Revision (Response 1)

Killing a person is wrong. Although in certain cases it's seen as "less wrong." In the story "My Parent's Bedroom"  Monique's father kills Maman in order to save his children. Can this really be seen as "less wrong?" He in fact did the right thing. He saved multiple lives but sacrificed one, a utilitarian would had agreed. He chose the side of the majority's benefits over the minority's benefit. If he were to not kill Maman, she would still be killed along with his life and the children's. The situation he was in, he had to protect others. A survival instinct must had triggered to save himself as well, whether or not killing is right or wrong probably didn't go through his head.

The time he had to think was very short, he had to act fast and think fast. Surrounded by a group of vicious men with weapons in hand, given a machete and told to kill, he had no other choice but to kill or be killed. His actions no matter if he killed her or not wouldn't had mattered. The men wanted her dead, and it would had been better if he killed her in a mercy killing for his family rather then cold blooded murder. Monique's father killing Maman is a case in which the killing of another person could be seen "less wrong." Killing a person is wrong, but in Monique's Father's case his killing is less wrong.

Essay 1

Tony Le
Professor Kara Waite
November 20, 2012
ENG 095-90
Essay #1

          Uwem Akpen wrote the stories in "Say You're One Of Them" with the feeling of hope and sadness within war-torn countries. The two stories "Fattening For Gabon" and "My Parent's Bedroom" have great examples. 

          "Everywhere is dark, and the wind spreads black clouds like blankets across the sky. My brother is playing with the glow of the crucifix, babbling Maman's name." (My Parent's Bedroom) Uwem Akpen ended the story with such darkness but yet the last lines give you a sign of peace. The crucifix symbolized hope, the main character held onto it when it broke after 'the Wizard' the antagonist, broke it off. Her brother is babbling their mother's name while playing with the crucifix like a toy. This makes the ending more bright like light shining off an ominous cloud.

          "I looked out the window often and wished that I could blow out the sun like a candle or turn the world upside down so the waters of our ocean could drown it. I begged God to send us the darkest nights." (Fattening For Gabon) The children in this story have been suffering from living conditions with their uncle and constant fear of him acting up and sleeping naked. They're being sold off by him for human trafficking. The beauty from this passage gives the reader a sad feeling. The words are expressive to the point that you can imagine the sun being blown out and the world spilling water onto the moon.

          "I ran into the bush,blades of elephant grass slashing my body, thorns and rough earth piercing my feet. I took the key and padlock from my pocket and flung them into the bush. I ran and I ran, though I knew I would never outrun my sister's wailing." (Fattening For Gabon) The main character finds an escape from the human traffickers and tries to bring his sister with him, but she yelled while trying to get out. Pursued, the main character runs but couldn't save his sister. He makes a daring escape. The reader is filled with emotion of hope that he survives and sadness that his sister is still in the hands of the traffickers.

          Uwem Akpen's writing for strong subjects like genocide and human trafficking could give you two feelings at once. He sheds light to dark areas no one knew could have and shrouds the feeling of hope. He managed to conjure up stories that makes the reader happy and sad at the same time.

In-Class 11/20

Most of the characters in "Say You're One of Them" do not have freedom. I disagree that most of the characters don't have freedom, the ability to do what they wanted. As children had little control over the actions that take place around them. The best they could had done was to run away and they always had that choice. The people who controlled them were their role models such as their parents or guardians. They just didn't know what to do while they were stuck in their own situation struggling between family and conflict, sometimes the family was the conflict. They had opportunities to escape, say what they wanted and do what they wanted to but out of fear they couldn't. For example, the children in "Fattening for Gabon" wanted to express their feelings towards their uncle but because he was drunk and usually naked when he sleeps they feared him. The main character from the first story "An Ex-Mas Feast" got to leave his family he had the freedom to do this when he wanted. He saw the situation get worse and left after his sister left.

Thesis

Uwem Akpen wrote the stories in "Say You're One Of Them" with the feeling of hope and sadness within war-torn countries. The two stories "Fattening For Gabon" and "My Parent's Bedroom" have great examples using the point of view of children.

Response #4

Mitt Romney did not have great answers to their questions as Barack Obama was more satisfying with his. The first question when   the college student asks what they could say to assure that he would be able to find work, Mitt Romney, rather then saying what he planed, he talked more about how difficult getting a job is and explain that he 'knew' what to do. He brought up that he had to work three different jobs and that college students aren't getting college level jobs. He did not answered the question and gave no evidence. Obama gave a more satisfying speech. He gave examples of what he planned.
He mentions investing in manufacturers and that it could help small businesses, creating more work opportunities. The second question about oil prices, Obama brought up how the prices should be decreasing because of the use of clean energy sources. He mentions that America should build new energy sources and compete with the world to produce clean energy. Mitt Romney brings up that he wants America to be 'energy independent' in other words he wants America to make more energy sources and increase drilling and agree to the pipeline to Canada relying on even more energy. Both candidates gave very little examples on this topic but explained a lot. Obama stayed on topic and did not side track much at all, while Mitt Romney side tracked a lot and explained little about his plans.
Debates like this don't happen in countries we've been studying. A good handful of nations do get to debate like this but it is less likely to happen in nations in distress and war torn. In those countries the people would find quick answers and if they don't get it their way they'll get it by force if they have to. Usually for control of the land they can't debate who runs the land, they have to take it.

