Ch 24

Ch 24

Wow I cant believe that we have finished the textbook already, I don’t think that I have ever read an entire textbook in my whole life. After two semesters of world history I have learned a lot of interesting information. People say that if you don’t know the history of the past then history will just repeat it self, and the same mistakes will be made. I think that this course has taught me a lot and looking and discussing in depth about very important topics of history I feel like I am more knowledgeable about the history of the world.

Chapter 24 opens up talking about Barbie and Ken. I think that this topic is very interesting as I used to play with barbies when I was younger, I had never really realized the debate over the dolls before. I had both ken and Barbie along with other dolls of other ethnicities. Some don’t like barbies because they say that she has a negative influence over young girls. Arguing that barbie’s body is unrealistic and that girls will try to have that body when the chances of having that body type is 1 in 100,000. Also, the fact that Barbie is so much into her looks and her style, many people argue that it does not matter whether she is beautiful or ugly, but what matters is how her personality is and what iconic things she does for young girls. While others, say that Barbie is beautiful and smart and that this is encouraging for young girls, especially because Barbie has had many great jobs for example a doctor, a vet, a teacher, a paleontologist etc. Those who argue that Barbie is a positive influence over young girls say that Barbie allows girls to use there imaginations, to dress Barbie however they wish, they can make Barbie walk and talk how they wish. However one looks at Barbie, the toy is still a multi-billion selling industry and will remain that way for a long time.

            Another debate about Barbie is the one that concerns ken. Barbie and ken, Ken and Barbie, these names are known almost all over, but is this relationship healthy? Sure, some parents in America like the relationship, it shows that Barbie can be independent and stand on her own feet, because she is not married. But others in countries like Iran for example people believe Barbie is not a good role model because she has an unmarried companion. So instead of having the big Barbie ken phenomenon in Iran they have Sara and Dara, sister and brother twins. They teach values like helping each other problem solve, and looking to their parents for guidance. This relationship is totally different than that of ken and Barbie, the values are the opposite; the way they dress is opposite. This is an example of how values differ all across the world, and how industries like that of Barbie have to alter their products in order to sell in different parts of the world. I really liked how the textbook used this example in order to make the concept of the chapter clear.

           

          Another important aspect of this chapter was the paragraphs concerning feminism. In the 1960 feminist organizations came out with strong opinions. They argued that they no longer wanted to be seen as the “other” or deviant. Women are human just like men; we are not some alien forces that should be viewed differently than men. Women began to speak out and fight for their equality. Also women wanted to be able to control what happens to their bodies. That’s where the big debates of abortion really began. Whether I agree with that issue or not, I understand where women were coming from with the start up of this debate. Women were also fighting for equal rights in employment and education. I think that its kind of sad that it was roughly only 50 years ago when women were beginning to be looked at as equal to men! 

            

Ch 23- The roles of influential people

Chapter 23

         As I opened up and began reading chapter 23 I realized how inspirational this chapter is. It talks about how countries fought for and attained their independence and who were the motivational and inspiring people who helped in the process. Right when I opened the textbook the first page of chapter 23 is a large picture of Nelson Mandela. Even before reading the first paragraph I felt inspired, just from the picture. As I began reading the chapter I learned about the enormous effect that he as one individual had in South Africa. Nelson Mandela went through many hardships in order for his voice to be heard. Imagine spending 27 years in prison for no reason at all, imagine that you did nothing wrong except speak out against your government. He was imprisoned for treason, sabatage, and conspiracy. This just shows what kind of government south Africa and many other countries as this time had. Nelson spent his nights sleeping on the floor because that is all he had for a bed, a cold stone hard floor, and if he wanted to use the bathroom… he had a bucket! That’s not even the  worst part of it, the more I read the worst it got. While in prison, Nelson Mandela was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes, and was allowed to write and receive one letter every six months! Scientist have proven that people need the company of others. That the body and especially the mind can go crazy with out other people around, that is why so solitary confinement is such a horrid place, and why prisoners dislike it so much. 

      When he was finally released in 1990 from growing domestic and international pressure he gave his first speech and battling through many more hardships he eventually came South Africas first black president. The fight that Mandela endured was incredibly inspiring to many other countries around the world. Take a moment to look at the date that he was released from prison, 1990, that was only 21 years ago, a man who spent 9,828 days being brutally treated spent his years as a free man fighting for the lives and freedom of the people in his country. 

      Other people were just as inspiring as he was, which lead to the freedom of other countries. For example, Mahatma Gandhi, he did so much for the freedom of india from british rule. Before the 1900’s many who lived in india did not see themselves as “Indians”, the cultural identity of India was mainly that of the locals and diversity was enormous. The British rule promoted a growing sense of Indian identity, unlike foreign rulers, the British didn’t assimilate, and rather, Indians shared more similarities to each other than to the rulers. I think this was beneficial for the people of India because they got to keep pieces of their cultures. The influence and role that Gandhi had, most believe, encouraged the freedom of india. He was originally suppose to be  a lawyer but that profession did not lead him far, and in 1893 Gandhi traveled to south Africa where he joined the fight against racial segregation. Later, he developed a  political philosophy of satyagraga meaning, truth force, a nonviolent approach to political action. When he went back to india he became the leader of the INC. he made movements to get rid of colonial rule and also the mistreatment of indias untouchables and the evils of modernization.

              Many supported ghandi and his struggle for independence india, however many had issues with what he was doing. There was a growing muslim/hindu divide and in 1906 an all india muslim league was created. Also, some Hindu politicians defined the nationalist struggle in religious terms. Finally in 1947, india finally gained its independence, however, india was divided and Pakistan was created. Pakistan was mainly the home of many muslims where india remained the home of many hindus. This new separation sparked much violence, around 1 million died, and roughly 12 million refugees relocated. Sadly, in 1948, a year after ghandi finally achieved the independence he spent his life trying to achieve he was assassinated by a hindu extremist. To think that any ordinary man or women can achieve and influence so much in one lifetime is amazing. Although I did not talk about all the influential people who dedicated there lives to gaining independence for those of there country and for future generations, there were many! 

intro paragraph

After reading and doing research on the region that is currently in turmoil, it would make anyone realize how fortunate he or she is, especially those who live in the United States. We live in a country where we have the opportunity to choose those who govern over us, and what we want to do with the life we are given to live. Some of those in the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa are rebelling from their government and are seeking freedom. The Webster definition of oppress is “to keep someone in subservience and hardship, esp. by the unjust exercise of authority”. Millions of people are living in a society where they have no control over their lives, where the government controls them, they are living in a society where the richer stay rich and the poor become poorer. Imagine living a life where one’s voice has no meaning when it comes to government, and those in power decide the outcome of one’s life. Finally, after years of oppression people are beginning to fight back, the countries in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are echoing from one another, and the fight for equality is happening.