Thoreau and Machiavelli were two very different men from very different eras. They share almost nothing and they hold conflicting views on what the role of government should be in the lives of men. Machiavelli believed in absolute control from a central leader that was attained and preserved through the clever uses of corruption and violence. Whilst Thoreau believed that government was unnecessary and that human ethics and virtue alone could preserve order in society. Yet, although Machiavelli's tactics are seen as tyrannical and brutal, he had experience as a leader and knew what had to be done to keep society moving. Although Thoreau's ideas are more appealing they are just not realistic. Never has humankind created a functioning anarchist society where people live off of ethics and kindness. Humans are naturally wild and violent and crime would sure to be rampant and profitable if Thoreau's imaginary world were made real. Machiavelli actually held a position of power and knew what it meant to keep society in check. His policies were employed by leaders like Benito Mussolini and Chariman Mao who (although brutal and heavy-handed) created necessary order and structure for their nations.
Thoreau was a profound and prestigious writer of the 19th century who was fervent in his beliefs. He was a stark abolitionist and advocated that if government is practising an injustice then it was a man's duty to stand up to government and break the law. Thoreau, like many other contemporary transcendentalists, believed that humankind possessed innate inner wisdom. He argued that this wisdom would cause people to feel personally responsible for mankind and prevent them from crimes that would harm others and thereby prevent society from falling into chaos. Thoreau is easily comparable to the french philosophes of the Enlightenment, such as Rousseau and Voltaire. A writer and thinker who through a rational and logical approach seeks to criticize the social and political structure of the Nation. He is also like them in that he is a bit of an armchair general when it comes to issues of political nature as he lacks the experience in a leadership role to be able to criticize government or provide logical alternatives. Instead he provides alternatives for government that are idealistic and overenthusiatic as they are too dependent on the supposed goodness of humankind.
Machiavelli was the ruler of Florence Italy during a short period of the Renaissance. He came into power as a puppet of the Mafia-esque family the Medicis. His views, although crude and disagreeable, were revolutionary. He believed government was a practical tool that created rules depending on the situation instead of abiding by predetermined laws. Machiavelli claimed that "acquisition, retention, and expansion of power," should be the priority of a ruler. Instead of seeing power as a means to an end Machiavelli saw power as an end in itself. Machiavelli does not emphasize the attainment, sustainment and expansion of power for the pleasure of the leader but for the efficiency of a government. He believed that a leader could not successfully lead unless he had utter and absolute control.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
US-Pakistan relations in the Reluctant Fundamentalist.
Due to the USA's involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, its backing of Israel and its political espionage over the last century, the USA is viewed with disdain by most of the nations of the Muslim world. Pakistan is not exempt from this. For years relations between Pakistan and the USA have been tense as they have been with every Muslim nation. Pakistanis, who put their religious identity above their national identity, are distressed by the harm America has caused for Muslims across the world. Harm such as hateful propaganda, various wars, a sense of superiority and harsh criticisms of certain religious and cultural customs of Islam by American media. This is why Changez smiled and internally rejoiced at the sight of the destruction of the two towers. He symbolises the many Pakistanis who would have been happy to see America brought to her knees 11 years ago.
Yet things have changed in Pakistan. After the fall of the towers, the international manhunt for the supposed perpetrator, Osama bin Laden, began. It was believed that he and his band of followers would be hiding in the obscure mountains of Pakistan which spanned a large portion of the country. These mountains are said to be filled with hundreds of caves and tunnels that were used by people for hundreds of years and would be an ideal place to hide. The USA gave large amounts of foreign aid to Pakistan and sent senior officers from the American military over in an attempt to train and pay for a force able to find and kill bin Laden in the mountains. After almost a decade bin Laden was found just outside of the largely populated city of Islamabad and was killed in 2012. This caused a massive outcry from the USA as many political officials were furious that the Pakistani government allowed the USA to waste funds looking for Osama in a completely irrelevant location. He had been hiding in plain sight all along. This put a serious strain on USA-Pakistani relations. Speculators believe that Pakistan wished to continue to receive foreign aid from the USA and they knew where bin Laden was located but failed to give the location to the USA in order to do so. So yet again US-Pakistani relations are strained.
