The Dumbest Generation? Don't Be Dumb

This was a very interesting article because much of it is true. Our generation is not dumb but I would agree that we pay less attention to current events and remembering facts than older generations but what do people expect. As time goes by and technology advances more and more time will be spent on games, phones and laptops. More time will be spent trying to put together the next best form of some technological device. Society is noticing that we can create faster and easier ways of doing everyday things and learning things. If we need to find a fact or know a fact we have computers to search and now people have internet on cell phones; when there isn't a computer there is always a cell phone in hand. Yes, so we aren't the memorizers of facts and information but we are future creators and inventors that will continue to make parts of life easier and faster giving more time to enjoy whats around us. And as they stated in the article, give our generation a chance to show the world what we are capable of before they begin to judge us.

Do Graduates Understand Citizenship?

I agree on many points Diane Cameron makes in her article. It seems as time goes on kids begin to take on more and more responsibilities in high school. Members of several organizations, advanced classes and holding a job to put gas in the tank that gets us around everywhere keeps students very busy. Not only is our society becoming too busy to watch the news, vote and participate but we are trying to take on too much in order to reach a successful position. It almost takes TOO much in order to reach a comfortable level. Everyone is reaching for top positions, high saleries and luxurious cars and homes. We are beginning to lose a sense of our countries foundation and the importance of participating in the society we live in. If only we could slow down and relax every once in awhile without feeling like we aren't keeping up with everyone else and their fast paced lifestyle; people would experience a greater appreciation of life and there would also be less speeding tickets to pay off.

Does Domestic Spying Help the United States?

It’s safe to say the U.S. has experienced an increase in domestic spying. Some argue that an increase in National security is violation of the Fourth Amendment giving citizens the right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. While others argue that having high national security, including domestic spying, prevents situations such as 9/11 from occurring. In the packet Charles Krauthammer argues that domestic spying helps the U.S. and prevents terrorist events from happening. Charles states, “We have not been hit again because we’ve been capturing high-level operatives and getting them to talk in secret prisons, where they’re incommunicado and disoriented and desperate” (229). However he weakens his argument by stating in the first paragraphs how this tramples civil liberties and violates the Constitution, “jeopardizing the very idea of freedom and otherwise destroying all that is sacred in America” (229). And is our security stopping terrorists or are there really no more attacks like 9/11 in the works. The question then would be when is too much? Bob Barr states that domestic spying is snooping and damages our nation. Barr says, “Executive power that could easily be applied to virtually any other area of domestic activity as long as a link to a national security is asserted” (231). Spying or Security could extend to unreasonable amounts and by Executive power our government would be asserting our national security not spying. Everyone has the right under the Constitution to personal property and privacy; our civil liberties should not be taken. However, if we need to stand in line at an airport a few more minutes or place a finger on a scanner in order to clock in, a few minutes of inconvenience should not cause problems. If our National security is increasing in order to prevent events such as 9/11 from happening I believe every American should be more than willing to sacrifice a bit of privacy for their country.

Final Analysis 1984

Orwell wasn’t accurate in his vision of the future. The society in the book was more advanced then we are today not to mention 1984. The whole idea of the Party and rewriting history doesn’t happen today. Maybe it does to a small extent but people are aware of what happened in the past and aren’t brainwashed into believing lies. The telescreens in the novel are a good representation of today’s national security or spying. The government is developing security in order to prevent from a national crisis however; when does it become too much. When will the government start to know too much about our personal lives. Orwell could also be correct when he talks about family at the end. O’Brien explains how the party has cut the link between child and parent, man and man, woman and man. “No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer” (267). Orwell is on the right track with this frame of mind. If society continues to rely on technology, including cell phones, computers, emails, we will lose touch of each other. There will no longer be socialized friendships or relationships even between family members. If people aren’t aware of what could happen to future generations and the risk of moving forward too fast with technology and new ideas, it is very likely that society will lose family, friendships, trust. Everything will become a lie; even our history.

North Korea

Should the United States seek negotiations and engagement with North Korea?
Although Victor D. Cha seems like he would know more about the situation with North Korea, being in Asian Studies and Asia director, I believe David C. Kang makes a better argument. David Kang points out the facts. The U.S. and North Korea are in a relationship depending on suspicion. Kang makes the point that with the views the U.S. holds on North Korea it's no doubt they feel threatened. And as North Korea feels threatened they will remain on guard and unwilling to cooperate. "A North Korea that feels threatened and perceives the U.S. administration to be actively attempting to increase pressure on it is unlikely to trust the United States" (176). Both the United States and North Korea need to work and begin to trust each other by "building confidence in the other". No relationship works without trust; even a relationship between countries. Both countries need to work to fulfill responsibilities on the framework. "The United States and North Korea are still technically at war--the 1953 armistice was never replaced with a peace treaty" (179). So yes, the United States needs to seek negotiations with North Korea, not simply sit back or refuse because of our past with the country. Isolating and continuing to pressure North Korea will only heighten their threatened emotion and cause more conflict.

