Dahye's Blog

Blog #15-In conclusion...

2008-05-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this class. I loved the novels that we read this semester, especially The Secret Life of Bees, which was the best book that I have read this year. I am also planning to watch the film of the novel, which is going to be in theaters this fall. One of the many things that I will remember from the class is the multi genre reserach project. I enjoyed doing research about the topic of Firdaus and El Saadawi. Unlike the boring, regular research paper, this research project helped me learn a great deal about these two characters. It was my first time doing this kind of research, which I look forward to doing more in the future. I wished that other English professors would assign this kind of project rather than just plain text papers. However, I am glad to meet Ms. Sturgeon as my professor, who had introduced this project to me. Thank you so much and have a great summer!

Blog #14-Research on Women Prisoners (Part 2)

2008-05-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

"I decided to meet the woman named Dakarai. However, she refused to see me. Actually, she refused to see anyone. So, I decided to meet another prisoner who can describe to me what kind of person Dakarai really was. The prisoner that I met was named Kanika. She was also a friend of Dakarai. She had first met her two weeks ago. However, during the short period of time, she had learned so much from her. She told me that Dakarai had taught her to be firm and strong no matter what happens and to always keep her head up high. Kanika could not believe how Dakarai could be so strong after experiencing countless mistreatments from every man whom she had met. Kanika realized that she was not the only person in the world to deal with difficulties in her life. She described Dakarai as her teacher, friend, and mother. She never felt comfort in her life as she did when she met Dakarai. She also feels discouraged because Dakarai is not by her side to give her comfort anymore once she is put to death.

After hearing from both of the prisoners’ perspectives of Dakarai, I was not afraid of her anymore. Before, I was afraid to meet Dakarai because of the fact that she had killed someone, known to be her pimp. Dakarai seemed to be a sweet woman, who was just at the wrong place, at the wrong time. I am excited to meet this woman named Dakarai and I cannot wait to hear her story. I hope that she agrees to see me tomorrow, since tomorrow is her last day to live… "

-El Saadawi

Blog #13-Research on Women Prisoners (Part 1)

2008-05-08T23:15:00.000-07:00

"This is the first woman that I met in prison. Her name was Akila. According to Akila, she was sent to prison because she did not abide by her husband’s rules. He wanted her to have sex with him every night, and she obeyed his words for three years after they were married. However, she was tired of doing something that she did not want. However, she was afraid of speaking up because she knew that she would be beaten to death. One night, after hard day at work, she refused to have sex with him. She knew that this was against the marriage rule in Muslim, but she did not care anymore because she did not wanted to live like a sex slave to her husband. When she refused, her husband got mad at her and started to beat her up. After many hours of abuse, he called the police and she was locked up. She was sentenced to three years in jail because she did not fulfill the needs of her husband. This is a typical case in Cairo, Egypt. It happens all the time to women and sometimes, men. She told me that she had encountered numerous incidents where they treat women like dirt and men like lion. After telling me her story, she told me that she had met someone who had helped her see her problems in a different light. Her name was Dakarai, which means 'happy' in Egyptian. (This character became what is known as “Firdaus” in the novel, Woman at Point Zero.) She described her as caring, passionate, ambitious friend. She would give her advice in everything that troubled her. She had known her for a month and she is very sad that Dakarai, or Firdaus, is placed in death penalty. She would never be able to see her again, the only person Akila considered as a friend."

