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End of Iran Awakening

I found the arrest of Shirin to be a particularly interesting part of the book. I was amazed that she figured out that how to predict who would be arrested and when the arrest would occur. Shirin also discussed how her daughter wanted to go to school in Canada. I was surprised that Shirin was considering it since she seemed so adamant about people staying in Iran and not leaving. But when I thought about it further, I think it is because she wants her daughter to have every opportunity available to her. I also think that she is afraid for her daughter's safety in Iran and is trying to protect her from doing some of the things that she did. If Shirin's daughter was arrested she would be treated far worse than someone else because of her political position. She always tried to keep her daughters from protesting and partaking in politics to protect them. I think that Shirin feels that if her daughter were to stay in Iran she would be like her and stand up to the government and end up in jail. Also, there are not many opportunities for women to get a hirer education and become successful. So in order to give her more opportunities to be herself. Shirin is considering letting her daughter go to Canada for school. 

I cannot believe that we are now working on our last assignment of the semester.

I would like to give a little background about my paper because I think that it is an important topic to think about. In short, we see in the media a lot that that this war that we are in is predominately one that is negative. However, what about the changes that we have made? Certainly, in the eyes of Americans it is seen to be something that is negative because it has come at the expense of American soldiers but we have made positive changes in the war in the middle east.

Some soldiers have also returned with stories that they will remember for a lifetime because they we able to aid in these peoples lives, provide clean water, and ensure a safer environment. These are things that we tend to not hear about when we are told about the war. All we hear about is death tolls and those who have been wounded. Not to say that that information is not valid, but it would be nice to hear once and a while that maybe we are making a difference and we are not wasting millions and millions of dollars on the war, and numerous lives.

Iran Awakening-

I firstly wanted to state that I think that the main character of this book is a very complex but highly educated individual and I enjoyed reading what she had to portray and write about. I was really shocked by her life and the troubles and triumphs that it entailed. Mainly, her being stripped of her judgeship, going to jail and also winning the Nobel Peace prize. These three things alone are huge life-changing experiences and the way she handled them I think was really courageous and strong. Many of the things that she discussed, were topics or occurrences that many would not wish on another but she was able to maintain her life.

I wanted to also call attention to the end of the book, which really shows how smart she really is. What I mean in particular is the way that she was able to get her book published by having an American represent her. I think that this was an interesting way to bend the rules but one that is highly intelligent.


Overall, I really admire her courageous attitude and I respect her for being able to maintain such a troubled yet positive existence.

The FInal Paper and Chapter

For my final paper I am looking at the Soviet-Afghan war and how the CIA's intervention created optimal conditions for the Taliban to rise to power. the title of my paper is "Afghanistan: A CIA Intervention That Lead to a Disaster." so as you can probably tell it will be in interesting paper. Doing research has been rally interesting. Over the last two years we have looked at everything and I really think that this project at least for me helps close the book. I hope everyone else feels the same way, I like the way we have the option to do whatever to close the pathway chapter. In terms of sources, so far I have found some very interesting thing's, I have read CIA bulletins, and Russian document's, that describe what was going on. Overall it is all an interpretation game much like everything with the Middle East! It's really up to the reader to intemperate the material I am the reader now but you all will be the reader soon, when I present my paper on the last day!

S0 this is on a completely different note. I have really enjoyed the pathway over the last two years, you all were the first people I met here at Colby-Sawyer. I know we all think this pathway has had its highs and lows but I really have enjoyed the ride with all of you.

See you next time!

End of Iran Awakening...

The epilogue of Iran Awakening is inspirational. Shirin is an incredible role model and inspiration to every single woman in Iraq. It was alarming to me the dates that this book took place in; 2003?? I have learned a lot about women's rights in Iran, and the policies they must abide by. The experience that Shirin experienced in the jail is what stands out most in my mind towards the end of the book. I was shocked when I read her "letter" to her girls saying that she had been arrested, but that it was okay, and not to worry because she would be fine and had done nothing wrong. Shirin was able to write the letter because apparently the press publishes a hard copy in the news when someone will be arrested, and the handcuffs come 3-4 weeks later. 

I found it ironic that I noticed the New York Times, and then Travis did his news report on it. I also liked how Carly's news article related to the book today, talking about how an American was accused of spying in Iran.  In the memoir, there was a photographer who was assumed to be a spy, and in the end she fell into a coma and ended up dying due to battering  (and possibly lack of medication.. which is besides the point..)

Good Book. Last post? Cheers & Jeers. 

Paper

For my final paper, I'm discussing guerrilla warfare in the Middle East. The average American does not understand the cultures of countries we have studied (Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran). And with all the turmoil America has endured while invading Iraq and Afghanistan, I think it is important to map out what exactly American soldiers (and other conventional armies like the Soviet Union in the 1980s) deal with. America has one of the most sophisticated, well trained, and heavily funded militant programs that outnumber most national superpowers. So how can smaller countries like Iraq and Afghanistan offer so much difficulty for American military? The unconventional strategy of guerrilla warfare is the key to this issue for conventional militaries.

There is a lot of research regarding this issue, which is obviously a good thing. I believe the best part of this research topic is getting inside the heads of both sides- The opposing army and the war guerrillas. Understanding the training, and the tactics will probably serve as a basis as well.

Iran Awakening

After getting further into the book, it reminds me more and more of Back to Afghanistan, but I feel much more attached to the author due to Shirin's in-depth personal details. She seems to have a way with her words and making readers feel as if they are the one suffering during the Iranian Revolution. One of the things I found most interesting about the book is when Shirin does something and then immediately looks for her husband's reaction, as if something is going to get him upset. For example, when her friends from law school come over, it is apparently custom for newly married women to devote themselves completely to their husbands and should no longer socialize with female friends. However, when Shirin's friends come over they are welcomed in by her husband, and he thinks nothing of it. It seems to me that the couple was raised in a similar situation, basing their childhood on trust and equality, as difficult that might have been in Iran at this time. 

iran awakening

This is a very good book, and I enjoy reading it. It mostly talks about women and their lives. Shirin Ebadi is the main character. Her father is the deputy minister of agriculture in the popular government of Prime Minister Mossadegh. Her father always treated her and her brothers as equals, which rarely happened. Ebadi graduated from law at 22 years of age, and she became a judge. The people stated seeing a lot of events happen that angered them, and made them want to overthrow the Shah. One event was very gruesome and disturbing. This event was the burning of a crowded cinema in 1978. Four hundred people died. This was shocking. I could not believe things like this happened in Iran. It is truly unbelievable what I hear what goes on in other countries around the world. I feel so lucky sometimes to live where I do now.

I had some technical difficulties last week, so this is my post from then...

The movie that we watched in class was very interesting and I enjoyed watching it. I found that music is an important aspect of their everyday lives. I feel that it offers an escape and is a source of entertainment. It distracts the people from all the horrors surrounding them, and offers a constructive way of dealing with and coping with those feelings.

I found that each one of the main characters changed from when the movie started to the end. Mirza changes because he left without seeing Hanareh after he was so determined to do so. Also, he takes her daughter, putting her ahead of himself. My opinion of him at the end of the film is that he is genuine, honorable and treats others with respect, and seems to have good intentions. Audeh changes because he ends up adopting a son, so he is willing to change his mind and when he plays the music for the refugee camp. Barat changes because he finds love and takes off his glasses as he goes to help her find her brother's body.

film-in class

event hough the film wasn't in English and we had to read the subtitles.. I still thought that I followed it pretty well. I thought the movie had an amazing story line. In the beginning I thought it was kind of odd that the father (who knew about importnant it is for a family to have securtiy)  made his son leave his wives and children. However, it ended up being a good thing, because he ended up adopting a son on his adventure. And it does not only save him from marrying another wife and it saves the kid. So throughout the movie, I really thought that the thing that stuck out to me was that the teacher was teaching and telling those kids about the air planes and that they might be crashing down ON THEIR HOUSES. 

overall I really liked the film and I am glad we watched it in class. 

