Blog 11A

Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 75
Pages read this semester: 1496
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
The whole unit is feeling the loss of Pendleton. The first squad is asked to accompany another officer to Fallujah. They were to hold talks with a Sheik over there. The talks went as planned and both sides assured each other of mutual cooperation and trust. The squad had to spend a night in a hospital in Fallujah, where conditions are unsanitary and bad. Captain Miller, who is a doctor, goes on to inspect the hospital. Early in the morning, when Robin goes to bathroom, he saves Captain Miller from being raped by two Iraqis. Miller is completely shaken by this disgusted incident. People who need their help are not respecting the saviors. After that, the squad is sent to Doha for some rest. After that, they are sent to an area near Iran-Iraq border where they will work with secret ops to get acquire detonators used to make IEDs from a tribe. In the ambush, Jonesy is killed while Robin is wounded. After that “successful” operation, the squad is disbanded and everyone is sent to different places with all wondering whether or not they will meet again. The writer beautifully portrays the randomness of the war once again.

Questions
Que. 1: Why did you choose this story? Has it met your expectations so far? Why or why not?
Ans.: I chose this story as I wanted to feel the reality of war and experience it. After reading A Farewell to Arms, I had a desire to find out how a soldier in two of America’s notorious wars (Iraq or Vietnam) felt. My decision to read this book was made before we decided to read The Things They Carried in class. I wanted a true picture of war in Iraq because the news media often painted a blurry image of Iraq and the government is, perhaps, covering up stuff. For the most part, it met my expectations. I was exposed to new variety of sentence structure and style which best fits the theme and background of the novel. The author has done a fairly good job of correctly portraying picture of how a soldier feels in a war where neither the motive nor the enemy is vivid.

Que. 2: What does the story make you wonder about, and why?
Ans.: When I finished reading this book, I could not help thinking about the warriors who are fighting in Iraq, and about those who are awaiting their safe return. I even had dreams of fighting in a war. I was not into this book, but into the war. I can feel the war. For the first time in my life I realized that no matter how much courage one has, death is death, and bullets are bullets. It takes a huge amount of courage to both. I had known this, but realized it now.

Blog 10A

Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 89
Pages read this semester: 1421
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
The troops are feeling the heat of the sun and war as anything can kill them. They do not want to get out of Green Zone. Robin receives a letter from home and thinks that he lacks valor. A marine patrol vehicle is wasted by an IED. One of the soldiers, Victor receives a dead monkey as a gift from somebody in Wyoming. The First Squad names it Sergeant Yossarian. The monkey accompanies them everywhere. The first squad helps out some Iraqis who were injured in an air strike. Few days later, they hold a soccer game with the kids of that place. Jonesy and Sergeant Harris almost got into a fistfight. Random changes and rules were not helping the soldiers. And Pendleton gets killed in another ambush later, saddening the whole unit, especially Robin.

“It’s hard to be brave when you can stumble across a world of hurt any corner, where dying becomes so casual you don’t even notice sitting it next to you.”
Robin Perry is remarking about valor and new developments in war after receiving a letter from home. He is trying to present a real picture of the sophistication that had recently entered into the Iraq War and how it affected the state of mind of a soldier. The beauty of this sophistication is its simplicity. Simple and homemade weapons like IEDs are getting on nerves of the greatest army in the world there. You may think that you are safe, but death can be hovering overhead. And as a soldier, you are not sure if you will be ever back alive. The thought of dying in an actual full-fledged war can and does make a soldier proud of him serving his motherland. But, in Iraq, it is a proxy war, a hidden war. Death can come in any form. But just like Vietnam, Iraq is becoming a burden. Not just a financial burden, but a moral and mental one too. Soldiers don’t know who is friend and who is foe. They are unsure about the plans and motives. And to add fuel to the fire, the apprehension of an untimely ambush and death gives a strong setback to their morale.

