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For poetry and other general AP thoughts as we approach the new year!
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| | 1 | 8/24/2011 7:35 PM | Eastward to Tartary: Travels in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Caucasus Maybe the reason I liked this book so much is that it spoke to me on so many levels. Not only does the intrepid author, Kaplan, address the intricacies of foreign policy and US involvements, he stretches through the worlds of history, traveling, political ideologies, power, the fall of the USSR, and journalism. Eastward to Tartary explores a part of the world that Kaplan claims we may have too soon forgotten and, indeed, neglected. His travels through the near East are beautifully captured and recorded, although the abundance of information might make the prose difficult for those seeking a lighter read.
If the Near East is a shadowy concept to you (as it was to me) I'll outline the countries Kaplan went through: Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Wow. Even if recent political developments have brought certain areas into sharper focus (Think Georgia and Syria) since Kaplan's publishing in 2000, it's impossible to deny his initial belief: many civilians are, indeed, woefully ignorant of the history, politics and US stances in these areas. If you didn't know that Transylvania is an area of contest and violence, and thought it was just where Dracula was from, read this book. If you were unaware of US compliance with the Turkish military's influence over the civilian government (and why that might not exactly be a bad thing), read this book. If you never thought of how directly Syria might influence Lebanon, read this book. And if you didn't realize Azerbaijan was a place, you might want to pick up this book. And a map.
AS I mentioned, the book was published way back in 2000. In some ways, this might make the book dated, And yet... it also provides even deeper insight. Not only are Kaplan's predictions made relevant as what has (or hasn't) happened, the historical and political trends leading to modern tendencies are still essentially the same. Despite its age, it's still a great read for anyone who is interested in politics history travel or the world at large. | | | | 1 | 8/23/2011 11:36 AM | Thoughts on the Dream Cruise Not to be a party bummer (But totally because I am a party bummer) has anyone considered the implications of the dream cruise? What we're really celebrating?
I want to be cautious here, because I don't want to insult anyone's sensibilities, and I know that car companies provide plenty of employment to families that desperately need jobs. I also realize that the dream cruise is a time for people to celebrate a passion for a hobby, and it has pretty much pure intentions.
But ever since I went out east and saw all the old style cities that, despite their construction more than a hundred years ago, have fantastic public transport, I've been a little bitter. And I have a bone to pick with the auto industry and our celebration of it.
Ever noticed how much it sucks to get around in our area if you don't have a car, or don't feel like driving one? I ride my bike a lot, but I (and environmentalists a plenty)would surely appreciate a subway system, like the T in Boston or a trolley system. Even a better organized and more extensive buss system. Golly goodness if only detroit had something like that.
Oh wait. It totally did. Once upon a time. But then, the auto industry bought up and destroyed it. The public transport system was sacrificed to make the motor city, well, motorized. And at the time, it must have seemed like a small price to pay for jobs and business. But now....now that the auto's have gone bankrupt, now that Detroit sits in a mess, that the environment cringes around us..... now it doesn't. Now it seems less a sacrifice and more sacrilege. Even if you are a die hard nonbeliever in global warming, you can't pretend that he exhaust cars released is a "good thing": For our health, for our air, for our children. And public transport has lots of great benefits.
Sorry for bumming out your party though. Who wants to go with Who Framed Roger Rabbit with me and commiserate about inappropriate celebrations of our past mistakes? | | | | 1 | 8/22/2011 4:42 PM | Is there any way... ...to see everything that you've posted? Not just new discussions, but replies to other threads as well? | | | | 3 | 8/21/2011 2:51 PM | Deleting Posts Does anyone know how to delete only a reply to a post, and not the entire thing? I've accidentally re-posted a previous post twice, and now I can't remove them. | | | | 1 | 8/20/2011 1:51 AM | Summer Novel Discussion Boards Hey everyone, I have a couple suggestions to make!
I feel as though the discussions for summer novels would happen much more smoothly if a couple things would happen.
1. Before you post, see what discussions are taking place and consider joining one of them before throwing out another topic.
2. If you decide to join a conversation, use the "reply" button rather than using a similar title. I have seen a lot of posts that are very closely related that could be a part of the same discussion. If we all reply to each other's posts, they will all show up on the same page together and be much less confusing.
I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do, but based on what I have noticed so far these things could help. :) | | | | 0 | 8/18/2011 1:48 PM | Poetry assignment So i read the poem and my interpretation of it was that odysseus was saying although he's now an old man and although he has had many successes in his life he is not content where he is. He knows his true calling, so to say, is an explorer. He loves to sail and he loves adventure and his adventures to him are his true successes. He knows he will never be content sitting around at home and he restless and although it will be much harder now to sail it's what he truly loves and needs to do, although he knows he will die in the process. Any other thoughts? | |
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