http://hk.truveo.com/uc-students-protest-tuition-increase/id/632560181
http://www.tickerforum.org/cgi-ticker/akcs-www?post=118397

It is always hard to say goodbye

Because of the chaotic situation in Iraq and better education in Austria, Marji’s parents decided to send her to Vienna to continue her study. At first, Marji thought that her parents will come with her. Yet, when she noticed that they won’t go together, she felt that it was probably the last chance that she can live with her parents again even though her mother tried to comfort her by kept telling Marji that they will visit her very soon and pretended to be very excited about her trip. She was so reluctant to leave her parents alone.

When Marji was leaving the departure of the airport, she turned around to see her parents one last time; however, she saw something that she can never forgive herself - her mother fainted because of her. This scene looks familiar to me. I can still remember last year when I left home and went to US for my study, I have the same feeling that Marji did. “It would have been better to just go.” (153) One second, my mother was smiling like an angel when she said goodbye to me and the next second when I turned around, I can never forget that moment. She was crying like a baby. Before I went on board, I sat at the corner alone and the tears welled up in my eyes. I am a man and I know that a real man don’t need tears but it is just too hard to say goodbye.

Nuclear War (Response to Donald and William's presentation)

The presentation from Donald and William points out an important idea that we should keep our eyes on the development of nuclear technology.
In the above video, we can actually feel the power of using nuclear weapon. It only takes three seconds to destroy the entire city. Hence, a country that has the ability to handle nuclear technology will definitely posses a higher political power and be consider as a powerful nation; for this reason, many nations put numerous of resource in developing their own nuclear technology. Apparently, Iran is one of the nations that want to acquire higher international status. Yet, people worry that once Iran can fully handle the nuclear technology, they will use it in military purpose. Also, since conflict between Iran and U.S become larger and larger, people is now worrying that World War III will eventually happen and the world will probably be destroyed because of utilizing nuclear weapons.

You are and always will be my hero

Everyone should has his/her own hero. A hero doesn't need to be bulletproof, be able to fly in the sky or have any supernatural power, yet a hero should be the one people respect the most. Marji doesn't have any hero in her life, not until she met Anoosh, her father's brother, who was sent to prison for over nine years. She really love staying with Anoosh and listen to his legendarily experiences. Even though he was again sent back to prison and being executed, Anoosh is always the true hero in Marji's mind.

Like Marji, I always want a hero in my life. Someone like superman to protect me from any dangerous situation and take me to travel around the world. Yet, it seems that he has never come until one day I was in a family gathering. As I failed in the HKAL examination(a public examination that determine whether you can get into University in my home country), I sit alone silently and didn't talk to any of my relatives. Because of my awkward behavior, relatives start gossiping about me. And one of my cousins who already graduated from the university start insuiting me and saying that I should better go find a job and stopping studying. Right after he said that, my father condemn his impolite behavior and protected me by saying that I have already tried my best and he won't blame me. At that moment, I noticed that my father is the only one who always stand beside me and give me support. I am so proud to have a father like that and I have to say my father is my hero and he will always be.

Violation of Human right

The most valuable rights I think is the freedom of speech - to share our feeling without any restrictions. Due to the topic of Human rights, I would like to introduce a book called 1984 which is written by George Orwell.

In the story of 1984, the government has various policies to control the way that people communicated. For instance, the government restrict citizens to write something against them. If someone is caught, they will be forced to enter a training camp or will becommitted to death punishment. Also, government has the authority to control the mass media. They can block the unsuitable elements from the media and broadcast news which is beneficial to the government. In short, citizens don't have the rights to speak out.

Response to Persepolis
Similar to the situation happened in 1984, Iraqi should be very careful about what they have said. Just like the incident happened in Marji's mother. She felt really scare after the photo of her being involved in a demonstration was published in a magazine. In order to conceal her identity, she dyed her hair and wore dark glasses for a long time. It seems that there is a white terror happened around Iraq to restrict the freedom to express their opinion

Own Opinion
From my point of view, the restriction of the freedom of speech is tantamount to obstruct creativity. Imagine if speeches that go against government is strictly prohibited, what would happen to the public? The government is not just blocking the comments that is harmful to the society, but also some good suggestions to the government. As a result, the motivation of giving good advice will be diminished and the development of the society will be hindered.
I am so glad and really appreciate that I have the right to express my own feelings. This is the most vital rights that should not be violated.