Yet things have changed in Pakistan. After the fall of the towers, the international manhunt for the supposed perpetrator, Osama bin Laden, began. It was believed that he and his band of followers would be hiding in the obscure mountains of Pakistan which spanned a large portion of the country. These mountains are said to be filled with hundreds of caves and tunnels that were used by people for hundreds of years and would be an ideal place to hide. The USA gave large amounts of foreign aid to Pakistan and sent senior officers from the American military over in an attempt to train and pay for a force able to find and kill bin Laden in the mountains. After almost a decade bin Laden was found just outside of the largely populated city of Islamabad and was killed in 2012. This caused a massive outcry from the USA as many political officials were furious that the Pakistani government allowed the USA to waste funds looking for Osama in a completely irrelevant location. He had been hiding in plain sight all along. This put a serious strain on USA-Pakistani relations. Speculators believe that Pakistan wished to continue to receive foreign aid from the USA and they knew where bin Laden was located but failed to give the location to the USA in order to do so. So yet again US-Pakistani relations are strained.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Toulmin analysis of 'What is Palestine to you?'
Claim: Americans reading this don't know much about the Palestinian conflict but should know and should be upset about it.
Reasons:
- You are indirectly responsible for the issue.
- You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved.
- It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference.
Evidence:
-"You are indirectly responsible for the issue." Americans have elected leaders who do little to nothing that would help the Palestinian people.
-"It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference" If Americans use their freedom of speech they could spread awareness about the issue and put pressure on local leaders to prioritise the conflict.
-"You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved" By being indifferent to the issue, Americans are prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Warrants:
-"You are indirectly responsible for the issue."
The reader isn't directly involved in the Palestinian issue.
-"It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference"
The reader is a citizen and is prepared to exercise their right.
The reader has the ability to influence others.
-"You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved"
The reader is indifferent to the issue and is uninvolved.
Backing:
-"You are indirectly responsible for the issue." As citizens with the power of free speech and the power to vote, We should be deemed responsible for an issue like this which is almost seven decades old. This is because we have not been concerned with electing representatives that would actually work to fix it.
-"It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference" Free Speech gives you the chance to reawaken people's concern over this issue.
"You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved"
Indifference is as bad as contributing to the side against change.
Analysis:
I think in general I do a good job at convincing my audience that they do not know enough about the issue and should be more aware of their involvement in it. Yet, I think I still wasn't able to convince them that the Palestinians were the people that were truly in the right in this issue. Although many may be uninformed about the Palestinian conflict, most people know that it is a very complicated and convoluted issue that remains to be solved and that there is suffering on both sides. Therefore, the readers might be skeptical if a author would claim that within the conflict, one side is the oppressed and the other is the oppressor. I think I should have made my authority more clear by describing how the Palestinians are suffering.
Reasons:
- You are indirectly responsible for the issue.
- You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved.
- It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference.
Evidence:
-"You are indirectly responsible for the issue." Americans have elected leaders who do little to nothing that would help the Palestinian people.
-"It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference" If Americans use their freedom of speech they could spread awareness about the issue and put pressure on local leaders to prioritise the conflict.
-"You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved" By being indifferent to the issue, Americans are prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Warrants:
-"You are indirectly responsible for the issue."
The reader isn't directly involved in the Palestinian issue.
-"It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference"
The reader is a citizen and is prepared to exercise their right.
The reader has the ability to influence others.
-"You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved"
The reader is indifferent to the issue and is uninvolved.
Backing:
-"You are indirectly responsible for the issue." As citizens with the power of free speech and the power to vote, We should be deemed responsible for an issue like this which is almost seven decades old. This is because we have not been concerned with electing representatives that would actually work to fix it.
-"It is within your power as a citizen to spread awareness and make a difference" Free Speech gives you the chance to reawaken people's concern over this issue.
"You contribute to the suffering of the Palestinians by being uninvolved"
Indifference is as bad as contributing to the side against change.
Analysis:
I think in general I do a good job at convincing my audience that they do not know enough about the issue and should be more aware of their involvement in it. Yet, I think I still wasn't able to convince them that the Palestinians were the people that were truly in the right in this issue. Although many may be uninformed about the Palestinian conflict, most people know that it is a very complicated and convoluted issue that remains to be solved and that there is suffering on both sides. Therefore, the readers might be skeptical if a author would claim that within the conflict, one side is the oppressed and the other is the oppressor. I think I should have made my authority more clear by describing how the Palestinians are suffering.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
What does Palestine mean for you.
What is Palestine to you? For many it is just a name for a far off place that they know nothing about. Maybe you just see it as synonymous to Pakistan or maybe you have never even heard of it. Maybe you do know of it but you never saw it is as relevant to your life, its just a spot on the map. This is all quite understandable, because what happens in Palestine has no indirect or direct affect on your life, although your choices may have indirect negative effects on the lives of the people living there.
