Blog Post #4: Being a Global Citizen

1. What effects have political structures had on women?
In the United States our democratic government has helped to significantly advance women's equality. In the past, women weren't able to vote, get a quality education, hold jobs, run for office, or make their own decisions, among many other things. Now, with the help of our inclusive political system, women can vote, get a good education, have high-up jobs, run for office, and fight for our country. We can also make our own decisions about things such as divorce and abortion. Women's rights and equality have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go before total equality is reached.

The Afghan government had what was considered its first democratic election in 2004. Before that, the government was not democratic and seemed more oppressive, which really affected women. In Afghanistan, the average woman will live to only 45 years old, many women are illiterate, more than 50% of all brides are under 16 years old, 87% of women have experienced domestic violence, there are more than one million widows on the streets, and it is the only country that has a higher rate of suicide in women than in males. NATO is trying to help Afghanistan change, which will only benefit women, but change takes time.

In Iraq, the government and politics hasn't been very structured since the U.S. invasion. Since the invasion women have been imprisoned, the literacy rate is one of the lowest among Arab countries, women and girls fear going to work and school because of increased kidnapping and rapes, and more than one million women have been displaced from their homes. Women will continue to suffer as long as there is unrest in Iraq and an unstructured government.

2. How equal are women to men in our country, in other countries, eras, etc.?
In past in the United States, women weren't equal to men, but over time, we have received more rights and more equality. As time goes on, the inequalities between men and women decrease, but there are still significant differences in the equality of men and women. Men still make more money than women. In 2013, the median weekly earnings for women in full-time management occupations was $973 compared to $1,349 for men.

Sweden is considered one of the world's most gender equal countries. They believe that men and women should share power and influence equally, and that everyone, not matter their gender has the right to work and support themselves.

Yemen is ranked as one of the worst countries for gender equality. Historically, the women of Yemen have always been below men. Yemeni women don't have many economic, social, or cultural rights.

Blog Post #3: What's Current Creates Currency

3. I think popular music reflects the majority of our younger society's beliefs and values, but at the same time, I think it can dictate what we believe. A lot of artists sing about what's happening in our society today, which helps explain what most young people believe. On the other hand, since popular artists have a lot of influence, the messages in their music can change what their fans believe.

4. Music usually becomes popular because of the popularity of the artists who sing it. Well-known artists are the ones whose music is played most often on the radio, because these artists have the most power and influence on consumers, as opposed to lesser-known artists. Occasionally, unknown artists' songs become popular, but I think that's because their music is considered revolutionary and/or different.
Everyone has a different definition of what they consider to be art. I think 'pop' art can be 'real' art, because to me, almost anything is art. If a person creates something that they think is art, then it should be considered art.

5. Depending on the type of media, different genres of music are used to entertain. Music is used to add interest to media. Without music, most media would be very uninteresting. If you think about it, almost all commercials, TV shows, and movies have some type of music in them, and that's because it adds interest.

6. I don't think music shapes peoples' ideologies as much as peoples' ideologies shape the type of music they listen to. People choose to listen to music that they like and that matches their beliefs. They wouldn't listen to music if they didn't agree with its message or if it changed their beliefs.

7. A lot of music is about cultural values, especially the music of today. Music is a way to send messages and ideas, and artists utilize music for that reason. Many popular artists spread their opinions through their music, which is usually the popular opinion of our culture. Music is a way to explain and spread cultural values.

Blog Post #2: Better Left Unsaid?

1. I chose "Hills Like White Elephants" and the passage after the American and the girl started talking about the operation.
2. I decided to elaborate this passage, because the characters are saying things that on the surface they seem to mean, but underneath I think there are different emotions beneath what they're really saying. I wanted to show those emotions.
3. I decided what to write/say by looking at the passage and finding what I thought the characters' emotions actually were versus what they were saying. The techniques that I used that were opposite of Hemingway's were characters' thoughts and details.

     The girl looked at the bead curtain, put her hand out and took hold of two of the strings of beads. She wanted to change the subject. She didn't want to keep talking about this operation. She didn't want to have to deal with this right now. All she wanted was for their relationship to go back to normal and for all of their problems to be fixed.

     "And you think then we'll be all right and be happy?" she asked, wanting his confidence, because she wasn't so sure herself. If he said it would be okay then it would be, or at least that's what she wanted to believe.

     "I know we will. You don't have to be afraid. I've known lots of people that have done it." He tried to sound strong and sure so that she would believe him.

       "So have I. And afterward they were all so happy," she said trying to reassure herself that this was the right thing to do.

    "Well," the main said, "if you don't want to you don't have to. I wouldn't have you do it if you didn't want to." He wanted to sound sincere, but he didn't truly mean what he was saying. Of course he wanted her to go through with the operation. It would fix their problems. He needed to be more persuasive. "But I know it's perfectly simple."

    "And you really want to?" she asked, still very unsure of what her decision should be.

    "I think it's the best thing to do. But I don't want you to do it if you don't really want to," he said, now trying to convince her in a more subtle yet compassionate way.

    "And if I do it you'll be happy and things will be like they were and you'll love me?"

    "I love you now. You know I love you."

    They both wanted their relationship to go back to normal and for the other to be happy. The journey to find that happiness, though, was more difficult for one of them, because that person had more to sacrifice.