Constantinople is No More

This morning Constantinople was finally seized by the great Mehmed II. The city defended itself  for over seven weeks - a feat against the seemingly unstoppable Ottoman army. In its former glory, Constantinople might have stood a chance against the Ottomans, but now the ever declining city, which had decreased to a population of only 50,000 people, was forced to bow down to Mehmed.

Mehmed has righteously gained his new title of 'Mehmed the Conqueror', as Constantinople was not a simple feat to overcome. His first obstacle was the chain laid out across the waterway separating him from his desire - Constantinople. The Ottomans solved this dilemma by dragging their seventy ships over a hill on greased runners, and then back into the water to bombard the city. Once they reached the walls of Constantinople however, they realized their task would not be quite as simple as they thought - these were not simple walls - they were walls that had withstood hundreds of years of attack - and they were not ready to give up now. It was up to the Ottomans to be the first army to break them down. With the help of gunpowder and 26 foot cannons that bombarded the walls with 1,200 pound boulders, this morning, after seven weeks of attacking the city nonstop, the Ottomans finally found their way into Constantinople.

Mehmed the Conqueror has forever altered the history of Constantinople, and with it, also it's name. Goodbye Constantinople - Hello Istanbul!

Jiwa - Soul, The Essence of Life.

A utopia is a fictional idea that humanity has created solely for entertainment - but it cannot become a reality. Since the beginning of time, people have strived to dwell in paradise - the ultimate utopia. In every religion, the goal is to end up in heaven or enlightenment, both forms of utopias. These are places we strive to end up after death - not during our lifetimes. If utopias could exist, which they cannot for multiple reasons, the main one being that greed is part of human nature, as well as the fact that perfection itself can never actually be reached - because without dark there isn't light - so without negative things you would never be able to see the positive, and negativity is not part of perfection. Apart from it not being possible, if it were, mine would be something like this. 

Jiwa is not open to all of humanity. One reason that utopias cannot exist in the first place is that certain people are selfish and corrupt by nature, so there is an entry test to ensure that these kinds of people cannot gain utopian status. This is a rather simple test made to ensure that the people have the ability to be compassionate and kind. People must be hard - working individuals, and it is made clear ot them from the beginning that if they are not warm - hearted and respectful towards others, they will be expelled from my utopia. A person will only be kicked out if they commit a major crime, not if they make petty little mistakes. The possibility of a second chance is a basic right in my utopia. 

Children born into Jiwa are automatically members, and to ensure their good intent, they are taught how to be respectful human beings in school and at home. A family in my utopia can choose whether the father, mother or both work. I'm basing the political system on capitalism in order to let people choose their jobs, and therefore their income. After working hard for many years, at 65 years people in Jiwa will retire. The people of Jiwa aree called Riang Jiwans, which means cheerful souls. (i.e. I am from Austria, I am an Austrian. -- I am from Jiwa, I am Riang Jiwan.)

My utopia is made up of states. It covers a huge area - spanning over various oceans - in order to ensure that people don't get bored. Each state has a different terrain. Some are little islands by the ocean (think Hawaii), others mountainous winter wonderlands - perfect for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer (think Austria), and some will be just beautiful green rolling hills (think Ireland). All the beautiful and unique terrains of the world we live in today are incorporated into my utopia - like deserts, waterfalls, reefs and all that. Every state has a capital that holds the major population of the state. Each capital will have a different type of architecture. (Covering all the beautiful types of architecture present in our world today.) Each family in Jiwa can choose in which state they would like to live in, and they can move freely throughout all the states.There are different languages spoken throughout my utopia - but everyone must be fluent in English in order to be able to communicate with each other.

My political system is based on Capitalism and Democracy - everyone above the age of 17 can vote. There is a President - elected every 4 years - and anyone in my utopia above the age of 35 can run for the presidency. Laws are made by a panel of representatives that are elected by the people, one representatives per state.

The same currency is used throughout all the states of my utopia, it’s called the Jiwana. My utopia is self – sustainable, not dependent on outside nations - due to the fact that this kind of dependency potentially leads to war. My utopia has embassies stationed around the world to ensure our peaceful presence, and that no one from the outside world attacks our utopia (think Switzerland). There are no wars in my utopia, because everyone is content with their lives – therefore having no reason to start a war. There are a few basic human rights laws that are strictly enforced in Jiwa:

The right to be well fed.

