Pakistan's Internet Crackdown

Recently, Pakistan not only shut down Facebook, but now the viewing of YouTube has also been restricted inside the country. Many Muslims in Pakistan have viewed what they felt was malicious attacks on their religion and they, too, feel offended. A spokesperson from YouTube said to BBC: "YouTube offers citizens the world over a vital window on cultures and societies and we believe people should not be denied access to information via video." I agree with YouTube. Pakistan has overreacted to this minor information mishap. Something else should be done, rather than taking such drastic measures against world wide companies.

If the material is found offensive, the entire website should not be blocked in the country, rather only parts of the websites that disturb them. Pakistan needs to talk with the editors and advisers of both Facebook and YouTube about the material their citizens have viewed and ask to have it removed. No religions should be favored or criticized on either website. The Muslim countries finding offense in these websites need to make their complaints heard to any online avenue that is targeting their beliefs, religion, or race. I think that Pakistan took this too far and should reopen access to the websites upon removal of the material that cause this uprising.

$2,800 Can Make a BIG Difference

This past weekend, the day finally came. The day we’d been looking forward to for 5 months. It was the day of Kids Helping Kids, A Night of Hope. My friends Abbie Flis and Aly Jenkins and I had been planning this event since before Christmas vacation. Since then, we’d arranged all the details that make an event like ours run smoothly. We hit many obstacles along the way, but when the day finally came, we were ready.

On Friday night, our celebrity guest arrived in Detroit. Booboo Stewart, an actor in the upcoming movie of the Twilight Saga, came to our concert to sign autographs and meet some fans – even some from far away, like Amanda Kohli. Amanda loves Twilight and Booboo. She also has brain cancer. About a week or so before the event, her mom found out about the concert and was interested in bringing the family up for the show – and to meet Amanda’s idol. We gave them a special meet and greet with Booboo; it was all that she wanted for her 16th birthday this year. It felt great to know that we made her birthday special. It also was touching because that is why we did this event, to help kids with cancers, diseases, and serious injuries in the hospital, especially at Beaumont Children’s Hospital.

We had some other special guests at the event. Meghan Gruss, the Children’s Miracle Network manager at Beaumont Hospital set up an informational table about the foundation. She also brought a very special family with her, the Shampo family. Lucas, age 6, and Olivia, age 4, were in a nearly fatal head-on car collision a few years ago along with their mother. Lucas and Olivia suffered bad neck injuries and needed “halos” to keep their neck and skull in place. Usually these injuries have lifelong effects, but the whole family was fine at the event – walking and all. Thanks to Beaumont Children’s Hospital, they were able to be treated. They were at the show as an example to how well every penny raised is spent. Lucas also got a guitar (his favorite instrument) from the band, Good Luck Varsity. When the guitarist gave Lucas his personal guitar, his face lit up. It absolutely made his day, and it made mine too.

Starting yesterday, local radio station 96.3 WDVD started their Cares for Kids Radiothon for 2010. It’s a two day long radiothon raising money for BCH. Research, sleep chairs, and specialized bikes are just the beginning of the long list of things the hospital needs, and with donations, they’re able to get those things. Abbie and I presented our check for $2,800 yesterday, live on the air. That’s enough for two parent sleep chairs and almost three specialized bikes. Everyone at the radiothon couldn’t believe that three fourteen year-old girls put together an event of this scale and raise so much money.

Doing this event made me feel like I could truly make a difference. Everyone always says that anyone can make a difference, and it’s become a pretty cliché statement, but I feel that we proved it. No matter how old you are, if you put your mind to something and try your hardest, even unlikely pipe dreams like ours can come true.

My SIMUN Experience

Counting down the days to SIMUN, I was more nervous than I ever had been. I had no idea what to expect. I was afraid I’d say something wrong, something that nobody agreed with; I was afraid I’d be on my own. I thought it was going to be horrible, but I was very wrong.

To prepare for SIMUN, I researched the three topics that were going to be discussed in our group. As the country of Slovakia, I didn’t think that I’d be very involved, but I researched a lot anyways. I also researched the history of my country, which helped me know what my country had done in the past in situations such as war and international conflict. I knew my topics as well as I could, but still felt unprepared. Even though those topics were what we were going to talk about, I was expecting something crazy to happen and I’d not have a clue what to do. After about two weeks of preparation, it was time for the simulation.

