Obama’s Afghanistan Speech

On December 1 President Barack Obama speaks to cadets during a nationally televised address at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York. In his speech he talked four problems. First, why the USA army entered Afghanistan? Second, why the USA needs to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan? Third, what the USA troops and the international troops have done in Afghanistan? Lastly, what is the aims of the USA at Afghanistan?

For the first question, Obama said on 9.11 of 2001, nineteen Al-Qaeda members hijacked four airplanes and used them to murder nearly 3,000 people. “They struck at our military and economic nerve centers. They took the lives of innocent men, women, and children without regard to their faith or race or station…” Because the base of Al-Qaeda was in Afghanistan and the members of Al-Qaeda were harbored by the Taliban, a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of Afghanistan. So the USA and its alias came to Afghanistan in order to destroy the Al-Qaeda’s terroristic networks and the illegal Taliban government who harbored the Al-Qaeda members.

For the second question, although a legitimate government was elected by the Afghan people, this country has been hampered by corruption, the drug trade and insufficient Security Forces. The Al-Qaeda and Taliban are not completely annihilated and they often threat the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Therefore the new Afghan government needs the USA and the United Nations’ help to keep stable. “When I took office, we had just over 32,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan, compared to 160,000 in Iraq at the peak of the war. Commanders in Afghanistan repeatedly asked for support to deal with the reemergence of the Taliban, but these reinforcements did not arrive. That's why, shortly after taking office, I approved a long-standing request for more troops” Obama said. Deploying more troops to Afghanistan is not to let them stay there forever but to let them remain the stability of the Afghan society. President Obama promised that by 2011, all of the USA troops will withdraw from Afghanistan.

Since the USA troops entered Afghanistan, they have made great progress. Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan have been scattered and the high-ranking Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders have been killed. A legitimate provisional government was established under President Hamid Karzai and an International Security Assistance Force was established to help bring a lasting peace to this war-torn country. This year the USA and its allies prevent the Taliban from stopping a presidential election. In Pakistan, that nation's Army has demonstrated its largest offensive in years.

Lastly Obama interpreted the aims of the USA at the Afghanistan war is to deny al Qaeda a safe-haven, to reverse the Taliban's momentum and to deny it the ability to overthrow the government, and to strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's Security Forces and government as to be able to take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future. “Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad coalition of 43 nations that recognizes the legitimacy of our action. Unlike Vietnam, we are not facing a broad-based popular insurgency. And most importantly, unlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border” Obama commented.

After listening to Obama’s speech, I think this speech is full of positive meanings. First it makes the young American people understand that Afghanistan war is a just one. All of the USA troops entering Afghanistan have very clear targets. Secondly this speech explicitly explains the necessity of troop supplement, which makes Obama’s plan of deploying 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan easier to get ratified by the Congress. Thirdly, this speech tells American people’s hope for peace in Afghanistan to the worldwide people. The aims of the USA entering Afghanistan are not to occupy it and take away its natural sources, but to make Afghanistan peaceful and become its partner.

Let’s look forward to the withdrawing of the USA troops from Afghanistan in 2011. Let’s bless a peaceful Afghanistan.

Four things learn from China!

Today I read the New York Times, November 23, 2009. There is one article: Five things we need to learn from China. The author of this article hopes that while the U.S. remains mired in an economic funk, China drives ceaselessly forward, U.S. could learn something from China. I think there are four things can learn from China.

First, Be Ambitious.
China likes to set goals, make plans and focus on moving the country ahead. China likes to make everything on plans. The high speed highways, the high speed train lines. We learn it from Soviet Union. I think sometimes be ambitious is efficient. From our first leader Chairman Mao, we keep the old five-year plans and stood them on our head. Some of my classmates ask me why Chinese students are good at preparing for the test. I told them we are good at setting goals. Our goal is pass the test and get high score.

Second, Education Matters
In China the elementary school students have to have class every Saturday. They learn Math and Science or English. Chinese students are always ahead of American students in math and science. For us the math in GRE test is so easy. Like our middle school Math. That’s why a lot of accountants in America are Chinese. Some western critics said China’s education is overdone, the system stresses rote memorization, which drives kids crazy. I agree part of the comments. It did give us a lot of pressure. I spent most of my time on study. But on the other hand, I already get used to the pressure when I was a kid. Now I feel ok, fine. And every time when I helped my classmates do their math, I am so happy. Although my language is a little weak, my math is pretty good. And most of us master two or more foreign languages. We learn it from 13-year-old. Thank you for the education system, we are smarter now.

