The Golden key to where???

When Iran went to war with Iraq, they lost many many soldiers everyday. Since Iran don’t have too many heavy war machinery their casualty almost doubled. Soon enough, they will have to recruit new soldiers. The way they recruit new soldiers is very interesting to me. They give this golden key to young boys around fourteen to sixteen years of age and promise them that the key will open their door in heaven when they die. In the book, it says, “They told him that in paradise there will be plenty of went to war and thousand of kids would die with that golden key hanging in their necks. Most of them came from poor families and most of them believe in the promise that the government gave them. When I read this part, the first thing that came through my mind was how were they able to kill innocent kids? Don't they have any sympathy or considertion, perhaps love for them? Most of these kids was supposed to be the future pillars of the country. This just shows that the government does not care about human rights at all.

In 2007, an incident happened in Red Mosque in central Pakistan. This place was intended to teach children about Islam. Instead they convert most of the children to became a martyr. Many of them was brainwashed to became suicide bombers and other jihad actions around the country. The government official rated the place and rescued two girls. When they got interviewed, they said that they did not mind dying as a martyr and to be a jihad. As many as 1800 kids divided into two group will be put in the 2 form and many of them was already put to their promise to die and became a martyr.

I hope that the government in this world will be more aware about this matter and not just war itself. Young kids is the future of the country. They are the next genertion after us. We have to teach them well and put this extreme teaching as far as possible.

VIDEO OF YOUNG GIRL THAT IS CONVINCED TO DIE MARTYR

Social class among us.

Hi again, the entry that I'm about to write this time will be a little different, not about torture or politics. One of my classmate Miho had a presentation about this part but I would like to share my point of view about social class. In the book Pesepolis Marjane, the story has a maid named Mehri. She lived with Marsjane since she was ten years old. Mehri came to stay with Marjane's family because her parents had too many children and could not provide food for her. When she was sixteen years old, she fell in love with the neighborhood son across from Marjane's house. They started to write letters to each other, and eventually both fell in love. Mehri told her real sister that she fell in love and sooner of later, her sister fell in love with the same man as well. Her sister was very jealous of Mehri and told Marjane’s uncle the news. This eventually reached Marjane’s dad. Her dad try to clear everything and went to the neighbor’s son. Soon Mehri was rejected by that guy because she was viewed as low class. In the book, it states, “you must understand that their love was imposible”(Satrapi 37)

Social class in particular has been an issue for long time. Many people view social class from many different background such as economic and race. The societies believe that the poor can not and should not be mixed with the rich, just like in the book, Persepolis. Poor people are always viewed as parasites that will suck down on rich people's wealth. No matter what their personality is, once they are viewed as poor or low class, people cannot over look that fact. Because of this, they are brought down, and the depression from it makes it hard for them to be motivated to be better in life. Since Mehri was a member of the lower class, she could not really do much about her situation and seek her true love because that guy she loved was a member of the upper class.


VIDEO ABOUT SOCIAL CLASS IN US

Revolution

Well back to the original topic, in the book, REVOLUTION. Many people believe that the meaning of Revolution is means creating or changing something to be in a better condition than before. Revolution never comes easy, sometimes revolution has to pay a very high price. When people get killed or tortured, that is revolution. This is what was happening in Iran, a country that is well known for their Islamic rulings.
“God will bring no change in the conditions of any people unless they themselves set about to change their circumstances. These enlightened and sacred words are providing the motivation for all my activities. I believe that by turning these divine words into action, people can change their own and their society’s conditions and move from darkness to light, from injustice, inequality, poverty, and tyranny to the ideals and the legitimate demands of humankind.
Ya’qub Mehrnahad write this on his Blog a few months before he got executed by the Iranian government. He was the president of the Youth Voice of Justice Association (YVJA), an organization that was very well known among the people who fight for democracy in Iran. The organization fought for education, non discrimination action and democracy itself. He was arrested in 2007 after accused of being part of the one radical armed group that is known against the Iranian government called Jondollah.

