Directions: Read and listen to the stories from the site below:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/09/05/world/middleeast/Syrian-Refugees-in-Lebanon.html
(read all the stories/listen to the videos)
Questions to address:
The Middle East in ancient history is often defined as the "Cosmopolitan Middle East". Today the Middle East tells a very different story.
a. How was the Middle East viewed by its neighbors prior to the common era? How and why has this impression changed over time?
b. What responsibility do you think the global world has to immigrants who are fleeing the Middle East for safety?
b). The global world has a responsibility to aid immigrants fleeing from the Middle East, specifically by alleviating the conflicts in those countries, and by helping refugees assimilate and make a new life. Without support from other countries, the refugees have almost no chance in surviving in a new country. Language differences, educational differences, money problems, and even religious and cultural differences will come with the refugees, and in the end, there will be even more conflict. In order to stop this snowball effect, other countries need to stop the problems happening in the Middle East so that refugees stop fleeing, and help any refugees that have fled assimilate into society or else everyone will have problems. This is just what is considered human ethics.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important that we help support these refugees, and what you bring up is true, that without the rest of the world's help, it would be very hard for the refugees to adapt to a new country. I also think that it is important for us as a global community to help stop the conflicts that harm the common people of these countries. But I think that we also need to provide the refugees with resources that will help them survive when they are not in their home country. From what the articles show, the refugees have a hard time adjusting to where they are staying. I think it is our responsibility to help them stay comfortable until we can help them get back to their original state.
DeleteI completely agree with you on the fact that there will be cultural and language barriers, and hardships that refugees will deal with when arriving to a new country. Along with helping to stop conflicts in the Middle East, I think helping refugees adjust to new lives will be just as effective in this issue, such as providing them with affordable housing and free language classes, especially to those fleeing to developed countries. As for refugees fleeing to countries that are not so developed, I think that relief groups and volunteers from all over the world can travel to these places, and provide aid to the refugees. This goes hand in hand with the fact that we, as global citizens, must watch out for each other.
DeleteI agree with you on the fact that the differences between the refugees will eventually cause more conflict after reaching a new country and that the other countries should aid them. I believe that it is our responsibility to provide them with comfortable housing as well as education, which may help them in communicating with each other. The countries that are and are not part of the UDHR should all join hands in improving conditions for the refugees, sending resources and groups that offer specific services such as healthcare. This issue concerns the entire global community and should be dealt with in such a manner.
DeleteYes, I agree with you that it is only moral and ethical for volunteers, relief groups, and developed countries to help out and provide the refugees with homes, resources, and education. Yes, a long-term solution would be to tackle the cause and stop the unrest in the Middle East so that people would not have to flee their homes. However, how would you want to go about doing this? There are many complications to simply sending troops to fight in the Middle East, as wars are extremely costly and doing this could only lead to more violence and destruction.
DeleteMahima C (ndsj)
I completely agree with the idea of the snowball effect that global help will halt. It is imperative that we assure safety by acting now instead of waiting until the last minute to help. Providing refugees with resources such as food, shelter and education will certainly get them on their way to being more comfortable in the time. I like the idea of simple human ethics being introduced in such an intricate situation. However, the cost is also a factor and sending troops isn't such a good idea in retrospect. This issue is one of many issues that need to be approached more seriously with the entire global community as mentioned previously.
Deletea). The middle east was viewed as a conquered, potentially rich area before now because of the abundance of oil and large British presence. This impression has changed over time because corrupt leaders and ideological movements have sprung up, threatening multiple western countries and many others. The middle easts' dependence on oil revenue put them at risk, causing conflict, and the anti-western movement and the Islamic revolution have made certain countries feel threatened.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, and it's also something that I hadn't really thought about. The Middle East was such a powerful region before the common era, and I think that many of the leaders of that time were corrupt too, as they would use terror tactics to ensure that the commoners followed them. But I think that even though the rulers were corrupt during that time, the surrounding countries were not as advanced as them. Now that the Middle East isn't as advanced as some other countries, the corrupt leaders pose a threat to the region's peace. It is also not as scary to face the Middle East in a conflict. I find it sad that something that should make the Middle East powerful (their oil) in fact ends up hurting them.
DeleteI'm very interested by this idea of dependence on oil, and I have to admit I wasn't thinking about that when I wrote my own answer. It's interesting that you say that this dependence put them at risk, considering that OPEC is a major force in the global economy and could easily send investors into a panic by threatening to raise prices. The idea of colonialism is very interesting as well- we see its influence all over the world. The Sykes-Picot Agreement (a treaty between France and Britain that essentially divided the Middle East between them) meant that Great Britain might have brought the Middle East some prosperity, but personally, I would think that colonies are generally viewed as inferior to their mother countries. Did you mean that the large British presence and resulting economic expansion made other countries view the region as prosperous before the corrupt leaders and damaging ideological movements arose?
DeleteDaenerys P.
NDSJ
This is definitely a different perspective. I went a little further back than you in terms of the history of the Middle East, but I find that this viewpoint is quite interesting as well. The western, more developed countries did rely on the Middle East for oil, and there was corruption in that area. I think the corruption happened on both sides, with the the major oil industries and the corrupted leaders working together to keep most of the profit between themselves. Though that corruption was bad, it seems the lesser of the two evils now that we hear of the atrocities happening in the Middle East today.
Delete^
DeleteMegha N.
NDSJ
A. Before the common era it was viewed as calm,stable,culturally rich, and very wonderful gorgeous place to visit. Also it was strongly known for its strict police force, who wouldn't even let you say a word against the ruler. The reason this impression has changed is because the regime forces began to use torture and murder to force the population to obey. But in the recent years Syrians decided that would rather fight and or perhaps die than live in a dictatorship. Which led to large massacres and the destruction of Syria (corruption).
ReplyDeleteB. The Global world not only have a responsibility they have an obligations to help and aid the refugees and ultimately help the middle east get back on its feet. Countries can help by greeting them with opened arms and opportunities to live within their means , By Jobs, shelter and other necessities they need to survive and live on their own. The world has to respond positively to the refugees because they have been through a lot and most have nothing and others could be mentally ill or unstable.
A) That’s an interesting thought that I hadn’t thought about. It’s terrible that such a large and influential area went from its prestigious position to a war torn land. If you look further back, you can see that the Middle East has almost reverted to the way that it was before the Islamic Empire. Just as it was constantly being conquered and under attack from various group, areas like Syria right now are wartorn and almost to the point of being uninhabitable by anyone not involved in the war. Isn’t it interesting how that happened? Hopefully, it will be able to go back to the center of knowledge and innovation it was during the Islamic Civilization.
DeleteB) I agree with your standing. The global countries should all work to welcome the Syrian refugees and help them start new lives away from the violence. And with so much history and information in that area of the world, people should work to try to preserve all of the information. Have you considered what the countries should do to help end the violence, if they should do anything? In my opinion, countries like the US need to carefully budget how they try to help fight the violence, since often times it can lead to more violence instead of peace. However, I do believe that countries shouldn't just wait it out until the violent group disbands, because not only could that take years, it may never happen.
-Anna G NDSJ
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI definitely agree with your thoughts on mental health and mental stability as immigrants are leaving their homes after seeing various traumatic things that may have internally impacted them. People often forget that mental health is just as important as physical health in these situations and needs to be treated just as seriously as anything else should be. Studies have shown how PTSD is very common in Middle Eastern refugees. But the stigma and lack of awareness surrounding this subject make it a taboo within society which may leave it untreated. The Global community has the responsibility to make mental health a priority as well to help keep a person’s mind and body intact.
DeleteBinita P.
NDSJ
a. I completely agree. The cosmopolitan middle east grew with the help of strong influential government tactics as well as a central military. The Assyrians used terror tactics to gain and maintain power and were very successful in doing so. The Persians expanded a vast amount of territory and conquered many regions. In this common era,the public is aware of their rights and want to take a stance on their freedom. As a result, there are conflicts to overthrow or get rid of these unethical dictators.
Deleteb. I agree with your stance on this global issue. We, as a global community, have a responsibility towards those in need. Being able to provide them with materials and space they need, we will be able to improve their lifestyles and let them engage with others freely. As of now, they feel threatened in their own homes and shunned from other countries. Inviting them to safety, will reassure them and allow a new purpose in life to grow. They are human no matter what background they are from.We, as humans from other countries, have a duty to stop this injustice from happening to them and to become social advocates for their free will and safety.
Aditi G.
NDSJ
A. I agree that these methods were one of the causes of the modern impressions of the Middle East. Corruption in any country deeply affects the psychological health of its citizens, and it causes many uproars in response to these methods, which leads to social media coverage and the active attention of the global community. Because of these massacres and destructive corruption of the government that is not unheard of is still different to first-world country views, many permanent stereotypes and stigmatizes may arise due to the strong influence of western perception of the world, leading to the changing of views towards the Middle East.
DeleteB. I do agree that the global world has an obligation to help these refugees and aid in their recovery, but unfortunately it may prove difficult with out current society and political systems. Countries usually do not invest money/time/attention to things they don't find profit in because it does not benefit them economically. A good economy is what keeps a country in check, and the government is always striving for the preservation of the balance of the economy and the wellness of the country. And now imagine millions of refugees from another country that are fleeing for there lives begging for food, shelter, and other life necessities due to their own countries' conflicts. Funding money to support millions (that are not your citizens) is not a simple task, and there are no benefits coming out in helping people from another country; and they may even disrupt the economy. Perhaps considering these factors is the reason why we must ask ourselves what obligations the world has to these refugees because we are not helping enough.
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was viewed as an area that was easily conquerable. From the Persians to the Assyrians and every other Empire that had taken hold of the land in that area, the Middle East was often controlled by foreigners. However, that idea about the Middle East eventually began to change as the Islamic Empire and other native groups began to grow in power. The Islamic Empire began to grow in strength and make advancements. The creation of the Islamic religion, advancements in subjects like mathematics and science that are still used today and greatly surpassed advancements made by the other Empires at the time, and the use of a well-organized, powerful army soon led to the Islamic empire breaking free from the control of the other empires. The Middle East blossomed from a submissive, controlled empire to one that was strong and technologically advanced.
ReplyDeleteB. I believe that the global world has a responsibility to do as much as it can to help the immigrants and refugees fleeing Syria. Not only has the Middle East contributed so much to the advancements in the medical and STEAM departments, it is the origin of the Islamic Religion, it is home to many historic building, artifacts, and lands such as Mecca, the Ka’ba, and Jerusalem. Another reason I feel the global world has a responsibility to help the immigrants is because we are all interconnected as global citizens and have a responsibility to help each other in times of need. Even though some governments, like the Icelandic government, may not be able to support large amounts of refugees, when the people of the country all work together, they can help to raise money and supplies to help out even more of the refugees. The cultural change and language barrier will prove to be a big challenge, and if no one bothers to help the refugees adapt, there will be a much slimmer chance of the
Anna G NDSJ
b) I agree. With many important religious locations and artifacts in the Middle East, it is important to alleviate conflict. Also, that is a common component of many religions, and thus, cultures. If the barriers are not removed between peoples, then conflict will arise and we will all be effected.
DeleteB) I believe it's the global responsibility of the world to provide aid in the forms of; medical attention, clothing, food, and temporary shelters for the Syrian refugees, however I do not believe the globe should fight a war for Syria for three reasons. First of all, a war wouldn't change the fact that thousands of refugees are without a home and that surrounding countries are hesitant to let them in because they have to maintain their own security and don't know what to expect from the Syrians. Furthermore, even if all the countries banded together, which is unlikely, the refugees would still have to spend years rebuilding and recovering from their trauma and it's to expensive to fund both war and war relief. Most importantly global intervention is part of what's causing tension in the Middle East, particularly the United States, and to go in now to fix the problems in Syria would enable Syrians when future problems arise because they would always be reliant on someone else to fix their problems for them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that war would not help this situation.At this point more violence will only cause even more death and displacement. To throw more armies into the mix would be detrimental. On the other hand I think that some global intervention is necessary, just not through military force. I don't think leaving the Middle East without help will help anything. I think we need to create a system that will not leave the middle east alone, but teach a stable self sustaining type of government.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt's definitely our responsibility to provide aid, I believe that. I'd like to talk about the reasons you believe that we shouldn't fight a war for Syria. Firstly- no, a war wouldn't change the fact that millions of people don't have a home, and they aren't being allowed to try to rebuild one in other countries. But aid alone won't solve for the atrocities that are driving people out in the first place. If countries could go in and prevent these atrocities, prevent the reason why people are leaving in the first place, wouldn't that be helpful? Secondly- it is very expensive. I agree with you on that. Finally- I also agree with your opinion that the US attempting to intervene is the reason for the tension. Anti-Western sentiment is a driving force for terrorist groups and for the people to resist outside help. So what should we do? Should we stand aside and let this continue to happen? Yes, the US has a horrible track record with these kinds of things, but what if we let other countries?
DeleteDaenerys P.
NDSJ
Your points are certainly valid, and I agree with most of your given statements. However, currently the status quo has Syrian rebel groups fighting against the Syrian government; that's the main reason as to why there are so many refugees. Therefore, the Syrians are not necessarily relying on other countries to fight their battles for them.
DeleteWaging a world war is certainly not a good option, however countries including the United States need to do something other than provide aid to refugees in order to truly solve this issue, otherwise there will be more displaced people, more refugees, and more lives lost.
Pearlin Liu, NDSJ
I agree with what you are saying about how war would not help. I think that war with external forces would cause even more trauma for the people in the country and there would be even more refugees. It wouldn't be helping the problem it would just be increasing the trauma and suffering of these people.
DeleteA. The Middle East in ancient times has often been seen as an easily conquered territory to lend wealth to whatever country has possession of it at the time. The Middle East has changed hands many times throughout it's history, usually by a European country. In modern times, the Middle East has been changed by the introduction of oil into its economy, and also the many wars that have been fought over religion.
ReplyDeleteB. The global world has a responsibility to help refugees recover from what they have experienced in the Middle East, and to create places of refuge for refugees to live while they wait for the opportunity to go back to their home countries. The world also needs to help to peacefully resolve conflicts that are happening in the Middle East, so that refugees can return home.
I agree that we need to work together as a global community to resolve conflict in the Middle East, but I also think that we need to do more than just create places for refugees to wait until they can come home. We need to make it possible for refugees to have the opportunity to do more than wait in tents. We have to find a way to open up our countries to help refugees get jobs and live a more "normal" life. As for specific situations, we have to find a way to combat smuggling and trafficking in the Middle East and give refugees a safe way to get help. This is a difficult and pressing matter, but many nations have the resources to help, it's just a matter of working together and finding the right solutions.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteA. I agree with your stance on how submissive the Middle East was during ancient times and how this translated into it being a territory to lend wealth. The capture of this area during the reigns of the Persian and Assyrian empire support this. Your ideas on oil also prove to be a true as a factor of the conflict along with religion. Along with this, I believe internal conflicts caused by rebel groups in conflict with the government proves to be a major factor in how the Middle East is viewed today as well. This can be seen from the conflicts going in Syria, the rebel groups against President Bashar Al-Assad. The civil war had ravaged Syria and both parties have been at each other's throats for almost 4 years now with little hope for peace.
DeleteBinita P.
NDSJ
a. I definitely agree with your point on conflicts arising due to religion and the land, however I would not necessarily agree with Middle Eastern countries before common era being so easily conquered. At the peak of their dynasties, empires such as the Assyrian and Persian were militaristically powerful. It wasn't until pressing internal/external matters arose during these empires where they became susceptible to being invaded by other armies.
Deleteb. As many others have stated, I also agree that the global community should be making an effort to help the Syrian refugees. Adding on to what Binita was saying about the Syrian civil war, I also think that negotiating peace with the Syrian government and the rebel groups would not be a very practical option in the status quo, though it certainly would be beneficial if it was.
Pearlin Liu, NDSJ
A.
DeleteI agree that the Middle East has changed due to other countries' greed for its riches and religious and cultural bias as factors for its changing impressions. As oil became a more demanded resource, it transformed the economy of the Middle East, making them dependent on oil as a means of feeding money to the economy. Other more dominant countries set their eyes on this prized resource engaged in falsely justified conflicts of war in order to obtain these lands full of oil riches. These conflicts made the Middle East seem to the globe as a violent, dangerous, and third-world place. There are also conflicts due to religious bias that surfaced overtime and has also given a bad rep making religious and ethnic tensions between certain groups run deep.
B.
I agree as a global community we have an obligation to help each other out, especially to the currently fleeing immigrants in the Middle East. If only the world worked on the basis of benefitting others in need instead of benefitting themselves right? It is very unfortunate to know that the people of our very same species are suffering across the globe due to conflicts caused by other countries' actions. The consequences affected the wrong people; the innocent and vulnerable, and that is something that is very unforgivable to the people that just want to have a better life without fearing their lives every day, and it is happening because the people in power that have the ability to protect and stop these conflicts are not taking action because the suffering of the people do not benefit or concern them. It is like they say; man is man's biggest enemy.
