Poetry Project
Project Description
To put it simply, the object of this project was to create a poem. During the weeks preceding, we learned poetic devices and memorized a poem by a different author in order to aid the memorization of our own poems when we had completed them. We learned different poem formats such as the villanelle, limerick, and many more. We then went on to write our own poems, and then refined them through a series of peer critiques before memorizing them and performing them at our all school exhibition.
To put it simply, the object of this project was to create a poem. During the weeks preceding, we learned poetic devices and memorized a poem by a different author in order to aid the memorization of our own poems when we had completed them. We learned different poem formats such as the villanelle, limerick, and many more. We then went on to write our own poems, and then refined them through a series of peer critiques before memorizing them and performing them at our all school exhibition.
Threat
Sierra M
They asked her what she’d been wearing
The memories came rushing back
She remembers all his threats and swearing
Wishing that she could stop caring
He turned her innocence to black
They asked her what she’d been wearing
She could hear the fabric tearing
They all asked her how she acts
She remembers all his threats and swearing
The blindness in her mind was glaring
His gravelly voice the threats and smacks
They asked her what she’d been wearing
Parts of her not meant for sharing
Is was her fault she showed her back
She remembers all his threats and swearing
She could not seem to get her bearings
It was her fault her modesty lacked
They asked her what she’d been wearing
She remembers all his threats and swearing
Sierra M
They asked her what she’d been wearing
The memories came rushing back
She remembers all his threats and swearing
Wishing that she could stop caring
He turned her innocence to black
They asked her what she’d been wearing
She could hear the fabric tearing
They all asked her how she acts
She remembers all his threats and swearing
The blindness in her mind was glaring
His gravelly voice the threats and smacks
They asked her what she’d been wearing
Parts of her not meant for sharing
Is was her fault she showed her back
She remembers all his threats and swearing
She could not seem to get her bearings
It was her fault her modesty lacked
They asked her what she’d been wearing
She remembers all his threats and swearing
Sierra McCall
Humanities
Sara Price
3 May, 2016
Growth as a Poet
I feel that the way my poem grew the most between drafts was that it went from kind of being a narrative to conveying a stronger message. I believe that this shows best through one line in particular, that started out “As she was walking down the street,” then went to “They asked her what she was wearing,” and finally became “They asked her what she’d been wearing.” This line changed completely from my very first draft, because I changed it to try and emphasize victim blaming when it comes to sexual harassment as opposed to just kind of telling a story. The way the poem was first organized had more of the girl’s feelings and memories of the event, as opposed to getting across the message that I wanted to convey. Another problem I had with this line was that it didn’t flow well with the rest of the poem. The line was crucial because my poem is a villanelle which involves a lot of repetition and if one of the lines doesn’t flow well, it messes with the rhythm of the entire poem. I feel that the line flows better now, and that it has a clearer message.
I think one of the most important changes I made in this poem was changing the entire rhyme scheme. Since it is a villanelle and has a very strict format, the lines almost all rhyme, there are essentially two different poems combined, and the line in the middle of each stanza rhymes with the lines in the middle of the other stanzas, and all the other lines in the stanzas rhyme with each other. Originally the other lines in the stanzas all ended with a word rhyming with ‘street,’ and the lines in the middle all rhymed with ‘back.’ Since both of these are one syllable words, the poem sounded kind of harsh and amateur. I changed it so all the other lines in the stanzas rhymed with ‘wearing,’ which is not only a two syllable word but also a much softer word than both ‘street’ and ‘back.’ I liked this change very much because I felt that it changed the feel of the whole poem and helped it to roll off the tongue better when I read it.
In my opinion the second most important change I made was in the third stanza, when I changed a line from “She could feel her own heart tearing” to “she could hear the fabric tearing.” I feel that having the line written that way increases the intensity and the imagery of the poem, and makes the audience feel more related and sympathetic towards the victim. My favorite thing about how the line is written now is that is really helps the poem to feel more passionate and helps to paint a picture of what the girl is feeling and experiencing without dragging the whole poem back into the narrative format the first draft had. I really didn’t like how the line was written in the first draft, it didn’t flow well- the rhyme felt forced and unnatural. Not to mention the line didn’t really have a purpose or contribute to the poem as a whole, it was just kind of stuck in there because that is what the villanelle format dictated. I made a lot of changes to this poem, but I am proud of the final product.
Humanities
Sara Price
3 May, 2016
Growth as a Poet
I feel that the way my poem grew the most between drafts was that it went from kind of being a narrative to conveying a stronger message. I believe that this shows best through one line in particular, that started out “As she was walking down the street,” then went to “They asked her what she was wearing,” and finally became “They asked her what she’d been wearing.” This line changed completely from my very first draft, because I changed it to try and emphasize victim blaming when it comes to sexual harassment as opposed to just kind of telling a story. The way the poem was first organized had more of the girl’s feelings and memories of the event, as opposed to getting across the message that I wanted to convey. Another problem I had with this line was that it didn’t flow well with the rest of the poem. The line was crucial because my poem is a villanelle which involves a lot of repetition and if one of the lines doesn’t flow well, it messes with the rhythm of the entire poem. I feel that the line flows better now, and that it has a clearer message.
I think one of the most important changes I made in this poem was changing the entire rhyme scheme. Since it is a villanelle and has a very strict format, the lines almost all rhyme, there are essentially two different poems combined, and the line in the middle of each stanza rhymes with the lines in the middle of the other stanzas, and all the other lines in the stanzas rhyme with each other. Originally the other lines in the stanzas all ended with a word rhyming with ‘street,’ and the lines in the middle all rhymed with ‘back.’ Since both of these are one syllable words, the poem sounded kind of harsh and amateur. I changed it so all the other lines in the stanzas rhymed with ‘wearing,’ which is not only a two syllable word but also a much softer word than both ‘street’ and ‘back.’ I liked this change very much because I felt that it changed the feel of the whole poem and helped it to roll off the tongue better when I read it.
