"Hotel Rwanda" Feedback

"Do these sources support or contradict the views of events in Rwanda shown in the film?"

The sources support the veiws of events in the film. In source A, it says that the U.N. peacekeeping forces were disorganized. This was demonstrated in the film. For one thing, the peacekeepers couldn't even shoot. Also in the movie, there were refugees that
were hinding in the hotel. Then French U.N. forces came, but they only evacuated foreign nationals,
and abandoned the bulk of the refugees. This agrees with source B. Source C talks about machetes being imported into Rwanda from China. This is also in the film. The man the hotel manager meets with is importing them.

Feedback November 26-30

The main visual elements are Africa and the footprint on it. It is about the Europeans taking a lot of resources from Africa. The cartoonist thinks that what the Europeans did is bad and was harmful to Africa. I think the cartoonist thinks this because at the bottom of the depression of the footprint, the ground is white and parched. It is cracked dry ground. To improve the cartoon, the cartoonist could have made the footprint look like it had been made by a shoe with spikes on the bottom.

Image from: http://img.photobucket.com

"The Scramble For Africa" Feedback

To claim land, Chris and I had pretty good luck on rolling the die, and also we attacked every chance we got. In claiming land, we considered these factors: what our country wanted, what land had natural resources, what land was densely populated, and what land had the most rainfall. Germany won The Scramble For Africa because we almost completely accomplished our goals, we have a lot of land, and we won three out of four battles. The Netherlands lost because they owned the least land at the end, and I don't think Varun accomplished the country's goals.

Reflection: Five Themes of Geography

Movement is the first theme, and it is the movement of people, goods, and ideas. One example of movement from "The Other Side of Truth" is on page 19 where Sade and Femi are going to go to London and stay with their uncle.

A group of locations that have something in common with each other is a region. The book talks about Somalia and Nigeria, and they are both war torn countries that are ruled by military government. There are examples of this in the book on page 1o and then Somalia on page 154.

Human-environment interaction is how humans affect the environment and how the
environment affects us. An example of this in the book is on page 38 when Sade and Femi are on the plane destined for London. The plane is damaging the environment.

The location of something is basically where it is. The book starts in Lagos, Nigeria; you can see this on page three. Later on, the location is
London, England. There are many other locations, but these are the basic ones. This is shown on page 40.


Place is what something is. One place in "The Other Side of Truth" is the school Sade goes to in London called Avon; it is an educational facility. It is mentioned on page 111.

Feedback November 5-9

The main visual elements in this cartoon are the English octopus and the countries that his hands are on. The picture is about imperialism. The cartoonist is against imperialism. He portrayed England as an octopus, which, probably even more so back then, was a scary or evil creature. I think the artist could improve this by making the tentacles end normally, instead of human hands. The suction cups on the tentacles could be attached to the countries. Also, the expression of "England" could be a bit meaner.

This cartoonist utilized C.R.A.P. quite well. There is a contrast between the colors, but they match (giving it a nice affect.) Also, the idea of the tentacles grabbing the countries is repeated. The alignment is good, because the octopus is positioned in the middle. You could easily cut it into quarters and there would be about the same amount of drawing on each quarter. Lastly, there is proximity. I think the artist could have done better on it. I don't see many groups in this picture.

Image from: www.fresno.k12.ca.us

“Violence leads to more violence.”

This quote is true. One example of this quote is in Julius Caesar. The conspirators hope to bring peace to the empire by assassinating Caesar, but instead it starts a war. There are always two sides to every story, and that sparks violence. Just like what's going on in Iraq right now. The Bush Administration believes they are getting rid of terrorists by killing them in Iraq. It is pointless, because more and more fanatics are joining the terrorists. Because they are being killed, they go and kill Allied soldiers.

Qualities of a Good Leader

A good leader listens to all his/her subjects. He has advisers, and listens to them. He or she rules firmly and strictly, but also has love for his/her country (if he is ruling over one) . A leader should also have a sense of humor. The people in SLAMS are the leaders in Middle School. They listen to everybody; you can go up to any SLAMS representative and give them suggestions and comment on your work. They are also in SLAMS because they like the Middle School and want to improve it even more.

Conference Prep

I did very well (100%) on the IR Expository writing piece. I am very proud of it. I wrote three paragraphs that covered all the significant information about the Industrial Workers of the World. I like the quote that I used in my piece from their website: "The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things in life."