How so? You may ask. What have you done to them? If they're miserable its certainly not your fault! Perhaps not but their suffering and misery is at the hands of a country backed by your government. Israel, one of America's closest pals, is violating a myriad of treaties and international law by intruding on Palestinian land, forcibly relocating the Palestinians and crushing resistance. This of course is all paid for with foreign aid from the USA. This leads to Palestinian armed resistance and violence from groups like Hamas which in turn is met with force from the Israeli government. These insurgent groups target largely populated areas, like public buses in Jerusalem, to use explosives to kill large amounts of civilians in a gruesome and morbid way. Thereby sending their morbid message of defiance and inciting terror amongst the populace. Thus creating a vicious cycle.
So although you may not be adding to the issue directly, your government is using your tax money to pay for it and has (in recent years) chosen to neglect the issue. For years this issue has been a prominent one and countless solutions have been proposed and all have been rejected. Many people have forgotten about the issue or just given up hope. Something needs to be done in order to revive it in the eyes of the world. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has plagued earth for more than half a century. Therefore it should be one of the USA's top priorities to solve.
This should be an issue of paramount importance to the USA not only because of how long this issue has gone unsolved, or its toll on those involved but also because of the profound affect it would have on the international community's views of America. In today's political turmoil of the Middle East in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the USA is viewed as an enemy to the Arab World more than ever. Accomplishing the monumental task that is making official peace in Palestine and establishing International law to ensure it is upheld would do wonders to improve relations in the Middle East. A region we are so currently involved.
Well now the question is what can you do? How could you possibly stop your country from aiding one of its oldest allies? or perhaps not stop aid but instead put pressure upon the ally to make things better. How can you make the Israeli Palestinian conflict relevant again? You may think it's impossible to do alone. You would be right. However, we live in a country where the right of free speech allows you to get vocal about an issue like this and spread the word. You could educate the public on the matter and encourage them to put pressure on local government officials to make this issue a priority. If knowledge of this issue was widespread perhaps enough public outcry could force change and peace can be finally found in the Holy Land. You could go from being someone who has no say in politics, to an inspirational and motivational individual who makes a difference. So, is it better to be a tool of change or a product of indifference? As Edmund Burke famously put it, All that is necessary for the triumph of evil in life is for good men to do nothing.
How so? You may ask. What have you done to them? If they're miserable its certainly not your fault! Perhaps not but their suffering and misery is at the hands of a country backed by your government. Israel, one of America's closest pals, is violating a myriad of treaties and international law by intruding on Palestinian land, forcibly relocating the Palestinians and crushing resistance. This of course is all paid for with foreign aid from the USA. This leads to Palestinian armed resistance and violence from groups like Hamas which in turn is met with force from the Israeli government. These insurgent groups target largely populated areas, like public buses in Jerusalem, to use explosives to kill large amounts of civilians in a gruesome and morbid way. Thereby sending their morbid message of defiance and inciting terror amongst the populace. Thus creating a vicious cycle.
So although you may not be adding to the issue directly, your government is using your tax money to pay for it and has (in recent years) chosen to neglect the issue. For years this issue has been a prominent one and countless solutions have been proposed and all have been rejected. Many people have forgotten about the issue or just given up hope. Something needs to be done in order to revive it in the eyes of the world. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has plagued earth for more than half a century. Therefore it should be one of the USA's top priorities to solve.
This should be an issue of paramount importance to the USA not only because of how long this issue has gone unsolved, or its toll on those involved but also because of the profound affect it would have on the international community's views of America. In today's political turmoil of the Middle East in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the USA is viewed as an enemy to the Arab World more than ever. Accomplishing the monumental task that is making official peace in Palestine and establishing International law to ensure it is upheld would do wonders to improve relations in the Middle East. A region we are so currently involved.
Well now the question is what can you do? How could you possibly stop your country from aiding one of its oldest allies? or perhaps not stop aid but instead put pressure upon the ally to make things better. How can you make the Israeli Palestinian conflict relevant again? You may think it's impossible to do alone. You would be right. However, we live in a country where the right of free speech allows you to get vocal about an issue like this and spread the word. You could educate the public on the matter and encourage them to put pressure on local government officials to make this issue a priority. If knowledge of this issue was widespread perhaps enough public outcry could force change and peace can be finally found in the Holy Land. You could go from being someone who has no say in politics, to an inspirational and motivational individual who makes a difference. So, is it better to be a tool of change or a product of indifference? As Edmund Burke famously put it, All that is necessary for the triumph of evil in life is for good men to do nothing.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Palestinian Conflict.
