Assignment 9 Ethan Petraitis

If I've learned anything from listening to all the records that I stole from my grandma, it would be that war is good for absolutely nothing... I mean good god y'all. Alright, awful Edwin Starr references aside, I believe that war is really just a necessary evil, except for when it's really not necessary at all and you just wind up making everyone mad and killing thousands of people in the process (I'm looking at you Vietnam war). Wars are really only a viable option if fewer people would die in a war than would otherwise. And just because we have an army doesn’t mean that soldiers are expendable either, though. 20,000 soldiers shouldn’t have to die to save 10,000 civilians. I believe that Wars should only be fought to protect against immediate, deadly threats and not just used as preventative measures (Vietnam). I guess Edwin Starr was right by saying that “War [is] friend only to the undertaker”

Assignment 9

As Americans, many of us do not know what war truly is. To know war is to live in it. Even those who risk their lives overseas to fight for us do not know war as other people do. Guns, tanks, nukes, turrets: this is not war. War would happen whether bullets were buried under human skin or not. War happens when compromise cannot be seen. When men in big chairs agree to disagree. This is when the people suffer. War has subcatagories of injustices: genocide, murder, slander, hunger, disease, death..
But war is sadly a necessary evil. The technology of the modern world has been created by war. Our ideas on international law were formed by the likes of the Thirty Years War. The freedoms handed down to us by the Ancient Greeks had to be defended from tyrants and dictators from the Persian Empire by force of arms. Even in the 20th and 21st century, war has the power to change society. Whether it was destroying the old Victorian society in the fires of the First World War or encouraging ideas of equality and the end of European empires in the Second World War. War has this simplistic honesty, one only seen by the glint of metal and blood of man. Without it, society would be run by subliminal leaders, something which may scare me more than the deaths of thousands. 

On War

War is good. Wait—let me rephrase that: War is the greatest atrocity committed by humankind, but it is more capable of altering the lives of millions of people than any other method. Given these extremes, armed conflict should necessarily be the last possible option, reserved for when the “diplomatic solutions” are impossible. Too often, however, leaders of nations do not negotiate. If you made a Venn diagram where the circles were intolerance, power and greed, the people who cause wars would be in the middle.

In the past, wars were fought for territory: British vs. Native Americans, Spanish vs. Moors, Babylonians vs. Assyrians, you name it. This mindset has faded over the most recent century; now it’s unacceptable to “land-grab.” In present times, the accepted purpose for war has shifted from a territorial one to a moral one. For better or for worse, the United States has led that paradigmatic revolution. We would not stand for Hitler’s injustice in Europe or the evil(?) of Communism in East Asia.

Therefore, there is a time and place for war—despite its atrocities—but only when the world is made a safer, more just place by it.

Assignment 9-Ryan Collins

"The ends justify the means." this quote perfectly describes my opinion on war. I believe that if have to wage a war to save lives, then it is worth the trouble. Though war is terrible thing, i believe that it is the lesser of two evils, that it serves a purpose and in the end saves lives. However, a majority of the time feuds can be solved peacefully by negotiation. This way, the war doesn't have to be fought and it has the same effect.

Assignment 9 Caty Gooding

Honestly, I don’t think there ever should be a time for war. It is definitely not morally right and just. Humans should not decide whether other humans live or die, it should not be in their power to do so. No one should be able to say that another person or country must die because of any reason. No human should have the right to kill another, for any reason, and no one should need to. Wars shouldn’t be an option, and countries should not be pushed to that measure. But in a realistic world, this is not plausible; there is always going to be injustice and threats that needed to be dealt with, and it seems like the easiest solution is war. It isn't easy to negotiate injustices or threats away, but it is easy to intimidate people until those things go away, if you have the proper means.

Alex Warren Assignment 9

Lets get this straight nobody likes war, many people die, and many other suffer.I don’t like it when people die, but sometimes it has to happen. For example, the 9/11 attacks. Innocent people were killed, and we (The United States as a whole) were responsible for going to war with them. We needed to fight back and get revenge on the people who killed them, an eye for an eye. All war is, is two different nations, that are opposed in some way, and they are defending themselves by killing each other. It is never morally right, but must happen in order to keep people and their beliefs alive. There are other peaceful alternatives, but usually the only way to get anywhere is by going to war.

