The Opposite Of Tidy by Carrie Mac

"The Sniper" Short Story by Liam O'Flaherty

Summary

It was twilight at Dublin, and the sniper lay on a rooftop, watching and hearing the sounds of guns firing across. The Republicans and the Free Staters were waging a civil war. The sniper decided to take a risk of lighting a cigarette, right then a bullet hit itself on the roof. More bullets came whizzing past him, and this time he saw a flash, his enemy was on the other side of the roof. An armored car came rolling onto the street, and an informant, a women, ran to the car and pointed at the sniper's position to the men in the car. Right then, the sniper killed the man and the women by shooting them. Just then, a bullet hit the sniper, it came from the enemy that was on the other side of the roof. The sniper was in deep pain, he wasn't able to hold his rifle either. He quickly tended to his wound by using his field dressing. The sniper thought of a plan to kill his enemy, because he didn't want to be found in the morning on the rooftop. When the enemy shot towards him, he faked his death by letting the rifle and his hat fall to the ground. The enemy thought that he was dead. Then the sniper steadied himself and shot the enemy that was on the opposite of the rooftop. The man fell to the ground with a cry. The sniper felt guilty. The sniper decided to leave the rooftop and report to his commander, but he was feeling really curious to know who the enemy was. The sniper went over to the body, and turned the dead body, and found out that he had shot his brother.

The Theme

The main idea or theme that's portrayed in the short story "The Sniper" is that war changes not only individual people but the society which they live in. For example in the story the two brothers chose differently. The sniper tries to kill his enemy, who is on the other side of the rooftop. When he does shoot the enemy, he is torn with the thoughts of what the war had done to him, especially when he realizes that he  has killed his own brother. It was portrayed in the story that the sniper was a student, and the war made him a killer. If the sniper's brother had the chance he wouldn't have done any different. This is what war does to people.

Child Soldier

     Connections I can draw between the text and my learning is that as time is developing children are going through tough times, whether it's about child abuse or children being influenced in the most horrific way. Children don't really have a clue about what they witness, but they try to follow the steps of what they are being shown to or told to do. When someone tells a child to do something, they are truly powerless, they do what they were ordered to do, without knowing the consequences.
     A connection I can draw between the text and my own life is that I play video games that may involve violence, but now saying that I am 15 years old, I have the understanding to determine what is right and what is wrong. While on the other hand, my brother, for example, was playing a video game that involved some violence. After a while, he put away the game and started playing with LEGO blocks, and he made a gun out of those blocks. he then goes up to me and says "hands up, or I'll shoot you." This shows how quick kids can catch up with what they see. The information sinks into them and makes them want to do those things. They are being influenced by the media.
     In the article "Teaching Kids to Kill," similarities that was found was that in all the concepts it revolved around how children are being influenced by the media. It was about how bad media can have a negative effect on children's actions.
Differences in the article that were found was that one concept talks about how children think it's a laughing matter when they see violence, another paragraph says role models, such as sergeants, are used to influence young, impressionable teenagers. So the real question is what is right? Should one laugh when they see people brought to their knees? And is it right  to influence kids to do something dreadful?


     A position I would challenge or argue with in the text, is that are role models really role models? Would one really call themselves a role model if they make innocent children into a soldier? In the text it says role models, such as sergeants are used to influence young, impressionable teenagers. Though this isn't only happening in military, it's happening in the media today. The media are providing children with role models, not just in movies and TV shows,  but also media celebrities. Some people find the need to follow the steps of these so called 'role models,' thinking what they are doing is perfectly fine, when really it's not. So why do they call them role models when they're surely not.


     Key concepts or ideas I believe are important and worth holding on to from the text is that innocent children are being influenced to do things that are truly unbearable to see or hear. All this is the fault of the people behind in the media. The ones who are making the violent video games, movies, videos, etc.


     Changes in action that are suggested in the text for everyone is that "we must work against child abuse, racism, poverty and children's access to guns, and in rebuilding our families, but we must also take on the producers of media violence." The solution strategy is, "education, legislation, litigation." Violence is no game, and it's no fun. Violence kills.
"An educated and informed society can and must find it's way home from the dark and lonely place to which it has traveled."

Fears South Sudan Conflict Could Spark Regional War

News Article "Fears South Sudan Conflict Could Spark Regional War"

       The news article "Fears South Sudan Conflict Could Spark Regional War," is about the different interest and aspects that define the ongoing war in South Sudan, which people are fearing that this may lead to a regional war in the young country. Regional leaders of East Africa, are the focus point of this whole conflict. The leaders different interest are leading to a conflict, which can lead to a war as well.

       A text to world connection you can make with this article is the Cold War. The Cold War was the name given to the relationship between America and USSR, Soviet Union. The Cold War was to take control of international affairs for decades, and so many major crisis occurred. This was a conflict of different beliefs and ideology. It was capitalism versus communism.

       This connection helps extend my understanding of the repetition in war. People don't learn from other peoples' mistakes. All the war and conflict is continued on, not thinking of the negative effects that could lead after the war or during the war too. People think that they should fight for what they believe in. It is true, but you should know your limits, because what your doing can also upset other people as well. Instead of sparking a war by a conflict, you should negotiate the negative and positive effects of the decisions your making.