HW 32:

Response to Baghdad Burning (70-97):
On September 21st 2003, there was an attempted murder on Akila Al-Hashimi. Riverbend describes Akila as "one of the decent members on council (Riverbend 75). Akila worked extensively with foreign affairs. From my perspective she seemed to be a well-respected woman in Iraq. It is sad to think that woman who work so hard o defend their country is injured in the process. "Two pick-up trucks with armed men cut off her car and opened fire on her and her bodyguards-her brothers"(Riverbend 75). When this woman and her brothers went under attack, neighbors came to her aide. The two sides began shooting at each other. Akila was wounded in the foot, shoulder, and stomach, she taken to a hospital called Al-Yarmuk (Riverbend 75). There Akila's stomach was operated on. After that she was shipped off in an American ambulance. Riverbend stated that no one really knew where this woman was being sent to. I have to admit I'm confused. She is obviously innocent, and working towards the benefit for Iraq and it's people. Some claimed that this was still the work of Saddam followed out by his loyalists. Apparently, Akila was not respected by all. "There has been bitterness towards her by some of the more extreme members of the governing council- not only is she female, wears no hijab, and was the first actual 'foreign representative" of the new government , but she was also a prominent part of the former government"(Riverbend 76). Akila seemed like a well-established woman, who had earned her title and the respect she deserves.

HW 31:Al Hakim

In Response to Riverbend:
Riverbend refers to Al Hakim a few times in her blogs. He was an Iraqi leader who was assasinated during the war. Al Hakim was the Iraqi leader of SIIC, the largest political party in the council of Iraqi representatives. Hakim served as president in December 2003. Hakim met with President Bush he made a commitment to help end violence. Hakim is involved in the Shia party. (Wikipedia pg.1). Riverbend makes several references to him during the assigned reading. When Hakim was assassinated she was worried about the after effects. "Al Hakim's assassination is very significant, youre right. It will be used as an excuse for vendettas, faction fighting, and more violence, between Shi'a and Shi'a and Sunnis and Shi'a. Already his followers are swearing to avenge his death and I shudder to think of the next group of victims. It is extremley frightening to think of what the consequences of this will be"(Riverbend pg.43) Hakim was a very important figurehead in Iraq especially during the war. However, Im very confused when it comes to this man. Riverbend states that he is assinated, and then wikipedia states in one paragraph that he was assinated, in the end they said he wasnt. Im mainly just going from Riverbend's references. Apparently he was important during this time period and his murder was a threat accordning to Riverbend.

Sources Cited:
Riverbend, Baghdad Burning, Girl Blog from Iraq. Published by the Feminist Press, New York, New York 2005.
Wikipedia "Abdul Aziz al-Hakim" page 1

HW 30: What Kind of Democracy do we want?

On Tuesday November 6th I attended the Citizenship Symposium. This symposium was titled "What kind of Democracy do we want?" This was part of the KSC symposium. The symposium started out with the KSC Provost explaining that in recent years college students at Keene State College have been showing an increase interest in politics, and our government. This particular election has started early, and has gotten more involvement and attention than any other election in the past (According to the Provost). He then introduced the mayor, Michael Blastos. He presented KSC with a plaque announcing today November 6th as citizenship day here at the college. The guest speaker, Nancy Tobi presented us with a slide "Citizens Gone Wild." She gave a vivid description of her ancestor Moses. "Moses was a poor humble refugee who did not get to see the fruits of his labor." I found this to be a good description. I interpreted this as, each and every person can make a difference. Even if it takes years to actually see your efforts taking place, you've made a difference in homebody's life. To me, that is worth it. I found the slide about Election Crime to be very interesting. An election crime, affects the well-being of the entire planet. That is a HUGE crime to break. Think how many people you are affecting. Basically, the solution to this is controlling the counts of the votes this way the motive is to control the planet. I enjoyed her quote 'Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed, and for the same reasons." I thought that was exactly true. How could you have the same politician for more than 8 years? Sometimes 4 is just too long. I enjoyed how passionate she way about her slide show and I think it must have taken a lot of effort to present that to us.
Added 11/17
I also attended the Symposium on November 8th. This one was titled Citizenship and Responsibility. The first to speak was Katrina Sweat. She introduced her father the guest speaker Tom Lantos. Tom was the only survivor of the Holocaust to serve in the U.S. congress. Tom was originally from Hungry. In 1980 Tom decided to run for congress. In 2006 he was elected chairman of the house for foreign affairs committee. Tom touched alot on foreign affairs. Tom had recently spoke to the President of France he quoted him quite frequently throughout his speech. The main point of his speech was Immigrants are just as much citizens as American-borne citizens. They too feel patriotic about their country. I agree with him on this, there was a reason they decided to come here. A vivid description that Tom made was "America did not teach men the idea of freedom, she taught them how to practice it", this was said by the president of France. This is very true you can believe in freedom but it is the act of practicing freedom that makes it count. A quote that I found to be accurate was his expectations for the next American president. As most know the issues we are having in our country today are quite controversial regarding President Bush. Lantos said "There will be two responsibilities for the next president
1. to bring the country together
2. The laborious job of rebuilding the prestige status and respect of the United States."
This is exactly right. We have lost some respect. We are a strong nation and we should be able to gain our respect back from other countries. The new president will have his or her work cut out for them.

