Happiness And Meaning Project
This project was about us figuring out how we think that we find happiness and meaning. We also had a seminar with the public able to sit in about how we think that us as humans will find true happiness. We read the book Brave New World and we discussed the happiness factor in that book and then we also used the book as evidence in our public seminar that was specifically about finding happiness and meaning.
If You're Happy And You Know It
Happiness is very important in life. In the book Brave New World the people are always happy. Well at least that is what they think. They believe that they are happy even though they have a really bad life because they don’t know what real happiness is. They think that life is perfect, they couldn’t ask for anything more and nothing could be better. If you compare this to our world we are the opposite. We always want more and always want to be the better person. We see people who have a lot of money as the most happy people in the world because they don’t have any worries. They don’t have to worry about paying bills or their car breaking down. For example, people who make minumium wage have to work maybe three or four jobs just to pay their bills. They cannot be happy working all the time. But we don’t realize what actually makes us happy. Is it money or doing things we love to do in life make us happy?
I believe that happiness is compassion. Not necessarily love and kisses but I mean like caring for each other, helping others when they need help. Giving to others or being with your family that you care about. People think that having money and buying things makes you happy but that isn’t necessarily true. In the movie “I AM” someone said, “People think that if one thing makes you happy that having a thousand things will make you a thousand times happier, but that is a lie.” I think that compassion makes you happy. Not money.
Another thing that makes you happy is doing things that you love to do. Everybody has a passion. Whatever that passion may be it should definitely make you happy. People don’t really realize what makes you truly happy but when you do things that you love to do it makes you happy. That is why you do them. For example, Durango is a very expensive place to live for most people, but people still live here. People live here because they get to ski all the time and mountains are really close. So people live here because they are passioniate about being in the mountains, they don’t live here because they make a lot of money.
If there was no meaning in happiness then why would we be happy? Happiness has a meaning because if there was no meaning then there would be no happiness. Happiness is dependent on something, it doesn’t just happen. There is a reason why someone is happy. People seem to need a purpose or meaning to their life. A good example of this is in the book Brave New World, in this book the people are always “happy”, but they don’t know really why in a way. They think they are happy but they don’t know what actual happiness is because they don’t know what kind of things are beyond their jobs and homes because they live in a place where they aren’t aloud to basically be free and do things they want to do. They still know why they are happy because they think that their lives are perfect but really they don’t have a reason to be happy because they don’t know what is beyond their minds. Meaning is a very important factor in happiness because if we didn’t know why we were happy then are we really happy?
The cost in finding happiness is that we have to experience unhappiness to recognize when we are happy. If we are always happy then we wouldn’t know the difference. Being unhappy is natural and life has its ups and downs. As humans we usually want to be happy so we try to figure out different ways to make us happy. For example, even though the Palestinians the got kicked off their land they still find some ways to be happy in their everyday lives. If maybe something small but whatever it is may still make them happy. In life we have times when we are unhappy and that is ok because it is natural.
If I were going to tell my friend how to find happiness I would tell them to look at the unhappy things in life. I would tell them to look at their good friends and their family. Those people that they have a strong relationship with. They should seek out the things that they love to do and the people who they love to so them with. Happiness is an important factor in life but achieving is can be difficult.
I believe that happiness is compassion. Not necessarily love and kisses but I mean like caring for each other, helping others when they need help. Giving to others or being with your family that you care about. People think that having money and buying things makes you happy but that isn’t necessarily true. In the movie “I AM” someone said, “People think that if one thing makes you happy that having a thousand things will make you a thousand times happier, but that is a lie.” I think that compassion makes you happy. Not money.
Another thing that makes you happy is doing things that you love to do. Everybody has a passion. Whatever that passion may be it should definitely make you happy. People don’t really realize what makes you truly happy but when you do things that you love to do it makes you happy. That is why you do them. For example, Durango is a very expensive place to live for most people, but people still live here. People live here because they get to ski all the time and mountains are really close. So people live here because they are passioniate about being in the mountains, they don’t live here because they make a lot of money.
If there was no meaning in happiness then why would we be happy? Happiness has a meaning because if there was no meaning then there would be no happiness. Happiness is dependent on something, it doesn’t just happen. There is a reason why someone is happy. People seem to need a purpose or meaning to their life. A good example of this is in the book Brave New World, in this book the people are always “happy”, but they don’t know really why in a way. They think they are happy but they don’t know what actual happiness is because they don’t know what kind of things are beyond their jobs and homes because they live in a place where they aren’t aloud to basically be free and do things they want to do. They still know why they are happy because they think that their lives are perfect but really they don’t have a reason to be happy because they don’t know what is beyond their minds. Meaning is a very important factor in happiness because if we didn’t know why we were happy then are we really happy?
The cost in finding happiness is that we have to experience unhappiness to recognize when we are happy. If we are always happy then we wouldn’t know the difference. Being unhappy is natural and life has its ups and downs. As humans we usually want to be happy so we try to figure out different ways to make us happy. For example, even though the Palestinians the got kicked off their land they still find some ways to be happy in their everyday lives. If maybe something small but whatever it is may still make them happy. In life we have times when we are unhappy and that is ok because it is natural.
If I were going to tell my friend how to find happiness I would tell them to look at the unhappy things in life. I would tell them to look at their good friends and their family. Those people that they have a strong relationship with. They should seek out the things that they love to do and the people who they love to so them with. Happiness is an important factor in life but achieving is can be difficult.
Reflection
If I were to tell a friend how to find happiness the first thing I would do is ask them if they are passionate about anything and if so what it is. I would ask them who their closest friend and/or family member are. Then I would let tell them to do their passion and to spend time with that friend and family member that they are close to. I’m not sure if this will help them achieve happiness but this helps me achieve my happiness and I also love doing the things I love to do with my really good friends.
Over the summer I am going to try to use my advice to find happiness. I am going to do the things that I love to do and hang around the people that I love to be around. I am going to remember the seminar that we had on happiness and meaning and use things that I learned from that to find happiness over the summer. I intend to remember this topic because I believe that it was important and that it is useful so I really want to try to think about it over the summer.
