My Mental Block....

I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation. I can't blog, it's vacation.  kjabfnzgndngfnadsfkmdskfsnfkkdn

Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya: Chapters 13-16

    My favorite Christmas present? The gift of literature and forced blogging! Merry Christmas everyone, but now, back to the book. A lot a lot a lot of things happened between chapters 13 and 16.
    Within these chapters, Antonio struggles with his faith, and cannot understand divine justice (or the lack there of).  "But why had the new god, the golden carp, chosen also to punish people? The old God already did that. Drowning or burning, the punishment was all the same." Antonio questions why a god must punish at all; why can't they just forgive? Often within the book Antonio goes to the Virgin Mary rather than God or the golden carp. This is most likely because he views her as such a forgiving and divine being. Antonio later suffers from an internal conflict; the ignorant and innocent Antonio, who wishes forgiveness upon all, and the Antonio that is more aware of the world's realities, who wishes forgiveness for some and vengeance for other. After Tenorio gets away with the murder of Narciso, Antonio is cursed with the burden of new knowledge. This is the knowledge of evil. In Antonio's dream he pleads with God to forgive his brothers and Narciso, but to punish Tenorio. God tells Antonio he will forgive Narciso if he also pleads for the forgiveness of Tenorio. When the Virgin Mary offers to forgive both Antonio, now less innocent and less forgiving, protests it vigorously. "You would have a God who forgives all, but when it comes to your personal whims you seek punishment for your vengeance. You would have my mother rule my heavens, you would send all sinners to her for forgiveness, but you would also have her taint her hands with the blood of vengeance!" I believe Antonio's dreams (and conscience) are forcing him to realize that he can either forgive, or he can condemn; he can't pick and choose. Choosing to forgive would be a way of maintaining his innocence, while seeking vengeance would make him no better than Tonorio.
      The snow day/play is by far the most entertaining. Anaya's writing is simply hilarious. The whole play seems believable! But the play is not the part of the chapter I want to talk about.  When Ultima warns "Take care of the evil in the wind," you just KNOW something big is brewing. The death of Narciso...........I love Narciso, why do all of my favorite characters always die? Unlike Tony's uncles (who did not go to warn Ultima previously of Tenorio's threat) Narciso is loyal to an extreme. "The Ilano bred and sustained me, it can bury me."...wow. So much wisdom from 'the town drunk', do you not see why I love him so much? Narciso was the voice of reason that was never taken heed of. He just got it. Tenorio's cowardice vengeance put a stop to his act of bravery, and ended his life. His body lies under the juniper tree, his blood soaks the Ilano, and his loyalty forever belongs to Ultima. "He was a big and wild man; he drank and cursed like most men do, but he was a good man."
      Antonio suddenly believes his innocence has been lost. When he discovers his brother Andrew at Rosie's Antonio is reminded of a previous dream: all of his brothers are walking into Rosie's, but Andres does not enter, and tells Tony he will not enter until he loses his innocence....so has Antonio already lost his innocence? "Had I already lost my inocence? How? I had seen Lupito murdered...I had seen Ultima's cure...I had seen the men come to hang her...I had seen the awful fight just now...I had seen and reveled in the beauty of the golden carp!...How had I sinned?" Antonio has seen many things, and the things that have put a toll on his innocence are all things he has seen, not the things he has done. "I had seen evil, and so I carried the evil within me." Antonio has seen and knows more than most children have at his age. Knowledge destroys his childhood, knowledge takes from him his innocence because as one gains knowledge of the world, one also fathoms all the evils within it. Like Tenorio said, " Ay cabroncito , your curse is that you know too much." Just like the land of the Ilano, Antonio has lost his innpcence by fault of his own. His father tried to keep his land holy, but evil invaded it. Men came to murder, blood soaked its grounds, and the Ilano was no longer pure. Marez and the giants built their castle on the hill, and the giants abondoned it. In Antonio's dream "The wicked people burned our castle on the hill." Everything they worked for, everything they faught for, everything that was safe and innocent to his family, is going to be taken by the evil in his world. This is th knowledge of reality.

Predictions: The brothers won't come back (thank god). Ultima will die but also will Tenorio. I believe Antonio's Luna uncles will have knowledge that Ultima's saftey is in jeopardy, but will once again show cowardice and not warn them. 

