Poetry Project
POEM
Power makes a man invincible
An illusion of being superior
There is nothing more overwhelming
Preconceived ideas that they are the best
Men in power forget the basics.
Wealth is a label based on power
Yet the rich will never cease to be human
There is nothing fancy about it
Men and women alike started as infants
Leaning on others for survival.
There is no end to man’s desire
Hoarders stockpile more money than they can spend
Yet there is a constant need for more
The thought that wealth is fake has yet to occur
How do numbers hold that much power?
What if these are all just life long lies?
Could Power be more than just bulging pockets?
Power could be a number of things.
Power is the foundation of leadership
Power is direct influence
Power is the being people admire
True power is
A human with no thoughts for themselves
Someone who can fight evil with good
He has the capability to act
Not on his wealth
But on what matters
He changes lives because he holds the power
The day this man exists is when we will realize
Power is not about one man being superior.
It is the actions one takes upon gaining superiority.
REFLECTION
The steps I took in creating my poem were very necessary and in the end I was happy with my poem. My inspiration came from a haiku and the whole syllable count was interesting to me. I tweaked this format a little however by making the syllable count 9,11,9. This was fun and challenging at times. The peer feedback and critique is what made the most changes in my poem. My poem used to be only three stanzas however after critique I was instructed to write more and elaborate on the message of my poem. I added three more stanzas to my poem:
“What if these are all just life long lies?
Could Power be more than just bulging pockets?
Power could be a number of things.
Power is the foundation of leadership
Power is direct influence
Power is the being people admire
True power is
A human with no thoughts for themselves
Someone who can fight evil with good
He has the capability to act
Not on his wealth
But on what matters
He changes lives because he holds the power
The day this man exists is when we will realize
Power is not about one man being superior.
It is the actions one takes upon gaining superiority.”
This change helped me get my message across with a lot less confusion. This change also changes the emotional impact of the poem. The last two lines are very powerful and they leave the reader with a new perspective of power.
Another change I made was in my second to last stanza:
“True power is
A human with no thoughts for themselves
Someone who can fight evil with good
He has the capability to act
Not on his wealth
But on what matters
He changes lives because he holds the power’
This stanza does not follow the occurring syllable cont. I did this because I felt like it would make more of an impact kind-of like a turn. The poem slightly changes tones drawing in the reader.
The final change I made was the last stanza of my poem:
“The day this man exists is when we will realize
Power is not about one man being superior.
It is the actions one takes upon gaining superiority.”
This stanza did not exist until the day before I started my project. I felt like the poem was incomplete and my thesis was unclear. I added this thesis and I think it positively impacted the poem. It helps drive home the point and it leaves the reader with something interesting to think about.
Power makes a man invincible
An illusion of being superior
There is nothing more overwhelming
Preconceived ideas that they are the best
Men in power forget the basics.
Wealth is a label based on power
Yet the rich will never cease to be human
There is nothing fancy about it
Men and women alike started as infants
Leaning on others for survival.
There is no end to man’s desire
Hoarders stockpile more money than they can spend
Yet there is a constant need for more
The thought that wealth is fake has yet to occur
How do numbers hold that much power?
What if these are all just life long lies?
Could Power be more than just bulging pockets?
Power could be a number of things.
Power is the foundation of leadership
Power is direct influence
Power is the being people admire
True power is
A human with no thoughts for themselves
Someone who can fight evil with good
He has the capability to act
Not on his wealth
But on what matters
He changes lives because he holds the power
The day this man exists is when we will realize
Power is not about one man being superior.
It is the actions one takes upon gaining superiority.
REFLECTION
The steps I took in creating my poem were very necessary and in the end I was happy with my poem. My inspiration came from a haiku and the whole syllable count was interesting to me. I tweaked this format a little however by making the syllable count 9,11,9. This was fun and challenging at times. The peer feedback and critique is what made the most changes in my poem. My poem used to be only three stanzas however after critique I was instructed to write more and elaborate on the message of my poem. I added three more stanzas to my poem:
“What if these are all just life long lies?
Could Power be more than just bulging pockets?
Power could be a number of things.