On the first day of SIMUN, I walked in scared. There weren’t too many freshmen in our group, and I knew that all of the upper classmen were prepared because they’d done this the years before. I took my seat and we started. For the first scenario, I didn’t participate much. One of the mentors told me I needed to start talking more and I did. Before I knew it, in the scenarios to come, I was making speeches, asking questions to the speakers, and caucusing with other countries. I was really confident and was starting to know what I was doing. Before SIMUN started, I didn’t think I’d have anything to do because I didn’t think my country would be involved, but I was wrong. My country came up in a newsflash – citizens of mine had been killed on a private ship, and I had to do something about it. I made a speech and myself and a few other countries wrote a resolution that got passed and everything was solved. That was probably the most exciting scenario for me because I participated in it the most.

I’m really excited to do SIMUN again next year, but there are some things I’d do differently to prepare and participate. First, I’ll research my country more. I knew the basic history, but I feel like I need to know more than I did to be able to make better decisions in a scenario. Second, I’ll participate as soon as I can. I wish I would’ve done more in the first scenario, but I was too nervous.

Overall, SIMUN was so much fun. I’m considering MAMUN for next year because I think it’ll be even more fun than SIMUN. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to it for next year.

SIMUN Freewrite

If a coup over threw the Pakistani government and threatened to use nuclear material and weapons on the rest of the world, a world leader would need to step in. Not only would this jeopardize the security of surrounding countries, it would pose a national security issue. The United States would most likely step in to secure the nuclear material and help keep order in the region. This would either anger or please other countries around the world, and as Slovakia, I back the United States on their decision to enter Pakistan to secure nuclear material.

As a member of NATO along with the United States, my country is semi-obligated to side with the US along with other members of NATO like the UK. As an ally of the US, Slovakia would not only support their decision, we would be willing to supply extra forces and monetary donations to keep the world safe from nuclear disaster.

The coup and/or terrorist group that overthrew the government would need to be controlled and put to extreme consequences. I would recommend that they be put in jail for time being, then should be brought before the International Court of Justice for further punishment.

UN Peacekeepers could be deployed in agreement with the United States to ensure that no further uprisings or attempt to disturb government would occur. The government would also need to be restored. Slovakia would work in coordination with the United States, United Nations, and other members of NATO to make sure that a stable government is put back in place in Pakistan. All nuclear material would be properly secured and measures to make sure it stayed only in the hands of government would be taken. Peacekeepers could stay in the region if needed; they could also help maintain the security of nuclear material.

As Slovakia, I would fully back the United States decision to enter Pakistan and secure nuclear material. Working together with the US, the problem would hopefully be solved quicker and in a more peaceful way.

Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

My book, called “Left to Tell” is a memoir about the Rwandan genocide in the early 1990’s. Immaculee, the main character, describes her account of the events that occurred around her home. Just stories from her point of view shed some light on cultural differences between the country of Rwanda and the United States.

Immaculee and her family are considered a higher class family, residing in a nicer home with furnishings, a garden, and a courtyard. Many other homes were smaller and not as nicely finished as theirs was. They had plumbing, as other homes did not. Although the women in this society were still used for house chores and other “women’s work”, children and wives had a close relationship with the fathers and husbands in their lives. Imaculee’s father was considered of high importance in the village. Everyone knew everybody in town, and whenever there was a problem, everyone knew to talk to Leonard.

When the first attacks from the RPF occurred just on the outskirts of the town, flocks of worried men, women, children, and entire families, gathered on their front lawn, asking for his guidance. This shows that although he was not the richest man in the village, his education was considered enough to make him worthy of guidance to the villagers. It also shows that people in this culture placed high importance on education.

Many decisions made in the village depended on your status – Hutu or Tutsi. The Tutsi’s were not favored among the people of Rwanda, especially in the village where this memoir takes place. For example, when Immaculee applied for high school and college, she did excellent on the entrance exams – highest among the girls in her grade, even passing some of the boys. Because she was a Tutsi, she was denied her education. Thankfully, her father was friends of the school teacher and was able to get her into both high school, then college. It’s sad to think that your history and background, religion, social status, or governmental label could prevent you from an education or other privileges.

