Post on Overcoming Odds

I read this article on overcoming odds.  It is about a climber who was guided to the summit of the tallest mountain in the world.  This man's name was Lincoln Hall.  When descending from the mountain, he was overcome by the low oxygen levels, and collapsed.  His guides tried to rescue him, but he was too heavy, and they almost killed themselves in the effort.  He was eventually found by an American climber.  He eventually completely recovered.  This is an example of the complex kindness of humanity.  This guy should have died, but he lived.  This is opposite to the case of Natasha Richardson.  She should have lived, but died of a fairly simple epidural hematoma.  She could have easily been saved.  Everyone wants national healthcare, but it will skip details.  The Americans will not accept the inability to sue for every mishap either.  I agree we do need healthcare improvements, but first of all we can't have a debt.  This is why I believe the glory days of the US of A are over.  McNamera, Melissa.  "Everest Survivor In 'Amazing Shape'."  CBS News.  30 May 2006.  22 March 2009.  < http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/30/world/main1665336.shtml?source=RSS&attr=World_1665336 >.

Post on Love

I read this article on the web.  The article discusses the death of a young soldier, Matthew Pollini, who died on his first tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed riding in a humvee.  He was in love with a woman before going to war, and actually married her four days before going to Iraq for his first term of service.  He had been planning on buying a house for his new wife soon after returning from Iraq.  Even as he boarded the plane, he was apparently still cracking jokes.  The article pertains particularly to me because my aunt's nephew died last week when his humvee hit a buried roadside bomb.  He had recently been married as well and had a one year old baby.  I think sometimes people get married before going to war so that they feel they have something to come back to.  Everything pertaining to war is very sad, but it is a dishonor to the deceased to speak out against their cause.  Soldiers are definitely heroes, and that can be said without advocating war.  Nierstedt, Jenna.  "Town mourns death of soldier."  boston.  24 January 2009.  The Boston Globe.  17 March 2009.  < http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/01/24/town_mourns_death_of_soldier/ >. 

2nd Research Source on Trail of Tears

The place where the 15, 000 Cherokee moved to is current day Oklahoma.  This occurred in 1838.  Originally, the Indians were given the right to stay in Georgia due to the treaty in 1791.  This treaty went out the window however when President Andrew Jackson was elected President of the US.  Jackson was a longtime supporter of Indian Removal.  The Indian republic and economy in Georgia was toppled and destroyed.  The Cherokees were forced to leave their land, livestock, burial grounds, and most of their belongings.

Foner, Eric.  "Trail of Tears."  SIRS Knowledge Source.  1 December 1991.  The Reader's Companion To American History.  15 March 2009.  < http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-16&artno=0000259924&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=trail%20of%20tears&title=Trail%20of%20Tears&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y >.

1 Research Source on Trail of Tears

The Trail of Tears mainly refers to the time when the Cherokee Indians were forced off their native lands in Georgia and told to move west of the Mississippi River.  Upon arrival, they were promised $5,000,000.00.  The US Government never granted them this money however.  Nearly 15,000 Cherokees were detained in concentration camps and sent West.  By the time they crossed the Mississippi, 8,000 of them had perished.  Years before, the US government had forced other Indians West with the Indian Removal Act of 1830.  Nearly 100,000 Indians from the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes were forced West as well.

Rolo, Mark.  "Trail of Tears Was Trail of Betrayal."  SIRS Knowledge Source.  23 May 2008.   McClatchy Newspapers.  15 March 2009.  < http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307H-0-16&artno=0000277514&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=trail%20of%20tears&title=Trail%20of%20Tears%20Was%20Trail%20of%20Betrayal&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y >.

Post on War

I read this article about war on the internet.  This article actually takes place in the Russian civil towards the end of World War I.  Lenin was shipped to Russia to create disturbances in effect helping his own country's war efforts.  Lenin eventually took control of the capital Petrograd, and had wanted to destroy the Romonov family headed by Nicholas II.  After the moderates had been rooted out, Lenin sent the order to have the royal family executed.  The bolsheviks burned the bodies, tried to dissolve them in acid, and threw them down a flooded mine shaft.  This was an awful incident, and a thing of this kind should never happen again.  This is what happens in revolutions when people get out of control.  People rise to power who would other whys be common losers in a healthy society.  Revolution hardly ever accomplishes something good without a great price.  Besides, the new boss... same as the old boss saying always seems to hold true.  "Romonov's family Assasination in Ekaterinberg."  Ekaterinberg Travel.  2008.  12 March 2009.  < http://www.ekaterinburg.tv/Romanovs.htm >.

Post on Colonization

This is the article I read about colonization.  During the reign of King Leopold II, Belgium acquired the resource rich colony of the Belgian Congo.  King Leopold II made it seem as if he wanted to help the population escape from torture and discrimination.  He also emphasized his will to carry out the "White Man's Burden."  This meant he wanted to change native customs to those of Western Europe.  Although his initial intents may have somewhat contained truth, his actions changed direly when he saw the potential for wealth and expansion.  During the Belgian Congo years, slavery saw some of the most brutal treatment and exploitation in all of history.  Compare that to what people complain about now.  People say on average certain races make more than other races.  While this is true, complete fairness is not a practical factor of life.  We should be thankful for how far we've come in peope treatment and humanitarian efforts.  "King Leopold II and the Belgian Congo."  h2g2.  9 August 2009.  9 March 2009.  < http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4429064 >.

Post on Global Issue

 I read this article about Darfur on the web.  There is a genocide occurring there right now and it has been occurring there for  long time.  400,000 people have died and millions have been relocated and fled.  This is occurring in a region of Sudan and it is a crisis affecting the will of nations on a global scale.  The UN and other international organizations have considered arresting the president of Sudan, but the backlash and war consequences have been so great that no one has stepped up to significantly do anything.  This is a sad reality and something needs to be done.  I'm glad that Ashis Brahma came in and talked to Edina High School about the genocide because at least people know what is happening there right now.  I understand the US cannot be the policeman for the world and that only makes since.  It is time for the UN and other countries to try to make something happen.  It is not acceptable to have regular people fearing death every day.  It is unfortunate this came at a time when most economies are struggling.  Lederer, Edith.  "The Genocide in Darfur."  Save Darfur.  June 2008.  8 March 2009.  < http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/background >.

Post on Holidays

I read this article about Christmas on the web.  The information describes why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th at the end of the year.  The main reason for this is because people had to slaughter their cattle before the winter because they were unable to care for them during winter.  This was because they never had enough to feed the animals.  They hence were forced to eat the meat over the winter.  Because this would be a good time for feasts and meat, people had their celebrations during this time.  This transformed into Christmas and people celebrated Jesus' birth on December 25th.  We do not know exactly when Jesus was actually born though.  This is kind of like the fourth of July.  Many people celebrate it with fireworks even though they do not fully appreciate what they are celebrating.  For the 4th of july, that is not exactly when we achieved our independence  either.  "An Ancient Holiday."  History.  2008.  3 March 2009.  < http://www.history.com/content/christmas/the-real-story-of-christmas/an-ancient-holiday >.