Iran Awakening

"Iran Awakening" written by Shirin Ebadi offers a firsthand perspective on the changes that Iran underwent during the 1980s. I think it becomes most apparent after she returns from the United States to find how drastically the social order has changed on a public level. And with Shirin being a woman, the biggest change is having to cover her face while in the public view. I remember reading how she always forgot her cover; she would be sitting in traffic and got these strange stares from other people because she simply forgot to wear it. I think that says a lot about the freedom women did not have compared to men, but it also gets worse. Shirin lost her prestigious job as a head female judge and instead filed paperwork, a significant downgrade.

Through all the trouble she and other women had underwent, I think the chapter ends on a high note. It explains how Iranian women attended secondary education (and eventually out numbering male students by a slim margin) as well as learning the fundamentals of feminism. She explained that feminism was still all too new to women in the nineties to do anything with it; however, I think that this chapter is helping set the tone for the remainder of the book.

Marooned In Iraq

Again it’s a bit late!
I thought the movie was great, at first like most things in the class I wondered how was this relevant to the topic. It seemed like the three stooges in Islam. But after the beginning I saw the reason they may have approached it like they did. The topic was so depressing and so sad like most, that they brought in music and comedy to lighten the mood. It showed how the men changed after being affected by war. Much like the many stories we have read. I showed allot about the people how they must feel and how horrible living conditions are there. Again we know about all of this but I find that it always helps to see it to really understand it. I didn’t realize that the movie was about the issues in the 90's I thought it was about the current Iraq war.

Iran Awakening

I think this book is pretty interesting. The woman seems like a very well educated and a very intelligent woman. I think her determination keeps her going throughout this whole book or so far at least. I think growing up before the revolution makes her easier to understand from my western perspective; I compare her to my mom almost in some of her actions. I think it is interesting that she knows right away that this revolution is going to lead to nothing good for women, just because of an argument about hair. It reminds me of the scene in Persepolis when the mother's friend cover's her hair because the father walks in. It is just such a simple part of life that it is hard to believe that it matters that much. Another thing that I found interesting was the part when she is stripped of judge’s title because she is pregnant; it surprised me to hear what the men had to say about women not wanting to work. There is so much of that wishes some aspects of human nature didn't exist, that being one of them. I think it is interesting to see how she handles the being stripped of her title. She had worked so hard for something like that to get taken away from her so fast, and not only just fast but because she is a woman. Ok one last thing, her marriage seems very western which is part of how both her and her husband were raised but now most Muslim men would not fly their wife to the states to see a specialist, even if they do have money, most of them would divorce that wife and/or take on a new wife. Overall I think this book is very interesting, maybe that because it is not like most Muslim women we have heard about. 

Suicide Bomber Kills Iraqi Sunnis

With a recent presentation in class on the Sunni's and Shiite, I thought this article was very interesting and pertained to the information we have gone through in class. On the BBC news on Saturday, and story was posted pertaining to a suicide bomber who attack a US-allied Sunni militia group in Iraq. The bomber struck a group of Sunni military men as they were waiting to receive paychecks at an army post. This group in particular had been established through US sponsorship to cut violent threats and future attacks in the "Triangle of Death" as this area has been termed. Such a name was placed on the area as the town has been the target of a number of violent attacks in the past. Several concerns have been raised with this bombing, as the instance of suicide bombing has raised in the past weeks following the meeting of the Iraq government and the Awakening council (group that was targeted). Yet, of biggest concern may be the future plans of withdrawn US troops and the unstable security situation in Iraq. 

Iran Awakening

I don't know where the weeks go here because I feel like I blog everyday, when clearly I only am once a week... I guess thats a good and bad thing. 

So after reading the first chapter of our latest book, Iran Awakening, I can already tell that the book is going to be the "Iran version" of Come Back to Afghanistan. By the "Iran version," I mean that the novel will be told by the prospective of a single person, in this case, by Shirin, and the entire book will be both reader-friendly, yet will contain a lot of cultural background information and typical traditions. So far, I am glad that we watched the film Persepolis because when I read the word "Shah," I already knew what the author was referring to. I am most interested in learning about Iran so that I can have a background with the United State's relationship with the country itself. The only involvement I currently am aware of include the Iran Hostage Crisis and something to do with Iran having a surplus of foreign oil. Off to start my research for the paper.. The 27th will be here before we know it. 

Class 4/8/09, Iran Awakening

Class today was very informative and helped me to better understand names of important people within the book, Iran Awakening. I often find when reading books for this class the native culture and words that are used are unfamiliar to me. I make a good effort to sound the word out but it is so much different than what I am used to, and I usually just skip the word. That makes me unable to register the person, place, or thing. Then when it comes time to discuss them in class I usually know the first letter, but I don't know exactly what it is. I am also able to describe the character and how they are involved but it is much more difficult than knowing the name. I feel that knowing the names are very important and often by the end of the book I know them, but while I am reading I am not sure and I get easily confused. The activity we did in class that broke down each character and why they were important helped gratefully. I now know more about each individual person and can better understand the reading.

Marooned in Iraq

The film "Marooned in Iraq" follows the character of Mirza, a Kurdish musician, who hears word that his ex-wife Hanare is in trouble after she fled to Iraq from Iran to find peace. Through the accompaniment of his two sons, the three men set out to find the women by traveling across the Iran-Iraq border. The film is set in the backdrop of the Gulf war and its aftermath, aftermath that greatly affect Hanare. The men find themselves traveling under conditions of harsh terrain and extreme winter weather, only complicated and their current situation. Yet, these men are full of humour and love, and find themselves in experiences that can make for lighthearted humor. It was interesting to see the dynamics of these three men, as Mirza's selflessness and kindheart led them on an emotional family journey of their own. It is the discovery of a mass grave of dead Iranians that changes the forefront of the film. This gut-renching scene is filled with the omnipresent sound of mourning women and the noise of Saddam Husseins jets circling overhead. The trio finds these women lost and living in a nomadic manner, after the men of their villages were all murdered and attacked my chemical weapons, which affected some women as well. Yet, despite these conditions, the Kurds are exemplified as having amazing courage, courage that may have played an important role in sustaining their livelihood after Saddam's reign of terror.

The elements of the weather, along with the continous omnipresent sounds of griving and warfare ahead were what gave the film the emotional suspense element that it entailed. Images of abandoned villages, thousands of refugees, mass graves, and lost survivors gave the film the realistic elements of the cost of war. Yet, for me, it was the image of Mirza traveling across the Iran/Iraq border over scattered snow covered wire that exemplified the most. This scene showed the selflessness for others, the struggle of Mirza's journey, the disarray between countries at the time, and the element of love that prevailed over all of the negative components of the current situation of the country.

Film

"Marooned in Iraq" was a film full of humor, hope, and sorrow. The war between Iraq and Iran was told through the journey of three Kurdish musicians. The way Mirza, Barat, and Audeh travel together says a lot about the attitude of the Kurds during Saddam's grasp on them. Times were bleak, but two different extremes were very apparent. The distracting Iraqi jets heard flying overhead and the calming Kurdish music playing in the background offered the audience two different perspectives on the Iran-Iraq war; either come together as a people or admit defeat to Saddam Hussein.

The way the movie ties everything together is also important. Barat at last finds a woman he loves, Audeh finds two sons. and Mirza reaches Hanareh. Although he never never actually meets her, he took her daughter away to safety, something obviously worthwhile. This film does end happily for all three characters, but I think it's important to remember that not everyone in the Kurdish culture lived happily. But it does offer hope to viewers and this is something that any audience member would not object to.

Persepolis

This film was unlike nothing I had seen before simply because of the way that it was produced. I thought it was interesting how they used color to display the change in time. When watching this film, I could only compare Marjane to Meena who was the founder of RAWA. This idea could be entirely wrong but I feel like Meena must have been a lot like Marjane when she was a child; outspoken with high hopes for her life and the future.

For Marjane life as she knew it changed very fast, just like it did for all of the Iranian women. She went from coming and going as she pleases to having to wear a veil and go into a certain door for school that was only for girls. There was also a separate door for girls. As a result of what her parents, were also very strong-willed and educated, see they send her away to get a European education so she is able to receive the education that she deserves. However, because she is so strong willed and also feeling very alone she decided to return back to Iran, to attempt to make a difference. But, ultimately she removes herself from the place that she calls home, which was not an easy thing for her to do.

