Baghdad Burning
On page fifty of Baghdad Burning, Riverbend states that there was no running water for the entire day. At first i thought that water is everywhere and how easy it would be to survive a day without it in the first place. Th then researched the weather in Baghdad and found why it would be very difficult. There was a blog that stated temperatures in the shade can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, making it difficult to even breath. As a redhead myself, who is mildly allergic to the sun, i know i wouldn't last very long in this environment. It also explains why Riverbend feels bad for the American military because they just stand in the heat all day. There have been stories that the soldiers fry eggs on their tanks. “A wicked man once remarked that Iraqis do not have the fear of God in them because they already live in hell!!” (Khaleel, A Glimps of Iraq)
Khaleel, Abu. "A Glimpse of Iraq: Baghdad Summer Days." A Glimpse of Iraq. 15 Sep 2005. 5 Nov 2007 http://glimpseofiraq.blogspot.com/2005/09/baghdad-summer-days.html.
Riverbend. Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog From Iraq. New York: Feminist Press, 0.
Monday, November 5, 2007
HW28: an open letter to Riverbend
Dear Riverbend,
as an American i just wanted to say how thankful i am that you are able to share your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and stories with us. From your blog, as you have already stated, we are able to learn a different point of view as well as stories we wont find on Fox News or CNN. The American media makes us believe we are helping the Iraqis and from your writing we find that this is not happening and you in fact state that you feel unsafe. Your posts, mostly for Americans, do seem a bit harsh but when considering what our government has done you have a right to be harsh. I understand where you are coming from in many situations such as feeling unsafe, then nine-member rotating presidency, as well as the presence of the American military. Hopefully many other Americans can understand this as well. Again, i would like to thank you for your thoughts ans hope that things take a turn for the better.
as an American i just wanted to say how thankful i am that you are able to share your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and stories with us. From your blog, as you have already stated, we are able to learn a different point of view as well as stories we wont find on Fox News or CNN. The American media makes us believe we are helping the Iraqis and from your writing we find that this is not happening and you in fact state that you feel unsafe. Your posts, mostly for Americans, do seem a bit harsh but when considering what our government has done you have a right to be harsh. I understand where you are coming from in many situations such as feeling unsafe, then nine-member rotating presidency, as well as the presence of the American military. Hopefully many other Americans can understand this as well. Again, i would like to thank you for your thoughts ans hope that things take a turn for the better.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
HW27: Baghdad Burning Annotated Bibliography
Baghdad Burning. New York: Feminist P, 2005.
Baghdad Burning is a great book for our Blog class. It is written by a women whose nave is unknown as she describes herself by using the name of Riverbend. All we know about Riverbend is that she's an Iraqi women who is 24 years old and she survived the war. Through her blog she brings us into her heart as she goes through the struggles in her daily life. Its great because we can learn a lot about what its like to be an Iraqi and how they might view what has happened with the war in Iraq. By doing this our class can learn what has already been happening and what is to come for Iraqi women in terms of their rights and freedoms. Riverbends writing challenges us, as Americans, to step outside of our cultural ways and replace them with her view of what we have den to Baghdad.
Baghdad Burning is a great book for our Blog class. It is written by a women whose nave is unknown as she describes herself by using the name of Riverbend. All we know about Riverbend is that she's an Iraqi women who is 24 years old and she survived the war. Through her blog she brings us into her heart as she goes through the struggles in her daily life. Its great because we can learn a lot about what its like to be an Iraqi and how they might view what has happened with the war in Iraq. By doing this our class can learn what has already been happening and what is to come for Iraqi women in terms of their rights and freedoms. Riverbends writing challenges us, as Americans, to step outside of our cultural ways and replace them with her view of what we have den to Baghdad.
Monday, October 29, 2007
HW 25: Foreword/Introduction
Baghdad Burning
The Foreword states that the book brings as close a possible to the war in Iraq. “close means right inside the heart and mind of a young Baghdadi women as she lives through the war” (Riverbend Vii). She writes of humanity in her blog that even shows sympathy for the invading troops as they suffer from the hot sun day after day. Included is also a fair amount of politics. The introduction states how lucky we are to have this blog thanks to the fact that Riverbend writes in excellent English. Iraq has experienced some devastating wars in the past such as the Gulf War where several thousands of soldiers and civilians were killed. The war also created disease that killed thousands of more people. Wars here were usually fought over oil because it is a natural resource that most countries lack in supply. The introduction then goes on to talk about her views of the war in 2003. At the time of the war i still considered myself as being to young to understand. From the talk of my family and friends around me as well as various news reports it seemed as if war may have been our only option. Now that it has occurred many regret the decision and it appears to me that our country hasn't received much good out of the attack.
