Problem: One class is oppressing and exploiting the poor classes, keeping the power to themselves due to corruption and greed.
Q. Why is this system of oppression and exploitation successful?
A. The system of oppression is successful because the elites use their powers in certain ways that the under class does not necessarily notice or see it as explotation. The under class has no power to talk against to the authority and the powerful, it is not the right thing to do. The people being exploited and abused are afraid of speaking up against them because of the consequences there might be.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
1st Draft
Prodigious amounts of stories in the bible, are like comparisons and similes between real life stories and the kingdom of God. The parable of the workers in the vineyard is one of the many stories in the Gospel of Matthew that help Christians understand and unfold the great mystery of what the kingdom of God really is. In all parables there is a conflict or situation that we must learn from, and the conflict or situation is history that is why is written down in a book, and even now in the year 2007 some of the conflicts seen or heard about from the bible are still existing today.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard is an example of confrontation between to different social classes. The lesson of the parable is far beyond, “The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” Jesus stretches truth in order to show what is reality. The overarching question in this parable is mostly about why did the land owner did what he did. Why did he go to the market several times during the day? Why did he go himself, rather than his steward. The parable is comparison between the story and the kingdom of God. Since the landowner was the one that made the deal with the workers directly and there was no middle person, this showed the interaction that happened when both groups met without people of lower class only talking to those whom are just right above them, but rather with the highest power. The parable shows that the landowner is a wealthy and powerful man. When the landowner bargains with the day laborers, whom he first picked up, he said to them that he shall pay them whatever was right. This showed that the landowner has the power to determine what was right. The day laborers are clearly people whom are poor, and do not have any source of income and would be happy with what they were given. It is interesting the fact that the landowner was the one that made all the deals with the day workers, but when it came the time for them to get paid he sent his steward to do it. It is like the comparison between the kingdom of God is a place where many different and types of people confront each other for the first time.
The story tells that the day laborers are gathered until the eleventh hour of the day, why would someone want to even pick up workers at that time, knowing that they shall be paid the same amount as those whom worked for longer. The parable shows that the landowner is just trying to get the job done, while at the same time he is trying to help those whom he has seen need the job. One denarius is the quantity they bargained on, but when it was pay time, those whom had come first did not expect that amount for all the work they had done. They wanted more, according to their judgment whatever was fair. The parable shows the relationship between the elite and the poor, how the elite used and exploited those whom couldn’t stand up against them due to the differences in their economical standings. The parables reveals the truth of how the pyramid of powers is a interdependent pyramid, because if the day laborers did not exist the job the land owner, an elite, needed to be done would have not been done and he would have to do the job that he paid for it to be done. This helps reveal and define what the kingdom of God is, and who is part of it. The parable opens new doors and ways to interpret the kingdom of God as a place where we are all welcome and economical or powerful standing does not matter.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard is an example of confrontation between to different social classes. The lesson of the parable is far beyond, “The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” Jesus stretches truth in order to show what is reality. The overarching question in this parable is mostly about why did the land owner did what he did. Why did he go to the market several times during the day? Why did he go himself, rather than his steward. The parable is comparison between the story and the kingdom of God. Since the landowner was the one that made the deal with the workers directly and there was no middle person, this showed the interaction that happened when both groups met without people of lower class only talking to those whom are just right above them, but rather with the highest power. The parable shows that the landowner is a wealthy and powerful man. When the landowner bargains with the day laborers, whom he first picked up, he said to them that he shall pay them whatever was right. This showed that the landowner has the power to determine what was right. The day laborers are clearly people whom are poor, and do not have any source of income and would be happy with what they were given. It is interesting the fact that the landowner was the one that made all the deals with the day workers, but when it came the time for them to get paid he sent his steward to do it. It is like the comparison between the kingdom of God is a place where many different and types of people confront each other for the first time.
The story tells that the day laborers are gathered until the eleventh hour of the day, why would someone want to even pick up workers at that time, knowing that they shall be paid the same amount as those whom worked for longer. The parable shows that the landowner is just trying to get the job done, while at the same time he is trying to help those whom he has seen need the job. One denarius is the quantity they bargained on, but when it was pay time, those whom had come first did not expect that amount for all the work they had done. They wanted more, according to their judgment whatever was fair. The parable shows the relationship between the elite and the poor, how the elite used and exploited those whom couldn’t stand up against them due to the differences in their economical standings. The parables reveals the truth of how the pyramid of powers is a interdependent pyramid, because if the day laborers did not exist the job the land owner, an elite, needed to be done would have not been done and he would have to do the job that he paid for it to be done. This helps reveal and define what the kingdom of God is, and who is part of it. The parable opens new doors and ways to interpret the kingdom of God as a place where we are all welcome and economical or powerful standing does not matter.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Updates of Parable Documentation
1: Read - Note every detail, look up vague or unknown words.
Landowner owns a large vineyard.
He went to the market every hour looking for laborers.
He would pay them one denarius, he had said that to those on the first hour.
At the third hour he told the workers that he shall give them whatever was right.
During the 11th hour he just told them to go, did not mention any money.
The workers from the first hour thought they were going to get more than those whom had just came from the 11th hour and on.
The landowner told his steward to pay the laborers their wages, from last to 1st.
The steward knew to give all laborers the same amount of denarius.
The laborers were complaining about the fact that they worked for a longer time, but those whom worked less received the same amount as them.
Landowner instructs them to take what is theirs and go.
He implies to the day laborers that he is already being generous, because he is giving them an opportunity and a chance to get some source of income.
"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last."
2: Historical Context - Research the time period- politics, economy, and society.