Overall, I feel that many women in Iran feel the way that Marjane did but we unable to completely remove themselves from the situation because they did not have the means to do so. When watching this, I wondered "Why didn't these women just leave?". I think the answer to this question is that the simply felt to helpless to do so and perhaps that cost outweighed the benefits.

presentations

I think that all of the presentations were very good. I learned a lot from all of them, and I learned a lot from the presentation that I did with my group. I did my presentation on RAWA. It is sometimes astonishing to see what different people around the world have to live like. Their lives can be a lot different from mine. RAWA was established in 1977, and it is still running today. There were a lot of people against this organization, and this is why the leader, Meena, was killed. Even though she was killed, she is remembered even today. These women grow up knowing that they are literally worth half of a man. Zarmeena was a women that had a very interesting story. She was accused of killing her husband, and she was murdered in front of a large crowd. The Taliban wanted to make an example of her. Her poem, 'I'll Never Return' is very moving, and I enjoyed reading it. These presentations were a very good idea, and I'm glad that we had the opportunity to see what everyone has been learning about.

Persepolis

After viewing the film, I had a mixed reaction. I thought that the film provided an alternative look into the lives led by women in Afghanistan. Also, I thought that being able to view the lifespan and transition of Persepolis from a young girl to a women was very interesting. Not only did the transition encompass the fall of the Shah (1979), but also her life living under the Islamic extremist rule. Even as a young girl, it is clear that Marji recognizes that even after the fall of the Shah, the country is run under the most opressive of conditions. One scene in particular I though was extremely grasping was when Marji and her family were stopped at a roadblock while attending a secret party. The images of the young soldier ordering Marji's father around and then her mother stepping in was very interesting. At first, the soldier regarded Marji's family as nothing but law-breakers, but when her mother made the comment of how he could be her own son, the enforcer seemed to show some compassion and less resistance to the family. Under the same conditions, the market scene was by far the most disheartening. Marji and her mother run into a man who demands that they pay him respect by veiling themselves. When Marjis mother asks for the same in return the man replies with "Respect? i rape women like you and throw them in the trash". The look of shock and hurt in the two female characters faces touched a nerve with me, as I cannot imagine being threatened with such a statement. Growing up in a more modernized family, in terms of values and traditions, it was inevitable that Marji would begin to have feelings of repent towards the extremist in the government. Also an outspoken individual, Marji's parents arranged for her to travel abroad to Vienna. It was here that Marji reached her lowest point. Yet, I thought that it was important to include this scene, as it shows another changing chapter in her life- as even when she returns back to home country, she finds nothing but change, but in the form of destruction, destruction in the country, and in herself.

persepolis

This is an animated film with French subtitles. The main character is Marji, and the movie is about her life. She is ten years old at the beginning of the movie. She does not know much about the government and situation in Iran at first. She actually made fun of a child who was the son of one of the government officials. She realized this was wrong when she got yelled at for doing that. It was not the child's fault that his father was unliked. The Islamic Fundamentalists win the elections and put Iran into a bad state. There were a lot of rules and regulations. At one point in the movie, Marji's mother encounters a very mean man. He tells her that he rapes women like her and throws them in the trash can. I could not believe this even happened. Marji escapes punishment after an official sees her wearing punk clothing. She had to lie and say that if she doesn't get home on time, then she will be beaten. She was very lucky in this situation. This is such a sad movie about how people had to live during this time. They could not even enjoy a little alcohol. They had to sneak it or make it on their own in order to have it.

Persepolis!

Well that movie was a very good movie.

Considering what we have watched in class for the most part the movies have been very depressing. Persepolis was a great story, that told something that many people with little background would be able to pick up and understand. the movie depicted the events in a very clever way. the way that the entire movie was in black and white in the past and color in the present helped me at least, to understand what was happening when. the grandma seemed to be a very important figure, and along with pat I had a feeling that she was going to croak before the movie was over. I would like to read the book and I wish we could do it for class but i liked the story so much I may read it for my own personal interest.

Persepolis!

Soooooooo... That's kinda what I thought throughout the whole film. I won't lie, when I first sat down with to watch it, I was taken back by the comic/black & white style of the movie.. Not to mention the FRENCH w/ English subtitles.. For the first time in my life, I was dying to know French. Anyway, I thought that there was no way that the movie would keep my attention, but I found myself almost captivated by how much impact and oppression was described through the eyes of Marjane.

I have not looked at the book yet, but I remember Olivia mentioning that it was set up as a comic book as well, so I am interested how much of an impact the book will be able to portray Marjane's lack of freedoms and time to be herself. I found it interesting how interested she was with Shah and other political situations going on in Iran. Even as a very young girl she was never afraid to ask questions and engage herself in "adult" conversations." Something else that surprised me was the relationship she had with her communist uncle... A little odd if you ask me, but hey, to each its own. There were a lot of parts of the movie that shocked me, some of which were extremely inappropriate and almost made me angry. One example was when Marjane's mother was disrespected by a man, basically claiming she was worthless and only good for men to have sex with. I can't even imagine how scared she must have been, but good for her to stay so strong to herself and leave with a scowl on her face, as Marjane becomes quiet.

I am very uneducated on the war that was/is going on in Iran, but can see the power that was reined over the people just by watching the animated movie. I am looking forward to learning more about the war, and hopefully the book will be a good reference to better understand what is going on.

The Movie

Persepolis was definitely something out of the ordinary. It is not like the standard films that we have viewed in class. I think that is what makes this film so striking and even refreshing- it's something unexpected (unless you had previously read the book). Marjane's coming of age served as the focus of the film, but it was her grandmother that stuck out the most in my perspective. She always told her granddaughter to remain true to herself while in Vienna...I can see why it would be tough for an Iranian to admit where they come from. Many Westerners see the country as a place full of bloodshed and unnecessary death. Marjane felt like she had to hide her origin, when in reality, it was hurting her. She found happiness in doing things for herself once she got past her depression. In a way, it seemed like Marjane represents the Middle East; there is hope, no matter how bleak it may get sometimes. Marjane offers a taste of her thirst for independence. However, her tough situations in Vienna bring her back to her changed homeland and she eventually finds where she ultimately belongs in life and how to live it.

Persepolis Film.

This film was not really what I thought it was going to be like. I have already read the first book and I was kind of surprised by the movie. it is so much like the book, there are very few things that are missing in the film. I really enjoyed it more than I thought I was going to. I love graphic novels; I am a bit of a geek like that, so I am really looking forward to reading Persepolis 2. This movie captured my attention more than I thought it was going to. I hardly noticed that the majority of the movie was on black and white. I think they way they chose to do this movie were interesting I think it could have been done totally different. The movie seems like it was intended for a much younger audience than it appeals to, I think it appeals to people who are above the age of 18, or somewhere around there. It was interesting to see how much more I learned from the movie instead of the book. There was definitely something that I picked up on in the movie that I didn't pick up on in the book. I think the oppression was one of those things that I picked up more on seeing the movie than I did reading the book.

Persepolis. A great film based on a great book. The book is a black and white graphic novel (that is it is like a comic book). It is amazing to me how the filmmakers somehow did a very original job even though basing it on a previously written book. The writer was one of the filmmakers, so she managed to reinvent her book to suit film. She knew enough to realize that she would have to reinvent it, not simply put it in the form of the film. Who would have ever thought that simple black and white illustrations could be that expressive?
Questions I have: What do you think about the decision of the parents to send away their 14, 15 year old daughter? The heroine clearly admires her Communist uncle. What do you think of him? Marjane is clearly a fiery personality. What do you think of her? How does the movie portray the Iranian revolution? These are the questions we will be talking about on Monday.

Presentations

Thus far, I think that the presentation that were given were really well done. Great job everyone! My presentation in particular was about RAWA which is an organization for the woman of Afghanistan. As we said in class, this organization is one that I made great strides for the women of Afghanistan but paving the way for the rights of women. Meena, who was the
founder was a woman that was very courageous and without her this organization would simply not be what it is today.