During his detention, many people believed that he was tortured and he never actually have legal counsel from anyone at all. When I read the quote by Ya’qub it really made an impact on the way I think about revolution. Even though Iran proclaimed themselves as a Muslim religion country, their actions and the way the government behave is way much extreme than a non Muslim country. In the holy book of Koran, it states that we must to be kind to another human being. But here we have a country that keeps cutting people's throat just to cover their own pile of dirt. The question is when will they get there freedom and democracy? One year, two years or never? All those people who died by torturing or get killed by the government official means nothing if this act don’t come to the end completely. I hope someday they get what they want and know that death is something that should not be joked around with.


VIDEO OF PEOPLE GET KICK AND HIT DURING DEMONSTATION

Parents love is endless for their children.

As you read Persepolis you will notice that Marjane parents always have a special attention towards her. When I think back in my own life, I'm thankful for my parents for loving me unconditionally. Although there are times when I dont understand the things they do, I know for one that they want the best for me and no matter what they will always have me by their side. In one part of the story Marjane asked her dad to buy her a poster of a famous pop star singer (since all Western things were banned in Iran), without any hesitation they smuggle the poster and other Western stuff for her, even though they know what will happen if the government official found out about it. When it comes to education, Marjane's parents also want the best for her, this is the reason why they sent her to Vienna Italy to study. My parents also think the same way. They always want me to get the best education. They said education is priceless and if you are smart you will be very successful in life. I guess every parents have the same intentions towards their children, but my point is, parents can sacrifice their life for their children but at times, we as the children dont realize that. At times we take things for granted and not appreciate what has been given to us already. Parents love for their own children is endless and priceless, and no matter how many mistakes we make, whatever happens, they will always love us.

Iran and Iraq war. useless war ever!!!! just like the one we had now

After the presentation that Lucas and Ted presnt about the war in Iran and Iraq, it made me realize how useless the war itself was. The casualty of the war itself was insane and the result of the war, practically zero. America did not benefit from this war at all, it just worsen out country. Look at how many soldiers died in Iraq, and not to mention how much money we put into that war? It's insane I must tell you. Oil prices incresase dramatically and many American families lost their beloved ones. I feel as if the only people who benefits from this war is George Bush. Because of him, we are now experiencing a major economic crisis ever in the century. Many companies and organization are experiencing a major fall down; bankrupcy. Many Americans lost their jobs, get laid off, simply because the company are not able to pay them. You know what this results in? A MAJOR CRISIS. Most companies who offer health care and great benefits, those people who lost their jobs looses the benefits as well. One of my family member just lost her job in an airline company and she has a daughter, and imagine, NO insurance because she lost her job and now she has to find a way to get health care so she does not have to have thousands of dollars for doctor visits and medicines. I could spend hour talking about this topic and particular. It gets me so heated just knowing how many lives were lost because of this war and its affecting all of us.

Guantanamo Bay. A home for terrorist ??

After watching Rachmawi and Mellisa did a presentation on Guantanamo Bay I disagree with their argument that Guantanamo Bay should be closed. The reason why I disagree is because, America should protect it’s nation properly and this is one the way to protect us from the terrorist. Although I disagree with there stance, I do belief that America being to harsh to this terrorist on Guantanamo Bay. This prisoners have their own right which is sadly don’t even work in this location. The purpose of creating the place like Guantanamo Bay is simply to warn every extreme religion and act of terrorism is consider serious in United States. The new elected president Barrack Obama believe that this detention center should be close, but in the end they have to open or provide similar facilities but in the close environments.

