Friday, April 17, 2015

Blog 10

In the article, "THE CHILDREN WILL KEEP COMMING" published in The Nation, author Oscar Martinez describes how there is violence spreading through central America causing women and children to flee their countries.  In addition he talks about how there are to many immigrants coming across the Mexico border into the U.S.  David, a eleven year old boy was killed to death by gang members walking home from school.  Police believed it was because he refused to join their group.  David is from Santaruz Michapa, a rural and very dangerous city in El Salvador.  Migrants flee this country to the U.S to avoid entering into gangs.  "The Obama administration initially sought to change the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act to allow the 52,000 or so child migrants who have arrived on U.S soil in the last line months to be deported without going before an immagration judge." durring 2008, In El Salvador fifty-two people for every 100,000 were killed,  It has now decreased to fourty people for every 100,000. Gang violence in El Salvador is around fourty percent, and it accounts for twenty-seven percent of the overall crime rates.   The schools in El Salvador have a very high drop out rate due to the gang members in El Salvador.  Many kids are scared for their lives.  They flee the country with nothing.  Even if they make it to America some end up joing gangs in southern California just to survuve.  For many Central Ameicans it is very hard to become a legal citizen in the United Staes.  The U.S has narrowed its deffinition of Assylum.  Immigrants have to meet the requirments, having a certain religion not being part of certain groups and so on.  Sandra a immigrant in America tried to have a cyote bring over her son for 4,500 dollars.  The kid ended up captured by authorities.  Cyotes in America are considerd criminals.  The United States isn't thinking about changing the immigration law any time soon, they will continue to deport illegal immagrants back to their country.

Article

After I read this article I was truly amzed on how gangs have such an impact on immigrants.  Immigrants are almost forced to leave because their life is threatened by certain gangs.  It's amazing how many Migrants go to the U.S border to try and find a better life.  If an immigrant made it to the U.S, I personally think it causes a domino effect on other immagrants because that person will tell his or her friends and thebn they will tell their friends.  One thing that surprised me was ho young the children were when being forced to join gangs otherwise they would be killed.  I just can't imagine living their.  I am very blessed to be born in the United Sates.  When will this violence stop in Central America?  Will it ever stop in my lifetime?  The governments need to do something, because there is seriously something wrong.


Saturday, April 11, 2015

Blog 9

In the article “Watching Sony Slide” published in PC Magazine, author John C. Dvorak describes how Sony’s corporate culture is doing things wrong.  Sony makes anything from medical equipment to movies.  Compare this to apple, apple only has four products.  Apples Company is worth $572 billion.  On the other hand Sony is only worth $21 billion.  Sony’s corporate culture is the blame for this.  Sony had a media event in 2011 in New York City.  The problem was that most tech coverage is based in Silicon Valley so why would they go to New York.  It may have been great for fans that live there, but Sony will lose money from a business perspective.  “Sony is clueless.  In violation of all modern marketing theories, the company has zero dialogue with the industry that it needs to be part of.”  The author thinks that the company should be split up into several companies.


After reading this article, I completely agree with the author.  Sony has too many things to make for one company.  I believe they should leave the movie industry completely behind, and try to become a Tech company again.  I was completely surprised when I saw how much apple was worth compared to Sony.  Clearly Sony is doing something wrong.  To be honest I wonder if Sony’s products would be better if apple bought Sony.  Sony is in a tough spot from the business perspective.  Yes, we all wish our own companies are worth 21 billion, but they need to start making changes.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Blog 8



In the article, “Passage From India” published in Time Magazine, author Chandra Prasad talks about her relative, Neet and her experiences in India compared to her own in the U.S.  Neet was a very bright student and she never left her house alone.  The author found out that Neet’s Parents were working on an arranged marriage for her.  The author felt like that was unfair.  She want’s Neet to come to America, so she would be able to marry whoever she wanted.  The author helped Neet get started on an Indian dating website.  Many men were interested in Neet, one American especially.  Neet was very shy when it came to talking with guys.  Neet started to email the American, but he wasn’t responding.  Eventually he said that he was interested in her anymore.  Many Indian men were still very interested in Neet, but the family decided to take it slow because they are in no rush for Neet to get married.  The author explains “that she has one kind of life and I another; that opportunities I take for granted are beyond her reach.”