The right to a roof over your head.

The right to peacefully assemble.

Freedom of press.

Freedom of religion – all religions will peacefully respect one another in my utopia.

Freedom of speech.

The freedom of movement - all Riang Jiwans can travel throughout the states of Jiwa, as well as outside my utopia, after this though, they have to take classes in how to treat others to ensure that they have not been 'infested' with hate or anything like that from the outside world.

One of the states is the factory state were everything is manufactured and new things are invented. This factory state is completely eco – friendly. As a matter of fact, not just my industrial state is eco – friendly, but my whole utopia is eco-friendly. All the produce and fabrics are organic. There are lots of solar panels, wind mills, hydroelectric power sources and desalination plants in my utopia so that the environment can flourish. All the animals are free range - animal rights are extremely important in my utopia, and are strictly enforced.

There are rather high taxes to support our luxurious utopian lifestyles. Everyone gets free healthcare, free schools, free public transportation, and free retirement funds in return for the taxes. The free public transportation system in my utopia connects the various states with trains, metros, buses and airplanes. Each city in Jiwa is also extremely well connected so that getting around is convenient.

The Jiwean School system has the early childhood department, the primary department, and the middle and high schools departments. Riang Jiwans then go on to study at one of the many utopian universities. (This is optional) All university classes are held in English – so that no matter what state you’re from, you can attend. The education offered is rigorous, to ensure hard – working people that can support the utopia of the future. All the teachers are friendly and their classes are generally interesting, so that the kids enjoy their school environment.

Each family is allowed to choose where they live. There is a strict building code to ensure that not all buildings look the same – which makes monotone grey apartment complexes out of the question in Jiwa – making my utopia beautiful. People can choose their homes. There has to be at least 3 rooms in each home – a bathroom, a bedroom and a kitchen. Less is not allowed for human rights reasons.

Riang Jiwans will keep themselves entertained by doing lots of sports (all types of eating disorders as well as obesity are non – existent in my utopia). For the people’s entertainment, lots of cultural events are held. They can also go to movie theaters, amusement parks, spas, freestyle (skater and bike) parks and graffiti parks (graffiti will only be allowed in specific areas, but there are a plethora of them around). They can also take various classes to improve their skills. Reading for fun as well as the arts are both strongly encouraged in my utopia.

Though utopias cannot exist, I wish I could live in mine. I based Jiwa on sensible ideas – instead of making it insanely unrealistic. I focused on building the foundations of a peaceful and joyful world, and from there the people can sculpt their own perfect lives. I believe that every person is unique and so a wide range of possibilities exist in my version of the utopia. 

Susanna and the Elders

Susanna and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi (1610) is a perfect example of a Renaissance painting. The artist painted with oil on canvas - which had just been introduced during the Renaissance. Also, being a woman, Gentileschi decided to portray this scene a little differently than the other artists at the time. This is an example of a Renaissance theme - new and innovative ideas. Artemisia painted this piece when she was only 17 years old, which is actually why I chose to analyze this particular painting. She was taught by her father, Orazio Gentileschi - who was also a rather successful painter during the Renaissance.

This piece depicts the religious story of Susanna - an innocent young wife, who is sexually harassed by the elders in her town. Artemisia decided to 'tell' this story from the point of view of Susanna - which was quite uncommon at the time. The woman is cowering frightfully in the piece, as the elders loom mischievously over her. This specific biblical story was painted by various artists, who usually displayed Susanna as being flirtatious and thereby saying that she was not harassed at all, instead that she willingly got herself into all these situations. Gentileschi though, who herself was surrounded with similar issues (she lived in a society were rape was not uncommon at all; Artemisia was raped by her own art teacher a few years later) 'understood' Susanna - and she succeeded to make the viewer feel bad for the woman. Artemisia was very talented, as the proportions of the figures in the painting are all very exact, and the detail is also incredible.


Parker, Christine. "Susanna and The Elders." The Life and Art of Artemisia Gentileschi. Christine Parker. Web. 21 Sept. 2011. <http://www.artemisia-gentileschi.com/susanna.html>.

Victim.