-El Saadawi

Blog #12-The Truth

2008-05-08T23:11:00.000-07:00

It is known to be that the novel Woman at Point Zero was actually both fiction and non-fiction. According to the author, El Saadawi, the character that she came up with, named Firdaus, was actually a real character that she met in the Quanatir Prison in 1973. El Saadawi was working on her research on Women and Neurosis in Egypt when she met and interviewed a woman who came to be known as Firdaus (a name El Saadawi made up). In some ways, El Saadawi and Firdaus are foil characters. They both were oppressed by the society because of the fact that they were women. El Saadawi served four years in prison because of her political views. Firdaus on the other hand, was sent to jail because she had killed her pimp, who was going to take control of her. Firdaus had dealt so many hardships dealing with repression from men in her life that El Saadawi decided to make a novel out of her life story. In addition to Firdaus’s story, El Saadawi incorporated her life story as well, which coincidentally came to be similar. In the time the novel was written, they were never treated equally as men. Women were considered to be slaves to men. They had to satisfy the men in the house, whether it was their husband, uncle, or whomever. This is illustrated in the novel as well. Firdaus’s father beat his wife when one of his sons died and also beat Firdaus and other girls in the house. Not only that, but her father never went to bed with empty stomach; but her mom and the rest of the children did (Woman at point Zero, 18). This is how the society was and might still be, as of today.

Blog #11-Quotes/explanation from the novel

2008-04-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Uncle sees the fear because his wife is in a higher class than he is. In addition, Uncle's sister, or Firdaus's aunt, is paying for his schooling (p.23).
The theme of the novel is hierarchy because Firdaus mentions the power she wants to gain that men has; she wants to be as strong as she can be. She is living in an era, or the society, where men are pushing women down, so that they can be dominant over them. In page 28, Firdaus describes all men as evil and all the same. Patriotism goes hand in hand with religion (Allah). In page 33, Firdaus is scared because she is alone and does not know what to do. In page 37, Uncle's wife calls him, "Your holiness." She respects him as a king, or something higher than that. She seems to be exaggerating a bit. In page 87, Firdaus says, "I hope for nothing, I want for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free." It seems that Firdaus found out what she wanted to do with her life.

Blog #10-Introducing the characters

2008-04-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

In the beginning of the novel, Nawal El Saadwai, or the psychiatrist, is one of the main characters. In addition, Firdaus is also a main character, who is introduced and most mentioned in the novel. The psychiatrist was interested in a case study so she started researching neuroses of women prisoners, this is how she came to meet Firdaus, who was also a prisoner at that time. She was convicted as a murderer, who would be sentenced to death. She was very anti-social and she did not care about anything because her death was approching to her very soon, which was the next day. Her uncle is introduced in the begining and throughout the novel. He is very religious and he is a Muslim. However, despite his strong religious belief, he molests her and touches her. Whenever he hears someone approching, he would wuthdraw his hand. This tells me that he knows it is wrong to do such a thing, but does it anyway because he feels like it. Firdaus does not seem to take any action regarding this because he is her uncle and he is providing her education, so she thinks it is okay because he is much older than her and is more 'mature." Her uncle not only lives with Firdaus but also lives with his wife and this is not acceptable.

Blog #9- Woman at Point Zero

2008-04-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

El Saddawi is such an amazing author/ psychiatrist because she seemed to be interested in a subject that other people want to hide and not want to talk about. She was interested in the prisoners and their reason for being there. She did not give up on Firdaus, who was not willing to see her, because she knew she was a psychiatrist and did not wanted to talk about her story. However, because of her determination to meet her was so strong, it led her to finally agree to meet her. Then the journey begins from there.

I believe that meeting the "right people" is one of the most important tasks in life. Meeting that one person can completely change one's life, either good or bad. In this novel, the psychiatrist met Firdaus, which seemed to broaden her spectrum of what life is and can do to a human being. Everyone has problems in their life, and Firdaus was one of the many, who has several problems in her life. She does not know who her dad is, and when she asked her mom about it, her mom punished her by performing a female circumcision on her. I believed that she should not have been punished for asking such a question like that. Of course, she wants to know who her dad is, because it is her dad. There is nothing wrong about asking such a question. Not only that, but she is being sexually harassed by her one and only uncle. He would try to sneak in his hands to touch her legs and when he would hear someone approaching, he would withdraw his hand. She must have gone through so much emotional pain from that because she cannot defend herself by telling someone about it because he is older than her and should know better. However, it is so frustrating to admit the fact that adults sometimes do not know better and act immature compared to their age:[

Blog #8-Sula

2008-04-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

What does Sula mean or represent to the Bottom?