Behind North Korea's Tears

     Now you may have heard thaat recently the North Korean leader, Kim Jong, has died. You also may have seen the video of hundreds of citezans flooding the capital and wailing. It's a chorus of weeping, an unorganized display of emotional loss...or is it? According the Bradley Martin, author of "Behind North Korea's Tears" seems to feel that it was organized, or at least not genuine. He makes several good points, such as; koreans have been known to be emotional demonstrative even when the most cruel and self centered rulers passes away, the mourners were in the captial where usually only well off officials live, and that they wept just simply due to fear of punishment. After the death of a previous leader, “Most of the mourners were crying because they had been brainwashed by Kim Il Sung’s personality cult,” according to Hwang. “But there was also the fact that anything other than mourning was not allowed.” Personally, after watching the video I'll admit, some of it did seem a little eccentric and hard to believe, but more so did I feel a true genuine desperation from the mourners. They may not have liked the man, but now they have to seriously contemplate the future of North Korea. Sort of a Pochahontas "where do I go from here" kind of moment. While some observers and the author of this article may believe it was just a well-rehearsed display, I think there is some truth behind the tears. 

to read more on article >>> n. korea's tears <<<

Woman Burned Alive in Brooklyn Elevator

       I'ts sad, very sad that any human being would do this to another. Sad that they could do this. Sad that they had no probable cause other than curiosity and the want to inflict pain on others. This is hard to get through, this blog, this sentence, this word. This will not be like my other posts. Do you ever just want to scream at the whole world? Scream that they don't understand, that they don't get it, that they are wrong? I cannot even fathom the ways of this world, but then again, I suppose no one can. Saturday, a man dressed as an exterminator rode an elevator to the fith floor in a local apartment complex. That same day, 64 year old Doris Gillesby also rode the elevator up to her apartment on the fifth floor after a quick trip to the groceries. He approaches the woman, then mathodically douses her from head to toe with an accelerant. The footage from the camera in the elevator shows Doris cowering, with shopping bags hanging from her wrists. "Having cornered the woman in the elevator, the man struggles to light a barbecue lighter. He then ignites a Molotov cocktail — a wine or Champagne bottle filled with accelerant with a rag stuffed in its neck. He retreats and comes back again, spraying more liquid on his victim. And suddenly the silent video goes white with a conflagration in the small space: the woman, on fire." If that doesn't make you sick, than I doubt your humanity.
    The author of this article,  Al Baker, was disturbingly clear. Painfully honest. He stated the facts, and let the truth shake the foundation of the reader. He was blunt, and this may have shocked readers, but that was his intention. This act is hard to believe because we never like to think that our fellow human beings are capable of such atrocities, but we are...Logos, pathos, whatever, one more name in the obituaries, one more body in the morgue, one remaining question: why?

To read more on this article>>> Woman Burned Alive  <<<

Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya: Chapters 8-12

     So, picking up from where I left off, I am still enjoying this book very much. I don't really know where to start, so I guess I'll just start at the beginning, "I do not mean the beginning that was in my dreams and the stories they whispered to me about my birth, and the people of my father and mother, and my three brothers-but the beginning that came with Ultima." ....There's a little book humor for ya.
     The departure of the giants: Anaya makes a point many times that when boys grow into men, they lose their innocence, and decide, for the first time, their own personal truths. Ultima explains to Antonio that no one can tell him what to believe, and that as he grows older he must make decisions as to what is true and to what is false, "I cannot tell you what to believe. Your father and mother can tell you, because they are your blood, but I cannot. As you grow into manhood you must find your own truths." Antonio's older brothers are at this point. It truly broke my heart when the brothers broke the news of their departure to their father. Heading off to California....without him. The man was crushed, his dream destroyed, and yet he understood his sons' decision. "The same wandering blood in his veins was in his sons. The restlessness of his blood had destroyed his dream, defeated him. " This is a minor turning point in the novel. At this point, Antonio's father no longer wants the Marez blood to win over his youngest son. "Perhaps it is true the Luna blood will win out in the end, perhaps it is better that way-" Innocence is a large theme in this book, and how it interacts and is affected with the coming of age. Many people within the book stress to Antonio the importance of innocence. His own mother told him that men learn of sin is when you become a man and lose you're innocence. His brother Andrew also tells Tonie not to grow up too fast like he and his older brothers had. Antonio's innocence and coming of age will most certainly be touched on at a later point in the novel.
     Anaya definitely makes readers think about  Ultima and her powers. Is she a witch? Where do her powers come from? Was the only reason why she was able to walk through the door and pass the test because the cross had fallen? Are all witches bad? So many questions, and really there are no answers. I don't think Anaya will ever answer these questions, that's the point. Antonio is learning that certain people have magic within them. Ultima may be a witch, but it's irrelevant. It's not what she is that matters, it's what she does. Who says there can't be good witches? (And according to one of my favorite children's book Which Witch by Eva Ibbotson, there are such things as good witches!) Ultima uses her powers for good, and should be judged accordingly, or better yet-not judged at all! There is really no comparison to be made between Ultima and the evil daughters of Tenorio.
     I knew I liked Narciso for a reason! Not only is he this awesome friendly giant who has a drunk garden, and a magical understanding of the golden carp and power inside of him... *gasp*... but he is also a good person! YAY haha. Once again he is one of the only men who uses reason and logic. I love how he completely calls out all of the farmers who followed Tenario for drinking, even though he is known ass "a drunk". He is definitely one of my favorite characters. Ahh, "the magic of Narciso,"!
     Now for the golden carp. The golden carp completely challenges Antonio's faith and shakes the foundation of his young life. His mother's God is Jesus, the Luna's god is the moon, and now the golden carp is another god Antonio has to wonder about. Antonio also learns of "the magic in people's hearts." Cico reveals to Antonio that only certain people can see the golden carp, and those people are those with magic. Samuel, Cico, Jason's Indian, Ultima, and Tonie all have that magic within them. Antonio discovering this magic, and making the decision whether to believe in the golden carp or not are steps in his coming of age.
    Predictions: I think Ultima calls Antonio "Juan" not simply because it is his middle name, but because it has something to do with his magical abilities and potential. Perhaps she is also a "Juan". Or maybe those who have the ability to see the golden carp are "juans".
                        Tenorio is going to die/be killed, but not before he harms/kills another character.
                        The river will flood....duh.
                        And, once again, I think Ultima is going to die.

