Works Cited:
"Tattoos: The Ancient and Mysterious History" Cate Lineberry; published on January 1st, 2007
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html?c=y&page=4
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Persuasive Letter Final
Dear Father,
There are a lot of things that I wish I could change in society, but the main thing I would change is discrimination. Discrimination has just gotten to the point where it seems to put our society in a quagmire and it just seems to be damaging things in society. I believe that every truly has equal rights. Some people may not like change, but it is time for change to come. The highest form of discrimination that we see in today's society is that the homosexual community cannot marry one another. That is one a very touchy subject, but it is one that really needs to be talked about. The idea that gays cannot marry is ridiculous. It's in every persons civil rights to be able to marry. Even if that person is gay or straight, I believe that it should be done that way in today's society. Yes, most politicians see things differently, but even though in their generation being gay seemed wrong, it is time for them to move on. We need equality among everyone. One of my favorite quotes about being gay is said by the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, and he said "We are all born bisexual, we love one another for who we are, not for what gender we are. Society just raises us to love the separate gender." Now, I may be paraphrasing that a bit, but that is the gist of what he said, and I completely agree with him.
Another form of discrimination that really bothers me is having tattoos. I don't think that it is a big deal if anyone has tattoos, I think they look good. Among the general public, I see so many people with tattoos. They all have suffered from some sort of discrimination, either it being something as simple as someone bashing on their ink (even if they just have 1), to something as complex as not being able to get a proper job just because they have tattoos that show. Even jobs that don't require you to mingle with the general public won't let you have tattoos. Sadly, I know when I get tattoos it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job in today's society, just because I will have something on my skin that someone else doesn't like. One of the strongest (yet stupidest arguments) is "how will you look when you get old, you won't be able to even tell what they look like," frankly I don't give a damn how they look when I get older. If you can honestly tell me that you are gonna be fantastic looking when your older and that your skin will look the same as when you were young, then I will barely think about not getting tattoos. The way I look at it is that if you don't like it, you should just keep your mind to yourself, that was the way I was raised and that is the way it should be. Even in old cultures tattoos where shown as a sign of dominance or royalty, "The practice is also confirmed by the Greek writer Herodotus c. 450 B.C., who stated that amongst the Scythians and Thracians 'tattoos were a mark of nobility, and not to have them was testimony of low birth.' This was written in the Smithsonian Magazine.
With tattoos becoming more and more common I believe in the next few years, workplaces are going to become more and more accepting of tattoos and piercings. Also with all the people getting tattoos in this day and age, when I become old all the people my age along with me will having tattoos. Dad, I just want you to think about all the people you know with tattoos. Look at my cousins Ryan and Billy and how well they are doing. They both have jobs, and they both have a loving family that they can support. I see this as something of importance. Just because you have tattoos does not mean that you cannot be successful in life, and by successful I do not mean being rich and having a huge house. I mean having a family that loves you and that will always be there for you. You don't need to have a big house either. As long as you are comfortable with your finances and as long as you can pay the bills and support your family, it does not matter if you live in an apartment, or if you live in a giant house, as long as you are happy, then you are successful. Our family shows us the example of that. Our cousins are successful in their own way and I am extremely happy for them. If and when I get tattoos I can't wait to raise my family, just to show that I can be successful in my own way.
Sincerely Your Son,
John Long
There are a lot of things that I wish I could change in society, but the main thing I would change is discrimination. Discrimination has just gotten to the point where it seems to put our society in a quagmire and it just seems to be damaging things in society. I believe that every truly has equal rights. Some people may not like change, but it is time for change to come. The highest form of discrimination that we see in today's society is that the homosexual community cannot marry one another. That is one a very touchy subject, but it is one that really needs to be talked about. The idea that gays cannot marry is ridiculous. It's in every persons civil rights to be able to marry. Even if that person is gay or straight, I believe that it should be done that way in today's society. Yes, most politicians see things differently, but even though in their generation being gay seemed wrong, it is time for them to move on. We need equality among everyone. One of my favorite quotes about being gay is said by the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, and he said "We are all born bisexual, we love one another for who we are, not for what gender we are. Society just raises us to love the separate gender." Now, I may be paraphrasing that a bit, but that is the gist of what he said, and I completely agree with him.