Thin Gruel

Censorship from the right
The censorship of religious and moral issues. Excluding stories that would cause children to be disobedient and damage family life. Textbooks must be patriotic and teach the positive view of the nation. “The parents complained that the textbooks promoted secular humanism, satanism, witchcraft, fantasy, magic, the occult, disobedience, dishonesty, feminism, evolution, telepathy, one-world government, and New Age religion” (article). Parents also complained about books including sex, race, religion and violence wanting to ban them. Recently books like Harry Potter containing magic, witchcraft and fantasy have also been questioned.

Censorship from the left
The censorship of feminist and liberal views. Want to ban specific words, phrases and images in textbooks. Encourage realistic and accurate stories of our history. The left sees characters from fairytales as sexist. Fairytales displaying girls as poor souls while the boys are courageous. There is also materialism in which most fairytale characters have to rise to riches.

Heroine – This word is how to describe a female hero. How is this sexist if hero isn’t??
Homosexual – This is a description word. How can you ban it?
Pop
Snowball
Soda

The story that was banned on the blind mountain climber. For one, this story was true. It wasn't fictional it was a true story. Banning it for regional and disadvantage of blind people is ridiculous. People don't pay attention to regional description in terms of making themselves feel better for living in that specific location. And saying that blind people are worse off is true; they are blind! Banning this story is ridiculous.

1982 #2

In this section of the book Winston meets Julia. Julia is the dark haired girl that he has dreamt of. Winston is happy to find out that Julia has had sex with many people because the men were Party members, which means that he is not the only one participating in an unacceptable act. “Their embrace had been a battle, the climax a victory. It was a blow struck against the Party. It was a political act” (126). Winston wants to know that there are corrupt people and perhaps the Party itself is corrupt. After meeting in the clearing Julia and Winston set up their rendezvous in the poorer quarters where there is an open market; a crowded and safe place to meet in order to avoid anyone from watching them. Syme vanishes in this section of the book. “But Syme was not only dead, he was abolished, an unperson” (157). Winston is afraid of anyone finding out about Julia, being caught and killed.

1984 First Blog

In Oceania, Newspeak is the official language used for English Socialism. In the novel the language is not yet being used but they are coming up with editions of dictionaries containing the words that will be used. Newspeak is used in order to minimize the expressions used around the world but also to keep people from having too much thought. The words are divided into three classes; A vocabulary, B vocabulary and C vocabulary. They also eliminated negative words. A vocabulary contains words needed for everyday life. B vocabulary consists of words for political use and are all compound words. C vocabulary consists of scientific and technical words. Winston also informs the reader on thought crime and face crime. Face crime is committed when a negative facial expression towards the Big Brother or Party is given. The Party controls history by simply re wording documents from the past and people believing what they are told. Winston recalls the truth that lies within his own consciousness and says, “If the party could thrust its hand into the past and say this of this or that event, it never happened –that, surely, was more terrifying than mere torture and death” (34). I agree with Winston. If people are capable of "changing the past" simply because they want it to be changed, so they re word documents, is a very terrifying thought. It's giving the power the government power to do whatever they want to keep themselves looking good. Who controls the past is said to control the future.

Healthcare - Three Candidates

Barack Obama – Barack wants to give every American health insurance by law. No one should be turned away from health insurance and premiums will be less. The plan covers preventive, maternal and mental health care services. People will also be able to move from job to job without worrying about their health care coverage. Insurance companies will also have to report data to ensure quality of healthcare. Overall, he wants to make coverage more accessible and affordable for Americans. All children will be covered and will be allowed to remain under their parents’ plan until age 25. He wants to lower the cost, modernize U.S. healthcare and promote patient safety. He wants to prevent companies from monopolizing the healthcare industry which will lower the cost for coverage and prescription drugs. Obama strongly supports biomedical research.
Five Main Parts
1. Reduce costs for employers
2. Focus on preventing costly disability conditions
3. Improve quality
4. Reduce waste and efficiency moving from pen and paper to information technology
5. Prevent companies from monopolizing

Barack is committed to listen to everyone and move process forward, everyone should be covered without discrimination, system should be cost effective and families with insurance get relief with payments.


Hillary Clinton – Clinton also believes in Universal health care. She wants to give children health insurance, allow people to keep their current health care or switch to affordable choices. Hillary also wants to push drug companies to lower the cost of vaccinations. Believes it’s a tragedy to have one stroke of bad luck and lose everything you work to earn. Plan doesn’t create new government department or agency but a public private partnership providing more choices. Her plan is all about choice in order to make the people happy and incentivize people for healthy behavior. Put doctors back in charge of your health care not insurance companies. She believes the new health care system could be paid for by rolling back tax cuts Bush implemented and savings. If we had an electronic medical record system we would save $77 billion dollars a year. Also, innovations, prevention of chronicle illness and negotiation with drug programs and Medicare for cheaper drug prices will save money.

