English E-learning assignment 2

Steps in Analysis
	Point	Evidence	Elaboration
1. Point of View	Soldier of Vietnam who most probable had experienced the Vietnam War (ref: Poet’s background)	“America did not foresee” “ Nefariously America was led astray -” “Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.” “All the deceit continues to spread!”	This poem shows the point of view of a Vietnamese soldier who most probably experienced the Vietnam War. He understands the suffering of which the people suffered, “all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead”, and the “Execrable effects of agent orange spray”. He also knows that the Americans were the ones who caused all these suffering by utilizing those harmful herbicides during the war, that “America did not foresee” the consequences of their actions and that they were “Nefariously” led astray. The fact that he knows all these information and is not affected by “All the deceits” that “continues to spread”, shows that he is indeed very experienced and has a deep understanding of situation. Thus the point of view is most probably a Vietnamese soldier with war experience.
2. Situation and Setting	Social setting – People are suffering in the midst of all those colorful herbicides. (“Rainbow Death”)	“Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!” “ Toll on the innocent and unborn.” “ Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.”	The setting of this poem is a social setting which shows the people suffering in the midst of the colourful herbicides, “Green, pink purple and other colors death potpourri!” As all these colourful herbicides are released, it is taking its toll on the innocent and unborn”, causing harm to their health and even death. The herbicides are “Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn”, depicting a scene where innocent people are crying and moaning as the herbicides ruthlessly cause them to suffer greatly.
3.Language/ Diction	Imagery of death and suffering. Irony in the title as well as the way the herbicides are described. Metaphor to describe the colourful herbicides. Emphasis to show the inevitability of the suffering future generations will have to suffer from the herbicides. Language used reveals the truth of the issue at hand.	“Rainbow Death” “Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!” “ Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.” “ Generations untold WILL pay –“ “America did not foresee “ “All the deceit continues to spread!”	Firstly, this poem makes use imagery to show the death and suffering of the people. The title “Rainbow Death”gives an imagery of the innocent people dying in the midst of the harmful, colour-coded herbicides. There is also irony in this title as rainbows are normal used to describe happiness, however in this case, the rainbow is the presence of the herbicides which are causing many deaths. Irony is also used in the statement “Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!”Once again, potpourri is usually something sweet and peaceful, dried roses as well as other spices giving out a beautiful scent. However in the poem, the metaphorical potpourri (Herbicides) is used to show the death of the people. “Generations untold WILL pay –’’There is a clear use of emphasis in this statement in the word “WILL”, thus showing the inevitability of the suffering future generations will have to suffer as a result of these herbicides. In general, the language used reveals the truth of Agent Orange used during the Vietnam war, that is was indeed the fault of the Americans, “America did not foresee.” They poet does not believe “All the deceit” that “continues to spread!”, clearly and straight forwardly expressing that it was America who caused all these suffering and not any other reasons.
4 Personal Response	I find this text very disturbing	“ Generations untold WILL pay –“ “Rainbow Death”	I find this text very disturbing as the scene of innocent people dying and suffering in these colourful herbicides is indeed very ruthless. These innocent victims die a “Rainbow Death” from the ignorance of the American troops, not only causing suffering to the people during the Vietnam war period, but also to the future generations, “Generations untold WILL pay.” The ruthlessness and cruelty of war shown in this poem is indeed very disturbing to me as it clearly displays how self-interest can neglect the lives of the people. Think about “all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead” caused by the herbicides discharged by the US troops. All this would not have happened if not for the war.

E-Learning Assignment : War Poetry

Task 1: Based on your understanding of the selected poem, perform extensive web research and write a report detailing the conflict represented in the poem(s) of your choice. Bear in mind that this piece of background information will allow your blog audience to further understand the poem as well as your analysis of the poem in Task 2. Be sure to include your references and credit your sources.

2. WHAT IS THE SITUATION?

What is the historical / social / psychological / emotional setting? What is happening at this setting? Is there an external or/and internal conflict? What is the nature of the conflict (ethnic, social, cultural, psychological, emotional, spiritual etc.)?

ANALYSIS: THE SITUATION & THE SETTING

How is tension created and how is the climax produced (through the use of contrasts, through incremental repetition of diction, through the variation or development of imagery, through question and answer etc.)? Is there a resolution to the conflict? What is significant about the way the conflict is created and resolved? What is the significance if there is no resolution of conflict? What are the fundamental causes of the conflict? What is the function of the setting: background for action/ antagonist/means of creating atmosphere/means of revealing character/means of reinforcing theme? How are the functions of the setting fulfilled in this poem?

