Brave New World Pt. 1The book that I chose to read is called Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This book takes place on earth, specifically in Central London at the year 632 after ford (a.f). The story opens up to a Director giving some students a tour at the Hatchery and Conditioning Center. This centre is a factory that produces human beings and conditions them for a their prepared and fated role in the World State. In this world human beings no longer produce living offspring. Instead, they use removed ovaries that produce ova that are fertilized in synthetic and incubated in developed bottles. So, through this surgeric removal each fetus produced is assigned to an specific caste. There's Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon, and they all have pre-destined jobs. So, all groups goes through a Bokanovsky process, which is basically cloning, except for Alpha and Beta. The Bokanovky process is a process that shocks eggs with electricity that causes the egg to divide into ninety-six embryos, all identical, that later become human beings. The director goes to different sections of the factory and introduced Henry Foster, and employee at the plant, who explains about the fetuses undergo different treatments depending on their castes. So, different castes have to deal with different things. For example, the students observed how the nurses brought some books and flowers to the Delta babies. Also, they introduce Lenina Crowne to the student who is a nurse and talks about the development of growth. They all crawl to them with such joy and create a positive atmosphere. Then, the babies get an electric shock. After being shocked the nurses bring the flowers and the books the babies turn away from them in terror. Basically, some castes get shocked in order to grow hatred to certain things that the factory chooses. Reading this book has been very interesting. What really caught my attention the most was the use of technology and science and compared it to our society in that aspect nowadays. Our technology is so advanced and it's crazy to see how advanced it's getting, I mean it isn't as advanced as the one in the book, but it can lead to that. I am amazed on how they want certain castes to have specific fears. I've never read something like this and that's why I really am super interested and intrigued. I am excited to see how the castes differentiate. The way the government has a large role in a way that they take control over everything. It's a very thought-provoking book and it makes me think about how I would never like to live in a world like that.
I will comment on Paulina's and Jenny's post.
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April 10,2018 "Trump Now Sees Qatar as an Ally Against Terrorism" by Peter Baker In a remarkable turnaround on Tuesday, Mr Trump hosted Sheikh Tamim at the Oval Office and praised Qatar's efforts to address US concerns. Their military cooperation is very solid, very strong. Qatar explained they do not and will not tolerate with people who fund terrorism. They've been cooperating with the United States of America to stop funding terrorism around the region. On Tuesday, April 10th President Donald Trump welcomed the emir from Persian Gulf State of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to recognize Qatar as a very big advocate of peace. The friendly visit represented a remarkable turnaround for a president who had once portrayed Qatar as part of the problem. The emir stated that they've been cooperating with the United States of America to stop funding terrorism around the region. The US president initially sided with Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations when they cut ties with their neighbor over its alleged support for jihadists. Qatar acknowledged providing assistance to Islamist groups designated as terrorist organizations by some of its neighbors, notably the Muslim Brotherhood. But it denied aiding jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda or Islamic State (IS). The turnaround on Tuesday however stated that they were making sure that terrorism funding is stopped in the countries that the US is really related to. "But those countries are stopping the funding of terrorism, and that includes UAE and it includes Saudi Arabia, it includes Qatar and others. A lot of countries were funding terrorism and we're stopping it" said Mr Trump. Qatar, which hosts al-Udeid Air Base, home to nearly 10,000 American troops, has signed agreements with the United States for sharing information on terrorists and their money supplies and hopes to keep doing so. It's great to see that Qatar has joined the mission to end terrorism and its going to be a big help since it is a very wealthy country that will be a grand support to the US government. However, what I think is the main reason why this event happen was when the dispute began last June, when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain severed all diplomatic and trade links with Qatar. Qatar's only land border was closed. The Saudi-led bloc accused Qatar of supporting terrorist groups across the region and of being too close to Iran, with whom it shares a huge offshore gas field. Qatar acknowledged providing assistance to Islamist groups designated as terrorist organizations but it denied helping jihadist. In return for ending the partial blockade, Qatar's neighbors demanded that it shut down the Al Jazeera news network, close a Turkish military base, cut ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, and downgrade relations with Iran. Qatar rejected such demands, saying it would not agree to anything that threatened its sovereignty. So they quickly established new trade routes to ensure the basic needs of its population were met and spent tens of billions of dollars to prop up its economy. I think that finding new allies against terrorism is such a great benefit in the aspect of decreasing terrorist attacks and terrorism itself. I believe that the more countries join to achieve peace, the faster we will able to stop terrorism. Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE are very wealthy countries and I believe that their support is a great help for the United States. Becoming allies with such countries will provide many opportunities to spread peace around the middle east and being able to have access to the people. Besides Qatar has hosted the largest US military facility in the Middle East and has demanded that it cut off anything associated with terrorists to rejoin the circle of responsible nations, which I think is an overall benefit. I will comment on Paulina's and Jenny's blog posts. CNN