Aside from my presentation, I was able to learn a lot from the presentations that were given. Lea and Sarah's presentation in particular was one that was really able to grab my attention because of the use of the film that they used. With the film, I was really able to understand what it was like for this individual to be a veteran and finally be free from the wraths of the war. The disorders that they discussed were very real, and were particularly interesting to me because of my want to be a nurse. I also think if we were able to watch the movie that they showed in full it would be highly beneficial to further understand what these individuals went through.

Persepolis

I watched Persepolis today and all I have to say is wow, nothing like I expected. I really thought that I wouldn't enjoy it and it wasn't my type but it was actually pretty good. The movie was about a little girl who was growing up in the middle of a dangerous revolution. It showed her as she was growing up, and all the places and struggles she went through to stay away from war. At a very young age she is outspoken, which frightens her family but at the same time makes them proud. She ends up escaping the society of Iran, where females are forced to wear a burqa and have little to no power, and enters a world where she in unfamiliar with everything. she eventually returns home because it is where she is most comfortable. Still outspoken about ideas and culture instilled to what I perceived as the Taliban regime, she feels that her voice is too strong to remain in Iran and makes a decision to leave once and for all. The movie was very inspirational and made me realize the struggles that Iranian woman face everyday. It seems that there are so many restrictions to conform to and women are being held down, and almost worth nothing. This movie was very sad and moving at times. The largest point it put across to me is that I should be thankful to live in a country where women are not held back and valued less than men. We can go to school, date, wear makeups, and do not need to hide ourselves. It was very uplifting the freedom I have in this country compared to the non-existent freedom of Marjane.

Iraq in Fragments/Presentations

I was shocked with the movie we watched during class, Iraq in Fragments. I think the horrors in Iraq "hit home" more because the movie was from the eyes of an 11 year old. I felt like I could relate to his innocence more than others because I have an 11 year old sister, and she is the 5th grade. This poor little boy hadn't been supported in his education, and after 5 years of 1st grade, he was forced again to drop out. It was at times simply hard to watch when his boss was verbally abusive, and the violence that the little boy saw was too much for him to be witnessing at such a young age. The saddest part is that the boy thought that his boss really loved him... Poor little guy. 

I was very happy with today's presentation topics. I learned a lot about each, and the more we individually learn and share, the more we will get to understand about Iraq and Afghanistan. I am looking forward to the next 2 presentations, as well was learning about the involvement that Iran has with the war. 

The Lucky Ones

The film I went to see last week came as quite a surprise to me. I was assuming that the film would have been more a documentary-style film, but instead it was a regular movie. After seeing it, I was shocked with the reasons these people were driven to go to war and what kept them there. TK, Cheever and Colee were all people who thought they had such a promising future, but in actuality, they were all doomed to be let down for one reason or another. I found one of the most moving parts of the movie was after TK finds out that his wife wants a divorce, and his son needs $20K to insure that he will get into Stanford. He drops Colee and Cheever off at the airport, and once they leave, I think it hits them that he is alone. The two decided together that they didn't want to leave him suffering, so they join him to Las Vegas  where he hopes to get money for his son. Of course there are always parts of movies that are "cliche" and I was almost happy when TK chose to re-enlist in the Army to raise the $20,000 for his son, instead of taking the easy route and accepting Colee's guitar offer. As a whole, I found the amount of lying that was part of the film was devastating, and everyone somehow was let down throughout the movie, however in the end, I was glad to see them all together, heading out to different locations, serving their reliable country in the army: together. 

The Lucky Ones

 This movie was a lot better then I expected. I thought it was going to be  a movie about just the after effects of war. When I realized that it was more of a story then a factual thing I got more into it. It did give a few interesting facts however, coming back from war might not always be a good thing. Sometimes you might not end up coming home to your "home" anymore. Or maybe you did not have family to begin with so you have no where to really go at all. Or since you were hurt you don't know what to do but go back after your better. This movie brought three strangers together in a unique way. It was also a lot of help for Sarah and I's presentation. It gave a lot of good examples of what happens when you return from war. And it ended up that all their solutions were to do nothing but go back..

Iraq in Fragments

James Longley's Iraq in Fragments (2006) provides an unscripted, narrative-free film exploring the simple lives of Iraqis. The film does an excellent job in portraying the failing educational life of the child named Mohammed Haithem (I think that's his name). The relationship he has with his boss, Suleiman Mahmoud (I may be wrong about that name too). He constantly urges the boy to successfully continue his education. The options were either work until he is grown up, like the says, or to get an education. However, there are some tough examples to watch, especially for a Western audience. Textbooks were full of torn pages, classrooms were nowhere near ideal settings, and the boy only knew how to spell his name after 5 years of "education."

Something that also struck me was the way the boy was treated by his boss. There were a few accounts where the boss seemed to be verbally abusing the boy. Some names were called and the boy began to cry. The man repeatedly said he had never hit him, so there was no reason for the boy to cry. Of course, as an American viewer, I was appalled to see the boy cry because of the man's yelling. However, the social customs of Iraq (or even the Middle East in general) make for a different tone. In my eyes, this was the most striking component to Iraq in Fragments.

Iraq in fragments : Part two

Part two of the documentary focused on the movement to enforce the Shiite majority and in turn, employing religious foundations into the countries political power. The director of the documentary, Longley, and his interpreter manage to gain access to several of the political rallies, meeting between Shiite leaders, as well as religious ceremonies and a violent raid on a market to out turn alcohol vendors. In particular, I thought the raid on the market was especially captivating in this section of the documentary. The scene included clear images of shots being fired, people being beaten and then taken into their custody, as well as the beating of individuals who were just suspected of selling alcohol, with no clear proof. It was especially disheartening to see the men who were suspected of selling alcohol blindfolded and held captive, as if they were animals, and their pleas meant nothing to the Shiite holders. The scene in which the wife of one of the suspected vendors came to the prison begging for his release was very emotional. She claimed that he had nothing to do with the alcohol vending, and that these leaders were no better then Saddam in taking in people without evidence of crime. Again, Saddam was mentioned in the hospital scene where a man wounded in the market raid began screaming about democracy. It is clear that Saddam's regime and rule is an extremely sensitive and painful reminder of the past to the people of Iraq, and anything that takes place that reminds them of those days evokes a serious emotional response. I was also very captivated by the imagery that was provided in this film. Especially in the segment on the Shiites, Longley was able to capture intense views that in some cases could have posed for endangerment to his own life. Such documentation is rare, but very interesting to see. 

The scene where the boss mocks Mohammed about his ignorance is very intense and we'ill talk about it on Monday. For background information, Iraq in the 70s had the highest literacy rate in the Middle East and the most advanced universities. We have a notion of progress and one of the terrible truths that come out of this course is the knowledge that cultures can disintegrate--they can lose their educational systems, their hospitals, and even their family structure once put under prolonged pressure.

iraq in fragments

Part one of this movie was called Mohammad of Baghdad. It took place in 2003. Mohammad, who is eleven years old, was saying that it used to be so beautiful in Baghdad, but now it's not. He sees American troops, tanks, and helicopters everywhere, and he says that it is very scary for him. The Iraqis are saying that the American deny taking Iraqi oil, but they know this is not true. They say that things are getting worse every day. The Americans say that they are providing security and humanitarian aid, but there isn't any. Mohammad is already working to support his mother and grandmother. He has a lot of responsibilities that I know I did not have at his age. He dropped out of school, and he does not know how to read or write. He decides to go back to school again. He has failed the first grade twice already, and he is four years older than the rest of the kids. His boss is talking about how Saddam would have never let the Iraqis live like they are now. He wishes that Saddam was still around. At the end of this part, his boss is yelling at Mohammad because he can't read or write. He start hitting him and telling him that he is fired. This is very sad to see because the boy is only eleven years old. He gets yelled at for playing with marbles when he was supposed to be cleaning, but he is just a kid.

Film

The film that we saw in class today surprised me a little bit. I did not expect a boy who was eleven years old to drop out of school and have a full time job. Also it surprised me when we found out that the boy had failed the 1st grade four times and cannot even spell his fathers name, or his last name. this just shows that the people of Iraq no longer worry about the things that they should be worrying about like getting an education and learning to read and write all because of the war. Also the people of Iraq have to start worrying about the economic down fall of the country because of the war.