Blog 9A

Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 61
Pages read this semester: 1332
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction
Summary
While moving out of An Nasiriyah, the First Squad (Perry’s unit) faced a mortar attack. They got through it safe and sound. Perry developed close acquaintances with Jonesy and Marla Kennedy. One day, the Civil Affairs unit was sent to Ba’qubah. Even though the Army Lieutenant did not want them to treat the injured people in the town, they still did it for humanity’s sake.

Fan Fiction
This is a chat conversation between Robin Perry (Perry420) and Marla Kennedy (Yo-Yo Girl).
Perry420: Hey. Still up? It is like 11 p.m.
Yo-Yo Girl: Can I ever get away from you huh?
Perry420: No you can’t. Im tht vigilant. Do you wanna me to tell u sumthng or ask u sumthng?
??
Yo-Yo Girl: Tell me sumthng
Perry420: I wrote a letter to the governor of California.
Yo-Yo Girl: Wth………….. not for real
Perry420: I did. I dont want him to place cuts on education funding. U wanna read it?
Yo-Yo Girl: DUDE………….. you are hella weird.
Yo-Yo Girl: No one cares boy
Perry420: I had been thinking abt it for a while. Never told you. But I changed my topic. I was gonna write abt more pollution measures in CA, but then I changed the topic
Yo-Yo Girl: No one cares buddy boy
Perry420: I know, buddyboy? Since when did u start calling me tht. U called me “Birdy”
Yo-Yo Girl: NO ONE CARES
Perry420: I do
Perry420: U liked my presents? I forced my mom to but sumthng for you.
Perry420: I m not into shopping. My mom jus bought what she thought was good. She had no idea abt wht u like.
Yo-Yo Girl: Yeah…………..they r cute
Yo-Yo Girl: Thanks
Yo-Yo Girl: Dude……………why u so weird?
Perry420: It is my pleasure.
Perry420: What happened now marla
Yo-Yo Girl: Hey my name is Marla, not marla
Perry420: Ok ok
Yo-Yo Girl: GOD DAMN YOU
Perry420: What God are you talking abt? The one u don’t believe in.
Perry420: Well, im a sinner, and God does damn sinners.
Yo-Yo Girl: Buddyboy, stop being creepy.
Perry420: Im not tht creepy
Yo-Yo Girl: LEARN HOW TO SPELL THAT!!!!
Yo-Yo Girl: T-H-A-T
Perry420: What is wrong with you Marla? U know my English isn’t that good.
Yo-Yo Girl: YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Perry420: Ok ok
Perry420: Have you finshed math hw yet?
Perry420Homework
Yo-Yo Girl: i have a thickass packet that i need to do
Yo-Yo Girl: too bad im stupid and dont remember crap
Yo-Yo Girl: >:O
Yo-Yo Girl: now go die
Perry420: hey, whats wrong huh? Are you mad or something?
Yo-Yo Girl: what is wrong and with who?
Perry420: Ok ok
Perry420: I am sorry.
Yo-Yo Girl: I don’t wanna hear ur crappy story again
Perry420: Wow, u r giving me electric shocks tonight :(
Perry420: Im really wondering if I am talking to you.
Perry420: Cant believe u behaving with me like tht!!
Yo-Yo Girl: LOL did you know that you were talking to my cousin for the whole entire night?
Perry420: What??????????????? I had some idea. With who
Yo-Yo Girl: Darcy
Perry420: Wow, tell her she freaked me out. Nice job. I hope it is Marla now
Yo-Yo Girl: Yes seriously it is me
Yo-Yo Girl: just go to sleep
Perry420: ok I will. Don’t forget to call me when u safely reach Hawaii, ok?
Yo-Yo Girl: Sorry, I g2g
Perry420: np
Perry420: good luck, good bye, good nite my closest frnd
Yo-Yo Girl: sweet dreams
Yo-Yo Girl: lol bye