Three Objectives
1. Lower Cost for Everyone
2. Improve Quality for Everyone
3. Cover Everyone


John McCain – Sees the fundamental problem as the rising cost of U.S. health care. Improve health and spend less while promoting prevention of diseases. He wants to provide health care for all citizens. Promote competition throughout the health care system. He also believes in personal responsibility. We must take better care of ourselves to prevent illness and teach our children nutrition to prevent obesity and health concerns in future generations.

Brave New Babies

"Brave New Babies" is an interesting section in Newsweek. In virtro fertilization is controversial topic leaving many questioning morality along with religious aspects. The cost averages at $18,480 plus any travel expenses. "After 25 years of staggering advances in reproduction medicine--first testtube babies, then donor eggs and surrogate mothers-techonology is changing babymaking in a while new way" (46). Conception is no longer a spectacular and miraculous experience but takes place in a laboratory. Many people are divided on this issue. "The Science of Sex Selection" discusses three methods for reproductive techonology and also gives public perception. Embryo testing to choose gender 28% approve while 68% disapprove. Embryo testing for genetic testing 74% approve while 22% disapprove. This information shows how more people tend to agree with testing for genetic diseases rather than simply choosing the sex of their baby. If people continue to use technology, birth will no longer be a miracle. There is also the question of whether or not choosing the sex of a baby will lead to sex discrimination.

"No Girls, Please" discusses the idea of sex discrimination. In different Asian countries discrimination against females is shown through abortion of female fetuses. "Meanwhile experts estimate that 30,000 Korean female fetuses are aborted annually" (50). Asian countries have high populations and in some places over population however 30,000 fetuses able to grow and live because of their sex.

"The Ancient Art of Making Babies" shows what distance certain people will go in order to conceive the sex of their choice. Different sexual positions at conception, diets, timing, temperature, ect are said to give a better chance of producing a girl or boy. It seems crazy at some length people will go in order to have a certain sex. Birth and reproduction is an amazing and miraculous thing, it shouldn't be corrupted by advancing technology. I understand there are different reasons for embryo testing but spending a chunk of savings in order to choose the gender of your future family member seems like a waste. Not to mention the time spent on this type of advancement that could be spent in other fields, or helping people that really need it; such as avoiding genetic diseases in future children.

Ecstasy vs. Binge Drinking

When examining the short term and long term effects of ecstasy and binge drinking it's hard to say which is the greater public concern. Ecstasy has many effects after use including "increases in heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, chills, sweating, and such psychological problems as confusion, depression, sleep problems, craving, severe anxiety, paranoia, and psychotic episodes" (http://www.watton.org/drugsinfo/aboutecstasy.shtml). It also destroys cells that produce serotonin in the brain which controls aggression, mood, sexual activity, sleep and sensitivity to pain. Long term use can cause both physical and psychological risks such as; incoherent speech, liver damage, double vision, depression, violent behavior, catatonic syndrome. Although ecstasy is a very dangerous drug I believe binge drinking to be the greater public concern. People are more likely, no matter what age, to get their hands on alcohol. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, "Almost half of Americans aged 12 or older reported being current drinkers of alcohol in the 2001 survey (48.3 percent). This translates to an estimated 109 million people. Both the rate of alcohol use and the number of drinkers increased from 2000, when 104 million, or 46.6 percent, of people aged 12 or older reported drinking in the past 30 days" (http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/facts.aspx?topic=159). Many more people and under aged people are getting their hands and consuming, binge drinking, alcohol. Not only is drinking dangerous at the time of consumption with vehicle crashes but it also has long term effects such as; liver damage, pancreatitis, certain cancers, and literal shrinkage of the brain. Alcohol is also said to be the second-leading cause of dementia. Alcohol consumption also leads to fatalities. According to the Alcohol Alert website, in 2006 there were 15,829 alcohol related fatalities.

Since the greatest amount of binge drinking occurs at colleges and universities the best plan would be to make strict regulations at that level. Limiting the availability and restricting the promotion of alcohol on and off campus, while promoting healthy activities, will help make the college experience a positive one. Some people argue that the drug testing in high school isn't doing anything. Starting at the high school level isn't going to totally clear out the drug use but it will help prevent it for the future classes. Middle school and elementary school students hear about the drug testing and are turned away from trying it in fear of getting drug tested. Making stronger regulations at the college level will work the same way for high school students. However, along with using fear and regulations to turn future generations away from drug use healthy activities and lifestyles need to be promoted.