Power is the foundation of leadership
Power is direct influence
Power is the being people admire
True power is
A human with no thoughts for themselves
Someone who can fight evil with good
He has the capability to act
Not on his wealth
But on what matters
He changes lives because he holds the power
The day this man exists is when we will realize
Power is not about one man being superior.
It is the actions one takes upon gaining superiority.”
This change helped me get my message across with a lot less confusion. This change also changes the emotional impact of the poem. The last two lines are very powerful and they leave the reader with a new perspective of power.
Another change I made was in my second to last stanza:
“True power is
A human with no thoughts for themselves
Someone who can fight evil with good
He has the capability to act
Not on his wealth
But on what matters
He changes lives because he holds the power’
This stanza does not follow the occurring syllable cont. I did this because I felt like it would make more of an impact kind-of like a turn. The poem slightly changes tones drawing in the reader.
The final change I made was the last stanza of my poem:
“The day this man exists is when we will realize
Power is not about one man being superior.
It is the actions one takes upon gaining superiority.”
This stanza did not exist until the day before I started my project. I felt like the poem was incomplete and my thesis was unclear. I added this thesis and I think it positively impacted the poem. It helps drive home the point and it leaves the reader with something interesting to think about.
Globalization Project
Free Trade and the WTO
You may or may not have heard of the WTO, but what do these three letters represent? WTO stands for World Trade Organization. The WTO is the only organization in the world that deals with the rules of trade between nations. Their goal is to make world trade as smooth as possible. The organization officially started on January 1st, 1995, replacing the General Agreement On Tariffs and Trade (GATT). 159 nations participate in decision making at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The WTO is “a rules-based, member-driven organization — all decisions are made by the member governments, and the rules are the outcome of negotiations among members” (WTO Official Site). Decisions are made predominantly by consensus, however the WTO Agreement oversees votes when consensus cannot be reached.
There are many people, however, who oppose the WTO and their way of operation. There have been concerns about smaller countries having much less power than wealthier countries in decision making, such as the United States. Like most multinational organizations, the WTO has protestors. Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at exactly what the organization is doing for the world on a grand scale. The world would look very different without organizations like the WTO. The WTO is a necessary component to the free trade system and to the prosperity of the world.
The WTO is responsible for solving problems that are brought to the table within the free trade system. Free trade is multinational exchange left to it’s own natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions. Almost all of the countries in the world participate in free trade and life, as we know it, would look much different without it.
Free trade is leading the world to a more prosperous future. As Denis H Froning states, “Free trade policies have created competition in today’s open market that leads to better products, better paying jobs, new markets, and more diversity…. The positive effects of an open market are clearly evident in the stellar growth of the U.S. economy over the past decade. Since 1990, the U.S. economy has grown by more than 23 percent, adding more than $2.1 trillion to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and raising the wealth of the average American consumer by more than $5,500.” These numbers suggest that the free trade system is consistently working. It has created jobs, brought in more than 2 trillion dollars, and has greatly helped the economy overall.
As successful as the free trade system is, it would not be what it is without the WTO. Every process dealing with billions of people needs a set of rules and a place where people can effectively make a change for the better. The WTO lets representatives from hundreds of countries come together and collaboratively make the free trade system better. If there is a problem in the free trade system, it is members of the WTO’s job to find the best solution. Free trade rules are meant to make international trade as free and fair as possible.
The world without free trade would look drastically different. Think about the different things you own from different countries. Now imagine only being able to purchase things manufactured in the U.S. That means no iPhones, no MacBook’s, no Subaru or Toyota. As a nation America relies on other countries for the high standard of living we are accustomed to.
The WTO also fosters global economic competition. Competition is what makes newer, cheaper, products every year. When Apple first released the iPhone it was revolutionary, however, this put pressure on companies like Android and Motorola. Soon enough, Android released a phone very similar to Apple’s at a cheaper price. This is happening everyday, from foods at a grocery store to the real estate market. It is a lot like natural selection. Companies that continue to satisfy customers survive, while unreliable companies do not succeed because people vote with their dollars.