Sula is a disgrace to the Bottom. They do not even consider her as a human being; they do not want her at all in the community because of what she does---sleeping with the White men, which is not proven to be true. Hating Sula is how they found the community to be what it is, which sounds ironic.

What is Shadrack's relationship between Sula and Nel?

Shadrack's relationship between Sula and Nel was that they were "a guest, friend, and visitor" to him. Having a visitor once a year to his house can be very meaningful. To him, they were very precious companions to him. For Sula, it was terrifying for her see him.

How does the tunnel represent?

Tunnel represents a unity in Black and White community/ culture. Racial divide started in 1941 to 1965. In 1965, Black people started moving to the valley and they abandoned the Bottom, which they once called it "home."

Blog #7- What is the "secret life of bees"?

2008-03-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

The secret life of bees is a journey for the bees, where they find their own identity by doing what they are told to do starting from when they were born to when they die. Their one and only goal or task is to pollinate the flowers, so that they can get the honey for the hive so that they can build their territory or their kingdom for the Queen bee. It is a metaphorical statement that describes Lily's journey--- in finding who was her mom and what really happened to her. She also wanted to find out if what T. Ray had told her was true--- that her mom left her and she was just packing her stuff when Lily accidentally pulled the trigger of the gun and killed her mom. These questions have been haunting Lily for many, many years. She was dying to know the answers to these questions.

At the end, she finally finds out the truth, but she was hurt from the truth. However, she had grown so much from knowing the truth and she had learned to accept the truth. Although she was motherless, she had people around her that really loved and cared for her. This is the same for the bees because the bees have their own species that care for them. In actuality, most humans and living things do and this is what keeps us going in life, despite the hardships we face.

Blog #6- Character Sketch

2008-02-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

Character: Lily

Perspective: 3^rd person

She is a strong and brave girl. She is not afraid of taking risks because she had saved Rosaleen from being killed by those white men. She had also escaped from the mistreatment of her own father, T. Ray by running away from her house. She is a type of person who will do anything to save her loved ones, such as Rosaleen and her mom. She is headed to Tiburon with Rosaleen in search of anything that is left of her mom’s trace, so that she could find out what kind of person she really was despite of what T. Ray said about her.

Perspective: 1^st person

I am a strong and brave girl. I am not afraid of taking risks because I had saved Rosaleen from being killed by those white men. I had also escaped from the mistreatment of my own father, T. Ray, by running away from my house. I am a type of person who will do anything to save my loved ones, such as Rosaleen and my mom. I am headed to Tiburon with Rosaleen in search of anything that is left of my mom’s trace, so that I could find out what kind of person she really was, despite of what T. Ray said about her.

Blog #5- Billy the Kid

2008-02-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Michael Ondaatje's multi-genre book, The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, was very confusing at first. I did not understand what was going on, nor did I understand who was speaking each page to page. Instead of getting into the book, I was actually starting to get a little frustrated because of the way the book was written. I have never read a multi-genre book before, so it seemed harder than it was. However, as I read further into the book, I understood how the “system” worked.

There are many qualities that I really liked from the book, regardless of the confusion that I had in the beginning. What made a huge impression on me was the images of Billy that were included in the first and last pages of the book, which I thought was out of the ordinary. The first picture was blank, which made the readers wonder how he looked like. It was like solving a mystery and I, as a reader, did not know who the culprit was. After finishing the book, there was a picture of Billy in the last page and he was wearing a cowboy outfit, just like any other typical kid. Who ever thought that a boy that looks innocent would be known as a murderer?

