We are interested in finding out more about the Middle East. It appears that over the course of the last few decades, the Middle East has become a hotspot for international politics. However, seeing as the Middle East covers a large area, we would like to try and focus on Afghanistan and the United States’ interaction with it. After the US invaded Iraq, there has been hardly any coverage on Afghanistan, yet it seems that is where Al Qaeda is concentrated. We will focus on current events in the area, and try to understand the underlying themes/issues creating the tension there, and what is being done to solve the problems.
How international relations affects our everyday lives and how we affect international relations. January 22, 2008
International relations affects our everday lives by influencing us through the products we buy, the ideas we value, and the well-being of our family abroad and at home. The value of the U.S. dollar is based upon economic policies the U.S. has with other nations. Therefore, if these policies are weak so is the dollar which affects our standing in the global economy. U.S. relations with foreign states affects the price of products we buy. For example, U.S. taxes on foreign products influences whether consumers spend their money on foreign or domestic products. International relations also affects the buisness industry because many companies are outsourcing jobs to other nations because their labor is cheaper.
We affect international relations through the cars we drive. By choosing to drive less fuel efficient cars, we cause the U.S. to depend more on oil producing countries. Also, the U.S. citizens can influence which type of foreign policy the U.S. promotes by voting for a particular Presidential candidate. In addition, the United States tends to have better relations with nations that hold the same values as the U.S. public and worse relations with nations that have opposing values.
Significant Moment January 18, 2008
If I could choose one event in my life that had a remarkable impact on me, it would be 9/11/2001. This event made such a lasting and permanent impression on me because it changed my life in a way that made me reconsider everything I had previously thought to be true. An example of this was the new found vulnerability of the United States and that my family was not invincible. That day, my cousin came out with 3rd degree burns from the fire in the world trade center and is only alive because of the kindness of a stranger that carried her down 20 flights of stairs after she was wounded. Also, my mother would have been walking through that building at that time if the bus she was on during her normal commute had not broken down that particular day. This event made me think of how timing was so important and that nothing is ever what it seems and how much we take for granted in this country (such as our safety and the benevolence of other people). The day the twin towers were brought down was the day that everything changed.
-Holly Taubman
Significant Moment January 18, 2008
The most significant moment of my life thusfar was when the United States decided to invade Iraq. Prior to this event, I cared little for politics and even less about international relations. I was content to live in my own naive little bubble. Following September 11 and the subsequent invasion of Iraq, I quickly realized the importance of the representatives of our country and how their interactions with other nations could have a profound impact on my life. I began to pay more attention to politics and news reports regarding the United States interactions with other nations. While the war has not had any physical effect on me, it has helped open my eyes to the political and diplomatic worlds.
- Greg Hall
Hello world! January 16, 2008
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