Fianl Blog. English 101

Rashid Ali

English 101

    The idea of how to advocate human rights through different strategies is most effective through writings. In our course, we have learned and discussed some of the most essential writings in American history, especially the role African Americans regarding human rights issues such as constitutional rights, voter rights, right to protest peacefully and use any means necessary to overthrow an impotent government regime. Other ideas include slavery, racism, white supremacy, labor, and social, economical, and political equality. These ideas play an important role in daily lives of every American citizen. A great figure like Dr. Martin Luther King sacrificed His life fighting for social and economical justice on behalf of African Americans and all who suffer from poverty, ignorance and illiteracy.

    In the course of Law and Human Rights, our knowledge of what the constitution, bill of rights, and international rights say about the advocacy and violation of everyday human rights issue not only in America but all around the world. One of the things that was interesting to learn in this course was how America which claims to be the best exemplar of democracy, is breaking national and international laws every day indulging in wars that only bring harm to both American citizens and other nations. The United States of America condemns totalitarianism and yet is engaged in almost in every country that seems to pose a threat or can be beneficial to invest in.

    Through the course of Linguistics, the importance of language and preserving a particular language which resembles a hidden culture, also became known. Language if used for a right cause is the most effective weapon in order to unite people and nations that are constantly struggling from racial injustice and political and political deprivation. It was helpful in a sense that how language is used in our societies divisively creating classes between the races and setting barriers to integration in a multi-cultural and multi-racial societies. The politics plays an important role setting two varied races or ethnicities against each other using language and constantly reminding them that they are different and better than the other group.

    Through reading several texts in English composition course, we were able to go back in time and look at history and see what caused the current crisis in American society. This nation of America not only suffers because of racism, but also individualism. Since the time of slavery, up until now, justice hasn’t been served completely. Thanks to some of the greedy, people all over the world who were dependent on America are now in debt. This nation not only sank itself, but many others were also greatly impacted. First lynching occurred in order to stop the progress of some good people then the laws were changed to best serve the greedy. Ordinary people have lost the sense of living. Due to economical poverty, there are thirty-three thousand gangs throughout the American cities including east coast and west. Not proving enough jobs produced 1.4 million gang members. Everyone has a dream. Who doesn’t want to work. But if there are no jobs, and unemployment keeps haunting the nation, more and more people will turn to drugs as a way of living. We can put an end to it by using our voices, writings, knowledge and strategies practiced and succeeded by figures like Martin Luther King. American nation must not suffer because of a few who aren’t willing to give their privileges. The Poor People’s Campaign must succeed because poor around the world are relying on us to bring revolution and make a change that lasts forever.

LIB Biography

 Rashid was born in a small town called Panian in the North West Frontier of Pakistan on Febuary 13 1988 where people are uneducated and mostly ignorant. A 23 years old Liberal Arts freshmen in Laguardia Community College. Coming to the U.S. at the age of 13 in the year of 2001 was a big turning point in His life who was born into poverty and never even imagined what the future held for Him. It took Him about 10 years to figure out that corruption is not only in Pakistan where unemployment rules, but also in America where employment keeps shrinking. Landing in America felt like stepping into Heaven at first, but now life gets harder and harder for everyone because of the policies and the system that is based on debt and interest. This must change in order for a social, economical, and political justice as well as racial integration and elimination of classes among the American Citizens. This is the Land of opportunities and the dream of Martin Luther must come true. 

LIB Project on Language of Huamn Rights

Rashid Ali
11-22-2011
                                        How is Language related to Human Rights?

Human Rights are ideas that are written, spoken or conveyed in order for an individual's safety and security. These ideas are written down as laws by our fore-fathers which are enforced throughout the societies by the legislative branch of government and enforced by the executive. The judicial branch is there to interpret these laws in our daily lives. There are ways in which language can be used to promote or to deny human rights. For instance some people use language to fight for their rights, while other use it to deny these rights for their own advantages and benefits. Whether it is social power, economic, political or financial greed. The language of human rights can also be described as person's experiences in life, how their rights were favored or abused by others and the governments who have control over its citizens. Although the governments are made to ensure the safety of it's people, sometimes it can get too powerful and take many shapes such as Aristocracy, Communism, Dictatorship, Totalitarianism, and the Democracy which is based on a corrupt Capital system.