Initially writing this post I didn't think about the oil. That was a very valid point made. Many of their recent conflicts have had to with oil. unfortunately we live in such a discriminative world there will always be issues on religion and ethnic, the best thing we can do is support and aid those who are trying to start over because everything they once had is now gone.
Deletea. Prior to the common era, the Middle East was viewed as politically strong, stable, and intellectually advanced. The Assyrian Empire used fear tactics to keep order, and although they had a small army, the emperors were ruthless and powerful. They convinced the citizens and neighbors that they were stable and strong through propaganda. Ancient Iran had an organized government system that granted rulers with a lot of power. The Persian Empire was expansive and violent, and conquered surrounding areas. This led to Persian dominance in the Middle East. With the rise of the Islamic Empire, the Middle East was seen as very culturally rich and intellectually advanced. The House of Knowledge in Baghdad drew scholars from all over the world because the empire had made so many advances in science, math, technology, medicine, and the arts. However, overtime these impressions began to wither. Perhaps it was due to the invasion by nomadic forces and internal conflict. It may have shown the surrounding areas of these civilizations that the empires were not as strong and indestructible as they seemed.
ReplyDeleteb. Many countries in the world are advanced and have the resources needed to help refugees. Just as the Islamic Empire lured many people with their intellectual advancements, advanced global communities can offer refugees with jobs in technology to help them start and anew and begin lives of stability. Also, with the large amount of Middle Eastern immigrants in other countries, such as in the US and Canada, refugees can seek help and guidance from those from the same homeland. This can reduce language and cultural barriers that may arise, allowing them to feel more welcome.
Hey Irene,
DeleteYour thoughts on internal conflict and foreign invasion completely parallel my own. I definitely think the Middle East became vulnerable because of the constant struggle between Sunni/Shi'ite and the land conflicts between the Caliphates. We all know that foreign invaders overtook the Middle East, therefore it must have been pretty weak, but when I think of the Middle East today I do not think of weak. The Middle East that we know today is very violent and someone - maybe not the government - holds a lot of power. My thoughts are maybe the Middle East became more violent because of the foreign invaders. Obviously they wanted to keep their land, so maybe they combatted the invaders with as much force as they could muster. The added violence would have made citizens' lives a lot less enjoyable and the accepting nature of the empires probably crumbled. The lack of acceptance and violence are really what is adding to the refugees' struggle and their desire to leave their homes. I think just as the Middle East was powerful before the common era, it is still powerful today but the nature of the power has changed and become more wicked and less inclusive.
B) I agree with the points that you gave in. I do believe that many countries have the power to help the Jewish refuges but chose not to. I also like the point that you bring up of how we can break the cultural barriers by allowing refuges into our countries.
DeleteA. Prior to the common era the Middle East was a strong area that had been the breeding grounds for strong civilizations. The Assyrian Empire was very strong and used terror tactics and propaganda to gain power. This gave way to the ,also violent, Persian empire. Both were strong civilizations. The Middle East continued to grow as an intellectually advanced area, that focused on arts and education. Things like the House of Wisdom, and an emphasis on art created a rich and diverse culture. The Middle East was seen as a conquerable area with a rich culture and great intellect.
ReplyDeleteB. The Global world has a responsibility to protect refugees of the Middle East. Safety is a basic right that every person should be allowed. As a global community we should come together and give refugees a chance for a better life. The Middle East has such a strong cultural back round, and to lose thousands of years of history would be a crime. Without the Middle East we would be lacking many advancements, even things we consider as simple as the number zero. It's time we protect and respect the refugees and people of the Middle east.
Mary D
NDSJ
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was economically strong, politically stable, and more advanced than other civilizations at the time. The culture was rich and the land was valuable, especially now for oil. However, a lot of internal and external conflicts for control and power have ruined that image.
ReplyDeleteB. Refugees fleeing the Middle East are struggling with the violence, poverty, and hopelessness surrounding them. As a global community, it is our responsibility to assist them in any way we can. Providing medical attention, sufficient food, and other forms of aid are ways to help make the situation for refugees easier. What the global community shouldn't do is cause any more conflicts or violence in the area. The area is already war-torn and adding more nations to the fight wouldn't help anything.
Lara F NDSJ
I totally agree with you on providing aid for the Syrian refugees and also that the surrounding countries shouldn't go to war for them. It doesn't solve the problems they have right now and at the end of the day they still wouldn't be able to return to a safe home. It's better to fill their bellies and keep them warm then give them false hope of the other countries coming to their defense like white nights.
Deletei Agree with you saying that its are responsibility to help them, but i dot agree with you on not getting involved in their conflicts because though we dont need to fight and there is already war we can still help them by training them in order for them to be able to fight back and have less martyrs.
DeleteHI Lara, I agree with your answer! I believe that we should help the refugees with what they need because after all, we are one country. We need to help each other out in times of need so that the world can advance as one.
DeleteTo whs_colby
DeleteI understand what you're saying. What I had meant to say was that I don't think other countries should involve their militaries in any existing violence because it would only make the situation worse. I see what you mean concerning training the refugees and assisting them, but fighting alongside them would complicate the matter because you would have larger forces getting involved.
Lara, I agree with you that while we should provide aid in the form of sending supplies and food overseas, we should not further the war. Fighting fire with fire will do nothing but lead to more destruction and displacement of peoples, escalating the desperation of the situation and bringing far more harm than good.
DeleteMaha K., NDSJ
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was powerful, and they were making many different kinds of advancements. They had a strong military as well as a powerful ruling class who was able to keep the commoners under their control. Before the common era, other kingdoms were scared of the Middle East, and they didn't want any conflict with the Middle East. As time went on, and other countries started developing faster, the Middle East didn't look so scary anymore. People are not so scared of this region anymore because compared to some other developed countries, it is not as advanced anymore.
ReplyDeleteB. The refugees who fled the Middle East no longer have a home; they are living under poor conditions, and for some it is a hard transition. Many of these refugees are injured, poor, or have many kids. Our responsibility is to help them by providing whatever we can to help them get through their situation, such as food, medical care, and even some hope. We, as an international community, have the responsibility of making sure that the world doesn't have as many situations that force people to leave their homes.
Himani P.
NDSJ
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree with you. Many countries are selfish and don't look towards assisting fellow nations. I'm glad that you didn't suggest that countries need to take the refugees into their system, because that is very complicated. As much as I also feel that it should be done, it will cause conflict between the citizens of a nation and the refugees. The refugees will take up homes, jobs, and if not homes will be stranded wandering the streets.
DeleteA) Before the common era, the Middle East was a place for strong empires to develop and then become conquered. Empires like the Assyrian and Persian grew and became very big, powerful empires. They had a strong fear tactic and a strong professional army that kept everyone from rebelling and expanded their empire. Later, the Islamic Civilization made the Middle East a largely intelligently place. The culture was rich and the Islamic Civilization had many advances.The House of Wisdom and rich culture lead their neighbors to think highly of the Middle East because they were more advanced than, for example, Europe was at that time. Now, the Middle East has declined intellectually, and has become a place of war and terror, kind of like it was before the common era. Before the common era, the empires would use fear to keep people from rebelling, but today, the corruption of the government has caused rebellions and war. The impression has changed drastically from wanting to be as advanced as the Middle East was to not wanting to be as they are now.
ReplyDeleteB) I believe that the world has a great responsibility to immigrants who are fleeing for safety. Countries near the Middle East should allow as many immigrants as they can. Education, jobs and adequate shelter should be provided or worked toward. The people who are able to should bring immigrants into their homes and get them jobs. Education should be provided for the children in the refugee camps. Other countries that aren’t as close should support those who are. These countries can send help, money, and supplies to countries that are housing refugees. Especially countries like the United States should also help to stop the violence from continuing to happen. Stopping the root problem is the best thing to do to help these refugees. This would enable them to go home and then other countries can stop being overflowed with immigrants. The world has a responsibility to keep immigrants safe, but also try to get them back to their homes.
Syd P NDSJ
I agree that the refugees need aid. However, I don't believe it's in refugees best interest for the surrounding countries to go to war for them. Eventually the majority of the citizens that stayed are going to have to take a stand for themselves and the refuges or else this will keep happening. I mean that's part of the reason there's tension in the Middle East because so many people are involved that are only looking after the assets they have in the Middle East, including the United States. Plus, it's not fair or realistic to ask people to go to war for another country and risk life and limb after just finally getting a break from all the bloodshed, people are tired of fighting in others. War will just be war and it won't solve the internal problems Syria is having just delay them until the next tyrannical group comes along and it becomes a vicious cycle on repeat.
DeleteA. Before the common era, the Middle East was the center of intellectual and cultural growth and prosperity. Empires in the Middle East had powerful armies, effective governments, rich cultures, and advanced technologies. Huge advancements in science, mathematics, and medicine can be attributed to the empires that were in the Middle East. Unfortunately, centuries of religious violence and distortion have negatively impacted the Middle East and its people. The Middle East has a history of terrorism and religious extremism, which is why it is perceived poorly in politics and the media.
ReplyDeleteB. Every day, hundreds of Syrians are forced to leave their homes, fleeing for their lives. These individuals are being targeted by chemical weapons, airstrikes, and militant groups. More than 6.5 million Syrians have been internally displaced and another 3 million were forced to flee to neighboring countries since Syria's civil war in 2011. These refugees are jobless, homeless, malnourished, and sick. It is the responsibility of the United States to assist these people by admitting refugees along with providing health care, food, sanitary supplies, and protection to the IDPs in Syria. Recently, Congress and President Obama mentioned that the U.S. would be admitting 10,000 refugees. By admitting these refugees we can help them rebuild their lives.
Nikhila K.
NDSJ
Hey Nikhila,
DeleteSo I totally agree that refugees need assistance and basic rights such as health care, food, and protection. I do however disagree that it is the responsibility of the United States. Of course we have some resources that we can spare and I think we should do all that we can to support refugees, but I do think we need to take care of our own country too. I believe that this truly is a global issue because we cannot just turn to one country and say "Hey you, save all of these refugees for us!" because that could really hasten deterioration of that once powerful country. We could be stuck in a cycle of 'dying' countries if we become too dependent on them to host refugees. What I'm really trying to say is yes, I agree that the United States should be of assistance, but I believe that it is a responsibility that should be shouldered by not one country, but all.
Hi Audrey,
DeleteI agree that stable and developed countries should play a role assisting these refugees and Syria. However, I think that this should be limited to developed and stable countries for a few reasons. Developed or stable countries have better facilities, programs, and equipment that they can use to aid Syrian refugees. On the other hand, developing or unstable countries will have trouble supporting refugees since they usually need assistance with their own citizens. The United States is stable and developed enough to accept at least 10,000 refugees. Although we have obstacles and challenges, they will not interfere with accepting and aiding refugees because the tools and resources that we need to tap into to aid Syrians are stable.
Nikhila, you've got the right sentiment- but 10,000 isn't nearly enough. There are millions of refugees. We've already raised our cap by 30,000 refugees. Also there are some problems with the US specifically taking refugees in. First of all, geography. The US is simply farther than Europe. It's going to take a lot of resources to transport these refugees from Europe or Syria.
DeleteThough definitely developed countries should be the ones taking in more refugees.
Nikhila, I agree that the US has a moral obligation to allow refugees to seek shelter and safety on our soil. Because of the fact that we are a developed country, we can, and should, offer our resources to those who need them. Daenerys, I agree that 10,000 refugees is not enough, especially when there are more than 3 million internationally displaced peoples. The issue of transportation is an something that had not occurred to me, and it is one that is of high importance. I think that our highest priority should be providing supplies and food to those in refugee camps, etc., in Europe and the Middle East, as well as getting refugees to safe places in developed countries in Europe, where it would be easier for them to get to (e.g. England, France, Spain...).
DeleteMaha K., NDSJ
a. How was the Middle East viewed by its neighbors prior to the common era? How and why has this impression changed over time?
ReplyDelete- It was seen as a great, and powerful nation. In the middle East, the first known writing was found. It had a powerful king and its political organization was based on tightly organized city-states. Kings, and the priesthood controlled vast land. Slaves worked this land. They (Middle Eastern civilizations) also traded with other nearby civilizations. However, now, the Middle East is not as powerful as it once was. It underwent invasions, which probably took away from its power. It is also is now known as a cruel nation lusting blood.
b. What responsibility do you think the global world has to immigrants who are fleeing the Middle East for safety?
-The world has to remember that we are all one, and just because we do not support the government of a nation doesn't mean we shouldn't support the people. They are innocent and do not have the means or protection for escape.
I agree with you that we are all connected as one and should support these people in need. Also, I would like to reiterate the point about those fleeing because similarly, I think that they are innocent in this issue. These people leaving their countries did not have a choice, and many of them had been living like us prior to the wars. It's true that they don't have many effective ways for escape, so we have to provide them with as much support possible.
DeleteI also agree that we are all interconnected with one another as global citizens and that we should support people, regardless of the political conflict in their homeland. Many people live in countries with a corrupt government and do not have a voice in society, or are unable to do so because of horrible consequences. Like you mentioned, they are innocent people who simply, do not have choice. As the case in Syria, people who are fighting for their rights are killed, and their families have to flee for protection. I strongly agree with you that we should provide aid to refugees because they are all innocent, and are our fellow global citizens.
DeleteI agree with what you have to say about the world community being held accountable for helping refugees. These people are just seeking a place of peace, and as we saw in these videos some of the refugees didn't want to leave their countries because their countries are their homes, but they have been forced to make hard decisions and leave. Some of these refugees are trying to escape being bombed in their own homes, and I think that the world community has to see that these people don't have any other choice than to seek refuge in another country, and the world community has to be willing to help them.
DeleteI really like your point about how not supporting the government doesn’t mean not supporting the people. I think sometimes people make generalizations of people in country based on how their government is acting, and that doesn’t make any sense. I agree that the refugees have done nothing wrong. They deserve our respect as well as our aid, whether that aid be financial, medical, or otherwise.
DeleteA) I concur with your opinion. However, I would like to add the fact that the Middle East was very developed intellectually, especially in mathematics, philosophy, sciences, and language. Additionally, the fall of the Middle Eastern empires were due to internal conflicts such as fragmentation and conflict between the Shi’ites and Sunni. The fall of Middle Eastern Empires were also the result of the troubles of governing such a large empire. In other words, lands that were farther from the centralized ruler were more difficult to govern.
DeleteB) I completely agree with the fact that the global community should act as a unified force. We should help the innocent people whose lives are plagued by death and conflict. I also want to add that much of the conflict in the Middle East currently is due to civil wars, so the civilians were indeed against their government. However, the government used violence to settle the conflict, which obviously proved counter productive. Many of these civilians are left without a future to hope for, which is why we have to intervene to give them a fair life.
Claire N.
NDSJ
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was seen as a cosmopolitan area that expanded through conquest and harbored many diverse cultures. Neighbors viewed the Middle East as a pivotal part of trade because of its strategic location near the Mediterranean and Black Seas plus being between rising European and Asian civilizations. People of nearby regions, such as Minoan and Mycenae, recognized the Middle East as a place of knowledge and adopted some aspects of its writing and central government. However, this impression has changed over time possibly because of the Middle East’s internal conflicts. Religious problems of the common era, such as those between the Islamic Sunnis and Shi’ites, could have negatively affected how the Middle East was regarded by neighbors. Also, because Al-Hakim, an Egyptian caliph, ordered the destruction of Jerusalem’s holy places for Christians, it caused an everlasting, detrimental effect on how others feel about Muslims. Today, people tend to be afraid of what happens in the Middle East because of the religious extremism and civil wars there.
ReplyDeleteB. The global world has to help immigrants who are fleeing the Middle East. We are all a part of the global community, and we have to help somehow, even if it individually isn’t much. Collectively, the result will be greater. Therefore, we cannot be bystanders, and we should provide services and goods (ie. food, medicine, clothes) for those in need. Other countries should step in and try to aid these displaced peoples because they don’t have anywhere else to go. Not helping the fleeing immigrants only allows the problems in the Middle East to escalate, and giving them support is the first step in stopping these conflicts.