One thing I found challenging in Quarter 1 was AR. It isn't that I don't like reading (I read for hours on end) it's that all the books I read aren't on the AR list. I requested the quizzes through my Reading Enrichment teacher, but they didn't come in time.

Feedback for WOW

WOW was a good use of my education time. One reason is that we learned things from experience instead of in the classroom. For example, we learned how dangerous rapids can be from rafting. You remember things better if you learn things from experience rather than from some textbook or a lecture. Secondly, I strengthened some of my friendships during this trip, and friends are important to have in school. They support you through hard and stressful times. Lastly, I learned some safety procedures on the river, like what position to be in if you fall out of the raft.. These will help me if I face an emergency on any river.

End of Quarter 1 Feedback

I think I have accomplished both goals for the most part. I now ask questions when I am confused about something, and I have started doing my homework earlier than in the past. I don't do it after dinner now, I do it once I come back from school.

One goal I will set for myself for 2nd quarter is to refrain from being distracted while doing homework. I want to be completely focused, because then I will finish my work faster. I also want to do some extra credit work for classes, because I usually don't do it if I have a decent grade in the class. Lastly, even though I read a lot of books, they aren't usually on the AR list. I want to pick books that are on the list in the future.

IWW Expository

The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) is a labor union. It was founded in 1905, and is still running strong. The union fights for better rights for laborers and opposes warfare. This is shown in one part of their mission statement that can be found on their website: “The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life.”

The IWW played a big part in American history. It changed many people’s opinions about capitalism, and made the public aware of the plight of laborers. It also encouraged desertion from the army. The union is completely against wars. They presented their opinions to the government in the forms pamphlets, strikes, demonstrations, etc.

In 1912, the union was at its peak. It had around 50,000 members, compromised mostly of laborers. Back then, there was a lot of government repression. The government also tried again and again to get the public against the union. Even though it went through such hard times, the union still stands proudly today, never faltering from its task.

News Article

On September 15th, 1917, US Department of Justice agents raided forty-eight meeting places, situated all over the country, of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World). In total, 165 IWW leaders were arrested. They were charged with starting labor disputes, hindering the draft, and encouraging desertion from the army.

All of the leaders were given 20 year jail sentences, even the ones who had recently joined the large union. The IWW is known for strongly opposing wars. The large union spreads anti-militaristic propaganda when no wars are being waged, and so when a war starts, many people are on their side. Strangely, there was no public outcry against the raids. Despite the IWW’s tactic described above, the public has largely supported what the Department of Justice has done.

One of the arrested leaders describes his experience. “We were sitting at a table discussing the latest news and what we should do about it when suddenly the door to the hall burst open and twenty or so armed men rushed into the room. They were yelling and screaming for us to get on the ground. I was slammed against the table and roughly hauled away. It is so unfair! We have not broken any laws, and no evidence was shown to us. I think Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis is in league with the government. He convicted us all.”

“I don’t see why some people are so surprised about this. They broke the law and consequently they are going to jail,” reports Judge Kenesaw. “Right now we need all the men we can get to fight this war and conquer the Nazis. We have enough problems overseas, so the last thing we need is internal problems, like the protests the IWW is organizing. They are a thorn in this country’s side, keeping this nation from its maximum efficiency on the battlefield and in the factories.”

1870’s Stock Market Simulation

I don't think I was a very successful entrepreneur for two reasons, the first being that the total amount of money I could have gotten was $10,155 (I got $212). The second reason is that at the beginning of the game, I sold stock at low prices and bought them at high prices, because I didn't exactly know what to do. Towards the end, I mainly used the "buy low, sell high" strategy. “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket” also relates to me. I always had shares in at least three different companies.

Discriptive Piece: Ralph Chaplin

Vishal

Periods: 1, 5

Dear Mother Jones,

I cannot believe what the government has done to me! They have given me a twenty year jail sentence. All I have done is expressed my opinions, I haven’t broken any laws. I am writing this letter to you from a dirty, dingy jail cell. The air smells sewage and rat droppings, and the food is barely edible.

My followers and I were prosecuted with ‘An intent to obstruct the prosecution of war.’ How is that possible, when all we were doing was spreading our beliefs in different ways? This country is a free country, and I have a right to free speech. The government didn’t even produce one witness that could accuse me of this so-called crime. They think that the articles, meetings, pamphlets, and other means of spreading information that I used was creating agitation in the public.

I believe that the big businesses and the government are in league with each other. Both profit from war. The government wants non-educated people, who don’t even know what they’re getting themselves into, to join the army. I feel that it is my job to educate them, and show them how they are being exploited and used.