Another form of discrimination that really bothers me is having tattoos. I don't think that it is a big deal if anyone has tattoos, I think they look good. Among the general public, I see so many people with tattoos. They all have suffered from some sort of discrimination, either it being something as simple as someone bashing on their ink (even if they just have 1), to something as complex as not being able to get a proper job just because they have tattoos that show. Even jobs that don't require you to mingle with the general public won't let you have tattoos. Sadly, I know when I get tattoos it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job in today's society, just because I will have something on my skin that someone else doesn't like. One of the strongest (yet stupidest arguments) is "how will you look when you get old, you won't be able to even tell what they look like," frankly I don't give a damn how they look when I get older. If you can honestly tell me that you are gonna be fantastic looking when your older and that your skin will look the same as when you were young, then I will barely think about not getting tattoos. The way I look at it is that if you don't like it, you should just keep your mind to yourself, that was the way I was raised and that is the way it should be. Even in old cultures tattoos where shown as a sign of dominance or royalty, "The practice is also confirmed by the Greek writer Herodotus c. 450 B.C., who stated that amongst the Scythians and Thracians 'tattoos were a mark of nobility, and not to have them was testimony of low birth.' This was written in the Smithsonian Magazine.
With tattoos becoming more and more common I believe in the next few years, workplaces are going to become more and more accepting of tattoos and piercings. Also with all the people getting tattoos in this day and age, when I become old all the people my age along with me will having tattoos. Dad, I just want you to think about all the people you know with tattoos. Look at my cousins Ryan and Billy and how well they are doing. They both have jobs, and they both have a loving family that they can support. I see this as something of importance. Just because you have tattoos does not mean that you cannot be successful in life, and by successful I do not mean being rich and having a huge house. I mean having a family that loves you and that will always be there for you. You don't need to have a big house either. As long as you are comfortable with your finances and as long as you can pay the bills and support your family, it does not matter if you live in an apartment, or if you live in a giant house, as long as you are happy, then you are successful. Our family shows us the example of that. Our cousins are successful in their own way and I am extremely happy for them. If and when I get tattoos I can't wait to raise my family, just to show that I can be successful in my own way.
Sincerely Your Son,
John Long
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Culture Letter Rough Draft
Dear Father,
There are a lot of things that I wish I could change in society, but the main thing I would change is discrimination. Discrimination has just gotten to the point where it seems to put our society in a quagmire and it just seems to be damaging things in society. I believe that every truly has equal rights. Some people may not like change, but it is time for change to come.
The highest form of discrimination that we see in today's society is that the homosexual community cannot marry one another. That is one a very touchy subject, but it is one that really needs to be talked about. The idea that gays cannot marry is ridiculous. It's in every persons civil rights to be able to marry. Even if that person is gay or straight, I believe that it should be done that way in today's society. Yes, most politicians see things differently, but even though in their generation being gay seemed wrong, it is time for them to move on. We need equality among everyone. One of my favorite quotes about being gay is said by the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, and he said "We are all born bisexual, we love one another for who we are, not for what gender we are. Society just raises us to love the separate gender." Now, I may be paraphrasing that a bit, but that is the gist of what he said, and I completely agree with him.
Another form of discrimination that really bothers me is having tattoos. I don't think that it is a big deal if anyone has tattoos, I think they look good. Among the general public, I see so many people with tattoos. They all have suffered from some sort of discrimination, either it being something as simple as someone bashing on their ink (even if they just have 1), to something as complex as not being able to get a proper job just because they have tattoos that show. Even jobs that don't require you to mingle with the general public won't let you have tattoos. Sadly, I know when I get tattoos it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job in today's society, just because I will have something on my skin that someone else doesn't like. One of the strongest (yet stupidest arguments) is "how will you look when you get old, you won't be able to even tell what they look like," frankly I don't give a damn how they look when I get older. If you can honestly tell me that you are gonna be fantastic looking when your older and that your skin will look the same as when you were young, then I will barely think about not getting tattoos. The way I look at it is that if you don't like it, you should just keep your mind to yourself, that was the way I was raised and that is the way it should be.
Sincerely Your Son,
John Long
There are a lot of things that I wish I could change in society, but the main thing I would change is discrimination. Discrimination has just gotten to the point where it seems to put our society in a quagmire and it just seems to be damaging things in society. I believe that every truly has equal rights. Some people may not like change, but it is time for change to come.
