Poetry Project
Project Reflection
Rotten Words of Society
Our perceptions change as events take place:
Life is full of the simplicity and the complexity,
The illusion of the superb as a total of 5 percent,
Most living the imperfect struggling to be perfect,
What is your definition of perfect?
Perfect is society's way of establishing your integrity
Perfect is your quality within insignificance
Perfect is the defiance that exceeded your clients
From fancy cars to forty million dollar palaces;
Our illusion becomes apparent to this lower class performance,
But life goes on with the acceptance of never meeting that definition of perfect,
Even though yours may be ideal,
What is your definition of perfect?
None taking initiative after a lifetime of inheritance!
But in actuality, the eight bedroom houses can't determine your self worth,
nor can their ability to tear down your own lives,
My definition may seem rather altered,
but can you look at this tale and prevail from this selfishness upon us.
Put forth all effort towards this open-ended question,
and take a deeper look towards the crucial matter,
What is your definition of perfect?
Perfect is creating your own dream, not anyone elses.
Its the experience of living every minute with truth, love, and gratitude, Not living every minute consumed by work.
The flaws that embrace the attitude, not the flaws covered by society,
The proof of moral integrity, not the proof of your Beverly hills “house”.
We can't let our noble minds be influenced by this power,
Don’t spend time separating the pros and cons of your life,
focus on the relativity of the people in your lives,
embracing the creativity within yourself,
Taking none but initiative for your own life success,
determining your future of perfection through,
hours upon hours up in the night only for the moment of getting your final exam back,
determining your future through your own eyes, forgetting societies rotten words.
Our perceptions change as events take place:
Life is full of the simplicity and the complexity,
The illusion of the superb as a total of 5 percent,
Most living the imperfect struggling to be perfect,
What is your definition of perfect?
Perfect is society's way of establishing your integrity
Perfect is your quality within insignificance
Perfect is the defiance that exceeded your clients
From fancy cars to forty million dollar palaces;
Our illusion becomes apparent to this lower class performance,
But life goes on with the acceptance of never meeting that definition of perfect,
Even though yours may be ideal,
What is your definition of perfect?
None taking initiative after a lifetime of inheritance!
But in actuality, the eight bedroom houses can't determine your self worth,
nor can their ability to tear down your own lives,
My definition may seem rather altered,
but can you look at this tale and prevail from this selfishness upon us.
Put forth all effort towards this open-ended question,
and take a deeper look towards the crucial matter,
What is your definition of perfect?
Perfect is creating your own dream, not anyone elses.
Its the experience of living every minute with truth, love, and gratitude, Not living every minute consumed by work.
The flaws that embrace the attitude, not the flaws covered by society,
The proof of moral integrity, not the proof of your Beverly hills “house”.
We can't let our noble minds be influenced by this power,
Don’t spend time separating the pros and cons of your life,
focus on the relativity of the people in your lives,
embracing the creativity within yourself,
Taking none but initiative for your own life success,
determining your future of perfection through,
hours upon hours up in the night only for the moment of getting your final exam back,
determining your future through your own eyes, forgetting societies rotten words.
The Colombian Dilemma
Project Reflection
For the Globalization project, I researched the economy of Colombia and how drug production has played a major role in destroying the economy and many different aspects of the Country. Exploring globalized drug trade and the impacts that Colombia is facing with this problem. I created an Op-Ed that proposed plans for colombia and explained their crisis. I then designed a political cartoon that related to my Op-Ed. The Political Cartoon had to make a point and clearly stated what was happening in the cartoon. It would be easy to tell what the cartoon was stating without reading my Op-Ed.
After completing this project I have developed a new understanding of globalization that breaks away from the general Idea of globalization, including technological advancements and transportation advancements. I have now realized that the idea of globalization is much larger than the picture that everyone paints. This project has opened up the idea of globalized drug trade and long term effects on the economy. It clearly demonstrates that if your country is not a higher power and unwilling to cooperate in many ways, it will fail when the idea of globalization is introduced to the country.
Looking back at the first draft of my cartoon it has made me realize how much ideas change over time. I believe that my idea of over thinking my cartoon has benefited my final draft. I noticed that as I continued to improve the cartoon, my ability to add detail to characters improved. For example the three people that I had improved the features such as hair, clothing, and facial expressions. This really added emotion and made it easier to understand.
This writing assignment was different than any other writing that I have done because I was able to incorporate important Ideas towards solutions and my opinion towards the subject. This Op-Ed was a great opportunity for me to get a point across using my opinion towards something that I became passionate about during the process. I could use this to benefit my future writing because I now know what it feels like to be passionate about a writing piece and I could use this to my advantage in the future.
