1) One issue that I am interested in is that Jewish people around St. Louis can't afford the general items for holidays. One example of a common holiday is Shabbat. If people are having trouble skating by as is, they probably cannot afford the challah, candles, wine and more needed to properly celebrate. I am interested in this because I am Jewish and feel every Jew be able to observee their faith properly. Some places that would be of service would be the ADL and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
2)There are a lot of homeless people in St. Louis. It is not typically an overarching concern in St. Louis because the area in which people live who attend Whitfield typically don't experience these people. This is an engaging topic because it is an injustice that someone not have a home or place to sleep. Currently I do not know what organisations work with homeless people, but I am sure there are at least a few from whom I could get information.
3)The city's appeal is a big issue. People have been moving out of the city at a really fast rate because there is nothing worth while here and it costs way too much to live there for what it is. There needs to be a functional plan to improve the situation. This is interesting because it directly affects everyone who lives in St. Louis. I'm sure the city is working on this because it is a known issue, but I think it would be difficult to work with them or get relevant information from them because I am a high school student.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Research Question
What is the affect the level of education/socio-economic position of a person, people or country have on the ability and effectiveness to carry out a genocide?
In order to properly answer this question I will need to find books that relate education to genocide. I am going to try to avoid journalistic pieces because the bias that comes with them, in this case in particular, will take away from my arguments credibility. I will also have to learn more about a variety of genocides; in order to sufficiently prove a point, the Rwandan Genocide and Holocaust will not be enough. Also, the Holocaust will make an interesting point because Germany at that time was one of the most technologically advanced/educated countries in the world. This is where I will need to research socio-economic status- they were really poor and desperate at this time.
In order to properly answer this question I will need to find books that relate education to genocide. I am going to try to avoid journalistic pieces because the bias that comes with them, in this case in particular, will take away from my arguments credibility. I will also have to learn more about a variety of genocides; in order to sufficiently prove a point, the Rwandan Genocide and Holocaust will not be enough. Also, the Holocaust will make an interesting point because Germany at that time was one of the most technologically advanced/educated countries in the world. This is where I will need to research socio-economic status- they were really poor and desperate at this time.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tentative Research Proposal
1) After reading the different excerpts, books, and packets regarding murder and genocide, there seems to be in each a reoccurring underlying theme: education is key. The level of education one seems to have seems to dictate both the individual's place in the genocide, and the level of ease in which it can be carried out. Though I do not expect to end with a definite answer, I think it would be very interesting to, at the very least, explore this.
2) One book that you gave me, "'A Problem From Hell': America and the Age of Genocide," looks very interesting and helpful because it contains explanations of almost every genocide. I think by starting here I will be able to find a wide array of examples extending beyond the holocaust and Rwanda.
3)Which type of resource would be the most helpful in drawing a conclusion: books, survivors, leaders?
Are there are exceptions where leaders were more uneducated than those partaking?
2) One book that you gave me, "'A Problem From Hell': America and the Age of Genocide," looks very interesting and helpful because it contains explanations of almost every genocide. I think by starting here I will be able to find a wide array of examples extending beyond the holocaust and Rwanda.
3)Which type of resource would be the most helpful in drawing a conclusion: books, survivors, leaders?
Are there are exceptions where leaders were more uneducated than those partaking?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Guess who!!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/26/congo-un-conflict-civilians
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/world/africa/23congo.html?_r=1&ref=congothedemocraticrepublicof
In the first article, The UN must Protect Congo's Civilians, we learn how desperate the people in the Congo still are. They need money and materials from a support system, in their case the UN. However, they are not receiving the amount of assistance needed to get them out of their desperate situation. Also, relating to this article, the second article, Congo’s Death Rate Unchanged Since War Ended, talks about the desperate situation that the Congolese people are in. Though their war has been over for several years, the death rate in Congo has remained constant at around 45000 dead per month. A quote that really sums of this article as well as the feel of the first is this: “The only thing that improved a bit is mobile phone coverage. We now are in contact with more people to know that the situation is not good.”
The main issue that I am finding is that, after the Congo's terrible history, and even though people know about what is happening, nothing is being done. People are dying every day and all that is being done is tallying the dead. I do think that there is a relation between this and Leopold's Congo because the country is still not united, and that can be traced back to the way in which the boarders were drawn and how the deaths ripped apart the country; too, the same diseases that were introduced by Leopold- malaria, etc.- are still responsible for a number of deaths each year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/world/africa/23congo.html?_r=1&ref=congothedemocraticrepublicof
In the first article, The UN must Protect Congo's Civilians, we learn how desperate the people in the Congo still are. They need money and materials from a support system, in their case the UN. However, they are not receiving the amount of assistance needed to get them out of their desperate situation. Also, relating to this article, the second article, Congo’s Death Rate Unchanged Since War Ended, talks about the desperate situation that the Congolese people are in. Though their war has been over for several years, the death rate in Congo has remained constant at around 45000 dead per month. A quote that really sums of this article as well as the feel of the first is this: “The only thing that improved a bit is mobile phone coverage. We now are in contact with more people to know that the situation is not good.”
The main issue that I am finding is that, after the Congo's terrible history, and even though people know about what is happening, nothing is being done. People are dying every day and all that is being done is tallying the dead. I do think that there is a relation between this and Leopold's Congo because the country is still not united, and that can be traced back to the way in which the boarders were drawn and how the deaths ripped apart the country; too, the same diseases that were introduced by Leopold- malaria, etc.- are still responsible for a number of deaths each year.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Lingering Question
After the discussion I was left puzzled over the way in which the Force Publique handled things because they were very cruel. Now, I understand that after a while the members were desensitized with the things that they were doing, but, initially, how did they respond to the terrible things they were doing? What things did the king do in order to help these members get over their inhumane acts in the beginning?
A quick though about the discussion itself: I found that the questions that people asked were posed with a specific answer in mind and only called for one person to answer for a good response.
A quick though about the discussion itself: I found that the questions that people asked were posed with a specific answer in mind and only called for one person to answer for a good response.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Discussion Questions 114-139
How were items unique to the Congo and Africa innovated and used against the natives to exploit them?
Presently, in the army, a common technique to unite a platoon is to give them a common enemy, the commander. How is this common enemy, the white man, affected the African tribes? Will it have any counter effects for the Europeans?
Did Kind Leopold know/understand the power of propaganda desensitization before entering the Congo? How did his propaganda and desensitization affect the men stationed in the Congo?
Presently, in the army, a common technique to unite a platoon is to give them a common enemy, the commander. How is this common enemy, the white man, affected the African tribes? Will it have any counter effects for the Europeans?
Did Kind Leopold know/understand the power of propaganda desensitization before entering the Congo? How did his propaganda and desensitization affect the men stationed in the Congo?
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