The businesses also profit from war because the army needs products to operate. Most of the guns, ammunition, backpacks, uniforms, etc. are made by private companies. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. It is unfair. And to make things worse, now I’m in jail.

However, I am going to use this time wisely. Instead of just sitting around, I’m going to write poems. I haven’t had time to write any before, but now I have all the time in the world. If people, don’t want to come to my meetings, I will get their attention by presenting my beliefs in a creative way. The public must listen, or this wonderful country is ruined.

My bleak surroundings will help me focus on my goal. My cell is so small that I can walk to the back of it from the door in two strides. It has a dirt floor and no bed. The whole place reeks of feces and urine. Some prisoners are so weak that they don’t ask the guard if they can go to the bathroom. They just go in their cell. The walls are ice cold, everything is cold. Little warmth gets through the tiny barred window that is in my cell. Most of the time, there is silence, each prisoner lost in their own thoughts. Sometimes I get so agitated that I want to scream to break the silence.

Mother Jones, please hold the fort while I am gone. I know it is a lot to ask, but our country depends on you.

Sincerely,

Ralph Chaplin

Image found on: http://art.laborarts.org/small/28203t.jpg

Reflection 9-10-07

For the most part, I haven't accomplished my first goal. I still usually leave my homework until after dinner. I think I have accomplished the second goal though. If I don't understand something, I ask a question about it.

Ralph Chaplin

Born in Ames County, Kansas, in 1887, Ralph Chaplin has been a labor activist since the age of seven. Some of his experiences in his life led him to write many poems that had to do with labor. He is most famous for composing the lyrics to the union anthem, which he originally wrote as a poem. I asked him about these experiences and others in this exclusive interview.

What made you become a labor activist?
It was a very traumatic experience, especially at my age at the time. It was during the Pullman strike in Chicago, Illinois. I heard a commotion outside while I was helping my mother with lunch in the kitchen. I got up from the dining table and opened the front door of our small house. The door was red. The color I was just about to see. One of the laborers was yelling at the police and encouraging the crowd. Suddenly, I heard a bang, and the worker’s white shirt was suddenly stained with blood. He fell to the ground, a look of surprise in his eyes. I was too shocked to utter a word, so I closed the door and leaned against it, suddenly feeling very weak. It was then that I decided I would become a labor activist. I was seven years old.

Tell me about working on the strike committee of coal miners with Mother Jones.
It was in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The coal miners did hard labor for eight hours of every day except Sunday. The committee was trying to get better rights for them. Working alongside Mother Jones was a great honor. She is a very dedicated, determined, and driven activist. The police were absurd, putting her in house arrest in 1913. “Conspiring to commit murder,” that’s what the police said! Rubbish! Yes, she was a good person to have on your side. I will never forget what she said time and time again: “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”

Your experiences with the strike committee caused you to write many poems. One of them turned out to become the lyrics of the union anthem, “Solidarity Forever.” What was going through your mind when you wrote that poem?
I was thinking about the union. The union changes everything, people take us more seriously and awareness is spread more efficiently. This is reflected mainly in the repeating verse that says “The union makes us strong,” “us” referring to the workers. I was also thinking about how we can overpower the unfair people that are making our lives hard. As one, we cannot do much, but as a union, we have power.


What role did you play in IWW (Industrial Workers of the World)?
I was the editor of the organization’s eastern U.S. publication, Solidarity. Later on, in 1992, I worked in Chicago as the editor of the IWW’s newspaper, the Industrial Worker. Both publications spread IWW’s ideas and beliefs across the U.S. I am also accredited for designing the black cat, which I made while working with the organization. It is the IWW’s symbol for sabotage.

Why did you create the black cat the way you did?
Well, first of all, you have to understand what the symbol looks like. It is a skinny black cat in a fighting stance. Its back is curved, and the hairs on its back are on end. The black color of it symbolizes that all of us [members of the IWW] are willing to die for the causes we fight for. Black is the color of death. Also, the fighting stance of the cat represents that the union is always fighting. There is an eternal war waging between the government and businesses and the IWW.

I guess you could say my life so far has been quite interesting. What matters to me the most though is that I am doing what I think is right.

