What are the consequences of ' just accepting the situation in which you find yourself [so] everything will be so much easier'?(Boyne 53)Bruno's father to Bruno.

When people find themselves in a difficult situation it is easy to come to a conclusion that accepting the situation is the right choice.

This doesnt necessarily mean that the person is a coward, perhaps they felt that accepting the situation was the braver thing to do for the good of the people they love, which is the case of Bruno's mother, or for oneself. The problem though is that accepting the situacion comes with its consecuences. I feel that the greatest consecuence is that of feeling regret. If you dont stand up for something you believed in at the time I think to some extent you will always regret it for the rest of your life. You will always have the feeling of 'what if'.

Another consecuence is that although it seems at the time that you are not taking a stand for someone you love for their good, in the long run this is not usually the case. In the book "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas", if the mother, along with all the other people who were against the cause had taken a stand the 'war' against the jews would probably have been over much quicker therefore making life better for the future. Bruno's mother didn't want to take a stand at the time, instead choosing to flee for the protection of her children but in the end, her actions and similar actions of many people around her are actually making it so the future of her children looks drearier. To sum it up, something that might seem like the right choice for the present might not be the best choice for the future.

The Treaty of Versailles

Was the treaty fair?

The treaty was unfair. True, a treaty should have and was rightly made, and Germany should have payed all of their debts for what they had done but, as Mrs. Whiting had said, maybe if the price for their destruction had not been to harsh, Germany may not have felt shamed and had felt the great need to gain dignity back, and gain back a lot what they had to give up.

The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty made after Germany surrendered from the first great war, (World War I) that started in 1917. This treaty was written and made by the allied powers (England, U.S, France, Italy and Japan) to require Germany to pay their debts and other restrictions and promises Germany had to agree to.

President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, declared that a league of nations should be made, a point made out of his 14, said to create lasting peace. This league, stated that differences would not be settled on a battlefield but around the table, negotiating and debating. This idea also stated that there should be equality between countries, but this rule only seemed to apply to those in Europe. In the end the treaty was made with these points.

80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria.

81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.

87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.

119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas

countries.

159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not

to exceed 100,000 men.

181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers,

12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.

198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or

naval air forces.

231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all

the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.

233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population

and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at

$33 billion].

428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory

situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied

troops for fifteen years.

431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany

complies with the Treaty.

Germany then agreed thinking it to be fair in balance of their destruction. But the treaty seemed to go past what it stated, the allied powers pushed the rules, wanting to punish Germany more then settle the agreement. Shaming Germany for their loss and striping them of their dignity. They lost forces, money, land and other important foundations to support a country. Feeling tricked, and embarrassed Germans started to rebel and the media started to tell the nation more about the unfair restrictions and payments. With no stable government and the last chancellor run out of the country because he agreed to Germany's surrender. Germany was desperate for a way to gain back their lost power and more, also for someone other then themselves to blame for their depression and loss. And thus World War II started, with Germany more hungry for total power than ever.

The treaty was unfair. True, a treaty should have and was rightly made, and Germany should have payed all of their debts for what they had done but, as Mrs. Whiting had said, maybe if the price for their destruction had not been to harsh, Germany may not have felt shamed and had felt the great need to gain dignity back, and gain back a lot what they had to give up.

No Man is an Island

How do these texts explore similar themes?

These texts all explore the idea that we, as human beings live in a society amougsnt other people with feelings and a heart. We are therefore not different islands but all apart of countries or cities put together to make continents, (mankind) and thus, the world. (as it says in John Donnes text). Because of this we must learn to take care of each other because ultimately, we depend on each other for survival. This is seen clearly in the short video, giving one of the many examples, homeless people, the type of people we as a society tend to turn our backs to and look away, when really these are the types of people who need our help the most. Like said before, it is important we help each other because we "are in this together". Society will always be better when everyone in it is benefiting in a positive way, " any man's death diminishes me". In Donnes text it also talks about how we must all help each other because one never knows when you will require the help of others so we must treat the needs of others as we would if they were the needs of friends or family, as we would see at others as we see family and friends, the 'same'.

