S.2 Q.3 Culture Blog #8

India is very unique it’s geography and it’s long history. India is very diverse with culture practices, languages, customs, and traditions. Many languages are spoken there about one thousand languages which are spoken by a group of more than ten thousand people. The main languages that are spoken are English and Hindi. The population in India was 1,028,610,328 Hindus is 80.456%, Muslims 13.434%,Christians 2.341%, Sikhs 1.868%, Buddhists 0.7773%, Jains 0.411%, Others 0.6454%, religion not stated 0.07%. Religion plays a big part in India, which is the most diverse nation when it comes up with religion. India is very different compare to the United States their animals are all basically cattle and sheep. Also there’s arranged marriage so you don’t get the opportunity to choose your own partnership your parents get to make that decision. For clothing it’s traditional for women to wear saris and men Dhoti, Lungi, or Kurta. For little girls they wear pavada which is a long skirt worn under a blouse. Every place on earth is different with food, clothing, religion, etc.

Wikipedia Encyclopedia. “India’s Culture”. Wikimedia Foundations Inc. 22 February 2009. 24 February 2009.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_India

S.2 Q.3 Change Blog#7

Everyone in the country has seen how the economy is doing very poorly and they are hoping for a change and soon. People don’t trust banks anymore and of course Wall Street crashed. This is what we like to call the Great Depression of 1873. It’s basically what was going through right now the same crisis all over again. This is just causing people to value the dollar more and protecting their money. The country has been to several recessions according to James Kolari who attends Texas A&M University said the two rough recessions occur in the mid-1970s and the early 1980s. He said, “A recession is generally defined as a decline in the Gross Domestic Product for two or more consecutive quarters”. Nelson is a historian who new a lot about the panic of 1873 and he announced the today’s economy is probably the worst than the American economy in 1873. People are just looking for a change, jobs so they can support their family. We just have to wait for that change and it won’t be anytime soon.
Blake, John. “So, just how bad is the economy?. CNN NEWS. 20 February 2009. 22 February 2009.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/20/economy.history/index.html

S.2 Q.3 Hope Blog #6

Life in Islam is pretty hard Gul Bibi and her three kids left their home hoping to ever return and trying to overcome the Taliban’s bloody interpretation of Islamic law in Pakistan's Swat Valley. When your country is being invaded your seeking for help by running away, and fleeing to another place where they will be in peace. It’s hard for people in these types of periods because it’s not easy to just leave you never know you can be killed through the way. The Taliban’s interpretation is horrible their making girls leave schools which is not even right everyone needs education and they aren’t being fair. This is like 9/11 because they have SWAT invading them and that’s how Gul Bidi said it seemed like that to her. People are just seeking for peace and they are hoping that this will end anytime soon. Bibi said, "I want peace more than anyone else," Bibi said. "It's my home, it's where I want my children to go back to, it’s where I want to live. Bidi actually announced that she used a different name to hide her identity so it won’t cause her harm. She also said "They are killing people, they are beheading people, and there is no accounting for what they are doing". Now she is only seeking for hope to return to the picturesque Swat Valley with her three children.

Grant, Stan. “Pakistani woman watches Taliban take over town she loves”. CNN NEWS 17 February 2009. 17 February 2009.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/17/pakistan.taliban/index.html?iref=newssearch

S.2 Q.3 Religion Blog #5

An interesting article on CNN was posted called Muslim in America: a 'voyage of discovery' which talks about how Muslim people first came to America and how they said it was hard for them to get to adjust here to this environment. She talked about how the last that she wore her Muslim dress and her head scarf how it covered her whole body except her face. How many stares she received when she was at the Miami Airport when she had to go to security it was horrible. It’s just hard to get adjusted and after a while you start getting use to it she said when she was making her way to the bathroom one woman’s jaw dropped but then she smiled back at her and the Muslim woman said even a little smile make you feel a little better. There are many stories behind this case like Madeeha Hameed who is 21 and is a Senior at the College of William & Mary in Virginia she moved to Virginia from Pakistan. She said, "It was very difficult for me. ... You know how high school is," she said. "I did not want to be known as a Muslim or a Pakistani, because I just wanted to fit in. I had a lot of anger toward my identity." It’s just hard for everyone not just Muslim people to get accepted in other countries and practicing their religion to your ethnic background.