In my opinion the second most important change I made was in the third stanza, when I changed a line from “She could feel her own heart tearing” to “she could hear the fabric tearing.” I feel that having the line written that way increases the intensity and the imagery of the poem, and makes the audience feel more related and sympathetic towards the victim. My favorite thing about how the line is written now is that is really helps the poem to feel more passionate and helps to paint a picture of what the girl is feeling and experiencing without dragging the whole poem back into the narrative format the first draft had. I really didn’t like how the line was written in the first draft, it didn’t flow well- the rhyme felt forced and unnatural. Not to mention the line didn’t really have a purpose or contribute to the poem as a whole, it was just kind of stuck in there because that is what the villanelle format dictated. I made a lot of changes to this poem, but I am proud of the final product.
Happiness and Meaning Project
This project was about connecting meaning to happiness. We watched several documentaries and read articles on the subject covering things like positive psychology, and how money only buys happiness up to the point where our basic needs are met. We also read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley to explore a more artificial, man made side of happiness. We learned a lot throughout this project about the differences between happiness and meaning, as well as the connections between the two.The final project was is an art piece and an essay.
Sierra M
Happiness Project
Section 2
A Tale of Two Choices
Happiness is something that we all strive for. Whether it be in the form of seeing the world, becoming famous, getting that fancy new house or shiny new car, we work towards these goals with the hope that they will make us happy. And perhaps they will. Happiness is individual, it’s different for everyone and you are the only one who can help yourself get there. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, they try to make happiness a one-size-fits-all kind of thing by hyper controlling everything that happens--what people look like, how they live, everything. They give them drugs to keep them from thinking too much and brainwash them to believe that they are happy. Theoretically this could create happiness, but imagine what would happen if something went wrong-- if someone wasn’t brainwashed enough or if they somehow lost the ability to create their drugs. That society, that happiness is fake and unstable. So what is true happiness? To me true happiness is peace. When you have come to peace with yourself and who you are, when you learn to surround yourself with people who make you feel good instead of the ones who don’t see your worth. Happiness is complex, but it is absolutely achievable. Authentic happiness can be created with several factors: creating depth through meaning and purpose, truly making the choice to be happy, and being aware and respectful as a society.
Meaning gives depth to happiness. In Brave New World the happiness they have is very dependant and surface oriented. There is nothing behind it, it’s just kind of there. In an article by the Atlantic called “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy,” they state that people with meaning in their lives report a higher satisfaction with life overall. This means that even if they don’t constantly have the giddy, joyful feelings we associate with happiness, they have a level of satisfaction and contentment with their lives that others might not have. Not to mention, meaning gives you something to live for. For instance, maybe someone is suicidal and they are so so close to ending their life, but if they have that one person who means something to them it could make all the difference in the world. In the same article by The Atlantic, they state that meaning can help increase your overall mental well being, and that can make you less vulnerable to depression and negative thoughts. In conclusion, happiness without meaning is just satisfaction- a shallow echo of true happiness.
To me the most important factor in happiness is that you have to actually choose to be happy, to look for the positive things in life. When I was in middle school I had a phase where I just wanted everyone to feel sorry for me. I cut my wrists even though I didn’t have anything to be upset about, and even went so far as to give myself an eating disorder. During this time I was miserable. I fought with my parents constantly, wallowed in despair and self pity and was completely blind to the amazing life I had. I convinced myself that I needed something to be happy. I needed to be popular, pretty, validated, and then I would be happy. I needed attention, I needed everyone to love me, and then I would be happy. I ended up in the hospital from one really bad cut after a fight with my mom. After that day, I never cut again. I started writing when I felt bad, and I decided that I was done with the misery. It took time, and practice to be able to make myself feel better. But I know that I am in control of my mentality, and no one can take that away from me. In the movie Happy they state that up to 50% of happiness is genetic, 10% is determined by circumstance, and 40% is deliberate actions that affect your happiness. Since individuals do have some control over their circumstances, these statistics mean that up to half of our happiness, sometimes even more is in our control. We just have to decide to use the power we have. The saying “count your blessings” is unequivocally valuable advice. Even just in little ways, like thinking of 5 things we are grateful for per week, or appreciating a particularly beautiful sunset, can make all the difference in the world. If we truly do want to be happy, we have to make a conscious decision to look for the good.
We as a society underestimate how much we affect each other, and we would all benefit from being more aware and respectful. In 2012, a teenage girl named Amanda Todd committed suicide because she was being bullied and disrespected. She uploaded a YouTube video explaining that she felt alone, and how she was being sexually harassed by a man online. How horrible is it that we live in a society where our first impulse is to take our pain out on others? Sometimes all it takes to make someone’s day better is a tiny act of kindness. I was at work a few weeks ago and this lady came in with her daughter, who was probably about 20 or so. She had very curly hair that came just below her shoulders, and it was wild. There were no signs of a curling iron or hairspray or anything. So I sat them down and said “I love your hair!” A huge smile lit up her face. Her mom told me that she was very insecure about her natural hair and had been nervous that she didn’t have time to tame it for tonight. When they left that night the daughter thanked me again and she walked out smiling, and walking with her head held high. In conclusion, you have power over how you treat people, and if everyone was more aware of that and tried harder to be respectful of other people, the world would be a better place.
Some people may ask why it’s even important to try and understand happiness, I mean as long as we have it who cares? It is critical because if you have something but don’t understand it, it’s unstable. You need to know what contributes to your happiness and what is detrimental to it in order to preserve it. It can improve your life and the lives of those around you to simply pay a little bit more attention to happiness, since we seem to take it for granted these days, or even just brush it off as a side effect of money or beauty. But even with all of the obvious benefits of happiness aside, it is a fundamental part of being human. Understanding happiness gives you a greater understanding of yourself. But no matter how much you wish you were happy, it won’t happen unless you take control and decide to be.