When it comes to an individual, meanings of human rights may vary. I myself went through many struggles and hardships in life up until this day. The story takes place in a small village town called Panian, in North West Frontier of Pakistan where I was born. I was four years old when my mother passed away. I grew up in poverty with a large family. Life was hard in those days especially without a mother. I have seen all the faces of people who claim themselves our relatives and well wishers. One thing I realized as I grew up, people love you for what you have, not for what you are. that's an important lesson I learned from my so called relatives. My father who used to drive a cab didn't spend much time with his children, it was not his fault, he worked hard to feed us. I remember my elder brother used to give money to my uncles and aunts to cook for us. All this time I was thinking that they are so nice that they cook food for us, clean our clothes, and stuff, but I didn't know the fact that they were paid by my elder brother thousands of Rupees every month for these things. i was mistaken. They would do it for money, not because they loved us and considered us needful of their help. Father was a great man, who bring us all sorts of fruits when he came home and we went running to hug him and he'd hand us the bag full of things. I have seen ups and downs in life. Going to school and having all the neccesary things required like pens, notebooks, books, and uniforms was also a struggle. We could hardly afford them all. Some teachers were nice others didn't care less what our conditions were. If we were missing something in school, got whipped with a stick, and in our tears were constantly reminding ourselves that there is hope for a better tomorrow.

A miracle happened after my Father came to Americas sponsored by my uncle who used to work for the U.N. I was in Eighth grade when I got my visa to come to USA. Thank God, a relief from poverty and ignorance. This was a life changing experience. I couldn't believe my eyes after I landed from the plane. I stepped into a new world, the Americas, Land of Opportunities. The journey was eighteen hours long and we, Me and my three elder brothers, were all exhausted. My Brother-in-law came to pick us up from the JFK airport. All I can remember so far of that day is the streets were clean like a shiny glass and it smelled so good like I was in now in Heaven. God knows we are. Some people, especially my elders who migrated from here from Pakistan call it that name my uncle in particular, thanks to whom we are now living here. After being exposed to poverty, ignorance and greed of all the people in my town, we now appreciated the new land where people of all colors lived in harmony and appreciated their lives not complaining for what they don't have but for what they do have. After spending sometime and trying to adjust to a whole new world, I was now taken to be admitted in a middle School. There I picked up some words in English, met new people and made new friends of different color, race, ethnicity and religion. The name of the school is Walter H. Crowlly located on Queens Boulevard, in short I.S.5. I had so much fun in that Junior High that i still can't forget those good old days. The shift from there to a High School was also extraordinary for Me. As a freshman, I was now faced with becoming a man from a child. It was an unforgettable transition. During these years I was bullied, struggled to learn English fell in love with a Pakistani girl and had the best time of my life.

Here we are now in a community college located in Queens, one of the Borough of New York City where we are assigned a Project for our LIB Hour, part of a cluster doing a project on Language of Human Rights. This is my first semester in a college and I am so excited and motivated to achieve and accomplish the my goals as well as my dreams. I am greatful to God for granting me this opportunity to attend college, graduate from High School and work on fulfilling my dreams one by one. It is a pleasure studying with a group of students who are also seeking the best education out there even if the economic conditions are not so good. Being a part of the cluster that has honorable professors like Professor B, Dr. Jerskey and Professor Cooper is a great opportunity for us to learn from them as well as from each other while sharing our ideas. Bringing our skills and knowledge we are seeking from each class together is as if we are setting a strong and healthy foundation for our future courses, whether it is extending our degree to a four year college or getting the essential tools and skills we can use to improve the Americans system, politically, economically and socially as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

Many people value money more than education, but I myself am not one of them. I believe knowledge is power and it should be every man and woman's obligation to acquire education so that we can live our a moral life. This is what makes us humans. We are gifted with an extraordinary potential of learning, teaching, and communicating in various languages depending on our preferential which is not given to any other species so therefore we should take advantage of it. Although it was not easy for me growing up without a mother, I did somehow manage to adopt to a whole new enviroment where the people are educated, civilized and open minded more than the people back home. Unfortunately due to the rate of poverty and ignorance caused by a weak economy and a vulnerable political regime, the people in Pakistan are under constant challenges financially, socially, and economically. My personal experience of how language plays a role in our lives is to constantly learn new things and trying to implement the ones that are applicable and useful in my life. Learning English became compulsory for me in order to adjust myself and be able to communicate to the surroundings around me. Going to high school without knowing English was tough for me. Most of the time I was bullied around because of the fact I didn't speak English nor did I understand anything. I struggled from not knowing a whole sentence in English to becoming fluent in the language. Now that I can communicate in English I feel more confident and comfortable speaking. The gift of language will help me achieve the things I've always dreamed of and progress towards achieving my goals. Everything we learn in our lives is useful and we can teach others from what we have learned in our own lives so far. This experience of teaching others can be influential to yourself in the way you keep reminding yourself of the stuff that you think is important and passing it on to someone else.