Massive amount of unemployment- states kept on expanding, kicking off those with less money- making them "expendables"(life span was 5-7 years) - shown by how many laborers are just hanging out at the market every time landowner goes.
One denarius-
Landowners usually stayed out of affairs.
3: General Context - Who is the audience? Who is it directed to/ about? Read passage before for greater understanding.
The audience was most likely to be those whom can do something about the corruption of the elite towards those with less.
Jesus designs confrontation between two groups that in reality would not confront. He expands the truth in order to show the truth.
4: Character Analysis - Explain their motives/ ask questions. The character’s Role in society or parable.
Landowner - wealth, power and authority to establish "what is right," has land that produces luxury items that would be too expensive for daily laborers to consume.
Q: Why does he bargain earlier rather than at night when he just sends them to work?
A:
Q: Why does he pay them from last to first, rather than first to last?
A: He
Q:Why does he pay all the same amount?
A:This is an act of humiliation towards the landowners and
Laborers- poor, underclass, unemployed
Q: Why do the laborers complain?
A: They have been ashamed and do not feel as if they have been treated as they should have.
5: Anomalies - Unanswered cracks in story, ask questions about why things are as they are.
Why does the landowner only address one of the workers?
6: Conflict - What is causing controversy?
The parable is revolving around the issue of exploitation and misuse of power, the parable address the fact that the owner does something that goes against what society says to do.
7: Formulate a question - that answers the parable/opens up new doors.
How is this like the
8: Connection - to current events.
9: Solution - What can we do? What should we do?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Parable Documentation
1: Read - Note every detail, look up vague or unknown words.
Landowner owns a large vineyard.
He went to the market every hour looking for laborers.
He would pay them one denarius, he had said that to those on the first hour.
At the third hour he told the workers that he shall give them whatever was right.
During the 11th hour he just told them to go, did not mention any money.
The workers from the first hour thought they were going to get more than those whom had just worked a couple hours.
The landowner told his steward to pay they laborers their wages, from last to 1st.
The steward knew to give all laborers the same amount of denarius.
The laborores were complaining about the fact that they worked for a longer time, but those whom worked less received the same amount as them.
Landowner instructs them to take what is theirs and go.
He implies to the day laborers that he is already being generous, because he is giving them an opportunity and a chance to get some source of income.
"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last."
2: Historical Context - Research the time period- politics, economy, and society.
Massive amount of unemployment- states kept on expanding, kicking off those with less money- making them "expendables"(life span was 5-7 years) - shown by how many laborers are jsut hanging out at the market every time landowner goes.
One denarius-
Landowners usually stayed out of affairs.
3: General Context - Who is the audience? Who is it directed to/ about? Read passage before for greater understanding.
The audience was most likely to be those whom can do something about the corruption of the elite towards those with less.
Jesus designs confrontation between two groups, that in reality would not confront. He expands the thruth in order to show the truth.
4: Character Analysis - Explain their motives/ ask questions. Role in society or parable.
Landowner - wealth, power and authority to establish "what is right," has land that produces luxury items, that would be too expensive for daily laborers to consume.
Q: Why does he bargain earlier rathen than at night when he just sends them to work?
A:
Q: Why does he pay them from last to first, rather than first to last?
A: He
Q:Why does he pay all the same amount?
A:This is an act of humiliation towards the landowners and
Laborers- poor, underclass, unemployed
Q: Why do the laborers complain?
A: They have been ashamed and do not feel as if they have been treated as they should have.
5: Anomalies - Unanswered craks in story, ask questions about why things are as they are.
Why does the landowner only address one of the workers?
6: Conflict - What is causing contraversy?
The parable is revolving around the issue of exploitation and misuse of power, the parable address the fact that the owner does something that goes against what society says to do.
7: Formulate a question - that answers the parable/opens up new doors.
How is this like the Kingdom of Heaven?
8: Connection - to current events.
9: Solution - What can we do? What should we do?
Landowner owns a large vineyard.
He went to the market every hour looking for laborers.
He would pay them one denarius, he had said that to those on the first hour.
At the third hour he told the workers that he shall give them whatever was right.
During the 11th hour he just told them to go, did not mention any money.
The workers from the first hour thought they were going to get more than those whom had just worked a couple hours.
The landowner told his steward to pay they laborers their wages, from last to 1st.
The steward knew to give all laborers the same amount of denarius.
The laborores were complaining about the fact that they worked for a longer time, but those whom worked less received the same amount as them.
Landowner instructs them to take what is theirs and go.
He implies to the day laborers that he is already being generous, because he is giving them an opportunity and a chance to get some source of income.
"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last."
2: Historical Context - Research the time period- politics, economy, and society.
Massive amount of unemployment- states kept on expanding, kicking off those with less money- making them "expendables"(life span was 5-7 years) - shown by how many laborers are jsut hanging out at the market every time landowner goes.
One denarius-
Landowners usually stayed out of affairs.
3: General Context - Who is the audience? Who is it directed to/ about? Read passage before for greater understanding.
The audience was most likely to be those whom can do something about the corruption of the elite towards those with less.
Jesus designs confrontation between two groups, that in reality would not confront. He expands the thruth in order to show the truth.
4: Character Analysis - Explain their motives/ ask questions. Role in society or parable.
Landowner - wealth, power and authority to establish "what is right," has land that produces luxury items, that would be too expensive for daily laborers to consume.
Q: Why does he bargain earlier rathen than at night when he just sends them to work?
A:
Q: Why does he pay them from last to first, rather than first to last?
A: He
Q:Why does he pay all the same amount?