 
One question I have for this article is why do Indian women even have arranged marriages?  Personally I believe that people should have the right to choose who they want to be with.  I wonder how I would feel if I had a brother or sister who lived in a different country their entire life.  Our lifestyles would be completely different.  The idea of having a chosen husband or wife seems kind of ridiculous.  Although I do understand why they have arranged marriages, I personally think it should be a choice.  What if the wife doesn’t even like the guy?  She would probably get a divorce.  There is so much stress for arranged marriages especially on women.  I wonder if India will start not having arranged Marriages.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Blog 7



In the article “The Issue – Rwandan schools bear the weight of history: news” published in TES Global Limited, author Jackson Twagirayezu describes how teaching at schools in Rwanda about the genocide is still difficult, but it’s on the right path.  During the genocide 800,000 citizens died in just three months.  In present day Rwanda, this issue is faced every day for teachers to teach to kids or not to.  The author’s family was exiled from Rwanda before the genocide even happened.  When the Rwandan Patriotic Force arose to power his family then was required to come home.  80 percent of his relatives were killed.  Teachers in Rwanda including the author struggle to teach this because they really have no explanation for it.  “For this reason, the genocide was for a long time not officially taught in Rwandan primary schools.”  Students did not even study the genocide growing up.  In 2007 a debate took place to decide whether or not to teach the genocide to the kids.  Teachers still today are very cautious about the topic, because they can’t go to deep into the information about the genocide. Teachers do teach about Rwandans independence in 1994, and pre-colonial period.  They only recommend for students aged from 11-14 to go to see the genocide memorial centers once a year.  In secondary schools they do teach more about the genocide but it’s still considered a shaky topic.  April 7th is where Rwanda commemorates the genocide.  “These events promote utility and reconciliation, and new testimonies about the genocide, so that we can understand with greater clarity how it was made possible.” Teaching the genocide is improving in Rwanda, they now directly address issues. Overall for Rwanda learning about the genocide is important for their future.  




 

I was completely shocked when heard that Rwanda didn’t even teach the genocide in schools for a long time.  I can’t imagine how difficult it is to be a teacher in Rwanda.  You have to be careful of what you say.  The good thing is that it’s getting better. Schools are mentioning the genocide more, it’s slowing improving.  In the U.S growing up, one thing schools didn’t to a great job teaching us was about what we did to the Native Americans.  To be honest a government of a country probably has its reasons for not teaching certain subjects.  In the end though, they eventually start teaching the subjects.  People can learn a lot about the Rwandan genocide once they start fully teaching it in schools.  Overall it only can get better for Rwandan schools.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Blog 5



In the article “Body painting” published in PSA Journal, author Ayman Lotfy describes how body painting has become a part of photography in today’s age.  Having tattoos, or some kind of body paint on you usually expresses your life.  Each different type of body paintings can represent ones living style, and their behavior.  Body painting used to be a creative art, but now it is used in photography.  It’s good for photographers because the paint is already beautiful.  With the correct lighting and darkening of a studio, body art can truly become outstanding to an eye.  One country who often uses body art with photography is Egypt.  In Cairo, they use these pictures of these painted women or men to attract tourist.  They hang up pictures all around the airport for everyone to see.  Now days photography can be considered a fine art, just because of how well of body painting looks on a photo.




 

After I read this I was amazed how body paintings affected the photography industry.  I also had no Idea Egypt still uses photos of body paintings for tourism.  I wonder if there are still cultures that use body painting as a ritual of some sort, instead of photography.  I would for sure try this out sometime.  I may just have to go to Egypt and check it out.  When I look at different photos of body art I wonder if any of the coolers represent anything or have a meaning.  I also asked myself has anyone ever actually had their entire body painted and then walked in public.  I think the answer would be yes.  Body painting is a really cool thing to look at because you can really see their life story in the painting.