After completing this project I have developed a new understanding of globalization that breaks away from the general Idea of globalization, including technological advancements and transportation advancements. I have now realized that the idea of globalization is much larger than the picture that everyone paints. This project has opened up the idea of globalized drug trade and long term effects on the economy. It clearly demonstrates that if your country is not a higher power and unwilling to cooperate in many ways, it will fail when the idea of globalization is introduced to the country.
Looking back at the first draft of my cartoon it has made me realize how much ideas change over time. I believe that my idea of over thinking my cartoon has benefited my final draft. I noticed that as I continued to improve the cartoon, my ability to add detail to characters improved. For example the three people that I had improved the features such as hair, clothing, and facial expressions. This really added emotion and made it easier to understand.
This writing assignment was different than any other writing that I have done because I was able to incorporate important Ideas towards solutions and my opinion towards the subject. This Op-Ed was a great opportunity for me to get a point across using my opinion towards something that I became passionate about during the process. I could use this to benefit my future writing because I now know what it feels like to be passionate about a writing piece and I could use this to my advantage in the future.
Op-Ed Final Draft
Jake Beekmann
The Colombian Dilemma
The Colombian drug industry has put freight in the eyes of families and the economy. As a citizen of a fast developing country, I recognize the importance of what a strong economy is, compared to the struggling economy of Colombia. The drug industry begins to take over and cause harsh conditions that the lower and middle class are suffering severely from. I propose a solution that aims to build and support Colombia as a globalized country.
According to Louis Carlos, “Colombia is the third-largest economy in the region, home to nearly 50 million consumers and a rising middle class with significant economic mobility. With their gross-domestic product growth over the past four years estimated at close to 5 percent and the lowest inflation in decades, Colombia soon to become a member of the Organization for Economic cooperation and Development has fast become a major regional power” (Carlos, 4). Colombia has shown our nation and nations across the world that they have been incapable of achieving this goal. I believe that Colombia needs to look at improving many different aspects of their economy and government before being recognized as a regional power, in that sense. Especially, with globalization taking fast movements towards their country, preparation for this could be the goal.
Colombia is facing a drug problem, “producing nearly 350 metric tons of cocaine every year” (WOLA, Paragraph 3). This has been a major issue moving towards a productive economy, with Columbia's newly released Free Trade agreement with the U.S they are getting themselves into trouble with that situation, allowing Colombia to gain easier access in to the U.S.
I promote a solution to Colombia's economy, and and renewance in their drug problem. Colombia promotes more law enforcement, focusing their attention towards the training; this includes training of drug tracking to get the situation under control. The promotion of drug rehab, harsh punishment on the findings of illegal drugs.
As our nation begins to develope our military gets bigger, as a focus point towards more intensive border patrol it would be intended to enforce this by the U.S. As a nation, we emphasize directing our attention towards the next “big” thing. As the next big thing enters through the eyes of the Colombian government, the strive for a successful economy will begin to develop. The citizens of Colombia need to take action by being very willing to put effort into the growth of their own country. In Plan Colombia Garry Leech says, "the success of our strategy depends, also, on our efforts to reform and modernize our military forces in order to guarantee
the application of the law and to return the sense of security to all Colombians, in the totality of the national territory." (A closer Look, PC Leech)
“There 40 million Colombians living poorly out of a total of 47 million Colombians” (Rural Poverty Portal, 1). Of the other seven million Colombians, some are rich and others have a good life working in larger industries, businesses, and farms. When hard work pays off in the country you can clearly tell they are better off than families living under continuous conditions with illegal work.
Plan Colombia has proposed a plan that opens up Colombia's markets and their resources to foreign investors while cutting all of the government and social spending. Although I do not agree with cutting government spending, giving them an opportunity to open up law enforcement jobs. The Colombian Government was basically forced to agree to the policies that benefit the Colombian economic elite and other multinational corporations. Although, this is a very considerable action to the colombian Government, they need to take into consideration bettering the standard of their country. Meaning opportunities such as jobs and wellness programs will need to come into play, given the harsh conditions colombia is in with drug production, this could be very beneficial towards that movement.
After discovering an effective strategy that reaches out to the families and residents of Colombia suffering form this problem. The Country needs to do its very best to carry this solution out. This strategy also brings questions to the attention of the United States, gaining trust within the international community is a key factor in the widespread success of globalization especially, when you have the trust of the U.S. Although, it may take a very long time to gain that trust I believe the best intent towards that movement would be intensive border patrol for Colombia and highly trained law enforcement. It may be a difficult task for them at this time, but I believe it will make a huge impact with improving law enforcement advantages such as technology. The last thing I must say is, individuals in Colombia need to begin thinking for themselves.