Last Section BNW

In the last section of Brave New World Bernard loses his popularity over John because of his criticism of the World State. Lenina likes John and when he said how he felt about Lenina she angered him by pressing her body against him and taking off her clothes. John's mother Linda dies and he continues to ask people why they don't wish to be free. John, Bernard and Helmholtz are taken to Mond's office where they are informed of their exile. Bernard doesn't want to go to an island and begs to stay. However, Mond explains how going to an island is actually a reward: "He's being sent to an island. That's to say, he's being sent to a place where he'll meet the most interesting set of men and women to be found anywhere in the world. All of the people who, for one reason or another, have got too self-consciously individual to fit into community life" (227). Mond explains to John there is no God for the same reason there aren't high arts, it's old and people have changed.

Stability and Happiness means everything in the World State. Searching for truth and experiencing various emotions leads to instability which leads to the end of civilization; or so they think. Mond doesn't let John go with Bernard and Helmholtz. John retreats to the lighthouse where he punishes himself. People begin to flock John's house to see his rituals and one man taped him and made a film. One day a crowd forms around John and Lenina comes towards him and he whips her. The next day people find John has hung himself.

I don't really like the ending of this book. After realizing the negativity within the World State the reader would expect Bernard, Helmholtz and John to go on to greater things. John hanging himself in the end only shows the instability without conditioning. The question is whether or not a person would choose to live with instability or stability. With stability comes a lack of art, emotion and truth.

BNW Blog II

Most members of the World State are happy however; John, Bernard and Helmholtz criticize the quality of their lives. In chapter six Bernard and Lenina are planning to go out and Bernard prefers to be alone rather than in a crowd. Bernard also stops, turns down the music, and takes appreciation for the sea; nature they were conditioned not to love. He questions Lenina on happiness, "Yes, Everybody's happy nowadays. We begin giving the children that at five. But wouldn't you like to be free to be happy in some other way, Lenina?" (91). This is what is wrong with the World State society. Everybody is happy; everybody belongs to everybody else. They are conditioned to avoid the truth and simply pop a soma when things get hard to handle. Such as when Lenina and Bernard go to the reservation and Lenina wishes to take soma after she sees a boy whipped. She can't handle the truth or the depth of the situation and simply avoids it by taking the soma.

There is a connection between the soma in Brave New World and our discussion on ecstasy. In the movie we viewed people were taking ecstasy to feel good but they were also taking it to become more comfortable with themselves and their environment; much like Lenina's situation at the reservation. The woman getting over her husband's death is using ecstasy because she can't handle the truth of the situation. She said her and her husband would take it together and discuss anything and everything because when you're on the drug you are more comfortable. Taking a drug in order to talk about your feelings is taking the easy way out. People need to learn how to be comfortable enough with themselves and their feelings so they can share with other people. Today there are too many substances being used to change mood, behavior and feelings. I understand that some people experience chemical imbalances and turn to anti-depressants but it would be hard for me to think a drug is shaping my behavior and mood. I would think I am who I am because of a drug? It doesn't seem right.

Health Care Blog

I logged onto Badgerlink in order to find some negative aspect of health care in Norway. I came across an article titled "Connecting With Children" that was published April 11, 2007 in the Nursing Standard magazine.

The article was written by Claire Westwood and mainly discussed how to better nursing and health care for children. Many hospitals in England are unable to deliver high quality health care for children and young people because they aren't properly trained. Nurses and other medical practitioners need to learn how to handle situations involving child illness. When a child is ill parents feel helpless. Part of a nurse's job is making both the child and parent feel comfortable in the health care facility. The article states, "Children and young people are more frequent users of health care than adults. Nearly 700,000 children (7 per cent of all children) spent a night as a hospital inpatient in 2006 and 2.9 million children presented at emergency departments" (62). It's important to provide high quality health care especially to children and young adults. They visit hospitals frequently for different vaccinations and yearly exams and as they grow up they tend to see the doctor less and less. If people are giving high quality health care as children they will be less likely to develop a severe illness or have an illness go unnoticed as adults. This topic isn't discussed in Michael Moore's documentary Sicko.

Brave New World

I was immediately hooked once I began reading the first chapter of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. The planet in this futuristic so called utopia is run by the World State; their motto being "Community, Identity, Stability" (3). As the beginning of the novel unfolds we notice how this motto is in effect. The first chapter details the growth of human beings within a laboratory. This idea relates to cloning that is taking place today and the prediction scientist have on what will be able to be grown in a laboratory. In the novel Bokanovsky's Process takes place when one embryo splits and forms up to ninety six humans. This is where we begin to see Identity. A person is not only developed in a lab but they can be identical twins with up to ninety five other humans which shows a loss in one's unique identity. Everyone is beginning to look, dress and talk alike forming one identity.

