For more than a year we have heard of continued troubles with governments, protests, civil war, and violations of human rights throughout the Middle East. Whether it was the transitions of governments in Tunisia and Egypt, the death of Kaddafi in Libya, or now the brink of civil war in Syria, there seems to be no end in sight to the political, social, and economic unrest.
Below is a link to an interactive map from CNN which allows you to review the events of various Middle Eastern nations:
Most recently we have been hearing constant reports from Syria. For more than a year citizen protesters have been demanding improved economic conditions, protection of personal rights and political change. Their demands include the removal of the President Bashar al-Assad. As the conflict has escalated, both sides have committed many acts of violence against their opposition including kidnapping, torture and execution. Unfortunately, many of the deaths or violence from the government has been committed against civilians. To date the United Nations is claiming approximately 8,000 civilians have been killed during this conflict. News reports are unable to confirm reports due to the Syrian government’s severe restrictions placed on journalists from around the world.
Many members of the United Nations Security Council, including the United States, have been asking for the removal of President al-Assad. Sadly, the entire United Nations has not been in agreement concerning the course of action. Russia and China have been the dissenting votes of stronger action against the Syrian government until recently. Over the weekend, a number of acts of violence including car bombings and a change to the proposal of action by the United Nations have loosened the Russian stance.
The United Nations has agreed to send former U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan into the region with other representatives to attempt to bring the groups together and end the violence and crimes against humanity. While Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is please to see progress, she and others are not sure these actions will be enough to end the bloodshed.
How much do you know about the numerous events from the Middle East? Do you think we should know more? When do you think it is necessary for the United States to get involved? And how should the United States be involved?
Luke- 1st post no big deal. I know lots about the things that are happening in the middle east. The reason i know all about this is because of this great invention called the "news". I believe that would should be more aware of what is happening in the mid east. I think that it is not very smart of us to get involved anymore then we already are. I think that it is fine to send some troops over to potrol around and make sure that nothing suspicious is happening. But, if people are getting attack in the mid east we should try to protect them. because they are innocent people.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I knew about some of the events going on in the Middle East. When we watched that girl who was against Kony 2012 and she talked about Syria. First I didn't know what it was but now I understand. I really think we should know more about it. It's sad that not many people know about it. I'm not sure if the U.S. should get involved or not. Honestly I think it would be good but my parents tell me that sometimes when the U.S. gets involved, it causes bigger problems like in the Vietnam War. If the U.S. does get involve, then I think they should do what Luke said. Protect the people! If they're attacking innocent people, then that's terrible. If we do decide to get involved then I think that should be out main priority.
ReplyDeleteRYAN-I KNOW SOMETHINGS ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH GADOLFI AND ALL THOSE BAD RULERS. KNOWING ABOUT THESE THINGS HAS REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT IM VERY LUCKY TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. UM I THINK THAT WE COULD KNOW MORE IF WE REALLY WANTED TO GET INVOLVED AND I THINK THAT MOST OF THESE COUNTRIES DONT WANT A BUNCH OF US TROOPS IN THEIR COUNTRY. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IF WE LEAVE IT ALONE A WAR MIGHT BRAKE OUT AND WE COULD NOT STOP. IT COULD IF NOT CONTAINED MAYBE TURN INTO ANOTHER WORLD WAR IN AFRICA.
ReplyDeleteAriana- I know a little about the things in the middle east from the news, but not alot. I think we should be more involved because it will help america as a country if we know what is going on everywhere else. I think we should be involved but to a limit. Like angie said, we sometimes can cause more problems than we try to fix. We should do no more than we are doing right now.
ReplyDeletePeter- (To Ryan)
ReplyDeleteI know a little bit about the situations going on in the Middle East from the news (i.e., reddit). I think I should know more and that everyone should know more. It is always important to be knowledgable about current events. I think it's okay for the US to be involved, but I think that we should only release our hardcore army on Middle Easter peace breakers do something that could threaten life as we know it.
Ally- I know very little about the things going on in the Middle East. I think we all should know more, because its important that we know whats going on in the rest of the world. I think we should be involved just like we are, and not just sit back and watch. But we also don't want to make anything worse, so we shouldn't do much more then we already are.
ReplyDeleteKendall- I have heard about some of the events going on in the middle east. I do think that at school we should try to learn more about these events. We should be educated on whats going on in the rest of the world and not just where we live. I dont think we should really get too involved. Sometimes we tend to get too involved and things dont go our way.If we do get involved though i would suggest maybe trying to be the mediators. Or trying to establish peace.
ReplyDeleteMadison- I dont know much about anything going on in the Middle East because I havent watched the news in quite a while. Yes I think we should know more about the Middle East if the U.S. is going to get involved. I dont think that we can get involved to a certain point where we can still back out. If we start to make things worse, then we need to back out and let them be. We could simply send money or supplies, but I dont think it is necessary to send over troops or anything. Thats out of our responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteCooper- I know allot that's going on in the Middle East. We have been at war with Afghanistan for over ten years, the middle east has many political problems. Yes because it is important to know what is going on in that part of the world. When our personal interests are involved or our allies are offended. We should support our allies and defend our country.
ReplyDeleteNolen- Ya middle east is not looking so good, it’s not really our problem but were America were the boss so we should help out over there and just get done what needs to be done no matter what it takes. We don’t want to be wasting all of our time over there so let’s just get stuff done so we can start worrying about our economy, and be prepared for weather or not North Korea will launch a missile on us. (Got that from Mr. G)
ReplyDeleteBrooke~ I don't know about many of the events going on in the middle east. I have heard that its having some problems though and I think that we should help and know what is going on with the rest of the world. I think we should learn more about what is currently going on over there in Social Studies class sometime. WE should not help to much but definitely know whats going on so we know if they are planing another terrorist attack because we dont want a repeat of 9/11
ReplyDeleteSophia-I don't really know too much about what's going on in Syria, but I remember the girl in the video we watching about Kony (the second video) talked about it. I think that we should know more, because we live in the same world as them, and it's important that we know what's going on. I don't think we should get involved though. We should worry about the us, the United States, unless what's happening over there starts threatening us.
