I dream a world where man, No other man will scorn – Langston Hughes

      I dream a world where man, No other man will scorn – Langston Hughes. Equality is what every human being should have; no matter which gender, skin colour or race they are. Everybody has the right to equality, so why are we denying it to some people?

Equality for both genders

      Over the years, especially in the past decades, there have been wars and bloodshed about equality. At the time, different states of the US had different views on slavery; while the southern states such as Mississippi and Alabama agreed to slavery, the northern states like Washington, DC and Oregon disagreed and believed in equal rights for all “blacks” or African Americans. At the end, the Union states won the war and slavery was abolished in the US in 1865. Gender equality is also an important thing to fight for, since women haven’t had the same rights as men up until 1893, when New Zealand granted women full suffrage (the right to vote). Women have not had the same rights as men for most of history, since they weren’t allowed to “own property, conduct business or make decisions about their families and reproduction.” In 1791, Olympe de Gouges published a document called “The Declaration of the Rights of Women”, which was based on “The Declaration of the Rights of Men”. “The Rights of Men” was published in the middle of the French Revolution, which told of the basic rights of people, but women weren’t included in it. Soon after, Olympe was executed for writing the document. Again, in 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (also known as the Suffragettes). Her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia, and her wanted the right to vote and weren’t okay to wait for it. “… we interrupted a great many meetings … and we were violently thrown out and insulted. Often we were painfully bruised and hurt.” (From Emmeline Pankhurst’s autobiography) Nonetheless, after the struggles, the wars and the bloodshed, we finally found peace and equality…

 Equality is an important thing to fight for because it leads to peace and happiness for all. As stated previously, many wars have been fought over equality, but if we gave equal rights to everyone, there would less conflict and fighting. As long as we give equal rights to everyone, no matter their gender or skin colour, the fighting will stop and there will be peace in the world. Equality means that everyone gets the same rights and opportunities in life. Insuring that everyone gets equal rights and chances, every one will joyful and there won’t be as much conflict as there was before. For example, in the US, women can get the same jobs and salaries as men and are able to live a good life. They also are able to own property, and make important decisions about their family and children. Having equality for all because it leads to peace and happiness for all. Everyone will be able to have the same rights and opportunities as each other, including women, who now have the rights to equal jobs and salaries. Equality is not only about the present, but the future as well…

Equality for all races

 Equality for everyone isn’t only about the present, but about the future as well. If we think about the future generations and how they will succeed, it will give us motivation to fight for it even more. Equal pay isn't just a women's issue; when women get equal pay, their family incomes rise and the whole family benefits.  – Mike Honda. This quotes shows us that if women get the same education and pay as men do, which they do nowadays, they and their entire family be benefited by it. The woman will also be independent and won’t have to rely on her husband if anything goes wrong; she will be able to support herself well. In the past, girls weren’t allowed to go to school because it was their “duty” to stay at home, clean and take care of the house, have kids and look after the family. But nowadays, girls have gained the right to education and a proper job. If we look at the past, we are appalled because this seems unlikely to us and to me especially, since I have had the right to go to school since I was old enough to. Today, educated women have made a difference in the world just by being granted the right to go to school. Just imagine how the future will be if we keep this up! Giving women the equal rights as men have opened new doors for woman, as they can live independently and make big differences in the world.

      But it’s not only women’s rights that have been given; African Americans (in the US), children and people of certain races have equality as well. Equality is what every human being should have; no matter which gender, skin colour or race they are. Everybody has the right to equality, so why have we been denying it to some people? What can you do to change this?

The Empires of the Future are the Empires of the Mind

      The empires of the future are the empires of the mind. – Winston Churchill. Education is a very important part of our lives, since we know live in a world of discoveries and knowledge. Not every child has the opportunity that we here at ISKL receive and that is why I know and believe it is worth fighting for.