As a side note, wasn't their a lot of throwing up in these chapters? "Green bile poured from his mouth...."......yummy.

Guantanamo Forever?

     It's just like the red scare all over again. The fear of communism in the 1940's-1980's is paralleled by the fear of terrorism in the present day. We live in a nation consumed by fear, and this fear is dangerous.  Fear can make people do horrible things. If we pass the National Defense Authorization Act, we will be giving up our safety, our freedom, and our basic rights as citizens. This bill will allow the government to detain ANY person even suspected of acts of terrorism and keep them for as long as they want.....don't you think that just a little too much power for any one government to have? "Due process will be a thing of the past." This Act gives the government the power to detain u.s. citizens....ON U.S. SOIL! No case, no trial, no nada. "This provision would expand the battlefield to include the United States — and hand Osama bin Laden an unearned victory long after his well-earned demise."  The bill would also further extend the ban from transfers from Guantanamo, ensuring that this morally and financially expensive symbol of detainee abuse will remain open well into the future. "Not only would this bolster Al Qaeda’s recruiting efforts, it also would make it nearly impossible to transfer 88 men (of the 171 held there) who have been cleared for release. We should be moving to shut Guantánamo, not extend it." Now it's obvious that both congress and the people want to keep this country safe, but congress is all to willing to undermine the ideals of the people when it comes to the war on terrorism. They need to remember that american ideals are assets, not "liabilities".
               The author; Charles Krulak, of the article "Guantanamo Forever?" appealed to the readers logic. He also established himself as a relatable character by identifying himself as a U.S. citizen who  is doing his small part to raise awareness about congress and this bill. He speaks as the voice of the people, " we know", 'We should be", etc. He relies heavily in logos, and provides the reader with the consequences if the bill, which elicits (or should elicit) some feeling of anger or frustration from the reader. The truth and possible threat within this article is all too real. This has happened before. The red scare, the Salem witch trials, and now...this! History does repeat its self, readers just have  to realize the pattern.  


To read more on this article >>> Guantanamo Forever <<<

Everyone Should Watch This Guy

He's a comedian, but he's right on the money. Excuse the language....

Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya: Chapters 1-7

          Alright, here it goes. The first time in class when we were assigned this book, I couldn't help but dread to read it. It was chaos in the classroom. Students were complaining about the Spanish, others were telling them to shut up, and everyone was yelling and screaming trying to organize a reading schedule....I do not do well in hectic situations. I zoned out until the bell rang, and headed home to start the 7 chapters we needed to finish within the next week. I was  just a tad bit intimidated. With all of my classmate's negative remarks in mind, I picked up the book and began chapter one.
          7 chapters later, I feel horrible for judging the book so early!  The Spanish wasn't nearly as challenging as I thought it would be (keep in mind I am a french student). All I can say is that so far I like, and coming from me that's a huge compliment. I love flow of the words, certain passages read so dream-like. I also love the telling of events through the eyes Antonio (an impressively spiritual boy between 6 and 7).  Anaya does a nice job with building up his characters...I love how Antonio's parents are complete opposites!
          My favorite scene so far is when the men are on the bridge contemplating killing Lupito. I love how the town drunk is the one to point out "Por Dios, Hombres!' he shouted. 'Let us act like men! That is not an animal down there, that is a man." Of course the men do not listen to him, but I find it extremely ironic that the one who is probably seen throughout town as a fool is the only one who could clearly see what they plan on doing is wrong; he is the only one who sees things clearly and uses his sense.
         The "presence" of the river seems to be pretty prominent throughout the first 7 chapters, and I'm sure the author is using it as a symbol...for what I do not know....yet. Antonio's dreams are both prophetic and almost frightening...if I was a boy that age and having those dreams I would probably be afraid to sleep. I find it interesting that he always refers to his brothers as "the giants" in his dreams.
         I also love the ethical and spiritual questions Antonio poses, "But how could the blessing of Ulltima be like the whirlwind? Was the power of good and evil the same?" and the questions about Lupito's soul.
         Antonio's parents both want him to be a different man. His mother, a luna, wants him to be a man of learning or a priest, while his father, a marez, wants Antonio to follow his family, and be a free soul who wonders the land and seeks his own destiny. Only Ultima knows the destiny of young Antonio, but i found it shocking that she revealed (sadly) that Antonio would be a man of learning. I did not think he would become the man either of his parents wanted him to be, I thought he would follow Ultima, seeing that he is already so spiritual and aware of the life, soul, and presence of the things around him. Perhaps he will be a man of learning, but he may not be learning the things his mother will expect him to.
        Predictions. Ultima is going to die. Plain and simple, no use feeding around the bush. She has to, or else the story will just...idk...it just needs to happen. I feel like something tragic is going to happen to his brothers. Maybe the war changed them, maybe their family is not the same, maybe they go crazy or get hurt or whatever. Yeah that's pretty much it.
        So, Bless Me Ultima...so far so good.

My Schizophrenic Sister

              Seeing as it is national acceptance week (or whatever it's called at my school), I thought that this particular article was extremely appropriate. At my school, we pride ourselves for being accepting. We embrace students of all gender, of all race, of all sexuality, as well as the mentally impaired (down syndrome, autism, etc.), but rarely have I heard of a student with a mental disorder (such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, split or multi personality disorder, etc.) Never have I heard of anyone within my school having a mental or psychotic imbalance, but often have I heard students making jokes or funny references to such diseases. Yes it wrong to use the f word. Of course it wrong to use the n word. And one should never dream of using the r word, but I can guarantee that no student has ever given a second thought to making a mental disease the butt of their joke. The people plagued with these diseases are not themselves, they have no control over their illness. " That is what it is - an illness - like cancer or Alzheimer’s. It is an illness that should not be shunned or made fun of but understood and, eventually, cured." We must make an effort to understand those with mental diseases, not isolate them. Like homosexuals are born into their sexual preferences, like black people are born with their skin color, like children with autism are born into their disease, those with psychological illnesses are also, quite simply, born that way. We make such a a strong effort in our schools to make gay, lesbian, black, asian,  and white students feel accepted and safe. Should we not also make the same effort to accept and understand the psychologically impaired as we do to all the others? 

       "My schizophrenic sister" was an anonymous article I found while perusing the web. It was a very personal account of a sister who must look after and care for her newly diagnosed, but wonderfully different, schizophrenic little sister. The author employs pathos; really tugs on the heart strings. She goes into their past, and gives a very descriptive account of their special friendship, and how her sister has always been different. "I have laughed with my sister and cried for her. I have played dress-up with her and watched as she swore off dresses forever. I have flung food at her during food fights and have tried in vain to get her to drink a measly cup of water. I have hugged her and hurt her. I have told her stories and listened to the stories she mistakes for reality. I love her" She also explains the illness of schizophrenia, "The stereotypes that surround those with schizophrenia are often that the person is extremely violent and “walks around carrying a hatchet.” Schizophrenia is also often confused with multiple personality disorder, but someone with schizophrenia does not have two different people inside the head. A schizophrenic’s perception of reality gets distorted so that sometimes they hear voices or think they are a famous person, like Napoleon." She tells of how her sister, although younger, has always been braver; always ready to try new things. now that her sister is faced with this disease, the author knows that it is her turn to be brave, her turn to lead the way for her sister. "I know that I am the one who will look after my sister for the rest of her life. We have eight older siblings, but none can deal with my sister’s craziness. So, I am in for a long and difficult life, but I am not complaining. I love my sister, and along with being the craziest person I know, she is also the sweetest." This article really reinforces the 'acceptance' of others, and reminds us that we must make an effort to make all people of different races, orientations, mental restrictions, and psychological ailments feel loved and understood. I hope this encourages readers to take a step forward on the path of acceptance.