Rainbow Death

America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.

Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread!
Nefariously America was led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

Hubert Wilson, USA

Background of poet

- Vietnam War veteran who served in the USAF Security Service.

- Had health problems while working as a soldier :

• Unexplained headaches and limb pains.

• Central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors.

• Severe headaches,

• Progressive limb pains, etc.

- His brain still functions moderately well though he has mobility issues, and has turned to writing just like his Father and the late singer/writer Johnny Cash.

Introduction

Before we start analyzing the conflict poem, it is important that we know some background on what this poem is talking about. This poem speaks of a modern day war ingredient known as “agent orange” for the pain and suffering it has caused which involved death. (“Execrable effects of agent orange spray!”). From 1962 to 1971 (period of the Vietnam War), Agent Orange was by far the most widely used

(mostly by USA)of the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides" employed in the herbicidal warfare program. During the production of Agent Orange (as well as Agents Purple, Pink, and Green) dioxins were produced as a contaminant, which have caused numerous health problems for the millions of people who have been exposed, being seen by the people as the “colours death potpourri!”. This is indeed closely related to the poet as his health problems may have been caused by being exposed to these harmful agents when he fought in Da Nang during his military days as well as Shemya Island of Alaska.

Conflict

In the poem, there is a social conflict between the lives of the people and war. During the Vietnam war, the U.S military’s used agent orange to deny it’s enemy’s cover/concealment by defoliating the surrounding trees of shrubbery in dense tropical terrains. However, “America did not foresee” that this harmful herbicide would cause the people of Vietnam so much health problems, taking its “Toll on the innocent and unborn”, “Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.” This act of USA was seen by the Vietnamese as selfish and “Nefarious”. It is indeed true that “Generations untold WILL pay” as there are still evidences of the harmful effects agent orange has caused to the people up till this day. The social well-being of the Vietnamese were largely affected by agent orange used by the U.S military, thus there is indeed a very evident social-internal conflict between these two parties, the Vietnamese dealing with the “Execrable effects of agent orange spray” while USA blindly using that harmful herbicide which has caused the people so much trouble.

Causes

The cause of this conflict is indeed clear – Agent Orange as well as other harmful colour-coded herbicides (“Green, pink, purple and other colours death potpourri!”). These harmful herbicides has indeed caused the suffering of many innocent people “Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.” Illness, child birth, child deaths, these are all the implications of the use of these herbicides. The cause of the conflict is clearly shown in the sentence “Execrable effects of agent orange spray!” Apart from the herbicides which are a direct cause, the ROOT cause of all the suffering is war itself! Why would America have to use these herbicides in the first place if there was no aggression between them and Vietnam?

Resolution

There is no actual resolution to this conflict as the as long as the suffering of the Japanese people is still evident, there will always be hatred of the people towards America for what they have done; as long there is aggression, there will be war(in one way or another), and when there is war, only more people will have to suffer! It is never ending cycle, which is why “Generations untold WILL pay-“

Interpersonal Assignment - Interview

Recently, I interviewed my friend from another school about his views on discrimination and prejudice. Though it may be a short interview but key issues such as the foreign workers in Singapore and his personal feeling if he were a African American are addressed in this interview.

Me: I need to do an interview with a non HCI friend for my school assignment can help out?

INTERVIEWEE : yeah ohkay

Me: Okay Basically, this interview will be about prejudice and discrimination. So 1st question, what is your view on prejudice? State some examples that you have experienced or seen in media.

INTERVIEWEE : Prejudice is bad because if you are prejudiced against someone, the person won’t feel good and you will not let him show his true skills? Because u prejudice then you discourage him

Me: Can you state some examples?

INTERVIEWEE : umm... when one guy in my class damn pro in maths then teacher like him alot then always scold us never scold him

Me: okay, so do you think that prejudice is evident here is our Singaporean society?

INTERVIEWEE : umm... yes?

Me: so, how is is present? or in other words, how does prejudice exist within the Singapore society?

INTERVIEWEE : like u see the foreign workers

Me: Yes

INTERVIEWEE : people see them and they say they dangerous never prove then say they got problem

Me: That's true okay moving on let's talk about discrimination what are you views on discrimination?

