Selective Compassion

Selective Compassion

Should the media give equal attention to all terrorist attacks?

In a world striving towards complete globalization, it is essential to note that “A life is a life”, regardless of proximity. Due to my life-long decision to never post anything on political media because of my will to be an American politician, I sat silent next to my keyboard on Friday night. Interestingly enough, the reaction of my closest friends, who are of Arab decent, was the same. Instead of posting about the tragedies that happened in Paris, they compared the bombings with what happened in Beirut, and were angry that Facebook did not include the ‘safe’ button or the Lebanese flag profile picture change. Although many of comments on their posts came with the backlash of people, mostly my French friends, stating that one cannot compare the two attacks and that it is disrespectful to do so in a time of mourning, I wholeheartedly agree with the views of my Arab friends. 

Are their families and lives worth less than my French friends’ counterparts?

Selective compassion opposes the ideal that all humans were created equally. If one truly believes that they should empathize with some human lives over others, then they simply value the life of proximate people more than those that venture further away.  

Media responsibility

When journalists argue that readers do not click on articles where the action occurs in a part of a world where violence is commonplace, is a blasphemous statement at the least. If readers are not interested in the article, they are not forced to click on it. Regardless, the media still has the moral obligation to report the news in which portrays the lives of all citizens equally, and thus giving the attacks on Paris the same amount of media attention as other terrorist attacks that devastated cities and families internationally. The media needs to write its articles by omitting borders and religion, and rather focus on the value of human life: which each life should be treated equal.

Each life deserves equal representation

A terrorist attack destroys families, cities, and nations without borders. We should all sympathize with the victims that faced the tragedies of savagery. Whether these tragedies are faced in China or Costa Rica is irrelevant, the media has a responsibility to display the news with the same charisma as it does with western countries. Regardless of the proximity or the amount of people that can relate with the notions of the west, the media should not succumb to the same savagery that ISIS is trying to impose on western nations: the media must try to bring all human lives together, and a great starting point will be to treat all lives with equal amounts of respect and dignity.

Farmer Second Post

During the second half of the Growing a Farmer, I began to recognize a characteristic of Kurt that really changed how I perceive my own life. Kurt taught me the value of efficiency and how one is able to fully utilize his or her resources to one's advantage. When every meal is prepared on the farm, it is made with a distinct purpose. Furthermore, nothing is wasted and many of the items on the farm are reused in order to make a fully efficient farm. When comparing Kurt's attitude toward the farm compared to many Americans today, you can see a drastic contrast. For example, the average consumer today would not think about utilizing their resources efficiently. Every dollar spent today is often spent on luxurious or nonsensical items, whereas Kurt teaches us the importance of efficiency, illustrating that their should be a purpose behind every resource used.

Not only has the farmer demonstrated the importance of efficiency on the farm, but he also stresses the need to improve upon the current situations that the farm faces. Another takeaway readers should learn from the inspiring characteristics of the farmer is his willingness to constantly improve. Never complacent, the farmer found a way to stabilize his farm economically and also implemented a mix of crops and animals. Still not satisfied with the progress, the farmer was hungry to improve various aspects of the farm due to the fact that there can always be something better done.

Many people take for granted the daily work that a farmer has to put in. I personally thought that the job of a farmer was particularly an easy task and would not use that much thinking. However, after reading this novel I learned that certain attributes can be associated with successful farmers: efficiency, persistence, always looking to improve, etc. Aside from farming, other professions that seem to be easy to do may in fact be more difficult than one thought. For example, plumbing may not be as easy as one thinks. I recently spent some time with the plumber at my house and he taught me the complexity of the tasks that he has to deal with at times. The lesson I took away from this novel was to not take for granted tasks that seem fairy easy because they often do not play out to be what they seem to be!

The Revolution of American Vacationing

It's that time of year again—It's time to see a part of the world you've never imagined existed before. Right outside the U.S. lies the island of Cuba. Bienvenidos to one of the most cost cultural, historical, and cost effective places which is a must see for every American. So here's why you should say Hola to Cuba and start packing!

Cubano Culture


Let's get straight to the beats. Cuba is well-known for their fantastic music that originated from European and African origin (Boogaloo). Whether you're searching for Jazz, tango, or even hip-hop music, Cuba is the place for you. From street performers, concerts, and museums that honor some of the greatest "Cubanos" such as Fernando Ortíz, no one can dispute how important music is to the Cuban culture.

If you're a true American, you know that baseball is a key part of our culture. But where do most of our Major League Baseball stars come from? You've guessed it . . . Cuba! Stop by a baseball game or two and you'll be stunned. Is that 16 year old better than some professionals? Probably. Introduced by American dockworkers in Havana during the 19th century, the love of baseball was quick to immerse itself as one of the centerpieces of Cuban culture.

A Taste of History


The culture of Cuba is mostly shaped by European influence, but it is definitely mixed with African and indigenous American traditions. But what if I told you Cuba's founding may be more familiar than you thought?