HW 28: A letter to Riverbend

Dear Riverbend
I would like to thank you for writing this book and opening my eyes to what is really going on in Iraq. What is the point of this war? It has now lost its meaning, even though now so many have lost their lives. The situation in Iraq needs to be straightened out because it is causing devastation in not one but two parts of the world. First off I would like to say how much I respect you for not hating our troops. It takes an intelligent young women to realize that these men do not want to be there, they all have families of their own. She knows that not all American troops are bad. Although I have to say It scares me to know that our U.S. troops are actually hurting, killing, and torturing innocent people. It is so hard to hear things of that nature. I felt like they were incapable of that. It really bothers me to think that this is actually happening. We don't see/ hear these negative stories that these people are living, and I want to thank you again for letting me now be aware of these occurrences. As a young women I'm interested in your struggles in trying to maintain the status that you deserve. Although I can not completely identify with you I can sympathize and tell you not to give up in your abilities. I also want to let you know how intelligent I find you to be. You are so accepting of different cultures, relgions and even Americans. I give you credit for this. Especially with what is going on in your country now you are still recognizing that each country has their own beliefs. Your book is so interesting and is really opening my eyes to what is going on around me and in your country.

HW 27: New Insights

Response to Riverbend's Baghdad Burning
Riverbend, Baghdad Burning, Girl Blog from Iraq First Feminist Press Edition, 2005
Ahdaf Soueif, Foreword copyright 005
James Ridgeway Introduction copyright 2005
This book is very intriguing. The world today is full of stereotypes of different ethnicities Americans (and I’m not speaking for everyone) have many negative views about the country of Iraq, and the people that live there. Innocent or part of the problem, if you’re Iraqi you must not be a good person. This book teaches you differently. Just from reading the first 15 pages or so I feel like I have a different view on Americanism and the country of Iraq. Are the really as bad as we make them out to be? How can you not sympathize with Riverbend? She is criticized by people she doesn’t even know thousand and thousands of miles away. This blog book was written by Riverbend. She seems like an amazing blogger, who can really capture you’re interest. This book was written to give, Americans and others from countries around the world a real account of the war in Iraq. Riverbend is trying to get across the popular message “you think you know but you have no idea.” How could you ever say you know what is going on in Iraq? Unless you were in the military and actually stationed over there or an Iraqi citizen and watching your country be pulverized. From reading this book, I feel I will learn to ignore stereotypes about Iraqis and their country. I feel that I can still have respect and support for my own country and the troops that work very hard to defend it. Also keeping in mind that I do not need to have negative feelings toward Iraq. This book could benefit me because I could have an inside view of what did happen there and how a young women felt about the war, and the crisis that did arise. The challenges for me I believe will be the hatred toward the American soldiers. It is hard for me to feel that way (even identify with someone who feels that way) about someone who is risking their own life to protect me and my family. I can never think negatively towards someone who would do that much for me and the others that I care about. This book is going to be an amazing read. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the war in Iraq, and get a first hand account from someone who is actually living it.