INTERVIEWEE : It’s not good because when you are stereotyping people u will like isolate people the minority whom you are discriminating against

Me: okay do you think that any racial group is being ostracised in singapore?

INTERVIEWEE : Racial group... no not ostracised

Me: So if discrimination did exist in our singapore society, how will it affect our development?

INTERVIEWEE Conflicts would happen between the races then racial riots would happen all over again which will disrupt businesses and everything would stop then cannot develop econimically etc.

Me: Okay last question put youself in the shoes of a black African American during the period of the civil rights movement, how would you have felt?

INTERVIEWEE : Angry? that i am being treated this way I human they human they have no right to do anythign to me discriminate me.

Me: This calls the end of the interview, thanks

INTERVIEWEE : ohkay np

What are your views on discrimination and prejudice ? Feel free to share with me.

Intrapersonal Assignment - Diary Entry By Arthur "Boo" Radley

Dear Diary,

I am really happy. Managed to save Jem from nearly gettin' killed by Bob Ewell and became friends with Scout. It was real dark that night, decided to go out for a while while father was asleep. Then, I heard some shuffling noises and heavy footsteps coming from a distance. Could tell that it was not far as I heard the sounds loud and clear. I turned and saw three shrouded figures in the distance. One was short and seemed to be unproportionally fat, the other was tall and skinny while the last one was tall and big in size. I looked carefully and realised that it was Jem and Scout and they were about to get harmed by that big man! He pounced on Scout and strangled her, she was too weak to push him away or struggle. I ran forward as fast as I could and bung him away as hard as I could. When I found that he was no moving any more and that Jem and Scout were out of danger, I ran back to the house, too embarrassed to be seen by the siblings...Had always wanted to be their friends but never had the courage. Saw them quite a few times through the window playing games and even found them coming to my front door and running away before I could welcome them in...Even so, father would never let me go any where near the door. Managed to get out once before when Miss Maudie's house was flamin' in the winter. Brought out a small blanked and put it over Scout's shoulders as quietly as possible, hoping that she would not find out. They are really nice looking kids but I just preferred to keep things to myself...Quite a few times I heard rumours about people calling me "Boo" Radley and gave me alot of horrible stories which was totally not I was like. It makes me sad to think that people would picture me in such a monstrous manner. If only father did not lock me up in this gloomy house everyday...Anyways, I'm happy that I got acceptance from Scout, but I really hope that everyone else in Maycomb country would understand.

Why is there so much discrimination in this town...

I wonder if it's like this in other places....

Multiple intelligence Test

I recently took the Multiple Intelligence Test and I found out that my two strengths are interpersonal (people smart) and intrapersonal (myself smart). I was quite surprised at first as most people would either have a high interpersonal intelligence and a low intrapersonal intelligence or vice versa. This shows that I am not only able to relate to others well, but I also know myself well. This is indeed true as from young, my parents have taught me to always do self reflection when I make a mistake or hurt the feelings of others. I guess this was what enabled to be able to understand more about how others feel and react to different situations, thus not only teaching me how to handle myself, but also allow me to relate to others better true mutual understanding. This two types of intelligence are closely related, though it may be hard to balance between the two as there would be many instances where the instinct to "do what benefits us" would overpower our utilitarian concept of thinking. This is the main reason why many interpersonal and intrapersonal lack the knowledge to either relate to others or themselves.

Not only these two types of intelligences, but many other intelligences are also close interrelated and many of us would be standing in between them. The Multiple Intelligence Test really gives a new way of looking at our intellect, from the passive "How smart are you?" to a more suitable "How am I smart?" It also enables us to articulate, drawing relations between our strengths and weaknesses. This encourages many of us to pursue what is most suitable for our intellectual ability and also helps teachers to be able to access the skills of their students to allow to develop on their intelligences. Yes, all of us are smart and have our different ways of approaching issues and problems. Thus, I really encourage all of you to take the Multiple Intelligence Test. So, the next time someone asks you "How smart are you?", you can laugh and reply "I am smart in my own unique way!"

Purely Talent

I really thought i should share this video, it really shows how dance can be truly awesome! It will definitely make you say, i wished i could do that! Robot dance VS Versatile and musical movements, who will win?

Touching video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KQBiFIn0bo

Enjoy =D