If americans only knew. If we only knew that from 2000 to 2008 we were annually sending the equivalent of 2.8 million dollars per day to Israel. If only we knew that this money would be used to build over 236 illegal, jewish-only settlements and outposts on confiscated Palestinian land. If only we knew that our allies are directly responsible for the demolition of 24,813 Palestinian homes and the deaths of 6,568 Palestinians. This of course, is in contrast to the $568,744 per day to Palestinian NGO’s, the 0 illegal Palestinian Settlements and the 0 Israeli homes demolished and Israeli people forcibly relocated.
In our Nation's current economic state, what is the sense in lending billions of dollars to a nation who is committing such atrocities. Israel's annual defence budget 50 billion dollars. This encompasses the entire US donation and then some. These billions could be better used helping to rebuild our own economy.
and what is the worth of Israel of an Ally? are they truly loyal to us? Little known to many Israel has performed numerous attacks against America in the past. One such attack was the Lavon affair in 1954 where Israeli agents planned to attack American targets in Egypt in order to start a war between the USA and Egypt. This attack planned by our so called "allies" was no isolated incident. In 1967 during the 60 days the USS Liberty , an American technical research ship that was stationed in international waters, was attacked. The attackers were none other than the Israeli National Air Force who bombarded the ship killing 34 American crewmen. During the attack the crew of the ship tried to alert the Israelis that they were friendlies by hoisting the American flag and use of their radio yet the attack continued. It did not subside until the American 6th fleet arrived. Survivors of the attack insist that it was deliberate and not an accident as it was later determined in court.
These violations of our alliance did not cease in the sixties however. In 1995 Jonathan Pollard, an Israeli spy, was arrested for passing on classified information about the whereabouts of american agents in eastern Europe over to Israel.
Is it really logical to call a nation that treats us in such a manner an ally??
In our Nation's current economic state, what is the sense in lending billions of dollars to a nation who is committing such atrocities. Israel's annual defence budget 50 billion dollars. This encompasses the entire US donation and then some. These billions could be better used helping to rebuild our own economy.
and what is the worth of Israel of an Ally? are they truly loyal to us? Little known to many Israel has performed numerous attacks against America in the past. One such attack was the Lavon affair in 1954 where Israeli agents planned to attack American targets in Egypt in order to start a war between the USA and Egypt. This attack planned by our so called "allies" was no isolated incident. In 1967 during the 60 days the USS Liberty , an American technical research ship that was stationed in international waters, was attacked. The attackers were none other than the Israeli National Air Force who bombarded the ship killing 34 American crewmen. During the attack the crew of the ship tried to alert the Israelis that they were friendlies by hoisting the American flag and use of their radio yet the attack continued. It did not subside until the American 6th fleet arrived. Survivors of the attack insist that it was deliberate and not an accident as it was later determined in court.
These violations of our alliance did not cease in the sixties however. In 1995 Jonathan Pollard, an Israeli spy, was arrested for passing on classified information about the whereabouts of american agents in eastern Europe over to Israel.
Is it really logical to call a nation that treats us in such a manner an ally??
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Palestine
How would you feel if your ancestral homeland belonged to someone else. What if it were you living in those mounds of trash and knowing that at any moment your lowly hovel (which your family was forced to live on after their home was taken from them) could also be taken away from you, and you would be forced out in order to build some apartments to house these invaders.
You don't know how these people feel and you never will. In fact both you and I are both contributing to their suffering, as we allow our democratically elected leaders to funnel funds to their oppressors.
"What are they to do?" you may ask. "Can't they fight back?" yes they can and they have. Yet, through violence they have condemned themselves. For now people like you and I know them as terrorists and fundamentalist extremists. We have been told that this is a religious war and that "Islam wants to wipe Judaism off the face of the map" Yet do you expect people who have had their homes taken away from them are ready to negotiate? You may think that non-violent protest is an option. That perhaps, if these "terrorists" laid down their arms and took up picket signs they would be taken seriously. But do you really think a nation that is backed by the most powerful country in the world would care about a couple of crazy Muslims protesting??