Happiness Project
Section 2
A Tale of Two Choices
Happiness is something that we all strive for. Whether it be in the form of seeing the world, becoming famous, getting that fancy new house or shiny new car, we work towards these goals with the hope that they will make us happy. And perhaps they will. Happiness is individual, it’s different for everyone and you are the only one who can help yourself get there. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, they try to make happiness a one-size-fits-all kind of thing by hyper controlling everything that happens--what people look like, how they live, everything. They give them drugs to keep them from thinking too much and brainwash them to believe that they are happy. Theoretically this could create happiness, but imagine what would happen if something went wrong-- if someone wasn’t brainwashed enough or if they somehow lost the ability to create their drugs. That society, that happiness is fake and unstable. So what is true happiness? To me true happiness is peace. When you have come to peace with yourself and who you are, when you learn to surround yourself with people who make you feel good instead of the ones who don’t see your worth. Happiness is complex, but it is absolutely achievable. Authentic happiness can be created with several factors: creating depth through meaning and purpose, truly making the choice to be happy, and being aware and respectful as a society.
Meaning gives depth to happiness. In Brave New World the happiness they have is very dependant and surface oriented. There is nothing behind it, it’s just kind of there. In an article by the Atlantic called “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy,” they state that people with meaning in their lives report a higher satisfaction with life overall. This means that even if they don’t constantly have the giddy, joyful feelings we associate with happiness, they have a level of satisfaction and contentment with their lives that others might not have. Not to mention, meaning gives you something to live for. For instance, maybe someone is suicidal and they are so so close to ending their life, but if they have that one person who means something to them it could make all the difference in the world. In the same article by The Atlantic, they state that meaning can help increase your overall mental well being, and that can make you less vulnerable to depression and negative thoughts. In conclusion, happiness without meaning is just satisfaction- a shallow echo of true happiness.
To me the most important factor in happiness is that you have to actually choose to be happy, to look for the positive things in life. When I was in middle school I had a phase where I just wanted everyone to feel sorry for me. I cut my wrists even though I didn’t have anything to be upset about, and even went so far as to give myself an eating disorder. During this time I was miserable. I fought with my parents constantly, wallowed in despair and self pity and was completely blind to the amazing life I had. I convinced myself that I needed something to be happy. I needed to be popular, pretty, validated, and then I would be happy. I needed attention, I needed everyone to love me, and then I would be happy. I ended up in the hospital from one really bad cut after a fight with my mom. After that day, I never cut again. I started writing when I felt bad, and I decided that I was done with the misery. It took time, and practice to be able to make myself feel better. But I know that I am in control of my mentality, and no one can take that away from me. In the movie Happy they state that up to 50% of happiness is genetic, 10% is determined by circumstance, and 40% is deliberate actions that affect your happiness. Since individuals do have some control over their circumstances, these statistics mean that up to half of our happiness, sometimes even more is in our control. We just have to decide to use the power we have. The saying “count your blessings” is unequivocally valuable advice. Even just in little ways, like thinking of 5 things we are grateful for per week, or appreciating a particularly beautiful sunset, can make all the difference in the world. If we truly do want to be happy, we have to make a conscious decision to look for the good.
We as a society underestimate how much we affect each other, and we would all benefit from being more aware and respectful. In 2012, a teenage girl named Amanda Todd committed suicide because she was being bullied and disrespected. She uploaded a YouTube video explaining that she felt alone, and how she was being sexually harassed by a man online. How horrible is it that we live in a society where our first impulse is to take our pain out on others? Sometimes all it takes to make someone’s day better is a tiny act of kindness. I was at work a few weeks ago and this lady came in with her daughter, who was probably about 20 or so. She had very curly hair that came just below her shoulders, and it was wild. There were no signs of a curling iron or hairspray or anything. So I sat them down and said “I love your hair!” A huge smile lit up her face. Her mom told me that she was very insecure about her natural hair and had been nervous that she didn’t have time to tame it for tonight. When they left that night the daughter thanked me again and she walked out smiling, and walking with her head held high. In conclusion, you have power over how you treat people, and if everyone was more aware of that and tried harder to be respectful of other people, the world would be a better place.
Some people may ask why it’s even important to try and understand happiness, I mean as long as we have it who cares? It is critical because if you have something but don’t understand it, it’s unstable. You need to know what contributes to your happiness and what is detrimental to it in order to preserve it. It can improve your life and the lives of those around you to simply pay a little bit more attention to happiness, since we seem to take it for granted these days, or even just brush it off as a side effect of money or beauty. But even with all of the obvious benefits of happiness aside, it is a fundamental part of being human. Understanding happiness gives you a greater understanding of yourself. But no matter how much you wish you were happy, it won’t happen unless you take control and decide to be.
Project Reflection
I feel that this project has helped me grow as a student by allowing me to expand on my ideas of happiness and the underlying causes of happiness. It has also helped me grow in my writing style. I believe that this is best shown when I compare my essay to essays I've written in the past. I was actually pretty proud of my essay for this project, and one of my peers seemed to be extremely affected by it in a positive way which was a great feeling. I think that this project has helped me to get better at putting my feelings and thought into words, and being able to convey them somewhat effectively.
I believe wholeheartedly that technology does have a negative effect on happiness. Even with myself I have always noticed that I feel glum and lethargic after even 10 minutes on my phone or computer. Therefore, my plan for the summer is to travel as much as possible. I will use my phone only for talking to my family and friends, on the phone not texting, and my laptop will be used for journaling and storing pictures that I take. I will bring a camera so that I'm not tempted to use my phone. I already have two trips planned this summer, one to Mexico for three weeks and one to Argentina for the same amount of time. I will not have my parents with me on either of these trips, and I look forward to seeing what I learn.
My biggest take away from this project is that happiness is different for everyone. Everyone has been through pain of some kind, and everyone has their own ways of dealing with it. Yes pain and happiness are different, but they are almost similar in their polarity and you can't have one without the other. For me, happiness is something you have to do for yourself and it's not something we can learn from another person's experiences. Ultimately, happiness is not one-size-fits-all-but it can definitely be achieved.
I believe wholeheartedly that technology does have a negative effect on happiness. Even with myself I have always noticed that I feel glum and lethargic after even 10 minutes on my phone or computer. Therefore, my plan for the summer is to travel as much as possible. I will use my phone only for talking to my family and friends, on the phone not texting, and my laptop will be used for journaling and storing pictures that I take. I will bring a camera so that I'm not tempted to use my phone. I already have two trips planned this summer, one to Mexico for three weeks and one to Argentina for the same amount of time. I will not have my parents with me on either of these trips, and I look forward to seeing what I learn.
