A Blog Like No Other!

HW45 podcast link 3

pianofanatic — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:15:50 +0000

Here is the link to my third podcast, enjoy!

http://www.archive.org/details/Podcast3Hw45

again, click on the left column MP3 via M3U or listen to it online if you click under Individual files, then Audio Files: Podcast 3 HW45

HW44 Eid celebrations

pianofanatic — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:06:23 +0000

Yay! this link should definitely be successful (hopefully!) this second podcast is in MP3 format (yes! yes!) it took some sorting out and a trial and error experiment to get things straightened out, but here it is! So, what to do: go to this link here:

http://www.archive.org/details/Hw44MeliasPodcast1

look to the left side of the page and under Stream click either MP3 via M3U or MP3 via Flash. I have a mac and the first one works with it. Enjoy!

HW42 podcast link

pianofanatic — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:22:35 +0000

Here is a link to my first podcast, hope you can find it!
Go to individual files and then other files, its there, click on it. It took some sweat and tears to get it here so enjoy it, that’s an order, haha. But seriously, enjoy it.
http://ia360914.us.archive.org/2/items/Hw42MeliasPodcast1/Hw42Podcast1.m4a
if this above address doesn’t work try this one below:
http://www.archive.org/details/Hw42MeliasPodcast1

Extra: took a trip to the USHMM

pianofanatic — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:38:32 +0000

This past weekend I went along with a group of people to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. Some people were Holocaust Studies Minors, while others were simply going along for the ride, the adventure and the new experience. I have now taken one full class in Holocaust studies and will complete my second at the end of this month. Though the trip was not very long, (only Friday afternoon to Sunday morning) I did still feel I had an introduction to the museum. The last time I went was when I was twelve years old. At that time I went through with my father. I remembered some of the Daniel’s Story exhibit, an exhibit for children that brings the children through a boy’s life. Starting with his life before World War II and progressing into the hardships he and his family faced as the Nazis gained more and more power and influence. Food shortages, ghetto life and the loss of his mother and sister are portrayed visually through a tour of his recreated ghetto house. The scenes reminded me of both a universal haunted house tour and a Waldorf child’s’ world. I thought this exhibit was perhaps the most effective of all because it brought this boy’s life to reality through all the visual aids and recreations.
Before I went through Daniel’s Story I started on the fourth floor with everyone else. Some people combed through the museum reading every single note and going quite slowly, but I went through with a less fine comb. We first had about two hours on our own to browse at our own pace. I read about the pre-war years, 1933 to 1939. These years were the ones during which Hitler rose to power and the exhibit then described the reasons around it. Then on the third floor was the deportations, 1940 to 1945.
The most powerful and moving part of the entire museum was the hall of pictures. These pictures told stories of over 100 families from one town in Europe and all were unique. The few survivors from this town collected these pictures; the two new parents with their infant daughter, the teenage girl lighting a cigarette, the eight brothers and sisters lined up from youngest to oldest. All these pictures were so incredibly moving. They made me think of what life would be like if everyone you held close to your heart was wrenched away from you and killed. I stood and imagined the lives behind the different photos. The adorable babies, the sisters, the mothers, fathers, families, all smiling, laughing, swimming, the photos are timeless. Two girls in tutus made me think of when I was young and did ballet. Tears came to my eyes when I thought of how empty I would feel without every one of my family members.

HW40 3 Brothers Sacrifice their teenage years to Help their Family Survive

pianofanatic — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:30:24 +0000

Iraqi Teens Work to Help their Families
Alive in Baghdad
October 15, 2007
Visit the video here: http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/10/15/iraqi-teens-work-to-help-their-families/

This video portrayed life in Iraq for teenagers that must work to help support their families. Three brothers describe their daily work schedule and school situation in wartime Iraq. Who appears in this video? Three brothers. The first brother is fifteen years old and has learned the trade of furniture building, the second is fourteen years old and has learned to paint furniture. He is in sixth grade. The third brother is in a college of agriculture and is unemployed. These boys are being robbed of their childhoods because they have to work instead. The third brother’s name is Yousif. Though he does not tell his age, he is in school. He was born with a birth defect, though that isn’t described in detail either. He has dark hair, a large wide nose, thick, dark eyebrows and large ears. He looks to be in his mid-teens. The background of this film is their home and their yard because the boys have to work at home now. The film starts with a view of the yard where the fifteen year old is sanding a piece of furniture. There is a wall surrounding the yard he is in and it is made of stone and cement. A small tree grows from the middle of the far wall stretching towards the light and the floor of the yard is covered in what looks like cement as well. This video portrays the poverty that the Iraq war has brought upon 50 percent of the population. Anyone watching this video will see just how much the war is robbing these boys from education and a normal teenager’s life. The youngest boy is fourteen. He should be in eighth grade, but he is in sixth. This video is alike in its form as all the others that Alive in Baghdad has done. It is in interview form and the people being interviewed rarely smile because of the conditions they must live through each day. How does it compare to other footage of Iraq? The footage I have seen of Iraq has mostly been military, so these interviews are a more personal side of the country that needs to be shown more.
The most memorable part of this video I think was the interview of the fourteen year old when he says he is in sixth grade. He should be further along in his education, but I assume that the war has put a slight damper on that. Now he has to work with his two other brothers to help his family make ends almost meet. The poor child has sacrificed his childhood and education to help his family and all because the United States decided to go to war with his country.