Although there may be convincing arguments against free trade and the WTO, the WTO and it’s role in the free trade system are necessary elements of the world’s economic success. As time goes by, new issues will arise and it is the WTO’s job to do their best to find the most reasonable solutions. Large companies will continues to release revolutionary technology for less and less money. Scientist will receive the funding and technology needed to bring incredible inventions to the table. Medicine will be much more effective with the advances that happen everyday due to the collaboration between hundreds of nations. Free trade and the WTO are the frameworks on which the world’s success rests.
Work Cited
1) "WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION." World Trade Organization. 26 Jan. 2014 <http://www.wto.org/>.
2) Froning, Denis H. "The Benefits of Free Trade: A Guide For Policymakers." The Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. <http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2000/08/the-benefits-of-free-trade-a-guide-for-policymakers>.
3) "Economics Essays: Advantages and disadvantages of WTO." Economics Essays: Advantages and disadvantages of WTO. 31 Jan. 2014 <http://econ.economicshelp.org/2007/06/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wto.html>.
4) "Benefits of Free Trade." Economics Help. 31 Jan. 2014 <http://www.economicshelp.org/trade/benefits_free_trade>.
5) Sergie, Mohammed Aly. "The World Trade Organization (WTO)." Council on Foreign Relations. 09 Dec. 2013. Council on Foreign Relations. 03 Feb. 2014 <http://www.cfr.org/international-organizations-and-alliances/world-trade-organization-wto/p9386>.
You may or may not have heard of the WTO, but what do these three letters represent? WTO stands for World Trade Organization. The WTO is the only organization in the world that deals with the rules of trade between nations. Their goal is to make world trade as smooth as possible. The organization officially started on January 1st, 1995, replacing the General Agreement On Tariffs and Trade (GATT). 159 nations participate in decision making at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The WTO is “a rules-based, member-driven organization — all decisions are made by the member governments, and the rules are the outcome of negotiations among members” (WTO Official Site). Decisions are made predominantly by consensus, however the WTO Agreement oversees votes when consensus cannot be reached.
There are many people, however, who oppose the WTO and their way of operation. There have been concerns about smaller countries having much less power than wealthier countries in decision making, such as the United States. Like most multinational organizations, the WTO has protestors. Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at exactly what the organization is doing for the world on a grand scale. The world would look very different without organizations like the WTO. The WTO is a necessary component to the free trade system and to the prosperity of the world.
The WTO is responsible for solving problems that are brought to the table within the free trade system. Free trade is multinational exchange left to it’s own natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions. Almost all of the countries in the world participate in free trade and life, as we know it, would look much different without it.
Free trade is leading the world to a more prosperous future. As Denis H Froning states, “Free trade policies have created competition in today’s open market that leads to better products, better paying jobs, new markets, and more diversity…. The positive effects of an open market are clearly evident in the stellar growth of the U.S. economy over the past decade. Since 1990, the U.S. economy has grown by more than 23 percent, adding more than $2.1 trillion to the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and raising the wealth of the average American consumer by more than $5,500.” These numbers suggest that the free trade system is consistently working. It has created jobs, brought in more than 2 trillion dollars, and has greatly helped the economy overall.
As successful as the free trade system is, it would not be what it is without the WTO. Every process dealing with billions of people needs a set of rules and a place where people can effectively make a change for the better. The WTO lets representatives from hundreds of countries come together and collaboratively make the free trade system better. If there is a problem in the free trade system, it is members of the WTO’s job to find the best solution. Free trade rules are meant to make international trade as free and fair as possible.
The world without free trade would look drastically different. Think about the different things you own from different countries. Now imagine only being able to purchase things manufactured in the U.S. That means no iPhones, no MacBook’s, no Subaru or Toyota. As a nation America relies on other countries for the high standard of living we are accustomed to.
The WTO also fosters global economic competition. Competition is what makes newer, cheaper, products every year. When Apple first released the iPhone it was revolutionary, however, this put pressure on companies like Android and Motorola. Soon enough, Android released a phone very similar to Apple’s at a cheaper price. This is happening everyday, from foods at a grocery store to the real estate market. It is a lot like natural selection. Companies that continue to satisfy customers survive, while unreliable companies do not succeed because people vote with their dollars.