Third, Look after the elderly
In China, when people get old, they will live with their children. In my family, my grandpa and grandma live with us. My dad and mom take care of them. Grandma and grandpa are very happy live with us, because they never feel lonely. I have been to a nursing house in America to visit my friend’s Dad. My friend Wangchao has been in Boston for 30 years, her Dad has been here 20 years. The old man had been in the nursing house for 10 years. During the past 10 years, the old man did nothing just waiting for the death. He couldn’t speak English, could communicate with other old women and men in the nursing house. He is extremely lonely and his brain stop working. Every time I went to visit him the only word he could say is: Hi! I gave him a lot of mercy. Compare to my grandpa in China, the old man’s life is terrible. My grandpa is already 85 years old .Every day he reads newspaper, plays games with my cousin, and even cooks for us. Wonderful! Because my grandpa lives with us, he is not lonely, he is happy every day and his brain keep working every day! Every weekend, my grandpa chats with me through cell phone about the politics in China even in America! See, how big the difference is!

Fourth, Save more!
Chinese like save money, Americans like use money! I think the main reason of the big recession is more and more people can’t pay back the money which they lend from the banks. So the bank broke and followed the big recession. I think Americans should learn a little from Chinese. My friend who is a typical American, always borrow money from the bank, he borrowed $50,000 and bought a BMW. When he has some emergencies he has to ask help from his friends. Sometimes not always have friends have money waiting for him.

Above all, that’s I think America should learn from China!

New Hampshire

This Thanksgiving I share the time with my friends in the church. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! As a Christian I should go to church every weekend to visit my sisters and brothers. But I am a bad Christian, in order to earn money I have to work on weekend, so I have been 7 months didn’t go to church. I missed my friends so much. So I decide to go New Hampshire to have Thanksgiving Day together with my friends.

During the 7 months I worked in the hospital as a Personal Care Attendant, I worked in other people’s house as a baby sitter. I worked at Dunking Donuts sell coffee. I met so many people during this period. Some of them treat me so bad and hurt my heart. The employer didn’t pay me enough money, the customer has bad attitude to me, people looked at me in an arrogant way. I can’t feel love, friendship, kindness. Only in the church I can feel love and peaceful. People console each other, we are the people who realize our guilty and want to repent. But most people don’t think they are wrong, they keep doing guilty things. Sometimes when I really hurt by other people, I cried. Not because I am so weak, I am so sad. I am sad for the world.

Ernest Hemingway said: The world is wonderful, we should strive for it! I don’t agree with the first part, but I believe we should strive for it!

At New Hampshire sisters and brothers together sing the Hyms. We hike the mountain, play the Kayak on the lake, eat turkeys together. At that moment, I felt love and friendship. When they know I had difficult time live in America, they pray for me. They try to find ways to help me. I felt like I was in a family and people do care about me. I don’t know what the truth of the world, but I don’t believe in Money, rights and power. In today’s society, most people’s idol is Money! Most people working very hard to buy a BMW, the tiffany Jewelry, a huge house near the ocean in order to satisfy our body and conceit.

Several days ago, I had a conversation with my boss. He always benefits himself, but fucks everyone else. I said the biggest difference between I and him is: If both of us earned 10 million dollars, he will spend 10 millions dollars by himself on house, drug, car, or even prostitute. But I will donate 8 million to Children who had cancer, who still struggle with hunger. That’s why I had never depression even I failed. I am struggle not for myself only.

New Hampshire is a place I can wash my heart, when I donate the money to children who had cancer, to students who didn’t have enough money for school, I feel very happy. Even now I am still worry about my own tuition. But I know they are harder than me, at least I have enough food to eat.

I know god is always with me. When I was a teenager, I was the one who is very selfish and only care about myself. But something happened to me and I changed. I am happy I have more and more responsibility for the society. Thank God!

I believe we should strive for the world!

H1N1 Swine Flu!