A:This is an act of humiliation towards the landowners and
Laborers- poor, underclass, unemployed
Q: Why do the laborers complain?
A: They have been ashamed and do not feel as if they have been treated as they should have.
5: Anomalies - Unanswered craks in story, ask questions about why things are as they are.
Why does the landowner only address one of the workers?
6: Conflict - What is causing contraversy?
The parable is revolving around the issue of exploitation and misuse of power, the parable address the fact that the owner does something that goes against what society says to do.
7: Formulate a question - that answers the parable/opens up new doors.
How is this like the Kingdom of Heaven?
8: Connection - to current events.
9: Solution - What can we do? What should we do?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Herzog
I.Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard:
The parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is not just a parable ideally talking about how the "last shall be first" concept that we have heard many times before.
This parable presents a typical scene in the agrarian world of
To understand what that scene is, first, one must analyze the characters in the parable, which will give the social background to the scene.
The parable is divided into two scenes where a landholder hires laborers and when they get paid.
At first, one would be puzzled regarding what social class this man is in, he could seem like a wealthy peasant or a man with property.
Who is this landholder, or oikodespotes? The term oikodespotes "immediately implies sovereign authority."
The presence of a steward, it implies that this landowner would have prodigious holdings, this man owns a vineyard, and at this time period elites were more likely to own because the crop is converted in a luxury article.
And one can also look at the fact that he takes multiple trips to go hire laborers for his vineyard. The fact that he does not even seem to count the amount of laborers he is taking, one can infer that the land was big enough that he did not even know the amount of workers he would need.
On the first trips, he compromises with day laborers for the wage and leaves it as “whatever is right, I will give you,” but as he goes through more trips he does not mention it. He shows that he has the authority to determine "what is right."
It is known that elites are "invisible" and prefer not to get in contact with laborers.
But Jesus has the purpose of creating the parable and demonstrating that the man is doing his own job, and it shows the confrontation between two social groups.
II.Who are the day laborers?
These people are known as the "expendables."
They suffer with unemployment and low wages.
Their life expectancy is brief and they are lucky to even find jobs or wages to live on and are seem to be people that have no way out of the poverty.
The big question- Why does the landholder pay the laborers from last to first?
What is the purpose in doing this versus just paying them in a regular manner? When this occurs, the first laborers complain. Why?
They have been shamed, because the landowner disregards the time and labor that they spent in the land and shows that their labor is no more valued than those who only worked for an hour or two.
They feel as they have been shamed because since the labor is worthless it shows that these laborers are worthless.
It gives the landowner a sense of arrogance and power.
What was the purpose for his action? This is a strategy to keep the oppressed under control by humiliating and degrading them.
The landowner denies this charge and calls the "leader" of this "friend," saying that he did no wrong. "Did you not agree with me for a denarius?" He uses the pretense of bargaining against them.
At the end the landowner can overrule anything they shall say.
III. What does the parable highlight?
The parable highlights the confrontation between two groups and how the ones with the most power oppress those in the bottom to keep them without power, and how they humiliate them to remind them what is their status in society.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Final Reading Method
1: Read - Note every detail, look up vague or unknown words.
2: Historical Context - Research the time period- politics, economy, and society.
3: General Context - Who is the audience? Who is it directed to/ about? Read passage before for greater understanding.
4: Character Analysis - Explain their motives/ ask questions. Role in society or parable.
5: Anomalies - Unanswered craks in story, ask questions about why things are as they are.
6: Conflict - What is causing contraversy?
7: Formulate a question - that answer the parable/opens up new doors.
8: Connection - to current events.
9: Solution - What can we do? What should we do?
2: Historical Context - Research the time period- politics, economy, and society.
3: General Context - Who is the audience? Who is it directed to/ about? Read passage before for greater understanding.
4: Character Analysis - Explain their motives/ ask questions. Role in society or parable.
5: Anomalies - Unanswered craks in story, ask questions about why things are as they are.
6: Conflict - What is causing contraversy?
7: Formulate a question - that answer the parable/opens up new doors.
8: Connection - to current events.
9: Solution - What can we do? What should we do?
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Steps for Interpretation of Parable
1. Read the Parable, including footnotes, if hard to understand try reading the passage before the parable to get a better understanding of the parable.
2. Find out who is the main character. (Think of : round characters, flat characters) By analyzing all characters, and seeing the one that evolves the most, and the conflict and lesson evolves around.
3. Figure out roles of the rest of the characters. Evaluate the other characters and how they contribute for the better or worse of the conflict.
4. Understand the conflict going on, and how the characters affect it. Find out what is going wrong in the story? What is not right?
5. Why is the conflict even occurring? What trigger the conflict to begin? What made it into a conflict?
6.What question is Jesus trying to answer. Why is Jesus telling people this particular story? What does he want us to learn from that?
2. Find out who is the main character. (Think of : round characters, flat characters) By analyzing all characters, and seeing the one that evolves the most, and the conflict and lesson evolves around.
3. Figure out roles of the rest of the characters. Evaluate the other characters and how they contribute for the better or worse of the conflict.
4. Understand the conflict going on, and how the characters affect it. Find out what is going wrong in the story? What is not right?
5. Why is the conflict even occurring? What trigger the conflict to begin? What made it into a conflict?
6.What question is Jesus trying to answer. Why is Jesus telling people this particular story? What does he want us to learn from that?