I witnessed the horror descend upon their faces as they realized what fate had in store for them.
I knew they were coming. I knew they would die. I heard their horses. I heard them cry.
I was collecting wood for the fire - and yet the flames before me seemed to be growing steadily.
Our huts - our sheep - our everything - converted into ashes in a matter of minutes.
I saw them burn - I smelled their flesh. They had no time - they had no chance.
They were my family. My sister, my brother, my father, my mother. They were my friends - and all I could do was watch.
These vandals - these men - they tore through flesh and blood like a starved pack of wolves.
I wanted to scream - I wanted to cry - but the tears wouldn't roll and the sound wouldn't come.
I knew I couldn't do it - I knew I couldn't live. My entire outlook on life was altered. I didn't want to live, I didn't want to stay.
My town - my people. They died and so would I.
Once everything became silent - once I was the only soul alive - I strode forward - with one thought in mind.
It took me but a few moments to get what I came to find.
The unfathomable pain swept through me and blinded my thoughts.
Then it ebbed - and I knew it wasn't far - I knew heaven would erase my scars.
I had to write this - I had to leave something behind.

Because no one else got the chance.

9/11.

9/11 - a date that will stir up feelings of terror and chaos forever. In one day - in one building - 2,996 lives were lost. So many families were robbed of their loved ones forever, not just from 9/11 but also from 'The War on Terror' that began not even a month after that fateful day.

9/11 affects us to this very day 10 years later. Every time you set foot in an airport you are subject to the strict laws that were introduced after 9/11. I believe we should be ready, or even willing, to go through these measures that have been set up for our safety. These measures that our governments spend incredible amounts of money on every year, just to protect us from something like 9/11 ever happening again. There is just one major fault in the system that leads me to believe that precisely that is the problem - the governments are focusing too much on what once happened rather than what could happen in the future. I just don't know to what extent I should trust them. The security companies creating these new methods seem to be sidetracked because their machines don't quite work the way they should. There have been numerous tests that prove how easy it is to smuggle a bomb into an airplane even with these technologically advanced machines such as body scanners. Body scanners don't, for example, scan your mouth, so who says a bomb cannot be transported that way? In another test someone put a water bottle in their bag as well as a bomb, the airport security watching the x-ray screen just noticed the water bottle, but didn't even see the real threat. (Liquids can no longer be taken into airplanes after an attempted attack on an airplane in 2006 were a terrorist tried to smuggle a liquid explosive on board.) My point is that the people working at the airports as well as the security companies are still paranoid that something like 9/11 or other terrorist attacks that might happen again - and with reason! I'm not saying they shouldn't - but they should also focus on possible new threats. 

The War on Terror. 5,491 more Americans killed. I feel that 2,996 lives lost were more than enough. On May 2, 2011 Osama Bin Laden - the leader of the Al - Qaeda - was killed by the CIA. He has been on the FBI most wanted list for 10 years now, and finally he has been eliminated. But then why is the War on Terror still going on? I understand that the troops cannot just leave Iraq from one day to the next, but why is the war in Afghanistan still raging? I think that it is hard to ever really succeed in a war that has no definite enemy. As I believe in the saying, 'War is not the answer', I think the American Government should start this next decade with a fresh outlook instead of being stuck in another war. 

9/11 will forever haunt our memories, and the innocent people killed that day should never be forgotten.

Dark or Not Quite...?

The Dark Ages, The Middle Ages, Medieval Times...whatever you call it, the fact is that this was a time in our history of no astonishing developments in neither science, nor art. The highly advanced inventions and monuments of the Romans were neglected - at times even taken apart for building their own simple structures - not exactly a society full of art appreciation.The people during this time used the remaining ounces of their creativity to design 'wonderful' new torture methods - which must be a sign of how deprived of the arts they had become. The general public was worked from sunrise to sunset. Due to the constant presence of brutal war lords, thousands of innocent people were slaughtered and many children were sold into slavery. Sounds like a pretty dreary world to live in. I agree with the historians that call these times The Dark Ages, because most people during this age seemed to live harsh lives filled with back-breaking labor, war and crime. Although Christianity did come to the aid of some people, giving them an education and therefore hope - 'a light at the end of the tunnel', the fact that this age took about a thousand years to finally come to an end leads me to believe that Christianity didn't do as much good as some historians claim. I feel that The Dark Ages is an appropriate name for this depressing time in our history.