Analysis of the Final Draft of LIB Project

Rashid Ali

11-17-2011

    The language of human rights is a gift we have endowed as humans which enables us to fight for justice whether it's violent or non-violent. He who is passively taking the oppression is as much guilty as his oppressor. Not standing up and speaking or fighting for injustice being done to one, makes him weaker and his oppressor stronger. The way I have illustrated this in my project is how in the name of justice, democracy or any other name, the rich takes advantage of the poor, using his cunning abilities to beguile the poor simply by bribing him with temporary comfort and luxury, but long term loss. Often setting them against each other, as we have seen in history, races clashing between a society not knowing who sparked the fire. One element that grounds and informs my idea of the language and human rights from Law and Human Rights class is Knowing what rights do we have as humans and as American citizens. These rights can be defined as constituonal rights or natural born inalienable rights which are not given to us by other humans therefore can't be taken away or abused by another human but our Creator who has bestowed us with these rights. Another element that grounds and informs my idea of the language of human rights from our class Introduction to Language is how language originated, and what's the role of language in our lives. Language is what seperates us humans from animals, enables us to thing abstract, beyond this world that there is Someone who is watching us. How we are using language to associate with each other. Knowing several languages allows us to express ourselves differently carrying the same message encrypted in a form of language. Last but not least our most favorite Composition class which supplied us with an essential tool of writing that makes a theory a possible reality. Learning about famous figures like Martin Luther King and Ida B. Wells is to show us what we, students the future of America, can do to contribute, participate and take an action in order to stop the mob rule, dictatorship, and fix the so-called Capital system and in the name of democracy crimes against human nature commited by not the poor class, but the high class who's goal it is to divide and rule. We are also learning how to use our voice and pens through a non-violent practice in order to fix the system and create a peaceful society and a world where justice for all is served.

Blog Five: Knowledge is Power

What made Dr. King's speeches so effective was that His voice projection was so persuasive with optimism and confidence. The fact that He was a philosopher, He used spirituality to changed the listeners hearts and minds from hatred to love by teaching them to be forgiving. Dr. King's speeking power was made possible by pressing people's emotional buttons through the choice of words and His upright posture of a courageous role-model. The speeches were hopes and dreams that needed to become reality by uniting and moving forward in a single cause for justice. These speeches were full of messages and enthusiastic that you are not alone and the promise land is not far away. He had a dream to be fulfilled. The connection between non-violence practice and speech power is that speech power allows people to be emotional and be motivated and recognize what they are dealing with and how to carry out the steps. Non-violent pratice will be a steady, yet non-violent and activley progressing movement to seek justice for the oppressed constantly forcing their opponent to realize that He is wrong and needs to redeem.

The Theory of Non-violence

In this blog I will discuss the the practical elements of non-violence shared by another group of class mates learned from the racial movements and campaigns as well as  social activism of Martin Luther King in the past. What I have learned from them is how the theory of non-violence is implemented practically by Martin Luther king who was following the teachings of Ghandi who fought for freedom from the British Colonial power in India. They both used the method of non-violence by boycotting against their oppressors. Both carried out their philosophies through the method of non-violence based on spirituality. What I also learned from reading the very beginning of Martin Luther King's most famous books "A Testament Of Hope" edited by James M. Washington is how boycotting was used to awaken the sense of shame withing the oppressor. The struggle is not between the superiority or inferiority of races, but it is with justice and injustice.

Cluster Reflection

The common themes that have appeared throughout the courses in our clusters so far are: what are human rights, what's the language of human rights, how is language used to affirm or deny these rights, most important emotional knowledge communicated by slaves, and the linguistics course which breaks the language down to see how languages are written, spoken, and influenced by other languages to create a new language such our own American English. The different disciplines approach subjects and material differently from each other. law and Human Rights points to what the Constitution says about rights and how they should be implemented throughout societies. Linguistics allows us to look into a how a language is formed by showing differences and similarities in patterns, and American Studies, most challenging of all requires our brains to think critical like intelligent thinkers and writers approaching different tasks, thinking outside the box, and coming to a conclusion or a solution to a problem through the process of writing. Being in a diverse cultural learning community, I feel more confident, effecient,  and open minded sharing differnt ideas and thoughts from different backgrounds. The LIB 110 activity makes it easier for us to freely express ourselves through writing that relates to what we are learning in all our courses. One of the Themes that is most relevent from English class is how to use language and the tools of pen and voice that were used in history in order to change people's minds if the change is compulsary. I would like the cluster to make the kind of a connection where everyone becomes enthusiastic and understand the need to take an action towards those who are still under oppression and desperately need our help, to restore their natural born rights who are deprived of living in peace and harmony.