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
System Examples
In the news story of the Chinese man, whom has been diagnosed with parkinson, Countrywide abused of his knowledge of the language and played as if it was not their fault. By him not being capable of understanding the language, he was at a disadvantage and since the foreclosure company did not have the Countrywide logo on its envelop. Lin was a victim of Countrywide's system and how they mistreat their customers to their advantage to gain more money for the company, and get a bigger commission. I think that Countrywide was at fault, and should have done something for Lin to recuperate his home, because like Lin said he had not received a payment form the second loan for six months, therefore they would not know if he was able to pay the money or not. Lin was just another victim of an unfair system, due to cultural differences.
Systems are a structure humans get used to, we comfort ourselves with the labels we are given to by our systems. Power is what manipulates the comfort that we have with the labels given to us by the higher powers in our systems.
Rachel Barge from Cal started a Sustainability Team at Cal to raise funds, for projects that were not being funded at Cal, but needed to be done. With her leadership skills and determination she was able to surpass the stage of greed, and when creators wanted credit for what they did, and she kept her head centered on what her goal was to raise money for the programs needed at Cal and not for her own benefit.
Systems are a structure humans get used to, we comfort ourselves with the labels we are given to by our systems. Power is what manipulates the comfort that we have with the labels given to us by the higher powers in our systems.
Rachel Barge from Cal started a Sustainability Team at Cal to raise funds, for projects that were not being funded at Cal, but needed to be done. With her leadership skills and determination she was able to surpass the stage of greed, and when creators wanted credit for what they did, and she kept her head centered on what her goal was to raise money for the programs needed at Cal and not for her own benefit.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Systems
Systems are created for many reasons; many systems are created with the purpose to be beneficial to the people, when in truth it is not like that. Systems are created with purposes, but those purposes just become the cover for the damages and effects the system does to a certain group of people. The definition of a system is: A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a complex whole. Systems that are meant to be beneficial for the people in the bottom of the pyramids are systems based on interdependent elements.
By creating systems that are interdependent it creates a system that it is going to create different levels of power, and it is going to become a self- concern and injustice system. The people on top with the most power are going to be looking for ways to only benefit themselves, and their people and not the system as a whole. By creating systems and making the distinctions between those with more and less a conflict has began. It then becomes an unethical system that does not follow their original missions, and lie to the people, whom it is supposed to be benefiting. Systems are created for a reason, once those reasons are not taken into consideration when the system is taking action for something, then that is when one knows that the system has failed its purpose, and then it starts to become self- concerning, unethical, and even conservative. Many systems, just care for its people, the people that have the power and authority just like them.
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Systems become cycles built on manipulation, self-interest, and ignorance. Most systems usually reflect the point of view of the creator, benefiting his own interest, without mutual benefit to others in the system. Systems are created to organize and cause the participants to assimilate and conform to it. These systems consequently give power to those who organize it, causing corruption. The people whom seem to be the organizers, are look as to be essential and the participants, those on the bottom, are often seen as unnecessary. However, in order for a system to work, they are often interdependent. The organizers are dependent on the participants to be compliant while the participants are dependent on the organizers in order to act accordingly for the system. Because participants are seem to be more dependent on the top, this causes the organizers to abuse and become unethical with the way they run the system.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Unforgiving Tenant.
1. In the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the high level servant is the main character, because his life as well as his family’s life was in danger and he asked for time, and the king doing an action of forgiveness, forgave the debt. But when the high level servant saw that another servant who owed him a relative small amount compared to his debt, the servant demanded for his money. His fellow servant asked him what he had asked the king, and he still did not forgive the debt. He did not learn about from the king, because he was still self-centered and selfish.
2. The king decides to forgive the debt, because he has enough to where he doesn't need to abuse others, unlike the servant who had nothing, and needed to harm others to get where he wanted to be. The king forgives him because he saw that the servant couldn't pay him back and forgave him, with the idea that he will learn from him.
3. The high level servant doesn't forgive the other servant, because he only cares about himself. He was only thinking about the consequences that would affect him, and not others, aside from his family because he did care about protecting them. Personally, I think that since he was excused from his debt, it was expected for him to learn from the experience, but since he was let off so easily, he didn't fully understand how the consequences affected someone.
4. The
Monday, October 15, 2007
"U.S. Involvement;"
38.Why is the Israeli - Palestinian conflict so important on the global stage?
There are personal bonds, like religious, national and ethnic bonds. The strategy bonds such economical, military and other considerations. Palestine was a trading center for 3 continents. Palestine is in a central location for economical reasons and that is why other powerful nations cared about that small place. The Israelites are the 2nd or 3rd closets ally to the U.S., and in order for other nations to be close to the U.S. they needed a bond with Israel.
39.What is the international response to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict?
The Palestinian only were invited as observers to the U.N., they had no representation there, the international people were against agreement 242 and instead came up with the strategy that any land Israel conquered at war, shall be given back.
40.Why hasn't the U.S. been part of the consensus?
The U.S. thought that no other nations should not gain up on Israel and that only they had the power and authority to do so.
41.Why is the U.S. the central player in the Middle East?
The U.S. was the central player in the Middle East because they were the only ones that survived the war, and their economy and military were at a rise and hungry for oil. With all the events that had happened the U.S. now had power, to play a great role in the Middle East.The U.S. wanted to shape political map of the region.
42. What explains the U.S.- Israeli 'special relationship'?
The U.S. has had a special relationship with Israel due to the potential they saw in them when Israel defeated four Arab countries with their military during time of war. The U.S. saw they were worthwhile, and established a relationship with them.
43. Is the U.S. an "honest broker" on the conflict?
I did not get to read this part.
