Genocide: Past to Present

I never really knew much about genocides, until I saw the movie Hotel Rwanda a couple of years ago. It was about the violence that took place amongst the Rwandan people between two ethnic groups in 1994, called the Hutu and Tutsi. One Rwandan man was able to save 1,268 people by sheltering them in a hotel, which he managed. It was the first time I had ever heard about the Rwandan genocide. By reflecting on the movie, it is hard to say how or why genocide still occurs. Maybe it is to put the blame on a group of people just to provide a common enemy and reasure themselves that they are destroying the bad guys. The only way to categorize these "enemies" is I guess by race, gener, or religion. That is what Hitler did, and his plan worked by killing millions of innocent Jews. It is very easy to say that genocide should not happen anymore, but it is easier said then done. After 9/11, all people wanted to do was have some kind of opinion on the Muslim faith. That is when violence begins, when people stop talking about specific people who committed an act and look at his or her background or faith and blame it on that. Ways that we can avoid and demolish genocide for ever occuring again is by simply to stop being ignorant and stop believing what other people have to say negativley on a certain group. Use your mind and develop your own interpretation. But no matter what, the destruction of people based on heritage or faith is never the right road to take. But like I said, easier said than done...

Never ever again

It's been a very odd couple of days. I'm thinking all that has happened yesterday at work and can't believe I made it out alive. Here's how the story went...I come to work bright and early, hoping for a slow easy day. Well, it wasn't as slow as I thought. I completely forgot I had to organize the party that was going to be happening later that day ( I work at a Clubhouse, so parties are always going on every weekend). Well, I had all these reservations that I had to arrange, laong with seating arrangements and finishing up contracts. Then I had to create menu and reservation names to go on each table. Members of the club decide it will be okay to call a couple of hours before the party and make a reservation, thinking it is not a big deal to call last minute. well sorry to say this, but it is. This is why emails are sent to members statign how big the party is going to be and that they should call before a certain day before all spaces are filled. Now these people like to believe that this rule is ridiculous and should be able to come, even though all space is filled to the max. Now I have to deal with endless phonecalls of poeple yelling at me saying how it is unfair and they should be able to come to the party because they are members and very rich. I can not believe just how selfish people can be at times. Then my boss decides to call me and give me fifty million other things to do. That lady talks so much. Now it is about two hours before the shindig starts and the staff is arriving. They come into the office and tell me they need this and that and this and that...thinking I have all the time in the world. It is about time for me to leave and I receive a message from a member saying that she is confirming her reservation, even though her name on the sheet was no where in sight. Now I have my coat, my purse, and my keys in my hand and ready to finally leave and now I have to deal with this. All table and arrangment have already been done there is absolutely no more room to squeeze another table. And if this member arrives and realizes she is not on the list, the fault will be on me and she will get very pissed and tell myslef and send an email to the committee. Yeah the people there are like that. So I am basically ready to pass out and call one of the wait staff in and he says he will take care of it (god bless him lol) Now today I get a call from my boss asking if I gave the final count as to how many people were attending to the chef. Well I did, but I was off on the number. I think she was alittle irritated, but you know what? I honestly could not care less. I worked so hard that day, for the first time lol. For eight hours straight I was working solo trying to make the party turn out great and on point. So if any of them have any complaints, I 'll just slap them. And that's all. Hehe sorry this took forever and you all probably stopped reading this a while ago, but I just had to let it out. I feel better now :) I had fun later that night so whatever. I just found out some exciting news so I am all smiles now. I'll share it once I know it is definite. But never again will I put myself through this crap. I am way too young to be getting all stressed out. Never again

<3 Nabz

Here's a Thought...

Okay...so I finished reading the book this morning. I thought I had read that book back in middle school, but I guess not. Even though the story is short and seems to go to quickley for my liking, I still really enjoyed it. I can not believe all the pain and heartache all these people had to go through. Eleizer was such a strong person and it was hard to believe he was the one caring for his father. It was so sad when I finally read that his father had died right beside him. I don't know what I would have done in that situation. I loved the ending as well. Even though he is looking at himself, emaciated and somewhat like a stranger, he knows that he has survived and finally free. But it saddens me that people can live a life of tragedy just by being who they are. Hopefully nothing like this will ever happen again

<3 Nabila

My First Post

Hi everybody! My name is Nabila. I am a freshman and do not have a declared major as of yet. I am thinking either early childhood education or business. Not sure yet though. I have more in mind but those are the ones for now. I am from Clifton, NJ (about two minutes away from here) and a commuter. My goals for the class is to have a better understanding of what I want to learn at Montclair. Watching the movie "Accepted" was really interesting and made me think about what I wanted for an education. I hope at the end of the semester I can get a lot out of this class because it seems that the books we will be reading and the weekly discussions will be a big eye opener and very interesting. I guess that is all I have to say for now, talk to all of you soon!

<3 Nabila