How do the texts provide insights into prejudice and "otherness"?

The author of all the texts are clearly trying to portray a message out to the world, saying that mankind as a whole, needs to cooperate with each other and live peacefully. Opposed to living in a world where people misjudge others for the wrong reasons. (Color, appearence, language, beliefs, gender, race etc.) The book the island uses a single vulnerable and fragile man as a metaphor for all the people in our world that are left aside from society due to prejudices. And the villagers, big, bold, strong, and in a group, represent those who shut away all the ways that people could join hands and connect despite differences. Throughout the book many themes are shown behind the literal. For example when the man is forced to live in a goat pen, he is automatically de-humanized, and seen as an animal, put away and sacrified for the benefit of the group. All villagers look down upon him in disgust, disgusted by his difference all except for one man whose voice is not strong enough to save the stranger from this segregation and the mob's ignorance. All these concepts and more relate to real day problems in mankind and I feel the island is a great way to illustrate these complications.

Why do people make distinctions between "us" and "them"?

People make distinctions between "us" and "them" because it is much easier to judge someone and keep them away than to help them and try to understand their dissimilarity and accept it. What these people are failing to see is that helping others that are 'different' would benefit them, especially knowing that one day you might need their help in return. But instead people looking away not wanting to see, shutting their eyes away from a relationship that could be great and instead name 'them' and 'us'

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

What allows some individuals to take a stand against prejudice while others choose to participate in it? Consider Bruno’s grandmother, Kotler’s father, Bruno’s father, mother and sister?

All around the world, people react to situations differently because of the different circumstances they are in, thus making them see things with a different perspective and state of mind depending on how they have lived their lives and how they have been raised. In this book, Brunos father participates in the prejudice going on because it benefits him well under his circumstances. By doing so, he is given power and a higher position in the German army therefore socially as well, gaining respect from supporters of the Nazi party.

On the other hand, Kotler's father and Bruno's grandmother are in disagreement with the prejudice though their fight for this cause is looked down upon and hidden from others. Although we do not know much about them through the book, we can suspect their fight agaisnt the war is because of the way they were brought up and the knowledge they've gained from years of experience.

Bruno's mother does not really participate in the bias movement but she also does not take much of a stand other than her reaction to Bruno's father when she discovers the truth behind the concentration camps. Because of her position as the commandants wife it would not benefit her to speak out of line because all she really worries about is her childrens safety, to raise them in a good environment and good education.

Finally, Bruno's sister participates in the prejudice because of the things she says to Bruno when explaining to him whats going on. She does this because shes young and that is the only thing she has been taught, she is still not old enough to make up her mind for herself, especially since she has been brainwashed from all the propaganda.

My Learning Profiles kk/cc

This year my learning style has changed from 'L' I have now become both Profiles CC and KK. I have two because I feel that I use both sides of my brain left and right equally in and out of school. I think this year my learning profiles seem to suit me better as I feel I can relate more to the descriptions.

According to my learning profiles I learn best through movemnt, which I think is true, I like to be hands on and be interactive. My learning profile also states that I learn best by analyzing details and finding out what is emotionally relevant to me. And when learning I feel that I completely agree that I like to be taught in a very structual mannar, and I take in more when appropriate sequencing of the information is given to me. And even though I am a gestalt learner, my logical side allows me too easily follow step by step instructions even though I love to start imagining the finished project and doing tasks in the order I think is best.

My profile tells me I need to plan my 'movements' although I am usually spontanious and fluid, when under stress I need to take a step back and proceed with caution. Also my left eye scands from right to left, which seems a bit odd, since all the reading I've ever done has been left to right, I am not sure what this means but with it I can sometimes have difficulty concentrating on learning languages and I may reverse and jumble up all the letters in my head. I am not sure I totally agree with this, since I have never really expirienced it, but it sounds like something i might do under a great deal of stress.

Helping me with these challenges I have would be to do simple excersizes, for example Lazy Eights, Thinking Caps, This brain exercise increases blood flow to the brain. The extra blood flow, the extra water, switches the brain on. And to always keep me balanced I need to make sure I do both art based acitivities, and more logic based ones. For example, I few math excersizes, and a few minutes of free dance could be an easy routine to fit into my day.

