The Forever War Post 2

The second part of The Forever War represents the major focus of Filkins’s novel—the war in Iraq. The exploration of the war in Iraq is described in bleaker terms than the hopeful tone of the exploration of the Afghanistan war. Filkins begins Part Two by describing the state of the democracy that the Americans attempted to erect in Iraq. Every day the democracy was getting weaker. People continually approached Filkins asking him to find their son, husband, or daughter who had been taken by the insurgents. The insurgents, those extremists fighting to get the Americans out of Iraq and take control, gained more power ever day. Hope for democracy, embodied in candidates for Iraq’s new national assembly, was continually crushed. Wijdan Al-Khuzai was a strong woman candidate who truly wanted to make a difference in the new Iraq. She was shot before the elections had even begun. However, despite daily struggles for their lives, many Iraq people had hope for democracy in the beginning. 7,471 other candidates signed up to run for 275 seats in the new parliament. Some even campaigned openly in an environment of severe mistrust and violence. Thousands of the candidates, editors, judges, and police officers hoping to make a difference were subsequently killed by the insurgents. As Filkins writes, “[The insurgents] could spot a fine mind or a tender heart wherever it might be, chase it down and kill it dead. The heart of a nation. The precision was astounding” (82). As fast as hope was born, the insurgents managed to kill it.

Despite the hope that the Iraq people initially had in democracy, they did not have any hope in the Americans. One of the most striking aspects of Filkins’s exploration of the Iraq was the anger and resentment with which the Iraq people viewed the American soldiers. Whereas the Afghanistan people had praised the Americans as saviors of their country and of democracy, the Iraq people were merely bewildered and confused as to the American’s actions. A lot of the Iraq people, while condemning the violence of his regime, supported Saddam Hussein. They blamed the chaos into which the country fell on America’s seemingly unjustified attack on Saddam Hussein. When the American soldiers attempted to help the Iraq people, the Iraq people saw only an ulterior motive (whether it was a quest for oil or world domination). After Saddam Hussein was deposed, the insurgents began to form various groups. All of these insurgent groups wanted the Americans out of Iraq; some of them wanted complete power over the country. The insurgents rose up against the American soldiers, leading to countless casualties and acts of violence every single day.

As a reporter, Filkins was somewhat detached from the American soldiers but still experienced his own struggles. While he was in danger daily, his struggles pertained more to the language barrier between Americans and the Iraq people. Filkins views this language barrier as one of the reasons the situation in Iraq deteriorated so quickly. The ordinary American soldier and the average Iraq civilian could not communicate with one another, leading to unnecessary deaths and obstacles. For example, at one American checkpoint the soldiers were ordered to search every car and shoot everyone in a car that continued past the checkpoint without stopping (it could possibly be a suicide bomber). When one truck full of children barreled past the checkpoint, the soldiers followed orders. When Filkins arrived they were shaken but not upset. “We yelled at them to stop,” one soldier explained, “everybody knows the word stop. It’s universal” (116). This ignorance was the cause of many deaths. American soldiers and Iraq citizens did not understand a common language, and could, therefore, not grasp the culture or personality of either population either.

The Forever War Post 1

The Forever War is a novel by New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins. The novel explores the American wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through Filkins's eyes as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East. This comprehensive view of both wars creates an intriguing novel through which the effects of American occupation in the Middle East can be seen. In the first part of The Forever War, Filkins recalls his experiences in Afghanistan beginning in September 1998.

The most striking aspect of Filkins’s exploration of Afghanistan is the duality of the people. Part One opens with a scene in a soccer stadium located in Kabul, Afghanistan. A young man accused of murder is brought into the center of the stadium while his family and the family of the victim look on. There is a custom in the Koran that says the killer must be killed in order to create peace. This "eye for an eye" mentality is at the core of the Afghanistan culture and defines much of the daily violence there. However, the young man could be spared if the victim’s family decided to forgive him. A full stadium, including Filkins, watched as the brother of the victim shot the murderer in his accepted outlet of revenge. Filkins noted the apathy of the crowd as they watched a scene that had become commonplace. Taliban leaders enforced the law of the Koran to an extreme extent, so this type of spectacle was nothing new to the people. One spectator described his emotions to Filkins when he said that "In America, you have television and movies--the cinema. Here, we have only this" (16).

However, even as Filkins saw the indifference of the crowd when presented with violence he also admired the strength within the Afghanistan people. When presented with adversity the Afghans were able to find the positive side of any situation. In the ruins of an expensive hotel, a food and drink manager attempted to keep it moderately functional despite the absence of food and drinks. He told Filkins stories of the better days, but was still able to find humor in his current situation. He laughed, almost in disbelief, as he showed Filkins a photograph of himself a few years prior standing in front of a bustling, gleaming hotel.

As I was reading Part One this strength within the Afghan people amazed me. Every individual that Filkins met in Afghanistan was surprisingly perceptive. They understood the dangers of the Taliban and admired the Americans for the peace they were trying to bring. As one man noted, recalling the gunfire of the various Taliban gangs, “I like all of the people in the world… just not soldiers.” As a reporter, Filkins was met with a warm reception by every person he met. Young orphans would run up to him with laughter and older men would share their stories without prodding. In Afghanistan, the American people were seen as saviors who rescued the country from years of fighting between the various Taliban groups who continually attempted to gain power.