Picture a young boy living in Gaza. He lives with his parents and his siblings and his grandparents in a cramped hut made of recycled materials. He is raised on stories from his grandparents about their old home. This was an actual house and not a dump. A house that they owned. They even keep the key to the old house hung up on the wall. This is so that they can always see and always remember what life was like before they were thrown out. Before they were forced onto the crowded and cramped living quarters of Gaza. Imagine that this boy never sees this house but always dreamed about it and life before his people's expulsion. Before, when the streets in his country had Arabic names. Now imagine that this boy witnesses a family member, perhaps a brother, killed or injured during a protest. Imagine he has seen this exact situation happen before with neighbours, friends, and/or relatives. Knowing his experience with his "government" and his upbringing what else could he feel but hate? what other emotion could be felt. Now imagine hundreds of stories like these. Young men who witness this in their everyday lives. It is no wonder they fall into the ranks of the extremists. It is now wonder they take up arms. This is not a fight to exterminate a different religion. This is a fight for basic survival.
How can we stop this? What must be done? We must stop the injustice of the exile of the true inhabitants. Help convince your Nation's leaders to put pressure on Israel. We must tell Israel that no peoples will be oppressed with the hard earned American tax money. Maybe then these "terrorists" will come out of their hovels and be willing to negotiate. Maybe then they will trust us.
You don't know how these people feel and you never will. In fact both you and I are both contributing to their suffering, as we allow our democratically elected leaders to funnel funds to their oppressors.
"What are they to do?" you may ask. "Can't they fight back?" yes they can and they have. Yet, through violence they have condemned themselves. For now people like you and I know them as terrorists and fundamentalist extremists. We have been told that this is a religious war and that "Islam wants to wipe Judaism off the face of the map" Yet do you expect people who have had their homes taken away from them are ready to negotiate? You may think that non-violent protest is an option. That perhaps, if these "terrorists" laid down their arms and took up picket signs they would be taken seriously. But do you really think a nation that is backed by the most powerful country in the world would care about a couple of crazy Muslims protesting??
Picture a young boy living in Gaza. He lives with his parents and his siblings and his grandparents in a cramped hut made of recycled materials. He is raised on stories from his grandparents about their old home. This was an actual house and not a dump. A house that they owned. They even keep the key to the old house hung up on the wall. This is so that they can always see and always remember what life was like before they were thrown out. Before they were forced onto the crowded and cramped living quarters of Gaza. Imagine that this boy never sees this house but always dreamed about it and life before his people's expulsion. Before, when the streets in his country had Arabic names. Now imagine that this boy witnesses a family member, perhaps a brother, killed or injured during a protest. Imagine he has seen this exact situation happen before with neighbours, friends, and/or relatives. Knowing his experience with his "government" and his upbringing what else could he feel but hate? what other emotion could be felt. Now imagine hundreds of stories like these. Young men who witness this in their everyday lives. It is no wonder they fall into the ranks of the extremists. It is now wonder they take up arms. This is not a fight to exterminate a different religion. This is a fight for basic survival.
How can we stop this? What must be done? We must stop the injustice of the exile of the true inhabitants. Help convince your Nation's leaders to put pressure on Israel. We must tell Israel that no peoples will be oppressed with the hard earned American tax money. Maybe then these "terrorists" will come out of their hovels and be willing to negotiate. Maybe then they will trust us.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Sentence imitation
"The preaching goes on, interrupted with dutiful 'amens' It would be nice
if someone would read this sad-eyed crowd the sermon on the mount,
accompanied by a rousing commentary on income inequality and the need
for a hike in the minimum wage. But Jesus makes his appearance here only
as a corpse; the living man, the wine guzzling vagrant and precocious
socialist, is never once mentioned, nor anything he ever had to say.
Christ crucified rules, and it may be that the true business of modern
Christianity is to crucify him again and again so that he can never get a
word out of his mouth."
-Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickeld and Dimed.
Marriage is Marriage, I'm tired of hearing "Adam and Steve" It would be nice if marriage was seen as a right for all human beings instead of a straight person's privilege, honestly we should just refer to it human rights rather than gay rights. but many Christians are just obsessed with the rules; the restrictions, the do and don't list given to them by a supposedly higher power, instead of the central message. God's rules come first, instead of the welfare of his people because people are more concerned about ensuring their spot in heaven instead of what comes out of his mouth.
-Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickeld and Dimed.