As the story continues chapter two displays the stability factor in the World State's motto. As these humans develop in a red room they continue onto the Social Predestination room where newborns and children are somewhat brainwashed. They are exposed to loud noises at the sight of books and given electric shocks at the sight of flowers. This part in the novel reminded me of the firefighters in Fahrenheit 451 who burned books in order to save society from an artful expression of ideas. Hearing loud noises and being shocked as a child teaches them to ignore nature and simply work. This is part of what could stabilize the planet. Another idea that could fall under both community and stability is the separation of people into the Gammas, Deltas, Alphas and Betas who are all known for wearing a certain color or doing certain things such as drinking. The community is also run in a caste system where one class of people is higher than the other. They closed museums and blew up historical monuments. Erotic and sexual play is also a significant part of this novel. Humans grow up within stages of life from the Hatchery to Social Predestination and so on. As they grow children are introduced to these types of games. This idea relates to today's society and how we are exposed to sexuality at younger ages by hearing things on TV, friends or experience. Sexual activities aren't seen starting in adulthood as much as it did in the past.

We are introduced to characters that seem to start and question the power inside they seem unable to use. This happens today when people conform to the norm in society ignoring the power they hold within.

Iraq and Machiavelli

James Holmes starts his article by stating how demolishing a totalitarian regime and instead instilling something more "humane" isn't as easy as we may think. The problem doesn't only lie with Sadaam Hussein but the Iraqis in general, who are prone to pick up a gun and fight rather than negotiate their political interests. James points out a main point in Machiavelli's novel is having a firm hand when transitioning from a totalitarian regime to a more human regime. Flip flopping ideas in the leadership of the transition will provoke these feelings to arise from the people going making the transition. Machiavelli also pointed out how leaving under a tyrant makes the virtues of the accustumed people less lively, spirited or intense and people who are without care and attention are more likely to fall under the first master they are exposed to. This idea is present in Iraq. Meaning people who are freed from tyranny are "newly freed beasts" who don't know how to reason their defense will rely on what they know. Machiavelli's idea was "'a corrupt city that lives under a prince can never be turned into a free one, even if that prince is eliminated along with all his line" and the only way to reach freedom for these people would be for a good person with virtue would help them transition from their bad habits.

James described two hypotheses for America's role in Iraq and judging how our military is still present in Iraq his latter hypothesis would be more correct. Iraqi people have bad habits that prevent them from developing a more humane means of government and America will be a part of Iraq's politics for years to come.

The Prince 10-18

Chapter 10 and 17
"...it is impossible not to foresee difficulties in attacking a Prince whose town is strongly fortified and who is not hated by his subjects" (27). This quote goes along with the idea in chapter 17; better to be loved or feared? A strong fortified town, where the ruling Prince is admired, is something worth fearing. When it comes to times of strife or wartime, "men are less careful how they offend him who makes himself loved than him who makes himself feared" (44). Meaning strong countries, such as the U.S., are less likely to be the victim of an attack from a foreign force. This idea relates to the situation in Iran; if Iran is to develop nuclear bombs the U.S. isn't likely to be the victim of an attack.

Chapter 10
"...since human affairs are so variable that it is almost impossible for any one to keep an army posted in leaguer for a whole year without interruption of some sort" (27). When a country has an army it suggests that they will seek military action if needed; these armies will not remain uninterrupted when the human affairs in today's world vary.

Chapter 14
"For with contempt on one side, and distrust on the other, it is impossible that men should work well together" (38). This quote sums up the U.S. relation with Iran and their nuclear programs. Iran is the side with contempt and the U.S. is the other side with distrust of Iran's motivations; it is impossible for the two countries to have any form of alliance or work together with this situation.

Machiavelli and the Mullahs

This article is about how Machiavelli's masterpiece offers advice on how to handle situations during times of "heightened peril". He wasn't concerned with man's moral perfection but survival in this sometimes violent world. Machiavelli argues that through careful actions leaders can actually shape the outcomes of events to their advantage by "snuffing" out danger. The Mullahs are using Iranian money to concoct their terrorist trade in Iraq. Machiavelli also makes reference to the idea that if you wait to hear big news it could be too late; which could suggest the U.S. taking action against Iran before something big happens.

President Bush could be guided by three principles of Machiavelli's novel: self-reliance, the importance of being feared and the need to take the initiative once conflict is inevitable. This idea in the article makes sense. President Bush can't and doesn't rely on others when reaching decisions because "the arms of another will fall from your hand, will weigh you down, or restrain you". However, at the same time leaders need the people to back them up, that's why the U.S. is a Republic and elects their leaders. Another idea mentioned is there is "greater security in being feared than in being loved" and that mutual interests make alliances, not affection. This idea makes sense if Islam really does fear the loss of power.