Margret L. [NDSJ]
A. The Middle East before the common area was truly a cosmopolitan civilization in which ideas, goods, and culture rapidly spread through large areas. Before the common era, The Middle East was viewed as an intimidating civilization, especially due to the fact that it was more technologically, socially, and economically advanced than other civilizations at the time. Both the Assyrians and Persians had very strong armies, which entailed a more aggressive and overbearing military tactics. The Assyrians used fear to ensure that others would follow them, while the Persians had a larger group of people who contributed to the military prowess of the Persian empire. On top of it, both civilizations began to use coinage as a way to improve the economic aspects of the era. They also had many useful resources that gave the Middle East the upper hand over other civilizations. However, as the government began to lean towards corruption, the Middle East lost the strong influence it had before. As a result, they were more susceptible to the conquest of foreigners. There were more religious and political conflicts as time continued, and this just led to a declination of the empire. However, as the Islamic empire began, the success rose just as well. They became more strong intellectually and technologically, which also paralleled their prosperity in their economic and political aspects as well.
ReplyDeleteB. The global world must link hands and work towards global citizenship. In other words, we as a global community must realize the inherent complexity and connectivity of our world, and consequently help those who are fleeing from the terrorism of Syria and the Middle East. Hopefully, other nations will continue to accept more refugees, as they realize the importance of helping others in different nations and working together to combat oppressive terrorists and extremely corrupt governments. Although many countries are currently working towards accepting these refugees and providing homes for them, it is indeed the smaller countries that are receiving the short end of the stick, as they lose their resources. It is more important for larger and more economically developed nations to provide refuge and safety for these refugees. For example, Hungary, which is a relatively developed nation, should try to accept refugees. It is crucial to help the millions of refugees who are trying to rebuild their lives and pick themselves up after suffering in a war-torn nation. At the same time, we should also work to combat terrorism and help those who are still living in Syria.
Sapna R. [NDSJ]
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was seen as a cosmopolitan area. It was strong in terms of intellectual and technological advancements, cultural diversity, and military as well as expansion. The House of Wisdom was a university of some sorts in the Middle East and people from neighboring countries saw it as a place where philosophers, scholars, or anyone with a thirst for knowledge could come and learn as well as contribute. In comparison to other regions at the same time period, such as Europe, the Middle East was extremely sophisticated. Due to the great amount of knowledge in the area, people from all over from different civilizations came. More people meant more ideas which meant more advancements. During this time, remarkable advancements in the fields of medicine, science, and mathematics were made such as development in knowledge of anatomy, optics, the decimal system, and the concept of contagion. Furthermore, their conquests of several other civilizations showed people that their military was powerful and effective. Unfortunately, this view of the Middle East changed as time passed. There was corruption in the government and internal conflicts in terms of religion and politics such as tension between the Sunnis and Shi’ites. This led to a more vulnerable empire that could easily fall. In addition, Muslim extremists and violence in general through media outlets resulted in some misinterpretation of the Islamic religion for the public.
ReplyDeleteB. The global world has an obligation to immigrants as we are all part of one global community. The world cannot simply sit back and watch as bystanders, rather become upstanders and support people in their times of need and desperation. By accepting the refugees into our homes, providing food/shelter, clothes, hygiene products, medicine, and much more, the global community can provide assistance. So many families are being displaced, children living in the streets. It is our job and our responsibility to take care of these people. Simply because we come from different regions or have different beliefs, this does not mean we do not open our arms. The refugees have lived in violence and chaos, unable to provide their children with an education or just a meal. Germany has welcomed 98,700, Sweden 64,700 and so many other countries have opened their arms. Obama previously pledged to admit 10,000 refugees yet this is only the beginning. Despite the fact that we disagree with the politics and beliefs of the government, this does not mean that the refugees are our enemy. On the contrary, they are a part of our community and we must rise to the occasion and help them to create safe lifestyles as we come together to fight the violence and terrorism.
Stephanie N.
NDSJ
I agree with your views because the Middle East in this time period was seen as the center of advancement and growth. The reason for this was because, as you said, civilizations from all across the world heard of this remarkable land and thought this would be an great opportunity for them to learn something new from a foriegn land and a place already known for being great. In your second response, you commented on how the people of the world are acting like bystanders instead of actually doing something. I completely agree with you because it shoudn't take hunderds of thousands of people urging you to solve a problem, for you to get up and do it.
DeleteI agree with your views because the Middle East in this time period was seen as the center of advancement and growth. The reason for this was because, as you said, civilizations from all across the world heard of this remarkable land and thought this would be an great opportunity for them to learn something new from a foriegn land and a place already known for being great. In your second response, you commented on how the people of the world are acting like bystanders instead of actually doing something. I completely agree with you because it shoudn't take hunderds of thousands of people urging you to solve a problem, for you to get up and do it.
DeleteBefore the Common Era the Middle East was considered a force to be reckoned with. It was extremely independent, had close communities, and was influential politically as well as economically. It was envied and respected by its neighbors. This is almost a total different Middle East we're seeing today. The Middle East as we know it today is torn by civil and political unrest, reliant on others. They've allowed so many people into their affairs that they have little power or know how to run the country themselves know, something that was never allowed in the old Middle East.
ReplyDeleteA. I also agree with your thought about the Middle East's being economically influential before the common era. Other civilizations, such as those in Greece, had gained many of the profits that trading with the Middle East provided. Also, the Middle East introduced domesticated camels and circulated valuable metals (ie. Nubian gold, silver and copper from Anatolia, and tin from Afghanistan) in the trading world. The change in the Middle East is definitely shown by its political instability, which contributes to the civil wars occurring in the region. Additionally, I agree that the Middle East seems to be reliant on other countries. The fact that nations like America help train soldiers in the Middle East and send supplies there shows its dependency.
DeleteI agree with your statement that the Middle East was politically influential prior to the common era. The strong Muslim army conquered much territory, and new innovations strengthened their force. However, as time went on, religious strife between Sunnis and Shi'ites along with other internal conflict caused the collapse of the Islamic Empire. In addition, the corruption in the government and the weak rulers of later periods of time eventually prompted the deterioration of central authority. This resulted in the disorder and unrest seen in the Middle East now.
DeleteI agree that the Middle East is now a place of unrest and war. It seems that the neighbor's view on the Middle East has reversed greatly from being respected and envied to, I would say, being condemned and thought less of. The attitude has really turned around, which is the shocking thing about it.
DeleteSyd P. NDSJ
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DeleteI agree with your views on how the Middle East was an influential region before the common era opposed to how they are now a completely dependent and powerless area. Additionally, the consistent wars of the Middle East seem to be a very huge reason for the major changes that occurred overtime.
DeleteShikha N.
NDSJ
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ReplyDeleteA. Prior to the common era, the Middle East was viewed as a region with great intellectual advancements, a rich culture, and open interactions with other empires. The House of Wisdom centered in Baghdad was respected for its various revolutionary scientific and mathematical discoveries and collaboration with scholars from other empires. The caliph also encouraged and patronized cultural development. The Islamic Empire held a formidable army of Muslim warriors that claimed many victories in war and was believed to have the favor of God. However, this impression changed over time. Conflicts between Sunnis and Shi'ites intensified, leading to a weakened central authority. Now, in modern society, the Middle East is perceived as an area of turmoil, terrorism, and unending violence.
ReplyDeleteB. The global world has a responsibility to help the refugees by satisfying their needs. Developed countries should share their natural resources with them and provide more comfortable and less crowded shelters. Moreover, the refugees should be welcomed within the borders of other countries and cared for with the items and services they are in need of, such as education, food, water, and medical care. These are the actions we should take as part of an interconnected global community.
Jasmine L.
NDSJ
a.
ReplyDeletePrior to the common era, the Middle East was a center of learning and intellectual development. Advances in science, mathematics, arts, and more came from or were spread from the Middle East into different parts of the world. On top of being intellectually developed, the Middle East had a rich culture. They were welcoming of different religions and traditions, and didn't push anyone to convert into their own faith or belief system. The Middle East was respected and slightly feared by their neighbors, but now they are blindly feared and hated, and everyone seems to have forgotten their wonderful contributions to the world. Now the Middle East and the Islamic faith seem to be synonyms of terrorism, and ignorance and hatred are directed to those who come from this are whether they deserve it or not.
b.
As global citizens, it is our responsibility to help out immigrants who are looking for a safe haven. We could spread awareness for the cause through social media, or by talking about it to friends or family members. Making donations or directly helping would benefit the immigrants as well. Allowing immigrants into countries and taking care of them is another responsibility of the country that the immigrants go to. Providing basic needs such as shelter, water, medical needs, food, and more should also be a priority. We, as a global community, should take full responsibility to take care of those who can't take care of themselves.
Megha N.
NDSJ
I completely agree with all of the points you have made. I really like the way said how the Middle East and Islamic faith are turning into synonyms of terrorism. I feel like using that analog really gets the point across. Also I agree that as global citizens we should help out the immigrants because if we were in their shoes, we would want help also.
DeleteA)Prior to the common area, the Middle East was viewed by its neighbors as an easy target which explains the many empires that had taken control of that area before the Common Era (i.e. Assyria, Persia). This changed drastically with the start of the Islamic empire and its rapid spread. Now, the once weak Middle East, had become a center for intellectual developments and the start of a very monotheistic religion. The advances in math, science, medicine, arts, literature and more surpassed all that existed during their time. The successes of the Islamic empire have carried over to our world which can be seen from the knowledge we accumulated today. Unfortunately the Middle East tells a completely different story today. Now the Middle has been home to various extremism, harsh dictators, and brutal civil wars.
ReplyDeleteB) The global community holds a responsibility to uphold the rights listed in the UDHR which honor the significance of the everyday person. As stated in the article 14 all people have to right to “…to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” In a nutshell, this article allows people to migrate to other countries if their lives are being threatened. European countries in particular have been the areas where immigrants have been migrating, as a part of the global community these countries have the responsibility to house these innocent people from the atrocities going on back home. This right has been difficult to uphold due to the sheer number of immigrants arriving in Europe, yet it must be upheld for the safety of the people. Article 18 essentially gives people the right to “… freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” This article allows religious freedom and expression, yet inhabitants of the middle east are being killed for following this right. As the global community we have the duty to try to alleviate conflicts to allow people to worship freely.
Binita P.
NDSJ
I like your different outlook on how the the Middle East was viewed. Your completely right, the Middle East although it was viewed for be being a strong and formidable force it was like most nations back then and was eventually taken over by a stronger and more superior force. But after did become a huge hub for religion and politics among other things.
DeleteGreat Outlook Binita!
a. Before the common era, the Cosmopolitan Middle East was viewed by its neighbors as a strong, independent and powerful region which was made up of individual civilizations that each had a specific contribution to the growth and expansion of the middle east. The area consisted of the Assyrians and the Persians who both had conquered and ruled a specific area and contributed to its success. The Assyrians ruled using terror tactics to gain control of subjects and maintain power and rule as well as enforce an image upon others of what consequences a rebellion may face. The Assyrians were able to spread and take over Israel, Tyre and Carthage all of which play prominent role in the province. The Persians had a strong central military which allowed for it to expand to territories far beyond its horizon and contributed to its success and strength as a power of its own. Throughout time, the Middle East became extremely rich in knowledge and contributed to the inventions of new concepts. Its sophisticated image was immediately changed under the rule of many corrupt and unfair rulers. Internal conflicts soon aroused and made the region more defenseless than ever. Now, the image of the Middle East has completely changed in result of its religious extremism and external conflicts with other countries in the form of terrorism.
ReplyDeleteb. I think that the situation of the immigrants fleeing from the Middle East has gotten out of hand. We, as a community are obligated to help or at least find a place for these people to stay, feel safe and wanted. Their torturous lives compel them to move and find a new place where they are welcomed as well as where their talents and abilities can be used to the fullest. Hopefully, there are more countries willing to help these people and at least stand up for their rights or provide them with supplies. As a global community, we should be upstanders and voice our opinions to help guide these people to safety. If they are being punished in their own country as well as shunned from other countries, they essentially don’t have anywhere to go. It is harder to fight for your rights when there is no one on your side. War is not the war to proceed; we should advocate for the rights of these people in a more controlled fashion and help them live their lives freely.
Aditi G.
NDSJ
A. Prior to the common era, the Middle East was seen as a cosmopolitan region that had a powerful military and constant intellectual and technological developments. The Assyrians and Persians portray how the use of an advanced military helped expand their territory. The Assyrians used terror tactics, which scared their surrounding areas into surrendering. Under the strong leadership of dictators, the Persians were able to become one of the largest empires that was seen at that time. With the rise of the Islamic Empire, the Middle East was an area that flourished intellectually. Scholars and teachers from around the world came to Baghdad’s House of Wisdom in order to learn and help translate ancient Hellenistic knowledge into Arabic. This flux of individuals, who admired the Islamic knowledge, entering into the Islamic civilization allowed for cultural diffusion and ideas to spread. Compared to areas such as Europe that suffered from the Dark Ages at this time, the Middle East was a place that was incomparable to the rest of the world. They were able to create medicines, mathematical equations, and improve upon the arts, which was all influential and admired by the European countries after the Crusades. This prosperous image of the Middle East ended up falling due to the centuries of internal and external conflict. The different political groups of Shi’ites and Sunnis constantly fought to rule, and European countries attacked their cultural centers. Today, we see how the Middle East is no longer primarily considered a place of knowledge but rather a place of violence due to the internal conflicts and extremist groups that reside there.
ReplyDeleteB. As a global community, countries need to provide aid to the Syrian refugees who are simply trying to remain safe. More than 6.5 million Syrians have been displaced because of the internal conflicts, and although a third of them have found a safe refuge, they are still not living the lives that they deserve. They lack a proper education, proper shelters, and proper jobs. Countries need to start providing physical aid to the Middle East whether that may be sending food, clothing, temporary shelters, water, or medicine. Countries such as Germany and Lebanon have already been able to really help by accepting these refugees. If countries have enough resources to, they should follow Germany’s and Lebanon’s example in taking in more refugees.
Meghan C.
NDSJ
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ReplyDeleteA. The Middle Eastern region is a very viable region. Throughout history, we've seen that it's been a region to conquer, and for very good reason. It became even more prosperous and influential during the time of the Islamic Empire, in which a lot of intellectual development and cultural exchange that still affects us today occurred. This image of the Middle East as such an innovative and beneficial region started to change probably around the time of the Crusades, when the Europeans convinced themselves that their enemy was the Muslims. Another major turning point would be when the Middle East decided not to use the printing press when the Europeans did, and that was particularly important because that meant Europe became more literate, and thus the new center of intellectual innovation. The Middle East's image has never been regained, and in modern times the instability, violence, and terrorism in that area is so bad that if that image is ever regained, it's not likely to happen any time soon.
ReplyDeleteB. There are a lot of different ways you can take this question. The short answer is, yes, we do have a responsibility to these refugees. Do we have to take them into our own countries? What alternative do we have for the refugees who are already in Europe, already applying to stay there? The EU needs a much more cohesive policy to deal with these refugees, and needs to start encouraging its member countries to take in more refugees. That's not to say that other countries not in the EU can refuse to take in refugees, and the US is doing the right thing in leading the charge by raising its refugee cap. But it's just not enough.
Another perspective we can take on this question is, do we have the responsibility to get rid of these threats that are causing people to leave their homes? Is it morally correct for the US and other countries to invade Syria, to depose Bashar al-Assad, to destroy terrorist groups like ISIS or the newly resurgent Taliban? Why am I even talking about invasion? Because not everyone can flee. Not everyone can leave. And taking refugees into other countries can only last so long before it becomes unsustainable. My first paragraph under this answer was about the symptom, not the cause. Do we have the responsibility to go into their home countries and make everything right?
Daenerys P.
NDSJ
A) Before the Common Era, the Middle East was booming with visitors all coming to see the technological advances and bring them back home. Linking eastern Asia with western Europe, the Middle East was just that – the middle. Capitals such as Damascus and Baghdad became hubs because they brought together many cultures in trade and knowledge. Their establishments like the House of Wisdom – a university where all could study, no matter ethnic background or religious beliefs – were very popular because they were so accepting. Though the empires appeared brutal and violent from afar due to their war-like propaganda, the vast armies aimed only to fend off enemies and expand territory. The expansive new land came with many new ethnic groups as well, but they were all offered freedom to practice their beliefs in peace. Overall, the Middle East was seen as exceptionally strong and powerful, but accepting and intellectual too. This impression changed overtime because the government began to be corrupt. Rulers looked toward personal lavish lifestyles instead of the good of their people and were unable to control their provinces. The citizens of the Empire were unhappy with their government and foreign peoples saw this as an opportunity to take them over. The Middle East became more focused on violence to protect their territory and less on positive societal developments.
ReplyDeleteB) Refugees fleeing the Middle East for safety are struggling because there are few places where they can go and really be safe. I think it is our job to put a stop to ethnic stereotyping because it can make a ‘safe’ life unbearable. The Middle East gets a lot of bad press because of the constant violence, but not everyone there is a violent terrorist, that’s just a stereotype that has been connected to them. Our responsibility to our fellow humans is to allow them to be both accepted and safe, but as long as we look at Middle Easterners with disdain it is unobtainable. I believe we also need to provide aid to those unable to leave. The global world has a plethora of goods, yet many places are too greedy to share. If we can put aside our ethnic and financial differences, we can support the refugees, but if nothing changes the violence and death count will only increase.
