I can't believe we read the entire book! (well, almost...)

            The final two chapters in the book were about the struggles of countries for their own independence, the dissolution of empires, and globalization.  Strayer notes that “humankind was naturally divided into distinct peoples or nations, each of which deserved an independent state of its own”; this does seem to be holding true in some areas of the world.

            Africa, oh Africa…  The struggle of Africa is very hard to read about, particularly from this America-centric perspective from which I view the world.  It’s hard for me to understand what it takes to build a democracy from zero, and how relatively easy it is for warlords to take control and push people around with the threat of violence and death.  I am still stinging from my research paper on “conflict minerals.”  I just want someone to go in there and STOP THE VIOLENCE, and let the people of the Congo experience some of the financial benefits due them as a result of the richness of their natural resources.

            But, as always, greed prevails. In the U.S., we like to think we are more civilized, and yet we allow people to lose their life’s savings because of personal and collective greed, and we do nothing to rectify the situation, to punish the guilty, or to restore money that was stolen from the elderly and the poor.  We are not physically raping people like they are in the Congo (which, please do not misunderstand me—I am in no way comparing the two or attempting to downplay the horrific crimes against humanity that is occurring in Congo), we allow the wealthy to continue stomping on the poor and essentially “burning down their houses” and then laughing all the way to the bank.  As I have said many times here, history continues to be a depressing topic--especially when it bumps up uncomfortably close to the present.

            Can we switch to something happy?  I have to say I’m really proud of Gorbachev.  I had no idea what a true hero he is/was and what courage he showed in putting forth the ideas of glasnost in Russia.  I guess I have lived through an important time in history to have lived through the Cold War, glasnost, and the accompanying political freedoms that were unleashed in the Soviet Union.  That’s a very nice story from a democratic perspective (and from a global one as well).

            We also read about the religious and therefore political divisions in the Middle East, the distinctions between the Shia and the Sunnis, and the lovely Ayatollah Khomeini who wanted to repress everyone and suck all the joy out of every moment of living.  Did we ever figure out if he did anything for “fun”?  Seeing people unhappy probably cheered him up.

            Finally, I do believe that globalization is inevitable—and good.  It’s the great leveler.  HOWEVER—education is the key factor, and only those who have technology available to them will be able to realize the transformational possibilities available to them.  Sooooooooooooooo.  Keep going to school, and keep taking history classes!

            Thanks for the great class, Patti.  I believe it’s the best one I’ve taken in college—it’s been life-changing for me, and I have been able to affect other lives as well.  So, thanks again!