Looking at this project and how it impacted my life I know that this has changed how I think about people and myself saying that we are happy because after reading this book and doing this lesson I realize what true happiness and meaning is so now I see this topic differently then how I did before the happiness lesson.
Over the summer I am going to try to use my advice to find happiness. I am going to do the things that I love to do and hang around the people that I love to be around. I am going to remember the seminar that we had on happiness and meaning and use things that I learned from that to find happiness over the summer. I intend to remember this topic because I believe that it was important and that it is useful so I really want to try to think about it over the summer.
Looking at this project and how it impacted my life I know that this has changed how I think about people and myself saying that we are happy because after reading this book and doing this lesson I realize what true happiness and meaning is so now I see this topic differently then how I did before the happiness lesson.
Model United Nations
This project was about an issue in the world and we each got a country that we would represent. I was South Africa. We then each had to research our country's perspective on the issue that we were working on. then we did a mock UN meeting like what they do in real life. The United Nations is a group were representatives from each country meet to solve issues.
Reflection
I think that this project was important because we found out things about the world that we didn't know about before and now we know how the United Nations deals with the worlds problems. I learned so much from this. I learned more about the North Korea issue and the Palestine issue and I never knew that these issues were going on before this project happened. I also learned how the UN works and how they solve issues.
I think that during the conference the habit of heart and mind I was most proud of was definitely perseverance. I think that I really persevered during this conference to do well because I made sure I made multiple comments, I engaged in the Unmoderated caucuses, and I made an amendment so I could get an A. I really tried to get an A on this project because I'm not good at Social Studies so I really tried hard to do my best.
I think that the greatest challenge that I had was doing the research for my country. I thought this was hard because I had trouble with trying to find something on my country perspective for both issues. It did take me a while to find something for both issues but I did find something on them. Also on the first issue (North Korea) I did not do much research so I got a bad grade so on the second issue (Palestine) I tried much harder which was a challenge but I was successful.
I think that the most interesting speech was Emily's (Russia). I think that she gave lots of information that was very helpful in understanding her perspective. I really enjoyed all of the detail she gave and how she used her allies in the speech and she gave great detail on her perspective. I thought that the best resolution was 2a because it was a strong two state solution for both sides and my country wanted to help both sides..
I think that during the conference the habit of heart and mind I was most proud of was definitely perseverance. I think that I really persevered during this conference to do well because I made sure I made multiple comments, I engaged in the Unmoderated caucuses, and I made an amendment so I could get an A. I really tried to get an A on this project because I'm not good at Social Studies so I really tried hard to do my best.
I think that the greatest challenge that I had was doing the research for my country. I thought this was hard because I had trouble with trying to find something on my country perspective for both issues. It did take me a while to find something for both issues but I did find something on them. Also on the first issue (North Korea) I did not do much research so I got a bad grade so on the second issue (Palestine) I tried much harder which was a challenge but I was successful.
I think that the most interesting speech was Emily's (Russia). I think that she gave lots of information that was very helpful in understanding her perspective. I really enjoyed all of the detail she gave and how she used her allies in the speech and she gave great detail on her perspective. I thought that the best resolution was 2a because it was a strong two state solution for both sides and my country wanted to help both sides..
Palestine Resolution
General Assembly
South Africa (Grant Gibson)
Palestinian right of return
A SOLUTION FOR THE ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT
The General Assembly,
Fully aware that Israel and Palestine have been fighting for over 60 years,
Observing that Israel and Palestine blame each other for this issue at hand,
Taking into consideration that the Israelis were pulled out of their country and thrown into Palestine,
Noting with deep concern that in 1947 the UN came up with a solution to accommodate both sides but the Palestinians refused and used violent force against Israel, which made the issue worse,
Aware of the Palestinians that are being forced to live in camps by the Israelis that are not in livable conditions,
Recalling that the UN has passed an amendment that the Palestinians have the right to return home if they’d like to,
Keeping in mind that we know that Israel has denied thousands of Palestinians right of return even though they do not have permission to do this,
Realizing that in the article “South Africa should support boycott of Israel” it states, “Depopulated military zones, an illegal apartheid wall stretching 810 kilometers, and more than 600 checkpoints prevent free Palestinian movement”,
Deeply disturbed about the condition of the camps and how most don’t have jobs or even clean water,
Believing that force will need to be applied to Israel and Palestine to get them to accept the UN’s 1947 resolution to split the state in half so half is for Israelis and half is for Palestinians,
1. Urges that we use the UN’s 1947 resolution of splitting the state in two:
(a) Half for Jewish and half for Palestinians;
(b) Anyone who refuses with force will have sanctions placed upon them whether that be Israel, Palestine, or any other Arab state;
2. Emphasizes that South Africa wants to help both sides and recommends a peaceful solution;
3. Requests that Israeli leaders and Palestinian leaders will come together for a peace talk so that they may live together in peace:
(a) Israel and Palestine will not separate cities/towns by religion;
4. Considers that transportation will be provided for the Palestinians who wish to leave Palestine and go to another Arab state:
(a) Palestinians may leave, by their choice, the camps and go to another state to live with the transportation provided;
5. Authorizes that the Israelis may keep the land but proper humanitarian aid must be provided from the Israelis for the Palestinians:
(a) This includes a proper place to live, enough clean water for everyone, enough food to supply everyone, a medical center, proper jobs for people, and enough education systems for all the children;
6. Reminds Israel and Palestine that these solutions will be the only non-military action plans offered at this point;
7. Proclaims that the UN will send in peacekeeper troops to stop this issue and physically split Palestine in two and force both sides to move:
(a) Palestinians and the Israelis will be forced to move even if they refuse;
8. Calls upon the United Nations to use military action if Israel, Palestine, or any other Arab state denies these actions with violence;