Marriage is Marriage, I'm tired of hearing "Adam and Steve" It would be nice if marriage was seen as a right for all human beings instead of a straight person's privilege, honestly we should just refer to it human rights rather than gay rights. but many Christians are just obsessed with the rules; the restrictions, the do and don't list given to them by a supposedly higher power, instead of the central message. God's rules come first, instead of the welfare of his people because people are more concerned about ensuring their spot in heaven instead of what comes out of his mouth.
Monday, September 10, 2012
People, Places and Things I despise:
When it comes to religion:
- for people who use their religion to justify ignorance, violence, and/or racism. Your existence is like nails on a chalkboard for me.
-Hearing people that argue until they are blue in the face that their religions is superior than another. To me its like children saying "well, my daddy is cooler than your daddy"
-people who claim that without religion there would be no ethic system and people would just murder and break the law. These people claim that Atheists and Agnostics have no moral compass guiding them. I don't remember any atheists or agnostics flying planes into buildings or burning people at the stake.
-Radical Christians who claim that i am persecuting them and that I'm intolerant when i disagree with their bigotry. Sorry you think it's intolerant of me to not tolerate your intolerance.
- People who claim the earth is 6000 years old and deny proof such as carbon dating and/or dinosaur bones.
- People who claim the earth is 6000 years old and deny proof such as carbon dating and/or dinosaur bones.
Modern culture:
- People who emulate and even imitate the trashiness of Jersey Shore (gelled hair, over tanning, bad music, fistpuming etc.) i hope you tan yourselves until you look like sticks of licorice and that you dislocate your arms whilst fist pumping.
-people on facebook who have such accusatory posts as "like this if you love god, ignore it if you are a satanist"
- People who say both "YOLO" and "Swag". When I once saw someone write on facebook "who needs class when you have swag #YOLO" my brain almost haemorrhaged
Politics:
- People who let propaganda and hearsay easily influence their thoughts, opinions and actions. I am reminded of this every time someone says something like "Obama is a communist Nazi" or "everyone else is jealous of our freedom"
- People who claim the USA to be a superior/more free nation than any other.
-The fact that college isn't covered by taxes like it is in many places in Europe. Now i have to bury myself in debt from student loans. Thanks America.
- The fact that due to overwhelming opposition, Obama couldn't pass universal healthcare and had to settle for a crappier version (which is still better than the old system btw) and is being criticised for it.
- The so called "tea partiers". Tea parties are for little girls with imaginary friends and stuffed animals. Go home and stop complaining.
- The fact that people are so brainwashed in the USA as to think that if anyone just works hard enough, they could rise to be a millionaire and that people who aren't successful are lazy or incompetent.
- The fact that some High Schools in America STILL have segregated Proms and other school events. This is the 21st century people.
at School:
-SCF, with a searing passion. It isn't because they don't raise any actual money, it isn't because it is almost a form of propaganda. It's because its so in my face with the posters and photos everywhere. Its like the Sara Maclachlan commercials with all the crying and abused animals. It is meant to guilt trip the viewer into doing something which i think is the incorrect way of going about it. Not only that but also the stunts that people in SCF do, like once they all came into school with their faces painted like animals. Apparently this was to "raise awareness" for animal abuse. I voiced my opinion saying that this was doing nothing to help animals, it just tricked me into thinking there was a carnival in town.The very fact that they waste all this time, energy and school resources without actually raising any money is just the cherry on top. I once heard a girl defend SCF saying that "we get laws passed". what laws? I am curious to know. Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps SCF does have a purpose and shouldn't be dismantled. Until I am convinced of this with proof, however, my opinion stays the same.
Politics:
- People who let propaganda and hearsay easily influence their thoughts, opinions and actions. I am reminded of this every time someone says something like "Obama is a communist Nazi" or "everyone else is jealous of our freedom"
- People who claim the USA to be a superior/more free nation than any other.
-The fact that college isn't covered by taxes like it is in many places in Europe. Now i have to bury myself in debt from student loans. Thanks America.
- The fact that due to overwhelming opposition, Obama couldn't pass universal healthcare and had to settle for a crappier version (which is still better than the old system btw) and is being criticised for it.
- The so called "tea partiers". Tea parties are for little girls with imaginary friends and stuffed animals. Go home and stop complaining.
- The fact that people are so brainwashed in the USA as to think that if anyone just works hard enough, they could rise to be a millionaire and that people who aren't successful are lazy or incompetent.