There are personal bonds, like religious, national and ethnic bonds. The strategy bonds such economical, military and other considerations. Palestine was a trading center for 3 continents. Palestine is in a central location for economical reasons and that is why other powerful nations cared about that small place. The Israelites are the 2nd or 3rd closets ally to the U.S., and in order for other nations to be close to the U.S. they needed a bond with Israel.
39.What is the international response to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict?
The Palestinian only were invited as observers to the U.N., they had no representation there, the international people were against agreement 242 and instead came up with the strategy that any land Israel conquered at war, shall be given back.
40.Why hasn't the U.S. been part of the consensus?
The U.S. thought that no other nations should not gain up on Israel and that only they had the power and authority to do so.
41.Why is the U.S. the central player in the Middle East?
The U.S. was the central player in the Middle East because they were the only ones that survived the war, and their economy and military were at a rise and hungry for oil. With all the events that had happened the U.S. now had power, to play a great role in the Middle East.The U.S. wanted to shape political map of the region.
42. What explains the U.S.- Israeli 'special relationship'?
The U.S. has had a special relationship with Israel due to the potential they saw in them when Israel defeated four Arab countries with their military during time of war. The U.S. saw they were worthwhile, and established a relationship with them.
43. Is the U.S. an "honest broker" on the conflict?
I did not get to read this part.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Summary of 3-7
3. The British withdrew from making a Jewish state in Palestine, handed the issue over to the U.N. to handle because they were Holocaust survivors and it got to the point when Jews had more Palestinian land than the Palestines.The Arabs left, because they felt as if they were forced to, as a result various wars broke during the time of Jews taking over Palestinian land.
4. The borders in the Middle East changed due to the Six Day war, it also created changeds in military and political perceptions,bringing in the United States into the conflict. Arabs surrounded Israelite land and threated to cut off Gulf for Israel access and that was Israel's number one source of oil.
5. Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in the Yom Kippur war, and the U.S thought it would be a good opportunity for them. Palestinians were trying to regain their land that was taken away. Israel was overconfident and caught by surprise by the war. Meanwhile, in the West Bank and Gaza war broke out because the Palestinians wanted the Israelites out. Sinai was given back to Egypt, but no final negotiation was done with Palestine.
6. Oslo agreement(self-government) was signed by Palestine and Israel meaning to bring peace, but it ended up starting a new intifada. It all started from a traffic accident when a Israel killed Palestinians. The intifada went on for years , Israelites thought they should end it because it was harming them morally and economically.
7. Erafatt's method and style of governing led for the process to fail and violated the terms in the Oslo agreement. He violated importing arms, having numerous amounts of forces more than allowed, and by not respecting human rights. At other agreement processes Erafatt should have stepped up and be courages and done what needed to be done, give everyone their piece of land they deserved. Neither group sucessed.
4. The borders in the Middle East changed due to the Six Day war, it also created changeds in military and political perceptions,bringing in the United States into the conflict. Arabs surrounded Israelite land and threated to cut off Gulf for Israel access and that was Israel's number one source of oil.
5. Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in the Yom Kippur war, and the U.S thought it would be a good opportunity for them. Palestinians were trying to regain their land that was taken away. Israel was overconfident and caught by surprise by the war. Meanwhile, in the West Bank and Gaza war broke out because the Palestinians wanted the Israelites out. Sinai was given back to Egypt, but no final negotiation was done with Palestine.
6. Oslo agreement(self-government) was signed by Palestine and Israel meaning to bring peace, but it ended up starting a new intifada. It all started from a traffic accident when a Israel killed Palestinians. The intifada went on for years , Israelites thought they should end it because it was harming them morally and economically.
7. Erafatt's method and style of governing led for the process to fail and violated the terms in the Oslo agreement. He violated importing arms, having numerous amounts of forces more than allowed, and by not respecting human rights. At other agreement processes Erafatt should have stepped up and be courages and done what needed to be done, give everyone their piece of land they deserved. Neither group sucessed.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Parable of Tenants
The land of the parable of the Tenants is about an elite abusing of poor farmers by putting a vineyard knowing it would not produce for so long. The land represented something else, it was not just plain land, it simbolized the Holy land of Israel. The tennants are the religious leaders of Israel, the owner of the land is God and the beloved son is Jesus. The land symbolized Israel for what happens there that there are so many conflicts that arose from that land. The tennats are the farmers whom stride to become a self-sufficient community and the prophets tell them that God doesn't want them to be like that to help each other out, to share, and then he sends his son to preach as well, but they did not care Jesus was God's son and still killed him, without mercy, because the farmers, were tired of hearing the same message.
Letter to Senator
My name is Leslye Salinas and I am currently a junior at Saint Mary’s College High School, I’m currently taking a semester course Parables in Action, and we are focusing on helping others and we are trying to be able to do something about the poverty and problems in Africa.I am writing regarding the acts being discussed in congress right now to help improve world poverty. These bills: HR 2634, H.R. 2965, H.R. 2266, S. 1259 / H.R. 2092, seems to be a good group of legislation to help other countries, that do not have as much power as the United States does. The bills have good reasoning behind it; the facts stated as the background of the bills, people are dying for the things we see as little, people dying in Africa because they cannot to afford a seven dollar sleeping net to avoid the infection of malaria. What we see as simple little things, mean a lot more to them, we as a powerful nation should be able to help those countries that need it, instead of wasting unnecessary money on the War of Terror we are currently in. I think that the money we are spending on the War of Terror, it is inhumane that we are spending more money on violence than saving human lives. We are not asking for great heroic acts, but for some common sense towards where our money is going.Thank you Leslye
"The Mustard Weed."
