jew"?


The Nuremburg Law states that "anyone who had three or four Jewish grandparents was defined as a Jew, regardless of whether that individual identified himself or herself as a Jew or belonged to the Jewish religious community". (Via this article: http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007695). 


2. What was meant by "Aryanizing" Jewish Businesses?


Aryanizing would mean that the Nazis wouldn't have allowed any Jews to work without conditions such as non-Jewish Germans to buy shops owned by Jews, Jewish lawyers to practice law, Jewish doctors to treat non- Jews, etc. The Nazis took Jewish people's jobs away, as well as their income. 


3. How were jews who were professionals (lawyers, doctors, etc.) restricted?


As said in the previous question (and answer) the professionals were restricted by working on only Jewish patients and people. They weren't allowed to serve or work for any non-Jewish Germans. 


4. What did Jewish identity cards need to include now? 


The identity cards "that the government added special identifying marks to theirs: a red "J" stamped on them and new middle names for all those Jews who did not possess recognizably "Jewish" first names -- "Israel" for males, "Sara" for females. Such cards allowed the police to identify Jews easily."


5.What was the "Law for the Protection of the Hereditary Health of the German People" (sum up in your own words)?


The law is about the restriction of two people getting married if one of the people are carrying an infectious disease, the pair wouldn't be able to get married.  

Civil Rights in Nazi Germany

Throughout the period of time where the Nazis had taken over Germany, Nazi soldiers ignored the Civil Rights and went against them ultimately. Civil rights are the rights of citizens to "political and social freedom and equality". Knowing how the Nazi's propaganda showcased how their way of life was "benefiting" the people of Germany, it wasn't surprising when Nazi soldiers would march into houses unannounced and search through people's homes; privacy ceased to exist. A civil right could be the right to vote, once turned to a certain age. The civil rights don't discriminate through race, religion, skin, personality, gender or origin. However, it would be crazy to say that the Nazi's were kindly to Jews. Even more, since the Propaganda posters and the elections stretched the truth, people believed that the searching was just temporary and was just helping the country get rid of the people Germany as a nation could not trust.   


-R  

The Treaty of Versailles: Fair or Unfair?

The Treaty of Versailles, was made at the final end of World War I, or as known as the The Great War at the time. On the  28th of June, 1919, the treaty was signed. Coincidentally or purposely, that was the exact date five years ago when assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which was the main cause of why the war started. The Treaty of Versailles was directed at Germany for possibly the reason that a part of the "Big Three" (consisting of David Lloyd Jones, Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson) wanted Germany to be thrashed. The following treaty states the agreements that Germany had to make after defeat.

"Therefore the treaty contained the following articles:


80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria. 


81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia. 


87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland. 


119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas countries. 


159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not to exceed 100,000 men. 


181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included. 


198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces. 


231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage to the Allied Powers. 


233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion]. 


428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied troops for fifteen years. 


431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany complies with the Treaty."

(From Reading One: Treaty of Versailles)

In my opinion, around 60% of it would be fair, but the other 40% wasn't. I do agree from lines 80-119, 231,431 and 428. I do think that respecting and recognizing the independence of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland, giving back the overseas countries that Germany had taken, and that the troops will go from Germany as soon as the treaty was signed was fair to Germany. On the other hand, I didn't agree with lines 159-198 and 233. The lines 159-198 clearly allows.. "159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not to exceed 100,000 men. 181. The German navy must not exceed 6
battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included. 198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces." That's just basically saying that Germany has barely any forces in case of a plot against other countries. However, the treaty should have stated that if Germany needed any troops in the event of an attack by a country, another country should have helped Germany. Though, the case of a country attacking Germany, then when Germany has more forces both Germany and another country turn against the Allied Forces and work together to create another war. That conspiracy would be a perfectly good argument against the thoughts of allowing more troops in case of war though. On line 233, it shows that.. "233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion]." The thing is that Germany wasn't the ONLY country that took part in the war against the Allied Forces. There was also Austria-Hungry, Bulgaria, and Turkey who took sides with Germany. Why would they only pinpoint this on Germany, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was by a Serbian? The answer could either be that Germany was declared the leader of the war, or the possibility that people wanted revenge on Germany. The treaty only lasted around 20 years, and when that time was up, Adolf Hitler had plans already to conquer Europe.

"This is not peace, it is an armistice for twenty years." -Ferdinand Foch

Sources:

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles

Reading One: The Treaty of Versailles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Foch

-R