Title : The Middle Found Their Voices in 2011

By: Anand Giridharadas

Published : December 30, 2011 Accessed: January 1, 2012

The year 2011 has seen more change than one could see in ten. For the year was of the middle classes fighting for change. In countries like India, Egypt, Libya, the middle class left their own work, worries and fought to better the world. Better the world where they hope to live in peace. The middle class blamed themselves for being silent for many years. For complaining about the government, but never taking any action to change that government. They complained about the poor getting poorer and the richer becoming richer, however, this would not stay this way for long. Some one had to speak out. And that some one was not just one person but a whole class the middle class. In the past year these middle class people took action, they set out to change the world. In India with the help of Anna Hazare, India too took opportunity to fight against corruption.

We always talk about if we want change well then we have to create it. We can't always sit there complaining. If we really are frustrated of how something is being done, well then do something about it. The middle class all over the world has done. They have tried the technique where one sits and hopes that something happens. But they too realized that's not how it works. For something to change someone's has to do something. I watched a movie about 3 years back named A Wednesday. In this movie the main, who happens to be a middle class man is on a mission. He talks to the police and makes a deal. He wants the police to set the dangerous terrorist free. At the end of the movie we realize that the intensions of this common man was not just to release them but to kill the terrorist. He was sick of living under threat, living under fear. When he saw that the government isn't going to do anything about it. He did something about it. Though it maybe an extreme example. The point is clear, if you want change to take place, don't just sit there complaining, do something about it.

Vocab

Secede

Or rather they seceded from secession.

To withdraw from an organization

Origin: latin se which means without

Through out this battle of freedom, the middle class did not secede from their goal.

Undeterred

Undeterred, he continued to protest after the regime’s fall

To discourage or restrain from acting or preceding

Origin: Latin deterrere which means prevent

The teacher undeterred the students from shouting loudly during a formal assembly.

Dissent

In democracies like India, dissent is far less novel.

To differ in sentiment or opinion, especially from the majority

Origin: Middle french dissentir

The little duck dissented from the rest of the other ducks on where their next destination maybe.

Title : City School kids hurt in Jaipur road accident

Published: 25 December, 2011 Accessed: 25 December, 2011

About 40 kids were from Delhi Public School were of to Jaipur for an educational field trip. However, on the way they met up with a terrifying accident. A truck which was rolling on a very high speed, was carrying pipes pierced through the school bus injuring 20 students and two teachers. Out of 20 students 4 of the students are severely hurt as well as the two teachers who were with the students to chaperone them. The students and the teachers were stuck in the bus for over two hours before they were rescued.

Living in Delhi for my vacations I have realized that the traffic is impossible to deal with. To get somewhere to a certain place you may think its near, but thanks to the traffic it takes you ages. When being on the road, drivers are constantly honking, however, there is no movement. A person can be stuck in traffic for 1 or more hours. I see people driving with no responsibility. They cut in through others lanes, they don't follow the traffic signals, or the speed limit. There are two sides on the road, but some people don't even follow the right lane, in fact they will go on a lane which is going the opposite way to their destination, but they themselves will go against the traffic. This leads to more traffic. More or less there are two lanes, so two cars should be parallel to each other. But this is not likely to be seen here. People end of making their own lanes. so by the end instead of two cars there are like ten cars trying to shove by and their way. The traffic lines, the lanes all exist, however, hardly anyone follows them. The sad part is everyone complains about the traffic, but still no one sees that their driving is part of the problem. In the article above the truck driver was being irresponsible and risked many students lives. Drivers need to be careful of how they drive and where they drive. People need to start becoming more responsible for their own actions.

Tell us about the neighborhood that you grew up in and how it helped shape you into the kind of person you are today. (Yale and the University of Chicago)

Studying in an international school and having friends that belong to different parts of the world has shaped me as a person. I have spent my childhood living in a boarding school. At first the sight of a boarding school looked scary and somewhat like a prison, but I soon came to love this place, my school. I was in third grade when I learned how to put my bed sheet on, to wake up on my own, to keep my cupboard clean, and the area around me neat and tidy. For if I had not gone to boarding school at such a young age I would have never learned the basic life skills needed in everyday life. Well maybe I would have learned them, but I would not have learnt them at such a young age. Learning to do things from when I was seven years old helped me to improve on them. At first I had no clue how to put a bed sheet on. The other older girls would have to help me. Soon I learned, and I could do it on my own with perfection. Being put in with other girls who share the same room, I soon learned to respect their privacy and their space. I learned to share my things such as food with other people, and not be greedy about it. I learned to keep my cupboard clean, and over the years I had the time to experiment in ways to set it up, without having to redo my cupboard every Sunday. I grew up with friends who at first I hated, but soon over the years came to love. My friends and I would fight over the smallest things, we were little and knew little about stress. I came to know that eventually you get sick of sticking to one person, and no matter how much you love them need some time to be away from them.

Title : Deadly Iraq war end with exit of last U.S. troops

By : Moni Basu

Released: December, 18 2011 Accessed: December 18, 2011

About 500 U.S. troops were finally leaving Iraq after almost nine years of war. These past years have been brutal, emotional, and lonely for many of the soldiers. They have been away from home for such a long that, that they are filled with joy to be going back, but also confusion. This confusion consists of what may hold for Iraq in the coming years. All are wondering if all the hard work of the soldiers, the long nine years, worth it? Soldiers may be leaving, however, there are other workers such as lawyers who are still in Iraq, and work so that they may better Iraq in every possible way. About 4,500 troops were killed in Iraq. The constant struggle of these soldiers does not necessarily guarantee any kind of stability. For just before these soldiers were leaving the uprise of political crises to its place. For all the lives that were taken, wounded, was this battle really worth it?