Blog 8A

Book: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Author: Walter Dean Myers
Pages read this week: 57
Pages read this semester: 1271
Weekly Style: Questions
Summary
Robin “Birdy” Perry is from Harlem and his Civil Affairs Unit are sent to Iraq. He joined Army against the wish of his father. Robin wanted to do something for his country after 9-11. His uncle Richie had served in Vietnam War (Conflict). Robin is named “Birdy” by his fellow unit member, Marla Kennedy. Most of the soldiers go into Iraq excited. The quick war is soon over, but they face the hard realities of the situation after that. Because they belong to Civil Affairs, Robin’s unit is away from direct combat and they are there to help rebuild Iraq. However, during a search operation in An Nasiriyah, they have to kill a young boy after they were attacked. And the truth dawns on them, as Birdy questions the causes, motives and justification of this war.

Que. 1: What does the author do well as a writer?
Ans.: Walter Dean Myers has done an exceptional job of providing an insight into a much hated war so far. I loved the details he supplied about how troops are made ready for combat physically and psychologically. This book, so far, seems to be focusing on the issues that circumstances make a soldier think about. The language is neither grave nor funny. It is real. I feel as if it is happening to me. The author is presenting the correct and true image of Army and war. He probes the problems faced by both the American soldiers and common Iraqi people. Through all the incidents, he magnificently depicts the uncertainty among people on either side about the war.

Que. 2: Write a brief diary entry from the perspective of a character in your book.
Ans.: Robin Perry: The day had a bit late start. We were shocked to know that the women from 507th we had met earlier while on our way to Iraq have been held as POWs. There was als0 first big news of confirmed casualties. 507th is having a tough time in An Nasiriyah. They were supposed to be in a safe area. Later, we were asked to go there and assist the 3rd Infantry Division there. We survived a rocket attack. I think such surprise attacks are turning this war into an intrusion. The people seemed friendly; at least this is what Ahmed, our interpreter, told us. We found a RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) launcher in a house while searching that area. We arrested a kid, even though he and his family pleaded ignorance. While he was being taken out, some sniper tried to target us. In the confusion, the kid tried to run away but was shot dead by a soldier. I think I will never forget his face. It was so innocent. It is going to haunt me for the rest of my life.

Blog 7A

Book: Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 314
Pages read this semester: 1254
Weekly Style: Quotation
Summary
After getting a tip about malfunctioning of software which detected the meteorite, Gabrielle Ashe meets Chris Harper, in charge of PODS at NASA, and cleverly makes him spill out the truth that it was NRO which informed NASA about the meteorite after catching a faint signal from Charles Brophy. Marjorie Tench and William Pickering set up a meeting outside FDR memorial at 2 a.m. after Tench expressed her concerns about Rachel and her behavior. The Delta Force (Assassins) receives orders from their chief to kill somebody outside the FDR memorial. The job is done and then they fly off to coast of New Jersey where Micheal’s boat Goya was anchored and the trio of Corky, Rachel and Michael was reaching there. While the trio tries to get more data about the bug, they are ambushed by the Delta Force. After a battle involving machine gun fire and smart maneuvers including Corky urinating on his injured leg to keep the sharks away, it is found out that the person behind whole deception was none other than William Pickering himself. Rachel had somehow managed to fax the GPR data to his father’s office. Pickering wanted all of them killed, but they escape unhurt as Goya and water current becomes the graveyard of Pickering and the Delta Force. The next morning, Senator Sexton arrived in time at the Washington Monument to reveal that the meteorite was fake. He wanted political gains, a last nail in coffin of campaign by Zach Herney. Rachel arrives at the scene and distracts him. He does not budge to her requests. He hands over the packets to the press. However, he is shocked to find out that the packets contained images of him and Gabrielle having sex. The packets were exchanged with original ones by Gabrielle while Senator was talking to his daughter. The President assumes full responsibility for the whole matter, but is more likely to get re-elected now. Michael and Rachel find out that they can’t live without each other and shed all barriers between them in Lincoln bedroom. The rock is thrown back into ocean.

