Western Hatred by Our "Allies"

On October 25, Ned Parker of the Los Angeles Times wrote the article called "Two U.S Soldiers Slain by Gunman in Afghan Uniform". Here, the article discusses two more deaths caused by an Afghan police member. The United States has planned by 2014, to train and leave Afghanistan to handle its own problems, and to start to develop its own type of homeland defense. Unfortunately, killings such as these complicate the problem. The tension from the people of Afghanistan is rising, and people, such as this police man, are taking initiative themselves to kill our men personally. This is a whole new different scenario because before we were versing certain terrorist groups, and the people of Afghanistan were helping us out, but now we see a shift of character in the citizens of Afghanistan. Recently, men have been getting close with out soldiers and getting training by them, but then turning on them when they wont realize it and successively escaping. The United States claims that it is doing investigations for these problems, but to what point are they going to find these murderers? Instead, the United States should start either stop all training programs of Afghan soldiers or begin conflicts with these men. We are ready to leave in 2014, but how are we going to leave Afghanistan behind us?

Poor Chillingworth

The book finally finished. We find out that Dimsdale dies through self grief and Chillingworth cannot get his revenge. Through all of this, I feel most sorry for Chillingworth because through all his years efforts, at the last scene of the book he is not able to kill Dimsdale once and for all and get his revenge. I also feel sorry for him because Dimsdale was a reverend that went against his oath to God and have a child with a woman. As a religious figure, he must set an example to all other people in the town. Chillingworth, in my eyes, would have done the town a favor if he took the life of an adulterer, a lier, and a person who separated from his promise with God. Yes, Dimsdale is a human too, but in my eyes a lier and someone who cannot keep his promise is not worthy of living an honest life, and therefore Chillingworth should have killed him. I feel sorry for Chillingworth more than Dimsdale, but in reality I do not feel sorry for both of them because both of them got mingled in awful affairs, which led to both of their deaths. None of them deserved to die, but at the end I have an ounce more sympathy for Chillingworth.

Syria Escalates into an International Problem

On October 12, 2012, the Los Angeles Times wrote the article called "Syrian rebels seize government missile base". This article discusses a recent attack by Syrian rebels toward a governmental missile base. The rebels took control over the missile base, which contained different types of weapons, such as anti aircraft firearms, surface-to-air missiles, and rocket propelled grenades. The government responded quickly after through an airstrike, destroying the missiles in the base. Because of the reaction time of the attack, many countries fear that governmental chemical weapons are starting to be threatened and the government is responding with quick attacks to destroy them. The United States, being one of the countries fearing this, fears that if these missile bases contain chemical weapons and are taken over, they can land into the wrong hands, such as al 'Quada. An al 'Quada militant group named Al Nusra Front, was part of the attack on the missile base. They claimed that they took most of the weapons and equipment from the missile base, and are ready to keep fighting Assad until their front is back into power in Syria. This statement fears the United States and their ally Jordan, because they have become a huge threat to both countries. As the threat of the terrorist group gaining power grows again, the threat of an international war based in Syria also rises. Russia, being Syria's greatest ally, sent a transport plane filled with radio and communication equipment to Syria. Turkey intercepted this transport plane, claiming it carried ammunition and firearms. Turkey also sent tons of equipment to military bases bordering Syria. The problem in Syria is escalating from a revolution to a complete regional conflict.

Important Quote

In the novel The Scarlet Letter, it is based on a period of time that is ruled by Puritan beliefs. Because these beliefs were so narrow minded and sometimes impractical, they led to misjudgment of people. In the book there is a quote that shows this narrow minded idealism. "Pearl," said he, with great solemnity,"thou must take heed to instruction, that so, in due season, thou mayest wear in thy bosom the pearl of great price. Canst thou tell me, my child, who made thee?". This quote is said on page 76, when the minister, Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmsdale were interrogating Hester and Pearl to see if they should keep Pearl or let Hester keep her. The minister says this quote. He is asking a three year old child, who already has many problems on her hands, who created her. They are expecting an answer to be God or some form of religious answer, but Pearl has not had contact with church and has been neglected by everyone who is involved with church. This is very unfair for Pearl because if she answers incorrectly, then she is going to be taken away from her mother. This is a significant part of the story because it shows how the Puritans thought,  and how they treated people, even the young, immature children.

Who is the Adulterer's Partner?

So far in the book The Scarlet Letter, Hester's partner has not been revealed. There have been hints and clues that I have seen, and hoping to actually be clues. From what I have seen from the book, I think it is Reverend Dimsdale because this book is talking about Puritan beliefs and how important religion is, and a twist of having the Reverend being the partner will make the book great. Also, I feel it is him because he was the one that interviewed Hester and was not too demanding to see who the partner was of the baby, which in my opinion hints out that it is him and he does not want to pressure Hester of saying it. I think by the end of the book, Roger will find out that the Reverend is the partner and either murder him, make him lose his position as reverend, or demand that he is thrown into the prison that the town had made. I would prefer the murder because that will make the book much more dramatic and interesting.

Who Sent the Drone?

On October 6, 2012, the Associated Press of the Los Angeles Times wrote the article called "Fighter jets shoot down drone over Israel". The article discusses the shooting down of a drone that was sent into Israel. The UAV drone was sent as a recon drone to spy over Israel. The drone flew in Israel borders for twenty minutes. A drone has not penetrated Israel since 2006, and this is worrying Israel. The owner of the drone has not been found yet, but there has been speculations that it was the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. Israel is worried that after this drone others can be sent to cause harm, and they are ready to retaliate if anything comes through the borders. The air force responded in twenty minutes, which is an average time of retaliating to a threat that comes through the border from air. If the owner of the drone is found to be Hezbollah, I have a feeling that Lebanon is going to go into turmoil if the problem escalates because in 2006, a similar incident had happened. The middle east is is enough turmoil, I am hoping nothing else comes up.