Blog #4- Alexandria House (Visit #2)

2008-02-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

The second time I went to the Alxandria House was yesterday. I found the house very easily because the place looks familiar to me now. I was paired up with a different group this time. My students were these two ladies. I started the conversation by asking, "How was your day?" Then they asked me to repeat it for them and also to write it down on their notebook. Then they wrote it in Spanish on the bottom. I asked how old are they and they asked me back. They did not understand me some times when I asked them a question, so to the best of my ability, I translated in Spanish. My Spanish is not great, but it is somewhat getting there. I took Spanish for three years in high school, so I have some knowledge left in my memory :) They were teaching me Spanish on words I did not know and I was teaching them English. They were very kind and they were treating me with respect, which I appreciated very much. After the lesson was over, they thanked me so many times that I thanked them for giving thanks to me. They told Gretchen that I am a good teacher and they were complimenting me. Those words had made my day! I can't wait until next Tuesday!

Blog #3- Alexandria House (Visit #1)

2008-02-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

I went to the Alexandria House for the first time, on last Tuesday. I got lost on my way because I have never been in that neighborhood before and the worst part was that I could not see anything because it was dark. I was getting scared and because of my fear, I could not concentrate on where I was going to. I had to take the bus over there, and I could not see the signs on the street well, so I missed my stop and had to walk all the way back. From there, I did not know where to go. However, thanks to Ms. Sturgeon and people at the House, they helped me get there safe and sound. That was quite an experience :)

So, when I entered I felt warmth in the house, as if the atmosphere was welcoming me. I was happy to be there and I felt like I had found a treasure, I was that much happy. The first thing I saw was the people and some of my classmates. After that, we were separated into groups, or individuals. I started teaching my student the basics. Like, "Hi, how are you" so on and so forth. I felt very motivated when I saw them willing to learn English regardless of their age and situation that they were in. They taught me an important lesson--- there is no such thing as too late, as long as I put my mind to it, it is possible. I am looking forward to next Tuesday and meet them again :D

Blog #2 (Proust Questionairre)

2008-01-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having those who you love and love you around you.
What is your greatest fear?
Heights.
Which living person do you most admire?
God, family, and friends.
What is the trait that you most deplore in yourself?
My height.
On what occasion do you lie?
When I truly have to, if it is the goodness for others.
Which living person do you most despise?
People who swears in God's name.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Fo sho!
What is your greatest regret?
Taking too many Advanced Placement classes in high school.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My family.
When and where were you the happiest?
At the amusement park.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My ethnicity.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Graduating high school with high honors.
If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?
A bird.
What is your most treasured posession?
My photos of family and friends.
Where would you like to live?
In Paris.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Being talkative
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Responsibility, sense of humor, and sincerity.
What do you most value in your friends?
Trust.
What is it that you most dislike?
People being conceited.
How would you like to die?
Praying to God at church.
What is your motto?
Try my best in everything I do and never give up.

Blog #1-Service Learning?!

2008-01-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

I have never heard that we had to do community service, or service learning, in college. I was pretty shocked when Ms. Sturgeon passed out the service learning contract. In the beginning, I did not like the idea of service learning. It was not because I did not want to contribute to the society and help out those who are in need, but it is just the fact that I am taking 18 units this semester, which is a full load for a full-time student. If I did not have much time to myself, then how am I supposed to make time for others? This was the first thing that popped in my head. I told myself, "Great. Another task added on to my to-do-list.” I considered service learning as an unpaid job that I was not in favor of doing. I could not wait until I was done with service learning, which I had to do for ten hours. The place was called the Alexandria House, which I have never heard of before, but interested me. I was given a brochure of the Alexandria House and learned that it was a place where women and children are sheltered because they have been abused in the past and need help recovering from the horrible events. “Wow,” I thought. They are doing a nice thing for these people. I wondered what I can do to help these women. The, Ms. Sturgeon said that we are teaching the English as Second Language (ESL) students. I love teaching English and any other subjects, and this opportunity allowed me to express my passion for teaching. Ever since I was young, I helped my sister with her homework and played a role as her “tutor.” This was when I realized that I was wrong in thinking that it was going to be dull and exhausting experience. It would actually be a rewarding volunteer experience.