The highest form of discrimination that we see in today's society is that the homosexual community cannot marry one another. That is one a very touchy subject, but it is one that really needs to be talked about. The idea that gays cannot marry is ridiculous. It's in every persons civil rights to be able to marry. Even if that person is gay or straight, I believe that it should be done that way in today's society. Yes, most politicians see things differently, but even though in their generation being gay seemed wrong, it is time for them to move on. We need equality among everyone. One of my favorite quotes about being gay is said by the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, and he said "We are all born bisexual, we love one another for who we are, not for what gender we are. Society just raises us to love the separate gender." Now, I may be paraphrasing that a bit, but that is the gist of what he said, and I completely agree with him.
Another form of discrimination that really bothers me is having tattoos. I don't think that it is a big deal if anyone has tattoos, I think they look good. Among the general public, I see so many people with tattoos. They all have suffered from some sort of discrimination, either it being something as simple as someone bashing on their ink (even if they just have 1), to something as complex as not being able to get a proper job just because they have tattoos that show. Even jobs that don't require you to mingle with the general public won't let you have tattoos. Sadly, I know when I get tattoos it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job in today's society, just because I will have something on my skin that someone else doesn't like. One of the strongest (yet stupidest arguments) is "how will you look when you get old, you won't be able to even tell what they look like," frankly I don't give a damn how they look when I get older. If you can honestly tell me that you are gonna be fantastic looking when your older and that your skin will look the same as when you were young, then I will barely think about not getting tattoos. The way I look at it is that if you don't like it, you should just keep your mind to yourself, that was the way I was raised and that is the way it should be.
Sincerely Your Son,
John Long
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Annotated Citations
"A Short History of the Department of State: Iranian Hostage Crisis" No date of said publishing.
In this link, it explains all the main point of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. It is a very short link compared to the other one. This link explains the details which are needed to be said. With the details said in this link I got all the specifics that I needed. This link told me the typical when and wheres. It also told me the general people who were involved in the whole Iranian Hostage Crisis. This link also talks about what is going on with the Department of State when the Hostage Crisis occurred. With this link I really was able to start the whole paper. I had writers block until I saw this and then all the information just started hitting and then I was able to start writing about the Iranian Hostage Crisis with ease. Without this article I don't think I would have been able to start my paper as easy as I did.
"United States History: The Iranian Hostage Crisis" No date of said publishing.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2021.html
With this second link, I was able to fill in all the minimal details about the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I got all the smaller details about "Operation Eagle Claw". This link also told me about the information where Iraq invaded Iran and all the miniscule details that I would not have been able to get other wise. It also told me about all the details with the Presidential Race between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and how their administrations had helped with trying to find a possible solution to the Iranian Hostage Crisis. It said how Ronald Reagan's administration had helped by having secret missions with the Iranian Government and such things. Without this link I would not have been able to get all these miniscule details that I was able get after reading it. This link was definitely a huge help to me and being able to finish this essay.
(for some reason it decided to change the font size for the second link annotation, apologies.)
Sunday, April 21, 2013
If I Could Change Anything in Society I Would Change....
There are a lot of things that I wish I could change in society, but the main thing I would change is discrimination. Discrimination has just gotten to the point where it seems to put our society in a quagmire and it just seems to be damaging things in society. I believe that every truly has equal rights. Some people may not like change, but it is time for change to come.
The highest form of discrimination that we see in today's society is that the homosexual community cannot marry one another. That is one a very touchy subject, but it is one that really needs to be talked about. The idea that gays cannot marry is ridiculous. It's in every persons civil rights to be able to marry. Even if that person is gay or straight, I believe that it should be done that way in today's society. Yes, most politicians see things differently, but even though in their generation being gay seemed wrong, it is time for them to move on. We need equality among everyone. One of my favorite quotes about being gay is said by the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, and he said "We are all born bisexual, we love one another for who we are, not for what gender we are. Society just raises us to love the separate gender." Now, I may be paraphrasing that a bit, but that is the gist of what he said, and I completely agree with him.
Another form of discrimination that really bothers me is having tattoos. I don't think that it is a big deal if anyone has tattoos, I think they look good. Among the general public, I see so many people with tattoos. They all have suffered from some sort of discrimination, either it being something as simple as someone bashing on their ink (even if they just have 1), to something as complex as not being able to get a proper job just because they have tattoos that show. Even jobs that don't require you to mingle with the general public won't let you have tattoos. Sadly, I know when I get tattoos it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job in today's society, just because I will have something on my skin that someone else doesn't like. One of the strongest (yet stupidest arguments) is "how will you look when you get old, you won't be able to even tell what they look like," frankly I don't give a damn how they look when I get older. If you can honestly tell me that you are gonna be fantastic looking when your older and that your skin will look the same as when you were young, then I will barely think about not getting tattoos. The way I look at it is that if you don't like it, you should just keep your mind to yourself, that was the way I was raised and that is the way it should be.