Abortion

1. The Casey decision, in which the Supreme Court said that states could impose regulations on abortion as long as those burdens did not impose an undue burden on a woman's right to an abortion, opened the door for pro-life advocates to push for changes in the law. I think that undue burdens relate to various aspects of abortion. I would consider an undue burden to be anything that limits a woman's access to an abortion clinic, the money for an abortion, or a healthy environment. For example, there needs to be a certain number of abortion clinics in each state so that all women have access to a clinic. Therefore, states cannot create laws the bar an abortion clinic from opening or from existing. Laws, for example, that regulate the appearance of the clinic are unnecessary. The only laws that can be applied to abortion clinics are ones that regulate the health of those women who enter the clinic. I would also consider an extremely high cost an undue burden, as that means many women will not be able to afford abortions. Overall, I think that all women need to have easy access, transportation, cost-wise, and health-wise experiences at the abortion clinics.

2. I think that abortion services should be covered under all health care plans because abortions are procedures that relate to a woman's health. Other services that relate to health are covered and abortions should not be an exception. Tax payers would end up paying for those children that are born to woman that want an abortion anyways. These children would end up in orphanages or homes that cannot function. I think it is a better option to provide abortions than to have children in the world that are not being cared for appropriately.

3. I think that abortion should be legal with some restrictions. For example, abortions should only be able to occur at certain points in the pregnancy and in certified abortion clinics. At all moments the main consideration should be the health of the mother. However, I think that abortions are necessary because it is a proven fact that the majority of women who want an abortion are poor or unstable and they know that they cannot bring a baby into the world and care for the child in an appropriate manner. Therefore, abortions that protect the mothers' health should be completed because the alternative is more dire.

Renovations

I think that this issue is very controversial because both arguments have merit. The proposed renovations will create a better, more competitive school but if the plan is carried through then tax rates will increase. I think that the renovation plans are a great idea to some extent. When people look to move into a neighborhood one of the main aspects of the neighborhood they explore is the school district. Our schools already benefit from high test scores and great teaches, therefore, we should have a physical property that represents our full potential. The renovation plans include updating the infrastructure of the school, the heating and cooling, the technology, and various other fundamental problems that plague our school experience daily. I think that a lot of these changes are necessary. Since the plan is split into three phases (we can do them in various combinations) it makes it easier to choose those renovations that are most needed. However, there are also renovations that are not completely necessary in the daily functioning of the school but would make DHS a better school. Some of these renovations include a field house with a large swimming pool, new group study areas and common technology spaces. Changes such as these will contribute to the overall atmosphere of the school. It will allow our sports to be more competitive and feel good about the spaces in which they practice. Increased room will make scheduling easier and by updating our sports facilities we will be on par with the other schools around us. Currently, DHS and HPHS are stuck with older, unorganized facilities. I think that it would be nice to have an updated school.

The district, however, faces tough questions. In order to fund these renovations a tax increase and the selling of bonds is necessary. However, this does not seem daunting when you consider that current taxes reflect the 2004 renovations. If we undertake these new renovations on a smaller-scale then the tax burden will simply remain the same instead of going down. My position is that our school should represent our academic excellence. We should undertake some of the renovations proposed, but not all, in order to minimize the tax burden on tax payers. I think that excellent schools with updated technology, common spaces, and new sports areas will make DHS more attractive to potential home buyers and increase the way of life at school.

The Execution

The Frontline episode "The Execution," portrayed the story Clifford Boggess as he waited on Death Row. Clifford Boggess admitted to committing the murder of two older men and is guilty of stealing their money. I do not think that Boggess should be executed solely because I do not believe in the death penalty, but I do think that Clifford Boggess should get a harsh punishment (life in jail). Boggess clearly committed the crime and it is clear that he does not feel remorse for his crimes. Every time Boggess was pictured he seemed to be putting up a front of humanistic behavior, but ultimately did not truly apologize or recognize his crimes with any emotion. He tried to convince others that he had changed during his time on death row through his conversion to Christianity and his new passion for art. However, I think that Boggess is still the same man who is just trying to appear different for the cameras. I do not think that his religious conversion was legitimate as he seemed to be quoting Bible passages without true knowledge of their meaning. He said that he believed the Bible stated that G-d had forgiven him for his sins, so I think that his search for absolution is a more reasonable explanation for his religious conversion. He wanted to pass off his crimes as not being a big deal, and used religion as an excuse to do so. The art was also just a distraction as he planned to use the money to have his body cremated. He was attempting to make a spectacle and a story out of his death. Even if his religious conversion and artistic aspirations represented true change, it does not alter the fact that Boggess was guilty so he should be punished.