Audrey S.
[NDSJ]
A) Before the Common Era, the Middle East was seen as a powerful cosmopolitan region that was militarily and intellectually advanced. Through their use of propaganda, strong armies, and firm political systems, Assyria and Persia were able to conquer other areas and expand the empire. On top of its successful military conquests, the Middle East was a center for learning and innovation. The region had libraries and the House of Knowledge, which attracted scholars of many different cultures; moreover, the contributions of the Middle East include numerous advancements in architecture, art, science, and math. Overtime however, conflicts such as the crusades, political corruption, problems between Sunnis and Shi’ites, and nomadic invasions weakened the area and destroyed the region’s positive image. People now view the Middle East as a place of violence and terror due to its ongoing struggles.
ReplyDeleteB) The global world has a responsibility to help refugees who are fleeing the Middle East by providing them with safe shelters, financial support, and supplies such as food, water, clothing, medicine, and books. Well-developed countries with resources should help them as much as possible and let them into the country. These refugees have lost their homes and jobs, so countries need to provide immigrants with employment and educational opportunities that will allow them to start a stable life in the new country. The US has agreed to let in ten thousand refugees but this alone is inadequate, and more countries need to step in and admit refugees because they have a responsibility as members of the global community.
Mahima C. (NDSJ)
a. Before the common era, the Middle East was a rapidly developing region. They were a hugely diverse and cosmopolitan area which contributed substantially to their intellectual finesse. Encompassing the Assyrian’s skillful use of propaganda and the Persian’s strategic military force, the Middle East was an extremely advanced region. As the Islamic civilization grew, innovation took place in the sciences, mathematics, philosophy, architecture, anatomy and more. This entire area was a place of religious and ethnic tolerance as seen in the House of Knowledge where all different kinds of people were welcome and part of the learning process. However, as time passed, a lack of tolerance settled in which created brutal internal conflicts. This can be seen in the modern day conflict between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. Political unrest through external invasions and ambitious leaders have also led to a weak structure in the Middle East. Nowadays, their raging civil wars and strife has lead to outside regions viewing the Middle East with a perspective of violence and brutality.
ReplyDeleteb. It is the responsibility of every global citizen to assist the refugees fleeing the Middle East. It is clearly articulated in the UDHR that every refugee has the right to seek asylum and we, as people who are capable of offering them sanction, have to do so according to international law. For example, countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey, who are geographically much closer to the conflict than the United States, have taken in over 3 million refugees. However, in modern times there are many complications due to nations being frightened of being caught in the conflict physically or politically. This can be seen by the hesitance of all the nations in the European Union except Germany to accept refugees. Yet, they are able to send aid monetarily or in the form of supplies. It can be assumed that these attempts are to create a better living standard in the middle east as long term solution for people such as the 6.5 million displaced people in Syria who cannot find refuge in neighboring countries which is a short term solution. Many people agree that being accepted into other countries is a right that belongs to every refugee; However, they often don’t look too far into the future and set long term goals to help the oppressed which is something every global citizen should keep in mind.
Ariel C.
NDSJ
A) Before the common era, the Middle East was viewed as a place full of the newest technologies and improvements.When travelers came out of the Middle East they took with them some of these technologies along with the knowledge that the Middle East was known for possessing. It was a place where scholars sought to go, and were accepted, because the House of Wisdom lay in Baghdad, which was a huge center of the Middle East. The Islamic Empires contributed greatly to math as well as science and medicine. They also helped translate Greek texts, which opened Europe to new vistas. The rulers of the Islamic Empire were also accepting of the people of the book and allowed them to practice their own religion, as long as they payed taxes.This earned them many favors with others and helped them when conquering of other lands. The views of the Middle East have changed over the long course of time because of the many wars fought for religious reasons. It has also changed because of the shifts in political powers, civil wars causing thousands of deaths, oil, and nuclear bombs. All of these factors contribute to societies negative views of the Middle East today.
ReplyDeleteB. I think that the global world has an enormous responsibility to refugees because as global citizens we need to be aware of the sufferings of others and the predicaments that they are put in. We need to recognize that the turmoil that is plaguing their countries have been forced on them, and if they want to live they have no other choice than to flee. I believe that the global community needs to help them because if there were bombings in their country, long periods of unrest, and many political and religious problems, they would want someone to be willing to help them escape it.
Jasmine C.
NDSJ
A) Preceding the common era, the Middle East was most definitely an extremely strong and cosmopolitan empire. They had a strong army/military, which was a main contributor as to why they were so successful and large. The people they had fought even described their army as brute and forceful, willing to do whatever was necessary to conquer. However, another extremely large portion to their expansion and diversity was due to their religion, Islam, spreading wide and to different parts of the world; it attracted people to come and many converted as well. Soon the Middle East had become the center for learning, intellect, culture, and so much more. There was such a diverse amount of people coming from all over, specifically to Baghdad. Baghdad had become the place to go to for intellect and education, in fact it was referred to as the Jewel of the World. It had the House of the Wisdom, which attracted many scholars and people who wanted to learn more about other cultures. The Middle East thrived in advancements of medicine, science, and math, all of which was well before the times of the Europeans, who were nowhere near as advanced in their studies as the Middle East was. Sadly, the Middle Eastern empire did fall, due to external and internal conflicts; the internal conflicts due to the two "different" religious groups, Shi'ites and Sunnis, fighting for rule and power. The external conflicts being the Europeans seeing how vulnerable the Middle Eastern empire had become due to their internal conflicts, and attacking.
ReplyDeleteToday we see the Middle East as a place of violence and war; we no longer look at it as the center of intellectual advancements or a place of diversity in culture. Instead we see it as an area where the people are terrorists, are all extremists, and only want war on the US.
B) I think that it is part of our country's duty to provide aid and help to the refugees who are fleeing from wars and the violence that surrounded them. The refugees who live in the refugee camps are not living in comfortable or livable conditions. They barely have enough food for their families and most of them live in small tents that house at most 12 people, possibly more, which is extremely inconvenient and cramped. There are also no schools or places that have education, so most of the kids don't even know how to read or are too traumatized by the violence and war to do anything. Sadly, that is only 1/3 of the people who have found safe refuge; 6.5 million Syrians are displaced due to internal conflicts and are not living the lives they should be. Other countries, US included, should start sending food, proper shelter, clean water, medicine, supplies, something more than a blanket and a floor to sleep on. However, if a country has the resources and ability to, it could even start housing the refugees and give them a place of sanctuary- a real place to live and begin building a life.
Nicole Y.
NDSJ
a. During the peak of empires located in the Middle East, people from other civilizations viewed the area as a powerful, technologically advanced nation in a prime trading location. Each successful empire in this region enjoyed vast economic benefits from trade that were envied by other nations. This was due to the intermediate location of the Middle East, in which it was within the crossroads of many trading routes. Additionally, the Middle East was decades ahead of it's neighbors in terms of knowledge and technology, and people from surrounding areas would journey to the Middle East to share and learn these new ideas. However, their prominence, location and common religious beliefs (Islam) led to jealousy, hatred, and ultimately conquest and war from civilizations in the European region. Throughout history since, the negative stigma between the Middle East and western countries did not resolve. Amplified by new political and militaristic conflicts, neighboring civilizations as well as countries further away have negative views and beliefs towards the Middle East, in stark contrast to the positive melting pot of knowledge and ideas it was once seen as.
ReplyDeleteb. This article was extremely helpful in terms of seeing personal accounts of how people's lives have been changed due to the Syrian civil war. That being said, it is the ours, as well as the global communities' rightful moral obligation to actively be involved in accepting more refugees into their countries. Each country in the UN (192 countries as of now, including certain developing countries) has signed the UDHR, which states that people have the right to seek asylum from persecution in any country. Therefore, countries that are either involved in conflict in Syria or simply have the resources to do so should be involved in the effort to helped the refugees and displaced people. Currently, over 6 million Syrians are displaced (almost 30% of the country), and though neighboring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon as well as those in the European Union have stepped up to help and take in a certain number of refugees, the effort made in the status quo is simply not enough. To put into statistics - Turkey has taken in over 1.9 million refugees, Germany plans to take in 800,000-1 million, and the United States has about 1,500 but is planning on taking in 30,000.
tl;dr (too long, didn't read) - What can we do, as a developed country that takes pride in being known as the "Land of the Free", to save lives and stop the suffering in this Middle Eastern country, also keeping in mind the fact that there is a thriving anti-US sentiment in the Middle East? What is stopping countries from getting involved (especially the countries that are involved in the conflict, politically) in helping the lives of millions that have been ruined by this conflict? The Syrian refugee crisis is clearly an issue that many people (including myself) could go on and on about; I'm interested in hearing other opinions on this.
Pearlin Liu
DeleteNDSJ
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ReplyDeleteA. Prior to the common era, the Middle East was always seen as strong in many ways. The Assyrian Empire, for example, was seen as strong and powerful due to the propoganda that was stirred up in their favor. The Persian Empire was also extremley expansive and dominant, creating an idea of power and strength. The Islamic Empire was also incredibly expansive, but also accepting due to its religous tolerance for People of the Book. The House of Knowledge that was a center for the sharing of knowledge showed other terriorities how strong they were intellectually and politically. However, as time progressed, due to internal conflicts, religious wars, and other uprisings, the strong Middle East withered away into a place known for fear and oppression.
ReplyDeleteB. I believe that the global world is responsible to help refugees. After fleeing from their country, the refugees live in camps with poor conditions, no education, and little food. Countries more stable and able need to help get them back up on their feet. Without any aid, refugees will continue to flee and not prosper, continuing an endless downward spiral. If the global world did help, however, then the Middle East would be able to get back on its feet, and refugees would be able to live lives free of fear and societal struggles.
Miyo I.
NDSJ
a) Prior to the common era, the Middle East was viewed as an area of great strength and innovation. One example of this comes from their unparalleled intellectual advancements. In the Islamic Empire, particularly through the House of Knowledge, amazing scientific, medical, and mathematical discoveries were made. Unfortunately, this image of amazing power and culture has been tarnished due to internal and external conflicts. Due to its history, many people view the Middle East as a scary area of constant conflict.
ReplyDeleteb)As shown in the stories, refugees experience extreme hardships. Being forced to flee their country and live in unideal conditions causes many financial, health, and emotional issues. I believe that the global world has a responsibility to help Syrian refugees rebuild their lives. People can help by allowing refugees to stay with them or helping people to find jobs. In addition, global citizens can help by donating money to pay for basic necessities.
Nina L.
NDSJ
A.) Before the common era i believe that the middle east was seen as a place that was rich in strength and natural resources. this can be seen through all the great empires that have risen in the middle east such as the Persians, Sumerians, and the Babylonians all having strong military forces that allowed them to expand the borders of their empires. Though these empires gave way to many innovations such as the chariot in the sumerian empire the history of uprisings from creul rulings within the empires give a bad name to the Middle East within history.
ReplyDeleteB.) The refugees who are fleeing need the help of the world to stay safe and ultimatley get their country back under control. The reason most of the refugees are fleeing are because of the viloence that is being inflicted upon them and their families leaving them no choice but to flee. What the world should do is give health, financial, and military support. What we can also do is have volunteers go down and show them what they can do with the limited resources they have and survive off them.
I completely agree that most, if not all refugees are fleeing due to the severe violence. Secondly, I agree that we can use the common tactic of providing them with financial support (through simple money-making fundraisers or direct donations). However, I respectably disagree with your last point. Yes, we can send down volunteers but it would be close to impossible to show the refugees how to use the resources they already have because like you said, they have limited resources. Although if we send volunteers AND extra resources, this can be possible. :)
DeleteShikha N.
NDSJ.
I fully agree with everything you say about providing medical and financial support, but I’d like to know a little more about the world being responsible for providing military support. What would this mean? There are many different ways military support can be provided. For example, Russia recently started air strikes in Syria to provide military support. Russia is sided with Syria’s current president Bashar al-Assad, while the United States provides military support to Syria’s moderate rebels. Both of these nations believe that they are doing the right thing, but both sides are very different from each other. How can military support, or the efforts towards trying to help, be of use when they cause more conflict between larger nations? It would be wonderful if countries could work together, but politics complicates support so that military involvement contradicts between nations and makes it hard to know the best military action to take.
DeleteElaine D.
NDSJ
A. I completely agree that prior to common era, the Middle East was rich in so many different ways as you said. Also, their army was definitely a major reason to their success in conquering and succeeding so much, because they were driven and determined. However, what do you mean by the empire giving away to innovations like the chariot? Do you mean they slowed down, advancements wise, because new technology was coming in and they felt they didn't have the need to keep advancing as much? Also by cruel rulings, do you mean the corrupt rulers and their way of ruling?
DeleteB. I am also on the same page when you talk about the refugees needing medical and financial support because it is due to the violence and wars around them that is causing families to have to find safety. I also think that having volunteers go down and help the refugees would be another good idea because it would be so helpful to the refugees to know that people care and are trying to get them out of their current situation. However, could you expand a bit more on the providing military support aspect? Do you mean countries should be willing to go and fight wars to try and help the refugees? Involving the military is a very broad spectrum of things that they, the military, can do and sometimes it might end up causing more conflicts between countries.
Thank you!
Nicole Y.
NDSJ
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ReplyDeletea. Long before the common era, the Middle east was seen as a region of great prosperity and development. Many aspects of the Middle east rapidly developed, including intellectual, economical, technological, and military advances. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad is one way to view the development of science, math, and literature since it was the major intellectual center. Inventions of new concepts in mathematics and science proved to contribute to the region's quick development. Great works were translated by scholars from not only the Middle East, but neighboring countries as well. The architecture and technology of the region was no less. Religious centers such as mosques and shrines were quite famous for their intricate architecture. The military was known to be one of the strongest and fearful militaries due to their advancing technology and terror tactics used to conquer other areas. Soon, the respectable image of the Middle East was ruined by the various civil wars caused by political unrest and conflict between groups. From then on, the Middle East was viewed as a violent region.
ReplyDeleteb. The global world can do far more for the fleeing immigrants than simply pitying them and hearing/watching their sorrowful stories on television news. Merely through generous donations and aid, we can reach out to those in need of help. Famous organizations such as the International Red Cross are very well known for assisting people with their volunteers. By volunteering with these humanitarian organizations, we as a global community can help the injured immigrants. In one of the clips, education was shown as a vital aspect of life which was soon lost as many children had forgotten how to read. However, this can be regained with the global community's help by simply 1. volunteering as teachers to educate the children and 2. donating significant educational resources such as books, pencils, etc. A more common way of helping the immigrants is obviously through donations of money, food, clothes, and possibly homebuilding materials. Shelter is a crucial part of the fleeing immigrants' lives as they don't have a place to call home. It would be extremely necessary for developed neighboring countries to provide them with shelter.
Shikha N.
NDSJ
a) I agree with the points you made about the rich cultural and political aspects of the Middle East as well as the mention of civil wars. Might I add that there were also religious extremists that also brought other kinds of internal conflict among the people of the Middle East and corrupt leaders that has been wrecking havoc.
Deleteb) In terms of giving opportunity of a shelter, education, and other necessities, I can say that I completely agree with providing those kinds of things to immigrants in need. However, what good would charity really do if the internal conflict isn't getting any better in the Middle East if not worse. The people may need assistance and charity may help a little, but if we really wanted to help them, we need to take a larger action in order to have a more sound and peaceful Middle East.
1.)I agree with all of the points you've made and i feel you articulated them in very good detail, i agree with^ in the context you could have talked about the religious extremest, but your points on politics and culture were good.
Delete2.) I also feel as though we should do our part and help those who seek help and guidance but i also feel as though we should only help as long as we and our citizens aren't put in harms way in the process.
A) Prior to the common era the middle east was viewed as a rich, powerful, militarily and intellectually advanced and a wonderful place to come visit, by its neighbors. Now in the common era that has completely change. The middle east is now viewed as a war zone. Mostly everywhere in the middle east right now is fighting this started when after world war II. The Jewis were given land so they can live together in peace but the middle east did not like especially Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. So all these countries invaded the Jewis land and ever since than there have always been fighting in the middle east.
ReplyDeleteB) The world has a big responsibility over the safety over the jewis. Every country that has the ability or the resources to go help the jewis should weather that is allowing the Jewish to come into their country or if that is protecting them from the middle east. Everybody in the world has the right to be able to live somewhere safe.
A) Yes, I agree with what you're saying. Also, I think it's really important to see the reasons as to why the Middle East was so successful during that time period. Their many resources as well as the fact that they were militarily advanced contributed to their booming success before the common era. I believe that a main reason for all the fighting now is that corruption in the government that still rings true today. One of the main reasons of the fall of the Islamic empire as well as the Middle East before the common era is the prevalent corruption in the government. Even now, the corruption in the government has led to the continuous fighting and terrorism that we constantly hear about.