I hope that answered the questions.

Assignment 9 wes grigsby

There is time for it when war out weighs whatever happens without it. Is it better to die with by the value of your own courage, the outstanding moral quality of giving your own life to protect the ones you love and the ones you would be in the wrath of the other option or not? War is horrible,  and should be avoided, but in the face of wrath and tyranny, would you give your life for moral principle? My answer is that war is just when in extreme danger; and when there is no other option.

War - Maranda Gaines

War to me seems almost barbaric. People can't come to an agreement and for that reason, they think killing each other is the only way to solve problems in the world. The best world would be a peaceful one without war at all. Considering the place we live in today, this seems highly unlikely, maybe even impossible. When a country's people are suffering, sometimes war does seem like the best solution possible. Other disputes over things such as territory should not result in war. War should not be fought due to the selfishness or stubbornness of individuals. Instead, war should be most tolerated (not necessarily acceptable) in a time of mass suffering or when justice is needed.

Conflict, Combat, Bloodshed, Struggle. - Haven

   Those words up there are just some of the synonyms I found for the word war.
   It's an odd reflection, since I know what each of those words mean. Yet when the word "war" appears I always feel that I don't quite understand the full meaning and impact of it. It's a curse of ignorance on my part. I don't even have a clear mental image like the other words - conflict has two or more people yelling, bloodshed has blood (naturally), and war ... war only has it's name in black against a grainy white screen. 
   So please forgive me if my opinion grinds against yours, for I can only assume war is a natural disaster.
   I class war among tornadoes and hurricanes as terrible events that devastate any and all that are involved. But like nature itself - or perhaps because of nature - there's not a thing we can do to prevent it. 
   From what I do understand, there's always a group or a person behind a war. These people are humans, and like everyone else they have their own mental workings on the environment around them. In most cases (I assume) these minds hold a belief so secure that a large scale fight. It's a shame that person can only express their beliefs through violence, but even if the beliefs are flawed, we can't change them. Ergo, war can not be avoided. 
   Do I think there are just times for war? No. 
   Something I do understand is that lives are lost and damaged as a result from war. No one deserves this. That doesn't mean it'll stop. 
   It's an unfortunate disaster that I don't have any alternatives for. You cannot change a person, and at this point of violent passion you cannot change their mind. 
   You can only defend and pray your country will not hold such a twisted view.

   "War isn't hell. War is war and hell is hell. And of the two war is a lot worse" - Hawkeye.

Assignment 8: Ethan Petraitis

Fears: Anything dying in a bloody way, losing friends.
Annoyances: People who don't stop doing something annoying even though you tell them, too much noise.
Accomplishments: I won a bass fishing competition when i was like 4?
Confusions: Ignorant people.
Sorrows: Letting people down, not providing what I said I would, lack of motivation.
Dreams: Having a large garage when I buy a house, making guitars for a living.
Idiosyncrasies: Asking strangers for small favors, trying to make as many social connections as possible.
Risks: Only  using Craigslist to purchase things? Taking liability for things I could never afford.
Beloved Possessions: My ipod, records, anything musical (then and now) my ukulele (now)
Problems: Completely obsessive over certain things, lack of motivation.

 It's really hard for me to verbally tell you what emotion I'm feeling at any given time, but give me 30 seconds and internet access and I know I can find a song that will tell you better than I ever could. Music is my most beloved possession since it's fundamentally necessary in my communication. If you were to look at a facebook conversation between me and a friend, every other line could be a song showing whatever point I'm trying to make at the time. I'm essentially the Abed of music references (Community anyone?). So anyway, since music, for me at least, shows emotions and conveys ideas more efficiently than any other form of media, I need to play my ukulele, guitars, mandolins, didgeridoos and synthesizers to just get whatever has been stuck in my head all day out and into the open air, without them I don't know where I'd be.

Assignment 9: What is it good for?