It is a Great Idea!

2007-12-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Writing blogs or journals help relieve my stress and helps me to express my opinon and stand on any issues, whether it is globally or locally. It is just like writing a diary, except that everyone else gets to read it and know what I think and how I feel about certain issues. Sometimes, people may disagree about what I say, but I am confident with what I believe in, and want to stick with my beliefs. I am going to stand up for what I believe in regardless of what other people may think, because I am who I am and this is me. There is no such thing as right or wrong when it comes to opinions, because everyone has a point and most of the time, they know what they are talking about. Free writing helps clear my mind and it seems as though blog is my talking buddy:)

My Poster Board: Sex Trafficking

2007-12-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

I decided to do my poster board on sex trafficking, since I wanted to know more information about it. I did not even know what it was until I started the research. Surprisingly, I found out that it was a very sad and serious issue that people were trying to keep it on the low, so that they will not get caught with their immortality.

I learned that the vctims have no choice and are voluntary to do such act because they are in poverty and they need to provide food and shelter for their family.

I am so thankful that I am not in their shoes because I would be living my life with misery; not getting an education and not being able to be a kid, instead, you have to be a young adult of some sort. The target is on young children because they are innocent and tend to be naive about things, which makes them believe everythng someone older tells them. That is why they believe those bad people's lies, promising them a decent job, when it was actually prostitution.

How can there be such people like that in the world? I know that money is important for our survival, but they are doing too much, I mean, too much! This needs to stop at this instant! We need to take action to try to help whatever we can to save those victims and find justice for them.

Little Knowledge gained from College Experience

2007-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

I was very nervous to start my freshman year at Mount St. Mary's College, but now I am almost done with my first semester already. I realized that times flies very quickly, before I know it, I will be a sophomore in college...

I have enjoyed Ms. Sturgeon's English class very much because she did not only emphasized on English grammar and essays, but also, about global issues, which is affecting everyone of us at this very moment. I honestly had no idea about trafficking, child labor, comfort women, and many other important topics that were important to be aware of. I am so glad that I have enrolled in this class because it taught me so much about what is going on around me.

I have decided to gain more knowledge about these painful and surprising issues that is affecting the Third World countries and many other countries as well. I am planning to read articles and documentaries about it on the web sites. I am also planning to watch movies regarding these issues because they are worth knowing about.

Immigration article: A Good Immigration Bill

2007-12-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Some say, “I disagree with immigration because immigrants take away our jobs.” This is definitely not true, and the article that I read from the Los Angeles Times, A Good Immigration Bill, also disagrees with the claim. Some people oppose, while some people support it. It has been a controversial issue for many, many years. As an immigrant myself, I have a strong belief and stand on this issue.

Mortimer Zuckerman, the author of A Good Immigration Bill, starts off his article with a thesis that we should take this opportunity to come up with an immigration policy, which will “address our interest.” He points out that immigrants are actually very helpful to our society. They take jobs, which we, do not want to work, so they are not technically, “taking away our jobs.” They are helping us to improve the economy.

They also bring in different ethnic cultures and religious beliefs, which make our country, America, so diversely unique and strong. In addition, people from different backgrounds have qualities that other people might not have. This is how the country progresses, as people bring in different talents, skills, and knowledge, they are helping the country to be more productive. Amongst them are hard-working and determined people who came to America with hopes and dreams to start a new life.

His evidence is pretty strong because he tends to convince the reader to agree with his ideas. For example, he mentions that the immigrants are “family oriented, value education, and their children learning English.” In addition, he describes them as “people of faith,” which shows respect to the immigrants all over the world. He approaches the issue with kind and caring words, which draws the reader’s attention to continue reading what he has to say about the topic. In a way, he is utilizing argumentum ad misericordiam, where he pities the immigrants because they are hopeless and desperate to do whatever it take to have a better life.