DeleteB) Although there are many groups of people that we should be supporting at this time, it is very important to first turn our attention to the Syrian refugees who are fleeing away from their corrupt government and constant terror attacks. However, yes, I do agree with you that it is our duty to help others, especially if the nation has the capability to do so. Right now, I think a major issue is that a lot of the refugees are going to extremely small nations that also don't have too many resources.
A. I concede with what you are stating. I hadn't considered World War II as a factor on how the Middle East is now. It brings up an interesting point on how the Middle East become like how it is ow. While I agree with this, I also think that the fighting also began when the Shi'ites and Sunni separated. The dislike with the Jewish may have also sparked some fighting, but the beginning started with the schism between the Sunnis and the Shi'ites.
DeleteB. I agree with you that everyone should have a safe home, but I also think that the Syrian refugees are who we must help first. They are under constant attacks and are fleeing from their corrupt government. While it is important to help the displaced Jewish people, the Syrian refugees are in the most danger and are being displaced into small countries without many resources for refugees, making life difficult in camps.
- Tammy T NDSJ
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DeleteA. Your views on the Middle East are pretty much parallel to mine. I definitely do think that preceding common era, the Middle East was successful, powerful, and had one of the strongest armies. I also agree when you say that the Middle East was a place that everyone wanted to visit, because it certainly was, especially Baghdad. Baghdad was the main place where scholars and people from all over came and discussed intellectual questions/problems and advanced in the science, math, and medical department; it drew people in from all over the world. However, like you said the Middle East has become known as a war zone, which is quite sad considering how diverse and advanced they were before. Your point about WW2 was one that I hadn't ever considered or thought about but your explanation certainly does allow me to see how/why it became a contributing factor as to why the Middle East has become the "war zone". But I also do think that another main contributor would be the corrupt government that is leading the Middle East, which is most likely a huge reason as to why we even have wars with them or why they plan terrorist attacks.
DeleteB. I definitely see your point on how everyone should have a place they can call home and feel safe in, I most definitely agree, however I think we should help the Syrian refugees first because their homes are constantly being attacked (i.e. bombings, shootings, massacres). They are in continuous danger and the refugee camps they have to turn to, aren't exactly a place one would call home. I think the pressing issue is, yes there aren't enough refugee camps, but also, those refugee camps are cramped, uncomfortable, and have limited resources. They don't provide stable or viable living conditions. I completely see your point on needing to help Jewish refugees, because like you mentioned everyone deserves a safe home, but I think the Syrian refugees need our immediate help. There are 2 million Syrians in refugee camps, while the other 6.5 million Syrians are living in constant danger and violence.
Nicole Y.
NDSJ
A) I agree with your perspective on the Middle East. It is intriguing how World War II brought awareness to Jewish individuals and their home, only to bring more conflict. However, I believe that most of the present conflict in the Middle East is due to civil war and animosity between the government and its people. Such as the case in Syria, violence was used against protesting civilians, thus initiating intense violence in the Middle East in general.
DeleteB) Although you are correct in saying that every human deserves the right to a safe home, I believe that there are many more Middle Eastern people in need of help, such as the Syrian refugees who are currently facing a crisis and those who are being targeted by terrorist groups. In fact, many innocent civilians are being killed and robbed of basic necessities due to the Syrian crisis. Therefore, we should aid the Syrians rather than the Jewish people because the Jewish people, currently, aren’t necessarily facing imminent death.
Claire N.
NDSJ
a) Before the Common Era, the Middle East was known for their rich, advanced culture and stable political structures among its regional neighbors. As other civilizations rose above its power, the Middle East became easier for other empires to conquer the area or invade it. Due to the external conflicts, such as the aforementioned invasions, and internal conflicts with rising leaders with corrupt intentions as well as religious extremists causing Holy wars, some areas of Middle East became hostile for its citizens and its surrounding civilizations. Therefore, in present time, the Middle East has an image of malevolence and violence to some individuals.
ReplyDeleteb) Although, I believe in helping those in need, in this case, the immigrants fleeing from the violence in the Middle East, but I do not believe it to be a global responsibility to constantly provide. It is, of course, important to give someone in need the push to move forward and have a successful future in a different country. They should have an equal opportunity of citizenship, education, shelter, and a job; However, nobody should be entitled for anything excessive because it's not our responsibility. It is up the the individual to move forward as new citizen assuming that they have gotten an opportunity. Overall, I'm not saying that we shouldn't help fleeing immigrants, I believe that it's not our duty or our obligation to aid continually.
Considering the political conflicts, physical threats, and excessive monetary losses, I completely understand your hesitations on making assistance to the ME refugees a global responsibility; however, I still believe that it is optimal for every person to give the aid that they can. First of all, the entire essence of what it means to be a global citizen as referenced in the question is to embody a give and take relationship. Each individual person takes rights and protection under international law, agreed by every nation under the UDHR. In turn, we are expected to take an active role in society. Let’s take a hypothetical situation where we, here in the US, are facing an oppressive government who is threatening the homes and lives of every citizen and prohibiting anyone from leaving. We may know that we have a right to life and education but there is no way for us to attain that opportunity if no other country is willing to take the responsibility to assist us. Basically, the international law of human rights, which depends on different nations for support, would be powerless and there would be no way to sustain it. Following your path of logic, the question would then be about what the solution is and where it can be found without outside intervention because there are barely any plausible resolutions internally in the Middle Eastern conflict.
DeleteAriel C.
NDSJ
I can see where you are coming from; I agree that we should help the refugees get on their feet and we shouldn’t make them completely dependent on us so that they can’t get along without us. However, I believe that as of right now, we need to give them as much help as possible because they really need it. It is not at all their fault that they had to leave; they were living in a place where every day, there was a chance of death. I do think that it is a global responsibility to help them, because each human, including us, has the responsibility to help every other human. The dysfunctional governments in the Middle East were not fulfilling their responsibilities, so it is up to us. I am sure that we would appreciate it if others helped us when we needed it. I think that every country should do their best to help the refugees.
DeleteReva K.
NDSJ
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DeleteA. I agree with what you are saying. It is unfortunate that a place that was renowned for its academic, religious, and cultural eminence fell prey to internal instability and external conflict. What started out as minor religious differences and conflict quickly turned into violence and malice. As we all know, Middle Easterners continue to suffer at the hands of extremists and radicals, who blame their brutal crimes on age-old religious conflict. However, I am glad that the majority of Islamic advancements did not disappear during the Crusades and other [early] major conflicts. It definitely would have taken Europeans much longer to discover Islamic mathematical, scientific, and medical advancements.
DeleteNikhila K.
NDSJ
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DeleteA. Yes, I agree that the Middle East was viewed as culturally and politically stable area before the Common Era. It makes a lot of sense that major internal and external conflicts would cause an entire region to become extremely politically unstable. The detriments of all the conflict and instability harmed are major issues right now, and we should remember what the good advancements the Middle East has provided the world.
DeleteB. I see where you’re coming from when you say that it should not be a global responsibility to constantly provide. I agree with you in that the global world should make sure that their support doesn’t cause the Middle East to be too dependent on others, but I feel like that that’s very unlikely to happen right now. I also think that aid shouldn’t be excessive not on the reason that it’s not our responsibility, but rather because it does more good for others. In the current situation, even just getting immigrants equal opportunities and basic needs is very hard. It can’t become excessive if there are no basics yet. What would be considered excessive? The global world should strive towards providing good towards others, but be aware of dependency caused by excessive aid that could be very harmful.
Elaine D.
NDSJ
While I understand where you are coming from in your answers to the second question, I am not sure if I fully agree. Due to the immigrants' current state, I believe that the global community does have a responsibility to help the refugees as much as possible. Many refugees are living in very rough conditions, and won't be able to get back on their feet without continual support. Once the displaced peoples' needs are more sufficiently met, however, I agree that instead of giving too much, we should help refugees to improve their own conditions through providing jobs and education.
DeleteNina L.
NDSJ
A) I agree with how outside invasions led to the decline of the Middle East, especially the Crusades and how they weakened the area. I’d also like to add how the Middle East was known for its medical and technological advancements/contributions. Also, the fact that an empire that once had so much power and influence over a vast area declined, was a major loss for human advancement. Overall, I agree with your points on how the Middle East was affected from outside powers and how it was once known as an advanced area.
DeleteB) I can see what you mean regarding how people shouldn’t feel entitled, but those fleeing the Middle East are facing harsh conditions and have almost no where to go and no one to turn to. This is why we should help them in this time of need, at least until they’re able to live safely/comfortably. Since we are all global citizens, we have the responsibility of helping each other and making sure that people don’t suffer haplessly. Not enough people/countries are offering to help these refugees when they should. These refugees shouldn’t suffer the consequences of what they cannot help; they had no choice but to flee their war torn homes, so why shouldn’t we help them?
Cassandra Y NDSJ
A.) I totally agree with the notion that the Middle East was immensely better off culturally and politically before common era than now. It is a logical point to bring up the demise of the Middle East by describing its internal and external conflicts. This caused the reputation of the Middle East to deteriorate, paint a picture of war, violence and pure chaos. A view of the advancements they did contribute should also be taken into consideration. I also fully agree with that all the havoc and chaos is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed by the global community.
DeleteB.) The idea of us not taking crippling control over the faith of the Syrian refugees is exactly my position. I agree with you when it comes to the method of help they receive because the goal isn't to make them fully dependent on the help of another country. It is unreasonable to believe that the Syrian refugees won't have full dependence on their resources, but once they get on their feet and are functional, they should be weened off of resources. It is our responsibility to make sure that those who can not do for themselves are aided and put in a position where they are able to do what is necessary for success. Improving the conditions of the Syrians will allow them to be more comfortable and to give them rights that all humans deserve which is the right to feel safe, to be educated and to be well nourished. With those basic resources, they will be put on the path to something better than their war torn situation.
A)Before the common era,Middle east was viewed for their strong economy ,oil,conquering and expanding territory ,strong unity,various of different religions and cultures.They indeed went from a reputable figure to a tragic war zone territory.It was all because region forces like Syria .Torture,or murdered in order to force the people to obey their rules.
ReplyDeleteB)Global world has more of a duty than responsibility .they need to aid east.Support Refugees fight their battle ,and make and better life for them .They need to educate the children and make them feel as comfortable as they can until they can go back to their home.We need the rest of the world to pitch in and help out too.By providing them with open arms of jobs,food and other necessities for the middle east struggling We cant just wait till the terrorist groups disbands it may take forever .We need to take action now. ~LaNiya Pendergrast
A) Yes, I completely agree. I think their economy and resources truly did improve their stance with other nations. On top of it, I think that their technological and intellectual advances truly did allow them to succeed. However, as time went on, it became harder for them to keep track of their expansive empire, and as a result, the success of their empire began to deteriorate. Also, I definitely agree with your argument about their strong military tactics -- using fear as intimidation went a long way during this era.
DeleteB) I completely agree that there is so much for us to do -- including the innate importance of providing an education, food, and jobs. My concern is the challenge of acquiring these many resources. Especially in the case with smaller nations, it will be extremely challenging to provide for a large number of refugees.
A. I agree with your analysis of the Middle East before the common era. Economy is something I did not think to mention in my response, but I definitely agree that the economy was a huge factor that allowed the Middle East to prosper. Persia, for example, used its strong military to invade areas such as Nubia and Libya and take resources from them, increasing the empire's wealth. In addition to having resources, the Middle East also had a central position in trade, as it was located right between Europe and Asia near the Mediterranean Sea. Assyria, for example, was able to import metals, textiles, ivory, gems, and dyes, while Persia traded textiles, fuels, minerals, and metals (such as copper, tin, iron, gold, and silver).
DeleteB. Yes, I agree that we need to send aid to the refugees. I absolutely agree with your want for and emphasis on immediate action because right now, as we read in the article, refugees are struggling to survive with minimal resources and the lack of a proper home. You also stated that waiting for terrorist groups to disband will take too long, which I agree with, but do you think that the global world (in addition to sending aid to refugees) also has a responsibility to speed this process up by using military force in that area?
Mahima C (NDSJ)
I agree with you in your points about the Middle East's impression on its neighbors prior to the common era. Adding on to what you said, the region's intellectual advancements played a huge role in their reputation, as well. For example, the House of Knowledge of the Islamic Empire was the source of many revolutionary advancements in math, science, and medicine.
DeleteNina Lehr
NDSJ
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DeleteB. I agree with your view on aiding Syrians. Developing countries will definitely have a harder time aiding Syrians. Asking countries with developing infrastructures to accept more people will not be of much use. I think that your view on educating Syrian children in refugee camps is very interesting! Although rebuilding is difficult, it is possible when you have aid and support from different countries. Unfortunately, aiding these refugees will be difficult because of factors such as extremist groups, a corrupt government, geography, and politics. Hopefully, developed nations will be able to overcome these challenges soon.
DeleteNikhila K.
NDSJ
I agree with the idea that helping refugees is something that countries must take part in. The acquiring of resources to help these immigrants should be a world wide effort. You said that disbanding the terrorist groups may take a long time, but how much time do you feel the countries supporting the refugees should give before stopping support? Resources aren't unlimited and neither is space. How long till the refugees are required to get a citizenship and stand on their own feet?
Delete^
DeleteMegha N.
NDSJ
a. I completely agree with your description of the Middle East before the common era. However, I think the decline and fall of the Middle East had to do with both internal as well as external forces. I agree that forces such as nomadic tribes and Mongols attacked and took up resources and money. Another contribution to the fall of the Middle East had to do with the civil war between the Sunni's and Shi'ites. This also took a great toll on the people of the Middle East.
Deleteb. I agree that the global community has a duty to help our fellow human beings. I also agree that we should provide the refugees with whatever they need to help them start over. At the same time, we should be trying to remove the threat in their home countries, and make the dangerous situations safer for them so that they can go home. All developed countries that are able to help should definitely aid these refugees that need our help.
a. The Middle East was seen as a stable, flourishing, powerful, and diverse region prior to the common era due to military and intellectual power. Through the exchanges in goods and ideas from long distance trade and foreign relations, it was cosmopolitan. Both the Persians and Assyrians had strong armies who would expand their empires onto their neighbors. Assyrian kings used propaganda and terror tactics to emphasize their expansive and powerful nature to the region’s neighbors. The spread of Middle Eastern ideas also played a large role in their successful image. The House of Knowledge brought men from all over to study in fields of art, literature, and science, showing neighboring areas their strong intellectual advancements. Over time, this image changed as divide in religious and political beliefs increased among Shi’ites and Sunnis because the significance of religion in the political system. The internal conflict weakened the unity of the region, making its image less powerful and causing nearby Europeans to easily attack. Now, the Middle East is viewed as unstable and violent region with terrorism and war caused by religious conflict.
ReplyDeleteb. The global world has the responsibility to recognize that the costs of the millions of lives threatened in the Middle East outweighs the amount of money needed to help immigrants fleeing the Middle East for safety. The global world needs to take the effort to create better policies that help immigrants. At a time when nations are more interconnected than ever before, every single member of the global community needs to participate in helping those suffering in their community. How they help the immigrants may vary among different countries. If a nearby nation has the resources to, they should be taking the steps to provide a place for refugees to stay. Other countries should be responsible for providing resources and money to the refugees as well as working together with other countries to ensure the millions of refugees have access to a safe place to live. At at time where more than 6.5 million people are displaced due to war, the global world needs to take responsibility to help those who are unable to help themselves.
Elaine D.
DeleteNDSJ
1.)Before the common era, the middle east was thought to be a powerhouse among early civilization. They excelled in their ability to maintain political and economic institutions while also maintaining there strong sense of independence, and respect from neighboring societies. This in many ways seems to be the polar opposite of what the middle east has become for example civil and political wars have dismantled the area so much they now rely much on other stronger countries for support.
ReplyDelete2.) I believe we do owe refugees a opportunity for life, liberty and prosperity if not for any other reason the obvious one is that 95% of Americans aren't natives and we have no right to deny someone the same opportunity we took 200 years ago, to change there circumstances. On a global aspect the message does not change we witnessed in the articles what damage mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally those refugees faced and no man should sit around and let that happen.
A) This is a very interesting perspective. I like how you you compare the old Middle East to the modern day one. While the Middle East was originally a place of knowledge and innovation, spreading their technology throughout the entire known world. Now, however, many of the ancient innovations and knowledge such as books are being destroyed. Since the same place has such a drastic change in perspective over the years, it is important to remember how the Middle East was.
