Humanities Blog

Selah - Jahan

2009-05-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

"I told you my dream to become a a doctor one day and you said you would help," Jahan said, at the center of the circle of men. "Well, that day is here. You must keep your promise to me. I'm ready to begin my medical training and I need twenty thousand rupees."

I chose this quote from Jahan because I loved what it showed about her personality since she had become educated. I believe Jahan must have had a lot of self-confidence to walk into the group of men, right up to Mortenson, demanding him to keep his promise to her. It also showed how she believed in her dreams and that she could accomplish them no matter what. Jahan is a great example of how education can change a society; Korphe went from having no school to having an educated young woman ready to begin her medical training and taking the initiative to get it!

Chapters 4 -5

2009-05-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

"Slowly and painfully, we are seeing worldwide acceptance of the fact that the wealthier and more technologically advanced countries have a responsibility to help the undeveloping ones..." - Three Cups of Tea (pg. 53)

There are many undeveloped countries; do they feel as though the more advanced countries are coming to such a realization as stated in this quote?

I do not believe this is a question I can really answer as of now. However, a country might realize they have a responsibility, and I suppose that is a start. But what good is that if they do not ever act upon it. Thus, I believe that, as this quote was written by Hillary's Shoolhouse in the Clouds in 1964, presently, in 2009, countries should take the next step by helping in greater ways than the "help" of feeling responsible.

Chapters 1 - 3

2009-05-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

This quote struck me the most after reading the three chapters:

“Mouzafer stepped back and looked him up and down, his eyes wet, then raised his hands to the sky, shouting Allah Akbhar!” (pg. 28)

I wonder: what makes Mouzafer care so much for Mortenson? Mouzafer seems like he was just such a kind man, Mortenson seems to try to express that fact continually through the book so far. Someone here in the U.S. who was hired to be a guide probably would not have cared as much as he did. I think that Mortenson and Mouzafer must have really grown close during their time together. Although, it is hard for me to tell the time span, it must have been so. Ultimately, Mouzafer viewed Mortenson as a very good friend and desired to help him; similarly, Mortenson must have felt the same way. When parting with his friend he promised to visit him the next time he passed through.

My Sophomore Use of This Blog

2009-05-04T14:09:00.001-07:00

It has been quite a while since I have been on this blog, since I use it for school purposes only. But I will now begin to use it for reviews of a book my Humanities class is reading called Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson

Movie Review

2008-05-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

1. Title of Movie
The Fifth Element

2. Main Characters
Korban Dallas, Leeloo, Father Vito Cornelius

3. Setting
Egypt & Flosten Paradise

4. After an explosion, only one life cell is found. The DNA in the "life" is found to be perfect and after they bring it back to life they realize that she, Leeloo, is the fifth element. Korban is on a mission to find the other four elements and they are found just in time for them to save the world.

5. How is the world in the movie different from the real world?
It's different than the real world in the way that they have a lot of futuristic things like flying cars and a ton more technology. They also wear different clothing.

6. I think this world was created for us to see the stress of what it would be like if the world was going to be hit by a big ball of fire. Also, the interesting and futuristic technology.

7. How does this movie question or challenge our ideas on what is ideal?
For me, it makes me realize that certain things go to far if you can recreate them.

8. What ideas do you get from this film for your own movie?
This movie is pretty different then what mine is going to be about. I didn't really feel any inspired ideas after watching it.

New Project: Ideal World Project

2008-05-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Character Profiles

Age: Senior in high school, looking for a job

Main Trait: Nice guy, has a lot of accomplishments academically & in sports

Humanizing Trait: His parents suck

Profession:

Address: Middle class house has enough money for some extra pleasures

Values: Wining, helping others win...almost has a car

Foil: Guy at school who has a complete opposite attitude and is always competing against him

Obsession: Finishing important things he has started

Goal: Overcoming "the guy at school" who is always competing against him

Idol: His best friend's dad

Epitaph:

Internal Conflict: He's not as good as people are telling him he is

Interpersonal Conflicts: If he doesn't win the next game, "the guy at school" will be on top again

Societal and Environmental Conflicts: He doesn't get why he has to live with his parents until he's 18

Best Thing That Could Happen to This Character He graduates from high school but finds it hard to support himself