      Education is a key part to any child’s life, no matter where they are in the world. For example, even now 20 million children have never attended a public school (info graphic). To us - who have a proper education - this seems unlikely, but in third world countries, it is true. A majority of these children live in third world countries and extreme poverty, with little or no food or water. Another reason why education is important is that it can affect their long-term lifestyle. This means that if even one child in a family is able to go to school and get a high school diploma, the chances of him or her getting a proper job increases. Then, with the money that they receive from the job, they can get a chance to go a proper college and then it goes on from there. Soon the family won’t be poor anymore and will get out of poverty. The result of a complete high-school education can result to getting accepted into a good college and university.

      If a child receives a proper education, they will be able to get into good universities and get proper jobs as well. One outcome could be them getting into a proper university and improve their qualifications. This can mean that they won’t have to live in poverty anymore and improve the lifestyle of the next generation. Additionally, when the child gets married, their husband or wife could also be very qualified. This can allow them to be able to more abroad and live in outside countries, spreading their knowledge and culture as well. This is why education for every child is not only beneficial to the child themselves, but to the rest of the world as well.

Click here to go to the "Education For All" Website by UNESCO

      Schooling is not only beneficial for the child themselves, but for the rest of us as well. Many of the greatest scientists, authors and peace- and freedom fighters, such as Oprah Winfrey, Amartya Sen and Muhammad Yunus, and Maya Angelou didn’t come from rich families, yet they have made a huge impression on the world. They went through many struggles, such as racism, poverty and discriminations – but they succeeded and are some of the most influential figures in history.  One example we can use is Maya Angelou - who is now a famous poet, writer and actor - and her tough childhood. She came from an extremely poor family and was abused by her mother’s boyfriend when she was only eight years old. Maya had to move between houses and once in a while, she didn’t even have an actual home! However, she was able to write exceptional poems and books using her experiences, such as her book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and her Pulitzer Prize nominated poem Give Me A Cool Drink Of Water ‘Fore I Die. And now, she is an icon for her success. Numerous writers and peace fighters etc. came from unprivileged backgrounds, showed us their experiences, spread out their messages and made the world a better place.

      I know that we can improve the education crisis by encouraging schooling and helping build institutes for the less fortunate; and then we can end world poverty one child at a time.

Equality and Freedom Fighters: Mahatma Gandhi

  “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” (The Quotations Page) These words were spoken by the famed Indian freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi believed that revenge was immoral and a lot of the times led to hate. Religion offers individuals a framework to help people make moral choices. It was because of his framework of base beliefs that Gandhi did what he did in a peaceful and non-violent way. He helped India help become independent by using his morals to protest in a peaceful way. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2 1869 in the town of Portbander, a small town in the western state of Kathiawar. He was born to the Vaishya caste. His father was a Dewan - or leader - in his town. Gandhi’s mother was a very religious woman who left a deep impression in his mind. It was because of her that Gandhi was such a devoted Hindu. He is also famous for his way of protesting in South Africa and India. Since he was a young boy, Gandhi wanted to study law in Great Brittan and become a lawyer, which he later did. Later, he was inspired to help fight for freedom of Indians in South Africa from the discrimination of the British, who were in rule then. When he was in South Africa, Gandhi once experienced the unfairness when he was travelling in a train. A foreign man came into the first-class compartment and found Gandhi sitting there. He later returned with a constable who told Gandhi to move to the compartment car. Gandhi protested and was thrown out of the train. Gandhi was amazed by the unfairness the Indians were facing in South Africa and dedicated his time to organize the Indian community there. These actions and others later in his life in battling racial and religious injustice would transform the world.


   Throughout his life, Gandhi displayed a significant amount of honesty that later became one of his true virtues. One incident to prove this happened in his childhood. When he was at school, a British inspector came and tested his class on their spelling. Gandhi got all but one word wrong. His teacher noticed this and motioned Gandhi to copy the answers from his classmate. Gandhi refused and was later scolded for his ‘stupidity’. (D@dalos) The morals that he was taught through his religion helped him make the right choice to not lie and to be honest.  