“There is just no substitute for the truth.”
President Zach Herney says this to Gabrielle Ashe before assuming full responsibility for the whole meteorite deception in a press conference. I completely agree with this quotation. Truth is truth, no matter what. Like Ken Kesey wrote in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, “It is the truth, even if it didn’t happen.” I understand that sometimes it is hard and impossible to acknowledge the truth because it is so disturbing that it could upset others completely. Sometimes, its weight is too much to bear. Bill Clinton, at first, refused from having any sort of affair with Monica Lewinsky. However, when the truth came out, he was definitely ashamed, I guess. He apologized to the nation, but tried to blame everything on her in his autobiography.
One can never run away from the truth. It comes back to haunt one at some point in life. In recent years, my attitude has been to admit the reality. But, at times, I have found it very hard. There are some things from my past which I would like to bury. May be the world will never know them, but I know this happened. I have a huge load on my conscience. It seems an old, bad dream now, but I can never forget it. Because it was, is and will be the truth.

Blog 6A

Book: Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 297
Pages read this semester: 940
Weekly Style: Fan Fiction

Summary
Corky Marlinson and Michael Tolland inform Rachel Sexton that the meteorite underneath the ice shaft has a fossil of a bug, which confirms the notion about Extra Terrestrial life. The other two civilian scientists present there are Dr. Norah Mongar and Dr. Ming. However, what nobody knows is that a secret team of special ops is keeping an eye at them. Their motive is secret. They have hi-tech equipment to watch the scientists at the discovery site. The rock was taken out using laser to melt the ice. In CNN debate, President Zach Herney’s top aide, Marjorie Tench appeared against Senator Sexton and the Senator promised to kill NASA as it was draining funds. Someone from inside the White House was providing details about NASA to Sexton’s aide Gabrielle Ashe. After the debate, the informer asked her to meet him outside the White House. Rachel was asked to debrief the White House staff about the discovery by the President. Wailee Ming found that something was wrong with the meteorite. While collecting the water sample, he was hit with microbot by the assassins (Secret Team) and fell into the extraction pit and died. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Ashe was shocked to find that her benefactor was Marjorie Tench. She asked Ashe to confess her affair with Senator Sexton because the White House did not want to do negative campaigning by revealing illegal campaign contributions by private Space companies to Senator. Ashe was given proofs of both the affair and the contributions. She did not answer one way or the other.
Norah Mangor decided to use Ground Penetrating Radar after Tolland reported the presence of plankton in meteorite. It confirmed that the rock was not a meteorite since the shaft continued all the way to the ocean. It seemed the rock was inserted there. Before they could report that to the President, they were attacked by the assassins. Norah died, but the high wind took Corky, Rachel and Michael to the ocean where they were saved by USS Charlotte before they succumbed to cold. Rachel tried to stop the press conference by the President but Marjorie Tench did not let her talk to him. Senator Sexton was shocked to learn about the discovery. His dreams came crashing to ground. NRO Director William Pickering ordered the three survivors to be picked up from the submarine. The NASA Director, Lawrence Ekstrom, was surprised when the NASA radar caught a submarine off coast.

Story
Michael Tolland, 16, lost his family in Hurricane Katrina. He was left alone in the world. He decided to move with his aunt, Rachel Sexton, to California. Michael had nothing left. Rachel had been a very nice aunt. Every time she visited her sister in New Orleans, she brought many gifts for Michael. Michael hoped that his grief will be halved if he stayed with his aunt and pursued his studies there. However, things took a sharp turn when he soon realized that his aunt was not what he had imagined. His aunt imposed severe restrictions on him. Michael was allowed to use computer for not more than an hour. Her son, Zach, was friendly with him as always, but he could feel the heat of his mother also. Rachel always kept a strict eye on both of them. Michael was not allowed to go out for community service because nobody could drive him. He was new, but soon found a trustworthy and close friend in Norah Mangor. As Michael opened up slowly, Norah realized he needed help. Norah decided to give him a ride wherever the duo went together. Soon, they became very close friends. They would always make fun of each other. Their bonding prompted talks and rumors about them being together, but Norah would always call it rubbish. Actually, Norah did not want to get between Michael and his Louisiana sweetheart, Gabrielle Ashe. They had limits, which were unspoken. When Michael neglected Norah for some time to put a full stop on the rumors, it hurt Norah a lot. She accepted Michael’s clarifications that he was just trying to stop those talks. They decided that they will continue being friends, but there will be again unsaid limits. It was a sense of belief and trust which kept them together. And they decided to continue like that, no matter what happens.