Mon March 5, 2018 "Is the West Virginia teachers' strike the future of American labor?" by Gregory Krieg The event is about the Teacher’s strike in West Virginia that started in February 22, 2018. The strike of 22,000 teachers has froced all schools in the 55 counties across the state to close. The obvious impetus for the strike lies in the state’s terrible treatment of its teachers, whose pay ranked 48th nationally in 2016. February 22, was the rise of a teacher's strike in west virginia. First, to secure a meaningful raise for educators whose compensation is among the lowest in the country and, second, though perhaps even more important, to come up with a fix for the Public Employees Insurance Agency, their embattled health coverage program. The strike kept about 277,000 students and 35,000 employees across the state's public schools out of classrooms, according to the AP, forcing parents to find day care and make other arrangements for their children. Missed school days must be made up, but individual counties will decide whether to add days to the end of the school year. The teachers were not just demanding a pay raise; they were also calling for reforms to the state’s beleaguered Public Employees Insurance Agency, or PEIA, which is meant to provide all public employees with affordable health insurance. When it comes to teacher salaries, West Virginia ranks 48th in the nation, according to National Tacher’s association. And it's one of only five states where teacher wages actually went down between 2015 and 2016. That would explain why nearly 20,000 teachers and about 13,000 school service personnel are battling the state's government for better benefits and higher pay. The West Virginia teachers' strike began on February 22, 2018 yet it barely came to an agreement this month. The typical teacher in the state was paid $45,622 a year, compared to the national average of $58,353. I think that this event had to be done sooner or later. In my perspective, I believe, that it shouldn't have some to this extent. I think it's very unecessary to have to go through a teacher's strike, but after all it's what we needed in order to comme to an agreement and to settle or come up with a solution. It's very depressing to see that it got this far to have the teacher's strike. I really hope that this was a wake up call to the nation in regards to the teachers' salary. I will comment on Paulina's and Jenny's blog. Charlie Gordon, after discovering that Dr. Strauss and Nemur can’t compare to his genius mind, runs away with Algernon. When in the Exhibition of their work Charlie let’s Algernon scale from his cage and leaves with him back to New York. He is very confused and disappointed to know that the directors of this experiment didn’t have much knowledge about it and were frauds. Charlie is considerate and understands their brain capacity and knows that he is a genius so they aren’t the same. As he goes back he doesn’t return to the lab or the college where he studies. He goes to find an apartment for himself and Algernon where he meets Fay. His beautiful and young neighbor from across the hall. Fay is an artist and we can see that she isn’t interested in anything with science or psychological involvement; as when she sees Charlie’s room she is bother by how organized it is. Charlie is emotionally comfortable with Fay and isn’t afraid of her. He is in some way attracted to her and she feels the same. One night he gets him drunk and tries to sleep with him but the next morning he is notified that nothing happened because as he was drunk he was acting like a child. From the past readings we know that Charlie learns so fast yet he is sti whine emotionally. He tries to find a formula or a scientific basis to find an answer to this action but his innocence and purity and emotional state can’t be dealt with science. He feels like there’s a kid, his younger self, watching them. He tries again with Fay and this time he overcomes his fear of being with a woman. He isn’t in love with Fay because he loves Alice. He tries to go back with her but that was before he overcame his fear of being attached to another human being physically. Charlie starts noticing something about Algernon and his violent actions. Soon, Algernon is found dead. This means lots of things. If Algernon, the first one to try the experiment, dies, it means sooner or later Charlie will as well. With this new information Charlie tries his best to find a solution to this problem and talks to Alice and finally decides to step up and make love to her. Now that they’re relationship is stronger it makes Alice feel even more depressed. Charlie slowly starts losing his knowledge and we can see that by his return of bad grammar and spelling mistakes. In his last progress report he writes a farewell letter to Alice and Dr. Nemur giving him advice and reminding them to bring Flowers for Algernon to his grave. If I were to write a sequel I would make Alice, and Burt, to prevent Charlie from losing his knowledge. Charlie could’ve have secret journals where he had information about his experiment and give it to them. Since Burt worked in the lab he can secretly get files from the experiment in the lab. Alice, with all her knowledge of Charlie, also works at the lab and is a teacher, so she could help him out. Alice also is emotionally attached to Charlie and I she doesn’t want to see him suffer or die. She would rather help him to stay alive because she loves him.