The host Jane Clayson has one 3-years old and one 5-years old. Last week one of her daughter’s friends was ill. Later he felt so sick that he had to go to the hospital. Test came positive back for H1N1, swine flu. As the mother of the two little kids, she feels a little bit afraid. The public health officials tell us that children are in the high risk group. Jane Clayson’s William 2 weeks ago got the swine flu shot. The nurse told him washed his hands often and with sanitizer. The public health group also announced that an increase of the flu influence this week. The H1N1 viruses are moving target. A lot of people have focus on the vaccine. It’s not enough to go around. So many people are waiting for the vaccines. It’s frustrating to public officials, doctors and nurses who trying to both manage and help people. The host visited one clinic all the people wore face respirator. Most people feel better within a week. Some people get pneumonia which is the serious illnesses and some die. People in line wait for hours to get the H1N1 flu shot. The officials were informed that there is another delay. They have to ask the patience of the public. Within a few weeks, there will be more vaccine. There will be 15 to 20 clinics open every week. They hope the vaccine growing on time and can be shipped to the patients on time. Pregnant women and young children should first get the vaccine. 540 children have died in this country. The Boston Globe reported this morning that at Bay State 65% of laboratory confirmed cases are children under 18 years-old. This flu still hits toward the younger population. The swine flu is unpredictable. Sometimes one part of the city is bad, or one part of the city is not bad. And we don’t completely understand the reason for this. Does it hit the urban areas or suburban areas? In the spring, Boston is the hardest city that be hit in this country. We have 4 neighborhoods that very hard to hit. Some of them are hardly hit at all. Two thirds of the pregnant women looking for the vaccine but they can’t get it. That is very true statistics that suburban areas are very hard to find vaccine, even the health care provider. The professor suggests that first parents should be patient. The vaccine should be out at the beginning of December. Second, wash your hands with sanitizer. Third, stay home and don’t touch somebody when he is sick.

One listener said he thought the public media made the flu overblown. The doctor said he didn’t think the flu was overblown, everybody should get the vaccine and they should get it every year. Because there is good evidence that this vaccine did protect people. It doesn’t protect 100%. It’s like the seat-belt. When you get into the car, you get the seat-belt. Someone concerns the safety of the vaccine. The production process has been tested very well. This has been through testing to clinical trials. Within 20 or 30 years, it has safety record.

A lot of people complain that they think government should pay more money to improve the technology. They think the vaccine should out faster. The vaccine grows in eggs and produced from eggs. There is new technology available now. It has been tested, it has been go through licensed. The important is the vaccine vaccinates the massive people.

Apples!

Today I listen to Boston radio, the title is: Apple Season In New England. The question-master David Boeri first shows several special varieties of apples of New England. The first kind is lamb abbey permain, the second kind is porter which is the apple comes from Massachusetts, the third one Harrison which is the extinct one, it looks ugly, but it has the fabulous taste. He then introduces the Nashoba wine. The first one cyser honey apple wine, it was very popular when sugar was very expensive and honey was available. The second one is dry apple wine. In 1900, New England colonies lived on sweet cider. It was so important for them at that time.

Americans are called apple pie because apples are everywhere, in the stores, in the farm land, and even in the yard. They find an apple tree which very old probably 60—70 years old. It is from generation to generation and generation. It about 50 feet tall and the fruits are sweet. It’s amazing.Then the master of this program interviewed Bob, the owner of a big orchard. Bob followed his father and uncle and became the orchard owner. In 1910, one barrel of apple is $3 in New York. At that time New England is the Global Maker. The apples were sold to England, Chile, South Africa, and even China. Bob, his wife and their son come every fall from New Jersey. The farm stands next to their house. Bob says it’s a labor of love. Every fall they sell their apples on sale. They sell their land as real estate.

The primary reason for planting apple tree was hard cider for hundreds years ago. It was the preferred drink of Commonwealth, the pilgrim, and the colonies. The second president John Adam drank a tanker for breakfast. The wine makers are very classical in New England. Boston has nowhere can compete with those farms’ prices and taxes. In 1995, with the local and estate contribution, Tack bought the big farm when he was 30 years old. He is a software engineer. His parents and in-laws work for free to help him manage the farm. Every fall he sells apples and attract so many families come to pick apples. He puts a lot of decorations for his orchard. When he saw more and more families come he said it worth it.

Then one listener called and asked how they could stop the super market from using apples from China and apple products like apple juice. The master answered now the world juice markets are dominated by China. It’s tuff and that’s something on the horizon. The Chinese planted a lot of apple trees 10 years ago. China now becomes the largest apple producer in the world. The state of Washington produced about 5% of the apples in the world. America imports the apples a lot from China. It has been coming in for several years now.

Some point of views.

