April Current Events 3: Belgium's lower house votes to ban burqa

Th lower house of Belgium has approved a ban on the burqa and other Islamic garments that guard a womens face, but the upper house still must approve it. No member of the Chamber of Deputies disapproved it. There were only two abstentions. Human rights groups disaproved of the act. The leaders of Belgium believe that is not required by Islam to wear these garments and also the majority of Muslim's of Europe and Belgium do not believe in wearing the burqa or the niqab. They estimate only 300-400 people wear them in the country. Some predict this move will provoke more to wear the veil.

This is of world importance because it is an intense topic debated in many counrties. Also this may lead other nations to do the same. I think that this move will help stop terrorist attacks. Women wear these with a bomb strapped to them. If no women can wear these than the attacks can not happen. It will help promote a safer world. But nations like ours can not allow this regulation because we are a free nation with freedom of expression and religion. If someone wants to express they are Muslim by wearing this than they can.

churches at Lalibela

The churches at Lalibela are considered to be one of the World's wonders. There are two groups of churches and they were excavated and had many under ground tunnels an passageways. The churches are claimed to be built by king lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty. The style of the churches are very similar to archetecture of ancient Aksum. This gives reason to believe that there are churches much older than these. The churches are thought to be a new Jeruselum.

Blacj Pharoahs

Kush, a black African empire competed with Egypt in the Ancient world. Their capital was the third cataract of the Nile. Here they controled the trade going between central Africa and Egypt. The Egyptians who had not a lot of natural resources need resources from the south. The Egyptians felt threatened and attacked and conquered Egypt. in 730 B.C. the Kush army took over all of Egypt, making the Black Pharoahs. They brought a rennaisance to Egypt.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Ethiopia has had the church play a very large role in it ever since the Zagwe dynasty was removed and a descendant from King Solomon became king. In 1974 the dynasty was revolted against. He brought the custom of priesthood being passed down from father to son into the region. The Solominod Empire brought Ethiopia into the christian empire. Zara Yocab used holymen that knew magic to spread Christianity.

Do Now 4/29/10

One thing that comes to my mind is imperialism. The European countries that conquered Africa and left suddenly cause many of the problems that occur today. One of these things is unstable government. The countries left without instituting a government consisting of African leaders. When the Europeans were present European leaders controled the government. When they left, they left the Africans without government and in great turmoil. Also another problem that western countries provided was the poverty their today. They used up the resources and left. For example, they gathered lots of minerals and caused the farmers to share crop. After many generations of share cropping farmers loose the knowledge to grow food that will sustain a culture, those that are not only used in trade. Also, the land is depleted of it's minerals that allow for good crops.

Obsession

Section 1: They have suicide bombers and they attack their own people and the rest of the world. There have been attacks all around the world. 10% of all the Islams are radicals and more hate westerns. Why do the people living in the Middle Eastern countries involved n this conflict rise against the terrorists. I know that they strike incredible fear into their people but for every one terrorist there is nine non terrorist Islams. After seeing this section and the way they raise their youth to hate American's I am amazed that people of the United States and United Nations can not support our decision to enter the Middle East. Also if all these other countries have been attacked by Al -Queda and Osama bin Laden, why are we the only ones in the Middle East and Iran? If every nation entered Iran we could find Osama bin Laden much faster.

Section 2: The Jihad is a war for Allah the Islamic god and westerners must die. They teach this to the young people of Islam. They reach that Americans are trying to take over the world. The people of Islam believe that Jihad is a battle for God.

Sections 3: In Arab media they portray Americans and Jews as Satan and evil. People after 9/11 came to look at themselves and American's fault that the Arabs hate us. But it was not true and it is only the Arabs mind set. They use propoganda to spread the terrorist idea. many of the music is against the Americans and they celebrated on the streets when 9/11 happened.

Section 4: On the streets they say U.K. you will pay and their leaders openly say that they will destroy Americans and Jews and Brits. The high jackers were praised and called the magnificant 19. The Muslims and kill and sell Americans according to some leaders. The Jihad have soldiers all over the World, in Britain and such. The terrorists use our democracy against us and come into our country and train themselves to blow up the towers on our soil.

Section 7: Its amazing how similiar the Jihad is to Hitler's war. The way they use propoganda is the same and also the goal is similiar. They want to take over the world and destro an entire culture. Also they attract the youth and I think that the Jihad is like Hitler's underground army. They also use lies like the Jews need blood for Matza just as Hitler said lies about the Jews.