The mustard seed is like the KoG because it expands and it takes over the place, just like the KoG can take over the life of someone. The KoG is like the spice that gives flavor and meaning to someone’s life. The mustard seed is the ingredient to help achieve abundant life. The KoG is what gives hope to the people in Africa going through poverty everyday and not knowing if they are going to be able to eat tomorrow or not. The KoG is the expansion of the abundant life the faith in God gives us.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Executive Summary of Africa
*The Millennium Development Goal program has been established by the United Nations to achieve to end poverty in developing countries by 2015. The main goal of the program is to decrease the rates of hunger, diseases and poverty.
*The Millennium Development Goal program gives money to undeveloped countries or regions, and for them to be able to improve the life style, they do not attempt to do it all at once, but a group at a time. For the UN they are not interested on the fact that if the country or region is their neighbor or not, they are more concerned and focused on what they are morally obligated to do.* The Millennium Development has eight main goals that are in-reach, but in order for them to be achieved global support is needed. The U.S. being an extremely rich nation should be a significant supported, but they are not giving much to the greater cause.
*The Millennium Development goal is to reduce the number of HIV positive, improve and ensure environmental sustainability, decrease the number of kids dying because of child mortality.
*Currently there are 28 thousand kids that die a day due to poverty related causes, by 2015 the UN and Millennium Development goal is to reduce this number dramatically.
*By the year 2015 one of their many goals if to reduce by half the number of people living on a dollar a day.
*The Millennium Project is also trying to achieve universal primary education, for everyone, with that also promote gender equality and empower women. Once universal primary education is reached, to eliminate gender or age disparity in primary or secondary schooling.
*A great part of the Millennium project is to stop and reverse the spread of HIV/Aids, Malaria and other diseases.
*For example, it is rarely heard that tuberculosis is also becoming a big problem in Africa, and people need to become aware of the problems, in other to be able to help.*The Millennium Development Goal project number one goal, is to be able to aware others, whom are not Africa's neighbor to be able to help them, because we are all humans, and it could happen to any of us, no one is a 100% protected from any of the problems going on in Africa.*The recommendation the report gives to those who wish to help, is that as a class the best way we can help is by keeping people aware of the problems, and giving them statistics because it is more shocking rather than just repeating the same information over and over.*I think the Millennium Development Goal project is a really positive and good one that not only aware us but also does things to help those we are learning about.
*The Millennium Development Goal program gives money to undeveloped countries or regions, and for them to be able to improve the life style, they do not attempt to do it all at once, but a group at a time. For the UN they are not interested on the fact that if the country or region is their neighbor or not, they are more concerned and focused on what they are morally obligated to do.* The Millennium Development has eight main goals that are in-reach, but in order for them to be achieved global support is needed. The U.S. being an extremely rich nation should be a significant supported, but they are not giving much to the greater cause.
*The Millennium Development goal is to reduce the number of HIV positive, improve and ensure environmental sustainability, decrease the number of kids dying because of child mortality.
*Currently there are 28 thousand kids that die a day due to poverty related causes, by 2015 the UN and Millennium Development goal is to reduce this number dramatically.
*By the year 2015 one of their many goals if to reduce by half the number of people living on a dollar a day.
*The Millennium Project is also trying to achieve universal primary education, for everyone, with that also promote gender equality and empower women. Once universal primary education is reached, to eliminate gender or age disparity in primary or secondary schooling.
*A great part of the Millennium project is to stop and reverse the spread of HIV/Aids, Malaria and other diseases.
*For example, it is rarely heard that tuberculosis is also becoming a big problem in Africa, and people need to become aware of the problems, in other to be able to help.*The Millennium Development Goal project number one goal, is to be able to aware others, whom are not Africa's neighbor to be able to help them, because we are all humans, and it could happen to any of us, no one is a 100% protected from any of the problems going on in Africa.*The recommendation the report gives to those who wish to help, is that as a class the best way we can help is by keeping people aware of the problems, and giving them statistics because it is more shocking rather than just repeating the same information over and over.*I think the Millennium Development Goal project is a really positive and good one that not only aware us but also does things to help those we are learning about.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
DP 2: What Should We Do?
I think as a hundred of us, and as a diverse school that were attend, all of us come from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, we together as a class can spread awarness to our churches, comunity centers, putting posters around our neighborhoods. Even as a class, we can have a booth at our homecoming came to raise awarness to parents and visitors about You + Village and how a dollar they would spend on a tattoo can help treat a child from malaria with a .05 cents pill. I think we have the potential to do a lot as a class, we just have to plan it.
"Singer: Moral Obligation/Extreme Poverty."
1. Are we morally obligated to help EVERY that is having a hard time economically?
2. Are we morally obligated to think about other's well being before thinking about ourselves?
3. Are we morally obligated to give up our 'extras' when we work really hard to achieve them, because there are others out there that have nothing?
4. Are we morally obligated to change a problem that is way beyond our hands?
5. Are we morally obligated to help any certain cause depending on where we come from?
6. Are we morally obligated for those kids dying from malaria because they can't affort a 7 dollar net, and that is what we spend for lunch everyday?
7. As human beings, we do have an instinct for all human beings to have clothing, housing and food, but are we morally responsable to provide those three things for people that are not working for it?
8. Are we morally obligated to help those that do not want the help?
9. Are we morally obligated to work for our valueables, but then have to give them up because others are very lazy and know that since I'm morally obligated to help them they don't have to do anything about it?
10. Are we morally responsable for what goes wrong with the people that don't make enough to be able to support their families?