- The fact that some High Schools in America STILL have segregated Proms and other school events. This is the 21st century people.
at School:
-SCF, with a searing passion. It isn't because they don't raise any actual money, it isn't because it is almost a form of propaganda. It's because its so in my face with the posters and photos everywhere. Its like the Sara Maclachlan commercials with all the crying and abused animals. It is meant to guilt trip the viewer into doing something which i think is the incorrect way of going about it. Not only that but also the stunts that people in SCF do, like once they all came into school with their faces painted like animals. Apparently this was to "raise awareness" for animal abuse. I voiced my opinion saying that this was doing nothing to help animals, it just tricked me into thinking there was a carnival in town.The very fact that they waste all this time, energy and school resources without actually raising any money is just the cherry on top. I once heard a girl defend SCF saying that "we get laws passed". what laws? I am curious to know. Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps SCF does have a purpose and shouldn't be dismantled. Until I am convinced of this with proof, however, my opinion stays the same.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Hello! As you may have guessed from the self-adoring title and URL, I am Jens.
I guess this is the part where I talk about my name, background and personality....
Jens, of course, is a Scandinavian name. Its the only name I can see myself having. Its unique as am I, therefore I find it fitting. I don't think I can think of anyone else named Jens who isn't related to me (except for a weird uncle of one of friends.) Apparently it comes from the biblical name "Ioannes" who I have decided, must have been the 13th disciple that nobody liked. Of course, everybody knows that all the popular boys names in Europe come from the disciples. Other people get Mathew, Mark, Luke and John and i have god forsaken Ioannes who probably made fart jokes at the last supper and/or drew crude images on the corpse of Christ after they put him in that tomb before he supposedly "resurrected". He must have been disliked for some reason as he isn't mentioned anywhere as being a disciple. Then it struck me that he could have just been an odd man out. Maybe he was a nerd in school that all the disciples would pick on. I imagined that maybe Simon would give him wedgies and Jesus would say his mom was fat. I decided to look him up to be sure. It turns out that he was a Roman Emperor. He usurped the throne and was overthrown and executed after 2 years. How disappointingly anticlimactic. I'm not even sure how his this insignificant guy could have people around the world named after him. Oh well I guess I wasn't expecting much anyway.
Anyway, I'm sure you're just itching to know how I got this name. Well my Father was born in, and grew up in the cold Nordic country known as Sweden. He had one younger brother named Jens (three years younger I believe) and I am of course named after him. Jens was the more athletic and outgoing of the two. My dad was kind of a bookish introvert. He liked spending his free time painting and drawing (and even writing I believe). His parents were craftspeople and his mom helped him enhance his skill in the arts. He eventually went off to Florence, Italy to study the arts in college. There is a funny story he likes to tell of how when he first arrived in Italian Art School that he was approached by the dean and was asked if he wanted to obtain credit for his years studying there. My dad, having really bad Italian, said no. And that is the story of why my dad doesn't have a bachelor's degree.
But enough about him. For graduate school (where he oddly enough achieved a master's degree) my father came to America. He went to School in Detroit where he met my Mom who is from a small town called Norwalk in Connecticut. She was also studying the arts but specifically pottery and ceramics. She came from a exclusively German business family by the name of Wirth. Her grandfather came over sometime during the war and my knowledge of the family history gets a little hazy after that. The name Wirth (some German guy corrected me once and said "its pronounced 'Vert' not 'Worth' ") This name is interesting. All of the family on my mom's side like to tell some old tale about how they were wealthy Innkeepers in Germany, and that our name actually now means Innkeeper in German because of our family's success in Germany. Google translate says its "Gastwirt" .Close enough.
You know the stereotype that Germans are stubborn and volatile? Imagine a dinner table with 10-15 of these people who are adamant in their Fiscal Conservative and religious views. If you can picture this then you can picture every family reunion.
Perhaps I am exaggerating a bit but my description becomes closer to the truth when my socialist, agnostic father insists on bringing up politics. He is instantly assaulted on all sides and his arguments or drowned out by the much louder voices of my maternal family. Again, I'm exaggerating but all I am saying is that if my father doesn't learn to keep his mouth shut and stay away from politics my uncle John will lynch him.
So now you know about how I got my first Name and my middle name. Now lets talk about my last name Salander......
No, goddamit, I am not related to that goth chick from "the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" get over yourself, she is a fictional character. Salander is an extremely rare name even in Sweden. I have searched the internet for people with the same last name and all the people I have found I am somehow related to. I'm starting to think my family is comparable to the white trailer trash but in Sweden, who just invent their own "unique" names. Although, there was once this one guy who was some sort of artist who schemed Robert DeNiro out of a couple Millions bucks. He had the same last name as I and his mugshot didn't remind me of any of the people in any of the family photos I have seen. He did however have the same last name as me but I think I am comfortable thinking for now that I am NOT related to him.