to read more on article >>>My Schizophrenic Sister <<<

Why Selling Kidneys Should Be Legal

     When you donate an organ, you are not just simply giving away something you don't really need. You are giving up a part of yourself to become a part of someone else, and ultimately; save their life. This is a selfless act, this is a testament to the altruistic qualities of mankind. And truth about organ donations; not enough people are donating.  "More than 34,000 people joined the waiting list in 2010; fewer than 17,000 received one. Thousands of people die waiting each year." Their excuses? ...'it's dangerous, it will hurt. I can't miss that time from work. I don't want to be at a disadvantage.'...Excuses, excuses, excuses. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES! Due do medical advances, donation procedures are much safer than they once were. The risk of death is about 1 in 3,000. The remaining kidney will "pick up the slack" of the missing one, so donors will be unaffected and able to do everything post surgery that they were able to do pre surgery. ANNNNNNND, on average, you will be giving someone 10 more years of life! Donating a kidney is not a crazy self-sacrifice,  "it's one of the many ways a reasonably altruistic person can help others. " "The people waiting for kidneys aren’t dying because of kidney failure; they’re dying because of our failure — without Congress’s misguided effort to ban organ sales, they would have been able to get the kidneys they desperately needed." Congress has made it illegal to compensate organ donors in fear that the rich would manipulate the poor into giving organs for money-when in reality- the poor are the ones who need the donated organs. The ban also encourages the illegal black market sale of organs to those in desperate need. this is "where desperate people do end up selling their organs, without protection, fair compensation or proper medical care." If donors were compensated fairly and legally, it would eliminate the risks of selling organs on the black market. And as a result, more donors would come foreward, leaving no patient stuck on the waiting list. 
       The author of "Why Selling Kidneys Should Be legal", Alexander Berger, employed pathos, logos, and ethos in this effective persuasive article. He established a personal opinion and credibility with readers by stating that he was an organ donor. "On Thursday, I will donate one of my kidneys to someone I’ve never met. Most people think this sounds like an over-the-top personal sacrifice. But the procedure is safe and relatively painless. I will spend three days in the hospital and return to work within a month." He is emotionally effective throughout, and ties in solid evidence where it is needed. He is logical and convicted at the same time. He is believable, level-headed, and passionate about the topic, and in my opinion, is very persuasive to his readers. When one asks him/herself why they should donate an organ, this article is screaming out the answer, "Why not?"


To read more on article >>> Why Selling Kidneys Should Be Legal <<<

DONT LOOK DOWN

One in 10 Species could Face Extinction.....

      Craaaaaaaaaazy craaaaazy things are happening to the world we live in, and to the planet we live on. "One in 10 species could face extinction by the year 2100" Whoah, whoah wait, what? One in ten? That is literally insane. Plants, animals, fungi; organisms that maintain the balance of life as we know it...could just disapear. For every action in nature, there is a reaction; a ripple effect. You remove one organisms from an ecosystem, and lo and behold, the delicate balance of that ecosystem goes out of whack. One organism is removed, then another is left without food. Another organism dies, and the organisms they once preyed upon multiply like wild fire, and consume too much of another organism. Thus the cycle repeats. What is is the cause of these terrifying predictions? Climate change. And not just any climate change; human -induced climate change. When will people realize that what we do now to our planet will come back and bite us in the a$$ in the future? We are the cause of this climate catastrophe. Just think, if these predictions (that 1 out of 10 speies will become extinct within the next 100 years) are correct, then the human life will forever be altered. Do we not realize that we depend on many organisms and ecological reactions in order to survive? Do we think that we could lose so many species and not face the consequences, witness the aftermath, or feel the impact? BIG NEWS for you people.....we are a species. How do we know that we would not be one of those out of ten that will become extinct? Asnwer; we don't. We need to stop being ignorant as a speies, become cognizant that everything afftects our world and way of life, and accept responsibility.
     The article "1 in 10 species...." was a very factual and scientific representation of information. Lot's of logos. Other than the facts, there was not any literary effort. Rather dry, but once I stopped to think and reflect, it had a big impact on me none the less.


