Blog #10

I had been able to see Slumdog Millionaire over spring break and thought it was incredible. The entire concept of the story concerning "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and how it follows Jamal's life is one of the most creative movies I have seen a good while. 

The movie portrayed India as a very, very poor nation with the exception of a few extremely rich individuals. Slumdog Millionaire shows the rich of society being very cruel and going out of their way to keep the poor "bound", in a manner of speaking, to the lowest rung of society and life. Furthermore, the government does whatever it pleases even if their actions are illegal. The film very well portrays how LDCs work; those who are rich or in government positions get all the money and the rest of society has to fend for themselves. 

Slumdog Millionaire had me pondering many subjects by the time the film was over. First, I am very blessed to live where I do in the United States. To have equal opportunities and be able to go to school, get a degree, and make a living. Jamal was 18 and had no hope until it came to his final answer which won him the million dollars. Second, ways of going about business are not the same in LDCs as they are in MDCs. The cops beat Jamal until he told them how he knew all of the answers to the questions on the game show. Beating suspects isn't how MDCs work; everyone is granted a fair trial; as I already stated, governments have all the power in LDCs and are able to beat innocent people. 

I really do think that this film portrayed India in the actual manner it is. Why would people over in India be so mad at the movie if it didn't hold some truth! Another sore of the world has been made known to the rest of the world. This film not only proved to be a great source for entertainment but also a great source of provoking thoughts. 

Blog #9

My spring break was epic: I flew to Africa and rode a zebra–I eventually jumped off the zebra (while it ran) and jumped on the back of a sprinting cheetah. Obviously, this is a false interpretation of how my spring break actually went, so here the real story is . . .

Being an art major, there's a new policy this semester where Friday's are "studio" days. Thus, once I finished was classes and track practice on Thursday I headed for the train station in Lincoln. 

The train always comes through Lincoln every night at midnight. I have definitely had to wait on it several times though; it doesn't usually show up on time. The worst wait I've ever had on the train was four hours. FOUR HOURS!!! I'm still not happy about that night, but this time it actually showed up fifteen minutes early. I boarded the train and started my journey back 

to Colorado.

I really didn't do a whole lot of anything while I was home. I was able to eat my mother's home cooked meals, see friends, and spend time with family. Sadly, I was given track workouts to do over break–it isn't very fun trying to do eight 200s on your own. (When there's no one there to push you, it makes it pretty difficult to hit the desired times.) My spring break was very relaxing and very much needed. I was able to get several pieces of homework done and I know that aspect of my spring break will greatly please all of my professors. 

I had a wonderful spring break overall, and even though it was too short and pretty uneventful, it was just what the doctor ordered. There isn't anything better for a college student than sleep and home cooked food. I believe God has sent me to Concordia for a reason–I believe the education I gain here will take me places that the Lord has planned. At the same time, God has blessed me with growing up in Colorado with a great family and awesome friends. Any chance I get to experience Colorado is a win in my book! 

Blog #8

Sub-Saharan Africa gives meaning to words like poor, underdeveloped, and undereducated. Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are anything but politically correct. Genocide occurs on a daily basis as well as the rape and murder of young girls and women. President Bush, by 2006, had tripled aid to this region to about $6 billion. In all, since 1960, around $500 billion has been sent to Sub-Saharan Africa to help develop the region. 

CATO states that the United Nations Development Program could take as long as 150 years to see any development in Sub-Saharan Africa. 150 years! Those of us living today will most likely see no improvement in this region of the world during our life time. In reality, we could probably live two lifetimes and still see no development. Not only is this shocking and sad, but it is a down right outrage! 

In the CATO article, it says, "Helping Africa is a noble cause, but the campaign has become a theater of the absurd–the blind leading the clueless. The record of Western aid to Africa is one of abysmal failure." The United States, as well as the rest of the world, has no idea of how to go about developing this region. War is always raging, crimes are out of control, and over $500 billion later no signs of development have occurred. 

"If you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime." I know most everyone has heard this quote at one point or another. This quote seems too fitting for what is taking place in Sub-Saharan Africa. The world continues to give, and give, and give, and give, and give. Methods need to change! Don't get me wrong,  giving is a wonderful thing to do, but we need to give in such a way as to help the people of Sub-Saharan Africa give back to their country and economy. I believe the quickest and most successful way to go about helping this region would be for nations around the world to focus on helping develop trade, industry, and infrastructure. Whatever the solution, it will take lots of time and lots of energy!