My biggest take away from this project is that happiness is different for everyone. Everyone has been through pain of some kind, and everyone has their own ways of dealing with it. Yes pain and happiness are different, but they are almost similar in their polarity and you can't have one without the other. For me, happiness is something you have to do for yourself and it's not something we can learn from another person's experiences. Ultimately, happiness is not one-size-fits-all-but it can definitely be achieved.
Model United Nations
For this project we were each assigned a country and we did research on them in order to learn how to best represent them in our own model of the United Nations during which we debated the Israel Palestine issue. We had a practice seminar before the exhibition to help prepare us. Some of the things we did in the project were making plaques with the names of our countries on them, and writing a resolution for each seminar. We also did extensive research to be able to accurately represent our countries opinions during the seminars. We wrote policy papers and speeches for the seminars to convey these opinions. We also watched several documentaries in class on each of the two issues so it would be easier for us to research our countries respective opinions about them.
Project Reflection questions
1. What has been most challenging about this project?
For me the most challenging part about this project has been all of the research- especially when using the UN as a source. Taking in so much information and with it being written the way it is, my eyes start to glaze over and everything just flies right out of my brain as soon as I take it in. The annoying thing is, the information itself is actually pretty interesting. But it is all written in small print using a lot of unnecessary words and formalities just so it fits a specific format, which makes it seem way more boring than it actually is.
2. What challenges have you overcome?
My biggest challenge at the beginning of this project was getting into it, because the topic itself didn't really interest me at first. I have managed to overcome this as we got further in by perusing the aspects that interest me more on my own time, and by trying to actually take in more of the information instead of viewing the whole thing as one big chore.
3. What are you most proud of at this point?
Right now I am most proud of the fact that I was able to overcome the challenges that I was facing and that I am actually starting to form opinions about the things we are discussing. I am also proud that I have been able to stick to my country's perspective with the issues we discuss, and that I have begun to feel more passionate about what we're doing. Also I've been able to speak up more than I have in the past, which has always been hard for me because I don't generally like to speak in front of groups of people.
4. "Complacency is where genius goes to die." ~Matt Hughes
For me this is a very powerful quote, and I feel that it holds a lot of truth. Complacency means to be pleased with oneself or to view accomplishments one has made with an uncritical eye, and I absolutely feel that this state of being can effectively eliminate any creative thought processes or further thinking because you feel like there is nothing more that could be or should be done to improve it.
For me the most challenging part about this project has been all of the research- especially when using the UN as a source. Taking in so much information and with it being written the way it is, my eyes start to glaze over and everything just flies right out of my brain as soon as I take it in. The annoying thing is, the information itself is actually pretty interesting. But it is all written in small print using a lot of unnecessary words and formalities just so it fits a specific format, which makes it seem way more boring than it actually is.
2. What challenges have you overcome?
My biggest challenge at the beginning of this project was getting into it, because the topic itself didn't really interest me at first. I have managed to overcome this as we got further in by perusing the aspects that interest me more on my own time, and by trying to actually take in more of the information instead of viewing the whole thing as one big chore.
3. What are you most proud of at this point?
Right now I am most proud of the fact that I was able to overcome the challenges that I was facing and that I am actually starting to form opinions about the things we are discussing. I am also proud that I have been able to stick to my country's perspective with the issues we discuss, and that I have begun to feel more passionate about what we're doing. Also I've been able to speak up more than I have in the past, which has always been hard for me because I don't generally like to speak in front of groups of people.
4. "Complacency is where genius goes to die." ~Matt Hughes
For me this is a very powerful quote, and I feel that it holds a lot of truth. Complacency means to be pleased with oneself or to view accomplishments one has made with an uncritical eye, and I absolutely feel that this state of being can effectively eliminate any creative thought processes or further thinking because you feel like there is nothing more that could be or should be done to improve it.
General Assembly
Germany (Sierra McCall)
Non Proliferation
North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons
The General Assembly
Fully aware that North Korea is a sovereign nation and therefore technically does have the right to nuclear power,
Recognizing that North Korea could benefit from having nuclear power in that it provides jobs and is a beneficial energy source for the country,
Gravely concerned that North Korea has yet to stop threatening other countries with the nuclear power that they currently possess,
Emphasizing that “should North Korea drop a bomb on Tokyo or Seoul, an estimated two million people in each city would be killed” (Wit, Town),
Noting with regret that the UN has placed unsuccessful sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) in response to nuclear assaults (2094) in the past,
Desiring to resolve this issue without resorting to violence or substantial threats that may provoke North Korea or make them unwilling to negotiate,
Recalling that past resolutions attempting to solve this issue (2084, 2094) have been unsuccessful and that no successful actions have been taken towards denuclearizing North Korea,
Deeply disturbed that the actions that have been taken appear to have only further provoked the DPRK and caused an increase in the threats,
(b) It could damage relations between the rest of the world and North Korea beyond repair.
Germany (Sierra McCall)
Non Proliferation
North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons
The General Assembly
Fully aware that North Korea is a sovereign nation and therefore technically does have the right to nuclear power,
Recognizing that North Korea could benefit from having nuclear power in that it provides jobs and is a beneficial energy source for the country,
Gravely concerned that North Korea has yet to stop threatening other countries with the nuclear power that they currently possess,
Emphasizing that “should North Korea drop a bomb on Tokyo or Seoul, an estimated two million people in each city would be killed” (Wit, Town),
Noting with regret that the UN has placed unsuccessful sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) in response to nuclear assaults (2094) in the past,
Desiring to resolve this issue without resorting to violence or substantial threats that may provoke North Korea or make them unwilling to negotiate,
Recalling that past resolutions attempting to solve this issue (2084, 2094) have been unsuccessful and that no successful actions have been taken towards denuclearizing North Korea,
Deeply disturbed that the actions that have been taken appear to have only further provoked the DPRK and caused an increase in the threats,
- Further requests that the General Assembly and the Security Council remain open minded about the benefits that Nuclear Power present to the DPRK;
- Strongly supports an attempt at a diplomatic meeting with North Korea’s leader in an attempt to resolve the antipathy between the DPRK and the United States;
- Further requests that no military action should be taken against North Korea unless North Korea makes an adversarial move:
(b) It could damage relations between the rest of the world and North Korea beyond repair.
