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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Black vs. Female vs. Republican (and the American dream thrown in)

Hilary Clinton has discovered another fore father. This time, from Pennsylvania. Why, you ask? Because she desperately needs to save face now. Barack Obama, a black man (pardon my racist implications, unholy me!), with a middle name like Hussein and a last name that rhymes with Osama, is actually doing pretty well. And that's not altogether too surprising.
Like I was saying, Hilary Clinton has risen valiantly to the occasion, this time as a Working Class Heroine. Obama points out, very rightly, that she seems to discover roots all over the place. This time, it is a great grandfather who worked in mines in Pennsylvania. Hilary, during her childhood (I'm not making this one up, honest!), learned to fish, shoot and play cards and spent her time around men with names like "Old Hank". The Old Swank hung around with people named Old Hank.
Obama and Hilary, an African American man and a woman seem to be taking the elections by storm and that makes me suspicious. Both the Democratic candidates are far from typical (by American standards atleast). So what are they gearing up for? A new (pseudo) order? Or a Republican candidate? Is John McCain going to be put in the Oval Office at the end of it all?Someone pointed out in the article I was reading that the lady who grew up rough is now worth a hundred million dollars. Are people really foolish enough to fall for her sentimental prattle about the American dream?
Barack Obama seems to have good intentions, atleast, let's not think about where those always lead! He supported pastor Jeremiah Wright who blamed America for 9/11.But what good have good intentions ever done? Forty three people have been sworn into the Oval Office so far, but what changes have actually happened? A grand total of none. Which of the Presidents has actually been able to make life easier for the Hispanics and make living conditions in the ghettos a little better? Really makes you think, doesn't it? And what on earth is the American Dream?

Monday, April 21, 2008

MUN in a nutshell

A Model United Nations, or a MUN, is a conference that simulates the working and functioning of the United Nations Organization. It follows the rules of parliamentary procedure, while encouraging thinking that's out-of-the-box. A MUN focuses on the functioning of the various organs of the United Nations, for example the Security Council, the ECOSOC, The General Assembly, etc. Each school is represented by a delegation that has been assigned a country that is a member of the United Nations. The participants need to be fully aware of the policies of their country - pertaining to both internal and external affairs. They must possess a clear understanding of the problems faced by their nation - locally, nationally, and on a multi-national level. This will allow them to involve themselves fully in the heated debates that take place during the sessions of their assembly.
A MUN encourages students to assert themselves, while also learning that conflict can be resolved by co-operation and compromise can be achieved. They are required to defend their country and stand by its policies. They are under constant fire, and face criticism accordingly. In this manner, they learn to become open to points of view other than their own. Greater challenges must be overcome when a student's personal stand contradicts that of the country he must represent, and one must adopt a convincing line of argument nonetheless.
The debating aspect of a session of a MUN is a prelude to the main objective: the framing and passing of a resolution. Once all arguments have been heard and censured or praised, regarding each item on the agenda, those delegates who have made the greatest impact must garner what support they can for their proposed resolution. All resolutions are written and presented according to parliamentary procedure as well, and then they are discussed. The passed resolution is the one that the most number of delegates find agreeable. This depends upon whether voting for it is in order with each country's foreign policy. In this way, a delegate learns to integrate ideas in such a way that it becomes acceptable to most others, while not losing their long-term objective in the aim to please all.
The RotoMUN 2008 has been organized by a group of dedicated students working with the Rotary Club of Bangalore West. They are experienced MUNners, who wish to promote this activity as they feel that MUNning has brought about a positive and definitive change in their quickness of thought, their diplomacy and their inter-personal skills. A person who leaves a MUN is distinctly different from a one who entered it. A MUN refines a student's oratorical skills and diplomacy, it gets a student in touch with pressing current issues and hones his researching skills, then tests the limits to which his knowledge can be applied by making him think on his feet. It encourages students to stand up, speak up, and lead by building upon their confidence. It exposes them to the flaws in the system, and it pushes them to find their own solutions. By changing the very perspectives of the students, a MUN sets students up to change the world.