Section 8: I guess they got their ideas from Hitler because the Muslim's were very close to Hitler. i think that maybe Husseini brought his propoganda strategies back with him. Also the Middle Eastern people must have believed Hitler as well as their leaders because the soldiers fought with the S.S. Amy.

Section 9: When the Muslims are destroying Churches they actually are going against Muhommad.

Section 10: I think that they are exactly correct about how we need to support the non radicals as much as possible. To put them into power. I think that if we do exactly as we did in Afghanistan by empowering a Democracy then the terrorists will have no where to run. If all people gave up fear of the terrorists to fight them to expell them from this world.

April Current Events: First Iraqi flight to London in 20 years lands at Gatwick

The first airplane to fly from Iraq to London landed on Friday and left on Monday. No admittance was allowed in London because of Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The flight was full of commercial passengers and ministry officials.

This event has global importance because after many years of American work in Iraq they are opening up to Western countries and Western countries are making relations with them. If american work in the Middle East pays off like this than most of the countries like Afghanistan will become western and lower oil costs. This would lower the United States economic depts.

April Current Events: U.S.: N. Korean torpedo likely sunk warship

A South Korean warship was sunk most likely by North Korean Torpedo's. The United States believes that the ship was sunk by an underwater explosion but the explosive device did not hit the ships hull. The attack happened last month.

This has global importance because this could end the armistice between North and South Korea. If this were to happen then the United States would have to open on another front. Also Britain and many other nations would have to get involved. And becuase North Korea may or may not have nuclear weapons a nuclear war may occur. They could drop the big one on South Korea killing thousand and millions of people.

Do Now 4/22/10

Do you think that the U.S. can win its war in Afghanistan?
- I do not believe that the United States can win its war in Afghanistan. I think this becuase it is impossible to find Osama Bin Laden. We were right on top of him and yet we still did not find him. He is hidden in the mountains which can not be bombed. If we do catch Osama bin Laden or he dies than someone else will replace him and continue to spread their terror. Our government, the strongest in the world have been in a war searching for him for over 8 years. If we have not found him yet I do not think we will find him. But I do not think that we should pull out. We need to find Osama bin Laden to bring safety to the United States. If we pulled out the Taliaban would take over and attacks America.

Adam Smith

I do agree with the author. I do but I would also add the idea of spreading democracy and uninstalling a dictatorship. I agree with his first point about oil becasue Iraq is the number two leader in oil production. If we could gain a good relationship with them by creating a democracy we could gain easier access to cheap oil. I think that his second topic about protecting Israel is true as well because we are currently trying to set up military bases in Iraq. Israel would have another western allie in the MIddle East to ease the tension between other nations and the Palestinians. His third idea I disagree with. I do not think that the US would enter Iraq only to prove our power. I think that we have already shown our power in our economy and there is no further need of it.

A Dangerous Mix of Water and Oil

I think that the World should be concerned about water in the Middle East because it can cause a lot of conflict and many countries are arguing over water ways. Like turkey has set up dams and such things. This has major effects on the water down stream in the water choked middle east. Also water is essential in many buissnesses such as oil. And many people are dying from lack of water. Forexample the number of babies that have died form darhea had equalled the number of deaths in WWII. The U.S. should have a concern about water because it will reaise the price of oil which will raise the price of everthing else causing a huge change in the economy. the Middle Easty will raise the price of their oil because they need oil to dig for petroleum.

Ending Americas dependancy on oil.

I think that the way to end this is to slowly change to energy effiscent battery cars. I think this because it will lessen our oil usage. They run for 20-40 miles on battery and then switch to oil. I thyink this can't be our total solution though becuase we still will eventually run out of oil. When we do run out of oil I think that we should resort to horse back. Horses can go unusual distances and consume only reusable resources. But I think this idea would be unreliable for military uses and we should tap into our Alsakan oil for their usage only. I think that they would be using this and every other nation would have usd their oil resources.

Interview of Conflict

I think that the most interesting person in this video was Julia. She was a high school Israeli student. Julia was in a organization called the Seeds of Peace Organization. They have schools in Jeruselum that teach both Israelis and Palestinians to build the relationship between the two groups. She helps with them. Then her friends are on a bus and it blows up killing them. She is very distressed about the whole thing because she fells as though peace can not be achieved. This mindset is changed when she talks to her palestinian friend. Julia rides a bus herself and is very frightend. She looks around for suspicious people. She makes it back safe.

The Israelis and Palestinians have a much worse living than us. They have so much fear of just going on a bus and walking down the street but we can do what ever without fear. But do yuo think that the people in Philadelphia and New York live in this constant fear? People are dieing just as easily as them and it s dangerous at night in the bad parts.