US vs Iraq (Response to Sky's presentation)

Firstly, I would like to thank Sky as he gave us the real situation of what exactly happen in Iraq. And about the presentation, it was really great and informative. During the discussion part, a question raised my interest to view from a taxpayer's perspective. What will taxpayers think when they saw the U.S government spending billions of money to invade Iraq only because of the decision made by a man or a small group of people?
On one hand, it is so ironic that the government always claim that they don't have money for education and have to cut budget; on the other hand, they keep bumping money into the warfare. From what Sky said, the US has spent over $900 billion dollars as cost of war. Even though there are lots of people go against the war, it seems that the decision for the government to invade Iraq doesn't change. I am not saying that we shouldn't take any action if others try to attack us. Yet, we should not use it as an excuse to invade the other nation.

War is horrible but the most horrible thing is human being (Response to Deepti's presentation)

The above picture was taken in War World II, where a Japanese soldier was executing Chinese captives. Honestly, it makes me feel sick everytime I saw this kind of pictures. They use so many horrible methods to torture and kill the captives. It is undeniable that wars would involve a massive killing of people and this is a way to show to the others that the army is powerful and they have the right to kill people. Yet, it is always wrong to torture and kill people in such a cruel way. Thinking of the human history, how many similar incidents happened so far.
War is horrible but the most horrible thing is human being.

Something related to Deepti's presentation
Deepti share the same stand of mine, we both think that no one should be treated in a cruel way even though they have done something bad to the others. The more I heard about the method to torture the prisoner, the more I feel that human sometimes can be cruel like animals.

A Heartless Father

Ariz. Man Accused Of Mowing Down Daughter

Cops: Faleh Almaleki Angry Noor Faleh Almaleki, 21, Was Becoming Too Westernized

PEORIA, Ariz. (CBS) ―

Police in a Phoenix suburb say they have arrested an Iraqi immigrant suspected of running down his daughter because she was becoming "too Westernized."

Police in Peoria are releasing few details but say 48-year-old Faleh Almaleki is in custody. Police aren't saying where he was arrested or where he is being held.

Twenty-year-old Noor Faleh Almaleki is hospitalized in serious condition. Police say the Almalekis moved to the suburb of Glendale from Iraq during the mid-'90s.

Police say Faleh Almaleki was upset that his daughter had become too "Westernized" and he aimed his car at her Oct. 20 in a Peoria parking lot.

Almaleki called his wife and told her he was with police in Atlanta, his son told CBS affiliate KPHO-TV in Phoenix.


Response to Persepolis
I was really shocked when I first saw the heading of the news. A father killed her daughter only because she was too Westernized. I can't imagine how a father can be hardhearted enough to kill his daughter. I know that every culture has it's own rules. It seems that the father is the one who strictly obey the rules. Yet, he should notice that in a modern age, everyone should have their freedom to choose whatever they want. I am not saying that people should violate all the rules set by the ancestors and I also agree that we should respect to their own culture; however, It is not an excuse to kill people because they violate these rules. Just like the situation described in Persepolis, some Iraqi just can't withstand people who is westernized or violate any traditional rules.





Works Cited : "Arizona Woman Mowed Down By Iraqi Father Dies" CBS 5. Nov 3, 2009

Discrimination in Social class

This scene is actually talking about the social class problem in Iraq. People who are in the different social class can't be together. Like what Marjane said" But is it her fault that she was born where she was born?" It is not fair to segregate people by using social class. As no one can choose where they from, we can't judge people only because of the social class.
In my home country, social class discrimination always happen among us. If people with two different class get marriage, many people will have a gossip about that.