- Encourages the General Assembly and the Security Council to present North Korea with an alternative energy source to replace the nuclear energy;
- Reaffirms that North Korea has not actually taken nuclear action against any other country.
- Further reminds the General Assembly and the Security Council to realize the position that North Korea would be in should they give up their nuclear energy;
- Further requests that at least three (3) countries offer a safe house for the leader should the regime fall;
- Calls upon China to offer a nuclear umbrella so the North Korea does not feel quite as dependant on their own nuclear weapons.
General Assembly
Germany (Sierra McCall)
Israel Palestine Issue
Solution to the Palestine-Israel Conflict
The General Assembly
Recalling that the state of Palestine is both a homeland and a holy land for both religions,
Recognizing that this issue has been plaguing the state for many years and that it is having harmful effects on both religions,
Noting with regret that the original two-state solution illustrated in resolution 181 was originally rejected by the Palestinians,
Emphasizing that there are many Palestinian refugees living in abysmal living conditions outside of their home country (Moor),
Having considered that the current living situation is not beneficial for either religious group as is stated in the UNRWA article about refugees in Syria, “Of the total 560,000 Palestine refugees from Syria, almost all require assistance.” (Syria)
Reaffirming that the Palestinian refugees are not the only ones suffering, as living conditions in the illegal settlements are also sub-par (Rudoren),
Believing that the Palestinians may be more open to a two state solution now that they realize the alternative is not being allowed to return to their homeland in any capacity,
Deeply convinced that a two state solution is the only way to solve this problem with any degree of permanence,
Recognizing that though the officials may make peace, violence from citizens may remain prevalent,
Desiring that the land be split into two states that give both religions the lands that are most important to them and their respective religions,
Works Cited
Moor, Ahmed. "Why Palestinians Are Second-class Citizens in Lebanon."The Guardian. N.p., 24 June 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"Syria Crisis UNRWA." UNRWA. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.
Rudoren, Jodi. "In West Bank Settlements, Israeli Jobs Are Double-Edged Sword." The New York Times. The New York Times, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.
Germany (Sierra McCall)
Israel Palestine Issue
Solution to the Palestine-Israel Conflict
The General Assembly
Recalling that the state of Palestine is both a homeland and a holy land for both religions,
Recognizing that this issue has been plaguing the state for many years and that it is having harmful effects on both religions,
Noting with regret that the original two-state solution illustrated in resolution 181 was originally rejected by the Palestinians,
Emphasizing that there are many Palestinian refugees living in abysmal living conditions outside of their home country (Moor),
Having considered that the current living situation is not beneficial for either religious group as is stated in the UNRWA article about refugees in Syria, “Of the total 560,000 Palestine refugees from Syria, almost all require assistance.” (Syria)
Reaffirming that the Palestinian refugees are not the only ones suffering, as living conditions in the illegal settlements are also sub-par (Rudoren),
Believing that the Palestinians may be more open to a two state solution now that they realize the alternative is not being allowed to return to their homeland in any capacity,
Deeply convinced that a two state solution is the only way to solve this problem with any degree of permanence,
Recognizing that though the officials may make peace, violence from citizens may remain prevalent,
Desiring that the land be split into two states that give both religions the lands that are most important to them and their respective religions,
- Recommends returning to the original two state solution that was outlined in Resolution 181;
- Affirms that the Israelis that have settled in land that has been declared Palestinian will have to be relocated;
- Further requests that laws be passed and enforced to prevent brawls among civilians such as:
- No discriminatory or negative street art/ vandalism;
- No Vandalizing in general;
- No Assault, verbal or physical;
- Any of these crimes must be punished with either jail time or a considerable fine;
- Emphasises that should the Palestinians once again reject the offer or a two state solution nothing will get better for them;
- Solemnly affirms that should the Palestinians continue to refuse a peaceful two state solution, military action may be found necessary.
Works Cited
Moor, Ahmed. "Why Palestinians Are Second-class Citizens in Lebanon."The Guardian. N.p., 24 June 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"Syria Crisis UNRWA." UNRWA. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.
Rudoren, Jodi. "In West Bank Settlements, Israeli Jobs Are Double-Edged Sword." The New York Times. The New York Times, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.
Sierra McCall
Sarah Price
Policy Statement
02 December, 2015
Title
Although Germany has been supportive of North Korea in the past, we are against proliferation and therefore will not support North Korea’s possession of nuclear power.
Due to numerous past threats from North Korea, it would be unintelligent to let this issue go unchecked. As Süddeutsche Zeitung said, "Today, under the third Kim, North Korea is a nuclear power and exhibiting more warlike behavior than ever before.” (Word) Due to the adversarial position that North Korea appears to be taking towards the rest of the world, allowing them to retain possession of their nuclear technology and the inevitable weapons that come with that technology, would be near suicidal. It would also be dangerous for the country itself, seeing as the DPRK would almost certainly not survive a nuclear war against the United States or any other large nuclear power. (How) They have continued to threaten other countries and we will not support them having nuclear power to back these threats.
In order to persuade North Korea to give up their nuclear power without resorting to sanctions or military action, we need to give them another viable power source to replace the nuclear power. They need energy, (Mead) and have been promised it in the past. These promises remain unfulfilled. It is not currently feasible for North Korea to give up their nuclear power because it is a major energy source and provides jobs, but also because it is insurance for Kim Jong-Un. As said in the article “Why North Korea needs nukes,” “The lesson in this story for Kim Jong Un is clear: that while his safety with nuclear weapons is clearly uncertain, he would be even less safe if he gave them up.” (Kaplan) so if we want North Korea’s nuclear weapons to be removed from the picture, we have to show that they will be okay without them by providing another energy source and a safe place for the leader to go should an enemy country attack them. Whether or not military action or sanctions will be required to set this plan into motion remains to be decided.