   Gandhi had a large amount of determination throughout his life. He later used this value when he led the famous Salt March of 1930 to protest on the British tax on salt. It was a 23-day 400-kilometer march to the coast where they made their own salt from seawater. (BrainPOP) This protest was to boycott British made goods that had heavy taxes and were unfair to the poorest of Indians at that time. This determination later helped free India from British rule.

   Gandhi is remembered for his tolerance and acceptance of those different than him. He was taught by his parents to be tolerant of others that were different than him. He used this moral to protest for the unfairness of the caste system, in which Brahmins and Kshatriyas were at the top, Vaishyas, such as Gandhi himself, were in the middle and the “untouchables”, who were thought by the higher castes to be “spiritually impure”. (BrainPOP) Gandhi thought that this was unfair, so he had a twenty-one day fast to protest against the unfair treatment of the “untouchables”. His tolerance and religious acceptance of all kinds of people, whether they are black or white; rich or poor; male or female, has been admired to this day.

   Mahatma Gandhi’s religious beliefs influenced him by helping him make moral decisions and also helped to shape his personality. His traits also came from his religious beliefs and morals. Gandhi was brought up to be honest and tolerant, which also came from his Hindu beliefs.  His religious and moral beliefs helped him to become “the man of the millennium’. 

The Environment: UNLESS

In Dr Seuss’ book, “The Lorax”, we are reminded of the beauty of nature and how important it is to us. We should fight for the environment.

The environment is important to us in many ways. We live in it, we eat from it and make livings from it. In The Lorax, the Once-ler is a business man that grows fond of the Truffula Tree and uses them to make "Theends". A voice of the Trees, the Lorax, stops the Once-ler and warns him to stop. However, the Once-ler pays no heed to the Lorax's words, which shows human ignorance, and continues his work calling his family to the forest to make "Theends". 

When we harm and hurt nature, we not only affect the plants, but the wildlife as well. In the book, over the course of time, the Once-lers pollute the air and the waters, harming the "Swoemee-Swans" and "Humming-Fish" and taking food away from the "Bar-ba-loots". Soon, all of the animals leave and there is no more wildlife left. The environment is ruined and soon the area becomes abandoned.

This might happen to our forests and jungles, UNLESS we do something quickly. UNLESS we try to make up for our ignorance and greed, the natural world will be gone. Nature helps us in many ways but sometimes we use it to the maximum, only taking and not giving. 

Freedom: Fight For It

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by oppressed”. These were the words of the freedom fighter Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom is defined as “having the right to be able to think, act and talk freely without fear” (Apple Dictionary). If I was given the choice, I would base the society on the New World around freedom.

Freedom is an crucial characteristic in a civilization because it gives people power to have an opinion about what they think is right. Freedom allows the citizens to help make critical decisions that they (the people) would be satisfied with. You can also become acquainted with the people’s thoughts and it would help you understand their views of the world. 

Furthermore, a society built around freedom would work better, than, say, a communism, where one reigns supreme. The public have a choice on the matter and everyone’s voice would be heard and counted for. This also links to peace and justice in the New World, where people can demand a fair trial and there are no wars or protests. The citizens of the society would be happier to have their voices heard and to help make a difference in their future.

If there is a lack of freedom, then the society would crumble down and turn it into a dystopia, where the citizens rights are limited and freedom are repressed. It would turn into a nightmare and soon fade away. As Martin Luther King Jr., said “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Freedom is everything. Fight for it.

My Learning Profile: A

1. I learn best when.... I am sitting at the front of the class, so that I can see clearly and ask the teacher whatever questions needed.

2. I need to.... Focus more in class and get extra practice with the topics I need to work more hard on.

3. The strategies that would help me in my learning.... I should take more notes during class and do extra readings on the topic given.

4. I would like my teachers to know this about me.... I need to sit at the front of the class because of my glasses and I also pay attention better when I am.

The Hunger Games Assessment - Significant Quotes

Significant Quotes

I chose to do significant quotes from the book, The Hunger Games because I thought that it showed how Katniss was and how the world that she lived in was like. A few of these quotes show her personality and we can get a good idea of what made her so tough and protective over the ones that she loved.

