Urumqi Unrest

The most Western and Northern part of China there resides a population consisting of a Turkic Muslim minority known as the Uighurs. The last few days it has also been a place of riots, violence, and unrest due to feuding ethnic groups. As of now, the count is up to 156 dead and thousands wounded. The funny thing is, people aren't even sure what started this. Some news medias stated that some protesting Uighurs (protesting something)became violent on some of the Han. Then yesterday, it was reported that as a response to the violence, some of the Han (majority population) Chinese has started to carry bats and machetes to beat and hurt anyone who crosses their path and is a minority. This is absolutely horrifying. What century are we in? As happy as I am living in my city,state, country and bubble, I try to remember that PLENTY of other regions and countries in this world are still different in terms of thoughts of human rights. To me, it's a no brainer. We're all humans. And these NUTSOs (I mean from both sides!) are wielding around bats and machetes to do what? What is there to gain? Nothing but more hate and death. Violence + violence = more violence. Absurd. Make room for an olive branch!

If you've been noticing, there has also been a degree of openness in information traffic. The Chinese government hasn't tried to block as much traffic(I said as much. I know they blocked Facebook.) of information as it used, too. It's starting to see that the world is getting smaller and smaller and communication and not isolation is key.

Today, President Hu Jintao sent in thousands of troops to handle this situation. Troops are urging people to stay home and stop fighting. They are protecting Muslim communities from crazy mobs and vice versa. Putting a crackdown and a curfew on the region helps stop the bloodshed for now, I hope. Drop that stick first, then we can talk.

Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan):
"No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

Bye, bye, Gov. Palin

Holy moly. On Friday, Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin, just called it quits. She will step down from her post later this month and will not seek re-election. Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell will be sworn in as Governor on July 26th. Sarah Palin shot onto the national stage as John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election. She is also known for having an abode where you can see Russia from.

Governor Palin stated that since she is not seeking re-election she will be in the undesirable position as a lame-duck. So she's giving it to someone else. Yes, that is lame. The Alaskan Governor said that she is leaving because ever since she's been back from her VP campaign trial, her office has been bombarded with "frivolous" complaints and accusations. She thinks this will cause a waste of taxpayers' money. Her excuses are pretty frivolous.

The GOP said that they wished she didn't go but Alaska is still in safe Republican hands. The Democratic National Committee thinks it's a sham. The DNC said it is irresponsible of Palin to be stepping down from her post for the reasons she's given. She is leaving her constituents in the "cold." Either she has other personal agendas and being Governor is wasting her time or she is just not cut out for the job. Well, I think everyone (especially politicians) have personal agendas. I think it's great. We're meant to live, have goals, thrive and make the most of our lives. We're not meant to be couch potatoes.

But I think Governor Palin is running. As an elected official she should be expected to take complaints and issues, etc. She should have thought of these possibilities when she decided to be John McCain's running mate. If she can't take this as a Governor how did she expect to handle the possibility of being Vice President? Anyways, now she can focus on other things, whatever that may be.

Pay Attention in Class

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg, along with all the borough Presidents, decided to go on and appoint a Schoolboard (close allies of the Mayor) and let Joel Klein continue to be the Chancellor. Mayor Bloomberg said that the issue of continuing mayoral control on NYC's public education system cannot be left floating around and unattended to in the chaos of the State Senate. That is why he and other elected officials are taking care of it instead. Because our children are important.

My friends, who are teachers in the system, gave me an overwhelming "NO" when I asked if they want mayoral control to continue. My friend, Miss C., goes on to explain her frustrations over our nachos and guacamole. I love guac.

Schools are closed for failing results, but they are closed too quickly. There was no chance and resources to let them improve. It is not a business, as the Mayor is approaching it as, but a school. Numbers are improving, students are passing, but at a cost. Smarter students are moved to a better school and failing students are moved to a failing school. Miss C. sees no advantage of leaving behind any student who is or in danger of failing in a classroom. She wants to continue to work with them until they succeed and not condemn them to failure only.

Having mayoral control and the No Child Left Behind Act also forces teachers to teach students how to pass exams. Teaching for this reason and not for their minds is not a success to Miss C. I don't think its a success for NYC students, either.