Wanda Sykes and Odette from Hotel Rwanda

Hey guys,

If you want to back me up on this, please do, but this is really directed toward Mr. Sykes.

Mr. Sykes, I asked you if Odette, a Tutsi refugee that is close to Paul's family in Hotel Rwanda was played by Wanda Sykes. You laughed at me. Well, now, I will show you this picture, and show you how much Lebo Mashile, who played Odette, and Wanda Sykes look alike. They are practically twins. Try and find out which picture is Lebo and which is Wanda. I bet you can't.

--Jeremy

Welcome Parents!!

Here is an editorial from today's (Thursday 10/22) New York Times on exactly what we are studying!! Kids, you homework is simply to read the article and come in ready to discuss it. Remember that it is an editorial, so it has an opinon, a point of view. What is that point of view? how is it supported? What are the weaknesses of the argument?
Parents: Feel free to read the article (and to participate in class on Saturday) and to read the posts and comments below. We have used this blog as a forum to discuss ideas and questions that arise out of our readings. While you will not be able to comment on the posts (members only in this very exclusive club), you are welcome to peruse the site, and take a look at what your child and his/her classmates have contributed to the discussions.

Mugabe Quote on Land Reform

"In Zimbabwe, and only because of the color line arising from British colonialism, 70 percent of the best arable land is owned by less than 1 percent of the population who happen to be white, while the black majority are congested on barren land. We have sought to redress this inequity through a land reform and resettlement program [that will result in] economic and social justice."

President Robert Mugabe used that rationale to justify the siezure of thousands of large, white-owned farms in Zimbabwe over the last decade.

Is seizing white-owned farms and transfering ownship to black Zimbabweans fair? Why? Why not?

Who are We?

Hey guys, I don't have much time to write a lot on this at the moment, but I just saw this on the news and thought it was really interesting. If you have the time, you should really visit this site, which has an article about newly found bones dating to 1 million years before our famous ancestor, Lucy. Her name is Ardi. The cool thing about Ardi is that she actually does not really resemble an ape. So now, there is much belief that humans did not evolve from apes, but humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor. If you've got the time, read the whole article or look it up. It's really cool.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude Visit

Here is a link to Christo and Jeanne-Claude's website. If you have a few minutes this weekend, take a look at some of their work, or at the Frequently Asked Questions about their work.

Of course, you can always just search Google Images for more pics of them and their work. If you do take the time this weekend, please post a comment here about what your impressions of their work: How did you react to seeing their work for the first time? Was there one work that you liked best? Least? Why?

As usual, there are no right answers, and this comment is not required. But the more familiar you are with their work, the more you will get out of their visit on Tuesday night.

Can we blame Ishmael? (F Block)

In the book A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah, Ishmael commits a vast number of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and was altogether just cruel to a whole bunch of people who may not have deserved it. However, prior to these events, he was put on numerous drugs, and convinced mentally that violence is OK. So, given these circumstances, can we really blame him for what he did? While I agree that there was a whole lot of outside influence, at the end of the day, he still did these horrible things, and must, like anyone else, face up to his charges and take the responsibility and blame for his actions.

This is not to say that I don't realize the circumstances, he was under alot of physical and mental strain, but the outside influence can only go so far. just because he has been badly drugged doesn't mean that his body was taken from him by an unseen force, while it could have warped his intentions, it was still Ishmael, not drugs or violence, directing his body, and this must be realized, that his atrocities were his own doing.

In a way, before drugs even came into the picture, he chose to take the trip down the dark road that led to his career as a soldier and in that accepted responsibility for anything that he might do. although once again there were outside influences, he chose to become a solder, and no matter what those influences were, the facts of his decision remain, it was by his own doing that he became a soldier, when he was given the choice by the army to flight or fight.

In the end, back on my first point, we all have to accept responsibility for our actions, and as hard as it is to say, Ishmael did what he did, not anyone else, and this must be acknowledged.

Blame (G block, the best block)

I do not believe that the atrocitys Ishmael committed were Ishmael's fault. Ishmael did not willingly take up the child soldeiring life. He was given the descison to either join the army or be killed by nearby rebels. What would you choose?? Also, the murders Ishmael commited and terribly actions he took, were because of the drugs Ishmael was on. Clearly, Ishmael cannot be held responsible for his actions during his soldiering days.
Another reason why Ishmael cannot be blamed for his actions was that Ishmael was brainwashed. First he was on multipe drugs that deluded his mind while sharpening his other attributes. During this time Ishmael was not a teenage boy, but a drugged, killing machine, who could not, did not, have any other choice but to do what his fellow soldiers did. Any other actions would have met certain death. Another reason was that Ishmael had no close family members still alive. He was ALONE in the world, a scary thought for a young teenage boy. The army embraced him, and he had to join the army for his own survival. The army became his family and with the army Ishmael escaped certain death. If you blame Ishamel reflect on Ishmael's choices and decide what you what have done?? How would YOU have SURVIVED without taking these actions .