Genocide in Sudan

North Korea testing nuclear weapons

Iran creating nuclear weapons
Egypt
Syria

Terrorism

Injustices and threats surround so many lives in this world. When injustices or threats progress to dangerous and harmful levels though, it seems logical for war to come into play as a way to combat the situation. . .or is it?  The conservative Christian group known as the Mennonites believes that war (violence) is never appropriate.

Is there a time for war?

If there is a time, is it morally right and just or is is it the lesser of two evils?

If there isn't a time, why not?

Are there certain times when countries have a responsibility to go to war?

Are there any alternatives? Could they be more effective or less effective?

Due Sunday, October 20th at 11:59 pm

My subject chose me

Fears--I think my only fear is fear itself...which can mean one of two things: one, I am afraid of a large number of things. Two, I am afraid of very few things. 

Annoyances--a combination of arrogance and ignorance

Accomplishments--survived for 17 years so far, survived multiple Tiger Mom attacks.

Confusions--nature vs. nurture

Sorrows--tendency to get overinvolved

Dreams--being able to do something that makes me happy and helps others, travel

Idiosyncrasies--becoming obsessive something I really like, tendency to be overly sarcastic and/or cynical. So basically I'm either really enthusiastic or really uninterested.

Risks--um...I recently hopped over a police guarded barricade at the Lincoln Memorial

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then--then, my pacifiers apparently. Now, my phone. It's bad. I think it's worse than I was with my pacifiers. I think I have attachment anxiety.

Problems--wait how is this different from "sorrows"? Procrastination I guess.

I have constantly been intrigued--if not just confused--by the idea of nature vs. nurture, which essentially begs the question: "are our thoughts/behaviors/abilities/inabilities etc. shaped more by genetics or more by our upbringing and environment?" While this is a classic psychological and philosophical question, I often find myself wondering about this in the context of every day life. For example, can someone who is bad at math really be blamed for being bad at math if they're genetically inclined to be bad at math? Or the better question--can someone who is lazy really be blamed and chastised for being lazy if they're genetically driven (excuse the irony) to be lazy? Is criminal behavior able to be corrected by mitigating domestic factors, or is it an uncontrollable inherited trait? Or, if not a trait, the result of some chemical imbalance in the brain? When you begin asking these sorts of questions, many of the lines of justice, morals, and even education become blurred. I think this actually relates a lot to the "annoyances" section above. Is it right for me to be annoyed by people who are arrogant and ignorant if they can't help being that way? 

Assignment 8: Grace Goulson

Fears: being trapped underwater,  causing others to be disappointed in me

Annoyances: close-mindedness, unnecessary bickering (especially among my family members)

Accomplishments: I'm a down-to-earth teenager, never had a medical operation (or broken a bone)

Confusions: why some people act the way they do

Sorrows: I'm always frustrated with myself

Dreams: travel... a lot, have a job that I love to do, make a difference in the world

Idiosyncrasies: some weird eating habits, a nerd when it comes to Harry Potter

Risks: hmm.. I'm not much a risktaker.. Maybe that's my risk, not taking risks...

Beloved Possessions: stuffed animals (then), my phone (now) -because it has all my music and I take         pictures with it and such

Problems: communicating with others, proactivity

If you ask my family or Angela Maske, they'll tell you that I'm always talking about wanting to go to all of these awesomely amazing places in the world. Because honestly all I want to do in my life is travel to really beautiful and interesting places. The list of countries I want to go to includes some of these: Switzerland, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Greece, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Japan.... The list goes on. And if I didn't have to worry about money or anything that's what I would be doing in 5 years. But sadly having a job is pretty important in this day and age, so I want a job that I absolutely love, a job that will let me be outside and explore. I really want to study environmental science or environmental engineering in college, so I'm hoping I can land a job that gives me opportunities to actually make a difference in how we treat the planet-- I want to literally save the world. 

Assignment 8 - Ryan Collins

Fears- drowning, the supernatural, most insects.

