Non-Western World Research Paper
Since many of you have finished your research and have started drafting your papers, I thought that it would be a good idea to post which world leader/activist you decided to focus on, and why you chose him/her. What is it about their story that inspires you?
I chose The Gautama Buddha. I chose him because his life has inspired me to also find the lifestyle that makes me happiest. A life where I don't get bored, get depressed, get heartbroken. Like the Buddha, I want to find a life of inner peace. If the Buddha can find it, and billions of other people around the world have been able to find it ever since he did, then it makes sense to write a paper on such an influential man.
ReplyDeleteI choose Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi because of his Philosophy on non-violence is brilliant. He is less credited with using this as MLK JR is. Also this is the philosophy i believe in most.
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ReplyDeleteI chose Arundhati Roy
ReplyDelete1. Because she is still alive; I like the idea of knowing that our world does have people who push and fight for social change- it motivates me!
2. She is a woman. Roy grew up in India, a nation ravaged by corruption in so many spheres of social, political, and economic life. I find it interesting- and ever more motivating- that women fight for social change at times when men are scared to do so. I say this because in a country like India, women are not seen as equals. Thus, to be of the lower class in India is already enough to be oppressed, but then add on the fact that she is a woman and that just SEEMS as if she would drown in oppression. Yet, she has managed to rise to center stage because of her fervor and commitment to her dreams. I see a bit of myself in her: a minority and a homosexual. I hate to appear to be playing the "minority card" but truly, I believe that others, if in my shoes, would just give up. In like manner, I see some people giving up if they stepped in Roy's shoes.
I chose Che Guevara because many people use his image and claim "revolution," when in fact they know very little of his ideologies. I've spoken to people who simply have seen the red star printed across his green beret, on top of the pile of wild hair(the much younger image of Guevara). No one knows him beyond his glorified death, at least those born after it. He fought oppression, and left his life of respectability to free a people. I believe his beliefs should not be tarnished as people walk around with his face on their chest, having the slightest knowledge of his actions.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah nice Banksy picture Steven. He's an amazing old stencil artist who was inspired by Blek Le Rat.
I choose Moses, his philosophy to preserve Judiaism in Ancient Eygpt set the tone for many activist as in MLK. Moses being a leader for the Jewish people, had led other to fall in his foot steps, to make a change in their lives or surroundings.
ReplyDeleteI chose Nelson Mandela, honestly because I recently saw the movie Invictus and it moved my soul. He dedicated his life to fighting apartheid[legal segregation] in South Africa. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for standing up against apartheid. After he got out of jail, he ran for president and instead of being acrimonious and vindictive against his oppressors, he instead personally encouraged integration.
ReplyDeleteInvictus is a poem by William Henley, Mandela would read this poem constantly when he was in jail!
The term invictus is latin for "undefeated, unconquerable, invinciable.." Here is the poem below.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
I chose Confucius becasuse i was genuinely curious as to the history of this "wise man."
ReplyDeleteAlice,
ReplyDeleteI hope you decide to include this poem in your visual aid poster board. I would love to keep it in my room for other students to see. Also, based on your blog, I look forward to reading your paper and hearing your presentation. What an incredible story!
Students,
ReplyDeleteFor your presentations March 3, whom should we invite to come to class and listen? I just think that this is going to be such a memorable day that I want to share it with whoever can come.
well i just chose the 14th Dalai Lama. I was curious on who this person is and how he worked. maybe along the way i could become enlightened and more calm in my hectic senior year.
ReplyDeletei would choose Gandhi as he not only was an activist that expressed non-violence. But also agreed with individuals who have a tendency of violence.
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