Blog 5A

Book: The Deception Point
Author: Dan Brown
Pages read this week: 125
Pages read this semester: 643
Weekly style: Questions

Summary
Geologist Charles Brophy was murdered by unknown assassins in Arctic. Rachel Sexton, daughter of likely Republican Party Presidential nominee, Senator Sedgewick Sexton, works in National Reconnaissance Organization. She manages intelligence reports for the President Zach Herney who is running for reelection, but has been out of public life for a week. She refuses her father’s offer to work for his campaign. She is summoned by the President for some unknown and secret reason. The NRO director William Pickering sends her to him hesitatingly. Rachel is sent to Arctic by President Herney, asking her to verify a recent NASA discovery which will kill Senator Sexton’s criticism of overspending on NASA. President’s main advisor, Marjorie Tench, decides to face Senator Sexton in a CNN debate. At Arctic, Rachel is thrilled to find out that NASA is planning to announce this discovery on a grand scale. And two of the four civilian scientists present there to authenticate the discovery are celebrated Oceanographer and documentarian Michael Tolland, and award winning astrophysicist, Corky Marlinson.

Que. 1: Write down a line or quote from the book that interest you. Tell what you like about the quote and what it says. What does it make you think about?
“Never trust a politician.” (Chapter 12, Page 74)
Ans.: One day, my AP Government teacher, Mr. Marr, asked us, “How can you tell a politician is lying?” We gave all sorts of answers, like, his eyes have a dirty look, he looks unconfident, he could not find right words, he avoids questions on a topic etc. Mr. Marr, after rejecting all sorts of answers, gave a reply which established that the question was basically a joke. He answered, “His lips are moving.”
Well, I have grown up in the biggest democracy of the world, India. Politics is a daily part of one’s life. I was attracted to it as a child. When I was 8-9 years old, I had more interest in newspapers and political news on TV than Aladdin or Winnie the Pooh. That is why I have political convictions and ambitions too. I like how this quote depicts public hatred of elected officials, and this is indeed the lesson I have learned from my experiences. Politicians are most untrustworthy persons in the world. Not all, but most of them. However, what really interests me is then why do we believe them. They are the policymakers, and we have made them what they are today. We say that they need to change. Oh really! I think we need to change even more. I know that in this country, there are not a lot of choices. The question is who created choices. Ultimately, it is us, the citizens. We don’t want to change. We wish to stick with old guns. May be it’s right too. Still, out attitudes need to change. We cannot say that ‘government is a problem” as long as we don’t participate in it and don’t wish to change it. [An interesting fact: India is going for general elections in April-May. Some organizations have asked for an option for the voters which will say,” I don’t want to vote for any of the candidates listed. I am not satisfied with them.”]

Que. 2: Why did you choose this story? Has it met your expectations so far? Why or why not?
Ans.: The main reason behind me choosing the story is my illness. Over the spring break and the following week after that, I was sick very badly. I needed something to kill my time. So, I decided to go with Dan Brown again.
I had been interested by the idea of the story. And since it involved bits and pieces of politics and conspiracy, I decided to go for it. So far, it has met my expectations almost completely. The story is sophisticated, fast paced and many sub-plots run simultaneously. However, I am looking for more political stuff.