Annoyances- people who hurt others for no reason, selfishness, when people are obnoxiously loud when they eat or drink.

accomplishments- maintaining good health, keeping up with school assignments, staying organized, starting varsity for lacrosse, 

Confusions- how the world works, karma

sorrows- work ethic, procrastination, desire to go to the gym.

idiosyncrasies- trying new things, frisbee

Risks- Medical mission last summer in Ecuador

Beloved possessions- watch, needle point belt, lacrosse gloves from the year henry clay won state

problems- procrastination, staying motivated 

Assignment 8 - Angela Tseng

Fears : Bugs, Snakes, Friends leaving me

Annoyances : Rudeness, Egotism

Accomplishments : Playing 2 instruments, Never broken a bone

Confusions : Everything

Sorrows : Not being hungry when there's good food

Dreams : Traveling, Becoming a pediatrician 

Idiosyncrasies : Sleeping A LOT

Risks : Going somewhere I could get lost

Beloved Possessions : My stuffed cow (Now and then, really)

Problems : Procrastination, Laziness

One of my biggest problems is that I'm probably one of the laziest people ever. Honestly. Even though about ninety-nine percent of the time I'm perfectly aware of what I need to be doing and what has to be done by a certain time, I get so lazy that I decide to put it off until later, telling myself that I still have time which leads to my procrastination. And on top of that, I usually put off the important things like studying and schoolwork to do things that are completely pointless and un-helpful to my future such as watching episodes of shows, drawing, browsing the internet or playing games on my computer. The worst part is that once I start one of these activities, it's nearly impossible for me to stop, I keep telling my self I'll stop soon, but then an hour has passed and I'm still being unproductive. It's really a wonder how I've gotten good grades in the past.

Assignment 8

Fears: Regret, Failure, Missing opportunities
Annoyances: meaningless conversations, lack of effort, why there are so many freaking cars parked on the sides of my street when it's already narrow and the driveways are wide open
Accomplishments: handling myself well this school year
Confusions: rudeness/putting others down, everything
Sorrows: I have no idea what I want to do in college
Dreams: To travel as much as I can, find an occupation that I love
Idiosyncrasies: hate salad dressing, I mumble a lot, most of what I say is sarcastic
Risks: jumped off a silo in the middle of a lake
Beloved possessions: Friends and family
Problems: organization, procrastination

I don't really feel like ranting about my annoyances so I'll just talk about my risks.
So there's this lake in Tennessee that my family goes to with a bunch of our friends every year over Memorial Day. In the middle of the lake, there are brick silos just sticking up out of the water. We had seen people jumping off of them in previous years, so one year a few of decided to try it too. I am proud of myself for sucking it up and being brave, but I will not be doing that again. To get to the top you have to swim underneath the silo and find the opening of a vertical tunnel that leads to the top. After knocking my head on the brick, I finally found this narrow tunnel. I then proceeded to climb the very slippery and very spaced out metal ladder handles, and prayed that I wouldn't fall to my death. After finally making it to the top with a gash in my knee and my nerves fried, I could enjoy the view before me. It was pretty with the lake and the sunset and all that, and I jumped off and yeah that was great too. But the journey there just wasn't worth it to me.

Assignment 8

Fears -- failure, being a burden

Annoyances -- Ignorance, my brother

Accomplishments -- not flunking out when I had mono

Confusions -- education system

Sorrows -- health, lack of motivation

Dreams -- travel, meet favorite celebrities

Idiosyncrasies --  biting my lip, quoting LOTR

Risks-- cliff jumping

Beloved Possessions, Now and then-- kindle (now), my musical pacifier (then)

Problems -- Procrastination,

What will probably be one of the most memorable times in my life is when I had mono, sophomore year. I was out of school for about 22% of the whole semester over about 4 months. It is probably the hardest thing I have had to do, so far. Honestly, I don’t know that I could deal with it again. I spent many hours sleeping, crying, and doing make up work, when I should have been at school, or having fun with friends, or just relaxing at home. I felt like I was out of the loop of everything, and all my friends had abandoned me, but it wasn’t their fault. I was never around for the inside jokes, or for the plans to hang out or anything, and even if I was invited or wanted to go, I couldn’t because I would be at home sleeping, doing homework, or just feeling like staying home because I was too tired to get dressed that day.  I felt like I was never going to be free of the mono or of the school year, so the last day of school that year has probably been the most liberating day of my entire life. 

