Children of Revolution

Where I am from probable 70% of the population is high in their senior years and in Iran it is completely opposite, witht he 70% under the age of 30! This huge step in a bigger younger generation has increased the population from 25-68 million. This increase is because the government wanted bigger families to support the armies. Many of these younger adults have to go to certain place to 'flirt' with others, while here in the United States we can openly flirt if we choose whenever we want. This way of life is hard to imagine.

On Football

Iranians take pride in their teams and enthusiastically cheer them on, just as we do here in the United States. It suprised me how much spirit they had and other than the language I couldn't tell a difference between Iranian football and U.S. football. We are more similar then we let ourselves believe.

Oil in Iran

It makes sense that Iranians are fighting in a 'war' with us over oil because oil production is the country's main and almost only form of employment. It the U.S. had limited resources I'm sure that we would act the same because we want to be a superpower, just as everyone else.

Youth Culture & Mad Drivers

I thought it was amazing that most of the population is under 30. that must mean that their health is poor, also healthcare offers a lot of jobs, especially in elderly care, but since they do not have a large population of elderly to take care of there are far less jobs. i also thought it was interesting that more than half of university graduates are women, yet more than 50% of women are unemployed.

I did not know that poeple in iran had a lot of cars. i always thought they got around by foot or camel. it was interesting that the woman said the people do whatever they want in their cars becuase they do not feel ruled by the government.

Geography and Religion in Iran

Iran Geography
The people that talked are completely right in saying people think their country is a desert. When ever i have heard anyone talk about the geography in Iran it has always been hot and dry. I was pretty surprised to hear they had mountains that they skied on.

Religion in Iran
Iran is a really big country and with so many different clashing religions in it, it is bound to start violence. Religion is one of the number one reasons for violence and it's always hard to try and accept other views when you are told that thats the way it is while you grow up.

Iran football and Iranian oil post

Iranian Football:

-Its crazy how big of a deal the football games were for the people. it deffinetly was good for them to get out from their restricted and fearsome lives and a experience such a fun and exciting event. Also its amazing that it was so huge that women were almost allowed to go.

Iranian Oil:

-Oil is the complete economy and way of life for Iranians. Iran contains 10% of the known oil in the world and is ranked third highest oil excavator. They dont even have enough refineries for the amount of oil they are uncovering. 

Iran Geography

I never knew how crazy the geography was there. Like most other people i just assumed it was a flat desert. That'd be an experience to go skiing in Iran and then go back down in elevation and be in a desert. I also never knew how big it was, as described in the sound clip. It sounds like it would be an interesting place to visit.

Mad Drivers

I honestly didn't know that they even had alot of cars over there. i thought they just mostly walked. But it sounds like it wouldn't be too fun to drive around over there. Since they are all angry drivers you might be able to get around quicker though because there would be less slow people on the roads. I wonder if their elderly drivers are angry too?

Geography

I listened to the Geography one and, man, Iran sounds like a beautiful place.  Like the lady says, I too thought that Iran was a dry desert landscape.  I had no idea there was skiing there.  Very cool.  Those of you who listened to it did you notice the girl being interviewed sounds like she's going into a black hole towards the end when she says, "it's not very far from each other."  Very strange. 

Post on Children of Revolution

I am still amazed that 70% of the Iranian population is under 30 years old and have a 50% unemployment rate.  It is very interesting to here peoples views about what they want as far a a republic and the role of the religion in their government.  The people said that if there was never a revolution in the 1980's that they wouldn't have the type of freedoms that they have now, but they still don't have too many freedoms, i find that interesting.  The push on the government to be able to publish music and produce it is getting a lot of attention and is helping people support more freedoms.  

Class Schedule

As promised, here is the updated class schedule. I have also sent a copy of it to each of your personal emails.

Have a great weekend.

Micaela

ENGL 121-31
Instructor: Micaela Young
Schedule
Fall 2008

This schedule is subject to change, and I will do my best to notify you when I anticipate changes.

10/10-Friday--“Reading Lolita…” Essay Two (draft one) due. Peer workshop.

10/13-Monday-- In class discussion on blog postings. Collective workshop.

10/15-Wednesday-- Read Tim O‘ Brien‘s “How to Tell a True War Story.”

10/17-Friday-- Discuss reading and class exercise.

10/20-Monday-- Discuss reading and draft two of essay.

10/22-Wednesday--Essay Two (draft two) due. Peer workshop.

10/24-Friday-- In class discussion and workshop of draft two.

10/27-Monday-- Conferences. Classes cancelled.

10/29-Wednesday-- Conferences. Classes cancelled.

10/31-Friday-- Conferences. Classes cancelled.

11/3-Monday--Essay Two (FINAL draft) due. Peer workshop.

11/5-Wednesday--Critical analysis of pop culture: SNL, music, comics.

11/7-Friday--Read new essay selection.

11/10-Monday--Discussion/exercise.

11/12-Wednesday--Essay Three (first draft) due. Peer workshop-exercise.

11/14- Friday-- In class discussion/exercise.

Long-term/tentative:
11/28-Friday--Thanksgiving Holiday. No class.

12/12-Friday--Last day of classes.