The highest form of discrimination that we see in today's society is that the homosexual community cannot marry one another. That is one a very touchy subject, but it is one that really needs to be talked about. The idea that gays cannot marry is ridiculous. It's in every persons civil rights to be able to marry. Even if that person is gay or straight, I believe that it should be done that way in today's society. Yes, most politicians see things differently, but even though in their generation being gay seemed wrong, it is time for them to move on. We need equality among everyone. One of my favorite quotes about being gay is said by the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, and he said "We are all born bisexual, we love one another for who we are, not for what gender we are. Society just raises us to love the separate gender." Now, I may be paraphrasing that a bit, but that is the gist of what he said, and I completely agree with him.
Another form of discrimination that really bothers me is having tattoos. I don't think that it is a big deal if anyone has tattoos, I think they look good. Among the general public, I see so many people with tattoos. They all have suffered from some sort of discrimination, either it being something as simple as someone bashing on their ink (even if they just have 1), to something as complex as not being able to get a proper job just because they have tattoos that show. Even jobs that don't require you to mingle with the general public won't let you have tattoos. Sadly, I know when I get tattoos it is going to be extremely difficult for me to get a job in today's society, just because I will have something on my skin that someone else doesn't like. One of the strongest (yet stupidest arguments) is "how will you look when you get old, you won't be able to even tell what they look like," frankly I don't give a damn how they look when I get older. If you can honestly tell me that you are gonna be fantastic looking when your older and that your skin will look the same as when you were young, then I will barely think about not getting tattoos. The way I look at it is that if you don't like it, you should just keep your mind to yourself, that was the way I was raised and that is the way it should be.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Killer Culture Blog
Killer Culture Blog
Reading Response "Killer Culture"
After reading "Killer Culture" by David Kupelian I have realized that in every generation on humans there is a different type of "trend" or "hip" thing, and throughout every generation these will change. Kupelian shows that in his article the trends of todays generation seem to be negative towards the youth of the next generation. Throughout Kupelian's article he explains how tattoos and piercings in his time were considered extreme, but now they are considered "normal" in today's generation. All together Kupelian seems to believe that big corporations and recent trends are corrupting todays generation and most likely the next few generations to come. In my opinion I think he is wrong, I think that I am a good person of today's generation; I have no criminal record, I don't rebel against my parents (at least not more than any other teenager does), and I am not some sort of druggy who was influenced by big corporations. I have the piece of mind to know not to do these things. Then again, this might be because the way I was raised, if it is then I have my family to thank for that.
Though Kupelian thinks today's generation is corrupted by corporations and trends, I completely disagree with him. I am the kind of person who wants to get many tattoos, even tho that seems like an "extreme" to Kupelian and to many of the people his age or older. I wasn't influenced by big corporations or trends. I was influenced by family and seeing that their tattoos meant something to them, and I can see stories told by their tattoos. That is a reason I want to get tattoos. Not because I am following trends and seeing what is "hip" and "cool" amongst people. I am getting tattoos because I want to show people what I stand for and how I feel about things. Each tattoo I plan on getting has a meaning or has something to do with my family or heritage. For example, I plan on getting an anchor on my arm with a broken heart on it, and what that stands for is "Stand Your Ground" and everything in that tattoo is going to lead into something different. The heart is going to symbolize all the hard things I've been through in life.
Not everyone who gets tattoos or piercings is following a trend. That is why I disagree with David Kupelian, not because he is completely wrong on the thing, but because he has the wrong idea about half the people in today's generation. Everyone I know who is getting tattoos or has gotten tattoos has done it because they want to show their friends and family what they are and how they got there. Yes, every once in a while you will get the kind of person who wants to follow some sort of trend, but that is because they may have low self esteem or they just give into pressure easily and that's because they never really were raised to have the right mindset to get these things done.