Sirens

Well It may be a little late but I did fall behind on my blogs...


Sirens of Baghdad was a dark book. At first I really didn't like it and i didn't see why we were reading it. It was a bout a culture that i didn't know about and really truthfully didn't care about. It is known that Iraqis have issues now, and its really not something that most Americans want to look into after all we in a way caused them...

When I first read the book those first 100 pages were pretty bad, I mentioned it in class, they went in and out of my brain and I didn't really understand what I read. Taking Olivia's advice I decided to take notes while reading this helped but it still didn't solve the fact that the book was very dark.

While waiting in the airport for my flight to leave for BWI, I began to read, interesting place to read.... I read the second half of the book and from then it kinda begun to make sense all the BS that the author was talking about all the hardships were getting somewhere it was showing the transformation from human to terrorist.

It was showing how ordinary people get so wrapped up in problems that they break and go off in unorthodox ways. It did prove to b e interesting mostly to hear about his transformation to terrorist. The end however really didn't make sense when you think about it logically there was a lot that lead up to it. His goal was to attack the planet as a terrorist would but something clicked and he didn't. If only this could happen with all terrorists. In a way I am glad that the book is over and i look forward to Reading hopefully less dark novels.

Film

Well while watching the film a few things came to my mind. First I am very surprised the boy was so calm about everything I could only imagine if I was in Iraq, eleven years old and worried because a war was raging on. He seemed to appreciate his boss, he mentioned he didn't abuse him but he seemed so brainwashed he didn't realize he is verbally abused. When the boss told him he is the son of a whore and he is a bastard because he doesn't know how to spell his fathers name that was wrong and that was verbal abuse. I feel terrible for the boy and it is a shame he canst seem to succeed in school.

The second part of the movie covered the resistance. While this was happening I had two things on my mind the entire time. I was thinking about if the Americans were going to consider this a threat. And sure enough by the end they did.

There was talk about the bathists. Saddam's party and how they would abuse people. But these men did the same thing, they thought a man was selling alcohol they took him by gunpoint to a makeshift jail. The entire situation in Iraq is terrible and it is so sad when you look at it from a humanitarian point of view.

I look foreword to watching the rest of the movie in class.

Hello!
Today my blog will be in regards to the film that we watched in class today. Aside from the fact that the movie was in subtitles, I was really able to pay attention to what was occurring in the movie. I found it very interesting to hear the opinions of those who live in the country to the Americans are trying to "help". I found it so interesting simply because they seemed to have a very negative outlook on what we are trying to accomplish while Americans feel that we are doing a positive thing for the country.

I also found it to be shocking that the boy in the first section of the film, was 11 years old and could not read or write, and also that he was repeating first grade for the fifth time. Also, that the man that was looking after him was so cruel about it. I feel that if I was in that situation that the individuals around me would be more supportive instead of making me feel that I was not good enough. I found it to be very strange that his boss said that he would beat him if he went back to school, because he wanted to keep him as a worker.

When listening to his monologue about wanting to be a pilot so he can see a beautiful place and then land there. I felt really awful that he was not happy with the conditions that he lived in, and he was looking into the future in hopes that he would find a better life for himself.

Overall, I felt very bad about the conditions that the ten year old boy was forced to live in and maybe he will one day find that beautiful place and call it his home.

Sirens..

This book was not as enjoyable for me as the past books have been. I feel that this book brought me to darker places than the pasts even though horrible things were happening throughout all of them. But, I feel that the past books have been almost uplifting to hear people coping with horrible times of struggle and trail. This book, brought me down and was very depressing. The part that effected me the most was when he went back to Baghdad to seek revenge. once he got there he disowned his sister because she was not conforming to the ways of the small village they were from. That was a very important moment for me because it showed that she was getting what she wanted from life instead of staying almost suffocated in the village. Then it saddened me that he would disown her and say that she was nothing to him any longer. It was hard to comprehend. From that point it seemed to get even more depressing. Him living out on the streets, being robbed, having no food for weeks, it seemed that he was at an ultimate low and I wasn't able to relate because I knew that his ultimate goal was for revenge. I understand that it's about his family's honor and that was broken when they were attacked. It was just like he was a ticking time bomb going off full of rage and I couldn't relate much to him. The ending was however a total surprise the fact that he couldn't go through with an attack. That showed me as a reader he was more human than i thought throughout the book. Although an interesting read, it was not one of my favorites of the class.

Sirens of Baghdad

When I first started reading the Sirens of Baghdad, I had to put it down ever few pages because I found the story so depressing. Once I got over the fact that the book just was not going to “get any better” for the people living in Iraq, I couldn’t put the book down. The narrator’s story began that he loved his hometown in the Iraqi desert, Kafr Karam, and was angry with anyone who thought differently. After the American soldiers invaded his house, everything changed from there on. It was terrifying to learn about how Sulayman died, and the way his life was just tossed to the side by the Americans when they shot him for “acting out,” ignoring his disabilities. Sulayman’s death was the beginning of the destruction of their town; it mentally tore them all apart, “When you’ve got nothing, that’s what you make do with. It’s  a question of outlook (Khadra, 73).” Another part of the book of the beginning of the book that stands out to me is when the Haitem wedding is bombed and destroyed. 17 innocent civilians were killed, mostly women and children… All because someone reported “suspicious activity.”

It was astonishing to me to look back on how many times changed from the beginning of the book throughout the middle, and then changed back before the very end of the novel for the narrator. In the middle of the book, he reminisces that “War wasn’t my line. I wasn’t born to commit violence –I considered myself a thousand more likely to suffer from it than to practice it one day (Khadra, 99)” After I read another hundred pages, the feelings he had for war and suffrage had taken a full turn, and he was not full of hatred. “I got an eyeful, and my subconscious stored away a maximum load of anger, which (when the time came) would give me enthusiasm for whatever violence I might commit (Khadra, 199).” Within the last few pages, the readers find out that the narrators whole life passes in front of him, and that in the end he really hasn’t even liven a whole life, and that he realizes he has no right killing innocent people. “I was sure you were going to chicken out,” Shakir said, right before “they” came to finish the job…

All in all, Sirens of Baghdad was a terrifying and upsetting book… It was so different, and at times difficult, to be in the mind of a suicide “bomber,” or better yet, “virus.” 

This book helped us gain another insight about how terrorists think. The narrator starts out as a regular person who doesn't want to kill others. He is enrolled in a university; however, it has to get shut down because of all the explosions and bombings. He was very determined to get an education, but his dreams were crushed when the university was shut down. Then, he goes through a number of different events that provoke him to become a terrorist. Baghdad is falling apart, and it seems like no one has any hope for living anymore. Terrorists are willing to destroy anything for revenge against others. They don't seem to care that they are killing innocent people, including women and children. The narrator sees a retarded villager get killed by American soldiers. He could not believe this. Then he sees a wedding ceremony get bombed killing many people. So many different things happened that made him not want to live, and become a terrorist. It is unfortunate what these people had to go through in their lives.

Sirens of Baghdad

At first I thought this book was going to be very difficult to read. I struggled with some of the beginning chapters but I as I got into the book the easier it became to read. I think this book offered insight to some things that we haven't really looked at before. There were a few things that really stood out in my mind, which continued on things that we have already talked about. First was the relationship with the family. The narrator talks a lot about what it is like to be from his village. There are still some many cultural values that we have no idea about. The second thing that we have covered is women’s rights there are a few insights about how women are treated in his home village. In the first part of the book there is a scene that really stood out in my mind was when the mentally challenged boy was shot. In the last section we covered I focused a lot on the language barrier. This segment is a perfect example of how much trouble language does cause and how many mistakes it causes.

I found this book to almost be troubling or disturbing. The author of the novel did to a great job in giving an inside look to what a terrorist feels. To me that is kind of scary. I am very interested in what drives terrorists to do what they do. For me this book took it one step further.  Dreams played a big role in this book as well as spirits. It was interesting to see how that concept carried over from the other books that we have read.

