Reflections Week 9

This week were asked to write about a modern day slavery issue. While we were supposed to better understand the slave owner and his ideas behind slavery, it only instilled in me more hostility towards them. Nothing justifies or rationalized a decision to devalue and dehumanize a person through slavery, no matter what race, color, or status. In my research, I found out startling statistics concerning sweatshops present in AMERICA. I was shocked to learn how much forced labor occurs in our country, right under our noses. The idea that I might be supporting this mutilated idea of cheap labor is sickening. That is primarily why the issues I wrote about are things that Americans have the ability to end, if they are only more aware of their purchases.

In my readings and our class discussion, I still am bewildered by our nation’s own Presidents who incorporated slavery. I simply cannot believe how far we HAVE NOT come as a nation. To think that over 100 years ago, we fought a war to end slavery, yet it still exists today. Even with all the modern advances in technology, and laws established, we cannot dismember organizations and companies that enforce slavery antics. Though this week was less thought provoking internally for me, it was very eye opening and inspired a personal awareness.

Modern Day Slavery Issues: Conflict Diamonds & Sweatshops

Here is my very late post for week nine's essay.


This week, we had to write about examples of modern day slavery. Because most people in the United States live a free, wealthy, and good life, I want this essay to focus on the slaveries that we, as Americans, might be supporting unknowingly. These issues include conflict diamonds and forced labor.

Conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds, are defined by the United Nations as “diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council" ("Conflict Diamonds"). Conflict diamonds are mined predominantly in central and western Africa, where “tyrant groups take over” diamond “mines and the” surrounding “villages, forcing villagers into slavery” (Ryan). The diamonds are sold to “international diamond trading centers in Europe” who knowingly fund “this horror by buying up to $125 million worth of diamonds a year” but care more about the carat than the lives lost. ("Blood Diamonds"). The issue of conflict diamonds came to public light in the late 1990’s during the Sierra Leone uprising in western Africa, funded by Liberia. “Between 1991 and 2002, the country suffered a brutal, ten-year civil war during which the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) committed horrendous atrocities” to gain control of the country's diamond mines. The RUF terrorists’ signature method of terrorizing was amputation. “Thousands of prisoner-laborers worked to exhaustion, digging up the gems from muddy open-pit mines. Many of their lives “ended…in shallow graves, executed for suspected theft, for lack of production, or simply for sport” and “local citizens were left to fend for themselves against bloodthirsty and drugged child soldiers. Commanders often cut the children's arms and packed the wounds with cocaine; marijuana was everywhere.” Tens of thousands of people were left dead, mutilated, or forced to flee the country. Throughout this time, blood diamonds “represented 4% of the world’s diamond production” and were mined in the countries of “Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo” ("Conflict Diamonds"). “The profits” from these diamonds “also filled the coffers of Al Qaeda, and possibly Hezbollah–terrorist organizations notorious for committing human rights violations, including crimes against humanity” ("Blood Diamonds"). Weapons purchased from “the gems the rebels sold unimpeded to terrorist and corporate trader alike—allowed the RUF to fight off government soldiers, hired mercenaries, peacekeepers from a regional West African reaction force,” and “British paratroopers.” Finally, in October 1999, the United Nations stepped in and launched the Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the most “expansive and expensive peacekeeping mission the U.N. has ever deployed.” Since then, numerous efforts, particularly the Kimberly Process, have led to reduction in the sales of conflict diamonds to less than 1%, but “efforts to end the trade in conflict diamonds” were hindered during “the Bush administration” which was “reluctant to impede business in any way or have its hands tied by any international agreements, even when the U.S. diamond industry called for it” ("Blood Diamonds").