9. Further recommends that a solution be made within the next year.
South Africa (Grant Gibson)
Palestinian right of return
A SOLUTION FOR THE ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT
The General Assembly,
Fully aware that Israel and Palestine have been fighting for over 60 years,
Observing that Israel and Palestine blame each other for this issue at hand,
Taking into consideration that the Israelis were pulled out of their country and thrown into Palestine,
Noting with deep concern that in 1947 the UN came up with a solution to accommodate both sides but the Palestinians refused and used violent force against Israel, which made the issue worse,
Aware of the Palestinians that are being forced to live in camps by the Israelis that are not in livable conditions,
Recalling that the UN has passed an amendment that the Palestinians have the right to return home if they’d like to,
Keeping in mind that we know that Israel has denied thousands of Palestinians right of return even though they do not have permission to do this,
Realizing that in the article “South Africa should support boycott of Israel” it states, “Depopulated military zones, an illegal apartheid wall stretching 810 kilometers, and more than 600 checkpoints prevent free Palestinian movement”,
Deeply disturbed about the condition of the camps and how most don’t have jobs or even clean water,
Believing that force will need to be applied to Israel and Palestine to get them to accept the UN’s 1947 resolution to split the state in half so half is for Israelis and half is for Palestinians,
1. Urges that we use the UN’s 1947 resolution of splitting the state in two:
(a) Half for Jewish and half for Palestinians;
(b) Anyone who refuses with force will have sanctions placed upon them whether that be Israel, Palestine, or any other Arab state;
2. Emphasizes that South Africa wants to help both sides and recommends a peaceful solution;
3. Requests that Israeli leaders and Palestinian leaders will come together for a peace talk so that they may live together in peace:
(a) Israel and Palestine will not separate cities/towns by religion;
4. Considers that transportation will be provided for the Palestinians who wish to leave Palestine and go to another Arab state:
(a) Palestinians may leave, by their choice, the camps and go to another state to live with the transportation provided;
5. Authorizes that the Israelis may keep the land but proper humanitarian aid must be provided from the Israelis for the Palestinians:
(a) This includes a proper place to live, enough clean water for everyone, enough food to supply everyone, a medical center, proper jobs for people, and enough education systems for all the children;
6. Reminds Israel and Palestine that these solutions will be the only non-military action plans offered at this point;
7. Proclaims that the UN will send in peacekeeper troops to stop this issue and physically split Palestine in two and force both sides to move:
(a) Palestinians and the Israelis will be forced to move even if they refuse;
8. Calls upon the United Nations to use military action if Israel, Palestine, or any other Arab state denies these actions with violence;
9. Further recommends that a solution be made within the next year.
Palestine Policy Paper
Grant Gibson
Sara Price
Model UN
3/3/2014
South Africa’s position on the Palestinian right of return
Even though the Israelis were plopped on the Palestinians land, the Palestinians should not have to suffer because of this by having their homes taken away and by living in such unbearable conditions.
Right now the Palestinians are living in garbage and they are being beaten for no reason. The Palestinians were kicked out of their homes and they now have to live in camps by force, not choice. Jadeer Judah, an American born Palestinian who has been to a Palestinian camp recently stated, “It’s terrible there, there is trash everywhere, there is no clean water, there was 9 people living in my cousins “house,” Jay stated, “Its so bad that when you come back to here you feel like you are in heaven because here in America we have so much more than them it’s so unfair. When I was 15 years old I went down there to visit and a guard pulled over my taxi and held a m16 assault rifle to my head while yelling at me to show him my passport.” Although the South African chief rabbi supports that the Palestinians should not have the right of return, other South African politics still believe that they should have the right of return. In the article “In South Africa, Mahmoud Abbas Opposes to Boycott of Israel” it states,
“It has also emerged that South Africa’s chief rabbi, who spoke at Nelson Mandela’s memorial, is a committed supporter of Israel’s colonization of occupied land, a denier of its abuses of Palestinian rights and lived in a radical Israeli settlement, but other South African politics still believe in the right of return.” (In). My country also believes that the Palestinians should definitely have the Right of return because of the illegal refugee camps that all the Palestinians are forced to live in. In the article “South Africa Should support boycott of Israel” it states, “Depopulated military zones, an illegal apartheid wall stretching 810 kilometers, and more than 600 checkpoints prevent free Palestinian movement.” (South).
In the past the UN came up with a resolution for this issue in 1947, but it did not work because they did not enforce it enough. South Africa believes that the best solution for this issue is to go back to the UN’s 1947 resolution of splitting Palestine in half, so half is for the Jewish and half is for the Palestinians. S.A thinks this is the best solution because then the Palestinians can live in peace finally, but the Israelis still get to have land to live on. In the article “Nelson Mandela was close to Jews, resolutely loyal to Palestinians” it states, “Mandela always strove to be scrupulously fair to both sides, even though his inclination was very much towards the Palestinian side.” (Nelson). Mr. Mandela tried to be fair to both sides so he was always helping both of them even though that the Israelis imprisoned him for 18 years. In the article “South African Minister: “The Palestinian struggle is our struggle” the prime minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, states, “October 25 at Robben Island, the former prison where anti-apartheid hero Nelson
Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in jail.” (South). If the Israelis do not obey this resolution to make the land equal, then the UN will send in peacekeepers to stop Israel and to watch the border between what would become “Israel and Palestine.”
Sara Price
Model UN
3/3/2014
South Africa’s position on the Palestinian right of return
Even though the Israelis were plopped on the Palestinians land, the Palestinians should not have to suffer because of this by having their homes taken away and by living in such unbearable conditions.
Right now the Palestinians are living in garbage and they are being beaten for no reason. The Palestinians were kicked out of their homes and they now have to live in camps by force, not choice. Jadeer Judah, an American born Palestinian who has been to a Palestinian camp recently stated, “It’s terrible there, there is trash everywhere, there is no clean water, there was 9 people living in my cousins “house,” Jay stated, “Its so bad that when you come back to here you feel like you are in heaven because here in America we have so much more than them it’s so unfair. When I was 15 years old I went down there to visit and a guard pulled over my taxi and held a m16 assault rifle to my head while yelling at me to show him my passport.” Although the South African chief rabbi supports that the Palestinians should not have the right of return, other South African politics still believe that they should have the right of return. In the article “In South Africa, Mahmoud Abbas Opposes to Boycott of Israel” it states,
“It has also emerged that South Africa’s chief rabbi, who spoke at Nelson Mandela’s memorial, is a committed supporter of Israel’s colonization of occupied land, a denier of its abuses of Palestinian rights and lived in a radical Israeli settlement, but other South African politics still believe in the right of return.” (In). My country also believes that the Palestinians should definitely have the Right of return because of the illegal refugee camps that all the Palestinians are forced to live in. In the article “South Africa Should support boycott of Israel” it states, “Depopulated military zones, an illegal apartheid wall stretching 810 kilometers, and more than 600 checkpoints prevent free Palestinian movement.” (South).