 

 

Sirens of Baghdad

This book offers some very new insight on what life is like for a terrorist and how their thought process works. The way this book unfolds is something that requires patience, but if you can make it through the depressing events, thoughts, and feelings, you will probably be happy as a reader from the West. Some important final lines included, "I'm going to tell you a little secret, my man. Keep it to yourself. I hate the West more than it's possible to say, but I've thought about it, and I think you were right not to get on that plane. It wasn't a good idea." Those words to author Yasmina Khadra really tell the story of how a terrorist thinks, and that they do hold somewhat of a conscious. In numerous passages in this novel, there were remarks that shed a negative light on both Western nations as well as Baghdad itself. A quote that stuck out in my mind belonged to a primary school teacher. Referring to terrorists, he says to Yaseen, "That's all you're good for, shooting someone from behind and running like a rabbit. And afterward, you think you're a hero and you swagger around the square. If Iraq has to be defended by spineless cowards like you, I'd rather let it go to the fucking dogs." Obviously, that powerful quote says a lot about the character people from Baghdad (or even the Middle East in general) are not known for.

The overall feel of this book is much bleaker than the other books we have read. It appears as if nothing is ever going to change the turmoil surrounding Baghdad's streets. Nothing but ill feelings toward one another cloud the city and a ray of hope appears absent until the very last passage of the book. That is where the goodness of people is most apparent in Khadra's book.

Hi guys I know it is break and all but I was on the BBC site a little while ago and I found a video of a ex-soviet soldier who ended up living/ surrendering to the Mujhadeen. In Love and War in Afghanistan, there was a story asimilar to this one, ther are a couple of others like this as well I hope you watch them they are pretty interesting. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/7932859.stm

Hope you all are having a great break! 

The First Half Ends Here

paradise now

This was a very interesting movie about two suicide bombers. I have never seen this from the bomber's perspective. I always just assumed they were bad people and they just wanted to kill others. Now, I look at it a little differently. These two bombers, named Said and Khaled, are told that they are going to be involved in an attack. They are recorded saying their cause of the attacks and saying goodbye to their loved ones. They have to act normal and try to avoid looking suspicious. This was probably very difficult because they know they are going to die soon, but they have to act like nothing is happening. They have explosives attached to them. It was very interesting to see the bus scene. Said sees a small child on the bus, and he decides not to get onto it. This shows that they do have some respect for others. He did not want to kill a small child, who is so innocent, and has done nothing wrong in her life. She has her whole life to live, and Said recognizes that. At one point, Said does not want to carry out with the plan at all. At the end of the movie, we are unsure if Said detonated the bomb or not. I believe that he did not. He knows that he is with a bunch of innocent people, and the viewers already know that he was hesitant about the situation. This was a very interesting movie.

the reading

I find myself thinking about Dan's two comments in class, that the reading was depressing and that it kept slipping from his mind. I know both those feelings. The book is depressing because it is about someone who finds that he can no longer engage with his culture, he feels that it has been stolen from him and that he has nothing left. This is much like Paradise Now. He needs to find some kind of coherent act that will give him a way to respond to the horrors that he has witnessed. The book is about that predicament.

So yes, it is depressing and it will be worth reading if it explains something important or makes us more aware or brings us knowledge that is hard to find elsewhere. But this can not happen if the reading slips from your minds as you read.

When you find that happening, wake yourself up. Taking notes in one way to do this. If you find yourself confused, look back and you might be able to sort out the confusion. Don't read straight through. Refer back if you suddenly realize the importance of an earlier passage, or if you can't remember a character's name, or if you feel the need to remind yourself of what a character is like.

Moments of insight are good places to note in the text. I underline any passage that stands out as I read. That is how I keep track of what strikes me as important. When you finish reading, then you can look back at what you underlined or the notes you took. You will consolidate your understanding and then you will find the book more worthwhile to read.

And yes, the book will still be depressing but your learning from it has the opposite impact. You will be depressed by the reading but happy with your greater knowledge and awareness.

Movie & Sirens of Bagdad

I was very shocked with the film we watched  because I was not used to looking at suicide bombing from the point of view of the actually bomber. To be honest, I always just assumed a suicide bomber was a person who had "no life" or sense of honor to oneself, however I discovered that this is the complete opposite. Suicide bombers feel that they give themselves to show the utmost honor and devotion to their own family and/or religion. I found myself slightly confused with the end of the film (and the hesitation for the bomber to enter the first bus) but after our discussion in class today, the hesitation and the black/white/black ending screens made much more sense. 

I found my little notecard, and the important quotes I wrote down were as follows: 

1) "you can't alter your fate"

2) "one chooses bitterness when his other choice is bitter"

2) "the worst crime of all is to exploit other people's weaknesses"

I feel that the film we watched was a great introduction to the latest book we are reading, Sirens of Bagdad, because to be honest, I don't think I would have picked up on the hint at suicide bombing on page 11, when the narrator talks about "his future." So far the book is very depressing, but still is an interesting story and I enjoy reading about the lands and daily life in Afghanistan and Iraq.. 

Film

In the film, paradise now, I found it very interesting looking at the point of views of the suicide bombers. Watching on the news and reading stories of suicide bombers, you never think to see it from their point of view. I always use to wonder if the people the were the bombers, I wondered if they were ever scared and had any regrets and wish they didn't agree to it. After watching this film, I realize that these bombers are people too, they had a life before this and even though to us, they are KILLING people, to them they really think they are doing a good thing. They really think that people are going to look up to them after they are gone. They also have regrets and think about if they want to do it or not. It really put a new meaning in my head after watching this film, even though I still obviously do not agree with suicide bombings I just realized that they had a life before it and they really think it is the right thing to do. 

Paradise Now

The film, Paradise Now, gave an entirely new perspective into the elements surrounding suicide bombings, as well as the lives of those who carry out these missions. The film chronicles the lives of two men, Said and Khaled, who are selected to carry out a suicide bombing mission. The two have been friends since childhood, and in turn, as the viewer you gain the sense of a personal element to the film. Each one of us can relate to having a childhood friend and what such a relationship entails, but to view these elements under such unrelatable conditions was extremely disheartening. The film also collaborated aspects of an extremist views and that of a countries political standpoint on certain issues. The view of suicide bombing to many is violent, unrequittable, and senseless in the idea that many innocent lives are taking at the hand of political activism.

After Khaled and Said are requitted for the suicide bombin mission, the travel to Tel Avive where they record a farewell video to their families. After viewing Khaled's message, feelings of hatred, reliance in faith, and glorifying the cause of the Palestinian people against the Israelis. Upon completion, you sense that Khaled is taken back by the things that he has just recited, and stares into the camera with a blank, confused, exhausted stare. On the other hand, you as the viewer gain the sense that from viewing his friends powerful speech, Said is persuaded by his words and is now completely enthralled in the missions cause. Beforehand, I sensed that it was reversed: that Khaled was very involved in the mission, and Said was not.

The morning of the mission as the two men travel with Jamal (a recruited) to the site the are donned in black suits and have altered their appearance by shaving their beards and hair. The two are instructed to act casually, and if questioned, state they are going to a wedding. When they ask Jamal what will happen to them after the bombs are deployed he replies by saying "Angels will come for you". I felt that in the response that Jamal gave, it was as if he was so sure of what was to come, and made me look to him as almost a brainwasher of these men. Of course, it is known that such missions are carried out under religious entrustment, but it was the casual connotation of his comment that made me weary of his character.

When the mission failed to be carried out after Said did not return with the collaborators, it was then that I began to wonder what his true intentions for the mission were. We learn soon after Khaled finds him and Said is what Suha that he is undertaking the mission in an act of revenge for his fathers death. It then comes to light that Said's father, a palestinian was killed by Israeli men. In turn, he is seeking revenge towards people of Israel, innocent or not, to condone his fathers killing.

In the final scene of the movie where Said is sitting on the bus, several important images surround him. For one, you gain the sense that the people on the bus are not of his culture, and to me, resembled American soldiers. Also, the idea that Said stood out against his background, as he was adorned in a suit and sat with a stern, angry, cold look. As the screen fades to white, it is open for interpretation whether or not Said pulled the trigger of the bomb.

Personally, I feel that he did. Once you learn his reasons for anger towards the Israelis, it is as if there is no turning back for him. Even the woman who he has fallen in love with, his childhood friend, and the reassurance of his own mother that his father was a good man was not enough for Said to live with. He saught revenge, whether on innocent people or not, and it is my understanding of the film that that is what he ended his life with.

