Month: January 2015

What would the world be like without war?

‘‘All war is a symptom of mans failure as a thinking animal’’- John Steinbeck

In the world today, we have to maintain countless issues and a major issue is war. The act of war has several consequences; lives are lost, families heart’s are broken and economies demolished. What happens to the ordinary citizens who don’t wish to be involved in the war? No positives can come from conflict. I want to make clear to you how unnecessary war is, and express the collateral damage in battle’s. In addition, how can conflict be evaded? Can’t you have a say and try to put an end to war once and for all?

Firstly, the most devastating thing about war is the amount of deaths that occur during combat. World War Two had an estimate of 40,000,000 to 85,000,000 deaths. These numbers are unavoidable. To think that millions of people risked their lives, for what cause? When talking of war, the ends do not justify the means. No gain could counteract all the extermination that happened during the war. Technology is advancing every day, and knowing that there was an uncountable amount of massacre seventy years ago, then I dread to think of the bloodshed that could materialise in a world wide war with the new face of warfare. We need to put an end to war immediately! All countries have weapons which can cause destruction, hence this may cause an end to the world.

Also, a substantial issue faced because of war is terrorism. One of the worst terrorist attacks was on the Twin Towers on the 11th of September 2001 which scarred America. There has been many conspiracies on who planned the attacks but many people believed it was caused by Al-Qaeda, a global militant organisation. These terrorist attacks triggered a war which lasted for thirteen years which could have been avoided. The pain and suffering of the September 11th attacks was an atrocious tragedy. However, as a result of entering a war, this only sequenced more death. If we make it evident that war is nothing other than demise and torment then it would be tragic, truly unthinkable to know that we could have prevented so much agony that happens in the world.

There are plenty of wars that have developed and are currently occurring. The civil war in Syria hasn’t only just affected the fighters but the vulnerable mothers and innocent children, they have been dragged into the chaos that is happening in their country. The war is currently in its fourth year, people’s lives have been destroyed and eradicated. The longer the war goes on, the more civilians of Syria are losing belief, they think that their problems will not be resolved. Children have been injured because of the napalm strikes and they don’t have the medical attention to help them recover. Syrian families have fled to other countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey in an attempt to escape the violence. Eye witness accounts from The Guardian shows what it is really like for the people of Syria, ‘2am shells start to crunch east of the capital, and Hassan and her four children are wide awake to the familiar sounds of bombs falling on buildings and the empty road below’. This puts into perspective what everyday life is like for adults and children living in a country during battle.

Furthermore, people have participated in conflicts because of the influence of political leaders, especially dictators. Political leaders have an enormous impact on the decisions made for their country, due to the power and control they possess through being in control of their own countries destiny. Stalin and Hitler are great examples of dictators as they wanted to exert world domination by any means necessary. The Syrian civil war was caused because of  President Bashar al-Assad’s forces responding to nationwide protests with violent crackdowns. The conflict gradually morphed from popular protests to an armed rebellion and since, the crackdowns Bashar al-Assad has shown what a brutal dictator he is, and with the stockpile of chemical weapons under al-Assad’s control. Nobody will know what will happen next in this ever-evolving situation.

To conclude, war shows that the people of society have lost civility. There is other ways to resolve problems rather than through hostility and violence. Leaders should come together and settle disputes fairly and diplomatically, not through the acts of pain and suffering on others. The peace treaty after World War One is an exceptional example of this. It put an end to the war and meant that countries could start recovering and rebuilding. War is not required, it only results in loss of life, economic depression, health problems and aggressive competition. I believe the world would be a much better place if war wasn’t around, but to answer the question what would the world be like without war? Well I hope I live to find out.

Dear Ms Samantha Taylor,

Regarding your article which was recently published about teenagers. It was cataclysmic to read the comments made by John Franzen, it has portrayed a dismal perspective on the younger generation. Personally, I feel you need to correct these inaccurate accusations made about young people, and I along with the community will help conquer these judgements made by you. The information regarding online privacy is very useful, and must be made aware to more people, so they have an understanding on the damage that could transpire. I wish to provide a perspective from a teenager’s point of view with regard to the recent editorial.