Another issue Americans fall victim to blindly supporting is forced labor. Recent studies show that “forced labor occurs in at least 90 cities across the United States, the researchers found, and at any given time, 10,000 or more people are forced to toil in sweat shops, clean homes, labor on farms, or work as prostitutes or strippers.” Statistics have revealed, “forty-six percent of those trapped in forced labor in America are found in prostitution and sex services…another 27 percent are domestic workers, and one in 10 works in agriculture.” Yes, sweatshops are STILL present in modern day American, making up 5% of work in our economy. “Restaurant and hotel work makes up 4 percent” and “sexual exploitation of children represents 3 percent” (Gilmore). Most sweatshops are “a common fixture in other large cities that have large communities of immigrants” in states like New York, Texas, Florida, and California. People hire the immigrants as “undocumented workers” and force them to work under harsh, cramped conditions. The laborers are threatened through means of “verbal abuse, beatings, and sexual assault” but rely on their captors for money to repay their smugglers who transported them into the United States (Gilmore). The Department of Labor “estimates that about half of the 22,000 garment contractors registered in the US are paid less than minimum wage, 2/3 do not receive overtime pay, and more than 1/3 work in environments with serious safety and health violations. Any workers who try to protest their poor working conditions run the risk of being fired.” Even more shocking, the DOL approximates that “more than half of the 7,000 garment factories in New York City are now sweatshops.” In 1995, a federal raid on a sweatshop took place in El Monte, California, and it was discovered that “72 immigrants from Thailand who were working for $.69 per hour, were locked inside an apartment complex that was surrounded on all sides by razor wire. The workers had been threatened with being raped or killed if they stopped working” (Buzzle Staff & Agencies). More recently, this past August, “over 100 garments workers rallied outside Great Wall Corp in Long Island City, Queens. Great Wall is a garment factory and subcontractor for Silver Fashions Inc. Workers say they frequently worked 100 hour weeks for as little as $300 and were even forced to work overnight at the factory. Last November, six workers from Great Wall filed a lawsuit stating that the company violated “several federal and state labor laws. A month later, the company terminated all the workers who filed suit plus an additional 50 workers” (Gooljar). Other cases documented include “a Berkeley, Calif., businessman who enslaved young girls and women for sex and to work in his restaurant; a Florida employer who threatened violence to force hundreds of Mexican and Guatemalan workers to harvest fruit; and two couples in Washington, D.C., who brought Cameroonian teenagers to the United States with the promise of a better education and then forced them to work 14 hours a day as domestic servants, without pay and under the threat of deportation.” Yes, federal laws have been established to “combat these crimes” but more is required (Gilmore).

This is where we come into play. Both these issues, conflict diamonds and forced labor, sweatshops specifically, can be terminated with our awareness.

Sources:

"Blood Diamonds". Amnesty International USA. October 28, 2009 .

Buzzle Staff & Agencies, "Sweatshops: No Longer a Thing of the Past". Buzzle.com. October 28, 2009 .

"Conflict Diamonds". World Diamond Council. October 28, 2009

Gilmore, Janet. "Modern slavery thriving in the U.S.". UC Berkley News. October 28, 2009 .

Gooljar, Jason. " There are still sweatshops in the United States of America". October 28, 2009 .

Ryan, Allison. "How to Recognize a Non Conflict Diamond". Articlesbase. October 28, 2009 .

Reflections Week 8

The assignments this week have enabled me to get back on track and put me at ease. I would like to thank Dr. Brandon for graciously giving us a week to catch up, because it was very needed on my part. In reviewing and commenting on my own blog posts, I was able to read how my voice has changed since the beginning of the semester. It seems I am constantly finding a stronger voice every week, something I have struggled with. I also have developed an appreciation for the assignments we have been asked to read and write about (who would have thought) because they have been eye opening and refreshing for me personally. After this week, I also feel more confident about my portfolio contents because I have a better understanding of how this class has truly helped me grow, strengthening my character and personality in my writing and everyday life.  

SeLf~aSsEsSmEnT

Reading back through my essays over the past seven weeks has been more enlightening than I originally anticipated. It’s interesting how my voice has changed as I have gotten to know my group members better, and read their thoughts and ideas. For example, my American essay was very cloying, filled with only good things about our country despite the fact that there are many things wrong in our nation. I appreciated that Daniel, one of my group members, was able to offer a differing view and more negative approach towards America. Through reading his essay, I was able to expand my own ideas. 

During week three, we wrote an essay on our ideal selves. This essay allowed me to share a more honest depiction of myself to my readers and I worked to infiltrate the positive and the negative. While searching deeper for my ideal self, I found that I was not as self-reliant as I deemed, because I lacked a voice due to my insecurities. However, in week four I uncovered a sense of knowledge and empowerment from Emerson’s essay “The American Scholar,” and established that I needed to strengthen my self trust. 

My most honest and eye-opening piece I have written so far stemmed from Thoreau’s essay “Walden” in week five. Through reading his essay and writing my own essay, I was able to analyze a lifestyle that I thought would bring me happiness, only to come to the realization that I would conversely be discontent with such a life. Through this recognition, I found true contentment in the people that are closest to me, as well as the life’s little surprises. 

In week six, I wrote my favorite essay yet on a subliminal moment in high school, when my boyfriend and long-time crush asked me to date him. This piece was most fun for me because I felt like I was able to share the happiest moment of my life with my group members. My most hated essay I have written so far dealt with nature in week seven. It was during this week that I discovered my struggle to communicate my voice when asked to translate into writing a profound experience in nature. I apprehended my habit to nit-pick words and the need to focus more on conveying the message. 

Overall, I think I have done well in organizing my points in my essays, making for an easy read. Through every assignment, my mind is stretched, and as I assert my opinion, I learn more about myself, instilling an eagerness to continue onward.