Paradise Now

The film "Paradise Now" gives the viewer a look into the life of an extremist member. I found it interesting that the director chose to base the film on their final days before their death. We find out through certain scenes how and why these two men joined the group. Said talks about his father's death as a collaborator and believes what he is doing is justified. There are times however, when said seems to be second guessing the decision to carry out the plan. When he is waiting at the bus stop for example he had the vision of what would happen and saw the innocent children in the bus and decided not to blow the bus up.

However, a reoccurring theme throughout the film is the reason Said continues to later on carry out the plan and that is the idea of religion in the Middle East. Said and his friend Khaled are just two examples of how religion rules over every other value to some people in the Middle East. They are willing to risk their own safety and the safety in others just to try and balance power? The only things these acts are creating is more death, chaos, and damage to society. It is sad that they believe this is the right thing to do because all of their family members have to deal with the fact someone in their family is responsible for the deaths of others. Some families might seem proud which is disturbing but sadly true, or they were more like Said's mother who you could tell realized what had been transpiring and what he was going to do. She tried to reach out to him multiple times but he never said much in response. I found the relationship between the two to be very sad because of how different they were. She valued family which is why she made the remark of how Said looked like his father. Said on the other hand valued religion and didn't think the value of family was as important. That was the reason for the distance in their relationship. This idea of religion not only affected Said but also affected others around him who cared and loved him deeply.

On a final note, I personally found the ending to be very powerful. Throughout the movie you don't believe Said will pull through with it but at the end when the screen goes to white, you realize that in the end he carried out the plan. I found this to be a much more effective way of showing the action than say showing a view of the bus blowing up like most T.V. shows and films do nowadays. This is a much different approach of ending the film and I thought with the tone of the movie it fit in seamlessly. If it was a movie that had shown a lot of violence throughout then this would not be effective, but for a more serious look with little to no violence it is an effective way to close out the movie. This was the lasting image that I had after watching the movie and the one scene that stuck out throughout the film.

"Paradise Now" has many themes and elements that definitely captures viewers and is an interesting take on the life of an extremist. Through the stories that are told you can see the heartbreak and struggle that these characters live through. And you look at how extremists believe in religion and how it is valued over everything. It is a sad, gritty, and at times depressing film but definitely opens the audiences eyes into a life they no little about.

Monday March 2nd

The movie we finished in class today was a side of the Middle East that I never really thought about. It was very interesting to see the perspective of the war from a suicide bomber. At the same time, it was very depressing. It amazed me that people would believe that what they were doing would help solve any problem, when in fact they were causing more chaos in an already chaotic state and area. The movie made me realize that bombers are people too, they fall in love, and have family and friends. it seems like they lead a secret life when it comes to the attack, but also have personal lives. It was a shock that the first attempt of attack Said was not able to follow through and the second attempt Khaled was not able to. These two characters opinions seemed to be flip flopping constantly through out the movie. It was very insightful to watch because I never thought about their thoughts, feeling, and emotions, I had all suicide bombers pegged as the same personality type, with no doubts, or personal lives. This movie really awoke me to the fact that they are people too, who are weakened because of the state that they live in. Although at the end of the movie, Said ended up following through with the plan, was a turn and twist in plot it was sad because the director went to such extreme to develop and character and in the end you must part with him. I left the class feeling saddened that he ended up following through and leaving the people he loved and who loved him all because of the resistance.

The Sirens of Baghdad

This is the first fiction that we have read. With his novel, the author has the chance to explore the psychology of the certain elements of the current war in Iraq--the erosion of traditional life, the psychological pressure of the war, the irrationality of violence and the often terrifying meeting of Irzqi people with American soldiers. As we will discuss today, the author was an officer in the Algerian army during the Algerian civil war. He knows what he is writing about. And he can sense that in his terrifying account of Sulayman's death--he knows just how is body would fall, just how a head would respond to a bullet.

Sirens of Baghdad

I agree with Pat that this book definitely has a negative tone and perspective. In the other books that we have read there has been a balance between the challenges and also some positive events. This book however, seems mostly negative. This causes a lot of sympathy for the people of this small town. 

The scene that stuck out to me the most is the scene that most people probably reacted to, Sulayman's death. He was mentally ill and injured. His father and the narrator were taking him to the health clinic after he cut off two of his fingers and was bleeding badly. They had to go a different way as there was thought to be an attack on their route. On the way they are stopped at  a checkpoint where they must speak to the American soldiers. They were very respectful and did what they were told, but still did not please the American soldiers who began to yell. The yelling only upset Sulayman who began to run around due to fear and confusion. The frightened American soldiers overreacted and shot him saying he was carrying explosives. It was very sad that he had to die so young and for no reason. The town was deeply saddened at the loss. It shows the hard life style that they have to live in. 

After reading this portion of the book, I agree with Pat saying that one of the points that stood out in the book was the death of Sulayman. It was unbelievable the act of violence that was committed. Also, the author also explained in such a detailed manner that I was able to picture what actually occurred, and it was terrifying. I cannot believe that an Iraqi soldier killed another Iraq in such a manner, which was later seen to be a mistake.

Also, on page 33-34, I was shocked by what Doc Jabir had to say about the invasion of American troops. While it seems to be tremendously one sided it provided a viewpoint that I had not been exposed to. One line in particular that stood out was, " Their trick is to create a diversion in order to conceal the essential objectives of the exercise, which are to prevent a Arab country from acquiring the means of its strategic defense and therefore from protecting its integrity, and, at the same time, to help Israel establish definitive authority over this part of the world."

This statement itself provided insight on how the Iraqi's feel. However, perhaps they should look at the American point of view. That is, that is only natural for a country to defend itself against a nation that may have a nuclear weapon. However, just above this excerpt in the book he did say that the world is run by international finance which is something that I agree with.

In this blog, I would like to discuss the films that we watched in class. The film "Motherland Afghanistan" was one that provided a lot of information and allowed for me to see the lifestyles that Afghanistan people live and also their health care system.
As nursing student, I was particularly interested in the man's job as an OB/GYN and also his want to help the civilians of Afghanistan. Sterile technique is something that is emphasized greatly within the program here at CSC, and when looking at the hospital atmosphere in the film, there was dirt, trash everywhere and it was not a place where patients would not be incredibly susceptible to infection. It was also interesting to see the case where the woman took a drug injection from someone that she didn't know and as a result she developed a fistula. It seems that civilians in Afghanistan do not have the knowledge to know what is right in terms of there health care.
I was also surprised when seeing the death of one of the infants within the hospital. The doctor said that even said that if this baby was to be born in America it would have most likely survived. It was also astonishing to see that the mother was feeding the baby milk with a spoon at such as young age.
In regards to the film "Paradise Now", that we are currently watching I find it to be very interesting as well. Mainly, because two young kids were recruited to carry out a suicide mission. The kids in the film did not seem to be scared and they seemed as if they were happy to partake. It is miraculous how they are willing to leave their family behind to die for their God.

The Sirens of Baghdad

I just finished reading the first 72 pages of this book, and it seems to have a different feel compared to the other books. There seems to be nothing but negativity in Kafr Karam. The other books and even the films seemed to offer hope for the civilians. But it is hard to map out the situation for Yasmina Khadra. He has no real relationship with his father and has nothing but hate for the city he lives in.

Easily the most vivid point in this text was Sulayman's death. The mentally ill Iraqi became another subject of careless actions performed by another Iraqi. The reader has to ask themselves if he really had to be shot, and no he didn't. The language barrier played a huge role in the decision but the image Yasmina had stuck in his head was unbelievable. This has to be one of the most unbelievable situations I have read in any of the texts so far for this class. It didn't even make sense to me as the reader, but how could I relate? It's just the way of life over there, and people somehow can stand it.