Assignment 8: Sofi Tzouanakis

Fears: Horses, snakes, not being successful, the unknown, humiliation

Annoyances: Know-it-alls, early birds, immaturity, stupidity

Accomplishments: The Academy, becoming chair of a coalition, Leadership Lex, EAP leader, top band in band, best Jenga player

Confusions: what to be, who I am, everything (I question everything)

Sorrows: my brother, not giving back to the world what it gives to me, growing up

Dreams: loving my career/future, traveling the world, experiencing love

Idiosyncrasies: asking random questions due to weird trains of thought, using something right after I buy it, smelling my upper lip

Risks: trying out for any organization where I could fail, going abroad by myself, getting lost in NYC

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then: iPhone, Blankie, Grandma's wedding band, my old video games

Problems: negativity, pride, anti-social tendencies, laziness

I don't know where my dislike of horses started. Doesn't make much sense, really. I live in thoroughbred country, for Christ's sake. But really, have you ever seen a horse's mouth up close? Feed a sugar cube to one of those toothy caverns, and get used to only counting 5 fingers. I remember being at this posh birthday party once, and there it was, the stereotypical entertainment for squirrel-brained kids: a pony ride. All the normal kids were desolating the sound barrier with shouts of excited, I'm pretty sure I was about to crap my pants. I hid in the bathroom the entire time and came out just in time to be the next victim. I copped out by saying I was allergic, but at least I didn't have to ride that bestial thing. Now that I'm older, I'd like to face my fears, but to be honest, I would still probably have an accident if I had to ride one

Alex Warren

I guess I’ll just choose fears since it’s at the top of the list and it’s probably the easiest one for me to talk about. My three main fears are spiders, heights, and failure. I know the first two seem pretty common so I’ll just explain those rather quickly. Spiders, they are the absolute definition of N-O-P-E, as soon as I see one I become a little girl who is screaming for daddy to come and kill it. I am deathly afraid of them. Heights and I have a love/hate relationship. For example when ever I ride the Diamondback at Kings Island I am face down in the seat praying that I don’t die on the slow ascension. Although as soon as we reach the peak of the track and accelerate toward the earth at 65 mph I lose all fear and have the adrenaline rush of a life time. And lastly my fear of failure. It is literally the only reason I somewhat excel in school. I hate not doing well, but at the same time I am a very lazy person. So these to things combined make school suck for me because I am stuck doing something I really don’t like doing for the reason that I am afraid of the consequences later on down the road if I were to just blow it off. So yeah my academic life is confused to say the least.

Assignment 8

Fears- dying with regrets

Annoyances- almost everything (jk..sorta), when people get annoyed easily even though I do

 

Accomplishments- surviving the academy this long considering I don't like it

 

Confusions- why people find racist jokes so funny, animal cruelty, the relevance of teaching history every year of school

 

Sorrows- not taking certain risks

 

Dreams- to be successful with a job I am passionate about

 

Idiosyncrasies- I don't believe in being superstitious about things but when I don't knock on wood or I split the pole I get nervous so I'm always conflicted

 

Risks- ...

 

Beloved Possessions, Now and Then- shoes (then), the wonderful people involved in my life (now)

 

Problems- motivation to continue to do good in school

 

I joined the academy/quest program/whatever you want to call it in the 6^th grade. I was so excited to join this program. I loved being smart and for everyone to know I was smart. Throughout middle school, I was involved in track, cheer, volleyball, and chorus at Winburn. Here I also made many lasting friendships and bonds. I loved the teachers and the people. However, we were always aware of the segregated academy part of the school from the districted kids. When I got to high school, I experienced a true culture shock. I didn’t even know how regular kids behaved. I don’t believe the difference in behavior was due to the intelligence level but rather the environmental differences at the small program at Winburn. Ever since I started high school, I have regretted joining the program. It is very difficult balancing sports, academics, and a SOCIAL life in this program. I also feel there is an unnecessary work load and I’m not sure the benefits of the academy will outweigh the lack of enjoyment I’ve had in high school.