Simon Trinidad would say “Drug violence is just the latest form of, or excuse for, violence in Colombia. History tells us that eliminating the violence directly related to the drug trade will do little to solve the underlying political, social and economic problems that have been the real cause of all the violence that has occurred throughout Colombian history” (Trinidad, 4). If all actions are taken, improving the law enforcement and creating opportunity for people under these conditions to detach from drug addiction will improve greatly in the community. This may not cut all drug production, but will be a step forward towards being a successful globalized world.
Works Cited:
An Interview with FARC Commander Simon Trinidad." An Interview with FARC Commander Simon Trinidad. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. <http://web.archive.org/web/20071230020009/http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia15.htm
"Drug Cartel from Columbia to Mexico to U.S. - 10/24/09." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 3 Feb. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJteGrEWHBw>.
Leech, Garry. Plan Colombia. Colombia Journal, 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 5 Feb. 2015.
http://web.archive.org/web/20071213230630/http://www.colombiajournal.org/plancolombia.htm
The Colombian Dilemma
The Colombian drug industry has put freight in the eyes of families and the economy. As a citizen of a fast developing country, I recognize the importance of what a strong economy is, compared to the struggling economy of Colombia. The drug industry begins to take over and cause harsh conditions that the lower and middle class are suffering severely from. I propose a solution that aims to build and support Colombia as a globalized country.
According to Louis Carlos, “Colombia is the third-largest economy in the region, home to nearly 50 million consumers and a rising middle class with significant economic mobility. With their gross-domestic product growth over the past four years estimated at close to 5 percent and the lowest inflation in decades, Colombia soon to become a member of the Organization for Economic cooperation and Development has fast become a major regional power” (Carlos, 4). Colombia has shown our nation and nations across the world that they have been incapable of achieving this goal. I believe that Colombia needs to look at improving many different aspects of their economy and government before being recognized as a regional power, in that sense. Especially, with globalization taking fast movements towards their country, preparation for this could be the goal.
Colombia is facing a drug problem, “producing nearly 350 metric tons of cocaine every year” (WOLA, Paragraph 3). This has been a major issue moving towards a productive economy, with Columbia's newly released Free Trade agreement with the U.S they are getting themselves into trouble with that situation, allowing Colombia to gain easier access in to the U.S.
I promote a solution to Colombia's economy, and and renewance in their drug problem. Colombia promotes more law enforcement, focusing their attention towards the training; this includes training of drug tracking to get the situation under control. The promotion of drug rehab, harsh punishment on the findings of illegal drugs.
As our nation begins to develope our military gets bigger, as a focus point towards more intensive border patrol it would be intended to enforce this by the U.S. As a nation, we emphasize directing our attention towards the next “big” thing. As the next big thing enters through the eyes of the Colombian government, the strive for a successful economy will begin to develop. The citizens of Colombia need to take action by being very willing to put effort into the growth of their own country. In Plan Colombia Garry Leech says, "the success of our strategy depends, also, on our efforts to reform and modernize our military forces in order to guarantee
the application of the law and to return the sense of security to all Colombians, in the totality of the national territory." (A closer Look, PC Leech)
“There 40 million Colombians living poorly out of a total of 47 million Colombians” (Rural Poverty Portal, 1). Of the other seven million Colombians, some are rich and others have a good life working in larger industries, businesses, and farms. When hard work pays off in the country you can clearly tell they are better off than families living under continuous conditions with illegal work.
Plan Colombia has proposed a plan that opens up Colombia's markets and their resources to foreign investors while cutting all of the government and social spending. Although I do not agree with cutting government spending, giving them an opportunity to open up law enforcement jobs. The Colombian Government was basically forced to agree to the policies that benefit the Colombian economic elite and other multinational corporations. Although, this is a very considerable action to the colombian Government, they need to take into consideration bettering the standard of their country. Meaning opportunities such as jobs and wellness programs will need to come into play, given the harsh conditions colombia is in with drug production, this could be very beneficial towards that movement.
After discovering an effective strategy that reaches out to the families and residents of Colombia suffering form this problem. The Country needs to do its very best to carry this solution out. This strategy also brings questions to the attention of the United States, gaining trust within the international community is a key factor in the widespread success of globalization especially, when you have the trust of the U.S. Although, it may take a very long time to gain that trust I believe the best intent towards that movement would be intensive border patrol for Colombia and highly trained law enforcement. It may be a difficult task for them at this time, but I believe it will make a huge impact with improving law enforcement advantages such as technology. The last thing I must say is, individuals in Colombia need to begin thinking for themselves.