In the past the UN came up with a resolution for this issue in 1947, but it did not work because they did not enforce it enough. South Africa believes that the best solution for this issue is to go back to the UN’s 1947 resolution of splitting Palestine in half, so half is for the Jewish and half is for the Palestinians. S.A thinks this is the best solution because then the Palestinians can live in peace finally, but the Israelis still get to have land to live on. In the article “Nelson Mandela was close to Jews, resolutely loyal to Palestinians” it states, “Mandela always strove to be scrupulously fair to both sides, even though his inclination was very much towards the Palestinian side.” (Nelson). Mr. Mandela tried to be fair to both sides so he was always helping both of them even though that the Israelis imprisoned him for 18 years. In the article “South African Minister: “The Palestinian struggle is our struggle” the prime minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, states, “October 25 at Robben Island, the former prison where anti-apartheid hero Nelson
Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in jail.” (South). If the Israelis do not obey this resolution to make the land equal, then the UN will send in peacekeepers to stop Israel and to watch the border between what would become “Israel and Palestine.”
North Korea Resolution
South Africa (Grant Gibson)
North Koreas Nuclear Weapons
THE SOLUTION TO NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR PROBLEMS
The General Assembly,
Keeping in mind that North Korea has threatened our allies,
Acknowledging that North Korea does test launches near the Russian border, which concerns them because they don’t want radiation to go into their villages that are on, or near the border,
Fully aware that in the article Russia is showing some concern, it says that Russia is becoming more concerned about their people because North Korea is launching nuclear tests around their border,
Fully believing that North Korea is still making nuclear weapons,
Taking into consideration that the UN has asked them, and talked to them about not making them because they shouldn’t have them in the first place, let alone be making so many of them,
Deeply concerned about the sanctions the UN has placed on them because that doesn’t really stop them from sending nuclear reactor plans to other countries that can be or are deadly to some of our (South Africa’s) allies,
Declaring our solution of compromising with North Korea and the members of the Security Council,
1. Further reminds that North Koreas people do need aid, so recommending that we (UN) can send aid (Food, Water, Health) to North Korea if they will disarm their nuclear weapons and if they also stop producing weapons;
2. Reminding North that South Africa would like a peaceful resolution for them and their allies;
3. Requests that we offer our aid with the disarmament of their nuclear weapons, but with less options:
(a) We will still hold on to full sanctions and we wont give them full aid until North disarms their weapons;
(b) Having China, as an ally of North Korea, help only give minimal aid to North;
(c) As well as helping disarm their nuclear weapons;
4. Calls upon locating all of North Koreas weapons and keeping control over them:
(a) Making sure that they wont be miss used;
5. Emphasizes that North may have a nuclear reactor but only for the use of a power source:
(a) No nuclear weapons producing;
6. Further proclaims that they may have a nuclear reactor but it must be monitored by some soldiers from neutral countries;
7. Strongly supports that North Korea may have nuclear reactor without watch of other countries but they must report the use of the reactor to the permanent member of the Security Council every time it’s used;
8. Further notes that the UN may send in troops to shut down the reactor if it is being miss used;
9. Considers that this resolution should be confirmed within 2 years.
North Koreas Nuclear Weapons
THE SOLUTION TO NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR PROBLEMS
The General Assembly,
Keeping in mind that North Korea has threatened our allies,
Acknowledging that North Korea does test launches near the Russian border, which concerns them because they don’t want radiation to go into their villages that are on, or near the border,
Fully aware that in the article Russia is showing some concern, it says that Russia is becoming more concerned about their people because North Korea is launching nuclear tests around their border,
Fully believing that North Korea is still making nuclear weapons,
Taking into consideration that the UN has asked them, and talked to them about not making them because they shouldn’t have them in the first place, let alone be making so many of them,
Deeply concerned about the sanctions the UN has placed on them because that doesn’t really stop them from sending nuclear reactor plans to other countries that can be or are deadly to some of our (South Africa’s) allies,
Declaring our solution of compromising with North Korea and the members of the Security Council,
1. Further reminds that North Koreas people do need aid, so recommending that we (UN) can send aid (Food, Water, Health) to North Korea if they will disarm their nuclear weapons and if they also stop producing weapons;
2. Reminding North that South Africa would like a peaceful resolution for them and their allies;
3. Requests that we offer our aid with the disarmament of their nuclear weapons, but with less options:
(a) We will still hold on to full sanctions and we wont give them full aid until North disarms their weapons;
(b) Having China, as an ally of North Korea, help only give minimal aid to North;
(c) As well as helping disarm their nuclear weapons;
4. Calls upon locating all of North Koreas weapons and keeping control over them:
(a) Making sure that they wont be miss used;
5. Emphasizes that North may have a nuclear reactor but only for the use of a power source:
(a) No nuclear weapons producing;
6. Further proclaims that they may have a nuclear reactor but it must be monitored by some soldiers from neutral countries;
7. Strongly supports that North Korea may have nuclear reactor without watch of other countries but they must report the use of the reactor to the permanent member of the Security Council every time it’s used;
8. Further notes that the UN may send in troops to shut down the reactor if it is being miss used;
9. Considers that this resolution should be confirmed within 2 years.
North Korea Policy Paper
South Africa
Grant Gibson
Sara Price
Model United Nations
4-2-14
Although North Korea is a sovereign nation and they need to protect themselves, South Africa doesn’t believe that anyone should have nuclear weapons and North Korea has threatened South Africa’s allies multiple times before.