Works Cited
Kaplan, Robert D., and Rodger Baker. "Why North Korea Needs Nukes."Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 4 Dec. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"How Potent Are North Korea's Threats? - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
Mead, Walter Russell. "North Korea's Nuclear Necessity." Hoover Institution. N.p., 1 Aug. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"World from Berlin: 'Kim Wants Legitimacy as a Nuclear Power' - SPIEGEL ONLINE." SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
Sarah Price
Policy Statement
02 December, 2015
Title
Although Germany has been supportive of North Korea in the past, we are against proliferation and therefore will not support North Korea’s possession of nuclear power.
Due to numerous past threats from North Korea, it would be unintelligent to let this issue go unchecked. As Süddeutsche Zeitung said, "Today, under the third Kim, North Korea is a nuclear power and exhibiting more warlike behavior than ever before.” (Word) Due to the adversarial position that North Korea appears to be taking towards the rest of the world, allowing them to retain possession of their nuclear technology and the inevitable weapons that come with that technology, would be near suicidal. It would also be dangerous for the country itself, seeing as the DPRK would almost certainly not survive a nuclear war against the United States or any other large nuclear power. (How) They have continued to threaten other countries and we will not support them having nuclear power to back these threats.
In order to persuade North Korea to give up their nuclear power without resorting to sanctions or military action, we need to give them another viable power source to replace the nuclear power. They need energy, (Mead) and have been promised it in the past. These promises remain unfulfilled. It is not currently feasible for North Korea to give up their nuclear power because it is a major energy source and provides jobs, but also because it is insurance for Kim Jong-Un. As said in the article “Why North Korea needs nukes,” “The lesson in this story for Kim Jong Un is clear: that while his safety with nuclear weapons is clearly uncertain, he would be even less safe if he gave them up.” (Kaplan) so if we want North Korea’s nuclear weapons to be removed from the picture, we have to show that they will be okay without them by providing another energy source and a safe place for the leader to go should an enemy country attack them. Whether or not military action or sanctions will be required to set this plan into motion remains to be decided.
Works Cited
Kaplan, Robert D., and Rodger Baker. "Why North Korea Needs Nukes."Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 4 Dec. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"How Potent Are North Korea's Threats? - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
Mead, Walter Russell. "North Korea's Nuclear Necessity." Hoover Institution. N.p., 1 Aug. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
"World from Berlin: 'Kim Wants Legitimacy as a Nuclear Power' - SPIEGEL ONLINE." SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.
This project was meant to help us realize how we have been socialized to think about ourselves. We made a mask to show this concept, and we wrote an essay about how we have been socialized. At the end of the essay there is a mask paragraph describing our mask and telling what each component means.
Perils of an Atypical White Girl
Sierra M
Socialization shapes who we are as people. It affects how we act, how we speak, how we dress, what we eat, everything. Socialization can be positive or negative. If you are part of an agent group, that is to say, a majority, then socialization can make you feel powerful or better than others. If you are part of a target group, or minority, it can make you feel hopeless and not as valuable. Without socialization, we would be wild, feral. There was one case regarding a young girl called Genie, when she was young her father had decided that she was mentally retarded and had kept her severely socially isolated. By the time she was rescued at the age of thirteen, she had learned no language, and the motor skills of a baby. If we had not been exposed to other human beings, to language and media, this would be us. In the movie Tarzan, the main character had been raised by apes ever since he was quite a young child. He communicated through grunts and got around on all fours with a loping gait. Even in a Disney movie, the effects of socialization are made evident. Socialization also makes you feel differently about the various identity categories that you fit into- categories such as race, gender, and age. As a primarily caucasian teenage girl, I have been socialized to believe that I need to spend an excessive amount of time on my looks, that I should stand back and let men do all the work, and that I shouldn’t be involved in anything that requires too much brain power.
It is widely accepted in the media as well as in the minds of Americans that women take an impossibly long time to get ready to go out. Many comedians have done skits centering around this, including Mike Vanatta who said “When my wife says she’ll be ready in five minutes, I know I have enough time to fly to space and write a poem on the moon before we go.” For a girl like me who doesn’t have the patience for contouring, or the hand-eye coordination for a hair curler, I feel like I’m doing something wrong when I see messages like that. Should I be taking longer to do my hair and makeup, get dressed, etc? It makes me feel insecure about my own choices, which no one should be made to feel. I have met women and girls who take an hour or two to do their makeup, According to cheatsheet.com, the cosmetic industry brings in about fifty five billion dollars annually. About twenty percent on hair care, twenty seven on facial and skin care, ten percent on fragrance, another twenty percent towards makeup, and the remaining twenty percent goes towards personal care. What is one to deduce from statistics like these? That to be beautiful or feminine, you have to unload your paycheck into the pocket of the cosmetic industry. So as someone who doesn’t really use commercial cosmetics or facial care things, I’m left feeling like I’m doing something wrong purely by being myself.
I have been socialized to believe that men are always going to be stronger than me. It is true that men have certain anatomical advantages over women- It’s easier for them to build muscle, and they are stronger and bigger. But that’s if they put in the time. Being born with the y chromosome doesn’t mean that you are automatically stronger than all the females on the planet strength depends more on the individual than the genetics. I remember once when I was about 12, me and my friend (a boy six months younger than myself) were helping my father to build a gazebo in our backyard. I lifted a cinder block and began to carry it over for the foundation. My friend promptly ran over to me and tried to take it out of my hand. When I wouldn’t let him, he said “Really I’m the guy you should let me take care of it.” That was the first time in our 11 year friendship that he ever drew attention to the difference in our genders. Since that day, I have been hyper-attuned to any guy trying to do harder work for me just because I am a girl. Being female is not a handicap, and I don’t want to be made to feel like it is. I’m stronger than several guys that I know, because I work on my strength more than they work on theirs. I can do hard work as well as if not better than my male friends. Even on tv shows and in books, the men are always cast in the more difficult roles. In old timey novels such as Little House on the Prairie and such, it’s more evident because they are all out raising barns and the like while the women are sweeping and sewing, but even in modern media they are prevalent if not emphasized. There is an Australian TV show called h20 that I got obsessed with in sixth grade. The only characters who ever did climbing, hiking, deep and difficult swimming, were the males. This is evident in almost all forms of entertainment media, and it can be very discouraging for girls who want to pursue a so called “manly” career or hobby.