HW35B Response to River

pianofanatic — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:47:39 +0000

In this reading of Baghdad Burning, (blog posts August 31 to September 16, 2003), Riverbend mentions the bombing of a bomb shelter in 1991 during the Gulf War in Al- Amiriya. This was a “mistake” later by America, but in fact it was very unlikely that this place would have held any questionable items at all. This bomb shelter was near an elementary school and was the central location for the surrounding families to do their laundry, get food and have a place to stay if needed. This unnecessary attack caused the horrific death (very similar to the death sentences of witches in the 17th century) of about 1,200 people, most of which were women and children. Riverbend says how boys over the age of 14 were not permitted in this dwelling, so the children were all quite young (Riverbend 47). They were burned and boiled alive as the bomb that was dropped created an atmosphere of around 1,000 degrees in the shelter. There was also a basement and those that lived in there were boiled from the hot water tanks that were burst from the puncture of the bomb.
Riverbend mentions this tragedy when she speaks of emails she received saying she was not grateful for what the U.S. has done in Iraq. Going on to say she did not jump for joy at the fall of the Trade Towers, she goes on to explain that death of anyone, any human being regardless of what religion they practice is extremely saddening. She remembers the day that 3,000 Americans died on 9/11, but even more have died in Iraq and she remembers those too. She is called ungrateful for not appreciating what Americans have done, but they have not recognized the countless Iraqis that have died, the casualties of war and the countless other deaths that could have easily been prevented, lives spared and futures accomplished.

Visit the site that describes the events of Feb 13, 1991:
http://www.geocities.com/iraqinfo/index.html?page=/iraqinfo/sanctions/sarticles2/amiriya.html

HW35 An Open Letter to Riverbend

pianofanatic — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:39:13 +0000

Dear Riverbend,
As I read your blog posts from August 19 through the 30, 2003, it made me think of other such events that have happened. You recounted the unnecessary deaths of children and teens and people simply trying to make a living. You mentioned how a group of 12 and 15 year olds were killed while out collecting wood and it immediately made me think of my 15 year old sister and how devastated I would be to loose her. Your blogs made me also think of other timely events such as the Holocaust, where atrocities you see each day existed every day as, if not worse then what is happening today. I then thought of the destruction of the world trade towers and the great depression here in America. All these events seem more similar then I thought before. During the Holocaust the Jews were made out to be filth, not even human enough to deserve life. They were murdered just as those girls were murdered while collecting wood. Harmless, they did not pose a threat, yet their lives were taken just as if they had. You describe the ways in which you believe Americans view Iraqis as uncivilized people who walk on dirt roads and learn to count sheep and bake bread. In fact, you prove that Iraqis are just as civilized a people as anyone else with computers, televisions, air-conditioning and a highly advanced communications system along with much else. When the world trade towers collapsed America thought they would never see a darker day, and yes it was a tragic event that lost thousands of people their lives and yet it measures up to other such events in history. The Great Depression seemed most fitting since you describe your dilemma at loosing your job. As you mention the money and effort it will take to re-build Iraq I quite agree that bringing in foreign architects and engineers would not make any sense. During the Great Depression people who were unemployed landed jobs building bridges, railroads and other such things, I agree that the same should be done in Iraq. I found your description of life before the second Iraq war most interesting. Your explanation of how women held about 50% of the work force and how you were paid fairly for your hard work as a computer “geek.” Your description of typical Iraqis, how many, many of them own cars, television sets, VCRs makes it seem like it is easier than ever to be world cultured and educated. You were schooled abroad and are now bi-lingual and thus challenge the stereotype that Iraqis have here in America. I admire how open-minded you seem to be about how the American troops must feel, and yet you also don’t hesitate to describe your anger towards them at times as well.