So I am named after a usurper of thrones, a line of successful German innkeepers and a emo girl who is skilled at solving mysteries as well as a criminal Artist. What this says about my personality I don't know but who cares. Leave that sort of junk to philosophers.
I guess this is the part where I talk about my name, background and personality....
Jens, of course, is a Scandinavian name. Its the only name I can see myself having. Its unique as am I, therefore I find it fitting. I don't think I can think of anyone else named Jens who isn't related to me (except for a weird uncle of one of friends.) Apparently it comes from the biblical name "Ioannes" who I have decided, must have been the 13th disciple that nobody liked. Of course, everybody knows that all the popular boys names in Europe come from the disciples. Other people get Mathew, Mark, Luke and John and i have god forsaken Ioannes who probably made fart jokes at the last supper and/or drew crude images on the corpse of Christ after they put him in that tomb before he supposedly "resurrected". He must have been disliked for some reason as he isn't mentioned anywhere as being a disciple. Then it struck me that he could have just been an odd man out. Maybe he was a nerd in school that all the disciples would pick on. I imagined that maybe Simon would give him wedgies and Jesus would say his mom was fat. I decided to look him up to be sure. It turns out that he was a Roman Emperor. He usurped the throne and was overthrown and executed after 2 years. How disappointingly anticlimactic. I'm not even sure how his this insignificant guy could have people around the world named after him. Oh well I guess I wasn't expecting much anyway.
Anyway, I'm sure you're just itching to know how I got this name. Well my Father was born in, and grew up in the cold Nordic country known as Sweden. He had one younger brother named Jens (three years younger I believe) and I am of course named after him. Jens was the more athletic and outgoing of the two. My dad was kind of a bookish introvert. He liked spending his free time painting and drawing (and even writing I believe). His parents were craftspeople and his mom helped him enhance his skill in the arts. He eventually went off to Florence, Italy to study the arts in college. There is a funny story he likes to tell of how when he first arrived in Italian Art School that he was approached by the dean and was asked if he wanted to obtain credit for his years studying there. My dad, having really bad Italian, said no. And that is the story of why my dad doesn't have a bachelor's degree.
But enough about him. For graduate school (where he oddly enough achieved a master's degree) my father came to America. He went to School in Detroit where he met my Mom who is from a small town called Norwalk in Connecticut. She was also studying the arts but specifically pottery and ceramics. She came from a exclusively German business family by the name of Wirth. Her grandfather came over sometime during the war and my knowledge of the family history gets a little hazy after that. The name Wirth (some German guy corrected me once and said "its pronounced 'Vert' not 'Worth' ") This name is interesting. All of the family on my mom's side like to tell some old tale about how they were wealthy Innkeepers in Germany, and that our name actually now means Innkeeper in German because of our family's success in Germany. Google translate says its "Gastwirt" .Close enough.
You know the stereotype that Germans are stubborn and volatile? Imagine a dinner table with 10-15 of these people who are adamant in their Fiscal Conservative and religious views. If you can picture this then you can picture every family reunion.
Perhaps I am exaggerating a bit but my description becomes closer to the truth when my socialist, agnostic father insists on bringing up politics. He is instantly assaulted on all sides and his arguments or drowned out by the much louder voices of my maternal family. Again, I'm exaggerating but all I am saying is that if my father doesn't learn to keep his mouth shut and stay away from politics my uncle John will lynch him.
So now you know about how I got my first Name and my middle name. Now lets talk about my last name Salander......
No, goddamit, I am not related to that goth chick from "the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" get over yourself, she is a fictional character. Salander is an extremely rare name even in Sweden. I have searched the internet for people with the same last name and all the people I have found I am somehow related to. I'm starting to think my family is comparable to the white trailer trash but in Sweden, who just invent their own "unique" names. Although, there was once this one guy who was some sort of artist who schemed Robert DeNiro out of a couple Millions bucks. He had the same last name as I and his mugshot didn't remind me of any of the people in any of the family photos I have seen. He did however have the same last name as me but I think I am comfortable thinking for now that I am NOT related to him.
So I am named after a usurper of thrones, a line of successful German innkeepers and a emo girl who is skilled at solving mysteries as well as a criminal Artist. What this says about my personality I don't know but who cares. Leave that sort of junk to philosophers.
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