2. Are we morally obligated to think about other's well being before thinking about ourselves?
3. Are we morally obligated to give up our 'extras' when we work really hard to achieve them, because there are others out there that have nothing?
4. Are we morally obligated to change a problem that is way beyond our hands?
5. Are we morally obligated to help any certain cause depending on where we come from?
6. Are we morally obligated for those kids dying from malaria because they can't affort a 7 dollar net, and that is what we spend for lunch everyday?
7. As human beings, we do have an instinct for all human beings to have clothing, housing and food, but are we morally responsable to provide those three things for people that are not working for it?
8. Are we morally obligated to help those that do not want the help?
9. Are we morally obligated to work for our valueables, but then have to give them up because others are very lazy and know that since I'm morally obligated to help them they don't have to do anything about it?
10. Are we morally responsable for what goes wrong with the people that don't make enough to be able to support their families?
Monday, September 17, 2007
Portfolio 2: Good Samaritan Interpretation
With the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus criticizes the economical and power archery during the 1st century in Palestine. The parable of the answer to the lawyer’s question of who is his neighbor, gave Jesus a way to criticize how the ones you expect them to help you, don’t because you are a different class than them, and those whom you would think are your enemies actually are the ones that will help you out. The parable shows how Jesus saw of the power archery as a faulty system that just made distinctions among people, where it should not be done.
Monday, September 10, 2007
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin; he also set the example for Jesus’ teachings. He taught the people not to be greedy with what they had, and learn how to only take what were rightfully theirs, and no more. He also preached about unity and caring. He knew that caring was essential for any kind of relationship, and in order for a society to be successful, relationships needed to be established. His teachings about greed and caring, and working together helps emphasize the message that in order for a society to succeed, everyone needs to work as a team and care about each other.
John’s teachings also foreshadowed what Jesus did, because Jesus helped the poor out and taught people that we are all brothers and sisters, like John he taught the meaning of unity. He emphasized the fact that we need to help each other out at our times of need. Jesus looked out for the poor, them being the ones that got oppressed the most and had no saying or power against the Elite, Jesus just wanted them to get all that was necessary and no more, just like what John had said to the tax collectors in Luke 3. John and Jesus also told the people to repent for their sins, because that’s what God had said for the children of Abraham to be raised with. John gave some type of introduction to the people about Jesus as well as to the teaching of Jesus about repentance, the sins, and about we are all brothers and sisters. It all tied back into how Jesus was raised in a poor and unknown environment, where people had no respect for the poor and just abused of them because they had no power to go against it.
John’s teachings also foreshadowed what Jesus did, because Jesus helped the poor out and taught people that we are all brothers and sisters, like John he taught the meaning of unity. He emphasized the fact that we need to help each other out at our times of need. Jesus looked out for the poor, them being the ones that got oppressed the most and had no saying or power against the Elite, Jesus just wanted them to get all that was necessary and no more, just like what John had said to the tax collectors in Luke 3. John and Jesus also told the people to repent for their sins, because that’s what God had said for the children of Abraham to be raised with. John gave some type of introduction to the people about Jesus as well as to the teaching of Jesus about repentance, the sins, and about we are all brothers and sisters. It all tied back into how Jesus was raised in a poor and unknown environment, where people had no respect for the poor and just abused of them because they had no power to go against it.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
I'm a Refugee
Jesus coming from a refugee family must have been hard, and made him wonder what or why his family had to leave their whole lives behind to go to a place where they don’t know anyone or anything. I think by being a refugee and knowing that he was going to be oppressed at certain places due to his believes, he wanted to help and protect the oppress and the ones that were scared of being oppressed. Coming from a refugee family, did affect his mission, and consciousness, because he would not want any one to go through what he did because of his family’s believes.
Jesus’ mission was to help the poor and oppress. His childhood was being a refugee and he knew what the poor and oppress had to go through, which would make most sense why he would wanted to protect them, because maybe he could have wished if someone had been there to protect him and his family.
In Jesus’ consciousness, he has that feeling that he wishes he could have had some one that was able to help and protect his family because they were “strangers” to the people and the place, and most of all they were poor and had no power or wealth to at least help them out economically. In his consciousness, Jesus might have felt that he NEEDED to do something; he thought that the reason God had put him in this world and made him go through all that, for him to have the purpose and responsibility to help those that aren’t able to help themselves.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Portfolio 1: Who’s Your Momma?
I think Mary is a woman, whom followed Jesus and she gave birth to him.Mary just gave birth to the son of God, she did not make him. She seems to be a religious Jew, whom follows the word of God. Mary seems to be a housewife and a caring woman, who is very clean and organized. She seemed to care for Jesus a lot, and look out for his own well-being before hers. She seems to be Holy and religious, in most of Mary's statues she is
After reading LUKE 1: 39-56 and MATTHEW 1: 18-25 Mary is a virgin and had a Son that was given to her by the Holy Spirit. Mary belonged to a lower economical stratum, being that her husband-to-be was a carpenter. Women seemed to be important to keep the family and generations growing, her pregnancy would have been seen as wrong and not rightful to her society because when the Holy Spirit gave her Jesus, Mary was still not married. Her society would had seen her as a dirty woman, whom had no respect for herself by getting pregnant before being married, and being owned by a man.