Firstly, Jonathan Franzen displays that teenagers are unable to socialise face-to-face because there is too much socialising online amongst teenagers. However, the article conveys minimal evidence. What he says about teenagers and their digital lives is an attempt to trigger deterioration of the reputation of the younger generation. He claims that online socialising is creating a shallow and trivial culture, the man has no right to say that teenagers have little depth and are of no value. The declaration might consider teenagers to be a disgrace. Nonetheless, with reference to the evidence provided, it suggests that Franzen doesn’t recognise that people are evolving. There isn’t a problem with using social media and I believe that Jonathan Franzen is blatantly targeting the younger generation. Moreover, from his section of the article, it will have an influence on how people look at teenagers. Franzen unfairly uses the younger generation as scapegoats, and the sole reason for them to ostensibly be unable to socialise face-to-face.

Additionally, American comedian Louis CK along with scientist and writer Susan Greenfield both proclaim that mobile phones and social networking sites such as; Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat will stop teenagers development of empathy. These things are the preferred channels of basic communication between youngsters and their friends. Technology is advancing every day, and the usage of electronic devices is becoming more consistent but is not only used by the younger generation. According to the survey by the Pew Research Centre in 2014, it coveys that 89% of people aged 18-29, and 82% of people aged 30-49 also use social media. This data undeniably advocates that not only are teenagers use social networking, but people from older generations are also. Therefore it is ambiguous to suggest that these individuals are targeting the teenage community.

Furthermore, the view made by Louis CK who believes that digital communication controls teenagers lives is a remark. Once again it has intended to destabilise young people, and continue to set a negative regard on them. There are many great advantages that come from teenagers using social media, positive activities can be expressed on the internet to assist the youth. Additionally, Youtube is a great example as it allows people to post videos and receive feedback. These things are a great addition, which can give the younger generation confidence for them to prosper in the future. Also the internet is an immense and uncomplicated way to communicate with family and friends if it is difficult to meet them face-to-face. Not to mention, you can easily share unforgettable moments on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, I want to make clear that the concerns raised on online privacy and safety is very important, and was a great addition to the article. People and teenagers don’t fully understand the consequences of what can happen whilst being online. Based on the numbers that John Henley provided, it is distressing from a teenagers point of view to see that young people, similar to myself are posting information which anybody can see. Hence this conveys a lack of awareness, and the younger generation don’t think of the long term impact from leaks. People, not only teenagers, must be acquainted with the threats and damages that can occur online because personally, the data that was included in the section was very disturbing and pessimistic.

In conclusion, Jonathan Franzen, Louis CK and Susan Greenfield present young people as apathetic, utilising newspapers to influence how people view teenagers. These claims are extremely controversial, and we must come together and challenge these false allegations. I am someone who uses social networking, but it doesn’t stop me from socialising face to face, and I share the same energy and emotion as someone who doesn’t use social networking. So I hope you’re able to take these things onboard and confront these invalid assumptions on me and the rest of the teenage population.

Yours sincerely,

Jack Noone

Rotating the rusty handle gently open, Jason Bourne’s footsteps echoed throughout his apartment as he entered. Immediately he was aware that it had been broken into. The glass smashed,  smothering the floor, the sofa tipped upside down and shredded as if a savaged animal got to it. He explored the rest of his apartment with severe caution, expecting to find the other rooms in similar condition to the living room. As he was about to set foot into his bedroom, he was distracted by a substance which he caught out of the corner of his eye. The first reaction of Jason was to close his eyes and come to terms with what he believed he had just seen. Bourne took large strides, edging closer towards the bathroom door with increased eagerness. Was Bourne deceived? Or did he recognise what had appeared? 

Shock rushed through Bourne’s body as he noticed the door was covered in blood. He examined the entire door; back, front, hinges and handle whilst being immensely attentive to not come into contact with the sickening dark red blood. His immediate instinct was to think of the worst case scenario, it was his wife’s blood, Maria. He then gained a sudden burst of energy as he realised he found himself in a desperate need to find his phone. Bourne proceeded to the kitchen where he remembered he left his mobile phone on the kitchen table. Delicately lifting the phone off the worn out, wooden, walnut table he then slumped himself against the freezer door and began calling.