HW33 Baghdad Burning

pianofanatic — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:28:55 +0000

Riverbend. Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq. New York, NY: The Feminist Press, 2005.
(underlined: Baghdad…Iraq)

Baghdad Burning is a compilation of blogs by an anonymous Iraqi woman in her early twenties. She writes with true non-bias and an understandable logic regarding the war in Iraq. Her book was meant to vent her anger at the way the governments in both Iraq and America had gotten both countries at war with one another. As I was skimming through the book, I couldn’t help but look forward to reading what penname Riverbend has to say, the whole book of blogs looks fascinating! This book fits into the class I am taking because as this class is discussing the role of women’s voices in the digital revolution. Riverbend talks about how women’s rights are taken away bit by bit during the war until it is dangerous to go outside alone. She was just 24 when she wrote her first blog, but before the war she had an excellent job, not only for a woman but for anyone in Iraq. She was a very skilled worker who was university educated, but all that was taken from her. This collaboration is a real light into what life for an Iraqi family is like. Riverbend writes how Iraq is such an unknown for Americans who very well think that they all live in tents and herd sheep. The thought of an Iraqi owning a computer, TV and other modern equipment is a stretch, yet it is true. I suppose it is true that this book presents a one-sided argument against the war in Iraq, however anyone who is still in favor of the war needs to seriously re-think their life.

HW32 First Impressions are Often the Best Ones

pianofanatic — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:35:10 +0000

The book, Baghdad Burning is a collection of blog posts from an Iraqi woman. She gives her first-hand experience and insight into the effects of the wars that have been waged in the Middle East including the current war in Iraq. She does not give her name, but rather gives her penname of Riverbend. Her book of blogs has a forward by Ahdaf Soueif in which Ahdaf introduces the book. She says how Riverbend’s perspective is so authentic as opposed to people who are safely in their homes, far away from any fighting, writing about the war. Riverbend tells how once the Iraqi people actually felt sorry for the foreign soldiers because they saw that these young men would much rather be anywhere else, but those days have long since passed. Ahdaf mentions Riverbend’s annoyance at America’s views about anti-Americanism. They shun anyone who thinks poorly about the president or the war, but that doesn’t need to mean they are anti-American.
The introduction to “Baghdad Burning” was by James Ridgeway. He talks of how Riverbend describes the state of the schools in Iraq. The budget set to repair the damages that the current war has caused will only just cover teachers’ salaries. Then parents are often afraid to send their children to school for fear of kidnappers and the other dangers such as death that are very real possibilities every day. While children are becoming more illiterate, adults are more and more unemployed. The situation is getting worse and from the 2004 estimates, 25 to 50 percent of Iraqi adults were unemployed (Baghdad Burning XIX). In general Ridgeway’s introduction takes the reader over the various topics that Riverbend discusses in depth in the blog book; how the first Iraq war affected Iraq, how the Bush administration had been planning the second Iraq war even before the Trade Center buildings were destroyed and how Iraq has actually become worse since the war. Riverbend remembers a time when women were able to become geeks, as she was. They went to school and had real professions. Now that the war is going on, women are afraid to venture outside their homes for fear of being kidnapped, or killed. Their respect as humans has diminished greatly. Before the second Iraq war, girls and boys went to school equally numbered; now most children do not attend schools.
When the U.S. went to war in the Middle East I was nearing the end of middle school, therefore I was not very aware of news events. I remember being in sixth grade and hearing that the Trade Center buildings had been attacked, personally at the time I thought it was strange that our teacher would tell us something to do with the news. Then when I got home, it started to make sense. I saw the footage on TV and heard stories and it sank in. After that, America was at war. I saw bits and pieces of the news every day because my parents keep up with it, but it seems like we have been at war so long, when will it be over? The war has lasted almost the whole of my brother’s life, what kind of life is that to live? He draws pictures of people shooting people because that is what he sees on TV. I say, right on Riverbend, spread the word, this has got to stop.

HW30 Have I Got a Room of My Own?

pianofanatic — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:12:03 +0000

Have I got a room of my own? After reading chapters five and six of “A Room of One’s Own,” I have contemplated the idea of having a room of one’s own. I thought the subject matter of both chapters was great. The modernity of more voices for women and more options for true love other than finding the perfect guy, rather finding the perfect someone whether it be male or female. But then without the interaction between men and men, men and women and women and women there would be fewer, much fewer works of art, plays, and stories. In the following passage it describes how barren the world would be if not for men and women together, thus how important the roles women and men play equally and how one cannot do without the other.
“Suppose, for instance, that men were only represented in literature as the lovers of women, and were never the friends of men, soldiers, thinkers, dreamers; how few parts in the plays of Shakespeare could be allotted to them; how literature would suffer! We might perhaps have most of Othello; and a good deal of Anthony; but no Caesar, no Brutus, no Hamlet, no Lear, no Jaques— literature would be incredibly impoverished, as indeed literature is impoverished beyond our counting by the doors that have been shut upon women” (Woolf 87).
I do think I have a room of my own. I have privilege to think as I want and do as I want to. I have an education and future and together those things are the key tools for a wide-open room of my own.