North Korea has threatened, and they have done nuclear test launches around Russia’s borders. South Africa isn’t allies or enemies with North Korea. They just don’t get involved with each other. But S.A still doesn’t support the fact of other countries having nuclear weapons. South Africa Voluntarily dis armed their nuclear weapons not just because they can’t pay for them anymore, but also because they don’t think that nuclear weapons should be in any country. North Koreas test missiles are close to the border of Russia and Russia is worried about their towns around the border where North Korea is launching their tests. South Africa and Russia have a close relationship so if Russia is worried about nuclear weapons then South Africa will be worried too. In the article “Russia is starting to worry a little bit” it states, “Nuclear and missile tests have been carried out near Russian borders.” (Russia).
Although North Korea is a sovereign nation, South Africa and our allies should tell them that if they disarm their nuclear weapons, then we would help protect them from their enemies and from other threats to them, and we can help give them aid for their people if they are sick, or if they need food, and other necessities. In the article “Nuclear Weapon” it states, “South Africa is worried for its allies because they are worried about North Korea having nuclear weapons.” This is a good idea because we will not only have to not worry about them sending nuclear weapons at anyone, but they also will get support from us and our allies so then they will have food if their people need food, or they will have water if their people need water, or if someone threatens them then we (S.A and our allies) can all protect them.
Grant Gibson
Sara Price
Model United Nations
4-2-14
Although North Korea is a sovereign nation and they need to protect themselves, South Africa doesn’t believe that anyone should have nuclear weapons and North Korea has threatened South Africa’s allies multiple times before.
North Korea has threatened, and they have done nuclear test launches around Russia’s borders. South Africa isn’t allies or enemies with North Korea. They just don’t get involved with each other. But S.A still doesn’t support the fact of other countries having nuclear weapons. South Africa Voluntarily dis armed their nuclear weapons not just because they can’t pay for them anymore, but also because they don’t think that nuclear weapons should be in any country. North Koreas test missiles are close to the border of Russia and Russia is worried about their towns around the border where North Korea is launching their tests. South Africa and Russia have a close relationship so if Russia is worried about nuclear weapons then South Africa will be worried too. In the article “Russia is starting to worry a little bit” it states, “Nuclear and missile tests have been carried out near Russian borders.” (Russia).
Although North Korea is a sovereign nation, South Africa and our allies should tell them that if they disarm their nuclear weapons, then we would help protect them from their enemies and from other threats to them, and we can help give them aid for their people if they are sick, or if they need food, and other necessities. In the article “Nuclear Weapon” it states, “South Africa is worried for its allies because they are worried about North Korea having nuclear weapons.” This is a good idea because we will not only have to not worry about them sending nuclear weapons at anyone, but they also will get support from us and our allies so then they will have food if their people need food, or they will have water if their people need water, or if someone threatens them then we (S.A and our allies) can all protect them.
The Mask Project
Mask Reflection
I am most proud of the time and effort I put into my mask. I know it may seen like a lame thing to be proud of but I spent a lot of time on my mask. It took me 3 hours just to do the cracks on my mask because I had to think of how I should do them and how I should make them and then it took me 2 hours to draw them on my mask. It took me about 3 days to think of which colors to put on my masks. I had to take extra time to make a second mask to be the reflection in the mirror. I had to build the box with the mirror and figure out how to stand the masks up. I am proud of all this time I spent on it because I really like it and I think that all the time I spent on it helped it become better rather than if I only spent school time on it. I worked on it a lot outside of school.
I really like my paragraph on race the best. I am most proud of this because race issues are so bad I can’t believe that they are true. I feel like the race issues are so bad that it feels like are living in a video game because black people are so badly mistreated. “Lots of people today when they see a black person they think that they are going to steal something or they will kill somebody, or that they are a drug dealer. Many black people are disrespected nowadays because of their color. One of my old friends was black but I didn’t really care about that. We hung out almost everyday after school and we were really close. Many people made fun of him at school because he was black but I tried my best to stand up for him. I always treated him like a white person because that was how I felt that everybody should be treated.” I really did have a friend that was black and he was so sweet and nice that if you didn’t know he was black you would think that he was white. So many people mistreat blacks and say that they are in a “gang” or that they steal things although they might be really nice. I am proud of this because black issues are so wrong and I don’t like them.
I will probably remember all of the emotions that I had while doing this project. Some people thought that I was sad for some reason during this project and I was but I told them no I wasn’t. I was sad because I realized how bad the world is and how it is so stereotyped that you have to be this way to not get bullied and picked on. I also will probably never look at people the same as I used to because now I realize how there are these ways that you have to be and I realize that I got bullied in 5th grade because I didn’t “follow” the gender norms.
I think that I need to work on evidence because I feel that I could have used more evidence than what I had to explain it more and make it more interesting.
I am most proud of the time and effort I put into my mask. I know it may seen like a lame thing to be proud of but I spent a lot of time on my mask. It took me 3 hours just to do the cracks on my mask because I had to think of how I should do them and how I should make them and then it took me 2 hours to draw them on my mask. It took me about 3 days to think of which colors to put on my masks. I had to take extra time to make a second mask to be the reflection in the mirror. I had to build the box with the mirror and figure out how to stand the masks up. I am proud of all this time I spent on it because I really like it and I think that all the time I spent on it helped it become better rather than if I only spent school time on it. I worked on it a lot outside of school.
I really like my paragraph on race the best. I am most proud of this because race issues are so bad I can’t believe that they are true. I feel like the race issues are so bad that it feels like are living in a video game because black people are so badly mistreated. “Lots of people today when they see a black person they think that they are going to steal something or they will kill somebody, or that they are a drug dealer. Many black people are disrespected nowadays because of their color. One of my old friends was black but I didn’t really care about that. We hung out almost everyday after school and we were really close. Many people made fun of him at school because he was black but I tried my best to stand up for him. I always treated him like a white person because that was how I felt that everybody should be treated.” I really did have a friend that was black and he was so sweet and nice that if you didn’t know he was black you would think that he was white. So many people mistreat blacks and say that they are in a “gang” or that they steal things although they might be really nice. I am proud of this because black issues are so wrong and I don’t like them.