Although there may be convincing arguments against free trade and the WTO, the WTO and it’s role in the free trade system are necessary elements of the world’s economic success. As time goes by, new issues will arise and it is the WTO’s job to do their best to find the most reasonable solutions. Large companies will continues to release revolutionary technology for less and less money. Scientist will receive the funding and technology needed to bring incredible inventions to the table. Medicine will be much more effective with the advances that happen everyday due to the collaboration between hundreds of nations. Free trade and the WTO are the frameworks on which the world’s success rests.
Work Cited
1) "WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION." World Trade Organization. 26 Jan. 2014 <http://www.wto.org/>.
2) Froning, Denis H. "The Benefits of Free Trade: A Guide For Policymakers." The Heritage Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. <http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2000/08/the-benefits-of-free-trade-a-guide-for-policymakers>.
3) "Economics Essays: Advantages and disadvantages of WTO." Economics Essays: Advantages and disadvantages of WTO. 31 Jan. 2014 <http://econ.economicshelp.org/2007/06/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wto.html>.
4) "Benefits of Free Trade." Economics Help. 31 Jan. 2014 <http://www.economicshelp.org/trade/benefits_free_trade>.
5) Sergie, Mohammed Aly. "The World Trade Organization (WTO)." Council on Foreign Relations. 09 Dec. 2013. Council on Foreign Relations. 03 Feb. 2014 <http://www.cfr.org/international-organizations-and-alliances/world-trade-organization-wto/p9386>.
Globalization Project Reflection
In the globalization project students researched a topic of their choice relating to globalization. Once a thesis was chosen our next job was to write an Op-Ed between 750 and 1000 words on our topic. We were also instructed to draw a political cartoon relating to our thesis.
I learned a lot during this project, I learned about exactly what the WTO does in the free trade system and about some different economical issues within the free trade system.
My cartoon changed a little bit through the different drafts. A big help was the feedback I would not have had the ideas to work with without feedback from my peers. I am very happy with my cartoon overall and I am glad I received such good feedback.
I was fairly pleased with my Op Ed writing. I had some struggles in the beginning of the writing process. I was able to crank out my first draft in one class period, which got me back on track. I received good feedback, which helped my Op Ed. I wish I had used more feedback that I received and that is something I will work on in the next writing project.
In the globalization project students researched a topic of their choice relating to globalization. Once a thesis was chosen our next job was to write an Op-Ed between 750 and 1000 words on our topic. We were also instructed to draw a political cartoon relating to our thesis.
I learned a lot during this project, I learned about exactly what the WTO does in the free trade system and about some different economical issues within the free trade system.
My cartoon changed a little bit through the different drafts. A big help was the feedback I would not have had the ideas to work with without feedback from my peers. I am very happy with my cartoon overall and I am glad I received such good feedback.
I was fairly pleased with my Op Ed writing. I had some struggles in the beginning of the writing process. I was able to crank out my first draft in one class period, which got me back on track. I received good feedback, which helped my Op Ed. I wish I had used more feedback that I received and that is something I will work on in the next writing project.
Vietnam: historical thinking and vetran interview
Tonkin In Class Writing
Although the spread of communist regime was frightening the attack on the USS Mattox was not a justifiable reason to declare war on Vietnam.
There is a lot of controversy about what was really happening in the gulf of Tonkin. Some say the American destroyer was only in the gulf of Tonkin as security in the case of a communist attack. To many people this does not seem like a justifiable excuse. The U.S.S Mattox was a very powerful revolutionary machine of war. When the captain of the ship told the president the ship may have been attacked by Vietnamese soldiers, Johnson was very eager to jump to conclusions. In an interview with NBC directly following the event secretary of state, Dean Rusk was quoted saying “There is a great gulf of understanding between that world and our world… Their very processes of logic are different. So that it’s very difficult to enter into each other’s minds across that great ideological gulf… But thus far we have to take it as we see it. And the essential fact was that our vessels were being attacked on the high seas by these boats and we had to do something about it.” It is astounding that Rusk would be so eager to return fire when he was not certain the Mattox was attacked in the first place. He is expressing that Vietnamese cannot be reasoned with and since they fired upon us we need to retaliate with all out war. The apparent attack on the American destroyer is not a justifiable excuse to go to war with Vietnam.