Today I read an article from New York Time, November 9, 2009. The author is Allan Sloan, a professional economy critic. He believes that the government uses trillions of dollars to help the giant financial institutions bail out is wrong. He doesn't agree with many economists said the Great Recession has ended. He lists that unemployment is marching toward 10% and the house foreclosures are still rising. He is very angry that the salary of the employee is 150,000; but the bonus is 250,000. People who work at Wall Street they send their children to $40,000-a-year private schools, and they live in Manhattan. According to the Time’s poll, 63% of the respondents feel the Wall Street executives’ pay is completely out of line. He also mentions that 60 trillion of government money flowing into GM and Chrysler. He said the money didn’t use to help the retiree’s pension. He called the CEOs pigs.

I think the author is extremely angry, he stand by the side of Main Street, I feel the American’s economy is becoming worse and worse. Almost every international student can’t find job now. Because so many old employees were laid off. Some of my friends had no jobs and they had to go back to China.

I have a friend her husband owned 3 buildings at Bacon Hill, her family rent the 3 buildings to the tenants, and they charge the renting fees. Because the bad economy, there are less and less tenants rent their studios. This year they don’t have enough money pay for the mortgages. They sell 2 buildings in order to pay back the money to the bank. 3 years ago the building they owned each one worth 4 million dollars. This year each of the building just sold at 2,900,000. They lost 1 million.

As an international student, I can truly feel the bad recession, I agree with the author the economy is still bad. I had a job at Dunking Donuts, the tips the customers gave us is less and less. 3 0r 4 years ago, the co-worker told me he can get 5-6 dollars one hour. Now I can only get 1 dollar one hour, sometimes 50 cents one hour. I think people have no money, so they don’t give tips. I think it’s like a big circle, customers have no money. All the employees earn less money, so they don’t buy extra stuff, just the basic needs. The result is everyone has less money. It’s the bad circulation.

Actually I don’t know how to fix the bad economy, it’s too complicated for me to find a way to solve the giant problem. I just use my eyes to watch, to observe, and to think. I know that the year salary of Blankfein who is the CEO of Goldman Sachs is 1,000 times of the average worker. That’s the system. I have no comments about it because I don’t want to judge the system good or not.

I like to keep observing and thinking.

Drinking and driving!

Last week I read an article: SADD fakes deaths to teach lesson. SADD is students against drink driving grogram. This program is help teenagers not to drink and drive. At Holliston High School SADD used an untrue announcement that two of the most popular students had been killed by a drunk driver. After heard this, students began to cry and grieve, and for several minutes they believe their classmates were dead. Teachers tried to tell students that this could happen to them or someone close to them.

Some of the students and their parents got angry because they thought it was too traumatic. One girl was dismissed from school when she became highly emotional. One student said: it was the worst possible way to do it. They didn’t have to go to such an extreme that made people cry. But the school stands behind its decision to support SADD. The school believed that it would be the most effective way to make students think twice about driving while drunk or drinking at all. Most kids started saying they wouldn’t take the risk. Students swear they will never drink and drive again.

I think it is a good grogram to teach teenagers not to drink and drive. I believe teenagers’ threshold of terror is very high. Kids don’t believe something like this serious could really happen to them. And from this program they do believe this would happen to them or someone around them. There is a poem named: Death of an innocent. Here I want to share with you.
I went to a party mom, I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink mom, so I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, mom, the way you said I would.
I didn’t drink and drive, mom, even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, mom, I know you were always right.
Now the party is finally ending, mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, mom, I knew I’d get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, mom but as I pulled out into the road.
The other car didn’t see me, mom, and hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, mom, I hear the policeman say,
The other guy is drunk, mom, and I’m the one who will pay.
I’m lying here dying, mom, I wish you’d get here soon.
How could this happen to me, mom? My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, mom, and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, mom, I’ll die in a short time.
I wanted to tell you, mom, I swear I didn’t drink.
It was the others, mom. The others who didn’t think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is he drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, mom? It can ruin the whole life.
I’m feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, mom, and I don’t think it’s fair.
I’m lying here dying and all he can do id stare.
Tell brother not to cry, mom. Tell daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, mom, put: Daddy’s girl on my grave.
Someone should have told him, mom, not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, mom, I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, mom. I’m becoming very scared.
Please don’t cry for me, mom. When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one question, mom, before I say good bye.
I didn’t drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?

I really like this poem, I was deeply moved. I am the one who had a car accident 5 years ago. I was hit by a drunk driver. I am the lucky one who still alive, but I have some problems on my backbones and my knees, so now every week I do two times physical therapy, it hurts me all the time, I can’t sit too long, either stand too long. So when I read the poem, I felt like talking about myself.
I hope I can join the SADD or MADD programs to help others away from these risks. I wish everyone safe and healthy.