I will probably remember all of the emotions that I had while doing this project. Some people thought that I was sad for some reason during this project and I was but I told them no I wasn’t. I was sad because I realized how bad the world is and how it is so stereotyped that you have to be this way to not get bullied and picked on. I also will probably never look at people the same as I used to because now I realize how there are these ways that you have to be and I realize that I got bullied in 5th grade because I didn’t “follow” the gender norms.
I think that I need to work on evidence because I feel that I could have used more evidence than what I had to explain it more and make it more interesting.
Mask Essay
Are You Really You?
Many people think that if crime and murder stopped the world would be perfect. Do you think they are correct? Have you ever called someone different gay? Have you ever seen a cleaning ad with a man in it? Have you ever treated a colored person differently because they were colored? This is why the world will never be perfect. I have been socialized by society and the media to dress and act like a boy, that women always do the cleaning and cooking, and that being black is bad and wrong.
Many people say that if you dress like a girl or act or talk like a girl that you are homosexual. Doing different things or acting differently doesn’t mean you are, it means that you are different. When you act differently, people think you are homosexual because you don’t follow society’s rules on how you are suppose to be. For example in “My Princess Boy” One little girl asked Duson’s friend, “ why are you friends with Duson?” and Duson’s friend said, “Because I can.” “Just because he’s different doesn’t mean he can’t have friends.” Duson is a little boy that wears dresses and acts feminine. People think he is gay and say that he is but that doesn’t mean he really is. Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re gay. I have socialized to think that it is bad to dress like a girl or else I’m gay although I’m not actually homosexual.
I have been socialized by society and the media to think that being black is bad and wrong. Have you ever realized how colored people feel? Maybe lonely, maybe like they don’t belong here? This is how they are treated. White people treat colored people like trash and give them less rights then white people because they are colored. We make colored people feel like they aren’t supposed to exist. Lots of people today when they see a black person they think that they are going to steal something or they will kill somebody, or that they are a drug dealer. Many black people are disrespected nowadays because of their color. One of my old friends was black but I didn’t really care about that. We hung out almost everyday after school and we were really close. Many people made fun of him at school because he was black but I tried my best to stand up for him. I always treated him like a white person because that was how I felt that everybody should be treated. Just like in “The R-Word” a group of whites and a group of blacks were brought into a room and ask on a scale 0 to 100 how close the world is to solving race issues. The white group said that 50% of race issues is gone. The black group said that about 5% to 7% percent is gone. The white group was asked if they had ever had trouble with getting a job. They said no that they had never been interviewed by a black person before. The same was asked to the black group and they said that yes they have had trouble getting a job before. They were also asked if they had ever been stopped and searched randomly and the black group said yes and the white group said no.
Have you ever seen a man in a cooking or cleaning ad? No? That’s because there are stereotypes that women are supposed to clean and cook and are not supposed to work or play. Women have these stereotypes but that doesn’t mean that women can’t do something else like biking, working or playing. In class we watched some cleaning and cooking ads and all of them had women in them, no men in any of them. In the video “stereotyping women” there was a bunch of ads for cleaning and cooking and all of the people in it were women. This is because people think that women should always cook and clean and men should work and play.
If society didn’t have all of these stereotypes and ways that you have to be to fit in then the world would be a much more peaceful place for everyone. Everybody could act how they wanted to and dress the way they want to. I am trying to take a small step towards that. I am acting like I don’t know any stereotypes and now I wont judge people anymore and categorize them. I am treating everybody the same no matter what color or gender or whatever they are. How they should be treated. Just because you’re black, gay, or a women that goes out and plays, doesn’t mean that you’re not supposed to be here, or that you are wrong, it means that you don’t listen to society, which is good, that is what everybody in the world should do.
My mask has many meanings. The mask looking into the “mirror” shows how I actually am. The reflection in the mirror is showing how society has formed me. The symbol on the mask in the mirror in pink means “manly” in Chinese. The symbol in green means, “don’t be a pussy” in Chinese. I chose these words because these are words that make people feel like they can’t be the way they would like to be. Theses are words that people tell their kids and other friends or family because they aren’t “strong enough.” All of the words that are all over the mask are things that a “real man” should like. These are things that I have to do or like to fit in with society. Inside the eyes and the mouth are the ways I feel when I have this mask “on.” The mask looking into the mirror is how I actually am. It is cracked because I am destroyed and heartbroken at how I am because of society and that I have to be a certain way to fit in with society or else I will be bullied or called gay. The words are things that I love to do and things I like. I am so sad that I can’t act the way I actually want to be. I feel like I am heart broken that I can’t be the way that I would like to be. I feel that I can’t tell anyone anything about me because they might think I’m “gay” and might tease me and beat me up. I sometimes just wish that the world could just stop with everything bad and be crime free, and judge free, and stereotypes free, and that everybody would be friendly. I think how much more fun the world would be and how many more friends everyone would have because nobody would judge or care about how you actually are.
Many people think that if crime and murder stopped the world would be perfect. Do you think they are correct? Have you ever called someone different gay? Have you ever seen a cleaning ad with a man in it? Have you ever treated a colored person differently because they were colored? This is why the world will never be perfect. I have been socialized by society and the media to dress and act like a boy, that women always do the cleaning and cooking, and that being black is bad and wrong.
Many people say that if you dress like a girl or act or talk like a girl that you are homosexual. Doing different things or acting differently doesn’t mean you are, it means that you are different. When you act differently, people think you are homosexual because you don’t follow society’s rules on how you are suppose to be. For example in “My Princess Boy” One little girl asked Duson’s friend, “ why are you friends with Duson?” and Duson’s friend said, “Because I can.” “Just because he’s different doesn’t mean he can’t have friends.” Duson is a little boy that wears dresses and acts feminine. People think he is gay and say that he is but that doesn’t mean he really is. Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re gay. I have socialized to think that it is bad to dress like a girl or else I’m gay although I’m not actually homosexual.