I think my teachers should know I am the biggest procrastinator I know. It is extremely hard for me to stay concentrated on my work for long periods of time and especially when there is great amounts of work, I feel I get very stressed and I can't do it all. And more specifically on computers. I get side tracked with other websites and activities and it always takes me twice as long to get work done than it should. Finally the most important thing I want my teachers to understand is that I am very capable of using both my right and left side of my brain, and that I don't think I have a problem of reading languages, as the one I am taking now, French I enjoy very much and I have no serious problems with. I think i am well rounded with both sides of my brain I just need to keep it that way by balancing my activities on both sides.

Shutting Down Minds

Why would anyone have the right to close down a library, to close down a mind? To close down accessible knowledge to the public? To close down a paradise?

Governments right now in Britain have decided to shut the doors of many libraries around the nation. Through this act I feel almost disgusted that a council would consider this option whatever the circumstances. Yes, there might be an economy crisis but the last thing to resort to would be shutting down a place of free education to all. People all around the world rely on the access to a library, and access to internet. In the world of today internet access is immensely important to all, information is everywhere, jobs depend on the access of internet, and many people who do not have this luxury will not be able to exceed the expectations of our world today. So naturally people began to protest over this crime. But one anonymous person did so in such a way that not only shocked, but delighted most people.

This unknown artist has changed the form of protest and turned it into more of a silent cry for help. He or she has showed the importance of books through art. Which I think in most cases can create a much more meaningful message to all. I hope the government notices the artwork, and notices the importance of libraries to all.

Me in Three Objects (:

Me in Three Objects

Lots of my Old children’s books, Pictures of my old friends, a bulletin board with the things I want to have and accomplish, and my

ipod plugged into my stereo.

I am sure many people have heard and or know of this book. And to many people it is just another good book, but the reason I chose to bring it in as my “special object” for class, is because to me, this particular book brings back many memories with my two sisters. My sisters

would always read this book to me along with many others coming from a variety of children’s book authors. (Many from Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl etc.) They read to me at night, in the morning, in the afternoon, whenever I pleaded them to. They always agreed because not only was this book one of my favorite ones, it was definitely one of theirs too. I remember sitting up in my bed with the dim light coming from my night ta

ble and hearing the many impressions and voices my sisters would make to make the story even more exciting and fun then it already was. And so, when my sisters moved back to Argentina for university I was obviously sad. But whenever I read this book it would not only remind me of when they read it to me but all the memories I have with them in general. Even to this day when I have nothing to read, or I have just finished a book, or just because, I pick up this book and it makes me smile not only because of the memories but because it is simply a very fun book.

The second object in my room that I feel that represents me are all my pictures of my old friends back in M.K.I.S. I went to M.K.I.S for seven years so I made many good friends, some that I watched leave and some I

saw come into the school as a new student. But two of my friends that have been with me the longest are my two best friends Ella and Juliana. I have a million memories with them, some bad but a lot more are great. We had sleepovers every weekend, we would always stick together at school, and I remember laughing every second of the day. And when I left all my friends, I was de

vastated, but since they both live only few minutes away I try to see them as much as I can. So these pictures are only a few of the many memories I have to remind me of us, the rest are either on my computer or in the scrapbooks we all made. I know i’ll never make as many as I used to, but a few more experiences are enough for me.

Third would be my bulletin board. It is located above my desk so I can always see it, the reason that this is shapes who I am is because it has hundreds of cutouts from magazines that represent what I my hopes and wishes are in life pinned up. For example I have an array of fruits pinned up and for me this represents health, I have a high heel and a few quotes on

it representing fashion because for now my ambition is to work in the fashion industry. I also added a quote I found in a magazine of a lady of 100 that is still doing sports such as track and field. I loved this, and I was so happy for her that I decided to pin it up on my bulletin because I definitely want to be in her shape at that age. Finally for fun and decoration I also put down things like puppies, a Lamborghini, hearts, candy, and dragonflies.