Worst Thing That could Ever Happen to This Character (which could turn out to be the worst): Mom dies, he realizes he needs a relationship with his dad

Why the Audience Will Root for This Character: He's attractive and so close to succeeding

Voice: He has a relationship with his dad now and he knows what is most important in life now

World Food Crisis

2008-04-15T17:01:00.000-07:00

With the country Haiti being the poorest country, and with the world in a food crisis, I think I would probably riot for food too. It's hard to think of such a thing as being starving everyday, of having an income of less than $1 a day. I'm not even sure of what I would do. I don't think I'm even capable of imagining. Something needs to be done. I don't know what to do.

New Project: Operation Yum

2008-03-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

Journal entry from a nomadic hunter:

Today was a long day. We could not find food for hours. Everything was prepared. I sharpened my spear and I wore my favorite moccasins so that I could be the fastest hunter for my tribe. After what had seemed like forever, we came across a heard of buffalo. The kill was easy since they were in a heard. On the way home, for fun, I silently killed a few strays. My kill will be enough for the family to last a couple days. That is if the weather is not too warm.

My Top 5 Pictures

2008-02-26T17:11:00.000-08:00

"It'll Make You Feel Like..."

"Break Out"

"Reflected"

"For One To Balance"

"The Carnival"

My Top 10 Pictures for The Media Makers Project

2008-02-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

2008-02-22T09:17:00.000-08:00

2008-02-22T09:16:00.001-08:00

Detailed

2008-02-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Interesting

2008-02-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Something That Looks Big

2008-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

Something That Looks Small

2008-02-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

Laying Down

2008-02-22T09:01:00.001-08:00

Bad Picture

2008-02-19T17:44:00.001-08:00

This would be a bad picture in my opinion because it is not focussed on the subject. There are unneeded things in the backround and it is not close enough to see the details of the person. I think it's boring and unattractive.

Good Picture

2008-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

I think that this is a good picture for a few reasons. One, because it's close enough to show detail. Also, the lighting is not unusually drawing, but it is good, and it is taken from an iteresting angle too. I also used the technique of nature.

Photo Description

2008-01-30T17:07:00.000-08:00

The little man who just got his ticket for the metro--He is small and takes up about only three fourths of the doorway. He wears a small hat, with a small rim made out of brown felt. It has a bright colored ribbon meant to make it look special. Many years show in his wrinkled face and his large ears stick out under his hat. A soft unfathomable expression made by his mouth, and you can see the concern that lies in his brow. The brow on his small face that rests directly on top of a short pair of shoulders. His chin is tucked into a prim collar and tie that are wearing hues of brown, yellow amd mauves. Rapped quite snuggly around him is a brown corduroy jacket. It looks nice with the contrast of the tie underneath it. In his old hands lie his ticket for travel. They look weak, as though they'd be left there to hang limp if someone were to grab it. This man's top half seems to almost balance on top of his dark, khaki pants. Now if you look back to his face, you can tell by his eyes that he is confused, tired and slightly surprised.

New Project-Media Makers: My movie Review on "Mulan"

2008-01-29T20:16:00.000-08:00

Watching scenes from Mulan while looking for values was very different. You end up not only just watching a movie, but getting an idea of what the person who wrote it, might have been trying to say by throwing it out there. Some of the values I noticed that are shown in the movie are these: Having a border for protection, communication with their ancestors or being active with their religion. Also, helping with household chores, for woman to be graceful, or to be a specific way, to bring honor to their family, the food they eat and I think that man valued beauty over insight. I imagine that the person who created Mulan has definitely experienced some sort of all of these values. I think if they hadn't, they would not have been included them. Thinking upon the fact of weather Mulan reflects the "Real China" or not I think is a bit of a complicated question. After I read the article Kay gave us, I had a better idea. It seems that in some areas it does. But it mostly displays a picture of an American view of China. Which isn't necessarily bad in my perspective. After all, this is America. But the problem is that we get our ideas of certain places so often from things like Disney movies and such. I think if you want to learn about China's values, you should definitely look into many other resources. Not just Disney.

If you were the supreme ruler of the world, what would you do to change the realtionship between Mexico and the United States?