However, the death penalty is not the answer. I personally am against purposefully taking another humans life when there are other options. Life in prison is a more reasonable punishment that serves the same purpose as the death penalty. Criminals are off the street and in confinement. Victims families should get the same satisfaction from this punishment as they might from the death penalty. Although, I do not think that the death penalty really brings closure. It just represents another death, but this death is now on the hands of the jury and the victim's families. We should not make these people bear that burden. The problems with the application of the death penalty were apparent in Leslie Gosch's experience. He was actually in the death chamber multiple times before he was eventually executed. Not only does this represent psychological cruelty as Gosch is forced to face death various times, but it reveals the inconsistencies with the application of the death penalty. Clearly, many could not agree on what was an appropriate sentence for Gosch who is legally blind. If minds are changed to the extent that Gosch is rescued from near death, then it is obvious that human minds cannot handle the strain of deciding on someones right to live or die.

Overall, this movie and these cases changed my understanding of the death penalty as they represented two sides of the situation. Boggess is guilty, but is it right for him to die? Gosch is legally blind and forced to face death multiple times, can humans really sentence other humans to death? I think that inherent problems with the death penalty's application (whether they are racial, monetary, etc) reveal that the death penalty should not be used as a punishment for crime.

Bullying

This article on bullying emphasizes the truth about bullying. Bullying happens every day and most people experience teasing or slight harrassment at one point in their lives. However, one aspect this article explores is what happens when bullying goes too far. Any type of bullying is terrible, but when certain lines are crossed or an individual is tormented on a regular basis, it can have tragic consequences. The story of Tyler Clementi demonstrates that one individual's idea of harmless fun can drive another person to kill himself. Ravi and Wei invaded Clementi's privacy in their videotape of his same sex personal encounter. Clementi threw himself off a bridge, fed up with the bullying. It is difficult for me to comprehend how two stable human beings, Ravi and Wei, would go so far in their bullying? Friends describe the two as funny and caring, but they did not display either characteristic in their persecution of Clementi. It is apparent in this article that bullying has become an extreme nation-wide problem when such events occur. What is even more awful, is that Clementi is one of many who have committed suicide due to bullying. The article lists numerous young people who have been tormented at school  and see death as their only way out.

I thought the Phoebe Prince article was interesting as it also explored the fate of the bullys. The teenage girls and guys faced ostracization from their community, and, essentially, more bullying. While I do believe that these individuals should be punished for their torment of Prince, the treatment they are recieving shows that there is a much deeper problem in our society. The bullys do not deserve to be bullied. This only creates an endless cycle in which people become confused about when bullying is "wrong" and when it is "right." Bullying is never right. This fact becomes murky when respectable adults are sending mixed messages to their children. It is apparent that parent's, teacher's, and other school officials must take a stronger stance against bullying and make an effort to connect with the kids. If adults set a good example and hold conversations about the effects of bullying, the message would get across and bullying would, hopefully, decrease. This is proven by the last article in the packet-- "confessions of a bully." Daniel Harrison daily tormented a girl in his grade. He believed that it was all in good fun, as he never meant to hurt her. He only wanted to tease her as he enjoyed being in control. It wasn't until he talked to his parents and the mother of the girl he was tormenting that he realized the extent to which his bullying had effected Courtney. Being lectured by the school, his parents, and seeing Courtney's distress allowed Harrison to see his teasing from another side. Having this ability caused him to stop his bullying. In fact, he now speaks out against bullying and befriends kids who are bullied. This article gives hope that bullys can be reformed-- young kids do not have to die due to the hurtful words of another teenager.

Drug Testing in Schools

The presence of random drug testing in schools is commonplace now, but in the 1990's it was the subject of heated debate. The 1985 case of New Jersey v. TLO established a school's ability to warrantless search. The aftermath of this decision can be blatantly seen in our school handbook. Under Searches/Seizures it states that "students have no right of privacy in school property." Any student's belongings can be searched by authorized school personnel. This invasion of privacy was deemed necessary in order to counteract what many viewed as a serious threat to public safety that warranted screening--the prevalent use of drugs and alcohol. Schools experienced rising rates in the usage of these illicit drugs and attempted to combat this problem by removing student's rights. One such school in Vernonia instituted drug testing from 7th grade to 12th grade for anyone who wanted to play a sport. This policy came under scrutiny in Vernonia v. Acton. The Acton family prohibited their 7th grade son from participating in a random drug test so he could play soccer. They declared the policy unconstitutional and an encroachment on an individual's fourth amendment rights. The Actons stated that drug testing was punishing everyone, even those for which the school had no reasonable suspicion they were participating in illegal actions. I personally think that both sides have merit. The Acton's make a good point that it is unfair to punish those who are innocent. Drug testing in middle school seems a little extreme and unnecessary. It would seem much more cost and time-effective to drug test only those who are brought in on suspicion of using drugs or drinking. However, it is a blatant fact that a school's ultimate goal is safety. Therefore, this includes a reasonable expectation that privacy rights will decrease. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Vernonia stating that a school is an extension of the governemnt and must promote safety. In the face of illicit activity, this protection of safety can involve decreasing the rights of students. This brings me back to the statement in my handbook that "students have no right of privacy in school property." This is a scary statement. However, it is clear that schools and the outside world are very different and must, therefore, have different rules.