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel KeyesCharlie Gordon has now been through the operation and hasn't interacted with Algernon, the famous intelligent mouse, but he has interacted with people who he sees daily. Charlie has been realizing things about his "friends" in the bakery but has been kicked out of there because of them. He now understands why they decided to kick them out because he made them feel inferior with his knowledge and one of them actually mentions a reference to the bible. She says that he shouldn't know too much and mess with the plans of God, that's why Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden because they ate from the tree of knowledge. He is confused by that saying, yet in his mind, he knows what she means. Going into more detail about his love life. Charlie and Alice, Ms Kinnian, go on a date, two actually in this 3rd section, and various things seem to be happening. Charlie is so innocent in this aspect of love yet an adult in other subjects. He is still discovering ways how to love and is very afraid of Alice's response to his actions. Alice loves him back and has always been supporting and helping him all along. However, Charlie makes some brutal decisions as they discover new things and she considers his situation and tries to calm him down and help out. Charlie wants to be sure that he is the investment put into this desired relationship is being reciprocated and Alice's reassures that very often. Charlie wants to talk to Alice about where this is going and seems to not control himself and starts getting furious while talking about their feelings because he just wants to create form a relationship with him. Alice is bothered by his temper and reveals the truth, she is tired. She is tired of reading so much and trying to catch up to his knowledge, she has stayed up trying to find an answer for all the question he has but it is impossible it's beyond her reach and amount of knowledge. She just wants the old Charlie who was polite and honest and made everything a very nice story. Yet, his knowledge has changed him and she doesn't know if it's a good thing and believes he should let her figure it out before the move a step forward. If I was Charlie Gordon I would try to seek why things are happening. I know that a have therapy sessions with Dr. Staruss to talk about my problems and I believe that's an advantage. However, I should consider the situation of those who surround me, like Alice, Joe, Gimpy and Nancy. Even though Joe hasn't been the most respectful person in the world I would still see him as part of my growth, because of his actions I was able to recognize what evil intentions were towards those with disabilities. However, I would definitely would keep myself away from him while recognizing his help in some way, I know I would struggle to form a positive relationship with him. Gimpy, between good and bad, was able to show me what kindness looked like in the middle of the darkness. Even though there were times where I would change his way of thinking I forgot to thank him for defending me in those times of unknown disrespect. I would definitely try to keep a good relationship with him and try to talk to him about the changes in my life mentally and emotionally. Nancy, even though she told me that I should go back to the old disabled Charlie, told me that I shouldn't eat from the tree of knowledge because it could be dangerous. She took my side and was there when times where rough and I didn't know it. I would definitely consider her situation but keep my distance because she is ignorant in this change and aspect of growth and she would make me think differently religiously and control my mind in some way. Alice, lastly, I would definitely wouldn't stop pursuing her. She has been the best thing that has happened and has been the most influential on how I should see things and take decisions. I know that my growth has affected the current relationship we have but I hope I can find an explanation to this situation and go back to her. I know that she has impacted my life and wouldn't want to lose that positivity she transmitted into my life. Instead of holding me back she would make me grow and that is something I want.
I will comment on Paulina's and Jenny's blog posts. Flowers by Algernon by Daniel KeyesCharlie Gordon, the main character of this book, is a poor speller and doesn't have much understanding of life. He attends to Beekman College Center, a school for Retarded Adults, where Charlie takes Ms Kinnian's literacy class. He has been chosen to be on an operation because Ms Kinnian knows that Charlie is the only one that is truly passionate about learning. Charlie also works at Donner’s Bakery, where he has “friends”, with Joe Carp, Frank Reilly, and Gimpy. These “friends” aren’t really his friends, as they don’t treat Charlie with respect, except for Gimpy, who seems to defend him for most of the time. Before the operation is done, as Charlie keeps writing his reports, the audience is able to notice that he has problems remembering that he can't remember his own parent's names, except for his sister Norma, but he still doesn't remember much about her either. After the operation is performed you are able to see how his writing improves and is able to he is better at the understanding situation and remembers about his past. After some time and going to now specialized classes with Ms Kinnian he notices that he is catching feelings for her. He doesn't understand this new feeling and wants to know what is really going on. While he is still figuring out his love life, Dr Strauss and Dr Nemur discuss when to "display Charlie" to other scientists and psychologists. Charlie starts to feel like an experiment instead of a human being and starts to question their intentions. Charlie also later realizes that his friends are being disrespectful to him and starts to have bad memories about them. Even though Charlie knows that they're not the best people he really wants to tell them that he is smarter, but he can't because the directors of the operation told him it was a secret. His co-workers at the bakery start noticing a change in Charlie and don't know if it's a good thing. They try to pull a prank on Charlie, for April fools, and Charlie ends up making them look like fools. They ask him to fix one of the machines and to use it, and Charlie starts, fixes it and uses the machine perfectly as if he had already known how to. They are not happy about this, and Charlie wonders why. Charlie is learning new things all the time and his friends at the bakery started to feel inferior compared to his intelligence and they decide to tell Mr Donner about it so he can fire him. Charlie is surprised by the news, he is sad because he knows that when he wasn't smart they were mean to him but now that he talks to them like a normal person they are mad at him for it. Charlie is very confused by this situation and doesn't know what to do. I think that Charlie needs to know that when he talks to other people he needs to make sure he doesn't bring up a topic that will make others look ignorant. Alice, Ms Kinnian, also likes Charlie and tries to use all her intelligence to understand him, yet Charlie also makes her feel inferior with all his knowledge. She used to be such a big help to Charlie but know she feels like she knows nothing. She is able to explain this to Charlie, but that is still something he needs to understand more. He still experimenting new things but he needs to consider their situation at times.