DeleteB) I never thought about how the refugees can be liken to how many Americans were immigrants. Also, since many of the refugees and immigrants will have to adapt to the differing cultures and languages, we all have a responsibility to help them learn and transition. I do believe the countries also have a responsibility to help to peacefully resolve the conflicts causing the mass exodus of people from their home countries. If the other countries don’t help to stop this, then the conflicts will only continue to grow and destroy priceless pieces of history and knowledge. Or, the conflict will rise and grow to involve more and more countries and explode into another world war.
-Anna G NDSJ
A. I completely agree with your perspective. I found the comparison of the old Middle East with the present day one. Although the Middle East was once a great empire, it quickly crumbled through a schism between the Sunni and the Shi'ites. This one schism impacted the Middle East on a grand scale, and essentially, set it on the path that made it what it is now. Nevertheless, we must always remember what the Middle East has done for modern day society. Their advances in technology, art, and architecture, has influenced much of society today.
DeleteB. I never knew that such a large percentage of Americans were not natives. I also never took into consideration the emotions and damage that an immigrant from a place like the Middle East must have experience. I agree on your opinion of what we must do as a global community. But also, besides taking immigrants into safety, I also believe that we should individually hear them out. Many immigrants are treated unfairly and do not receive many of the perks promised. They may have escaped danger, but many immigrants are unable to find a job, or receive health care. As a global community, we must also ensure that immigrants are able to receive all aspects of help they need.
- Tammy T NDSJ
DeleteA. I agree with what you say about the Middle East and its political, intellectual, and economic power. The contrast from what it was then is very different than what the Middle East is now. Your point about how the area needs to rely much on stronger countries for support is really interesting, as countries outside the Middle East support different communities within the Middle East. Seeing how one region goes from supporting surrounding areas by being a trade power to needing support from other countries teaches a lot about how political conflict should be handled in the future.
DeleteB. I think that you’re right when you say the global world should not tolerate the suffering of the refugees and that Americans owe them an opportunity for life. I like how you bring up the history of America as a way to hold Americans responsible for helping immigrants. As a very large, wealthy global power, America should use the power it has to do good for others. Doing so could set a big precedent for other countries to follow as well. I think that a big question in this is going to be how much responsibility the countries should have. There are so many factors in figuring out the best way to help refugees that it’s really hard to simply give opportunity for life, liberty, and prosperity to them. They definitely deserve it and it should be a moral obligation for countries to step up and help, but what should the global world be doing?
Elaine D.
NDSJ
a. I agree with your perspective, and I like the way you compared the ancient and modern-day Middle East. So much has changed since the Ancient times, and the Middle East has gone from being the most advanced place in the world, to one of the must looked down upon. Many people do not remember the advances made during that time, and how they impact a lot of our life, even centuries later. The Sunni/ Shi'ite rivalry influenced the Middle East for a long time, and continues to do so, and is probably one of the reasons why the Middle East took such a turn from the advanced civilization it was.
Deleteb. I never thought about the similarities between the refugees and the Americans from long ago. However, I believe that all the countries around the world that are able should also be helping these refugees. I do agree that everyone deserves an opportunity for life, liberty and prosperity, and the global community should aid them by providing what they need to start a new life.
A. Yes, the Middle East was a powerhouse of this early civilization, especially compared to other countries/empires surrounding them. They had complex social structures and organized their political structures to reflect the amount of land their empire contained. For example, Darius from the Persian Empire specially designed the system with satraps in order to control their vast land. Economically, all the civilizations were able to use agriculture and their intellect in the arts to trade with other nations that simply could not keep up. It is true how this is the polar opposite of what the Middle East is now seen as. Ever since these political wars started forming, this area has not been looked at the same; it has been looked upon as a dangerous, unstable area. I like how you point out how before other countries really relied on them, but now they are starting to rely on other stronger countries.
DeleteB. I definitely agree that we need to offer these refugees a chance and an opportunity away from the terror that they have faced. These refugees have had members of their families killed, have been living without a proper house, and some children have not been to school in years. You have a really interesting perspective about why we should offer these refugees a safe passage and home in America. It is true how most of us are not natives to America ourselves so we have to offer the same opportunities to them. Even the first Americans were not looking for a new land to escape their unsafe one but rather simply for the riches and credit that they would receive. It is imperative that we help these refugees because unlike the first Europeans to come to America, they actually are escaping a terrible situation that puts their whole family at risk; they have no other choice but to flee. Especially because they faced such terror mentally, physically, and emotionally, we really need to hep them as it is our duty as global citizens through the UDHR.
Meghan C.
NDSJ
A. Before the common era, the Middle East went through many different empires - the Assyrians, then the Persians. It was not exactly stable. However, after the common era, during the Islamic Empire, the Middle East was the place to be. It was powerful, extremely rich, and had many advances in math, architecture, chemistry, and art. Scholars from all over the world were drawn to the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. The Middle East then was viewed as an extremely formidable, powerful Empire. However, now it is viewed as backwards and hopeless. This is partially due to the Sunni/Shi'ite split in Islam, which led to much violence.
ReplyDeleteB. It is the world's responsibility to look after the refugees from the Middle East. They are fleeing a place where they could die every day, and where their human rights are being violated. The world, including us, must give them clothes, food, water, medical care, shelter and anything else we can offer. Not only that, we must help stop the violence in the Middle East, so that if they wish, some day, the refugees can return to their homes safely.
Reva K. NDSJ
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA. Prior to the common era, the Middle East was seen as a powerful empire that drew many scholars from all over the world to it. It has many technological advances that no one had ever seen before. It was a powerful empire with a formidable army that set out on many conquests and conquered many countries, however, it is now seen as a place of danger and war. It is not somewhere that people want to be, nor is it a place that people choose to be. This impression partially has to do with the split in the Islamic Empire between the Sunnis and the Shi'ites. This split caused a lot of fighting to ensue and damage the once great impression of the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteB.Personally, I believe that the global world should welcome these immigrants with open arms. They are running from a war-torn area where danger is always present, and there is always a chance of dying, even by staying in their own home. What's more is human rights are being constantly broken. As a global community, we need to shelter the immigrants, and fix the problem that is present. We need to stop the violence and violation of human rights in the Middle East and make it the safe place it used to be, so that these displaced peoples can return to the home they miss.
Tammy T NDSJ
B.
DeleteI agree with everything you mentioned, violence and the violation of human rights are a huge problem that need to be taken care of before anything else. No one should have to live in fear. We should welcome them regardless of what's happened in the past. How many more have to die before we get a clue?
A. Previous to the Common Era, the Middle East was seen as a powerful and influential cosmopolitan area. The Middle East made many contributions to medicine, mathematics, science, technology, art, and architecture. The capitals Baghdad and Cordoba had attracted scholars from all over due to innovations, technological advances, and amount of material they could learn from. Baghdad was a city of wealth and innovations quickly came to or from Baghdad because the talented people who came in search for answers. Baghdad contains the House of Wisdom that had plenty of resources and books for scholars to use and was almost like a school. Cordoba also rivaled Baghdad because it contained libraries, hospitals, palaces, and cathedrals. However, due to internal and external conflict, the empires of the Middle East began to crumble and fall, which most likely affected the way surrounding areas viewed them. The division between the Sunnis and Shi’ites due to a civil war would have also impacted neighbors’ opinions. In present time, people’s views on the Middle East have changed due to the current and recent conflicts. Furthermore, its portrayal has also changed by the media, due to the fact it focuses more on the incidents that shows the Middle East in a negative light. The media tends to focus the violence, war, and acts of terrorism that had occurred.
ReplyDeleteB. I believe that as a global citizen, you have an obligation to help immigrants trying to escape the Middle East for safety. Article 1 of the UDHR, which states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights; they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (UDHR articles) This means that as a member of the global community, you should try to help other members in need in order allow them to obtain their proper rights. Furthermore, for more developed countries, I believe they should especially try to help because they have the resources available to make a big different for these immigrants. These countries are able to provide immigrants with basic necessities until they are able to take the proper steps in order to safely get where they need to.
Emily V NDSJ
A) Before the common era, the Middle East had been home to several powerful empires that had an expansive influence. There were several prominent advances in intellect, technology, and even cultural diversity. The resources, beneficial trading position, and formidable military helped the empires prosper. One instance of this is the Muslim Empire, which had gathered intellect in the sciences from travels to areas such as Greece, thus retrieving knowledge from Greek philosophers. The center of knowledge in Baghdad combined the knowledge of scholars, who developed the empire even further. This, in turn, contributed to the development of Europe after the westward awareness due to the Crusades. The mosques and Islamic religion were widespread as well, with the Umayyad Empire in Spain providing a glimpse into Muslim culture for Europeans. Advances in mathematics are seen even today in our number system and algebraic problems. The acceptance of other religions enabled the Muslim empire to rule a large mass of people effectively. However, the issue of holding together such a large empire became difficult as states broke away and the empire lost its unified power. This allowed external conflicts, such as invasions, to chip away the power of the empire. Hence, the empire fell and lost its reputation as a powerful force. The impression of the Middle East deteriorated as it was continuously conquered by other powers, causing the intellectual findings of the Muslims to be scattered. Even the power and order of the Middle East presently has deteriorated due to internal conflicts such as civil war due to corrupt dictatorships and civilian killings. This animosity between government and people is detrimental to the stability of the countries while violating basic human rights.
ReplyDeleteB) The global community is obligated to help the refugees who are only fleeing to preserve their lives and families. Negligence to the issues in the Middle East would only result in the death of innocent civilians. The conflicts in the Middle East directly violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, thus it is vital that we uphold these values instead of abandon them. These refugees have lost their loved ones, their homes, and nearly everything they owned. Helping indirectly by sending food, clothes, and other supplies to refugee camps would be effective in aiding these victims. However, I believe that it would be more effective to admit refugees into the United States. Although this is a controversial subject, the United States could set a precedent for other countries as well. Additionally, helping directly is much more effective than sending aid indirectly. By taking in refugees, we could provide them with a home as well as an opportunity to start a life away from death and conflict. In the United States, jobs, education, medical attention, and other vital necessities are available. It would also be much easier to accept donations and send them to the refugees. If we fail to provide a home for these people and only provide indirect aid, then after the conflict, the refugees would have no home to return to. They would only have a dilapidated and unstable country. It would be better to offer the refugees a new life rather than have them return to a hopeless one.
Claire N
DeleteNDSJ
a.
ReplyDeleteThe Middle East was viewed as a prosperous land rich with technological and intellectual advancements with a powerful and strong standing political structure. It was a melting pot for intellect with contributions to modern science, literature, art, and medicine and many gathered to absorb the Cosmopolitan Middle East's unique and beautiful culture, architecture, and knowledge. As for the common era, today, the Middle East is viewed as a barren desert occupied by raging wars filled with violence on every corner. Because of these wars over time, the world began to view the Middle East as no longer rich and prosperous but dangerous, barbaric, and violent. An example of this change was western ideas most likely have strengthened these impressions after America sent forces to oppose the extremists responsible for acts of terrorism on the U.S. on 9/11, further giving the Middle East a bad reputation.
b.
The global world has a responsibility to look after these fleeing immigrants and aid in there safety because as humans, we all have mutual obligation to respond to, protect, and help out those in need. As inhuman as the immigrant's situation may seem, it is our duty and a global community to be aware of the struggles and sufferings of the people that are halfway across the globe and are of the same species yet they do not have the privileges and freedoms that we have even though we are all human. The refugees are lacking stable shelter, education, suitable living conditions, money, and safety for their lives, and all that accommodates from this is that it hinders the further growth of humanity for a more peaceful world; where education, safety, and food/shelter are all a given without a second thought.
I agree with you acknowledging that it is other countries responsibility to help with this crisis. You made a very good point in bringing up how they lack an abundance of needed resources and shelter.
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ReplyDeletea. Before the common era, the Middle East was an area of prosperity and innovation. The area was known for its advanced medical, philosophical, and technological ideas. It was viewed as a diverse area with flourishing trade. The Middle East was a rising power with significant influence over neighboring empires. However, it began losing power as it got too big and outside powers invaded. As time progressed they lost the appeal they once had as an empire and the impression of the Middle East by Western countries declined. This all resulted from internal conflicts, political corruption, and violence, giving the Middle East a bad reputation.
ReplyDeleteb. The global world has the responsibility to care for others, especially those who are in a time of need, such as Syrian refugees. Many turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, and this isn't right because we're all global citizens and have the responsibility of looking after others. Those fleeing the Middle East without a stable source of income are living in terrible conditions, as seen in the article. The fact that people have to live like this without knowing if they'll ever have a better life is no way for a human being to live. Therefore, we, as global citizens, have the responsibility of opening our arms to those in need.
A. The Middle East before Common Era was much more strong and productive. In the Middle East many years ago, several civilizations such as Mesopotamia were established. The Middle East invented things such as irrigation, iron, the wheel, and plow. Also the Middle East was very influential to other countries because of agriculture. Over time people started to look down on the Middle Eastern countries and people due to threats. Many events have occurred that causes other countries to be against the Middle East for example, 9/11.
ReplyDeleteB. I feel as though all countries need to do whatever they can to help these refugees. They have done nothing wrong and they shouldn’t have to suffer for someone else’s actions. Countries like the US need to welcome the refugees with comfort not scare them away. They have no place to go so the least we can do try to help them out.
I agree that the Middle East was agriculturally strong and because of the intellectual develipment occuring, many inventions that improved agriculture was deceloped. Because agriculture was strong, their economy was also boosted since they had a surplus of crops they could trade. I also agree that events that occured, such as 9/11, have created a stigma about the Middle East. However I believe that is not the sole idea upon which the view of the Middle East has changed. Other factors, such as war and religious intolerance has created fear and opression as well.
DeleteMiyo Imai
NDSJ
A. I agree that the Middle East was influential, strong, and productive centuries ago. Before, it was a prospering, intellectual area especially compared to Europe, who suffered from poverty and disease in the Dark Ages. Not only did they invent irrigation, iron, the wheel, and the plow but Islam discovered more intellectual ideas and concepts like algebra and physics that we still use today. You’re right how terrorist groups and these civil wars in the Middle East have caused people to look down on that area. The Middle East is sadly no longer looked at as a place where ideas prospered but rather a dangerous area that houses world-threatening groups.
DeleteB. Also, I agree that countries need to start helping these refugees by bringing them in and accepting them. As global citizens, we not only need to scout for ourselves but other citizens around the world; it is our responsibility to be looking out for them and giving them aid when needed. Super countries like America should be willing to help these refugees who have lost their homes and really have no place to go. Because America is such an influential country, hopefully letting more people in will inspire other smaller, capable ones to do the same. Simply sending aids like medicine and food will really only help these people for a short while. I like how you stressed welcoming them into our country because it is more of a long term decision. It will help them, not only physically but psychologically, escape the terror that they have faced in Syria. Families, especially children, can finally start rebuilding their lives again.
Meghan C.
NDSJ
I agree with you that the Middle East was definitely a strong empire before the common era evident through all their advancements, specifically in agriculture. I would like to add on, however, that the Middle East gained a lot of influence and power because of its military strength as well as their great amount of knowledge. The House of Wisdom, for example, is a clear demonstration of their intellectual strength. Foreigners came from all over to learn from the immense collection of writings. On the subject of their decline, you state that people saw the Middle East differently after attacks made by Muslim extremists such as 9/11 but the root causes of these things was the internal conflict, mainly religious such as who is the rightful ruler. The media has created some stereotypes about misconstrued aspects of the Muslim lifestyle which further impacts how they are seen by outsiders. Unfortunately, the Middle East is now seen as an "extremist" and dangerous area rather than the economic, religious, and cultural strength it was before. I also agree on having all countries do what they can. The President of Hungary rejected the Syrian refugees and denied them. These people need a home and it is our obligation as follow global citizens to help them through education, health care, and all living necessities. To accept these refugees is really important because all they've lived in is chaos. We need to help them and create a safe, nurturing environment.
DeleteStephanie N.
NDSJ
A. I definitely agree with your analysis of the Middle East and the way that it was significant in its technologies. However I feel, the the Middle East’s advancement transcend agricultural technologies, because there were a lot more intellectual advancements (especially under the Islamic Empire), such as the development of the Arabic numeral system, algebra, optometry, geometry - quite evident in the art of the time - and trigonometry, paper, and the list goes on. These advancements along with its centralized location and trade gave the Middle East an advantage or power over its neighbors. Furthermore, I agree that events such as 9/11 have stigmatized the Middle East especially since the media focuses on the region's negative aspects like terrorist groups as if they are what make up the entire population. However, with all due respect, I think the root of the problem lies not in events like 9/11 but rather in the anti-Islam movements that have roots centuries old and are currently perpetrated via the media, along with more recent anti-western movements in the Middle East and the Islamic revolution which could have possible threatened other empires. Regardless of the exact cause, the crusades, 9/11, and the similar events are more of a means of expressing, exposing, and further contributing to these social movements.