The Story Of Dr. Rebecca Laonita Zakaria

Dr. Rebecca Laonita Zakaria along with two other women was sentenced three years in jail for running a Christian kindergarten. Most of the students that attended the school were Christians, but there were also Muslims who also attended as well. Although the parents of the Muslim students allowed and gave permission for their students to attend the school, most Muslim students did not convert their religion to Christian; they remain as Muslims. The Muslim Clerics found this very offensive and did not like and agree the fact that these three women are running a Christian-based school, teaching students Christianity. Although these three women were sentenced three years in jail, they only stayed there for 2 years and was released June 2008. They received many cards and greetings from people all over the world, and only with their support and sympathy, made them stronger. This is an example of the Islamic extreme religion that force their belief in the society.Just like in the book how they banned the community from social gathering. The irony of this matter is Dr. Rebecca was just trying to help the community and educating the children, but instead she was put in jail for doing something good. When I first heard about Dr. Rebecca, I was amazed how extreme Muslims can be. To be honest, I never knew that teaching Christianity could be as dangerous as this.

Pedro and Me. A new hope for gay and lesbian community.

Pedro And Me is a very interesting book to read. I read this book couple quarters ago in my English 100 class. Personally, this is my favorite comic book. After watching my classmate present in class, it reminded me how the gay and lesbian and community has to sacrifice their life to achieve their freedom. Pedro has shown the greater side for gay people and that gay people are also humans just like you and me. After reading the comic and watching the presentation, I have more respect towards homosexual not merely because I feel sorry for them, but because I realize that humans should be treated equally and with the same respect. Pedro will always be remembered as someone who stood up for his belief and one who’s word as been heard.

Islam as a religion. The extreme and the good.

Justin and I presented on "Islam as a religion",and what beliefs Muslim people have.In the story Persepolis Islam is viewed as a powerful religion. In the story Marjane grew up with a Muslim surrounding, but her parent were not that strict about practicing the religion. As she spent her childhood in Iran, she was forced to wear a veil. "The purpose of the veil is to cover a women head or face. As a religion, Islam holy book Koran tells men and women to dress modestly. Mens modestly has been interpreted to be covering the areas from navel to knee-and for women it is generally seen as covering everything except their faces, hands and their feet when they are not related or married




The Iranian Revolution (mostly known as the Islamic Revolutionwas the revolution that transformed Iran from a monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavito an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic. in the book persepolis the author explain how her family have to secretly do party and other family gathering. the islamic country also banned everything that connected to western culture such as music and fashion. and they also seperate boys and girls school.



The good about Islam
"Islam is the true religion of "Allah" and as such, its name represents the central principle of Allah's "God's" religion; the total submission to the will of Allah "God". The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word also implies "peace" which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Hence, it was not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the seventh century, but only the true religion of Allah re-expressed in its final form.

Muslims believed that if you did things which pleased Allah, you would have a good life on earth, and also a good life after you died. There were five main things Allah liked (the five pillars of Islam):
Allah wanted you to have no other gods but Allah.
Allah liked you to pray to him five times a day, facing toward his most holy place at Mecca, in the Arabian peninsula.
Allah liked you to give charity to the poor.
Allah liked you to make a trip to Mecca sometime in your lifetime (the Haj).
Allah liked you to fast (not eat during the daytime) during Ramadan, the holy month.

The wrong teaching about Islam

Many of the extremist Islam believe in Jihad, an arabic word mean struggle in the way of God. the term Jihad also mean a holy war between Islam and non believer or someone who opposed Islam. I grew up in indonesia which is the fourth largest Muslim country in the world. Many times I heard the muslim extrememist in action.one of the reason tragic tragedy is the 2002 Bali bomb. Bali is a small island one hour flight from Jakarta city. most of the american and australian tourist spend their vacation in this island because of the famous scenery that this island had. Bali bomb killed more that 200 people from many diffrent nation.

Behind this attacked was radical islamic group called jemaah islamiyah, lead by an extremist leader Abu Bakar Basyir. this group was funded by the famouse terrorist osama bin laden. a week after the incident happen, Osama bin laden appear on satelite channel Al Jazeera. He said that the Bali Bombing was another warning to America and Australia.

Few months after the bombing Indonesian police finally arrested three people that is responsible for Bali bombing. Imam Samudra, Amrozi Nurhasyim and Ali Ghufron. these three people was recently excuted by firing squad on november 9 2008.