I personally think that God choose Mary because she showed the characteristics he wanted a mother to have. She was caring,responsible, Holy, and religious, as well as ethical. She showed she cared, by going to see Elizabeth when she was pregnant. She was responsible by being a housewife, and being loyal to her husband-to-be Joseph. Mary has demonstrated that she was Holy and born with out original sin, by being able to bear a fruit out of her womb given to her by the Holy spirit. Mary seemed to be religious by trusting in God and the Holy Spirit when they instructed her to have a Son and name him Jesus, that showed that she trusted in God and she knew that what God said would be the right thing to do. God wanted to choose a woman whom was going to trust him and look out for the well being of his son Jesus, he wanted someone he can trust as well.Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Portfolio 1:“A Family of Freedom Fighters.”
Tamar was the granddaughter of Noah and daughter of Shem. She married the fist-born son of Judah, Er, and the Lord was unpleased by him and he was killed, then she married Onan, his brother to have off springs for his dead brother. Onan did not want to give the off spring because he knew it would not be considered his, but it would give credit to Er, so the Lord sent to kill him. After both brothers died, there was only one left Shelah, Judah told Tamar it would be better if she went to live with her father until shelah was mature and grown, so that she can marry him and have an offspring, Tamar was not sure of how mature shelah was going to become and when she met at Timmath she saw Shelaw, but she law did not want to marry her. Then she began having relations with her father-in-law, Judah. As a form of payment Judah left Tamar with his staff, seal and belt. She got pregnant, but did not give the name of the child’s father, and then she was accused of fornicating. She had to state that she was carrying the children of the man she belonged to. She gave birth to Zerah and Perez. She was sent to be burned for the bad actions she had done, but she only did what she had to claim what was rightfully hers.
Tamar was the first women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. She was mentioned to be the mother of Zerah and Perez, but that was not the interesting part of it, the most meaningful part of her story was how she got those children. She wanted something and she went out and got it. Jesus wanted to teach how when you know you deserve something and you go out for it, it is going to come to you if you truly deserved it. I think that by using Tamar in his genealogy, he was his followers to know about her and her struggles, that she had going husband after husband just to get an off spring. It shows character as well as emotions that Tamar at time felt unworthy, especially when Shelah did not want to marry her, and with the Jewish thinking of if God does not send a woman a child she is unworthy and disgraceful. Showing those emotions demonstrate a different side of humans, it shows what makes us human, which are our emotions and our ability to think about what is going on around us. Tamar was able to thinking of what was going on around her and was able to come up with a solution to get what belonged to her.
Resources I used:
womeninthebible.net
jewishencyclopedia.com
Genesis 38: 6-19
Tamar was the first women mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. She was mentioned to be the mother of Zerah and Perez, but that was not the interesting part of it, the most meaningful part of her story was how she got those children. She wanted something and she went out and got it. Jesus wanted to teach how when you know you deserve something and you go out for it, it is going to come to you if you truly deserved it. I think that by using Tamar in his genealogy, he was his followers to know about her and her struggles, that she had going husband after husband just to get an off spring. It shows character as well as emotions that Tamar at time felt unworthy, especially when Shelah did not want to marry her, and with the Jewish thinking of if God does not send a woman a child she is unworthy and disgraceful. Showing those emotions demonstrate a different side of humans, it shows what makes us human, which are our emotions and our ability to think about what is going on around us. Tamar was able to thinking of what was going on around her and was able to come up with a solution to get what belonged to her.
Resources I used:
womeninthebible.net
jewishencyclopedia.com
Genesis 38: 6-19
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Portfolio 1: What I think I can Achieve.
I believe I can achieve an A- or better in this class. I have always been good with my assignments, rarely have I not completed and assignment, when I am sick I keep in touch with classmates and try not to fall behind in homework. I am a good listener and when I have or am sure of something to say in a discussion, I will wait for the right time to talk and will get my point of view across. I think I can achieve my goal of an A- or better.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Portfolio 1: Who is Jesus, Really?
By example Jesus taught us many things, like the meaning of being human and having feelings. Jesus also taught us not to be greedy, not to be prideful, and not to have lust, not to envy, not to be angry and not to be sloth as well not to have gluttony. Jesus did not exactly give us an example of the way to live, but he did outline it for us. Jesus is a teacher to many that believe in his father, God and that believe in the word and actions of God and Jesus Christ. Jesus' followers are those who believe in the resurrection and that Jesus would come again for a second judgment. I consider myself a follower of Jesus because it is something that I have grown up with. At times I do question religion in general, but I do believe that there is a great power then us helping and guiding us through life. I also consider myself a follower of the word of Jesus and the lessons he taught people when he was alive with trust and compassion. He taught through ways that people would get the message either they wanted to hear it or not. I also consider myself a follower of Jesus rituals, I pray, I trust and I wait. At times I do what Jesus said not to do, but I do just like everyone else ask for forgiveness from the Lord.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Portfolio 1: Why We Tell Stories?
My family always tell me a story of when my uncle was a little boy he used to always do bad things and break things. Once he also locked himself in the fridge and once he tried burning my mom's teddy bear. Then another time when my grandmother and him were at the mall in Peru with my little cousin he let go of my grandmother's hand and ran up to the third floor and when my grandma tried going after him all he did was run. When my grandpa heard about all the bad behaviors my uncle had, he only laughed and never blamed him or punished him. My uncle never liked school; he is smart but he just too lazy. When he would come home with a failing grade my grandma would punish him, but my grandpa would come and tell him not to listen to her, so therefore my uncle was never interested in his own education or well being. Now he is 26 and lives at home with us, and has no degree what so ever. The reason why my family always tell me that is because they are showing me that by my uncle ignoring what my grandma had to say and my grandpa just rewarding my uncle for all his bad actions now he is just an employee when he could have been something better then that. It also shows that since my grandma and grandpa had two different styles of raising their kids. This story is funny, but it has a lot of teachings behind it.
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