ReplyDeleteHalle- I don't know much about what's happening in the middle east but i think it's very important that we do know what's going on. We kind of need to know what's going on around the world and not be oblivious to it. I think it's necessary for us to get involved if our country is being threatened. I think maybe it could be necessary that we get involved when we feel that what they're doing is even worse. But like Angie said it could cause bigger problems if we do get involved.
ReplyDeleteJACK- I HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND I THINK THAT IT IS A HUGE TOPIC THAT WE ALL NEED TO BECOME MORE AWARE ABOUT. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND WE SHOULD BECOME MORE AWARE. IF THERE IS ONGOING VIOLENCE OVER THERE LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, I THINK THAT THE U.S. HAS TO STEP IN AND OFFER WHATEVER ASSISTANCE NESSESARY. I MEAN, IF YOU COULD HELP THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE HAULOCAUST, YOU WOULD RIGHT? I THINK WE NEED TO PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON STOPPING THE VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
ReplyDeleteKaed- i havent really heard much about the problem that is happening in the Middle East but now that i am educated with the problem i think that the U.S. should step in and give a helping hand to the Middle East. I think and believe we should try and resign the president of the U.N. that would help most of the problems that are happening. I like what jack said about the Holocaust and i think we should take every opportunity we have to try and stop the violence that is happening in the Middle East
ReplyDeleteMarya- I don't know what's going on over there. Mr. Grant told us that the people were trying to get rid of their government and stuff. We should send some troops over to at least protect the people. it's innocent people getting killed. it may cause bigger problems if we get involved, but still, you gotta do what you gotta do. Innocent people are getting killed, so someone should take action. Then we can focus on our own econonmy
ReplyDeleteAnn- unfortunately I don't know very much about things that happen in the middle east except from what i hear every now and then. I do think that we should know more about the world in general, not just the middle east. I think the U.S. should get involved when there is not justice being served.
ReplyDeletegabby- i only really know what we have talked about in class. i actually know a lot about jordan but thats only because my sister went there. it seems we only know the things that impact us. i think that we should know more about what it happening, its important that we are aware of what is happening around the world. i think a good time for the u.s. to get involved when people rights are violated, like all the killing of citizens is bad and that should have been stop somehow. its kind of hard to say how the u.s. should get involved because sending troops over there might help, but it might just make it worse. for example if u.s. troops went over there got rid of the president then what? we couldn't leave because there would just be more unrest.
ReplyDeletePhillip- I know that people are rebelling against the government. I do think we should know more. I always think it is necessary for the US to get involved whenever someone is in trouble. We should be involved by getting that bad leader out of his place without violence.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- I dont know much about the problems is the middle east but i remember talking in class about they were having governement issues though but i dont know much about those issues. I did watch the Kony 2012 video too. I really do think we should no more about whats gonna on on the other side of the world, i think we should be more aware about the other side of the workd because we all live on Earth and deserve to know more. I think the U.S should involve whenever they are difficulties or problems around the woeld. Children are being kiled for no reason at all i think the U.S should take part and do something about it.
ReplyDeleteIsabelle- I know there has been some conflicts, but I never really knew what they were about and to what extent they were. The U.s. Should only get involved when necessary and if we are dragged into it then we should do everything we can to solve it and get out of it. If we are really needed we should go in and save the kids first, then try to get as many people safe as we can. Then try to compromise with their government.
ReplyDeleteCristina- there are usually conflicts in the middle east all the time.i think we should know about it because it could effect us. i think the u.s should only get involverd if we need to. i mean, only someone needs our help. and children and being killed for no reason at all! i think we should go in there and save children because killing kids is WRONG.
ReplyDeleteNerea- All the time when i see my parents watching the news i see that there is something going on in the middle east but i dont know if it effects that much until we get involed in whatevers going on over there. I think if they are asking for help from us then we should help but otherwise no. It's none of our buisnes to get involve in their crisist.Im not saying thats for all of them but for most we need to just keep work on what we are working on righ now,
ReplyDeleteAbby- I know some of what is going on in the middle east. I know that a lot of the people are rebelling against the government and a there is a lot of violence. I think that if they need and ask help America should step in. If America needed help I would hope that other countries where there to help us.
ReplyDeletejosu- I know about some of the events that are going on in the middle east but i don't know everything that is happening there. I think we need to know more about the middle east because it is always good to know more about things. I think the united states should step in whenever help is needed and requested, but once they are in we should try to regain peace in that region
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I honestly don't know much about what is going on in the middle east. It would be a good thing if we knew more about the things going on in the middle east because if we are more involved in things we could help easier. I think that it would be a big help to them if we were to step in but that also could be a bad idea because we already have one war on our hands. Also like Josu said "but once they are in we should try to regain peace in that region".
ReplyDeleteMarcos- I don't know much of the events that are going on in the Middle East. And if i do, i probably don't remember. I heard the violence is starting to go on. But what am i saying, violence is happening everywhere around the country. So the middle east need to get there act together. We don't want the whole world to end in violence. That would be a bad thing. We need to regain peace to this world. I hope i'm not sounding like a hippie here.
ReplyDeleteZach- I am not very knowledgeable of the situation in the Midlde East but I do know that it is costing us back herwe in the U.S.A. as well. I think that we either end it or pull out, because we won't be able to do this forever.
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