I have been socialized by society and the media to think that being black is bad and wrong. Have you ever realized how colored people feel? Maybe lonely, maybe like they don’t belong here? This is how they are treated. White people treat colored people like trash and give them less rights then white people because they are colored. We make colored people feel like they aren’t supposed to exist. Lots of people today when they see a black person they think that they are going to steal something or they will kill somebody, or that they are a drug dealer. Many black people are disrespected nowadays because of their color. One of my old friends was black but I didn’t really care about that. We hung out almost everyday after school and we were really close. Many people made fun of him at school because he was black but I tried my best to stand up for him. I always treated him like a white person because that was how I felt that everybody should be treated. Just like in “The R-Word” a group of whites and a group of blacks were brought into a room and ask on a scale 0 to 100 how close the world is to solving race issues. The white group said that 50% of race issues is gone. The black group said that about 5% to 7% percent is gone. The white group was asked if they had ever had trouble with getting a job. They said no that they had never been interviewed by a black person before. The same was asked to the black group and they said that yes they have had trouble getting a job before. They were also asked if they had ever been stopped and searched randomly and the black group said yes and the white group said no.
Have you ever seen a man in a cooking or cleaning ad? No? That’s because there are stereotypes that women are supposed to clean and cook and are not supposed to work or play. Women have these stereotypes but that doesn’t mean that women can’t do something else like biking, working or playing. In class we watched some cleaning and cooking ads and all of them had women in them, no men in any of them. In the video “stereotyping women” there was a bunch of ads for cleaning and cooking and all of the people in it were women. This is because people think that women should always cook and clean and men should work and play.
If society didn’t have all of these stereotypes and ways that you have to be to fit in then the world would be a much more peaceful place for everyone. Everybody could act how they wanted to and dress the way they want to. I am trying to take a small step towards that. I am acting like I don’t know any stereotypes and now I wont judge people anymore and categorize them. I am treating everybody the same no matter what color or gender or whatever they are. How they should be treated. Just because you’re black, gay, or a women that goes out and plays, doesn’t mean that you’re not supposed to be here, or that you are wrong, it means that you don’t listen to society, which is good, that is what everybody in the world should do.
My mask has many meanings. The mask looking into the “mirror” shows how I actually am. The reflection in the mirror is showing how society has formed me. The symbol on the mask in the mirror in pink means “manly” in Chinese. The symbol in green means, “don’t be a pussy” in Chinese. I chose these words because these are words that make people feel like they can’t be the way they would like to be. Theses are words that people tell their kids and other friends or family because they aren’t “strong enough.” All of the words that are all over the mask are things that a “real man” should like. These are things that I have to do or like to fit in with society. Inside the eyes and the mouth are the ways I feel when I have this mask “on.” The mask looking into the mirror is how I actually am. It is cracked because I am destroyed and heartbroken at how I am because of society and that I have to be a certain way to fit in with society or else I will be bullied or called gay. The words are things that I love to do and things I like. I am so sad that I can’t act the way I actually want to be. I feel like I am heart broken that I can’t be the way that I would like to be. I feel that I can’t tell anyone anything about me because they might think I’m “gay” and might tease me and beat me up. I sometimes just wish that the world could just stop with everything bad and be crime free, and judge free, and stereotypes free, and that everybody would be friendly. I think how much more fun the world would be and how many more friends everyone would have because nobody would judge or care about how you actually are.
Tragedy Project
Graphic Novel
Play Script
The Walking Dead
Prologue:
(Travis (Xanders best friend) and Xander sitting on the side of the street in a dirty alleyway with lots of trash around)
Xander: I don’t feel too well today. Maybe it’s because I’m homeless and have no real reason to live anymore besides for my daughter.
Travis: Why? You know, you never really told me your life story and how you got to Skid Row.
Xander: Well… It all started when I was at my amazing job. I was at a meeting for a new customer that would help his reputation get even bigger if he would sign, the Skittles Company.
Scene 1:
(The scene travels back in time to his job at The Promoting Palace, meeting with the executive director of Skittles.)
Xander: How do you feel about signing a contract with our company?
Felix: I feel like this is the best advertising place in the city, so I will sign the contract.
(Phone rings)
Xander: Hang on I must take this, hello?
Joan the clerk: Hello Mr.Xander this is Joan from the Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles. Your daughter is here, her school called us, and she is very very sick, we think you should come here now.
Xander: OK I am on my way! (Xander hangs up phone) I’m sorry but I must go, my daughter is very sick and I have to go to the hospital right now!
C.E.O: If you leave right now you will be suspended for at least a week!
Xander: I’m sorry but I have to go. This is very important to me.
(In the hospital in Ellens room on the 6th floor towards the back of the building, Xander walk in the room and approaches Ellen)
Xander: Hey sweetheart how are you?
Ellen: I don't feel well at all daddy.
(The doctor walks in)
John the doctor: Hello Mr.Xander, your daughter is in bad shape….
Xander: By any chance do you know what’s wrong with her?
John the doctor: She has pneumonia, she has entered stage 4 out of 5 but she has a Good chance of living. We can do surgery and give her “special” medicine, but it will cost a lot of money.
Xander: That is fine, do whatever you can to save her, I can’t lose her the way I lost Teresa many years ago!
(Travis interrupts)
(Xander and Travis sitting on the side on the street in a dirty alleyway with lots of trash around them)
Travis: Sorry to interrupt but who is this women you speak of?
Xander: She was my wife, I loved her with all my heart.
Travis: What happened to her? How did she fatally pass?
Xander: While I was away she got very sick, I was driving home to take care of her and I got the call.
Travis: Oh I’m so sorry about that, now continue with your story
(Xander continues where he left off in his story)
John the doctor: Ok, well we will call you and let you know when we are ready for the surgery.
(Xander holds his daughter as the doctor leaves the room)
Ellen: Daddy, am I going to be ok?
Xander: Yes sweetheart you are going to be just fine, daddy is going to help get you better…. don’t worry.
(One hour later at his new job at Walmart)
(Xander’s phone rings)
Xander: Hello?
Rosie the fire department lady: Hello Mr.Xander this is Rosie from the Los Angeles fire department, we are at your house on James Fenimore Cooper lane and your house has burned down…
Xander: What! What happened? How did this happen?
Rosie the fire department lady: It seems that your candle caught your curtains and the rest just went up in a blaze.
Xander: OK I’m on my way!