Reflections Week 7

This week was rather difficult for me. I did not care for my essay; though I enjoyed the undertaking, I struggled translating the experience into words. Writing for this class has made me aware of a personal flaw, communicating my voice. Sometimes I focus so much on the “eloquent” wording, that my message becomes marred and indirect. This thought alone, makes me appreciate writers such as Thoreau even more, who are gifted not only with influential ideas about nature and life, but a strong voice to communicate these ideas through their writing.

"Nature"

Rather than take a walk, I decided for go for my usual run for this assignment, only this time, I left my iPod at home. It’s funny how the one thing I thought kept me going during my run, was actually the one keeping me from an open mind and a freeing experience. I typically run about two miles, this time I was more than willing to run three. As I started my run through Bryan Park, thoughts started sprinting through my mind.  I began to analyze my work ethic, oddly enough. Maybe it was because I felt I had a lot of work to do; regardless, I was able to think about the work I had to do, why it hadn’t been done, and how I would complete it. Since the work I had to complete pertained to my school studies, thoughts started spiraling in direction towards my future. Why am I in school? How long will it be before I can finish and start my long-awaited career as an event planner? Will I be successful? What things can I do to set myself apart from other planners? How can I change my life now to reach my goal faster? It may sound strange, but running outside without my iPod to distract me, allowed me to essentially map out a plan for my life.

While I didn’t focus on nature during my run, conversely, nature actually let me focus on myself. Running outside was MY time, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I suppose then, that my relationship is somewhat selfish. But being outside brings out the best in me. During the winter, I am often forced indoors to run on the treadmill, which I despise. It is a very closed experience, and I tend to focus more on the task at hand by clock-watching, and am more aware of the side affects like cramps. However, when I step outside, the vast openness before me is presented as an entire world of tread, ready to be run on, and it is entirely freeing. It is something I can experience independently, and it is my moment to run out my worries and anger if I have had a bad day; conversely, if I have had a good day, I can reflect on things that made me happy and pleasant, or all that I got accomplished. I appreciate nature then, for the selfless and freeing joy it bestows to me.

Comments on "Sublime" Essays

Daniel, your last paragraph says it all. “feelings that I consider subliminal are feelings of happiness and not fear.” Completely agreed! I think that subliminal feelings are derived from experiencing something you love. And just as you shared with your biking experience, these feelings come from accomplishments like winning, or just feeling freedom while riding your bike. You should be proud of yourself for even being able to get back onto the bike in your own backyard after such a painful experience. That in itself is personal growth and triumph, a sublime experience in itself.

Christina, I’m so sorry things turned out the way they did for you and I applaud your courage to write about an emotionally painful experience. I think your essay also comes to show that the sublime isn’t always a fairytale. But as you have stated before and I admire you for saying, you learn from your mistakes. I think you are a very strong, driven, and ever-seeking person, and that you will experience an even greater sublime moment one day involving love with someone who truly loves you back for everything that you are.

Kara, what a beautiful moment to write about. I think you may have experienced the epitomy of sublime when you stated that in that moment, words were unnecessary because “a single expression can convey more thoughts and feelings towards a situation than any word ever could.” I agree with your take on the sublime as an escape from “trials and tribulations” whether bad or good, because in living life to feel alive, you will experience both.

Great essays guys, and very interesting reads!

Reflections Week 6

This week, by far has been my favorite to discuss. I enjoyed reading everyone’s ghostly encounters and found the sublime essay to be the easiest to write so far. However, I did not enjoy Poe nearly as much as I did Thoreau. I feel like I personally took much more from Thoreau’s reading and had a better understanding of what he was trying to vocalize through his writing in “Walden” vs. reading Poe and Emerson.

I was also very encouraged by my committee’s essays on “Living a Full Life.” My group members seemed to have a good grasp on what their lives complete. I was trying to find what made my life complete in my essay, and instead found bits and pieces of advice and wisdom through reading theirs. So thanks guys, for opening my eyes. This week has truly shown me how through other’s writings, one can learn so much about the person, and derive vast wisdom.

My Subliminal Experience

I have wracked my brains out trying to think of a sublime moment, and only one has come to mind, and yes it has to do with a boy. To give some background into the situation, I had known this boy since eighth grade. He was quite a looker, blonde hair, blue eyes, and a heart throb for many of the girls attending Westminster Academy. I met him in math class, fourth period, and have been in love with him ever since. This boy and I became quite good friends, much to my delight. I told his best friend numerous times of my likings towards him, but somehow they were never relayed. Several times my heart broke, like when I found out he was taking his best friend’s cousin to prom, or that he had been crushing on another girl during the summer months when I was unable to see him. Fast forward five years to the infamous senior year, when all your hopes and dreams come true. Well I suppose mine did as my high school fairy tale played out. Since January of 2007, when he had invited me to a New Years Party, to Valentines Day when we went on our first unofficial date together, we flirted with our feelings for one another. He played it slow, very slow however, and at times I was filled with doubt that anything would finale our affections.