The stereotypical pretty but stupid girl appears in almost every teen flick. Due to my mother’s efforts to protect me, I wasn’t introduced to this stereotype until I was about nine. That was when we got Netflix and I began to see more and more tv. High School Musical, Barbie Princess Charm School, everywhere I turned there was one girl who was visually flawless yet dumb as a post. Of course I never thought to go to that extreme, but I did begin to think that I couldn’t be as smart as the boys if I wanted to be pretty. I thought I had to choose one or the other. In the movie Mean Girls, the main character Cady pretends to be bad at math so that the guy she sits behind will like her. The first time I saw the movie, I thought that was strange. The second time I thought it was wrong, and the third time I wanted to smack Lindsay Lohan in the face. I’m not the smartest girl in the world, but I’m not going to dumb myself down for anyone, even if the media tells me I should. Once when I was younger, my grandmother actually told me that I shouldn’t make my intelligence too obvious. Now my grandmother is a pretty old fashioned lady, but it was still strange to hear from an adult family member that I shouldn’t try to engage in intelligent conversation. She did tell me that it was okay to read and be well spoken, but that science and math and the like were best left to the boys.
Socialization shapes who we are as individuals. I have been socialized to believe that because of my gender, I need to spend a fortune and an eternity on looking good, that I should let men do the heavy lifting, and that if it requires an IQ of higher than 99, it’s probably not for me. I always have and will continue to fight back against these harmful societal confines by standing up for myself and proving that if I put my mind to it I can do anything a guy can do. But it will take more than just me. We as a society need to realize that the words we use and the messages we send have a real impact on people, and that it is extremely important to cultivate a safe and accepting world for future generations. Up until a few months ago, I lived next to a young girl named Adaline. When we first met she was three. Up until she started going to school, she would wear swimming suits and tutus in the dead of winter, and she wanted more than anything to grow her hair out. By the end of her first year of kindergarten, swimming suits were only for swimming, and she had taken scissors to her lovely golden locks when her mom wouldn’t take her to get it cut-for fear that she would change her mind. It saddened me greatly to witness the loss of the innocent, eccentric little girl, and more than anything I want to help create a world where her and my own younger sister feel free to be themselves, and to open their eyes to the effects that society has on them.
Mask Paragraph
My mask is blue with black designs to illustrate that I am different and that I will never be the same as other girls my age, or as anyone really. It is a way of acknowledging my pride at being unique. The eyes are the clouded blue of blindness to show that I have been oblivious to how much societal messages affect me. There are purple circles under its eyes to show that it is tired and that existing in a world like this is thoroughly exhausting. The third eye is to show that her mind has a lot to offer, and the black lines represent bars on a cage incarcerating that mind and those ideas. The duct tape over the mouth is showing that she is meant to be quiet and demure, not to rock the boat or say what she is thinking.
Sierra M
Socialization shapes who we are as people. It affects how we act, how we speak, how we dress, what we eat, everything. Socialization can be positive or negative. If you are part of an agent group, that is to say, a majority, then socialization can make you feel powerful or better than others. If you are part of a target group, or minority, it can make you feel hopeless and not as valuable. Without socialization, we would be wild, feral. There was one case regarding a young girl called Genie, when she was young her father had decided that she was mentally retarded and had kept her severely socially isolated. By the time she was rescued at the age of thirteen, she had learned no language, and the motor skills of a baby. If we had not been exposed to other human beings, to language and media, this would be us. In the movie Tarzan, the main character had been raised by apes ever since he was quite a young child. He communicated through grunts and got around on all fours with a loping gait. Even in a Disney movie, the effects of socialization are made evident. Socialization also makes you feel differently about the various identity categories that you fit into- categories such as race, gender, and age. As a primarily caucasian teenage girl, I have been socialized to believe that I need to spend an excessive amount of time on my looks, that I should stand back and let men do all the work, and that I shouldn’t be involved in anything that requires too much brain power.
It is widely accepted in the media as well as in the minds of Americans that women take an impossibly long time to get ready to go out. Many comedians have done skits centering around this, including Mike Vanatta who said “When my wife says she’ll be ready in five minutes, I know I have enough time to fly to space and write a poem on the moon before we go.” For a girl like me who doesn’t have the patience for contouring, or the hand-eye coordination for a hair curler, I feel like I’m doing something wrong when I see messages like that. Should I be taking longer to do my hair and makeup, get dressed, etc? It makes me feel insecure about my own choices, which no one should be made to feel. I have met women and girls who take an hour or two to do their makeup, According to cheatsheet.com, the cosmetic industry brings in about fifty five billion dollars annually. About twenty percent on hair care, twenty seven on facial and skin care, ten percent on fragrance, another twenty percent towards makeup, and the remaining twenty percent goes towards personal care. What is one to deduce from statistics like these? That to be beautiful or feminine, you have to unload your paycheck into the pocket of the cosmetic industry. So as someone who doesn’t really use commercial cosmetics or facial care things, I’m left feeling like I’m doing something wrong purely by being myself.
I have been socialized to believe that men are always going to be stronger than me. It is true that men have certain anatomical advantages over women- It’s easier for them to build muscle, and they are stronger and bigger. But that’s if they put in the time. Being born with the y chromosome doesn’t mean that you are automatically stronger than all the females on the planet strength depends more on the individual than the genetics. I remember once when I was about 12, me and my friend (a boy six months younger than myself) were helping my father to build a gazebo in our backyard. I lifted a cinder block and began to carry it over for the foundation. My friend promptly ran over to me and tried to take it out of my hand. When I wouldn’t let him, he said “Really I’m the guy you should let me take care of it.” That was the first time in our 11 year friendship that he ever drew attention to the difference in our genders. Since that day, I have been hyper-attuned to any guy trying to do harder work for me just because I am a girl. Being female is not a handicap, and I don’t want to be made to feel like it is. I’m stronger than several guys that I know, because I work on my strength more than they work on theirs. I can do hard work as well as if not better than my male friends. Even on tv shows and in books, the men are always cast in the more difficult roles. In old timey novels such as Little House on the Prairie and such, it’s more evident because they are all out raising barns and the like while the women are sweeping and sewing, but even in modern media they are prevalent if not emphasized. There is an Australian TV show called h20 that I got obsessed with in sixth grade. The only characters who ever did climbing, hiking, deep and difficult swimming, were the males. This is evident in almost all forms of entertainment media, and it can be very discouraging for girls who want to pursue a so called “manly” career or hobby.