The Film

The film we watched this past week certainly dealt with the same kind of elements our readings have- hope, tragedy, facing tough odds, and unfamiliar situations for Western nation audiences. Easily the most graphic situation occurred when the baby of just a few weeks passed away. You know the nurses and doctor had done everything they could to keep it alive, but the resources were not available. Reading about this is one thing. We as readers have imaginations that produce the images we read about. But to actually view it on a screen? That brings a different kind of meaning to the term devastation. It also allows for a greater sense of appreciation of how hard each person over there works just to get through a day. We all saw the pain the mother she was in just to give birth to the premature child. To see her lose her baby was hard enough on the viewer never mind her.

If Afghanistan ever gets the reliable resources they need to become a functional nation, it truly will be a landmark event. The film may have looked like a bleak situation, which it was. But it also showed a sign of significant hope with the Women's hospital being opened as well as Afghan nurses being trained. The amount of tragedy Afghans undergo everyday whether it is failed pregnancies, terrorism, etc., is something this world needs to look out for. Thankfully, films like Motherland Afghanistan help send the word out on such unbelievable horrors so at least some help can arise.

Motherland Afghanistan

I found the movie very interesting, but was also very saddened to see the poor healthcare system in Afghanistan. I thought it was great that he came to Afghanistan with his family to live in poor conditions to help make a difference. I could understand his frustration in not having the proper help, supplies or support to fully make a difference. I was happy that he was able to make a second trip that was more successful. I bet he felt better, and it was great to see him be able to be successful. It was hard to see the poor conditions that these people have to live in. I was also amazed that many of the patients had to bring their own supplies and had to travel great distances to get to the hospital. He said the hospital was in good condition and clean, but when I saw it, all I could think of was hospitals in the United States and it did not come close. I would not have called the hospital in Afghanistan, knowing what it is like here. I hope more improvements can be made to improve the conditions and train doctors to be better able to help the people of Afghanistan. 

Motherland Afghanistan

Although I missed the first half of the movie, what I saw of it was captivating. The part that surprised me most was the way the mothers reacted when they lost their children. Some of the mothers lost their babies due to pre-maturity or lack of proper tools when they were born. To me, this would be one of the worst experiences a woman could go through, and in the film, the mothers seemed unfazed and almost numb to the horrible losses they incurred. 

I enjoyed watching the doctor be such a role model and inspiration to the other people working in the hospital, as well as the patients and local orphans/children. It was hard to see so many people upset throughout the movie, such as the woman who had a hole in her liver. This situation was very hard to understand, and came as a shock that she had trusted some unqualified man to give her "medicine" to relieve her pain, which in the end caused a large internal cyst.  

Today we will be watching another film called Paradise Now, and I will talk about how that movie is on my next blog! 

Motherland

I really enjoyed watching the film in class. It seems that every film we watch hits me with sorrow because of the situation over seas. It was very interesting to me because I like the medical field, and seeing how much of a contrast it is compared to the US is pretty astonishing. Women are at such a higher risk than women here. Things that happened in the film like the woman with the bladder problem and the woman with the dead twin would not happen in the US or even Western Europe because people are so much more skilled and technology is advanced. It seems to me like the Middle East is trapped in a gap of the times. Their old world culture and the new world technology, and they are stuck somewhere in between. Its so shocking to think about. Even visiting Western Europe this past summer I never experienced such a place that was underdeveloped. Its seems like they are lost. Another point that bothered me was the fact that the woman who made the documentaries father was at one point working with the US government and pleading for supplies that he never got. Patients would have to bring their own supplies, and who knows if they were sanitary, up to medical standards, or even use able. This was really disturbing because if the patient or their family did not have the supplies, often the surgery could not be preformed. Its so strange to think about how different things are over there and how medical education should be a priority. It was just a very eye opening film and made me realize things I had never thought of before, however I enjoyed it very much.

Film

This film was very interesting, even though most of it wasn't in english I could still understand the meaning of it. The whole plot of the movie was a complete shock to me. I could not believe that they only had one doctor and that they were happy with having this one doctor because there wasn't one anywhere near the town. It was also amazing to me that he did not get any of the supplies that he asked for, but yet he was able to help the lady. Even though her baby did not make it, it wasn't his fault because he did do his best. However, i thought it was shocking that they let that many people in the room during surgery. I also think that it was unprofessional that the nurse had no idea what she was doing. I think they should have thought about who was working with them before they did the procedure. When she did not know how to use the tube, i thought it was amazing. I was really taken back by this film. And I think it was helpful for us to see it. 

Motherland Afghanistan

This film evoked several feelings both personally, and in regards to the structure and status of Afghanistan. Personally, it was baffling to me to see the medical standards and forms of practice utilized by the physicians in Afghanistan. In terms of cleanliness and sterilization, the practices were completely out of accordance with those used in the US. Also, the fact that the father (the doctor viewed) commented on how clean he felt the facilities were was very mind boggling. In regard to the norms of Afghanistan that were shown by the patients, I thought it was very sad and strange how normal they felt their illnesses/injuries were. For instance, many of the patients said that it was "God's will" whether or not they would heal or survive.

It was extremely startling that one in seven women die during childbirth. That statistic may have just been a number to those who have no seen the film, but the film exposes the lives of the women behind the number. Hundreds of woman flocked to Dr. Mojadidi to seek his care, in he returned the favor to them by working the best he could in less then favorable conditions. What was most fascinating was viewing this crisis, which, in most countries, would be on top of the list for being tended to. Yet, with the amount of violence, political turmoil, warfare, and  transition, this health crisis is but a fist fight in an atomic bomb attack. It will be interesting to see the developments, or further downfalls, in this health crisis of the women in Afghanistan. Of course, such a crisis is of small concern to several of the people and leaders of Afghanistan due to the overwhelming amount of turmoil the country is facing. 

with all our strength 2-17-09

Afghan women were victims of frequent personal sacrifice, death threats, imprisonment, torture, and many other horrible things. RAWA was founded in 1977 by a woman named Meena. she was a college student, and she planned to help Afghan women toward the peaceful creation of a free Afghan democracy. This battle for freedom is faught without violence. It was weird to think that a woman was literally worth one half of a man. The birth of a daughter was accompanied with sadness, because the woman was not providing sons for her husband. This seems rediculous, but it's how these women lived.

The Taliban controlled the country from 1996 to 2001. There were very strict rules placed on everyone. For example, girls over eight were banned from school. Women could not work outside the home. They were not allowed to see male doctors (even though women were banned from work). In public, they had to weara burqa, which covers their entire body, with a small space to see through. There were numerous other rules that were made against women, and punishment for breaking these rules was very harsh. There was the presence of poor treatment of women for many years before the Taliban as well. This poor treatment left most women with psychological problems such as post traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety.

RAWA gave women a chance for some hope in their lives. One woman, named Salima, became a RAWA member at age 17. She left her family, moved to Pakistan, and continued her education in a RAWA school. RAWA members are not allowed to tell anybody what they are doing, so it was a very big deal for her parents to allow her to leave, and put her in the hands of people that they did not even know. Many women who joined this organization had to change their names to protect them and their families.

Meena, RAWA's leader, was very important to all of the members. Meena was assassinated by enemies of the organization.

During the mid to late 1950s, women were making more advancements and gaining more access to employment. Also, the 1964 Constitution gave both mena nd women the right to free democratic vote for the first time. Men and women gained equal status in other spheres as well. RAWA helped so many women, and it was very brave for all of them to join this organization.

With All Our Strength.

This reading was filled with a very large amount of information. However, it focused mainly on RAWA which is an organization designed advocate and fight for peace, democracy and rights among women. It also provided a large amount of information about Meena who is considered to be the founder of the organization and who is responsible for a large amount of change that has taken place for Afghan women.

When reading the section about culture, Islam and also gender I became very interested. I found it very interesting that an Afghan woman in actually equivalent to one half of a man. So, in the case of a testimony two Afghan women would be needed to formulate a complete testimony because they are only considered to be a full man. I also found it interesting that the life expectancy for a woman is much less than that of a man. This is only true for a few other countries. This is primarily because women receive medical treatments last, food last and receive very little care prenatally


The story of the 9 year old girl who got raped was also one that was interesting to me. In this story, the 9 year old girl did in fact get raped and was not longer considered to be a virgin. As a result of this, dishonor was brought to her family and could only be restored if she married the rapist. In other words as long as her honor and that of her family is maintained by her marrying the man who raped her, the raping is a non-event.