One final idea Machiavelli leaves us with, a nation "will always have to choose between risks...prudence lies in knowing how to distinguish between degrees of danger and in choosing the least danger as the best". Taking action and using force against Tehran's nuclear operations make be the path with less danger.

The Prince

Chapter IX Of the Civil Princedom
This chapter had the best advice for achieving the role as a prince or leader of a country.
"I come now to the second case, namely, of the leading citizen who, not by crimes or violence, but by the favour of his fellow-citizens is made Prince of his country" (24).
This seems to be the best way for achieving this role because the people support you as the leader and to me a great leader is one who is supported by the people.

Chapter VI Of New Princedoms Which a Prince Acquires With His Own Arms and By Merit
This chapter had an idea included that would represent the worst advice.
"The wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour" (12).
A wise man wouldn't need to follow the actions of previous leaders or imitate those who have excelled. A wise man would have his own ideas and goals to pursue that might not be the same as great leaders of the past but could make him an even better leader.

Time Article Iran

The National Intelligence affirms that Iran is a threat

The Bush Administration: Plan is to pressure Iran in order to stop them from gaining the intelligence to complete nuclear bombs. They believe that easing up on the pressure would be a "tragic mistake".

Iran policy is a compromise between the hawks, who believe military action is needed, and Washington realists and European allies, who believe negotiating between the U.S. and Iran is the way to go. Iran can't be trusted and President Bush will not speak with Iran until they stop their production of enriched uranium. He is continuing to push coercive sanctions while leaving the option of military action "on the table".

Washington Hawks: This group doesn't want to risk failure to notice nuclear threats or intelligence that happened with Iraq. They believe military action should be kept on the table along with coercive sanctions to further pressure Iran.

Democrats and Republican 'Realists': This group supports negotiations with Iran. The administration's claims on activity in Iran has been "inflated" and there is no reason to seek military action. This group wants to attack the Bush Administration for inflating the threat of nuclear attack and push a new approach for diplomacy.

Israel: Recognizes the threat reported by the NIE and thinks that if the U.S. doesn't react on the information Israel will face mortal danger by an Iranian bomb. Israel will push the U.S. to take coercive action and persuade Europe to back up stronger sanctions.

Europe, China, Russia and Arabs: These European countries believe we should keep pressure on Iran to meet the UN demands but don't believe the NIE gave any threatening report. China and Russia don't see the need to strengthen sanctions against Iran.

Iran: Will not be "bowing" to any foreign power trying to weaken their uranium enrichment and nuclear programs. They insist on maintaining their current research rate.

It's hard to say what group has the best method of action when we don't know whether or not the Bush Administration is inflating the NIE reports or not. It is also hard to know whether or not Iran would use a nuclear bomb if it was concocted.

Iran: Struggle for Democracy

Citizens of Iran are demanding democracy after twenty-five years of Islamic theocracy. In the 1950's Mossadeq was the prime minister that gained control from the Shah. Shah's pro-Western regime was reinstated but portrayed as benefiting Western powers, the United States. Opposition arose against Shah and Khomeini was founded the new influential cleric. He declared the country the Islamic Republic of Iran and called for a new religious government based on the strict principles of Shi'iah Islam. He died in 1989 and lower-level clerics controlled everyday political operations. Members of the opposition could expect imprisonment, torture and even execution. The ruling clerics possessed the countries wealthy while citizens experienced unemployment with a rising cost of living. Young people, three-quarters of the population, couldn't listen to Western music, criticize rulers or be involved with the opposite sex.

Mohammad Khatami was elected president in May of 1997. He was a moderate cleric that represented a voice for the young people, university students, and women in the demand for increased democratic freedoms. Reformist newspapers began to circulate as the opposition movement had begun. The conservatives tried to stop the advancements of reform; a clerical regime sent police forces to attack the Tehran University dorms leaving three dead and many injured or arrested. Clerics were moving to protect their conservative ideas by closing reformist newspapers, torturing opposition leaders and having Bassijis break up student demonstrations. Reform seemed to disappear. "The growing political crisis in Iran garnered worldwide attention" and has grabbed the attention of the United States specifically. The citizens and some officials in Iran are torn on whether or not they want U.S. intervention leaving our country to face the difficulty in compiling a strategy for facing the Islamic Republic of Iran.

After reading this article it seems obvious that the first step in solving any problems would be for Iran to figure out their governmental situation. With political crisis occurring throughout the country that remains the number one priority before solving problems with nuclear factories.

Should the U.S. Attack Iranian Nuclear Facilities?