Ravitz, Jessica. “Muslim in America: a 'voyage of discovery'”. CNN NEWS. 9 February 2009. 15 February 2009.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/02/09/muslims.america/index.html?iref=newssearch

S.2 Q.3 Gender Roles Blog #4

An interesting article on gender role was posted on CNN called Women gaining political power about Shirley Chisholm being elected in 1968 as the first black women in the U.S Congress. It was really hard for women to get all the way to that position back then. Now we had a woman running to become president (Hillary Clinton) and people like Condoleezza Rice. Women were known not be able to take control over things especially trying to control a country. Now women have succeeded a lot and putting the women in a different place and showing that they can do things like men. Many women have accomplished like Jeanne Shaheen a Democrat of New Hampshire who is now the 17th female senator. She accomplished a lot by becoming New Hampshire’s first female senator and defeating John E. Sununu for the position. According to the National Organization for Women they said, "We elected the women who talked about issues that we care about -- child care, minimum wage, health care, equal pay." Now at least women aren’t known as the ones that need to take care of the household and the kids but was one they can do things that men do.

Fantz, Ashley. “Women gaining political power”. CNN NEWS. 13 November 2008. 10 February 2009.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/13/women.in.politics/index.html?iref=newssearch

S.2 Q.3 Culture Differences Blog #3

An article in the New York Times talks about culture difference or more based on two culture rivalries called Two Taliban Are Killed in Revenge by Afghans. Sadly two Taliban were assassinated by Afghans. They were wounded and when they were captured instead of being turned in they were trussed onto the tree, punched, and kicked to death this all occur in eastern Afghanistan. They said that revenged in Afghanistan is unusual. A local tribal elder said that a mob took them to a hideout and he also said, “The people punched them with their fists and kicked them with their legs and whatever they had in their hand” until they were dead. Apparently to Mr. Khan when the people get angry they keep going and they don’t stop so they kept kicking them with all their force until they were declared dead. Sadly they didn’t think at all and brutally hit them till their last breath.

Oppel, Richard. “Two Taliban Are Killed In Revenge By Afghans”. New York Times. 8 February 2009. 8 February 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/world/asia/09afghan.html?ref=asia

S.2 Q.3 Overcoming Struggles Blog#2

The theme for this blog is someone overcoming struggle or facing a difficulty. On CNN there’s an article that relates to this theme called Skydiver lands with dying instructor at his back. Daniel Pharr decided to go sky diving because his girlfriend had gave him that gift for Christmas to go sky diving. This was Pharr’s first time skydiving he was thousands of feet over South Carolina and the instructor was strapped on to his back. The instructors name was George “Chip” Steele of Skydive Carolina. Pharr said he was having a conversation with him and asking him questions after a while he asked a question and he didn’t respond and he asked again and he still didn’t respond and Pharr knew something was wrong. He decided not to panic and stay calm till he reached the ground safely. Once they landed Pharr attempted CPR but it was sadly too late. Steele apparently age of forty-nine was reported to die because of a heart attack. Pharr’s girlfriend said she’s having regrets about the gift. Pharr is just sad what Steele’s family is going through right now and understands their pain. Pharr reported he tried to help him and do what he was trained for but it was just too late. Pharr said his family has prohibited him to go sky diving and he said he wont complain about it.

Sidersky, Robyn. “Skydiver lands with dying instructor at his back”. CNN.COM. 2 February 2009. 2 February 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/02/skydiving.death/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

S.2 Q.3 Natural Disasters Blog#1

On CNN there’s an article on natural disasters called Troops mark homes; Kentucky is warned of strong winds. National Guard troops went around different neighborhoods on the ones that got hurt the most and making sure that the people were okay and no one was hurt. This has been the worst natural disaster in modern history for Kentucky. So far seven people have been reported dead. Comparing to the whole state about twenty-one people has died since Tuesday. About 4,600 troops have been helping the cause in different roles. There are about one hundred twenty counties in the state and so far ninety-two have been reported as emergencies. The neighborhoods were just a big mess with snow every where and branches falling off the trees and onto houses and destroying parts of the houses. People were just afraid to wake up and there homes he completely destroyed so many people weren’t able to go to sleep. People are just afraid for their houses.

Susan Candiotti and Andy Rose. “Troops mark homes; Kentucky is warned of strong winds.”CNN.COM. 1 February 2009.1 February 2009.
<http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/weather/02/01/winter.weather/index.html?iref=newssearch>