To read more on article >>> 1 in 10 <<<

Polluting the Ogallala Aquifer

Come on people, really? You're going to continue polluting one of the U.S.'s largest and one of the most vital aquifers? Something YOU depend on everday for drinking water, crops, and your livelyhood? That sounds smart. The aqquifer stretches from North Dakota to Texas, and is considered a precious resource, often praised as "the best in the world." I find it hysterically hypocritical that "landowners battled ferociously against the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have carried oil extracted from Canadian tar sands through the environmentally sensitive Nebraska Sand Hills. If the pipeline leaked, they argued, chemicals and oil would seep down into the aquifer, contaminating a precious resource responsible for 27% of the nation’s irrigated agriculture" They won, but they did not prevennt the contamination of the aquifer in any way shape or form, the contaminants were already there. The aquifer is being waated and polluted, wasted on crops, and ontaminated by pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers. They are squandering this incredibly valuable water source. The aquifer is only filled by rain fall and snow fall that seep into the underground, "In our Kansas district, less than half an inch of that reached the aquifer in a given year. We were allowed to pump out over 30 times that amount." Not only are we drying yp this important geographical formation, we are risking the well being and saftey of all those who live off of the water supply.
    "Polluting the Ogallala Aquifer" by Juline Bair was a very straight forward and informative article with a touh of personal relevance. Heavy with logos and ethos. She made it seem like the reader could trust her because she had been there and knew about these matters by experience. "Not that I don’t empathize with the Nebraska farmers. I grew up on a Kansas farm. Like them, we called our Ogallala water “precious” and bragged that it was the best in the world." This was a successful article because it just made sense. Why use up a limited resource? There really is no justification, but we continue to use up limited resources every day. "In an era of growing population and advancing drought, we cannot afford complacency in the face of 'creeping normalcy.' "


to read more on this article>>> Polluting the Ogallala Aquifer <<<

A Decade of Progress

     Wow, I have a new found respect for Bono (and incase you live under a rock, that's the lead singer of U2). Cudos to him, I never knew he could be such an eloquent and persuasive writer. I would just like to say thank you Bono, keep doing what you're doing.
    Aside from music, Bono is known for his activism in Africa, helping the continent (and the world) put an end to AIDS.  "In 2002, two million people were dying of AIDS and more than three million were newly infected with H.I.V. Around 50,000 people in the sub-Saharan region had access to treatment." Bono has speant the last decade over in Africa, doing hands on work, making a difference. He has faught hard to get these people the medicine they needed, truly his efforts are commendable. However, this article is not about Bono praising himself, it is about him reflecting over the past decade, and thanking those who have madde it possible to come such a long way. "How did we get here? America led. I mean really led." Bono thanks every activist, every official, and every politician who outreached to those in need; those with HIV. His article is literally oozing with gratitude. He thanks America for working for "the beginning the end of AIDS." With American aide, there are now nearly 6.6 million HIV infected africans living with life-saving madeicine and "new research proves that early antiretroviral treatment, especially for pregnant women, in combination with male circumcision, will slash the rate of new H.I.V. cases by up to 60 percent.This is the tipping point we have been campaigning for. We’re nearly there."  He thanks America for making the last decade a decade of progress.          
   Bono's "A Decade of Progress " overflowed with pathos! The very first paragraph was an emotionally overwhelming use of imagery that pulls in the reader for an emotional ride "It was the look in their eyes when the nurses gave them the diagnosis — H.I.V.-positive — then said there was no treatment. I saw no anger in their expression. No protest. If anything, just a sort of acquiescence." Bono obviously thinks highly of the U.S., talking about America's "heroism" and courage. "But on this World AIDS Day I would like you to stop and consider what America has achieved in this war to defend lives lived far away and sacred principles held closer to home. "Bono flatters the U.S. and takes a stab at the American heart, " But America’s boldest leap of faith is worth recalling. And the thing is, as I see it, the Eagle hasn’t landed yet....To get this far and not plant your flag would be one of the greatest accidental evils of this recession." oh Bono....you're merciless. Way to just tear out my heart, you're worse than those sad anial shelter commercials. VERY SUCCESSFUL ARTICLE, YOU GO BONO.

to read more on article>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/opinion/a-decade-of-progress-on-aids.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss <<<