Sep. 11, 2010: 9/11 Post

I can remember the exactly where I was at on Sep. 11, 2001. I was in elementary school where there was an unimaginable silence in the air. My teacher came from a staff meeting in regards how to successfully deliver such news to young students. My teacher then told us that the World Trade Centers in New York City was been crashed into. I was not really affected by it, primarily because I did not know the full extent on the damage. When I arrived home, I turned on the television and realized the true extent of the bombing.

Now 9 years later, I will never forget where I was on Sep. 11, 2010. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to New York City. I travelled throughout the city using the public transportation stop. When I got on the train, it was full of people; however, as I got to the stop “World Trade Center” it was virtually empty. When I arrived to the actual site, it was quite interesting. There were actually a lot of people there taking photographs and reflecting. A thing that surprised me was that were actual people there saying that Sep. 11 was a coordinated government attack, which the United States government had actually planned for such an event to occur.

As I walked further contemplating what to do next besides take photos, I suddenly remembered Sep. 11, 2010 is the anti-Islamic center protest. I decided to go there strictly to observe the atmosphere; I was a tad bit unprepared for the atmosphere. Since I did not have a clue where I was going, I just followed the noise of a crowd. When I was finally able to see the crowd, I stood in disbelief that there were so many people here to protest an Islamic center. You could cut through the tension with a knife. There was a man who firmly believed that what he believed was the truth, so much so, that he decided to tell a Muslim man “Shari’a is shit”. I could not believe it since everyone can be entitled to his or her religion.

There were tons of people debating whether or not the Islamic center should be built. In addition, there were protestors who protested the protestors against the Islamic center. People began shouting and yelling at each other. As the rally closed those, who were against the Islamic center started chanting “No More Mosque!” Members from the crowd then began to push and shove the supporters of the Islamic center. In some cases, the supporters were spat on. I could not believe what I was seeing, after tons of maneuvering through crowds and people I was finally able to board a train back to New Jersey.

Feel free to look at more photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=293076&id=365466194415

Dia do Indio (Day of the Indian)

Every year, Rio de Janeiro celebrates the rich cultural heritage that stems from the indigenous peoples of Brazil on 19 April, the Dia do Indio (Day of the Indian). The festival is an invaluable opportunity to learn about Brazilian indigenous peoples, since traveling to tribal areas and reservations in Brazil is mostly restricted. Some of the festival's attractions are indigenous rituals, body art, music, dance, food, crafts and sports.Exhibitions, indigenous dance performances and screenings take place at the Museu do Indio.

According to Funai, 460,000 people from 225 distinct societies live in aldeias, or indigenous villages, in Brazil today. They speak more than 180 distinct languages. An estimated 100,000 to 190,000 Brazilian Indians live outside the aldeias and some small groups in remote areas are still isolated. So far, the inclusion of as many ethnic groups as possible in the National Indigenous Festival has been achieved by a rotation system. Each year, new groups are invited, creating an opportunity for interaction which Carlos Terena said he hoped would reduce prejudice and foster mutual respect between Indians and non-Indians.

Information and from:

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=190554

http://events.frommers.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=190554

http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/ig/National-Indian-Festival/

Pan America Day

Pan American Day is celebrated annually as a "commemorative symbol of the American nations and the voluntary union of all in one continental community" marking the anniversary of the day in 1890 when this union was established.This observance commemorates the First International Conference of American States in 1889-90, which concluded on April 14, 1890, creating the International Union of American Republics, the forerunner to the Organization of American States (OAS). Pan American Day and Week also commemorates the diplomatic ties and relations of the United States with the other countries of the Western Hemisphere, including Latin America.

Each year Pan American Day and Pan American Week are designated by official proclamations throughout the Western Hemisphere as the occasion on which Americans of all ages and nationalities can strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding that unite the peoples of the 24 American nations. Americans as widely separated as those of Alaska and Punta Arenas, Chile, come to know each other better through special observances, classroom projects, club programs, plays and pageants, parades and social events.

Today, Pan American Day has become one of the significant anniversaries of the Continent. It is the only day set apart by the Government of an entire continent to symbolize their common bonds and their common hopes for a system of international relations based on mutual respect and cooperation. The observance of Pan American Day by government leaders, as well as by educational institutions, clubs, commercial associations and other groups, and its recognition by the press and radio, convey its message of solidarity to young and old throughout the Continent. It has become a powerful agent in bringing about a closer understanding among the nations of the Western Hemisphere. It is a national day in Honduras and a ceremonial day in Florida.

Information from:

http://www.oas.org/columbus/PanAmericanDay.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_American_Day

http://www.maps-world.net/images/north-america.jpg