The founder's name may sound like someone you've heard of before; none other than Christopher Columbus who founded the nation in 1492. Because Cuba was a leading sugar producer, (which it still is) many slaves were brought to Cuba from both China and Africa (NationsPeople). So, when you see the "Creole" people who live in Cuba and you can't tell what ethnicity to place them in, that's why. Most people are a mix of White, African, and Chinese.

In 1952, Fidel Castro introduced the idea of Communism to Cuba. So, when you visit you'll see Cubanos waiting in line to get their daily rations of food, soap, water, etc. This may be a bit of change for us Americans, but that's why we should go out there and see the world and the culture it has to offer.

Must See Places

Which places in Cuba must you visit before you leave? My recommendations on what to see will depend on the types of activities you’re searching for:

• ·      Historical sites
• ·      ‘Fun’ times 
• ·      Relaxation

Historical Sites

The heart of Cuba lays in within its capital, Havana. Stroll down the streets of this beautiful city and you’ll come across the Morro Castle. If the gigantic castle on the sea inhabited by communist leaders does not shock you, maybe the Che Guevara Museum will; his memorial portrays him as a national hero who was able to convince Cubanos of the benefits of a ‘shared’ country, which demonstrates that the nation is still very intact with its communist beliefs. The museum of revolution is only a few blocks away from the city center as well, but Americans who are accustomed to the right of free speech must be cautious when they express their opinions regarding communism at these historical sites – you can get into serious trouble. Keeping quiet is highly suggested!

‘Fun Times’

Everyone interprets the word fun in a different sense. The way I see it, visiting the heart of Cuban culture by going to a national cigar factory, should fit perfectly into this category. You will be able to drive by acres of tobacco farms and will be instructed on how to roll your own Cuban cigar if you take the USA Cuba Travel’s tour (Usacubatravel). How can you not enjoy the best cigars in the world? Inhale away!

Relaxation

Florida is a peninsula. Cuba is an island. Although they share wonderfully warm weather, only Cuba has beautiful beaches awaiting you in every direction of the compass. My personal favorite was Trinidad Beach. Imagine yourself in a Corona commercial, laying in a cabana, sipping on a beer – except you only have two brands to choose from, Bucanero and Cristal (Cuba-Culture). Oh wait, did I forget to mention that the beer would cost you about a dime when converted into American currency? So, as Corona advertises, what are you waiting for, find your beach!


Obama recently made an agreement to reestablish ties with Cuba. Basically, there is now an American embassy in Cuba and we will legally be allowed to visit!

Now that the politics are out of the way, all you have to do is start packing and find the first flight to the exquisite island that has so much to offer. But hurry up, you should plan your vacation before McDonald's, Starbucks, and American capitalism takes over!

Get out there, leave your own ideas and cultures behind, and get ready to experience one of the greatest vacations of your life. Cuba won't be a secluded island by the Atlantic any longer. Soon, it will be an American hotspot for American vacationers, and I want YOU to get out there and see it first.

Works Cited

History of Cuban Music. Boogalu, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2016.

boogalu.com/travel-resources/history-cuban-music

Usacubatravel,. "USA Cuba Travel: Cigar Tour". N. p., 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

usacubatravel.com/cigartour.htm

 

Cuban Travel Business,. "Best Cuban Beers. Bucanero, Cristal And Hatuey Beer.". N. p., 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

http://www.cuba-culture.com/best-cuban-beers/

Kastle, Klaus. "History Of Cuba - Nations Online Project". Nationsonline.org. N. p., 2016. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Cuba-history.htm

 

The Farmer

The Growing Farmer was a book that showed me the cruelty that takes place in a day of the life of a farmer. Through physical labor and emotional stress due to agricultural distresses, the farmer endures many hardships throughout his career. An increasing amount of worker turnover and a poor vegetable harvest can point to a few examples of the difficulties faced by this blue collar work.

The hardworking personality of Kurt demonstrates that creating a new farm that springs from the creation of vinegar and cider is possible if one puts in the proper time. The persistence of Kurt to create the farm and strive to better it day in and day out shows how much he cared about the growth of the farm. Despite Kurt's urban background and his little knowledge of starting a farm, his dedication and research helped him create a successful agricultural turf.

In all honesty, I was able to take away lots of farming tools from the first seven chapters of this novel.  From phantom milking to the creation of honey, it was evident that the knowledge I gained from The Growing Farmer helped me envision the life of an urban professional who was successfully able to transition to a farming lifestyle. Furthermore, if I was able to relate this novel to my life, I could not say that I would have the same amount of courage as Kurt. I have never lived on a farm, but the amount of dedication and persistence it would take to get up from a big city like Los Angeles and devote my business and lifestyle to agricultural would be truly astounding. Timmermeister's dedication to become a successful farm owner is truly admirable, and I can't wait to read more chapters to find out about his future successes!