He makes a statement about what people are arguing about these days, regarding immigrants “taking away” our jobs. He said, “In fact. They often take jobs many Americans simply no longer wish to do.” He also make his statement stronger by saying that “if these immigrants weren’t here, this kind of work would have been done by more skilled Americans, and they would only do it for much more money-which could be seen as a cause of inflation and a misuse of skills.” He concludes his reasoning, “So for the most part, the new immigrant and the settled American are not competing for the same jobs.” He supports his claim by stating that, “Millions and millions of new jobs requiring no more than a high school education will have to be filled over the next decade.”

The weakness of this article is that Zuckerman did not incorporate real-life situations or examples supporting his argument, which would have a greater impact on his article. Such examples, as these, may be included:

The film that I watched in my English 1A class, A Day without a Mexican, shows the importance of Mexican immigrants’ existence in Los Angeles. Not only the Mexican immigrants, but also, other ethnic groups, as well. They all play a big part in our society today. The message this film is trying to deliver to the audience is that we are human beings no matter what color, ethnicity, and gender we all are. We are the same, and without each and every one of us, everything will change, not for the better; but, for the worse. We are in this together, and we need to help each other out, like brothers and sisters. God brought us all here, to Earth, so that we can create peace and live together before we are sent to Heaven. We each have a role to play, while we are on this Earth. Just like the puzzle pieces forming together to make a picture, we have to do the same. We have to form as a team by cooperating with each other to make this world a better place to live in. This kind of argument is similar to what Zuckerman is conveying to the readers in his article.

In the news, couple of weeks ago, there was a story about elementary kids being taken away by the officers from the school because they were illegal immigrants. What do these little kids know about having documented papers? They are innocent, who came to United States with their parents. They know nothing about being legal or illegal. It is very devastating to hear such things happening to them. The question is: “Are they ameliorating the problem, or are they making the problem worse by making such practices?” Immigration issue is somewhat involved with racism. They would have done such act to kids who were assumed to be a foreigner, not to those who look American.

He agrees with the immigrants coming to America, but not everyone, only the selected few. He mentions that “America needs those who are skilled and has had a higher education.” Many, who cannot speak English and had little schooling experience, come to America for job opportunities and to get a second chance of obtaining an education. He affirms that, “In an increasingly globalized economy, we need skill!” According to the study, “Last year, 63 percent of visas went to relatives of U.S. citizens or legal residents; only 13 percent went to individuals because of their skills…” He is contradicting himself because he said earlier in his article that non skilled workers are needed to “take jobs that Americans often refuse.” However, now, he is saying that we need skilled workers. It is very confusing to follow the direction he is trying to lead in this argument.

Nonetheless, the evidence logically support the thesis because he comes up with ideas that we can all agree and disagree on, regarding the change in the immigration policy. He comes up with an initiative that “the only practical solution is to identify these unauthorized workers, and their families, as genuine immigrants and give them a way to end up on the right side of the law.” He ends his argument with these statements that touches the reader’s heart, “Immigration is both the history and destiny of America. Let’s get it right.”

The claims, assumptions, and statements that he made are similar to what I had in mind about the immigration issue. They seem accurate to my observation. The overall persuasiveness of the argument, given the strengths and weaknesses is pretty good. I was convinced to agree with his opinion because of the way Zuckerman approaches the problem gently and the presentation of the evidence supporting his claims.

How's the semester going so far?