FOOTBALL, DRIVERS

I thought it was interesting to hear how much the people in Iran love to watch soccer. Even when they can get in trouble for going they still take that risk. That day the police could not stop them showed how much they wanted to see the game.

The driving in Iran sounds real crazy. I did not think that 3000 people died from car accidents. The pollution sounds real bad since the kids at the school can not breath. It shows how lucky we are to live in the United States.

I found it very interesting, agreeing with another blog on how the population has grown so much in so little time and that the percentage under 30 is so high. I also found it sad that college graduates can barely get a job as a taxi driver and how high the poverty rate. Also, the fact that due to lack of "culture" i guess you could say, how one of the past time activities is drugs. The fact that a shot of heroin is cheaper than a pack of foreign cigarettes and that over 2 millions kids over 15 are addicted to one of the several drugs out there. I found it almost difficult to listen to the entire blog becasue none of it was positive, and I found myself feeling awful for the choices they make due to lack of opportunities.

Interesting...

What I found interesting was the fact that Iran has a wide range of climates in a country the size of the UK.  You can go to the dry, sandy desert in the morning and be skiing by afternoon in the mountains of this middle eastern country.

I also thought it was interesting that Iran has an estimated 10% of the worlds oil but exports 1/2 of what it uses from outside sources.  The reason they have to do this is because the country lacks enough of the equiptment to extract the oil they have.  With the demand for oil the way it is today, Iran could hold a lot of world power in the near future... 

New Iran Program

Everyone:

Please listen to this program, and then listen to program two. We will talk about it in class, and it will contribute greatly to your writing.

Micaela

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2008/09/080925_children_of_revolution_one.shtml

Blogging in Iran

I found it interesting that blogging is so popular in Iran. Blogs could provide a medium to express ideas anonymously that would get people in trouble otherwise. Though it was mentioned that some people were arrested for their blogs, I think it should be possible to remain relatively anonymous. It is also interesting that Iranian conservatives are embracing blogs, especially since the potential anonymity does not benefit them as it does liberals/reformists. Perhaps the popularity of blogging in Iran indicates a desire for change that is more widespread then the government portrays.

Love of Football / Islamic Rant

All the fans are dancing, cheering, having fun and they point out the fact "the police coulden't do anything." It was blocked for being anti-Islami, whatever that means. This solidifies my theory that there might, possibly, be nothing more ridiculous then the teachings of the Islamic Qur'an.

I would like to end this blog post with the following:

Allah made the stars as missiles to throw at devils. 67:5

A fire has been prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones. 2:24
-Disbelievers will be burned with fire. 2:39, 90

Allah's object also is to purge those that are true in Faith and to deprive of blessing Those that resist Faith. 3:141

And if ye are slain, or die, in the way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass. 3:157

But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment 4:14

....................

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME, GUYS

Mad Drivers

I found the comparison between the two countries interesting. 20,000 people die every year on roads in Iran versus another country with the same population, only 3,000 people die annually (I coulden't understand the name of the country, the guys english is hard as hell to understand.)

They also talk about how people are so used to being ruled over by a dictatorship that they feel like they can do whatever they want in a car. It's their release, maybe, from the censorship (I can't find the word I'm looking for) they are subjected to every day by their government.

Iranian Culture

I found it very interesting that Iranian People arn't arabs, they are Persians. Although they are musilums they are very differnet. They are very proud of their heritage. I also found the clip on blogging to be very interesting. I thought that their government was a lot more strick on their freedoms such as internet. But one fact that was very cool was that there are over 100 million people in the world that speak arabic and it's the 4th most blogged language. It kind of shows how young our country is.

The Youth Culture In Iran

I thought that the Iranian Youth culture was very interesting. That 70% of the population in Iran is under the age of 30 years old and that 50% of women looking for a job are unemployed and that half of college graduates are women. I would have to say that this could tie in with what joyce was saying about how they do not export anything else except oil. So all of the countries jobs for the most part are in the oil industry.

Religion in Iran

Although the majority of the country is Muslim, there is still enough room and enough tolerance to house people of the Jewish faith. As a matter of fact, Iran is home to the second largest population of Jews, outside of Israel, in the middle east. there are also several other religions, but the religion that was in the Iran area before Muslim is no longer there.

Oil in Iran

It was amazing to me that Iran has the second or third largest oil reserve in the world. That reserve is about ten percent of the worlds oil, but that is the only thing that Iran's economy is based on. Iran exports the oil because it does not have any domestic refineries and that is putting Iran into turmoil. It is sad because Iran has the possibility of being a superpower, but it lacks a few links in the chain when it comes to uniting the nation in order to do so.

Iran Assignment

Hi Everyone: (Due Wednesday, October 8th)

Please go to this link and listen to the short clips on different aspects of Iranian culture. There are ten different short audio streams. Listen to them all and please post a response on two of the audio streams you thought were interesting. Also, please read through your classmates responses, and respond to one of their postings. The aim here is to engage in an online discussion about what you learned.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/iran/iran_country.shtml

ALSO...

Please watch this interview with Azar Nafisi on her book. Its about 15 minutes long. We will discuss it on class on Wednesday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M02xYwKAJIM