DeleteB. Also, I completely agree with the idea that it is very important to do something to help the refugees, whatever that may be. Welcoming refugees with open arms may help them physically (bc they will have life necessities like food, water and shelter) and also psychologically (bc they will know that there is a place they can live without constant fear. We could do this by providing health care materials (i.e. bandages, medicine) or giving them educations or a place to live, etc. At the same time, I feel that there should be some limit, whether it would be in the number of countries (or who the countries are) that are giving refugees support or in the amount of resources being given to refugees. This should be watched to make sure that the countries giving aid do not fall into decline themselves from strained resources.
Mashia M, NDSJ
A.) Prior to the common era, the Middle East was seen as being a rich cosmopolitan area who was a diverse mixing pot of intellectual advancements, technological innovations, and culturally diffused. The Middle East was known for it's strong economy, firm political systems, feared/ respected military force,architectural achievements, medicine, math, science, and over all diversity. Examples of their success is the House of Knowledge in Baghdad for scholars and the Assyrian and Persian empire's success , expansion and conquer of other areas. The internal and external conflicts caused the, at one time, respectable Middle East to weaken ultimately leading to their demise. Internal conflicts being the corruption of power, religious extremists, civil wars that split the Islamic empire (Sunnis and Shi'ites), forced cooperation of the people by violence, and countless other elements. External conflicts being other empires seeing the weakness, attacking and taking over. A place once admired for economic (oil) and military strength, thoughtful innovations, abstracts ideas, intellectual achievements of scholars,and being an over all good place to visit is now a nightmare that is far from a dream to a lot of fleeing Syrian refugees because of the Middle East's religious intolerance and corruption; making it a very dangerous place to live. Rebels have combated the government, thousands have fled, and countless have been hurt or martyred. Media has also given the Middle East a bad reputation because of the constant light shined on negative aspects.
ReplyDeleteB.) The idea of global help brings about the idea that relies solely on the support of America because it is a well-developed country who has been the leading country globally and has the means to help. However, the responsibility is not solely pinned to America to get the Syrian refugees on their feet. There are other people in diverse places who are in need of help as well. Assisting everyone with providing vital resources will be quite costly and unreasonable. Receiving assistance from America shouldn't be the end all be all for conflicts, crises and tension in other places of the world. The effectiveness of helping the Syrian refugees depends on every possible source to pitch in. It is our duty as a leading country to facilitate and lend a strategic helping hand to make sure that our efforts are not in vain in the matter.Our action should be to provide the necessities as it pertains to education, food, shelter and general well being of those who need our support, but only to the point where situations can be neutralized and refugees are able to return to their homes. Using military force in an Anti-Western Assimilation area is not strategical nor logical when helping these refugees in such a crucial moment. If we wish to help these people, we need everyone hands on to guarantee their survival, safety and well being. War shouldn't be the ultimate decision. An agreement, if possible, should be made to bring some kind of resolve. There should also be a general understanding that things will be uncomfortable in such a time, but to moderate the situation effectively, we must not go over board with resources such as militia.
I agree with you that the Middle East was a diverse melting pot for many cultures and groups of people. The House of Knowledge and the ideas, inventions, and overall intellect as a result of it benefited the Middle East intellectually and therefore economically. I also agree that religion played a major role in the change of the view of the Middle East. Because of religious intolerance, internal conflict, and several other factors, the Middle East became known for the fear and oppression within its borders whereas before it was known for intellect and strength.
DeleteMiyo I.
NDSJ
A.) I truly agree with your overall idea regarding the transformation of the Middle East from a multicultural region of intellectual development and accomplishments to a place of war and divide. What really struck me was the huge role of religion in the history of this region. For example, the Islamic Empire was able to expand at such a fast rate to such far distances because of their tenacious military, whose actions were largely driven by religious beliefs or words from the Quran, and their policy of religious tolerance. Had the Islamic Empire not have been tolerant, people would not have complied to their laws as easily (because that tolerance was freedom to those people from the oppression under their previous empire). However, as time passed, it was this religious tolerance that diminished and the intolerance that now drives much of the conflict in more recent times. Aside from that, I also really liked how you brought in the media as a factor of the Middle East’s deterioration - or at least the image of deterioration in the eyes of the westerners. It is amazing how powerful media can be as a tool for instilling fear or a certain mindset about a group of people (aka enforcing stereotypes), especially in today’s world of technology.
DeleteB.) (I have to admit that I might not have fully understood everything that you said, so I apologize early on if I am simply repeating what you tried to say but) I think that helping refugees is not just America’s task. Although we may be the leading country globally, helping refugees is a global responsibility, that must at least be shared among the developed countries who can offer resources to help these people. Having said this, I do agree with the types of help that you are suggesting, such as education or food or other services related to the people’s well-being, as those are the services that can help change their lives. Military force should definitely be our last resort, because, often, it simply creates even more conflict. If we all, countries from around the world and the individuals, work together, we can make a lot more change in less time in the situation of refugees than on our own as a single country.
I definitely agree with you on the strength of the Middle East before the Common Era. There was much cultural diversity, intellectual advancement, in addition to economic strength. Their academics were extremely significant and so amazing. Their medical, astronomical, and mathematical advancements were far ahead of essentially everyone else during this time period. Yet, their status in society fell rather quickly as you said due to both internal and external conflicts. Due to this, the media definitely portrays them in a certain negative light and their previous achievements are forgotten. Furthermore, I strongly agree with you on the fact that America is not the only country that should be willing to help but remember that many other countries have opened their arms as well. On your point about the militia resources, I think it's really important to find a peaceful solution as you said such as an agreement or resolve of some sort because this is extremely essential in reducing violence.
DeleteStephanie N.
NDSJ
A. Prior to the common era, the Middle East stood as a prominent center of intellectual and cultural development and exchange, a trade capital, and relatively stable political atmosphere. From to Persians to the Assyrians and other empires, the Middle East had been home to some of the largest empires in their times. With natural resources, especially oil, and its various civilizations and technologies and arts, this region flourished. In addition, its strategic geographic location further contributed to the Middle East’s prosperity. A crossroads between Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Middle East is home to three major religions today and was perfectly situated on trade routes and thus gained much wealth by trade. However, goods were not the only things moving: people, ideas, and new technologies also traveled along trade routes which met at or passed through the Middle East, creating a cosmopolitan atmosphere in the region. A major force which shaped the Middle East in its time of prosperity was the Islamic Empire. Under this empire, the vast number of advancements in the arts, mathematics, sciences, and philosophy are simply astounding. At this time, the region’s neighbors grew off of the trade and technologies of the bustling Middle East. Nevertheless, they often viewed the Middle East and the Islamic revolution as a threat or rival to their own success. Furthermore, the region fell into decline with corruption in leadership, religious conflicts (i.e. the Crusades),and increasing internal divide.
ReplyDeleteB. Today, over 6.5 million Syrians have been displaced by the war and approximately two million have fled to other countries in search of safety. Too often we prefer inaction to action as we get lost in the idea that we can’t make a difference that matters. However, there are several things we can do to ameliorate the condition of refugees and the Middle East. Governments can work with another towards reconcilement between people and the governments in the Middle East as a means of ending the conflict that is creating the ever-increasing numbers of refugees. In addition, we can welcome in the refugees and provide them with necessities as they enter a new land. For example, we can give them first aid or health care to recover from their journey, war wounds, post-traumatic stress, etc. In addition, an education, something that is not available at refugee camps as evidenced by Aum Nabeel’s story, would be imperative, so that refugees can truly start their lives again and improve their own condition. Food and clean drinking water are a few among many other necessities refugees need and often do not have. We can provide them with these supplies with change in policies, and donations to and the work of humanitarian non-profits and public agencies, along with proper allocation of resources in a way that the country harboring the refugees does not fall into decline itself as a result of strained resources.
Mashia M, NDSJ
Your so right, with over 6.5 million Syrians being displaced every year we have a physical and moral obligation to help those in need rather than standing on the sidelines. As proud citizens of the U.S.A that is what we should all do.
DeleteNice statement Mashia!
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ReplyDeletea. Before the common era, the Middle East was seen as intellectually advanced. They were ahead of the rest of the world in medicine, science, the arts, and mathematics. Throughout different empires, they had a strong political system and a powerful army. While the leaders kept order, they were fair, and offered religious freedom and rights to all people, not only Muslims. The House of Knowledge in Baghdad and a stronger emphasis on art and architecture drew scholars and talented specialists from all over the world. It was viewed as a melting pot of people, much like America today, with a flourishing trade system. However, overtime these advances began to decline, due to the invasion by nomadic and Mongol forces as well as the Crusades and internal conflicts (such as civil war).
ReplyDeleteb. The global world has a duty to help any and all people who need aid or are in dangerous situations. The rest of the world should help these people by 1) helping to stop the source of the crisis, and 2) aiding the refugees to get back on their feet in a safer, more suitable place. Whether it is war, or something else, it should be the entire world community trying to help. Often times, developed countries help countries in a tumultuous state for political gain when they should be doing what is best for the people. While this means trying to restore balance in the countries they came from, this also means helping individual refugees, whether it be by giving them money or education to start their new life, or teaching them English or other languages they need to live in a foreign place.
B. I completely agree with you on your point. I think aiding the refugees would be a big advancement in the peace movement for the Middle East. Is Americans and other countries should aid them in living in a safe place. How else do you think we can further our assistance in stopping the crisis? I can also second on restoring balance in the countries because equality between the citizens and political officials are important.
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ReplyDeleteA: In the past, the Middle East has been seen as a center for intellectual development, mainly because of the Islamic presence. This richness in development caused the area to begin to be viewed as a place to be conquered. The involvement of outside groups has caused it to decrease economically because other states began to see it as a threat to their own authorities and lifestyles. Today, the Middle East is mainly seen as a place of unrest and instability, due to situations in places like Syria. Many natural resources, such as oil, are being transported out of the area for use in other countries, causing many economic issues.
ReplyDeleteB: I think the rest of the world has a responsibility to provide a place for these people to be safe. It is a basic human right to be safe and these refugees deserve that right. The global community needs to take action to help them build new lives for themselves. Many of them likely also need medical attention, which should be provided to them. These people have had their lives destroyed and we need to help them get back to a sense of normality.
Sydney S.
NDSJ
A:
ReplyDeleteIn prior time periods the Middle East has been in great standard. The neighbors that they had in the past feared and respected them. They had great armies that proved to take over countries. Today the view on the Middle East is feared but not respected because the fear they use now is killing their own kind for power.
I agree because before the common era, many thought of the Middle East as this humungous empire that was powerful, strong, and wealthy but as we fast forward to now, it seems as if its just a big war zone that the people would love to get out of.
DeleteB:
ReplyDeleteI think that the responsibility that the world has on immigration and immigrants is that they should be allowed to go anywhere they want but the places that say that don't want the immigrants in their country they just want to seem like they are helping but in reality they are just adding fuel to the fire. The world just needs to take on the responsibility for the immigrants to make sure they are safe and out of their countries harm.
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Deletea. Prior to the common era, the Middle East was viewed as rich and diverse. The Middle East had a vast amount of trade, oil, and fertile soil. Also the Middle East harbored many religions, thus making the people living in the Middle East more tolerable to different religions. Today, the Middle East is viewed by its neighbors as dangerous to their own people and the rest of the world. Due to acts of terrorism, such as the attack of the Twin Towers in New York, the world holds hostility towards people in the Middle East, even though its the people in the Middle East who are suffering the most.
ReplyDeleteb. I feel that it is in the major countries, and others that can help, interests to help the needy. Countries have always helped each other out, so that pattern should never discontinue no matter the situation. Why should the world help the Middle East?
Well, mainly to help the people living there and to put an end to a terrorist group.
terrorist will not only harm their country, they will try to harm the whole world.
Simone Dixon_WHS
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DeleteI agree that other countries should help the Middle East and its refugees. I personally believe that necessities such as food, clothing, education, and shelter are things that the refugees can be assisted with. How do you think other countries should get involved? You specifically mentioned putting an end to terrorist groups, but in what ways?
DeleteLara F NDSJ
a. I completely agree with you that the Middle East’s strong geographic resources contributed significantly to its success before the common era. Combined with their intellectual aptitude, the middle eastern civilizations gained recognition and power in a positive light. Yet, their recent internal conflicts, religious extremists, and more have caused a rapid decline in their reputation. I like your understanding of the fact that nowadays, we view the ME with an extremely violent perspective and stereotype all people who reside there as terrorists and religious extremists. However, most of the Middle Eastern natives are victims of the conflicts and terrorists of the ME.
Deleteb. I do agree with your reasons for supporting the refugees in the ME but I also have some questions about whether we should really intervene militarily. Intervening militarily does have the benefit of providing a long term solution if it proves to be successful. It will help perpetuate the effects of the temporary aid we have been providing. On the other hand, there is the financial issue of troops with IBTimes estimating a total of 10 billion dollars a year for war against ISIS in Syria which needs to encompass drones, manned aerial fighters, and ground troops. This would severely lower national security by absorbing the funding of other military divisions. Do you believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in this scenario? There are extremely strong points on either side of the debate and a solid case can be made for both.
Ariel C.
NDSJ
I like your thinking on the financial issues that we are experiencing I do think we are actually are spending to much on things like war I like the statement that Kendrick Lamar made that was " love is the cure to all of our war problems" I like this statement because I believe in it and with true love we can accomplish anything.
DeleteA.)
ReplyDeletePrior to the common era, the Middle East was an area of success and innovation. The Middle East was home to several powerful empires that had great influences. They advanced in intelligence, technology and cultural diversity and because of their powerhouse military everywhere they invaded, they conquered. The current Middle east has deteriorated since then due to internal conflicts, corrupt dictatorships, and killing of innocent civilians,weakening a once a rich and power hungry empire to a near unstable group of countries.
B.)
As human we should feel obliged to help aid immigrants from the Middle east. mainly, relieving them of internal conflicts within the countries. Everyone deserves civil rights and helping them would push them one step closer to achieving their inner peace and new life. But without our help they wouldn't survive in their new country.
Zhuri Winfree whs
I agree that the Middle East was a powerful and successful area because of their innovation, intelligence, and military. We can see examples of this in their pursuit of knowledge through use of learning centers such as the House of Knowledge and the large size of the empires in the area. I also agree that the internal conflicts led to social stigmas in religion and gender and that the killing of innocent people like in the Crusades which affected many people in the Middle East.
DeleteGabby D
NDSJ
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was viewed as a strong area of intellectual discoveries, learning, and religious diversity. This is evident through the scientific advancements of the Middle East prior to the common era which happened due to the uniting of diverse minds across a large empire. This view has changed over time because of internal conflict which led to economic decline and an overall decline in that area. This affected the social tendencies which resulted in loss of religious tolerance and respect for the equality of women.
ReplyDeleteB. I believe that it is our duty as global citizens to offer immigrants fleeing the Middle East a place where they can be safe and contribute to society. These are people that need support and opportunities to prosper in a society where they are treated justly and equally. The people living on this earth have a responsibility to improve and contribute to our global society and that includes the people that are part of it. When we aid people that we don't know, we create a union in the world and make it a better place. Our obligation is to the world and its people, regardless of whether they are "foreign" or not.
Gabby D
NDSJ
a) I completely agree with you on this part Gabby. I agree that the Middle East was a center for all those things and was a very large empire with a lot of diversity. It is also very true that internal conflict has been a major reason for the decline in economics and such. I do believe you could have added more about political and social issues but what you have is factual as well. Also, war and fighting was another major thing that affected why is started to fall apart. There was instability in that sense ad it was a major reason why people were forced to fled. Great Job!
Deleteb) I agree with you in what we should do. However, you did not mention how we could help and some things we could do to fulfill our obligation. What else should we do to help these people other than give them a place to stay. They also have a need for basic survival things like food and clean water. And how can we contribute to make sure that the people are treated justly? I like what you proposed what we should do to fulfill our responsibilities. I just think you could have explained a little bit more on how we are catering to these issues they face and how what we can do for them will change their situations.
Vanessa A
DeleteNDSJ
A: Before the common era, the Middle East was seen as the epicenter of intellectual and technogical advances, trade, and cultural diversity. The House of Wisdom was a major intellectual center during the Islamic Golden Age. The House of Wisdom was founded by Caliph Harun al-Rashid and reached its peak under his son al-Ma'mun who made it into a formal institution. The Middle East was conveniently in the middle of many trade routes. Because of this they were able to gain an exponential amount of wealth. The cultural diversity came from thousands of people coming ands leaving bits and pieces of their culture. Those pieces were later intergrated into the culture already there. Now in the 21st century war and terrorism is all that is talked about when the Middle East brought up. Also fighting inbetween religions made it impossible dor people to come together and unfortunately led to the fall of a once grand empire.