-Vishal Rutanen-Whaley
 

The Net Effect of the Industrial Revolution

Negative:

• Kids were employed to do dangerous jobs
• Factories were dirty and dangerous
• More people suffered injuries and there were more deaths than on the farms
• There were long working hours in the factories
• The factory workers didn't have many rights
• People were thrown in to jail without any or much evidence against them
• Machines started replacing humans, so many people lost their jobs
• The police shot protesting laborers
  

Positive:

• People that worked in factories got housing in the city
• Families worked together in factories
• More products were available to the public
• Lives were run by clocks, so people could be sure they were on time
• Country's economies grew
• People who started a business could make a lot of money
• There started being competition between businesses, so high quality products were being produced
• Because large amounts of people started living together, new friendships were formed and people learned to cooperate
  

Factory Game Reflection Day 2

The main difference between day one and day two was
that on day one, more time was put into the toys, while
on day two, everyone was concentrating on finishing a toy, and doing
it fast. The quality of the toys went down as the
speed of producing them went up. I think
 day one represented a cottage industry. 
Everyone was trying to make their toy the best. 
Day two represented an assembly line in
 a factory. It demonstrated what is going on now. 
Practically all businesses these days focus on 
quantity instead of quality, because they can 
get more money that way. More people can
 buy their products. I think the games were a 
fun way of demonstrating the concepts and 
definitions of the of some of the IR vocabulary words. 

Factory Game Day 1 Reflection

The factory game was quite fun. Right after Mr. Coyle said "Go!" everyone sped in to action, quickly formulating their toy in their minds. In about two minutes, the whole room smelled like scented markers. Looking back, I think I could have done a better job on my toy, I sort of made it up as I went along. For 45 minutes,
everyone was arranging, cutting, and coloring. The smooth paper fluttered to the
ground as I cut it. People were mostly silent, though
some were talking about their ideas. There was one question in my mind
though: What does this have to do with the industrial revolution?

Roller Coaster Experience

You are flying through the air, the sound of wind whistling in your ears. You hear screams next to you and the sound of the wheels on your car screeching against the metal track. As you shoot through the air, you smell popcorn and cotton candy far below. If you are brave enough to open your eyes, you see the world going past you in a blur. You see people smiling, screaming, and laughing. Just in front of you is the shiny hood of the car, piercing the air. You can taste the air and everything in it, because your mouth is probably open. Your hands tightly grip the smooth rubber of the safety bar that is sticky from a lot of use by people who had eaten cotton candy before departing on the thrill ride.

Quick Write Fruit Roll Up

The Fruit Roll Up I ate was dark blue with some uneven purple streaks going through it. It looks sort of like plastic and is shiny. Also, if you ever have looked into green sea water, the roll up looks like sea water with oil in it. It smells fruity and artificial, and smells like raspberry's. The wrapper that it was in crackled when you pressed on it. It sort of sounded like popcorn popping. The roll up is surrounded by a plastic sheet inside the wrapper, and when you pull it off it sounds like something is tearing. It is smooth and sticky to the touch. It tastes artificial and like raspberry. When it sticks to the inside of your mouth, it feels like the anesthetic that you get at dentists offices.

Technology

"Necessity is the mother of invention." means that without necessity nothing really significant would have been or will be invented. For example, there was a need to invent the light bulb, because people need to work at night (it improves productivity). Also, people needed to communicate over long distances, so Samuel Morse invented the telegram. For the reason that people needed to travel long distances, Orville and Wilbur Wright invented the first flying airplane. Necessity drives invention.

Image found on www.teknikerelektrik.com.tr

Reflection

I am an auditory learner. I can look at a piece of music and be confused and not be able to play it, but if I hear someone playing that song, I can play it. You can help me learn most affectively in class if you give us a lot of reading material. I am good at reading comprehension so I learn well that way. Also, as I said earlier, I am mostly an auditory learner, so if you give lectures and I take notes, I can better memorize information.

My "Gang"

My gang is Varun (Batta), Shuk, Barath, Raag, and Sameet. (I have other casual friends as well, but these are my best friends). I got into this gang through Varun, who became my best friend when I broke my leg. He helped me out the most. He then introduced me to his friends, and I became part of the gang. We are a gang because we share similar ideas about things and we are all friendly. Also, we all have a quirky sense of humor!

Feedback August 6-10

Highlights:

• I have at least one friend in seven of my eight periods.

• I am at the top of the pile in the Middle School!

My first impression of humanities was that this was going to be a challenging yet fun class due to the teacher. One of my goals is to do my homework after I come home from school (not leaving it for the last minute). Also, I want to ask more questions in class, because if I don't understand something I usually don't say anything.