In a message from Captain Herrick of the USS Mattox he is quoted saying “All subsequent Maddox torpedo reports are doubtful in that it is suspected that sonarman was hearing ships own propeller.” It is fascinating that the president would elect to take immediate action because of an event when the captain doubted them even occurring. So even if these attacks did happen why was there tension to begin with? The truth lies in a recorded telephone call between President Johnson and Robert Anderson. The president admitted to military involvement in Vietnam prior to the gulf of Tonkin incident. “There have been some covert operations in that area that we have been carrying on-blowing up bridges and thing of that kind, roads and so fourth. So I imagine they wanted to put a stop to it.” Our leaders knew that what they were doing was not justifiable and were not surprised that Vietnam retaliated.
U.S. was doing it’s best to cover up cries of defense from the Vietnamese. North Vietnam had a very interesting response to Tonkin allegations: “The U.S. imperialists again sent a destroyer to encroach upon North Viet Nam’s territorial waters in Quang Binh province. The warship had been cruising for two days to intimidate fishing boats of our people, openly firing upon our territorial waters. In the afternoon of August 2, it encountered our patrol boats between Hon Me and Lach Truong in our territorial waters. In face of the provocations by the sea rovers, our patrol boats took action to defend our territorial waters and fisherman and chased the enemy ship out of our territorial waters.” The Vietnamese were protecting their country from the wrath of the US military.
Although the spread of communist regime was frightening the attack on the USS Mattox was not a justifiable reason to declare war on Vietnam.
There is a lot of controversy about what was really happening in the gulf of Tonkin. Some say the American destroyer was only in the gulf of Tonkin as security in the case of a communist attack. To many people this does not seem like a justifiable excuse. The U.S.S Mattox was a very powerful revolutionary machine of war. When the captain of the ship told the president the ship may have been attacked by Vietnamese soldiers, Johnson was very eager to jump to conclusions. In an interview with NBC directly following the event secretary of state, Dean Rusk was quoted saying “There is a great gulf of understanding between that world and our world… Their very processes of logic are different. So that it’s very difficult to enter into each other’s minds across that great ideological gulf… But thus far we have to take it as we see it. And the essential fact was that our vessels were being attacked on the high seas by these boats and we had to do something about it.” It is astounding that Rusk would be so eager to return fire when he was not certain the Mattox was attacked in the first place. He is expressing that Vietnamese cannot be reasoned with and since they fired upon us we need to retaliate with all out war. The apparent attack on the American destroyer is not a justifiable excuse to go to war with Vietnam.
In a message from Captain Herrick of the USS Mattox he is quoted saying “All subsequent Maddox torpedo reports are doubtful in that it is suspected that sonarman was hearing ships own propeller.” It is fascinating that the president would elect to take immediate action because of an event when the captain doubted them even occurring. So even if these attacks did happen why was there tension to begin with? The truth lies in a recorded telephone call between President Johnson and Robert Anderson. The president admitted to military involvement in Vietnam prior to the gulf of Tonkin incident. “There have been some covert operations in that area that we have been carrying on-blowing up bridges and thing of that kind, roads and so fourth. So I imagine they wanted to put a stop to it.” Our leaders knew that what they were doing was not justifiable and were not surprised that Vietnam retaliated.
U.S. was doing it’s best to cover up cries of defense from the Vietnamese. North Vietnam had a very interesting response to Tonkin allegations: “The U.S. imperialists again sent a destroyer to encroach upon North Viet Nam’s territorial waters in Quang Binh province. The warship had been cruising for two days to intimidate fishing boats of our people, openly firing upon our territorial waters. In the afternoon of August 2, it encountered our patrol boats between Hon Me and Lach Truong in our territorial waters. In face of the provocations by the sea rovers, our patrol boats took action to defend our territorial waters and fisherman and chased the enemy ship out of our territorial waters.” The Vietnamese were protecting their country from the wrath of the US military.