The Hunger Games Assessment - Image Collage

Image Collage

I chose to do a collage because I thought that it would show the way Katniss is portrayed in different parts of the book; first she is shown in the Meadow in the Seam in District 12, then she is shown in the Capitol getting ready for the interview with Caesar Flickerman and then she is in the arena of the Hunger Games. I also wanted to show the Capitol and the arena and the way the Hunger Games are biased.

The Hunger Games Assessment - Propaganda Brochure

Propaganda Brochure

I did the propaganda brochure because I thought it would show the way the Hunger Games was entertainment to the Capitol people since they enjoyed the deaths of the tributes. I also wanted to show the way that the Hunger Games were biased and made the audience like the blood and gore. The Capitol were also misguiding the audience by making it more gruesome each year.

The Lutrell Psalter

1. What is the Luttrell Psalter? What does it portray?
The Lutrell Psalter is an ancient manuscript that was commissioned by a wealthy landlord. It shows the type of work that the serfs had to do on a wealthy lords estate.

2. What type of source is the Luttrell Psalter?
It is a primary source.

3. Why is the Luttrell Psalter a unique document?

It is one of the most striking manuscripts to survive the Middle Ages. It was also the most valuable at the time. It shows a year on the estate of a lord and the type of work that they did back then. It is a type of documentary of sorts.

Taking a Stand

The reading "Taking a Stand" is located on moodle under "Boy in the Striped Pajamas" section.  Read it, and respond to the following:  Describe the choices that were made by Germans in response to Kristillnacht.  What choice might you have made? 

The Germans saw the Kristallnacht as a turning point of the country. They had to make important choices the days after. One family chose to leave the country because their son was told to throw stones at the Jews. Other Germans protested by resigning from the NAZI party. Others sent letters to foreign embassies anonymously. But others sent food and other necessities to their Jewish friends. But a majority of Germans just stood by and watched, ignoring what was going on at that time.
If I was in Germany at that time, I would send letters to the foreign embassies in protest to what was happening.

Analyzing Visual Images

The Caption on the poster on the left reads "Healthy Parents Have Healthy Children".  On your post please do the following:

1.  Describe what you see in the picture.  Consider color, placement, people and objects, and composition.  Everything that you see.

In the picture, I see a German family; a father and mother and four children; two boys and two girls. this family is shown to be very happy and the children are laughing and energetic. The family is shown to be  The poster is in black and white with light falling on the family. In this poster, the family are in the middle, with the youngest daughter having a doll and the elder son looks like he wants to be like his father; "strong and proud".
 

2.  Interpret:  Guess about the creator is trying to express through the caption and images.  Why is this message being conveyed?

I think that the message the creator is trying to convey is that all the German families should be more or less like the one in the poster.

Evaluate:  What is the intended purpose of this image?  The intended audience? Does the image achieve its purpose?
The intended purpose of this image is to tell the public that this is the way a German family should be.The audience is the normal public. I think that the image does serve its purpose and the capion also helps the viewer understand the purpose.

Propaganda and analyzing visual images

Today we studied some of the aspects of propaganda and its uses, particularly in regard to NAZI Germany.  First of all, answer this question: What is the definition of the word propaganda?  Next, why was it used so extensively by Hitler and the NAZIs?

The word propaganda means "information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc".

Propaganda was used extensively by Hitler and the NAZIs so that they would get the support they needed to win elections and have the citizens listen to them. They could also misguide the Germans and make them think that the Jews, hippies and other communities that did not fit Hitler's vision of "perfect" with blond hair and blue eyes, were not good and therefore discriminated against. The propaganda and campaign posters also had the color red on them that caught people's attentions.

Where do they stand? Wilhelm Schlutz's Point of View

Introduction:


I stand for Wilhelm Schultz. He works with his father on the family farm in East Prussia. His uncle and grandfather live in Poland and Danzig because the Treaty of Versailles spilt up East Prussia. The family cannot visit them without a passport and other official documents, but this doesn't seem right to Wilhelm. He was taught to admire the German heroes, so he is disappointed with the government that affected his family so much. He also worries about the Communists because his father and he are proud of their land.


