Slavery, Still A Problem

As Americans slavery has been eliminated from our culture for a very long time. In the United States itself, the idea of slavery has long been dead. However in the country of Mauritania, slavery is still as prevalent as ever. This particular article was about a slave master who was at birth raised with his slave. As a child he chose a slave because it was the normal thing to do. Abdel Nasser Ould Ethmane originally chose his slave out of simple amusement. He was a comical character for Abdel more than anything. It is a sad story, the slave Yebawa was more like a brother to Abdel when they were growing up. They were raised on the same breast milk and behaved like siblings until the certain circumcision ceremony had to take place, where Yebawa was to become Abdels slave. The opposite families than split the two children up, making sure that they both stayed with their own kind. However the beauty of the story is that Abdel is now an abolitionist, due to the love for his fellow brother Yebawa who for so long was under the influence that he was less than human as a slave. 


http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/17/world/africa/mauritania-slave-owner-abolitionist/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

Iranians "We will never bomb your country, We Love You"

Searching for current events to blog about has lead me to an article by CNN news. I am not well versed in the matters of Israel Vs. Iran. However I do know that there is plenty of hostility between the two nations for a long history of Violence between the two nations. Now in the age of nuclear weapons there is so much constant uncertainty between the two neighboring nations that everyone there lives in fear of the war that has been on and off between the two. Iran has set up nuclear power plants and Israel has a constant fear that they are creating bombs, while Iran insists that their construction is peaceful. Nonetheless there is a new campaign started by the Israelites as a means to communicate with Iranians. The article states that there is really no means of communication between the two nations. If one were to try to call the other from the alternate country the call simply would not go through. Ronny Edry and his wife are Israeli graphic designers. They have never been in contact with an Iranian person, but by using facebook and a peaceful design stating: "Iranians, We will never bomb your country, We love you" the attempt for peace is now a possibility all thanks to facebook and its enormous reach. Ronny Edry had never spoken to an Iranian, but when the first Iranian man saw his message for peace and supported it, he was overwhelmed. I believe its beautiful that two countries binded by thousands of years of war can finally move on from the giant misconception which prevented peace between the two nations. All thanks to the current day technological advances. First Kony was brought to attention to the American populace, and we now know that so much more can be done through facebook, such as attempts for peace, reaching goals that seemed unachievable.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/19/world/meast/israel-iran-social-media/index.html

Trayvon Martin, a life cut short

Those who haven't heard the story should take a moment to at least view the newscast video, if not read the entire article. Little is known about the full details of the incident or why Trayvon Martin was brutally murdered by a man who goes by George Zimmerman. Trayvon was only 17, with his whole life ahead of him. This news shocks and angers me, and apparently brought national outrage, with a petition to arrest George Zimmerman signed by over 500,000 citizens. It's beautiful when a community can get together on a national level in order to do something about a situation and bring about Justice. It is just such a shame that a boy's life was taken in order to do so. In times of tragedy civilians pull together in order to prevent a repeat of history. Still the murder is unsettling and many are still outraged that George Zimmerman is currently still a free man. In Trayvons final moments, he was on the phone with a girlfriend.. one who didn't seem particularly devastated while talking to the reporters. She mentioned that some weird man was following him, and that the man, George Zimmerman, confronted him. The line then went dead, and seconds later Trayvon was shot dead. This horrible incident is one that needs awareness. We can't let a man like George Zimmerman get away.

http://gma.yahoo.com/trayvon-martin-killing-friend-phone-teen-death-recounts-063243901--abc-news.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/20/justice/florida-teen-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

I thought this article would be an interesting topic to talk about. I learned that extremely large businesses are successful across the seas for the ability to adapt to different cultures around the world. This is an example of a clothing line, Urban Outfitters, failing to keep relations with the Navajo culture, insisting that their collection was inspired by Navajo. This apparently offended the tribe and they won the settlement. The Navajo settlements rely on their registered trademark names for Navajo clothing. Thus when urban outfitters used their style without consultation the following court ordered settlement began
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apnewsbreak-navajo-nation-sues-urban-145630426.html

Romanian Warriors

I recently was looking through current yahoo articles and one of them was about these two little boys. One of them only five years old, and the other 7. The amazing thing about these little tykes, is that they are incredibly strong for their age. They seem to be literally in perfect muscular condition. At first they look like an adorable pair of youngsters who can whoop the average guys butt at the gym. However what made me upset was that in the video, and article itself there seemed to be no awareness brought to the abuse that these children actually go through. The article takes the standpoint of simply exploiting their children which they state clearly is the intention of their father, who works them out for two hours a day since they were two years old! I think this is abuse in its purest form. I am sure the father wants the best for his children, but he clearly stated he wants them to be superstars. They have already gained quite a following, and I think they should be completely supported or their endless work already. However they are kids and I pray that they have time to just be children. Although I am sure they will appreciate being so ripped when they are older!


http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201202/romanian-brothers-age-seven-and-five-are-unbelievably-strong

Truck Stops, Traffic, and the Son of God

Everyday there are girls being sold for sexual services. They casually walk to truck rest stops, hop into a truck and usually about 20 minutes later they leave. Many of the innocent girls involved require help and feel the longing need to end their suffering. Their called hot lizards, going from truck to truck being pimped and sold, by disgusting middle aged men. However, there is hope for these 'hot lizards.' Apparently the business of trafficing these women is done in broad daylight. The communities in which these crimes are taking place, simply failed to be aware of the problem at hand, letting the business thrive. Still, there are Americans such as Danielle Mitchell who are looking out for the issue, and refuses to let the girls voices go unheard. She's a  humanitarian in the sense that she believes that it only takes one person's suffering to be forced to do something to help. I am sure it is her christian background pushing her to help girls she had never met. She actively pursues ways to help these girls by posting hotlines the girls being trafficed can call. All it takes is a minimal amount of effort to help those who simply can not help themselves. Everyday we are so preoccupied with our own problems. As moral human beings, we need to make the conscience effort to at least recognize the suffering of those much worse off than ourselves, and this is one of the few aspects of religion and christianity I partake with.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/05/the-new-christian-abolition-movement/?iref=allsearch