Hendrix6411's Blog

Reflections on SSU FBI Raid

hendrix6411 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:21:27 +0000

The FBI had recently raided Sonoma State offices due to suspicion that a certain department had been misusing grant money. I feel like this comes as a heavy blow tot all students who are trying to get grants for school. It is already so difficult to get into higher education due to budget cuts and poor economy, and corrupt use of grant money only adds to the list of difficulties. In 2007, similar defunct operations had been going on concerning the misuse of money that was meant for more appropriate operations. I feel like SSU will continue to run into other such problems in the future. On a wider view, this makes me doubt the honesty of education.

Thoughts on NATO Bombing

hendrix6411 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:11:09 +0000

After hearing about the NATO bombstrike that killed 27 civilians, I came to more heavily doubt the operations going on in Afghanistan. It seems to me that the events such as these greatly outweigh the victories going on, and that something needs to happen to better avoid this type of tragedy. I find it ridiculous that NATO would go ahead with a bombstrike on three vehicles without any evidence that they are actual militants. I feel that something needs to happen to avoid this type of abuse to the Afghan people.

No. 2 Taliban Leader is Arrested

hendrix6411 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:05:18 +0000

In Islamabad on tuesday, the Taliban’s number two leader was taken under arrest by a joint operation between the CIA and a Pakistani team. The deals a very heavy blow to insurgents and brings hope to the idea that militant leaders are running out of places to hide. The fact that he was found on the Pakistani border may lead to the idea that there are other leaders sheltered across the border as well. The man arrested is known as Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and is one of the founding members of the Taliban. He is the most important figure of the Islamist movement to be arrested in the war.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100216/NEWS/100219630/1035/NEWS08?Title=Taliban-leader-s-arrest-raises-hopes

Israeli Soldiers Clash with Palestinian Civilians

hendrix6411 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:56:28 +0000

In Hebron, on the West Bank, an extremely violent clash erupted between Isreali soldiers and Palestinian protesters. The issue started when Isreali Prime Minister declared a very disputed statue in Hebron to be an Isreali heritage site. Palestine had declared all of the West Bank as a future state, and are saying that this act was a provocation. Hebron merchants shut their door in protest of the decision, while about 100 youths threw bottle, stones and burned tires at Isreali forces. Hebron has proved to be one of the most volatile cities on the West Bank, with 80% controlled by Palestinians, and 20% by the Isreali military.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100222/API/1002220561?Title=Israeli-soldiers-clash-with-Palestinian-protesters#

27 Civilians Killed by NATO Bombers

hendrix6411 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:40:12 +0000

A NATO airstrike in Kabul ended up with the deaths of 27 afghan civilians. This has obvious reason to anger the Afghan government and only adds tension to the operations going on. U.S. General, Stanly McChrystal apologized strongly to the Afghan president Hamid Karzai, however the act is taking heavy rebuke from the public, as it very well should. IT has been deemed “unjustifiable”. The attack had been on a convoy of three vehicles, which the planes had thought were on their way to attack NATO and Afghan forces. However, it turned out that the cars were only transporting innocent civilians.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100222/NEWS/100229921/1035/NEWS08?Title=-NATO-airstrike-kills-at-least-27-civilians#

Sneaky Government

hendrix6411 — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:07:41 +0000

This week I read in depth about the Vietnam war. I found it extremely important on showing how the U.S. government can so easily go back on its word in secret, and perform actions without the public having any knowledge. This case in U.S. history is in my opinion, one of the worst, in that it shows how sneaky the government can be and in many cases, how untruthful. This makes me wonder about what other things the government could be holding from the public.

Haiti in a Historic view

hendrix6411 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:49:25 +0000

One thing I realize about the current catastrophe of Haiti is the way the rest of the world is responding with aid. If one looks through our history books they wouldn’t be able to find a disaster so largely responded to by other nations. I think this could be seen as a light of optimism for where the world is headed in that hopefully there will be more help amongst nations. I believe that when nations can be united through tragedy, it is only a matter of time until they can be united through peace.

Religious War in Nigeria

hendrix6411 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:41:52 +0000

In the last skirmish in the city of Jos, Nigeria, 200 people were killed. Conflict between the christians and muslims in the West African country has been going on for years, with over 13,500 deaths due to this type of sectarian violence. The nation has been almost split with the north being predominantly muslim, and the south being mostly christian. Rioters seem to have lost much of their purpose and could be seen attacking anyone passing by. There are many advocates behind this violence including both political and religious authorities. The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, stated the the violence is the fault of “some highly placed individuals in the society who were exploiting the ignorance and poverty of the people to cause mayhem in the name of religion.” It appears to me that the violence will persist for a long time before it is finally quelled.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100120/API/1001200593?p=1&tc=pg

5.9 Aftershock hits Haiti

hendrix6411 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:23:11 +0000

Today, a 5.9 aftershock sent Haitians running through the streets in fear of another terrifying earthquake. The aftershock toppled more buildings and split roads, only adding to the chaos that has been running amuck throughout Port-au-Prince. Despite the destruction of several large buildings, no deaths have been reported. I’m sure this is greatly due most of the population being scared out of their houses so that the sleep on the open streets. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians remaion homeless and in need of great help. The aid campaign has spread throughout much of the world and has surmounted to 1 billion dollars. The UN’s floating hospital finally dropped anchor off shore of Haiti and so the aid required to help people is getting better. Many more troops are also being sent to Haiti, where the number should reach 16,000 by the end of the week.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100120/NEWS/100129998/1035/NEWS08?Title=5-9-aftershock-hits-Haiti

New Music

hendrix6411 — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:58:37 +0000

Over the break I began playing the cello for another group. This group is extremely different from the one i’ve been playing with currently, and it was very interesting to adapt my style. It showed me how different music calls for different things and that it is important for every musician to adapt in the way that compliments that certain style of music.