When deciding whether or not the U.S. should preemptively attack Iranian nuclear facilities I believe Edward N. Luttwak made a better "no" argument. The issue summary in the beginning of the article tends to provoke the no opinion by listing three possible outcomes which creates negative outcomes. The use of force "could alienate the Iranian public, further incite Muslim opposition to the United States around the world, and lead Iran to retaliate by working to stimulate attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq by Shiite groups linked to Iran" (129). To forestall anticipated outcomes by acting first will not lead to anything positive. In the yes argument, Mario tries to say the U.S. is "given up on a vital element of its national defense" (130). However, According to Edward, these efforts to build nuclear weapons began over thirty years ago and are still years away from producing a single bomb. This shows that a preempt attack will not be effective; how can there be such "uncertainty" on whether or not Iran will attack when they have yet to produce a bomb? What would be the chance of an attack on the U.S. when we have been allies with Iran in the past? Most Iranians except for the very few extremists admire the U.S.; we need to gain our future allies back. Also, the engineers and scientists working on the nuclear weapons are more sensible people and not necessarily nationalists who promote their leaders. Overall, the situation hasn't progressed enough to ignite the fear and "uncertainty" to provoke action against Iranian nuclear facilities.

H of D Quote Response

“In seasons of pestilence some of us will have a secret attraction to the disease--a terrible passing inclination to die of it. And all of us have like wonders hidden in our breasts, only needing circumstances to evoke them.”

In times of plague some will have the disease—an inclination to die of it.
All of us have hidden wonders in our hearts only needing situations to cause them to appear.

I think the quote is trying to state how humans are inherently evil; relating the hidden wonders in our hearts to secret attractions to diseases that are both evoked by circumstances. This quote relates to a theme in Heart of Darkness, human nature. In the novel Joseph Conrad uses rivets as symbols for laws and restraints. As Marlow made his journey into the heart of Africa he was exposed to a less civilized culture, lacking restraints, allowing circumstances to evoke wild, savage, and evil behavior in Africans and Mr. Kurtz. The main idea, without some kind of restraints humans will express their inherent evil. This compares to both White Fang and Lord of the Flies. In White Fang, Jack London’s idea is that humans are clay and behavior is molded by one’s environment. Humans can be evil if their environment causes that behavior but they aren’t inherently evil. Conrad and London have opposing ideas on human nature while Conrad’s theory is similar to William Golding’s. In the Lord of the Flies we learn that living in a utopia doesn’t create perfect behavior to match. These boys had food, shelter, and nice weather but their utopia didn’t prevent the inherent evil of mankind to surface. While not all of the boys expressed evilness (attraction to disease) they all are considered inherently evil (all of us have hidden wonders).

Heart of Darkness Section Two

African Americans are displayed as savages. Marlow can make observations about their savage appearance but his feelings contrast with what his eyes see. When he was thinking about the death of his helmsman he said, "I missed him even while his body was still lying in the pilot house. Perhaps you will think it passing strange this regret for a savage who was no more account than a grain of sand in a black Sahara" (46). Marlow is aware of how African Americans don't count for much in Sahara; he misses the helmsman and feels sorrow. He also uses the term "savage" and "nigger" showing how he views African Americans as inferior but not necessarily referring to the color of their skin. He may feel superior to African Americans but that doesn't make him racist. According to the American Heritage Dictionary corruption is ruining morally, perverting, contaminating and destroying integrity. The Europeans have corrupted African Americans by simply using the terms "savage", "nigger" and describing them as wild and untamed. Marlow speaks of the African Americans when he says, "Well, you know what was the worst of it--this suspicion of their not being inhuman" (32). Marlow states that when people begin to suspect that African Americans are not inhuman it can be the worst feeling. "They howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces" and ugly as it might have looked "he must at least be as much of a man as these on the shore" meaning a real man knows there is a relation between himself and the African Americans, whether he speaks of it or not the thought is there (32).

Marlow displays some thoughts of colonialism when he says, "We were wanderers on prehistoric earth, on an earth that wore the aspect of an unknown planet. We could have fancied ourselves the first of men taking possession of an accursed inheritance, to be subdued at the cost of profound anguish and of excessive toil" (32). He is stating that they were wondering in what seemed to be unclaimed land that they could have taken possession of but they would have been overpowered by distress and hard work. Mr. Kurtz also explains that "we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, a must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of supernatural beings--we approach them with the might as of a deity" This shows how many white people thought they could approach African Americans as supernatural beings and godlike, showing they had good intentions for colonizing.

Marlow said that "all Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz" relating to the idea that Mr. Kurtz' mother was half-English and his father half-French. Meaning Kurtz was not of one background and not the average European looking to colonize Africa. Kurtz had a diverse background "all Europe" not just a part of Europe shaped him.

Should U.S. Send Peace Troops?

