Thursday, December 15, 2011

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

the foever war end

Our group discussed many things last time-- the novel as a whole mostly. We figured that with all the stories the author tells taken in all have one thing in common: the war is forever and is not going to end for this country or their people anytime soon. The evens are also not in chronological order. This, however, is not significant. He actually makes a strong point by doing this, all the situations hit the readers just as hard, and what happened before is still happening, once again roving the consistency of the problems and the never ending battles. I think Filkins is one of the bravest people or authors I have ever encountered. Unfortunately, I have never met him, yet I feel I know him on a personal level. He went to the Middle East to show Americans what was really going on. Before reading this I had no clue, and I mean NO CLUE about foreign affairs, and sadly The War On Terror. Filkins didn't just open my eyes, he made me appreciate life and see the true hardships and what good journalism is really about.

Monday, November 28, 2011

article

The article we had handed out in class to read was very interesting. I think it struck my interest because I have been a waitress for many years. Although I do not work at school, when I go home for breaks and summer, my steady income is the tips and the one dollar an hour I receive. Although I do agree with Mrs. Williams about the author not knowing what it was really like, since she had money and was not living off the means of tips, I felt she did I fine job of capturing the essence of a small town diner. She honed in on the gossip that unfortunately takes over work and the struggle of living off minimum wage.  Her writing really captured how tiresome and overbearing it is to keep up with the economy and with a life that is trying to be lived.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

tent city

I was really glad that we decided to interview that people for tent city. They were really lively and I feel they made some really good points about the event. One of them was the sole purpose was not what is is like to be homeless, but rather to bring awareness to the suffering. The student we talked to felt this was one of the biggest things everyone needed to know because there was no way we would ever know what it was like being homeless. Overall,  I felt the group was not only dedicated bu enthusiastic and have already brought awareness and change. They formed this event and now other school and organizations are catching on and doing it too!

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Forever War

The novel is coming to an end. Although some readers may feel this book seems like a process, like it is dragging on-- the author's stories and anecdotes still are interesting. Looking back at the beginning explanations of the situations he was in early in the war, to where he is now, do vary. I feel that I was struck with the beginning because I didn't know a lot about this subject. Now when I read the novel, the stories are still just as shocking. They are so terrible and heart-wrenching, as a reader you almost become numb to it. I feel maybe this is the author's point, perhaps he has become numb to all the devastation and realizations.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Forever War

This sections reading was probably the most interesting. Although, when I do remember first starting the book and feeling interested and bombarded with thoughts, ideas, and information I knew nothing of. In the chapters we read a new revelation was brought up: The Iraqis feel Americans are in their country for the oil. I had heard of this idea before, from family members, peers, and friends. I figured it was something they had thought-of, an idea that was not well- formed. I understand now, it was not. This feeling, that the American government is "helping" the non-democratic government Iraq has is false, is really brought to my attention. Many feel, including some in Iraw, that this is an excuse: we are simply there for the oil, so our own economics can sky rockets. There were other elements in the reading that rang interesting and unusual to me, normally their are so many to remember, but this was the most prominent.