Simon Trinidad would say “Drug violence is just the latest form of, or excuse for, violence in Colombia. History tells us that eliminating the violence directly related to the drug trade will do little to solve the underlying political, social and economic problems that have been the real cause of all the violence that has occurred throughout Colombian history” (Trinidad, 4). If all actions are taken, improving the law enforcement and creating opportunity for people under these conditions to detach from drug addiction will improve greatly in the community. This may not cut all drug production, but will be a step forward towards being a successful globalized world.
Works Cited:
An Interview with FARC Commander Simon Trinidad." An Interview with FARC Commander Simon Trinidad. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. <http://web.archive.org/web/20071230020009/http://www.colombiajournal.org/colombia15.htm
"Drug Cartel from Columbia to Mexico to U.S. - 10/24/09." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 3 Feb. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJteGrEWHBw>.
Leech, Garry. Plan Colombia. Colombia Journal, 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 5 Feb. 2015.
http://web.archive.org/web/20071213230630/http://www.colombiajournal.org/plancolombia.htm
Political Cartoon
Slaughter House 5 Seminar Reflection- 10/15/14
Was the firebombing in Dresden a justifiable military action?
Dresden In Class Essay
The bombing in Dresden in 1945 is not justifiable. Although the bombing of Dresden had focal points that aimed at ending the war sooner, I believe that it is unjustifiable to bomb a city full of civilians, given no part in World War 2. I do understand that there were no targets of military importance when taking into consideration the bombing of Dresden. What was the point of bombing a city full of women and children and crowded refugees, there is no point the city of Dresden was going to fall to the soviet advance soon anyways.
The bombing of Dresden did not have an impact on World War 2, therefore it was pointless in my opinion. I do think that the bombing made an impact on Europe after the war because it gave other countries a perspective on the morality of bombs and the proper uses of them. In the debate today in class one of the key arguments for the YES side was, “The bombing of Dresden shortened the war and put germany out of power by destroying their resources.” My personal opinion to this argument affirms that Dresden did not have a beneficial supply to the German army. The only thing that has been stated in our readings show that they had only produced glass for the scopes. It did almost nothing to end the war faster. I do not know where the idea of the war ending faster came from because it was not stated in any of our readings. Dresden was bombed at the end of the war, 2 and a half months before the complete surrender of all German forces. The German war capacity was already collapsing and it was only of significance as a communications and industrial center. Dresden did not have a big military base. The many factories is irrelevant to the bombing of civilians, therefore it did not benefit the timezone of the war. “It was nothing more than a slaughter of civilians.” (Heroes and Villains, Winston Churchill)
Firstly, the debate surrounded the Idea of legal or illegal bombing to the city of Dresden, but in my opinion this is irrelevant to arguments of morality. Secondly, this was not exactly the concept behind area firebombing. The idea was that killing and terrorizing civilians would turn them against their own government and insist upon surrender, and hopefully even create unruly, angry mobs among the lower classes. However as we should have learned from the previous years and many firebombings in the war, this never worked. Against attacks people do not become depressed and then just sit around. They only hate their attackers even more. We discussed this in the Debate a bit and I think that it is very accurate that the people of Dresden and Germany would just want to fight back even harder. This may not apply to the suffering civilians but It would make an impact to the fighting Germans that are relying on dresden for supplies.
Civilians have no intent of being a part of the war in any way and civilians should not be a target point in the war. War is immoral itself and people involved to not deserve to be dragged in because they carry a supply. How is it in any way that bombing an innocent civilian is justified? It is clear to both perspectives that the Firebombing of Dresden was dreadful for the civilians who were involved. In Document 7, it states, “We saw the burning street, the falling ruins and the terrible firestorm.” This passage shows the personal effect put on the civilians in Dresden and how tragic it was. The bombing that occurred in Dresden was unethical and immoral. It is corrupt and dishonorable to ever create violence in a group of innocent people who aren’t even involved. I feel that the tactics that the British army used were harsh, unnecessary and intolerable.
The firebombing in Dresden to me showed the truth of war from a new perspective. I interpret war from that view as a cheat, unfairness, and it was dishonest to the the Dresden Civilians. Document 9 states, “That the bombing of Dresden was a great tragedy none can deny. It is not so much this or the other means of making war that is immoral or inhumane. What is immoral is war itself. Once full-scale war has broken out it can never be humanized or civilized, and if one side attempted to do so it would be most likely to be defeated. This quote to me sums up the base of war and the reality of what you can be faced with, therefore I believe that war is unjustifiable.