The Foreword states that the book brings as close a possible to the war in Iraq. “close means right inside the heart and mind of a young Baghdadi women as she lives through the war” (Riverbend Vii). She writes of humanity in her blog that even shows sympathy for the invading troops as they suffer from the hot sun day after day. Included is also a fair amount of politics. The introduction states how lucky we are to have this blog thanks to the fact that Riverbend writes in excellent English. Iraq has experienced some devastating wars in the past such as the Gulf War where several thousands of soldiers and civilians were killed. The war also created disease that killed thousands of more people. Wars here were usually fought over oil because it is a natural resource that most countries lack in supply. The introduction then goes on to talk about her views of the war in 2003. At the time of the war i still considered myself as being to young to understand. From the talk of my family and friends around me as well as various news reports it seemed as if war may have been our only option. Now that it has occurred many regret the decision and it appears to me that our country hasn't received much good out of the attack.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
HW24: CH 5 & 6
A Room of my Own
In the eyes of Virginia Woolf we have come a long way in history today. She makes this obvious as she states, “there are almost as many books written by women as by men” (Woolf 79). This shows huge improvements from the beginning of the book, suggesting that maybe her hypothesis of women and a room of their own was correct. I have a room of my own that i never really thought about until now. Its a place where i can go to be alone and think to myself. Though the world outside my room can be loud and obnoxious, my room is always quiet and peaceful. Virginia says “there is truth in what you say” (Woolf 112). my room is where the truth to everything i know is allowed to come out whether it be thoughts, feelings, or secrets. Its my own space to rid of all disturbances so i can concentrate on accomplishing my goals in life.
In the eyes of Virginia Woolf we have come a long way in history today. She makes this obvious as she states, “there are almost as many books written by women as by men” (Woolf 79). This shows huge improvements from the beginning of the book, suggesting that maybe her hypothesis of women and a room of their own was correct. I have a room of my own that i never really thought about until now. Its a place where i can go to be alone and think to myself. Though the world outside my room can be loud and obnoxious, my room is always quiet and peaceful. Virginia says “there is truth in what you say” (Woolf 112). my room is where the truth to everything i know is allowed to come out whether it be thoughts, feelings, or secrets. Its my own space to rid of all disturbances so i can concentrate on accomplishing my goals in life.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
HW23: Jezebel in Virginias Eyes
With Apologies to Virginia Woolf
last night on Jezebel there was post titled, “Marie Osmond Faints on Dancing with the Stars.” Osmond was dancing so hard that by the time she was finished she just couldn't seem to catch her breath as she collapsed. She was like goose using so much energy while migrating for the winter that ends up at the wrong destination or like a yo yo that is tossed downward and rolls to its maximum length but abruptly stops and can no longer return to the surface. Her breaths were short and force full yet she continued to smile like like a burning candle that is blown out by the wind. Laying on the hard floor she awakens with a strange feeling loneliness as if she were a single puppy trapped in a glass case of emotion. In the end she finds what actually happened and is still recognized for a great performance that will now easily be remembered.
http://defamer.com/hollywood/breaking/marie-osmond-faints-on-dancing-with-the-stars-313786.php
last night on Jezebel there was post titled, “Marie Osmond Faints on Dancing with the Stars.” Osmond was dancing so hard that by the time she was finished she just couldn't seem to catch her breath as she collapsed. She was like goose using so much energy while migrating for the winter that ends up at the wrong destination or like a yo yo that is tossed downward and rolls to its maximum length but abruptly stops and can no longer return to the surface. Her breaths were short and force full yet she continued to smile like like a burning candle that is blown out by the wind. Laying on the hard floor she awakens with a strange feeling loneliness as if she were a single puppy trapped in a glass case of emotion. In the end she finds what actually happened and is still recognized for a great performance that will now easily be remembered.
http://defamer.com/hollywood/breaking/marie-osmond-faints-on-dancing-with-the-stars-313786.php
HW22: CH2 Patriarchy
Paper Patriarchy
In the book, “A Room of One's Own,” by Virginia Woolf, she states, “the most transient visitor to this planet, i thought, who picked up this paper could not fail to be aware, even from this scattered testimony, that England is under the rule of a patriarchy” (Woolf 33). she comes to this conclusion very quickly because almost everything she read in the lunch edition of the evening paper was based around males. There was one article she mentioned that involved a women which was that, “a film actress had been lowered from a peak in California and hung suspended in mid-air” (Woolf 33). There were also views of patriarchy in chapter one when she wasn't allowed on the university grass and when she failed to enter the library because she wasn't accompanied by a male. After reading her thoughts i took a look at the Keene Sentinel to see if this was true in todays society. After looking for a bit i came to the conclusion that the paper was pretty equal. There were enough articles that could be directed separately towards women or men, as well as articles that both men and women might enjoy. Some may argue this view but to me it sounds like a big improvement from the story by Virginia Woolf.
In the book, “A Room of One's Own,” by Virginia Woolf, she states, “the most transient visitor to this planet, i thought, who picked up this paper could not fail to be aware, even from this scattered testimony, that England is under the rule of a patriarchy” (Woolf 33). she comes to this conclusion very quickly because almost everything she read in the lunch edition of the evening paper was based around males. There was one article she mentioned that involved a women which was that, “a film actress had been lowered from a peak in California and hung suspended in mid-air” (Woolf 33). There were also views of patriarchy in chapter one when she wasn't allowed on the university grass and when she failed to enter the library because she wasn't accompanied by a male. After reading her thoughts i took a look at the Keene Sentinel to see if this was true in todays society. After looking for a bit i came to the conclusion that the paper was pretty equal. There were enough articles that could be directed separately towards women or men, as well as articles that both men and women might enjoy. Some may argue this view but to me it sounds like a big improvement from the story by Virginia Woolf.
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