I hope that in finishing my book, the many questions I have about the Rwandan genocide and culture will be answered. Why did the Hutu extremists believe that the time the war broke out was the right time? How else are Tutsi people discriminated against? What role will women play in the ending of the war? Hopefully all of these questions can be answered, thanks to Immaculee’s memoir.

Who Knew Auditions Could Do So Much

“Attention Stevenson! Auditions for this year’s one act plays will be on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week!” That’s what I heard on the student announcements Monday morning. Usually, I’d think nothing of it. I’d wish I had the courage to do something like that, put it out of my mind, and move on with the day. This time was different. This time, I decided to audition for something I’ve always wished to do – one act plays.

I didn’t come to this decision easily. All day, while trying to encourage myself, I was weighing the pros and cons. I thought to myself, “If I audition, I’ll get the experience and learn from it. I’ve got nothing to lose…but what if I’m really bad…everyone will laugh and I’ll just humiliate myself in front of people who know what they’re doing.” Humiliation was something I wasn’t ready to face, but I was ready to overcome my fear of speaking in front of others.

I walked into the cafeteria; there were experienced actors and actresses surrounding me. I picked up a script and looked over it. I tried to put myself into the role of the character as well as I could. Hands sweating, I read the wrinkled paper, slowly letting myself become the character in the script. Just as I was getting truly into the role, it was my turn to read. I slowly went to the front of the room, took a deep breath, and read. Emotions flooding, heart racing, I became the character. Reading like I actually knew what I was doing, I realized that I wasn’t even worried at all. Speaking in front of a crowd was supposed to be nerve-racking, difficult, and my biggest fear, but this was the easiest thing ever. I left auditions confident of a call back.

I came into school the next day almost positive my name would be typed in solid, black, bold, print on the call back list. I slowly walked up to the showcase and scanned for my name. I kept looking back and forth – my name was nowhere on the list. This was such a dissapointment to me; I thought that I did such a good job. Sure, my acting skills are terrible compared to the other people who auditioned, but I thought I had something. This was an experience that taught me many things. It taught me not to be afraid to try new things. They might seem like obstacles you can’t get over, but if you try, chances are you’ll conquer it. It also helped me over come one of my greatest fears – speaking in public. I may have not made it into the play, but I’m glad I auditioned. It really taught me a lot.

Let's Play Concert Planning

I never thought it could work. Never, did I ever think I could pull this off. Who knew a few phone calls and emails would start something huge.

I’ve always been one to like volunteering and coming up with new and different ideas to help out a good cause, especially Children’s Miracle Network. Every year, radio station 96.3 WDVD has a radio telethon to raise money for Beaumont Hospital’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Every year, I’ve wanted to donate and never had the chance. This year, I decided to do something huge – a benefit concert whose proceeds go directly to the cause.

Back in January, my friend and I came up with the idea to partner with the radio station and have them sponsor our concert. We sent some emails, not expecting a reply. We were ecstatic when we got an email back from the manager of sales at the station saying he’d love to meet with us and get this project going. After that first meeting, things really started to pick up. We contacted local bands that all agreed to play for free, but were also glad when 96.3’s Radio Café offered to showcase some of their acts.

A month later, we’re finalizing everything. We met with Mr. Archibald and he’s agreed to allow the concert to be in the field house. Clubs and other groups at SHS have the opportunity to sell refreshments to raise more money for the cause. We’re going to sell tickets at school and at the door and promote it like crazy at school and in the community. 96.3 is giving our cause free air time promotion, which is just what we need to draw a crowd. Just this week we had a surprise given to us – the chance to also partner with Radio Disney and bring Boo Boo Stewart from Twilight to the concert. Radio Disney also said they’d promote on air for us! This will help draw a much larger audience and raise even more money for our cause.

Our concert is set for April or May, because the telethon is on May 7th. The station invited us to come down for an interview when they broadcast from the hospital, and we’ll present our donation then. We’re hoping we can make a huge difference and make a huge donation to this amazing cause. Who knew three fourteen year olds could make something this big happen. Just goes to show you that with a little hard work and determination anyone can make a difference.