In Class 10/23

No I do not think the U.S government is corrupt. To me the the countries we are studying are not more corrupt then our own neither. It is the people within them. Slavery and genocide are based of the path the people within their society take. Government has little say in those choices once it's started there's no stopping. Take Cambodia for example, if Pol Pot commanded the genocide to stop all the people wouldn't stop, some would keep going because of their own belief and perspective of a better Cambodia. The idea of government is to maintain order for their land.

Response #3

Fofo Kpee's poverty prevented him from paying off his scar's treatment. To his own vanity, he cared more about himself to get money and treat his scar more then his own niece and nephew. He tricked the two and convinced them that they would do great afterwards. He told them that their godparents were NGO and that NGO were good people.  He also rehearsed lines and quotes from the bible for the two to be more respectful and obedient. Fofo taught them to call the godparents 'papa' and 'mama.' They had no idea that these godparents were actually slavers.

His pangs of conscience do not redeem him to me. He cared enough to get the children used to working conditions secretly by not allowing them out or keeping them inside when it is hot. He did care about the children knowing they are related to him but right or wrong his selfishness got him to sell his own family. 

Quiz 10/16

1. They were living with Fofo because they were about to be sold

2. To the preacher poverty is a gift from God

3. He wants a better education

4.

5.

6.

In Class 10/16

The Nanfang symbolizes something that meant a lot to Kotchikpa. He uses it to learn how to drive and refuel the motorcycle. He would also play soccer with others that have one using their own Nanfangs. It also never needed repairs. It was something he loved and held onto.

Group Discussion Part 2

The words and images in the movie were portrayed differently based on the point of view of everyone who were involved in the survival and murders of the genocide. The radio stations would broadcast messages about how the Tutsi were threats to the Hutu. The images seen about the Tutsi being attacked showed what the Hutu were doing and how serious it became.

The response from the hotel staff was careless about their jobs. They would hang by the radio and listen rather then working to keep the hotel running. The people across Rwanda depending on what side they were on either ran and hid in fear or patriotically roamed the roads cheering for their pride. The UN would try to avoid conflict between the Hutu and the Tutsi.

The rest of the world could had been busy with their own issues and what went on around them. Not everyone knew what was happening and some may had not think of it as a big deal to them.

The ones accountable for the media were the foreign press. They hold the power to let anything they wanted in or out in their news.

What we expect from the media are news about current and new events. We could hold them accountable by keeping up with current times.

The public responsibility towards issues brought up by the media are very low. A handful of people try to help but they get very little done.

Response #1

Killing a person is wrong. Although in certain cases it's seen as "less wrong." In the story "My Parent's Bedroom"  Monique's father kills Maman in order to save his children. Can this really be seen as "less wrong?" He in fact did the right thing. He saved multiple lives but sacrificed one, a utilitarian would had agreed. He chose the side of the majority's benefits over the minority's benefit. If he were to not kill Maman, she would still be killed along with his life and the children's. The situation he was in, he had to protect others. A survival instinct must had triggered to save himself as well, whether or not killing is right or wrong probably didn't go through his head.

The time he had to think was very short, he had to act fast and think fast. Surrounded by a group of vicious men with weapons in hand, given a machete and told to kill, he had no other choice but to kill or be killed. His actions no matter if he killed her or not wouldn't had mattered. The men wanted her dead, and it would had been better if he killed her in a mercy killing for his family rather then cold blooded murder. Monique's father killing Maman is a case in which the killing of another person could be seen "less wrong." Killing a person is wrong, but in Monique's Father's case his killing is less wrong.

In Class 9/18

I believe that the man in the story and the doctor from the 9/11 article did not feel the same emotion. For the doctor he cut a stranger out to save her life, somebody he didn't know, while the man in the story killed his wife to save his children, his own blood.

The man in the story must had it worse, he had no time to think, and was left the choice to kill his wife or have his whole family die for being a traitor. The doctor knew what he was doing and though he didn't stop he knew it was the right thing to do. The man in the story however, he didn't really know if it was right or wrong. He went with it and left his children behind to appear like he is not a traitor, or maybe to save his own life as well.

H.W 2

The details that helped me identify with the narrator was sound and sight. I could hear and see from her point of view. Each voice, wail, and whisper went through my head as I pictured what happened in her home. Through the story I could picture her ransacked home, the blood spilling, while people shout and yell outside with the sounds of guns going off. 

9/11 In Class Work (Huffington Post Readingsheet)

I agree with the decision the doctor had to make. It could be argued that the woman could had died during the actions being made, but if the doctor didn't remove her spine quick she could had died with a terrible bleed out. If another plan was to be thought up would had taken too much time and would have the woman trapped longer and possibly squished due to rubble, smoke, and possibly thirst.

In my own life I never faced anything as bad but I commit selfless acts all the time. Sometimes they're as simple as offering money when I could had kept it to myself to more important risks I took working like helping a customer instead when my manager told me to do something else, knowing that if I help the customer I could get in serious trouble and jeopardize my job.

The doctor did the right thing, it was painful to think of and must had been difficult to handle knowing if she died the burden would be in his hands. His action was selfless, heroic and inspiring.

H.W 1 Why Does Genocide and War happen?

In my understanding of war and genocide, war is usually about political dispute, national crisis or fear and hatred. An example of Political dispute would be The Cold War, America against USSR and Communist Countries such as North Korea and North Vietnam. National Crisis such as the Great Depression lead the Japanese Imperials to strike across all of Asia to gain economic growth.  War could also lead to genocide because of fear and hatred. Genocide is the denial of one Minor's existence done by a Major organization or group. One example would be Pol Pot's genocide of Cambodians. This is my understanding of war and genocide.

Test

Testing 1..2..3...