I will be commenting on Paulina's and Jenny's posts. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes This book is about Charlie Gordon a thirty-two old year man with an IQ of sixty-eight and is a poor speller. Has a job at Donner’s Bakery, and takes Miss Alice Kinnian's literacy class three times a week at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults. Charlie is brought to a laboratory to do an experiment, whose goal is to make him smart. Charlie is ambitious and really wants to do anything to become intelligent like his friends at the Bakery. He is tested by the doctors to test his intelligence and to see where it is at the moment. Before they do the famous "operation" they do a Rorschach test, which Charlie thinks he failed. Later, he is asked to solve a maze, which he can't figure out for a while, and is taken to a room where they introduce Algernon, a very smart mouse who seems to always solve the maze before him. Charlie is very impressed by Algernon's abilities, yet he later gets mad at him for always beating him in the race. Dr Strauss, who along with Professor Nemur is the director of the experiment, has instructed Charlie to write everything he thinks and feels in progress reports. Chrlie is also introduced to a TV that will help him remember while he sleeps and doesn't understand it's purpose but ends up having a dream, and actually is a memory, which is a big chnage after the operation. In the beginning of this book you are introduced by the first progress report, and right away you're able to notice his grammar and spelling mistakes. You can see how later after the operation is done and he goes to school more often you are able to see his progress in his writing and thinking. This is a very interesting book, and I thought that it was a great way to portray progress, mentally, from an adults' infant perspective. I am really looking forward to see how his life changes emotionally and how his "friends" from the bakery react to his progress. I also want to find out how Charlie's emotional progress will affect his relationships with his "friends", since they don't treat him with respect due to his disability, and find out how they feel about his situation.
I will comment on Paulina's and Jenny's Post. NEW YORK TIMES DEC. 6, 2017 "Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital and Orders U.S. Embassy to Move" By Mark Landler US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Wednesday and announced plans to relocate the US embassy there, upending seven decades of US foreign policy in a move expected to inflame tensions in the region and unsettle the prospects for peace. Trump also signed a waiver officially delaying the move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for six months. But the State Department's security arm is planning for potentially violent protests at US embassies and consulates. The final placement or status of Jerusalem has always been one of the most difficult and delicate question Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For years, US policy has avoided declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, as the Palestinians also have Jerusalem as their capital. It was argued that a unilateral decision would have an unexpected impact internationally and was supposed to be left to negotiations. This was such a big step for Israel because they are obtaining recognition for having authority over Jerusalem, however, making no mention of their long-held hopes for East Jerusalem to be the capital of a Palestinian state. Palestinians and perhaps everyone are still shoked of the break of the "ultimate deal". An embassy move to Jerusalem would be a violation of international law, and a huge setback to peace hopes is taken as the Palestenian's perspective. Moving the embassy risks setting off diplomatic crises with Arab states, which includes protests. There was widespread condemnation from the Arab world after Trump's decision was announced. December 6,2017 was a historical not only for Israel but for the whole Middle East. In my perspective, this event happened because the day will eventually had to come. It is the U.S who is recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and perhaps that's leaving the Palestine’s with nothing. It had to be done by someone but because it’s such a sensitive topic everyone kept avoiding it. The president thinks that this is a step closer to peace but it might not be the case. The "ultimate deal" wasn't only broken but there's a very important action that is being taken from this event. The move of the U.S Embassy is a long process and Palestine’s are against it since they believe it breaks international laws. Another reason of why this event happened was because, it’s biblical. his event has its causes and effects will come too. In my perspective I believe that this has to be done. Israel had already had authority over Jerusalem before the Palestines came to steal most of the land for their own use. This is a very controversial topic and I believe there’s so many opposing opinions to this including the action of the delayed move of the U.S embassy to Jerusalem. Yes, it will definitely take more than a year to move it and it might be not that effective but there’s nothing to lose. If it changes the world won’t end. It will just basically change its location not its whole purpose. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-israel-capital.html I will comment on Paulina's and Zulema's blog posts. |
AuthorPaola Toledo Real Archives
October 2018
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