2007-11-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

The semester is going great so far. I had some trouble at the beginning of the semester with my classes, but now, I am used to the techniques the professors use to teach. I noticed that some of my professors use Power Point presentation to give lectures, while some of my professors use the white or chalk board. Many professors are different from each other and I think that makes them unique in their own ways =)

Biology was a difficult course for me because I procrastinated in studying for the quizzes and exams. However, now I learned my lesson the hard way, by getting poor grades on my tests, which brought huge disappointment to my teacher, but mostly, to me. I learned that procrastination is not going to take me far in life; it is just going to screw me up. So, I decided to study for exam #2 and I studied for the whole week. Then, my hard work paid off! I got 100/120, which was a huge improvement in my test score. I was so proud of myself, and my professor was also proud of me, too. From now on, I am going to try harder in all of my classes and I am aiming for straight A's in all of my classes. It is now the 12th week of my first semester in college and it is almost gone. For the remaining time, I am going to do my best in all that I do!

College is a serious business and I am going to take it seriously. I am going to push myself to exceed the highest expectations. "I know I can and I know I will."

Hijab or no Hijab?

2007-10-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

My first impression of this law is pretty bad. We, as humans should freely choose what to wear. Based on many people's belief system, it might be a hat, scarf, or clothing that represents their religion or morals. In the case of the head scarf, if the Muslim school girls needs or wants to wear it to school, to respect and honor their religion tradition, they should allow them to do whatever they please. It is none of the french government's business to interfere with what they wear. It does no harm to the public whatsoever. I am strongly against the law that they had made regarding the ban of hijab on school campuses.

Immigration

2007-10-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Immigration is when people from other countries come to a country and live there. Most of them come to the United States with "American dream." Some people oppose, while some people support it. It has been a controversial issue for many, many years. Not long ago, there were issues about giving jobs to the illegal residents. The government did not allow them to work, or even be in America illegally. However, amongst them are hard-working and determined people who came to America with hopes and dreams to start a new life. If they do not have jobs, they are going to starve to death. At least, they should be hired with a decent job. What I want to know is: What is government doing, at this moment, to ameliorate the issue of immigration? Are they doing anything, or are they trying to avoid the problem by making the problem worse?

Empathy

2007-09-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is a symbol of empathy:

<http://www.debellsworth.com/images/empathydrawnredblue.jpg>

"The Empathy Symbol stands for 2 sides reaching out, and reaching into each other to really understand what the other is feeling and experiencing. (Debellsworth, 24 September 2007) "

At times, it is easy to figure out how one is feeling at the moment. You can tell by their face expression, behavior, or their response. However, most of the time, it is hard to tell what the other person is thinking or feeling about something because he or she might be hiding their feelings and keeping it all to themselves inside. It is also hard to describe certain feelings with words, because they are too strong.

What is the real definition of success?

2007-09-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Success has numerous definitions because people interpret the word differently and they have different views and opinions regarding the word. To me, success is accomplishing a goal or a dream, which requires a lot of time and effort. It is not about being famous, popular, or gaining more intelligence or earning a high salary. It is not also about appearing on television or on the first page of the Los Angeles Times. Whether something is small or big in size, more or less important is not the question. The question begins with whether or not the success fits each person. Just like everyone wears different sizes, it is the same concept when considering this kind of ambiguous word. It has to fit to be considered as "just right" or "perfect." Yet many young people are blinded by society that many people choose careers that will earn a lot of money or that will help them gain good reputations. Instead of discovering what one's special talents or interests are, they make hasty and foolish decisions caring so much about how other people will judge them.

I have to think for a moment if I am making a brainless decision in my life right now. I have to ask a question to myself: "Why do I want to be a nurse?" My main reason was to help and take care of people who are in need, but is this something I really wanted to do?

Frequently mentioned Countries

2007-09-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Some countries include:

China
Guatemala
Indonesia
Cambodia
Phillippines
Korea

The countries that were mentioned above are suffering from harsh working conditions and low wages. These countries appear frequently on the clothing, toy, and home appliance tags. At first, I was not aware of the problem that these countries were facing. I did not really care about where things came from and where they were made. When I bought clothes, I would see the style, the color, and the brand and then decide if I wanted to buy it or not. However, after doing research on sweatshops, I decided to support other countries that was not involved in sweatshops. I decided to be wise in making decisions, because I realize that it can determine whether to save or kill one's precious life.