2007-12-16T22:08:00.000-08:00

If I was the supreme ruler of the world and had to change the relationship between Mexico and the United States, I would do many things I'm sure. But what I can think of now, is this: I would do my best to make the country, Mexico, understand the importance of immigrating legally. I would also fix their corrupt government so that illegal immigration would not be such a problem in the first place. After that, I would make the United States/Mexico border stronger to protect us from harms. But with changes in Mexico's government, I think that illegal immigration would not be such a problem anyways. This was a hard question because in my opinion, these things happening are as likely as me being Supreme Ruler of the World.

What Can HTHCV do to Benefit the Border Region?

2007-12-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

When asked what HTHCV can do to benefit the border region, I must stop and think for a while. Now, there could be more to my answer I'm sure. But I think I'm going to mainly stick to what I discovered while interviewing Kimberly and being interviewed myself in today's First Things. The first thing I really think HTHCV can do is to be aware. We are already aware that there is a problem so infact we have accomplished the first step. Secondly, we need to be there to listen to peoples stories. Here what they have to say so that we will be knowledgeable in how we might solve them. Then, put these things we know into actions to make a difference. Maybe I have not exactly answered the question, but I think that this is at least the beginning to knowing what High Tech High Chula Vista can do to help the border region.

What is a stereotype and where do they come from?

2007-12-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

A stereotype is like a label. It's naming people based on things like race, religion and even by the way they look, without actually knowing the person. Which is where stereotypes come from, not actually knowing a person. I think you could even say assuming things about a person. Before you know the real deal...In anyway, I don't think they're right.

Why Does the World Have Borders?

2007-11-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

Why does the world have borders? Here is one of the reasons I think the world has borders: There are many nations. Some nations may wish to expand, but others realize that is the amount of land they have and they are free to rule as they like within those borders. Borders also protect those nations. Sometimes negatively, but they still do. I think it is important for nations to have borders because without them it would most likely be chaotic.

How Does the U.S. benefit Mexico and How Does Mexico benefit the U.S.?

2007-11-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

My response to this question is: The U.S. benefits Mexico by providing them a place where they can come for new oppurtunities. Mexico benefits the U.S. by adding to the U.S.' diverse culture and ny there hard working people doing all kinds of different jobs.

How Does the U.S. Harm Mexico? How Does Mexico harm the U.S.?

2007-11-04T12:48:00.001-08:00

One of the ways that the U.S. harms Mexico is by not giving some Mexicans that work, their rightful wages. Another way that the U.S. harms Mexico would be by sending back their illegal immigrants. Many Mexicans lose everything they have to cross the border and if they get caught they have nothing left to get them and their families back home. Or maybe they don’t have a home there at all. Some of the ways that Mexico harms the U.S. would be that there are many illegal children in the country going to school. This is filling up our schools very quickly. Another way that Mexico harms the U.S. is by their law that you must be 18 or older to drink alcohol. With the United States law being that you must be 21, there are many under-aged people who cross the border and get drunk. That can result in more accidents and deaths in our country. Also, although there may be people who come to the United States illegally, Mexicans still have many rights in the United States. If Americans go to Mexico, we do not get any of the same rights as they do. Those are some of the ways the U.S. and Mexico harm each other that I could think of.

Research Resource

2007-11-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.cis.org/topics/illegalimmigration.html

This website gives surprising nunmbers on illegal immigration, has other information and also other links on the subject.

Why Do People Immigrant?

2007-10-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

I think there are many reasons people immigrant. One of the reasons why I think people immigrant is to have a better life. Here in the United States there are so many things we take for granted. Things like education, freedom, houses and even cleanliness. In the United States education is free. With education you have the opportunity to get a good job. With your job you will be able to provide yourself with the necessities for living. Our freedom gives us the power to stand up for what we believe in, and vote for who we think will best run the country. We live in a beautiful and clean country full of opportunity. No wonder why people want, and do immigrate. They want a shot at what people deserve. The only thing is that they do it illegally sometimes. It really is a shame. If people would respect the law, I would be honored to have them pursue happiness in my country.

Why are things different when you cross the U.S. - Mexico border?

2007-10-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

I think things are different when you cross the border mainly because you are entering a different culture. Mexico has different things that are important to them. They have some different values from the U.S.