A dialling tone was all that rang around Bourne’s head, his mind was feeling like a tempest inside, was he a part of some horrific nightmare that he will never awaken from? He started to traverse the room constantly walking from the window then to the door, again and again. The room so incoherent you could hear the screams yelling from inside Bourne’s head. It then struck him, thinking to himself why didn’t I think of that before? There wasn’t time to think, as awful thoughts kept bouncing around inside his head. Maria’s work place! This had to be the answer, she’s works in a hotel in Chicago, precisely twenty minutes away from the apartment. He firmly tapped in the eleven digit number into his space black iPhone six, where he anxiously waited for someone to answer.

A voice, the receptionist at the hotel, starting to advertise the hotel but he was immensely quick to cut her off and ask about Maria. However, the women at the hotel informed Bourne that she left early to go home and indicated it was a family emergency. Bourne, lost for words didn’t even acknowledge the woman, everything seemed like a blur, a confusion. There was a piece to the puzzle missing, yet he had no idea what it was. Bourne eased down onto the floor, placed his head in his hands, closed his eyes and wished that he would wake up from this cataclysmic, torturous nightmare. Something made miniscule contact with the back of Bourne’s head, but it was felt significantly by Bourne as everything in his mind could be gone. A deep voice, definitely a male, uttered orders at him ‘don’t do anything rash or aggressive otherwise I will put a bullet through your head and then your wifes’.

She’s alive! The idea made him ignite inside with delectation, but how long will it be until she isn’t living? The clock was ticking, time was dying on Bourne, but he couldn’t risk anything, for now. Something had to be done and swiftly but he couldn’t jeopardise everything as not only his life was on the line. He was awkwardly seated on the floor, legs tied together, hands tied behind him along with a gun directed at the back of his vulnerable skull. He couldn’t put a face to go with the suspicious voice, the mystery man then demanded he wanted ten thousand dollars in cash. Bourne was definitely unable to dispense that kind money. A confident Jason Bourne calmly replied ‘’You won’t be getting that money and your gonna die today’’ but the peculiar man sarcastically laughed instantly followed by two gun shots…

‘‘All war is a symptom of mans failure as a thinking animal’’-John Steinbeck

In the world today one of the biggest problems is war, it has numerous amounts of consequences; lives are lost, families left heart broken and countries shattered with the effect that war leaves on the world. A substantial issue faced because of war is terrorism, one of the worst terrorist attacks was on the Twin Towers on the 11th of September 2001 which has scarred America as a nation, there has been many conspiracies on who planned the attacks, many people believed it was caused by Al-Qaeda, a global militant organisation, 9/11 sparked a deadly war that is still currently happening and in which a lot of countries are involved. One of the saddest thing about war is the amount of deaths that occur in combat, World war two which was a worldwide war has an estimate of between 40,000,000 to 85,000,000, from 1939 to 1945 a minimum of 40,000,000 people died in those six years, also a civil war in Russia that has deaths between 5,000,000 and 9,000,000. Terrorist attacks also have an impact on war as they lead to countries into conflict between one another, also the numbers show the destruction that is left due to war and the mass amount of life that is lost.

A significant problem with war is that people have died because they have been protecting their country and usually the reasons why war is happening in the first place is either for political or economical reasons. A vast quantities of wars have arisen because of the country’s leader beliefs and ideas on how their nation should be led. Dictators such as Stalin and Hitler are great examples as they wanted to exert dominance in the world by any means necessary. Political leaders, especially dictators have an enormous impact on the decisions made for their country, this is one of the reasons on why war goes ahead is because of power and control that leaders have. Referring back to Stalin’s dictatorship, people of the USSR only did what he said out of fear and terror, political leaders have a big influence on war because of their power and control which can be proven by dictators such as Stalin and Hitler.