The issue in Darfur is between Arab Janjaweed and the Muslims. Rebel groups in Darfur formed to attack the Sudanese government for discriminating against non-Arab tribes. The Sudanese government formed a militia known as Janjaweed to chase rebel groups out using rape and murder to clear entire villages. Chad and the African Union have made efforts to stop the battle while the Sudanese government rejects UN force and requested the AU to leave.

Lawerence Kaplan argues that Darfur is in need of foreign intervention. Many activists want to fund the AU and lobby for the UN however; Lawrence thinks the AU won't put a stop to the killings, the UN will not solve the crisis and "the victims of Darfur can be saved by one thing and one thing alone: American power" (149). Through his argument he seems to be playing the sympathy card. The killing taking place in Darfur is horrible and if the U.S. can help it should but as David Rieff said in the no argument, "The United States is the last country that should be leading an international operation in Darfur" (151). The U.S. is in a bad position; viewed as a bully and imperial aggressor. International military should be deployed to keep the civilians safe from the attacking Sudanese government and to ward off the term genocide. David made a point concerning political interests of non-arab tribes, rebels, and the Janjaweed. He says, "To describe the former simply as victims deprives them of any agency. To describe the latter simply as killers precludes actually understanding the conflict a anything other than an eruption of human wickedness, rather like a volcano or an earthquake" meaning that a side can't be taken without understanding the conflict (153).

Although it seems morally correct for the U.S. to send peace keeping troops, I believe the no argument is stronger. With problems in Iraq and being in a bad position, the U.S. shouldn't be leading a peace intervention. The United Nations should stand up for one of their goals in securing peace.

Heart of Darkness Section One

As Marlow begins his story, he is thinking of the Romans and when they first arrived in England nineteen hundred years earlier. Marlow emphasizes the idea that there were no colonists there was conquerors. The earth was nothing but "sandbanks, marshes, forests, savages...cold, fog, tempests, disease, exile, and death" (4). Everyone fought for themselves, wanting to reach a higher calling and escape. Life was mysterious and savage. Forests, jungles and men were wild. There were few seeking efficiency, civilization, in this untamed environment which goes into the next question.

Imperialism is aggressively extending rule over foreign countries. Colonialism is a form of imperialism meaning exploitation by a stronger country of a weaker one; the use of the weaker country's resources to strengthen and enrich the stronger country. Marlow says before the quote, "They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force--nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others" (4). This goes along with the definitions of both imperialism and colonialism; the stronger country is enriched from the weakness of another country (colonialism) by an aggressive or brute force (imperialism). Moving on to the next quote from Marlow both colonialism and imperialism are addressed. The conquest of the earth was possible by the stronger aggressively oppressing the weaker in order to conquer land.

Marlow's discussion of maps relates to the idea of conquering a place that would potentially be enriching. When he was younger he would point to a "blank space" on the map and say "When I grow up I will go there." He remembers pointing to the North Pole which he said he hasn't been and won't go, "The glamor's off" (5). The North Pole doesn't have any resources that would be enriching therefore he sees no point in going there. Colonialism, using a weaker countries resources to strengthen and enrich the stronger countries.

Withdraw from the United Nations?

When deciding whether or not the United States should withdraw from the United Nations, it's important to consider the past experience, as Andrea Seastrand does, but also the future of the United Nations, as The Defense Monitor does. After reading the packet on whether or not the U.S. should withdraw from the United Nations, I agree with The Defense Monitor. The U.S. was a leading country in the organization of the United Nations; how would our country be perceived if we withdrew from an organization we helped to create.

The Defense Monitor listed many ways of reforming the United Nations for efficiency and effectiveness, along with decreasing the military force and spending. One of the ideas was based on collective security; developing international security reduces U.S. spending while international peace and security would increase. Imbalances in U.S. contributions and budgets exist between the Pentagon, U.S. military and UN operations. "This gross imbalance reflects a general inability within the Administration and Congress to recognize that the U.S. can, at a significantly less cost, wield great influence over world events and achieve U.S. policy goals by remaining fully engaged in planning and implementing UN peace operations" (76). If the United Nations developed a "quick reaction force" the U.S. and other nations could decrease their military efforts and expenses. The Defense Monitor argues not only that we should remain a member of the United Nations but we should remain a member of a reformed UN.

The opposing side, Andrea Seastrand takes, argues that the UN is a waste of American life and money, also stating the UN is "inept in reducing conflict and human suffering" and has increased both. If the United Nations was reformed on ideas of security the U.S. would no longer budget national security, which would reduce "wasted" money. Another argument is the 18.4 million, in the taxpayer's dollars, embellishing conference facilities in Africa rather than funding famine. The United Nations isn't the only organization responsible for an instance where a taxpayer's dollars were placed in the wrong hands; they had intended to fund famine. Taking a glance around the world at other countries would reinforce how free America is. There aren't enough arguments made that a reformed United Nations couldn't resolve.