HW 26: Different ideas

Response to Baghdad Burning:
The foreword of this book is written by Adhafi Soueif. The foreword has a very powerful message hidden within the summary. Soueif opens with saying that no one outside of the country in Iraq can truly identify with what is happening in their country. Others comments have no real meaning, they are not experiencing what is really happening. He describes Riverbend as an amazing author. The people who read this book should be privileged to know the closest account to the war in Iraq (Soueif pg. vii) Soueif made an extremely powerful quote in his forward. “Why does America identify itself with its military government? Why does being anti-Bush and anti-occupation have to mean that a person is anti-American? We watch American movies, listen to everything from Britney Spears to Nirvana and refer to every brown fizzy drink as ‘Pepsi’” (Soueif pg.viii) This quote really made me think. Living in today’s world, (and I know I can speak for many people on this) there is so many negative views on the country of Iraq. This quote made me question myself and others. Why? The people of Iraq do not create our opinions. It was one person. How can one man change how we view a whole country? Sometime I wonder why American people (including myself) think the way that we do. Soueif also states how at first Iraqis felt sorry for the U.S. military, how they knew that it wasn’t their choice to be there. “Even the invading troops were once seen as deserving of human sympathy: On May 7th, 2004, fourteen months into the invasion, Riverbend writes: ‘There was a time when people here felt sorry for the troops. No matter what one’s attitude was to the occupation, there were moments of pity towards the troops, regardless of their nationality. We would see them suffering under the Iraqi sun, obviously wishing they were somewhere else and somehow that vulnerability made them seem less monstrous and more human.” (Soueif pg viii) Throughout the rest of the foreword Soueif describes what a terrific account this book gives of the Iraqi war and the Iraqi peoples reactions. The Introduction is written by James Ridgeway. Riverbend’s blog is simply called ‘Girl Blog from Iraq”. This title really gives no information as to what will be written in the blog. Riverbend’s blog has many readers, and from what I gather seems to be extremely interesting and provoking. Her blog has nothing to do with the troops and where they are stationed. The war is not something that Riverbend can turn off at night when the news is over, “war is something that is lived every day-and every night.”(Ridgeway pg.xi) Ridgeway describes how intrigued her readers are, and how personal her blogs become. Iraq is such a dangerous war zone at this time that nothing is 100% safe. When Riverbend leaves her home her fans become quite concerned with her safety. “Whenever Riverbend and her family travel out of the neighborhood to a family gathering, you travel with her as she describes every turn her car takes, the tension as it rounds a corner, hoping that there is not an American tank in the street. If she does not write for several days, maybe a week or more, you fear the worst-a bomb strike, a tank raid, imprisonment.”(Ridgeway pg.xii) When Ridgeway was describing the fear that they had for American soldiers it kind of upset me. This whole time I thought they feared Iraqis or “battles” (for lack of a better word) on the streets. Do Americans really do this to innocent passersby? It is so hard to view American soldiers in a negative way. I have always been taught to have so much respect for them, because I feel that they do so much for our country. The rest of the Introduction is a recap of the history of American and Iraqi turmoil. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I feel it will solve some of the stereotypes that I have learned to feel.

HW 24: A Place to Work

Response to chapters 5 and 6 of Virginia Woolf:
Do I have a room of my own?

The answer to this question is yes. In my room I have a choice. Most of Woolf's book is about women not having a choice. In chapter 5 Mary expresses that when she has a room of her own that is when she will succeed. This is what will give her, her big break for becoming a poet. A room of your own is your place of reflection. When I need time to reflect and think and just not talk to anyone. I use the gym as my safe haven. This is where I can do things to benefit my self without having to deal with anything from the outside world. I think that is what Woolf is describing as a room of her own. In the real world there are so many distractions that it is so impossible to just think. Everyone needs time to think. The gym allows me to do that for as long as I want. The gym also allows me to not think. Which is just as important as reflection sometimes you just need to give your mind a rest. The best quote that I can associate with my break from thinking, was Woolf's wandering thoughts. "But, alas, I had done what I had determined not to do; I had slipped unthinkingly into praise of my own sex. " (Woolf pg.85) I could not find a quote that expressed greater association as to what I perceived a room of my own to be. Everyone needs a place where they can simply just hide. "I am talking of the common life which is the real life and not the separate lives which we live as individuals -and have five hundred a year each of us and rooms of our own;if w have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think;if we escape a little from the common sitting room and see human beings not always in their relationships to each other but in relation to reality."(Woolf pg.113-114) This quote really made me think. We as human beings both man and women have the right to think whatever we want. Wherever we want as well. I deciphered this quote as taking a break from thinking about the troubles of life, and just think.