ReplyDeleteB: As stated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 3 million have fled to Syria's immediate neighbours Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. 6.5 million are displaced within Syria. The media enjoys covering the conflicts going on in Syria, but they're willing to ignore the suffering and pain that is bieng caused because of the war. Governments around the world have pledged to take in thousands of people, but that is not enough. Pain doesn't stop when I'm living in a country in a refugee camp and not an actual home filled with peope they love. An empty house with colorless walls and blankets and beds whithering away because they're old and dirty. Food and clean drinking water is something they need but they don't have it becuase no one providing it for them. Donations of food and money will help the most and giving them basic human rights would go a long way.
A) I didn't think of how influential trade was in the Middle East, I like that you included that in your answer. I also found what you said about how we immediately think of war and terrorism when discussing the Middle East intriguing. It's sad to think that a region with such a great influence in the world - both through the impact Islamic beliefs have had and the large amount of intellectual development that occurred there - is now viewed as a war-torn and pitiable region.
DeleteMalia J.
NDSJ
A. It seems to me that the Middle East used to have a placid environment and is now a war land. Certain areas such as Saudi Arabia are torn apart and almost unable to maintain living standards. The Middle East's government systems should work on the culture and regional social aspects of the countries to help out. Positive government involvement could possibly return the Middle East to being a major system of world affairs. (knowledge and wisdom)
ReplyDeleteB. Immigrants are most likely fleeing the Middle East for places such as here in the United States, or other surrounding countries that have a better political and government system. Yes I do believe the government should be responsible for them fleeing. They should be able to ensure at least a better lifestyle or safe refugee. Citizens in the Middle East should quickly take action in separating themselves from the violence before things are too late. The people in Sryia and Saudia Arabia could be experiencing mental illnesses and unstable abilities.
I agree that the Middle East used to be a cosmopolitan area that cultivated world affairs in learning and innovation. The once controlled region of diversity and communication has now become an area that people view as dysfunctional and corrupt. This may have been caused by a lack of positive government involvement and influence as well as the social stigmas that developed in light of internal conflicts in the Middle East.
DeleteGabby D
NDSJ
B. I like that you discussed the fact that the refugees could be facing mental illness. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, displaced people are statistically more likely to face PTSD in comparison to non displaced persons. Refugees tend to become depressed of contract chronic distress as well, so while finding a safe place for them is extremely important, it is also a critical responsibility upon the global community that we provide them with proper support for mental illness.
DeleteKeahi S, NDSJ
A. Before the common era, the Middle East was seen as a land of prosperity and culture. Its location on the crossroads of many large and populous trade routes led to a major influx of trade as well as intellectual and technological development in the area. However, the western world’s impression has changed due to several factors, including a rise in corruption, terrorism, and civil war. These things have lead to major increases in poverty and destruction, causing millions of people to become displaced, lending to the west’s views of the Middle East as being barbaric, extremist, and uncivilized.
ReplyDeleteB. I believe that members of our global community have a responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. As citizens of a nation in which we are protected, we have a moral obligation to speak for and care for those who are not as fortunate. Given that we have the resources to support those including the Syrian refugees, such as a strong infrastructure, food supplies, etc., we can, and should, lend our helping hands to the refugees in crisis.
Maha Khan NDSJ
I like the point that you make about how we have a moral obligation to speak and care for people who are less fortunate. I agree with your point because since we are not in as bad of a situation as the other people are in, it should be no problem for us to help them since we have all the supplies necessary to make a difference
Deletea) Before the common era, The Middle East was home of new technology and innovations as well as a great source for trade. There was a lot of spreading of new cultures and education. There was the spread of Islam ad the Golden Age of Islam. There were scientific and mathematical advances and it had so many powerful empires. The Middle East was home to great advances in history with great leaders such as Muhammad. This impression was changed over time due to the fighting and major turmoil that was going on from village to village. All over the news people were given the impression that the Middle East was being run by terrorists and that it was just a place of bloodshed. There were political, social, intellectual, and economic conflicts that started to give way to a decline in some areas. So much was lost during wars that the Middle East was once known for. Religions came into
ReplyDeleteplay and caused rifts between those fighting. Therefore, people began to fall apart and were forced to turn on each other as they were under the influence of corrupt leaders as well.
b) As a global community where we should look out for all those around us , there is more we should to than sit and wait to watch the news and watch the situation magically get better. There are over 6.5 million people displaced that just want to be safe and help their families have a better life. And while what they have now is a better alternative than what they had in Syria, it is still not enough. There is only so much they can have when so many people crowd into one place for refuge. I feel as though we should do more than donate money and pray that they will be fine. We are lucky to live in nice homes and have safe shelter. That means we need to give back to those who are in need of our help. We owe it to them as people of the global world. For starts, we should do more than just donate money to organizations that are not doing enough to help the people. We need to do more than just send money and wait. People such as Faqood Al-Sayed are living with almost their entire family in one place. They would love to receive bedding and personal care products as they have no bathroom. We need to do more to contribute so that the culture and ideas they once spread so much of can still exist. These children need to have a brighter future ahead of them. As a global community, it is part of our universe of obligation to do more. That includes sending food and clean water. That includes sending necessities and donating to organizations that will truly help in all ways possible. That also includes medical help and more in a time where these people depend on it. We have a responsibility to care for these refugees and immigrants so that they may live to see a better life and end the fighting. We should be the first step of these actions and be the healers.
A.)Before the common era the Middle East was a very politically strong and stable area. Ancient Iran had an organized government system that granted rulers with a lot of power. Throughout the Middle East, customs and traditions continued to flourish religiously and culturally. They had strong and powerful armies, which continued to build and grow stronger.
ReplyDeleteB.) I believe that it is neighboring countries responsibility in helping with this crisis of refugees leaving their homes for whatever reason being religious persecution or on going violence.Some 4.1 million Syrians are fleeing a homeland riven by more than four years of civil war. Some countries have taken in so many migrants it's caused a population spike, while others have done little or nothing at all. It is our job to help those in need out.
A) I agree that the Middle East had a lot of cultural advances, power and political strength. The neighbors were in awe of the Middle East and were jealous of their power. Currently, though, the attitudes have switched. The Middle East is now violent and messy. The neighbors believe that the Middle East is less than their neighbors.
DeleteSyd P. NDSJ
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ReplyDeleteA.) Before the common era, the Middle East was looked upon as a mighty and powerful empire that was feared but looked up too. Its armies were very dominant as they looked to always expand and conquer. Also great empires were created helping the Middle East become so powerful. Now the Middle East is considered a place of danger and hostility as people are dying and going broke. Before people looked to stay in the Middle East, now people can't wait to flee.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteA. I agree that the Middle East was seen by many as a place of great power. Not only were their military forces strong, but their culture had influence upon their rise in status. Scholars like Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarzimi, who introduced the idea of the zero along with many other important mathematical concepts, helped maintain the supremacy that was found in the Middle East. Their growth and innovation in knowledge drew in many people from other lands.
DeleteKeahi S, NDSJ
B.) It is other countries responsibility to help aid fleeing refugees from the Middle East for safety because as we all can see, it is very violent and brutal in the Middle East as innocent people, towns, and, communities are being destroyed because of warfare and other violence. In order to the this, the global world needs to put in an effort to help stop the violence in the Middle East and bringing it and its people back to peace. Also the global world can help by taking in the immigrants and creating programs to help them get assimilated with the new culture and help them find jobs so they can be financially stable
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA. Before the common era, the Middle East served as a tough empire due to their strong military, advancements in technology, society and economics and exchange of ideas and culture. The empire was one of the largest at the time for it connected Western Europe and Eastern Asia. Other than their advantageous location, the Middle East became a cosmopolitan civilization due to their strong military. The Persians and Assyrians were both forceful. The Assyrians displayed their pride through propaganda and fear as the Persians used skillful military strategies. Although they did use these methods for conquest, one of the main reasons why the empire flourished was due to Islam. The spread of this religion encouraged intellectuals to come to the empire and citizens from other areas to convert to the Islamic faith tradition. This enabled the establishment of Damascus and Baghdad. These two places became a main center for the spread of culture and thinking that occurred in the Middle East. Specifically, Baghdad served as a center of intellectual thinking due to the House of Wisdom (an institution where every intellect was welcome, regardless of their religion). The economy of this time was mainly coinage. There was also many natural resources such as oil that allowed for the empire to be successful. All those who came to the Middle East were granted religious freedom and allowed to worship whomever they desired to believe in. Muslims never enforced their Islamic faith on newcomers. Overtime, this strong empire began to lose their power due to internal and external conflicts. Internally, the Sunnis and Shi’ites disputed for more authority. These internal conflicts led to external conflicts and caused the empire to become vulnerable to foreign invasions. In the status quo, the Middle East is seen as an area filled with corruption, terrorism and violence. This bad reputation has been created by the misinterpretation of Islamic faith, civil war, the displacement of citizens but most of all, the way that the Middle East and Islamic faith is displayed in social media and etc.
ReplyDeleteB. We as a global community must work together to help these 6.5 million Syrian refugees. The main reason why we must make an effort is because the situation that is currently occurring in Syria is violating the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights), a document that states that every individual ought to have. In order to help these refugees we must provide them aid as well as accepting them into other countries to help them find a home. From stories like Aum Nabeel, we can see that we must help restore the lives of these refugees by supplying them with simple necessities like water and food. We should additionally provide them with healthcare and basic necessities. Although this may be absurd, we should try to provide these refugee children an education. Although it’s hard to think about it with the way that the situation is now, one day this war will stop. These children need to be able to support themselves. They won’t be able to do this without an educational background. In addition to healthcare and aid, countries should make an attempt to welcome more refugees. Developed countries should open their doors and accept more of the refugees to provide them with a fresh start. We as a community need to extend our universe of obligation to these Syrian refugees.
Dipashreya Sur
NDSJ
a) Over time the Middle East has gotten very poor. It is not healthy, physically or mentally for so many people to live in one small area, especially when there aren't many schools. People shouldn't have to live in those communities no matter what might have happened to them or how they had acted. People turned rebellious and are starting civil wars in some areas. This is not good for an area with many children.
ReplyDeleteb)The global community needs to be more thoughtful to those in need. There are helpless families that need food and water. We all as a community should in some way help contribute to helping those in need. There should be some companies or support groups helping the people who Fled. We need support groups to help feed those who need it. We need support groups to help educate those who don't have schools in their communities. We could have Construction crews go there and build more houses or more places for people to life so families will have privacy and less safety concerns.
Attempt #2
ReplyDeleteA.) before the common era the Middle East was a very lavish and culturally diverse .With the abundance of natural resources, a strong military, greater sense of unity in the community and between the people,,and a strong government. Although they were conquered considerably easily they're empires grew really big and powerful while they were on top. The Middle East were also known for their intellect such as medicine, arithmetic, science, architecture, etc... They also excelled at trade with other various civilizations. But like every great thing it must come to fall/decline. Like trying to deny the inevitable. Reasons were political corruption, foreign invaders, stripping of natural resources, war, hostility and differences between the two sects of Islam (Sunni and Shiite), and negligence by government, And one last thing that altered the impression of the Middle East is the media's portrayal of the Middle East.
B.) The global world does have a responsibility to aid immigrants and refugees who are in need. Especially in America. One of our major symbols in the U.S. referring to the Statue of Liberty, She symbolizes the "mother" who will "adopt" any orphaned children(immigrants) or people who have been exiled in their native country and take them in with warm and open arms. Look at the amount of immigrants who migrated to the U.S in the late 1800's and early 1900's to escape religious persecution, war , and/or any other conflict inflicting there country.It is a must we help/aid the 6.5 million Syrian refugees who are i need. In one of the videos i believe it was 12 people living in one small apartment with no bathrooms, rooms, or kitchen. it is very evident that the living conditions are not humane. Before anything the Syrian refugees are in need of essential necessities that some of us take for granted every day: those things include food,clean water,shelter,clothing,protection,education, etc.... Obligated to show them that we care and understand your current living conditions.conditions. Overalll well-being in Syria is relatively low We cant just be so ignorant and blind to what's going on over there. I know it must not be a very desirable place to go right now. But a few brave volunteers actually wanting to better the current state of Syria will be needed and greatly appreciated Volunteers like teachers, doctors, and people willing to offer strategies or political advise. The last resort should be to send troops to the ground and interfere to try to regulate" or 'neutralize" the conflict rather than that be the first thing we do. Because that seems like it makes things worst rather than make it better. Increases tension and causes dis-trust.I have no problem with immigrants and refugees fleeing their native land because of conflict. All they are doing is trying to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones and to live a better lifestyle because I'm quite sure a hefty percent of the Syrian refugees suffer from some form of PTSD. It wont be an easy process to restore Syria and make it safe but it will eventually happen. And the millions of Syrian refugees will be back on there feet stronger than ever.
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DeleteI like how you pointed out how the U.S. especially should be providing aid to the refugees as one of our greatest national symbols is the Statue of Liberty. I think it’s ridiculous that the U.S. prides itself on being a nation that welcomes all, to the point that we actually have a grand statue to signify that message - and yet we aren’t nearly doing all we can to help refugees, Syrians in particular.
DeleteIn addition, I appreciate that you said our solution shouldn’t be to send troops into Syria and try to be peacemakers. That seems to be the universal American answer to nearly all political problems, and yet, as you said, it just causes more trouble. Our goal should not be to be the grand hero that ends all conflict, because that will never happen. Rather, we should aim to provide the best assistance possible to the millions of displaced people who are both physically and emotionally unstable and need all the help they can get.
Malia J.
NDSJ
A.) Middle East before the current era was a hub of creativity, politics and wealth. Even though the Middle East does not live up to its previous name "Cosmopolitan Middle East" during a time the Middle east was thriving. Most of the worlds powerhouse empires sprang up in that region because thats where the free thinking societies and strong leaders came from. Now though it has fallen under siege by different civil wars and different things of that nature that have turned the once beautiful region dangerous and almost uninhabitable.
ReplyDeleteB.) Other nations have a huge responsibility to the Middle East and to the immigrants trying to leave it. The United states for instance should reach out and do as much as it can to help these people fleeing the country. I say this because even though no-one likes to think like this-what if we were the ones in need of aid?We would want for someone to help us. They have people in Lebanon living three families to a tent. That by itself should warrant the world to reach out and help anyway possible. But if not we should just do it because it's the humane thing to do and that's what we would want if we were put in that situation.
A. Before common era, the Middle East was viewed as a center of innovation. It was technologically advanced and culturally diverse. The Middle East was also politically strong, and held a lot of power. Their architecture, art, and development of knowledge was renowned. However, as violence and war began to erupt throughout the Middle East, the perspective towards it changed. People began to view it as more of a threat, filled with danger. The media began to portray it negatively, and because of its differences from western culture, many people perceived it as “bad”.
ReplyDeleteB. As a global community, it is important to unify ourselves and help those in need. We need to help not only politically, but also on a social basis. Our government can work with the governments and citizens located in the Middle East to ease tension and create compromises. Also, it is imperative that the world provides a place for the people seeking refuge, as well as education for the young people. Otherwise, we will have a whole generation that lacks knowledge due to this conflict.
Keahi S, NDSJ
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ReplyDeleteA. Before the common era, the Middle East was seen as incredibly strong in both political and intellectual achievements. The Assyrian Empire would be one of the best examples of great political power, as it kept order through the use of fear - which definitely was effective, although it would be frowned upon by today’s society. Intellectual development in the Middle East reached a high point during the Islamic Empire, when both Muslim and foreign scholars could obtain an education from the House of Knowledge. In addition, Muslim doctors discovered several medicinal purposes of substances and learned about how different illnesses were obtained and ways to treat them - information still used in today’s medicinal practices. As time went on, however, citizens of Middle Eastern countries began to rebel against their repressive government. A large majority of this region’s problems can be traced back to the Sykes-Picot agreement, when the British and French divided up the Middle East into areas that they could directly or indirectly influence. The main reason for this was to exploit natural resources such as oil, but it also led to conflict between the people under the administration of the French and British.
ReplyDeleteB. Although countries around the world are making attempts to ensure the safety of Syrian refugees, it is not nearly enough. Out of the millions of people who have lost their homes and are now quite literally running for their lives, a small portion of them have actually been welcomed and accommodated for by other countries. It is not enough to simply hear that there are huge amounts of people who are considered lucky to have escaped with their life and perhaps a few belongings and merely feel sorry from the comfort of one’s home. Many (if not all) of them have witnessed a death of a loved one but have to keep going for the sake of their family. This takes a toll on their emotional health, in addition to the fact that they are already hungry, thirsty, and don’t have a place to sleep at night. The very least we should do as members of a global community is to welcome refugees into our countries. Individuals who aren’t able to make as great of a difference should do whatever they can to help, perhaps by donating to a charity that works with refugees.
Malia J.
NDSJ