There are plenty of wars that have happened and are currently occurring, but the civil war in Syria hasn’t only just affected the fighters but the mothers and innocent children have been involved in all the chaos that is happening in their country. The war is currently in its fourth year, the families have been ruined and cannot change the matter and don’t have confidence that the problems will be resolved. Children have been injured because of the napalm strikes and they don’t have the medical attention to help them recover. Syrian families have fled to other countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey to escape the violence. Eye witness accounts from The Guardian shows what it is really like for the people of Syria, ‘2am shells start to crunch east of the capital and Hassan and her four children are wide awake to the familiar sounds of bombs falling on buildings and the empty road below’ this puts into perspective what everyday life is like for adults and children living in a country during battle.

It must be said that war is also very costly, loads of money is wasted in such an unnecessary area where it could be distributed into more important areas such as public goods like the police and fire service the money can also be used to develop a country by improving its infrastructure.

World military expenditure in 2012 was estimated to have reached $1.756 trillion dollars but if we look back ten years military expenditure was estimated in the region of $1.2 trillion dollars, a lot of money is spent on the preparation for war and then money is required for the havoc left in its wake. Money should be distributed into more important areas and should not be wasted on war.

 War shows that the people of society have lost civility, there is other ways to resolve problems rather than through aggression and violence. War is not required, it justs results in loss of life and confidence, economic depression, health problems and aggressively competition. The world would be a much better place if war wasn’t around.

Dear Ms Samantha Taylor,

I am writing to inform you on the article which was recently published about teenagers. It was very shocking to read, comments made by John Franzen along with others will portray a bad view on the younger generation and I personally feel that you need to correct these inaccurate accusations made about young people and I along with the community will help conquer these judgements.The information regarding online privacy is very useful and must be made more aware to more people so they have an understanding on the damage that could occur. I wish to provide a perspective from a teenager’s point of view with regard to the recent editorial that appeared in the newspaper.

Firstly, Jonathan Franzen speaks with no facts, he argues that teenagers are unable to socialise face-to-face because there is too much socialising online amongst teenagers he provides no evidence, what he says about teenagers and their digital lives is not wrong but is neither correct also he is arguing that the only people who use social media is teenagers this wrong, they are not the only people, it is made out that it is awful that teenagers use social networking when there are plenty of others that use it Jonathan Franzen is blatantly targeting the younger generation and his section of the article will have an influence on how people look at teenagers, this is unacceptable.

Additionally, American comedian Louis CK along with scientist and writer Susan Greenfield both proclaim that mobile phones and social networking sites such as; facebook, twitter and snapchat will stop teenagers development of empathy and these things are the preferred channels of basic communication between youngsters and their friends, technology is advancing every day and the usage of devices is becoming more consistent but it is not only used by the younger generation so I don’t understand why these people targeting them. The biased report that you’ve published has used people with a higher status opinion in society which will have more of an impact on the readers but the people you have used have negative views on social media and teenagers which is totally unfair.

Furthermore, the comment ‘Digital communication is not just prevalent in teenagers lives but IT IS teenager’s lives.’ is once again intended to destabilise young people and continue to set a bad view on them. There are great advantages that can come from teenagers using social media and social networking sites, you can express yourself, showing your song off on youtube if we want to gain feedback on a career in the music industry, things like this give the younger generation confidence for them to prosper in the future. Also the internet is a great way to communicate with family and friends if it is difficult to meet them face-to-face and you can easily share unforgettable moments on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

On the contrary, I must make clear that concern raised on online privacy and safety is very important and was a great addition to the article. People and teenagers don’t fully understand the consequences of what can happen whilst being online, based on some of the numbers that John Stanley provided, it is shocking from a teenagers point of view to see young people similar to myself are posting information which anybody can see this displays a lack of awareness plus the long term impact from leaks which isn’t fully recognised by people. People, not only teenagers, must be acquainted with the threats and damages that can occur online because personally the data that was included in the section was very disturbing and worrying.

To conclude people such as Jonathan Franzen, Louis CK and Susan Greenfield expresses their issues with social media and teenagers by sadly conveying it to a newspaper which is read by millions of people and presents the harmless younger generation in a bad light. These claims are extremely controversial and we must come together and challenge these false allegations.

Your sincerely,

Jack Noone