It was March 1, 2007. I recalled the night before, when I had been filled with emotion to clarify the unspoken issue…us. I confided in my diary (as any high school girl would) about my feelings to say something to him, anything, but that was clearly impossible because I lacked the confrontational balls to do so…and because he was the old-fashioned type, I assumed he should and would be the one to address the issue. And I was right. The day went as normal. History, English, Lunch. Lunch was my favorite because he was there, waiting for me to eat with him. Today was different however. The conversation seemed lull and cumbersome, like we were both skirting around the unspoken issue. With only about ten minutes left, he turned to me and said everything that I had been waiting for, “I want to talk to you about us. I know I have kept you waiting and wondering, but I wanted to make sure this was right first. I talked to my parents, and they advised me to pray and wait. I prayed, but I couldn’t wait. I know I want to be with you, do you want to be with me?” Then the sublime happened. My voice had escaped me, leaving only my expressions to vocalize my emotions. I rapidly shook my head up and down, smiling from ear to ear. He laughed at my inability to speak, before saying goodbye and heading off to class. He told me later all he wanted to do was run around and scream for joy, which is exactly what I did as soon as I was in the confinements of my friend Kara’s car. I was the happiest person on the face of the earth that day, and two years and seven months later, I still am the happiest person on earth because I am with this most amazing boy, Lukas Settle.

The sublime for me, was an overwhelming release of perplexed emotions, and when those emotions turned out for the better, I experience complete happiness. I speculate people seek out situations like this because before the sublime, the unknown occurs. What is going to happen to me when I bungie jump? What is going to occur in the scary movie, and how will it affect me? The unanswered mystery intrigues them, and to experience it releases a rush of emotion and adrenaline that feels so humanly overwhelming. Without the sublime, there is little excitement, and people thrive off excitement.

Comments on "Living A Full Life" Essays

Daniel
Daniel, I think this is one of your best posts yet. It was packed with wisdom and very encouraging. You have a talent in explaining things that I often find hard to explain. Many times, I read your blogs and say to myself “that’s exactly what I was trying to say, but couldn’t!” lol We share many similar ideas. You have a way with words, particularly in describing living a full life and living the ideal life. I completely agree that people often get these confused and place materialistic wealth at the forefront for living a ”full life.” But there is so much more, as you discussed, like nature, family, and friends to make you happy. “We are all defined by our insecurities, and I personally feel that life is full and complete when we can HONESTLY define ourselves.” So true! You couldn’t have said it better! A+!

Christina
Christina, great paper! Through your readings, I have learned more of who you are as a person, and this week it shined! I admire your independence to “live my life to the fullest degree by absorbing experiences, acknowledging feelings, searching and finding, and maintaining happiness by adding the good while removing the bad.” You seem to have a clear direction and a determination to let nothing stop you. I also appreciate you willingness to point out the negative in life as well. Your picturesque words “I have had rough times where I continued swimming deeper and deeper, rather than just getting out of the water completely” say it perfectly and your desire to learn from your mistakes it most constructive.

Kara
Kara, I have enjoyed the blunt honesty in your paper. I think many people struggle with “worrying about living up to everyone else’s expectations “ and are hindered by their own ambitions. Especially, as you stated “these days many people base what your dreams should be on how much it will benefit you, especially when it comes to monetary gain.” THIS IS SO TRUE! I’m glad that you have been so abrupt in stating your opinion, and I wish more people could see life as you, grabbing it by the horns instead of being dragged behind.

Fellow New Yorkers,

I apologize for not having completed week 6 assignments yet and for posting my week 5 reflection late. I had two big tests last week and had to pull extra hours at the catering business I work for. This week, a biology project due this morning (Tuesday) hindered me from completing the class work last night (yay for all nighters). Life seems to be catching up to me right now, but I promise to post my work as soon as I take a nap. Thanks for understanding and being patient!

Reflections Week 5

The discussions this past week have served to remind me to appreciate what I have. When I evaluated my life without those who mean the most to me, my life dwindled down to nothing but a hollow, empty mess.  When I looked at life from this perspective, I had a clearer understanding of why Thoreau believed we should give up our “stuff” to find true happiness in life. When I first started reading, I thought Thoreau was old-fashion and I couldn’t make sense of his ideas. It was only after I analyzed his theory from an entirely opposite point of view that I came to an ironic agreement.