This war has been going on for about eight months. Barak Obama's words did come true. He made it possible for all the american troops to come out of Iraq. However, does this really mean that Iraq is free of its battles? The thing is you would not know until you try. As the saying goes, you never know what the future holds. And if you want the future to be pleasant, well then you have to create it. I think it is amazing the U.S. soldiers risked their lives in order to save others. Many have been saved, while others weren't that lucky. But the point is that people tried. Things changed for many families, who lost their sons, father, husbands, to this battle. What we need to remember is that they died for a greater good. They fought till their last breath and they tried, tried to change the world, so that we can live in it peacefully. Change will take place, it just needs time. So for the time that is coming all one can do is hope. Hope for a brighter, and better future.

Vocab

Affirmation

Some cheered with the Army's ultimate expression of affirmation:

a positive assertion. First used 15 century

an affirmation was made once the kidnapped little girl was found.

Elation

"It's a feeling of elation," he said,

Pathologic euphoria. first used 14 century

I felt elated when I met my long lost grandmother who was apart because she was in a war torn land.

Decapitate

determination needed to decapitate a dictator.

to cut off the head of. Origin: Latin decapitatus, past participle of decapitare meaning head

The vicious murderers who had murdered a young child were brutally decapitated.

Tell us about a person who influenced your life in a significant way. (Princeton)

My aunt has influenced my life greatly. Though we are not blood related. She is my angel who came to my rescue. Before she came to my life, I knew nothing about the world, or the people. Once I met her, I truly began to understand who I am, and what I want. She helped me to see that it is okay to express yourself, even in the strangest ways. I always had a restricted view of the world. I thought that bad people were just bad. I never looked or tried to understand their side of the story.

My Aunt taught me to be considerate of others, to love the people around me for who they are, not what I want them to become.

I always thought that going for counseling was crazy. After all why would people want to discuss their life, with a stranger. But my Aunt taught me that talking about your feelings is the best way to deal with them. Coming from an Indian family, where no one talks about their feeling, the concept of counseling was all knew to me. But just talking to people about things that trouble you is probably the best way to heal yourself.

She taught me that there is evil in the world, but that there is also good. What we need to make sure of is that the good wins over the evil.

She never forced me to believe in something, or not believe in something. She helped me discover what I thought.

She taught me not to be embarrassed if I took a bus or BMW, the fact is both do their job perfectly. They get you where you want.

Most importantly she taught me to believe in myself, and the person I may one day become. Because no matter what other people believe I can do nothing will matter until I believe in myself.

Describe the perfect home

A perfect home for me is a house not so big, and not so small. As you enter the front door there on the right is a library, on the left there is the living room, which looks out towards the pool. Next to the library is the dining room, and next to the dining room there is a kitchen. To go upstairs you can either go either use the stairs that are in front of the door you enter from, or you can use the stairs that are in the kitchen. Once upstairs there is the parents room, with an attached bathroom, cupboard, and a balcony. Next to the parents room is the parents room. This way the whole family can watch T.V together. opposite the T.V room is a room of a child. At the end of the hall way there is another room. Taking the stairs upstairs there are two guest rooms. Below the kitchen is the basement, where there is a laundry room, and a door towards the garage. There is a pool and beside the pool there is a fish pond.

I want the house to be small because too big of a house is not easy to handle, and take care of. The house should be a place where when a person comes feels that he or she is invited, and welcomed. The house should give a warm feeling, it should be decorated with bright colors, maybe yellow, to light up the people who are living in it. The pool will give the family time to enjoy during the weekends, and just relax by the pool after a hectic week.

Title : Indonesia releases Australian teen convicted of Drug possessions

By: Meidyana Rayana

Published: December 4, 2011 accessed December 4

A teenager was caught with marijuana in Bali. He has served his two months sentence already, and now he is blacklisted from entering Indonesia for six months. He was with his parents on a holiday when he was caught. The boy did not want to serve prison sentence, because of this the boys lawyer asked if the 14 year old could go to a rehabilitation center. Indonesia is very strict about their drug laws. In fact they are so strict that some drug holders may even have death penalties. Visitors are warned about about drug possessions and their penalties. Still man visitors are caught on a daily basis. Recently two Australians are on death penalties, and six others individuals are serving life sentences. However, if someone can prove that they are really addicted and cannot manage without a certain drug, the authorities will allow them to have a certain amount.

Drugs have become a controversial issue all around the world. Teenagers with drug addictions, may think it is cool to possess drugs. But at the end of the day the drugs are effecting their bodies. Personally I would be so scared to try any drug because it does not benefit my health. Before experimenting with drugs individuals should think how the drug is going to effect their bodies, and their future. Since Indonesia warns you about drug possessions, people should just respect the laws. This will help them as well as the country it self. When you are warned about your punishments, then why go ahead and get high on the drugs. The 14 year old kid who was arrested was smart to ask to go to a rehabilitation center. Kids should be warned about the effects that drugs has on a person. Once you are addicted to something it is really hard to stop, so why bother starting on something when it has no health benefits. Instead the drug will only get you in trouble. Parents should also do a better supervision, and not let their kids slide by with anything illegal.