Views:

I think that Wilhelm will vote for the NAZI Party because he disagrees which what the Communist Party and the Social Democrat Party both stand for. I think that he also wants Germany to have a new leader and direction.

Response to Readings: "Anger and Humiliation" and "Voices in the Dark"

Read and annotate "Anger and Humiliation" with questions and comments.  Make special note of the description of Adolf Hitler.  Highlight any clues or statements on his personality, personal life, beliefs. In class on Tuesday we will be making an identity chart for him.  Also, on pg. 124, carefully read the Nazi Party program.  

Choose two points of this program that you think are especially unfair.  

The two points that I chose were (4) "German blood as a requirement for German citizenship. No Jew can be a member of the nation" and (7) "The state ensures that every citizen live decently and earn his livelihood. If it is impossible to provide food for the entire population, then aliens must be expelled".

Why are they unfair?  

I think that these points are unfair because who determines who is fit to be a member of any community or nation. I also think that during a food shortage, kicking out a certain community of people just because you can't feed the rest of the population is totally unfair.

Which ones do you have questions about?
I have a question about (3) "Land and territory (colonies) for our surplus population". What does this point mean?

Then, read "Voices in the Dark".  Annotate with questions and comments.  Then, answer this question:  

If you had been on the train, do you think you would have said or done anything?  Have you or someone you know ever had a similar experience?

If I was on that train, I would have just sat there and not have said anything because then what good will it do to me? I have had an experience like that when my friends were having a discussion about the computers we owned. I told them that I had an old HP computer that I was still using and the next morning they weren't talking to me because of that.

Religions: Field Trip to Different Temples

A mosque with a variety of geometrical and symmetrical designs. You had to be a Muslim to step onto the platform.

The outside of a mosque - not very fancy, but calm and peaceful. Colours used: Brown and red.

Designs can be seen in windows, pillars, tiles and walls.

A chinese shrine in the temple where we went. People burn essence sticks and candles.

A chinese shrine which was next to the door.

People offer mandarins and other stuff to their ancestors or god(s).

More food and items. You can see a woman burning a candle.

A design on the ceiling of the Hindu temple. the temple was very colourful.

A side view of the temple. You can see the pictures which depict a scene in Hindu mythology.

The main temple for the deity. Durning the puja or prayer, the idol of the deity would be bathed in milk, water and flowers.

A man playing an instrument during the puja rests. The temple was free for any one to come and pray, even if they were different religion.

Reflection

We went to three different types of places of worship; a Hindu temple, a Chinese temple and an Islamic mosque. All of them were different and similar in different ways. For example, both the Hindu and Chinese temples had candles and essences lit in them. In the Islamic mosque, you had to remove your shoes before entering it, which was the same as the Hindu temple. However, they all also had their differences. The Chinese temple was way more colourful than the Islamic mosque. Even if all of the three religions are different, they must all share some common values, such as honesty. Out of all the three, I found the Chinese temple the most interesting because anyone could just walk out of the streets, come inside to pray and go outside again. their was no certain time to worship or pray at. 

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Discussion: It is acceptable to remove a member of a society or group if he or she is thought to be inferior to the others


I think that this is untrue because everyone has the right to say and it is not up to anyone to just remove them from the society or group for any possible reason. For example, in World War 2, Adolf Hitler had all of the Jewish people in Germany killed just because of their belief and because he had a grudge against the Jews. I think that no one has the right to remove anyone from society just because of anything from their skin color to their religions, cultures and beliefs.

What is a 'good' life?

A good life is one with ethics and good values. A good life can also be when you follow your religion and live peacefully. For example, during WW2, many people could not sleep peacefully because of the gunshots and the war. I think we are lucky that we have peace where we live and live together with our family, since a lot of families around the world have been separated because of war and can't stay together. I think this is what it means to have a 'good' life.