The stereotypical pretty but stupid girl appears in almost every teen flick. Due to my mother’s efforts to protect me, I wasn’t introduced to this stereotype until I was about nine. That was when we got Netflix and I began to see more and more tv. High School Musical, Barbie Princess Charm School, everywhere I turned there was one girl who was visually flawless yet dumb as a post. Of course I never thought to go to that extreme, but I did begin to think that I couldn’t be as smart as the boys if I wanted to be pretty. I thought I had to choose one or the other. In the movie Mean Girls, the main character Cady pretends to be bad at math so that the guy she sits behind will like her. The first time I saw the movie, I thought that was strange. The second time I thought it was wrong, and the third time I wanted to smack Lindsay Lohan in the face. I’m not the smartest girl in the world, but I’m not going to dumb myself down for anyone, even if the media tells me I should. Once when I was younger, my grandmother actually told me that I shouldn’t make my intelligence too obvious. Now my grandmother is a pretty old fashioned lady, but it was still strange to hear from an adult family member that I shouldn’t try to engage in intelligent conversation. She did tell me that it was okay to read and be well spoken, but that science and math and the like were best left to the boys.
Socialization shapes who we are as individuals. I have been socialized to believe that because of my gender, I need to spend a fortune and an eternity on looking good, that I should let men do the heavy lifting, and that if it requires an IQ of higher than 99, it’s probably not for me. I always have and will continue to fight back against these harmful societal confines by standing up for myself and proving that if I put my mind to it I can do anything a guy can do. But it will take more than just me. We as a society need to realize that the words we use and the messages we send have a real impact on people, and that it is extremely important to cultivate a safe and accepting world for future generations. Up until a few months ago, I lived next to a young girl named Adaline. When we first met she was three. Up until she started going to school, she would wear swimming suits and tutus in the dead of winter, and she wanted more than anything to grow her hair out. By the end of her first year of kindergarten, swimming suits were only for swimming, and she had taken scissors to her lovely golden locks when her mom wouldn’t take her to get it cut-for fear that she would change her mind. It saddened me greatly to witness the loss of the innocent, eccentric little girl, and more than anything I want to help create a world where her and my own younger sister feel free to be themselves, and to open their eyes to the effects that society has on them.
Mask Paragraph
My mask is blue with black designs to illustrate that I am different and that I will never be the same as other girls my age, or as anyone really. It is a way of acknowledging my pride at being unique. The eyes are the clouded blue of blindness to show that I have been oblivious to how much societal messages affect me. There are purple circles under its eyes to show that it is tired and that existing in a world like this is thoroughly exhausting. The third eye is to show that her mind has a lot to offer, and the black lines represent bars on a cage incarcerating that mind and those ideas. The duct tape over the mouth is showing that she is meant to be quiet and demure, not to rock the boat or say what she is thinking.
Project Reflection
I am proud of my mask because the colors turned out to look really pretty together, and all of the elements have a significance. From the duct tape over her mouth to her blind eyes, every detail means something. For instance, the third eye on her forehead signifies thoughts and ideas that are trying to push through, while the black bars represent a cage that is keeping those thoughts from ever seeing the light of day. I am also proud that I actually had the patience to clean up the edges and make the paint cover the whole thing without any white patches.
The section of my essay that I am most proud of, is when I am talking about the cosmetic industry and I list some statistics about sales in the cosmetic industry, and then say: "What one to deduce from statistics like these? That to be beautiful or feminine, you have to unload your paycheck into the pocket of the cosmetic industry. So as someone who doesn’t really use commercial cosmetics or facial care things, I’m left feeling like I’m doing something wrong purely by being myself." I am proud of this because I like the way it is worded and how the words flow. I also like that it illustrates my point in the way that I wanted it to.
My biggest take away from this project will most likely be the skills I learned writing the essay. The TEA (Topic, Evidence, Analysis) format was a great thing to learn, and though it was a little difficult at first I feel like it really helped my essay to be more substantial and to flow better. It also helped to have that kind of structure so that the whole thing flowed better and so that the paragraphs were consistent and fit together better. I will also take away more faith in the value of critiques, although the group critique in class didn't go very well for me because my peers didn't really give me anything to improve.
Something from this project that I would like to share with the community would definitely be the importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment for future generations. I have a younger sister who is only two years old, and every time I turn on the tv or look at a website, I'll see an ad or a picture or something that is written that I don't want her to see. I want my sister and other young kids like her to grow up knowing that though there are certain aspects of our world that are very messed up, they do have control over their own lives.
The section of my essay that I am most proud of, is when I am talking about the cosmetic industry and I list some statistics about sales in the cosmetic industry, and then say: "What one to deduce from statistics like these? That to be beautiful or feminine, you have to unload your paycheck into the pocket of the cosmetic industry. So as someone who doesn’t really use commercial cosmetics or facial care things, I’m left feeling like I’m doing something wrong purely by being myself." I am proud of this because I like the way it is worded and how the words flow. I also like that it illustrates my point in the way that I wanted it to.
My biggest take away from this project will most likely be the skills I learned writing the essay. The TEA (Topic, Evidence, Analysis) format was a great thing to learn, and though it was a little difficult at first I feel like it really helped my essay to be more substantial and to flow better. It also helped to have that kind of structure so that the whole thing flowed better and so that the paragraphs were consistent and fit together better. I will also take away more faith in the value of critiques, although the group critique in class didn't go very well for me because my peers didn't really give me anything to improve.
Something from this project that I would like to share with the community would definitely be the importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment for future generations. I have a younger sister who is only two years old, and every time I turn on the tv or look at a website, I'll see an ad or a picture or something that is written that I don't want her to see. I want my sister and other young kids like her to grow up knowing that though there are certain aspects of our world that are very messed up, they do have control over their own lives.