After reading "Killer Culture" by David Kupelian I have realized that in every generation on humans there is a different type of "trend" or "hip" thing, and throughout every generation these will change. Kupelian shows that in his article the trends of todays generation seem to be negative towards the youth of the next generation. Throughout Kupelian's article he explains how tattoos and piercings in his time were considered extreme, but now they are considered "normal" in today's generation. All together Kupelian seems to believe that big corporations and recent trends are corrupting todays generation and most likely the next few generations to come. In my opinion I think he is wrong, I think that I am a good person of today's generation; I have no criminal record, I don't rebel against my parents (at least not more than any other teenager does), and I am not some sort of druggy who was influenced by big corporations. I have the piece of mind to know not to do these things. Then again, this might be because the way I was raised, if it is then I have my family to thank for that.
Though Kupelian thinks today's generation is corrupted by corporations and trends, I completely disagree with him. I am the kind of person who wants to get many tattoos, even tho that seems like an "extreme" to Kupelian and to many of the people his age or older. I wasn't influenced by big corporations or trends. I was influenced by family and seeing that their tattoos meant something to them, and I can see stories told by their tattoos. That is a reason I want to get tattoos. Not because I am following trends and seeing what is "hip" and "cool" amongst people. I am getting tattoos because I want to show people what I stand for and how I feel about things. Each tattoo I plan on getting has a meaning or has something to do with my family or heritage. For example, I plan on getting an anchor on my arm with a broken heart on it, and what that stands for is "Stand Your Ground" and everything in that tattoo is going to lead into something different. The heart is going to symbolize all the hard things I've been through in life.
Not everyone who gets tattoos or piercings is following a trend. That is why I disagree with David Kupelian, not because he is completely wrong on the thing, but because he has the wrong idea about half the people in today's generation. Everyone I know who is getting tattoos or has gotten tattoos has done it because they want to show their friends and family what they are and how they got there. Yes, every once in a while you will get the kind of person who wants to follow some sort of trend, but that is because they may have low self esteem or they just give into pressure easily and that's because they never really were raised to have the right mindset to get these things done.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Iranian Hostage Crisis Narrative Final Updated
Narrative #1 Final
Iranian Hostage Crisis
The Iranian hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Iran which started November 4th, 1979 and ended January 20th, 1981 in which fifty-two Americans were held hostage for four hundred and forty four days. This occurred when Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran. This situation occurred under President Carter (United States) and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (Iran). In the beginning of the hostage crisis the Iranian Government denied any sort of involvement in the whole thing, but its failure to take action against the hostage-takers belied their denial to the situation. In the middle of November in 1979 the Iranian hostage-takers released thirteen women and African Americans claiming they were sympathetic to the minorities. The hostages were initially held in one building until the rescue mission Operation Eagle Claw (which failed) then the hostages were scattered all over Iran to make any other sort of rescue mission impossible. President Jimmy Carter immediately imposed an economic sanction, first he cancelled oil imports from Iran, and then he deported a number of Iranians from the United States, that was followed by freezing about eight billion dollars of Iranian assets in the United States. During the hostage crisis the United States attempted a rescue mission called Operation Eagle Claw off the USS Nimitz and failed. That was where the only casualties in the whole Iranian Hostage Crisis occurred (eight American Service men, 2 American aircraft and an Iranian civilian). After Operation Eagle Claw had failed the Iranians mockingly paraded the wreckage on Worldwide Television. In February of 1980 the Iranians released a list of demands for the hostages release. The list of demands included the return of the Shah, an apology for the United States involvement in Iran (including the coup in 1953) and a promise for the United States to stay out of all of Iran's future affairs. Upon the death of the Shah in July of 1980 and the invasion by the Iraqis in September, Iran became more amenable for the negotiations of the hostages' release. In the final stages of the Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, given the new parameters, might have been able to bargain with the Iranians. The 11th hour heroics were officially dubbed an "October Surprise" by Ronald Reagan's campaign. Allegations surfaced that William Casey (director of the Reagan Campaign) and some CIA Operatives had secretly met with Iranian Officials in Europe to negotiate the release of the hostages. The American hostages were finally released into United States custody minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office. The Iranians came to an agreement with Deputy Secretary Warren Christopher. The whole Iranian Hostage Crisis was described as an entanglement of vengeance and mutual incomprehension. Even though the casualty rate was low; the two air-crafts, eight American Service men and Iranian civilian it was still a very tragic situation. In Iran the hostage taking was widely seen as a massive blow against the United States of America.
Works-Cited:
"A Short History of the Department of State: Iranian Hostage Crisis" No date of said publishing.
"United States History: The Iranian Hostage Crisis" No date of said publishing.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2021.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)