(He hangs up the phone, then drives to what's left of his home)
Rosie the fire department lady: I’m afraid that your house is going to need a lot of work done to it to repair it. It will cost a lot of money and it will take a couple of years to rebuild it.
Xander: I’m afraid that I don’t have enough money at the moment because my daughter is in the hospital and I have pay for that, so I can’t afford to pay for anything else at the moment.
Rosie the fire department lady: I am so sorry about that and I you will still need to pay for the land until you decide to put it on the market to sell it.
Xander: Ok, thank you.
Chorus:
Once there was a house,
now there is just dust,
it is like it was never existed,
he has almost no money to pay,
and now he has less money,
for the expenses that must be paid.
Scene 2:
(Xander leaves to go back to his daughter, he walks into his daughters room.)
Ellen: Daddy! I missed you. (She sits up and hugs him)
Xander: I know sweetie but I really need to tell you something.
Ellen: What is it?
Xander: I… I lost my job and our home burned down, but I can find a new one. I promi-
(Ellen interrupts)
Ellen: Daddy it’s ok as long as you are ok and you didn't get hurt I am happy no matter what.
Xander: But I will help you get better so don’t worry about me just worry about getting healthy again. Now I must go, I have to go help Travis.
Ellen: Ok Daddy, be safe. I love you.
Xander: I love you too sweetheart.
(Scene ends)
Chorus:
Sometimes love will overcome you,
you would do anything for love,
you would even become homeless for love,
how far you go,
is really up to you.
Scene 4:
(Xander leaves the hospital and goes to see Travis but the scene goes back to the present time.)
Xander: Yup, that’s how I got here, my daughter Ellen is still in the hospital and she is getting worse. I lost my job at Walmart and I have no money left to help her, that’s how I became homeless.
Travis: That is so sad...how are you going to help her? You’re homeless, you have no money.
Xander: I don’t know, but I will figure out how I will. Being homeless is harder and different then I thought it was. I thought that homeless people could just go get a job and work their way out of it but now i realize that they can’t because they may have had something tragic happen to them and they have to pay for that.
(Cop walks up to Xander looking for him to deliver a message)
Cop: Are you Xander Bottomsworth?
Xander: Yes thats me.
Cop: I have a message from Joan from the Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles and she said that you need to go to your daughters room immediately.
Xander: Ok! Thank you! Sorry Travis but I gotta go!
(Xander runs to the hospital then to Ellens room)
Xander: What’s wrong! What happened?!
John the doctor: We have bad news…. your daughter has passed…. I’m so sorry…. We did all we could to save her…
Xander: What? (tearing up) She….She’s gone?
John the doctor: Yes…. I’m so sorry…. I will leave you to be alone for a while.
(doctor leaves)
Xander: (yelling and sobbing to himself) Why did this have to happen to me?!?! I had a good job, I was successful in life, I didn’t do drugs, I had a house. I wasn’t homeless and now I am! Why did she have to go?!?! Why couldn’t it have been me instead of her?!?! What did I do to deserve this?!?! Why did I have to lose both of them?!?! Oh Ellen I love you!! Oh Teresa I love you!!
Chorus:
Many people get sick,
and most make it out,
but some are unlucky,
some don’t come back after the sickness,
it is always sad when this happens,
but the saddest part is,
it is part of life.
(Xander opens the window facing into an alleyway where no one is at and pulls out his pocket knife and steps out of the window onto the ledge)
Xander: (looking to the sky) I don’t deserve to keep my heart. I never want to love ever again……. Ellen…. Teresa….. I.. I love you both with all my heart………… (whispers to himself) I love you…….
(Xander stabs himself in the heart and falls out the window and dies)
(An ambulance, a police car, and a dead body outside of the hospital from a birds eye view)
Chorus:
He had it all,
his life was great,
But then tragedy fell upon him,
he lost it all,
It was his fate to fall,
Everyone is one tragedy away from being homeless,
he had such love,
but all at once,
it was all gone.
The End
Project Reflection
I am most proud of my writing. I feel that my writing in my play was good and I took lots of time on it and I think that it is pretty good. I am proud of it because I spent lots of time on it and I also revised it a lot and I also changed things many times to make sure that everything made sense and was in order. But I feel that I got a little bit carried away when writing it and I may have strayed off of my topic that it was about because writing was so fun so I did get carried away a bit.
If I were to give advice to a student next year I would tell them to make sure it is understandable. Make sure that you put in detail to tell the reader or watcher where they are and what is going on. I would also tell them that they need to make sure that they spell check and to make sure that nothing Is wrong like to have no wrong grammar or spelling and to make sure that it makes sense.
I feel that working in partners was really good because you both could take something home to work on at the same time instead of you having to do it all, but I think that partners wasn’t good too because in some cases you ether needed to be together or only one person could do the thing. That is bad because if one person can’t get together then one person would have to do everything by themself. It was helpful though and was fun because two head are better than one (sometimes).
The most challenging task for me was probably trying to stay on task (not like goofing off). I kept getting excited and was like “we should do this and that” but I then realized that those things had nothing to do with homelessness. After I wrote the play I had to go back and add things in about homelessness because there was nothing about homelessness really because I got carried away from what it was supposed to be about. But towards the end I figured out how to not do that and I then finished my play in the correct way.
If I were to give advice to a student next year I would tell them to make sure it is understandable. Make sure that you put in detail to tell the reader or watcher where they are and what is going on. I would also tell them that they need to make sure that they spell check and to make sure that nothing Is wrong like to have no wrong grammar or spelling and to make sure that it makes sense.
I feel that working in partners was really good because you both could take something home to work on at the same time instead of you having to do it all, but I think that partners wasn’t good too because in some cases you ether needed to be together or only one person could do the thing. That is bad because if one person can’t get together then one person would have to do everything by themself. It was helpful though and was fun because two head are better than one (sometimes).
The most challenging task for me was probably trying to stay on task (not like goofing off). I kept getting excited and was like “we should do this and that” but I then realized that those things had nothing to do with homelessness. After I wrote the play I had to go back and add things in about homelessness because there was nothing about homelessness really because I got carried away from what it was supposed to be about. But towards the end I figured out how to not do that and I then finished my play in the correct way.