Globalization

2007-09-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

It is true that globalization is affecting everything in the world, as of today. The more it spreads to other countries, the more we familiar ourselves with, not limited to, other products and traditions. Like everything on this earth, it has advantages and disadvantages as well. An advantage could be the spread of the new idea to other countries and giving them options whether or not they want the item to be made and export to their countries for profits. On the other hand, a disadvantage could be destroying what the country once thought brilliant and replacing it with the most recent version.

Wal-Mart Video After Thoughts

2007-09-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

After watching the Wal-Mart video, I was very disappointed. I had the same feeling of disappointment when I was researching about Walt Disney. It is very sad to see big companies doing things that we imagine would not happen. I have never been to Wal-Mart before and I heard from people that everything there is cheap, so since I am thrifty, I was planning on visiting the store when I had the chance. However, I do not intend on going to the store anymore for the sake of their employees. I want to help them in any way that I can for them to receive whatever they deserve as human beings and also as workers in the company.

My Huge Disappointment

2007-09-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

I was very disappointed when I was researching about Walt Disney's sweat shops. The Responsible Shopper website gave me a lot of information on the topic and I was just amazed at what I was reading. For example, some quotes include:

“The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) found that Walt Disney World uses more than 80 extremely toxic cleaners, as opposed to just 12 that are non-toxic and which are used in the animal park out of safety concerns for the animals. The toxic cleaners, according to CHEJ are used children visiting the park "bathe, eat and play." CHEJ and community groups in Florida are urging Disney to use safer cleaning products for the sake of the children. (Center for Health, Environment and Justice, 17 September 2007)”

“Workers that produce Disney toys, books, and clothes are typically forced to work long hours under harsh conditions, with compensation that is below poverty level. (Responsible Shopper, 17 September 2007)”

Hong Kong-based Students and Scholars against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) found three factories that manufacture Disney products routinely violated Chinese labor standards. (China Labor Watch, 27 July 2006)”

"It does not have to be like this. But what happens when workers dare to stand up to ask that their basic rights be respected? When young women in Bangladesh, being paid just five cents for every $ 17.99 Disney shirt they sewed, asked for one day a week off, the Walt Disney Company responded by pulling its work from the factory. These women needed these jobs, but they also wanted to be treated as human beings. The message Disney is delivering to workers across the developing world is that if you dare to raise your voice, you too will be fired and thrown out on the street with nothing. (Global Issues, Local Arguments, 49) ”

If the workers at the factories are happy, everyone will be happy. By satisfying their needs, they will work more efficiently. As a result, profits will soar, which will be more productive. They should realize and look after what is more beneficial to them. Aside form what is right and wrong, are they making a wise decision? The answer to that is "No" because they are not. They are not thinking outside the box. Sweatshop workers had to suffer the cruel working conditions and risk their life to make a living. It is sad to imagine exactly how they are treated in the outside world.

Proust Questionairre

2007-09-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Having all needs and wants.

What is your greatest fear?

Heights.

Which living person do you most admire?

God, family, and friends.

What is the trait that you most deplore in yourself?

My height.

On what occasion do you lie?

When it is truly necessary.

Which living person do you most despise?

People who swears in God's name.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Fo sho!

What is your greatest regret?

Taking too many Advanced Placement classes in high school.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My family.

When and where were you the happiest?

At the amusement park.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My face.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Graduating high school wth high honors.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

A bird.

What is your most treasured posession?

My photos of family and friends.

Where would you like to live?

In Paris.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Being talkative

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Responsibility, sense of humor, and sincerity.

What do you most value in your friends?

Trust.

What is it that you most dislike?

People being conceited.

How would you like to die?

Praying to God at church.

What is your motto?

Try my best in everything I do and never give up.